On Thursday I played in the World Championship Speed Poker event, I don't know how this will work on television but if the atmosphere created in the tournament area is anything to go by it should be a winner. To get down to the final 36 there were 2 heats of 102 runners each, 17 tables of 6, these were played like a normal tournament but with Speed Poker rules until there were 18 players left in each heat, these 36 then played televised one table satellites to get to the final 6.
Basically the rules are simple, each player has 15 seconds to act, the dealer silently counts to 5 then asks for the clock, we had 17 beautiful clock girls who would the start a countdown from 10 to 5 when they would audibly announce 5 to 1, if there was no action before you and you didn't act you effectively checked, if there had been action and you didn't act your hand was dead. To add to the atmosphere of requiring speed to act there was techno music playing with a heartbeat backing track.
The truth was starting with 4000 in chips and only 25 50 blinds with 40 minute levels there was no hurry but even I took 15 minutes to adjust to the buzz in the room which was causing players to drop out a lot quicker than they should. As a player went all in the dealer announced it and a floor manager would run over and announce the hands and flop, this was a distraction but added to the tension, I for one really enjoyed playing this format and i am sure it will spread to other major events.
My strategy was to not get involved until the 4th level as 15 seconds was plenty of time for me to act but I knew a lot of players would make mistakes as the blinds increased.
The first hand I played was AK to a raise, flop was K Q 4 and I check raised the player all in, fortunately for me he was the short stack at the table as otherwise I would have been out, he had AA ! These are 2 huge hands when you are playing 6 handed.
I then recovered my chips with interest when flat calling a button raise with QQ, flop was Q 6 6, I check called a bet of 500, turn I led out for 1000 and my opponent moved in, I called and he had AQ.
I then lost the minimum to Gary Benson when he limped on the button with 44, I had KJ, flop was 4 6 Q, we both checked, turn was a K, I bet he called, river a 5 and I check called.
As you can imagine with the action so fast there are few flops but many more hands per level, I found JJ in FP and made a small raise, the button, a new player moved in and as it was only the second level I passed, he flashed AK but I didn't mind as I wanted to be better than even money for all my chips.
By the end of the 3rd level I was down to 3600 but with the blinds at 75 150 had plenty of time, I finally found a big pair again QQ and raised to 500, the BB reraised to 1200 and I flat called, flop was 3 5 6 and he bet 1000, I moved in for my last 1400 and he called with 88, I now had 7600.
I then lost an interesting pot, I was BB for 200, Gary called and the button who had a 1000 chip dropped it then said raise, the dealer deemed it a call, the SB called and I checked , flop was J 5 6, all checked to the button who went all in, the SB called and flashed his bottom card to the all in player, I had a J and asked for a ruling knowing he also must have a J and was influencing the outcome as Gary had seen the card and was still to act, the floorman ruled his call went but the dealer had to tell us the card flashed, it was a 3 ! He had flashed the wrong card, I now raised to get it heads up knowing my J7 was good, all passed, the all in player turned up A7o, turn was a third club giving me top pair with a flush draw and reducing his outs to 2 ( the Ace of clubs would make my flush ) river was the A of hearts!
I then lost another pot in the blinds when we checked to the river and both made a 4 flush, I had the 9, he had the J .As level 4 ended one player went all in on a flop of 9 2 2, I felt my KQs was good and called, he had 55 but i caught a K on the turn to win.
The first hand of level 5 I picked up JJ again, I made it 1800 to go from FP and was raised all in, this time I called instantly, he had 22 and I won a nice pot to go to 10,600.
Tables were breaking fast and we were down to 33 players, I limped in the SB with A4o knowing the BB would probably see this as weakness and raise, he did and I responded by moving all in, this had the desired effect and I now had 13,300 26 left.
Gary who was getting short stacked made a raise to 1500 from FP, with ATs on the button I called, flop was A 4 7 with two spades, we both checked, turn was the Ten of spades, Gary now led out for 1600, usually I would raise here but I was sure he had AK or AQ with the bare K or Q of spades and knew I was winning, as long as a spade K or Q didn't fall on the river I fancied getting all his chips, the river was a J and he bet 1600 again, I raised him 2200 more to put him all in, he called and turned up AJ for a bigger two pair ! No matter how I played this hand the chips would have all gone in so never mind.
Unfortunately with only 24 left my table was broke, in speed poker in the later levels with the blinds coming fast you don't get time to learn your table, after one round I had 5600 left with the blinds at 400 800, the chip leader made it 2400 and with A7s in the SB I decided to move in, I knew there were a range of hands I could be beating or if lucky be no worse than even money, he called reluctantly and flipped up 66, great a coin flip, if I win this i might make the last 18, flop was no help to either of us and I finished 24th, 6 off the money.
I should point out that where as normally I would be more patient and wait at least one more round especially as I had the button next hand, in this format I had a reason for wanting to double through, first the average was now 18,500 and second whatever chips you finshed with were carried forward so it was pointles blinding away to make it with 1 or 2 thousand.
Overall I enjoyed playing this format and think it will make a welcome addition to any schedule .
The main event starts in 3 days, I am going to take these off and skip the $5000 Pot Limit Omaha as it is only projecting 35 to 40 runners . I look forward to letting you know how i get on trying to pocket the $1,000,000 for the winner.
