The Super bowl has its top ten plays (and games) of all time. N.B.A. basketball has its top ten plays of the month. ESPN Sports Center has its top ten plays of the day.
This got me thinking of my own top-ten poker moments. Making your own list may prove to be fun, and in some cases insightful. So here we go, my list in no particular order:
1. Johnny Moss-Playing in a $20-$40 hold 'em game with the "Grand Old Man" of poker. In one hand he check-raised me four times after I was sure I had the best of him each time. He won the hand and taught me the valuable lesson that "a check does not necessarily mean the player checking has nothing; it only means he is not betting ... then."
2. Telly Savalas-Telly was one of the true "gentle" men of poker, unlike his Kojak image. In a super satellite at the Commerce Club in L.A., I was fortunate to play him heads-up for about an hour at which point he suggested that we split the first and second place money. I accepted and Telly put a lollipop in his mouth and walked into the L.A. night.
3. L.A. earthquake-It was the middle of the night and I was fast asleep in the official Poker Tournament motel across from the Commerce Club. All of a sudden, I found myself thrown around my bed for 30-40 seconds which seemed like an eternity. I quickly joined a couple of hundred partially clad guests walking down the stairs and into the night. It was an earthquake, but fortunately no one was seriously injured, although some were seriously scared. Augie, a well-known and well-liked dealer on the circuit, was trembling with fear and said he was leaving in two days when the tournament was over and heading back to Vegas. His plans changed when a second earthquake hit about two hours after the first. As I again hit the night air with many of the same people as before, I saw Augie speeding away, half-dressed, towards Vegas.
4. Royal Blush-During my first trip to the WSOP, I found myself in a $10-$20 limit hold'em game with a friendly Aussie. He was a very good and experienced player, who often raised or re-raised himself to numerous pots. I was dealt the A-10 of diamonds and decided to take my stand and three-bet the Aussie who called with a smile on his face. Going to the river, the board read Kd-Kc-Qc-Qd. With the Aussie jamming it all the way, I excitedly yelled out when the jack of diamonds, which gave me a royal flush, hit the board. In appreciation of what he had taught me, I offered him his last $20 bet back while saying, "I guess I played bad, got a little lucky, and put a bad beat on you." He said, "You hit a 1,000-to-1 runner-runner shot on the flop." At the same time, he showed me his pocket kings and gave me back the $20 that I had offered him, saying, "Keep this somewhere, you may need it for cab fare." I did and I did.
Last issue I explored the issue of good ethics versus good plays. So far two-thirds of those responding expressed the opinion, Anything that's legal, is alright to do."
More next time, but it is not too late to vote.
Mike Eikenberry got his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia, where he played varsity tennis and basketball. Founder of one of the leading national tennis camps, Mike is an avid amateur who has played both tournaments and live games for over 25 years. He can be reached at theeiks@comcast.net
