How can I play in a million dollar prize pool without having to go to Vegas for the WSOP or hit the WPT trail?  How can a $30 buy-in get me over $300,000 for 1^st place in a land-based casino?  The Florida Poker Rooms have come up with an solution.  It’s called the Florida Million II.

This tournament  is split into two flights, with many day 1′s.  There are seven participating poker rooms in Florida: Palm Beach Kennel Club, Daytona Beach Kennel Club, Mardi Gras, Derby Lane, Orange Park Kennel Club, Pensacola Greyhound Park, and Naples-Ft Myers Greyhound Track. These rooms may hold lower buy-in satellite tournaments to gain entry into the Florida Million II $500+50 tournament.  Alternatively, you can buy-in directly for $500+50.

Each Day 1 is limited to a max of 150 players.  The tournament structure is identical at each of the seven locations.  Day 1 flights are played until 10% of the field remains.  Once 90% of the players have been eliminated, the remaining 10 % are guaranteed to be in the money.  Those advancing to the finals will have their identification verified and chips transferred to the host location.It’s similar to the November 9, as the players advancing have to wait to play out Day 2 and hopefully Day 3.  The finals will be held at the Palm Beach Kennel Club located in West Palm Beach on December 11,2010.

Most of us in Florida live with in driving distance of more than one poker room offering a Day 1, so if at first you do not succeed try and try again.  The Florida Million is not a freeze out! Re-entries to Day 1 is encouraged.  There are over 35 Day 1’s being offered state wide. Visit the Florida Million website at http://flmillion.com/for current prize pool information and further details.  Good Luck as you  find your way to the nearest poker room offering a Day 1.

The first Florida Million tournament  had 2,349 entrants with 235 making the money earlier this year.

Now playing High Stakes No Limit Hold'em

Early Saturday morning I called Tina Tellone, a close friend of mine, to see about her joining me in Daytona Beach Kennel Club for a day of poker action.  Tina arrived 45 minutes late and on her 4^th hand found herself on the button with pocket kings.  Five women limped in to the hand with her and the blinds to go, she announced, “this is NOT a button raise I just happen to be sitting where it is located.”  With a raise of $600 everyone called including the blinds.  The flop came with an Ace, as if there would be any doubt.  The small blind let out with $600 and everyone folded to Tina you could see the steam shooting out of her ears and she called the bet.  Later I asked why and she said, “I had to see what Ace was so valuable on a 50/100 blind level with a pre-flop raise of $600“.  They checked it down from the flop and the woman turned over Ace/Eight off-suit.

After the hand I hear from the table where she was, “just so you know my chips have GPS tracking in them and I will be getting them back”.  Sure enough Tina did just that. The very next level got them all back and then some!  She did it by limping in with pocket 8’s and spiking a set on the flop! The poker gods were smiling as she boated against the woman’s nut flush at the river.  Tina doubled up through the very woman who cracked her Kings.

Way to go, Tina!

She was definitely on her game correctly calling hole cards hand after hand, she was unstoppable.  Accurately assessing the final table Tina offered the woman expected to make it to heads up a chop.  No thanks! Final table action lasted 45 minutes and it was Tina vs. the reluctant chopper. This woman wasn’t willing to concede the trophy or title even though Tina had the chip advantage.  Tina laughingly said, “That’s fine, I’ll win it outright” and it only took 14 hands.

I am reminded of a similar reluctant chopper story from my background.  It was the 2008 WSOP Ladies circuit event at Harrah’s New Orleans.  First place was $16,700 with $9,185 for second.  After clearing most of the final table I ended heads up.  I offered my opponent very generous even money deal with me retaining the title and the gold WSOP Circuit pendant necklace. She declined even though I had 85% of the chips. I won the tournament two hands later.

Tina was on Cloud 9 with her win and decided pickup some extra funds from the cash game.  I think she was more excited about winning the trophy than the cash.  Trophies are tangible reminders allowing  us bragging rights and reminiscent feelings of triumph.  Congratulations, Tina!  Love you!

The field was comprised of 38 players.  It was nice seeing from Ante Up magazine.  There were four or five females in the field.  The field seemed comprised of either beginners like me or more adept players.  I overheard someone say they drove in from Gainesville.  Tampa was represented by my friend, Chris Cosenza, Publisher, Ante Up magazine.  Oh by the way, be on the lookout for their magazine in your favorite poker room.  Ante up is considered THE resource for Florida poker. 

My friend Sue drove me tonight.  It was her first time to watch any poker tournament.  On the drive home, she was full of questions.  She wondered why a person got a penalty for talking on the phone but no one received a penalty for texting on the phone.  Good point, Sue!  I do wish the rules were equally enforced whatever they may be.

For some reason the cocktail waitress failed to make a last call to the tournament area. Heck, I didn’t see any server for the last two hours.  I was unable to get a cold bottle of water to help calm my recurrent hot flashes.  Hot flashes are not something you really understand until it happens to you. I thought cramps were bad—but this sucks more! 

This was a very enjoyable evening.  I took great pleasure in playing something besides NHL.  This was my first Live razz tournament.  This experience makes me realize it is time for me to learn the game of razz.  To facilitate this goal, I will be holding razz tournaments at my poker room beginning in mid-December.  Sign up now to play freerolls and play money as we complete testing of the site.  Here’s the link:  www.pokerprosnetwork.net/jenadelk.html.

What’s next?

I will be at Daytona Beach Kennel Club on Thursday, November 12^th, to play in the inaugural Daytona Beach International Poker Tournament, Championship Event (day1A).   This is the first multiday tournament ever being hosted at DBKC.  The poker room management has worked hard to fill the field by holding tons of sit-n-go’s and satellites.  There are already over 60 registered.  A good turnout is expected.  Here are the specks of the event:

Thur. Nov. 12 (Day 1A)

Fri. Nov. 13 (Day 1B)

Sun. Nov. 15 (Finals)

2pm Start time

$650 Buy-in

Starting chips 10,000

Starting blinds 25/50

45 Minute Blind Levels