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!

I arrived early into the poker room and was warmly greeted by Salli. Salli is the tender touch that makes this particular ladies event special. The ladies are treated to gift bags, roses, and so much more which all comes from this beautiful woman’s touch. Thanks Aunt Salli for a lovely twist on a poker tournament.

Those registering early get 500 an extra “green rooster” chips in addition to a starting stack of 5,000 chips. A dealer add-on of $10 gets you another 1,000 chips. The $150 entry event has 20 minute levels.

Actions starts at 2 PM.

1. When and how did you get started playing poker?

I was having some significant health problems in late 2005 and was not able to get out much. I was basically on bed rest for about six months. So my husband bought a laptop to help me pass the long days. In early 2006 after I got bored with hacking around on the internet, I found my way to the free games on Full Tilt Poker. The rest is history, so to speak. As my health improved, my first outings were to play live poker.

2. What would you consider to be the defining moment in your poker career thus far? The defining moment in my poker career was when I finally learned the hand rankings. I remember being in a live tournament trying to decide if a full house beat a straight or not. It’s humbling to admit I played video poker for years without knowing what comprised a flush. Who knows how much money I gave away by not recognizing the need to save cards of the same suit? 3. With 4 children how do you effectively balance poker and life? Since all of our children have graduated high school and moved out of the house balancing life with the kids really isn’t much of an issue anymore.

6. If you were asked to give a room full of young poker hopefuls one piece of advice what would it be? Know yourself and act on that knowledge to protect your game and bankroll. Identify anything that adversely affects your game and take steps to minimize its effects. It is a great sign of maturity to know and act on physical, mental, and emotional limits. If you are feeling angry, don’t play. If you are sick, don’t play. Listen to yourself and take care of your body.

7. How did you feel the day you won the New Orleans Bayou Poker Challenge? There were 269 entrants in this WSOP ladies event called the “Cajun Queen Classic”. In addition to the prize money and circuit title; I got my first piece of poker jewelry! The day started happily as I chatted it up with my table mates.I really enjoy the social side of the ladies events.Many of the less seasoned ladies will tell you how and why they played a particular way, if you have been friendly and ask. I struggled the first half of the day with no good spots or significant luck to build a stack. I headed to dinner break feeling somewhat defeated and short on chips. My friend Jack gives me a pep talk of a lifetime over dinner.I returned from dinner refreshed with a sense of determination. I doubled up on my first hand after dinner when I flopped a set of eights against an aggressive lady, who overplayed her top pair, good kicker.From there I literally did not lose a hand I selected to play.I was catching cards like I never had before in my short poker career. Talk about being a LuckBox! I knocked players out so fast that I did not have time to get my chips stacked between hands. It was so surreal.

10. I like to leave this open to you, is there anything you would like to say to those reading today? I am developing a relationship with Poker Pros Network. While we are in the early stages of development, I feel comfortable inviting you to check out my poker room on The Poker Pros Network. Just click on this link and choose “RUN” and Install. This will load your connection to the Jena Delk players lobby and my private offerings and games. Come Play with Me! Private games and educational opportunities are being developed. Please visit my website at www.jenadelk.com to keep up to date on my current happenings

There has been much debate about Ladies only events in poker. I understand there can be strong feelings for both sides of the debate. You hear many of the same arguments over and over.

Here’s one you may not have considered:

Ladies only events bring women into the casino. These gals enjoy playing poker. Before and after each event you see a substantial increase of women playing cash. Give them what they are looking for—a good time at the table. They will open their wallets for you. So quit complaining the ladies events are sexist, and enjoy the benefit$. Don’t spoil the fun by crashing the events.

Ladies events are positive EV for poker in general.  They bring BEGINNERS (aka fish) to the game.  These are the players you want to join you at the tables.  For some ladies, the ladies event is the only way they will venture into the casino to play poker, because it feels safe to them.  I am begging you guys to leave them alone.

Internet young guns, stop sulking in your hoodie and smile at that gal sitting next to you. She is probably intimidated and could use a friend. Help her to feel comfortable.  Let her know how things work in the game, if she seems unsure. Always acknowledge someone who speaks to you.  You spend way too many hours in your cocoon anyway. 

Men who have wives, who don’t understand all the hours at the tables, should bring their lady along for a weekend of spa, shopping, and poker. Have her bring along a couple of friends. She will be so busy have fun that there will be no time to nag you. Hopefully she will find the experience so much fun that she will pick up the game. Once she is playing regularly her daily nagging allowance will be sharply decreased. There is one drawback; she may become a better player than you!!

Tournament Directors: Please add a male only event to occur at the same time as the Ladies Events.

I am sitting at my summer home in Las Vegas, still pouting that I am not playing over at the Rio.  I am sad to say, I did not get very far in the WSOP Ladies Event. I lasted into Level 4, which is pretty miraculous since I was short stacked and card dead the entire time.

I was seated at table 8, along with the always lovely, Vanessa Rousso and Tiffany Michelle.  I was fortunate to last longer than these two pros.  After they busted, their seats became a revolving door of ladies who would sit down and play a few hands, then bust.  As they busted, I continued to nurse a 1,100 stack.  I would move my small stack all in and the table would fold, so that I could earn enough to post my blinds.  This continued for nearly two hours.  Then when I finally got a real hand, I was called.  I had queens (the bitches, as I call them). My lady in the number four seat had Ace King, so it was an easy decision for her to call.  The ace came out on the flop, but I had already started packing my bag.  Busto!  Those bitches have knocked me out of 50% of my ladies events.  I probably should stop playing them!

You can check out the results at http://www.wsop.com/tournaments/results.asp?grid=764&tid=10843.

There is one aspect to being a lady professional poker player that may not come to mind when considering the gender differences in poker. Let’s set aside the differences in the game itself and focus on the business side.

The ladies often have higher travel expenses. In the world of poker, guys pile three or more guys in a room and split the cost several ways. This results in a much lower cost per day. I very often have to bear the entire cost of lodging by myself. If a lady player has a bed available in her room, can she ever offer a male player the extra bed? Will it be assumed that sex would be involved? Or just hanging out? Should you find a guy who is capable of seeing a room sharing arrangement for what it really is (money savings) what will be the perception of others? Will this sort of arrangement damage her image? This does not even begin to address potential safety issues of sharing a room with a poker acquaintance.

I was with a group of guys last week discussing poker and life in general. It was a relaxing time and everyone seemed comfortable with each other. After a while another female poker players name came up. The guys started immediately bashing her, saying that she is just a tease. I explored this with the guys and learned that she mostly earned this image by going out with a group of the guys and saying no to their advances. Each one told how they hit on her and was struck down. These guys assumed that if a girl when somewhere with them, that they had a right to hit on the gal. Really? Come on guys! Think about how much time you spend with your buddies while playing poker and realize us girls need social time too!

I was well prepared for today’s event. I had a great table draw.  It was a very late breaking table and I was in the one seat.  I know lots of people do not like this seat because it is hard to see everyone.  But I find the lack of players on both sides to be calming.  Plus this particular seat one provided me with a clear view of the entire room.  I was able to people watch to my heart’s content. 

I just had to take this picture of Thomas Gardner.  He is the dealer in this photo. Tom was very brave to volunteer to deal to the ladies event at the Beau Rivage in January 2009. It turns out he is an amazing good sport and able to take some good hearted ribbing. 

The table of ladies were rather rambunctious and engaged in conversations with Tom that was highly suggestive.  The flirting was laid on strong.  So much so that Tom actually blushed!  When this occurred, I just had to take his picture to memorialize this event.

I am not at liberty to share what specificially caused this blushing phenomenon.  But I assure you it will long be remembered by Tom and my table mates!

Aces cracked. 

 I try to make a few more hands, but had to abandon them due to heavy action.  My stack bleeds down to a M of 6.  I am looking for any unopened pot to get my tiny stack in with.  I am in late position with a j, 10 suited and the pot has been unopened.  I bet half of my stack, planning to shove on any flop.  I have one caller.  I hit a jack on the flop and my opponent checks to me.  I shove the rest of my chips.  My opponent goes into the tank and makes what appears a crying call.  She has AJ.  She lets out a huge sigh and exclaims, “I was convinced you had pocket jacks.”  I do not improve and make an early exit from the tournament.

Unfortunately, the poker gods did not shine on me for long today.  I started off very well.  I won many pots, most without a showdown.  Those that were shown down were monsters.  My image was very strong.   I overheard one of the ladies saying to her neighbor that she had to take a break because she was intimated playing with me.  This gal has a wonderful rail bird in her life; evidently he told her that she knew how to play, to get back in there and just to play her game.  Whenever you are on tilt or intimated on the felt, you should just go back to basics.  Play YOUR basics, your game, whatever style that may be.  The familiarity of this regimented play will center you.  Once settled, you can expand your game.

Jena is chasing me in my dreams

In the past two years I was in Las Vegas for seven weeks to cover the whole WSOP for IntelliPoker.com and PokerStarsBlog.de. I had to write reports about the performances of the Germans and the Team PokerStars Pro players. So every day I had to take pictures of the players with my camera. If you take pictures of the players every day, you will recognize them after a while. I knew that Jena was playing the year before – how could I forget her smile – but I didn’t get to know her in person . During the WSOP 2008 we had some nice but small chats.  

This year I’ll be in Vegas for only two weeks (if I don’t qualify for the main event). So it isn’t surprising at all that I catch up every piece from Vegas and the WSOP that I could get. I follow the news, blogs, Facebook and Twitter. I saw Jena’s status reports at Facebook and I was happy to see, that she is also playing in a lot of events this year and not only the Ladies Event like some other female players do. So far so good.

 A few days ago I had a very strange dream, I dreamed that I was already in Vegas and drove in a car through the streets, searching for something I don’t remember. After  a while I saw a highway sign, and I couldn’t believe what I saw – it was a sign of the “Jena Delk Highway”. I caught myself thinking, “Wow, is she so famous that they named a highway after her?”. Then I woke up. It was so funny that I told it Jena at MSN Messenger, and I could imagine her laughing . I guess my dream has something to do with her status message at Facebook, but who knows, maybe it is a sign of something special – I wouldn’t be surprised, if they name a highway after the first woman who wins the main event. So go for it Jena, and don’t forget to sell me a share . And if it isn’t going to happen, there is still a job for the first female president of the United States of America. If so forget the share, I would only need a Greencard in that case . I’m really looking forward to see you in Vegas, meanwhile good luck at the tables.