CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Wake Me When It's Over

4:00AM came way to quickly. My mind in a daze. Need rest. Slept in the limo ride to the airport. More musing later...must catch 40 winks.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Today's Recap

Where were we...

Lunch break: T$56,000

246 players started
135 remain
__________________________

Before I get back to the tournament updates, here is a recap to catch you up.

Registering for the Tournament

As part of the process, you need to have your rewards card swiped and then pay the buy-in fee. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my card/money and handed them to the one of the female cashiers.

She replied, "Oh, honey, I don't need that, unless you are trying to tell me something."

I looked down to my embarrassed surprise to see my room key in her hand NOT my rewards card (they are the same size/shape etc.).

"Oh god, no!" I exclaimed. Realizing my tone, I retreated with, "not that you're...I mean...uh..."

Her colleague teased, "That's okay, we get the message."

To which I replied, "Wow, am I sinking fast!"

Fortunately, all the staff and people in line laughed. Talk about open mouth, insert foot. Chh-OM-P!
__________________________

While at the table, conversations ranged from economics to humor.

Produce

The increased demand on local farmers to bring produce to market (re: the cost of fuel to transport cross-country and the flooded crops in Midwest). Think global. Buy local.

Firecrackers

Ted: (joking with one of the players at the table) You're not gonna rush me. You could place a firecracker near my @$$ and you wouldn't rush me.

Sammy: Yikes, now I got to get that image out of my head.

(laughter from our table and surrounding tables)

Sammy: I will never think of firecrackers in the same way.

Gentlemen Sitting Next to Me: Or Ted!

Breaking the Silence

The arena started to quiet after hours of play. A semi-melodic, mumbled horn/tooting type of sound (that strangely resembled a bodily function) broke the silence. Everyone was looking around for where it was coming from...the guy sitting next to me.

Sammy: I hope that's coming from your phone.

(laughter all around)

Another Player: Confess, it was the Mexican for lunch wasn't it.

(the cell-phone offender quickly silenced his phone; no air freshener needed)
__________________________

And now for the rest of the tournament.

I remained focused throughout the day and played extremely well.

After the break, I grinded my stack up from T$56,000 to T$62,500. As we approached our next break (two hours later), I continued chipping away. The chattering teeth were perched high atop my stack of T$86,000.

Soon after another table move, I passed the T$120,000 mark. But then I ran into a spell of no cards. I focused, remained present, scouted my opponents while I was out of hands (with the intention to use that information in later hands), and had fun. My stack vacillated between T$100,000 and T$150,000.

As the antes/blinds reached...

Antes 2K
Blinds 6K/12K

...the average chip stack was listed at 180K (my stack: T$122,000).

My new table had the top two chipleaders (one around T$300,000 and the other closer to (if not over) T$600,000). We were in the money (all remaining players would receive cash based on final results) but the blinds would soon reach Ante 3K, Blinds 8K/16K.

From early position, I looked down and debated raising it to T$30,000 or T$35,000 but thought better of it, in favor of an all-in bet. My chattering teeth firmly planted on top of my cards, I methodically slid my stacks of pink/blue chips forward as I announced, "all-in."

Folds all around to the BB who goes into the tank for a few minutes before asking for a chip count (he has around T$200,000). The dealer counts my chips, "T$122,000." The big blind takes a few more minutes before finally calling and flipping up JJ.

(audience at home, care to guess my hole cards? answer below)
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I turn over my KK.

Pot is now over 260K.

KK: 82% favorite

The flop: 8 Q T

KK: 76% favorite

Remember Kindergarten and 1st grade? When you learned the alphabet song (which remarkably resembles the melody of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)? Catchy tune. I practiced hard and it helped me learn my ABCs. Little did I know then, how I would learn to dread the 10th note of that song.

The turn: J

JJ: now a 77% favorite but I still have outs (two remaining Kings, any Ace, or any Ten).

The river: 3

Out 23rd place out of 246 players.

While I did cash in the event, it wasn't enough to pay for the trip. Chalk up another loss.

Thanks for following along throughout your weekend. More to come tomorrow. Off to bed. Up at 4:00AM to catch a plane and then straight to work.

Ch...yawwwn-omp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Quick Break

I will write a proper blog entry later today.

On a quick break from the Super Stack tourney. The day has been filled with laughter, good play, a few misfortunes, balanced out by a few fortunate turns...details later, right now just the facts.

246 players started
135 remain

Started with T$22,000
1st break T$32,425
Race T$25 chips T$50,000
2nd/lunch break T$56,000

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Afterthoughts

(The conclusion to the previous entry Mistakes... is in the works, it should appear later today. In the meantime, here are some afterthoughts from yesterday. I finished 136th out of 250 players.)

I hate this feeling. I beat myself. I made rookie mistakes and, quite frankly, I know better.

-after a major drought of cards, I married myself to a hand
-started to talk myself out of my first instinct
-convinced myself otherwise when I could have (and should have) gotten away from the hand

So, what happened? Why did I make a mistake when I knew better?

-an erosion of patience and balance
-expectation to take down the hand on the flop
-lack of a backup plan (and I ALWAYS have backup plans)
-rushed my decision, resulting in a misread

In essence, I was not in the moment and that clouded my judgement.

I truly could have gotten away from the hand. While my stack size would have been lowest at the table, I still would have had plenty of play...not to mention that one of my strengths is nursing a small stack.

I suppose I could take the silver-lining position that had I not busted by making a mistake, I might not have been inspired to write the previous entry. I prefer to look at this way, I now have a deeper understanding of self and will retain this old/new lesson. Knowledge is knowing. Wisdom is doing.

Pencils down. Class dismissed.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Zentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Mistakes...

...they are a part of life; we all make them. How do you handle your mistakes?

A) cast blame on others
B) forget it like it never happened
C) create excuses to absolve yourself
D) punish yourself by reliving it over and over again
E) own up to it and learn from it

For me, E is the only option.

Many people misquote Dostoevsky's passage in The Brothers Karamazov as, "a man who lies to himself will lie to anyone."

While the snippet comes close, is catchy, and tends to ring true, the paraphrased wording misses the deeper insight and caution that the complete text provides:

"Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love. And in order to distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures and sinks to bestiality in his vices—all this from continual lying to other men and to himself. The man who lies to himself can be more easily offended than anyone else. You know it is sometimes very pleasant to take offense, isn't it? A man may know that nobody has insulted him, but that he has invented the insult for himself, has lied and exaggerated to make it picturesque, has caught at a word and made a mountain out of a molehill—he knows that himself, yet he will be the first to take offense, and will revel in his resentment till he feels great pleasure in it. And so he will pass to genuine vindictiveness..."

(to be continued)

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Words of the Day

I made it to the lunch break. Quick update, as I scarf down a chicken caesar salad.

I really like the structure but would prefer 60-minute levels instead of 40-minute levels. That said, I do understand there is no other way to complete the tourney in two days and offer this gradual structure. Not a complaint, just a preference.

Started off with 10K in chips and gradually built my stack up to 12K before I walked into a hornet's nest. Down as low as 8K. Then I remembered the word of the day.

(Side note: every day I go through a small ritual. I won't bore you with the details, only the results.)

Most days there is only one word but today there happened to be two: patience and balance.

No need to panic with a stack of 8K; just play my game. Currently at T$13,150.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: It's Gonna Be a Long Day

No, not because of the 16-hours of play, I'm used to long sessions (my longest session to date is 18 hours). However, I am not accustomed to doing battle with a bar of soap.

Now, all I wanted to do was simply take a quick shower and head to breakfast. Five minutes later...I was still fighting with the bar of soap. Apparently, they are now hermetically sealing soap. It could be a germ conspiracy. Germs are tired of everyone using Purell and have started phase one of their revenge: soapgate.

Fear not, The Dentist won this battle. My hands are clean.


(The offending package.)




(The resulting carnage.)




Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp, CHOMP!

~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: A New Day

Woke up refreshed after a relaxing evening and therapeutic massage.

Today, we start at 10:00AM and play until 2:00AM. (blink, blink, yep...16 hours)

Let the marathon begin!

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: In the Beginning...

At the beginning of 2008, I decided to focus more of my time on the business of poker and develop my game to the next level. When next I blinked, the year was half over. Stop the talk. Start doing.

Instead of wasting my time on the small, poorly structured weekend tournaments, it was time to study, game plan, and invest in larger, well-structured events: the World Series of Poker, Mega Stack Series, and now the Heartland Poker Tour ("HPT").

I've heard the HPT described as the minor league of poker. That seems about right to me. If you grant the World Poker Tour ("WPT") "major league" status with its large buy-ins and world-class players, the HPT is a farm system of sorts. No negativity is intended by this comparison. I for one am thankful for the HPT. It gives budding players like myself the chance to gain experience in a similarly well-structured format but at an affordable price. Over time, it is my plan to play well in the HPT events and transition to the WPT.

It's time.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: I Could Get Used to This

As a result of responsible budgeting and savvy use of rewards programs throughout the year, I am typing this blog entry from the back seat of a limo on my way to the Turning Stone casino.

Woo hoo! Come to papa!




Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Hello? Is anybody there?

Long time no blog.

Thank you all for your e-mails. I will answer the most-asked questions here.

What happened?
Vegas was successful but not profitable; the trip was a loss but I made some good contacts.

Where are you now?
I am no longer in Vegas. I have returned to work.

Did you win?
No. I consistently played well but did not cash in any events. The closest I got to the money was the top 15% of the field (only the 10% got paid).

Are you retiring?
That would be a no.

What toothpaste do you use?
(disclaimer: I am not a dentist; this is only my personal preference.) Tom's of Maine

What's next?
I have some exciting projects in the works. Unfortunately, nothing that I can really discuss at this time but check back at my website for updates (www.SammyTheDentist.net). One thing I can mention is my next tournament: Heartland Poker Tour Main Event at the Turning Stone Casino on 6/28 and 6/29. (www.heartlandpokertour.com) Stay tuned...

Come to papa!



Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: What Will Today Bring?

Yesterday, I took my advice (re: healthy life-diet).

Nowadays, most people take life-diet to mean a food diet for a healthy life (usually spelled as, life diet). When I refer to life-diet (hyphenated), I mean precisely that...your life's diet. Not some fad or food craze but a well-balanced life. Joy to go with the struggle. Reflection to go with the pain. Improvement to negate complacency.

Adventure.
Discovery.
Challenge.

It is far too easy for me to get sucked into a black hole and become burned out. A lesson that took me far too long to learn. Let's call it, a misapplied work ethic. Once I commit to a project, I am dedicated, focused, and rarely come up for air. Do that long enough and you will drown.

Now, I work smarter not harder.

A few (of many) highlights from yesterday:
-Fun in the sun
-Blissful meditation
-Lots of laughter
-An infinite loop on the tram system (woo hoo, one more time!)
-Shark reef aquarium (at Mandalay Bay)
-Good night's sleep (by the way, my new "do not disturb" sign has yet to disappear) :-)

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: It's the Journey, Not the Destination

My game is sharp...the results will come.

Today, I decided to execute a new strategy for me. Having played the same structure yesterday, I gleaned some important information regarding the structure and the order of the table breakdown (I will call this confluence of events "crunch time"). There comes a point in the tournament where it is not enough to play well and incrementally build your stack. Sure, early on, that approach will work but without an infusion of chips at the table (by busting out players and getting new ones transferred to your table), you are at a supreme disadvantage.

As I started to dip below the average chip stack and the blinds were becoming much higher, I started looking for an opportunity to use the information I learned from the day before and compiled on my opponents today. When the right moment revealed itself, I would be ready to gamble to accumulate chips and soar above (or free-fall into) the chasm of the tournament's crunch time.

Without going into too many specifics, as I will most likely be playing with the same players for the remainder of the week, an opportunity presented itself and I struck...(unfortunately) out.

My read was correct but the outcome not to my liking (had it been, I would have been positioned to go deep in the tourney). These are the leveraged choices we make; play it safe and eek your way through the day with no chance to legitimately contend or seize the moment to maximize your opportunities.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Putting Mother Nature On Hold

Not a bad table draw for today. Quickly profiled the table and felt comfortable early. Not as many overall players as yesterday (about 100 less). Started off pretty strong and set some good traps that ended poorly for me (when opponents sucked out on me). All part of the game. No sweat. I am playing well...losing the minimum while winning the max (on most occasions).

Just before the break, I lost a small pot. Ended with about T$10K.

What I am about to tell you is no secret or new information to the poker community: poker tournaments (specifically on a break) are prime locations to witness a rare occurrence: the line to the men's room is longer than that of the women's room. Yikes! That's what I get for putting Mother Nature on hold.

The restrooms right outside of the tournament area were packed. Since we only had a 15-minute break, I decided to search out facilities deeper into the casino (in hopes that there would be no lines). Yes! My plan worked and just in time, as the pain in my bladder began to pulsatingly laugh at me, "you fool, do not deny us, we own you, mwhahaha!"

I look up and see, RESTROOMS (what a glorious word!).

Quickly (yet gingerly) I weave through the crowd, eager to reach my destination and grant myself my only wish in that agonizing moment: relief. NO LINE AT ALL! Woo hoo! I dip my head down, as I try to save time by removing my satchel from around my neck/shoulders. Like a superhero, I successfully complete the task. Spiderman would be proud. Speaking of Spiderman, what is this tingling sensation...

I raised my head to see three women looking at me from the sinks. Their expressions matched their range in age (from over- reactive shock: "oh my god, what are you doing here?", to a nurturing: "oh, you poor child."). One-hundred and eighty degrees later, I was back on the main floor of the casino, straining to make out the word "men" (sans "wo"). Yes, there it is. Is it? After reading the sign 47 times to not repeat my previous mistake, I was reminded why I started this quest.

"Brrrrrrrrr-ring! Brrrrrrrr-ring! Mother Nature calling on line #1."

Luckily, this men's room was empty. My oasis in a desert of mishaps.

Trickle... ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Zombie Land and Snippets

As I entered Caesars to register for today's tournament, I couldn't help noticing all the zombies. No, it wasn't an halloween party, merely the dazed inhabitants hypnotized by the soothing sounds of the casino floor. Some half-asleep so early in the morning, others yet to go to bed.

Today's new plan: register/breakfast/play/win big!

By the way, if you have never tried a Payard crepe, you are missing out. I had such a hankering for an egg/ham/cheese crepe, only to be disappointed by an over 30-minute wait! Plan B: coffee and cheese danish.

Decided to break down and pay $13.99 to get a connection to the Internet (for 24 hours). :::sigh::: Imagine my frustration, the signal was full while I made the transaction but quickly faded to one bar. Hmmm, could it be Satan?!? At least (hopefully), I will be able to send updates throughout the day.

Table: 50
Seat: 2

More later...

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Balance

I woke up not knowing what I wanted to do today. Sounds strange, considering I am in Vegas. My mind was cluttered. Not with deliberations on world peace or the global economy, just one of those short-circuit mornings where your mind is still asleep. So, I decided not to push things and let the day come to me. If there is one thing I have learned, do not play poker just to play poker, as it is a recipe for disaster.

After preparing for my day, I decided to hop on the shuttle bus and head to Caesars, with the understanding that if I was in the right frame of mind, I would play the tournament; if not, I was on the strip and could do anything.

I took the time on the bus to meditate and clear my mind. As we pulled into Caesars, the cloud lifted and it became clear what was missing: balance.

Since I first landed in Vegas, all my activities have been poker-related (the website, tournaments, writing, contacts, etc.). Poker is a passion of mine but without variety or a healthy life-diet, the game can become stale.

I grew up in the country and nature always centers me. But where was I going to find nature on the strip. Without a doubt, I was going to have to find a suitable alternative. So, I followed my ears and feet to the fountains in front of Caesars (not ideal but would do in a pinch).

Five minutes later, it seemed like a different world. The clutter cleared. I was in tune and could once again honestly voice the following answers.

Here.
Now.
This moment.

The concept is not my creation. The words are not mine alone. They are the key to balance.

How do you answer the following questions?

1) Where are you?
2) What time is it?
3) What are you?

Ohhmmm... ~Sammy "The Zentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Missing Socks and a Parallel Universe

Some of the common bonds shared by mankind:
-Joy
-Pain
-Love
-Lost socks

Is it possible that clothes dryers are a portal to a parallel universe? If not, where do all of the socks go? I'm going with the portal theory because I can't accept that they actually grow legs and walk away. Also, if I go with the portal theory, it gives me some hope that they may return (or that once science catches up, I will be able to hunt them down). How cool would that be? To travel through your dryer to a strange new land and be reunited with your clothing and possibly other lost items.

One thing I would immediately look for, my missing "do not disturb" sign from my hotel room.

For the past three nights, I placed the sign on my door to avoid the early "housekeeping" chant. For the past three nights, it has disappeared (each night I request a new one from housekeeping).

Now, either there is a clothes dryer nearby and ghosts of socks past have kidnapped my signs to disturb my slumber OR someone gets joy from stealing "do not disturb" signs. Again, I'm gonna go with the portal to another universe theory because I fail to believe that someone's life is that boring that they would have to remove guests' "do not disturb" signs.

Can you imagine? "Oh, this will be soooo cool, let me take everyone's sign. Hee hee hee."

I have come to two conclusions.
1) Misfit socks and vacationing signs are lounging in some uncharted territory, discussing the meaning of life
2) Some dreadfully boring person is giggling among a pile of stolen signs, "hee hee hee, do not disturb, do not disturb, hee hee."

I really hope it is the former.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Good Showing...

...but no money.

I finished around 100th place (out of 582 players) and missed the money by about 50 places. Long day for no pay but had a great time. Caesar's put on a great tournament and I enjoyed the camaraderie at the table.

I have a few options for tomorrow. Gonna sleep on it and decide tomorrow. Time to brush the teeth...

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Dinner Break

Recap: 582 players started, ~160 remain, average chip stack is T$43K, I am at T$34,200, top 54 players will get paid, 1st place pays out about $50K.

Off to grab some grub and try to find a signal to send the updates..grrrr!

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: 3rd Break

Not much to happening...holding steady at T$29,900.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: 2nd Break

Up to T$17,800 in chips. Catching some hands and playing well...now up to T$32K.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Start Your Engines!

Buy-in: $340. Starting with T$12,500. Structure appears to be pretty good, at least the best I have found outside of the WSOP main event.

I took control of the table early but faced some unfortunate outcomes. 1st break down to T$10,600 in chips.

Heard 'round the table
"Tying a hand is like kissing your sister!"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"What your sister looks like."

(No comment) ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: No Signal

Can't get a connection to the Internet (without paying close to $15). Geesh! I will keep trying and keep the briefings...well, brief.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Hail Caesar!

Made it to Casears for their mega stack tourney. Great value and structure for about a 1/5th of the price at the WSOP. My plan is to play this event, score big, and invest that money into more WSOP events (properly managing my bankroll while escaping the lure of the razzle-dazzle at the Rio).

More to come...

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Don't Forget to Floss

I just found a tournament at another Harrah's property that has some good value in it. More news as I get it. The teeth are flossed and ready for action.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Reality Checks

Upon my bust out yesterday, I heard the same stories echoing throughout the halls as hundreds of poker players called family/friends/business associates: "I can't believe he called my bet," "What did she think I had," "I never get lucky," "Why does this always happen to me," "Why, why, why?"

Not I.

After taking the worst of it, I take some time to decompress and reflect on life (not poker). Once I regain proper perspective, I go back and honestly review my play to find areas to improve.

Overall, I did play well; made good reads/laydowns when I was behind, profiled my table very well, and even on the hand that knocked me out of the tournament, I made the right play (considering the math/situation).

Later in the evening, I watched ESPN and the ABC newscast. Here are my reality checks for today.

Now, I understand what a commentator means when he/she uses the words warrior/courage/life and death in the context of a sports contest but I couldn't help but be struck by the irony as I flipped the channel to ABC.

Reality Check #1: Jack Lucas.

Who is Jack Lucas and why should I care? Jack Lucas was a warrior in the truest sense of the word, displaying the utmost courage in a true life-and-death situation.

(The following content was sourced from the ABC newscast and my research.)

At the age of 13 (no, that is not a typo, thirteen), Jack Lucas forged his mother's signature in order to join the Marines (after the attack on Pearl Harbor).

At age 17, he became the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor (for shielding his men from two grenades (at Iwo Jima) by jumping on top of the grenades...he miraculously survived the explosion, that resulted in over 250 pieces of shrapnel in his body and 26 operations).

On 5 June 2008, Jack Luckas died. He was 80 years old.


Reality Check #2: RFK

Although I was not born when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated, the impact is not lost on me.

On 5 June 1968, RFK was shot (later dying on the 6th).

So, in answer to all those voices echoing the halls of the Rio with their "why, why, why"...

"Some men see things as they are and say, why; I dream things that never were and say, why not." ~Robert F. Kennedy (presidential campaign in 1968)

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: 999 = 666

Let me first preface, I am not a superstitious man but the title seemed clever, as my final hand (trip nines) led to my departure from WSOP event #9.

The cards never really came my way. When I finally made a hand (trip nines), I was busted by an opponent's full house. Overall, I think I played well (perhaps too timid in a few spots but with no cards and the other players running hot, sometimes you just have to bide your time).

Notable players that I outlasted (I mention their names not to compare myself to them in skill/accomplishment but to show how volatile this event proved to be).

Hoyt Corkins
Andy Black
Jeff Lisandro
Erick Lindgren
Joe Sebok

So, what's next? The series is a marathon not a sprint (physically/emotionally/financially). To consistently succeed, one must be patience, exercise good judgment, and be financially responsible. Over the next few days, I will adapt my bankroll management and find the best games/tournaments with the greatest equity (buy-in/starting chip stack/blinds/antes/time levels/etc.) Stay tuned...

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Slow going...

...no cards for me...best hand I have seen so far is A7 suited...scrapping my way...trying to survive...but will need cards...and soon!

Nibble! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Event #9 Briefing

This event is a 6-handed (max) tournament. Normally, there are about 10 players at the table. Quick overview of a couple changes to strategy for 6-handed vs. 10-handed: you need to play more hands (or else get run over/blinded down) and the chances are greater that your opponent missed the flop (need to be aggressive and be able to read marginal situations). All that said, you start with T$3,000. If you don't get some cards in the early rounds, it could be a quick day.

Over 1,200 players in today's event. The top 120 players will reach the money.

My table: 26
My seat: 4

Let the games begin!

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: As Luck Would Have It...

...I ran into Joe Seebok (cofounder of PokerRoadRadio) on my way to breakfast. Great guy! Later I swung by the show to experience it first-hand. The guys (Joe/Gavin/Ali) always have great chemistry but I was even more impressed considering it was so early in the morning (that is, early for poker players).

Recently, they added live call-ins to the show. However, technical issues have led to many dropped calls. Ali joked that someone in the crowd should call in. In order to avoid sound/feedback issues, I called from another area of the tournament area. I only meant to test the phone lines but I winded up on-air. Caught off guard, I had to come up with a question for Eric Lingeren (just won a WSOP bracelet for the mixed event) on the spot. You can hear the awkward exchange on today's (6/5/08) episode of PokerRoadRadio. (http://www.pokerroad.com/pokerroad_radio/6-5-08/)

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Last Night Was Incredible!

(get your mind out of the gutter.)

Last night, I sweated the heads-up match (between David Singer and Jacobo Fernandez) for event #3 (pot limit hold 'em), saw Penn&Teller's ("P&T") show.

While I am not familiar with Jacobo, I have followed David Singer's poker career. I have always thought he was supremely underrated, partly because of his lack of television exposure. You see, David is a stoic and methodical player (in TV terms, "bad TV"). Nowadays, it seems the only way to guarantee TV time is to act like an idiot without any etiquette. I am not making a judgement, just an observation. I understand that poker is poker and it takes all kinds (not to mention that "good TV" is needed in order to keep networks interested in the poker industry. Those are the facts on the ground and the compromise at hand.

(Side note: inappropriate conduct does not bother me at the table. I may not agree with it but I do not let it affect my game, plus tournament directors are handling the situations much better this year. Overall, poker is a game of skill that can develop into an art form, depending on how you play the game and conduct yourself.)

After about an hour of observing the heads-up match, I went to see if I could get a ticket to P&T. Serendipity! One seat, orchestra, front and center. Nice.

Prior to the show, a jazz duo plays onstage while audience members (at the invitation of P&T) come onstage to sign an envelope that will be used later in the show. Most of the audience obliged, as did I. As I stood in line with about 20 there people, I had a strange feeling that everyone was looking at me. Sure enough, they were. How to explain...from time to time in my daily life, a certain incident occurs and on this night, on this stage, it happened. Right there in front of everyone, my feet had a mind of their own, tapping out intricate rhythms in sync to the jazz music.

I used to be a song and dance man. Every so often I get lost in the moment and my feet go to town. A bit embarrassing but everyone seemed to enjoy it.

On to the show. Penn&Teller are masters in the art form of magic. I will not reveal any of the content of their show but you have to be a phenomenal artist to show the audience how you do the trick and STILL blow their collective mind. Not only is there magic stellar but they are adept at weaving serious content into their high-energy/comedic show. Until last night, I have never contemplated philosophy after leaving a magic show. I definitely got my money's worth. I highly recommend Penn&Teller's show at the Rio. (note: this is not a paid advertisement/endorsement)

I headed back to the Amazon Room at the Rio to check on the progress of the Singer vs. Fernandez match. What a battle! In the end, David Singer took home the title and the championship bracelet. (He even cracked a smile after the final card was dealt!) For a recap/transcript of that tournament, go to www.worldseriesofpoker.com. (again, not a paid advertisement/endorsement)

Off to grab some grub, prepare, maybe swing by the PokerRoadRadio broadcast, and then play in event #9 at noon (PT).

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: FAQ #319: are you really a dentist?

In a word, no.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to perform any emergency root canals. (I suppose I could...suddenly "you'll be a dentist" from Little Shop of Horrors is running through my mind.)

For the "behind the nickname" story, go to my website www.sammythedentist.net and click on the bio link.

Getting late and a looooong day tomorrow. Night.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Rest, Perturbed Spirit, Rest!

Feeling refreshed, energized, and like I belong here; no star-struck moments with the pro poker players (and there are TONS here, after all it is the World Series of Poker) or the celebrities that are taking a shot at the WSOP. Maybe it is the experience of being here last year and that takes the edge off...or that my game and approach to the game/business has improved.

Still a few more improvements to make to the website but this is a work in progress and considering the time constraints, things are going well. (Thank you, Mark, for all of your help!)

Ok, off to do some poker business/networking, research for tomorrow's event, and possibly see Penn&Teller's show.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Up and Running!

After some technical difficulties, sammythedentist.net and my blog (CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT) are up and running. With apologies to Etta James...at last.

A special thanks to Mark (my web designer) for figuring out the glitch and staying up late to talk me through the options.

(Without further ado, here is a recap of my previously unseen blog updates.)

Vegas, baby! Finally.

Only got a couple of hours of sleep before hopping on the subway (operating on a budget) to go to the airport. Check-in and security was smooth but, due to the weather, we were stuck on the tarmac...not sure for how long, as I promptly fell asleep until we were over Nebraska.

Headed straight over to the Rio to register for tomorrow's tourney: 6-handed no limit hold 'em event. Much better than last year, it only took about 10 minutes. The energy is amazing!

Off to grab a shower, nap, and some food. Lots to investigate.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"