In November 2002, I played in my first WPT (world poker tour) tournament at Lucky Chances Casino, Colma, California. A very interesting fact about Kolma is that 90% of the town's former inhabitants are buried in the cemeteries around the town. It is always a bit uncomfortable and a bit strange to have to drive past the monuments to get to the casino called "Lucky Chances".
The WPT was still relatively new at the time, so nobody expected the large number of people that turned up in this small casino on that Sunday morning. Looking for my table, I saw WPT commentator Shana Hiatt questioning none other than himself Phil Hellmuth. There were also poker professionals everywhere you looked.
By the time I found my seat, the cards had already been dealt. As soon as I was seated, there was a person to my left, sitting right next to me Daniel "Kid Poker" Negreanu. His broad smile signalled a champion who knew that he would soon control all the action at the table. Yet Daniel's charismatic personality and winning style of play have brought him fame and millions of dollars. Today, he is probably the most popular poker player in the world.
I realised it was a great opportunity for me to learn something. And Daniel certainly didn't let me down. He was looking for action and played almost every hand. I just watched Daniel win pot after pot. He was winning with everyone at the table except for one old gentleman.
This grey-haired man had never been seen before. His poker style betrayed his lack of experience in the game. When he came up with a hand to play, he usually just stuck it in and then called all the way to the river. Occasionally he would win, but mostly he would lose. To everyone's surprise, the only player against whom he consistently won was Daniel Negreanu.
Daniel Negreanu has played heads up against this gentleman four times. All times the action was the same. The old man stuck in, Daniel raised, everyone folded except the grey-haired man. Daniel bet every street, his opponent called every time. In the showdown, the cards were turned over and every time Daniel's opponent won with some monster hand.
On their fifth hand together, Daniel just checked the river and asked: "Okay, what do you have this time? Another set?" And he was absolutely right when his opponent turned over his existing set of eights.
After a few hands, I got a pair of pocket tens. The old man we had already discussed was UTG this time, and he stuck again. In early position, I also stuck. Daniel raised and we both called.
I have to admit, I was very nervous playing my first hand against Daniel. I had never been playing against a poker pro. I don't know why, but I thought he must have aces.
Three numbers appeared on the flop, all less than 8. We checked to Daniel, who bet about half the pot. To my surprise, the old gentleman folded. I had the overpair, but I was very intimidated. I wanted to fold, but I said. The turn was another small number. I missed again, and Daniel immediately hit it again. It was definitely not good. Now I really believed that he had a pair of aces. If I call this bet, I will have already put in almost half my chips. So what do I do?
I sat thinking for a while. I decided to try and find another ten on the river. I called.
Riveris was Q.
I looked at this card sadly, hoping it might change. How could I try to catch one of the two remaining tens? The odds are only about 24 to 1. I realised that I had lost about half my chips because of a bad decision.
In a sad, defeatist tone, I said: "Check".
Daniel sighed lightly. He nodded. "Check".
What? Did I hear that right? Daniel prachecked his winning hand?
I was stunned. I took too long to open my hand, so Daniel opened his A-K. Pocket pair won for me.
WOW! I beat Daniel Negreanu!
I know it was only one hand, but it was the first time I've ever played against a poker pro. I felt alive. Sure, I got knocked out of the tournament a bit later, but when I had to walk home past the dead again, all I could think about was that one hand of poker.
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