This happened in March 2004, when the poker boom triggered by Chris Moneymaker was just beginning. I registered for a $1000 No-limit Hold'em tournament at the Reno Hilton casino, along with 250 other players, all of us vying for the first place and the $80,000 prize. I played quite well, and with a bit of luck, I managed to reach the final two tables. However, after moving to a new table, the game became much tougher because David Pham joined my table.
I had never encountered David before, but I quickly understood how this two-time WSOP bracelet winner earned the nickname “The Dragon.” Hiding behind his dark glasses and small beard, he completely took control of the table. It seemed like the only word David knew was “Raise.” If someone dared to re-raise The Dragon, he would simply call the re-raise and outplay his opponent after the flop. It was impressive.
Since David was sitting immediately to my right, his aggressive style was causing me a lot of harm. He raised three times in a row from the button and SB while I was in the blinds. Each time, I folded, patiently waiting for playable cards. As I waited, I watched my chip stack slowly dwindle, gradually moving to the right.
David continued to successfully increase his chip stack as the button moved around the table. Again, when I became the BB, everyone folded to David in the SB, and without a moment's hesitation, he raised. I laughed and asked him, “Do you always have a good hand?”
David said nothing.
I decided it was time to start defending my blinds. My plan was to re-raise him, no matter what two cards I saw. I looked at David, who had almost twice as many chips as I did. I looked at my cards. A-10 suited. Mathematical calculations about pot odds and similar things were spinning in my head as I glanced at David once more. I won't be pushed around. I stopped calculating, waited a few moments, and shoved All-in.
For the first time, I saw David look worried. He thought, and thought, and thought. To call, he would have to risk half of his total chips. Finally, he folded.
But losing one pot didn't slow down this raising machine at all. The next round, he tried the same move from the SB again. This time, I decided not to look at my cards and shoved All-in immediately. David folded again. Yes!
Another orbit passed, and again everyone folded to David in the SB. I prepared for another raise from David, but to my surprise, he just limped. What? This was very suspicious. A super-aggressive player just limped instead of taking a great opportunity to raise.
I looked at my cards, A♦ – Q♥, should I shove All-in again?
No, I didn't trust his limp. I raised. He called again.
I decided that no matter what happened, I would play very cautiously. I definitely wouldn't fall into his trap.
The flop was K♠ – 4♥ – 3♣. We both checked. The turn was 9♦. We both checked again. The river was 3♠. We both checked once more.
David showed 2♦ – 2♥. He won. I laughed, showing him my cards.
I learned that the only way to fight aggression at the table is with even greater aggression. More importantly, I learned that the only way to beat David Pham at the table is to shove All-in against him. Yes, he is that good of a player.
