Vegas: UPC Bubble Girl

A lot of my motivation for going to Vegas was to play in the Women’s UPC event at Binions. Butthe state of my gameand the strength of the fieldhad me debating that decision up until the last minutes of registration. The longer I waited, the more WSOP bracelet winners took the field. But in the end, it was the quality of the field that drew me in. When was I ever going to get a chance to go up against the caliber of these players again? So in a totally “WTF” gesture, I threw my money down.

I enjoy the company of Susie Isaacs, but wasn’t thrilled to see her pull up a chair at my table. But as I looked around the room, I saw there were no easy tables. Barbara Enright and 2006 WSOP Women’s Champ Mary Jones were there. Michele “The Black Widow” Lewis was at the table behind me. I saw Barry Shulman – which only meant on thing: Allyn Jaffrey Shulman was in the hood.Carolyn Ford was there (I played with her during the 2006 Orleans Open – she finished 3rd and I finished 10 off the bubble). She also finished up 2006 by making four final tables in Reno. Lacey Jones and Anjela Brunson were there. AndI recognized at least two dozen women from final tables I have witnessed over the years.

Initially my goal was modest; I just wanted toregain my former game.Over the past six months, in a failed attempt at changing up my play, I had completely lost my NLHE game – or what I had of one. But as the fieldwhittleddown from the 201 starters toten off the bubble, I realized I actually had a shot at a money finish. I was short stacked andtickled to see AKs in the cut off. I pushed in. The well stacked bb went into the tank. She eventually folded showing AJs face up. She FOLDED to me – the short stack. I looked at her in amazement. She smiled and said, “I’m not a tight player, but I know you are.” I didn’t want a fold there, I wanted totriple up.

I got moved to another table and just couldn’t find an opportunity to chip up. So I found myself in a familiar position; I was short stacked on the bubble. The good news was that I had obviously regained my bubble threat game. The bad news, of course, is that it was once again bubble time.

I have a well-earned reputation as bubble girl and have had many sleepless nights about letting myself blind off just short of the dough. So there I sat; one of the third shortest stacks, wondering if I was going to havebubble deja vu. It was then I looked down at pocket nines.I was one off the cut off with no callers. I had 2900 chips with a 3000 bb.The pot had 3600 in antes and 4500 in blinds. The bb was short stacked but had me covered.The sb only had 1500 and I knew she would fold to try to sneak into the money. I thought there was only a 50/50 chance that the cut off orbutton would call.

But as I sat there, computing my pot odds, I knew it was a senseless exercise. If I folded, I would probably make the money – but I wouldn’t have ashot at anything but bottom dollar. I read Sklansky. Iknew about tournament EV and the EVdictated a fold. But if I called and won, I would at least triple up andwould have a shot at making a run.

I called. The button called. On a rag flop, the button bet, putting the bb all-in.I was glad to see themboth unpaired; the button with AQ and the bb with Q5. I was also happy to see there were only five outs to beat me. The turn was a brick. At this point I mentally tallied my hypothetical pot; it was a little better than a quadruple.

The queen on the river ended my day as bubble girl. The salt in thewound is that the bubble prizewas the book, Women’s Poker Night, which I already owned as I wrote one of the chapters. I signed the book and handed it to the bb – who finished just inside the money.

I swore at myself for thenext hour. Ihit the booze and chocolate for the next few hours. But when my head hit the pillow, I slept like a baby.