Al King sat on a stack of 73k in chips, good for a top ten place halfway through Day 1. The retired pipefitter from Canada starting playing poker about three years ago. "We lived in Washington state a bit before we moved to San Diego after I retired. I'm living the dream life." Al is married with one son still in Canada, and he has one grandchild.
"I started playing there at the card rooms, and I only play NLH and tournaments." He won his seat here in a $1.5k tournament. "I was in 59th place when we won our seats, and I was so excited that I'd be playing in the World Series."
Al has had a strong Friday. "I've had big hands, and they've gotten paid off 99% of the time. I'm sure I could have gotten more chips if I had slow played hands, but I just don't like to get chased down. I'll bet my big hands, but the table probably knows that now. I'll have to run a couple bluffs out there."
He turned to his neighbor in the 3s. "You didn't hear any of that, did you?" The 3s shook his head. "I heard nothing," he said.
Al smiled widely, then got serious on the next hand. He called a raise, and the flop came 
. He bet, and the 6s called. 
came on the turn, and he fired another 2.5k into the pot. Again, he was called. 
came on the river, and he checked. His opponent also checked, and Al turned over 
for trips.
"OK, I guess I'll bluff the next time," he said with a big smile.