On Monday night, the 23, I dealt two tables of the Festa al Lago, No Limit Holdem Tournament. Amazing how many big name players were left in those two tables…scary if you’re just getting started in tournament play because you know you’re up against some of the toughest players to ever make a stand at the Green Felt Arena.

While I was dealing, Scotty Nguyen, Annie Duke, and Carlos Mortensen, busted out. But there were a lot more ‘name brand’ players than just the three named, these three happened to be at my tables. Some of the WPT players were in this tournament also.

The S*T*A*R*S are everywhere in our room, come in and take a look…better yet, get on the list so you can play with them.

******

John, I’ve known him across the green felt for years; we’ve played together at The Gold Coast and The Orleans, and I’ve played against him and dealt to him at The Mirage, and Bellagio. I get a kick out of him and his play. He says his wife is one of the best cooks in the world…then pats his tummy. He can get a little excited and/or disgruntled while he’s playing but never totally out of line.

While dealing to him in $15-$30 Holdem, he must have been exceptionally tired or stressed out because the scene went like this:

John was in the 9s and raised pre-flop, under the gun. The 6s called.

The Flop was 10-8-7. John bet, 6s called.

The Turn a 5, John bet, the 6s called.

The River a 6, John bet $10 all-in, the 6s called.

John opened his hand, A-K, and said, “Straight, just like you have, only you might have a better one.”

The 6s pitched his hand into the muck.

I was in the process of dropping the deck, pulling the pot together to push it to John and he went crazy. “Linda! He threw his hand away. He has to hold onto his hand.”

Several players started to say something and before I could even get a word in, John went off again, demanding this time, “Linda, he threw his hand away. He has to have a hand.”

Even if I’d had a machete to chop his words off in the air, the next string was blasting out so fast I couldn’t say anything. I put my hand up and almost yelled, “John! Stop! There is NO straight on the board.”

I knew he thought there was a straight but he was so excited that he was like a run away train on 10 mile, downhill grade. He did stop then.

As I pushed the pot to him, I said, “I wasn’t going to split it up.”

Embarrassed, he stuttered and stammered for a few minutes and we went right on with the game. I had to give him a little shoulder pat when I left for the next table.

*****

I got to deal to Double Mean and Completely Ugly again…yes, J.C.P. Fright night and wrath, brimstone and fire, creepiest of the creeps all rolled into the body of something that resembles a person but has nothing in common with the human race.

He was playing $60-$120 Omaha 8 or Better with a 1/4 Kill. The kill was on and he ended up heads up with a young guy next to him, the youngster was in the 7s, J.C.P. in the 8s.

The high hand was Aces and sixes, which they both held, but the 7s had a low. J.C.P. got quartered.

I took half of the chips in front of J.C.P. and gave them to the 7s, split the pot in half, and then split the high in half. I gave the odd chip to the 7s.

J.C.P. said, “I had a high also. Just bring that back and do it right.”

I said, “It is right.”

He followed with, “Then why does he get the odd chip?” Believe me, he knows why.

I said, “Because he’s left of the button.”

I looked directly at him while this was going on. Wish I hadn’t…damn he’s got a lot of ugly and hate in those eyes.

He flustered and blustered through the rest of my down and as soon as the next dealer approached, he put his chips in the rack and left. This guy had a heart attack about 6 months ago. The way he reacts and behaves at the table should be a good reason for him not to play since he has a medical condition.

Another reason for him not to play is so the atmosphere and aura of the room isn’t disturbed by all the hate and anger he has for himself.