One of my new friends, met through the greenfelt medium (of course) just sent me an email about Bellagio’s event winner Anna Wroblewski and gave me permission to post it here on Tango.*Begin email from Al_Capone_Junior*

Yesterday the $3000 nl event concluded with Anna W taking a bracelet as probably the youngest woman and 2nd youngest player ever to do so. Anna is 21.

They made a deal for the money with 3 left. As chip leader (about 40% of total chips, ratios about 8:7:4.5) the deal offered by the Bellagio’s “formula”* put her share at about $225,000. Anna had an entourage of watchers, cheerleaders, and advisors, including myself and several other math/poker book geeks like me. She looked to myself and Stuey an’ nem 🙂 for advice as to what was a truly fair deal. We did a few calculations and gave our advice. The B’s formula was within a few thousand of our estimates so we said go for it, that was close enough.

They played from there for the entry into the championship and the bracelet, which Anna wound up winning with class and some damn fine poker playing.

Following the tournament’s conclusion it was time to get paid and toke the staff. Anna would have given the staff a token of her appreciation without any encouragement, but she again looked to us for advice, not knowing what was appropriate. When Anna looked directly at me I told her immediately and without hesitation “3-5%.” This is the number I have posted on 2+2 before and the number I would toke myself in a major event. A couple more of the boys chimed in and the amount decided upon was $10,000, within the advice of everyone present. The Bellagio staff probably does not get many winners who are so generous as Anna was yesterday.

I would like to point out that I have never liked the Bellagio, and have not played there much, nor have I encouraged many others to play there. My reasons are the crowded room and treatment of the players, particularly the “low limit” players (which includes virtually everyone I play poker with).

Yesterday was a refreshing change from what I was used to getting from the B. They treated the players well, and probably more importantly, treated the spectators well. ** They let us watch from the second step and didn’t run us off once, despite the room being fairly crowded, and despite the fact this was a major event. This probably made a big difference to the size of the tip Anna left for the staff, because had they off her cheering section and advice givers (all her friends), I have little doubt she would not have been happy about it. So good job to the B on this one, I guess they earned their money.

I am considering whether to post a close version of this on 2+2, but I’m about 50-50 on yes or no. Otherwise only a select few have gotten this email. I wouldn’t mind if Doug Dalton saw it (I did talk to him yesterday for a few min), and I don’t mind if you choose to post it on tango poker.

Al_Capone_Junior

*The spectators at last year’s WSOP were not treated anything even close to this well (in fact they were treated quite badly if you ask me). From my limited observations of the B’s running of a major event they are a billion light years ahead of harrah’s and the WSOP.

*End email*