2009 WSOP TV Broadcast

Now that the WSOP has been airing for the past couple of weeks I find it extremely enjoyable to kick back and watch the fun. As usual the first couple of levels are all fun and games and everyone seems to be having fun. Usually by the end of the first day the bad players have been weeded out sans a few hangers on.

Most of the players we have come to know and love like Scotty Nguyen, Eric Lindgren, Carlos Mortenson and Mike Matusow are cruising along waiting for the really bad players to dump them their chips. One thing I have noticed about the professional players that the amateurs seem to lack is patience. I still cannot figure out what anyone would want to risk their entire $20k stack on a draw in the first level?

Mike Matusow re-enforced my thinking when he folded a Queen high flush after the flop knowing that his opponent had only an Ace draw to the nut flush. Of course I wouldn't have blamed him had he called the all-in bet but I understood his reasoning in folding. If you are a superior player to your opponent you can wait for a better spot when it is early in the poker tournament.

I realize that some may disagree in folding the best hand but when there are no re-buys and the stakes are as high as they are in the WSOP you really have to respect the fold and his reasoning.

There have also been some heart warming stories like the one about the man with  cancer and how his wife contacted one of the poker magazines and they bought him in to the Main Event. How can you not enjoy a story like that?