Atom-RSSBad Beats in Poker: We all get them handed to us, and not only do we lose the money, but everyone goes on tilt for at least a hand or two so we can lose more of our poker bankroll!
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September 16, 2005
By: JESSICA MUSICAR - For the North County Times
OCEANSIDE ---- Their poker faces firmly in place, 57 women bet and bluffed their way through the last day of the ninth annual, three-day California Ladies State Poker Championship at Ocean's Eleven Casino in Oceanside on Thursday.
The name of the game: No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em.
Peeking at their hands and throwing green, yellow, grey and black chips into the pot, the players tried to make winning hands out of seven cards ---- their two face-down cards and five face-up community cards the dealer placed in the middle of the table.
As the day wore on, some women left the tables disappointed and out of chips while others watched their stacks of colorful chips get bigger.
The championship, which was created and hosted by the casino, began Tuesday with the first of two qualifying tournaments and 280 women. That number was whittled down as the top poker players proved their skills at the table. The top nine players from each of the qualifying tournaments went on to play in the finals.
Coming from all over California and across the country, the women played for shares of two $29,000 pots from each of the qualifying tournaments and part of $10,000 for the final event. Each bought in to the championship for $200 plus a $25 entry fee.
In the end, Las Vegas resident Linda Johnson walked away with the title and $3,650, the championship trophy, a watch, a commemorative denim jacket and, perhaps most important of all, free entry into both the World Series of Poker-Ladies Event and the Ladies International Poker Series Grand Championship later this year.
Earlier in the day, Johnson said she has been playing various poker and card games for 30 years, and is a "gold bracelet winner" in the World Series of Poker. She has played in every one of the Ocean's Eleven ladies tournaments.
"I love the camaraderie and Ocean's Eleven throws a good party," Johnson said.
Star McCormick, the marketing and tournament director for Ocean's Eleven, said the casino created the championship nine years ago to encourage women to get into the game.
"Ocean's Eleven tries to honor women by holding this event," McCormick said.
"Poker used to be just a man's sport (and) we saw a need to bring women in to co-exist with the men who are playing poker. It's a very prestigious event. Being Ladies State Champion is a big deal."
In addition to the recent popularity of the game on TV, McCormick said card playing has become increasingly popular for women, simply because they have realized that they are good at it.
"It's a game of skill ---- women use their intuition to read other players," McCormick said, adding that winning money is not the primary reason for playing. It's that women want to play to get a seat at the World Series of Poker.
After less than an hour of play in the finals, player Debbie Knight of Downey lost all of her chips trying to draw a diamond flush.
Although she was disappointed that she didn't last longer, Downey said she had fun at the tournament and won $1,500 and fifth place during the qualifying tournament on Wednesday.
"I did great overall but lousy today," Downey said. "I think I could have waited for a better hand or played it wiser.
"(I'm) disgusted, but ya know, it happens. There will be other tournaments."
Downey said she has never played in the championship but has some experience from other card tournaments.
During an early afternoon break, Nicole Hadji-Agha of Benicia, said the championship is the sixth card tournament she has competed in since she took up the game six months ago. A criminal defense attorney by trade, Hadji-Agha said she took time off from work to play in the tournament. She did not place in the final event.
"It's a fun fantasy alternative to working and it's a lot easier that doing a trial ---- trials are rigorous," said Hadji-Agha, who placed seventh and won $1,500 in Wednesday's qualifier. "Women play differently than men. They are a little harder to read."