Jena Delk’s Blog

Copied from http://preventcancer.org/newsroom2c.aspx?id=4560#tourney

On May 4, a record 130 poker players from across the country brought their best poker faces to the nation’s capital to support cancer prevention. The Prevent Cancer Foundation raised $215,000 at its Sixth Annual Bad Beat on Cancer Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament. After an exciting evening of tournament play, Jeremy Coon took the grand prize donated by Harrah’s Entertainment—a $10,000 seat at the 2010 World Series of Poker Tournament.

The event was attended by top professional poker players Andy Bloch, Lee Childs, Annie Duke, Rafe Furst, Jena Delk and Howard Lederer, members of Congress and players from corporate and poker communities. Professional poker champion and Foundation board member Phil Gordon—renowned for his commentary on televised poker matches such as Celebrity Poker Showdown and the World Series of Poker—served as the master of ceremonies for the evening.

The tournament, sponsored by 1-800-Contacts®, Amgen, Astra Zeneca, General Dynamics, Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., Legacy, and the Poker Players Alliance, featured 10 players at each of the 13 tables vying to win a seat at the final table where they competed for fabulous prizes, each of which had been generously donated to the Foundation. Prior to the tournament, Gordon and the other professional poker stars in attendance held a poker clinic for first-time players and for those in need of a refresher course before the games began.

“Poker is an exciting way to bring people together to beat cancer. Most of our guests recognize the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s mission is important and they are more than happy to help fulfill it,” said Jan Bresch Mahrer, the Foundation’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Since its inception at the World Series of Poker in 2003, the Bad Beat on Cancer initiative has raised more than $3.2 million to support the Foundation’s mission.

Learn about the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s other signature events.

Today was Event #3 -$500 + $50 No Limit Hold ‘em (6-handed) at Harrah’s in New Orleans. I did not last very long in the event. My table mates were all good players who seemed able to read my cards before I could. I probably should have stayed in bed, which is something I strongly considered.

I stopped by the poker room after my early exit from Event #3. I sat down to a very sick $1/$2 game. Every hand had 4-5 limpers and then someone would bump it up. Nearly all the limpers would call a raise up to $20. There was just no folding pre-flop at this game.

Even though the table was a bit wild, they seemed to respect my game a bit too much (i.e. no action on my good hands) I knew I needed to mix up my game a bit if I was ever going to make some money. So when I peeked down to QQ from middle position, I limped, making me the third limper in the hand. I fully prepared to call the expected raise and fold if an ace or king arrived on the flop. Two more limp after me and the big blind bumps it up to $20. The UTG player calls. I call. The rest of the players uncharacteristically fold. We see a flop of J 7 8 rainbow. The big blind bets $55 and the UTG player min-raised to $110. I respond with an all in bet of $360. The big blind folds and the UTG calls. The turn is a 4 and river is a 3. The UTG player had A J, hitting top pair, top kicker. Whew!

Oh, by the way, have you ever seen a stack of blackies (20 - $100 chips) in a $300 capped $1/2 game? Come to New Orleans to play and you will! Crazy stuff.

I arrived in New Orleans yesterday morning at 9:30 am.  Too tired to play the noon event in the New Orleans WSOP circuit event.  So, I checked into the Hilton Riverfront and went straight to bed.  I woke up at 4 pm!  Exhausted for sure.   Thank goodness for these wonderful pillows and room darkening curtains.

I went to Harrah’s last night to check out the action around 8 pm.  The poker room is packed with a huge waiting list.  I play $1/2 NLH for an hour, making $72.  Not too bad.  Went card dead and getting really bored, which is a bad combination for  me.    At the dealer change the calling station picked up his stack, so I got up too.  No reason to pay time if my target is leaving and I am on the verge of playing bad. 

Jena outside Harrah

Then I went to the Theater to see what is going on with the prelims and SNG’s. I am happy to see a line for the SNG’s and a full room of players.  I get in line for the $120, and am seated in less than 10 minutes.  I didn’t cash in this one.  It’s now about 11 pm, so I decide to go back to my room.  Gotta get some rest to play the noon event.

I am preparing to play the $550 NLH event today by listening to Tips From The Bear.  Really good stuff!  Thanks Barry.