Starting with 20K in chips and blinds 50-100, there was an opportunity to play some fun poker - for the first level at least.

Apart from Mel Judah, I didn’t know any of the players at my first table. However, that changed when ex world champion, Carlos Mortensen took the seat to my immediate right. Fun and games were about to follow…

Carlos and I have played many times together. And each time, we always seem to enjoy ourselves. This was no exception. I got the ball rolling by limping in blind on three occasions, Carlos raised every time. As it happens, Carlos had a good hand each time. In fact, Carlos went on an amazing rush that saw him win nine hands in a row. By the end of level one, I was down to 16K as Carlos built up to over 30K. It was fun - but very one-sided.

The other players seemed to holding back. But I guess it was only a matter of time before some of them joined the party. Carlos limps UTG for 200 and the next player raises to 500. I decided to call on the BB with 8-9. Carlos just called. The flop of 8-T-J, brought two checks to the raiser who bet 2K. I didn’t much like the two diamonds on board - but I called and so did Carlos. The turn was a blank. Following two more checks- the raiser threw in 4K. That was too much heat for me - I just couldn’t afford the bet. But Carlos, holding A-Q, decided to call. The Qd hit the river and both players checked. A-Q for Carlos and 8-T for the raiser. We all laughed at the move that paid off handsomely. But how I wished I gambled!

When the table broke an hour later - I had exactly 20,100. However, Carlos had a bad time after the initial great start and finished with less than 10K.

My new table was stacked up to the hilt with chips. It was obvious that this was an action table. Two to my right was the chip leader with over 100K. How can you amass that many chips I asked? The answer was J-3. Apparently, A-J raised and was called by J-3. J-J-X on the flop. All the money went in and a three hit the river. We had a loose canon here, and I was his immediate victim. I lost 6K to him when he called my big raise with 5-6 - he made a flush.

That was the last hand our chip leader won. But no bad beat stories here. He just went on the most incredible self-destruct mission I had ever witnessed. He proceeded to spread the chips around the table as if he were throwing confetti at a wedding. The last 15K or so was by way of a monster 9-3 on a Q-7-3 flop. Admittedly, the pre-flop raise was no too big! Unreal!

With just a couple of minutes left of blinds at 100-200 and a 25 ante - I was desperate to get things going. With only about 14K, I limped with Qd-Td. Two more limpers followed. Ted Forrest on the button does not allow limpers. He raised 1400 more. It was to time gamble.

Ted Forrest is a real great player. He was also in form as he made the final table in the Professional Poker Tour event here (this takes place after the WPT final). He plays the game with great patience and thought. That’s not to say he does not make moves - he just does quietly.

Anyhow, back to that hand. The flop came Q-T-4 rainbow, I checked in the hope that Ted would make some sort of bet. I was stunned but delighted when he bet 10K. I obviously moved all-in with top two. Ted called the extra few chips with his A-J.

Well, the King came on the river and I was gone.

Time for a break before the World Series of Poker.

Until next time- play well get lucky and let Ted make his move on the button.

Peter “The Poet” Costa