EPISODE 2
NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR
What follows is a televised-hand-by-televised-hand
account. Obviously, since it's only a one-hour
show, most hands are not televised so you're going to see a lot of jumping of
the dealer button.
What's a "dealer button"? What's
"all-in"? What the heck is this weird poker game they're
playing? Well, I'll do my best to give the rookies out there a run-down
while maintaining the flow of the hands for the veterans.
From the Palms Casino in downtown "Sin City",
the Bravo TV network, in association with the National Broadcasting
Company, presents the gambling stylings of Kevin Pollack and CELEBRITY
POKER SHOWDOWN. From the beautiful Gold Yellow Copper Steel Iron Auditorium
of the Palms Casino in downtown Vegas, overlooking the uptown
section of downtown Mustang Ranch. Stay with us, won't you, and enjoy the coolest poker
this side of Binion's Horseshoe or the Bellagio. Ah, there's
laughter, concentration and gaiety at the Palms weekly. Now, to get
things underway, Kevin will introduce the five entertainers vying for the
spot at the Final Table and the lion's share of the $250,000 prize pool for
his/her charity. These beautiful pictures and lovely lyrics portrayed vocally by
Chris Wolvie.
And, guess what, folks? It's West Wing
night on Celebrity Poker Showdown! All five competitors are on the
long-running hit NBC drama series (the one whose reruns are played now on
Bravo)! Let's meet the cabinet:
CELEBRITY
|
BIO
|
Timothy Busfield
playing for Planned Parenthood Federation
|
Busfield plays Danny Concannon,
a member of the White House Press Corps and writer for the Washington
Post. Will he make the others misquote and use it against
them? |
Allison Janney
playing for the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund
|
Janney plays C.J. Cregg, the
White House Press Secretary. She makes sure the Prez doesn't look
bad. But can she make the others look bad with her poker skills? |
Richard Schiff
playing for the Weingart Center Association
|
Schiff's character is Toby Ziegler,
the White House Director of Communications. Will he telegraph his
moves to everyone else, or will the others be left on the line? |
Martin Sheen
playing for the San Carlos Foundation
|
Sing "Hail to the
Chief"! The father of Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez plays
U.S. President Jed Bartlett. Will the Chief Executive veto his
staff out of the title hunt?
|
John Spencer
playing for Professional Children's School
|
Spencer portrays President
Bartlett's Chief of Staff, Leo Thomas McGarry. He controls
everyone else...except the Prez, of course. Will he be able to
control him and the others with the cards he's dealt?
|
Each celebrity will start with $10,000
worth of
chips and the game will continue until one celebrity has all $50 thou.
That player is then eligible for the Final Table later
in the year.
They play No Limit Texas Hold 'Em,
the "Cadillac of Poker". A dealer button will be
passed around the table after each hand to show the dealer where to start
handing out cards (to the right of the button). The two players to
the right of the button post blinds, forced bets to insure there's
money in each hand. Each player is dealt two cards face down, then
will either call the highest bet, raise the bet or fold their cards and remove
themselves from the hand. After the bets are in, three community
cards which can be used by anybody are
dealt face-up on the table. This is called the flop. After another
round of betting (and/or folding), a fourth card is turned up, called the
turn or fourth street.
More bets (and/or folds) are made, then the fifth and final community card, the river
or fifth street,
is turned up. After more bets/folds, the best five-card poker hand wins
the pot. The game is called no limit because, at any time,
any celebrity can go all-in and bet all their chips. But, if
they LOSE the hand they go all-in with, they're eliminated from the tournament
At the announcers' position beside the Losers' Lounge are
your hosts Kevin Pollack and poker expert Phil
Gordon. They'll be calling the action emanating from the main room
and great those that bust out.
After a little s�ance by the five Wingers
to channel their poker energy,
it's time to SHUFFLE UP AND
DEAL!
Initial blinds are $100
(SB) and $200 (BB). The Dealer Button (D) starts on Martin.
John
|
Richard
|
Martin (D)
|
Allison (SB)
|
Timothy (BB)
|
7♣
5♦
|
?????
|
A♠
3♦
|
????
|
A♦
2♥
|
Raise to $400
|
FOLD
|
Calls $400
|
FOLD
|
Calls $200
|
Timothy
already had $200 in the pot on the Big Blind, so he only had to put up
$200 more to call the raise by John.
|
FLOP:
10♣ K♣
A♠
|
Timothy, being the first one after
the dealer button who's still in, bets first --->
|
Bet $400
|
Calls $400
|
|
Calls $400
|
|
Calls $500
|
TURN: Q♦
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK |
|
CHECK
|
|
|
To check means not to bet and to pass to the next
player. If all players check, they move on to the next card.
|
RIVER: 10♦
COMMUNITY: 10♦
10♣ A♠
K♣ Q♦
|
Had someone had a Jack in the hole, he would've had an Ace-high straight,
or "Broadway".
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
|
Bets $400
|
|
FOLD
|
FOLD |
|
|
WIN
$2,900
|
|
Had Timothy stayed
in, the pot would have been split. Both had two pair, Aces and tens,
with a King "kicker" or tie-breaker card. Martin's 3 and
Timothy's 2 would not have entered into it as it is only the best
five-card hand that is counted. If the pot HAD been split, Martin
would have received $1,500 and Timothy $1,400. Since the lowest chip
value is $100, the extra $100 would've gone to the one nearest to the
Dealer button. |
Allison
|
Timothy
|
John (D)
|
Richard (SB)
|
Martin (BB)
|
K♥
Q♣
|
?????
|
A♠
4♣
|
K♣
Q♥
|
A♣
5♠
|
Raise to $500
|
FOLD
|
Calls $500
|
Raises to $1,000
|
Calls $600
|
Calls $500
|
|
Calls $500
|
|
|
FLOP: 7♦
6♠
6♥
|
Timothy had a six
in the hole; he'd have had a "set of sixes", or three sixes, if
he had stayed in.
|
Richard bets first this time --->
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
|
CHECK
|
|
|
TURN: 9♥
|
Martin is on a
"gut-buster straight draw", meaning he needs an 8 on the river
for a nine-high straight.
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
CHECK |
|
CHECK
|
|
|
Phil Gordon says that the players are playing their cards and not the other
players. "You don't need two pair or 'trips' (three of a kind) to
make a play at the pot," he says. And, beings a No-Limit champion,
Phil would know these things.
|
RIVER: 2♦
COMMUNITY: 6♠
6♥
9♥
7♦
2♦
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
|
CHECK
|
|
6♠
6♥
K♥
Q♣
9♥ |
|
6♠
6♥
A♠ 9♥
7♦ |
6♠
6♥
K♣ Q♥
9♥ |
6♠
6♥
A♠ 9♥
7♦ |
|
WIN
$2,000
|
|
WIN
$2,000
|
Again, since two
players had the best five-card hand, they split the pot...this time evenly. |
Richard
|
Martin
|
Allison (D)
|
Timothy (SB)
|
John (BB)
|
10♥
4♥
|
K♥
6♠
|
?????
|
5♣
5♥
|
?????
|
Calls $200
|
Calls $200
|
FOLD
|
Raises to $1,000
|
FOLD
|
Calls $800
|
Calls $800
|
|
Richard has a
"CB" hand...as in "10-4, good buddy." Timothy
has the "speed limit" (55).
|
FLOP: K♦
8♠
A♥
|
|
Bets $1,000
|
|
FOLD
|
Calls $1,000
|
|
TURN: J♦
|
|
CHECK
|
|
|
CHECK |
|
|
|
RIVER: 5♦
COMMUNITY: A♥
K♦
J♦
8♠
5♦
|
Timothy got the one card he needed to beat Martin; if an ace had come off,
Martin would've had Aces and Kings to Timothy's Aces and fives.
|
|
ALL-IN
$7,400
|
|
|
ALL-IN
$7,300
|
|
Martin has less
chips than Timothy (barely). Therefore, Timothy's bet is reduced to
match Martin's all-in.
|
|
K♥
K♦
A♥
J♦
8♠ |
|
5♣
5♥ 5♦
A♥
K♦
|
|
|
OUT |
|
WIN
$19,600
|
|
The "impeached" Martin shakes hands with Kevin. Martin has
lived up to his self-given nickname of "Longshot"...and it makes
sense since this was his first time EVER in playing Texas Hold 'Em.
Martin had thought Timothy was bluffing so he HAD to call the all-in.
When Kevin tells Martin he had Timothy beat until the river card gave Timothy
the three fives, Martin bawled a little. San Carlos Foundation does walk
away with $5,000 in any case.
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Timothy Busfield |
$20,700
|
John Spencer |
$10,900
|
Richard Schiff |
$9,800
|
Allison Janney |
$8,600
|
Timothy
|
John (D)
|
Richard (SB)
|
Allison
(BB)
|
????? |
6♥
6♠ |
8♦
7♦
|
10♠
4♠
|
FOLD |
Raises to $400 |
Calls $300
|
Calls $100 |
FLOP:
6♣
7♣
4♣
|
John has the "devil's
hand": 6-6-6. |
|
Bets $500 |
Raises to $1,500 |
|
Calls $1,500
|
Calls $1,000 |
|
TURN: 2♥
|
|
CHECK |
Bets $1,000 |
|
Calls $1,000
|
Calls $1,000 |
|
RIVER: 6♦
COMMUNITY: 6♣
6♦
7♣
4♣
2♥ |
|
Bets $1,500 |
Raises to $3,000 |
|
Raises to $4,500
|
FOLD
|
ALL-IN
$5,700 |
|
Calls $1,200 |
|
|
|
6♥
6♠ 6♣
6♦
7♣
|
|
6♣
6♦
4♠
4♣ 10♠
|
|
WIN $21,600
|
|
OUT |
Well, THAT was quick. Allison joins Kevin and Martin in the
Losers' Lounge. Kevin says Allison can get "all liquored
up now." Allison asks, "Now?! I'm am already!"
She claims she was very nervous...and the one time she plays aggressive
and fearless, she lost. At least the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund
gets 5 Gs for Allison's participation. But enough of the funeral
talk: let's get back to the live game with just three people left.
Blinds are now $200 (SB) and $400 (BB). Blinds
increase during the tournament.
Timothy (D)
|
John (SB)
|
Richard (BB)
|
Q♣
3♣
|
10♦
8♠
|
?????
|
Raise to $1,000
|
Calls $800
|
FOLD
|
Allison:
"Richard is so going to lose; he can't decide who he is."
Richard had removed his cap and sunglasses before folding.
|
FLOP: J♥
9♣
10♣
|
Both Timothy and John have
open-ended straight draws. Timothy needs a King or an eight, John
needs a Queen or a seven. Timothy is also on a "flush
draw", needing one more club to make a flush.
|
|
Bets $1,000 |
|
Raises to $4,000
|
Calls $3,000
|
|
TURN: A♣
|
Timothy now has a "nut
flush", or the best possible flush in the hand.
|
|
CHECK
|
|
Bets $5,000
|
Calls $5,000
|
|
RIVER: K♠
COMMUNITY: A♣ K♠
J♥
10♣
9♣
|
|
CHECK
|
|
ALL-IN
$10,700
|
FOLD
|
|
WIN
$31,100
|
|
At this point, Richard not only wear his cap like a
rally cap, he dons THREE pairs of glasses, making him look...well, like a
superstitious and/or non-serious poker player, really.
Timothy (D)
|
John (SB)
|
Richard (BB)
|
A♣
7♦
|
K♥
10♠
|
10♣
6♠
|
Raise to $1,000
|
Calls $800
|
FOLD
|
FLOP: 8♦
7♥
10♦
|
John flopped "top
pair", meaning he's paired one of his hole cards with the
highest-ranked card on the flop. Timothy flopped "second
pair" or "middle pair".
|
|
CHECK |
|
Raises to $2,000
|
Calls $2,000
|
|
TURN: 5♦
|
Timothy now has a flush
draw in diamonds.
|
|
CHECK
|
|
Bets $2,000
|
FOLD
|
|
WIN
$10,200
|
|
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Timothy Busfield |
$29,900
|
John Spencer |
$15,900
|
Richard Schiff |
$4,200
|
Richard (D)
|
Timothy (SB)
|
John (BB)
|
J♦
9♣
|
?????
|
9♥
8♠
|
ALL-IN
$4,200
|
FOLD
|
Calls $3,800
|
Here,
Allison comes back out and massages Richard's shoulders...not to mention
his ego, I'm sure.
|
FLOP: 10♠
K♠
A♠
|
John has a flush
draw. One more spade and Richard's history.
|
TURN: 6♥
RIVER: 10♣
|
10♣
10♠
A♠ K♠
J♦
|
|
10♣ 10♠
A♠ K♠
9♥
|
WIN
$8,600
|
|
Richard
REALLY lucked out here. Both ended up with a pair of tens with Ace
and King kickers. The fifth card in Richard's hand was the Jack,
which won out over John's nine. Richard has "doubled
up", or won with an all-in bet and essentially doubled his money in
one hand.
|
Timothy (D)
|
John (SB)
|
Richard (BB)
|
A♣
3♣
|
6♣
7♥
|
Q♥
2♦
|
Raise to $1,000
|
Calls $800
|
Calls $600
|
FLOP: 10♦
6♥
J♥
|
|
CHECK |
CHECK
|
Bets $3,000
|
FOLD
|
Calls $3,000
|
TURN: 5♣
|
|
|
ALL-IN
$4,600
|
FOLD
|
|
|
WIN
$13,600
|
Timothy (D)
|
John (SB)
|
Richard (BB)
|
K♣
J♣
|
2♥
9♥
|
?????
|
Raise to $800
|
Calls $600
|
FOLD
|
FLOP: 3♣
5♥
8♥
|
|
CHECK |
|
Bets $2,000
|
Calls $2,000
|
|
TURN: 8♠
|
|
CHECK
|
|
Bets $4,000
|
Calls $4,000
|
|
RIVER: 10♥
COMMUNITY: 8♠
8♥
10♥
5♥
3♣
|
|
CHECK
|
|
CHECK
|
|
|
8♠
8♥
K♣
J♣
10♥
|
10♥
9♥
8♥
5♥
2♥
|
|
|
WIN
$14,000
|
|
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Timothy Busfield |
$19,300
|
John Spencer |
$17,100
|
Richard Schiff |
$13,600
|
Blinds are up to $300 (SB) and $600 (BB).
John (D)
|
Richard (SB)
|
Timothy (BB)
|
A♣
8♦
|
A♦
Q♠
|
K♦
5♣
|
Calls $600
|
Raises to $1,200
|
Calls $600
|
Calls $600
|
|
FLOP: A♠
K♣ J♠
|
|
Bets $2,000
|
Raises to $4,000
|
Calls $4,000
|
Raises to $8,000
|
FOLD
|
Calls $4,000
|
|
Richard now
borrows a fedora from the audience.
|
TURN: 6♠
|
|
CHECK
|
|
CHECK
|
|
RIVER: 5♦
COMMUNITY:
A♠
K♣ J♠
6♠
5♦
|
|
ALL-IN
$4,400 |
|
Calls $4,400
|
|
A♠
A♣ K♣ J♠
8♦
|
A♠
A♦
K♣ Q♠
J♠
|
|
|
WIN
$32,400
|
|
Timothy (D)
|
John (SB)
|
Richard (BB)
|
J♥
Q♦
|
A♦
A♠
|
10♦
4♣
|
Raises to $1,200
|
Calls $900
|
Calls $600
|
Bullets, American Airlines,
Pocket Rockets...whatever you call them, Aces "wired" (in the
hole) is the best possible starting hand in Texas Hold 'Em. And,
yet, John just calls or "limps in" to feign weakness.
|
FLOP: 8♦
5♠
J♠
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
Bets $2,000
|
Calls $2,000
|
FOLD
|
TURN: 7♣
|
|
CHECK
|
|
Bets $1,000
|
Calls $1,000
|
|
RIVER: 6♦
COMMUNITY:
J♠ 8♦
7♣
6♦
5♠
|
|
CHECK |
|
CHECK
|
|
J♠
J♥
Q♦
8♦
7♣
|
A♦
A♠
J♠
8♦
7♣
|
|
|
WIN
$9,600
|
|
John (D)
|
Richard (SB)
|
Timothy (BB)
|
10♦
2♠
|
6♥
5♣
|
3♦
3♥
|
FOLD
|
Calls $300
|
CHECK
|
Timothy has
"crabs". No, not THAT kind, sickos! Since a 3
turned sideways looks like a crab, "treys" in poker are called
"crabs". Since Timothy's are both red, you could say
they're "COOKED crabs".
|
FLOP: 9♣
7♣
5♠
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
TURN: J♠
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
RIVER: J♥
COMMUNITY:
J♠ J♥
9♣
7♣
5♠
|
|
CHECK |
Bets $1,000
|
|
Raises to $2,000 |
Calls $1,000 |
|
J♠
J♥
5♠
5♠
9♣ |
J♠
J♥
3♦
3♥
9♣
|
|
WIN
$5,200
|
|
Richard
won with "Motown"...Jacks 'n' fives. Get it?!
|
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Richard Schiff |
$37,600
|
Timothy Busfield |
$8,500
|
John Spencer |
$3,900
|
Richard (D)
|
Timothy (SB)
|
John (BB)
|
5♣
6♠
|
Q♦
2♦
|
9♠
8♥
|
FOLD
|
Raises $1,600
|
Calls $1,000
|
FLOP: 4♠
8♦
2♣
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
TURN:
6♥
|
|
CHECK
|
Bets $1,000
|
|
ALL-IN
$2,300
|
Calls $2,300
|
RIVER: K♣
|
|
K♣
Q♦
8♦
6♥
4♠ |
8♥
8♦
K♣ 9♠
6♥
|
|
OUT |
WIN
$7,800
|
Timothy went from first to worst in a hurry.
Martin and Allison are shocked when Timothy joins them and Kevin in the
Losers' Lounge. "I didn't play as well as I should have,"
Timothy says. Ah, well, Planned Parenthood Federation gets
$5,000. But, now it's down to heads-up action between the
Director of Communications and the Chief of Staff!
John (SB)
|
Richard (D) (BB)
|
8♠
6♦
|
????? |
FOLD
|
|
|
WIN
$900
|
An audience
member yelled, "FOLD!", even though that member had no idea
what John was holding. But John folded anyway, giving Richard the
measly pot automatically. Usually, in heads-up action, you WANT to
stay in and see a flop, no matter how much it may cost.
|
Blinds are now up to $400 (SB) and $800 (BB).
John (SB)
|
Richard (D) (BB)
|
5♠
4♠
|
A♣
A♥
|
Calls $400
|
Raises to $4,000
|
Calls $3,200
|
|
FLOP:
K♣
5♦
6♦
|
|
Bets $8,400
|
ALL-IN
$8,400
|
|
Richard
"tapped" John, meaning he bet exactly the same amount of chips
John has left.
|
TURN:
A♠
|
John
is "drawing dead". No card in the deck can beat the
three Aces of Richard.
|
RIVER:
5♣
|
Nope...not
even that third five. That gave Richard a full house, Aces full of
fives.
|
5♠
5♦
5♣
A♠ K♣
|
A♣
A♥
A♠ 5♦
5♣
|
OUT
|
WIN
$24,800 |
And, so, John's Professional Children's School
gets $5,000. But Richard Schiff becomes the second member of the
illustrious Final Table and receives the non-collectible silver
chip. His words upon finding out he'd have to play again: "I don't
want to PLAY again!" But he's glad to help his charity get more
that the $5,000 everyone else got.
|