CHAMPIONSHIP
NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR
What follows is a
televised-hand-by-televised-hand
account. Though this is only a two-hour
show, they actually SHOWED this game almost hand-by-hand, so...
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.
Some time ago, CELEBRITY POKER
SHOWDOWN started with 25 celebrities from all walks of fame.
From music, screen and television, they flocked to the Sands Casino in
Vegas for a chance to play for the largest part of a $250,000 Prize Pool
(donated by Cingular Wireless, mind you). Well, after five
single-table matches, 20 have been eliminated and five remain.
Before this special two-hour episode is over, one of them will walk away
with $100,000 for his/her charity!
Let's meet the five lucky celebs who
battled their way through four opponents each and walked away with the
collectible silver chip that signifies their entry into this Final Table:
CELEBRITY |
HOW
THEY GOT HERE |
David Cross
playing for The National Gulf War Resource Center |
This Arrested
Development star defeated Carrie Fisher, Tom Green, Mimi
Rogers and Scott Stapp when he was down to a mere $1,000 in
chips. Can he pull off another miracle? |
Willie Garson
playing for the Children's Hospital of Denver |
Stanford
Blatch from Sex and the City managed to knockout Ben
Affleck, Don Cheadle, Emily Proctor and David Schwimmer one by one.
Can he make another clean sweep? |
Paul Rudd
playing for Project ALS |
The star
of "200 Cigarettes" and "Cider House Rules"
smoked through Coolio, Sarah Silverman, Shannon Elizabeth and Ron
Livingston to be here. Will this be another domination or
will he actually have competition this time? |
Richard Schiff
playing for the Weingart Center Association |
Schiff
outlasted four other West Wing actors: Timothy Busfield,
Allison Janney, John Spencer and even "President" Martin
Sheen. Will he impeach the rest of the crowd this time? |
Nicole Sullivan
playing for Alley Cat Allies |
This King
of Queens star took care of Hank Azaria, Michael Ian Black,
Peter Facinelli and Mo Gaffney after being down to $2,800.
How will she handle the pressure of being the only female at the
Final Table? |
$10,000
worth of chips is given to each player and the game continues until one has all
$50,000 of it.
First one booted out gets $7,500, the next one gets $10,000, third place
gets $12,500, runner-up receives $20,000...and the winner gets the lion's
share: $100,000! (I know some of you are adding it up and not coming up
with $250G; the other $100G was divided among the charities of the 20 who
lost in the preliminaries.) The winner ALSO gets a commemorative GOLD coin
that signifies them the Celebrity Poker Showdown Champion!
The game is No Limit
Texas Hold 'Em, the "Cadillac of poker" as they call it. 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, called hole cards. They'll then either call the
highest bet, raise the bet or fold their hand. After the bets are
in, three community cards, called the flop, are dealt face-up on
the table. After bets (and/or folds), a fourth card is turned up,
called the turn or fourth street. Then more bets
(and/or folds), followed by the fifth and final community card, the
river or fifth street, being turned up. After more
bets/folds, the best five-card poker hand (made of any combo of the five
community cards and the two hole cards) 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.
Kevin Pollak and poker expert
Phil Gordon will call the action out at the table. The "Lounge
Of Non-Winners" (guess they finally felt that "Losers'
Lounge" was a bit harsh) has an ironic twist this time since everyone's already a
winner.
It's time to decide a champion
of Celebrity Poker Showdown! Let's SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!
Initial blinds are $100 (SB)
and $200 (BB). The Dealer Button (D) starts on Nicole.
Willie
|
Paul
|
Richard (D)
|
Nicole
(SB)
|
David
(BB)
|
?????
|
A♦
10♠
|
?????
|
K♣
3♣
|
?????
|
FOLD
|
Raises
to $600
|
FOLD
|
Calls
$500
|
FOLD
|
Nicole
need only put in $500 because she already has $100 in the Small
Blind. Had David called, he would have only had to kick in $300.
|
FLOP:
6♣
10♦
Q♥
|
Nicole, first after the dealer
to stay in, bets first ---->
|
CHECK
|
|
|
Bets $400
|
|
FOLD
|
|
|
WIN $1,800
|
|
Paul
|
Richard
|
Nicole
(D)
|
David
(SB)
|
Willie
(BB)
|
?????
|
10♣
6♠
|
?????
|
Q♦
4♥
|
Q♠
6♥
|
FOLD
|
Raises
to $400
|
FOLD
|
Calls $300
|
Raises to $800
|
|
Calls $400
|
|
Calls $400
|
Raises to $3,100
|
FLOP:
J♣
J♠
2♦
|
|
Calls $400
|
FOLD
|
|
FOLD
|
|
|
WIN
$2,800
|
|
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
David Cross |
$11,400
|
Paul Rudd
|
$10,800
|
Nicole Sullivan
|
$9,400
|
Willie Garson
|
$9,200
|
Richard Schiff
|
$9,200
|
Richard
|
Nicole
|
David
(D)
|
Willie
(SB)
|
Paul
(BB)
|
6♦
6♥
|
?????
|
A♠
8♠
|
K♦
K♣
|
?????
|
Raises to $500
|
FOLD
|
Raises to $1,000
|
Raises to
1,500
|
FOLD
|
Calls $1,000
|
|
Calls $500
|
|
Willie's
"cowboys" is the second-best starting hand in hold
'em...next to Aces, of course. He's a 55% favorite to win the hand,
mostly because of David's Ace.
|
FLOP: 4♠
5♣ 2♥
|
|
Bets $1,000
|
|
Raises to $2,000
|
|
Raises to $3,000
|
Calls $2,000
|
|
Calls $1,000
|
|
|
|
|
TURN: 8♣
|
Richard
has an "inside straight draw", needing a 7 to make a straight to
the 8. Willie's hand is still the one to beat.
|
|
CHECK
|
|
Bets $1,000 |
|
Calls $1,000 |
Calls $1,000 |
|
RIVER: 8♦
COMMUNITY: 8♣
8♦
5♣
4♠
2♥
|
David has "a set of snowmen", or three 8s.
|
|
|
|
CHECK |
|
CHECK |
|
Bets
$1,000 |
Calls
$1,000 |
|
Calls
$1,000 |
|
8♣
8♦
6♦
6♥
5♣ |
|
8♠
8♣
8♦
A♠
5♣ |
K♦
K♣
8♣ 8♦
5♣ |
|
|
WIN
$19,700
|
|
|
Nicole
|
David
|
Willie
(D)
|
Paul
(SB)
|
Richard
(BB)
|
A♦
9♣
|
6♣
6♥
|
Q♠
10♣
|
7♣
6♠
|
?????
|
Raises to $400
|
Raises to $800
|
Calls $800
|
Calls $700
|
FOLD
|
Calls $400
|
|
The
first time this entire tournament four players are in a hand before the
flop. David is a VERY mild favorite.
|
FLOP: 10♠
5♦
4♥
|
Paul has an "open-ended" straight draw, needing either a 3 or
an 8 to make a straight. Willie has "flopped the top
pair", meaning he matched one of his cards with the top-ranked card
of the flop.
|
|
CHECK
|
|
Bets $500
|
Raises to $1,000
|
ALL-IN
$1,900
|
Calls $1,200
|
|
Calls $1,400
|
Calls $900
|
|
Willie
is a 50% favorite to win. A side pot will now be made that only
Nicole, David and Paul and bet into and win. Since Willie is all-in,
he can only win the $11,000 in the main pot.
|
TURN: 3♠
|
Paul
has made his straight...and Willie is "drawing dead", meaning no
card left in the deck can help him.
|
|
Bets $3,900
(Side)
|
|
Paul just takes a
stack of chips and says, "I don't know how much that is. I'll
just put it in." That is a blatant "tell", something
you do or say that tells anyone who can pick up on it what you have.
Paul has all but broadcast that he has the straight. |
FOLD |
Calls $3,900
(Side) |
|
Before he bets, David rubs his nipple
under the bathrobe he wore to this occasion..."for luck". And
he'll need it; all that can save David is a 7, which would split BOTH pots
between them.
|
RIVER: J♠
COMMUNITY: J♠
10♠
5♦
4♥
3♠
|
|
|
|
CHECK |
|
|
CHECK |
|
Paul
most likely checked because there are three spades on the Board...and, if
David had two more, that would have been a flush, which would have beaten
Paul's straight. Had David raised (and big), Paul would have been
bluffed out of the pot most likely. Fortunately for Paul, David
checked. |
|
6♣
6♥
J♠
10♠
5♦
|
10♣
10♠
Q♠
J♠
5♦
|
7♣
6♠ 5♦
4♥
3♠
|
|
|
OUT |
WIN
$11,000 (Main)
WIN $7,800 (Side)
|
|
So Willie Garson, who smacked Lady Luck
on the behind (as Kevin put it) in his qualifier, is out after a few hands
and joins Kevin in the "Lounge of Non-Winners". "Evil
Willie" wonders how Paul stayed in the hand from the very start,
since 7-6 was NOT a good starting hand...and berates himself for being
"on tilt", or so frustrated that he made mistakes. The
GOOD news is that The Children's Hospital of Denver receives $7,500
on Willie's behalf. The BAD news is that Ben Affleck was probably
saying, "I lost to THAT guy?!?"
Back at the table, David asks tournament
director Robert Thompson to get the "drink lady" over so he can
have a second beer. But the hands go merrily on, with or without
David's booze...
David
|
Paul
(D)
|
Richard
(SB)
|
Nicole
(BB)
|
2♦
A♦
|
6♠
5♦
|
????? |
????? |
Raises
to $600 |
Raises
to $1,000 |
FOLD
|
FOLD
|
Calls
$400 |
|
David
has "Acey-Deucey"...but the fact they're both in diamonds
also means they're "suited connectors", two cards of
consecutive rank in the same suit, good for straight AND flush draws
and fairly decent hands. |
FLOP:
7♥
4♣
Q♦
|
Another
open-ended straight draw for Paul. |
Bets
$600 |
Raises
to $1,200 |
|
Calls $600 |
|
TURN:
8♣ |
Paul
did it AGAIN! Another straight! David is drawing dead. |
Bets $600 |
Raises to $5,000 |
|
FOLD |
|
|
WIN
$10,300
|
|
|
Paul,
after his bet, leans back in his chair, as if relaxed. That is
another "tell" that he has a good hand. Whether
David caught it or not is unknown, but he made a good "lay
down". |
After the hand, David gets his drink from Brandi, the "drink
girl". David pays her off with some paper money...leaving the
table to wonder where in his robe he pulled it out of. Director
Thompson says out loud, "One minute left in the round."
Texas Hold 'Em tournaments are usually timed and, when the round ends, the
blinds go up. This will be the last hand with $100 and $200 blinds.
Paul
|
Richard
(D)
|
Nicole
(SB)
|
David (BB)
|
J♣
5♣ |
????? |
Q♠
9♣
|
????? |
Raises
to $1,000 |
FOLD
|
Calls $900
|
FOLD
|
Paul
has "Motown" (Jack(s) 'n' 5), while Nicole
has Quinine (Say "Queen-nine" REALLY fast). |
FLOP:
Q♣ K♠
J♥
|
The
flop comes "Picasso", named so because face cards are
usually called "paints". Nicole flopped middle pair
and an inside straight draw (needing a 10) while Paul flopped the
bottom pair. |
|
Bets $1,500 |
|
FOLD |
|
|
WIN
$3,700
|
|
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Paul Rudd
|
$24,900
|
David Cross |
$15,000
|
Nicole Sullivan
|
$7,700
|
Richard Schiff
|
$2,400
|
Blinds have gone up to $200 (SB) and
$400 (BB).
Richard
|
Nicole
(D)
|
David (SB)
|
Paul
(BB)
|
????? |
????? |
6♠
5♣
|
A♣
6♦ |
FOLD |
FOLD
|
Raises
to $800 |
Calls
$400 |
FLOP: K♥
3♠
J♣
|
|
Bets
$400 |
FOLD
|
|
WIN
$2,000 |
|
Oddly
enough, David only had a 15% chance to win. Paul
"mucked" the better hand. |
Willie tells Kevin and Phil that the winner of each
of the prelims was the one that drank the most at the table. Read
into that what you will as we move on:
Nicole
|
David (D)
|
Paul
(SB)
|
Richard
(BB)
|
????? |
????? |
A♥
3♦ |
A♦
5♠ |
FOLD |
FOLD
|
Raises
to $1,700 |
ALL-IN
$2,400 |
|
Calls
$700 |
|
FLOP:
5♣
4♠
2♦
|
YOIKS!
Paul flopped a wheel (five-high straight)! But Richard isn't
quite dead yet. A 3 would split the pot. An Ace and a 5
or two of either will win it for him.
|
TURN:
2♣ |
STILL not
over. Richard can still split with a 3 or win with a 2 or a 5. |
RIVER: Q♦ |
|
5♣
4♠ 3♦
2♦
A♥ |
5♠
5♣
2♦
2♣ A♦
|
|
WIN
$4,800 |
OUT |
So Richard Schiff evacuates of the "west
wing" of the table and heads for the Lounge to join Willie and
Kevin. Richard says, "They're knocking the bald guys out one by
one. I hope David is next." He couldn't use a cap given
to him by Sarah Silverman. Ah, well, $10,000 goes to the Weingart
Center Association at the least. Phil had Richard in the pool
according to him...and Richard has a 6am call for West Wing that he
doesn't expect to keep.
Back at the game, David tries to talk Director
Thompson into changing "Shuffle up and deal" into the phrase he
introduced at his prelim game: "Shuffle the @#$% up!" But
Thompson is too traditional and starts the deal the traditional way.
David
|
Paul
(D)
|
Nicole
(BB)
|
This is the very
next hand. Since Richard was to post the Small Blind had he stayed
in, it is passed up. Nicole STILL plays the Big Blind, though.
|
J♥
5♥
|
A♣
A♠
|
????
|
Calls $400
|
Calls $2,000
|
FOLD
|
Calls $1,600
|
|
Paul
is WAY in the lead with "pocket rockets"...or "Joe
Louis" since they're both black Aces.
Willie: "Paul...can win this thing in, like, 20 minutes."
|
FLOP:
6♣
9♦
2♣
|
Bets
$400
|
Raises to $5,000
|
|
FOLD
|
|
David
takes a LONG time to fold, explaining to the table that he knows where
he screwed up, thinking that Paul was bluffing and missing the obvious
tells. Well, David DIDN'T screw up here, folding a hand that was a
96% underdog.
|
|
WIN $9,800
|
|
Nicole says she's learned NOTHING about poker or her
competitors. Yet Kevin says that two far more experienced poker
players are in the Lounge before SHE is.
Paul
(D)
|
Nicole
(SB)
|
David
(BB)
|
A♣
10♣
|
K♠
7♦
|
????
|
Calls $3,000
|
Calls $2,800
|
FOLD
|
FLOP:
7♣
Q♦
9♥
|
Nicole flopped a pair. Paul is a 70% underdog.
|
|
ALL-IN
$4,300
|
|
Calls $4,300
|
|
TURN: 4♠
|
Paul needs to pair one of his cards to win the pot
and knock Nicole out of the tournament.
|
RIVER:
6♥
|
A♣
Q♦
10♣
9♥
7♣
|
7♣
7♦
K♠
Q♦
9♥
|
|
|
WIN $15,000
|
|
Nicole
"doubled up", winning an all-in bet and essentially doubling
her chip count.
|
Richard tells Phil that Paul must've been feeling VERY lucky after
flopping TWO straights...and THAT'S why he was so aggressive while having
next to nothing.
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Paul Rudd
|
$22,000
|
Nicole Sullivan |
$15,000
|
David Cross |
$13,000
|
As the cards are dealt, Nicole gathers her chips and says, "That's
five more penises removed from male cats." (Her charity helps stray
cats by spay or neutering them). David retorts by saying, "Oh,
those orphans...are gonna be psyched about that. 'No more milk? But
a cat got his @#$% removed? That's all right...'"
Nicole
(D)
|
David
(SB)
|
Paul
(BB)
|
?????
|
K♠
J♣
|
?????
|
FOLD
|
Raises to
$800
|
FOLD
|
|
WIN $1,200
|
|
Before
he looks at his cards, David consults a small booklet typed up by Phil
to help them play poker better. It must have worked; he won with a
"bachelor's hand" (Jack-King off-suit...think about it).
|
David
(D)
|
Paul
(SB)
|
Nicole
(BB)
|
A♣
K♠
|
6♠
6♥
|
?????
|
Raises
to $800
|
Raises
to $1,600
|
FOLD
|
Calls
$800
|
|
|
David
has "Big Slick", the best non-paired hand in Hole 'Em...but
Paul's wired 6s make him a fair favorite.
|
FLOP:
9♦
A♥
8♥
|
David
has become the fave with his pair of "bullets". He
studies Paul to see if he can pick up a tell...like him sitting forward
when he has a bad hand. Then, after arguing about Nicole drinking
his beer and a "spit take"...
|
|
CHECK
|
|
Bets
$800
|
Raises
to $1,600
|
|
Calls
$800
|
|
|
Paul
give ANOTHER "tell" when he slams his chips confidently on the
table. This is usually a sign of weakness.
|
TURN:
2♣
|
|
Bets $2,500
|
|
Calls
$2,500
|
|
|
Paul
is bluffing...and Nicole knows it but can't say (that's against
tournament rules). Paul needs a third 6 to win.
|
RIVER:
4♥
COMMUNITY: A♥
9♦
8♥
4♥
2♣
|
|
Bets $3,500
|
|
ALL-IN
$7,300
|
FOLD
|
|
WIN
$3,400
|
|
David
played that last part very well. He more or less said to Paul,
"I know you have nothing...and you just gave me a lot of
chips!"
|
Paul
(D)
|
Nicole
(SB)
|
David
(BB)
|
?????
|
Q♥
6♥
|
7♠
6♦
|
FOLD
|
Raise to
$1,200
|
Calls to
$800
|
FLOP:
4♠
3♣
6♣
|
Both
flopped a pair of 6s, but David has an inside straight draw, needing a
5.
Nicole (to David): "When you look to your right, do you wish it was
Shannon (Elizabeth)?"
David: "Del Shannon, actually."
|
|
Bets $600 |
Raises
$1,200
|
|
Calls $600 |
|
TURN:
8♥
|
|
Bets $600
|
Raises to
$1,600
|
|
Raises to
$2,600
|
Calls $1,000
|
RIVER:
6♠
COMMUNITY: 6♠ 6♣
8♥
4♠
3♣
|
Both have the "Devil's Hand" (6-6-6), but
Nicole has a Queen "kicker" whereas David has a 8.
|
|
Bets
$1,000
|
Raises
to $4,000
|
|
ALL-IN
$9,600
|
Calls
$5,600
|
|
6♥ 6♠
6♣
Q♥
8♥
|
6♦
6♠
6♣
8♥
7♠
|
|
WIN
$29,200
|
|
In the course of the last two hands, the chip lead
has gone from Paul to David to Nicole.
|
As Nicole relaxes after that big pot win (and Paul
rubs David's nipple through his bathrobe), who should join Willie and
Richard in the Lounge than Ben Affleck. When Kevin mentions what he
thought Ben thought after Willie got bumped, Ben couldn't agree more,
although he admits to having some fairly bad hands in the heads-up
match. Then David Schwimmer, another of Willie's victims in the
first game, shows up. David admits to playing some blackjack after
his loss and actually MADE some money. Then Ben suggests making a
side table amongst the four of them. Kevin yells, "Get us some
chips and a few decks!" But things get a little nervous when
PHIL says he wants in on that.
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Nicole Sullivan |
$29,200
|
Paul Rudd
|
$12,000
|
David Cross |
$8,800
|
Blinds are now $300 (SB) and $600 (BB)
Nicole
(D)
|
David
(SB)
|
Paul
(BB)
|
?????
|
5♠
4♥
|
10♣
5♣
|
FOLD
|
Calls $300
|
Raises to
$1,200
|
|
Calls $900
|
|
FLOP:
2♣
A♣
A♦
|
Paul
has a "nut flush draw", needing another club to get the best
flush possible. David has an inside Wheel draw, needing a 3.
|
|
CHECK |
CHECK
|
TURN:
3♥
|
David
made his Wheel...but Paul can STILL get a club and win the pot.
|
|
Bets
$600
|
Calls $600
|
RIVER:
7♠
COMMUNITY:
A♣
A♦
7♠
3♥
2♣
|
|
Bets $1,300
|
FOLD
|
|
WIN
$4,900
|
|
David
(D)
|
Paul
(SB)
|
Nicole
(BB)
|
K♠
5♦
|
Q♦
5♠
|
7♦
3♥
|
FOLD
|
FOLD
|
|
|
|
WIN $900
|
Winning
a pot by default like that is not very common. Nicole had one of
the worst hands in Hold 'Em, but David and Paul didn't think their hands
would hold up. All Nicole won, however, was Paul's $300 Small
Blind. Perhaps neither guy wanted to give Nicole more chips than
she already has. :)
|
Paul
(D)
|
Nicole
(SB)
|
David
(BB)
|
K♦
9♦
|
?????
|
K♥
10♣
|
Raises to
$1,200
|
FOLD
|
Calls $600
|
Paul
has a "dog" of a hand (K-9), but David has a much better hand
in the "woodcutter" ("K-10" sounds like "cuttin'")
|
FLOP:
2♠
3♥
10♦
|
|
|
Bets $1,200
|
FOLD
|
|
|
|
|
WIN $3,900
|
Ben says that "Ruddsy's finished." Once again, David
yells, "SHUFFLE THE @#$% UP!"...and, as the applause dies down,
Director Thompson adds, "...and deal." David also
complains about how Ben and David Schwimmer get preferential treatment
when it comes to food perks.
Nicole
(D)
|
David
(SB)
|
Paul
(BB)
|
5♥
2♣
|
10♣
3♥
|
?????
|
FOLD
|
FOLD
|
|
|
|
WIN $900
|
Another
default win. But, really, who WOULD play Nicole and David's hands?
|
Now Shannon Elizabeth has joined the fray in the Lounge...and
Phil gets very distracted.
David
(D)
|
Paul
(SB)
|
Nicole
(BB)
|
?????
|
K♥
4♥
|
9♣
5♠
|
FOLD
|
Calls $300
|
CHECK
|
Since
Paul didn't raise (he MEANT to, but he put $300 in first and that
constitutes a call; if you raise, you must but all the chips you raise
with in at the same time), Nicole can just check.
|
FLOP: 10♦
Q♦
2♦
|
|
CHECK
|
CHECK
|
TURN: J♥
|
Both Nicole and Paul have open-ended straight
draws. Nicole needs a King or 8, Paul an Ace or 9.
|
|
CHECK |
CHECK
|
RIVER: 10♠
COMMUNITY:
10♦
10♠
Q♦
J♥
2♦
|
|
CHECK |
CHECK
|
Nicole COULD have made a bet to scare Paul
out. She can do that with such a huge chip lead. As it is, she
checks and Paul is only going to pick up the blinds.
|
|
10♦
10♠
K♥
Q♦
J♥
|
10♦
10♠
Q♦
J♥
9♣
|
|
WIN
$1,200
|
|
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Nicole Sullivan |
$28,600
|
Paul Rudd
|
$11,800
|
David Cross |
$9,600
|
As Brandi serves more drinks to the players, Nicole
states, "I'm gonna wear that outfit (a golden two-piece outfit) if I
win."
Paul
(D)
|
Nicole
(SB)
|
David
(BB)
|
A♠ 6♦
|
J♥
4♥
|
?????
|
Raises to
$1,200
|
Raises
to $2,700
|
FOLD
|
Raises
to $4,200
|
Calls $1,500
|
|
Ben
catches a "tell" when Paul raises to $4,200. Paul just
stacked chips, but needed to stack more to make the minimum raise.
That's a sign that he doesn't know what he's doing anymore.
|
FLOP:
6♠ J♦
10♥
|
|
Bets $2,500 |
|
FOLD
|
|
|
|
WIN
$11,500
|
|
Nicole
gave off a tell as well. As she drank her drink, she kept looking
at Paul, WANTING him to call her. But Paul didn't.
|
Nicole
(D)
|
David
(SB)
|
Paul
(BB)
|
A♠ K♠
|
10♣
5♣
|
?????
|
Raises to
$1,500
|
Calls
$1,200
|
FOLD
|
Nicole
has "Big Slick" and David has "Woolworths"
(five-and-dime).
|
FLOP:
4♣ J♣
8♣
|
David
has flopped a flush! Nicole is already drawing dead!
|
|
CHECK |
|
Bets
$4,000
|
ALL-IN
$9,700 |
|
David did a "check-raise", feigning
weakness to get Nicole to toss more chips in, then raising the bet to show
he's stronger than she thought. He went all-in just in case Nicole
had a high club in her hand. Here, Nicole rubs her OWN nipple under
her dress, and then...
|
Calls $5,700
|
|
|
David has doubled-up....and Schwimmer applauds it in
the Lounge.
|
TURN: 4♠
RIVER: 9♥
|
4♣
4♠ A♠
K♠ J♣
|
J♣
10♣ 8♣
5♣ 4♣
|
|
|
WIN
$23,000
|
|
David
has regained the chip lead...and Nicole compliments him on his excellent
play.
|
Blinds go up to $400 (SB) and $800 (BB). Ben,
Schwimmer and Shannon have left the Lounge...maybe to start their own game,
who knows.
David
(D)
|
Paul
(SB)
|
Nicole
(BB)
|
K♠
4♥
|
6♦
6♥
|
J♠
7♥
|
Call $800
|
Raises
to $1,600
|
Calls $800
|
Calls $800
|
|
FOLD
|
FLOP:
A♠ 6♣
10♦
|
Paul's
turn to get the Devil's Hand...
|
|
ALL-IN
$3,200 |
Calls $3,200
|
FOLD
|
|
|
...and he runs with it. Nicole thinks he's
bluffing...but she learns when the cards are flipped. Paul's a 96%
favorite, and Nicole's only chance is running Jacks. running 7s or running
Queen-King to make a straight ("running" = "in a row on
Turn and River").
|
TURN: Q♥
|
Ut oh...
|
RIVER: K♣
|
|
6♦
6♥
6♣
A♠ K♣
|
A♠
K♣ Q♥
J♠
10♦
|
|
OUT
|
WIN
$11,200
|
Nicole
got "Broadway" on the River! The odds of getting the
running cards needed were 1 in 52.5! Phil and Kevin call this a
"suck-out", a good hand beaten by a lucky hand by someone who
shouldn't have been in the pot in the first place. It's so named
because it just sucks the life out of the one who got caught. It's
also called a "bad beat".
|
NOBODY can believe that Paul Rudd got
"sucked out"! Paul sulks towards the Lounge where he is
comforted by Kevin, Willie and Richard. Kevin reiterates what Phil
said earlier that Nicole had no hand to even call a bluff is Paul had
indeed been doing that. Paul knew he had to go all-in with the
"trips". But getting beaten like that...calls for at LEAST
six or seven drinks. Kevin would tell Paul later that his charity, Project ALS,
gets $12,500.
So it's heads-up action
between Nicole Sullivan and David Cross, the two "Cinderella
stories" from the prelims. Both were down to the felt
(extremely low on chips) but fought their way back to make it to the Final
Table. They bring out the $100,000 which would go to the winner on a
silver platter...as if they don't have ENOUGH pressure on them to
win. It's time, for the Celebrity Poker Showdown
Championship, to SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Nicole Sullivan |
$28,600
|
David Cross |
$21,400
|
Nicole (D) (SB)
|
David (BB)
|
5♥
2♥
|
????? |
FOLD
|
|
|
WIN $1,200
|
Another
default win.
|
David comments that he and Nicole are "the last two
people America THOUGHT would be here...or that Bravo WANTED to be here."
David (D) (SB)
|
Nicole (BB)
|
Q♦
6♠
|
6♣
6♥
|
Calls $400
|
Raises to $4,800
|
FOLD
|
|
|
WIN $5,600
|
David "limped in", or just called. That's usually an
indication that the hand is weak.
|
Paul thinks Nicole is a better poker player than she
let anyone think...but, in reference to charities, he has to root for
David. Richard and Willie agrees. Here is where Kevin tells
Paul about the 12.5Gs for Project ALS.
Nicole (D)
(SB)
|
David (BB)
|
Q♠
Q♥
|
K♦
6♣
|
Raises to
$2,000
|
Calls $1,200
|
FLOP:
7♠ 3♠
4♦
|
David
has an inside (or gut-buster) straight draw, needing a 5. But
Nicole's still a 74% fave.
|
|
Bets $800
|
Raises to $1,800
|
Calls $1,000
|
TURN: 6♥
|
|
Bets $1,600
|
Raises to $3,200
|
Calls $1,600
|
Not too
many would raise into a possible straight on the Board, but Nicole is
confident her hand is the best...which it is.
|
RIVER:
10♠
COMMUNITY:
10♠
7♠ 6♥
4♦
3♠
|
|
CHECK
|
Bets $2,000
|
Calls $2,000
|
Q♠
Q♥
10♠
7♠ 6♥
|
6♣
6♥
K♦
10♠
7♠
|
WIN $18,000
|
|
Nicole
made a "value bet", a bet small enough that David might call
even if he had a bad hand. It worked; David lost $2,000 more than
he should have.
|
Phil is thoroughly impressed how Nicole played that
hand. And everyone in the Lounge is REALLY starting to wonder if Nicole
hasn't been hustling everyone into thinking she was a bad player.
CURRENT
CHIP COUNT
|
Nicole Sullivan |
$37,200
|
David Cross |
$12,800
|
Nicole looks at her right thumbnail, which has taken
a bit of a beating. David could care less, going, "Dude, she
was so @#$%ing hot...but then I saw her thumbnail and I'm, like, out of
there!"
(This is the only time in the whole show that they
seemed to skip a hand as Nicole is back as the Dealer Button)
Nicole (D)
(SB)
|
David (BB)
|
5♥
2♥
|
????? |
Raises to $2,500
|
FOLD
|
WIN
$3,200
|
|
Another
default win for Nicole. She used her position to bet David out and
collect the blinds.
|
After David reciprocates while the boys in the Lounge were
discussing Nicole's strategy...
Nicole (D)
(SB)
|
David (BB)
|
A♠
A♣
|
7♦
5♠ |
Raises to $2,500
|
FOLD
|
WIN
$3,200
|
|
Once
again, Nicole uses the position. Most pros would "slow
roll" pocket Aces, but Nicole knows that David likes to stay in
pots for the most part Not this one, though.
|
David consults Phil's booklet again. and Kevin hopes he
reads the part apart playing the player and not just the cards.
David (D)
(SB)
|
Nicole (BB)
|
Q♣
6♦
|
J♦
J♠ |
Calls $400
|
Raises to $1,700
("that much")
|
FOLD
|
|
|
WIN
$2,500
|
Nicole
is "grinding", slowly taking David's chips away.
|
Nicole (D)
(SB)
|
David (BB)
|
Q♦
8♦
|
J♦
2♠ |
Raises to
$3,000
|
Calls $1,200
|
FLOP:
A♠ Q♥
9♦
|
Nicole's
a 96% favorite (the same Paul was before his suck-out).
|
|
Bets $1,200
|
Raises to $4,000
|
ALL-IN
$8,200
|
Calls $4,200
|
|
David
was trying to bluff having Aces...but Nicole didn't buy it for an
instant.
|
TURN: 8♣
|
This
gives David an outside chance. He needs a 10 on the river to make
a straight or Nicole wins. Nicole proved earlier that it can
happen...
|
RIVER:
K♠
|
...but
not THIS time.
|
Q♦
Q♥
A♠
K♠ 8♦
|
A♠
K♠ Q♥
J♦
9♦
|
TOURNAMENT
WINNER!
$22,400
|
OUT
|
So the National Gulf War Resource Center
gets $20,000 thanks to David Cross...but it's Nicole Sullivan, the
least likely person thought to win, wins the $100,000 first prize for
Alley Cat Allies!
After getting mucho congrats from the other celebs and Phil, Kevin tells
Nicole about how they felt Nicole was hustling them. She didn't deny
it, but she didn't say she was, either. Kevin gives Nicole the gold
chip that signifies her the first-ever Celebrity Poker Showdown
Champion. Nicole says, "Liquor helps. Drink...because it
makes you smarter. Everyone else were greater players than me...and
it was just luck. But it's awesome...that every single person walks
away with money for their charities.
This is Chris Wolvie reminding you (like Kevin did every
episode), "It's not the size of your stack; it's how you play your
chips!"
|