EPT London: Pedantry, double-ups and bust outs
Poker is a game of margins, small details that can be the difference between thousands, perhaps millions, of bucks. And it pays to keep close attention to the most miniscule factors to ensure the inevitable variance is kept to an absolute minumum. In short, don't tempt the poker gods.
But it can too far, right?
Out on the table closest to the exit door, a hand finished and the dealer shuffled, preparing the deck for the next hand. He fired one card to the player in the small blind and then the second to Max Katz in the big blind. As it hit the chips on the table, it flipped over and everyone saw the 3s. And everyone stopped.
"Misdeal!" bellowed one player.
"No, that's just the burn card," insisted another. "You carry on and make that the burn."
"It's a misdeal if it's one of the first two cards out the deck. It's a misdeal."
"Come on, just carry on." (The other players, it's fair to assume, aren't bothered either way.)
"Floor!" came the next inevitable shout. "Ruling."
The tournament director was duly summoned from across the tournament floor, dodgemed his way through the tables, spectators, triangular tables of drinks and dinner, all to make what might be the most trivial ruling of his entire career. "Err," he said. "Use it as the burn card. No. Hold on. It's the second card out, right? Then it's a misdeal."
The dealer obliged, shuffled up, and on they went.
***
A few bullet points to keep you happy:
Gualter Salles
He's also always up for a chat and a laugh, but as he told me his chip count moments ago, his game face was definitely on. He is in the zone like I have never seen him before.
Watch EPT London 08 Day 1b; Hevad Khan Interview on PokerStars.tv
