No Bluff Poker

Poker player Tiffany Michelle has gone further in the World Series of Poker main event than any woman since Annie Duke, finishing in 17th place this year, but her victory has been blemished by accusations of misconduct. Having been staked by Tony G and his outfit PokerNews, Tiffany Michelle stopped wearing their logos and started wearing Ultimate Bet’s logo late in the event. She has spoken out, stating that many other players wore multiple logos, but the case is being built against her good name that she went back on her word.

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Tony says the last couple of days have been a lot of fun…he’s been hanging with Mike Tyson, Shane Warne, Jeff Fenech. There’s been a lot of boxing and cricket. The scene goes to a ‘cricket hit out’.

Amanda Leatherman takes over the mic as she intros Shane Warne, from 888 Poker, and Tony G. from Sunset Park. Tony’s decked out in shorts and they go into game play against a local Vegas team that plays all the time. The team is very excited to have Shane in their midst as he’s an internationaly known Cricket superstar.

Tony goes into action pitching and Shane does a commentary on Tony’s form, Tony asks, “If I do well, could I get picked somewhere?”

Shane says yes but Amanda quickly changes the subject, “Do you think you’re going to kill these guys out here?”

Shane says it’s one of the most interesting surfaces he’s ever played on and the ball might do some strange things.

The action starts and one of the Las Vegas Cricket Club Members says it’s great because all of them pretty much grew up watching the Cricket greats.

Tony says they could get lucky and win.

Joe Hachem joins Tony as they watch Shane.

The scene flips to Tony showing his moves as a Cricket expert.

Back to Tony and Shane where Shane proclaims Tony to be the absolute star of the show. The final conclusion from Shane is that Tony G. could be a ringer next year. Tony says he’s ready.

Amanda makes a classic blooper and asks Shane which one he thought was better, Tony Hachem or Tony G. Let’s face it, once you see Tony G. in shorts and playing cricket, that’s all you think about is the Tony’s of the world.

The final conclusion is they all had fun. The ultimate goal…have fun.

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Today’s a T-6 video blog – and it’s funny – Tony has a great way of bringing out the humor of poker and the people that play the game.

Tony says he’s got a couple of legends with him today.

Tony introduces Jeff Lisandro and says Jeff grabbed him off the streets and Jeff taught him everything he knows, then he asks Jeff how the saying goes.

They both laugh as Jeff explains that he taught Tony everything Tony knows – not everything Jeff knows. *The laughter is a great part of this picture*

Tony turns to Croc and explains that Croc is a legend in Australia and has been cleaning everybody out for a long time.

Croc says it’s all pretty exciting because they had 12 T-6 Poker members play a Pot Limit Omaha event with 381 starters and after day 1 they lost more than 75 percent of the field and they still had 6 T-6 members.

Tony G., Croc, Jeff Lisandro, and Julian are still in (fellow Aussies), looking for the gold bracelet.

Tony goes on to say they all played the H.O.R.S.E – Tony says they were all obviously a little bit outclassed, just a different level of play…*Tony’s phone rings* Both Croc and Jeff disagree with Tony. Tony checks his phone again…there is laughter and joking around the phone call.

They talk about the $50K horse event and the conversation goes to the useage of “unlucky”…they are having fun with “outdrawn” and Jeff says he started with the best hand but didn’t finish.

Tony queries, “…isn’t it all about finishing, not starting?”

They have more fun as Jeff talks about guys that write books about starting hands but none of them write books about finishing hands.

They talk about high limit and Jeff says that it’s easy to be on top of the world while you’re winning.

Croc jumps into the mix and expounds about them both making a final table and he hasn’t made one yet.

They continue to banter about the tournament, starting hands, and coming in from behind and making the best hand. Tony says the Italians and Greeks are all coming in from behind – and Tony G.’s a straight shooter.

They end the blog with more banter and laughter.

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Tony welcomes you to his blog and brings in a guest. Welcome the “Pilot”

His name is Phil Gluck but he really is a pilot and he jumped out of a plane two days ago, “Just to get the adrenaline started.” It was a first for Phil, even though he’s a professional pilot, he had never jumped out of a plane before. “I shit in my pants!”

Tony queries Phil on whether Tony should do it or not and Phil replies, “I don’t know.”

Tony asks Phil to tell us in German how the jump was. Phil obliges but his German report isn’t as emphatic as his initial report in English.

Tony says he can’t do it, he would have to get used to it.

Phil says it was a tandem jump and in order to really enjoy the tale, watching the video allows you to enjoy both Tony and Phil’s humor and expressions as the experience unfolds.

The talk goes back to poker as Tony asks Phil if he’s ready for some big events tomorrow.

Phil is playing the pot limit holdem tomorrow and then he wants to play the 10K Omaha. They talk about re-buy tournaments, Phil and Tony agree that they don’t care for the re-buys and Tony says he plays them all…today he played the Omaha hi/lo and, “I want to find the guy that discovered that game…” *laughter*

Tony goes on to say that he’s played the game a lot, and he really enjoys it. If it isn’t obvious by now, Tony really enjoys all games of poker.

Currently Tony was down to 4,000 and he’s back up to 20, he’s got some drunk people at his table which is fun. “They get rowdy early because I’m on the table but I get rowdy on the end when I’m actually going to collect a 100,000 plus…”

Tony asks Phil to tell us something about his life in German, “Tell us something for OverCards…”

Phil does. Tony brings Phil’s German narration into English as they talk about a hand Phil played where the dealer declared the all-in as not being a raise.

Their conversation turns to the play of poker.

Tony says it’s bike time.

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“GO, GO, GO!”

Tony welcomes you to the blog and introduces Andreas Krause from Germany. Andreas says he feels very well and things are good.

Tony and Andreas do a laughing, nodding, contact in German. Andreas does most of the talking and Tony nods and agrees interjecting here and there…it’s all Greek unless you understand German.

Then Andreas asks Tony how his poker life is, “…it’s schlecter?” Tony says no and they continue to switch between English and Deutsche until Andreas says for him it would be perfect because it is his big goal…one final table and two money finishes.

Andreas says he thinks Tony can make two final tables and he can make one final table.

Tony asks Andreas if he’s playing PLO today. The answer is yes and Andreas has about 12,000 in chips. Tony says they are at the first break and…”Obviously Tony G.’s got 30,000.”

Andreas interjects, “30,000…”

Tony cuts in with, “It’s average for good players…for bad players average is about 12,000.”

Andreas agrees…”Yes about 12,000 but I like to play low stack, everybody knows…”

Tony jumps in with, “Because it’s easier,” as they chide each other and laugh.

Tony breaks the humor by talking about playing low stack strategy and the conversation goes to serious mode as they talk.

Andreas says you have to find your stride. And his stride right now is to play low stack. He says he knows he can do it. Andreas cuts off into Deutche and they toggle between English and Deutsche again.

Tony says they need to win one, one of them, if they can win one tournament…

Andreas agrees talking about the fact that everybody can win a tournament, although it’s not to easy.

They both do some laughing and word dancing around “Phil”.

Tony wishes Andreas auf wiedersehen and asks him if he rides a bike or a trike. Andreas says, “I can ride a bike but I didn’t ride a bike for many years…”

Tony tells Andreas that he asks everybody because it’s handy to learn in case you get busted and if you haven’t got money, you can ride back from home.

Andreas agrees, “Ride your bicycle…”

Tony says, “On your bike.”

Tony continues, that he’s plugging away, yesterday was 7 card stud hi lo and it was so boring. He was lucky and busted out a half hour before the day’s end so he basically suffered the whole day and wasted $5,000.

Today Tony’s had four rebuys and he’s in about 30,000 and there are no more re-buys. He’s played about three hours and is only going to play good poker…there’s only one wild player at his table that has about 100,000 so, “If I could eat him twice, I’ll have all the chips.”

Tony’s on his way to have fun…

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“BANG!”

Tony G. with a girl off the streets…he was just crawling by…

*She takes the microphone from him*

She says Tony G. is wasted right now and she intros herself…she’s Amanda. She asks Tony what’s going on in his tournament.

Tony says he doesn’t want to play the first two levels anymore because it’s such a bore.

Amanda tells Tony he should come in late. Tony asks who designed the game. “Seven card stud hi/lo?”

Tony says the game is designed to rob people, find innocent people who aren’t too bright, put them in with the sharks and rob them.

Amanda asks Tony if he’s a shark or the innocent guy.

Tony says he’s the innocent guy off the street who doesn’t have the five grand but he’s buying into the event. He says the game sucks and asks Amanda if she can believe that game.

Amanda asks Tony why he wants to play it then.

Tony expounds, “How boring is it?” and then goes on to ask what else is he going to do here in Las Vegas.

Amanda tells Tony he could have played the $1,500 NL and Tony says he’s not playing any no limits.

When Amanda asks Tony why not, he says he can’t play at 12…he can’t wake up at 12.

Amanda agrees that she can barely get there.

They talk about the game of 7 card stud with Tony querying who created the game…a girl or a man?

Amanda says she’s sure it was a man because, “Men are stupid!”

And Tony talks about the different stud games and how they are making it more complex by making it hi/lo.

Tony hasn’t bought into the game yet, he was across the road having a steak, he says they brought him a glass of wine with his meal, “I might have had a glass of wine,” after Amanda states that Tony’s been drinking.

Tony says it’s fun to drink if he’s got to play the 7 card stud.

Amanda and Tony banter back and forth about the game, buy-in, and Tony playing a game he hates.

Tony asks, “Yes, but what else am I going to do? It’s night!”

The banter goes on, Tony asks Amanda if he should just ‘get blinded out?’

Tony says he’s going to go play a few hands and if it feels OK, he’ll play on, but he’s not taking it to seriously.

Tony puts the closer on the conversation by asking Amanda if she rides a bike or a trike.

Amanda Leatherman from PokerNews.com

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Tony welcomes you to his blog, introducing a couple of others that he grabbed off the streets. Apparently they are dealers at the Crown Casino. They deal mostly poker at the Crown and Tony asks them if they just quit their job and come to the World Series.

Yes, they are in Vegas for a couple of months.

Tony turns the conversation to Macau and asks if they will be heading there. The first response is no and the other response is that the word is the action is pretty soft in Macau.

Tony asks Michael Gazzardi if he’s the big sicko on T6 Poker. The response is, “Yeah…I’ve been playing on T6 Poker since it started…”

They talk about cashing out from T6 Poker – in the neighborhood of 30 to 40K – and the fact that he picked up $60K for the WSOP buy-ins. Michael “…can’t wait to ******* play one of these events and drill them!” Tony tells him ‘no swear words’ but Tony and the guys are laughing and enjoying the gusto of winning playing poker.

Tony says it’s not easy to play them [the events] because of liquidity problems and how that has all been resolved and everything’s looking good now. Everything is all sorted out now and T6 Poker has come through.

They laugh about how sick you have to be to win the rack(?) race. There is more joking and fun about the race, no sleep, and how one player started off in front but Michael caught him and passed him. Tony says the guy must have been so depressed, he wasn’t even coming. But Michael says he is coming and they’ve actually become friends.

The missing guy is Sheba and they call to him to come, Tony tells Sheba there’s 40 grand ticking away.

Tony turns to James Burgoine, he got 20K, and Tony teases James about not having much ability because he busted early today. Tony tells him “…we need all the donkeys in there…”

They continue to joke about the guy that got 40 and didn’t show up. Then Tony says, “Alright, bike time,” and James leaves as Tony turns the conversation to Michael and the fun continues with Sicilian heritage and the “Jeff Lisandro pedigree.”

They talk about the limit holdem tournament and they are still laughing about the donkeys they know out there. Tony sends Michael out to his bike.

Tony continues the blog with his own tournament progress, he busted up in the PLO, it’s very depressing, he played a very long time and got Aces back to back and lost both very big pots. “I was biking…I can’t afford a bike so I have to walk back to the Bellagio…”

Today Tony’s playing a new event and he’s missing the first two hours – he’s playing $2,500 buy-in six-handed event. He says he’s going to have fun and push his stack, he may be out pretty quickly but if not, he’ll get a big stack and get fat and bully everyone.

“Take care, play well, and enjoy poker! Bye.”

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Tony welcomes us to his blog by introducing Kirill Gerasimov – a Russian player – and Tony tells us that Kirill is his best friend. Tony says that Kirill had a bit of an accident in Russia, that Tony sent him on his bike.

Tony has Kirill show both of his arms and he’s wearing a type of splint that covers his arms and wrists, allowing a cut out for his hands.

Kirill says, “Bad beats.”

Tony responds, “Bad beats from Tony G. and bike times.”

Tony goes on to explain that when you do ‘get busted’ you have to be very careful and drive very slowly.

Tony asks Kirill how things have been. Kirill hopes it’s a big World Series for him and Tony follows up with, “You’ve just arrived, despite the big injury, you want to win.”

Kirill agrees…he definitely wants to win.

Tony tells Kirill that Kirill is the best Omaha player in the whole world and tells Kirill it is good to have him there…the meaning is good to have him here as a friend and on the blog.

Tony says that he has been running a little cold the last couple of days but today is a big day for him and he has to do really well and he’s got to send a few Russians back…*they both laugh*

Tony says there are a lot of foreigners today and he’s after the French as well, some of the Germans…and obviously all of the Americans, he wants to eat all of those as well. *Kirill breaks out in laughter*

Tony says he wants to play some big pots and raise – reraise. And Tony adds, “Feel the power…”

They speak for a moment longer about the game of Omaha and it’s time to go.

Check back for more Tony G. video blog

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Tony’s in a suit, looking damn fine to start the day.

Tony G. and Mike Matusow right before the final table. They share a great moment of camaraderie.

Mike talks about looking at the field of 28 players left in the event and when he looked it over, he said there were 27 of the best players in the world.

There’s only one player that Mike didn’t know the name of, but Tony knew his name – an Italian player – so everyone at the table is a big name.

Tony and Mike talk about the fact that they knew the table wasn’t expected to be televised but the location of the final table was disappointing, there is no place for spectators to sit and watch. Mike dubs the table as the Black Box Junior of Hellmuth of last year’s corner because there were 8 bracelets, 12 WPT titles, and over $26M in tournament winnings at this final table.

Tony says it’s a big mistake but is interrupted by Mike…it’s hard to tell who will out talk who. The conversation continues into the TV side of poker, Harrah’s policies and fees charged and insurance coverage appears to be an issue with final table taping.

Tony says Nolan Dalla came up to him and told Tony that he had to put a show on because every final table had been boring. Tony realizes that bureaucracy and red tape cuts into the fun of the competition…Nolan has no choice.

Tony suggests that they not be negative and Mike cuts in to say that he will play his best. They talk back and forth about who will be playing with them – Mike does most of the talking. Mike says, “If I don’t win, I don’t know who to pull for…”

Tony interjects and tells Mike that it’s his blog to butt out…*laughter as they shoulder bump each other*

Tony has the microphone and camera back to himself as he expresses the fact that Harrahs has to wake up and realize that if they get some power players in there and they can make a show out of poker and get the crowd in there and get excited, they need to do it.

Melissa and Tony talk about the fact that if fans want to come in and watch, they should be able to. Tony says that players are looked upon as a commodity.

Tony goes on to say that “…this is life, we’ve got to enjoy it, we’ve got to play well…and hopefully, we’ll win.”

Tony invites Barry Greenstein to the blog. Barry talks for a moment about the players left in the event and Barry states that it will come down to one player having a good night in the end. He says he hopes, “I’m the one with the good night.”

Barry and Tony talk about the fact that there was no scheduled event to go up on stage and the ‘insurance’ for the crowd being insured. Barry says poker is a very dangerous sport…

Tony invites Erick Lindgren (E-Dog) to the blog and they visit.

Tony and Melissa talk about Tony’s game plan and Tony talks about pulling off a huge bluff and he’s really happy about that. And then it’s time to go, Tony’s in action.

Melissa Castello from PokerNews.com

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Tony’s playing in the Deuce to 7 Draw – day two – and he made the dinner break, “It’s exciting!” There are 21 players left and unfortunately he’s got a small stack left but he says that’s been the pattern for him. He feels he’s been “playing well…playing long and having a lot of fun…”

Tony says he needs to get a good break and make the final table this time.

Tony came into the second day short stacked and built up a pretty good stack to about 200 or around 180 thousand so he had a good run right at the start. After that he says he’s been battling. He played with Doyle Brunson all day yesterday and survived and played with David Benyamine and Mike Matusow all day today. He says they’re having fun but he needs to just have a really nice run and enjoy himself, he thinks that’s the key and he’s looking for good results.

Tony says the field is fantastic. Doyle’s still in there and it’s all phenomenal.

Out of the 21 players left, 14 will cash.

Tony knows it’s been a tough field but that’s what he wants. He wants to play the tough players, he says he’s not here to play the donkeys, there are too many of them around.

Tony’s going to dinner, have some wine, and he’ll be back in the game.

*Melissa Castello from PokerNews.com live blogging with Tony G.*

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