Some guys command the spotlight; others seem to avoid it like the plague. Farmer Jim Bechtel falls into the latter category, but for those few of us who know better, the statements that he was the one unknown at the final table of this year’s HORSE event were comical.
Bechtel’s resume runs long. His most notable poker moment came in 1993 when he topped John Bonetti and Glen Cozen to take the World Series of Poker Main Event. One high-profile victory doesn’t make a pro, but Bechtel’s list of poker accomplishments runs long enough that to doubt his skill is to display one’s ignorance.
Bechtel’s fourth place victory in the HORSE event came a long time after he’d gotten his World Series start. His first cash came in 1979, when he came second in that year’s $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event. The $38,000 he won there enabled him to attempt a massive parlay, buying him into the $10,000 Main Event where he got seated at a table that would make most of today’s players cringe.
Amongst the players at Bechtel’s inaugural table were 1982 champion Jack Strauss, author David Sklansky, four-time bracelet winner Lakewood Louie and Bobby “The Wizard” Hoff. Still early in the first day, a massive hand developed that would effectively end Bechtel’s run.
With the blinds at 200/400, Chicago Sam Petrillo made a massive 2,500 raise from early position. The table folded around to Bechtel on the big blind. Bechtel looked at his cards for a moment, then announced a raise; he put in the 2,500 along with another 4,900 chips.
Petrillo knew he was in trouble despite holding Kh-Kd. He looked wistfully at the pot, then at Bechtel, then back at his chips. Looking defeated, he finally decided this would be the hand for his tournament and re-raised all-in. Bechtel quickly called and turned over Ad-Ah. There was 17,760 in the pot.
Unfortunately for Bechtel, the flop brought the king Petrillo needed; Qc-4d-Kc. Neither the turn or river changed things and Bechtel’s legs were chopped out from under him. He was gone within the hour. He wouldn’t cash again at the series for seven years. Seven years after that, he was the World Champion.
Gary Wise
gary@wisehandpoker.com
