Scott Diamond

Last Night was the first event of Heavenly Holdem,a $335.00 buy in NL tournament,There were 401 people who showed up to play which is a pretty good turnout. Several other recent tournaments for the same buy in, did not have these kind of numbers.

My Commerce jinx continued. I have had a very rough time at Commerce since going deep in two events last year at the 2007 LAPC. I had my queens cracked in the first 10 minutes again last night. On a flop of 10c-6-c3d my opponent moved all in. He only raised 75 out of position and when I made it 200 he went all in. I called and he tabled AK no clubs and the river hit a K and for the second time in a week I was out within 10 minutes.

Something very interesting though to discuss. I spoke with several professional players last night about the WSOP having it's final table in November,4 months after the main event starts.

They were about 70% against this new rule and some of the reasons I will share with you.

Chris Moneymaker,Greg Raymer,Jamie Gold, Steve Danneman and Jerry Yang. Three of the four amateurs who win the Main Event and become household names in the Poker Community.

Now the final table is set and the top 9 players all get ninth place money until they return in November to battle it out for the Grand Prize.

There are all kinds of WHAT IF'S, however this would be a dream for some top pro's and advertisers.

Let's say another one or two rookie players have an incredible run to the final table. We all know this happens. The top professionals are going to take this rookie(s)and for 4 months teach them for a very nice fee, how to play final table Poker!

The ON Line sites are going to market these individuals like they were walking bill boards send them to numerous tournaments with logo's all over them like Nascar Drivers.

There was talk of boycotting the Main Event at the WSOP this year. This will never happen.

Espn just took enormous profits from the satellite companies who showed it live for a fee and every reaction, every hand all the little things that Espn will edit out. I heard Espn may show it live with a hour delay. I also have heard they are going to edit it and make it a two hour show a few days later.

Harrah's is going to pay for the return of the players and put them up in a Hotel. They are also going to pay the interest on the money held for those four months to the players.

I do not agree with this decision Espn made along with Harrah's. I do not care if I knew who won the Main Event, I am still watching every show Espn put's together,even though I know who won the event.

Espn has the best Poker show on TV, hands down. They are responsible for this Poker boom and although the WPT is enjoyable, it cannot compare to Espn.

I have been to the last two WSOP's my first as a spectator just learning the game and last year I played in the Senior's Event along with 1900 other's. My friend Ernest Bennett won the event and unfortunately this was one of the non televised events.

If you can make it out to Vegas for a few days and be a part of this, it is electrifying.

Harrahs however just pulled the plug.

If you have read my story about "Keeping Things in There Proper Perspective" than you will know there was a tragic reason for me writing it.

The Coble family lost there 3 year old twin girls and 5 year old son in a terrible car accident.

I have told you of the miracle of the Coble family who lost their three children that May 4th morning last year. The Miracle, Mrs. Coble was pregnant with triplets. Two girls and a boy.

Well Mrs. Coble gave birth last night and the triplets are in serious condition in a Mission Viejo Hospital.

I am sure with all our positive prayers these babies will pull through and live a normal life.

The Cobles deserve as much.

I have been playing pretty good lately,just having trouble late in tournaments and I have tried to overcome it by playing back at people and taking a few more risks.

It worked the last two days but when the luck factor hits someone else there is not much you can do.

Friday after work I headed over to the Bike to try and get a satellite in. The $545.00 NL event started at 7:15pm and the only way I would play is if i won a satellite.

I arrived around 3:45 and got into a $120.00 and when there were 3 left we did a save for a buy in. I made a move with 2 hearts on the board,one being an Ace and the son of a gun had flopped a set of Aces.The third heart didn't come and after making a come back from 2 chips I went out third and got my buy in back before entering an $80.00 satellite.

I took a commanding chip lead and please excuse me, but I forgot my opponents name. he is a real nice guy and we went heads up. I know his nickname is "Tank". So Tank if your reading I apologize.

I ended up making a deal with him that got me into the Tournament that evening. I took $445.00 of the $720.00 pot and bought into the tourney for another $100.00.

By level 3 I had 16k in chips and if I had played a few more hands and followed my gut instinct I would of had 50k in chips at the beginning of level 4. However I played proper Poker and it cost me. I was moved to another table and went absolutely card dead. I ended up 24th after 6 hours of play!!! The top 18 were paid,but as I have said before I play to win not to cash.

Saturday they had a $335.00 NL multiple re buy event with 150,000 guarantee. I played 10 minutes when my AA ran into JJ and he flopped a jack after he went all in, after I re raised his initial 125 bet to 400. The blinds were only 25-25...I did not re buy and this was the fastest I had ever left a tournament.

Sunday was the player appreciation event with 10k added to 1st place and a 10k seat to The Legends of Poker in August. 439 brave souls showed up for a shot at 1st place. Top dog got $18,000.00 and change plus the seat.

With only 1500 in chips to start it was going to be a crap shoot. Half the field was gone in 2 hours. I was almost one of them when again my AA lost to AQ leaving me only 350 chips.

I took only about 30 minutes to get my stack to 4k and By the end of level 7 I had 30k in chips. We made the money at 45 players and as we got down into the 30 people range I lost 10k with my QQ to AK when an Axe hit the river.

The blinds were up to 1600 and the antes were 300. I was in the big blind when the cutoff went all in for 3600 chips. The crazy guy on the button called the 3600. Crazy...yes....This guy had some incredible luck all tourney. He was hitting a lot of flops and when on the brink of being gone he hit a 1 outer 3 times to stay alive.

I looked at my cards and saw AK of hearts and pushed my last 15k into the pot. Crazy guy thinks about 2 minutes and looks over at his buddies on the rail and tells them to "Watch This" and calls my raise. Crazy guy turns over 9-7 of diamonds,the first all in turns over AQ and the flop come 10-8-A..I hit top pair with top kicker but crazy guy is now open ended.

Of course the turn was a 6 completing his straight and I went out 21st. I played very well and somewhat aggressive. I called with some hands I never would have before and each won the pot.

I did not make one mistake again and I am very happy with my play and reads lately. Out of the nine tournaments I have played this year i have made 2 final tables and cashed 5 times.

I see good things on the horizon and i am going to continue to take one tournament at a time,one day at a time. Sooner than you think i am going to get a win under my belt!!

I keep telling myself ,if i can win the small buy in tournaments there should be no reason I cannot win a big one. I have tasted victory and it is a great feeling.

I just hope "CRAZY" people do not get deep in tourneys and play like he did. I belive 90% of the players at the end of that event would not had even called the 3600 raise with a 9-7. I also belive they would not of called 14k more against my all in with 9-7.

He did not have a dominant chip stack,he put half of it in against me.

Friday Heavenly Holdem Tournament starts at Commerce and I am going to go play some satellites the next few days. They start Tuesday and run all day.

I want to congratulate 3 good friends who made the top 15 at the 25k Bellagio Event last week. Hai "Tommy" Le , Nam's brother for taking 5th place. I guess I won't be seeing him at my events anymore now that he has a bankroll of about $360,000.00. Bryan Devonshire for taking 10th, his second big score in the month and the Southern Gentleman, Michael Gracz who took a SICK beat from the luck box of the tourney Gus Hansen and finished 11th.

Guys it's am honor to know you for who you are and not what you have accomplished in the Poker Community!!