Poker Articles

The following article was written by the wife of PokerStars player ThorLaden.

August 2005 was the month Gigabet decided to win the monthly tournament board. Sheets posted Gig’s offer of the prop bet on P5’s, Nip/Tuck took the bet, and JJProdigy, Gank, Sheets, and others all decided to challenge for the title.  All those chips and talent made it a dramatic month for the TLB title – and led to perhaps the largest side bet ever made on Poker Stars.

BigSlick789, the baby-faced poker protégé, showed up at Turning Stone full of hell; on this particular night, it was beer in Bushman’s room.  Thorladen, a cash game guy, had wandered up to Turning Stone to hang out with Bushman and dip into the tournament waters.  Slick and Thor met in the room all sharing an online Stars game (what else), and Big Slick started the Big Talk: the greatness of Gigabet, Gig’s ability to overcome any odds.  BigSlick was ready to bet any takers $1000 straight up that Gig would finish first on the monthly TLB. 

Thor checked the board and saw JJProdigy was up a ton of points.  Thor knew Gig’s game, but he also knew that since Gig had thrown his hat in the ring and was hoping for a lot of publicity, players would be standing in line to take him down. Since there were no rules to the bet, Thor had to anticipate Gig would team up with world class players, such as Scott Fischman, and play 24/7 to win.* Playing alone for the monthly title, he thought Prodigy might or might not be able to hold his own; it’s tough to do when you are not playing 24/7.  Still, Thor thought, the odds of Gig succeeding are at least 10 to 1, but for $1000.00? What the fuck is that?

Slick was still drinking and still talking, exuding the confidence of a prophet.
  
A couple of hours later, Thor passed the word that if Slick were willing to add two zeros, Thor would consider the bet.  Late that night, seated at a no limit cash game with a lot of rocks in the other chairs, Thor received word: Slick was up for the 100K. The bet was on the table; Thor wanted to think about it.

Walking back to his room after the game, Thor was mulling it over. The problem he was having with this bet was his lack of control over the outcome; he doesn’t bet horses he doesn’t ride.  Slipping the key in the door, he thought he had a solution.  Thor called CMan (partner, but can’t have his identity revealed – let’s just say if you play on Stars, there’s no doubt he’s kicked your ass).

“Here’s the deal,” Thor said, and he repeated the wager.  “As I see it, the only way we can ensure winning the bet is to play for the TLB win ourselves.  What we need is an account that’s not obviously in the race but that has a big Sunday finish.  Gig’s best slot is filled by 700 points, and as you know, only the top twenty count.  Hey, is it legal to play more than one player on an account?”

CMan paused and said, “I’m pretty sure it’s legal; email them and check it out.  I know Exclusive won on the El Capitano account, and I know it’s not being used.  Let me see if he wants in,” and with that, CMan cradled the receiver.

Five minutes later, CMan was back in Thor’s ear. “We can use the El Capitano account, but Exclusive wants two things: to bring in T Soprano, and that the two of them both get a piece of the action.”

“Fair enough. Poker Stars got back to me and said it’s legal, no problem,” Thor replied, “but we still don’t have enough players.” 

“Well, we can get Colson10 and Schaefer,” CMan offered.

“Okay, that gives us a six man team. Some long fucking nights, but okay.”

“Thor, are you up for all this tournament play?” CMan ventured, “I know it’s not really your thing.”

“For this bet, I’ll learn fast,” Thor laughed.

“Oh, one more thing, Thor: not all these guys want as much action on this as you do.  Is that a problem?” CMan asked.

“No, I’ll take whatever they don’t want.” Thor hung up and went to find BigSlick.

As a competitor and a gambler, the question arises: where is the line between brass balls that translate to money and overweening ego that leads to a very short stack?  Is it solely mathematical or an individual’s risk tolerance?  Is it bankroll or just the relentless drive to win?  The one thing Thor and Slick agreed on the following day: the line between balls and ego was $100,000.00 on Gig to win, terminating August 31, 2005 at 12:00AM.  No contingencies, no caveats, no bullshit, just cash.

CMan established the play schedule for the first two days, and on Saturday August 20th, El Capitano rose from the lake like the Loch Ness monster – hungry.

Pumped, ElCap went on a fast and furious run, racing up the TLB in the first four days.  As of August 23rd: JJ = 5350, Gig = 3362 and up from approximately 1700 was ElCap with 4171.  With Nate’s help, ElCap received the current standing sheets daily and strategized accordingly.  The team was elated, but they knew there was a long way to go.

August 24th dawned, and Gig rallied huge. He, or they, were playing close to 24/7 and making waves.  This guy was coming on strong in the second furlong, and ElCap was under the gun.  Undaunted, ElCap answered back, and the sheets showed JJ = 5444, Gig = 3818, and ElCap = 4533.  The next day was basically a push, but by the 26th, the score sheet showed JJ = 5562, Gig = 4099, ElCap = 5484.  The team felt it was very unlikely Gig, however great he is, could overcome the math. 

Even though it appeared that the sweat was out of the bet, Thor kept a keen eye on Gig’s tables during the Sunday tourney.  There had been some debate among the team as to whether to step out of the race now that the bet was all but won, but with Gig it was always possible to get very hot, so the team voted it down.

By the end of Sunday, the outcome was fait accompli, and although ElCapitano did continue to play, the urgency dissipated.

GG BigSlick and GG Gig – you played great.
All congratulations to JJProdigy, who had a spectacular month against some great, very determined competition.


*Staff Note: Gigabet and Nip/Tuck actually had checks in place to ensure Gigabet was the only one playing on the account