About 6 months ago I was chosen to participate in the filming of a DVD on how to
play poker. This film was to involve about 30 amateurs and 4
professionals. The pro players were Andy Bloch, Gus Hansen, Antonio "The
Magician" Esfandiari and Phil "The
Unibomber" Laak. I was told to be there at the location at 6:30 pm
Monday. When I arrived, about an hour early, I was surprised that NO one
was there. I was told that we would be selected on a first come first
serve basis because so many people had been invited. Well, as 6:45
approached, there were little more than 35 people for 35 seats...and about
15 of those people were related to/friends with or otherwise "in" with
either the owner of the filming establishment or the actual production
company. And as such, most of them were picked first.

The rest of us were made to sign a release form, given $500 in chips
and sat down to be called. There were 4 tables. Two outside tables and
two "featured tables", where the filming was to take place. At one of the
featured tables sat Andy Bloch and Antonio, and at the second sat the
Unibomber and Gus Hansen. I was sat at one of the outside tables as the
tournament director, Bill, explained the process. He explained that we
were to play poker as we normally would, that the game was no-limit holdem
and that the blinds were going to stay fixed a 5-10 throughout the
tourney. Also people were eliminated from the featured tables, the chip
leaders of the outer tables would be inserted in their place. On top of
that, every hour, the two outer tables would "switch" with the two inner
tables so that everyone would get a chance to "play with the pros". Also,
he explained, once we were busted out, our names would be put on the list
again and we could be re-sat (in order to keep all the table full,
throughout filming). Our entry was for one night only, although they were
filming for three nights (filming ended last night). The top 6 chip
leaders from night one would be invited back for night two, top six from
night two, to night three...and the chip leader on night 3 would be the
"winner".

I was in the 7th seat at one of the outer tables when I heard
"shuffle up and deal". The tourney started and I had only one goal in
mind: Make a big play on Gus Hansen. Thusly, after about an hour, I had
about $600 chips and moved all-in with my Presto (5-5). I was quickly
called by A-Q suited. Flop brought NO help to anyone and I was feeling
confident. Turn, no help and I thought to myself "my god, the favorite is
actually going to hold up". That must be where I jinxed myself because
the river brought and A and I was out. Luckily, there was no line and I
sat back down with a fresh $500 in chips within 5 minutes. I had also
noticed that it had been more than an hour with no switching of tables.
When I brought this up, Bill informed me that there had been some audio
problems and that since we couldn't switch today, all the people at the
outer tables would be invited back the next night (Tuesday) and given
priority. By the end of the night, I was 6th in chips with about $1100,
not that it mattered because we were ALL coming back.

Its now Tuesday night and I am VERY excited because this is my night
to "play with the pros", right? Wrong. The featured tables were again
filled with people who knew the cast and crew and not based at ALL on the
chip counts. I took my $1100 and sat back down...at an outer table.
This time I played SUPER aggressive becoming the chip leader by an hour
into the contest. I was then moved to one of the featured tables with
Andy Bloch and Antonio "The Magician". Here is my chance I thought to
myself. I had about 3/4th the stacks of the pros (they were constantly
reloaded so they would look like the chip leaders on the DVD). I have my
mic on, I'm ready to play. I have about 5k in chips, Antonio has about
8k...first hand, Ad-Kd...Big Slick. Antonio (to my right) raises preflop
to $50(as he has evryhand) so I re raise to $400. He calls. Flop is
A-7-9, he bets $500, I re raise all in...Antonio folds. Two hands
later...I get A-K offsuit. This time I call the measly $10 blind behind
Antonio. Two people call behind me until Andy Bloch raises to $50.
Antonio calls, I call, everyone else folds. Flop is A-J-J. I bet $2000
and everyone folds. From that point on I play very tight and VERY
aggressive and by 9pm (filming stops at 10) I have about $11,000 in chips.
At this point I am dealt A-J of spades. Antonio has raised it $500 to go
and I re raise to $1500. everyone folds, Antonio calls. Flop is 7-K-6.
Antonio checks, I bet $2000...Antonio calls. Turn is 3 and this time
Antonio leads out with a $5000 bet. He also flips over one of his cards,
it is an 8. Hmmmm. Andy asks if he can see my cards, and I show him. He
tells me that I should carefully consider which cards can beat me and what
the likelihood is that Antonio would play those cards. After about a 3
minute ponder (pissing off just about everyone at the table), I fold.
Antonio refuses to show me his last cards, but the dealer says that if you
show one, you must show the other and turns over the king. Good call me!

At this point Bill comes around and informs us that there is going to
be a big hand at Gus Hansen's table and we should all watch. Little known
to the players (except Gus) they have rigged the hand so that the
Unibomber, Phil Laak will put out two of the amateur players. Everyone
has about 30% of their stack in the pot. The flop is 4-K-A. Unibomber
ties his sweatshirt up around his head (his signature move) and makes a
big bet. Second seat calls, third seat moves all in. Phil calls, player
two calls. Phil flips up A-4, third seat cries "YES" and flips up his
pocket 9's for a set, out of turn. Player two says coyly.."I got ya" and
flips up pocket kings for a larger set. No, help comes and Phil Laak is
out of the tourney?! All of a sudden we hear CUUUUUT. Bill is running
over like a madman and after all the ruckus settles down, he explains that
the hand was "rigged" and that Phil lack was supposed to catch a 4 on the
river to win. Well, after setting up the hand again, with the correct
deck placement this time..and the reactions not quite as good, they replay
the hand with Phil as the winner. Normal play on all tables resumes.

So, it is now nearing the end of the night and I find myself with
about 8k in chips. Bill is walking around informing the dealers that
filming has stopped and they should deal two more hands and then play will
end for the night. Antonio gets up and leaves the table. We continue
play when on the next hand I get A-8 of clubs. I raise to $2000, hoping
to get everyone else to fold. I get two calls. The Flop is 7c-Jc-7s.
Again I try to buy the pot with a 3k bet. BOTH people call me. The turn
is Kc, giving me the nut flush. I bet about half my remaining stack. One
person calls, the other folds. River is Jd. Damn, full house possible.
I ask the other player "do you have a full house?" he smiles at me. I
push all in, he calls...flips over pocket Q's and I end the night just
over 25k chips and the chip lead. We are told to come back the next
night.

The next night (Wednesday) when I arrive for filming, I am informed
that they are running behind by about two hours and they are not sure that
anyone will be able to play tonight. Finally, they decided to take the
tables out of the filming room and allow us to play, unfilmed for the rest
of the night. After the tables are set up, the pros sit down, we are
seated (FINALLY I GET TO PLAY WITH GUS HANSEN) Bill comes over and
announces that these table are blocking a fire exit and we are not going
to be able to play. GOD DAMMIT. The filming is called dead, and I am the
winner with $25,300 in chips. The prize is a casino-style poker table, a
500-piece poker chip set with a case and cards. And bunch of
"poker-wear". Bill tells me they are wrapping up and we exchange contact
information. He says he will call me in a day or two to arrange how to
pick up my prize. I am awaiting Bills phone call about how to collect my
prize. HAHA. I talked to the players until about 9pm and the casually
strolled out the door, giving a quick wink to Gus, who was clearly
"getting his mack on" with one of the waitresses.

UPDATE: After well over 35 phone calls and 6 months of time, I have still not recieved any prizes and have actually had to get a lawyer involved. This DVD is currently being sold for $39.00. The prizes that I am owed total just $1500 in value. Gotta love tourneys that are run poorly from the start. The only cool thing was the location. It was in a giant adult arcade...so I was playing video games all night long!

~Craig

I ain't giving this guy ONE DIME of my money, nor the players who participated in it (other than them taking it from me in tourneys...if they can ;-) But when it gets to court (assuming it does) I will also request a copy!

Im going to try not to get personal with Dumb Walrus, I wouldnt want my post to be deleted...haha. But for anyone who thinks I may be "making this up" for whatever reason, LatestLines2 was actually at this tourney so he could confirm. In fact, his picture in his profile is actually him AT this tourney....

F DW...sorry couldnt resist...lol

First, I have to admit, possibly I posted this to FINALLY get you to tell me what the hell your issue is, plus I really like to hear about other people who got to "play with the pros" so I thought that fellow pockets fivers might like to hear about it. Second, Im not embaressed that I was there to win. I dont care about being in some stupid DVD, I want to WIN..thats how I am. Third, I cant believe that is what has been causeing all the fuss...by out of turn, I just meant you werent FORCED to show your hand yet, you chose to anyway, not that there is anything wrong with that...I didnt even mean it in a bad way, I thought you did it to build suspense. So I appologise if you took it as though I was in any way criticizing your play. In fact, if I were you I would be really mad...they set up a hand that was designed to MAKE YOU LOSE...so you couldnt get the prizes. Unless they reloaded you after, that doesnt seem very fair. And we could always play heads up for $20 on Poker stars to see who knows what about poker ;-) Hope this clears everything up and we can be friends :-)

I was just there to hang out and have a good time...my uncle owns the place. and to challenge antonio HU afterwards.

I haven't read your entire post because it's too long, but I am confused. You make it sound like you were playing in a real tourney that you won and then they jipped you out of your prizes, but then you talk about fixed hands for the DVD. Doesn't sound like any tourney to me.