Poker Articles

The Borgata Poker Open was very good to Pocketfivers, with online stars like Johnnybax and Pokerstars phenom Vanessa Rousso both at the final table of the $5k event as Court arrived in Atlantic City we knew PocketfivesLive was going to have a lot to talk about on this trip! Before Court even arrived JoeytheB had already won the $2,500 event - walking away with $241,000 and a snazzy piece of wrist-wear. What was to happen over the next few days was the perfect capstone to a great series of tournaments for Pocketfives members, and another Russo (no relation). Louis J. Russo, known to Pocketfives as ljrtr and to many new friends on Bodog as TopGun711, was to go very deep in the 10K main event, much to the delight of his friends both online and off.

Joey and Lou met for the first time in person about three years ago. They had actually clashed many times online on Paradise and Stars as these guys have been in the game for a long time and both were savvy enough to jump online when they saw the abundant equity opportunities and convenience in online poker. This was at the final two tables of a Harrah's $500 regular weekend tournament and Lou thought Joey was making a move on him and couldn't get away from his JJ only to find his opponent holding KK, which held up. A tough spot to go out, but if he could have won that hand, the tournament, and five, maybe ten thousand only to not find out he was playing his online rival and future friend JoeytheB, I'm positive Lou would head to the rail every time with a big smile on his face.

I wouldn’t call Lou a railbird by any means, but he hasn’t had his share of luck in big tournaments in big situations. He has spent a lot of time railing his friends and top players he respects, and it is especially nice when you have both together with a guy like Joseph “JoeytheB” Brooks. Lou has had many opportunities to rail his buddy over the years, especially recently as Joey has been tearing up the tournament scene in Atlantic City. This year, in the main event of both the World Series and the main event of Borgata Joey had the opportunity to return the favor.

“I'm not used to railing anyone. Usually, if I'm on the east coast if I'm knocked out I'm in my car on my way home. It was different, I noticed how much a difference it made for Lou.” Joey has an eight year old daughter, a two year old boy - Joey jr., and he and his wife Janice have another daughter on the way, so it is certainly understandable that he wouldn’t spend a lot of time hanging around on the rail, especially when he lives 15 minutes from AC.

Lenny: How often do you come to Atlantic City?

JoeytheB: Just to play tournaments, still don't mess in the cash games. This whole thing was triggered, when we got home from Vegas. Two weeks before the open started I won the weekend $500 two weeks back to back. I chopped them both, one for about 9900 and the other for 12.5, so I was on a roll.

Lenny: Tell me a little bit about your big win.

JoeytheB: My event I came out of nowhere the first day, I was down to basically nothing. I was down to 15k, I thought I wouldn't survive, that I wouldn't make the money, and then I went on a huge run. I got lucky a couple times with the short stack, then I hit a set of tens and a guy called me all in with Q10 and I got all his chips.

All of a sudden Joey was going into day two with a healthy stack and he went to work. He had his sights set on the final table and more, “Then I ran into Lars Bonding who had all the chips from early on, he had a ton of ton of chips. I hit a set of aces and he was betting into me and I pushed all in and he thought and thought and called me, I couldn't believe it! He just mucked his hand.”

Lars had so many chips he was still the chip leader, or close to it after the hand, but now Joey was a real force in the tournament.

Lenny: What was the field like in the tournament? Were there a lot of pros to contend with?

JoeytheB: Yeah, and by that point Michael Gracz, Lars Bonding, Padraig Parkinson, Eric Frohelic, and some others were still in. It was a stacked final 18.

Lenny: What was the final table like?

JoeytheB: The turning point with the whole thing at the final table was actually Eric Frohelic getting knocked out. He was on my right and got in a huge hand with Lars who was the only one who had him covered and at that point the rest of the table was playing for second.

Lenny: Did you feel that played to your advantage?

JoeytheB: Absolutely. I mean, Lars [Bonding] had a ton of chips, but no one was really playing and I felt if I could double through once then I would have a real shot. Everyone was playing real timid, except Mike Gracz of course and Lars seemed to be gunning for Mike.

Then Padraig Parkinson got all in with AK versus Lars’ A5 of clubs and Lars FLOPS the flush! So now we’re down to three with Lars at about 2.5 million and me and Mike at around 3-4 hundred each. Next hand I pick up QQ, Lars folds for once. Mike raised my blind and I pushed all in real quick, trying to make it look like a move. He thought and thought then finally took it as that and called with QJs. I couldn't believe he called me with that!

So Mike was crippled. The next hand I tried to knock him out and doubled him up AJ vs. KJ. Lars ended up taking him out soon after that. When I got heads up with this guy, I had 675k to his 2.5 million, so I was looking to double up fast. The first hand I got QJs, and I pushed all in (blinds 15/30) he calls me with AK, and the flop came out QQ3, so I got my wish.

Now the chips are more even, I've got 1.2, he's got 1.7 and change. We play maybe 10-12 hands. I won maybe 8 of them pushing all in on him. He was raising into me and I was jamming over the top of him and he was folding.

Somehow I took the lead. Then I picked up AA, it was a gift from above. He was betting into me, I re-popped and we were going back and forth and before I was done betting he was all in. I almost fell out of my chair! I called immediately and he showed AQ. He was unlucky to pick up such a good hand there. When they counted down the chips I couldn't believe it, I thought he still had like 300K left.

Lenny: Congratulations on such a big score and the win! What hardware came with the first place?

JoeytheB: A very nice Rolex, and I almost won two more while I was there!

Lenny: I heard you had a great run out there, what were the other events like?

JoeytheB: I cashed in 3/4 of the events I played, and the two I got knocked out of once in the money I was in great position to at least final table. I took 45th in the first $750 event in a huge pot. Then in one of the second chance events, while Louis was still in on day two I jumped in another $750. I was second in chips and was moved to the table with the chip leader. I picked up KK and hit my set on the flop and we got it all in. He calls there with aces and rivers me. I could've won the second watch right there!

Lenny: Tell me a little bit more about railing Lou, please.

JoeytheB: It was great! He's been there for me a lot over the years, so I was glad to repay the favor. It would have been nice to make it on TV, but to final table an event like that is a great accomplishment. I'm so happy for Lou, he's a guy who never catches a break at the right time. He's been close a number of times and to see him make a huge score like this is great. I know it means a lot to him. It couldn't have happened to a better guy.

Lenny: So, is poker full time for you?

JoeytheB: Actually, after the World Series I resigned from my family business. First time in 25 years I haven't had a regular job. As of three weeks ago I am now a full time poker player.
 
Lenny: Good timing with these big scores then!

JoeytheB: Yeah, and good timing with the baby on the way, too.

Lenny: Congratulations on your poker success, it sounds like things are going really well for you and your family.

Joseph Brooks is a great player and a good friend. I also spoke to Lou this week and he gave me a very detailed tournament report, which will follow this article soon!