TOURNAMENT 2
EPISODE 3
It's time once again for another round of the second tournament of CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN, the charity tournament with BIG stakes! There will be five games of five celebs each, with the winner of each game advancing to the Final Table and a big piece of the $250,000 Cingular Wireless(TM) Prize Pool for his/her charity.
Tonight, we have one returning loser competing with four new players:
CELEBRITY | BIO |
Michael Ian Black playing for Endeavor House |
He bombed terribly last year, but this Ed and former Viva Variety star is back for more punishment. Will this be the "Wet Hot American Summer" where he wins...or will his hopes and dreams be bowled over again? |
Star Jones playing for East Harlem School at Exodus House |
This attorney is known for one thing and one thing only: for bantering with Joy Behar and Barbara Walters on The View every weekday. Will her star rise, or his her view bleak? |
Norm MacDonald playing for the Hole In the Wall Gang |
This WPT Hollywood Home Game alumnus is also a comedian, an SNL alumnus and the voice of "Lucky" in both "Dr. Doolittle" remakes. Will he be lucky tonight...or is he "Screwed"? |
Adam Rodriguez playing for VH1's Save the Music Foundation |
After several small starring roles in TV series, Adam's found a niche as Eric Delko in the hit CSI: Miami. Can he investigate the others enough to win...or is he better off escaping to Roswell? |
Jeremy Sisto playing for the Linden Center |
After playing the title role in the CBS mini-series Jesus, Jeremy decided to go with staying-dead guys as Billy Chenowith on HBO's Six Feet Under. Will he perform a miracle and win...or is he already dead money? |
Each celebrity will start with $10,000 worth of chips and the game will continue until one celebrity has all $50K in his/her possession, thus making him/her eligible for the Final Table later in the year. At the announcers' position beside the Losers' Lounge are new host Dave Foley and poker expert (and recent WPT champion) Phil Gordon. They'll be calling the action emanating from the main room.
All right, enough of this. As Tournament Director Robert Thompson says. let's SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!
Initial blinds are $100 (SB) and $200 (BB). The Dealer Button (D) starts on Norm.
(And...don't get used to seeing these five here. Because, as the advertisements told us, ONE of them is going to the Losers' Lounge on this VERY FIRST HAND!)
Star | Adam | Norm (D) | Michael (SB) | Jeremy (BB) |
A♠ 3♠ | Q♦ 10♣ | K♦ J♠ | A♣ 10♠ | 9♣ 8♠ |
Calls $200 | Raises to $500 | Calls $500 | FOLD | FOLD |
Calls $300 | ||||
FLOP: J♥ K♥ Q♠ | ||||
Michael would have flopped Broadway (Ace-high straight) had he stayed in. Norm's flopped two pair and Adam has an open-ended straight draw. Star has a one-card straight draw, needing a 10. | ||||
CHECK | Bets $1000 | Raises to $3000 | ||
FOLD | Raises to $5000 | Calls $2000 | ||
When someone bets heavily with a draw, they're said to be "on the come". Still, that's a lot to bet, especially when only four cards left in the deck can make his straight. | ||||
TURN: 7♦ | ||||
Bets $500 | Calls $500 | |||
RIVER: J♣ COMMUNITY: J♥ K♥ Q♠ 7♦ J♣ | ||||
CHECK | ALL-IN $4000 |
|||
Here, Adam should've KNOWN Norm had a killer hand, certainly more than his "mermaid catchers" ("ladies on hooks", my own little term). And, yet,... | ||||
ALL-IN $4000 |
||||
Q♦ Q♠ J♥ J♣ K♥ | J♠ J♥ J♣ K♦ K♥ | |||
OUT! - 5th Place | WIN $20,800 | |||
All Phil can say at this point: "That was some very crappy playing!" |
CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
Norm MacDonald | $20,800 |
Michael Ian Black | $9900 |
Adam Rodriguez | $9800 |
Star Jones | $9500 |
Norm | Michael (D) | Jeremy (SB) | Star (BB) |
10♠ 7♥ | 9♥ 3♠ | K♦ J♦ | A♥ 6♥ |
FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $400 | Calls $200 |
FLOP: 3♣ 9♠ 6♣ | |||
Again, Michael would've flopped a good hand (two pair) had he stayed in. But, really, who WOULD stay in with a "Jack Benny" (3-9)? | |||
Bets $600 | Calls $600 | ||
TURN: 6♠ | |||
Star has the Devil's Hand (6-6-6)! | |||
CHECK | Bets $1000 | ||
FOLD | |||
WIN $3000 |
Jeremy | Star (D) | Norm (SB) | Michael (BB) |
9♥ 4♣ | 5♠ 3♥ | Q♠ Q♦ | 10♦ 2♥ |
FOLD | FOLD | Calls $100 | CHECK |
FLOP: 8♦ 5♦ 2♦ | |||
As Norm ponders, Michaels says, "I have eight-five-deuce...I flopped three pair." He'd later say he didn't. | |||
CHECK | Bets $400 | ||
Raises to $1400 | FOLD | ||
WIN $2200 |
CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
Norm MacDonald | $23,800 |
Michael Ian Black | $9900 |
Jeremy Sisto | $8400 |
Star Jones | $7900 |
Jeremy | Star (D) | Norm (SB) | Michael (BB) |
7♥ 3♥ | K♥ 3♠ | A♠ 5♥ | 9♦ 7♦ |
FOLD | Calls $400 | Calls $200 | CHECK |
FLOP: 8♥ 9♠ 10♥ | |||
Michael has a pair and an open-ended straight draw...while Norm has bubkis. | |||
Bets $2000 | Calls $2000 | ||
FOLD | |||
TURN: 5♣ | |||
NOW Norm has something...but it's not any better than Michael's hand right now. Norm needs an Ace of a 5 to beat Michael. | |||
CHECK | CHECK | ||
RIVER: J♦ COMMUNITY: J♦ 10♥ 9♠ 8♥ 5♣ | |||
CHECK | Bets $2000 | ||
FOLD | |||
WIN $7200 |
Norm | Michael (D) | Jeremy (SB) | Star (BB) |
Q♦ J♣ | 5♠ 3♦ | A♥ A♣ | 7♣ 4♦ |
Raises to $1800 | FOLD | ALL-IN $7000 |
FOLD |
FOLD | |||
WIN $9200 | |||
Jeremy over-played that. Though it's tempting to go all-in with the best hand in poker, it's best to lay low and bet a little, trapping your opponent into thinking you're weak. |
Michael | Jeremy (D) | Star (SB) | Norm (BB) |
????? | A♠ 10♦ | ????? | ????? |
Raises to $1800 | Calls $1800 | FOLD | FOLD |
Michael raised big right out of the gate. That could mean an Ace-high, a wired pair...or a stone bluff to scare everyone out. But "you" (as Jeremy) feel "you" have a decent hand for now...so "you" call. | |||
FLOP: 6♣ A♦ 9♥ | |||
"You" have flopped a pair of Aces...ALWAYS good to have heads-up like this. PLUS, "you" get to wait to see what Michael does before "you" act...so "you" can see how strong a hand he has or MAY have. | |||
Bets $2000 | Calls $2000 | ||
Michael makes another strong bet. "You" are worried about Michael having an Ace with a face card or a 10; a strong bet like that most likely means HE has a pair of Aces as well. "You" have to decide whether or not "you" think "your" hand is still good enough. Jeremy decides to call and see what happens. | |||
TURN: 4♥ | |||
Bets $8600 | |||
Michael bets all his chips but one (the one he accidentally had on his hand to keep the cards from being peeked at). It's likely he would've gone all-in had he remembered that chip. He even pushed the chips in a split-second after the 4 was placed. Either he's trying to buy the pot with a crap hand...or he just turned two pair. After mulling it over, "you" decide it's not worth risking most of "your" chips...so "you" fold. | |||
FOLD | |||
WIN $17,100 | |||
And it's a good thing Jeremy folded, too. Michael had A♣ 4♦; he DID make two pair! |
Jeremy | Star (D) | Norm (SB) | Michael (BB) |
7♥ 6♥ | J♠ 4♠ | K♦ 5♦ | 5♣ 4♣ |
Calls $600 | Calls $600 | Calls $300 | CHECK |
Well, at least all four suits are accounted for. | |||
FLOP: 4♦ 2♣ Q♠ | |||
Men's Warehouse: three suits, no waiting. Nobody can get a flush, but Star and Michael have pairs of 4s. | |||
Bets $600 | FOLD | ||
FOLD | Calls $600 | ||
TURN: K♥ | |||
Now Norm has Kings. | |||
Bets $600 | |||
Calls $600 | |||
RIVER: 3♥ COMMUNITY: K♥ Q♠ 4♦ 3♥ 2♣ | |||
Bets $600 | |||
Calls $600 | |||
4♠ 4♦ K♥ Q♠ J♠ | K♦ K♥ Q♠ 5♦ 4♦ | ||
WIN $6000 | |||
Though Norm didn't win much from Star, it's likely $1200 more than what he would've won had he bet bigger. Betting the minimum after the Turn and River was great strategy. |
CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
Norm MacDonald | $25,900 |
Michael Ian Black | $14,500 |
Jeremy Sisto | $6800 |
Star Jones | $2800 |
Jeremy | Star (D) | Norm (SB) | Michael (BB) |
A♥ 8♣ | A♠ J♣ | 7♥ 7♣ | 9♦ 4♠ |
Calls $600 | Raises to $1500 | FOLD | FOLD |
ALL-IN $6800 |
ALL-IN $2800 |
||
As Jeremy ponders a re-raise, Star compliments on his "whacked" character on Six Feet Under. | |||
FLOP: A♣ 6♠ 5♥ | |||
Both have flopped Aces... | |||
TURN: J♥ | |||
Star now has TWO pair...and Jeremy is drawing dead. Star has doubled-up. | |||
RIVER: 8♦ | |||
A♥ A♣ 8♣ 8♦ J♥ | A♠ A♣ J♣ J♥ 8♦ | ||
WIN $6500 |
Norm | Michael (D) | Jeremy (SB) | Star (BB) |
Q♥ 2♦ | 8♦ 3♣ | J♣ 9♥ | K♦ 7♣ |
FOLD | FOLD | ALL-IN $4400 |
Calls $3800 |
Star is a slight favorite... | |||
FLOP: 5♥ 9♣ 6♣ | |||
...until the Flop. Jeremy's "German virgin" can only be beaten by a King or an 8 for Star. | |||
TURN: Q♣ RIVER: 3♥ | |||
9♥ 9♣ Q♣ J♣ 6♣ | K♦ Q♣ 9♣ 7♣ 6♣ | ||
WIN $8800 |
Norm | Michael (D) | Jeremy (SB) | Star (BB) |
A♣ 9♦ | Q♥ 3♥ | J♥ 6♣ | A♦ J♦ |
Raises to $1600 | FOLD | FOLD | ALL-IN $1700 |
Calls $100 | |||
Before the betting starts, everyone asks if they "remember Adam" and wonder what he's up to. | |||
FLOP: 9♠ 10♣ 5♣ | |||
Norm flopped a second 9... | |||
TURN: 9♣ | |||
...then turned a third! Star is drawing dead...and is out of the tournament | |||
RIVER: K♥ | |||
9♦ 9♠ 9♣ A♣ K♥ | 9♠ 9♣ A♦ K♥ J♦ | ||
WIN $3800 | OUT - 4th Place |
Norm (D) | Michael (SB) | Jeremy (BB) |
K♣ Q♣ | A♥ 5♣ | K♠ 6♠ |
Raises to $3000 | ALL-IN $8700 |
FOLD |
FOLD | ||
WIN $12,700 | ||
Michael ALSO added a $100 bill AND his room key. Michael and Jeremy stand up to stretch as Norm ponders...and Dave joins them. Norm flips over the card and, since he didn't put in any chips beforehand, it means he folds. |
CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
Norm MacDonald | $33,700 |
Jeremy Sisto | $8600 |
Michael Ian Black | $7700 |
Jeremy (D) | Norm (SB) | Michael (BB) |
K♠ 8♠ | 7♠ 5♥ | Q♦ 2♦ |
Calls $1000 | FOLD | CHECK |
FLOP: 3♦ 5♠ 2♠ | ||
CHECK | ||
Bets $3000 | ALL-IN $6700 | |
Calls $3700 | ||
After betting the $3000, Jeremy looks right at Michael...while he had looked away when he had Aces. This "tell" gives Michael all the incentive needed to go all-in...even with a pair of deuces against a flush draw. | ||
TURN: A♥ RIVER: 4♥ | ||
5♠ 4♥ 3♦ 2♠ A♥ | 5♠ 4♥ 3♦ 2♦ A♥ | |
WIN $7900 | WIN $8000 | |
The Board has the best hand: the "wheel" (5-high straight). Therefore, the pot is split. Since there are no $50 chips, Michael gets the extra $100 chip for being after the Dealer Button. |
Norm (D) | Michael (SB) | Jeremy (BB) |
A♥ 10♦ | 9♦ 7♠ | 4♣ 4♦ |
Calls $4000 | FOLD | ALL-IN $11,800 |
Calls $7800 | ||
It's a coin flip at this point. A low pair vs. two overcards is nearly impossible to predict. | ||
FLOP: J♦ 10♠ J♥ | ||
Ouch! Both Norm and Jeremy flopped two pair, but Norm's Jacks and 10s beat out Jeremy's 10s and 4s. Jeremy needs a 4 to make a full house and stay alive. | ||
TURN: 3♥ RIVER: 9♥ | ||
J♦ J♥ 10♠ 10♦ A♥ | J♦ J♥ 4♣ 4♦ 10♠ | |
WIN $24,600 | OUT - 3rd Place |
So it's down to the two comedians going HEADS UP against each other for the silver chip and the entry into the Final Table! So let's SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!
CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
Norm MacDonald | $30,000 |
Michael Ian Black | $20,000 |
Michael (D) (SB) | Norm (BB) |
K♦ Q♦ | J♠ Q♦ |
Raises to $8000 | Calls $6000 |
FLOP: 9♠ 8♣ 7♥ | |
ALL-IN $22,000 | |
FOLD | |
WIN $38,000 |
Michael (D) (SB) | Norm (BB) |
7♣ 5♠ | Q♥ 10♣ |
ALL-IN $8000 |
FOLD |
WIN $10,000 | |
Norm had a strong hand...but didn't care to double Michael up. Still, Michael picked up the $2000 blind from Norm. |
Norm (D) (SB) | Michael (BB) |
A♦ Q♦ | 7♦ 2♦ |
Calls $1000 | CHECK |
FLOP: 5♠ K♣ 3♥ | |
CHECK | |
CHECK | |
TURN: 2♠ | |
CHECK | |
CHECK | |
RIVER: 9♣ COMMUNITY: K♣ 9♣ 5♠ 3♥ 2♠ | |
CHECK | |
Bets $5500 | FOLD |
WIN $9500 | |
Obviously, Michael is likewise playing tight. He had the best hand...but even the PROS would think twice about someone betting into their deuces. |
Norm (D) (SB) | Michael (BB) |
9♣ 6♦ | Q♣ 9♠ |
Calls $2000 | ALL-IN $13000 |
FOLD | |
WIN $18,000 |
Michael (D) (SB) | Norm (BB) |
A♥ 8♠ | ????? |
ALL-IN $18,000 |
FOLD |
WIN $23,000 | |
Michael even threw in an autographed picture of David Copperfield! |
CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
Norm MacDonald | $27,000 |
Michael Ian Black | $23,000 |
Norm (D) (SB) | Michael (BB) |
K♠ 7♥ | K♦ 7♠ |
Raises to $12000 | ALL-IN $23000 |
FOLD | |
WIN $35,000 | |
With the blinds this high, you really CAN'T afford to be timid like Norm, especially when you have the SAME EXACT HAND. Without lifting a finger, Michael goes into the chip lead! |
Norm would win it back by doubling up, though.
Michael (D) (SB) | Norm (BB) |
Q♠ 2♠ | J♠ 8♣ |
ALL-IN $14,000 |
FOLD |
WIN $19,000 |
Norm (D) (SB) | Michael (BB) |
A♦ K♥ | 5♠ 5♣ |
ALL-IN $23,000 |
Calls $13,000 |
Mike's about a 54% fave with his "speed limit" over Norm's Big Slick. | |
FLOP: K♠ 4♠ 2♦ | |
So much for that. Norm's a BIG fave now that he has Kings. Michael needs a third 5... | |
TURN: 4♣ RIVER: 3♦ | |
K♥ K♠ 4♠ 4♣ A♦ | 5♠ 5♣ 4♠ 4♣ K♠ |
WIN $46,000 |
Michael (D) | Norm |
ALL-IN $4000 |
Calls $4000 |
Since Michael cannot even call a blind, he's all-in automatically. No more bets...just deal the cards. | |
A♦ 8♣ | Q♠ J♣ |
Michael is a SLIGHT favorite. | |
FLOP: Q♦ 4♣ A♣ | |
Both flopped a pair. Michael's a bigger favorite now...but Norm still insists that it's over for Michael. | |
TURN: K♠ | |
Now things are getting interesting. Norm can win with a Jack to make two pair, a Queen to make "trips" or a 10 to make a straight. That's a total of 9 outs out of 42 cards...or a 21% chance of winning . | |
RIVER: 4♠ | |
A♦ A♣ 4♣ 4♠ K♠ | Q♠ Q♦ 4♣ 4♠ A♣ |
WIN $8000 | |
Michael STILL lives! |
Norm (D) | Michael |
Calls $8000 | ALL-IN $8000 |
Even with the double-up, Michael can't post the BIG Blind. So, once again, he's all-in and the cards are just dealt. | |
K♥ 4♣ | 9♥ 4♠ |
Norm is a HUGE fave this time. | |
FLOP: Q♣ 2♠ J♠ | |
No help for Michael. | |
TURN: Q♦ | |
STILL no help. Michael needs... | |
RIVER: 9♠ | |
...a nine! Holy @#$%! | |
Q♣ Q♦ K♥ J♠ 9♠ | 9♥ 9♠ Q♣ Q♦ J♠ |
WIN $16,000 | |
Michael STILL lives! |
Michael (D) (SB) | Norm (BB) |
OK...NOW, Michael can post a blind...so we're back to normal...so to speak. | |
7♠ 7♦ | K♣ 6♥ |
ALL-IN $16,000 |
FOLD |
WIN $26,000 | |
Welcome back, my friends, to the tournament that never ends... |
Norm (D) (SB) | Michael (BB) |
8♦ 7♦ | 7♥ 5♥ |
ALL-IN $24,000 |
FOLD |
WIN $34,000 |
Michael (D) (SB) | Norm (BB) |
A♥ 3♥ | K♠ 4♠ |
ALL-IN $16,000 |
Calls $6000 |
Well, I'll be. Norm DOES know how to take a risk! And that's good; he's a slight underdog. | |
FLOP: 5♦ 10♠ 10♣ | |
No help for Norm. | |
TURN: 7♥ | |
STILL no help. Norm needs a 4 or... | |
RIVER: 2♠ | |
...a King. | |
10♠ 10♣ A♥ 7♥ 5♦ | 10♠ 10♣ K♠ 7♥ 5♦ |
WIN $32,000 |
Norm (D) (SB) | Michael (BB) |
Q♠ 6♥ | K♥ 6♣ |
ALL-IN $18,000 |
Calls $8000 |
Michael is about a 3-to-1 fave to finally END this tournament! And Norm seems to know it as he dons his jacket. | |
FLOP: 7♠ 7♥ 5♠ | |
Norm's down to three outs: the three Queens. | |
TURN: 2♠ | |
Ut oh...Norm has a FLUSH draw. A spade or a Queen will keep the game going. That makes 12 outs left. | |
RIVER: 6♦ | |
IT'S OVER! IT IS ALL OVER!!!!! | |
7♠ 7♥ 6♥ 6♦ Q♠ | 7♠ 7♥ 6♣ 6♦ K♥ |
OUT - 2nd Place | TOURNAMENT WINNER! |
Yup...after ALL that, Michael has won...with a kicker ONE RANK HIGHER than Norm's! |
And, so, while Norm's Hole In the Wall Gang gets a phat $5000 check written out to them, it's Michael Ian Black who has avenged his Season 1 loss and gets the not-available-in-gift-shops silver chip that signifies a Final Table participant. His charity, Endeavor House, has a chance at receiving the $100,000 Grand Prize. All Michael has to do is last ANOTHER such slugfest at the Final Table!