In my last article, I described meeting Air Force Drew and Santa Drew, so I will call active duty Drew, Drew Force. I had described Poker Player Ray to Drew Force. Poker Player Ray did not disappoint. Unlike Hot Spot Don, who vehemently denied insulting me a week before. Ray owns his characterization of bellicosity, always seeking any opportunity to be my antagonist. We were all seated at table 20 with me at seat 5, Drew Force at seat 1, and Poker Player Ray to my left at seat 4.
I had a nice run of cards, hitting multiple sets including a set of 10’s against 2 pair 10-7. I am slow in stacking chips, because at one time, I had lost the use of my left hand due to a stroke in 2021. I have regained use of my left hand, but I still struggle to stack chips. Ray doesn’t like to see me win. So, in a state of resentment, he knocked over my stack of chips, prompting Drew Force to chuckle and say, “Man, he’s just like you described when we were having our beer before the tournament.”
I had a huge stack of chips. Before we got down to the money, tables were combined to one final table. We each contributed $20, so that the 6th place bubble could receive $120 making going out on the bubble less painful. Once we were 5 handed, I noticed the stacks were all fairly generous, and I proposed chopping up the prize money. A player named Dalton with a bigger stack declined to chop, so we played on. I had a Queen-10 suited in spades from the small blind. Nobody had raised pre-flop. The flop came A-J-9 with 2 clubs. I moved all in with my open ended straight draw and back door flush draw. I was called in two spots.
A gentleman named Ben Bell was in the large blind. Ben is a really nice guy who has previously been the player of the year at the Pensacola Greyhound Track. I know this, not because he bragged about it, but because I saw his picture on the wall of fame. Ben has a wife named Wanda who faithfully sits behind him when she’s not playing Face Up Paigow. Ben had been moved into the seat vacated by Poker Player Ray. Wanda perceived that I had some trouble getting in and out of my seat because of my stroke. So, she was good about pulling my chair back for me when I got up during breaks. She’s a fierce advocate for her husband when she feels it necessary.
Ben had called my all-in raise with an Ace-5, giving him a pair of Aces. Dalton had called with a Queen-8 suited in clubs to go with his mountain of chips. Ben was the shortest stack. The turn was a spade, giving me a flush draw as well. I had 13 outs, and missed them all. Ben was going to triple up, but I would soften the blow to my stack, by winning against Dalton’s Q-8.
We were down to 4-handed, so we were all in the money. Hennessy drinking Lionel, who brought his own plastic snifter to drink cognac to savor the aroma of his spirits, was seated to Ben’s left. I like Lionel, because he’s friendly, pleasant, and even bought me a drink once. I even share a similar appreciation for Hennessy, though I must admit that my stroke altered my taste buds to the point that I have less appreciation for cognac than before. It seemed to have altered my sweet-tooth, because I’m no longer addicted to donuts. Maybe there’s a connection. As much as I like Lionel, he had the shortest stack, and he needed to go. He moved all in. I called with a King-9. He had pocket 6’s, but I missed my over cards, and doubled him up. With Dalton’s stack culled, I asked Dalton if he wanted to chop. He was open to it, but now Ben wanted to keep playing after tripling up, “Let’s keep playing a while.”
Now I was the short stack. I moved all-in with pocket 6’s. Ben called I think it was Queen-9. He hit his 9 on the flop, and I cashed for $295. I saw Ben the next day. He ended up winning the tournament that Friday night. I told him I had no hard feelings about not chopping the prize money, and I congratulated him on his win.
So let’s discuss chopping up tournaments. I’ve seen people refuse to chop, only to be the next guy out of the event, and then hear everyone describe what a jerk the guy was and they loved the irony of seeing the obstinate SOB walking to his car. When I won my first major event in Costa Rica. It had gotten down to 3 handed and I was in 3rd place. The top 2 guys were Costa Rican. They began discussing in Spanish how they wanted to chop pot after knocking me out. They were told they had to cease and desist by the tournament director. These guys had slowly built their stacks by patiently waiting for big hands. I had built my stack by aggressively playing connectors and hitting my hands. It was short-handed and they were unable to shift gears. I promptly raised 3 hands in a row, and took the chip lead. Then I asked, “OK, what kind of deal do you want to make now?”
We agreed to reduced the first place money and boost 2nd and 3rd place. I ended up winning the event. Global Poker Index says I won $19,210, but I think I only won 17, something maybe less. I don’t get upset at people who won’t chop. For example I won the $140 mixed game event at the World Series of Poker Circuit event at the Horseshoe Tunica, Mississippi in February of 2025. The 2nd place finisher, Austin, who I knew from playing Omaha High-Low, wanted to chop, but I had him out-chipped 10-1, so I refused and won the event. The point is chopping needs to make sense for all involved. I understand Ben not wanting to chop that Friday night, just like I understand Dalton not wanting to chop when had the chip lead. Some people like Roger last week play better short-handed. It’s a different game short-hand. It forces people out of their comfort zones. Some people want to get experience at it.
I remember offering a chop when I had the small stack in March. Everyone said no. I said with a laugh, “OK, I did offer.”
To which they replied, “Shut up Mark.”
I ended up finishing second and cashing for $600. I’m glad they said shut up.
