Poker News

As part of National Poker Week, Ultimate Bet pro Annie Duke appeared as part of a charity tournament sponsored by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) benefiting the USO of Metropolitan Washington. Poker News Daily caught up with Duke during the second of two breaks.

PND: Tell us about your experience at the PPA charity poker tournament benefiting the USO of Metropolitan Washington.

Duke: This is really fun. It’s to support the USO. My brother [Howard Lederer] and I were in a rebuy competition and I might have edged him out. As soon as the rebuy period ended, I lost with aces to 10-9.

PND: We heard about that. Can you relive your bust out story for us?

Duke: It went 600, 600, I made it 3,100 total with aces and, of course, I got called by 10-9. The board came 5-4-4 with two hearts and I went all-in. I looked at the other person and said, “You think you have two overcards and a flush draw, but you don’t. Not only do I have a heart in my hand, but you also don’t have two overcards. You’re over a 2:1 dog.” I overbet the pot and told him, “You’re not even getting 2:1 odds. You should fold.” I was being honest. He says, “I don’t care.” A heart came on the turn, but I had the ace of hearts and couldn’t suck out. I felt like I was back in the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

PND: Does it feel good to be able to donate to charity?

Duke: I had three veterans at my table, so I announced to my table that anytime the veterans went broke, I would rebuy them. [Former PokerStars Marketing Director] Dan Goldman took up a little bit of the slack and [PPA Executive Director] John Pappas rebought one person. Dan Walsh and the Interactive Gaming Council picked up some too. I could have gone out for about $2,000, but instead I think I donated $1,500. I was saved by a little bit of generosity.

PND: You met with several Congressional members and staffers today. Tell us how it went.

Duke: I had two meetings with allies. Those are, “Thank you. We really appreciate your support.” I had two other meetings, one with Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and one with Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who has traditionally been very anti-gambling because Vermont really doesn’t want casinos. It was a lot of explaining the differences between casino gambling and internet gambling and talking about some of the judiciary committees. The meeting wasn’t with him; it was with one of his aides, but the aides are very powerful.

It’s definitely different than a year and a half ago. Then, it was a lot of education and telling people what the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is. Now, I think people are much more familiar with the legislation’s problems. They realize that it’s a piece of legislation that doesn’t work. It’s fortuitous timing with the health care reform because you get to talk about how it’s going to get paid for. When you point out that internet gambling can bring in a conservative estimate of $3 billion per year, they listen.

PND: What are your thoughts on the November Nine now that you’ve had a chance to evaluate them?

Duke: You have Darvin Moon, who has 30% of the chips in play. That obviously gives him a 30% chance to win. When people have 50% of the chips in play going into the final table, they think they’re a lock to win, but they’re just 50% to win assuming they’re a par player.

It’s so good for poker that Phil Ivey is at the final table. He only has 10 million in chips, but he’s Ivey. I think last year, when Mike Matusow and Phil Hellmuth were knocked out, the ratings really dropped, so Ivey being in there until the final table is incredible.

It’s a weird final table because the top two spots have so many of the chips. It’s always very strange when the chip averages are really skewed. I’m more interested to see if Darvin Moon is going to take a logo deal. I hear that he doesn’t want to do press and doesn’t want a logo deal. We’re all also waiting with baited breath to see what happens with Jeff Shulman.

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