Before I begin, please allow me to introduce myself. Some of you may already know who I am, while others may be wondering, “Who is this guy?” Well, at the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, I finished in 13th place. That fall during the ESPN broadcast of the event, I appeared in a couple of profiles as “the guy who kisses the picture of his kids and wife before each round.” Since then, I have taken an unexpected ride on the poker express. On the tournament circuit since 2005, I have cashed over fifteen times, won two titles, and earned over $1.3 million. In the world of poker media, I have become a columnist for the Boston Herald, ESPN.com, and now PokerNewsDaily.com, as well as book author (The Final Table, Volume I), radio host of “The Bernard Lee Poker Show,” poker commentator for WSOP circuit and bracelet events, and instructor for the WPT Boot Camp. With all this going on, I officially left my full-time “normal” job in July of 2007 to become a professional poker player. I am happy to say that I have never regretted this decision for a moment.
I hope you enjoy my first blog for PokerNewsDaily.com…
I can’t believe it is already October. The proverbial questions of “Where has the summer gone?”and “Where has the year gone?” float through our heads around at this time of year. My kids have already been back at school for a month now. They are eagerly anticipating their second favorite holiday of the year – Halloween! (You know what their favorite one probably is. Hint: Jolly old man in a red suit with reindeer.)
Up here in New England, the leaves are beginning to change colors and the weather is becoming colder. October brings my yearly personal sports transition from golf to tennis. Golf here runs from April to October, so I switch over to tennis during the colder months of November to March – in the heated “bubble” covered courts here in Massachusetts.
What about my other sport of poker? I haven’t played much since this summer’s 39th annual World Series of Poker. Although I played in the $2,500 event at the WPT Borgata Poker Open (and did not cash), my largest buy-in tournament since the WSOP was online in the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) $5,000 Main Event. This tournament was a rare two-day online event where the first day ended after 22 levels.
With 2,185 entrants and prize pool over $10 million, my first goal was my ever-present mantra – “Make it through the day.” For most of Day 1, it appeared as if I would achieve my goal. I had steadily chipped up and at one point was top ten in chips. However, near the end of Level 19, I re-raised a player in late position with pocket tens. Surprisingly, he called for most of his remaining chips with K-J. Unfortunately, I lost this critical race when a king agonizingly fell on the river. Although I finished in 132nd place and earned over $14,000, it was a far cry from the $1.7 million for first place.
Enough about the past. Let’s focus on the present. The fourth quarter of the year is often one of the most active times for me. Although I had a great late summer spending time with my family, I am definitely looking forward to returning to the tournament trail. The next few months will include the following tournaments:
October
WSOP Circuit Event in Southern Indiana ($1,000 event and $5,000 Main Event)
Mohegan Sun $750,000 Guaranteed Super Stack Tournament ($1,000 buy-in)
November
Foxwoods World Poker Tour (WPT) World Poker Finals ($600 modified shootout, $2,000, 3,000, $5,000 events and $10,000 Main Event)
Heartland Poker Tour Championship Event in Gary, Indiana ($2,000 event – only event that I am still undecided)
December
WPT Boot Camp Battle of the Season Pass
WSOP Circuit Event in Atlantic City ($1,000 event and $5,000 Main Event)
I started 2008 off with a bang, making three final tables and earning over $115,000. I hope to bookend the year with some nice finishes in the aforementioned tournaments.
Earlier this month, I traveled to a WSOP Circuit Event at the Horseshoe in Southern Indiana. Interestingly, six months ago, one of my three final tables took place at this same casino. I finished second in the $1,000 event. Once the 2008-2009 WSOP Circuit event schedule was released, I automatically booked my travel arrangements for the same property in Southern Indiana. A few weeks before the event, I had one of those moments of panic. The Circuit schedule for October 2008 said “Horseshoe in Southern Indiana,” but I had played at “Caesars in Southern Indiana” in April. I thought I might have booked the wrong flights and hotel. Luckily, with a few searches on the internet, I found out that the property had changed names over the summer and I was staying at the right place. Whew!
On the way to Southern Indiana, I stopped in Chicago for a few days to see some old college and work buddies. We were able to golf a couple of rounds together to close out my 2008 golf season. We started at Bolingbrook Golf Club, located just outside of Chicago. Having not played for two weeks, I surprised myself with a great start: +1 through six holes. However, my visions of grandeur disappeared with my iron play. I fell apart on the final 12 holes and ended up shooting an 83. The next day we played Cog Hill Country Club, site of the BMW Championship. Unfortunately, Course #4 (named Dubsdread), which is used for the PGA playoff event, was closed for the season due to renovations, so we played Course #2. My driver and irons worked for me throughout most of the day, but sadly I scored poorly (84), as my putter let me down. Neither one of these scores will help my handicap (I finished the year at about an eight) at the end of the season.
As October progresses, I have begun intense work on my second book, The Final Table, Volume II. The first installment (Volume I) was released in July and is a compilation of all of my Boston Herald poker columns from 2005-2006 with additional teaching points and anecdotes. The second volume will include columns from 2007 through 2008 WSOP. The idea for the book arose a couple of years ago when numerous readers asked me via email and in person for copies of my past columns. After so many requests, I decided to organize them into books. The Final Table, Volume I has sold quite well and I have received positive feedback from readers of all skill levels. Readers who want to learn more can go to my website, BernardLeePoker.com, to purchase an autographed copy.
I hope you enjoyed my first blog. And see you next month, where I will update you on my results of my tournaments during October and beginning of November.
One final note: Remember to vote!
Of course, you all should vote in the upcoming presidential election, but you can even vote now through early December for Bluff Magazine’s annual poker awards. “The Bernard Lee Poker Show” has been nominated for Best Poker Podcast. The show broadcasts interviews with well-known players and prominent poker industry leaders. After brief updates on weekly poker news, the show takes live calls from listeners to discuss poker topics and tips. Past guests have included Joe Hachem, Chris Moneymaker, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Norman Chad, Mike Sexton, Linda Johnson, and J.C. Tran. In May of 2008, “The Bernard Lee Poker Show” proudly joined Rounder’s Radio, the largest online poker talk radio station in the world.
This month, we continue to interview members of the 2008 WSOP November Nine. “The Bernard Lee Poker Show” airs Tuesdays from 6-7pm EST on 1510 AM in Massachusetts. The show is replayed several times during the week and is also available on podcast.
Since finishing 13th in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, Bernard Lee has cashed in numerous tournaments, capturing two titles and earning over $1.3 million. He is also a columnist for the Boston Herald and ESPN.com Poker Club and radio host of “The Bernard Lee Poker Show.” Visit www.BernardLeePoker.com for the latest news regarding Lee.
