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Poker Vlog 21 - WSOP Circuit stop @ Choctaw // Durant, OK // Day One
At Agua Caliente they got ten poker tables and they run tournaments daily, and I probably play on average two live tournaments a week. Dale: I love the competitive nature of the game, and the fact that it's a battle of the minds; There is the element of the unknown for everyone playing. Dale: Obviously I wanna cash; I wanna hit that cash line. And I've also been to Vegas three times this year. Once you're past that first break, half the player pool has already busted, including the all-in bingo folks who don't take it as seriously as I do. There was this one guy who was the chip leader and who tried to bully the rest of us but I bided my time and only played premium hands. ClubWPT: Do you remember any details about the end of the tournament, any particular hands for example, that ended up being instrumental for you ultimately taking down the tournament? And it was during that time I ended up winning the tournament. Dale: My style of play is pretty consistent, and I'm rarely the chip leader throughout the early stages of the tournament, but I remember that I was able to double-up early on and that gave me a healthy chip stack so I could sit back and be more conservative before the first break. During half-time we went back home to continue watching football, including the night game. And once in a while the other players at my live table get very curious of how I'm doing in the online tournament, sometimes even more interested in what's happening on my phone than what's going on right in front of them. The flop comes 7 9 2, at which point he goes all-in and I call. Dale: I try to play in the bigger Featured Tournaments you spread on the weekends, either any of the VIP seat tournaments or the big cash events. I got more serious about it around when the internet poker explosion happened, thanks in part to Chris Moneymaker winning the World Series of Poker. Dale: I come from a family of card players, and that means everything from Canasta to Rummy to poker. When you're not playing poker, what else do you like to do outside work? But poker is just a hobby of mine. I manage to get to the final table, and out of the 9 people, I'm probably 7th in chips. And the Sunday I won The Gardens package was pretty much business as usual for me: I was over at buddy's house watching football, while at the same time playing in the tournament on my phone. That hand catapulted me towards the top of the chip counts, and all of a sudden I was at the edge of my seat and getting really excited! Dale: I work as an insurance broker, but a year ago I also had a second job driving for Yellow Cab. The flop gave me a few outs to a straight, and sure enough, when the board had run out, I'd gotten my straight and swooped the pot! And it doesn't hurt that I've enjoyed some great wins over the years; I mentioned earlier that I won a vacation to Ireland, a trip to Vegas to play in the World Series of Poker resulting in a twenty thousand dollar cash, and now most recently, winning an all expenses paid VIP package to play in a televised World Poker Tour event against the best players in the world. Dale: Thank you so much! Dale: Yes. Whereas before, I didn't go to Vegas more than once every years. After the first game ended we headed over to a local place for burgers and beers to catch the second game. I was in my 20's when I first started playing poker, which used to be at the local Elk's Lodge. Dale: Yes, that was great! We sat down with Dale to talk about his background, his many poker successes, and why he loves the game so much. I went with my wife, and we got to watch the movie 7 Days to Vegas. That only lasts for so long and a few hands later I'm heads-up with a chip advantage. ClubWPT: What is it about poker that you like to most?{/INSERTKEYS}{/PARAGRAPH} What games and tournaments do you usually play on ClubWPT. Dale: I use the browser, but now when you mention it, I should probably test out the Android app. My local casino is only 2 miles from my office, so sometimes when I get off work I go and play the night tournaments, and then sometimes on the weekends I enter their morning tournaments. The board runs out blank and I end up winning the tournament with may pair of 9s vs his pair of 7s. ClubWPT: We're definitely rooting for you and sincerely hope you make it to the final table, or at least have a decent cash. For example, a lot of big and exciting promotions, a new revamped website and an improved community aspect to our online poker platform. ClubWPT: Do you watch any poker on television? I started to play on ClubWPT. There were probably players left and I was towards the bottom in the chip counts. ClubWPT: That's amazing! I cannot recall exactly the flop, but I remember betting out and there were two other people in the hand that went all-in, one of which had two pair. So getting past the first break is key, especially if you got some chips. I wanna prove to my friends that I'm not just your average amateur poker player but that I got some skills. Dale, let me see if I get this straight: You're telling us that you played the entire tournament on your phone? ClubWPT: How long have you played poker and how did you get started online? You mentioned you play most ClubWPT tournaments on your Android phone; So do you play in the browser or do you use our dedicated Android app? If I don't have the goods I gotta be able to force you off your hand, or fold to minimize my loss. In that tournament I ended up min-cashing for twenty thousand and change. Dale: Most of it is a blur since I was pre-occupied watching football most of the time while I was playing, but one hand that I do remember is when I was dealt AJ and that I got real lucky on. Please check the poker lobby for the most up-to-date information. Sometimes I venture down to San Diego since I have friends there and the fact that it's closer to where I live. Eventually we're down to only 4 players and we're all equal in chips. And ultimately I'd love to be at the final table. It was mostly to pass time because my wife was working from Noon to 8 PM or sometimes 2 to 10, but after my Mom died, I took stock of things and what matters in life, so now I just have my insurance job. {PARAGRAPH}{INSERTKEYS}Having played for decades, he's as comfortable at a live table as he is on the virtual felt. I've have had a few successes along the way. ClubWPT: Thanks for sharing that with us! I may have, or may not have, a good hand.