by Lucy Kim
Photos courtesty of World Poker Tour
World Series of Poker bracelet winner, World Poker Tour (WPT) Boot Camp instructor, Board Member and past Chairperson of the Poker Player’s Alliance, co-founder of the Tournament Director’s Association, and member of the LPA Board of Advisors, Linda Johnson has a long list of accomplishments. She can now add the exclusive WPT Ladies Night Invitational final table to that list.
The most prestigious women’s no-limit hold ‘em event, the WPT Ladies Night Invitational, showcases six top female poker players in action each year. Past players include Clonie Gowen, Annie Duke, Jennifer Tilly, Kathy Liebert, Vanessa Rousso, Cyndy Violette, Isabelle Mercier, Maureen Faduniak, and Jennifer Harman. This year’s line up was defending champion Joanne “JJ” Liu, Linda Johnson, Mimi Tran, Melissa Hayden, Pamela Brunson, and Kristy Gazes.
As the Studio Announcer for the WPT, Johnson is no stranger to television. This time, however, she is not calling the action; she is in the action. Let’s experience what Ladies Night V was like through the eyes of the First Lady of Poker Linda Johnson:
LK: How did you feel about playing in the Ladies Night Invitational?
LJ: I was very excited to be chosen to play in this Invitational. It’s been an honor to announce this event in past years, but I also was looking forward to my invitation to play.
LK: What did you think about the line up of the women competing?
LJ: The lineup consisted of all great players who had to qualify in some way to be there: JJ Liu was last year's winner, Pam Brunson had to win her seat by winning the LPA's $1,000 ladies event at the Bicycle Casino, and Melissa Hayden, Kristy Gazes, and Mimi Tran were the top three money winners on the WPT last season.
As you can see, it was a very tough lineup. I've played with Mimi Tran several times and respect her play a lot. Years ago, I used to play with Kristy Gazes in some $30-$60 mixed games; she was always a tough competitor. I've played with JJ Liu a few times, and she is a very good, aggressive, intuitive player. Melissa and Pam were the two I hadn't played with prior to this event.
LK: Tell us what your strategy was going to the final table.
LJ: My strategy was to watch what the other players were doing and react to it. Overall, I knew it would be an aggressive field, and I planned to do a lot of "going over the top" of their bets.
LK: Did the fact that the final table would be televised affect your play in any way?
LJ: In the month prior to the taping, I was uncharacteristically nervous, because I certainly didn't want to look like a donkey on television. Once I walked onto the set, all the jitters went away and I felt very relaxed and confident. The fact that it was televised me focus and think before each play.
LK: Tell us about a key hand.
LJ: There were several key hands, but my favorite was hand #15. I had J-8 of clubs in the big blind and Melissa raised UTG to $20,000, and I called $14,000 more since we each had more than $200,000. The flop was 9-6-5 with two clubs, so I had 15 outs to make a straight or a flush. I checked, and Melissa bet $40,000. I thought there was a possibility that if she had a smaller pocket pair than nines or A-K, she would fold to a check-raise and I could win it on the flop without having to make a hand. If she did call, I was still the favorite to win the pot. I check-raised all-in, and she called with Q-Q. The turn card was a five, taking away two of my outs, but the river was the deuce of clubs. If I hadn't check-raised on the flop, I wouldn't have won the pot, since I would have had to check-fold to an all-in bet by Melissa on the turn.
LK: Were there any hands you wish you had played differently?
LJ: The only play I truly regret occurred at the $5,000-$10,000 level on hand #48. I was the chip leader with about $550,000 at the time. We were four-handed, and Kristy Gazes raised on the button to $30,000. I called from the small blind with A-8 of hearts. The flop came A-10-6 with two clubs. I checked to Kristy to allow her to bluff at the pot, since she usually made a continuation bet. She checked. Fourth street was the king of clubs, putting three clubs and three to a straight on board. I checked, and Kristy bet $75,000. I thought it was very likely that she had picked up a good draw, so I called. On the river, a blank came and I checked. Kristy moved all in for $268,000. I thought for a long time and then reluctantly made the call. She showed me K-10 of diamonds (two pair) and took the pot.
I went from chip leader to lowest stack with this call. Here's the deal—I thought she could be bluffing me, but so what? The downside was too huge if I had read it wrong. I should have folded and waited for a better opportunity. The only thing I could beat was a bluff, and for that many chips, I should have folded. Now the question is, should I have bet the flop? Perhaps so, but I think the result would probably have been the same, since I would only have bet about half the pot and she may have called with second pair heads-up.
LK: What was the turning point in the game?
LJ: It really came down to the last hand, when I had pocket jacks and Kristy had pocket kings. If the hands were reversed, I would have had 80% of the chips, but it wasn't meant to be. Usually I would be disappointed with a second-place finish, but not this time. I was happy with my play and know that Kristy played extremely well throughout also and deserved the win.
LK: What was your strategy going to heads up play with Kristy Gazes?
LJ: We started heads-up with Kristy at $1,048,000 in chips and I had $$468,000, so I planned to go over the top a lot and raise from the button. I had increased my chips to $605,000 when the hand I just described occurred.
LK: The hand you just described was your final hand—your pocket Jacks against Kristy's pocket Kings. Tell us what you were thinking in that situation.
LJ: The blinds were $12,000 and $24,000, and I raised to $82,000 on the button. Kristy moved all in, and I called. I think in a situation like this when you have Jacks pre-flop heads-up, you have to play the hand.
LK: What elements from what you teach at the WPT Boot Camps came into play during the final table?
LJ: Lots of the concepts we teach came into play: betting and raise amounts, changing gears, position, tells, reading opponents, etc.
LK: Footage from WPT events are shown and analyzed at the WPT Boot Camps. Do you think you will be discussing any of the hands from this Ladies Night at a future Boot Camp? If so, what subjects would be covered?
LJ: There were a few plays that could possibly be used for future Boot Camps. For example, I decided to make a sandwich re-raise (squeeze play) when I got short-chipped. Mimi raised on the button, Kristy called, and I moved all in with K-3 offsuit. I increased my chips by about 40% with that play, which I needed to do to get back into the game.
LK: What advise do you have for women who dream of sitting at one of those much-coveted Ladies Night Invitational seats?
LJ: I advise all women to study hard and practice, practice, practice. Go to WPT Boot Camp, get a mentor, read all the books and give yourself a shot at the brass ring!
In closing, Johnson acknowledged, “I really want to thank everyone who attended the event and gave me encouragement. My rooting section was awesome. My opponents all came to win, and I think each of them was capable of taking down the title. I am eager to see the final chapter on TV.”
To watch this exciting episode of WPT Ladies Night Invitational V, stay tuned to the LPA website for the airtime announcement.
Men and Women Welcome
