Beth Shak Blog

My friend and I headed to the Kentucky Derby, and flying out of Philadelphia is always a chore in itself. There was minor “weather” that immediately means the flight is delayed. After 45 minutes on the runway the flight attendant announces that the plane is heading back to the gate. The 2nd flight attendant had a panic attack. The last plane she was on was hit by lighting so they took the plane back to the gate where we waited another 20 minutes until they opened the door and had a replacement attendant.

Only in Philadelphia.

The treatment we were given @ the Derby was INSANE. Only Phil is all I’ll say. I was picked up @ the airport with my hotel keys in hand. Bags were already shipped prior and in my room. Heidi and I unpacked grabbed a quick bite and chilled at bit. We needed it. I had no idea the weekend that was ahead of us.
Friday night walked the red carpet and attended the Mint Jubilee, Kim Kardashian’s party @ Glassworks , Paris Hilton’s party @ Prime… I called it a night after that as the rest of the group went to White Castle for burgers.

Saturday we attended Kentucky Derby. Phil of course had a stretch hummer limo that had police escorts.The red carpet was cool. Kid Rock, Joey Fatone etc…
A great experience but a looooong day. We couldn’t pull it together to go to Al Capone’s Room with Phil’s group . After resting for a bit, we motivated just in time to meet Robert and Kate. We had a private “Rock Star” party, then hit Proof for dinner @ 12 . We headed back to the hotel by 2:30….not quite done a few more drinks then we crashed…….

The next day the flight into Philadelphia was delayed…. of course….

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After the WPT I flew to LA to visit friends. I had a few days of “R & R.” It’s easy to see how anyone can fall in love with the life style there as the WEATHER alone is the best I have ever enjoyed anywhere.

I got invited to a few home cash games and couldn’t believe how much differently they were run than in New York. It’s much more of a ” business” in LA for the people running the games but I got to meet some cool local pros. As everyone is razzing me about getting a tattoo, ( I’m still not 100%) I met a really cool woman with the most insane tattoos I’ve ever seen…Now on my way home and repacking for the Kentucky Derby

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Well I have to thank Annie for my new obsession…Twitter! So cool, so beyond Facebook. I couldn’t understand for 3 days @ the WPT why she was so addicted. Now I get it. Go to twitter.com to the bottom of the page and enter bethshak.
I’m looking forward to Thursday @ the Kentucky Derby with Phil and Robert. I will twitter all weekend from all the tournaments/party’s/events/races.

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My trip out to Las Vegas started out hearing my named called by a familiar voice in the airport. I turned around and it was Annie Duke. She had a speaking engagement in PA.
This was actually my first time ever I went out, beyond poker and a meal. I honestly can’t believe it. I saw the show ” Love” on Friday night, and really enjoyed the performance and the company.

Saturday evening a few friends went to dinner @ Daniel Bolud. I couldn’t get too crazy as I was playing the WPT the next day.

I started day one completely card dead. Actually that went into day two as well. My table draws were insane. Although, there were no easy draws, the play I was watching was scaring me, and had to field a lot of bad play. On one hand the board was 4 8 3 K 9 it was a 150K pot the one guy moved all in with just a 4 and was called by 10 10. There were a few crazy hands from this tournament that will definitely stick in my mind.
I’m on to day 3 with Phil Ivey, Annie Duke and Matt Glantz @ my table should be fun.

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Florida was a great vacation! The weather was beautiful, and it made me realize in a few years, I want to move to a warm weather climate. I met a great “group” of people from a local casino and overall South Beach is insane. The week really flew by for me, so now I’ll wrap up what needs to be done @ home before I leave for Vegas. I ALWAYS LOVE VEGAS!!

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I’m off and running again! How do people live a normal life and just stay in one place? Being a poker player really ruins you. Tomorrow I have a quick day trip to New York for meetings and Tuesday I head to Florida. I’m very excited to see my brother, a really cool holistic MD, and my niece.
I look forward to getting acupuncture when I see him and then head to South Beach for a few days. Now my daughter has been begging for a belly button ring, and honestly looks too hot already! Although I think it’s time to give in…the question is do I get my tattoo this trip or next?

When I get home I am helping host a charity poker event “Poker Players with a Heart”. Christina and Lance Funston two local very philanthropic people have an event to help end homelessness. It’s my pleasure to be a part of this for the second year, but the bad new is I leave the very next day for the WPT in Vegas. SO I have to watch what I drink or it will be a VERY long plane flight…

till next time…..

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I’m really happy I flew to Las Vegas for Dream Team Poker. What a great event. It was so well organized. My flight here was fun. I flew in with my manager Eric. He tried to sleep and I harassed him. Why do men have to sleep on planes? By the middle of the flight we were cracking up as the flight attendant was so nasty that she was announcing that she needed a break.

We landed and headed right to Caesars to register and for a cocktail party. The room was so cool. Again, what a great job they did. On both walls were all the jerseys from all the teams playing. I was on “Three’s Company.” Myself, my manager Eric Brewstein and Shannon Elizabeth.

The tournament started Saturday @ 12. I was moved so many times my head was spinning. I will say I played with so many great guys that I have never played with before. My final table was with Phil Hellmuth and Tom McEvoy. Phil kept raising my blind. So of course I was fighting with him. Why does he always have to raise my blind? I moved in on him a few times. He huffed and puffed but folded. There was one hand he raised my blind . I didn’t even realize Tom was in the hand…..We started fighting. He was on the phone with his wife. I took the phone to tell his wife what he kept doing to me. I told him I was moving “All IN” blind. HAHA he knew I wouldn’t. I folded the hand. Tom wound up wining the hand. I lost a few races. Reraised with AK when it20was only 15k more to call an all in and he turned over KK. Then my final hand was JJ me vs AK him. He hit his A and I went home 68/444. I had a ball. To everyone @ Dream Team thank you!

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Going into Caesars I was totally relaxed and felt great about playing. Day one I didn’t win my races but somehow I survived. I raised a few times with hands had people move all in over me and had to call for sheer odds. The first hand was my dreaded AQ vs KQ but of course he flopped the nut flush. Who said there is no luck in poker? The second hand was my 88 vs his AQ right on the flop the Ace. I ended the day not feeling terrible @ 2 A.M. There were no rooms left at Caesars and I was one of many looking for a place to sleep.

Day two didn’t fair much better for me when I was all in with A 10 vs 88 with the 10 on the flop it took a minute for me to see there was a straight by the river. I lost 15 from the money. Such is life in poker. Dan and I took our daughter and her roommate out to dinner before she headed back to college. Lucky her after killing us for years we finally gave in and bought her a new car. Some people do have all the luck!

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Finally a vacation that didn’t involve poker. I haven’t done that in almost5 years, and it was AWESOME! I went to the Bahamas with our daughter for 3 nights. I’m sure most of the poker players have seen the Cove, let me tell you, it was amazing. The pool was great during the day, and we just sat outside all day and relaxed. I’m still in amazement that my daughter had me doing shots on Saturday night. needless to say that Sunday was not a good day for me, but I’m so relaxed. I’m making a vow to myself to travel twice a year with NO poker involved. Caesar’s is next for me and I’m still working on a few exciting options. Stay tuned…

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What a great trip! Denmark was so cold I couldn’t believe it. My poker went terribly. I called a raise with AJ and there were 4 callers. The flop gave me an Ace. I led out. (EPT we only start out with 15K) The turn was a 2. I led out again and was only left with a few thousand chips. The guy moved me all in. I sat there and though it’s a young kids trying to get me off my hand. WOW I was off as he had a set of 2′s…whoops.

I flew from Copenhagen to Florence. The flight was a nightmare! It was snowing and I was watching snow dump on the plane. The plane was delayed 2 1/2 hours. The pilot kept announcing we are in cue for deicing. I finally landed in Zurich and missed my connecting flight. I waited around 5 1/2 hours on standby for a plane to Florence. I was worried I wouldn’t make that plane. By the skin of my teeth I made it and landed in Florence late Thursday night. I forgot how beautiful Florence is. My son is having the time of his life. To study abroad for 5 months and to live in a foreign country wow! He has met an amazing group of fiends from an array of colleges. The drinking and nightlife I’m way to old for. They don’t start out until 12:30 and continue on until 5 a.m. It’s insane. I was out 2 nights in a row. I was happy to fly home. Next for me is a Bahamas trip with my older daughter. My family is first then poker second.

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