Joseph Hachem...Your Opinion New World Champion

To be honest with you, I'm not positive that I'd tip. I mean, sure the man won 7.5 million, but it's his money, and the dealers get paid. And, doesn't a portion of the entry fee go to the dealers anyhow? I may be wrong. At the casino, I never tip. Maybe I'm a jerk, but I just don't see the point. I'm already paying them for the privelage of playing at their establishment. The dealers should stick up for themselves if they're not receiving a fair wage. I'd back them on that. If they went on strike, I'd bring them food and water (but I would save the Mountain Dew for myself).

[MicroBob]

It's not like they showed a bunch of blind-steal hands in the coverage either.

Very few who are trying to judge this hand didn't read through the hand-histories on whatever site has them all.

Thus, for all you know, there may have been a hand or two in there where Kanter showed he would raise with anything but would frequently lay-down to a re-steal attempt.

If Kanter has a history of raising a LOT...and then laying down to aggression...then Joe could have a combination of folding-equity AND a chance of catching on the board that would make it +EV to try such a move.

Stack size is a factor here too.


There are other ways where it would be just fine to try that move...I was just listing one.


trying to look at these hands in a vacuum is a mistake.
These guys played for 13 hours on that day and we saw only a small fraction of those hands (and zero of the hands where someone bets PF and the rest of the table folds...or someone else raises and the original bettor folds).


To say that there were no reads on the other players is silly. They got to learn quite a bit about each others' personalities and playing styles through those many hours sitting there staring at each other.

[jwvdcw]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That Q7 move in was terrible. He was only going to get called by a better hand, which is what happened.

I don't understand how he could put his tournament life on the line with a predetermined play like that. He didn't even have a read on the other player.

[/ QUOTE ]
Quite the contrary, Aaron Kanter had been raising very frequently when it got short-handed and Hachem limped from the button (very suspicious). Kanter folds a majority of his hands there and Hachem is only crushed if hes called by AA/KK/QQ/AQ.

[/ QUOTE ]

99 is almost just as dominant as AQ against Q7.

[jwvdcw]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't see how you can justify putting all your money in when you'll only be called if you're an underdog.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't disagree that it was a bad play, but I disagree with this statement totally. People bluff all the time for all of their chips, and sometimes they are great plays.

[Aceshigh7]

[ QUOTE ]
A very likable fellow and fine gentleman. Not as deep a thinker about the game as Raymer, so therefore - not as likely to be heard from again.

[/ QUOTE ]

Umm, how would you know?

[young nut]

I'd rather see Dannenman as champ, seriously what a likeable guy.

[Rianna]

Thank your varied posts, much appreciated.

Would hate to think Joseph is stiffing dealers, hate to see him labled that way if it's not true. And yes, to my knowledge they take out a certain % of the prize pools for tokes.

He explains in his interview (I think on this forum) about the Q7 and shutting Kanter down. He said it was going on consistantly( Kanter raising _him_ and he was going to put him to the test 'the next time he did it', or words to that effect). Maybe someone can help me with his quote, sorry I don't have the link ( he also explains the JJ vs 77 hand). I'm quite sure he didn't expect to be called...the play can look good (as a 'play') or as pointed out above, make him look like a fool and cost him the tournament. Kanter this time woke up with a hand, I believe Hachem was @ a 2-1 dog with the tourney on the line. It probably shocked him when he got called. Yes, he got very lucky.

I would not have made the play ( rather wait for an ace or pair or two paint).

Other than that, I felt Joe played a very good final table( 13 hours of it ) considering it was for the World Championship and the serious money involved. He was badly short stacked and made an excellent comeback IMHO. Give him Andrew's chip lead, I don't see how he looses it (the championship). And I have all the respect for Andrew (just call with the TT hand and (maybe) go all in on the flop. Don't call with the KJ) Easy to say sitting here at home. To go from big chip leader to 4th was a shame.

Regarding my comment about his (Hachem's) "Class"...yes, you can be a Class person and not so at the table. The "Shiek 'may' fall into this catagory. I was impressed with Hachem's integrity at the table...when he said to Dannemen 'shhhh' ( final hand ), I got the feeling he felt he induced a call and felt bad about it. I'm sure they were both emotionally exhausted again, considering all that was at stake.

I feel Hachem will be a fine ambassador for poker, time will tell. At the same time, I feel it was great to see Danneman finish in second...a very nice guy coming from basically a 'home game'. Seems like a great guy and should inspire more like him to play.

As far as Fosselman goes, IMHO it was THE accomplishment of the Main Even (or one of the big ones). His finish along with the win last year was nothing but staggering in my view. I would have dumped the kings on the turn when the st8 card fell (what can I beat and this IS for the tournament) but Greg is my new tournament Super hero. WHAT a great accomplishment. Get away from the king king hand Greg outplays people to the final table. Awesome.

I would love to see Greg review Hachem's play at the final table but that probably won't happen. ( not just the hands ESPN have shown).

Thanks again for your input.

[Punker]

3% of the prize pool was reserved; if you figure he got 14% of the prize pool, he actually "tipped" about $250,000.

[ianlippert]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd rather see Dannenman as champ, seriously what a likeable guy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too, would have been another moneymaker. Tons of home players hitting up the net to try and hit it big. Hey if that guy can do it, anyone can [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[KneeCo]

I think Hachem played very well from what I heard on the radio coverage and saw on television.
I also saw him on Leno a few weeks after his win and he did a fine job of talking about the game.
I think he's a good ambassador for the game.