Top 3 Early Celebrations in Poker

There are literally thousands of videos where various sportsmen start their celebrations just that little bit too early, only to see their hopes dashed by last-gasp surprises.

Footballers ready to slam that touch-down in spectacular fashion only to trip on their shoelaces, motorcyclists with hands raised losing control and crashing out, runners waving to the crowd and then falling face-first just 2 yards short of the winning line,

they’re all there; and every single one of them raises a laugh because – let’s face it – we are poker players and would never do such a thing. Or would we…

Pilgrim Takes the Hard Road to Wisdom

It’s the WPT Borgata Open in 2010, and play is 3–handed at the final table when Ofir Mor decides to push all-in with K♥8♠ .

Dwyte Pilgrim,with a big chip-lead, smells a rat and looks down at his 10♠ pledging to Ofir that if his other card is an Ace or a King, or pairs his 10, he’ll be calling. When he sees it’s actually the J♠, he pretty much insta-calls anyway…a risky play.

But the flop hits him hard…

J♥ 10♦ 4♥

…Pilgrim has gone from being a slight dog to a 90% favourite and saunters confidently over to his rail - a big smile on his face, hugging and high-fiving friends and family - and brags, “I don’t even look at the turn or the river!”

Of course, as Mike Sexton in the commentary booth says quickly,

The premature celebrations seem to go on forever, Sexton and Vince van Patten sharing in the bad vibe which seems predetermined to happen.

“Dwyte is acting like it’s over”, says Sexton. “He sure is”, replies van Patten, with Sexton pointing out what everyone in the card-room can see - “Partying in the rail!”

Pilgrim finally heads back to the table as the turn comes…

(J♥ 10♦ 4♥) 8♥

…giving Ofir a flush draw as well as a pair of his own. Now a King, any heart (except for the 10) or another 8 wins for him!

He’s just added 21% to his outs and Pilgrim looks immediately uncomfortable, Sexton commenting “oops, not so fast!”

The river comes

(J♥ 10♦ 4♥ 8♥) K♠

…and Ofir wins the hand

As Sexton says, and everyone else is thinking, “…the lesson to be learned here….don’t celebrate until they pass the pot your way!”

To his credit, Pilgrim eventually took down the title and $733,802 – but not all his poker lessons have been learned if this recent story is to be believed.

Mike Gets Ahead of Himself

Whenever Mike ‘The Mouth’ Matusow is involved in a hand, the chances of something unusual, amusing, or downright laughable are increased ten-fold.

That this next incident happened at the final table of the 2005 WSOP Main Event makes things somewhat less funny – it’s a life-changing place to find yourself after all - but it still shows that the harsh realities of Lady Luck can strike anybody, anywhere, at anytime!

Steve Danneman woke up with pocket Jacks, both black, and open-raised to 250,000. Scott Lazar, however, held pocket aces, in his case both red, and re-raised to 1million. Matusow, finding himself with pocket kings (!) on the button, shoved all-in quickly.

When Danneman got out of the way with his JJ, Lazar pounced with his aces.

While Matusow moaned to his rail, “It’s about normal for me, right?” Lazar was busy telling all and sundry,

Whatever the poker gods were thinking, they decided to play with Matusow, as the flop came…

Q♥8♥K♦

…giving the Mouth trip kings, which he celebrated by jumping in the air several times, arms aloft, shouting “One time!” before sitting down again to see the turn.

The 2♥ appeared, giving Lazar the nut flush draw, and Matusow turned away in obvious pain, the commentators pointing out that “Matusow is acting as if he has just lost the hand”.

Unable to watch the river after his earlier premature celebrations, Matusow buried his head in a friends shoulders as the J♥ hit the river, Lazar screaming in delight as his final table reprieve landed on the felt.

As ‘ Mike the Mouth’ indulged in his usual bout of self-pity, Lazar’s rail was going wild and the commentary team rightly described it: “What a nightmare beginning to this final table for Mike Matusow!”

Indeed, his trip kings coupled with his embarrassingly early celebrations had seriously dented his stack and confidence and he would depart in 9th place – good for $1million but a far cry from his dreams halfway through the hand. Lazar would eventually end in 6th spot, with a $1.5million payday.

Everyone Else Knows

Jumping around like a crazy person before a hand is finished is one thing, but doing the same thing in celebration when everyone except yourself knows you’ve actually lost – is quite another!

That’s exactly what happened to Australia’s David Balkin at the 2012 WSOP Main Event where he met his match in French poker pro Gaelle Baumann.

On a board of A♦ 9♥ 10♠ 7♥ 4♥ Balkin shoved all-in, his set of tens looking good. Unfortunately, Baumann’s A♥ J♥ had just improved from top pair to nut flush winner, but Balkin didn’t let this spoil his celebrations.

Her insta-call and show saw a strange look of acceptance on Balkin’s face – but he then turned to his rail, clapped his hands in delight calling out “Yes!” and being congratulated by a friend.

He didn't realize that she had the flush!

It took a couple of calls from the table of “You lost bro!” before Balkin returned to the felt to see exactly what had happened.

The flush had hit, his tens were no good, and a shame-faced Balkin took off his shades for a better look – throwing a couple of resigned f-bombs into the mix for good measure! In the meantime Baumann was desperately trying to keep a straight face as she raked the pot in.

“The truth will sink in like a searing knife”, was the commentators finishing touch to a painful experience for the Aussie.

So, there you have it folks – even poker pros get over-excited and ‘mis-play’ their celebrations! Remember this next time you’re online, get dealt aces, hit quads on the flop and think you’re a dead cert ;)