An Orbit with 2006 Main Event Champ Jamie Gold

Despite what you see on TV, poker tournaments can be long and boring, especially in the early levels. To give you an idea of just how slow it can be at times, we decided to spend an orbit (nine hands) with 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Jamie Gold.

Hand #1 (Gold was in the big blind): It was easy for Gold to win this hand as he received a walk.

Hand #2 (SB): A player in early position raised to 450 and Gold folded from the small blind.

Hand #3 (button): 1983 WSOP Main Event champ Tom McEvoy limped and the hijack did the same. Gold then folded the button.

Hand #4 (cutoff): McEvoy raised to 500 and Gold called from the cutoff. The small blind came along and three players saw a flop of . Two checks put action on Gold and he bet a single yellow T1,000 chip. The other two players folded and Gold won the pot.

Hand #5 (hijack:): A player in middle position limped and Gold folded.

Hand #6 (middle position): Two early-position players limped and Gold did the same. The big blind checked his option and four players saw a flop of , which they all checked. After the dealer burned and turned the , a player bet 1,000 and the rest of the players, Gold included, threw away their hands.