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Look Out BCPCs, Here I Come

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:35:26 +0100

What an amazing month it's been! I'm so excited to be writing this blog and bringing good news to all my friends that have supported me though this difficult year.

Life is good ... really good. Not to mention very busy! "The Real Deal!" is well on its way, and it's been so exciting being the hostess of the show.

I'm on the November cover of Bluff Magazine, and hosted a party recently with my covermate Christina Lindley at The Bank to kick off the WSOP final table.

Icing on the cake though is, I was able to do all the live coverage and bust-out interviews again for the final table this year!

Since there has been such a big gap from where I left off blogging here, I have no idea where to start. How about from finish to start and then back again to make it nice and confusing? Looks like we can do this in a few blogs to catch everyone up to speed.

After a few hectic weeks I am proud to say that I will be taking some much-needed time off ... this time to play some poker and see all my favorite people in Vancouver, British Columbia!

Starting next week the River Rock Casino is hosting the British Columbia Poker Championships, otherwise known as the BCPCs. I have been going since the beginning and wouldn't miss this tournament for the world!

Why, you may ask, is this tournament so important to me? Not only is it in beautiful Vancouver, B.C.; it's being held at one of my top 5 favorite casinos, the River Rock Casino Resort.

I love going to Canada. Being part Canadian myself I have this undying urge to live in Vancouver ... at least in the warm months (approx. May-Sept. in Vancouver), with maybe a few visits to Whistler in the wintertime.

Canadians that play poker there are amazing, funny and always nice, which is quite refreshing after being in Las Vegas. The River Rock is a five-star casino resort and it has a 24-hour gym (my fave) in which you can look out over the marina in the back.

The tournament itself has so many action-junkie players, and $1 million for first place is expected. Why wouldn't I want to play here? Well, if you need more reasons for its appeal, here goes ...

My favorite Canadian poker players/friends Brad Booth, Gavin Smith and Daniel Negreanu will all be there, along with many other friends that I have grown to love. There will be a fun PokerStars party the night of the 19th to kickoff the main event on the 20th. It will be a super fun and challenging four-day tournament.

I'm also excited to tell everyone that they've asked me to be the TV hostess for the tournament and I will be shooting for the show as well as playing in the event! Woo-hoo!

I'm so happy and grateful that they chose me to do the hosting as I really enjoy being on both sides of a poker tournament. When you're a poker player you only see everything from one side, but when you work for the media covering the tournament, you get a whole new perspective as to what exactly is going on.

Look forward to my blog coming up on being a TV hostess for all the tournaments I have been lucky enough to work on. I have this feeling that there are a lot of things poker players do not see outside of the tables.

I will be leaving on Wednesday next week and can't stop thinking about the most important thing about playing in the BCPCs ... seeing my best friend Alex Lee Behan. (Check out her Web site here.) Last time I saw her beautiful face was back in May when I played in the Coast to Coast Poker Championship at the River Rock.

That was the trip that began my life getting back on track and out of the deep end, as I would call it. Six months has felt like a lifetime!

What shocks me more is that I can't believe how much things have changed since then. For the first time in my life I am happy, healthy and loving every second of my existence.

Too bad I wasn't back to my old self in time for the WSOP this summer, but c'est la vie. One can't expect to be at rock bottom and shoot straight to the top of the world overnight, eh?

Alex has been my rock and personal cheerleader that never once let me give up, and believe me when I say this, I tried many times. There were many long and expensive phone calls filled with tears and heartbreak, with Alex telling me how wonderful I am and how my life is just beginning. At the time I couldn't see anything but sadness and nothing to hope for.

I don't know where I would be right now if I didn't have her in my life. She is the true definition of a friend. You were right all along Alex. Things are better than I could ever imagine and life is beautiful.

I'm going to close as I can't quite see to type at the moment, but I will be back to fill in the gaps of these amazing six months and this crazy wonderful life I've been living.

I would like to end with one last thing. Thank you Alex for opening my eyes and saving my life. I will always love you with all my heart.

Forever grateful,

-- Lacey

P.S. Follow me on my personal blog for my day-to-day rants and things to make you laugh.

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Oo-la-la

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:20:31 +0100

Hey everyone! Well, I'm back in Las Vegas and off to a running start. Getting in from Philadelphia on a Sunday I went straight to the gym, then an appointment with Terry (my suntan guru), and finally crashed on top of the bed with my clothes and shoes on!

I must have been so tired because when my phone rang at 9 p.m. I had drool all over my face. The call was from Christina Lindley telling me she was 40 miles from Las Vegas. She would be staying the next two nights at my house.

Maria Ho was also supposed to be on this trip from Los Angeles to Vegas, but unfortunately she needed to be with her family this week. I miss you Maria and love you very much

Monday morning we all would be shooting the cover of Bluff Magazine for November. Instead of four separate girls for this issue, it would now be Christina and myself ... in nothing but lingerie.

Oo-la-la! I'll write more on that fun shoot the closer we get to the issue coming out. It'll be one you won't want to miss.

Now for the icing on the cake: the majority of my time will be working on "The Real Deal!" - the world's first fully interactive poker show at the Venetian.

I saw the stage and it looks amazing! Almost like a TV game show, but way cooler - there's a poker table in the middle!

Sorry for all the exclamation points, but I'm so excited. I think as soon as they showed the TV spot they would be airing, I immediately had goose bumps. I'm telling you guys, this show is going to be so much fun and something everyone will be talking about.

Today I have a free day to catch up on all my e-mails, laundry, phone calls and blogs of course. Having been gone almost three weeks I have a lot to accomplish, but it's looking good.

It's nice to be home, although I am a little bummed to have had to leave the East Coast. This trip to Borgata was my favorite trip by far.

One full year has passed since the first time I came to this diamond in the rough, "rough" being Atlantic City, and each time I have since then (four), my heart grows fonder of this place.

As we all know, Borgata hosts the best events on the tournament trail, and people come from all over to play here. This is perfect for me because of two main things: I get to play a few tourneys, and when I'm busy working I get to see all my friends.

Earlier when I arrived during the prelim events there were a number of pros already playing. Borgata's star-studded poker bloggers Michael Friedman, Dr. Pauly and Tropical Steve were in full effect, giving all the updates for each event.

Not to mention my favorite tournament staff - the employees that work for Borgata are like my second family. It's always fun to see them and makes the long haul leading up to the main event go by quite fast.

I was only able to play two events - the ladies (ugh) and Borgata's $100k guarantee. I do believe that will be my last ladies event I will ever play in, unless maybe I feel like punishing myself in next year's WSOP.

After I busted from that event, I told all my friends that I'd rather stick my hand in a blender than play another ladies event. Harsh, I know, but I know there are people out there who understand my pain. OK; enough with the drama and no bad beat stories from me!

The good news is that I cashed in the $100k! Borgata's poker room added their own tournament the day of the super satellites into the main event. They guaranteed a $300 tournament for $100,000, and of course more than enough showed up. Over 650 people showed up, giving first place $52,000 ... not bad for a $300 tournament!

The field was ridiculously soft and I was able to play 6 2 like a rock star. Thank you Devo for the sickest sweat ever!

Alas, I made it to the final three tables and took 26th. Freakin' sucked man. I'm not here to cash, I really want to win. And like I always say ... soon, my friends, very soon you'll see it happen. I can feel it!

And before I leave this blog I'd like to say congratulations to Vivek for winning $1.4 million and the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship title! What a sick table that was!

My next blog will be up very soon talking about our crazy fun nights at BBar and all the other things I loved about this trip to the East Coast.

Take care all and make sure you register to vote! Only a few more days left. With the state of the world today we can't afford to be unheard. Make your vote count! Sorry it's the poli sci in me coming out. ;)

Bonne chance!

-- Lacey

P.S. Follow me on my personal blog for my day-to-day rants and things to make you laugh.

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RRRowrrr

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:39:59 +0100

Here we go again ... I'm back!!! This time in full effect. I apologize for leaving everyone hanging, but I really needed to close down and focus on my goals in life.

As you all know, I've had to go through a very difficult time and I'm finally able to say it's all in the past. Like I say to my friends ... I feel like I'm in the shallow end of the pool instead of drowning in the deep end with my depression.

Yikes - I said the word!

Well, I don't know why it's so shocking for people to read that. Maybe if more people in and out of the public eye were open about what is really going on in their lives, there wouldn't be so much sadness in the world.

We wouldn't feel alone and we could talk about the reality of life, not all this fake superficial babble about how fantastic they are when it's all a lie.

I'm only continuing to talk about my struggles and include this in my blog because of the e-mails I've received. I'm very touched by those who wrote letters of support and told me of their own battles.

I've even had close friends tell me they were/are fighting the same thing and tried to hide it from everyone ... even me! There is hope for each and every one of us. I'm living proof. Don't ever give up!!

Ahem. Stepping off my soapbox now. Just had to get it out there. Having said all that, things have never been better in my life. I've been crazy busy and traveling all over and enjoying every second of it. In fact I haven't written in so long I have no idea where to start!

Aside from traveling I was at Fashion Week in Vegas two weeks ago and had a blast! I worked at Project in the day, fashion shows at night and photo shoots in between every day. After that was all done I picked on all the "fashion-forward" tourists in the cash games.

It was quite the week! Right now I'm at the beautiful Borgata, my second home in Atlantic City. I love it here. Check out my previous blogs on the hottest stop on the poker tournament trail.

I'll be here till the 19th for the prelims leading up to their $5 million guarantee $10k main event - yup, $5 million guarantee! I'll be playing, doing video updates and interviews and maybe even a photo shoot!

Keep your fingers crossed! I have a small chance to be in their calendar, the famous Babes of Borgata. If you don't know about these girls, you're missing out.

During the main event at each new level of the first day, the girls walk past all the tables holding cards showing the level change. Think of ring girls, only hotter. I'll tell you this - no one forgets the levels are up in this main event! Lol.

And when I'm not doing those things I mentioned above, I'll be in my favorite place - the Pump Room, Borgata's badass gym. It has everything ... even this new machine I've never seen before that kicks my butt!

Why am I hitting the gym so hard? Well, first and foremost I am a model, but most importantly, I'll be shooting for the November cover of Bluff Magazine!! RRRowrrr. It will be their four-year anniversary and they are shooting four sexy ladies on four different covers!

Make sure to pick 'em all up. I'll make sure to write all about it with video and pics later this month.

Now for the best news! I'm going to be the cohost alongside Paul Rodriguez doing a brand-new show at the Venetian called "The Real Deal!"

It's an all-new live interactive poker-themed show. We have all the top pros signed on and there will be tons of prizes. You'll even have a chance to win a million dollars!

Doyle, Daniel, Gavin, Scotty, Jen, almost every Phil in the book, Antonio, and many more will be on the show. Two pros each night will play against six other people Paul and I choose from the audience. They'll compete for tons of prizes, cash and much more.

Only there's a few twists compared to the ol' sit-and-gos we're used to. We knock off people who are the shortest stack in an undisclosed amount of hands and the audience gets to be the ninth player. Each person in the audience gets a video monitor to play along with the table.

I'll write more about the show as we get closer to the grand opening on Oct. 21. Believe me, this is the hottest new concept for not just poker, but entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip.

Make sure to check back for all my antics - I promise you'll be seeing a lot more of me now. I wish all the best to everyone out there.

Bonne chance!

-- Lacey

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The Best Is Yet to Come

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:14:09 +0100

My, how time flies when you're not having fun. It's been way too long since my last blog and it feels great to start writing again. But it's my greatest pleasure to let y'all know that things are getting better every day and I am finally happy.

Yes, I said it: I'm happy.

Right now I'm taking a mini break from the WSOP, poker and Vegas by staying at Borgata's new signature hotel in Atlantic City: The Water Club. The Water Club is a beautiful boutique hotel and all I can say is that I'm in love with this place!

Make sure to check back for my blog about this amazing hotel, along with all the things I've been up to. It's been almost a week here in A.C. and all my problems are a thing of the past, at least that's what it feels like. Finally I'm relaxed and truly ready to begin the next step in my life.

Back in April I wrote that I was ready to start a new chapter and move on. However that's easier said than done.

It's been two months of hard work and faking a smile until the real one appeared. I had to take a few more hits as well to learn my lesson and get things straight.

I debated over writing about the depression I was going through. It was one of the main reasons I hadn't written a blog in two months.

Then I realized I wasn't the only one out there going though this. I started getting e-mails from all over the world with friends going though this same thing. So maybe, just maybe, I can help reach someone out there going though what I've had to experience.

If that "someone" happens to be you, the one thing I wish for you is that you'll have the strength to hang on. It will get better, but only if you let it.

How exactly does one get out of a depression? Who the hell knows is my answer.

Honestly, I tried everything and I still don't know. A great friend told me that time heals all wounds. It's the kind of advice that no one wants to hear when all you want is a quick fix, but it really is the truth.

With each passing day I got further and further from all the things that brought me to that dark place. After time you start to think about other things and all the painful memories slip ever so slightly to the back of your mind. The pain doesn't disappear, but the sting slowly goes away.

For me I had to get out of bed and start a new day, a new life. Some days were better than others, but with each good day I was closer to my goal: to be happy.

I had to surround myself with great friends that let me cry on their shoulders and sometimes puke on their shirts. Definitely not something I'm proud about, but it showed who my true friends were. I know I've said this before, but without these friends I never would have made it.

In May I decided to take a road trip with Bryan Devonshire, Gavin Smith and a few other people to Vancouver, on a whim, for the Coast to Coast Poker Championship. It was the best decision I ever made and I had the time of my life.

Don't worry; I'll be posting all about the fun and debauchery we got into very soon. It was the perfect vacation to have before the World Series of Poker.

Only I wasn't ready to come back to Las Vegas. I still had some healing to do.

So far I've played two events at the WSOP, gone deep and eventually busted before the money. Both times I forced myself to believe that I was mentally prepared to play, only to find out that there were still some distractions I had to get rid of.

After this trip to Atlantic City I'll be on my way to playing well and being the happiest girl in the world. The best is yet to come, my friends.

Until next time, bonne chance!

--Lacey

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Moving On and Starting a New Chapter

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:46:59 +0100

Yesterday was the last day I allowed myself to grieve over some personal issues going on in my life. This past month has been quite difficult and life-changing.

The saying "When it rains it pours" keeps coming to mind. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to write after all the things that have happened.

When your life does a complete 180 you're never prepared. Currently I'm experiencing a devastating breakup, being in the hospital earlier this month, and now problems with my father. It has brought me to my knees.

It's so difficult to sit in front of a computer to write when you can't even see to type from all the tears. Not to mention who wants to read a depressing blog when there are about 8 billion others to read that can lift your spirit?

This is now my time to move on and pick up where I left off... getting ready for the WSOP. I've set up goals and even though I'm not where I thought I would be, I'm ready to start a new chapter.

I promise that from now on things will be better and all my blogs will be entertaining. So here is my attempt at being positive and happy today. Please bear with me - I'm trying really hard.

This past week has been wonderful with all my friends who have tried to cheer me up. I couldn't have made it without them... and that's the truth. Even though I remained Debbie Downer everyone still stood beside me and made me smile even if only for a few seconds. I love you all; you know who you are.

Last Friday provided one of many examples of one of my closest friends trying their best to cheer me up. That morning I was getting ready for a callback that my agent was sending me on, and after that I would be on my way to the Venetian.

Jennifer Harman's second annual charity poker tournament for the Nevada SPCA would be starting at 2 p.m. Last year they raised enough money to add a new wing to the no-kill pet shelter.

Not only is it a good cause in general, but I'm secretly dying inside to have a dog. I'm never home to be a good mommy, though. There's this puppy store next door to my supermarket. Late at night it's fun to stand outside the window and watch the puppies wreak havoc in the place.

So you can see why raising money to make sure that cute little animals all have a place to live - even the older ones - makes me feel all warm inside. What a fun day to be excited about, right?

After putting on my makeup I was listening to my new favorite Web site: www.pandora.com. (I highly recommend you spend just three minutes on this site; you will be hooked.) A song came on that for some reason brought me to tears and I couldn't stop.

I had ruined my makeup and my eyes were red and swollen. I crawled back into bed and cried myself to sleep. I gave up on the day and that was that.

Around 1 p.m. I received a phone call from Brad Booth to say that he had just landed in Vegas. I told him what had happened and that I was going to sleep the day off.

He wouldn't take no for an answer and told me I had 30 minutes to get myself together and head to the Bellagio. I was going to the tournament and I was going to have fun - or at least that was the plan.

We took a limo to the Venetian and as usual Brad did his best to make me laugh the whole way there. We arrived at 2:05 and walked up to a huge crowd of people and bright lights in front of the poker room.

The red carpet was set up in front where you normally sign in for the cash games. Only this time they gave you an animal to walk with that was from the shelter.

I wasn't quite ready to be this social and wanted to turn around and leave. I haven't been out that much this past month and still haven't figured out how to present myself. Do I fake it and act all happy and say things are great?

Or do I say I'm doing horrible, my world has been crushed and my heart ripped out and shredded? Hmm... the latter doesn't usually go over too well in interviews. Believe me, I know from interviewing second-place bust-outs during the WSOP last year that it's easy to tell when someone is hurting.

As I got closer I dragged my feet and cringed. Brad saw how I was acting and insisted it was going to be fine, saying he'd even walk down the red carpet with me. When I joined the crowd I realized almost every poker pro had shown up to support Jennifer's charity.

And then all the positive energy from seeing old friends and raising money for a great cause started to erase all the sad feelings I had inside and I began to enjoy the moment.

Here I was talking earlier in my blogs at PokerListings about how the next tournament you play in make sure to have fun and enjoy the moment. This was my chance to practice what I was preaching.

Make sure to check back next week where I'll talk about the tournament itself and all the fun stories from the night.

Until next week, Bonne chance!

-- Lacey

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Open Up and Let Your Guard Down

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:58:07 +0100

Hey everyone! I hope things are looking a little brighter with spring upon us. I'd like to first say congratulations to my boyfriend Heath Herring for winning his fight last Saturday!

You're the best baby! Also Happy Birthday to Heath, Alex and Hunter!

Last week I began my series on enjoying the moment and how you can reset before the World Series of Poker this summer. Noticing a large amount of friends including myself getting down in the dumps I felt the need to write about it.

Hopefully this will not only help me but anyone out there who may feel the same way. I've been getting a lot of positive feedback and I'm glad I'm able to share my experiences on how to get happier and healthier this 2008.

Some of us have "lost that loving feeling" toward poker, or at least don't have as much fun as we once had. It doesn't mean you don't love poker, but more like you don't appreciate the time you spend playing anymore. All the beats have made you numb and possibly bitter toward the game.

The only way you're going to snap out of it is if you take some time to realize you need a break. This doesn't mean take a break completely. Try to find a balance. Then come back and enjoy playing your favorite game.

My suggestion last time was to have fun, no matter what, in the next tournament you play in. Throughout this series I'll be giving you tips on how to have fun by using great memories from my time in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The next tournament you play why not try to make new friends, go out and have fun? I have met so many great friends in Vancouver. People whom I couldn't imagine what life would be like without them in it.

I've been known to be quite the hermit and somewhat shy around people I don't know too well. Opening up and befriending someone can be quite scary, especially if you've been burned in the past.

I realize now my time in Vancouver was a turning point in opening up and making new friends. Which also led to new experiences and great memories that will last a lifetime. The one great thing about poker is the people you meet already have something in common with you - the love of poker.

Not to mention it's pretty easy to make friends in Canada. Canadians are the nicest people you'll ever meet aside from Texans. Meeting my best friend Alex for the first time I had no idea how close we would end up being.

What if I hadn't become friends with her? I would have missed out on one of the most amazing friends one could ever find.

Why not try and open up and let down your guard a little bit? And in the meantime have fun! Go out and eat a great meal at a new restaurant you've always wanted to try. Be around people that are positive and like-minded to inspire you to be happy and focused.

Make sure to check back next week where I'll continue on where I left off. Have a great weekend and be safe.

Bonne chance!
-- Lacey

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Enjoying the Moment

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:00:29 +0100

Spring is in the air and we all should be just about ready to shake off that winter gloom.

Regardless of whether you're feeling down on poker or on life in general, it always seems to happen around this time of year.

I don't know about you, but I'm in need of doing a little spring cleaning myself. It's time to be happy, healthy and enjoy every minute of life. I'm going to take the next few weeks to blog about what steps I'm taking and what you can do to recharge your batteries before the WSOP rolls back into town.

Lately I've noticed a lot of poker players feeling run down and sick of the beats. They constantly talk of how bad they are running and yet they stay in the poker room - or worse, multi-table online all day and night.

Very few really take the time to reset and relax and then come back to play with a better attitude. Look at how well you are playing and forget about the bad luck.

What I'm getting at is the World Series of Poker is right around the corner, with just 90 days before the first event. What tournament is more important to you as a player? Is it worth beating yourself up over online play or circuit events?

Now is the time to get ready for what counts. You have three months to get yourself ready to win a bracelet.

Here's one suggestion: With all the traveling we get to do, why not make it a point to have fun no matter what in the next poker tournament you play in? Why not give yourself a little break for happiness before the seven weeks of WSOP take their toll on you?

Having fun can be interpreted in many ways, so I'll put it this way:

You have to take in the experience of enjoyment. Soak up every bit. Be grateful for everything you have and every minute of life. And enjoy the moment!

Try and think back to when poker was fun. Think of the first poker tournament you played in. Look how far you've come from that point. Be proud of that.

I'd like to use Vancouver as my example on how to make the most when you're on the tournament trail. Last week I talked about the River Rock and how much I love going there. I wouldn't have those feelings if it was just a great resort to go to.

It's the memories I made while I was there that will always bring me back. I'm grateful for every moment shared with friends and times of personal growth as a poker player and human being.

If you're lucky enough to play in a city as beautiful as Vancouver, then you probably won't have a hard time having fun. With the mountains, ocean and downtown city life there is plenty to do.

If you're stuck in Indiana, well you might need to improvise. Regardless of what there is to do, I have a few suggestions to help make your tournament a memorable one.

On my first trip to Vancouver I walked into the poker room at the River Rock. A beautiful and charismatic woman by the name of Alex Lee Behan walked up and introduced herself.

She had scheduled me and Johnny Chan to meet with members of the media to talk about the seminar we would be holding for Rush to Win.

Check back next week where I'll continue. And if you feel like hearing more on my spring cleaning, check my daily blog at www.laceypoker.com.

Bonne Chance,

Lacey

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Sharing My True Favorite

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:28:44 +0100

Hey everyone! Hope y'all had a great holiday weekend and are having great success in 2008. Right now I'm spending the next few weeks in Vegas getting ready for Heath's big UFC fight March 1.

That means no LAPC for me, but occasionally I get to sneak away and play the Venetian Deep Stacks going on this month. I want to send the best of luck to all my friends playing at Commerce. Get that money!

The last few blogs I talked about one of my favorite casinos, Borgata. Now it's time to share my true favorite, the River Rock Casino Resort. Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the River Rock is where you'll find me going back again and again as often as I can.

To start writing this blog I got cozy, pulled out my photo album and made a hot cup of Tim Hortons French Vanilla. This drink always reminds me of the first time I went to Vancouver and stayed at the River Rock.

Tim Hortons, for those of you who don't know, is the best coffee-and-donut shop in Canada - maybe even the world. The best gift ever was from a poker player who heard how much I loved Horties and gave me a canister of the instant version. Canadians are the coolest.

Back in 2006 I traveled to Vancouver to speak at a poker seminar, Rush to Win. Johnny Chan, Phil Helmuth, Brad Booth and Joe Tehan would also be speakers at this event.

I was so excited getting to visit a new city and to be a part of this team. Our one-day seminar would be held at the River Rock's theater so all of the pros would also be staying there.

Flying into Vancouver for the first time was an experience in itself. Holy moly! I had no idea the customs officers were so strict. They asked a million questions and by the time they were done I felt like I must have committed some type of violent crime.

For those of you who haven't traveled to Canada make sure you can cross the border. They are very strict on letting people in.

All of that was quickly forgotten driving up to the casino. River Rock Resort reminds me of a warm cabin you'd find up in the mountains. Except it's only five minutes from the airport alongside the Fraser River.

Walking into the four-story lobby you see a grand fireplace, large pine trees and waterfalls - all of which gives the impression of being outdoors and indoors at the same time.

To the left is the casino side and to the right is the theater and spa side. You could easily spend your whole trip on one side of the resort and never know the other side existed. Pretty cool.

Playing in the casino you feel as though you are outdoors in the wilderness. The ceiling looks like the night sky with tiny stars that twinkle. Occasionally you can catch a shooting star and make a wish. Mine usually consist of getting a natural nine. lol.

The poker room is on the second floor and is the largest in Canada. There are 25 tables and the staff goes out of their way to make everyone's experience a great one. There is even a balcony overlooking the marina in case you need to step outside and get some fresh air.

Perfect for those times you take a bad beat: it gives you a refuge (other than the bathroom!) in which to reset and relax. When I'm not playing or eating you'll always find me in the fitness center. I love it and it's open 24 hours a day! It's not very big, but it's got all the essentials.

It's the view that keeps me in there though. It overlooks the 144-berth marina and you can watch the boats traveling down the river. Also you can see the swimming pool that has a really fun waterslide.

I really enjoy having great views when I'm running on the treadmill; it beats staring at the TV or worse, at a bunch of sweaty people on machines.

Saving the best part for last are the beds. Each room is a suite with the most amazing beds you've ever slept on. There are four layers of cashmere in these beds and you instantly drift off to sleep the moment your head hits the pillow.

Being a lifelong insomniac it's saying a lot I'm able to fall right asleep.

These are only a few reasons why River Rock is my favorite. Make sure to check back next week when I talk about Vancouver, the BCPCs, Rush to Win, the Johnny Chan Poker Classic and hanging out with my best friends Alex Lee Behan and Brad Booth.

Till next time,

Bonne Chance!

-- Lacey

www.laceypoker.com

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Final Thoughts on Borgata

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:26:54 +0100

Last month I found myself on my way back to Atlantic City. Arriving at the Philadelphia airport, I waited patiently outside for the driver.

The cool breeze and light rain was refreshing after being stuck in a stuffy plane for over four hours. When the car drove up, I quickly hopped in - a warm and toasty town car with the light sound of trance music. Sweet.

Halfway into the ride the driver asked how long I would be staying at Borgata. I replied 19 days. "Wow!" he said. "You'll practically be a New Jersey resident by the time you leave." I couldn't help but smile.

I checked into my room on the 14th floor. I didn't even calculate it was really the 13th floor until I watched the numbers light up in the elevator... 11, 12, 14... Ding. Crap! Isn't staying on the 13th floor bad?

If it wasn't, why would they not have a 13th floor? Instead of going back downstairs to change my room, I decided to tough it out and not be a wimp. Aside from that the room was perfect and I began to unpack my insane amount of clothes.

The next morning I woke up eagerly looking forward to relaxing and taking a break for a few days. Learning my lesson last time, I realized I needed to settle in before playing a tournament. Planning my trip this time I made sure I arrived with a few days to relax followed by a few days to play. Then I would start working.

Relaxing at Borgata is effortless. The Toccare Spa on the second floor is an incredible spa. With all the lavish treatments they have to offer, it's impossible to walk away unsatisfied. Last time Heath and I tried the couples massage and it was the best I've ever experienced.

The room is a huge suite with a fireplace, living room, full bathroom and a hot tub! After the invigorating massages you and your partner are able to enjoy the suite and hang out for a while. That's pretty damn cool.

This time around I made sure to take full advantage of the spa. The Pump Room is the name of the full-service gym at Spa Toccare. This was the place where I spent the most of my time. It has every machine that you need and even has a stand-up tanning bed!

After my extensive workouts I would head straight to the steam room. It's the best way to wind down after putting your body through a tough training session. As soon as you walk into the sweltering thick mist you smell the deep scent of eucalyptus. Being so relaxed never felt this good!

Having the extra days of rest and relaxation prepared me for the tournaments ahead. This is a vital step I see most players forget to do. As we all know, poker is a mind game, so why wouldn't you give it proper attention and care? Working out, eating right and getting enough sleep are the best ways to stay fresh and play your A game.

Unfortunately for me, even though I was mentally prepared to play I ran into bad luck in every tournament. I played four events and only cashed in the modified shootout. I took 48th place when my pocket kings ran into the mighty pocket nines all-in pre-flop.

Who knew they'd hit a two-outer on the flop? I guess he did as he went on to take second place in the tournament. Good for him, bad for me.

The WPT kicked off their Ladies Tour at Borgata and I was surprised to see how many women showed up. Apparently Borgata has a history of having successful women's events with huge prize pools. It still amazes me the type of play you find in these tournaments.

I'll go more in depth on this event in a separate blog down the road where I'll talk about playing in ladies-only tournaments. Get ready for a good laugh.

With all the fun I was having it was now time to work. All the pros were arriving and my role as poker player was quickly replaced with becoming the Borgata spokesmodel. Honestly I didn't mind not playing once I saw I wasn't the only one experiencing bad luck.

One example was Nick Schulman's quick exit during the first level from the main event. His quad fives ran into a runner-runner straight flush. Sick. No matter how well you play, some days you can't escape the luck factor.

Despite the feeling of "Groundhog's Day," the 19 days at Borgata were awesome and a great way to start off the new year. I never left the property except for one quick trip to the studio. Being alone this time around I felt it was best if I enjoyed my time in Atlantic City only at Borgata.

Between the tournaments, spa and all the great places to eat you really don't need to go anywhere else. I'll be coming back to Atlantic City for more work with Borgata later on this year and I can't wait!

Like I said before if you haven't been here yet, you have to come see it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Till next week,

Bonne Chance!

Lacey

www.LaceyPoker.com

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Thoughts on Borgata Part II

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:55:25 +0100

Last week I left off with my first impressions arriving at Borgata. Having seen only a quarter of the property, I was sold on how amazing it is - and we hadn't even begun to explore the spa!

Again I must say that if you haven't been to Atlantic City, you need to visit Borgata before you make any hasty judgments.

With only a few hours of sleep I was surprised at how refreshed I felt. The beds are quite comfortable and big enough for me and my boyfriend Heath Herring, who happens to be a heavyweight fighter in the UFC. We've found out the hard way that beds aren't really made for couples like us in mind.

My wakeup call was in the form of room service. This is a trick I've always used when I travel. Because I have a love affair with the snooze button, a wakeup call is usually hung up on and quickly forgotten about as I fall back asleep. With room service you have to physically open the door and get yourself out of bed.

Walking to the poker room filled with people I quickly realized this was not where the tournament is being held. I was impressed at how many people were playing live and how many tables there are in the poker room alone (83, to be exact).

I had to walk over to the event center where all the tournaments are held. A sea of poker tables and players filled the ballroom. The room was huge and wide open, filled with energy and light - all of which I love to soak up and use while I play. I strongly feel that a poker room that makes you feel comfortable and energized is vital to a successful tournament.

Finding the way to my table I sat down with 15k in chips in front of me. "Hell yeah," I thought to myself, "this is how I like to start off." Not to mention we had one-hour levels, so there was more than enough room to play.

Looking around the room I realized this was not going to be an easy tournament. You had top pros at every table as well as still relatively incognito online players.

Luckily I felt I had an edge - I had gotten to know a lot of these players through interviewing them during the WSOP. Instead of being intimidated by the field I realized something that was key in keeping myself focused and unrattled: I knew more about them than they knew about me.

I won't go into a long list of the who's who playing the tournament, but I'll give y'all an example of people that were just at my tables alone. Ted Forrest, J.C. Tran, Marco Johnson, Shane Schleger and Matt Stout were all seated at one point at my first table, where I spent about three-quarters of the tournament.

I was able to build a healthy stack early in the first few levels by winning a big hand against Ted Forrest and knocking out J.C. when his queens ran into my kings pre-flop all-in. This was quite lucky for me since I went completely card-dead during the later stages of the tournament.

Instead of being frustrated by folding a majority of my hands I was able to stay calm by watching how these pros were playing. You can read all you want on tournament strategy and find out all the information on how to play in tournaments, but the best way to learn is by playing with the players you admire and look up to.

I was able to watch certain plays and how each player handled him- or herself during the hand; that alone was worth more than any poker book you could buy.

I was moved to my second table with Marco, which had Chad Brown sitting at it. I was quite short-stacked and decided this would be my time to chip back up. I moved all-in repeatedly until I was called by the player to my left.

This time I had A-10 versus his pocket nines. I doubled up with a 10 on the river. Ouch. You could feel the guy next to me steaming and I gave Chad a look of "Holy crap! - I just sucked out."

The very next hand I picked up pocket aces and lo and behold got into a raising war with the tilted player. He ended up folding on the turn and I was back in business.

Here is where things could have been done differently. We were down to 32 players with 27 being paid out. A good friend and well-known pro sitting at the table next to me came up and told me to fold my way into the money. This being only the third $5k+ buy-in that I had ever played, I took his advice.

Most of the cards were easy to muck, but a few were good hands that I should have played. It took longer than usual for us to get to the money and by then I was severely short-stacked again. When the clock struck 4 a.m., we were told that we would continue play the next day.

Going into Day 2 I had 11 big blinds. I was so disappointed in the way I ended the night before that I felt I had already given up. Despite the great pep talk from my boyfriend, I walked into the tournament room dragging my feet.

I hated opening my bag of chips - they seemed so pathetic compared to everyone else's. And that sour attitude was the major factor behind my quick exit in 24th place. Instead of resetting and picking a good spot to double up I was overcome with the thought I had already lost.

This is exactly how not to play poker and something I will always regret in the way I handled myself. As they always say in poker all you need is a chip and a chair. Keep that in mind if you are ever in a short-stack situation, and never give up like I did.

I hope y'all enjoyed this part on Borgata. Next week I'll wrap up with the 2008 Winter Poker Open and all the fun I had this time around.

I'd like to thank everyone for all the comments I received last week and I'm really looking forward to getting to know all the readers here at PokerListings. Till next time,

Bonne Chance!
Lacey

www.LaceyPoker.com

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Thoughts on Borgata Part I

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Thoughts on Borgata Part I

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:07:50 +0100

Hey everyone! I'm excited to be blogging here at PokerListings. I feel like 2008 is going to be a big year for me and I can't wait to share all my experiences with y'all.

This blog will take on a different aspect than others since I'm not only playing in these poker tournaments, I'm reporting on some of them too. Working the media side of poker has really changed my perspective on the game and I'll write about that on an ongoing basis.

Right now I'm just wrapping up my three-week stay in Atlantic City. One might think I'm crazy to stay so long in a city known for being mostly ghetto and run-down. After all, I've seen the best casinos out there; I live in Vegas, traveled to Macau and other casinos around the world. I know what's good and what's not.

Despite its bad rep, there is one exception that makes AC the place to play poker: Borgata. Hosting some of the best tournaments in the world along with tons of live action, Borgata should be on every poker player's agenda.

To understand the reason for this trip, we have to go back to September of last year. Borgata hired me to be a spokesmodel/hostess and interview players and celebrities who were playing the $10k Borgata Poker Open.

When I got the call I was so excited. After hosting for the WSOP during the summer I was missing all the chaos and ready to jump back into the tournaments. I had taken a long enough break to have recovered from the 55 events and was ready to pick up where I had left off.

I decided to come a few days early and play the $5k No-Limit Hold'em event. My boyfriend Heath Herring came with me to keep me company and to protect me from the "Buttafuocos" that flock the city.

We flew into the Philadelphia airport and had a driver take us to Borgata. That's usually the best option given not many flights go directly to Atlantic City. The drive is about an hour and goes by pretty quickly.

By the time we arrived it was just after 1 a.m. It was the perfect moment to experience Borgata for the first time. Not that many people were around, which allowed us to see how beautiful the hotel actually is.

My jaw instantly dropped as we walked into the lobby. Hand-blown glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly are showcased in the grand entrance. The same chandeliers that you see at Atlantis in the Bahamas, but there are more of them all over Borgata. Everything is larger than life and not one corner of this place has been overlooked from a design perspective.

To get to your room you must show your key and walk into the Living Room. This area is a comfortable meeting place and has many couches and huge paintings hanging on the walls. It gives a great buffer from the casino atmosphere if you feel like sitting and hanging out.

To get up to our room, we walked into the elevator. Right away you notice a flat-screen TV playing a movie. This one had Tom Hanks in that one movie where no one talks for an hour. What's the name? Cast Away.

It's actually a great conversation starter - something to talk about for those awkward moments in an elevator with a complete stranger.

Our room was just a regular room, but it was perfect, my favorite thing being the shower. It's huge! It doubles as a steam room too. There is a bench to sit on (plenty of room for two) and a temperature control dial that goes to 110°F.

The oversized towels are rolled up and placed right above where you sit. So no more opening the shower door and getting a rush of cold air. Genius.

The next morning I woke up and was ready to play the tournament. The World Series Europe was going on and I figured there wouldn't be many pros in town. Boy was I wrong! Looking around the room there were at least three to five pros at each table, if not more.

I had interviewed at least half of the field for making a final table at the 2007 WSOP. Sitting down at my table I knew right away this was going to be one hell of a tournament.

Make sure to check back next week when I'll talk about my cash in the $5k tournament, this year's Borgata Winter Poker Open, and getting the new nickname "The Poker Barbie."

I'm really looking forward to an exciting year here at PokerListings.com. If you'd like to know more feel free to check out my Web page and personal blog at www.Laceypoker.com.

Bonne chance,
Lacey

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