Palmer teacher continues run

WASILLA — Most folks who head to Las Vegas typically expect to come home broke.

Not Brandon Blake.

The Palmer High physical education teacher just got back from another successful run at the poker tables, making the money in both World Series of Poker events he entered, picking up just more than $34,000 for his troubles.

“I guess I’m pretty hot right now,” Blake said from his Palmer home.

In May, Blake picked up $71,454 for winning a WSOP circuit event in Vegas. On June 3, he finished 17th out of 3,929 players entered in a $1,365 no-limit Texas hold ‘em event, busting out to the eventual winner, Grant Hinkle.

Blake scored a $30,570 payday for the finish.

Three days later, Blake was at it again, picking up $3,476 for finishing 149th out of 1,592 players entered in a $1,820 buy-in no-limit game.

He’s currently ranked 412th in the race for Card Player Magazine’s Poker Player of the Year award.

Blake said the secret to his success is twofold. First, he’s got a lot of faith in his game right now.

“I just have a lot of confidence,” he said.

After picking up a win in the circuit event in May, Blake said he started to realize he has what it takes to play with the best poker players around.

“That circuit win makes you a little more comfortable,” he said. “You feel comfortable that you can go deep in tournaments with good players.”

He did admit, however, that lady luck has been on his side as well.

“Of course, you’ve gotta get cards, that’s for sure,” he said.

Blake plans on heading back to Vegas, either later this month to play in a couple more $1,500 buy-in tournaments, or in July for the WSOP Main Event, the biggest poker tournament in the world.

Blake’s recent run could have been even better had he not run into an unfortunate situation in the first tournament he played this month. With just 17 players left, he looked down to see a pair of fives in his “hole” cards, the two cards each player starts out with in no limit hold ‘em.

Blake said he made a raise, which was called by just one player, Hinkle.

The three community “flop” cards came with a jack, five and six — giving Blake three of a kind. Trying to be cagey, he checked his big hand, giving Hinkle the option to bet. He also checked, and a three came on the “turn.” Still thinking his three fives were the best hand, Blake made a sizable bet, which Hinkle jumped all over, pushing all his chips into the middle. Blake figured he had him.

“I insta-called,” he said.

To Blake’s dismay, Hinkle was the one setting the trap. He turned over a pair of sixes — which combined with the six that came on the flop, gave him a higher “set” or three of a kind.

Blake said there were television cameras filming the hand, and ESPN poker commentator Norman Chad interviewed Blake after the hand.

“I should get on there,” he said of ESPN’s telecast of the tournament, which will likely air this fall.

Blake got to play with some of the biggest names in the game, and sat at the same table as Chris “Jesus” Ferguson for half a day. He also got a big ego boost by taking out Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, a two-time World Poker Tour winner.

“That felt pretty good,” he said.

While he’s getting more and more notoriety for his card-playing skills, Blake said he still has no plans to turn the pursuit into a full-time commitment.

“I’m not quitting my day job any time soon,” he said.

But, the father of two added, if things continue to go well in Vegas, he may have to revisit the question of turning pro.

“I guess I’ll ponder that again if I start winning bracelets and getting endorsements,” he

said.

For now, Blake said he’ll spend his bankroll entering a few more tournaments — as well as maybe working on a couple projects around the house and catching up on bills.

“It definitely comes in handy,” he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com