Tribute ? Chip Reese

[Fonzi]

I always mourn when a poker legend passes on. But I was particularly saddened by the loss of the great David 'Chip' Reese a couple of weeks ago. He was not only a hero of mine, but an object lesson to everyone wanted to be a top tier, well rounded poker player. He played every game, and played them all in inspired fashion. So let's take a brief look at the legend of Chip Reese.

I'm not going to discuss Chip's personal history. Suffice it to say he was widely considered one of the most even tempered and well mannered players in all of poker, with a play history starting in the 1970's. He had a wife (more recently, ex-wife), a son, and a daughter. If you were to pass him on the street, you probably wouldn't even think twice.

But at the poker tables, Chip was one of the most frightening cash players on earth. Not only did he play in the likes of the Big Game at the Bellagio along side of Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan... but he won. He won to the tune of millions of dollars a year. His early feats at the World Series of Poker and other major tournaments were superb, including 2 bracelets and dozens of cashes in the 70's and 80's. However it was Chip's ability to walk into the room and dominate a ring game that set him apart from the crowd.

Stud was Chip's strongest game. His first two bracelets were in Stud Hi/Lo and Limit Stud. He made a whole bunch of his cash in mixed ring game formats featuring Stud. And for those of you paying attention, you'll know that he literally wrote the book on Stud. The Seven Stud chapter in the Bible of poker, Doyle Brunson's Super System, was written by Chip.

However, one look at his history of tournament cashes shows you what a well rounded player he is: Draw, Razz, Omaha, Hold Em, primarily in the realms of Limit and Pot Limit. There's no doubt that Chip was comfortable with just about any game you could throw at him.

Tournaments were more of a hobby for Chip than a serious way to make money. With his bankroll and talent, he preferred to fly under the radar, shying away from the spotlight so that the rich weekend warriors wouldn't see him as being in the same league as the more well known poker superstars. He also saw tournament situations as being free poker lessons for the observers, something he didn't approve of. But his kids encouraged him to give the tournament scene a serious shot in the mid 2000's. They wanted to see him on TV!

Without that urging, who knows if Chip would have been in the WSOP's first $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. Event? Would he have been sitting at one of the toughest final tables in World Series history, staring down the likes of Andy Bloch, Dewey Tomko, Phil Ivey, T.J. Cloutier, David Singer, and Doyle Brunson? Either way, winning the 50K HORSE event at the 2006 WSOP was, in my opinion, the crowning achievement of Chip's career. It was a public statement: I'm not just a cash player, and I can hang with the best players in the world at a tournament table. Many, including Doyle, claim that he didn't just hang with the best players... he was the best player in the world. I have to agree.

Chip's passing on the 4th of December, 2007, was a sad event for poker. He was a Hall of Famer, and a one hell of a decent guy. He made his son's and his daughter's wishes come true in those final years, and awed us all with his incredible talent. Chip, you'll be missed.

Bill Ricardi ? Internet Gaming Guru