Blind poker player says he's denied a World Series of Poker spot

[StarnetGypsy]

Last Update: Jun 29, 2007 8:00 PM

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BAKERSFIELD - It’s every sports player’s dream to play in the Super Bowl or World Series, and the same holds true for people who play poker as a sport.
A Bakersfield man recently earned a chance to live out his dream, but because of his disability, it may not be in the cards.

Jason Holbrook has been playing cards as long as he can remember.

"I’ve been playing … since I was five years old," Holbrook said.

But 16 years after he began playing, Holbrook lost sight of his cards following a car accident.

Now 37, he is legally blind, and while that hasn’t hurt his game, it’s changed the way he plays.

This disability, though, has hurt his chances of fulfilling his dream of playing in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

"I just read the cards and tell him what's on the table,” said Michelle Espinoza, Holbrook’s card reader. “He plays the hand."

Espinoza has been reading Holbrook’s cards for about a year. During the tournaments, she’s by his side serving as his eyes.

By qualifying through tournaments at the Golden West Casino in Bakersfield, Holbrook earned the right to play at the World Series of Poker in Vegas with a multi-million-dollar top prize at stake.

According to Holbrook, however, he has been told he can’t play because of his second set of eyes.

“We had no problem at the Rio,” Holbrook said about his World Tour he played a week and a half ago.

Holbrook hasn’t given up on his dream. Now, the man who said he knows when to hold ‘em is hoping to hold onto his seat in the world class competition.

"They said we could have a refund, but it's not about that,” he said. “It's about being able to play the game you love, like everyone else."

Holbrook’s brother said they plan to go to Vegas anyway to convince organizers to change their mind and allow Holbrook to play.

The Rio Hotel did not return our calls for clarification.

[Uncle B]

pretty shitty situation...

not really sure what to think though....but, would it really be a detriment to the game, to have someone next to him, reading his cards to him?

[Bobby C]

"One player to a hand" is the rule. But the spirit of that rule is, "Only one player should make the decisions involved in playing the hand." In no way did anyone intend the rule to mean, "If you have no hands, or no eyes, then you can't play."

I have dealt to blind players before. The "helper" looks at the hole cards, and whispers ONCE to the player what cards he has. The "helper" does not say another word for the remainder of the hand, except to announce the board cards in a voice that is audible to all.

The player announces his every action. The "helper" handles the cards and chips.

I should note that I've never seen a blind player in a NL tourney, where knowing the size of your opponents' stacks is an important factor.

In one of Michael Konik's books, he mentions playing at the WSOP agaisnt a seriously malformed player whom he described as "essentially a head on a gurney". He can see, so there's no whispering, but he has no chance of handling cards and chips. His helper does all that for him.

I've played against that "head on a gurney" guy. Just like with the blind guy, nobody had a problem with accommodating him with a helper.

[degenerategambler]

You would think common sense might kick in with cases like this. Do you think they would find one player that would object to him playing with this aid?

[Garbage Time]

Originally Posted by degenerategambler

You would think common sense might kick in with cases like this. Do you think they would find one player that would object to him playing with this aid?

There's one or two in every crowd.

[Dell Dude]

If I was in the WSOP, this would probably be the sob who busted me. And this would be while his helper was taking a leak.

[robin]

Originally Posted by Dell Dude

If I was in the WSOP, this would probably be the sob who busted me. And this would be while his helper was taking a leak.

[dinque]

Originally Posted by Dell Dude

If I was in the WSOP, this would probably be the sob who busted me. And this would be while his helper was taking a leak.

they have a $50 buy-in now?

[StarnetGypsy]

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BAKERSFIELD - A Bakersfield man, who dreamed of playing in the World Series of Poker, will get to play in Las Vegas this week after all.
Jason Holbrook, who is legally blind, earned the right to play in the World Series of Poker by qualifying through tournaments at the Golden West Casino of Bakersfield.

Last week, Holbrook said he was informed he would not be able to play because his card reader could not sit at the table with him.

Organizers said that is not the case, and Holbrook will be allowed to participate, just like any other player.

Holbrook’s brother said everything is straightened out and he could play as soon as Friday.

[Minnow]

I remember reading about that head on a gurney guy.. wonder if he is still alive?

I'm glad they are letting the blind guy play! I'm curious as to what he would say about how much of a disadvantage he is trying to overcome. As Bobby mentioned, not being able to see stacks has to be a huge handicap unless the man has a phenomenal memory.

[StarnetGypsy]

i gotta imagine he adheres strictly to poker basics, like many of the old pros, and plays his cards. i also suspect, since he got this far, that his hearing is extremely acute and he can detect if someone is lying/bluffing when he's able to extract info from them?

[Minnow]

Blind Poker Player Heads to Main Event of the World Series of Poker
by PokerPages.com
Thu, Jun 28th, 2007 @ 12:00am

The Main Event of the World Series of Poker is like the World Cup to soccer players or the Super Bowl to US football players, but to Jason Holbrook, who was blinded just before his 21st birthday in a near-fatal car accident, it is a chance to "show people that you don't need your eyes to come and play this game."


Holbrook won a satellite tournament at Golden West Casino in Bakersfield June 18, earning the $10,000 seat for the World Series of Poker Main Event beginning July 6, with the final table set to start at noon July 17 at the Rio Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas.


Entries to the Main Event this year are already in excess of 9,000 players, so first place prize money is expected to exceed last year's $12 million.


"I am super, super excited," said Holbrook, a 37-year-old Dawson Creek, British Columbia, native who has lived in Bakersfield California since 1989. He told the Bakersfield Californian paper that ran his story, "I think I'm the first blind man to make it [to the WSOP]."


Holbrook has played poker since he was five and grew into a very good player. But his card playing days were nearly cut off in 1991 when after a near-fatal accident he awoke from a month long coma without being able to see. He has not regained his sight, but that has not slowed him down.


He learned Texas Hold'Em a little more than a year ago. Since he cannot see what people bet, or what cards he has or what the community cards are, Holbrook uses a card reader. This person whispers the information to him, but nothing more. All play decisions are made solely by Holbrook.


Holbrook is excited at the opportunity to play with the world's best. He says he is definitely not intimidated, and that there even might be a thing or two he can teach the other players. But he also knows there's also a good deal of chance involved.


One might think that not being able to see other poker players and their expressions and body language would be a handicap, but Holbrook disagrees.


"I got my own sixth sense that's come in since I lost my sight," he said. "I have to do it with my mind, since I can't see their eyes or faces. I think that's an advantage to me because I believe they can't see me either."

PokerPages News: Blind Poker Player Heads to Main Event of the World Series of Poker

[StarnetGypsy]

Originally Posted by Minnow

"I got my own sixth sense that's come in since I lost my sight," he said. "I have to do it with my mind, since I can't see their eyes or faces. I think that's an advantage to me because I believe they can't see me either."

fantastic!

[zztop]

Well it wasn't this blind poker player, but at least one blind dude had a nice run in this tourney. From card player's website:


Big Hand

Receving one of the warmer rounds of appaluse from the remaining players was blind player Hal Lubarsky, who remarkably finished in 193rd place. His accomplishment has not gone unnoticed and will serve as inspiration to other players with similar impairments, hoping to one day play at the World Series.

[gridironguy]

They should have cards with braille on them for the blind players, and then the dealer can call out the flop, the turn..

[StarnetGypsy]

Originally Posted by zztop

Well it wasn't this blind poker player, but at least one blind dude had a nice run in this tourney. From card player's website:

Big Hand

Receving one of the warmer rounds of appaluse from the remaining players was blind player Hal Lubarsky, who remarkably finished in 193rd place. His accomplishment has not gone unnoticed and will serve as inspiration to other players with similar impairments, hoping to one day play at the World Series.

here's a pic i found of Hal Lubarsky, and also a couple below it of Jason Holbrook ...









too tired tonite to upload any pics, but i got 275 shots in half an hour today. most of good quality too. finally figuring out this new digital camera ... i'm more used to film.

[stevo]

Awesome Gyps. Thanks for the updates!!

[Dell Dude]

I'd prefer this card reader.

[StarnetGypsy]

Originally Posted by Dell Dude

I'd prefer this card reader.

ya think? lol