Bad Boys of Poker
Review by Jon Eaton
Shout Factory and the World Poker Tour are back for another DVD. This time around, they have put the episode Bad Boys Of Poker on DVD, complete with a load of special features and a pretty nifty package. Considering it's just one episode, it's no wonder that it's so cheap-it lists at Amazon.com for just $13.99.
The DVD comes with one excellent feature (which I raved about on the Season 2 DVD set), a commentary track from Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak. The two hooked up on that DVD set for commentary on the LA Poker Classic and the WPT Invitational. This time around, the commentary is more lighthearted as the tournament was a freeroll for a WPT Championship seat.
The one interesting part of the episode, in which Antonio puts in a third raise, pushing all-in, against Gus Hansen. Hansen makes an interesting call, getting about two-to-one pot odds with a Td-8d, which was only a small underdog to Antonio's pocket sevens. Antonio and Phil dissect the play and realize that the range of hands Antonio has there warrants the call-they believe Gus knows that Antonio likely has A-K, A-Q, or a small pocket pair, so interestingly enough, the call is mathematically close to right.
Without commentary tracks like this, a lot of home viewers might not ever understand how Gus could make such a call. Gus will gamble anytime he thinks the math is right, and as a result, home viewers see him playing interesting hands every pot almost. His style is so strange, that the typical WPT fan won't understand the subtleties of his game, but Phil and Antonio give great insight into the chaotic game of Hansen.
The special features also feature loads of 'Bad Boy moments,' in which different players throughout the first two seasons of the WPT make bold plays and run their mouths at the table. There are also player bios of each of the six players of the tournament. If you've seen all the WPT episodes, this is likely not new material, but rather a nice added bonus of some memorable moments from the show.
Overall, if you're a die-hard poker-on-TV fan, you really should add this disc to your library. I've watched the commentary tracks from both this and the WPT Season 2 DVD set numerous times, and learn something every time I watch them. If you're a big student of the game, these will only help you in the long run.