As face the Ace continues to air, the episodes are getting a little better to watch. Apparently the contestants are supposed to come from online freeroll poker satellites. The new episode’s contestant had also tried out for the Apprentice, so I am beginning to wonder if this show is actually just set up with contestants like a regular games show with little to do with the Full Tilt freerolls. Adam Erlich, the new online poker amateur faced Chris Ferguson. Sharply in contrast to Ferguson’s quiet presence, Erlich was very talkative. He chatted with Chris, even asking him some decent questions, which kept the audience involved throughout the program. Erlich built a lead and got his chips all-in as a favorite with AK against Ferguson’s short stack Q-8 push. He lost this confrontation but still had the chip lead. He then made a ridiculously ballsy all-in with 2nd pair, inducing Ferguson to call with bottom pair, and again, Erlich lost when Ferguson hit a third 5 on the turn. After being too afraid to call another all in with the best poker online hand, A-7, he eventually called later with the same hand, and won an all in against Ferguson’s K-5. He won $40,000 and went on to Ace #2, Phil Gordon for a chance to win $200,000. Nothing much notable happened in this match except for the amateur’s over-the-top aggression. He played way too aggressively with pocket kings heads up, getting Gordon to fold preflop instead of playing a post-flop pot. Still, he won a nice amount of chips there, hard to argue with. Later, he 4-bet Gordon holding bottom pair, forcing the pro to lay down 2nd pair. For whatever reason, he picked up on weakness and pounced, unafraid of the consequences: losing $200,000. Finally, however, he called Gordon’s all-in and had the best hand, but the short of the two stacks. Gordon outflopped Erlich, sending the amateur home with nothing. Again, it’s tough to watch these people get nothing for their efforts. It’s only a 3-tier game show, and the jump from $40,000 to $200,000 is a huge step to have no payout secured. Beating 3 professionals in a row in heads up matches is a daunting task. If it’s your day, sure, you could win $1,000,000. But most likely, you’re going to get fouled up somewhere. Even the NBC Heads Up matches are best 2/3. I still don’t think anyone is going to win the million. I’d be hard pressed not to take the 40K if I beat the first ace. Keeping in mind how much that would be after taxes though, I can see how contestants go for more.
