01-21-07, LearnTexasHoldem:

1986 WSOP

One of the most unpleasant experiences a poker player can have in a tournament is to finish second or third. After navigating days of difficult situations and playing your heart out to get to a place that few are able to reach, one bad turn of a card can make it feel like it was all for nothing. Berry Johnston had had that feeling, finishing third in the World Series of Poker's main event in both 1982 and 1985, and when he arrived at the final table in the 1986 WSOP, was determined not to fall short a third time.

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Berry Johnston's Third Final Table

Johnston wasn't the only one tired of being a bridesmaid though. One of his opponents at the final table was Jesse Alto. Jesse Alto, a gifted player with an unfortunate tendency to "steam" or make plays based on emotion after suffering a tough setback, set a record for final table futility. He had made the final table of the World Series of Poker main event a whopping four times before, finishing every spot in the top sixth except for fourth and, sadly, first. Proving his 1985 World Series of Poker championship was no fluke, Bill Smith also had his seat among the finalists.

Huge Chip Lead

Johnston had good reason to be confident, as he had twice as many chips as his closest opponent when the final table began. When Mike Harthcock eliminated Roger Moore, an old nemesis of Johnston's, in fifth place, Johnston's confidence only grew. Jesse Alto succeeded in filling out his final table finishes card, but not in the way he would have liked. Alto went all in with AQ only to find Johnston had woken up with AK No miracle card would save Alto, and he took fourth place, the only spot other than first where he hadn't finished before. Johnston used the AQ to much better effect, knocking out Bones Berland's A8 with it, leaving only Johnston and Harthcock facing off for the title.

Revenge for Johnston

Harthcock had little chance, as Johnston had collected a massive chip lead, and when Harthcock looked down at Ad 8d, he figured it was time to take a stand. Johnston, a tight player, decided to roll the dice with As Th, a correct decision, as it made Berry Johnston the 1986 World Series of Poker champion.

Although Johnston would never duplicate his championship feat, he remains one of the most prolific performers in World Series of Poker history, with cashes in over forty different events, including pot limit hold'em, Omaha, Omaha hi/lo, pot limit Omaha and seven card Razz, proving that he is not only a talented no limit Texas hold'em player, but an all around World Series of Poker champ.

1986 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

EventWinnerPrizeEntrants
$,10,000 Championship Event Berry Johnston $570,000 141
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Hamid Dastmalchi $165,000 N/A
$1,000 Limit Omaha Jim Allen $48,400 110
$2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha David Baxter $127,000 N/A
$500 Women's 7-Card Stud Barbara Enright $16,400 N/A
$5,000 2-7 Draw Ron Graham $142,000 N/A
$1,5000 Limit Hold'em Jay Heimowitz $175,800 N/A
$1,000 Razz Tom McEvoy $52,400 N/A
$1,000 A-5 Draw J.B. Randall $69,200 N/A
$1,000 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo Tommy Fischer $73,600 N/A

WSOP Year By Year

2000's

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1970's

2007 WSOP 1999 WSOP 1989 WSOP 1979 WSOP
2006 WSOP 1998 WSOP 1988 WSOP 1978 WSOP
2005 WSOP 1997 WSOP 1987 WSOP 1977 WSOP
2004 WSOP 1996 WSOP 1986 WSOP 1976 WSOP
2003 WSOP 1995 WSOP 1985 WSOP 1975 WSOP
2002 WSOP 1994 WSOP 1984 WSOP 1974 WSOP
2001 WSOP 1993 WSOP 1983 WSOP 1973 WSOP
2000 WSOP 1992 WSOP 1982 WSOP 1972 WSOP
  1991 WSOP 1981 WSOP 1971 WSOP
  1990 WSOP 1980 WSOP 1970 WSOP

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