Cards have been a part of poker winner s life for years

Tim Vance has been playing cards his whole life but has never gotten a payoff like he did last week.

Vance, 46, a contractor who lives in Millstadt, took home the top prize of $1.2 million from the European Poker Tour Scandinavian Open poker tournament. He has also made himself an instant celebrity with videos of him on the Internet and appearances in local news media.

He won playing Texas Hold 'Em in Copenhagen, Denmark, outlasting a field of 459 other players including some world renowned poker professionals such as Daniel Negreanu.

Vance said his big win was the result of a lot of time spent playing cards with friends, family and strangers. Vance said he remembers playing cards with his grandfather when he was staying at his grandparents house, recovering from an illness.

"Grandpa had a jar full of change. I had some money my mom had given me for snacks and stuff. So we played cards for it. After a month or so I got the whole jar," Vance said. "That was my first memory of cards."

He played cards with salesmen for his parents' home improvement company, with friends in high school at parties and with strangers at cash games in St. Louis and on the gambling boats.

"It's always been something I'm good at, something I enjoy," he said.

In fact, his nickname when he was growing up was "Vegas," after a friend complained that playing with him was like going to Las Vegas. You lost your money.

It was after the birth of his daughter, Nanzi, three years ago, that Vance became serious about big-time poker. He put Nanzi's picture in his hat and showed it to everyone when he played poker.

"I always said this little girl is going to see me on TV. I gave myself until she was 5 to do that. I was running out of time," Vance said.

He had done well quite a few times. He qualified online for a tournament two years ago in London. He did well, but no TV.

Several times he went to Tunica, Miss., for World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events. He won three seats to main events but again, no TV.

He said he was online at www.pokerstars.com

Super Bowl Sunday when a qualifier tournament popped up. He played and won, guaranteeing him a trip to Denmark and a seat at the EPT event in Copenhagen. Just the seat was worth more than $10,000.

It was while he was going to Denmark -- a long flight -- that he made a big decision.

"I had lots of time to think," he said. "I asked myself why I was doing so well in small events and not in the bigger ones? I didn't think it was my game or who I was playing.

"I decided it was because I would walk into casinos like I owned the place, singing and talking. I told myself I was going to do that.

"If I'm sitting and not talking, I'm not playing the way I normally play."

So for four days of poker he was himself. He jumped up at the table, paced around and talked to other players -- anyone who would listen and some who didn't.

"I can't sit still," he said. "I never could. And sometimes you get a different view of the action when you are walking around. Any little tip or tell can help."

He even drew a warning once but he had attracted such a following on European television that people sent e-mails asking that he be allowed to be enthusiastic again.

The last session with eight people on the final table lasted nearly 12 hours. He played four and a half hours heads-up with Soren Jensen of Denmark for the title.

On the last hand, Vance drew the ace and 10 of spades. Two spades came on the flop (the three cards that are laid face up after the first bet.)

When another spade showed up on the turn (fourth card), Vance knew he had a monster hand.

"I was trying to figure out how much I could bet and still keep him in the hand," Vance said. "I had pretty much settled on $350,000, which was about half of his stack. He went all in (bet all his chips.) I just went crazy."

Vance jumped up and said what has become a signature line. "It's been nice playing with you sir. I call."

His prize money came as 6.22 million Danish kroners. Now he has to find out about changing it to dollars and get tax and investment advice.

With his win he qualified for the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo in April. He said he wouldn't be playing again until Monte Carlo. He said he will play more tournaments but he is not sure how many, where or when.

"I want to prove I can win again," he said.

He is learning some of the drawbacks of fame. In a television interview he said something about not being a one-shot wonder like some other guys.

"I didn't mean to insult anyone but I feel like I might have and that makes me feel bad," he said.

He is just now recovering from the whirlwind of exhaustion of the high-stakes poker, jet lag and the thrill of winning.

Plus, there is another drawback to fame he hadn't anticipated. He has to keep rewinding a tape of his appearance on television for his daughter who loves watching daddy on TV.

"I'm like, how about we watch 'Barney' now?" Vance said.

Wally Spiers' column runs five days a week. Have a column idea? Call Wally at 239-2506 or 800-642-3878; or e-mail: wspiers@bnd.com

Network news, perhaps many people in the starring Chow Yun-fat Duwang Series seen in the video Magic Poker , Perspective of mahjong, and casino cheating tool, and for these amazing things was incredible. But recently in the city s suburbs has a market witnessed these only appeared in the video in the high-tech products.

This is a drum-shaped closed market. One read Magic poker, mahjong Perspective paper clip signboards to attract a reporter s attention. Approached this reporter poker and tiles to fill the stalls, and a more than 40-year-old man body slightly thin build words.

Magic Poker is how matter? Asked a reporter tried one.

That is a novice reporter, vendors did under the counter to pull out a demonstration of poker. He dozens of poker TKW in counters, and very casually picked up a card, although the card did not see the positive, but the reporter shocking is the fact that his mouth to read out the licence number and color is not even the slightest difference .

This is how the case? Asked the reporter, and pick up a playing card, which would like to see through to somebody.

They realize tell you.

How to sell?

30 1 money.

Yanmagui, can be cheaper?

Minimum 28.

Can lower?

You have to?

After some bargaining, finally, the man told reporters that if Carton purchase, he will lower the price to a 25 money, but could only buy one if so, actor, 18.

Unfortunately, reporters gave him for 18 yuan. He took out from beneath the counter a poker, tearing overpack, explain to reporters from the hidden in the back of poker secret.

He selected a poker, back upward deduction at the counter, to the middle of a dark stripe as the base, left the white stripes on behalf of 6, followed by a few left for 5,4,3,2,1, and the right of the blank stripes behalf of the seven, and then the right number of 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K. which obviously wide white stripes on the other, that this card is several digital. After that, he will be the Poker from the horizontal, Fancy also see white stripes, see at a, stripe width is the same, Wang.

After his decryption , the reporter s eyes suddenly has become the eyes Perspective, will soon be skilled to see the licensing of each color, digital. This can only be playing poker five , if the play A smashed red or play Gongzhu , you must buy with other marks of poker. Vendors also add one.

Reporters are playing Deiqijin, this man suddenly mysterious, and he pointed to signs of Perspective mahjong, said: I do not look at this thing, more terrible than that!

How to play, teach me!

And bought tell you! Low of 800 yuan!

I simply told that Yanmagui things, do not know how the case, I Nagan buy?

After a