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first aired June 10, 2004
Tournament 2, Game 3. Who was first to go? Who was saved by the river? Who earned our silver chip? Let's find out!
Turning Point #1:
Lose The Hand, Win Distinction
From the get-go, the action is fast and the drama is high as Norm and Adam go head-to-head. With the river jack giving Norm a full house, Norm is confident enough to go all in. Adam having only a pair of queens, ought to fold, but instead brazenly calls — to the sheer bewilderment to commentator Phil Gordon. Revealing his full house, Norm sends Adam packing and into Celebrity Poker Showdown history books as the first person to visit the Losers' Lounge on the very first hand.
Turning Point #2:
A Star Is Gone
With a string of bad luck hounding Star's night, she is so short-stacked that she must take a stand and go all-in, though, fortunately for her, her hole cards are far from bad. Norm, having amassed a sizeable chip lead due to Adam's poor play, has no problem calling the bet. The flop is bad news for Star as Norm pairs up with 9s; the turn proves devastating, third 9. The river cannot help Star and she joins Adam in the Losers' Lounge.
Turning Point #3:
Jeremy Goes Under
At this point, Jeremy is backed into a corner, and much like Star, has to make a move — any move — before his stack is too small to matter. Before the flop, Phil asserts that it is a coin flip — either player has a 50/50 shot at winning. While Michael wishes luck to both players, all of it appears headed Norm's way when the flop gives Norm top two pair. The turn and river do not throw Jeremy a lifeline, and the tide of fate carries him off to our Lounge.
Turning Point #4:
Michael On Life Support
After trading blows head-to-head with Norm, Michael bounces back to the tune of $20,000 to Norm's $30,000. Since the blinds are at an astronomical $5,000 and $10,000, the only real plays are "all-in" or "fold." Norm goes all-in after seeing his strong pocket cards; Michael, with a pair, calls. The flop gives Norm a huge edge as he gets pairs up kings. Only a five will bail Michael out. The river doesn't come through for Michael so he loses the enormous pot and is down to just a paltry $4,000, which he will have to put in on the small blind.
Turning Point #5:
Nineteen Times Out Of Twenty
It's do or die for Michael since he must go all-in on the big blind. It doesn't look good for him when Norm reveals his hole cards. The flop and turn prove to be no help to either player but Norm, having king-high, is 95% to win the tournament. Before the river card is flipped, Michael starts to rip up his good luck charm — a picture of magician David Copperfield. Sensing the urgency and desperation, the picture must have worked its magic on the river, pairing up Michael and giving him the hand. Promptly (and wisely), Michael asks for Scotch tape.
Turning Point #6:
The Comeback Kid
Norm goes all-in. Michael calls, boldly adding his Copperfield photo into the pot. The flop offers no help to either, but Michael's king makes him the 75% favorite. Only a queen or a spade can help Norm; sensing this, Norm puts on his jacket, ready to concede the game. This time his luck has run out, and Michael ends up climbing out of a $46,000 hole to take the silver chip.
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