T.J. Cloutier Schools the Seniors

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Level 9 : 300/600, 75 ante

T. J. Cloutier is a Respected Elder Even Among the Seniors Here on Day 1

One of the most respected figures in the game of poker, T.J. Cloutier has been a mainstay here at the World Series of Poker for decades, taking home an impressive six gold bracelets and scoring over $4 million in earnings here at the WSOP. With an astounding four top-5 finishes in the Main Event, including a runner-up finish to Chris Ferguson in 2000 on a brutal river suckout when his was bested by Jesus and his a final board of , Cloutier may have been a few unlucky cards away from becoming the most decorated player in WSOP history.

Today, Cloutier has managed to tiptoe through the minefield known as Day 1 to emerge with a healthy stack of 21,000 entering the last break of the night.

We saw the living legend drag a decent pot his way after busting yet another player, and after the chips were added to his stack, Cloutier was gracious enough to provide his tablemates with a primer in tournament poker strategy.

"You don't want to be raisin' with those junky hands, king-queen, king-jack, king-ten, not in early position anyway, you're just askin' for trouble," Cloutier explained, referring to the hand tabled by the player he had just busted.

Bob Doty was an apt pupil, relishing this opportunity to play with, and learn from, one of the game's all-time greats.

"That's exactly what I had there, king-queen, and I folded because I didn't want to flop second best," said Doty, confirming Cloutier's read on the hand. "Would you have raised in my position there T.J.?"

"Actually, yeah I would, you were what, in the hijack?" responded Cloutier. "That's one of the first things we teach students at our poker boot camps, is the power of position when it comes to certain hands."

With his table listening eagerly to the lesson, Cloutier ended his discourse in typical fashion for a lifelong poker player who is always looking for an edge.

"You made the right play this time though, you get in that pot there with king-queen, you're just gonna double me up son," he said to Doty, reinforcing his table image and reminding the other players to stay out of his way. "I only had the ace-queen."