Event 10: Inside the Mind of a Mad Viking

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH (Re-Entry)

Bob Banking on New Knowldege

Bob Haavind (Boston, MA) has a few small Borgata cashes in his career, but is looking for his first big score.  To help his game, Haavind came to the Borgata Winter Poker Open one day early to learn from seasoned players at the Inside the Minds poker training 

"It was great," says Haavind who currently has an above average stack of 115k. "Just to talk to pros and have them answer questions like, how to play a big stack."

It's only been one week since the all day session, but Haavind, despite not cashing yet in the series, has already seen his play improve.

"They teach how critical position is and table image," he said after learning from pros Lee Childs, Jason Young, Ryan Eriquezzo and Amanda Musumeci.

Haavind picked up a nice 35k pot earlier in the day when he checked to his opponent who bluffed the river and Haavind snap called with A 10 for trip 10s.  "I wasn't greedy. I didn't have the nuts, but felt pretty good," he said while taking his stack to a high of 160k.

Haavind is a retired editor/publisher who was first featured in the Borgata blog for his "Mad Viking" playing style. And prior to taking the Inside the Minds class, he picked up tips from Childs last year when they played at the same table.

With 60 player remaining, Haavind is just 15 spots from the money. We'll see if that small investment helps lead him to that big payday as he's still in the running for the $38,081 top prize.

Even if he doesn't cash, Haavind is free rolling from the class after he won the Inside the Mind drawing for a $560 entry into Event 1.

The average stack is 88k (29 bb) as level 15 1,500/3k/400 ante is underway.