23 players gathered around a slightly better arranged table configuration, still in the garage because it wasn't quite warm enough for al fresco. Hopefully we can play under the stars in July!
It was well over two hours before bust out number one. PSP regular and all around swell fellow Robert A. was the first casualty and exited graciously with a smile and both middle fingers raised in a silent salute.
What began as a trickle soon escalated to an avalanche of tournament victims - with a number of dominated hands sucking out. Particularly horrific, at the final table which formed just after 1030pm, was a three way hand which saw my baby ace bink a three outer against Jeannie N.'s Kings and Barbara N.'s Jacks.
This set the stage for our DVD bubble, which current second place Player of the Year Dog D. scooped up - the perennial independent film favorite "Coffee and Cigarettes."
First to cash, or rather, get their buy-in back was crafty John S.
Next up the ladder, in fifth place with $80, was cashing machine Mike K., who I must take a moment to thank profusely for taking on dealing duties for the remainder of the evening.
Finishing in fourth place for $90 was friendly newcomer Matt S. who was brought on board by Eric T. Thanks so much Eric for bringing in a new player!
Third place went to the inflictor of bad beats extraordinaire, yours truly, for $120.
After a surprisingly long heads up battle, considering the blinds were actually bigger than the garage by midnight - Eric T. emerged to take down his second PSP tournament in a row, winning $310 and another trophy to match the one from May!
Marc F. lost more flips, and so had to settle for $180 - but Marc wins in my heart for bringing 2, yes 2 new players into the fold. The super lovely Jeremy and Brit H. We are not worthy Marc!
I know I sound like a broken record, but I am so, so, so grateful to all of you for being so cool and making my little home game such a success of good times. Really, I've never been to a nicer home game, and that's why I love hosting so much.
Our next one is early next month, Saturday, July 9th at 7pm. Yes, it will be No Limit Hold Em again. I, like many of you, really miss the mixed games - but many more of you prefer the Cadillac of poker. The numbers don't lie! So that's what we gonna do!
If you don't think you can make the next tournament, let not your heart be troubled, there is a good chance I'll have a second tournament at the end of the month as well.
Be sure to check out our Player of the Year Standings, where you can see that the race is heating up - also remember that it's never to late to join into our World Series of Poker League for 2012, which we're playing right now. Click here for the details, and let me know if you want in - I will allow latecomers to buy in for the regular price of only $5 for every tournament they've missed so far, and of course next January the price will go up to $10 per tourney.
Speaking of the World Series, I should mention that I actually did win a seat after all, in my online league which I run along with two of my closest friends up in Berkeley. You may have seen the sign in the garage for Flatline Poker. It's what I play with my friends on Poker Stars Home Games. We play with play chips, but we keep track of real money ourselves. If you are missing online poker badly, be sure to email me or talk to me at the next game. We have a brand new season starting up in August, and we are always looking for new players. We are going to play 20 once a week tournaments on Monday nights for $14 +$1, with the $1 going to a championship tournament at the end of the season.
We recently finished a WSOP season $10 + $5, with the $5 going to a WSOP seat, and crazy enough I shipped a seat for a $1500 event, (Event #43) which I will be playing on the SAME weekend as Allen Q. and Eric R. who are representing Pepper Street Poker in Event #45 on Sunday, June 26th at noon. My event is the day before, June 25th, also at noon. So far we have Jason H. and Dog D. committed to come along for the fun, as well as Marc F. who has penciled in the date and Allen R. who has indicated interest. As I've said before, if you've never been to the WSOP and you love poker, it's an amazing site to behold. We would love to see you there!
