PSP WSOP 2013.01

It was a balmy night and the garage door was open, as 15 poker fanatics gathered round for some good old fashioned No Limit Texas Hold-Em tournament action.

The blast door is open.

But this tournament was no ordinary happening.  This was our annual satellite for a seat in the World Series of Poker!  Only two players out of the 15 would win a seat, with third place getting their money back - so it proved to be an exciting (and at times slightly more intense than usual) evening.

First out, I'm sorry to say, was yours truly, who couldn't find a fold with QQ to Allen Q.'s 60 big blind 3 bet shove.  Yes, he had aces.  Seems obvious now doesn't it?

With half hour levels and a very flat structure, the same structure in fact as the WSOP, it was a different vibe and level of competition.

Sexy red table action.

Big green table excitement.

It was well over 4 hours when the bust outs finally started to pick up.  I have to say, I was a bit surprised that several players kept getting their money in good, but hadn't read the new warning sign I had recently posted.

Seems obvious now, right?

The final table came at just after 1030pm and we had been playing since 5:30!

Seconds after this was taken two cars ran over and killed all the players.

No one had a commanding chip lead, but Tom L. was for sure the chip leader.

Rockin' the stack.

And slowly but surely his stack grew and he busted several players, having the ammo to look people up and get his money in live on more than one occasion.

And then we were four handed - a bubble time of sorts. Third place would at least get their money back. Fourth place would get what the birds ate.

In the end it was Marc F. who succumbed and went home empty handed, save for the special kind of memories that only the white hot pain of poker can deliver.

And then there were three.  At this point Jeff G. had assumed the title of big chief monster-stacken, apparently from a hand involving 92 that I wasn't in the garage to see.  It's probably for the best.

Jeff G. found himself up against Tom L. and PSP satellite champion of 2011 Eric T.

All of your chips belong to us.

In the end, it was a spectacular three way hand that would decide the fate of these three poker warriors.

Hey cool!  I have the third best hand!

Eric had the fewest chips and got all his money in pre-flop with the pair on the left, AQ.  Jeff and Tom both called with Q10 and Q3 suited.  The flop came 5Q9.  Jeff and Tom actually put some chips in on the flop before slowing down on the turn and checking it to showdown.

As you can see, Eric ignored the warning sign completely and paid the price by getting his money in dominating not just one but two callers - and of course Jeff G. binked two pair on the river and busted him.

Despite taking a big hit, Tom L. still had chips behind after the dust settled - and so it was.  Jeff G. and Tom L. are Vegas bound!

Nine deuce.  Creepin' while ya sleepin' beeatches.

I must say, this win could not happen to two better dudes.  They both embody the very best of what this little game has become.  They both have very busy lives and aren't able to play every month, but they love the game and the group so much that they do make it as often as they can.  And when they do come they make the evening that much better for every one involved. I am so excited for both of them!  Savor the experience fellas!  The WSOP is like no other poker experience on the planet and I'm sure you'll both do us proud!  Congrats!

I had more than a few people express interest to me in doing one more of these before the WSOP starts.  I honestly can't say if it will be possible or not, because May for me is SUPER booked with stuff.  If there's any way I can make it happen though, I will.

A huge thanks are in order for Jeff S. who stayed super late (1:30am) to help shuffle and deal, as well as everyone else who came out for this special event - I very much appreciate y'all putting up the extra bucks for a shot at the dream, and I hope you all remember that even though you busted in the satellite, you're still very much in it, as we have two strong horses who are going to  give it their best shot.   I would HIGHLY encourage all of you to make the journey yourselves to Vegas and throw your support behind these guys and while you're there have some poker fun too!  If you've never been, the WSOP is like nothing you've ever seen before and is worth the trip even if you don't play in a bracelet event.

Until then, I'm looking forward to our regular monthly event, in less than two weeks!  See you there!

2013.04

Spring has sprung and so too did our 4th tournament of the year in the garage around back at Pepper St.

Lots of time on my hands to set up.  All done by 3 in the afternoon!

It was a smaller crowd than has been normal, but it was still a lively bunch.  All in all 15 players sat down to do battle as 7pm finally rolled around.

Getting down to bidness.

All players made it well past the break, thanks in no small part to a conspicuous lack of monster collisions and of course, the super crazy generous monster starting stack of 20K in chips.

Players got to enjoy a couple of new additions to the garage.  First - an extra monitor for keeping track of the blinds.

Wife wasn't home - so I took it from the bedroom!  Might not happen next month. :)

And second - a fabulous new surface for the formerly dingy blue table.  Now it's the sexy new red table!  The felt was "velveteen" courtesy of Joanne's Fabrics, and players seemed to dig it, including yours truly who was moved there for a short time to balance the tables.

Finally, after just over three hours of play we were down to our final table.

I love when there's an empty chair - it means I made the final table!  Yay!

Action was fast and furious, but there weren't to many crazy suck outs - though it's always impressive when AK and 1010 get it in pre-flop and the board reads like this.

Standard evil poker hand.

And then it was bubble time.  The lucky fellow who just missed getting his money back was the always gracious Josh F. who was beyond thrilled that he picked up this amazing bubble prize - courtesy of Barbara N. who eloquently pointed out... "It's kind of fun, and it shits out jelly beans!"

The perfect Easter gift.

And then there were five.

For Dan it had been an amazing road.  His stack was up and down a bit, and then shortly before his elimination he was down to literally one chip.

Dan indicates with perfect clarity that he is down to ONE chip.

He folded twice before his blind hit and he was all in in the dark.  Miraculously, he tripled up.

Back in it bitches!

Unfortunately, his epic comeback was not to last.  He busted in the next hand when his aces were cracked by 72 off suit.  Well, that may not have been the exact hand, but it was something similar. He was out in fifth and won his buy in back.

Out next in fourth place for double his buy in was Dan I.

Yours truly, who had ridden a roller coaster stack all night long, finally succumbed  to third place and pocketed $100.

And then there were two - Marc F. and Julie A.

As big as the blinds were, both Marc and Julie still had enough chips to play some poker - their battle lasted for a half hour before Marc finally ran into a bigger pair and had to settle for second place and $160.

Julie A. took this one down for $220 and the spectacular PSP trophy.  Well done Jules!

A big thanks to Dan I. for sticking around and shuffling like a crazy person, and dealing as well when it got to heads up.  It really makes a huge difference heads up to have an extra person slinging cards.

Our next event is our WSOP satellite - click here for details.  Hope you can make it.  If not there's always our regular monthly tournament.  Our May event will take place on Saturday, May 4 at 7pm.    Until then - keep keeping on!