2016.02

With nothing planned this Super Bowl weekend other than the game itself and a bit of poker the night before - I found myself with tons of time to set up - and so everything was ready before noon!

Even this abomination -

Early Valentines day themed I guess.

Seven o'clock came quickly - and somehow 26 players managed to cram in to a slightly smaller garage.  Why slightly smaller you ask?  Because it's Girl Scout Cookie time!

Better get some - looks like we're about to run out.

Players were very generous in supporting my kid and her troop - buying nearly 40 boxes of cookies over the evening.  Thanks everyone so much for getting your Girl Scout cookie stash at Pepper St.!

Action was hot and heavy early on, though we only had one bust before the break - Lalaine, who recently had a nice four figure cash at the Bike, hit the rail but still made it rain dollar dollar bills y'all, scooping up some cookies for the Uber ride home.

One player who was missing was our good friend Andrew who was off to a James Bond event - and I know this was for sure the truth 'cause the wife texted me this photo from Von's where she and my kid were boothing cookies.

Keep your pimp hand strong sir.

Andrew has been a busy boy of late, be sure to look for him  during the Super Bowl - he's in a national spot with Michael Pena.  Here's a preview -



Well done my man!  Congratulations!

Anyways, oh yeah, poker.


So there we were, all us degenerates, locked in battle.

The red table broke shortly before the second break, and then there were two arenas in which to throw down.

The herd has been thinned.

Along the way, something you don't see every day popped up...

Only one card in the hole, but still pretty cool.

Just after 11 it was final table time.  Alas, I was not one of the lucky few that remained.

Shit's getting real.

Players battled hard, with plenty of 3 betting and calling off light - I swear I saw more middle pair over bottom pair showdowns than I've seen in a long time, and for big pots as well.  You guys play too good!  What happened to the days when everyone sucked?

Once again the inimitable Tommy found himself puncturing the bubble and walking away with a big fat goose egg.  Well, not a total goose egg, there were GS cookies to ease the pain.   And we had our 6 in the money finishers.

Colin H. was the first to exit with some cheddar, collecting his buy in back, and graciously trading his bounty money in for more cookies!

Finishing in fifth place was new player and swell fellow Greg D.  - thanks so much for hanging with us Greg, and even though you live in Vegas (lucky!) I hope it works out where we'll see you again soon.  Greg took home double his buy in plus a bounty I believe, which once again, found itself transformed into cookie goodness.

The good doctor David (that would be my brother) took his leave in fourth place for $120 and a cookie token, er bounty, as well.

The delightful Kat, the better half of long time GK Binion's resident Jessie, busted next - pocketing $160 plus bounties - one of which turned into a box of Rah-Rah-Raisins, the least popular but nonetheless tasty (or so I've been told) of the GS cookie line up.

And then there were two...

Heads up.  Or rather, heads side by side.

Jeff began the battle with a formidable chip lead, but as happens so often in heads up competition, the poker Gods have other things in mind.  It was after midnight, and so it was now Dog's birthday; so fittingly enough, the poker Gods smiled on him and delivered two monster pots and eventually the whole shebang.

Jeff was gracious in defeat, and happy to pocket $240 in second place money.  He then traded in four of his bounties for cookie goodness!

Dog has had a long successful history in our little game, winning player of the year a few years back, and cashing regularly, but the elusive trophy has been far and in-between.  Glad to say he took it down in excellent fashion last night for $300 in first place monies and bounties as well.  He had already bought cookies last week, but threw in a box donation for the troops - thanks Dog, and well done!

The birthday boyeeee. 

Once again thanks to everyone who came out and made it a swell time.  My kid thanks you all for partaking in the once a year treat that are Girl Scout cookies, her troop has several big trips planned over the next year and you all have helped to make them possible.

Also a big thanks for new guy Greg sticking around and helping with the shuffle and deal in 3 handed and heads up play.  You rock dude!

And now for the sad news - I am out of the country after next weekend for the remainder of this month and when I get back my entire March is booked!   So it looks like unfortunately our next monthly tournament won't be until the first weekend in April!   This is the first time in a long time, probably 6 or 7 years, that we've missed a monthly!   Sucks, but life happens!

Anyways, I will send the evite promptly anyways - just don't forget if you reply yes, because it will be over two months until the tournament!   I may squeeze in a Wednesday or Friday night tournament or cash game in between, but as always senior players get the invite first and we only do one table.  So if you don't get invited, it doesn't mean I don't love you, but the old codgers get first dibs.

Until we meet again on the felt, peace and we out!