2016.09

It was a lovely overcast October night in Burbank, just perfect for poker!

I had 22 people coming, so I had to set up for three tables.  Cool!

Except not cool, two players decided not to show up without a text or phone call.  I understand one of them was sick and another I hope didn't fall into a sink hole because I still haven't heard from him.  In any event, they will have plenty of time to get better because they are both off the evite list until next year.

When people say they are coming and then fail to materialize, and don't bother to let me know even afterwards - they are being inconsiderate and disruptive.  We played the first hour and forty minutes with two tables of seven and one of six, and then continued on with two full tables afterwards because the host wasn't informed.  It was still fun, but a lot of extra work for yours truly.

Some nice person took a shot with me in it, too bad I was still bitching about missing players.

So the evening continued on, with two full tables, and of course eventually the bust outs picked up steam.  We had one poor fellow get his aces cracked by quads - another had the misfortune of getting his money in as an 80% favorite - we all know how that ended.

The final table formed as 11pm approached.

Big thanks to Art for dealing until his better half busted out.

Old reliable chips back in play.

As midnight approached, so did the money bubble, with Jerry being the unfortunate recipient of squa-doosh.   First to cash, collecting his buy in back, was Jeff W.  who surprisingly didn't win the whole thing as he has done for the last two years in his annual appearance.

Next to cash in fourth place was Kat, who had earlier accumulated a mountain of chips; she had her pocket pair cracked by rags on the big blind and then had the unfortunate luck to run into my aces after squeezing / letting it rip with two broadway cards.  This was the hand that crippled her and she was out shortly after, scooping up double her buy in plus another $10 in bounties - getting her and her hubby unstuck for the night.

Busting next in third, for $100 plus a bounty or two was cashing machine Randall - who once again found himself in the money.

Yours truly got hit by the deck, busting the aforementioned third place finisher with an ill advised 5 2 off suit from the button - flopped a full house and cracked pocket tens.  Easy game.   When the dust settled it was Colin H. and I to face off.

Normally I would offer a chop but I had nearly a five to one chip lead.  I doubled him up once and then we got it in again, this time I had A5 and he had K9.  My ace held and that was that.

Colin got $200 for second plus some bounty action - I was lucky enough to get $300 plus another $40 in bounties, and an extra 5K in chips for the TOC since this was my second tournament takedown this year.  As I always say, better lucky than good!

Lucky Iron Man shirt strikes again!

A big thanks to all who came out and made it a good time!  A very extra special thanks to Sheyna who was a shuffling machine for 5 handed play and beyond.  I am very sad to say that Sheyna will be leaving our game and our fair city for a new job in Chicago for the next 8 months.  I wish her the very best on her new adventure, and I hope she will return to LA when the show is done.

Our next monthly is the second Saturday in November, the 12th, 7pm as usual.  It will likely be the next to last tournament of the year, but it could also be the last tournament if December fills up.  The TOC hits at 1pm on January 14.  If you haven't locked up your seat - you have one, maybe two more chances!

Until next time, peace and we out!