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| Photo by Ian |
This year I've capped the game at 27 players - it's a good number, I prefer 9 handed tables and the garage seems full without feeling crazy full and chaotic.
In the back of my mind I recognized that with 3 big tables I actually have room for 30 - so I kept those 3 seats available for long time veteran players at Pepper St. if they could all the sudden come at the last minute. There are players who have been loyal to this game for over a decade who now have busier lives and make it out less often - I wanted to leave some wiggle room for them.
Well, my squishiness on the number 27 came back to bite me last Saturday night.
I had a waiting list of no less than 6 people who wanted to play but couldn't because we were capped at 30.
I had a player text me 2 hours out who had a cold - that was fine, all is good - I don't want to get sick or have others get sick and a text ahead of time makes it perfectly fine. I was unable to find a replacement, but that's okay, these things happen. We would still have 29.
Then 2 players didn't show. Didn't text, didn't call, didn't email didn't use Evite.
This is bad.
It creates a pain with dead stacks - and it creates worry in me when I should be focusing on being a good host, and also focusing on enjoying playing poker.
I still haven't heard from one of the players - he is on a break until I do hear from him and hear some explanation for his absence. If it was a catastrophic emergency that's one thing, but any other normal life occurrence (sick, car breakdown, family issue, etc.) there is ZERO excuse for not texting me. My number is on the Evite
The other player apologized, somewhat, for just flaking on changing his RSVP. He is a good guy and an enthusiastic participant in the game - he will be back on the list in August. He does it again then he's on a permanent break.
I also have to look at my handling of the whole thing and determine if there's anything I can do to lessen the chances of this happening again.
One step that I can take is to simply say the number is 27 and that's it. Allowing wiggle room, even if it's known to only a few players, who can see that the cap of 27 actually ends up at 28 or 29 or 30, creates doubt in peoples minds and has them hanging on and then the people who do have seats think it's okay to drop late because then they will be replaced.
From now on the number is 27. That's it - the end.
My single exception to this is if my brother wants to come at the last minute. Everyone else, even the loyal vets, there's always another game.
If you have to cancel at the last minute for any reason other than a catastrophic injury or emergency - you are on a break for the next tournament. Of course text me and let me know that you can't make it, even if it's at 6:59, to avoid a longer break.
I would strongly encourage all of you - once you have a seat locked up - to let your seat go earlier rather than later. If you feel a cold coming on, the sooner you can drop your seat the better. If you have obligations that may or may not get finished in time, then drop your seat. There's always another game!
Okay, so with that out of the way - the poker! It was a hella good time!
Jeff S. was first to bust and spun the Wheel-O-Fun to win 3 post break Show-Me chips for the next tournament! Yours truly busted out next - distracted a bit no doubt by my overflowing sewage line out back. Good times!
Action was fast and furious but it was almost 10pm when the first table finally broke.
An hour and a half later it was final table time.
The money bubble burst at midnight with Marc getting his monies back.
Next out was chatterbox Carlos who doubled his money and also had $25 in bounties I believe.
Finishing in 4th place was new player Nestor, who I didn't realize was new because he's been on the Evite for a couple of years now. This was his first appearance! Hope he had fun, always great to see a new player get some cash. He took home $120 for his trouble.
Busting in third, was Colin who had been a one man wrecking ball throughout most of the tournament. I've seen it before, but it's great to see it again - a player who comes in with a decent poker skill set and then over the course of a year or two works on their game and gets better and better. Colin has for sure been on that journey and last night he was fierce! Well done! Colin took home $180 plus another $20 in bounties I believe for a nice $200 payday.
And then there were two.
Heads-up play lasted for a good half hour or so, and in the end stacks were short and the hour was late -
Jessie got his money in ahead but the board had other things in mind and so this guy took it down -
Jessie scooped up a nice $260 prize plus a bounty. Nick took down the 1st place prize of $360 and $15 in bounty action. Interesting that the top two finishers didn't have nearly as many bounties as Colin and Carlos. Something to be said for patience right?
The river card was this...
But no one picked the card! Now the jackpot is over $120 for next time!
I want to thank each and every one of you who came out and made it fun - I don't mean to bum anyone out with my fascist approach to game attendance - but poker players are like children, and I include myself in this group. We have to be fair but firm, otherwise chaos reigns!
I can't wait for next month's tournament - it will be Saturday, July 14 at 5PM - and it will be the Pepper Street Poker Main Event for 2018.
We will have fun surprises, pizza for dinner break and a super cool pimped out bracelet awaits the winner!
Entry is $80 with the usual single optional re-entry if you get felted or short stacked before the break.
There is a teeny tiny possibility the tournament will be postponed - IF (and it's a huge IF) I happen to be at the final table of the real Main Event (the one in Vegas at the World Series of Poker) then the game is off!
Until then, peace and we out!
I also have to look at my handling of the whole thing and determine if there's anything I can do to lessen the chances of this happening again.
One step that I can take is to simply say the number is 27 and that's it. Allowing wiggle room, even if it's known to only a few players, who can see that the cap of 27 actually ends up at 28 or 29 or 30, creates doubt in peoples minds and has them hanging on and then the people who do have seats think it's okay to drop late because then they will be replaced.
From now on the number is 27. That's it - the end.
My single exception to this is if my brother wants to come at the last minute. Everyone else, even the loyal vets, there's always another game.
If you have to cancel at the last minute for any reason other than a catastrophic injury or emergency - you are on a break for the next tournament. Of course text me and let me know that you can't make it, even if it's at 6:59, to avoid a longer break.
I would strongly encourage all of you - once you have a seat locked up - to let your seat go earlier rather than later. If you feel a cold coming on, the sooner you can drop your seat the better. If you have obligations that may or may not get finished in time, then drop your seat. There's always another game!
Okay, so with that out of the way - the poker! It was a hella good time!
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| We had this... |
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| And these. (pretty tasty) |
Jeff S. was first to bust and spun the Wheel-O-Fun to win 3 post break Show-Me chips for the next tournament! Yours truly busted out next - distracted a bit no doubt by my overflowing sewage line out back. Good times!
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| Photo by Ian |
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| Photo by Ian |
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| Photo by Ian |
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| Yeah, this happened. |
The money bubble burst at midnight with Marc getting his monies back.
Next out was chatterbox Carlos who doubled his money and also had $25 in bounties I believe.
Finishing in 4th place was new player Nestor, who I didn't realize was new because he's been on the Evite for a couple of years now. This was his first appearance! Hope he had fun, always great to see a new player get some cash. He took home $120 for his trouble.
Busting in third, was Colin who had been a one man wrecking ball throughout most of the tournament. I've seen it before, but it's great to see it again - a player who comes in with a decent poker skill set and then over the course of a year or two works on their game and gets better and better. Colin has for sure been on that journey and last night he was fierce! Well done! Colin took home $180 plus another $20 in bounties I believe for a nice $200 payday.
And then there were two.
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| So so much to love about this shot. |
Jessie got his money in ahead but the board had other things in mind and so this guy took it down -
 |
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| And a moment of reflection, thanking the poker gods for the run good I would imagine. |
The river card was this...
But no one picked the card! Now the jackpot is over $120 for next time!
I want to thank each and every one of you who came out and made it fun - I don't mean to bum anyone out with my fascist approach to game attendance - but poker players are like children, and I include myself in this group. We have to be fair but firm, otherwise chaos reigns!
I can't wait for next month's tournament - it will be Saturday, July 14 at 5PM - and it will be the Pepper Street Poker Main Event for 2018.
We will have fun surprises, pizza for dinner break and a super cool pimped out bracelet awaits the winner!
Entry is $80 with the usual single optional re-entry if you get felted or short stacked before the break.
There is a teeny tiny possibility the tournament will be postponed - IF (and it's a huge IF) I happen to be at the final table of the real Main Event (the one in Vegas at the World Series of Poker) then the game is off!
Until then, peace and we out!
