2019.04

So yes, we'd already had a tournament in April - but this was the actual April tournament!

Strangely, only 19 gamblers showed up for this one - non holiday weekend, standard NL Hold-Em tournament, and the game for the first time in months didn't fill.   Oh well, it was still, as always, a great time.

Matsui Chips - making their Monthly debut!

Game on!

So I've worked really hard on my mental game for the last few years, making every effort not to show emotion or frustration at the table - well by the time the break rolled around I had pretty much had it - not dragging a single pot!  Crazy!   Yes the run bad (and inevitably the play bad) was strong with your fearless host.

Needless to say I had to pull rank and fire a third bullet - I hope others will understand, this is a rare thing and I don't plan on doing this more than once every five years or so.   It didn't make any difference.  I won a grand total of maybe 3 pots over two hours of play.   Still busted early.  Lesson learned - sometimes the poker gods just say no, not today.

Dedicated dealers Art and Jason helped keep things moving, and I know their services were appreciated by everyone.  I don't know if this will continue for NLHE events, it's great for everyone else but for the dealers it seems like an exhausting way to have fun playing home poker.  We will see.
I think it's here to stay for non NLHE events, Omaha/8 & HORSE really need one person well versed in the games and at the center of the table to keep things moving along.

The final table formed around 830 I think.

Steve BC, who won last years April tournament had a literal MOUNTAIN of chips, nearly a third of the chips in play at one point, until he ran into this guy....

Incredibly, Steve was out and the money fast approached.  With only 19 players and dedicated dealers not buying in or only buying in for half - the prize pool was reduced so we could only pay 4.  We voted anonymously to pay 5th, but there was much consternation and a couple of big fat NO placards were turned up.   We pay FOUR!

Another at one time massive chip leader, Jacob, was the April 2019 bubble boy.

Barbara busted next in 4th for $100.

Tony succumbed next for a third place payout of $140 plus a couple of bounties, bitterly complaining about always being unlucky (after he had spiked a one outer for a straight flush earlier.  Yes Tony, you are SOOOO unlucky lol).

And then there were two...

Heads-up lasted about half an hour, and then just before 11 the dust settled and we had a first time champ who's been at it for a few years now!  Well done and overdue my friend!

 This is after Colin finished 2nd last month!  He's on quite a tear!

Not sure when the next monthly NLHE event will be, May has pretty much already filled up.  I don't want to do it next week - too soon!  But I am hosting a special bonus HORSE tournament so there's that.

Everyone should be on that Evite, so if you haven't received it for some reason please let me know.  Always look forward to mix games, hope to see many of you there - remember to come early for a primer on the different games if you don't remember how to play.   Also, if you don't want to play because you think you're not that good at these games, remember you probably aren't that great at hold-em either.   Just kidding, but not really.

Anyways, can't wait to play next week!  Until then...

Peace and we out!

Marc F. - Bare Walls Garage O.G. - 2 Time POY - WSOP Rep

2019.02

It was the most delightful of days in beautiful Burbank, and as the sun finally started to wane it was time for 27 degenerate gamblers to gather 'round the felt once more for an epic poker throw down in the Garage Around Back.

Love was also in the air, even though it was April - this was the official February tournament!

But there were no Valentimes goodies left at Ralph's, so....

And so then it was time for this very holiday-confused game to get underway!

No bust outs before the break, but we did have a number of re-entries and then a couple of stack surrenders during the stop-down.

For the first time in literally years, I threw the game up on the stream - this time into Facebook live in our private group, so only folks on my good side (my friends list and in my PSP page) can watch.

Final table time!

The final table formed around 10 and I had a nice healthy stack - unfortunately I made the worst mis-click in my entire live poker career when I snapped off Dan's King high bluff with EIGHT HIGH LIKE A BOSS.  Oops.

So my crippled stack could only carry me to sixth place, where I finished just above Bubble gal Carla for a whopping $40 (my buy-in) back.

Out next in 5th was the cashing machine Legacy player Barbara, locking up $100.

Kat took home $140 in fourth place.  Up until her exit her other half Jessie had helped with the dealing which was very much appreciated.

And then there were three...

Sheyna ran into card deadness and was forced to get it in light a couple of times.  The first time she doubled up, the second and third (final) time she had to settle for third place and $180.

Heads up lasted almost half an hour, but in the end Jason's mountain was too much.  After taking a big hit Dan proposed an even money split in exchange for giving Jason the title and the TOC seat.  Jason thought about it for about .003 seconds before agreeing with a forceful handshake and deep deep belly laugh.

So the boys got $390 each and this guy got the trophy...

#standard

Wrong month dummy.

A huge thanks to everyone who came out and as always made our little game a very big fun time.  I can't express often enough how much it means to me to have so many people come play who I also consider my good friends.   The Valentimes theme has me all mushy!  I love you all!

Our next monthly Saturday tournament will be @5pm on April 27th - that will be the official April event and we will be back on track.

Until then, peace and we out!