After well over a year of no live poker - we had our first single table tournament on April 24th!
I was first out after I promptly punted off my chips about a half hour after the first break. I then took over dealing because I still wanted to be around live poker! It's been so long!
Kyle bubbled, Stephen B. finished third for $100, Dan G. landed in second for $200 and after a lengthy heads-up battle, Mike P. picked up right where he left off and took down another tournament for $300.
It was SO GREAT seeing everyone and I know there's lots more poker to come in 2021 and beyond so that's a WONDERFUL thing!
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| New chips also! |
This was not a poker night that everyone was invited to - I wanted to keep the group small for our first foray back into the garage. Looking at the list of who to invite, it was pretty overwhelming, so I honestly didn't think too much about it. I simply fired up my phone and texted people until it was clear there was enough interest. Once I had a mostly full game I threw up the evite just so I could keep track.
I tried to pick not just the most senior players but those who had played the most in 2019 as well. I passed over folks who weren't vaccinated yet, so that helped narrow it down also.
This Saturday night we're having a cash game - for this I sent an Evite right away, to about 80% of the PSP contacts - and it filled up fast. There were quite a few people who aren't vaccinated yet still, and then there's quite a few more who aren't interested in cash at all.
It is very apparent to me that the strong preference for tournament play that was in PSP in 2019 is still very much the same post-pandemic (yes, I know we're not quite out of the corona woods yet).
Alas, I feel the opposite these days - while I still LOVE tournaments, I do actually prefer cash (especially mix games) for a home poker night. Tournaments are a lot more work for the host - and also, when I punt my chips off (light them on fire, donk off my stack, etc.) I have to sit around watch other people play which is not nearly as fun as being in the game myself!
But fear not! I will still be hosting tournaments every month in the garage - up to twice a month for awhile, and yes they will be multi-table (to an extent) - but in between the tournament madness it will be all cash games.
I'm thinking for the months of June through August - PSP tournaments will be restricted to two tables of 9, meaning 18 players total. I really want to ease back into things and be mindful as well that we are still technically in a pandemic.
I don't think cramming 30 players into my garage is the best idea right now.
I just don't need drama or difficulties of any kind - and while 18 players in the garage I think will be perfectly fine, I have a sinking feeling that 30 players squeezed into a 20 x 20 space (not to mention all the parked cars next to my house) could easily be an issue with either players or my neighbors.
Hopefully by the fall, this corona thing will finally be at flu-like numbers. We are already close in the United States, but deaths per day still have to drop a bit more before we reach that mark.
When we do - PSP will open back up again to a 30 player capacity. I will also welcome back our friends who choose not to do the vaccine thing.
Once we are at full capacity - the PSP Player of the Year race will resume as well as the road to the Tournament of Champions - until then, these tournaments will all be just for the cash prizes and for fun of course.
Until that happens - I'm afraid I must limit the seating in the garage for tournaments to 18 maximum, with absolutely no exceptions.
This means that seating for tournaments is going to be EXTREMELY limited - read on for how I am going to be choosing who gets invited. I know it sucks, but this is the best way I think I can make it the most fair.
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Intermixed with tournament play over the summer will be cash games - LOTS of cash games!
All cash games will be dealers choice from the plaques provided.
The cash game night Evite will be open to 100% of all the PSP roster, and will feature room for 16 players max. Max at a table is 9 players, when we hit 10 players we will go to 2 tables of 5 players each.
Tournament Evites initially will only be open to Legacy players AND to anyone who attended the most recent cash game at Pepper Street.
This means if you are not a Legacy player, your best chance for seeing a tournament invite is to show up and play a cash game in the garage. If you do, you will be included on the first Evite that goes out for the tournament - meaning you will have an excellent chance of grabbing a seat!
It's less than ideal I know - but it is what it is! Show up to poker night and you'll keep getting invited back. Pass on the cash games, you likely won't see a tournament invite until the Fall.
