The scene was set for the second Multi-Table Tournament in the Garage Around Back in over a year - since the Pandemic-Thingy (technical term) had finally relented in the face of the modern medical miracle, aka the vax.
There were to be 25 runners - and the price was the same as always - $40 (but no $5 bounty this time), but players were SHOCKED to find that instead of 20,000 Tournament Units, they would be equipped with TWO MILLION TOURNAMENT UNITS!! Thanks to a fabulous new chip set from the Royal Card Room. (aka ApachePokerChips.com)
It was a very fun and cool experiment - with blinds starting at 5000/5000 instead of the usual 25/50, but I must confess, it wasn't the easiest thing to keep track of in my head - and despite my prolonged warnings and notices weeks in advance to all the players on facebook and through Evite, I still heard murmurs and mumblings about the chippies. Oh well. I would like to do this again, hopefully this year - it's a cool twist that ultimately doesn't affect the structure hardly at all...
...but I don't see doing this again very often, especially for tournaments that will offer a Tournament of champions seat and Player of the Year points.
I think the best idea may be to do a special High Roller tournament that is actually a High Roller - meaning a slightly bigger buy-in. I'm thinking a $60 buy-in with a $40 add-on, that sort of thing.
Speaking of slightly higher buy-ins, I'm also looking forward to this year's Main Event, and this time around it will like before, take place around the same time as the WSOP Main Event; and this year that means November! Should be good times!
Anyways, back to this most recent tournament - there was a conspicuous absence of the Barbara, she will be missed but she is doing well in New York City right about now. Other players carried on as best they could, and we still had an excellent turnout of women players, no less than 4 showed up to gamble.
After a brief mental adjustment to the new chip ratios, action picked up soon after and it was just like old times. We had a handful of busts and re-entries before the break - but it was well after the break that we had our first permanent exit.
I managed to hold on until there were two tables - alas my A9 went into the middle and was snapped off by Dan's A10 and that was that.
But the good news was, Stuver showed up and once again there was a CASH GAME to be had! It started off four handed and then grew and grew, topping off at an 8 handed group that indulged mostly in big bet games, but also found time to play a bit o' Badugi - which was a heck of a lot of fun. I managed to finish the night up over $60 in profit so I got unstuck for the night and then some.
Sweet sweet cash! Still the most fun to be had in the garage - those of you who turn up your noses are really missing out! We will still accept your tournament donations however ha ha. But don't forget, if you say NAY to cash, you go to the bottom of the list for invite to the next tournament (unless you are a Legacy player). It wasn't a problem this time, everyone who wanted to play could come - but I suspect our next event will fill up faster as it's for points and a TOC seat.
And so action continued without me - the period with 2 tables was shorter than the time with 3 tables. The final table formed up just after 930pm...
In the end it was Dan G. who managed to bubble off my chips and exit cashless in sixth place.
Mikey K. busted next for the first cash of the night, scooping up $100 in fifth.
And then there were four...
Teresa at one time had ALL the chips but in the end had to settle for fourth and $140.
In the end three handed play lasted longer than heads up, with about 45 minutes of intense battling it was Ian who collected third place money of $200 and thankfully joined the cash game to donate some of it back. (JK, I can't remember if he finished up or down in cash ha ha)
Heads up was brutish and short, with our tatted up 2019 Player of the Year Mr. Jerry taking down the top prize of $380 and zero points and no TOC seat. Ms. Carla still took home $260 for second, not a bad score for a $40 home game.
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| Jerry's Mount Plaque-More |
And the cash game continued on for awhile! Finally we all petered out around midnight and I was once again left with an empty garage and random napkins underfoot and in the cupholders. (Never ceases to amaze me - I know the trash is SO FAR AWAY ha ha.)
But more importantly I was left with the warm feelings and memories that only the great game of poker and my even more great friends can bring - WE ARE BACK BABY!!! And damn it feels good!!!
Next up - lots more poker to come, including our first MTT for Player of the Year Points and a seat to the Tournament of Champions! Keep your eyes peeled for the Evite! It's looking most likely to happen on July 17, so save the date!
Until then, peace and we out!
