2020.06

 Another week, another No-Limit Hold-Em tournament in the Garage Around Back!  This time 22 players squeezed in and threw down with intense gambling action!

Dia' de los Muertos in play!

I'm proud to say there were six women in the game, including our special guest Michele (standing up to deal in the above picture) who once again honored us with a visit from the Bay Area. So glad you include Burbank in your SoCal itineraries Michele!

Action, as always, was fast and furious.  Our latest Legacy player Stephen B. unfortunately bowed out early, but not as early as yours truly!   Our brand new ridiculous sign was illuminated as I managed to punt off a sizable chunk of my stack in short order... and then lose the rest by running my top pair into a flopped nut straight.

An elaborate custom sign based on a decade old inside joke...

We were down to two tables in only a couple of hours, and I waited patiently at the empty cash game table while the remaining players gambled away...

Aaaall by myseeeeellllfff.....

Finally, enough players had busted that we could gather under a new sign, but this one was much more practical...

So we had a good old time in the real poker game, while others at the remaining two tables - and eventually the final table, battled it out for tournament supremacy.

Allen R. was our unfortunate bubble boy, for the second week in a row!  He took some solace in joining us at the cash game table, and he did very well - got his buy-in back and more I believe.

Jeff G. was first to bust for some money, getting a double buy-in payout in 5th place.

Next out was Rounders legend Lea Anne who pocketed $120 in 4th place.  Glad I remembered to tell her to sign out as she is in good contention now for a TOC seat!

Finishing in third was Mr. Jerry, who did forget to sign out, but he texted me right afterwards so it was all good.  He finished in third for $160 and a gang o' points as well.

And then there were two - long time veteran Mikey P. and relative newcomer Laura, who was nearly equal to Mike in chips (or should I say plaques) as heads-up play began.

I'm not sure if she ever pulled ahead, but she definitely pulled up to even more than once - but in the end the mountain of plaques of her opponent was too much - and for the second tournament in the 2020 season, this guy finished on top!

Laura got $240, Mike got $320 plus a gang o' bounties and a hammer-lock on the Player of the Year race!   Congrats to you both!

Our next tournament won't be until Saturday Sept. 11.  I realize that's also a 20 year anniversary that's rather important - I plan to remember and also to celebrate the freedom we have in this country because of our troops and first responders by playing the pokers!   Hope you will join me!

Until then, peace and we out!

PS - the cash game kept going for an hour after the end of the tournament!  For those of you who pass on the cash, you're really missing out!

Long Time Regular - Beast of a Player!

                           

2020.05

 For the second week in a row - it was poker night in the Garage Around Back, and this time it was back to good ol' No-Limit Hold-Em!   Legacy chips were in play and bounties as well - it was a whole lot of faces looking back up at our players - 14 total showed up to throw down.   A smaller group than usual for sure, but a lively one at that!

There were zero bust-outs before the break, though we did have one re-entry from Ms. Julie. Shortly after we got back Ms. Carla was the first to fall, followed almost immediately by yours truly who saw a good chunk of his chips go to Ian several times before all of them finally went to him on an open ended straight draw that never got there.

Play carried on for a good while thereafter before it was final table time!

Before I punted it all away!

Andrew is either screaming from a bad beat or yawning...

It's really kind of amazing - even though I was mad at myself for not playing great and I had a pretty early exit - this was still a thoroughly enjoyable night!  I really had a great time, which is really crazy to think about considering I played poker for less than two hours.   I am one lucky guy to have such an amazing group of friends - and I was actually excited to see who would come out on top.

Final table action was hot and heavy with the chips flying yada yada yada... Allen R. was our bubble!

Allen awaits his fate...

 Cashing machine and 2019 Player of the Year Jerry was first to make the money, getting his buy-in back and some solace that he was going home with a decent amount of points for this year's POY race.

And then there were three...

Here's where I usually say - "Such and such was next to fall in third place for X amount yada yada yada..."   But this time I must say - the heads-up battle was NOTHING compared to three handed play, specifically the play between Julie and Colin.   That shit was cray cray!

Both players battled each other with ferocious aggression and it was amazing how many times mountains of chips flew back and forth.  In the middle, and highly entertained by all of this, was Mr. Ian who maintained a good amount of chips without throwing them back and forth like his opponents did.

In the end, the dust eventually settled and it was Julie who came out the victor.  Colin was all good with his $100 payout for third and departed as always with a gracious smile and both middle fingers raised.

Heads-up play between Ian and Julie couldn't help but be a bit of a letdown, but both players put forth a noble effort anyways.  It wasn't long before Ian, for the second tournament in a row, was pocketing second place money - a payout of $160 and a couple bounties.

That meant that this one had taken it down, after finishing second only two tourneys prior...

1st place paid $280, plus Ms. Julie now also gets an automatic seat in the TOC and will soon have her photo on the wall with these other Champeens.

Yes we are certainly cranking along and making up for lost time in 2021 after that monster shit-show of 2020.  Ideally I would like to get through the remaining 2020 tournaments (there are 7 left) before Christmas time, so that means there's going to be some stretches were we have poker tournaments several weeks in a row - and one of those stretches is right now!

That's right, poker next Saturday!  No-Limit Hold-Em tournament for POY points and a Tournament of Champions Seat - let's go baby!   Remember, there will be 12 tournaments total but points will only count for your best 10, so if you miss a tournament or two it's ok.

Stay tuned for the Evite, it will be going out shortly - until then, peace and we out!

2020.04 (Omaha/8)

 After taking a week off, poker returned to The Garage Around Back in beautiful Burbank.  Yes, it was a tournament - but it was NOT No-Limit Hold-Em.  This time it was a long overdue battle for Omaha Eight or Better supremacy.  12 players who were not chicken-shit to play different games showed up to throw down, and it was a heck of a lot of fun.

Havana Room Chips in Play - the chip of choice for Mix Games

If you didn't come - you missed out...

...on this amazing collectible chip!

There was a poll in the Evite - for Fixed Limit or Pot Limit play.  In the end Fixed Limit won because two people who voted for Pot Limit did not attend.

Fixed Limit of course requires an entirely different skill set of poker.  Tournaments present a particular challenge because it always seems like everyone is super deep, until suddenly they are not.  This was the case last night, but the good thing was that all 12 players got a good solid 3 hours of play in before the bust outs began.

It was well after 8pm when we finally lost enough players to combine into a "final table".  We were paying 4 players (a third of the field!) with the 4th place finisher (who turned out to be yours truly) would get their money back.

After I got my buy-in back, Mike P was the next to exit with a double buy-in payout for $80 in third place.  Though dismayed that he only got the bronze, he was also less sad when he remembered that this finish puts him firmly atop the Player of the Year points leaderboard.  Don't forget that all non-No Limit Hold-Em events are worth DOUBLE points!

And then there were two -

Although at first glance it looks like a ferocious battle - this picture was actually completely staged.  It was already over by the time I remembered to take a heads-up pic, so they faked it.  

Ian had already lost and took home $140 in second place, while Kenny took down 1st and $220 along with it!   Ken, I forgot to give you your 1st Place Card Protector - be sure to ask me for it the next time I see you.

So, I was going to wait another 2 weeks before our next tournament, but then I realized we are rapidly running out of time before the WSOP - so I think we want to play again sooner rather than later.  

Although as of this moment they are requiring masks in Vegas, if it's still that way in October I'm not doing it blah blah blah...   

So our next tournament is, next weekend!  Ah!!!!   Crazy!!! 

Since we only had 12 players last night, I'm sure we will get more this next time.   Remember,  I'm aiming for 12 events but only 10 will count towards POY points so you can miss one if you have to.

As always, it was a great time - and I thank each and every one of you for coming out and throwing down!   Very much looking forward to next weekend and a return to good ol' fashioned No-Limit Hold-Em.  

Until then, peace and we out!