2020.11 - H.O.R.S.E.

It was a chilly night in Burbank in The Garage Around Back - and 14 calm and collected true gamblers gathered round the felt to throw down in the fixed limit five game brouhaha known as H.O.R.S.E. - Hold-Em, Omaha/8, Razz, Seven Stud and Eight or Better Seven Stud.

As always H.O.R.S.E. was fixed limit - so that meant TONS of play for well over two hours, to the break and beyond, for everyone.   Joe was first out, but he got nearly 3 hours of poker bang for his buck before his departure.

Legacy player Josh ran just about as bad as I've ever seen in any variety of poker, failing to drag nary a single pot in all that time and was next to fall.  Been there my friend!

And also as always with fixed limit tournaments, there was tons of play until there wasn't.  After a good 4 hours plus of play, all of the sudden the bust outs snow-balled, and it was quickly final table time and then the money bubble as well.

It was a smaller group, so we only paid 4.   Dan G. was our unfortunate bubble burster in fifth, taking home a big old goose-egg in terms of cash, but holding on to memories of a lifetime that will remain long after all the money has been spent, or something.

Jerry C. was first to cash in 4th place, pocketing $80 for double his buy-in.   There was no bounty game in play (seems silly to me in a fixed limit format) but there was a $20 last longer that 5 degenerates had participated in, and two of the three remaining players were eligible for the extra cheddar on top.

That's funny, all three look like degenerate gamblers!

Jason was next to fall, as every pot played at that point that went to 4th street or beyond was large and very consequential.  He collected $120 in third place and also all but secured his spot in the TOC come January.  He will be unable to join us for our last throw down this year which is on Dec 4, so I bid him a fond farewell for the year.  Have a safe and joyous Holiday my friend!

And then there were two...

Self-Dealt 5 game MADNESS

Both Eric and I had already won our seats, so there wasn't much point to making a deal - we played on!  Both of us I know appreciated the chance to play each other heads-up, as it's good for our games and stuff.

Eric was ahead early on, but we both knew that any pot that reached the big bet rounds was change the chip lead, and indeed that's what happened.  I believe it also swung back the other way at point, before I again pulled ahead.

And then this hand went down...

The game was Omaha/8 and the flop was a very racist KKK.  This photo is taken from my perspective, because Eric dealt himself a nasty cooler, unless I had pocket AA (which was pretty clear I didn't as I didn't raise pre-flop) or the case king, he had the effective nuts; which he understandably bet every street, targeting on my end JJ, TT, 99, etc. or even a lone ace for that matter after the turn.

I was finally able to check-raise the river to put Eric all in and that was that!  An unavoidable collision in my favor and my very lucky second tournament of the year.

Oh and if you're wondering if I was eligible for the last longer bet than you must have a concussion.

Eric collected $180 for second place and I got $220 plus another hundo in the last longer for $320 total. Poker sure is fun when you run hotter than the sun!

A big thanks to all the brave true playas who understand that there's a LOT more to poker than the same old game over and over.  Also, I just absolutely love the social aspect of fixed limit play.  There is TONS more room for table talk, as it's very difficult to influence the action - even when chatting about the hand in play!  It makes for much more enjoyable experience in a home game setting that's for sure!

Another big thanks to our outstanding dealers - Jason and Eric, who brought energy and attention to their often thankless duties.  They also rolled with a format change instituted by yours truly, where we now play H.O.R.S.E. just like the big boys - using 8 dealer-lammers to indicate when it's time to change to the next game, a MUCH better format than relying on 20 minute levels where you get 25 hands of Hold-Em and 8 hands of Omaha.  This way all games have equal weight.  MUCH MUCH more like it!

Our next and final event for 2021 is in two weeks on December 4th.  Apologies to those of you who can't make it, I know there's more than a few, but December in general just SUCKS for scheduling as we are all busy I know!     

Hey, that's also a GREAT thing when you think about it!   It's so fantastic that this pandemic is finally receding, though admittedly Covid isn't going anywhere - probably forever.  But we are back to living again and it's just so awesome.  

It really makes the poker that we play, and also the friends and family that we spend time with elsewhere, that much more important and meaningful.  I am overwhelmed with gratitudes for you all and your friendship and fellowship - 2021 has been WAY FUCKING BETTER than 2020!

Until the 4th, peace and we out!

 

2020.10

 It was chilly cold and the big door was open in The Garage Around Back for a return to good ol' fashioned No-Limit Hold-Em.  16 teeth-chattering degenerates gathered round for the third annual Dia de los Muertos PSP tourney, including the return of the first winner of this event - the inimitable Dog!

DDLM Chips in play!

Custom Collectible Limited Edition Keepsake!

Though we only had 16 players, there were no less than SIX re-entries before the break, driving up the prize pool to the equivalent of a larger event.

Newly inducted Legacy Hall of Fame member Dan L. was first to exit, though not after he re-entered, a rare event for the PSP grinder.

The bust-outs continued after at a medium pace - yours truly built up a mighty stack before punting it all away with an ill advised river jam when every draw got there.  

Pre-Punt

The final table formed just before 9pm and it was a surprisingly long bubble period, with your host being the burster after my AJ got rundown by Jeff G.'s A4.  Lea Anne accidentally didn't burn before the turn and revealed a 4, we corrected her and she burned it correctly and the turn was a blank - then she burned and turned the river and it was, you guessed it, a 4 of course!

It was a good 45 minutes or so before Gareth finally relinquished and busted in 5th for his money back.

One time monster stack holder Lea Anne then found herself entirely card dead for the entire final table and had to settle for 4th place and $100 plus another $20 in bounties.

And then there were three...

Everyone who was in the money had the chip lead at one time or another, but by the time it was the final three players, Mr. Jeff G. had started to run away with the chippies.

Out in third place for $160 plus some bounties was everyone's favorite homie Tommy O.

The heads up battle was fast and relatively furious, with last month's tournament winner Eric finally succumbing in 2nd place for $200 plus bounties and Jeff G., fresh off a tremendous showing at the WSOP, taking it down for $300 plus $15 in bounty action.

All in all another great, but COLD night in the garage at Pepper Street.  I will put it in the Evite as well, but here is your official announcement - for our next tournament if the temperature goes below 65 degrees (last night it was 57) we will be closing the big door.  

This next event will be Saturday, Nov 20 at 5pm - our penultimate tournament of the year - we will be throwing down with that perennial classic H.O.R.S.E.,  Hold-Em, Omaha/8, Razz, Seven Stud and Eight or Better Seven Stud.  

Don't let the mixed games scare you - or lest if you think "I'm not very good at those games" don't worry - you're not very good at No-Limit Hold-Em either!  (Smiley face emoji here)   

Take a chance and have some fun and broaden your horizons - we would love to see you.   Also remember, every non Hold-Em event at PSP is worth DOUBLE Player of the Year points.

Stay tuned for the Evite.  Hope to see you then!  Until then, peace and we out!

Long time Mix Game Enthusiast and Spirit Lifter