So for the first time in a long time it was tournament time - on a Friday night! 11 brave poker players showed up to throw down in the FIRST EVER Big O Tournament in the Garage Around Back! It's taken me a long time to realize that my fondness for Mix Game Tournaments has to give way to a compromise - a recognition of the truth, which is that most still vastly prefer No-Limit Hold-Em, and the rest of us need to carve out our own space for the unique test of skill that is mix games and still put the Cadillac of the game up on a pedastal of sorts. That would be the once a month Saturday events. The mix tourney streets? Looks like once a month on a Friday night is where it's at!
So kicking off this unique event, was a unique set of chips - the secondary Tigers! Bright and hot stamped to perfection, I truly love chips that make the eyeballs bleed. Enjoy some delicious chip pron!
Speaking of delicious, a random Oreo abomination also appeared...
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| Now that's a starting stack! Plus on time bonus! |
And then the degens arrived - including our favorite neighbor Mr. Mike who hasn't been seen 'round these parts in a minute or two. Great to have you back in the saddle sir! Mr. Ian, Jeffy G., Wiz, Hubee, Jason, Colin, Lea Anne, Joshua G. and the venerable Mr. Tom, esquire (fresh off of his trip to Chile) rounded out the rest - along with your humble host of course.
Action blasted off right from the get go. No last longer bet was necessary in this pot limit format. Big O lives up to it's name as we had multiple re-entries before the first break.
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| Mucho thanko to Mr. Jason for dealing over at blue table 2. |
Yes it was final table time, round about 10pm, which was two and a half hours after we started - which was a bit surprising to this old poker hand. We only lost two players in all that time!
Yes, your host did manage to finally spin up a stack as 11pm came and went. We finally lost a few more players and it was bubble time, with the unlucky neighbor Mr. Mike finally succumbing after battling valiantly for over four hours!
I was doing great, until I wasn't. I'm afraid I was a bit too eager to get all my chips in with a very good, but not great starting hand and Lea Anne woke up with a monster and boom went the dynamite. I lost the hand and was crippled, and out shortly after. I won my initial buy-in back and a little more, $80 and consoled myself with the good company of the three remaining players.
Tournaments are interesting in contrast to cash games. With the latter, you can rack up and cash out when you get tired. With the former, you have to stay and play - mostly. I really appreciate that these three great people put forth a good effort for a good 45 minutes or so - and then it was after 12:30 and someone mentioned a chop and that was that. $220 apiece and a win-win for (almost) everyone!
Yours truly humbly accepted the $20 left over in the prize pool and that got me completely even for the night. Nice!
I want to say a huge thank you to all the groovy and brave true poker playas who tried something new and threw down in the PL-BIG-O streets. Especially great to see my neighbor of 20+ years Mike and my dear friend since grade school Tom.
Also, some good news to report - M.C. himself called me earlier in the day to report that he woke up from surgery! He was a bit high from the meds, but lucid enough to report that the hip replacement went well and that he was going home in a couple of days. After a month or so, I presume with heavy PT, they will replace his other hip! He's got a bit of a long road ahead, but I know it will be worth it so he can get his mobility back and cartwheel into the garage for more poker! Wishing you all the best good sir - and see you soon!
No poker next week as my wife and I will be resting Friday night for our big 5K Purple Stride walk to benefit PanCan on Saturday. We hope you'll join us in person of course, but failing that, a small donation to our fundraiser (which I will share in the group this week) would be greatly appreciated!
The following week it will be back on like Donkey Kong with our fifth monthly Saturday tournament of the year - good old fashioned No-Limit Texas Hold-Em of course! Same time, same channel - stay tuned for the Evite! Can't wait to see you all there.
Until then, peace and we out!
