This time around it was 19 degenerate poker enthusiasts - we were missing a few of the usual suspects (summer is a busy time) but we filled in with some fresher faces, including new player Ms. Karen who is a stalwart regular over at le' Moose.
The chips and theme for our August adventure were a tribute to the great and long gone Vegas institution known as the Mirage Hotel and Casino. A throwback to better times in that gambling mecca, before resorts started nickel and dime-ing all of us to death. Free parking, great poker room, affordable eats and reasonable room rates - that was the Mirage and oh how I miss it so!
Everyone arrived in good spirits through the big open door, and we started right on time.
Your humble host was stymied a bit by the temperature. A week ago the forecast was for a high of 91, which meant we would be playing out on the patio. Then just two days ago it dipped to 86, which should have been plenty cool enough to stay in the garage. Well, maybe it's my failing memory, but it sure was a bit hotter than I would've liked, and didn't feel like the tail end of the mid 80s that's for sure. Even worse, the glare through the door made it a bit tough for players at table 3 to see what was going on ha ha.
Maybe it's because we were all wilting in the sauna, but action was surprisingly sedate through the first break. In what might be a record, we only had a single re-entry! Your humble host spun up a nice stack early, but was unable to get anything going after we got back from break. Ross, Colin, Jonathan, Ken, Allen R. and Lea Anne busted before I did, but alas we were still well away from a final table when I made my exit.
The final table formed up right around 10 pm. Because everyone had played so snug, stacks were short - and it wasn't long before multiple players made their exit in rapid succession. Carla was first to bust, and busted so quickly I didn't even get her in the final table pic.
I believe Debbie and Sharon busted next, followed by Mr. Tony and that left the stoic Mr. Ian as our unfortunate bubble boy.
We were paying 4 and after lording over a mountain of chips all evening, Peter had to settle for fourth place and a $120 payout.
Three handed play went for awhile, with Jeff G. bobbing and weaving until the two Dans became too much and he finished with a third place $220 prize.
And then there were two, it was the battle of the Dans!
Head's up was fairly brief, but intense. After Dan L. caught cards and Dan G. went card dead for a spell, all the chips finally went in with both players live to hit, but neither did. And this guy won it all with a simple Ace high.
And so for the second time in this extended season of Pepper Street Poker (the first time being January of this year) the one and only Dan L. took it down! Nicely done and well deserved!
Dan G. got $320 for second place and Dan L. scooped up the first place prize of $460 and the coveted PSP jumbo card protector. He also secures an extra 5K for his starting stack in the TOC next January.
Remember the new TOC qualifying structure for this season - if you win a tournament you secure a TOC seat and a 40K stack. If you are invited (based on primarily on attendance) you start with 35K. Read all the details on the TOC here.
Our next tournament, one of four remaining in 2025, will be once again the first Saturday of the month - September 6th at the usual time. I will drop our patio threshold to 85° so rest assured we will not be in a sweat box next time (though it may get chilly late into the evening!).
In the meantime, there's lots of cash games to be played, look for Friday night fun all through August - our next event is a Fix Limit Fiesta coming up next week. If you're not on the cash invite list and want to be, be sure to let me know. It's an awful lot of evites for an awful lot of cash game poker and I know many of you prefer tournaments only.
A big thanks to everyone who came out and made it a great time as always. Especially great to see more Moose regulars integrated into the game including the aforementioned Ms. Karen as well as Mr. Vito for only his second or third time in the garage.
And a thanks as well to Mr. Jeff who stuck around to shuffle during heads up play, you are gracious and thoughtful good sir - despite your predatory poker practices!
Very much looking forward to a lot more poker this year with you all - until we meet on the felt again...
Peace and we out!
