Tournament #4 of Season 4

Another one is in the books.  We had 30 players this week.  Previous champ Gary R decided he was going home first this week at the hands of Bob L.  It take almost an hour to get our first knockout which is longer than normal.  Janine R was next to go when Kevin C got his second hit of the season.  Mike S was next to go followed by first time player Eric G.  Not long after I was done when Joy C finished me off.  Sharon B was next to go when Tom J got his first of many knockouts for the night.  We got down to the final table of nine when Mat K was knocked out in tenth by Theresa C.  Steve N was the first out of the final table when Greg E got him.  From here on out it was pretty much the Tom J show.  Dom D was next to go soon followed by Paul V on the bubble, both at the doing of Tom J.  Theresa C took down the last paying spot when Tom knocked her out in sixth.  Joy C spoiled Tom's dreams of running the whole final table by knocking out Ron T in fifth.  From then on we were back to the Tom J show knocking off Karl M in fourth and collecting all the bonus points.  Joy C made a great showing hanging on to third place.  The heads up battle between Tom and Greg E was pretty short lived with Tom having most of the chips in play when they got heads up.

Tom put on one of the strongest showings we've seen knocking out 10 players.  This performance vaulted him all the way into fourth place in the standings.  Greg's second place finish makes him the highest ranking player without a win this season, sitting in fifth.  The next tournament will see Tom J with one of the bounties on his head and current points leader Karl M will have the other.

Tournament #3 of Season 4

Another great turnout with 34 players this time.  Don G decided he wasn't going to stay long this time exiting 33 minutes into the tournament when Ron T busted him out.  He was helped out the door on the third hand of the tournament by Janine R when her quad queens beat his full house and crippled his chip stack.   Bob L followed him out the door a couple of minutes later at the hands of Mark L.  Theresa C picked up the extra bounty points when she took previous points leader Linda K out in 25th.  The final table was set when Mark L was taken out by Karl M in tenth place.  The other extra bounty went to Karl M when he took out last weeks winner Dom D in ninth, the first to leave the final table.  Mike S was next to go in eighth when Theresa C got him.  That left the next out on the bubble.  This week's honor goes to Janine R who was sent to the rail by Matt F.  The first one out in the money was Theresa C when she was eliminated by Karen D.  I then managed to get the next three taking out Karen in fifth followed by Steve S in fourth then Matt F in third.  This left myself and Karl M heads up.  Our heads up battle lasted only about ten minutes when I got all my money in with 4,4 and was called by Q,J.  The flop came A,8,2 and I was feeling good.  The turn brought the Q and the river missed me with a 10 and I was done.

This was the longest final table I can remember.  The final nine were seated at 10:16 and the tournament didn't end until 12:56.  Over 2.5 hours has to be our record.  The chips stacks were very even with the final nine and it seemed every time someone got all in they caught the right card to hang on.  Steve S went from having less than a big blind to having a very strong chip stack at least four or five times.  When we play again in two weeks both the bounties will be on Karl M as the previous winner and points leader.

Tournament #2 of Season 4

Tourney two is in the books and is was another good one.  We had 31 players this week including a few first timers with us.  One of the first timers, Mitch C, decided to be the first out which was very exciting to me.  I was down to about 300 in chips and was dreading being first out two weeks in a row.  Bobby D was right behind Mitch being second out.  I was able to hang on for a while but was eventually put out of my misery in 22nd place by another new comer Steve S. 

We had one of the most interesting hands of the season with seven players left.  Keep in mind that the top six make the money.  Three players were involved, Karen D, Steve S and Dominic D all moved all in.  When we turned over the cards Karen had A,A, Dom had 10,10 and Steve was a mile behind with 4,4.  Things got better in a hurry when the flop and turn came 5,6,7,8 giving Steve the straight and sending Karen to the rail on the bubble.  Oh wait we still had the river card to come and guess what, the 9 comes giving Dom the better straight, crippling Steve's chip stack and leaving Dom about 75% of the chips on the table.  It was one of the wildest swings in one hand I've seen in a long while.  From there it was basically a matter of time for Dom to start collecting the remainder of the chips at the table.  As a matter of fact he was able to eliminate the remaining players in only sixteen minutes.  Steve S went in sixth, followed by Mat K then Linda K.  Gary R hung on for a third place finish and Bob L had a great second place finish.  This was Dom's first league win.  The amazing part was that Dom and Karen combined to eliminate 12 of the last 13 players.

We also had a rules question come up during a hand that two people at the table said they new the answer to.  We went with their interpretation and moved on.  Later in the week it was brought to my attention that the ruling may have been incorrect.  The hand went as follows:

Small blind posted $25
Big blind (Jerry T) posted $50
Steve S raises to $100
Paul B goes all-in with $120
Greg E(not a blind) wants to raise to $300 with KK to scare away Steve (who had A-4).


Greg was told he could not re-raise because the previous raise did not meet the minimum raise.

After further review it looks like Greg should have been able to re-raise.  The rule that I am citing is from Roberts rules of poker section 14:

3. All raises must be equal to or greater than the size of the previous bet or raise on that betting round, except for an all-in wager. Example: Player A bets 100 and player B raises to 200. Player C wishing to raise must raise at least 100 more, making the total bet at least 300. A player who has already acted and is not facing a fullsize wager may not subsequently raise an all-in bet that is less than the minimum bet or less than the full size of the last bet or raise. (The half-the-size rule for reopening the betting is for limit poker only.)

Because Greg had not acted he should have been allowed to make his raise.  I believe the rule that the other referred to was from limit play.  Here is Roberts rules section 3:

7. In limit play, an all-in wager of less than half a bet does not reopen the betting for any player who has already acted and is in the pot for all previous bets. A player who has not yet acted (or had the betting reopened to him by another player’s action), facing an all-in wager of less than half a bet, may fold, call, or complete the wager. An all-in wager of a half a bet or more is treated as a full bet, and a player may fold, call, or make a full raise. (An example of a full raise on a $20 betting round is raising a $15 all-in bet to $35.) Multiple all-in wagers, each of an amount too small to individually qualify as a raise, still act as a raise and reopen the betting if the resulting wager size to a player qualifies as a raise.

My apologies to Greg.  In the future if there is a question and someone disagrees with the answer let me know and we will pause the clock and research the rule before moving on.

Tournament #1 of Season 4

The first tournament of the new season took place Saturday and it was another good one.  We had 22 players including a few first time players.  I lasted a mere 28 minutes when my full house of kings over queens was rivered by Bob D's aces full.  Ominous start to my season.  Mark L was next to go when another first timer Karl M sent him packing.  After a few more bust outs Tom J was taken out in 15th by Linda K collecting her first hit of the evening.  When Adam B took out Janine R in 11th place the final table was now set.  Don G went out on the bubble in sixth place at the hands of Adam B.  With everyone left in the money it the became the Linda K show.  She proceeded to run the table dispatching of Adam in 5th, Bob D in fourth, Greg E in third.  After a great heads up battle with Karl M, Linda's A,5 held up against the Q,J and we had our first winner of the season.

We do still have a couple of open seats for full league membership if anyone is interested.  We will also have a few open seats available each week for non-league members.  These will be available on a fist come first served basis.  I think I have my invitation software all figured out for this season so things should be back to normal starting next time.

Changes for Season 4

I have posted the schedule and rules for the 2011-2012 season.  There are a few changes.  First off, if you do not arrive by the start of the third blind level your chips will be removed from the table.  This gives you 50 minutes to arrive after the start of the tournament.  There will be NO exceptions to this rule.  The weekly buyin will be $25 with $20 going into the weekly pot and $5 going into the year end pot.  ALL league members that play in a minimum of eight regular season tournaments will be eligible for the final tournament.  The top 20 in points will be eligible for the final tournament regardless of how many regulars season tournaments they play in.  The 20th place finisher in points will start with 1500 in chips and each position above this will receive an additional 100 chips.  21st place and below will be penalized 500 chips and have a starting stack of 1000 chips.  I have had alot of interest from some new players this year.  I am going to add a fourth table this year so we can accommodate the additional players.

I look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks.

Season 3 Championship

First off, sorry to Jeff J and everyone else for not posting this right after the championship tournament.  Summer got in the way and I never got it done.  The night didn't last too long for Kevin C who was first to go when Matt F took him out.  Karen D then took out Mark L.  The next bust out didn't happen for almost an hour when Jeff J took me out.  It has been too long to remember but I am sure I had the best hand and he just sucked out.  Karen D continued her rampage taking out the next three players in a row, Tom J, Adam B and Paul V.  The final table was seated when Greg E was knocked out in eleventh by Karen D.  Christina M was the first to leave the final table when Will M took her out.  Jerry T was next to go, eliminated by Dom D.  With eight players left Jeff J went on the most amazing run we've ever had in the league by running the table and knocking out the other seven players to win the final tourney.  He started with Mat K and then got Gary R next.  Karen D was next to go in sixth place and unfortunately for her on the bubble.  Matt F was next going out in fifth and securing the last paying spot.  Will M was next to go followed soon after by Dom D.  That left Steve N and Jeff J heads up.  If I recall the heads up battle only lasted a hand or two and Jeff J was our new champion.  Congratulations to Jeff who had an amazing overall season.  Also thanks to everyone that plays each week and makes this league so much fun.

Tournament #12

Well tournament #12 is over and we had some big moves in the standings.  In this week's invitation I said you better bring your game if you had one.  Greg E definitely brought his.  Everyone was playing fairly tight and it took an hour and twenty minutes for the first bust out.  Mark L got taken out by Jeff J, the first of his two hits, halfway through the third round.  It only took six more minutes and Kevin H was sent packing by Mat K.  Five minutes after that Scott C was knocked out by Jerry T.  This was one of the biggest bust outs of the night with Scott entering the night in 20th place, the last spot to make the final tournament.  This left the door wide open for Greg E, Joy C and Bob L who started the night in 21st, 22nd and 24th respectively.  Kelly M went out early in the 9th round at the hands of Steve N.  Two minutes later Kevin C was taken out by me in 14th place.  That one spot earned him an additional 0.97 points. 

The final table was made when I managed to take Will M out in 11th place.  Within 9 minutes of seating the final table Linda K, Matt F and Joy C managed to get busted out.  Jeff J was next to go when I got my 7th kill of the night.  Unfortunately it was my last.  The next to go was Bob L, this weeks bubble boy.  I took down the last money spot, fifth, when Greg E took me out.  Next to go was Gigi G, taken out in fourth also by Greg E.  Greg E, Mat K and Steve N played an amazing 22 minutes three handed before Greg was finally able to dispose of Mat K, who at one point was down to only 1K in chips with the blinds at 500/1000.  Getting to third place was one of the best comebacks this year.  After nine minutes heads up Steve N was taken out by Greg, who took out the final four players of the night.

With his win Greg vaulted from 21st to 10th in points.  Oh and if you were wondering whether that one extra spot that Kevin picked up really mattered, he beat out Bob L for the twentieth and final spot in the big tournament by 0.75 points.  Amazing that an entire 12 game season can come down to 0.75 points. 

Great job to everyone who won this year.  I managed to hang on and win the overall points total.  Mat K, who finished 7th overall was the highest ranking player without a win this season.  Jeff J, Gary R and myself were all two time winners this season.  I had the most hits with 24 followed by Jeff J with 20, Will M with 18, Mat K with 17 and Tom J and Christina M with 15 each. 

I look forward to seeing everyone on June 11th for the final tournament.  If anyone else wants to come and use the third table for a cash game or to route for, or against, anyone let me know.

Tournament number 11 is in the books and we have another first time winner.  We had 29 players this time.  The points standings are getting extremely interesting.  Basically if you win you are almost guaranteed a seat in the final tournament.  As a matter of fact, except for the bottom few points places a second place finish should get you in.  As for this tournament Blake M was first out when he flopped trips but Tom J flopped a better set.  Scott C was next to go when Christina M got her first of 6 hits on the evening.  As players continued to exit Will M continued to accumulate an impressive chip stack.

When Matt F took out Darlene J in 11th we got down to the final table.  Kevin H was the first to leave the final table when Mat K sent him packing.  Next to go was Mat F, taken out by Jerry T.  Eighth place went to Greg E as Christina M took him out.  Mark L became this weeks bubble boy getting busted out in seventh by Mat K.  Josh G home from college for the weekend and playing for the first time this season took down the last money spot getting ousted in sixth by Mat K.  Jerry T was next out in fifth when Will M took him out.  Fourth place belonged to Christina M as Mike S got his second hit of the night. 

When we got three handed Will M had a pretty substantial chip lead.  Over thirty minutes of three way play saw the chips move there way around the table before Mike S was finally taken out by Mat K.  The heads up match lasted about 25 hands when Will M finally managed to take Mat K out.  Will got his first win and solidified his spot in the final tournament.

Sorry for the slow update for tournament #10.  When I'm the second one on the night to bust out I have a tendency to not want to post the results.  This was a big turnout with 29 players this week and was by far the longest one of the season.  Steve N saved me the embarrassment of being first out yet again by taking out Bob L first.  I was next to go to the rail after a patented Jeff J suck out (just kidding Jeff).  The players dropped slowly, we only had four players out by the first break.  Everyone was trying to play tight and survive now that the points are really starting to count. 

Greg E was this weeks bubble boy going out in sixth place when first timer Scott W sent him to the rail.  Scott then took out Kevin C who had been playing extremely tight (and "un-Kevinlike"), Kevin took the final money spot in fifth.  Dave D got in on the action and decided he'd had enough of the new guy and knocked out Scott W in fourth.  Dave took Karen D out next in third to get heads up with Jeff J.  They decided to split the money but play out the tournament for the points.  After a 10 minute heads up battle Dave's A,7 held up and Dave got his first win.  Dave's win gave him 128.42 points for the night and guaranteed his spot in the final tournament.

We are down to the final two tournaments to set a spot in the year end tournament.  A win or even second place finish almost guarantees everyone but a couple players a seat at the final table.  Even if your near the bottom don't count yourself out.

Tournament number 9 is in the books and it was another good one.  We had 27 players this week with a few late cancellations.  Will M was the first to leave when Jerry T sent him packing early in round 3.  Jerry must have had it out for the family because he then took out Christina M in second to last place in the 4th round.  Jeff J, Mat K and Blake M started accumulating chips in bunches by taking out 6 of the next ten.  We made it down to the final table late in the 8th round when Mat K eliminated Joy C in 11th place.  When the final table started Blake and Mat seemed to have about half the chips at the table.  They continued to add to their stacks by eliminating the first 3 players at the final table.  Blake took out Kelly M in 10th, Mat got Bob L in 9th and Blake then took out Scott C in 8th.  I manged to get a huge triple up from Mat and Blake when they both called my all in and I caught the nut flush taking me from about 3300 in chips to about 10,000.  Early in round 10 Mark L wast taken out in 7th by Karen D.  I took Mat K out in 6th making him this weeks bubble boy (no new golf driver for him this week).  Next out was Karen who was happy to have lasted into the first money spot after being short stacked for much of the final table.  Last weeks winner Steve N made another great showing this week holding on for a fourth place finish.  Darlene J had another great finish managing to hold out for a third place finish without having a single knockout all night.

When Blake and I got heads up he had a fairly significant chip lead and it looked like I was done, barring some very lucky cards.  They eventually came and I was able to even things up maybe even take a chip lead.  We had a great heads up battle trading the chip lead and momentum back and forth for quite awhile.  Blake did a great job whittling away at my chips when I went through a long period of terrible cards.  Just about the time I thought it was over I managed to get all in with my A,J and got a call from Blake with his A,10.  This put me in the chip lead for good.  I was able to finish it off when Blake moved all in with K,10 and I happened to look down and find aces.  Blake caught a king on the flop but nothing else.  Our heads up battle lasted almost 45 minutes and what seemed like at least 100 hands (thanks to Tom and Darlene for shuffling and dealing).  I become the third person, along with Gary and Jeff, to have two wins in a single season which had never even happened once in the prior seasons.

I'll have both the bounties on me next time as both the previous winner and points leader.  It looks like there is going to be a very tight race for the last couple of spots in the final tournament.  There is only about 40 points separating 17th and 23rd places and only 12 between 20th and 21st.  We play again on April 9th and it will be the last one before your lowest scores can start dropping if you have made every one.

Well another great tournament is over.  We had 25 players this week.  We made it into the third round before we lost our first player of the night Greg E.  He was followed soon after by Adam B.  Jeff J had the extra 4 point bounty on his head but was taken out by a non league player Darlene J.  Scott C had a nice evening with 3 hits and a trip to the final table but eventually was taken out in 7th by Gary R.  Yours truly was extremely short stacked most of the night but managed to make the final table.  I tried to avoid confrontation and back my way into a money spot but Gary R had different plans.  He took me out in sixth leaving me this weeks bubble boy, much to Matt F's delight considering that he didn't have many more chips than me.  Once he made the final money spot he was taken out by Christina M.  Darlene was next to go when Steve N took her out in fourth.  When Steve, Christina and Gary got to three handed Gary had an enourmous chip lead and I assumed I was going to have to put his ugly mug up on the website for a third time this season.  Steve and Christina managed to slowly but surely chip away at his stack and eventually Christina knocked him out in third.  That led to the shortest heads up battle of the season lasting exactly one hand.  Steves 10,10 held up against Christina's K,J and he got his firs GPL win.  Steve will have one of the bounties on his head next week and points leader Jeff J will have the other.

Also congratulations to Kelly M on her non league win at our Super Bowl party tournament.  She outlasted the other 8 and beat me heads up.  I wish the Steelers could have done the same but they'll be back next year.

Tournament #7 is in the books and it was our biggest one of the season.  We had the maximum 30 players for the first time.  Kevin H decided he didn't like crowds and exited first for the second tourney in a row.  We didn't lose another player for almost another hour until Scott C left in round four.  The pace certainly picked up as we lost four more before the end of the fourth round.  Mike S earned 4 bonus points when he sucked out  against me busted me out in 12 place.  The hitman of the night was certainly Will M who had an incredible 8 knockouts.  Jerry T had the misfortune of being this weeks bubble boy going out in 7th with Will's help.  Matt F was able to hold on to sixth place and pick up some cash.  Mike S was next to go in fifth followed by newcomer Blake M who finished fourth.  Amazingly that gave Will his fourth consecutive knockout and an amazing chip lead.

Will got three handed with Darlene J and Jeff J with virtually all the chips.  At one point Darlene was down to 500 and Jeff had about 1500 in chips and they were both all in against Will who had the remaining 43,000 chips.  Darlene went home in third and Jeff was able to double up and stay alive.  With a 10:1 deficit in chips when they got heads up Jeff basically made two plays, fold or all-in.  In the most amazing come back I've seen in our league. Jeff managed to avoid Will when he had big hands and tangle with him when he didn't.  After about 15 minutes of heads up Jeff completed the miracle come back and knocked Will out  Congratulations to Jeff on his second win of the season.  Of course as the current chip leader and previous winner both bounties will be on Jeff's head next time.

Well tournament number 6 is in the books and it was my personal favorite so far.  We had 28 players this week including 26 league members.  Kevin H was the first to go, heck I think the Ravens were still winning when Linda K busted him out.  The first of the special bounties was awarded to Don G when he took both Darlene J and Gary R out on the same hand.  Don earned the extra 2 points for taking out Gary the points leader coming into the week.  Tom J went out in eighth place as his pocket kings were cracked not once but twice in back to back hands.  Karen D got the bonus points for taking out Tom.  Matt F followed Tom out the door busting out in seventh and earning this weeks distinction as the bubble boy. Adam B made the money by finishing sixth followed by Kevin C's first tournament cash this season with his fifth place finish.  We played four handed for about 20 minutes before we finally lost Jeff J in fourth.  Jerry T soon followed in third leaving just Karen D and myself.  After seeing Karen repeatedly suck out with the worst hand all night I was a little nervous playing her heads up.  Luckily the good karma from the Steeler's awesome come from behind win stuck with me and I was able to win my first tournament of the season.

With this week's win I am also now the points leader meaning I will have both bounties on my head next time.  The next tournament is the 29th of January, hope to see everyone then.

Happy New Year to everyone.  Sorry for the slow posting on the results but the holidays and year end at work got in the way.  Tournament number five is in the books and it was another good one.  We had 28 players including a few first timers.  I almost managed to be the first player out two weeks in a row when first timer Simo H managed to cripple me early.  I had 9,9 and managed to get all of his chips in while he had A,7.  I was looking great when the flop brought a third 9 for me and an ace for Simo.  Unfortunately the board also brought an 8,6,10 so that Simo backed into a straight leaving me with only about 200 in chips.  Fortunately for me Christina M must have had some last minute shopping she remembered about because she decided to be the first to leave.  Mike S took her out and that started to turn into the theme for the night.  Mike took out 5 of the first 11 players of the night. 

Dave M ended up being the bubble boy for the night busting out in 7th place.  Jeff J took the last paying spot finishing sixth followed by the nights hitman Mike S.  Mat K was next to go followed by Dominic D.  Tom J and I had a great heads up match that lasted over 30 minutes.  The tournament finally ended when I got pocket aces and managed to beat Tom's pocket 10's.  Oh wait, Tom's picture is at the top not mine you say?  That can't be right unless of course he sucked out and caught his ten on the board and finished me by cracking my aces.  And of course that is exactly what happened.  Congratulations to Tom on his win.  Tom will have the extra bounty on him next tournament as well as Gary who continues to be the points leader.  The next game is January 15th, hope to see everyone there.