Friday, March 30, 2007

Friday Night Results - 3/30/07

We had four players tonight, and played two rounds. It was a good night for me taking home both pots, $20 each.

In round one, Christian was the first to go, and Tim shortly after. Heads up was with Andrew, and I'm so tired right now, I don't remember what the winning hand was. The major hand came when Andrew laid down top pair after I re-raised him all-in with an under pair. But I had him covered and he couldn't make the call. After that, it was only a matter of time.

In round two, Christian went out again, and then Andrew this time. I had pocket Kings and the flop came out with Two clubs, one of which was an ace. The turn was another club and I raised all-in. Andrew laid down A-10, which would have crippled me. Instead, I got really healthy. I was a 3 to1 chip lead heading into heads up against Tim and took the first 3 small pots. I was dealt pocket Kings again and called the big blind. Tim raised, and I re-raised all-in. Tim called with pocket 4's and the board was no help.

For next week, there will be no poker. I'll be attending a 5 year old birthday party for Nikki at Build-A-Bear workshop at the Northridge mall. The following Friday will also be a no-go at my place as I'll be at Kendall and Tim's wedding in Mexico.

So our target is 3 weeks. Also, a reminder that tomorrow night is at the Mark Erik's Salon in Northridge at the corner of Devonshire and Reseda. There is a $25 buy in with multiple re-buys for the charity tournament. It should be fun. Christian is the only one who committed with me. Traci is a firm maybe. We'll see. Hopefully we can pull a few more from our group.

I'll send updates to the blog after tomorrow nights tournament, but for now, I'm going to bed $30 heavier in the wallet. Cheers - P

Monday, March 26, 2007

Bachelor Party Extravaganza

WOW! What a weekend. Tim, let me first start out by thanking you for getting married, and giving us permission to party. Not that we really needed the permission to do so, but an excuse is always helpful. It was a freaking blast. We stayed the night at a hotel in the Santa Ynez/Solvang area and stopped at AJ something-or-another for diner (excellent steaks and awesome boot pictures). Then went back to the hotel for some poker.

I was the first one out, when I flopped a set of aces with my A-7. I raised post flop to 20 when the flop came up A-8-A. Trevor re-raised me, prompting Andrew to fold. I re-raised all-in and Trevor called with A-8. That took me out. I tried watching Star Wars but I’d had too much beer and went in to go to sleep because we’d be up early the next morning. Rumor has it that Andrew ended up on top that night.

We had six players from our group enter the $20,000 No Limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament in Santa Ynez at the Chumash Casino. The entry fee was $125, and they limited the number of players to their maximum capacity of 154. They also ended up with 14 standby players that also got into the tournament after early exits, so the field was capped at 168.

The tournament registration began at 7AM sharp, with those that were playing at tables getting first dibs on entry. We got there a little after 6:15, and I decided to sit down at the 2-4 limit table to guarantee a spot. My first hand dealt me 9-8 Suited, and I made a full house, almost doubling my chip stack. The second hand was A-K suited, I made a nut flush with someone else holding trips. Another almost double up. These two hands alone almost paid for my tournament.

After registering, we all got Pancakes at Paula’s Pancake House in Solvang. If you ever go, get the Danish Pancakes. They are INSANE and OH so good. We headed back to the hotel to check out and shower and change. We played some poker for an hour or so as well. The tournament didn’t start until 10:15.

Each of us were sitting at different tables. Jordan was the first to exit about an hour into the tournament. His set of 8’s were out kicked. Tim and Andrew went out about the same time about a half hour later. Andrew had his aces cracked by someone hitting a straight. Tim got bounced calling an all-in bet that had him covered with K-Q suited. When the guy turned over A-10, trouble was his. The flop produced a 10, and the river a case Ace. That ended his tournament.

Brian did surprisingly well lasting until the field dropped to about 60 or so. Since we taught him how to play the night before, this may have been the performance of the day. O.K. it was really Trevor, but I’m really proud of this one too.

The field narrowed to 40 and the first break came at 1 PM. Trevor and I were still in it, and both of us had dwindling chip stacks. I heard that at one point Trevor tripled up, although I have no idea what he had. I doubled up when some one called my AK suited with A-9. That gave me 30K, which dwindled over time. With 21 left, I was left with about 12K and pushed all in with KQ of hearts, and was called by A-K off suit. That was the end for me. But it allowed me to get into the money where I finished in 21st place and received $200.

But the real story of the day was Trevor. With 16 people left, Trevor was dealt Aces, and called the big blind (5K). The big blind raised all in, and Trevor had him. That doubled him up to a healthy 40K chip stack. Right after that, two people were eliminated on the same hand narrowing the field to 14. 40 Minutes later, we were down to 12, and Trevor’s chip stack was dwindling. With 11 players left, and Trevor’s chip stack getting low, someone pushed all-in pre-flop, and Trevor called with A-J of clubs. When the guy turned over A-8 off suit, I thought we were in great shape. But alas, the flop produced an 8-blank-blank. The turn and river were no help, and Trevor was the last person out prior to the final table. He took home a $275 prize.

It was an amazing couple of days, with a lot of fun. Sorry to those that weren’t able to make it. There were a lot of laughs and an AWESOME hot tub (it must have been 120 degrees). Good times.

For this week, I keep hearing that we should play both on Friday and on Saturday. I’m cool with that. So we’ll plan on Friday night at my place as usual, and then Saturday is the Tournament at the Mark Erick’s Salon in Northridge.

My place is the usual $5 buy in, and Mark Erick’s Salon is $25 with multiple re-buys.

Thanks again to all the boys that rolled up in our little miss sunshine van, Tim, Trevor, Brian, Andrew. It was an awesome trip. And to Jordan who had a late night at work on Saturday and still managed to make the trip up. My sincere thanks. It was the most fun that I’ve had in a weekend in a while.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

This Friday

Is a no-go. We will be taking full advantage of the fact that Tim is getting married, and using this for a single-guys party, otherwise known as a bachelor party. As a result, no poker this Friday.

For next Friday, I'm thinking that we may fore-go pablosplace in favor of the Tournament at the Mark Erik's Salon in Northridge. I talked to Shannon today, and she still didn't have all of the details. Right now, what I know is that it is a $25 buy-in, and that the tournament is for charity. So most likely, there will be re-buys, and ad-ons at some point as the idea is to raise cash for the charity. But its a good cause. I'll post more as I know more, but this may be the alternative to Friday Night Poker next week.

Friday, March 9, 2007

Friday Results

Tim goes from a no-go, to a "I'll be there late," to a winner of 2 out of 3 games. We were 5 handed to start tonight. Jordan was first to bounce, as Tim caught a lucky ten on the river to get trips after Jordan had pushed all in with queens. The extra chips made him the favorite. Traci knocked me out, and then Andrew lasted for some time after that.

In game two, Tim dominated again and took home another $15 pot.

In the third game, Andrew finally caught cards and took home enough to break even for the night.

Also, for those that missed tonight, you missed a Girl Scout Cookie opporunity.

Remember, next week is off as I'll be headed up to San Francisco, but if you're interested Tim's got a game going on Friday's at the Bicycle Casino (I think that it's in Commerce) at noon. Something like a $40 buy in. I don't know much else, but it's an option to Friday Night.

On the 23rd, we're also not playing because of Tim's Weekend Extravaganza. He doesn't know all the details yet, so we'll continue to keep him in the dark a little. (THE ZOO BABY!!!!!!!)

And finally, the 30th is looking like the $25 tournament at the Mark Erick Salon in Northridge. More details to follow as I get them (Come on Shannon - give a guy a heads up). That's it for this week.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Tomorrow Night

We're on for tomorrow night. I have 6 confirmed players, with an upside of a few more maybes. I'll see you all at my place at 8 as usual.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Friday, March 2

We had 5 players tonight, and only played one game. I have to say, it was one of the best played rounds of poker in a long time. We started at 8:30 and ran until 12:30. 4 hours of poker.

In the end, Tim came out on top winning the $20 pot. I thought that he was going to beat me when the flop came up Q-3-6. I flopped a pair of 3's, and checked to Tim, who checked as well. The river came up another 6 and I pushed all in. Tim then folded a Queen. A narrow escape.

A few hands later, I pushed All-In with 10-7 when the flop came up K-7-4. Tim called with K-10 and it was all over.

Christian was down to 16 chips at one point and came back to take the chip lead for a while. And I had dwindled down to 17 chips before a triple up got me back in it.

I guess that it just goes to show that all you need is a chip and a chair.

We should be ok for next Friday. I already have commitments from 5 with a couple of probably's, so it should be a good turnout.

We're a definate no-go on the 16th and a no go on the 24th, and most likely the 30th, so next week is THE week to get in (unless you're following us to the other tournament).

Thanks to everyone who played, Tim, Christian, Kendall, and Traci. It was a blast as always.

Friday, March 2, 2007

Poker Tournament

So today I'm getting my haircut, and casual conversation turns into a poker tournament.

It turns out, the Mark Eriks Salon, on Reseda and Devonshire is hosting a poker tournament on Saturday, March 31st. I don't have many details just yet, but for anyone interested, save the date. We may fore-go the Friday night deal and simply roll it over to here on Saturday Night. Tentative information has the buy-in at only $25, and they're looking at 6 tables, which could mean up to 60 people, maybe more.

Anyway, I'll get out more when I know more as we get closer to the event. But for right now, save the date.

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Lots of good Feedback thus far.

So far, everyone's as chipper about this as I am. I'd love to be able to improve it though. Any suggestions that you might have will definately be taken into consideration. I'd love to make this the centralized site for Poker in Granada Hills, neigh the Western Hemisphere. OK, if just the regulars come by from time to time I'll smile.

Seriously, let me know what you think, and I'll see what I can do to improve.

Also, we've only got 3 confirmed for this Friday, but a couple more probably's. See you guys on Friday at pablosplace.