White Elephant

"It's not how deep you fish, but how you wiggle your worm." - Jim Congdon

I don't remember having this much fun playing poker. I don't know that any one person was really responsible for the idea, but I'm sure glad we did it. 10 players came to the first edition (hopefully to become an annual tradition) of the Pablosplace White Elephant Christmas - Poker style. For those that read this and aren't familiar with the White Elephant gift exchange, each player brought a gift with a maximum expenditure of $5, wrapped (well, save Andrew who eventually used a paper towel and tape to finish his wrapping after much encouragement). Round 1 began, and the action was fast and furious from the get go. Nobody seemed to mind much getting bounced from the game, because loosing meant; you get to open a gift.

The idea was, the first person out opened one of the wrapped gifts. The second person out had the option of either stealing the opened gift, or opening a new unopened gift. The third person has the option now of stealing two gifts, or opening a new one, and so on and so on until all gifts are open. A couple of rules, 1) No direct steal backs. If you're item is taken by someone, you cannot immediately take the item back. 2) An item can only be stolen a maximum of 3 times. We also made a rule that the person who won would get the opportunity to steal any gift, regardless of the number of previous steals, and for the victory, had the option of opening the final gift, and then steal something else that they'd rather have if desired.

Needless to say, it was a blast. Notable gifts were definitely the white fur female coat that was opened by Tim, a singing Barney doll that danced and sang to 50 cent, and the 1995 Braves video encapsulating the teams world series run, just to name a few. It was an awesome game that lasted about an hour and a half. Andrew came in first, or last as the present opening process shook down. But with 1000 chips on the table, and presents galore, it was a whole lot of fun.

Round two was for the money. Becky couldn't stay unfortunately, so we played 9 handed. Action definitely slowed. Eventually, after being 5 handed for quite some time, Brian busted, followed by Tay. Mike McAnn, who made his first appearance to Pablosplace since the Encino game, finished in the money in third place, and got his entry back. Tim finished runner-up to Andrew, who won $10-$30 respectively.

I'm hoping to make this a regular tradition every year. We had some discussion about how to celebrate Seven-Deuce day. It's premature, for certain, as it isn't until July, but the thought is that we should all play in a local tournament somewhere. The Bike and Hollywood Park have been thrown out in suggestion. I guess the basic idea is to have everyone reserve the date on the calendar so that we can get the whole crew down to play on July 2nd. I think it should be a $30 to $100 investment depending on where we play, the number of add-ons, re-buys, entry fee, etc. Personally, I'd like to avoid a tournament with anything that has any add-ons or re-buys. But I'm game for whatever as long as we're playing.

Thanks to Jen, Mike, Tim, Andrew, Jordan, Brian, Tay, Becky, and Traci for making the game at Pablosplace such a success.

Next week looks OK for now. See you then. P

All good things must come to an end.

Including (but not limited to) the long absence from posts. Just haven't really felt motivated to do anything lately. Even type about it. I've been cold for a while now, and haven't really wanted to write about it. This has however benefited really everyone that's played here lately. Not to take anything away from Jordan, Andrew, and Tim, who have played really well lately. But I've felt lousy, and my play has been even worse.

Friday night was more luck than anything else. 6 players, including a new face (thanks Jen for coming, and please don't make it your last visit). The first one out was Andrew. Feeling under the weather, about 8 hands in, he got mixed up in a big pot with Jordan. Jordan flopped trip 5's, and Andrew turned trip 3's. First to act, Andrew raised Jordan all in, and Jordan called to reveal his higher set. We played 5 handed for a while. Jen, Traci, and I, then re-bought to infuse more chips into the game. Then one by one we all fell. Jordan ended up doubling Tim (twice), and eventually, Tim and I were left heads up. I would say that he had a slight lead lead, maybe 5 to 4. Two big hands gave him an 8 to 1 lead, and eventually he finished the deal when I moved for my last 80 with Q-6 of spades. The flop produced a 6, and the river another 6. But as it turns out, an Ace is better than a Q, and I finished second.

Next week we look to be a go. Feel free to bug me to update this more regularly.

Cheers, P

7 Players

We had one new addition, and one long time return. Two great big thanks to Josh, one for defending our country as an active member of the Marine Corps, and two for his first visit to pablosplace. And thanks to Dustin who we hadn't seen grace the game in far too long. Both players played very well tonight. And then thanks again to all the regulars who also made returns.

It was a while before the first elimination. Andrew nursed a short stack until about 10:30 when I caught him having pushed all in several times. He finally made a move with A-3 spades. I called his last 24 with K-Q of clubs. The board came Jc-10c-blank, giving me straight flush draws, straight draws, and flush draws, as well as the possibility to take it on any K or Q. The turn blanked as well, but the river was 9, and Andrew was the next to go when I made my straight.

Traci went out next when she moved all in pre-flop for her last 60 from the small blind. I had raised from 4 to 12, so it was a big raise. Action folded around to me, and after going into the tank for a couple of minutes, I called with A-Q. She turned over 7-2. The Q on the turn left her drawing dead to the river, and she was out in 6th.

Tim was third out, busted by Josh. He had some really tough beats tonight, having Aces cracked twice, and then doubling a few times on some really great flush draws. Finally, he moved all-in short stacked with A-7 hearts, to be called and taken down by Josh in 5th.

4 handed, I then was able to dwindle chips most of the way with my large stack. Dustin went out next trying to push me off a hand with J-5, but I made the call with J-10. He failed to improve and went out in 4th position.

Three handed, Josh was the next to go, as he moved all-in on a board of Q-7-8-3, but his pair was behind my Q, and he didn't improve on the river.

Heads up with Peter, I began with a 6 to 1 chip lead. We played about a dozen hands. Peter made his move three times, and the third, I caught him when I had pocket 10's He had an Ace, but failed to spike it on the board and I took down first place.

Next week looks fine for right now. Catch you then. Cheers, P

Thank goodness for Re-Buys

5 players on Friday, and Jordan was catching cards in round 1 like you wouldn't believe.

I was actually the first to go out in round one. Holding pocket 9's, the flop came out Kd-9d-Jh. I raised, Jordan pushed all-in with a bigger stack, I called with trip 9's. Jordan fliped over pocket K's, and I was done. But a re-buy put me back in it. Tim was the next to go, and then he re-bought, and then went out again. Traci then went out, and then re-bought, and then went out again. Then Andrew, nursing the small stack for some time, made a couple of double ups, stole some really decent blinds, and finally busted. Heads up, Jordan had me at a 9 to 1 chip advantage. I made a small comeback getting back to a 2 to 1 at one point but Jordan took down three consecutive pots to win, finally busting me on an all-in pre-flop that I called with A-6 of clubs. He turned over pocket J's, and I never caught up.

In round two, I pretty much controlled the tempo from the get-go. Andrew eliminated Jordan first, and then Tim went out second. Andrew and I's heads-up match didn't last very long, as I caught a miracle card on the river to make a straight. Pot committed, Andrew called my all-in with top pair (leading the entire way and calling each of my bets to push him out). I felt dirty.

Next week looks ok again. See you then.

Friday Night Quads

Five players on Friday. And I have to say, I really do feel for Traci, who lost to quad 5's, not once but twice.

First time around, I was holding 6-5, when the flop came out 5-5-5. I checked the flop from UTG, Traci checked back. The turn came up with a Q, and I checked, and Traci led out with 8, and I called. The turn blanked, and I led out with 12, and it was called by Traci leaving her with about 30 or so chips. It was tough as she showed pocket J's, but the full house wasn't as good as the quad 5's.

The second big hand came and delivered the blow to both Traci and I. Sitting on pocket K's, and a board of J-10-5, Jordan moved all in, was called by Traci, and then by me. Traci turned over J-10 for two pair, I flipped my K's, and Jordan flipped over pocket 5's for the lead. Having us both covered, the river came up with the 4th 5, and both Traci and I were gone.

I went out first in round two, and Andrew and Tim played an hour long heads up before Tim came out on top.

All looks well for next week.

Friday....back to the regs

We had 5 players on Friday night. Regulars Tim, Jordan, Andrew, and Traci.

Short version, I took down round one, nursing a short stack until midway. Tim ended up taking the $5 second prize.

For round 2, Traci bounced me first. On a board of A-J-blank, Andrew led out large, and it was called by me and Traci. The board blanked again on the turn, and we all checked around. The final card helped no-one, and Andrew moved all-in. I called, Andrew having me covered, and then Traci called. I had A-K, Andrew pocket K's, but Traci took the pot with two pair A-J's. That stack carried her to the final two, where eventually Jordan took her heads up.

More fun this Friday, as I think that we should be a go. I'll let you know if anything changes. Cheers, P

Poker is a go.....

for this Friday. See you there. P