…Actually, I’m just the opposite. I went out middle, at level 6. Four PP’s (55,77,99,QQ). I hit one flop, never saw a turn all day, much less a river. Never played a loser through… until about 10 minutes ago. Never been so card dead. *cry,bitch,moan,walk*
Shawn Rice is nursing a short stack of about 7k, as we enter $400/$800+$75. We are at that pivotal point where all you can hear is “Seat Open on X”.
As I noted in a comment to a prior post, one player actually advanced with a single chip. That drive will suck. Another player advanced with ZERO, after coming in 2nd in a 3-way all-in. No word on whether he has to drive in to collect.
I still can’t get my hands on yesterday’s survivors. I’m packing it up and going home. The media table is now officially empty. (Again)
According to Craig’s list, the Winstar Thrusday chips are a hot property, as people are asking $3,000-$5,000 for the sold-out $2,100 seats. I’m curious as to how many of those folks are having any luck. Comments? Anybody? Personally, I’m not seeing any deals working and am thinking that there will be a lot of late comers who couldn’t flip their chip.
Thursday is starting up the TV crew is running about. I’ve requested Survivor updates for Wednesday and should have those later today. I would already have posted them, but the person with the goods told me that he didn’t want to walk over to the poker room and get it. He’s a nice enough guy, but when, oh when will Winstar figure out that there’s live “Beyond The Tent”. (Is that domain available?)
He defeated Houstonian Ray Henson, whom you may recall went deep in the 2007 WSOP main event — the last Texan standing, finishing in 12th place before being knocked out by, interestingly enough, Scotty Nguyen.
124 players bought in to this $5,000 NLHE event, including a handful of names and faces you may recognize from tables around North Texas and elsewhere:
TJ Cloutier, Richardson, 1st place — $241k
Ray Henson, Houston, 2nd place — $138k
Brant Hale, Norman, 3rd place — $72k
Gavin Smith, Las Vegas, 4th place — $42k
Noah Nodine, Norman, 5th place — $33k
Daniel Robertson, Alma, AR, 6th place — $27k
Gil George, Dallas, 7th place — $21k
Scotty Nguyen, Las Vegas, 8th place — $15k
Bill Edler, Las Vegas, 9th place — $12k
Ron in Plano writes in to voice his concern about the one thing that keeps him from enjoying his time at the tables in Oklahoma … where apparently the Chickasaw tent is anything but a sweat lodge these days:
winstar casino poker room is soooooooooo cold / i wear a turtleneck and a warm jacket when i play / dressing warm doesnt help if your hands are ice cold / complaining doesnt help either
Thanks for letting us know, Ron. This is especially troublesome considering that our plan to intimidate the competition on our next venture to the Great Poker North included wearing cutoff jeans and a wife-beater. Are you sure it’s not just you and your thin Texas blood?
It was a $200 buy-in (no rake) … 50 players total … making for a $10,000 prize pool. When they got down to the final table, the remaining players all decided to chop and finish up the tourney for the title and the trophy.
Not to take away from Joe’s accomplishment — his past successes at the table include taking second place in a freeroll at the Shoal Creek Saloon — but maybe the fact that a non-championship event in Oklahoma has a $1 million prize pool, and the Arizona State Championship paid out $250k for first place, will help persuade the people of Texas not to be pussies so small when it comes to state pride and poker. After all, that’s what the TCPA is working for.
Until then, big congrats to Joe, who as the world champion of Texas, is sure to be feared throughout the poker world.
Update on the Karridy vs. Big Robert music video challenge.
Tom heads out to the California State Poker Championship.
The resurgent popularity of douchebags?
Dan runnin’ bad and old men rollin’ bad in Oklahoma.
BTT improvements.
Who is Annette_15 and why wasn’t the WSOP Player of the Year at WSOP-Europe?
And if you missed it last week, click here for the Tom Schneider episode of Ante Up! Lots of real content on this show — too much to list, but you will delight in a German guy’s inquiring about Tom’s fondness for the Hammer and the most fascinating recount of a 7-stud Hi-Lo hand I’ve ever heard.
There seems to be a rash of donkeys putting themselves in holes around the country.(Photo: AP)
NOT THACKERVILLE, Okla.–Crap. Did I say that already? You can’t be a good poker player if you let going bust upset you too much … always sucks … but man, does it really suck to go bust after sunrise. Hurts even more when the winner of your final hand turns his cards up in disgust after seeing the turn and the river and says, dejectedly, “you got it,” when in fact you don’t.
So my experiment has come to an end. Brought $1,000 to play with, and finished down $837. I’d like to say I got average cards and played them below-average. But considering my results of late, I think I might have to admit that I was playing them full-on average for me.
To be good at poker you’re supposed to see the action just in terms of chips, not dollars. But I sometimes wonder if that’s 100 percent true. Because it is real money you’re playing with, and perhaps keeping that in mind can help you make better decisions. Regardless, as part of my punishment for 15 hours of poker sloth, here’s a list of what else I could’ve done with $837 besides hanging out on an Oklahoma Indian Reservation with a bunch of mostly Asian guys not getting any sleep:
Numbers Game
An HD Tivo and Nintendo Wii (with plenty leftover for service and games)
Let’s not talk about me (and how turning the straight with the second-nuts flush draw didn’t get there) … no no, there’s far more excitement going on in Scottsdale, as our good friends in the Arizona Posse are making quite a showing online this weekend.
Big Robert won a 300-player multi on Full Tilt last night–paid about $7,000–and tonight he’s sweating Pat Poels and Ryan Hughes, who are both at two different WCOOP final tables on PokerStars.
Poels is chip leader with seven left in 2-7 Triple Draw, and Hughes is sitting solid in Pot Limit Omaha (6-max). Both are playing for big five-figure payouts … actually Poels Hughes is already there.
Meanwhile, I’m deciding whether or not to drive home … or to Arizona.
I’ve got a plan in place — a test really — and am ready to embark. I’ve got a specified wad of cash, two packs of cigarettes and some breath mints in my pockets, a change of shirt in the bag, and am fixin’ to hit the tables. We’re going to see how much I can return home with by the time most of you are reading this Monday morning.
First stop: a $225 “deep stacks” tourney somewhere in “Mexico.” 7,500 starting chips and 30 minute levels. Should be fun.
If I bust out early I will probably play some cash in the nearest 1/2 game. If I last long enough that I need a little break before action resumes, I am headed to Oklahoma — to WinStar, to try a little 2/5 no-limit hold’em. Not sure what the weekend tournament scene is like there, but that’s part of what I’m looking to go find out.
Will try to update as I go along, but as always, that is often internet-dependent … so I make no promises there.
I’ve thought this all through clearly, thoroughly, and rationally. Worst case scenario I am home early this evening and kicking myself while doing real-world work to recoup my losses. Best case scenario I’ll come home significantly more phizzat having finished off the extra-pokery weekend with a late-Sunday night amateur victory at the Lodge … where I hear the (tournament) action is still good. It will be a test of discipline, focus, and fortitude. Wish me luck!
THACKERVILLE, Okla.–TJ Cloutier made a raise, and Vikram Vijay folded 2-7o face-up. Greg Raymer, announcing the action, says, “Folding the Hammer.” I think I was the only one cheering on the inside … not for the fold, but for the Raymer recognition. (Otis must have taught him well.)
On the very next hand, they got it all-in … Cloutier had A-J, an Vijay called with 3-3. An ace came on the flop … no straight or flush draw on the turn … and congratulations to the New Yorker-cum-Oklahoman Vikram Vijay, who wins the 3rd annual Red River Roundup with a red 3 on the river.
THACKERVILLE, Okla.–Still anybody’s game in the WinStar tourney. Though in the parking lot, the Okies seem to be mounting a comeback. Our unscientific license-plate spot-check today:
THACKERVILLE, Okla.–Here’s the complete, unofficial starting field for today and their chip counts. All three Day 1s finished almost at the same time. Yesterday’s group got seven minutes into the next blind level, so they will roll back to one level earlier, starting where the previous Day 1s left off. Not sure where all the players are from, but anyone want to place a wager that the winner of the biggest Oklahoma tourney of the year will be won by a Texan?
Ladd Gibke 152,000
Brian Horton 149,500
Allen Striegler 140,000
Kenneth Blanton 131,000
Abteen Vaziri 126,400
Mike Dickson 116,000
Jeremy Vaughn 106,700
Vikram Vijay 105,700
Michael Brown 102,600
Stephen Goodrich 98,800
Hand-for-hand play at the bubble to see who will compete for the big money on Sunday at the WinStar Casino’s signature annual event.
THACKERVILLE, Okla.–Below is the list of Day 1-Day 1 Day 2 qualifiers. Names of those who advanced yesterday aren’t yet available, nor is any info on the 41 39 remaining players today. But hey, no sweat … after all, the entire prize pool for this $1 million tourney was just $50k two years ago … so a lot of this is new to the people running the show here, and I gotta say, speaking as a tournament directorial wonk guy who likes to tell people they are doing things wrong, they seem to be doing a really good job. They may not have figured out whether or not they’re gonna let media take pictures — seriously, dudes, it’s cool … players like it … just be sure to remind us “no flash” — but they’ve for the most part got a smooth-running show going on here, with a player-friendly blind structure to boot. Priorities, right?
(Meanwhile, while the lone person sitting at an unwatched table littered with stray media/player/staff badges, I am getting a lot of curious looks, along with some friendly “hello’s” from WinStar employees moving in a bit closer to size me up. Like why on earth would someone be typing so vigorously at a poker tournament!?! Is that a computer?)
We’ll see if we can’t have a list of the entire field of those who have made the money and are fighting for the $230k first prize up before cards go in the air tomorrow. In the meantime, we know that these 33 people will be there:
THACKERVILLE, Okla.–Woo-hoo, it works! Yep, it took some sore thumbs and a little extra money to Cingular to make things happen, but I am blogcasting semi-live from my laptop in the WinStar poker room. Still have a few kinks to deal with … for example, it’s hard to find a power outlet in this giant tent. (Quick aside … the WSOP might want to consult with the Chickasaws when it comes to building super-big, functional, well air-conditioned poker tents.) Anyhow, it’s a bit longer of a walk to the WinStar casino entrance on a Saturday evening. Our unscientific license-plate spot-check of the parking-lot action north of the Red River:
They’re getting near the bubble in Day 3-Day 1 of the Red River Roundup. Forty-six players remain, and today they’re playing down to 34. Greg Raymer and Kido Pham both went out early. No other “big names” remain … but we’re about to take a walk on the other side of the ropes to see if we don’t recognize anyone.
UPDATE: Nope, hardly recognize a remaining soul. Across the way in the cash games, however, is another story, where dealers and players alike look familiar … almost like an old higher-stakes Rounder Club tourney at the old P-room! I’m sure there are some good players left in the field, it will just take us a bit to learn who they are. (And hey, one of these days, the Chickasaws may even let us take pictures!)
Lodge and Rounder Club alum Chuck Pettigrew has been eliminated relatively early in Day 3-Day 1 of the Red River Roundup at Winstar. I didn’t even get to see him play, so I am sure he is wondering if he is going to get the $100 for the 8 percent of him I bought. Sure, he has delivered already on his 8 percent of $0 … but from what I have learned from so many “big name” pros out there, when you make these sorts of deals, you see, you don’t really have to pay … at least not right away. Don’t get me wrong, Chuck, had you made it into the money, or even built up a healthy chip stack, I’d be right by your side cheering you on, all the way to the cashier’s cage!
Better luck next time, sucker.
UPDATE: Chuck did have the pleasure of getting seated next to Kido Pham. That was presumably fun … at least for a few hours.
That’s really all there is to it. He got some chips and then lost them. “You gotta win your races,” he said.
UPDATE: They are down to about 100 players, and Merkow, Randack, and Sanbob all appear to be out, too. Vandy Krouch is still alive but nursing a tiny stack.
One player still alive with about 20k I know I know but I can’t seem to place his name. He keeps saying, “Hi Dan,” when I walk by and asks me how “our guys” are doing.
“Dude, you’re the last man standing. Dude.”
Feel semi-assy for not knowing. And though I’m sure he’ll be only minorly bummed when he doesn’t see his name on the internet, I don’t want to disturb his game by saying, “Sorry, man … you look familiar, but no clue about your name … I used to smoke a lot of pot.”
For the record, by the way, it’s really tough to live-blog without the internet!
UPDATE: La Sengphat and her “honey” DC both busted out early today. Flopping two-pair to a set repeatedly can do that to you. Dallas poker seems to be getting its ass KICKED today!
THACKERVILLE, Okla.–I don’t usually blog from the bathroom, but that happens to be where I am sitting right now … so I figured I’d share with you what I am reading:
(from top to bottom)
Asians have tiny balls
Takes one to know one
KKK
[picture of tiny penis]
KKK
J.A.W. [hearts] O.V.M.
White people have big small dicks
Hitler wuz here
KKK
Fuck y NiggzersCrackers Pacific Islanders
THACKERVILLE, Okla.–Some chip counts from the Red River Roundup, Day 2-Day 1:
TBR - 10k
Gregg Merkow - 20k
Webber Kang - 3500
Robert “Sanbob” Sanchez - 3k
Jerry Randack - 2500
UPDATE: Webber is out. Now playing 5/10 nlh.
Spot-check of license plates on my walk from the parking lot:
Texas - 92
Oklahoma - 9
Kansas - 1
In the cash room:
Omaha games running - 2/5 and 5/10 PLO
Full 5/10 NLH tables - 4
Number of players in the smoke room playing for their very first time - 2
Amount one of these players is up playing 4/8 - $840
THACKERVILLE, Okla.–No internet north of the Red River, or at least not at WinStar, where the first of three Day 1s in the $1 million NLH tourney concluded shortly before midnight yesterday. We’ll try to keep you posted from now through the final table, but can only promise so much with two-thumb typing.
Red River Roundup, Day 1 report:
- Event is sold out. 1,000 players. Double last year’s field.
- 333 played yesterday, of which 33 remain and will convene on the other side of the bubble on Sunday.
- Josh Evans and TJ Cloutier both advanced.
- So did Troy “Darling” Phillips. (Go Batfaces!)
- Marco Palacios went out near thw bubble.
- Avg. stack is 50k. Chip leader has about 150k.
- Media coverage is kinda new to WinStar. They haven’t figured out yet whether or not to allow photos.
- New poker room here is very nice.
Day 2-Day 1 has gotten underway. Favorites include Kido Pham and Randy “The Big Randy” Brown. Greg Raymer supposedly plays tomorrow.
The former Rev. Good Chuck in Fort Worth wants to play in the $1,000 Red River Roundup main event, being put on by the mighty-noble-legendary Winstar tribe of Thackerville, OK. We all know he’s a pretty good player in few-hundred dollar tournaments, so he’s looking to try his hand at something a little bigger.
But he also wants to do it with a little backing love. He has a potential investor, and he’s trying to figure out the best, most sensible deal for both parties. His initial thought is to allow the backer 30 percent for $500, or 50 percent for $800. As you know, we learned a lot about backing deals during the WSOP, specifically that the “you buy me in and get your money back + 50 percent” isn’t necessarily the standard. So anyone got any thoughts on this?
Julian in Dallas writes in with a trip report from his most recent poker activity:
On Friday night, June 1, 2007, the Dallas Vice Unit and Northwest Division Patrol officers executed a Search Warrant at:
“Live Straddle”
7141 Envoy Ct.
28 citations for gambling
5 arrests gambling promotion M/A
seized:
4 poker tables,
poker chips,
playing cards, computer equipment, assorted paperwork, $4,599.00 cash
Deputy Chief J Bernal
Narcotics Division
Dallas Police Department
Umm, I guess $4,600 is a nice score … but really Deputy Chief, if you keep on being such a table bully, it won’t be long before you have no one to play with. I mean you probably feel like you’re winning … but really, check your bankroll … are you?
From what I hear, you and your players are not allowed in Oklahoma … and I have a feeling that’s where most of the Dallas action is headed, because, frankly, people are troubled by the way you guys play. Not trying to be judgmental or anything, I just suspect that once you have no more poker to contend with … c’mon, we both know your past … you’re gonna get back into drugs, aren’t you.
The Texas legislative session is coming to a close, and save for the chance of hitting a miracle half-outer on the river, the Texas Poker Act is dead. Bummer. But better luck next time, right? And until then, I guess it’s off to Oklahoma we go!
Good article in the DMN about how Dallas essentially got its butt kicked on many issues that might matter to this city. What poker people might also find interesting is discussion of House Speaker Tom Craddick. He, of course, was essentially the guy who killed the poker bill. I mean he didn’t kill-kill it — officially he declared his neutrality — but he had the power to put it somewhere better on the calendar and chose to go the other way. Craddick, followers of Texas politics may know, has some hot water of his own to deal with right now — as a lot of people within the Republican Party want to replace him.
Mr. Craddick is in a pitched battle to retain his post as speaker. Three Republicans who have signaled their intent to replace him are from North Texas: Reps. Jim Pitts of Waxahachie, Fred Hill of Richardson and Brian McCall of Plano.
I don’t know much about Fred Hill. But Jim Pitts … in addition to advocating the execution of highly problematic pre-teens, was part of the minority declaring intent to vote against our beloved HB 3186. And lest you think nepotism abounds in Texas politics … this despite the fact that his brother and nephew, John and John Jr., were the chief lobbyists on legal poker’s behalf.
As for Brian McCall, despite his being one of the more liberal Republicans in the state … well … Pokeratizens know all too well that we’ve got some work to do in terms of endearing him to our cause.
Good story in today’s DMN about the VFW poker bust, the Texas Poker Act, and police frustration with the issue of illegal Texas Hold’em games in North Texas. No mention of the armed robberies that police don’t/can’t handle … and the person who accuses poker players of throwing bottles in her yard doesn’t give her name, which is too bad. I wasn’t aware of any poker players who have ever left poker rooms carrying beer bottles … in fact, I am so confident that these sorts of nuisance crimes from poker players are so infrequent that I would like to volunteer Pokerati’s services to clean up whatever mess poker players do leave in any particular residential neighborhood. I’m being serious. But we can’t help you or any accuser who isn’t willing to give their names/meet eye-to-eye.
That’s the thing with the anti-poker forces, whatever and wherever they may be … they don’t know what they are talking about.
So how badly does the historic great nation of the legendary WinStar tribe want Dallas poker’s money? “Lupita” in Dallas writes in to remind us that tomorrow is the grand opening of the new poker room in the great-big-tent across the river:
I’ll definitely tell [friendly Dallas poker guy] you said hi. By the way, have you been to the new poker room at Winstar yet? If you haven’t — it is surprisingly nice. Wood paneling, multi-colored carpet, its own grill — and very quiet, nothing but the sound of riffling chips. And HUGE! 19,000 sq. ft. and (I think) 46 tables. Tomorrow is their official grand opening — they’re splashing the pot of a random table every 1/2 hour with $500 in chips, giving away a seat to the WSOP, giving away (I think) 6 seats to the Red River Shootout in August, and also giving away a black Infiniti. But you probably already know all this. Anyway, I’m headed up tomorrow morning — hoping to get lucky and win one or two of those splash pots — and any of those other prizes wouldn’t be bad either.
I’ve only played in the new room once . . . when I asked for the 2/5 game, I was suprised to be led to a separate room with six tables in it at the front of the poker room. After I’d played a few hands, I finally asked the dealer why we were in a separate room. I was told, “This is the high limit room, ma’am.” I had to laugh . . . only in Oklahoma would a 2/5 game be included in the “high limit room.” But I tell ya, every time I left the room to go to the bathroom, I felt like Jennifer-Freakin’-Harman strolling outta there . . .
At any rate, you really should see the new poker room . . . don’t laugh, but it sort of reminds me of the Venetian in Vegas (the wood paneling). It’s really very nice.
Thanks, Lupe, for the info. And if anyone can sneak some pictures with a cell-phone cam … that would be really cool.
Therese in Las Vegas Fairview writes in with her own report on the Choctaw Casino in Durant, OK:
Dear Dan,
I am so happy going to Oklahoma instead Louisana. I paid the $25 for the trip. One hour on the bus. Better than 4 or 5 hours. They gave me $20 cash & the Buffet $9 was free. Lots of machines. Very friendly. In an half hour played $10, $40 ahead. Of course I couldn’t stop. I could, but I couldn’t find the Bingo room. I did asked & the person didn’t know. Finally later I asked at the lobby, it was in another building. Next time (Mar. 3 another trip) I’ll play Bingo. I think I lost about $10. I’ll be able to go with Uncle Ray & Aunt Sue or Aunt Marcie & Uncle Bob.
Love, Grandma
Sounds like you had a fun trip, Grandma, despite the negative bankroll impact. Thanks for letting us know. I’ll mark my calendar for March 3, in case you need a ride. And don’t forget … Bingorati! … just sayin’ … I know people who can hook you up.
Jackie in Austin sends along info about a holiday tournament (in Oklahoma, I think) that reminds us little is sacred in poker … but hey, should that surprise us when we play a game where successfully raping your friends is considered a good thing? (That’s right, bitches.)
That, or it means that poker is simply extremely progressive and concerned with the social issues that the good Dr. Martin Luther King brought to the fore.
Click here to see what we’re talking about.
But either way, mad props to Poker for making this forthcoming celebration not just for black people any more.
Tim in Plano writes in with an Oklahoma bustout story that begs the question, should it ever be possible to lay down Kings pre-flop when the Aces push on the third raise?
Oh, and he also lets us know that Choctaw (in Durant, OK) is now running some good $5/$10 Omaha (and $1/$2 NLO?):
—–Original Message—–
From: Tim B
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 2:32 AM
To: danm
Subject: a sad poker tale of woe
first, let me describe the situation:
friday night, 9:30pm. jonesing for poker, i decide to meet some friends up at choctaw in durant. make the hour-ish drive, talk to the brush, and get on the board for some $1/$2 NL action. about 10 minutes later, im seated at a full table of 9 and buy in for the max ($200). about 4 short stacks (under $100) all directly to my left, 2 middling stacks ($150-$250) directly to my right, and two deep stacks ($500-ish and $600-ish) across from me. all things considered, a pretty favorable distribution.
i take my first hand from two off the button. im planning on being pretty conservative for the first several orbits while i get a feel for the opposition. i take my first hand two off the button, have crap, muck. repeat 7 more times…
then, the train-wreck:
8th hand. im on the cutoff. UTG limps, UTG-1 (with roughly $500) makes it $12 straight. this is the third hand he has raised to $12 pre-flop, nearly half of the hands ive seen so far. folds to me. i squeeze my cards and find two red kings. woo hoo! i kick it up to $35 to go. folds around to the original raiser, who announces “all in”.
Factoring in everything -- from general comfort and quality of dealers to tourney starting stacks and blind structures at various stakes -- what is your favorite best all-around poker room in Las Vegas?
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THACKERVILLE, Okla.–Still anybody’s game in the WinStar tourney. Though in the parking lot, the Okies seem to be mounting a comeback. Our unscientific license-plate spot-check today:
Tim in Plano writes in with an Oklahoma bustout story that begs the question, should it ever be possible to lay down Kings pre-flop when the Aces push on the third raise?
