Sunday, October 30, 2005

Sengar Rolled Over the HA

Sengar just simply rolled over the 32 entrant field in the Holdem Affair tonight. Hemi Henry gave him a very good challenge in the heads up and Tai pan took the third place money.

It was a full two hours into the event when the final table was seated. Sengar had been leading for much of the event and here are your final table faces.
  1. Sengar = 10825

  2. Kate Starbird (aka Papoorboy) = 7535

  3. Jewelcard = 7245

  4. Txmom22 = 4930

  5. Tai Pan = 4180

  6. DAVE43 = 4100

  7. KOR = 3575

  8. robnotdave = 2440

  9. Hemi Henry = 1795

  10. Mongoose = 1375

I wonder, as I look at these names, if we shouldn’t just reserve a final table seat for Sengar, Jewelcard and robnotdave. It seems like I am always reporting their final table appearance. And Henry, dang man, you go off to Boot Camp and now we can’t get rid of you. Was Phil that good?

This was not your usual final table, first orbit kill off. It was hand thirteen before KOR was down to his last 455 chips and very desperate. With the antes 50 and the blinds 200/400 he had to go all-in with his Kd 9h and Tai Pan made the easy call from the big blind. It only cost him 5 and after all he was holding Ac 7d. He didn’t need it but he caught a 7h on the flop and 7s on the turn to send KOR to the lounge in tenth place.

Mongoose was the short stack going into the final table and never really got any cards to give him a break but he did have a little fun with these sharks. On hand 16 the big blind took him all-in for his last 350 chips. He held Ts 5s – it didn’t look good for our snake hunter. But wait he only got two callers and the flop just hit him with the Td. Sengar was the only one to see the turn come 7h and when they showed Mongoose was ahead. The river was the 5h giving Mongoose two pair and the 1500 main pot. Not bad Mongoose. But it wasn’t going to last long. The very next hand Mongoose was dealt Ah Jh and he pushed it all in calling robnotdave’s (Ac Kd) opening raise. Txmom22 (9c 8d) was all-in with her last 580 chips as well. The flop came Ts 4d 2s. That gave Txmom a backdoor straight draw. The turn was the 7s and the river filled Txmom with the 6s and – wow – Marsha has gotten back into the game winning 2190. Poor Mongoose was gone in ninth place.

Txmom lasted 8 more hands until she looked down and saw pocket nines and pushed all 1640 chips to open the betting in hand 24. DAVE43 smooth called as did Sengar. They checked it down to the end to see the board fall 2d 3h 3s 4c Ac. DAVE43 showed pocket sixes for two pair, Txmom had a higher two pair, but Sengar had called from the big blind holding just Td 3d. Isn’t having the big stack great? He had hit his miracle board for trip treys and Txmom22 was gone in 8th place.

Everyone was reasonably healthy now although Hemi Henry was getting short with only 2530 chips. The battle roamed around the table for nine more hands. It was now hand 33 and DAVE43 was feeling short with only 1960 chips and the blinds were up to 300/600. He limped into the flop holding Ac 4c and saw it fall Jh 2c 9s. Kate Starbird made a weak bet of 800 and, sensing that weakness, DAVE pushed in his last 1285. He just didn’t have enough chips to push KS off his bottom pair of deuces since he held Kh 2s from the big blind. KS made the call and the deuces held. Good game DAVE43.

By hand 45 robnotdave was down to his last 750 chips when he opened the betting all-in holding Jd 2d. Hmmmm. Interesting play. Jewelcard, Sengar and KS all called robnotdave. The flop came 3h Qc 6h. It rather common in a situation like this for all of the callers to check it down to the river to better the odds that one of them will eliminate the all-in. But not this time. Jewelcard opened the post flop betting by going all-in himself to the tune of 3610. Sengar and Kate Starbird bailed on the hand and I’m sure were muttering to themselves something about Jewelcard’s heritage. But when they turned over their cards it we all saw that Jewelcard did know what he was doing. Holding two black sixes, he had flopped a set and was protecting it. Okay, we forgive you this time Jewel. Robnotdave was sent packing.

Hemi Henry up date – it is hand 49 and he has only 2845 chips. But he holds ace ten of clubs and all-in calls Tai Pan before the flop. He doubled up when the board missed them both and Tai only held ace eight.

The next ten hands are marked by classic, uncontested blind stealing. Then hand 60 Hemi Henry went all-in for his steal with his last 1290. By now the antes are 100 and the blinds 400/800. Henry was in the small blind and, dang, Kate Starbird has 16000 chips and thought nothing of the call holding As 4d. But Henry showed big slick and racked in 8880 chips.

Hand 62 and Jewelcard is in the small blind with 2785 after posting the blind. Kate Starbird bet 2900 and Jewelcard accepted the challenge. Jewel held Jc 8c and KS showed Qh Td. Very aggressive play on both parts. The flop came Ah Js 7d giving Jewelcard some hope but the Kc on the turn gave KS his straight and the night was over for the Jewelcard. But Jewelcard finished in the money this week so he wasn’t too sad.

The final four seemed to last forever but it was only really about 20 hands. The key hand for Kate Starbird (better known to HA regulars as that shark, Papoorboy) was hand 81. KS was in second place just behind Sengar and had been very successful at whittling down Sengar’s chip stack. The antes were 125 and the blinds 600/1200 – KS had 13985 chips. Tai Pan opened UTG for 4700 and it was folded to KS in the big blind. 3500 would have been enough for the call but KS played it strong and went all-in holding Qd Td. Tai Pan made the call for the rest of his chips, though, holding As 9s. The Ah on the flop was all it took to seriously cripple KS and vault Tai Pan into the chip lead.

The very next hand KS was short and felt his Ah 9s was good enough to get back some chips but he ran into Sengar holding pocket tens and that was all she wrote for our camouflaged shark.

Has anyone noticed that Hemi Henry is still sitting at the table? This man is a survivor. In fact on hand 86 he was more than just a survivor, he was deadly. Henry smooth called UTG and let Sengar take him all-in from the big blind. Sengar held pocket tens and had to feeling pretty good about the call. SPROING!
I think that is the sound of a trap being sprung – Henry held two, beautiful ladies. And a third one joined the party on the flop. Henry was now firmly in second place.

Just two hands later Sengar min raised to 2400 and Tai Pan went along with him holding Ad 3d. The flop came Qs 3h 2s and when Sengar raised his minimum bet Tai went all-in. Unfortunately for Tai, Sengar held Qc 9s and had hit top pair – the call was an easy one. Tai was gone in third place.

We are now heads up between Sengar, the dominating force of the table this night, and Hemi Henry, that quiet, unassuming master of the final table.

The heads up match lasted 38 hands. During that time each tried to set the trap for the other, only to have the victim slip out. I counted four lead changes. At one point Sengar had Henry down to the canvas but just couldn’t get the pin. Then Henry would fight back and have Sengar down. Finally hand 137 of the final table, one hour and eleven minutes after the final ten sat down, Hemi Henry held Kd Th and Sengar held As 6s. They limped into the flop and checked to the see the turn 7s 3h 9h 8d. Henry checked and Sengar decided to bet the straight draw. Henry called and the river brought the Td. Henry had finally caught a piece of the board and pushed his last 2130 into the middle. But the same card that gave Henry top pair had given Sengar the straight – and the tournament.

What a great night. Congratulations to everyone at the final table and especially Sengar, Hemi Henry and Tai Pan for showing us poker to rival anything ESPN is showing us.

Peace,

Sunbob

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Iowa State 42 Texas A&M 14

Can you believe it?  My Cyclones went into College Station 10 point underdogs and just planted the Aggies in their own home.  You have to ask, where was this team when Baylor came to Ames?  Is Stevie Hicks really the difference?  Hicks ran for 120 yards against a very good defense but the real story was Blythe catching four touchdown passes.

Simply amazing.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

DebiMac vs Sunbob

I found myself sitting right next to DebiMac in an SnG tonight.  I didn’t know she had entered when I signed up but it was fun to see her there.  It was especially fun that it came down to her and I in the heads up match.  Unfortunately for Deb, I had a dominant chips stack at that point and then got lucky in the final hand when she went all-in with A T and I called with K J.  The turn brought a King and I was able to claim the win this time.  I don’t get to say that very often when I go up against DebiMac.

I got very lucky in this one.  I think I knocked out everyone but the first player.  We had several visitors during the tournament.  Red Hot Poker stopped by to tell us of his win tonight.  WTG Red.  Tai Pan and Jennifear also were on the rail cheering us on.  I wouldn’t blame McZZZZZZ if he thought something was going on but I assure him that I was playing just as hard to eliminate DebiMac as she was trying to eliminate me.

In all it was a very fun time.  Thanks to all of you.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Iowa State 37 Oklahoma State 10

My Clones finally got things back together and walloped the Cowboys today. Iowa State ended a three game losing streak. We were humiliated by Baylor but lost in overtime to Nebraska and Missouri. But this week we put it back together and showed Okie State how to play football. We are now 4-3 and still have a chance for a bowl game if we can win out.

GO CLONES

Friday, October 21, 2005

Maronie47 won the UB Bots

Maronie47 won the UB Bots tournament tonight.  Deadmanshand took second and spideytwo rounded out the money field.

I played this week for the first time and busted out 29th out of 30.  I hit my set and totally missed the straight possibility.  I guess I shouldn’t have been excited about the action.  Oh well, I’ll do better next week.

Thanks to Miss UB for the invite – I will be back.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Jennifear Rolled over HA

10/16/05
Jennifear rolled over the field in Saturday night’s Holdem Affair.  She went into the final table in first place just ahead of alotafagina after leading in much of the early going.  It came down to her and onelunatik in the heads up.  Jennifear  sealed the deal in ten hands.

The final table was seated one hour and 51 minutes into this evening’s Affair.  Thirty-five players sat down to contest this weekly event and the action was solid as always.  Your final table looked like this:
  1. Jennifear = 9815

  2. alotafagina = 9055

  3. onelunatik = 7710

  4. slotcrazy45 = 5420

  5. Glenso = 5125

  6. Jewelcard = 4075

  7. mdg2003 = 3640

  8. Sengar = 3415

  9. saipan slim = 2295

  10. Hemi Henry = 1950

Alotafagina took over the chip lead in the first nine hands with strong play and some good cards.  It was the tenth hand that set the tone for the night.  With the antes 25 and the blinds 150/300, Sengar opened for 1300.  Jewelcard pushed all-in for 4325 and Jennifear reraised to 6415.  Sengar called off his 2815 and we had a fight breaking out.
Jennifear showed Kc Ks.
Sengar showed Jc Qs.
Jewelcard showed Ah Ad.
Wow, what hands.  The flop came Th 3s Qc and Sengar had new life.  But the turn brought the Kh .  Jewelcard was drawing dead and Sengar now had only 8 outs.  The river was the 5d and both Jewelcard and Sengar were sent packing.  Jennifear won 11700 chips and was in a commanding lead.

It was hand 40 before the next player was eliminated.  I told you this was a war.  Dang, you get to the final table of this event and there just aren’t any bad players left.  There is a lot of tournament experience in this field anymore.  Each week this event gets tougher.  This hand had Saipan down to the green and trying to see a cheap flop holding pocket sixes.  Alotafagina completed from the small blind and Hemi Henry came along for the ride in the big blind holding Qs Th.  The flop brought Ah 8d Ad.  That flop missed everyone and all checked to get the free turn – Qd.  Both checked to saipan slim who pushed in his last 315, hoping no one had paired up yet.  Alotafagina went away but Hemi Henry called the challenge.  Henry had the pair of queens and they held up when the river floated the 7d.  Slim was out in 8th place.

The very next hand saw onelunatik open for 1750 and slotcrazy45 smooth called holding Ac 3s.  The flop showed  2s 2d 9s and slotcrazy45 pushed in her last 1870 hoping her aces was best.  But lunatik held pocket ladies and that was all it took to send slotcrazy45 to the lounge.

By hand 57 alotafagina was leading but swapping the chip lead with Hemi Henry.  The antes were 75 and the blinds 300/600 when Glenso looked down at his stack and saw 2285 in chips and his hand showed him Ad 9c.  Time to make a stand and ace nine is a good hand to do it with.  All-in was the play but Hemi Henry made the call.  He was holding big slick and was ready to gamble.  The board came low, missing them both and Glenso was sent to chat room purgatory in 6th place.

Hemi Henry was in the lead at this point and Jennifear was in fourth place.  But that was soon to change.  Hand 62 and mdg2003 is the short stack.  All-in holding king deuce of spades and Jennifear made the gutsy call holding  Kc 9d.  The flop brought a nine and that was all Jennifear needed to send mdg to the rail.  We were down to four and the chips stacks were almost even.  Only 2270 separated first from fourth.

A couple more small pots and by hand 66, Jennifear was in the lead.  Hand 68 Henry stole back the lead but a big pot on hand 70 and Jenn is back on top.  Then hand 71 saw Jennifear go after alotafagina.  The antes were 100 and blinds 400/800 – Jennifear opened for 1600 and alotafagina called.  The flop came 9d Jh 8s.  alotafagina held Kc Th bet 800 on the draw.  Jennifear held Ad 3c and pushed 17765 in on what had to be a buy attempt sensing weakness.  Alotafagina must have been on that wave length because he made the call for the rest of his chips.  Unfortunately the board paired the nine and missed them both making Jennifear’s ace high.

Down to three and we have some players here folks.  Onelunatik has earned everyone’s respect and we know JenniFEAR has earned her name.  And everyone knows that Henry  has been schooled by the pros so no one wants to mess with him.  This was quite the table.

For 78 hands these three battled.  Onelunatik went on a rush and took over second place, then Hemi Henry battled back from the dead to get back into contention.  For nearly 30 minutes these three fought it out.  Finally on hand 149 the antes were 150 and the blinds 800/1600.  Folks, that big blind is bigger than the buy in.  They each had to throw in your whole stack just for the right to see the flop miss them.  Well on this hand Henry and Jennifear each called hoping for a cheap flop but onelunatik would have nothing of it.  He raised to 6850 forcing Henry all-in when he made the call holding pocket tens.  Jennifear got out of the way and watched as onelunatik displayed his ace and queen of diamonds.  Henry was looking good.  The flop brought no diamonds but a big beautiful (to lunatik) Queen of spades showed her face and that was all it took to send Hemi Henry home to Marsha with 3rd place money.  Awesome game Henry.

Onelunatik was actually a slight leader when they went heads up and he won the first hand.  But that was the last hand he won.  Jennifear took down the last eight hands and the tournament.

Great play by all and what a night.  I wish I could have been in the field but I missed the opening bell and had to enjoy the show from the chat room.

Peace,

Sunbob

Jennifear Won Last Night

Jennifear won the Holdem Affair last night.  I got home in time to watch but, dang if I didn’t fall asleep right when it was down to three.  I’m sorry that I haven’t been playing lately but I’ve actually developed a social life.  Can you imagine that?  I went bowling last night with my daughters and some friends from work.  We had a great time.

I did see Jennifear take out Jewelcard and Sengar on the same hand.  That was wild.  If you want a good write up on it go to Jenn's site. She did a beautiful job of telling her story.

I’ll get my story up soon.

Monday, October 10, 2005

What has happened to my Clones?

What in the world has happened to my Cyclones?  They start the year 3 – 0 with a fantastic win over Iowa and now they can’t even beat Baylor at home.  Baylor had not won a Big 12 road game in the ten years they have been in the conference and they come into Ames and we hand them the game. I’m starting to feel like a Cubs fan.  We start the year off with a big win and then fold.

This Saturday we go to Missouri to play the Tigers and I see we are 6 point dogs in this game.  We should be contending for the North Division title and we are struggling now to break even.  Oh well, anyone who is a Cyclone fan is used to this – at least in football.  Maybe someday we will have a team that gets some respect but for now we just keep fumbling along.  Cheer for them anyway on Saturday.  They should be able to handle the Tigers but don’t put your money on it.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Inxsdude won the Holdem Affair Tonight

Inxsdude won the Holdem Affair Tonight

Inxsdude came out on top in a war at the final table.  Rankdizzle came in second and Jewelcard third.

Way to go guys.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Uncle Milty won a TEC

Congratulations to Uncle Milty. He won a TEC this afternoon in the $3 rebuy. Good luck in the big one Milt.

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Nutzrus is Back


Nutzrus is Back

Just in case you haven’t gotten the word.  Nutzrus is back on the tables and reporting she is fine.  Here is a message that many of us got.  But just in case you haven’t heard here it is in her words.

Hi gang, yes, I'm home, grin.  My house (neighborhood) hardly had any damage, no flooding. I have some minor roof damage but my husband is gonna get a whole new roof out the insurance company :))  The reason I wasnt home is because we had no electricity for a little over a month. My family and I lived at a huge church, they treated us like royalty :) They gave us our own room, bought us like $5,000. worth of clothes etc.  Hell, I have like a years worth of  toiletries, shampoo's, conditioners, toothpaste, razors etc. Well, you get the picture :))    My car was on its way out, so, hubby bought us a nice truck.  So.....I just wanna say, I'm sorry I had no way of contacting any of you to letya know I was ok, I didnt have anyones cell # or anything. 
-Nutzrus

Sengar Posted the Win

Sengar Posted the Win

Sengar won the Holdem Affair this week.  Is that your first HA victory?  It seems to me it should be a repeat but I can’t find reference to another win.  If this is your first then it is about time.

I’m sorry that I couldn’t be there tonight.  We had one of our very rare home games this evening.  Rbguitar is moving next month so Jewelcard and I made sure he went out with at least one last night of fun to see him down the road.  Of course Jewelcard took all of his money but what are friends for?

Here is your final table for this week:
  1. Sengar

  2. pairforjoyce

  3. Tai_pan

  4. marti

  5. winforlife

  6. saipan slim

  7. Aladins Djinn

  8. msrinny02

  9. SSNLDO

  10. navalbronco

I hope you folks had a great time because I know I did.