DriveULoonie Again

This is actually a picture of Sorry4urloss. He didn't win tonight but I have a new picture of him and I couldn't pass up the chance to post it.

Here is the story of a great win by DriveULoonie.

There are 33 players tonight and I see that my old friend Guran has joined us. This will be a fine night of action.

Thirty minutes in and Verdoy is our leader. I’m in second place.

We made it to the first hour break. Sorry4urloss is our leader. I’ve fallen to 6th place – no cards. Here is the leader board:
Sorry4urloss = 7450
Slick63 = 4320
Skippy2 = 3110
DriveULoonie = 2845
Bugman22j = 2670
Sunbob = 2625
Verdoy = 2525
Marti = 2475
Sengar = 2280
Hemi Henry = 1875


Dang, I just knocked out Marti and Hazy Cat in the same hand. Both were short stacked and I called with JT. Flopped a Jack and that was it. We are down to 11 now.

MrQue finally blinded out and we have our final table. Here you go:
Sorry4urloss = 10485
BlakAdder = 10380
Sunbob = 7730
DriveULoonie = 6285
Verdoy = 4745
Sengar = 2840
ThreesRWild = 2450
Bugman22j = 2080
Slick63 = 1715
Hemi Henry = 790


Hand 3 – Slick63 is our first casualty. He pushed ATs but ran into Verdoy with Ad Kd. The board paired queens but no help for slick.

Hand 6 and Sengar bites the dust. Sengar pushed Ad Td and DriveULoonie turned over Ac Qs. The board paired eights.

Hand 9 – I knocked out bugman22j in a battle of the blinds. I min-raisec to open from the small blind with Qh 7s and bugman22j called. The flop came 4c 8h Qd pairing my queen and I bet 600. Bugman22j came over the top for all his chips and I made the call. Buggy turned over Ah 7c and failed to hit his ace.

Hand 10 and Hemi Henry had 66 but ran into DriveULoonie with AA. Thee sevens on the board turned that into a full house and Henry was done for the night.

Down to 6 and paying 5 – it’s bubble time.

Hand 23 and I busted out in 6th place playing A9s. I hate that hand. I can’t tell you how many times I have busted out being dominated with that hand. It’s my own fault. Bummer. BlakAdder held AJ and I got too frisky with the ace high flop.

Down to five – all in the money.

We made it to the second hour break. Busting me put BlakAdder into the lead.
BlakAdder = 16490
Sorry4urloss = 15360
DriveULoonie = 11200
Verdoy = 3475
ThreesRWild = 2975

When we return the blinds will be 300/600. Let’s see what happens.

First hand back and TRW went all in and was busted by DriveULoonie. ThreesRWild pushed 6d 5d on a steal attempt and Driveuloonie called with Ad Jc. The flop came 5c 4d 3d and made TRW look like a pro but the turn brought the Jd and the river another Jack. Three of a kind is hard to beat.

Hand 43 – Verdoy pushed his 88 against DriveULoonie with AT. The ten on the flop sent him to the rail.

DriveULoonie is now in the lead.

Hand 52 – sorry4urloss is done. DriveULoonie caught his flush on the river and sent him home. I have to play out this hand for you because it just shows how cruel this game can be. Sorry4urloss bet 1350 from the small blind and DriveULoonie smooth called to see the flop come Th Jc 2c. Sorry bet 2850 and Loonie called. The turn was the 3s. Looked like no help for either but sorry fired out 8550. . . and Loonie called again. The river was the Qc. Sorry checked and Loonie pushed all-in on what really looked like a steal. He couldn’t have been chasing his flush – could he? Sorry4urloss held Kh Jd and had been playing his top pair/2nd kicker really hard. A call now put him all-in and covered. He almost timed out but made the call. DriveULoonie turned over 9c 3c and yes – he had been chasing that flush. That was a tough one for sorry4urloss.

We are heads up with DriveULoonie in a commanding chip lead.

Hand 58 and that is it. DriveULoonie strikes again.

With a little bit of luck and some very smart play, DriveULoonie showed why he is becoming a force to contend with in the Holdem Affair.

I won’t see you next Saturday night. It is hockey season now and I have organized a night out with my daughters.

Peace.

HooterHanna is Very Fast

Forty-two sat down tonight to play in the Holdem Affair. Unfortunately I wasn’t one of them. Our annual Holiday Party was tonight so I didn’t get to the rail until we were down to seating the final table. Now you know exactly when I arrived as I watched it from the very first hand.

Here are your leaders:
HooterHanna = 12530
Winforlife = 11445
Hazy cat = 9090
Annieboom = 8200
Papoorboy = 7050
Idblondee = 4170
Houn = 3970
RipleyBP = 2725
Txmom22 = 2325
DaveTthatsMe = 1495


It must be right after the second hour break because the antes are 50 and the blinds 200/400.

Hand 9 – Papoorboy is out. He called HooterHanna when she took him all-in and lost the race.

Hand 15 =- DaveTthatsMe is done for the night.

Hand 16 and Txmom22 is short stacked out of the field. She was blinded down to nothing and forced in with the same.

Hand 20 – Houn has called it a night. Short as well and couldn’t get lucky.

We are down to six and paying five tonight. It’s bubble time. HooterHanna continues to dominate the field.

Hand 28 – annieboom is down to the felt and all-in. She is done. RipleyBP hit her hard the previous hand and she was down to just 275. Three callers and HooterHanna held the best hand.

Hand 29 – There goes Idblondee.

Hand 30 – and there goes winforlife.

Down to three and that went quickly. Hazy cat took out those last two and is now in charge.

Hand 39 – RipleyBP is done on an outrageous hand. Hanna had KQ and RipleyBP held JT. T98 on the flop and a jack on the river gave Ripley two pair but HooterHanna held the straight.

Hand 46 - Oh my, Hazy cat was dominating and had to feel good when she got Hanna to push it all-in against her pocket kings. Hanna turned over big slick. Two good hands. Just the kind of confrontation you see deciding a heads up match. This time the nod went to HooterHanna when the ace fell on the flop. It’s all over but the mop up now.

Hand 48 and we are done. HooterHanna has finished off the final table. I believe that is her first Holdem Affair victory.

That had to be the fastest final table in Holdem Affair history. Only 48 hands to go from 10 to one.

Congratulations to all but especially HooterHanna. She was hot tonight and just would not be denied.

Peace.

Xgames4me In Spite of UB

What a strange night for UB. The new upgrade was having some real problems dealing with the Saturday night crowd. But inspite of UB, Xgames4me came out on top. He showed some very aggressive play at the final table and it paid off for him tonight.

A note from Sunbob: I have edited this report because, like an idiot, I had Xgames' name wrong. It is Xgames4me. Xgames is a very valued, long time member of the Holdem Affair family and I apologise for getting it wrong.

Here is the story.

Well, it’s Saturday night and time for another Holdem Affair. And this week I’m logged in and registered. No way am I going to get shut out like last week. Only 14 players entered? Can that be right?

Well, I guess that is right. Apparently the tournament software hasn’t been running right. Well, it’s running now and we are off.

The tables are running fine but there is no tournament lobby. As Hatch66 observed – “It’s the first Saturday night with the new software. It was bound to happen”.

Speaking of the new software – what do people think of the resizable tables? I happen to like them. I don’t multitable much but I do like to railbird my friends as I play my own game. I can easily have 4 tables on my old 17” monitor screen.

Well, 30 minutes in and we are down to 12. It’s going to be a short night. I think.

Well, we are waiting for the FT to be seated. Let’s see if I can figure out the table.
In no particular order:
Big lar8 = 1965
Bugman22j = 1405
Xgames4me = 3450
Hazy Cat = 2155
Sunbob = 1525
Chip Leigh = 4490
Nutty = 1725
Marti = 1545
DriveULoonie = 2225
VictorDave = 515

BTW, MARTI WANTS ALL TO KNOW THAT SHE IS VERY SORRY FOR ALL THE HASSLE. – As if anyone would blame her – LOL. This is a traditional “UB Upgrade” – we have all been through it before.

Well, they took forever to change to the FT and theN we took a five minute break. Are we ever going to see a hand?

Here we go.

Hand 4 – I just took out VictorDave with AQ vs. his KQ.

Well, we got 14 hands in and then we took another break. This is very strange – even for UB.

Hand 21 and Marti went in with 44 only to run into Chip Leigh with QQ.

Hand 33 and Hazy Cat just ran into Xgames trapping with a set of deuces. We are down to seven.

Hand 44 and I took out nutty when I called the shortie all-in with 22. My ducks held up for a change.

Hand 53 and DriveULoonie is gone to Xgames with a set.

Hand 74 – bugman22j is out. Xgames caught a straight to bust him.

Hand 82 and Chip Leigh is our chip leader with 9625. He has been dominating this table. We are down to 4 and paying three so it is bubble action. Big Lar8 is
Our shortest stack with only 2190 and the blinds 100/200. Chip Leigh opened for 700 and Big Lar8 pushed. Chip thought for a while and called with Ah Th. Lar showed Ac 4c. The flop came Ad 4h Kd. Can you believe it? Chip had him dead to right and I was going to cash. After that hand, Chip was still in the lead but the rest of us are all sitting healthy with 4000 plus in our stacks.

Hand 88 and I made a big oops. All called to Chip Leigh in the big blind and he raised on what looked to me like a steal. I held 77 and pushed on the re-steal. Chip turned over AA and I was done in 4th place, paying three.

That gave Chip a huge chip lead again and then disaster struck. On hand 91 Chip had Xgames all-in and dominated only to see Xgames river the card he needed to double up. The very next hand, Xgames hit him again and Chip Leigh has gone from dominating the table to the rail. He is gone in third place.

Big Lar8 has gone from life support just 10 hands earlier to being heads up.

Just one hand in the heads up match and xgames4me is our winner.

What a come back for xgames4me.

Good game to all at this crazy final table. UB is still messed up. Xgames is sitting all alone with all the chips and the program still thinks he has an opponent. Maybe I’m glad I bubbled. Who knows who will get paid? Oh, I shouldn’t be so catty. UB will get it straight in the end.

Good night all and

PEACE.

DriveULoonie from start to Finish

DriveULoonie came out on top of a small but very competitive field this week. The final table showed some masterful play and it was only solid and timely aggression that took the honors tonight.

Here is the tale as told by this fool.


I don’t like to be late to most things. Promptness is one of those attributes that I value. Well, I’m here to tell you that showing up 5 minutes late for the Holdem Affair really bums me out. Here I am on the rail and all I get to do is watch. Oh well, let’s see what happens tonight.

It’s a small field this week, only 27 entries. But it looks like a good field for a hotly contested night of tournament poker.

It looks like Sengar and DriveULoonie are going to battle for the early lead. Each has control of their respective tables.

Fifty-six minutes into the Holdem Affair and we are down to two tables. DriveULoonie is our leader.

Hand 61 – over on table #2, Mellow Yellow worked Medic Chicky perfectly to get all his chips into the middle and showed his QQ to her JJ. But as happens in this vicious and brutal game, the turn was a jack and our good friend Mellow Yellow is done for the night.

That little hand was good enough to catapult Medic Chicky into the lead as we take the first hour break. Here is your leader board:
Medic chicky = 4650
DriveULoonie = 3655
Xgames4me = 2885
Hungry Guppy = 2880
Marti = 2540
Avata = 2405
Kryptic = 2160
Daggit13 = 2125
Sengar = 2075
Tai pan = 1910

Another sick suck out on table #2, hand 65 and Agro is all-n with AA against kickin Lisa with A2 of spades. Lisa hit the flush to double up.

Hand 105 on table #3 and there goes bugman22j. His pocket fives ran into Papoorboy with AQ. A queen on the flop did him in.

Table #3, hand 114 – Avata tried a BB steal when Marti was the only limper. He pushed with just 72o but Marti wasn’t going anywhere holding big slick. Avata is done for the night. Gutsy play but the timing was off. That puts Marti in the lead.

Table #2, hand 78 and Tai pan caught the nut flush to oust Agro.

Hungry guppy knocked out kickin Lisa and now is our leader.

Down to 13 with the blinds 75/150. Still plenty of room to play post flop for most of the field.

Table #3, hand 127 – Azale held A8 and ran into DriveULoonie with AQ. Loonie is now our leader and Azale is on the rail.

Blinds are now 100/200 and Sengar is over on table #2 with only 600 chips. Let’s see if he can climb back into the fray.
Hand 101 and there he goes with JJ and Xgames called with TT. Sengar doubled up.

Over on table 3 Papoorboy pushed his A7 but ran into daggit13 with AJ. Down to 150 chips and very short now.
Hand 140 - Papoorboy is all-in posting the BB. Showing T9o – he is done for the night in 12th place.

Dealing hand by hand now.

Blinds just went up to 150/300.

We have our final table. Daggit13 was our bubble victim tonight.

DriveULoonie is our leader as we go to the final table. Here is your leaderboard:
DriveULoonie = 8940
Hungry Guppy = 6785
Sorry4urloss = 4950
Medic Chicky = 3550
Sengar = 3400
Xgames4me = 3335
Marti = 3170
Tai pan = 3070
Big Lar8 = 1930
Sukinout = 1370


Update on Sengar, hand 5 of the final table and he has succeeded in climbing back into third place.

Hand 6 and sukinout is done. Tai pan flopped sixes and fours to do the damage.

Antes have kicked in and DriveULoonie is still our chip leader.

Hand 10 – Marti held TT but Xgames had flopped a pair of queens. Marti is on life support now.
Hand 12 and Marti is all-in with KQo and she doubled up. She will have to do that again though to get healthy.

Hand 14 – there she goes – AJs and she doubled up off Sengar this time.
Can she do it again? – She has a big hill to climb.
Hand 15 – Tai pan pushed but no takers.
Hand 16 and there goes Marti again. – she flopped the nut straight and doubled off Tai pan this time.

As we go to the second hour break, Marti has climbed back from 65 chips to now hold 2185. She is still the shortest stack at the table but at least now when she pushes people will have too think about the call. On our other story line Sengar has 4035 and is sitting fifth in this 9 player field. DriveULoonie is still our chip leader with 9960. When we come back the blinds will be 200/400 and the antes 50.

Hand 24 – flop is 777, Marti and medic chicky split the pot.
Hand 26 and Marti is back down to calling for the medics. (810)
Hand 29 – Xgames saw a cheap flop holding the Brunson (T2) and flopped TTT. Sorry4urloss held 55 and doubled him up. Xgames is our leader now.

Hand 32 – sorry4urloss just pushed his 22 and they held up.
Hand 36 – Marti is all-in posting the BB. 1 caller and she shows A8 – it held up and she doubled up.
Hand 37 – guppy is all-in with AK, along with Big Lar8 but DriveULoonie showed 99 and flopped a set. Hungry Guppy is gone – 8th place. Wait big lar8 was in that hand and busted in 9th place. What was I looking at?

Hand 39 and Marti pushes again – 2 callers and she held AK. Medic chicky was in on that as well but sorry4urloss paired the 8 and knocked them both out.
Hand 41 and Sengar is done.

Paying only three tonight with the short field. It’s bubble time.
Hand 44 – not for long. Tai pan took out sorry4urloss and we have our cash table.

DriveULoonie is our leader with 17715, tai pan and then Xgames.

Hand 50 – DriveULoonie just sent off Xgames when x hit the straight but loonie rivered a full house.

Heads up action.
Hand 53 and we have our winner. DriveULoonie has done it again.

Another fun night of poker. I wish I had been 5 minutes sooner and I could have played. But hey, I liked telling the story.

Peace.

Ezekiel25 with a Vengeance

Ezekiel25_17 joined us tonight and we had a grand time. He almost made it look easy as he led from wire to wire. The chip leader at the first hour break – he was back in the lead when we seated the final table. And at the end he had all the chips. He made us all look like Philistines tonight. Marti was our second place finisher and yes dear reader – I finished third.

Well, here is my story written as we dealt the cards.



Hey, we are off and running. Forty-two players tonight, another large field. That is great. Let’s see how things go this week.

I see a couple of new faces at my table. Welcome to Dawncitygirl and Steelzmgnolia.

Five hands and my table has already moved. I haven’t even seen a flop yet. Oh well, new people to say hello to.

Thirty minutes in and Native Spirit is our early leader. I got lucky and hit a set of sixes a while back so I’m in third place. We are down to 36.

We made it to the first hour break and we are down to 30. Ezekiel25­_17 is our leader. Here is your leader board:
Ezekiel25­_17 = 4525
Pointdume = 4250
Thekindbud = 4035
Unionthug = 3530
Jakeylove = 3210
Sunbob = 2765
Smartin = 2480
Chip Leigh = 2420
Big lar8 = 2375

So vengeance is your game Zeke? Or are you just a Pulp Fiction fan? Good to have you with us.
.
.

I have to post this while I can. Down to 20 and I’m leading for now.

We are down to 16 and I’m back in the lead for now. It is bouncing around.
Blinds 150/300 now.
Unionthug is out in 15th place.
The antes just kicked in.
Steveob19 just went out in 14th. I’ve dropped back to fifth.
SokolBlosser just got sucked out on to finish in 13th place.
Rshocker went out right behind him. We are dealing hand by hand.
I just knocked out Kryptic AQ vs. 99 to go the final table. I spiked a queen on the flop.

Here is the line up for the final table:
Ezekiel25_17 = 13740
Marti = 10275
Sunbob = 9755
Thekindbud = 9005
DaleT = 8000
Bugman22j = 3255
Mellow Yellow = 3240
Pointdume = 2995
Annieboom = 1435
Smartin = 1300

Look at that Zeke – he is just rolling over these tables.

Hand 2 - Pointdume was our first casualty.
Hand 5 – Smartin fell to DaleT.

Second hour break and we have 8 left and paying 5 again tonight. When we come back the blinds will be 200/400. Three people will have less than 9 BB to play with.

Hand 11 – and Zeke just took out bugman22j.
Hand 22 – DaleT was 3rd in chips and pushed KQs on the button right into Zeke who had limped from UTG with pocket Aces. We are down to 6. Ezekiel now has a huge chip lead.

Hand 25 and there goes Mellow Yellow to Zeke.
We have our money table.

Hand 30 – ouch I just went up against Marti and took a big hit.
Hand 37 – I doubled up from the BB when I turned the straight.
Hand 38 – Thekindbud is gone.
Hand 39 – annieboom is gone.
Hand 51 – and Marti doubled up off Zeke.
Hand 65 and Marti and I have pulled Zeke back to the pack. He still has the lead but it is not so big anymore.
Hand 67 and we have a fight – nope Marti showed her AA. Marti is now in the lead.
For one hand in here I even had the lead.
Hand 75 – I pushed my AK on a QTx flop and Zeke had QT – oops. I’m out.

Hand 86 – Marti pushed KQs but Ezekiel had TT. It didn’t matter that it turned into a flush. Ezekiel25_17 is our winner.

What a great night and not just because I cashed. It was fun to see some new faces and to see them do well. Welcome to our little party Ezekiel, I hope you come back. I’m sure there are some people that would like another shot.

Peace.

Sorry4urloss - on a golf night?

Sorry4urloss did it again this week. This is starting to be a trend. He established himself early and built his stack along the way. That’s how we all like to do it but don’t often succeed. It seems that Sorry is showing that he can do it often. The chat got very fun at our table when Marti got us talking about golf. At least that is what it looked like – but somehow I don’t think the descriptions of putters and a smooth, trimmed fairway was just about the country club. Oh well, I guess it was one of those “you had to be there” things.

Any way, here is my story – written in the heat of battle.

- - - -

Hey, it’s Saturday night and time for another Holdem Affair. I apologize to everyone for missing last week. My wife and I went to the theater to see “The Sting”. It was a very nice night but mainly because of the company. I must admit that I don’t get to go out with Carol very often, so when I get the chance – I take it. The play was amateurish at best – not my usual experience at our community theater. They had several rookies in this production, though, and it showed in the first act. After intermission they settled down and did a very nice job.

Let’s see how many we have tonight. Wow – we have 50 tonight. What a great field. Let’s have some fun.

Thirty minutes in and Thunder3 is our chip leader. Wouldn’t you know he is sitting directly across from me. Oh well, he could be to my left.

Thirty-nine minutes in and we are down to 40 players. We are seeing a bit of action on these tables tonight.

We made it to the break. Looks like Agro is our leader now. Here is your leader board:
Agro = 8265
Thunder3 = 5515
Jennifear = 4420
Jillymae = 3460
Sunbob = 3200
Bunnaboy1 = 3095
Sorry4urloss = 3045
Daggit13 = 2915
RayNCallie = 2915
Avata = 2730

One hour and twenty – we are down to 30.

1:52 and we have 20. The chat is getting randy. Marti has the whole table fluffed. We are having a great discussion. Must be a lot of golfers at this table. I realize I haven’t written anything this past hour. The chat at this table has me in stitches.

It’s time for the second hour break. Jillymae is our leader.
Jillymae = 9195
Avata = 8455
Xgames4me = 6825
MisterSGB = 6360
Agro = 5900
Sorry4urloss = 5770
Coachstove = 5280
Slick63 = 5160
DaleT = 5035
Big lar8 = 4770

We are down to 14 and getting ready to seat the final table. I’m in 11th place. When we come back the blinds will be 200/400 and I have 3600. Time to move or go home.

DaleT is gone in 13th.
Big lar8 just went out when Jillymae spiked an ace on the river to crack his kings.
Down to 11 and hand by hand now. Who will be bubble boy? Hope it isn’t me.

Oh my, it almost was me. I saw a cheap flop from the BB with K9 and it flopped 9 high. I pushed and Jillymae turned over AA. I rivered a K to beat her and doubled up.

Holy cow – here we go, and we only have nine at the final table – paying five.
Sorry4urloss = 15275
Avata = 14160
MisterSGB = 13400
Jillymae = 10435
Sunbob = 9450
Agro = 6025
Slick63 = 4070
Hemi Henry = 1175
KOR = 1010


Hand 1- KOR isn’t going easy – caught a nine to beat Sorry4urloss and double up.
Hand 4 – Hemi Henry is gone.
Hand 14 – Jillymae with TT ran into Sorry4urloss with KK.
Hand 16 and slick63 is gone – done in by MisterSGB when his 55 hit the set. Now we are down to 6.
KOR has climbed into third place.
Blinds 400/800 now.

This is getting tense. No one wants to go out.

Hand 39 – wow did I get lucky. I pushed from the button with JTo and Agro called in the big blind with AQo. I flopped JT and knocked him out to make the money table. That is brutal. This can be such a cruel game. You play for over two hours to be on the bubble of cashing – get your money in as a 63/37 favorite – and the luck box knocks you out.

Hand 45 – MisterSGB is done – 33 vs. TT

Blinds 600/1200
Hand 81 and I’m out in 4th place. I got blinded down to nothing and had to push from the BB with 46s. No match for KOR – who turned a four card flush but the high cards would have been enough.

Hand 89 – Sorry4urloss just clobbered Avata when they each held a 7 with two on the board. Sorry4urloss had paired his second card for the full house to all but knock him out.

Hand 92 and Avata is gone.

HEADS UP

Sorry4urloss is the big time leader – better than 4 to 1 in chips. KOR has climbed from the desperate stack when we sat the FT and now is HEADS UP.

Hand 98 and KOR just hi a boat when 99 set with a pair on the board. It might be a horse race after all.

Hand 99 – well, maybe not – Sorry4urloss just took many of those chips back.
Hand 105 and that’s it.

Congratulations to sorry4urloss in posting another win but I think he would agree that the final table performance award goes to KOR for that tremendous climb from the cellar into second place.

Thank you all for a wonderful and entertaining evening.

PEACE.

BobyBarFights takes his First

BobyBarFights was a newcomer to our little group but he showed tonight that he is equal to the task. He brought his “A” game tonight and took home a Holdem Affair victory the first time out of the gate. He was strong the whole night. Leading after the first hour and in second when we went to the final table. He was way behind when it got HEADS UP but that didn’t last long. Sorry4urloss is a formidable opponent but tonight it was BobyBarFights who took home the gold.
- - - - - -
Here is my play-by-play.

It’s time for another Saturday night Holdem Affair. It’s been a busy week for me and I am ready to settle down with friends.

Forty-two this week. Another good sized field. This will be fun. I hope I can last awhile, my game has really been bad lately.

Wow – thirty minutes in and we are down to 30 already.

Hey, I made it to the first hour break. We have 26 left at the tables. I’m in 21st place. The cards just aren’t falling for me tonight.

Here is your leaderboard:
BobyBarFights = 5505
Sorry4urloss = 4805
VictorDave = 4205
Tater Ho = 4050
Verdoy = 3735
DrippinDodger = 3600
Marti = 3250
DaveTthatsMe = 3120
Burldog44 = 3060
Smurfette = 2810

We are down to 18 already. I had to leave the table for awhile so I don’t know how Verdoy got such a big stack but he is definitely a force to contend with now.

Okay, I’m done in 16th place. I saw a cheap flop holding J6o from the big blind and it flopped J69. Check, bet, bet and I pushed. Verdoy called with QJs and rivered a queen to send me to the rail. That is how my tournament life has been going this month.

Well, we are down to 14 – let’s count it down to the final table. Verdoy is our leader with 12430 and sorry4urloss is in second right now with 7160.

There goes drippinDodger – I missed it typing.

There goes michele1024. Verdoy took her out also.

Slim shady was very short and now he is gone as well. Down to 11 and dealing hand by hand.

They are definitely dancing the ”Tighten up” right now.

Sajules just bit the dust when she pushed KK and was called by VictorDave with Ax. The evil ace on the flop sent her packing. We have our final table.

Here is how the table sets up:
Verdoy = 12205
BobyBarFights = 10260
Sorry4urloss = 8960
Smurfette = 8045
VictorDave = 6360
ThePokerWolf = 4085
Burldog44 = 4015
Agro = 3415
Pointdume = 3255
Annieboom = 2500

Verdoy is our leader but BobyBarFights has closed the gap.

Hand 4 and annieboom pushed to steal the blinds.
Hand 7 and sorry4urloss opens and is called by agro. Flop comes Q75 and Agro called the push by sorry4urloos. Agro had QJ but sorry4urloss has AQ. Agro is gone in 10th place.

Hand 12 – annieboom pushed – no takers.
Hand 13 – ThePokerWolf opened and took the blinds.
Hand 14 – Pointdume opened UTG – Verdoy called. Flop 259. Pointdume held pocket tens and took it down.

Hand 16 and VictorDave makes his presence known – no takers.
Hand 17 – Smurfette tried to steal from the button and Verdoy made the call. 993 is the flop and Verdoy check raised Smurfette off the pot.

Hand 20 and Smurfette gets two callers from the blinds. 263r flop and Smurfette doubles up with pocket kings. Sorry4urloss is the victim.

Time for the second hour break. When we come back the antes will be 50 and the blinds 200/400.

Verdoy is still in the lead but now Smurfette is in second.

Hand 30 – annieboom pushed and stole the blinds again.
Hand 31 – ThePokerWolf opened and Verdoy called. Flop 7KQr and wolf pushed – Verdoy laid it down.
Hand 35 – VictorDave with big slick and sorry4urloss with QQ. VictorDave just couldn’t get any help this time and he is gone in 9th place.

Let’s see now – who do we have that is short – it looks like ThePokerWolf is our only short stack with 3485 and the blinds 200/400. Annieboom and Pointdume are close though with 4300 each.

Hand 40 and annieboom lays down the hand to BobyBarFights in a blind battle.

Hand 42 – Verdoy limps and Pointdume raised from the big blind. Pointdume just took down a 4200 chip pot and is getting healthy.
Hand 44 and annieboom opens to steal.
Hand 45 – blind battle between Burldog and Verdoy – Verdoy took it down.
Hand 46 – ThePokerWolf stole the blinds – he needed that.
Hand 49 – BBF raised from the button and Smurfette called. Flop TQ3r. Smurfette bet 1500 and BBF raised to 4500. - - - Smurfette folded. BBF showed AA.

Hand 52 – BobyBarFights limped to see flop of 239 – he took it down with a bet on the flop.
BobyBarFights is our new chip leader with sorry4urloss right behind.

Hand 56 and annieboom just pushed into two limpers and stole the pot.
Hand 58 and we have 4 limpers see the flop – QQK – checked to see the 7 - - check, check, check to BobyBarFights who bets 800 – fold, fold and Verdoy check raised him off the pot.

ThePokerWolf is down to 2485 and getting very short. He has to do something soon..
Hand 62 and there goes ThePokerWolf. KJo called by sorry with AT. LOL – ThePokerWolf hit a king and a jack to take it down.

Blinds are now 400/800.
Hand 65 and Pointdume opened UTG to steal. He showed QQ.
Hand 66 – Burldog limped with KQ and annieboom pushed with AJ. The table ended up KKQQx. Annieboom is gone in 8th place.

Hand 70 and we have action. Verdoy tried to steal from the small blinds and sorry4urloss and BobyBarFights both called. Board 478T8. Verdoy was all in with AA and sorry4urloss turned over 87. Verdoy made it to 7th place in his first Holdem Affair. Verdoy, I hope you know what an accomplishment that was.

It’s bubble time. Shall we dance? (I’m picturing Yule Brenner right now).

Sorry4urloss is our dominant stack now with 26680. BobyBarFights is in second with 15510. The others are officially short.

Steal - - steal - - steal - - I think I know this dance.

Hand 83 – Smurfette pushed JJ and BobyBarFights called with 44. He turned a four and Smurfette is our bubble girl.
Hand 88 and ThePokerWolf pushed 88 and called by BobyBarFights with 42s. That four/deuce turned into a straight and ThePokerWolf is done.
Hand 90 and BobyBarFights just took out burldog44.
Hand 92 – Pointdume pushed 77 into sorry4urloss with AQ. He flopped an ace and a queen to seal the deal. We are heads up.

Sorry4urloss has a 42000 – 12500 chip advantage.

Hand 95 and BobyBarFights flopped quad queens – that helps.
Hand 100 and we are getting closer – 36850 – 23500.
Hand 107 and we have even stacks.
Hand 110 – BobyBarFights flopped top pair and sorry4urloss a flush draw. Both all-in and the flush didn’t come. BobyBarFights is way in command.

Hand 111 – and we are done.

This was a great night, even if you guys kept check/raising my bluffs and folding to my monsters. Could you see my hole cards or something?

Great game BobyBarFights. This is not an easy field. You do well to just make the final table – to win your first time out is an accomplishment. Verdoy was another new face that did very well.

Another great night. See you all next week.

Peace.

OK Tai

I’m sorry that I missed the Holdem Affair this week but let me give you the run down at least.

Tai pan ruled from his throne in the South Pacific tonight. OK Tai. Way to go. Irish Red was his heads up victim. Bugman22j finished third after a very good showing at the final table. Chip Leigh returned to our final table and took home the fourth place money. Finishing out the money table was one of our favorite ladies, Annieboom.

Completing the final table was gjones in 6th place. Dreammachines is fairly new to our group and made a very good seventh place finish. Glenso just couldn’t get any traction tonight on the final table and had to settle for eight place. Germanbabe graced our table to finish ninth and burldog44 was tenth.

Forty-two sharks came to the cove this week, not a bad group after the big event last week. Looks like we are going to settle down to fields in the forties for the winter. That makes for a very fun night.

I hope to see you all next Saturday night.

Peace.

Jennifear Celebrates the 3rd Birthday Bash

Jennifear got off to a good start the first hour and was in the action the rest of the night. Just a glance at the leader boards might give you the impression that she cruised to the win tonight but that would be so wrong. The final table was a war. We had some new faces but also some of the old masters of this event. Sengar, sorry4urloss, SuperrSam, and Glenso have all posted multiple Holdem Affair wins. And the new faces like DaveTthatsMe and Native Spirit made a name for themselves. They will be feared at future final tables. It was a great night and I’m sure Jennifear can be proud of this victory. I know that Dave and Native Spirit can be proud of their performances even though they didn’t take home the big prize. Those bracelets will still be nice to show their friends.
- - - - -
Here is the action as I saw it at the tables.

It’s the night of the Big, Third Annual Holdem Affair Birthday Bash.

Fifteen minutes before start time and we have 100, yes ONE HUNDRED, entrants so far. This is going to be the largest field ever.

We have 112 as the official starting field. The first year we had 102 and Shootist was the victor that first year. Tiburon won the 2nd Annual Bash last year in a field of 86.

It’s time to go. Jennifear is at my table , it’s always a pleasure to play with her.
30 minutes in and Jennifear is our leader. She felted Xgames KK vs. AA.

I’ve been sent to a new table.

We made it to the first hour break. We started deep stacked tonight with 2500 chips so we still have 84 in the field. Unfortunately, I’m in 79th place.

Here is your leaderboard:
Jennifear = 13175
Winforlife = 7855
Sengar = 6810
Blackriders = 6375
Germanbabe = 6290
Hungry Guppy = 6175
Holland13 = 6140
Skippy2 = 5690
KennyJ37 = 5625
Daggit13 = 5540

One and a half hours in and Jennifear is still ruling the roost. I’ve been card dead most of the night and when I do get a hand I get no action. I did double up once with a BB special. That is the only thing keeping me going.

Well, I’m out in 52nd place. Just short of the second hour break. I pushed AKo from the small blind to a couple of limpers and Laeshalady called with 88. No help for me and I am gone.

We are down to 34 at the second hour break. We thinned the field pretty good that last hour. Here is your leaderboard:
SuperrSam = 20845
Takechances = 20250
Holland13 = 15335
Native Spirit = 13420
Laeshalady = 13340
Thunder3 = 11765
Germanbabe = 11750
Jennifear = 11565
DaveTthatsMe = 11465
Nationwidepkr = 11035

It’s looking like a good field going into the next hour. When we come back the blinds will be 200/400. I’m out now so I’ll be able to follow more of the action.

Jewelcard just pushed his AJ and ran into Daggit13 with the Hilton sisters. Jewelcard is out in 30th place.

We are down to 27 now and dropping fast as I write.

Wow, Maronie47 just pushed her 88 but ran into Nutty with KK. Gone in 25th place.

Blackriders is out in 23rd place. Laeshalady took him out also.

2 hours 45 minutes and we are down to two tables.

Jennifear has climbed back into the lead. Oops – she lost it. DaveTthatsMe took it away. With the blinds 400/800 the tables are getting very volatile.

Blinds are now 600/1200. That means 7 of the remaining 18 are short stacked. Time to move or die.

Red Barchetta is dead. 18th place.
Winforlife pushed his QQ into Takechances with AJ. Take flopped two aces to send Win packing in 17th place.
KennyJ37 just went out in 15th place – 44 vs. JJ.
HurQueRock just ran into Jennifear showing AA. 14th for the rock.
Laeshalady just pushed JT and was called by Avata with 24o. Avata paired both cards to send Laeshalady to the rail. That is just sick. We have 12 now.

The final table gets the good prizes tonight. We will see if this creates a bubble action situation.

Blinds 800/1600 now. Takechances just got moved to Jennifear’s table. We have both chip leaders on the same table now.
QQ vs. JJ and Avata is gone. DaveTthatsMe is our new leader.
Takechances took it right back on the very next hand.
No fear on this bubble. Vicious play all around.
Dealing hand by hand now.
Oh my, Germanbabe pushed her pocket threes into Jennifear who spiked her ace on the river. We have our final table.

Here is your table:
Takechances = 60080
DaveTthatsMe = 55355
Sengar = 32895
Jennifear = 27885
Native Spirit = 23035
Nutty = 21515
Sorry4urloss = 19125
Glenso = 16855
SuperrSam = 14240
Skippy2 = 9015

Blinds are 1000/2000.
Skippy2 went in very short stacked and was our first casualty,
Hand 8 and sorry4urloss bites the dust.
Hand 14 and it was Sengar with TT and DaveTthatsMe with AA. Sengar has to settle for 8th place.
Hand 16 and SuperrSam pushed 22 into AQ and survived to double up.
Hand 27 – Takechances is done.
Hand 29 and nutty was too short to do much but push. That’s it for the night.

We have five now and the blinds re 1200/2400. DaveTthatsMe is a big leader.
Okay, we have settled down to some serious action now. Native Spirit is climbing and in second now. Jennifear is holding her own and Dave is trying to push around the table but getting resistance. This is good action.
Hand 46 and Glenso pushed into Jennifear and got nailed. Good game Glenso.
Hand 47 and SuperrSam is gone and I missed it writing. Bummer. Native spirit took him out.

Three solid stacks and room to play. This could get good.
Hand 51 and Jennifear just took out Native Spirit when she hit a four card flush. We have a HEADS UP battle with pretty even stacks. Dave has the slight advantage.
Jenn is pushing and gaining ground.
Dave just caught a straight on hand 58. Big pot.
Jenn has to be a little more careful now.
Blinds 1500/300.
Hand 72 and Jenn caught a straight. She is climbing back but still has a fight.
Hand 75 and the tide has turned. Jenn flopped trips and doubled up to take the lead.
Hand 85 sand Jenn took down a good pot. She is pulling away.

Hand 87 and Jennifear has won the 3rd Annual Holdem Affair Birthday Bash.
Jennifear raised to 9600 and DaveTthatsMe pushed. Jennifear made the call. Dave turned over pocket deuces but Jennifear showed him a pair of nines. No miracles this hand. The nines held up.

What a great night.

Thanks to Marti and all of you who showed up to make this party a great.

Peace.

Sorry4urloss is so sorry - but we all lost.

I’ve seen this before so many times but then we called him Verbalkint. Sorry4urloss is a winner again. He just schooled me tonight, always having just enough better to put me in my place. And I wasn’t the only one. Mike showed us why he has always been one of the most feared Holdem Affair regulars. Great Game, sir. And what a treat to be able to post this picture again.

- - - - -

So, it’s Holdem Affair time again. I’m listening to my Cyclone get their butts kicked so this will be a good diversion. I see we have 38 tonight. That is a good field. Let’s have some fun.

Thirty minutes in and Jennifear is our early leader. She isn’t at my table though so I can’t tell you much about it. Mellow Yellow is the big dog on my table and he is sitting to my left. You know, I just don’t like that.

Here come the troops. Thirty-five minutes in and we have lost our first table. I just had AKo and raised pre-flop from middle position and everyone folded. I wonder if they will do that when I’m bluffing? . . . . Well, it’s worked twice now, Just have to pick my spots.

Verdoy just doubled up off NikDomi in a classic JJ vs. AK race. The ace showed on the flop.

We made it to the first break and sorry4urloss is our leader. Here is your leaderboard:
Sorry4urloss = 6395
Luckie in lov = 4540
Daggit13 = 3705
Jennifear = 3685
Pointdume = 3330
Gjones = 2970
Bugman22j = 2835
Mellow Yellow = 2820
BlakAdder = 2740
Verdoy = 2550

We are down to 25 now and the blinds are 50/100. Time for the real tournament play to begin. I’m in 15th place with 1810. Not a terrible place to be.

Well, it’s official. My ISU Cyclones (cyclowns?) just got beat by Northern Iowa, a D IAA team. We are so bad again this year.

We are down to 20 now and the table is full again. One hour 18 minutes into the Holdem Affair.

WhoHasMyLytr just went down when AK went up against AQ and the flop came AQx. That’s just brutal.

I’m now in 16th place out of 16. 1260 and the blinds are 100/200. Hmmmm.
T9s in the BB. What shall I do? FOLD to the raise and call.
Pocket fours – and I stole the blind.
KTo from the button and BB called with AK. I got lucky and flopped a ten. 2620 at least gives me some breathing room for awhile.

I’ll settle down now for a little bit and see if I get some cards.
AQo just won a called pot. Feeling a little better yet.

I just got moved to the other table.

I just made a dumb play and went up against a short stack with a nothing hand. Now I’m in trouble.
53o – nope. 56s push. And I hit the straight to double up. That is so sick when that hand beats a strong ace like this but I find it to be decent play when you are desperate.

BTW, antes have kicked in at the 150/300 level.

OMG, I just took out Jennifear. I raised with KQ and she pushed 77. I caught a king on the flop to win it.

Down to 11 and playing hand by hand now. I’m in 3rd place.

Second hour break, we are down to 11 and I’m in second place. How the heck did I get here?

I’ll give you the leaderboard when we get to the final table – just a few hands to go now.

Blinds are 200/400 now.
I just took out Mellow Yellow when he pushed AJ and I held the rockets. We have our final table. And look who’s in first place.

Leaderboard:
Sunbob = 11745
Hungry Guppy = 8795
Sorry4urloss = 8145
Victor Dave = 7670
DriveULoonie = 6070
BlakAdder = 3920
Pointdume = 3380
Bugman22j = 2965
Smurfette = 2480
Daggit13 = 1830


The blinds are 300/600 now. That means half the table is short stacked. I think I will tighten up a bit and let the stacks sort themselves out.

Well, that wasn’t hard. Went the whole first orbit without even getting a tempting hand.
Hand 13 and BlakAdder is our first casualty. I’ve dropped to third place.
Hand 18 and we have a fight – 88 vs. AK and the flop brought an 8. Daggit is hurting now.
Hand 19 – I had JJ on the button and it got busted by Smurfette but we sent Daggit home.
Now I have to play. That hurt me.

Blinds 400/800 and I have 6080 in 6th place. Being card dead hurts.
This stinks. I am not even getting any suited connectors or anything to play.
Q3o. . .K6o. . .Pointdume pushed and is gone.
K6o and guppy raised – nope.
J5s UTG – nope. Here come the blinds again
Hand 34 - KK in the BB – Guppy pushed in the small blind with AK and flopped an ace but I hit the four card flush. OMG.
Hand 36 and Smurfette is done. – down to 6 now.
Hand 39 – that hurt. I raised with 44 and sorry4urloss pushed. I was priced in so I called. He had 88.
Hand 41 and I dodged a bullet. Pushed A9 from the SB only to have sorry4urloss call with AJ. Two pairs on the board and we split the pot.

Blinds 600/1200 now.
I need a rush or a double up badly.
Hand 51 and KK – just the blinds but that helps.
Hand 55 and I have AK but bugman22j had JJ. Ouch.
Hand 63 and DriveULoonie is gone. I backed into the money tonight.
Hand 66 and I have 33 – have to push and that darn sorry4urloss had 55. I’m done in 5th place.
Hand 77 – bugman22j had AJ but sorry4urloss had AK. Buggy is our 4th place finisher.
Hungry Guppy went down the very next hand. And I didn’t even see it because I was writing.
We are heads up and sorry4urloss is our dominant stack.
Hand 91 and we have our winner. Sorry4urloss was pressuring and pulling away when VictorDave pushed with the flush draw into Sorry4urloss with the set. The flush didn’t come for Dave and Sorry4urloss is our winner.

Another great week at the Holdem Affair tables. But folks – NEXT WEEK is the big event.

DON’T MISS THE 3RD ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BASH.

PRIZES - - PROS - - & PROUD PLAYERS

Peace.

Hungry Guppy Feasted

Can you believe we have been sitting down on Saturday night to play in the Holdem Affair for 3 years now? I hope everyone has cleared their calendars for September 15 to play in the Birthday Bash. Did you get Marti’s email telling us about the special guests? SusieQue has been sending out the invites and we have several pros that are going to join us. Well, let Marti tell you:

Who are the "pros", Marti? Well, I'm glad you asked, lol. We have Jim "KrazyKanuck" Worth, Mark "p0ker H0" Kroon, Gary "Debo34" Debernardi, and finally, Shawn "WestTexasMan" Rice. Of course, there are also the "regular" pros who play with us....SusieQue, Hazy Cat, Papoorboy, Jennifear, and Holland13, just to name a few of them. Since y'all play with us all the time, y'all are part of the family, but you are still pros to us, even if we forget to mention it.

Sounds like a lot of fun to me.

Well my table just opened and it’s almost time to play. Thirty-nine already and there is still 10 minutes to go. Looks like another great field.

Two minutes to go and we are up to 46 tonight. Wow, and it’s a holiday weekend. Must be a bunch of people that have no more of a life than I have. LOL

Time to start and a couple of late arrivals are rushing in to take their seats. We officially have 48 at the start.

Let’s get it on.

Thirty minutes in and mdg2003 is our chip leader.

What a nice little rush. I won 5 hands in that orbit. And now they have sent us all to new tables. I wonder if my luck will follow.

Hey, I’m in the lead. The poker gods must be setting me up. (45 minutes in).

It’s break time and here is your leader board:
Burldog44 = 7380
Hungry Guppy = 4255
Sunbob = 4155
Jewelcard = 3970
Mdg2003 = 3800
Nik Domi = 3795
Msrinny02 = 3415
Sorry4urloss = 3305
BlakAdder = 3285
Slimshady24 = 2930


I’ve been concentrating on the tables and not writing. Half way through the second hour, Hungry Guppy is our chip leader.

Guppy just took out Jewelcard.

Dang – it’s final table time and I didn’t realize it.

Here you go:
Hungry Guppy = 19700
Fatscotsman = 12625
Blakadder = 8220
Papoorboy = 7680
Susieque = 6475
Joewindy = 5555
Sunbob = 4720
Mdg2003 = 39500
Msrinny02 = 1615
Nutty = 1460


I’m in 7th place but at least I have enough chips to play some. Antes 25 and blinds 150/300.

15 hands in and we are at the break. All ten are still alive. I have Hungry Guppy on my right and Papoorboy on my left. This is a tough table.

Blinds are 200/400 now and this table is tight. No one seems to want to battle.
Hand 21 and a fight broke out. AK v AT. BlakAdder had AK and Papoorboy had AT. Pa won when he paired the ten.

Hand 26 - I’m gone in tenth place. I called mdg2003 on a short stack all-in with pocket tens to his AQo and he flopped an ace. The next Hand I pushed my small stack from the button with KTs and Papoorboy called me with ATo. I missed the king and was done for the night in tenth place. Bummer.

Hungry Guppy is still the dominant chip stack.
Hand – 41 and Joewindy just pushed his JJ into SusieQue with AQ. The jacks held up and SQ is in deep trouble.
Hand 43 and BlakAdder is out. A8 v AQ and they both paired their kickers. Msrinny took it down.

Blinds are 300/600 now.
Hand 54 and mdg2003 pushed AK into fatscotsman holding KK. The case king fell on the flop and mdg is history. We are down to seven now.

Hand 56 and hungry guppy just caught a flush to knock out SusieQue.

Bubble time. We are paying five again tonight.

Blinds re now 400/800. All but Guppy and fatscotsman are short stacked.

Hand 71 and we are still dancing.
Hand 77 – nutty raised and Papoorboy pushed with pocket nines. Nutty made the easy call and turned over his rockets. The ace on the river was over kill. Papoorboy is out and we have our money table. That hand gave nutty a healthy stack and second place.

Hand 87 – Joewindy just doubled up off guppy to stay alive.

Blinds are now 600/1200. Poker is getting expensive. The blinds are going to force the action soon.

By hand 110, Joewindy is back in the race. And as I was typing – msrinny just pushed her AJs into guppy with KK. Msrinny02 is gone in fifth place.

Hand 121 and nutty is down to 3815 with the blinds 600/1200. He has to do something soon.
Hand 125 and the BB takes nutty all and fatscotsman send him to the lounge. Three left and hungry guppy full control of the table.

Blinds 800/1600. Guppy has about 60% of the chips.
More dancing. They are just sparing – like two heavyweight that have run out of gas. Who will wake this table up?
Hand 159 – Joewindy pushed JT into fatscotsman with 88. The ten on the flop decided. Fatscotsman is on life support. Hand 164 - All-in from the big blinds and both call. Fatscotsman had AK and Joewindy had deuces. The set came on the turn and fatscotsman is done.

And we have a horse race because guppy was in that hand to the end also. Joewindy is actually ahead.

We made it to the break. When we come back the antes will be 200 and the blinds 1000/2000. Joewindy has 36460 and hungry guppy has 35540. Virtually a dead heat.

Okay, we can see that hungry guppy likes to push if he is going to play the hand. That’s an effective strategy but it can be fatal. So far it is working and guppy is pulling ahead.

Joe has adjusted nicely and is back in the lead by hand 185.
Now guppy is just limping. He has changed his attack.
Hand 200 and Joe is back in the lead.
Hand 204 and we have our war. Joewindy with Ad 9d and Hungry Guppy with Kh Qc. The stacks are almost equal but Guppy has the edge. Guppy pushed pre-flop and you could see that Joewindy was waiting for this opportunity because he immediately called. It was decision time. The flop came 3h Th Ks. Guppy had hit his pair. No miracle ace on the turn or river for Joewindy and we had our winner. Hungry Guppy, the man who had owned the final table earlier, now owned the Holdem Affair for this week. After feisting on all of those sharks, I hope he was full.

Excellent game folks.

Peace.

Papoorboy Pressures to Win

At the top of this article is a picture of the bracelet from the first Holdem Affair birthday bash from 2005. Marti will again be awarding bracelets to the winners of this year’s third anniversary bash. We are the oldest and original private tournament on UB and it is time to celebrate three years of good poker and even better friendship. What better way to spend a Saturday night?

Come join the rest of the Holdem Affair family Saturday night, September 15. Marti has prizes and some other fun planned. We may also be having some special guests. KrazyKanuck has joined us in the past and has accepted our invitation for another year. We may see some other names as well. You won’t know until you sit down – so be there for the action.

Now – on to this week's game.

* * * * *
Hey, it’s Holdem Affair time. I’m sliding in just a few minutes before start time. Let’s see what we have here.

Well, 3 minutes to go and we have 44 players ready to go. The fields have been getting bigger each week. Jewelcard just said hello. Good to see him back. Marti is at my table and so is Tai pan. I’m ready for a pleasant evening of poker. It’s been a wild week. OK, it’s tournament time and the official head count will be 45.

Here we go.

30 minutes in and Jewelcard is our leader. My table is breaking up. And just guess what table I’m on – yep. Hello Jewelcard.

It’s the first hour break and I’m in fifth place. We are down to 31. That’s a little strange, I haven’t been doing well for the past few weeks. Here are your leaders:
Agro = 6575
Big lar8 = 4125
Rshocker = 3935
Idblondee = 3075
Sunbob = 3020
ThePokerWolf = 2950
Doorie = 2925
Papoorboy = 2900
Jewelcard = 2605
SusieQue = 2385

SusieQue just busted Jewelcard with her AK against his AQ. That has to hurt.

OMG, DriveULoonie just clobbered SusieQue when her pocket queens spiked a set against pocket aces.

1 hour and 30 minutes into the Holdem Affair and we are down to 20. Two full tables now and I’m in 16th place – yech.

Dang – blinds are 100/200 and I have 1670. I have to chip up here soon.

DriveULoonie just called deadmanshand all-in with pocket fives and hit his set. Loonie is in first place now and Deadman is done for the night. His AK just wasn’t good enough.

I have to do something again. T9o – nope. . . . 69s – nope. . . I have 1670 that’s enough to get some respect but the blinds are coming around. T3o – ugly.
BB next – 65o. SusieQue pushed – no way will I call.
K7 and a raise in front of me. . . KQo – time to go? SusieQue raise and I pushed into her AK. Dumb. Oh well, 16th place it is.

Getting close to the second hour break and we are down to 13. Will we seat our final table before the break? Any side bets folks?

Rexx68 finished in 13th place. It’s bubble time. Idblondee is gone in 12th. Dealing hand by hand now. Papoorboy is pressuring table 2. Table 4 it’s Rshocker. The two big stacks are putting on the pressure.

Wow, SusieQue just talked ThePokerWolf out of a pot. Wolf is all-in now and stole the blinds.

- Three handed on table 3 and Jillymae took a nice pot.
- Oh my, ThePokerWolf just got all-in with his jacks against annieboom with 99 and she caught a nine on the river. We have our final table – and before the break. Well, actually we are breaking as we seat the table.

Here is your leaderboard:
Papoorboy = 13455
Rshocker = 11875
SusieQue = 7445
Doorie = 6655
Agro = 5555
Jillymae = 5430
Annieboom = 5415
Sajules = 4600
BlakAdder = 3620
WhoHasMyLytr = 3450

When we come back the blinds will be 200/400 with 50 antes.

Here we go.
Hand 10 and sajules is our short stack with 1200. SusieQue raise and BlakAdder pushed with AQo. SusieQue called with pocket eights and the 88 held up. Our birthday boy was the first to fall from the final table.

Hand 14 and sajules is down to 900 and folds that as well as 15.l. Here comes the blind in the next hand. 150 after posting the 600 blind. Wow, Papoorboy called and caught a straight to knock her out.

LOL – hand 20 and Papoorboy is all-in against WhoHasMyLytr. Both turned over pocket kings and split the pot.

Blinds are now 400/800.
Jillymae is about ready to blind out. All-in with her last 805 with 99. Rshocker called and paired his queen to bust her out in 8th place.

The blinds are so high now that Papoorboy, SusieQue and rshocker are the only ones that are not short stacked. It’s survival mode for the other four.

Hand 31 and agro doubled up off SusieQue – we have a fourth horse in the race now.

Hand 33 and SusieQue is all-in against Papoorboy and he laid it down.
Hand 39 and annieboom pushed big slick into SusieQue with pocket threes. It looked like the threes would hold but Annie rivered a king to stay alive.

Blinds are 600/1200 now. Poker is getting to be very expensive just to sit at the table.
Papoorboy is starting to get some distance from SusieQue in second place.
Hand 53 – Doorie pushed AJo and SusieQue called with Q4o. Susie caught a straight to her four and knocked Doorie into the cheap seats. We are down to 6.

Hand 56 and SusieQue just knocked out WhoHasMyLytr and annieboom in the same hand with two pair queens over deuces. SusieQue is now our chip leader and we are paying the field.

Hand 67 and Papoorboy turned over pocket nines to K9 for rshocker. No king came to play and rshocker had to settle for 4th place money.

SusieQue has about 60% of the chips and agro is just trying to pick his spot to double up. Papoorboy is pushing hard every chance he gets to gain back some of the chips that SusieQue has cached away and he is making some progress.

Hand 77 and they are at it again. Papoorboy talked her out of this one also.
Hand 79 and there goes agro. 33 VS. Q9o. The threes held up and agro doubled up.
Hand 82 and agro pushed K2s into SusieQue with 88. agro rivered a king to double through again. We have a three horse race now.

Folks, this is amazing poker. I wish I could type fast enough to give you all of the action. Papoorboy and agro have gone after SusieQue and have reeled her back to the pack. In fact, right now, Papoorboy has a slight chip lead at hand 91. but not when the hand was over. SusieQue has wrestled it back from Papoorboy as we go to the third hour break.

We are back with the blinds 1000/2000. It can’t last long now.
Hand 96 and agro is in the BB. SusieQue raised and agro folded showing 53o.
Hand 99 and agro had KhQh and SusieQue had JTo. The board hit trip jacks and agro was done. We are heads up between Papoorboy and SusieQue. SusieQue has a slight lead.
They are sparing the first few hands. Neither wanting to expose too much.

Hand 111 and pa is pressuring a little. He has stolen the lead and is gaining traction.
Hand 116 and pa stole that pot.
Hand 121 and both are all-in with AJo. Split pot.
Hand 123 and we have a winner. Papoorboy pushed and SusieQue called with J4s. Papoorboy turned over pocket sevens. The flop paired a four but the turn revealed a seven. That was it. Papoorboy has won in a very exciting final table. The action was particularly fun to watch when we got to the money table. The last four are all masterful players and the level of the game went up a notch or two. This may be a friendly game but the action can get to be very gifted.

Thank you all for a wonderful night.

Peace.

Thunder3 Claims his Second

I’m sitting down and getting ready to play again this week. Carol is out in the living room watching an Elvis tribute show. We were reminded that Elvis really was more than just a celeb – he was an excellent musician. “Return to Sender” was the very first record that I ever bought. I was in 6th grade and just had to have that song. I know some of you are old enough to remember 45s. I don’t even remember what was on the B side of that disc. I think I have a topic for discussion tonight. What is your favorite Elvis song?

We have 34 playing tonight. Time to play some poker.

Thirty minutes in and Holland13 is our chip leader though no one really has jumped ahead in a big way.

Well, I’m out early tonight in 27th place. Just couldn’t win a race even when I had the best hand going in. Oh well, that’s poker. Just missed making it to the first hour break.

Here is your leaderboard:
Marti = 5605
Jayzion = 4130
WhoHasMyLytr = 3495
Papoorboy = 2960
Mr. Que = 2690
Chip Leigh = 2670
HolyDuces = 2665
Bacall9 = 2305
Burldog44 = 2315
Big Lar8 = 2305

Wow, is that Marti I see at the top of the leaderboard? WTG, Marti. I’m going to have to focus on that table for awhile. We are down to 24 as we go into the second hour.

We are down to 20 now just 19 minutes into the second hour. Burldog44 is our leader. Marti has fallen into second place.

One hour 30 minutes and we are down to 15. Marti is back in the lead. This is her night tonight.

We are down to 13 and the top off the leaderboard is getting heavy. Chip Leigh has 6120 and Sorry4urloss is right behind with 5765. With the blinds 150/300 we have a horse race to the final table.

We just balanced the table with 12 and bugman22j is our short stack with 1315. Let’s sit in on his table and see how he fares.

Two folds and he is waiting for his spot. Oops Hazy Cat just busted out and we now are dealing - - - and as I was typing we lost another. Who was it? It was Holland13. We have our final table.
Sorry4urloss = 10485
Papoorboy = 6615
WhoHasMyLytr = 5745
Chip Leigh = 5170
Thunder3 = 5155
Burldog44 = 5070
Jillymae = 4790
Marti = 4265
HolyDuces = 2390
Bugman22j = 1315

Hand 5 and Chip Leigh falls to sorry when AQ went up against AK. No help on the board and Chip is done for the night.

The antes have now kicked in with the blinds still 150/300.

MARTI JUST ANNOUNCED THAT KRAZY KANUCK IS PLAYING IN THE BIRTHDAY BASH. ALRIGHT!!!!

Hand 14 – HolyDuces was all-in with AQ against thunder13 with pocket eights. The queen on the turn doubled holy up.

Hand 15 and Bugman clobbered Lytr with pocket aces. Lytr is on life support.
Hand 17 and Lytr is gone.

We are down to 8 and paying five again tonight as usual.
Hand 20 – Jillymae pushed A Jo and sorry called with 22. Jillymae doubled up.
Hand 22 – thunder just doubled up off jilly when A Jo beat TT.
We are racing hard tonight.
Hand 24 – what is this? a pot played post flop? Marti caught the straight and took it down. Nice pot Marti.

Break time. We will come back to the blinds being 200/400 and antes 50.

Hand 30 and Marti called thunder’s all-in with top pair only to have thunder, who had second pair, spike trips. Ouch.


Well, I just went off to check out the news story that Danni was in and came back to find that burldog44 was gone in 8th place and Jillymae was forced to settle for 7th place.

Its bubble time. Marti is our short stack with 3720. What will she do?
BB for marti – HolyDuces just pushed UTG and took the blinds.
SB for Marti and all fold to her. She folded as well and bugman showed pocket jacks.
Button – all fold to her – push. And she takes the blinds.

Hand 46 and thunder pushes to take the blinds showing QQ.

Hand 48 and Marti pushed UTG and called by thunder. Both show AJ and split the pot.
Wow – hand 49 and Papoorboy is gone. He tried to trap with KK only to have the board show all spades. Sorry had the Ks.

Hand 51 and HolyDuces is gone. Duces had TT, Sorry had JJ and Marti had QQ. Big hand for Marti and HolyDuces is done.

Hand 65 – Marti pushed from the BB only to have Sorry look her up. High card won it for Sorry and our hostess is done for the night with 4th place money.

We are down to three and bugman22j is shortest. The blinds are 400/800.
They are dancing right now. Nothing too daring.

Hand 85 and we have some serious action. Buggy with AQ vs. sorry4urloss with 77. Bugman flopped an ace and turn another for trips. The river was a seven giving sorry the full house and bugman was shown to the lounge. Wow – what a way to go.

Heads up action and the stacks started pretty even.
Thunder has taken a good lead and has the momentum now.

Hand 112 and we have our winner. They pushed on the king high flop and both showed kings. Thunder had the better kicker but also paired his Jack for good measure. Thunder3 is our winner tonight.

Looks like “Blue Suede Shoes” is the most common favorite for Elvis in this group. Not a bad choice but “Return to Sender” is still my choice.

Don’t forget the Birthday Bash OFFICIAL date is September 15th. Marti is shooting for a 9:30 UB time start.

Peace.

Jennifear Wins the Battle

Hey, hey. It’s another Saturday night and time for the Holdem Affair. Looks like a good field again this week. Over 40 again. - Yep, 43 is the official number. Let’s get ready to rumble.

Only 8 at my table to start. Win is here and Hazy and some new names I don’t really know. This could be interesting.

I just rivered a straight flush. And I couldn’t get Mikes Cocked to pay me off. Oh well.


Well, well. This has gotten to be a serious table. No chat and very good poker. Rshocker and bugman have dropped in and it is poker time.

Thirty minutes in and we are down to 36. Tough tables tonight.

My goodness, 40 minutes in and Xgames is running away with this. 8000 chips in the lead and winforlife is second with only 3060. Glad Xgames isn’t at my table.

We are coming up on the first break and I have a sneaking suspicion that Jennifear has nailed Xgames because he is back in the pack and Jenn is now our leader.

Wow, we made it to the break and our lovely hostess is our chip leader. I’m missing too much of the action on the other tables. Here is your leaderboard:

Marti = 4325
Rexx68 = 4215
Jennifear = 4195
Winforlife = 3160
Banaconyak = 3110
Southrnchick = 2870
Smokin hot 38 = 2830
Rshocker = 2810
Idblondee = 2510
Al Swearingen = 2370


We no more get back from the break and our table is moved. Now I’m with spidey on my left and a bunch of other sharks.

I was down to nothing and I have fought my way back to 2200 with the blinds 100/200. Let’s see how it goes.

I’m back in the game at 2750.

Off we go to a new table. Hello Jenn.

New table time, again.

Blinds 150/300 and I’m card dead. Nothing even worth pushing. We are down to 16 now.

Q4o . . nope. K3 off. . . nope. Q2o . . . yech. BB 83o. fold. Rinny is gone.

94s, 83o, gotta get something soon. A9s – push and get the blinds. Back to 2000.
Spidey is gone in 15th place on the other table.

74o, QJs in BB – pushed and missed – I’m out in 14th place. Bummer.

Txmom is done in 13th place. Marti is gone in 12th place. It’s bubble time.
Bugman bites the dust and we have our final table.

Rexx68 is our leader with 14700 and nutty is shortest with 1525. Antes 50 and blinds 200/400..
Rexx68 = 14700
Agro = 14060
Romanee Conti = 8765
Matt Isaacs = 7450
Smokin hot 38 = 4885
PerfectsGirl = 4345
Winforlife = 3920
Smurfette = 2840
Jennifear = 2010
Nutty = 1525


Just in time for the break.

Jenn pushed UTG – no callers.
Smokin pushed UTG – no callers.

Cautious table right now.

Nutty hit a flush and more than doubled up. Still all ten at the table.

Hand 22 and Smokin is all-in against rexx68. AJ vs. KT and the board pair both A and J. Smokin is still in the game. Agro and Rex own this table but the shorties won’t go away.
Oops there goes nutty – Romanee took it down.
Hand 26 – Jenn pushed again – no calls.
Hand 27 and again she pushed, again she got it for free.
Hand 29 – PG is in and rexx called. AT vs. KK for rexx and PerfectsGirl is done for the night. We only have 8 now and are paying five.

The blinds just went through Smurfette and she has only 1815 left. Blinds 300/600.
Hand 36 and Smurfette doubled up though Jennifear with QQ.

Hand 38 and Jenn pushed. . . winforlife called with AJ but Jenn had AQ. Winforlife is gone in 8th place.
Hand 41 and Romanee pushed AJ into Jennifear holding AK. Jennifear is our new chip leader.
Hand 44 and Romanee is gone.
Hand 46 and smoking is all-in with 3 callers. Smokin is gone and our money table is set.
Hand 51 and Smurfette ran into Jenn. We are down to four. But WTG, Smurfette – you moneyed from a very short stack.

Jenn, agro and rexx have the stacks but Matt Isaacs is staying in the game. The blinds are 400/800 and matt only has 5350.

Hand 69 and matt pushed – no callers.
He pushed again – no calls.
Hand 71 and this time Jenn called and he doubled up. We have a four horse race now folks.
Folks, this is great poker action tonight.
Oh my – rexx went after Jennifear with AQ and Jenn had AK. He is hurting now big time.
Two steals and he is getting back some ground.
Hand 83 and Jenn pushed 33 into Agro with AQ. No help for Agro and he is gone.

Matt is at his first Holdem Affair final table and doing very well for himself.
Hand 89 and Jenn just took out Rexx. We are HEADS UP.
Matt just doubled up with AA.
Hand 97 and we are done. All-in with Jenn holding A7s and matt showing K8 of hearts. The 8 on the turn looked to be a winner but Jennifear rivered an ace for the win.

What a night. This was a great final table.

Jennifear has won more Holdem Affair tournaments than any other player but the action tonight was no cake walk for her. This continues to be a great night of fun but also excellent poker.

Thank you all and see you next week.

Peace.

A 6 pounder and a footlong

It’s Saturday night and time for another Holdem Affair. I missed last week because I was in Chicago seeing my niece get married. If any of you have tried to party and drive in Chicago traffic, you know I would have preferred to be home playing in the Holdem Affair.

We have a good field this week. Looks like we have 40 in the group tonight. Let’s get it on.

I’m starting at a table with Papoorboy, Jennifear, thuggy, annieboom, rinny, PG – OMG this is going to be tough.

99 first hand and Marti raised. What in the world? Bet she has a higher pair. I still call. She had 77 and hit her set.

99 again – second hand. No help again.

Twenty minutes in and all we have lost is nemesis. And the moves at this table would make the Bolshoi proud.

Forty minutes in and we are down to 30 players.

Dang, I just knocked out Jennifear when she pushed her JJ into my KK.

Well, I made it to the first hour break. That went fast. We are down to 26 and Jac5373 is leading the pack. Here are your leaders:
Jac5373 = 5115
Sorry4urloss = 5030
Hazy Cat = 4815
Unionthug = 3905
HurQueRock = 3590
DaleT = 3495
Kryptic = 3315
WhoHasMyLytr = 2935
Thunder3 = 3785
Idblondee = 2380

Second Hour

Rshocker nailed me when I took him all-in with my JJ and he called with AQo. He hit a queen on the turn and an ace on the river. I’m desperate now.

T5, nope. . . 25 – yech. . . 99 – UTG – push – won the blinds. Q6s on the button. It worked. . . KK – yes. Push - Any callers? Lol – yep. Rshocker called with 77 and rivered a seven. He knocked me out on two suck outs. Oh well, that’s poker. I finished in 20th place.


Down to 14 already just 1 hour and 30 minutes in. They are going fast now.

Okay, we have settled in now. No more losses for 15 minutes.

I no more than say that and Hazy Cat is gone in 14th place. Getting to the FT bubble now. (We are paying 5 tonight).

I’ve been watching table 2 but all the chips are on table 3. Thunder3 is leading and HurQueRock is right behind him.

Papoorboy just went down in 13th place and PerfectsGirl in 12th . We are down to 11 and dealing hand by hand.

MrsBeasley, over on table 3 is our short stack. And there we go. Rshocker bit the dust. I didn’t even see the hand because I was typing. Here is your final table:
HurQueRock = 13585
DaleT = 12875
Thunder3 = 11870
Sorry4urloss = 4285
Jac5373 = 3980
Idblondee = 3060
Annieboom = 2880
Big lar8 = 2870
WhoHasMyLytr = 2730
MrsBeasley = 2865

I’ll set the action. Antes are 25 and the blinds 150/300. HurQueRock is our leader and thunder3 is close behind.

Hand 4 and MrsBeasley just doubled up with big slick and is no longer our shortest stack.

Hand 7 and Annieboom is our first casualty. Thunder had pocket nines to beat her A T.

By hand 15 thunder has the lead and DaleT is in second.

Hand 17 and big lar8 went in with AQ but 99 from Idblondee held up. And now we are eight.

We come back from the second hour break and the blinds are now 200/400.

Hand 29 and sorry4urloss is gone when AK met up with 66 from Thunder and couldn’t get any help.

Oh my, Hand 36 and Idblondee pushed AQ into an A J x flop only to have HurQueRock turn over AJ. Now we have 6.

Jac5373 is our shorty now. Oops that didn’t last long. Now it is MrsBeasley.

Hand 45 – Jac pushes and steals the blinds.

Hand 51 and Beasley is down to 960. She folded. #52 UTG she folded again. BB is next hand. Jac raised - they each have 9 2s and Beasley hit her flush to win the hand. Amazing.

Hand 56 and MrsBeasley falls to DaleT.

We have our money table.

WhoHasMyLytr is the shortest stack with only 9 BB and posting. The blinds went through.

Hand 64 – Lytr had QQ but Tunder3 had KK. We are down to four.

Hand 73 and Jac is down to 8 BB on the button. Push is the play – DaleT thinks. . . and folds.

Thunder3 is in charge of this table right now.

Wow, power play time. Hand 88 and Jac pushed from the small blind with K5s only to have HurQueRock show K7s. They both hit on the flop and HurQueRock took it down.

Hand 91 and Jac5373 is gone. We now have 3.

Hand 96 and the tide has turned. HurQueRock pushed 55 and flopped his set. DaleT took the hit.

Blinds are 400/800 now. It’s getting expensive to play.

Thunder has about half the chips in play and the other two are about equal.

Hand 116 and we have a threesome. Thunder took it down.

Hand 127 and DaleT just talked thunder out of a pot and the chip lead.

Hand 132 and we are all even. HurQueRock has the slight lead.

Wow, hand 133 and HurQueRock has AK and DaleT JJ. The king hits and DaleT is all but done. Hand 135 and we are down to heads up. HurQueRock has the most chips.

Hand 143 and HurQueRock pushed on a flush draw and hit it to win. He was pushing hard with his chip lead and it paid off for him tonight. Excellent play HurQueRock. You earned the win.

For the first time in three years the main topic of discussion wasn’t boobies. The hot topic tonight was a 6 pound penis and a 12 incher. Thank you ladies for a wonderful chat. Was there a poker game going on?

Peace to all and goodnight.

Sunbob

BTW, check out the story about Kiva, please.

KIVA

This story is for those who haven't noticed and clicked on the link I have on the right side of this site. I discovered Kiva last April and have made a habit of picking one recipient each month since then. I have six now in my portfolio and growing. It just seems like the right thing to do and I want to encourage all of my readers to look into this. If you win one $5 SnG you have the money to help someone. One of the things I like best about this site is that ALL of the moey that you send goes to the recipient. Please check it out.

I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva.
You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the business is going. The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.
I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Francisco Salinas Marín in Paraguay. They still need another $200.00 to complete their loan request of $500.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this business off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Francisco Salinas Marín too:
http://kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=15387&referralId=
It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.
Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.
Peace,
Sunbob---------------------------------------------------------

Holland13 in the End

Holland13 showed some marvelous play the whole night and it paid off in the end. He survived a major scare at the final table to post his first Holdem Affair victory.

As has become my custom – here is my tale.
- - - - -
The word was yabbos and I was in the game. The Holdem Affair was on for Saturday night. It didn’t matter that Beckham was making his MLS debut on ESPN. – we were playing the Holdem Affair. But then we were playing and Beckham wasn’t, so let’s play.

GAME ON!!!!!

I want to apologize to all for last week. I wanted to play and was home in plenty of time. But my Internet connection crapped out on me Friday night and they couldn’t get a tech out until Tuesday. In his defense – the tech was great. He didn’t just give me a new modem but rewired my house out to the pole. My download speed doubled.

I’m in the game tonight along with 32 others. That’s a good field for the Holdem Affair, let’s have some fun.

Thirty minutes in and it looks like Papoorboy has taken the early lead but Holland13 and aktim are right behind.

Awww. Hand 49 and I just busted annieboom when she pushed her pocket jacks into my pair of ladies. She was short stacked thanks to Hazy Cat.

- - - - -

In the 78th minute of the LOS Angeles Galaxy game vs. Chelsea – David Beckham just took the field. Will this be the beginning of a new chapter in US soccer history or just a boring footnote? We shall see.

- - - - -

We made it to the first hour break and we still have twenty players at the tables. Jayzion is our leader. Here is your top 10:
Jayzion = 5590
Aktim = 5540
Holland13 = 4475
Hungry Guppy = 4365
DriveULoonie = 3030
Whrlingdrvish = 2835
PerfectsGirl = 2625
WhoHasMyLytr = 2570
Sunbob = 2550
Twocats = 2310


Hand 107 and I just took out Idblondee when my pocket jacks flopped a boat. G G Blondee.

Hand 109 and I have AK to an A T 4 flop. I bet out and aktim, the only stack close to mine at this table, raised me. I got it all in on the turn only to see aktim turn over A T. Oops. I’m short stacked. Hand 114 and I double up with KK. Back to 970 chips with the blinds 75/150.

It’s bubble time. We are down to 11. The panel says I’m in 10th place. Yech
Now it’s official – I’m in 11th place.

73o . . .94o. . . . All-in with pocket tens. WhoHasMyLytr called with Qx and turned a queen. I’m bubble boy this week.


We have our final table and Holland13 is our chip leader. Here is the board.
Holland13 = 15485
Kryptic = 7450
Aktim = 5365
Hungry guppy = 4500
Twocats = 4225
Hemi Henry = 4170
Jakeylove = 3375
WhoHasMyLytr = 2140
PerfectsGirl = 2080
Miss UB = 710


And now back to the action.

First hand and Miss UB is all-in with only 750 chips and AQ. Jakeylove called with A9 and caught a nine.

Hand 5 and Aktim is gone.

Hand 6 and Jakeylove took out Lytr when Lytr pushed into his pocket aces.

The action is so fast here that I’m missing it.
Okay, short stacks are basically gone and we can play some now. Blinds are 100/200.

Hand 28 and Hemi Henry is desperate. All-in with ace deuce but PerfectsGirl has pocket rockets. Henry is gone.

We are down to six and paying five tonight. And it now is a war.
All the way to hand 54 and the blinds are now 150/300. Holland13 is in solid control of the table but with hungry guppy the shortest stack at 4650, this is still anyone’s match.

Hand 61 and Holland13 rivered his flush to knock out Kryptic.

Hand 63 and Guppy doubled up off PerfectsGirl with AA. PG is in deep trouble. She doubled on the next hand and again on hand 65. She’s back in the game – WOW.

We made it to the break with Holland13 in a comfortable lead and now Hungry Guppy is in second place. Twocats is our short stack with 2320 coming back to post the big blind of 400.

Hand 74 and Twocats just doubled up off guppy when the JJ held up.

Hand 81 and PG pushed 88 only to be called by Jakeylove with 99. It was looking bad until the river 8 showed up. This is getting wild now.

Hand 88 and Twocats doubles up again to stay alive – this time KK.

Twocats is doing his Bee Gees revival – “Stayin Alive”.

Hand 104 and Holland13 is no longer in control. Jakeylove just took a big pot off him and we have a new leader.

Hand 115 and we had a classic race. Holland with AK and PerfectsGirl with TT. The K on the turn was the deciding factor. Two hands later and PerfectsGirl is gone.

Wow I stop to write and Hungry Guppy hits a set of eights to double up and we have a new sheriff in town.

Twocats is still alive. With 2 cats do you get 18 lives?

Okay, by hand 128, it looks like a match between Jakeylove and Hungry Guppy. Holland and Twocats are both desperately short now.

Hand 143 and our cat is done for the night. K5s doesn’t work against Ax when two more aces fall. Great game Twocats.

Down to 3 with the blinds 400/800. Hungry Guppy has the rest of the whole table covered.

Holland13 has climbed back into the game, and now is in second place.

Hand 160 and Holland13 just took out Jakeylove when his JT hit trip tens.

Heads up and it is almost even. Hungry Guppy has the advantage but it is small.

Back and forth they dance. No one will take the lead.

Hand 170 and Holland talked guppy out of a nice pot to steal the lead.

Guppy showed some power poker and it is a dead heat now

There’s more lead changes here than a hobby stock dirt track race.

Hand 194 was big. Guppy pushed 66 and Holland called with A9. Holland hit a nine and Guppy was mortally wounded.

Hungry Guppy pushed on the As 6s 8d flop the very next hand. Holland13 made the call and turned over 8s 5s. Hungry Guppy showed Td 6h. Holland had the better pair on the flop. That turned into the flush when the turn brought the 4s. But he wasn’t done. In an excellent Holdem Affair example of the poker equivalent to a walk off homer, Holland13 rivered the 7s for the straight flush and the win.

That was an amazing heads up match. Actually that whole final table was fun to watch.

Great game. Another fun night of poker with my friends.

Peace.

Papoorboy gets Number Five

It was a small group this week for the Holdem Affair. Only 18 players sat down to contest the oldest running private tournament on UB. This is the kind of field that the real strong thrive in and this week wasn’t an exception. Papoorboy bested the field and I see some names on the final table list that have proven their worth.

Papoorboy finished first with bugman22j his heads up victim. Slim Shady24 was third to complete the money table. Fatscotsman was fourth and our favorite south sea islander, Tai Pan was our fifth place finisher.

I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to be here tonight but I was playing in a home game. These guys keep asking me to come back even though I have finished in the money 5 out of the last six times I have played. Tonight was no exception as I finished second to a very good newcomer who out kicked me heads up when we both flopped top pair.

Jewelcard was there and says I have to share with you one hand where I got very lucky. I was in EP2 with As Qh and I limped. Tighty was MP2 and he hit me with a 3X BB raise. I knew if he was in the pot he had a hand. Two other calling stations were along for the ride. This was fairly early in the night so when it got back to me I just pushed with about 1200 chips of the 1400 starting stack. When tighty called I figured him for KK. My goal was to get heads up with one of them with the AQ and I was right. The two limpers bailed as they should. Tighty and I both showed AQo with Tighty showing Ah Qs. The flop came with the 8h and the 9h. tighty was calling for two more hearts for the flush. The Th came on the turn and everyone was standing and watching the river. The river was another heart giving Tighty the flush and what he thought was the win. But I interrupted and pointed out it was the Jh that had fallen on the river and I had the straight flush. That doubled me up and put me into position for the rest of the night. It also was good for the high hand side pot so I was assured of getting my buy in back for the night. That made it easy to play a little looser and more aggressively the rest of the night. As it ended up I was able to get down to the final two and just got unlucky in the heads up. I like this home game. They keep giving me their money and inviting me back.

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July. I watched the fireworks from the roof of our store – right down on the river where they shoot off the fireworks. There are very few perks in my business but that is one of the best.

See you all next week.

Peace.

DriveULoonie for Two

I missed the Holdem Affair this week as I wandered off “Into The Woods” with my wife and daughter. I made it back in time for the final table. We pick up the action on hand 76 and we are down to 7. I see that I have already missed Hazy Cat being eliminated in 10th and my old friend Jewelcard going down in ninth place. Big Lar8 made it to 8th place before he fell.

We started this week with 34. I’m looking at the list of names here that have been eliminated. Xgames in 34th, Jennifear in 31st, Marti in 26th. Why do I think I missed an interesting night at the tables?


Here is the action.

Oh no, hand 81 and Troiano27 is all-in with A Q and DriveULoonie calls with KK. Troiano27 is gone.

DriveULoonie is dominating this table. Heatquest2006 is in second place.

We have our money table now that we are down to five. VictorDave, Mr. Que, and bugman22j are distant followers.

Hand 96 and Heatquest just doubled up off Loonie.

Oops, but on the very next hand Loonie took out Mr Que.

Hand 98 and Victor Dave took out Bugman22j. Bugman pushed his pocket 99 but VictorDave turned an ace to pair up.

Hand 113 and HeatQuest2006 has a huge chip lead (27960) , Loonie has 18K and VictorDave about 4K.

Hand 114 - Dave is down to his last 1915 and has to push with Q7o. Loonie has A8o and VictorDave is gone.

Heads up and it is a dead heat now. DriveULoonie and Heatquest2006.

Loonie takes the early advantage.

By hand 130 he has double the stack of Heat Quest.

Loonie is pushing but Heatquest is staying alive.

On hand 140 Heatquest doubled up and we are back to near even.

Hand 146 and it is over. Heatquest pushed with A 7o but DriveULoonie held KK. The rulers held up and DriveULoonie takes his second Holdem Affair title.

Way to go folks. That was a good table to watch.

Peace.

Burldog44 makes it Four

Burldog44 made it number four this week. He was the best of the thirty-one combatants entered in this week’s Holdem Affair. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to play this week or even see any of the action.

Looking over the final standings I see some names that I haven’t seen in awhile. I see Jewelcard made another final table. Fatscotsman was back as was nicnac16.

Your final five included burldog44, gjones, Hazy Cat, slick63, and stevob19.

I hope to see you all next week.

Peace

Big Lar8 for the first time

Big Lar8, that perennial final table combatant, finally broke through and posted his first Holdem Affair victory. It took some masterful play to do it. Jennifear had been dominating the final table with a massive chip lead but Big Lar8 took her on and succeeded not only in stopping her aggressive play but actually knocked her out. He made quick work of the last two after that. It was fun to watch as he plotted his strategy and executed the denouement.

As is my present style, here is my story, written during the heat of battle. Oh, and the picture is the Library in Ephesus.

- - - - - - - - - - -

It’s another Saturday night and it is time for the Holdem Affair. I wonder what excitement awaits us for the evening. Is one of the old timers going to shine tonight or is it the night for a new comer to rise to the top? I finished second last week. I’ll do well just to make the final table in this event. There are some very gifted players each week at these tables. I’ll not even try to name them because I am sure to leave someone out. And anyway, the list would be too long. The clock is ticking – 33 players entered with 5 minutes to go. The password entry system is great. It saves a lot of scrambling from Marti and the crew at UB. I’m glad they were finally able to get it up and running.

Okay, we have thirty-five tonight. About average for this field. So we will be paying five again. I’ve got Tai pan, Hooter Hanna, Burldog, Lytr and mdg at my table. This is going to be tough.

I just doubled up off WhoHasMyLytr when we both caught the ace but I had a queen kicker. That puts me in second place – 15 minutes into the event. Not what I would consider very significant but hey, it’s a start.

Thirty minutes in and HurQueRock is our chip leader. I’m in fifth place.

My table just got moved. HurQueRock is on my left and Papoorboy across from me.

Well, we come now to the first hour break. We are down to twenty-three with HurQueRock still our chip leader. Jennifear had held that honor for awhile this first hour but has fallen to second place. Here is your leader board:
HurQueRock = 6055
Jennifear = 5925
Tai pan = 4195
WhoHasMyLytr = 3510
Pro Loser = 3005
Sunbob = 2975
Burldog44 = 2680
Annieboom = 2285
Big lar8 = 2230
Papoorboy = 2215

Down to 19 pretty quickly. 1 hour 15 minutes into the night. Jennifear just got transferred to my table. We are full again and this is going to be hot. Oh my, Jenn has a stack.


Can you say “Card dead”? – I’m getting blinded down with nothing even speculative to play. This is getting to be painful.




I am now 13th out of 13. All or nothing time with the blinds 100/200 and only 2025 in chips. 7 3 off on the button – yech.

Q4s. . . 62s,. . . Q4o. . . JJ – yes. In the big blind. All-in. Well, Jennifear pushed her KQo and flopped a queen. I’m done in 13th place. I could have predicted that.

We are down to 11 – dealing hand by hand.

Here we go – final table time. Agro was our bubble victim.

Here you go:
Jennifear = 10715
Thunder3 = 9680
Big lar8 = 6660
HurQueRock = 5165
Annieboom = 4695
Pro Loser = 4380
Tai pan = 4100
Mdg2003 = 3100
Hazy Cat = 2050
RiverRats1 = 1955


RiverRats1 was the first to go. Jennifear nailed him with two pair. Of course she had pocket aces so I guess that can be expected.

Hand 8 - HurQueRock just bit the dust.

Hand 18 and Jennifear took out Tai pan when her AKo flopped two more kings. Jennifear owns this table right now with twice as many chips as Big Lar8 in second place.

Hand 24 and Hazy Cat pushes his last into the middle. Pro Loser takes him down with the call. We are down to six and paying five. Just in time for the break. When we come back the blinds will be 200/400.

This is getting good. No one wants to die. Jennifear is pushing but someone is pushing back often enough to keep things stable. Looks like it will take the blind escalation to force the action.

Blinds are 300/600 now.

Hand 65 – Big Lar8 just caught Jennifear with his pocket aces and has taken the lead.

Hand – 68 – Wow, annieboom just pushed back from the big blind and got caught. We are down to five and in the money.

Thunder3 is our leader now. Jenn has fallen to third place and hasn’t the power anymore.

Hand 75 and Jennifear is gone. She pushed hard on an ace/king flop with her Ks 7c. But big lar8 held an ace and took her down.

Mdg2003 is down to his last , all in with Q5o and it wasn’t good enough to beat Pro Loser.

Hand 97 – Pro Loser just hit a set of sixes and we have a three horse race.

Hand 100 – not anymore – Pro Loser pushed his second pair and lar8 had top pair.

Hand 109 – Pro Loser just ran into the pocket aces of big lar8 and we are heads up. Larry has double of thunder.

Hand 111 and we are done. Big Lar8 has taken on all challengers and prevailed for his first Holdem Affair victory. Excellent final table. Big Lar8 took on Jennifear when she was the chip leader and succeeded in turning the tide. That was the winning formula tonight.

Peace.