Tavern Tourneys

Last night I drove down to Kansasville to play some live poker in Tavern Tourneys. Free entry, $5 for extra chips and more chips for buying a round for your table if you go bust. Some of the $5 go into cash prizes for 1st and 2nd. 3rd gets a gift certificate from the host. I suppose they have to pay for cards and I'm not sure if they give the host tavern anything.

I talked to the Tourney Director a bit. He said they have about 600 regular players and about 10% are serious about the WSOP entry they offer twice a year. They have tourneys every night. He said they usually have about 30 people. I'm not sure if that is the same for their weekend games.

Well designed to give people the chance to play poker for free and spend a good part of the evening playing poker by dropping a few friendly bucks if you are not doing well. Taking advantage of the offers and the cost in fuel (none of the tourneys are close, it was a 45 minute drive) I can have a good night of poker for about as much as it cost me to sit at the casino, two miles away, with a minor stack. Of course I could come out ahead at the casino, it's happened once, or not lose my whole investment. The casino's Monday Night Football promotion looks inviting.

But Tavern Tourneys has a much lighter and friendlier spirit than the casino. Yes, there is cash at stake but push comes to shove the poker is free. But how did I do you're demanding, moving to the edge of your seat and leaning deep into your computer monitor.

I had some good hands and was doing well but after the break I noticed some at my table had huge stacks. So with a stack that could still intimidate, push most off a hand, I went all-in with pocket 8's. One caller with K,J. He got his third J on fourth street and I needed an 8 on the river for a full house...

or is it on the turn and fifth street....

Now I'm confused....

So, I did not get the 8. With a single chip left I threw in with a K,Q. I got the K on the flop but someone else caught the Ace.

I wish I could afford to go once a week or more, but will have to settle for maybe once a month. Maybe I can drag my friend down to a game. He keeps trying to get me to go to a bowling league on Fridays. Not team play, individual. Lots of prizes and free bowling for league members at certain times in the week.