The Tournament

Yes, I am still getting out and playing poker though I haven’t written in quite a while and at times go months without getting to a tournament. Conflicting schedules and a lack of transportation are the biggest issues.

Tavern Tourneys has been perplexed by the loss of a Milwaukee contingent. Perhaps if we didn’t need to always drive deep into the bowels of Kenosha to partake of their monthly and six month tournaments Milwaukee players were show more interest. Playing poker with all those Kenosha folk is like playing with the cast of “Hee-Haw!” And for the gentleman I was sitting next to at the last monthly I attended; if you’re going to put your phone on vibrate and get a call every hand don’t leave it sitting on the table. We could all feel it.

Heah, if no one else is going to say anything… Like I told Joe at Victors before that tournament shut down, “Badger poker cheats. They probably wont cheat on you Joe but they will cheat on me.”

The realities of poker and life that one must deal with.

I paid into a satellite tournament at the local casino trying to qualify for their big spring classic tournament. There you muck your hand if you take a phone call. I didn’t hit on anything when I had good cards. I pushed a few people off some pots, once with a very week flush.

I took out an Ace,Jack with an Jack,5. That was the best hand I had all day. I looked at it and liked it; felt good. I believe I was on the small blind and despite a small raise pre-flop there were some five people in the hand so I called. Hit the two pair on the flop.

I went all-in with snowmen, pocket eights. I hesitated because I was in early position and would want only one caller. The blinds were going up and my stack was less than half the average; still big enough to push people off the hand. I had one caller, an Ace,Jack. If I remember correctly he hit two pair on the flop. That ended it for me.

Tournament play is what I am most interested in. I am looking to enter into bigger tournaments when I can afford them. Phil Hellmuth has been known to have a charity tournament. Those are the kind I will be seeking out when I can afford it.

Here’s a photo to liven up the blog. Misao and I had dinner at the casino during their 12-12-12 event and received these free gifts. The casino (Potawatomi in Milwaukee) has added single table sit 'n’ goes on Mondays and Thursdays to there tournament offerings.