I just “officially” filled seat #50 for the tourney, so we are now starting a waiting list. The 50th player is net of the two people who have dropped out over the past couple days, so it is likely that at least one or two more seats will open before Sunday (or simply just not show up). Email me if you want on the waiting list – at this point you would probably still have a good chance to play if you are at the top of the waiting list.

The promised email went out last night. After checking my list there are still 4 open spots left. Email me if you want one.

Also, if any of you are playing and know someone who might want to show up and play, bring’em along. I am fairly certain we will have 2-3 no shows and thus they might get to play. All extras will be first-come-first-served, although once the last 4 seats are taken I will be starting a waiting list with the same rules as being registered – show up on time and any open seats will be filled in order of the list.

Finally, I think we are all set with chips and tables, but are still looking for a few more chairs. If you have some we could borrow, we would be quite grateful.

UPDATE (7:05pm): spots 47 and 48 are now taken… two spots left

When playing in this weekends tourney, remember this………….

One of my worst leaks in NL tourneys is over-raising pre-flop in early or mid position.

When I’m dealt K-Q suited, middle pairs, or similar teasers, I’d like to win with them, but I don’t need much of a pot to keep me happy. I also don’t want much resistance, as I know these hands are junk when there are multiple players yet to act, and my subsequent poor position post-flop.

Though I recognize the danger, I can’t bring myself to fold these hands in most spots. The reward is too high when they hit, if played correctly, to continually let these hands go every time. (maximizing profits is another topic)

When you play vulnerable hands from middle or early position you’re usually the first in the pot, so you raise. (don’t we always open raise in NL??) The size of the raise is what’s getting me in trouble. A minimum raise invites others into the pot that may sense a multi-way pot growing. When my K-Q sees a K-7-8 flop with 2 to a suit, I know I’m not very strong against 4 other players. Raising the standard 3 or 3.5 times would be sufficient, but could appear to be a steal since I’m the first one in. So I over-raise. This induces a bluffer in better position to come at me with an all-in, wasting unnecessary chips. Obviously, limping might induce a bluff-for-information from a late position player.

Notice that you can always find fault with your hand, but deciphering between bad hands and bad position/bad play is what’s important here. Let’s look at the positives now.

Your middle set will be well disguised. Barring straight or flush DRAWS, you wouldn’t mind seeing 2 overcards accompanying your bottom set. You’ll probably get your money all-in post-flop against 2-pair, or even better, top-pair Ace kicker. Likewise, you’ll recognize the same play when you hit 2-pair. You might be able to check the flop through if you miss or flop a strong draw, as the pre-flop raise may plant the idea that you just hit a monster and are planning a check-raise. Getting all the way through is unlikely, but you shouldn’t bluff a multi-way field, so you may be done with the hand.

Personal Solution: Stick to a standard raise, let your opponents figure out when you’re stretching and when you’ve got the goods, and learn to fold attractive hands. Also, note your opponent’s tendencies to allow or disallow you to sneak into pots without pounding you back. Getting re-raised over and over in poor position will drastically cut down on your tournament lifespan.

Note: Folding is not a bad option here if the re-raise to you is too high to call. This shows weakness, and you can use that to your advantage later by making the same play with big pocket pairs.

Note: It’s usually someone else raising you the 2nd time around. The first guy that re-raised you out of the pot won’t be so inclined to do it with junk, fearing retaliation, so if he comes at you again, he may have something. But the idiot that saw him do it, and thinks it will work every time is the guy you want to re-raise all in if the pot odds do not have him committed. You don’t want him shrugging his shoulders saying “you caught me, but I have to call”, to find out he’s ahead of you with just an Ace.

The tournament is now very close to full – I have received a handfull of entries today at work but my list is at home so I cannot say for sure if there is any room left. About half of those entries are prepaid.

I will be sending out an email tonight with the tournament location and instructions for getting registered on Sunday. Basically, now that we have reached the limit, anyone whose name is on the list and is unpaid has a seat until 1:30 pm on Sunday, at which time any extras can take their seat if they don’t show up by the start time. Alternatively, everyone who has prepaid is guaranteed their seat, even after the tournament time.

The email will be out tonight.

Junell, you are still as famous as ever for your tables.

Your poker tournament is also out there on the net. (click on link and ctrl-f for ‘Waring Poker Tour”).

I wish I could be you.

Last night I played 4 hours of poker at Jackie’s. I bought in for $300, had a high water mark of $540, cashed out at $330. I have to say that I am proud of myself for cashing out because a year ago I would have played until I lost it all. I can leave a winner now, and I like that, even when it isn’t much of a winner.

The key hand was one where I was heads-up against a guy that I had quite a read on. He had played lots of hands and always aggressively. He raised pre-flop 6x the BB, which I had seen him do with 33 through 88. The one time he had Aces, he raised 3x the BB. So, I thought I was up against 88 or worse. I had 9hTh on the button. You may question why I called, but I was so confident that I knew what he had, I was certain that I could call with anything at all. The flop brought an Ace, 2 hearts and a little bit of betting. On the turn, a 9 came giving me a pair and a draw to the flush. Since I thought he had 88 or worse. I considered myself to be ahead. So, when he bet $210 into a $120 pot, I was certain he was trying to run me off. I called anc caught a third 9 on the river. He showed A8.

The table went apeshit, saying that I was lucky, blah, blah, blah. “You hit a 2-outer!” one guy said. I disagreed with everybody’s analysis at the table, as it failed to consider any of the below:
1. Nobody mentioned that I had a flush draw too, 9 outs.
2. Nobody mentioned that in addition to the two 9’s, there were three 10’s in the deck that would help me.
3. Nobody mentioned that I was on the button, a very nice place to be when heads-up.
4. Nobody mentioned the fact that he was seeing 90% of the flops and raising every time.
5. Nobody mentioned that he raised 6x the BB with only A8, a horrible play.
6. Nobody mentioned that he bet almost twice the pot, a fairly good indicator that he is bluffing. A pot-sized bet would be more appropriate for pairing the Ace.

The above should have been obvious to them, but the final part of the analysis was my biggest reason for calling:

7. I thought he had a baby pair, so I thought I was actually ahead. Of course, it turns out that I was wrong about that!

And since these pictures are on the internet, they must be true. (sorry, KTL & Padilla! )

3. Colorado tried their best to avoid the Longhorns in Houston, but Fatty McFatpants managed to beat ISU and send CU. Archie Manning said it best, “Colorado shouldn’t go. If the Big XII North sent an all-star team to Houston, UT still would win.