Sunday, May 31, 2009

NPP Upgrades Poker Blog News Abilities

I know you are out there. I can hear you stacking the chips you won from me. Not too many comments lately, but reader volume is increasing, so I keep trudging on.

In case you have not noticed, 4Putt and Faldo have upgraded this blog’s ability to get you the latest poker news and helpful sites – on your demand!

The NPP “Blogroll” still has the Michigan Poker, Michigan Poker Forum, Card Player Magazine, Poker Player Magazine and Farrell’s Poker Blog. It still has four review sites and two reference sites for home games and tournaments.

And 4Putt has had the “Latest Poker News” section for quite a while now. It’s a very good source.

But he and I added a great new feature – “Faldo’s Blog List”. This section had other poker blogs listed. But the beauty is …every time they post a new article, it appears at the top of the list!

This makes it easy for you to see …”what’s new?” You can follow these blogs I selected - and any you tell me you want to see – by simply going to NPP first!

Just another feature added to make NPP your poker home.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Luck Must be a Lady - She is Taking All My Money!

The 2009 World Series of Poker has started. Great timing as I struggle thru yet another - bad cards, bad flops, bad luck and ‘zigged when I should have zagged’ - spell in my poker wars.

So I think it is time for me to reflect on Lady Luck. Now we all know she exists and we all know we need her to succeed on the green felt. How much and how important ‘she’ is, is an on-going poker debate.

I thought I would show some pro and con quotes from the famous and the not so famous – and let you judge Lady Luck’s importance.

[Pro Luck] “Tournaments can rapidly become crap-shoots.” - Tom McEvoy
[Con Luck] “Luck favors the mind that is prepared.” – Louis Pasteur

I’d go with the poker player over the milk chemist.

[Pro Luck] “Enough luck is involved that even if a man is outclassed, he still might end up buying a television set with the pro’s money.” - Doyle Brunson
[Con Luck] “Good luck and bad luck are synonyms for good and bad judgment.” – Nik Faldo

Of course I was discussing a manufacturing plant at the time and not poker.

[Pro Luck] “Luck! There is such a thing!” - Nick ‘The Greek’ Dandalos
[Con Luck] “Most people are convinced luck plays the most important part in winning and losing, and that is the greatest thing that ever happened to good poker players.” – Tex Sheahan

Tex makes a stronger argument. Nick on the other hand, donated over $20 million in gambling winnings ($500 million by today’s inflation versus the 1950’s), but died broke.

[Pro Luck] “People underrate luck in the short run and overrate it in the long run.” - David Sklansky
[Con Luck] “I don’t trust luck. I have to think fast and figure the percentages.” – Johnny Moss

Now I’m confused. Sklansky, the biggest odds guy in poker - mentions luck?

[Pro Luck] “Anyone who does not know how to make the most of his luck has no right to complain if it passes him by.” - Cervantes
[Con Luck] “Luck is always going to break even. Everyone in the whole world is gonna get the same amount of luck.” – Puggy Pearson

Puggy never got my run of cards since I started on PokerStars or he would change his tune.

More next time.

Friday, May 29, 2009

WSOP Qualifiers for NPP Players and Readers to Take Advantage Of

To find the World Series of Poker events on PS, simply hit the “Events” tab in the main lobby,

then the “WSOP” tab.

From there you can pick the method to get there –
FPP satellites,
Cash satellites,
SNG satellites,
and the Stepping Stone method.

The beauty of all of these qualifiers is that should you win one and find out you cannot attend, Faldo will take your seat for a 50 – 50 split of the profits made!

Keep that golden nugget in mind as you pursue a life-changing seat in a big tourney.

Makes you want to play in them all, doesn’t it?

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Douge2’s Humor Corner VI

Women are Tough
An elderly Polish man lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite pirogue with fried onions wafting up the stairs.

He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs.

Downstairs, he leaned against the door frame and gazing into the kitchen. If not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven. For there, spread out upon waxed paper on the kitchen table, were hundreds of his favorite pierogies.

Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of love from his wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

He threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in a crumpled posture. His parched lips parted, the wondrous taste of the pierogi was already in his mouth. With a trembling hand he reached up to the edge of the table, when suddenly he was smacked with a wooden spoon by his wife.

"Back off!" she said. "Those are for the funeral."

Harley Mechanic
A gynecologist had become fed up with high cost malpractice insurance and was also on the verge of being burned out. Hoping to find another career where skilled hands would be beneficial, he decided to make a major career change and become a Harley mechanic.

He found out from the local community college what was involved, signed up for evening classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could. When the time for the practical exam approached, the former gynecologist prepared carefully for weeks, and completed the exam with tremendous skill. When the results came back, he was surprised to find he had obtained a more than perfect score of 150%.

Fearing an error, he called the instructor, saying, “I don’t want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wondered if there had been an error which may need adjusting.”

The instructor said, “During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. You also put the engine back together perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark.”

The instructor went on to say, “I gave you that extra 50% because you did all of it through the muffler!”

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

LittleRedElf Wins Two in a Row – and 3 out of 4!

I am running out of superlatives. Nineteen players showed up as fodder to the Elf. It was an historic night! No one has ever won three out of four starts – let alone with a 2nd thrown in the middle! This is an incredible feat.

To put it all in perspective, from the archives, with average field sizes in parenthesis, are the closest to this mark:

7Jokers 4 wins in 6 starts – 2007 (9)
Boother 3 wins in 5 starts - 2007
Rownder 3 wins in 7 starts - 2007

Doneill 3 wins in 5 starts and a 2nd – 2008 (11)
7Jokers 3 wins in 6 starts – 2008

LittleRedElf 3 wins in 4 starts with a 2nd – 2009 (22),

and of course this well known stat;
Mikeniks-Faldo 1 win in 2,000,000 starts (2)

We welcomed a new player to NPP this evening, Willie666666. Welcome Willie, but be sure to send me an email ASAP. Nobody claimed you as a sponsor as of yet, and I need to be able to contact you.

On to the action:

6 min: Derf-63 (19th) was the first out and I did not see it.

20 min: Tomservo2 (18th) and LittleRedElf get into a bet and call situation pre-flop. The flop of [56K] does not change the pattern, and neither does the turn of [2]. The river of a harmless [9] has Tom move all-in with his (AK), but the Elf is holding (66).

30 min: Funtoon (17th) is part of a 6-way family pot with (AQ). The flop of [A74] on and a bet by Funtoon only has one caller. The river is a [Q], which makes Toon play for all his chips, but new Dad TrippAA is holding (44).

PokerStars was cruel to a lot of folks this evening. Lots and lots of torture as what looked like good cards for you, turned out not to be.

35 min: Willie666666 (16th) gets the standard NPP welcome and his (8d 6d) all-in draw to a flop of [Td Jd Th] loses to TrippAA’s (KsTs).

47 min: A double knockout by Theedouble*d as after a flop of [8d 3s As] and a bet from DD, a short-stacked Mikeniks-Faldo (15th) moves all-in with (AQ), hoping to get heads up against what he thinks is the flush draw of DD.

When Duder1123 (14th) moves all-in with (A4), DD is getting the price now on his (sure enough) (Ts 8s). The [5s] on the turn ends the drama and Duder’s and my night.

Seems like after I got knocked out, everyone tripped over themselves heading for the exit.

48 min: Tigercub8189’s (13th) all-in with an open ended straight draw (Td 7d) with a flop-turn of [6d Ad Kh 9h] does not get there against LittleRedElf’s (Ac 6c).

50 min: New Daddy TrippAA (12th) tries it all-in with (Q5) and a flop of [Q7A], but Akensi is holding (A9).

54 min: Fusciardi (11th) goes AIPF with (99) and is called by Theedouble*d with (QQ).
58 min: Kensik (10th) goes out and I missed it, because the table closed too fast.
59 min: Whoever thinks PokerStars is not a torture chamber – check this out. A short-stacked TresStooges (9th) gets AIPF with (Qs Th) (44%) and is called by Quagmire2752 holding (As3d) (56%). The flop is [Ad Qd 2s]. Hope springs eternal for Tress as a [Td] hits the turn (64%). But it was a diamond, and the [8d] gives Quag his flush.


1st Break:
Roscoe24 7095
LittleRedElf 6650
Theedouble*d 3535
Wingsfancurt 3230
Douge2 2700
Quagmire2752 2150
Akensi 1805
Rennzzo 1335

66 min: After a harmless looking flop of [942] Douge2 (8th) moves in with (KK) and is called all-in in TWO spots: LittleRedElf with (QQ) and Theedouble*d with (42) for the two pair that hold up. More torture, with more to come.

69 min: Wingsfancurt (7th) finally goes all-in with (J6) and a board of [6456] and is called by Roscoe24 with (36). Ouch for someone and it is Curt as a [2] on the river straights Roscoe’s holdings.

74 min: Rennzzo (6th) moves AIPF with (Ad 7d) and is called by Theedouoble*d with (AK) and Quagmire2752 with (QQ), and the ladies win the hand.

78 min: Now short-stacked Theedouble*d (5th) moves all-in with (T9) and a flop of [AQJ], but is called by LittleRedElf with (QQ). No help arrives for DD.

81 min: Quagmire2752 (4th) thinks his (QQ) (77%)will be safe after a flop of [974] and moves all-in. Roscoe24 calls him down with some of that (87) (23%) and gets his [8] on the river.

86 min: Akensi (3rd) check calls and sees a flop of [9Q8]. Roscoe24 makes a pot size bet and Akensi calls. The turn is a [J] and Roscoe doubles his previous bet, which Akensi also calls. The river is a [Q], Roscoe bets, Akensi shoves with (Q6) for trips, but Roscoe is holding (T9) for the straight. Ouch!

Heads up: Roscoe24 21000 – LittleRedElf 7500
90 min: Roscoe24 21000 – LittleRedElf 7500
95 min: Roscoe24 18900 – LittleRedElf 9600
100 min: Roscoe24 16800 – LittleRedElf 11700 (Do you see what I see?)

104 min: It all goes in on a flop-turn of [3h 3c 6h Th] with Roscoe24 holding (9h 7h) and LittleRedElf holding (63). Wow, and ouch for Roscoe!

105 min: Roscoe24 3300 – LittleRedElf 25200

106 min: After a couple of successful all-ins, Roscoe24 (2nd) is AIPF with (Kh 6h) to LittleRedElf’s (33). A coin flip at this point, but LRE backdoors a flush to end the tourney.

Congratulations to LittleRedElf on his 3nd win in four weeks and making NPP history!

1st – LittleRedElf
2nd – Roscoe24
3rd – Akensi
4th – Quagmire2752
5th – Theedouble*d
6th – Rennzzo
7th – Wingsfancurt
8th – Douge2
9th – TresStooges

Standings for 2nd quarter and total points are on the right side of the blog!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Douge2’s Humor Corner V

The Golf Wager

Beerhog had a week off and decided to play golf every day. Monday morning, he found himself paired with an attractive woman, Pat, who turned out to be a very good golfer.

They started with a few casual bets, but by the back nine it was a full-blown competition. On the 18th green, Pat sank her long birdie putt for the win. Beerhog congratulated her and paid off his losses.

Pat asked for a ride home and, on the way, told him,“You know, Beerhog, I haven't enjoyed myself so much on the golf course in a long time. In fact, pull over so I can express my appreciation.” He did, they kissed, and one thing led to another and soon she gave him the best oral sex he'd ever had.

The next morning, they met again on the first tee and played together again. They had another magnificent day, enjoying each other's company and playing tight, competitive golf. Again Pat beat him, but she also showed her appreciation on the drive home. This went on all week, with Beerhog narrowly losing every day, his male ego bruised, but not unhappy.

On Friday's drive home, Beerhog said, “Pat, you've been great to be with all this week and tonight I'd like to return the favor. I made reservations at the best restaurant in town for us and reserved the penthouse suite at the best hotel. What do you say?”

Pat burst into tears. “I can't!”

“What? Why not?” asked Beerhog.

“Because,” she sobbed, “I'm in the middle of a sex change and the doctor hasn't completed that part of me yet!”

“What?!” Aghast, Beerhog swerved off the road, screeched to a stop and cursed madly, overcome with emotion.

“I'm so sorry,” says Pat. “You have a right to be angry with me.”

“You son of a bitch!” Beerhog screamed, his face bright red. “You cheating bastard! All week long you've been playing off the women's tees!”


Female Math

The owner of a golf course in Kentucky was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help.

He called her into his office and said, "You graduated from the University of Kentucky and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?"

The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, "Everything but my earrings."

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Beerhog Finishes 3rd in Boother’s League Tourney

Boother hosted his poker league, “Kings of White Lake”, and as usual, put on a great tourney and ring game action.

Attendance was 26 players. Faldo managed to crawl in at 11th place, coming in second bubble for the final table.

Beerhog held his own early, hit a dry patch (twss) in the second hour, got to the final table, and took care of business.

I never got rolling. No cards early and a wild 1st table assignment. When things settled, I got decent cards in the wrong spots or situations. Add that to my usual, right move at the wrong time and no customers for the few hands I caught, and you have a bubble boy also ran finish.

But a great night, good guys, and a fantastic venue for poker.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

LittleRedElf Wins Another NPP Tourney

I don’t know how to stop him and I don’t think the rest of NPP has figured it out either! He just rolls on with two wins and a second in his last three NPP starts!

Seventeen players showed up on the first really warm evening of the year – and the Red Wings on TV in a playoff game.

Down eleven from our record setting attendance last week, and right after my pep talk posting about recruiting. I guess motivating just comes natural to me.

On to the action:

16 min: Amyada19 gets hurt as her (AA) (88%) loses to Derf-63’s (44) (11%) with a [4] on the turn.

23 min: Kensik (17th) gets crippled as he is all-in with (AQ) and a flop of [9A2], but TresStooges is holding (AA). Ken goes out the next hand.

39 min: No repeat winner as Theedouble*d (16th) has his (A3) lose to Funtoon’s (QT) with a [Q] on the flop.

46 min: Akensi (15th) slow plays her (KK) pre-flop and on a flop of [JA6] moves in with LittleRedElf, but he is holding (JJ). LRE will continue this all evening.

50 min: Absea98 (14th) gets all-in on the turn with (A9) and a board of [4982] but loses to Derf-63’s (88).

53 min: Smookie27’s (13th) all-in with (Ac Ks) gets double-teamed with Biglou93’s (As Js) and Douge2’s (Ah 8h). The heart flush ends the German firefighter’s evening (early morning there). This hand did open up the action before the break.

54 min: Now short-stacked Biglou93 (12th) tries it with (A7), but Douge2 kills Lou again – this time with (96) and a flop of [3K6].

55 min: Amyada19 (11th), who had been nursing a bruised stack since early in the tourney, finally goes with (Qc Jc) and is called by the big blind Sirgash with (35) and Derf-63 with (As Qs). Sirgash even spikes some chips from Derf as the flop comes [338].

1st Break:
Funtoon 4180
TresStooges 3535
LittleRedElf 3450
Mikeniks-Faldo 2935
Sirgash 2695
Douge2 2145
Derf-63 2010
ThePunk75 1820
Wingsfancurt 1380
Bigbrimar 1350

64 min: Short-stacked Bigbrimar (10th) goes out on a bad beat that I did not see. Hopefully, the comment section will explain. Short stacks seem to get bad beat – a lot - on line.

66 min: ThePunk75 (9th) sees his (AK) get run down with a river [J] against Wingsfancurt holding (Js Ts).

77 min: Douge2 (8th) moves in with (A5) and a flop of [A63]. He has a lot working, but LittleRedElf’s (AJ) holds up.

83 min: Derf-63 (7th) is a non-believer and goes all-in with (77) and a board of [K46K] and is called by LittleRedElf with (K5)! Ouch!

99 min: TresStooges (6th) thinks his (JJ) is good with a board of [536], but Wingsfancurt is holding (65).

102 min: LittleRedElf calls the blind and only the Big Blind, Sirgash remains. The flop is [Ks 7s 9d]. Sirgash makes a triple blind bet; LRE doubles it with a raise. Gash re-raises LRE’s amount and LRE calls. The turn is the [9h].

LRE checks and Sirgash moves all-in with (82) and a stone cold bluff. First class poker, but LRE rings him up, calling with top pair (KT). Two great plays from two great players.

I call that bet, and Sirgash has quad 9’s. I try that bluff and even people on another table would call me.

Anyway, Sirgash is crippled and LRE is now chip heavy.

105 min: Chip leader LittleRedElf raises a blind amount and 2nd in chips Wingsfancurt makes the call. Here we go, I’m thinking!

Flop, a possible action heavy [AQ6]. I am correct as LRE with (AT) bets enough to cover Curt and he calls, with (AQ). We have a new chip leader!

108 min: Short-stacked (but not the shortest as Faldo usually has that distinction) Sirgash (5th) moves all-in with (Kc Tc) and a flop of [898] and is called by Wingsfancurt with (KQ). Wow! No help for Gash on the turn or river.

113 min: Mikeniks-Faldo (4th) bubbles for the money as his all-in with (KJ) (63%) gets called by LittleRedElf with (Q9). A [J] on the flop, pairs Faldo (85%), but a [Q] on the turn ends the host’s night. At least it was not the river this time. A quicker death is preferred.

They say you cannot be mad if you got your money in with the best hand. That is what they say. ………They say that……….They do. So Faldo cannot be mad. They say you cannot. They do. Is it ok if I don’t feel happy? Cause I don’t. I’m just sayin.

117 min: Funtoon (3rd) calls all-in with (44) and a full board of [56579], but LittleRedElf is holding (J8) for the straight. Congratulations to Funtoon on his first NPP points!

Heads up: Wingsfancurt 16500 – LittleRedElf 9000

120 min (2nd Break): Wingsfancurt 12250 – LittleRedElf 13250

125 min: Wingsfancurt 14750 – LittleRedElf 10750

129 min: LittleRedElf took over the chip lead and it all goes in on a flop of [A9K] with Wingsfancurt holding (K8) and LittleRedElf holding (AJ) for the higher pair.

Congratulations also to Wingsfancurt on his first NPP points!

Congratulations to LittleRedElf on his 2nd win in four weeks and only three starts! Lucky for us he takes a night off occasionally.

1st – LittleRedElf
2nd - Wingsfancurt
3rd – Funtoon
4th – Mikeniks-Faldo
5th – Sirgash
6th – TresStooges
7th – Derf-63
8th – Douge2
9th – ThePunk75

Standings for 2nd quarter and total points are on the right side of the blog!

Monday, May 18, 2009

NPP Players – Please Keep Recruiting!

Nothing keeps a poker blog, poker league or a poker game going like fresh players.

In other words, part of being a member of NPP is to constantly be telling people about the blog and the league. Don’t be a pest about it, but bring it up when an opportunity presents itself.

For instance, take this scenario. You are at the bar and this HOT chick happens to sit down next to you with an equally hot girl friend with her.

You say, “Hi,” and she says, “Hi. We just came in for one drink and to pick up a guy for some wild 3-way action and you are the one we chose. How about it, Mr. Stud?”

Here is your chance to say, “Well if you really want some wild action, there is this poker blog and league I would like to tell you about…….”

See how easy that was? You just have to grab opportunities when they appear.

Another thing that seems to be working - as NPP has had hits from all over the globe – is to mention the blog on-line EVERY TIME you first get on a new internet table.

Just type, “Great poker blog – google Niks Poker Palace”.

If you are on PokerStars, “Good blog and great PS poker league – google Niks Poker Palace.”

I have found a couple players doing this and if the rest of us did it too, we will get to the magical position of a “waiting list”.

Anything else you can think of to promote the site is appreciated. Anyone have any other suggestions to share?

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Concept of “Small Ball” Poker

This is a tournament strategy made famous by Daniel Negreanu, NPP's own Nahanni and Beerhog - and many other pros on the tournament circuit. The idea is to make small bets and calls, while taking cheap shots at winning pots.

The advantages of this style is:

 It allows you to play a lot of hands.
 It keeps the cost of entering pots small.
 It reduces the chance an opponent will take a monster pot with your stack.
 It reduces your chance of an early exit from a tournament.
 It helps you build a stack with little risk.

Sounds great, right? But there are requirements that make this strategy optimum for you, and there is a downside:

 You need to be one of the best players at the table, where maximum pots played maximizes your edge.
 You need to be able to raise with less than premium hands.
 You need to be able to read opponents well enough where you can smell weakness and force them out of pots when you have nothing.
 You need to be able to keep your bets small, even when you flop a monster.
 If you are not the best player at the table – or close to it, this strategy will wipe you out, as you are simply bleeding away chips with weak hands.

Ok, now that you know this, you say, “Faldo, I’m not playing that way. But how do I counter that?”

Simple. Give all of your money to Faldo and buy 10% of Faldo’s poker profits!

Or,

 Play tighter and avoid these tiny pots without good hands and position. Save your ammo for the right time.
 Make the pots bigger. When you enter a pot against a “small baller” (twss), over bet pots to drive them out.
 Increase the ‘luck’ factor, which is exactly the atmosphere the small ballers are trying to avoid.
 Play your drawing hands aggressively. Put large raises out there immediately.
 “All-in” are the two worst words in the dictionary for a small baller. That is the ultimate counter-measure.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Douge2's Humor Corner IV

A Summer Skirt Situation...

As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, a lovely looking woman
became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to
the height of the first step of the bus.

Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she
reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little, thinking that this would
give her enough slack to raise her leg. She tried to take the step, only
to discover that she couldn't.

So, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind her to
unzip her skirt a little more, and for the second time attempted the
step

Once again, much to her chagrin, she could not raise her leg.

With a little smile to the driver, she again reached behind to unzip a
little more and again was unable to take the step.

About this time, a large Texan who was standing behind her picked her up
easily by the waist and placed her gently on the step of the bus.

She went ballistic and turned to the would-be Samaritan and yelled, "How
dare you touch my body! I don't even know who you are!"

The Texan smiled and drawled, "Well, ma'am, normally I would agree with
you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured we was
friends."


Rules of Golf for Dave the Dog (4Putt)

Rule 1.a.5
A ball sliced or hooked into the rough shall be lifted and placed on the fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the rough with no penalty. 4Putt should not be penalized for tall grass which groundskeepers failed to mow.

Rule 2.d.6 (b)
A ball hitting a tree shall be deemed not to have hit the tree. This is simply bad luck and luck has no place in a scientific game. 4Putt can estimate the distance the ball would have traveled if it had not hit the tree and play the ball from there.

Rule 3.b.3 (g)
There shall be no such thing as a lost ball; the missing ball is on or near the course and will eventually be found and pocketed by someone else, making it a stolen ball. 4Putt will not to compound the felony by charging himself or herself with a penalty.

Rule 4.c.7 (h)
If a putt passes over a hole without dropping, it is deemed to have dropped. The law of gravity supersedes the Rules of Golf.

Rule 5.q.3(m)
Putts that stop close enough to the cup that they could be blown in, may be blown in (twss). This does not apply to balls more than three inches from the hole. No one wants to make a travesty of the game. Especially 4Putt.

Rule 6.a.9 (k)
There is no penalty for so-called 'out of bounds.' If penny-pinching golf course owners bought sufficient land, this would not occur. 4Putt deserves an apology, not a penalty – even if he only plays one or two rounds a year..

Rule 7.g.15 (z)
There is no penalty for a ball in a water hazard, as golf balls should float. 4Putt should not be penalized for manufacturers' shortcomings.
How does he still manage to shoot 112?

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Theedouble*d Wins His 1st NPP Tourney!

Theedouble*d decides to win his first NPP tourney against the biggest field we ever had! I guess the cash had to be huge for the DD's to get'er done!

NPP set a new record for entries with twenty-eight, despite only one new player – Greggst49 – and missing a few 2nd quarter regulars.

I hope this is just a snap-shot of things to come. Remember, part of your responsibility of playing at NPP is to recruit for the blog and the league! An on-going league and blog is a growing league and blog.

On to the action:

11 min: Kaytdid (28th) had her full house run into LittleRedElf’s quads!
17 min: Douge2 (27th) gets crippled as his (99) runs finds Quagmire2752’s (JJ)
21 min: Later, Doug’s (8h 7h) is no match for Tomservo2’s trips.
23 min: Derf-63 (26th) is short-stacked after a beat and tries it with (A2) and Theedouble*d takes him out with (A6).

27 min: After a flop and turn of [2337] RKidder51400 tries to value bet with (AA), but Boother36 is holding (53) in the blind. Ouch!

32 min: Greggst49 (25th) gets the usual NPP welcome as his (JT) runs into Sirgash with (72) and a [7] on the flop.

34 min: Akensi (24th) has her (KT) lose to LittleRedElf’s (QQ).
40 min: Wingsfancurt (23rd) sees hope for is (KJ) on a flop of [JQ6] but Funtoon is holding (KQ).

49 min: A short-stacked Fusciardi (22nd) sees his (Kc 5c) lose as Quagmire2752 hits a flush with his (7d 5d).

51 min: Kensik (21st) sees his (AQ) lose to ThePunk75’s (88).
58 min: Boother36 (20th) is all-in with (99) and loses to Absea98’s (KQ) as a [Q] is flopped.

59 min: Funtoon (19th) tries it with (AQ) and a flop of [36Q], but LittleRedElf is holding (33).

1st Break:
LittleRedElf 8305
Tomservo2 4077
ThePunk75 3065
Absea98 2830
Rennzzo 2615
Nixi44 2360
Theedouble*d 2310
RKidder51400 2305
Mikeniks-Faldo 2135
Sirgash 2025
Rjmech 1865
TrippAA 1750
Tigercub8189 1505
TresStooges 1440
Quagmire2752 1403
Roscoe24 780
Michpower09 695 (sat out the 1st hour)
Biglou93 535

62 min: Short-stacked Biglou93 (18th) goes all-in with (AJ) and loses to Sirgash with (KQ) and a flop of [KAQ].

63 min: TrippAA (17th) has to go with (Ad Kd) and runs into Rennzzo with (AA).
68 min: Michpower09 (16th), who was late due to a ball game that ran long, makes his move with (A9) and also runs into (AA), held by Rjmech.

70 min: Short-stacked Nixi44 (15th) moves in with (44) and ThePunk75, in the big blind cheaply calls with (8c 5c) and pairs the [8] on the flop.

73 min: Big pot here. Sirgash raises, LittleRedElf and RKidder51400 call and Absea98 re-raises. Only RKidder calls that. The flop is [Jd 5d 8s]. Absea moves all-in and Kidder folds. Ok, what did everyone have?

80 min: Hand of the night! Rjmech (14th) goes all-in with (KK) and is called by Theedouble*d and Quagmire2752 – and both of them have (AA)! Ouch Rj!

82 min: Roscoe24 (13th) moves in with (A4) but loses to Theedouble*d’s (33).
92 min: Ok, how do you play this hand? Mikeniks-Faldo (12th), semi-short-stacked, moves all – in with (Ad 8d). ThePunk75 calls with (AQ) and takes it down.

In middle position, I have to play the suited ace hand, but do I raise about half my stack or call, planning to call any re-raise all-in – or do I go for the fold equity of an all-in push?

ThePunk thought it was a weak push. Maybe it was and maybe fold equity made the all-in move the play. The math is all based on number of players left to act and your best guess as to their likelihood to fold hands like (AQ) – staying away from coin flips.

I think it is a ‘feel’ play – either way. Comments?

96 min: Short-stacked Tigercub8189 (11th) moves all-in with (As 3s) and is called in two places – by LittleRedElf (KT) and RKidder51400 (10th) (AJ). The flop hits LRE [22K] and he bounces two for the hand of one.

114 min: Sirgash (9th) is surviving and gaining chips from Theedouble*d, who is trying to eliminate the short-stack. Finally, Sirgash with (Kd Td) runs out of lives and finds DD holding (AT).

115 min: Rennzzo (8th) makes his stand with (As Ts) and is called by LittleRedElf (88).
120 min: Tomservo2 (7th) fails to double up at break time.

2nd break:
LittleRedElf 12863
Theedouble*d 11639
Quagmire2752 6543
Absea98 3769
TresStooges 3606
ThePunk75 3580

Most ever making it to break #2. Way too much talent in this league!

128 min: Another big hand. Quagmire2752 bets and Theedouble*d calls. Flop [Th 4c 9s].
Quagmire bets a blind and is called again. Turn [Td]. Quag bets a double and DD calls.
River [Ah]. Quag bets a triple, and DD raises double and Quag makes a crying call. DD trip tens takes down a monster pot!

132 min: ThePunk75 (6th) is short-stacked after a beat and is all-in with (8h 3h) and loses to LittleRedElf’s (KQ).

134 min: Absea98 (5th) tries with (JsTs) and loses against LittleRedElf’s (A6). For the next eight minutes TresStooges and Quagmire2752 keep surviving the attacks of Theedouble*d.

142 min: The luck runs out on Quagmire2752 (4th) as his all-in with (Ad Qd) is called by Theedouble*d with (Kd 6d). DD hits trip 6’s on the flop.

146 min: TresStooges (3rd) loses his all-in with (KT) to Theedouble*d with (87) and a flop of [84A].

Heads up totals: Theedouble*d 34000 - LittleRedElf 8000
150 min: Theedouble*d 35000 - LittleRedElf 7000

153 min: A board of [A3564] is checked down to the river, when LittleRedElf value bets his (AA) only to be called by Theedouble*d - holding (92) for the straight!

Congratulations to Theedouble*d on his 1st NPP win!

1st – Theedouble*d
2nd – LittleRedElf
3rd – TresStooges
4th – Quagmire2752
5th – Absea98
6th – ThePunk75
7th – Tomservo2
8th – Rennzzo
9th – Sirgash

Standings for 2nd quarter and total points are on the right side of the blog!

Monday, May 11, 2009

ThePunk75 Wins Sunday Tourney at Pokertown in Westland

On weekends and some select week days I play live at the Pokertown charity room in Westland.

This past weekend Friday, Sat and Sun, I was drop-kicking the donks every night. All three nights were $10 rebuy tourney with a $20 add-on at break. All three nights had 2 table tourneys.

That’s what I like about this room smaller field sizes. Some other local rooms are bigger and flashier but you have to maneuver a much larger field and eventually the donks will get you. And they always do.

Friday I ended up heads up and took 2nd.

On Saturday got down to 3 of us, flopped a full house in BB with Q2 , flop was Q22, turn 5, got action from both players on turn after a checked flop. SB checks, I check, button bets, SB calls, I check raise all in, button folds SB calls with pockets 5's for a bigger full house. Once again how do you flop a full house and lose... happens to me seems all the time.

On Sunday, got to FT and was middle of the pack and got chipped up quickly on my AQ vs A2, then calling the big stack (at the time) all in my AK vs his AJ. After that I took the chip lead and picked off the smaller stacks relatively quickly. Got down to heads up and I had a massive chip lead and eventually got the all-in my KK vs. 22 (winner!!!!!).

If any of you are in the area I highly recommend this room. Very friendly staff, its run well and the owners and dealers know everyone by name. – The Punk75

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Bigbrimar Wins His First PokerStars Tourney!

Bigbrimar bested 360 players for his first full tournament win!

He collected 85 times his entry with that 1st place finish.

Nice job Brian!
You are one ahead of 4Putt(DavetheDog) and you need only ten more to catch Faldo.

Get busy.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Beerhog Wins Two Tourney’s Back to Back at Premier Poker Lounge

As a Friday goes, the day did not stink!

Beerhog and I played golf and mugged up with a possible NPP recruit. Beerhog beat me on the front nine and I returned the favor on the back nine (twss). The weather and cigars were great too.

We then took Beerhog's twin boys to hockey practice. And while he monitored his boys every move and progress in the hockey drills, I had a beer and watched every move several hockey moms made, dressed in summer tops while sitting in a hockey rink.

Not that there is anything wrong with that!

After practice, Fred returned his boys home for dinner, then he headed up to PPL for their Friday night tourney action. I was already there with our seat assignments in hand.

The first tourney had only eleven entries, and talk started immediately to run a second tourney after the first one.

Beerhog won the first tourney while making a deal with ‘Todd’ and Faldo for a 2nd-3rd tie.

Tourney number two had seven players and saw Beerhog and Todd make a deal for 1st, while Faldo took 3rd.

Way to go Beerhog! Meanwhile my bridesmaid dress is still getting plenty of mileage. But we got Todd considering joining NPP also.

We then headed up to Buffalo Wild Wings for some food and a nightcap.

Just another rough day in the life of Faldo.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Sunnybrook Poker Holding WSOP Seat Event Qualifiers

May 14, 15, 16 and 17, 2009
Sunnybrook Golf & Bowl
7191 E. 17 Mile Rd.
Sterling Heights, MI

Open Noon – 2am

$25,000 prize pool based on 120 players

1st place – WSOP Main Event seat ($10,000)

Thursday – 7pm
$30 Qualifier – one re-buy and one add-on
10% move on to the Main Event
Winning entries are transferable

Friday and Saturday – 2pm and 7pm
$30 Qualifier – one re-buy and one add-on
10% move on to the Main Event
Winning entries are transferable

Sunday – 2pm
$250 Main Event
10,000 in starting chips
30 minute blinds for the 1st four rounds – then 20 min thereafter.

Also offered every day of this event are $30 SNG’s on demand – 10 players, $2,000 in chips and 10 minute blinds. One player wins a seat in the final.

If you have thoughts of playing in the Main Event, this looks like a great chance to get there. – Faldo

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

TresStooges Wins His 1st NPP Tourney!

It was a crazy night at the NPP felt on PokerStars, but TresStooges dodged all the minefields and beat the 25 entries of great players to capture his first NPP win. Welcome to the Walk of Fame Tres.

What was up with the PS software tonight? It dealt trap hands, bad beats, suck outs and cripplers all tourney long. I should be happy as normally it saves them all for me and the tourneys I enter besides this one.

On to the action:

8 min: Fusciardi (25th) fell to Derf-63, but I missed it losing at my table.

25 min: Theedouble*d gets crippled as his (77) is no match for CrackBuyer’s (AA).
30 min: I missed Kensik’s (24th) demise as I was busy losing a hand to Boother36.

35 min: Theedouble*d (23rd) built his 5 chips he has left after the lost to CrackBuyer into 500 by this time. But he is double-teamed by Boother36 and Mikeniks-Faldo and is finally eliminated.

45 min: The dealing insanity began here as Funtoon (22nd) sees his (TT) lose as TrippAA flops a straight with his (A3). This starts a flood of activity.

47 min: Sirgash (21st) is out next and I missed it because….
48 min: I was watching Tomservo2 (20th) moves all-in with (77) and lose to Tigercub8189’s (K2) as a K is flopped.

49 min: Douge2 (19th) leaves next but I am watching….
50 min: Short-stacked Duder1123 (18th) go all-in with (Kd8d) and lose to Derf-63 (A3).

51 min: Boother36 (Ah Jh) and Amyada19 (As Kd) get all-in. The flop as [Ad Jd Xd] and a diamond appears on the river to flush Amy and toilet flush Boother.

53 min: Boother36 (17th) has to move all-in and is met by four callers! Mikeniks-Faldo wins that pot.

1st Break:
Derf-63 6210
Tigercub8189 5565
Mikeniks-Faldo 3843
ThePunk75 3070
Akensi 2988
TresStooges 2930
TrippAA 2585
Kaytdid 1935
CrackBuyer 1800
Gotbug 1290
Nixi44 1268
Wingsfancurt 1053
Absea98 880
Biglou93 847
Bigbrimar 710
Amyada19 526

62 min: Short-stacked Amyada19 (16th) makes her move with the goods (KK) and is called by short stacks Nixi44 (Ad 7d) and Biglou93 (QT) The flop is [QAQ] and Lou takes it down.

69 min: Absea98 (15th) goes out, but I am busy playing this hand with Biglou93 as we call the blinds. The flop is [4s Qs Kc].

Biglou bets and only I call (1st mistake).

The turn is a [7h]. Lou bets and I double my mistake and call.
The river is a [Td]. Lou bets 6 big blinds and I fold.

I wrote the book, “How to Call Down and Fold at the River for Negative Chips.” Pick up a copy at your local fish or donkey store.

70 min: A short-stacked Nixi44 (14th) goes all-in with (K4) and Biglou93 takes her out with (TT). Another flurry of action follows this hand.

76 min: TrippAA (13th) moves in with (Ks Ts) but Gotbug has (AA).

77 min: Three see a flop of [6s 7c 3c] ThePunk75, Kaytdid and Biglou93 check that series of apparent blanks. The turn is a [6h], which makes ThePunk bet a blind and makes the short-stacked Kaytdid (12th) move all – in with (Ac Kc). Lou gets out of the way and ThePunk shows (6d 4d) and even hits a straight on the river for overkill.

78 min: Short-stacked Wingsfancurt (11th) moves all-in and is called in two places – by Mikeniks-Faldo (Q9) and ThePunk75 (AK). The flop hits Faldo [8Q8] but the turn [K] locks in ThePunk. PS has more bad turns and rivers waiting for me later.

79 min: The short-stacked Bigbrimar (10th) moves all-in with (A2) and is called by Gotbug with (77) and no Ace arrives to save Bigbri. Hey, he took my bubble spot as…

88 min: Mikeniks-Faldo (9th) moves all-in with (As Js) (64%) after a flop of [2s Qh Jc] and is called by Derf-63 with (Kh Th) (36%). A [K] (23%) on the river and your host is gone.

95 min: After a tasty flop of [J 9 A] Gotbug (AQ) and TresStooges (AK) get all-in. A [Q] on the turn brings the Bug out in the open, only to be squashed by a [K] on the river.

The Poker Stars dealers are cruel this evening. But Gotbug doubles up (AA) on Tigercub8189 (44) the next hand to stay alive. But PS was not done torturing the Bug yet.

99 min: Biglou93 (8th) makes his stand with (JJ) and is called by Gotbug (7th) (TT) and Derf-63 with (QQ), for the double knockout!

104 min: Akensi (6th) tries an all-in with (44) and has a coin flip against Derf-63 with (A7), but an [A] hits the flop. It gets wild after this.

I don’t have the hands….no time, but.

106 min: ThePunk75 grabs the chip lead from Derf-63.
107 min: Tigercub8189 takes the lead.
109 min. Derf-63 gets the lead back from Tigercub.

112 min: CrackBuyer (5th) loses his race with (33) against Derf-63 (KT) when a [K] rivers.

113 min: The quiet TresStooges now grabs the chip lead here. Derf-63 had been whacking everyone, but now the paddles seem to be in everyone else’s hands. In the eight minute prior to the second break, the deck turned cold on Derf-63.

Oh, and yet another chip lead change!

2nd break:
ThePunk75 14735
TresStooges 13671
Tigercub8189 5394
Derf-63 3700

122 min: TresStooges now has the chip lead.

123 min: Derf-63 (4th) goes all-in with (98) and a flop of [495] and is called by ThePunk75 with (AT). ThePunk hits his [T] on the turn.

130 min: Tigercub8189 (3rd) loses his coin flip with (AJ) to ThePunk75 with (77)

No time for Heads up totals as…..

131 min: ThePunk75 and TresStooges check a flop of [Qc 9c Jd]. Some flops just smell of trouble.

The [6c] on the turn get ThePunk to bet, Tres to re-raise and ThePunk to call.

The river [4c] gets all the chips in the middle and TresStooges trips (99) beats the Punk’s pair (KQ).

Congratulations to TresStooges on his 1st NPP win!

1st – TresStooges
2nd – ThePunk75
3rd – Tigercub8189
4th – Derf-63
5th – CrackBuyer
6th – Akensi
7th – Gotbug
8th – Biglou93
9th – Mikeniks-Faldo

Standings for 2nd quarter and total points are on the right side of the blog!

Friday, May 01, 2009

Douge2's Humor Corner III

So, what's the REAL DEAL With Golf?

"It took me 22 years to get 2,873 hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course."
-- Babe Ruth

"Give me the fresh air, a beautiful partner, and a nice round of golf and you can keep the fresh air and the round of golf."
-- Jack Benny

"These greens are so fast I have to hold my putter above the ball and hit it with the shadow."
-- Sam Snead

"You can make a lot of money in this game. Just ask my ex-wives. Both of them are so rich that neither of their husbands works."
-- Lee Trevino

"I'm not saying my golf game went bad, but if I grew tomatoes, they'd come up sliced!"
-- Lee Trevino

"Golf is not a game, it's bondage. It was obviously devised by a man torn with guilt, eager to atone for his sins."
-- Unknown

"[Players today] throw their clubs backwards, and that's dead wrong to do! ... You should always throw a club ahead of you so that you don't have to walk any extra distance to get it."
-- Tommy Bolt

"Golf and sex are about the only things you can enjoy without being good at."
-- Jimmy Demaret


An Asset is a Down Economy

A middle-aged man walked into a drug store and asked to talk to a male
pharmacist. The elderly woman he was talking to said that she was the
pharmacist and as she and her also widowed elderly sister owned the
store, there were no males employed there. She then asked if she could
help the gentleman.

The guy said that it was something that he would be much more
comfortable discussing with a male pharmacist.

The female pharmacist assured him that she was completely professional
and whatever it was that he needed to discuss, he could be confident that
she would treat him with the highest level of professionalism.

The man agreed relented by saying, "This is tough for me
to discuss, but I have a permanent erection. It causes me a lot of problems
and severe embarrassment, and I was wondering what you could give me for it.

The pharmacist said, "Just a minute, I'll go talk to my sister.

When she returned, she said, "We discussed it at length and the absolute
best we can do is, 1/3 ownership in the store, a company car, and $3,000
a month plus living expenses."