Friday, December 31, 2010

ThePunk75 Makes a Final Table on Full Tilt - Faldo on PokerStars

Faldo finished 6th in a 90-player SNG, but ThePunk75 has a real final table finish and a year in review:

"The Punk (BaDonkaPunk on Full Tilt) makes final table and finishes 5th (488 players) in an Omaha 2.5k Guarantee Rush Rebuy on Full Tilt. First hand of tournament I tripled up with flopped top set that held. But it was all downhill from there as I ended up having to do a double rebuy after suck-out after suck-out after suck-out (hey its Omaha it happens). But after that double rebuy, my hands started holding again. It helps hitting quad jacks twice.

At the final table I was sitting about 6th in chips and there was one player with something like 1.4 million, the next closest guy in chips had about 450k. Plus the mega stack was directly to my left, so it wasn't going to be easy dodging the chip leader. He re-popped my preflop raises 3 times and I had to fold each time. The 4th time I reraised all in with AA78, and he had something like AQ64. I doubled up and was in business. I was crippled, while in BB I held AQ22, and faced a preflop pot bet. The player had about 25k after that bet so I shoved my stack in; I had about 70K over him. He showed AK78 or something. Of course two aces hit the board and his K gave him the winning hand. The very next hand I have A922 and shoved the monster stack called from SB and hit one of his cards to take me out. My cash was 32.5x my total buy in.

My total ROI for the year jumped from 4% to 13%.

2010 was a good year for The Punk.

On PokerStars I posted a 105% ROI for the year in MTT. A staggering 476% in pot limit Omaha. I doubled my bankroll, of which a healthy withdrawal got me a new 55" LED TV.

On Full Tilt, I posted a 13% ROI for the year in MTT’s. But several bad ring game sessions left me down for the year overall there.

One of the things that I feel I greatly improved this year is reading betting patterns. Another is using the semi bluff and bluff to take down pots. I was never a huge fan of either and it was a micro attribute of my game. This year I began using both more and more; for the most part it was positive results.

For 2011, it’s continual improving my play and hopefully more final tables."

Punk

Great year Punk and thanks for the story! - Faldo

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

New Year’s Day Approaches – Any Poker Resolutions?

Reflecting back on your poker year of 2010 is usually a good idea. As long as it is honest reflection.

My 2009 resolutions for 2010 were met – most of the time. I still did some dumb things, but they were at a much reduced rate this year. I give myself a solid B overall on the “improvement” list.

I gave myself a “C” for improved attitude when playing on line. Every once in a while the ‘old’ Faldo would lose it due to suck outs and bad beats, but over all, a great improvement. I am beginning to understand bad beats are GOING to happen. So accept it or don’t play. It’s sinking in slowly.

I also mentally handled the couple of "running cold" streaks I hit - very well. When you keep records as well as I do, you see that these downturns have happened before and will happen again. Overall, I get a “B” for SO-BB.

But I give myself a “D” for whining over the “shoulda, woulda, coulda”. This is where I fold (66) in middle position with a slightly small stack after the bigger stack UTG guy raised it up with (AJ) and the small blind calls all in with (33). And of course neither of them can improve and the small blind picks up MY much needed chips. And of course a [6] hits the flop………and the river!!!!

I dub this the “Of course I hit EVERY flop, turn and river AFTER I fold” syndrome. Now that I think about it, I may just have reversed where I directed most of my negative energy. The “hit” syndrome got a “C” last year and the “SO – Bbeat” got an “F”.

This new year I will work on reflection when this happens. Why - exactly - did I fold? And I better have a good reason. Was it the ‘right’ play or is this more of the “no guts” leak in my game? Did I have a line on the UTG player? Did I know the SB’s stack was in “do or die” mode? If not – WHY NOT?

This will be more useful than mentally accusing the poker site of dropping cards on the board - JUST TO TORTURE ME!!!!

Sorry, I digress. Or is that regress? So on average, attitude was a “C” grade.

Goal for 2011 is an “A” in SO-BB and a “B” in not whining over what could have been. I know me – an “A” in not whining is not possible until 2012. Talk about a stretch goal!

I gave myself a “B” for working on improvements. I graded myself harsh here but I am not giving + or – scores and I know I was not an A, as I should have been. Playing took up that study time and …that is not a terrible use of it. Hands played helps too.

I give myself an A on bankroll management and a B on game selection. I still play sometimes when distracted or not 100%.

So C (B+D), B, A, B = B

Goals for 2011:
1) Play more Ring Limit Play – should be most profitable
2) Play more SNG Play – most profitable (except on Tuesday night where I get slaughtered like a fish in a sushi bar)
3) Play less Big Tournament Play – the time for the other two has to come from somewhere
4) Get a final grade of at least a “B” next year
5) Win a Boother36 card protector

You may notice that “winning money” is not a goal, nor should it be. If I work on my needed improvements, making a little coin will be a side benefit.

PS: Faldo Health Update: Doing fine – going home today after final procedure and tests. God bless my NPP family for all the kind wishes!

PSS: Heads Up Tourney is up to date on the right side of the blog.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Douge2’s Humor Corner – LV

Canadian Humor

A man in a Florida supermarket tries to buy a half a head of lettuce. The very young produce assistant tells him that they sell only whole heads of lettuce. The man persists and asks to see the manager. The young man says he'll ask his manager about it.

Walking into the back room, the assistant said to his manager, “Some asshole wants to buy half a head of lettuce.” As he finished his sentence, he turned to find the man standing right behind him. So he added, “And this gentleman has kindly offered to buy the other half.”

The manager approved the deal, and the man went on his way. Later the manager said to his protégé, “I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of that situation earlier. We like people who think on their feet here. Where are you from, son?”

“Canada, sir,” the young man replied.

“Well, why did you leave Canada,” the manager asked?

The young man said, “Because sir, there's nothing but whores and hockey players up there.”

“Oh, really??” said the manager. “I’ll have you know my wife is from Canada!”

“No shit?” replied the assistant. “Who'd she play for?”


Late Night Talk Show Humor

The liberals are asking us to give Obama time. We agree . . . and think 25 to life would be appropriate. - Leno

America needs Obama-care like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask. – Leno

Q: What does Barack Obama call lunch with a convicted felon?
A: A fund raiser. - Leno

Q: Have you heard about McDonald's' new Obama Value Meal?
A: Order anything you like and the guy behind you has to pay for it. - Conan O'Brien

Q: What's the difference between Obama's cabinet and a penitentiary?
A: One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers and threats to society. The other is for housing prisoners. – Letterman

Q: What was the most positive result of the "Cash for clunkers" program?
A: It took 95% of the Obama bumper stickers off the road. - Letterman

Q: If Nancy Pelosi and Obama were on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it started to sink, who would be saved?
A: America! - Fallon

Q: What's the difference between Obama and his dog, Bo?
A: Bo has papers. - Kimmel

Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Faldo Challenge on Ultimate Bet

We have reached the half-way point of the Faldo Challenge. What follows is the report card.

Copying the challenge of Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Faldo attempts to grow the $9 he had left in UB as high as he could in a year's time.

Chris Ferguson's challenge on Full Tilt was to grow $0 to $10,000 in a year. He made it in like 10 months, having first cashed in some freerolls.

Faldo is trying to beat this lame accomplishment. Let's see how Faldo is doing.

Faldo must wager at least $9 every month, in any form he chooses; ring, Sng or MTT's.

For December, Faldo wagered $10.54 to garner a net profit of $3.19.

Add this to the $25.94 that was the bankroll, and Faldo has the UB account up to $29.13

Who doe this Ferguson donkey think he is messin' with? Faldo is on the backstretch and poised to run him down.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Re-live the NPP 2010 Final



Merry Christmas from the NPP Tournament Director - Victoria Moore

NPP Heads Up Tournament Update

The Elite Eight is set, with one of the matches already played:

Odds2win777
Suetman1

ThePunk75
K9isadog

Sirgash
Theedouble*d

Derf-63---------------Derf-63
Wingsfancurt


The Faldo Bracket looks like this:

LittleRedElf
xxxKdogxxx

Tigercub8189 awaits the winner of :
T3chlady
Bigbrimar

……..Pre01 awaits the loser of
……...Sirgash-Theedouble*d

……..Wingsfancurt awaits the winner of:
Yecats423
Absea98

I will be sending emails out to all. Try and get your tourney scheduled by Sunday, the 26th. Faldo will not be available to set tourneys until maybe Thursday, the 30th. Any matches set between the 26th and the 30th will have to be with Sirgash’s assistance – IF and when he can do it.

Faldo will have email and phone, but not PokerStars availability.

The 2011 season will be starting on January 4, so please be recruiting and talking the league up!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Community Card Review – XVIIl

It is hard for me to type pure lies, but I got to do it. Yes, it is an Obama speech:
“The budget debate has less to do with big government vs small government and has more to do with smart government. It’s not about being pro-government or pro-business, it’s about being pro jobs.”

Obama and the Communist-Democrat Party have launched a full out assault on capitalism, the private sector and every business.

Did you hear about the article by the head of the American Communist Party who stated that the Democrat Party is fulfilling their Manifesto? Oh, that didn’t reach our mainstream media? Shocking.

Socialized medicine, tax plans and environmental policies of the Democrats assume businesses have unlimited piles of money lying around being wasted on luxuries. Democrats believe in their bones that businesses are naturally immoral, corrupt and greedy. It’s the Communist model of capitalism.

[Repeat lesson inserted:] businesses do not pay taxes – you do. Businesses just add the cost of the tax to the product or go out of business. Remember that when you hear a Democrat lie. Uh, speak.

The Democrats are all about big government and anti-business/private sector. Business has to fend off Big Government and Big Labor Unions (another Communist Manifesto idea) just to survive.

Lying speeches do not create jobs, and Democrat policies - by design - destroy businesses where people HAVE jobs, and stop any growth for more jobs.

It’s common sense, folks.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Faldo Goes 0 for 6 – Setting Up Matches

A big night was on tap at NPP for the Heads Up Tourney with six matches scheduled at our usual night and time. Somehow Faldo found a way to screw it up (twss).

I had the tournaments there, but somehow did not send the tournament acknowledgement or the PASSWORD to 8 of the 12 players! It was either a email issue or a total malfunction of the “system” between Faldo’s chair and the computer keyboard. I vote for the latter and how it happened is still a mystery.

Faldo remembers typing the emails. What button he hit after that appears to be the question.

The other two matches were ready to go, but only one opponent for each tourney appeared. One’s internet went down AFTER registration, and the other never confirmed the tourney (email again?).

What a mess! And Faldo was not at his post on the email and chat to fix it. I thought I could take a Tuesday night off because of my careful attention to details and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Yeah, right!

Anyways, Sirgash got the Nixi44 and LittleRedElf match scheduled and I re-scheduled the Dert-63 and Wingsfancurt tilt. Thanks Sirgash, for salvaging what you could. The rest I am still working on.

Well, re-working on. Sorry folks. I had a system to make sure I completed each task for each tournament right up to the end – so I didn’t forget anything.

But somehow I

Monday, December 20, 2010

Douge2’s Humor Corner – LIV

Every Last Nickel

A father walks into a restaurant with his young son. He gives the young boy 3 nickels to play with to keep him occupied. Suddenly, the boy starts choking, going blue in the face. The father realizes the boy has swallowed the nickels and starts slapping him on the back. The boy coughs up 2 of the nickels, but keeps choking. Looking at his son, the father is panicking, shouting for help.

A well dressed, attractive and serious looking woman in a blue business suit is sitting at the coffee bar reading a newspaper and sipping a cup of coffee. At the sound of the commotion, she looks up, puts her coffee cup down, neatly folds the newspaper and places it on the counter, gets up from her seat and makes her way, unhurried, across the restaurant.

Reaching the boy, the woman carefully drops his pants, takes hold of the boy's testicles and starts to squeeze and twist, gently at first and then ever so firmly. After a few seconds the boy convulses violently and coughs up the last nickel, which the woman deftly catches in her free hand. Releasing the boy's testicles, the woman hands the nickel to the father and walks back to her seat at the coffee bar without saying a word.

As soon as he is sure that his son has suffered no ill effects, the Father rushes over to the woman and starts thanking her saying, "I've never seen anybody do anything like that before, it was fantastic. Are you a doctor?"

"No", the woman replied. "I'm with the IRS."


Dad’s Always Right

A teenage boy had just got his driver's license and inquired of his father as to when they could discuss his use of the car. His father said he'd make a deal with his son: “You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut. Then we'll talk about the car.”

The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he'd settle for the offer, and they agreed on it.

After about six weeks his father said, “Son, you've brought your grades up and I've observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I'm disappointed you haven't gotten your hair cut.”

The boy said, “You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair...and there's even strong evidence that Jesus had long hair.”

To this his father replied, “Did you also notice they all walked everywhere they went?”

Sunday, December 19, 2010

2010 Total Point Totals

Faldo had a request from a player whom shall remain nameless. He asked if the final point results from the 2010 season can be re-posted.

We at NPP headquarters receive secret requests all the time and pride ourselves on our candor, honor and unparalleled security, so our members can keep their requests discreet. Not only does NPP honor every secret request possible, but we do it without fanfare, without need for praise and without payment.

But don't worry about us as we throw some mort twigs on the fire for warmth. Here is the (brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!) list:

K9isadog 355
ThePunk75 308
Suetman1 298
Theedouble*d 272
Mikeniks-Faldo 253
LittleRedElf 250
Absea98 250
T3chlady 238
Douge2 220
Meatsword 213
xxxKdogxxx 205
Tomservo2 197
Derf-63 188
Tigercub8189 186
Wingsfancurt 154
Funtoon 137
Odds2win777 135
Pre01 125
Fourbetbluff 122
Yecats427 103
BigDaddyTman 95
Mistermusic5 84
Vanettij 78
Eyekall 76
Rjmech 69
Gdub28 60
Tommydoo 60
Budda627 57
Nahanni74 51
Pingsticks 43
Akensi 41
Pistolboy70 41
Merhibka 41
Kensik 37
Biglou93 30
Fusciardi 27
Rennzzo 25
Mowin4116 21
Sirgash 18
Douche_Splat 17
Drowninagain 14
BKrywko1 13
Midway2933 12
TresStooges 11
Bendandsnap 11
Tarolliz 10
Bigbrimar 8
Nicklittle 8
Jenski6 7
JDChridati 6
Birdy333 5
RKidder51400 3
Tigertown369 3
Amyada 3
Tigerbig 2
CSB33 2
SpartanFlash 2
Phil976224 2
Owetheshark 1
Duder1123 1
Aqualung85 1
Deadriver6 1
Ksloflyer 1
Grypdg 1
Nixi44 1
Burgessk89 1

I might be missing a few due to spreadsheet space (cut off at around 64 people), but this is everyone (nearly) who played this last year. If you know some of the folks who dropped out, please ask them why?

Especially you erf-Day-63! After all, this is the “ist-lay” that you “anted-way.” Please inquire to NPP Security for the code breaking clearance.

Note: The Heads Up Tourney is on the right side of the blog.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Douge2 Humor Corner LVIII

Actual Bumper Stickers

“Breast Inspection Next Truck Cab…please have’em out”

“I am not an alcoholic. I am a drunk. Alcoholics go to meetings.”

“Driver carries no cash….he is married.”

“Wife and dog missing. Reward for dog.”

“4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions.”

“Drugs Lead No Where….but it is the scenic route.”

“The shortest sentence is ‘I am’. The longest is ‘I do.’”

“Where in the hell is Easy Street?”

“Keep honking…I’m re-loading.”

“Work harder…millions of Democrats live off your taxes.”


You Know You Are a Redneck if….

1. You let your 14-year-old daughter smoke at the dinner table in front of her kids.

2. The Blue Book value of your truck goes up and down depending on how much gas is in it.

3. You've been married three times and still have the same in-laws.

4. You think a woman who is out of your league bowls on a different night.

5. You wonder how service stations keep their rest-rooms so clean.

6. Someone in your family died right after saying, 'Hey, guys, watch this.'

7. You think Dom Perignon is a Mafia leader.

8. Your wife's hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling fan.

9. Your junior prom offered day care.

10. You think the last words of the Star-Spangled Banner are 'Gentlemen, start your engines. '

11. You lit a match in the bathroom and your house exploded right off its wheels.

12. The Halloween pumpkin on your porch has more teeth than your spouse.

13. You have to go outside to get something from the fridge.

14. One of your kids was born on a pool table.

15. You need one more hole punched in your card to get a freebie at the House of Tattoos.

16. You can't get married to your sweetheart because there's a law against it.

17. You think loading the dishwasher means getting your wife drunk.

Note: Heads up tourney bracket is on the Right Side of the blog!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Beerhog Wins a PokerStars Tourney and ThePunk75 Makes a Final Table

The NPP Stable continues to impress!

If you play at NPP, it cannot do anything but help your game. Where else can you play this guaranteed high level of competition every week for such a low price?

Beerhog spanks 990 players and wins 220 times his entry with his win.

Meanwhile, ThePunk75 sends in this report:

“I took 5th place (127 players) in a Pot Limit Omaha 1 rebuy - 1 add-on last Tuesday night after the NPP league game ended.

I was one of the short stacks at the final table but had enough to be patient and see if I could move up the money scale. A double KO quickly happened, but unfortunately that created two monster stacks with a 10-1 advantage over the rest of us.

It’s difficult enough to battle one mega stack, two was nearly impossible. I managed one double up, then had AJ109 raised preflop one monster stack called from BB flop come JJ6, I bet out, BB calls. Flop comes a 4 and there is enough in pot for me to shove and BB calls and shows AJ42, a turned full house, and the river is a blank.

With one rebuy and the add on, I won 6x my overall buy-in.”

Great job guys!

Note: The Heads Up Tourney is on the right side of the blog.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

K9isadog is the 2011 NPP Player of the Year!

Well, K9isadog crushed the NPP field during the season. It was only fitting that he finish by winning the Championship Tournament. He faced the NPP year’s best six players, and bested them – all at the same table. He was the best at NPP this year – no question!

We had a nice group of fans and players at the rail to cheer (jeer?) the combatants. It was a fun night. We even picked up a few more for the Heads Up tourney.

On to the action:

41 min: A testimony to how important this tourney is and how good this group of players is. Forty-one minutes to the first exit.

Late arrival xxxKdogxxx (7th) has to go with (TT), but loses the coin flip as Absea98 catches up with (AQ) as an [A] flops.

45 min: Faldo takes a huge chunk out of K9isadog’s stack as he has to fold after some heavy betting. This makes his win even more impressive. Faldo falls short when he tries to make a comeback.

50 min: Faldo gets hurt as his (AA) loses to LittleRedElf’s (77) when a [7] flops.
57 min: Faldo (6th) has to go with (44) and loses his coin flip to LittleRedElf (again) with (AT) with an [A] on the turn.

1st break:
Suetman1 3113
ThePunk75 2672
LittleRedElf 2549
K9isadog 1306
Absea98 860

70 min: Absea98 (5th) has to go with (As Qs) but cannot catch LittleRedElf’s (TT).
73 min: LittleRedElf (4th) sees his (TT) run into K9isadog’s (AA).
89 min: Suetman1 (3rd) has to go when her (As 8s) pairs with an [8] on the flop. But ThePunk75 is holding (99).

Heads up: ThePunk75 5935 - 4565 K9isadog

93 min: K9isadog has a monster chip lead at this point. The exciting poker happened actually before the ending. Can K9 and the Punk explain the “real” final hand to us – in their own words and thoughts – in the comment section please?

A short-stacked ThePunk75 moves in with (T4) and cannot catch K9isadog’s (A6).

Congratulations to all the finalists on a great season and …really special salutes to K9isadog, who lead the league “wire to wire” – then stood at the finish line to slap us as we went by! Great season K9!

NPP Player of the Year – K9isadog
2nd – ThePunk75
3rd – Suetman1
4th – LittleRedElf
5th – Absea98
6th – Mikeniks-Faldo
7th – xxxKdogxxx

See you in the Heads Up tourney or on January 4! Recruit players and read/comment on the blog. Merry Christmas everyone!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Community Card Review – XVII

Black leaders showed up at the White House to meet with their half kin to discuss jobs…or the lack of them…for Black liberal urban communities. Forget the rest of the people and areas.

This meeting reeks of racism. I don’t remember Bush having meetings to discuss jobs for “only” white Texans. But, there I go making sense again. Liberals somehow are allowed to be racists and bigots.

The Urban League, Reverend Sharpton and the NAALCP (L – for liberal) wanted to know “What’s up Homie? Yo’, where’s the bling-bling for the Hood?”

They asked for more bailout money for minorities, targeting help for urban black areas with them in charge of dolling out the taxpayer money.

How about a “truth” bailout for the black communities? How about these truths?

Obama and the Democrats have had almost two full years with no resistance possible from the super-minority Republicans in Congress, to pass anything they wanted. And they have!

Still, there are no jobs – in the Hood, or anywhere else for that matter. We have had over a trillion dollars in spending by Democrats of all colors, and still – no jobs!

Another truth is that Obama, the Black Leaders and all other liberals, have no clue where jobs come from – and don’t want to learn either. They have no idea how business works or how jobs are created. They are simply agitators looking for a handout thru an extortion racket called Race Relations.

Another truth. Those of you sitting around waiting for Obama, Reverend Sharpton, Nancy Pelosi, the government or any Democrat to do something to make your life better; keep waiting.

They all will be worm food – and you will still be waiting. You see, liberalism-democrat-socialist-communism fails – every time it is tried.

Friday, December 10, 2010

ThePunk75 Wins a Full Tilt Tourney – While T3chlady and Bigbrimar Cash in on Poker Stars

ThePunk75’s reports:

“On Sunday night I took down a 98 player MTT over at Full Tilt for 32x my buy-in.

It was a come from behind victory for me as at the start of the final table I was the short stack. Short stack is a little misleading as I still had around 20 BB so I could be patient and perhaps wait out some other players to butt heads and move up the pay scale.

Which is exactly what happened as two players quickly went out and with about 15 BB's left it was time to make a move. I got one double up but took a couple hits which brought my stack down to just over 10 BB.

With about 8k left and (33) UTG I push it all-in. Four players call (seriously) flop comes [83x]. One player bets out and gets one to fold and one caller. Turn comes another [3], Quads for me!. Same player bets out again and get a fold. At that time I’m thinking wouldn't it be sick if that player had (88). Well he did. A one-outer on turn quadrupled me up. Ouch! (TWSS).

Now I was top 3 in chips (but still 2-1 from chip leader) and ready to steam roll the others. At 4 players left I had (AJ) raised preflop a short stack reraised all-in and I called (AJ vs KQ) and rag board left me the chip leader with 2 more to go.

A couple hands later I raise preflop with (5d 4d) and BB calls. The flop comes [8d 4c 2d]. I bet out and BB just calls. Turn comes [6d] which gives me a flush draw plus double gutter straight draw. BB checks I bet out again he re-raises all in and I call. He has (AT) no draw or anything. River is a blank and my pair of 4's hold.

Heads up now and I have a 2-1 chip lead over the other player and it ended two hands later I had (KT), preflop raise and a call from BB and flop come [KQ10]. BB shoves on flop and I call. He has (QJ) and 10 outs. But the turn and river are blanks and my flopped two pair wins.

Congratulations Punk and thanks for the report!”

Meanwhile, over at PokerStars, T3chlady cashes in two tourneys, besting over 2000 players in one for a 22nd place finish and 8x her buy-in. Then she follows that up with a 15x buy-in cash besting over 3500 players! Way to go Lady!

And Bigbrimar is still making noise. He made a final table in a 360-player MTT finishing 9th. Nice job Brian!

Now, lets remember to get your RSVP’s into Faldo for the Heads-up tourney!

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

NPP Heads Up Tournament - 2010

The tournament will start December 17th, 2010. Get your RSVP in as soon as possible.

Send an email to npokerp at yahoo dot com to get in. Or you can enter by commenting on this blog posting.

The NPP Committee draws the bracket. It is done in a super secret location, where full concentration can be given to the fairness and accuracy of said draw – in between lap dances.

Players can comment on the site or thru email to schedule their match. Faldo makes tourney match up dates and times based on the emails, and then emails the passwords to the players for their match.

Players can set their own price for the match, but the NPP standard for every round is will be $1.20. Emails ONLY confirming a different entry fee must be received from both players - by Faldo - before Faldo will make it something different.

As the matches get completed, Faldo updates with a new post. Players are responsible for reading the site, finding their next opponent, getting contact information from Faldo, and making sure the correct results are posted.

Faldo has forfeit power for lack of response or delay of play – even if he is in tourney.

Eligible players is anyone who played at least one round at NPP during the season. ‘Seniority’ (total numbers of rounds played) might be a consideration taken - in order to make the bracket manageable. No one will be left out, but play-in gomes will go to the lower seniority players if need be.

The tournament should try to be completed before new league season begins, however this is not a requirement.

Faldo’s secretary did a fine job of drafting the tourney rules. Get your entry in by commenting on the blog – or better still – writing Faldo at npokerp at yahoo dot com.

Number of entries allowed and the cut off point for entries is solely in the discretion of the NPP Tournament Committee – when they are not on stage that is.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Tommydoo Wins 2nd NPP Tourney in Four Starts! – Absea98 Wins 4th Quarter!

The final table is set! What an exciting ending it was. Details to follow in this write-up.

The final table will be: Absea98 (a former finalist), K9isadog (who destroyed the league point wise), LittleRedElf (perennial qualifier), Suetman1 (Mrs. Absea’s first visit to the finals), ThePunk75 (another returning finalist) and xxxKdogxxx (1st year / 1st attempt qualifier).

This is an absolutely brutal final table of talent to have to overcome. Good luck to all of you!

Be sure to sweater this game and support your league! Please recruit for next year and I will be posting the Heads Up tournament format soon.

Only fourteen players entered tonight as most missing in action could not secure a seat and are saving their nickels for the Heads Up tourney and next year.

On to the action:

24 min: Theedouble*d needs to have a 1st or 2nd place finish to take an at-large seat without assistance, so he was pushing the action.

A flop of [5c 9c Jd] has the short-stacked (SS) Theedouble*d (14th) raise LittleRedElf’s bet and only Meatsword calls. The turn of [6d] has DD push with (J3), but Meatsword hits his flush (8c 6c) on the river.

Meatsword also has to have a big showing tonight to overtake Absea98. So a lot of Turbo-type betting took place.

26 min: Wingsfancurt (13th) sees his (QQ) get run down by Derf-63’s (KT) with a [K] on the flop. Derf-63 actually was eliminated from title contention as soon as Absea98 entered the tourney. Ouch!

28 min: Absea98 (12th) and his early exit made it interesting. A host of players now had hope.

A family pot and a flop of [Kc 5s Tc] got a bet from Odds2win777 and three callers, including Absea98 (K3). The turn of the [3c] gets Absea pot committed and he falls to Douge2’s flush (Qc 9c).

37 min: T3chlady (11th) loses when her (Ad Td) loses to a flopped Spade flush by Odds2win777.

57 min: Suetman1 loses all but $10 of her chips when she loses a coin flip with (AK) to Meatsword’s (66). No matter, she locked up a seat when Theedouble*d fell early. She still fought on and made the final table!

1st break:
ThePunk75 5050
Derf-63 3680
Odds2win777 2875
LittleRedElf 2135
Tommydoo 2050
Douge2 1870
Meatsword 1800
Tomservo2 1150
Suetman1 240
BKrywko1 150

61 min: BKrywko1 (10th)
62 min: A SS Tomservo2 (9th) goes with (As 5s) and a flop of [924], but cannot catch LittleRedElf’s (74).

68 min: A SS Meatsword (8th) goes with (6d 3d) and runs into Derf-63’s (A6).
69 min: A SS Suetman1 (7th) finally gets a hand, (AK), but the hard driving ThePunk75 makes the call with (35) and makes the baby straight on the river.

No matter. Welcome to the NPP Finals Mrs. Absea98! We have to watch and see if your husband will join you.

71 min: Derf-63 (6th) moves with (66), but ThePunk75 is holding (AA). Ouch!
73 min: Douge2 (5th) with (K3) and a [K] on the flop, gets out-pipped by Tommydoo with (KT).

75 min: Odds2win777 was still in the hunt for the 4th quarter seat, but he was going to have to finish ahead of ThePunk75 to do it.

Odds2win777 (4th) gets the best of it with (AJ) against the hard charging - but locked in a seat – ThePunk75’s (K7). But a [7] on the flop ends the dream for Odds2win777. But a great season anyway!

77 min: LittleRedElf (3rd) (Ad Kd) gets ambushed by Tommydoo with (8s 5s) and a [5] on the flop.

Here is the deal: If ThePunk75 – 11000, wins, then he takes the 4th quarter seat, leaving Theedouble*d the last one, and crushing Absea98 from the league lead’s last seat.

If Tommydoo – 10000 wins it, then ThePunk75 and Suetman1 take the at large seats, shutting out Theedouble*d and Absea98 takes the 4th quarter league title by ONE point.

It doesn’t get any closer than this!

90 min: Tommydoo 12000 - ThePunk75 9000
95 min: SAME
100 min: SAME

103: ThePunk75 (2nd) has to ship it with (AQ) on a flop and turn of [792A]. Tommydoo is holding (92)!

Congratulations to Tommydoo on his 2nd NPP win!

1st – Tommydoo – 24 points
2nd – ThePunk75 – 19 points
3rd – LittleRedElf – 15 pts
4th – Odds2win777 – 12 pts
5th – Douge2 – 9 pts
6th – Derf-63 – 7 pts
7th – Suetman1 – 5 pts
8th – Meatsword – 4 pts
9th – Tomservo2 – 3 pts

Every one else earned one (1) point. Standings are on the right side of the blog.

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Douge2’s Humor Corner – LVII

Government Assistance

A modern day cowboy has spent many days crossing the Texas plains without water. His horse has already died of thirst.

He's crawling through the sand, certain that he has breathed his last breath, when all of a sudden he sees an object sticking out of the sand several yards ahead of him.

He crawls to the object, pulls it out of the sand and discovers what looks to be an old briefcase. He opens it and out pops a genie. But this is no ordinary genie.

She is wearing a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) ID badge and a dull gray dress. There's a calculator in her pocketbook. She has a pencil tucked behind one ear. “Well, cowboy,” says the genie, “You know how I work. You have three wishes.”

“I'm not falling for this,” said the cowboy. “I'm not going to trust a FEMA genie.”

“What do you have to lose? You've got no transportation and it looks like you're a goner anyway,” she says.

The cowboy thinks about this for a minute and decides that the genie is right. “OK!, I wish I were in a lush oasis with plenty of food and drink..”

***POOF*** The cowboy finds himself in the most beautiful oasis he has ever seen and he is surrounded with jugs of wine and platters of delicacies.

“OK, Cowpoke, what's your second wish?”

“My second wish is that I was rich beyond my wildest dreams.”

***POOF*** The cowboy finds himself surrounded by treasure chests filled with rare gold coins and precious gems.

“OK, Cowpuncher, you have just one more wish. Better make it a good one!”

After thinking for a few minutes, the cowboy says, “I wish that no matter where I go, beautiful women will want and need me.”

***POOF*** He was turned into a tampon.

Moral of the story:

If the government offers to help you, there's going to be a string attached!!!

Friday, December 03, 2010

The Community Card Review - XVI

In the Netherlands they have a concert promoter who came up with an idea to sell out his Summer Music Festival at $200 a ticket! And he did not discount a single ticket. That’s right, sold out at full price – in record time too.

He never told the customers the exact date of the concert, only the month. He never told them who would be performing or when.

In spite of his secrecy and his greed, he sold his Music Festival a full 10 months before the event!!!

What was his marketing strategy? Well, the government of this European nation gave it to him on a silver platter. You see, the government decided to levy a 40% tax on all concert and show tickets starting next year.

All the promoter did was to advertize that if music lovers wanted to save 40% on this event, buy the tickets now.

Some bought for the tax avoidance. Some bought as an investment to sell at a probably 20% profit later. Some bought as a protest to the upcoming tax increase in the first place.

Back in the U-SSR-SA under Obama, in the state of New York, cigarette taxes are the highest in the nation. It is already estimated that one-third of the cigarettes smoked in New York are black market purchased.

Organized crime and an underground economy is thriving because of the People’s Republic of New York tax policies and Democrats voted for by a majority of the citizens. Truth be known, 80% of those Democrat voters pay ZERO income tax at all.

What should be clear to everyone is that taxes force behavior changes. How many of you would play in a poker game with a 50% pot tax (rake)? 40%? 30%? 20%? 10%? How any liberal can play poker without their head exploding at the pure hypocricy of it all, is beyond me. Only liberals can do that. After all, the lucky and the most talented win the money. It should be too UNFAIR of a game to any liberal.

In spite of all of the evidence, their own experience at being expert tax cheats themselves, and the voters denouncing their polices in November, Democrat lawmakers and czars insist on raising taxes on all Americans at every turn.

Only the mentally ill Democrat voter and the dictatorial Democrat politician refuse to accept the fact that every single tax harms every single citizen to some degree.

Taxes are a necessary evil and should be applied with great thought and extreme reservation.

Democrats – and their voters are pure evil.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Odds2win777 Wins His 3rd NPP Tourney

Odds2win777 puts himself smack in the race for the last seat in the NPP finals! Absea98 takes over the league lead with his 2nd place finish.

The other finishes leave five players with a shot at the 4th quarter seat: Absea98, Meatsword, Odds2win777, ThePunk75 and Derf-63. Unfortunately for Derf-63, if Absea98 just enters next week, Derf can't tie him - even with a win.

The total points race still has three players battling; Suetman1, ThePunk75 and Theedouble*d.

Next week will be an exciting finish to a great year!

On to the NPP action:

3 min: The fact that ThePunk75 is almost guaranteed a seat in the finals somehow, had a lot to do with this hand. Theedouble*d (19th) moves all in with (QQ) and is called by ThePunk75 with (KJ). The flop was [JJX] – wiping out the DD.

27 min: A short-stacked (SS) Douge2 (18th) goes with (A7) and runs into Tigercub8189’s (99).

33 min: Meatsword (17th)
45 min: LittleRedElf (16th)
52 min: Suetman1 (15th)
53 min: Derf-63 (14th)
56 min: Pre-01 (13th)
58 min: K9isadog (12th)
59 min: Wingsfancurt (11th)

1st break:
Tomservo2 7755
Tommydoo 6147
Eyekall 4665
BigDaddyTman 3540
Absea98 2170
BKrywko1 1210
T3chlady 1060
Odds2win777 925
ThePunk75 608
Tigercub8189 420

61 min: A SS ThePunk75 (10th) goes with (Ac Jc) and gets run down by T3chlady’s (KQ) with a [K] on the flop.

62 min: A SS Tigercub8189 (9th) goes with (A5) and cannot catch BigDaddyTman’s (Ah Jh).

68 min: A SS T3chlady (8th) with (Kc Tc) cannot catch Absea98’s (QQ).
90 min: BKrywko1 (7th) sees his (JJ) run into Eyekall’s (QQ).
110 min: A SS Tomservo2 (6th) has to go with (Qh Jh) but cannot catch Absea98’s (AQ).
112 min: Tommydoo (5th) with (AQ) catches a bad beat as BigDaddyTman with (KT) flops [KTX].

119 min: A SS Eyekall (4th) has to go with (8s 7s) runs into Oddss2win777’s (AA).

2nd break:
Odds2win777 12175
Absea98 8768
BigDaddyTman 7557

128 min: BigDaddyTman (3rd) Sorry, I missed it.

Heads up: Absea98 15200 - Odds2win777 13300
130 min: Absea98 17000 - Odds2win777 11500
135 min: Absea98 10500 - Odds2win777 18000
140 min: Absea98 8200 - Odds2win777 20300

Quite a battle! Finally,
143 min: A SS Absea98 (2nd) has to move in with (As Ts) and Odds2win777 calls with (K5) and hits a [K] on the flop!

Congratulations to Odds2win777 on his 3rd NPP win!

1st – Odds2win777 – 24 points
2nd – Absea98 – 19 points
3rd – BigDaddyTman – 15 pts
4th – Eyekall – 12 pts
5th – Tommydoo – 9 pts
6th – Tomservo2 – 7 pts
7th – BKrywko1 – 5 pts
8th – T3chlady – 4 pts
9th – Tigercub8189 – 3 pts

Every one else earned one (1) point. Standings on the right side of the blog!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Niks Poker Palace – The Home of Exciting Poker Action

Matchy has stopped playing on line, but has taken over as the NPP Live Action Game Manager. Averaging about a game a month, it has turned into quite an event. Beers brought, pizza ordered, chips purchased and all consumed and passed around.

Faldo, Bo, Boother36, Marc, 7Jokers, Tim2, Matchy, Artic1blast and DaveE rounded out the field.

We had seven for the tournament and nine at the peak for the .25 - .25 $40 buy-in NL game of “HOPE”. HOPE is Holdem, Omaha, Pineapple Holdem and omaha hi-lo Eight qualifier.

7Jokers (yes, our NPP Tourney winner) and Marc (PS name to follow) split the tourney win. Ring play followed for a good six hours before an “about even” Faldo called it a night. Another great game held and hosted.

And the internet league fight for the final seats in the NPP Final is as about as exciting as it can get. With just two rounds left, 12 players still have a chance to win the last seat. In addition, three players are in the hunt for the one – or two – at large seats also.

In the category of “Odd Twists”, Theedouble*d is trying to win the 4th quarter seat on his own. But, if he can’t get there, he has to hope Suetman1 or ThePunk75 win it. Then he can claim the last of two at-large seats.

Unfortunately for Theedouble*d, Meatsword, Absea98, Derf-63, T3chlady and Odds2win777, Rjmech, Tigercub8189, Wingsfancurt and Douge2 all can make things difficult for him.

Monday Night Football and Tuesday Night NPP. Life is good!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Douge2's Humor Corner LVI

One Dark Night

Outside a small town near Everett, Washington , a fire started inside the local chemical plant and in a blink of an eye it exploded into massive flames. The alarm went out to all the fire departments for miles around.

When the volunteer fire fighters appeared on the scene, the Chemical company president rushed to the fire chief and said, "All our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved. I will give $50,000 to the fire department that brings them out intact."

But the roaring flames held the firefighters off. Soon more fire departments had to be called in as the situation became desperate. As the firemen arrived, the president shouted out that the offer was now $100,000 to the fire department who could bring out the company's secret files.

From the distance, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight. It was the nearby Norwegian rural township, volunteer fire company from Stanwood, Washington composed mainly of Norwegians over the age of 65.

To everyone's amazement, that little run-down fire engine roared right past all the newer sleek engines that were parked outside the plant.

Without even slowing down it drove straight into the middle of the inferno. Outside, the other firemen watched as the Norwegian old timers jumped off right in the middle of the fire and fought it back on all sides. It was a performance and effort never seen before.

Within a short time, the Nord old timers had extinguished the fire and had saved the secret formulas.

The grateful chemical company president announced that for such a superhuman feat he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to personally thank each of the brave fire fighters.

The local TV news reporter rushed in to capture the event on film, asking their chief, "What are you going to do with all that money?"

"Vell," said Ole Larsen, the 70-year-old fire chief, "Da first thing ve's gonna do is fix da brakes on dat focking truck!"


Irish Virginity Test Kit

Paddy is planning to marry, he is, and asks his family doctor how he could tell if his bride-to-be is still a virgin.

His doctor says, "Aye, Paddy, all Irish use three things for what we call a Do-It-Yourself.... Virginity Test Kit.... a small can of red paint, a small can of blue paint and a shovel."

Paddy asks, "Aye, and what do I do with these things, doctor?"

The doctor replies, "Before ye climb into bed on your wedding night, you paint one of your balls red and the other ball blue.

If she says, "That's the strangest pair of balls I ever did see...", you hit her with the shovel.”

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Real Story of Thanksgiving



An NPP tradition. Enjoy the "real" story.

History revisionism is not something that’s been going on since outcome based education. It’s been going on for quite a while. The false story of Thanksgiving can be summed up very quickly.

The Pilgrims came from England to escape oppression. They arrived in a new land and were immediately overwhelmed with their own incompetence as human beings. They couldn’t grow food. They couldn’t feed themselves. They couldn’t protect themselves. They had no clue what to do.

Our schools and the media have obliterated the contributions of America’s earliest permanent settlers, the Pilgrims. Why? Because they were people inspired by profound religious beliefs and overcame incredible odds. Today, public schools are simply not teaching how important the religious dimension was in shaping our history and our nation’s character.

President Washington’s holiday declaration for Thanksgiving spoke only of using this day to thank God for the many blessings and miracles he gave our nation. Period! There was nothing about thanking the Indians or stuffing ourselves.

Whether teachers are just uncomfortable with this material or whether there’s been a concerted effort to cover up the truth, the results are the same. Kids are no longer learning enough to understand and appreciate how and why America was created.

The story of the Pilgrims begins in the early part of the seventeenth century. The Church of England under King James I was persecuting anyone and everyone who did not recognize its absolute civil and spiritual authority. Those who challenged ecclesiastical authority and those who believed strongly in freedom of worship were hunted down, imprisoned, and sometimes executed for their beliefs. A group of separatists first fled to Holland and established a community.

After eleven years, about forty of them agreed to make a perilous journey to the New World, where they would certainly face hardships, but could live and worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. On August 1, 1620, the Mayflower set sail. It carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty Pilgrims led by William Bradford. On the journey, Bradford set up an agreement, a contract that established just and equal laws for all members of the new community, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Where did the revolutionary ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact come from? From the Bible.

The Pilgrims were a people completely steeped in the lessons of the Old and New Testaments. They looked to the ancient Israelites for their example. And, because of the biblical precedents set forth in Scripture, they never doubted that their experiment would work.

But this was no pleasure cruise, friends. The journey to the New World was a long and arduous one. And when the Pilgrims landed in New England in November, they found, according to Bradford’s detailed journal, a cold, barren, desolate wilderness. There were no friends to greet them, he wrote. There were no houses to shelter them. There were no inns where they could refresh themselves. And the sacrifice they had made for freedom was just beginning. During the first winter, half the Pilgrims – including Bradford’s own wife – died of starvation, sickness or exposure. When spring finally came, Indians taught the settlers how to plant corn, fish for cod and skin beavers for coats. Life improved for the Pilgrims, but they did not yet prosper!

This is important to understand because this is where modern American history lessons often end. Thanksgiving is actually explained in some textbooks as a holiday for which the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Indians for saving their lives, rather than as a devout expression of gratitude grounded in the tradition of both the Old and New Testaments.

Here is the part that has been omitted: The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belong to the community as well. Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as that first harsh winter, which had taken so many lives.

He decided to take bold action. Bradford assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace. That’s right. Long before Karl Marx was even born, the Pilgrims had discovered and experimented with what could only be described as socialism. And what happened?

It didn’t work! Surprise, surprise, huh? What Bradford and his community found was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation!

But while most of the rest of the world has been experimenting with socialism for hundreds of years – trying to refine it, perfect it, and re-invent it – the Pilgrims decided early on to scrap it permanently. What Bradford wrote about this social experiment should be in every schoolchild’s history lesson. If it were, we might prevent much needless suffering in the future.

Here now, in its entirety, the William Bradford journal, what he wrote about the social experiment after abandoning what essentially was socialism shortly after the Pilgrims had arrived in the United States or in the new world:

“The experience that we had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years…that by taking away property, and bringing community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God,” Bradford wrote. “For this community [so far as it was] was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense…that was thought injustice.”

Do you hear what he was saying, ladies and gentlemen? The Pilgrims found that people could not be expected to do their best work without incentive.

So what did Bradford’s community try next? They harnessed the power of good old free enterprise by invoking the under girding capitalistic principle of private property. Every family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products.

Not just use themselves and not just send to a common store but they could market. They could grow as much, they could sell it for what they could get for it, and the incentive was clear to do as much as possible on both sides. “And what was the result?

'This had very good success,’ wrote Bradford, ‘for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.’

Bradford doesn’t sound like much of a Obama-maniac, does he? Is it possible that supply-side economics could have existed before the 1980s? Yes.

In no time, the Pilgrims found they had more food than they could eat themselves. So they set up trading posts and exchanged goods with the Indians. The profits allowed them to pay off their debts to the merchants in London.

And the success and prosperity of the Plymouth settlement attracted more Europeans and began what came to be known as the ‘Great Puritan Migration.’ Now, let me ask you: Have you read this history before? Is this lesson being taught to your children today? If not, why not?

Nevertheless, the Pilgrims and the Puritans of early New England are often vilified today as witch burners and portrayed as simpletons. But to the contrary, it was their commitment to pluralism and free worship that led to these ideals being incorporated into American history, and our history books purposely conceal the fact that these notions were developed by communities of devout Christians who studied the Bible and found that it prescribes limited representative government and free enterprise as the best political and economic systems.

Now, there’s only one word for this, folks. It’s censorship.

That’s what’s being taught today. What is not being taught today is the devotion to God that these people had, but the failure of a socialist compact to adequately provide for the residents of the first colony and how William Bradford himself saw it was failing almost from the outset and devised a new compact which was basically capitalism and unfettered competition, and incentive, and then it was Katie bar the door. All of these things are part of the original Thanksgiving, and even when I go back and remember my days in school, I was not taught this. I was not taught the involvement and the references to God.

I was not taught that the Pilgrims had all this bounty after awhile and shared it with the Indians. It was quite the opposite. The purpose of teaching Thanksgiving when I was a kid was to tell all of us just how wonderful the Indians were and how well they treated us when we arrived because we were basically inept and incompetent.

I enjoy passing this story along every Thanksgiving because we’ve been doing it here since I published and wrote the book, and it always reaches new people. Every year we do it, people who have never heard it before are amazed. Now, if I was able to find it and get the true story, it’s out there, but it’s not in conventional history textbooks that you’ll find in many of the public schools.

Rush Limbaugh

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tommydoo Wins His 1st NPP Tourney

And in only his second try! Ladies and gentlemen; we added a player! Our 61st winner of an NPP tournament and the second 1st time winner in as many weeks.

Tommydoo is showing he will be a force next season and hopefully in the Heads up tourney starting soon.

We welcomed back two great players from earlier in this season: BigDaddyTman and Rennzzo – both making the Final Table upon their return. Great to have you back guys.

The 4th quarter is really tightening up and it will make for an exciting finish – and a few heartbroken players. Not everyone contending will get the last three seats available.

Because all the front runners took it on the chin tonight, thirteen players still have a shot at the 4th quarter title (because all Olivia has to do is ASK!). And three are still in the running for the Total Points seat(s).

On to the NPP action:

9 min: K9isadog (18th)
23 min: Theedouble*d (17th) loses the coin flip with (AK) to Tommydoo’s (99).

24 min: Odds2win777 (16th) gets double-teamed (KT) by T3chlady’s (99) and Rennzzo’s (AQ). A flop of [Q2K] and a turn of [T], gets all the money in. A [J] on the river pushes the chips to Rennzzo.

26 min: Tomservo2 (15th) (TT) loses the coin flip the other way to LittleRedElf’s (AK) with a [K] on the flop.

27 min: A double knockout of Suetman1 (14th) and ThePunk75 (13th) to Tommydoo’s (KK).

34 min: A short-stacked (SS) Meatsword (12th) with (KQ) cannot catch Wingsfancurt’s (99).

44 min: A SS SpartanFlash (11th) sees his (A7) run into Pre01’s (QQ).
47 min: T3chlady (10th) sees her (Ah Th) get run down by Absea98’s (KQ) with a [K] on the flop.

1st break:
Tommydoo 5305
Derf-63 5035
LittleRedElf 4705
Tigercub8189 3525
BigDaddyTman 2335
Absea98 1715
Pre01 1655
Wingsfancurt 1385
Rennzzo 1340

67 min: Wingsfancurt (9th)
80 min: BigDaddyTman (8th) loses the coin flip (AK) to Tommydoo’s (JJ).
85 min: Pre01 (7th) sees his (77) get run down by Absea98’s (66), with a [6] on the turn!

92 min: Tigercub8189 (6th)
94 min: SS LittleRedElf (5th) (A9) gets run down by the (Ac 3c) of Rennzzo as he hits his flush. Lots of run-downs tonight. Case in point:

105 min: A SS Absea98 (4th) sees his (KQ) lose to Tommydoo’s (Ks 3s) as the wheel straight hits [A245].

108 min: Derf-63’s (3rd) (As 8s) cannot catch Rennzzo’s (A9). A one pip kills.

115 min: Heads up: Rennzzo 15800 - Tommydoo 11200

2nd break:
Rennzzo 19845
Tommydoo 7155

Now starts a string of hands where Tommydoo has the best of it, but Rennzzo has to call heads up. Tommydoo takes the lead.

124 min: Rennzzo (2nd) moves in with (88) and runs into Tommydoo’s (QQ)

Congratulations to Tommydoo on his 1st NPP win!

1st – Tommydoo – 24 points
2nd – Rennzzo – 19 points
3rd – Derf-63 – 15 pts
4th – Absea98 – 12 pts
5th – LittleRedElf – 9 pts
6th – Tigercub8189 – 7 pts
7th – Pre01 – 5 pts
8th – BigDaddyTman – 4 pts
9th – Wingsfancurt – 3 pts

Every one else earned one (1) point. Standings on the right side of the blog!

Monday, November 22, 2010

The Community Card Review – XV

It’s coming up on two year of Hope and Change with the foreign born Muslim atheist racist communist – Barrack Hussein Obama – who was elected to bring it. He may be the first politician to live up to his campaign promise.

Two years ago unemployment hovered at 7% - now it is at 14% - and if you throw in the people that have given up looking, the number is 17%. That is government reported. Real estimates, without the Democrat spin, put the figure at over 20%.

Two years ago, all Americans were tired of the over-spending by our government, the deficit, and alleged Republican corruption by one man playing footies in a toilet stall. Change happened. Now deficits have quadrupled, the printed money wasted on admitted fictitious “shovel ready” jobs and slush funds to Democrat Wall Street and backstreet (unions) friends.

Every week another Democrat is caught not paying his taxes or using taxpayer money as his own personal ATM. Or both. Never mind the “legal” stealing, like two 747’s for Nancy Pelosi to fly around in.

The White House was caught reporting and promoting success with shovel ready jobs. The only problem was the congressional districts they claimed the jobs were “grown” in, did not exist. The president, Hussein himself, had to admit there was no such thing as a “shovel ready” job. Our Democrat media stopped the story there and buried it.

The bailout also went to “save” the poor American’s mortgages and halt the flood of forecloses. The unreported facts not given by the Democrat controlled media is that the foreclosures are still happening at a record pace.

Where did the money go? Well, to Democrat donators who will eventually return most of it to the Democrat Party for re-election. Taxpayer funded, of course.

Another change is taxes. Much higher to the thrill of the Democrat elite (read; those who already have their fortunes and dodge most of the increases). Included is a “cap and tax” on energy for all Americans, in spite of the Global Warming lie being exposed.

Another change; socialized medicine complete with the collapse of the personal health insurance industry (more jobs gone), rationing and yes, death panels – admitted finally by the communist economist at the NY Times, Paul Krugman. He trumpets that the death panels are a “cost saver.” So was Auschwitz, Siberia and Chinese death marches according to liberals like him.

Another change; To get on an airplane, you now get strip searched by an x-ray machine and your naked image appears on the internet in less than an hour. Or you get frisked like a common thief. Joe the Plumber and Sister Mary have a better chance of being pulled out of line for an even greater indignity of a body search than Abdul Achmed Mohammad Hussein Akbar, the 20 year old student from Pakistan.

Another change; Obama works diligently to disband our nuclear shield against Russia, bows to every foreign leader while apologizing for the existence of the United States, while leaving our borders wide open.

This is just a weekly reminder that elections do have consequences.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Douge2's Humor Corner LV

A Helping Hand for a Friend

As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she 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.'


The Economy is so bad…

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.

Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

The Mafia is laying off judges.

Goldman-Sax laid off 25 Democrat Congressmen.

Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madof scandal. Oh great!! The guy who made $50 billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $2.5 Trillion disappear!

And, finally...
I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Lifeline. I got a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Douge2's Humor Corner LIV

Faldo is disgusted with this commercial. That is no way to treat.....



the transmission or the tires on a car!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Meatsword Wins His 1st NPP Tourney!

He becomes the 60th player to win an NPP event and also jumps into the lead in the 4th quarter standings. But it is still a race for twenty players as we have three weeks left.

The race for the one or two Total Season Points seat has been whittled down to just three players. If anyone behind ThePunk75, Suetman1 or Theedouble*d rises up and takes the Total Point Lead, they would have to win the 4th quarter anyway, and not need the at-large seat(s).

This will make for some interesting rooting interests coming down the stretch.

For instance, it may turn out to be beneficial for a player to beat you in the league race and take the 4th quarter title, allowing you to move up into their spot for the Total Point seat. I’m just saying - it could happen.

We welcomed THREE new players tonight; BKrywko1, SpartanFlash, and Tommydoo. Welcome guys!

There were also some suprise absences as Douge2, Rjmech and Wingsfancurt missed and they are right in the hunt for the 4th quarter seat. But things come up (twss).

On to the NPP action:

1 min: Rjmech (18th) sees his trip kings lose to Meatsword’s threes over kings full house! Ouch!

21 min: Another ouch early as T3chlady (17th) sees her (QQ) lose to Odds2win777’s (9s 4s) flush on the river after a flop of [6s 7s 4h].

28 min: But that hand is no omen for Odds2win777 (16th) as his (77) run into Meatsword’s (99).

34 min: LittleRedElf (15th) Missed it due to the hand below.
39 min: At the 33 min mark, SpartanFlash (14th) throws in a raise with sees his (Ks Qs), and only Meatsword (Th 7h) calls. They check a flop of [8s 4c 7d] and the turn of [Kc]. It all gets in there on a river of [Ts] and Meat’s two pair takes it. This hand dimmed the Flash and he went out six minutes later.

42 min: K9isadog (13th)
45 min: Tomservo2’s (12th) (AT) runs into Derf-63’s (TT).
47 min: Pre01 (11th)
48 min: Tigercub8189’s (10th) (66) runs into Eyekall’s (KK). Final table set before break.

1st break:
Meatsword 6170
BKrywko1 4585
Derf-63 4310
ThePunk75 3550
Eyekall 2250
Absea98 2120
Suetman1 1845
Theedouble*d 1115
Tommydoo 1055

65 min: Tommydoo (9th) (AK) loses a coin flip to Derf-63’s (JJ).
71 min: Suetman1’s (8th) (JJ) runs into Meatsword’s (KK).
75 min: Eyekall (7th) sees his (AJ) lose to ThePunk75’s (KK).
94 min: A rude – but standard - bad beat for a new player, as BKrywko1 (6th) sees his (AA) lose to Absea98’s (Ac 8c) and the Club flush.

97 min: A short-stacked (SS) Theedouble*d (5th) has to go with (Ks Ts) and a flop of [Q6T], but Meatsword is holding (QT).

99 min: ThePunk75 (4th) gets bad beat as his (KK) loses to Absea98’s (QQ) as a [Q] hits on the river.

100 min: A SS Derf-63’s (3rd) (QJ) cannot catch Meatsword’s (KJ).

Heads up: Meatsword 13520 - Absea98 13480
105 min: Still dead even!
109 min: Absea98’s (AA) gets run down as Meatsword’s (54) hits a [4K5] flop.
110 min: Meatsword 22305 - Absea98 4695
115 min: Meatsword 19130 - Absea98 7870

2nd break:
Meatsword 19480
Absea98 7520

125 min: Meatsword 21000 - Absea98 6000

126 min: A SS Absea98 (2nd) has to try with (65) but can’t catch Meatsword’s (T4).

Congratulations to Meatsword on his NPP win, and a second straight second for Absea98!

1st – Meatsword – 24 points
2nd – Absea98 – 19 points
3rd – Derf-63 – 15 pts
4th – ThePunk75 – 12 pts
5th – Theedouble*d – 9 pts
6th – BKrywko1 – 7 pts
7th – Eyekall – 5 pts
8th – Suetman1 – 4 pts
9th – Tommydoo – 3 pts

Every one else earned one (1) point. Standings on the right side of the blog!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

"Folding Your Way to Victory" – Excerpt From a Book by Faldo!

Some say that Faldo makes the average nit look like Gus Hansen on steroids. I would like to argue that analogy, but I’m in a hand.

I have (AK sooooooted) and 53 big blinds of chips in the big blind. The Villain has 1.5 big blinds left in the small blind. The table folded around and the Villain has moved all in.

I fold. He could have (AA), right?

Ok, I exaggerated that a little bit. But let’s look at a real hand situation.

Early in a $2-$4 $400 cash game, the Hero raises to $14 with (Kc Js) from under the gun in a 5-handed game. The unknown players in the Cut-off position calls as well as the Big Blind. $42 in the pot.

The flop is a favorable [Kd Qs 6s].

The BB checks and the Hero makes the continuation bet of $40. This is a standard bet, protecting top pair against draws and extracting value from worse hands; K-X, Q-X and small pairs.

The Cutoff then re-raises to $120 and the BB folds.

Most players would call here. After all, Doyle Brunson says “You must protect your children (chips already sent into the pot).”

Faldo would not. There are too many possible holdings that have the Hero killed.

There are six combos of KQ.
Eight combos of AK.
Thirteen combos of 66, QQ, KK, AA.

Then there are the draws he could have – nine combos. Some he may not raise with, so let’s call the probability at 5 combos. Against this range of thirty-two possible hands, our hand equity is around 25%. Not so much.

What turn card would make you happy you called? You can hit a lot of cards that simply will cost you the rest of your stack.

Limit game or short stacked in a tourney – oh yeah – let’s gamble. But in a no limit cash game, I think it is smarter to wait for a better spot.

Your thoughts?

Monday, November 15, 2010

UB Challenge Update - And Some November Advice

Already completed - and before Thanksgiving too.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because you don't have to exchange presents and everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing: Men watching football - Women in the kitchen cooking and bringing the men beer.

Guys, be sure to show your "lovely and talented" this quote above. They will thank you for reminding them of their place on that day. A gentle reminder she will be forever grateful for. Trust me.

Back to the Challenge. I have to bet at least $9 (which was my entire bankroll on Ultimate Bet at the start of this challenge) every month, and see how high I can grow it in a year. The monthly results are on the right near the bottom of the blog.

After a small losing October, Faldo responded with a profit this month. I considered betting more this month to get to the point where I tripled my bankroll ($27), but hopefully it will come. No need to rush.

Anyway, grew it to over $25 so far. This is Phase I of the challenge and bankroll management is still the over-riding premise here. Risk management comes later.

Now, back to Thanksgiving...a "Kiss the Cook" apron makes a fine present the Wednesday night before her favorite day in the kitchen. Just make sure that in her overwhelming desire to jump your bones after your thoughtful gift, that she doesn't forget that Wednesday night prep is key to a smooth Thursday of work.

If you really want to have her know you care, add some throw away plastic containers and sealing plastic lunch bags in with the apron. Now that shows her you care.

Faldo, always trying to help.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

The Community Card Review – XIV


Do the “rich” have an obligation to help the “poor”?

The answer is…..of course they do. The real question is should the “rich” be forced to help the poor by the government under the threat of seizure of property and a prison sentence?

This year the “rich”, the small business, the middle class and the lower class will all be obligated more than ever – by force – as the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire.

The entire Democrat agenda is based on wealth distribution (communism), as Hussein (Indonesia) Imam Obama admitted to “Joe the Plumber” during the campaign.

Enough absent minded, lazy and ignorant voters ignored the evidence and voted for their own poverty. You know who you are – and thanks a pant load.

Please realize voting is a responsibility to your fellow Americans – as well as a right. Stop taking it lightly.

The Democrats confiscate this property – by force - on the premise of “helping” the poor. But as with all liberal lies, the “help” ends up hurting everyone. Liberals policies (taxes) choke off economic growth, job creation and for the poor – self reliance.

The “poor” stay poor and become permanent wards of the state – which is the game plan of the Democrat politician all along, in order to keep their power. You must crawl on your bellies to the liberal politicians for your very existence. The Democrat vision is a crime against humanity – pure and simple. But then communism always has been.

And liberals are – by far and away – the worst at donating to charities. Al Gore’s tax return on the year prior to his presidential run had charitable deductions for an entire $200. The liberal Kennedy fortune is hidden from US taxes overseas. John Kerry docks his yacht in New Hampshire to avoid Massachusetts taxes.

Liberal movie/TV stars, show people and singers donate their “time”, not their money. And anything they do for the “poor", is done in public – for the public.

America’s conservative wealthy are the most generous in the world – both voluntarily and involuntarily.

Another great question would be – Do the “poor” have an obligation to help themselves and their fellow Americans - instead of bending over and grabbing the ankles for the Democrat politicians – and a miserable meager existence?

Friday, November 12, 2010

Douge2’s Humor Corner – LIII

Tax Dollars at Work

A guy goes to the Post Office to apply for a job.
The interviewer asks him, "Are you allergic to anything?"

He replies, "Yes, caffeine. I can’t drink coffee.”
"Have you ever been in the military service?"

"Yes," he says, "I was in Iraq for two years."

The interviewer says, "That will give you 5 extra points toward employment."

Then he asks, "Are you disabled in any way?"

The guy says, "Yes. A bomb exploded near me and I lost both my testicles.

The interviewer grimaces and then says, "Okay. You've got enough points for me to hire you right now. Our normal hours are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. You can start tomorrow at 10:00 am, and plan on starting at 10:00 am every day."

The guy is puzzled and asks, "If the work hours are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, why don't you want me here until 10:00 am?

"This is a government job," the interviewer says. "For the first two hours, we just stand around drinking coffee and scratching our balls. No point in you coming in for that."


Another Obama Initiative Fails

NASCAR's Jeff Gordon announced today that he was firing his entire pit crew. This announcement followed Gordon's decision to take advantage of President Obama's scheme to employ inner city youngsters.

The decision to hire them was brought about by a recent documentary on how unemployed youths from Detroit were able to remove a set of wheels in less than 6 seconds without proper equipment; whereas Gordon's existing crew could only do it in 8 seconds with millions of dollars worth of high tech equipment.

It was thought to be an excellent and bold move by Gordon's management team, as most races are won or lost in the pits. However, Gordon got more than he bargained for!

At the crew's first practice session, not only was the inexperienced crew able to change all 4 wheels in under 6 seconds, but within 12 seconds, they had changed the paint scheme, altered the VIN number, and sold the car to Dale Ernhart Jr. for 10 cases of Bud, a bag of weed, and some photos of Jeff Gordon's wife in the shower.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

ThePunk75 Takes 2nd in PokerStars NL Holdem – 6 handed Tourney

Take it away Punk!

“I had an all-nighter on Sunday. I entered a 500 max, 6 handed 4K Guar. tourney on PokerStars and had a pretty clean run to the final table and a 2nd place cash.

The cards didn't flow my way early on and I was down about a third of my stack kind of quick but pocket aces quickly revitalized my chip stack.

I probably had AA at least a half a dozen times and they held every time. In fact I was able to dodge the PS bad beat programmers for most of the tournament. I only suffered one suck-out of a turned set of 8's to my pockets 10's.

Also for most of the night I got all my chips in with the best hand, just once did I get them in bad with a turned two pair against a made straight but the board straightens on the river and I luckily settled for a chop.

I made my first giant jump in chips when there was around 18 players left I had (KsJs) and the board came [KT9] (two spades), all the chips ended up in the middle on the flop I and I was up against KQ, but a river [4s] gave me the winning flush and huge double up to well over 100K.

At around 9 players remaining with 450K in chips I had (AcJc) and raised to 45k (7.5-15k blinds) button called and the blinds folded flop comes [QcJc3h]. I bet out 55K, button pushes. I call. He shows AA and a turn straight draw gives me even more outs on river, but river is a blank and I’m left with about 120K in chips and about 10 blinds.

But some aggressive preflop shoves get me the blinds and antes and some breathing room. I doubled right back up to 400 K with a rivered straight a couple hands later.

Final table finally comes with the final 6 and I am 2-3 in chips. A knockout of the first two players gives me the chip lead at about 650K. Got to heads play down a little over 2-1 in chips - his 1 million to my 450k. But I was able to grind him down and eventually took over the chip lead after about 20 minutes of play.

But a flopped straight against my top pair doubled him up and the cards went cold. It ended when I flopped an opened ended straight draw with (34) and his top pair Jack held to my all in after the flop [J25]. 2nd place was worth 67 times my buy in."

Great job Punk! Faldo needs to do this.......very soon!

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Suetman1 Wins 3rd NPP Tourney – Ties for 1st in 4th Quarter

Suetman1 (Claudia – or Mrs. Absea98) not only ties ThePunk75 for the 4th quarter league lead, but she takes 1st place alone in the Total Points seat race.

So even if she falters down the stretch in the league, she could still hang on to one of the two Total Points seat. Every week is important as most of the league is still in contention for either or both seat chances.

I urge all of you to take a look at both the standings. Still four rounds left and most of the league can still make the finals. Very exciting stuff!

I must apologize for the poor reporting tonight, but I did warn you. I just could not stay on the action full time.

I had some hospital work done on me today, and I had family here tonight. Second, I made some calls to tell folks how it went. Third, I had calls from well – wishers. Fourth, there was some questions about what medications to take when, so I was calling the doctors and trying to get an answer.

Obviously, it was a busy evening during the tourney tonight. Good thing I won my seat last quarter. I would have had no shot this quarter.

On to the action:

4 min: T3chaldy sees her (QQ) run into ThePunk75’s (KK). Crippled, but battle on she does.

7 min: A short-stacked (SS) K9isadog (17th) goes with his signature hand (Kh 9h), but cannot catch Theedouble*d’s (AJ).

12 min: Pre01 (16th).
13 min: Nahanni74 (15th)
27 min: Theedouble*d (14th) goes with (A9) and cannot catch Absea98’s’s (AT).

32 min: Douge2 (13th) sees this flop with four-way action: [Tc Qc 7s]. xxxKdogxxx makes the standard 3x blind bet and Douge2 is the only caller. The turn is a [Ad]. Kdog bets again and Douge moves in with (AT) and Kdog has to call with (Ac 3c), and the flush card hits the river.

38 min: T3chaldy (12th). The end of the fight.
44 min: LittleRedElf (11th).
48 min: Eyekall (10th)
49 min: A SS Wingsfancurt (9th) go with (Kh 6h), but cannot catch Derf-63’s (44).
51 min: A SS Meatsword (8th) goes with (AT) and runs into ThePunk75’s (JJ).
53 min: A SS Odds2win777 (7th) has to go with (Kd Jd), but cannot catch xxxKdogxxx’s (QQ).

55 min: A SS Tigercub8189 (6th) moves with (TT), but Absea98 (AK) correctly calls and hits his [A] on the flop.

1st break:
xxxKdogxxx 8970
Suetman1 8690
Absea98 4280
Derf-63 1887
ThePunk75 1673

Doctor calls, daughter visit and a few other distraction stops my usual full reporting of the finale. Sorry readers and players. Next time.

65 min: ThePunk75 (5th)
67 min: Derf-63 (4th)
86 min: A SS xxxKdogxxx (3rd) goes with (Qd Jd), but cannot catch Absea98’s(AT).

This sets up a husband – wife battle for tonight’s title. If Absea98 likes the couch, he should play for the win. Or,

100: Absea98 (2nd) has to ship it in when his (87) takes top pair on a flop of [2c 3c 7c]. Unfortunately, his lovely bride is holding (Qc Tc) for the flush!

Congratulations to Suetman1 on her 3rd NPP win!

1st – Suetman1 – 24 points
2nd – Absea98 – 19 points
3rd – xxxKdogxxx – 15 pts
4th – Derf-83 – 12 pts
5th – ThePunk75 – 9 pts
6th – Tigercub8189 – 7 pts
7th – Odds2win777 – 5 pts
8th – Meatsword – 4 pts
9th – Wingsfancurt – 3 pts

Every one else earned one (1) point. Standings are on the right side of the blog.

Monday, November 08, 2010

The Origins of Sayings

There is an old Hotel/Pub in Marble Arch, London which used to have gallows adjacent. Prisoners were taken to the gallows (after a fair trial of course) to be hung. The horse drawn dray, carting the prisoner was accompanied by an armed guard, who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the prisoner if he would like ''one last drink''. If he said yes it was referred to as “one for the road.” If he declined, that prisoner was left “on the wagon”.

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor". But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn’t even afford to buy a pot, w\so they "didn’t have a pot to piss in" and were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs, thick straw piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt Poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "Bring home the Bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around talking and ''Chew the fat''.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of ''Holding a Wake''.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, ''Saved by the Bell '' or was considered a ''Dead Ringer.''

And that's the truth...Now, whoever said history was boring?

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Matchy Hosted Another Great Game

Matchy made the call and the players responded. We had seven for the early tournament, and eight at the peak of the cash game.

Dave E, Duder1123, Matchy, Boother36, ArticBlast1, Mikeniks-Faldo and new players Aaron and Mark made the line up. And we even had a few players that wanted to be there, but just couldn’t. This should bode well for future Matchy games.

Aaron and Mark are college students at Eastern Michigan, who – by the style and savvy of their play – are obviously majoring in poker. They have a weekly game in Ypsi and the pots grow massive there, from what I heard.

I am pretty sure Aaron and Mark chopped the tourney prize and Dave E was the big winner in the cash game from all appearances.

Great guys, a good time and hopefully I added some NPP readers and players to the group.

Friday, November 05, 2010

Faldo Takes 2nd in a Poker4Ever Tourney

Faldo bested 60 of the 61 entries on his way to a final table and a 2nd place finish.

My KQ-soooted ran into QQ at the end.

Just a change of scenery after getting slapped around by PokerStars for a small streak of losing. This cash out and near win gave me a little confidence (and cash) back. I made 12 times the entry.

I then returned to PokerStars and won a SNG my second game back!

Poker4Ever is a small site that accepts US players. They are ranked 21st in the world in traffic. But last Friday night (not the night I played this tourney), they had only 412 players logged in. I hate so see how many players #30 had.

I use eWallet to move some chips in and out of there, but they also allow credit cards and bank wire transfers.

A small site with low priced and small tourneys. Most of the offerings appear to be turbo's, so keep your all-in button close by.

NPP at Matchy's tonight. Hope to see some of you there and hopefully recruit some new NPP Tuesday night people.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

PokerStars is the Toughest Site by FAR!

I may not play at nose bleed limits. I may not make it to the WSOP in Vegas, and I may not show up on television on the World Poker Tour. I may not win the WCOOP’s, the FTOPS or the UB Challenges. Heck, I rarely qualify for the qualifiers for those events.

But I have played a lot of low limit poker on many, many internet poker sites. I have played on probably twenty sites that don’t even exist anymore. I have played on a few dozen more that are still around, but don’t accept US players anymore. I currently rotate thru eleven poker sites that still accept US players.

I play limit, pot limit and no-limit ring game action. I play sit-n-go tournaments and I play multi-table tournaments. I play Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, HORSE and even Badugi. I have done this on nearly every site I have played on.

After many months - in hours - of ring action, and playing in thousands of tournaments - from nine player tournaments to 14,000 player events, I think I am uniquely qualified to offer the following opinion:

PokerStars has the toughest players on the internet.

I may stink as a poker player, but I supplement that by being one of the best bankroll managers around.

As such, I find PokerStars the absolutely toughest site to squeeze out a profit on.

If you are only playing on PokerStars, and are getting pounded – you may want to give another site a try.

I love PokerStars. It is the best site. But, unfortunately, I have found it to be the toughest site to win at. The fact that I am a donkey, not withstanding.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Odds2win777 Wins His 2nd NPP Tourney

The 4th quarter race has locked up! Odds2win777 moves into the mix with his win tonight. Three players are withing a point! And a dozen players are a win away from being back in the race!

We had a couple of surprising no-shows tonight; Merhibka and Rjmech. They were near the top of the standings, and not playing tonight allowed some players to gain some ground or distance themselves a little. I hope they are back next week.

Just a note that next week, your host may not be able to moderate or commentate. I have a scheduled hospital stay that I hope will be over in time to be back for the next tourney report. But even if I am, my reporting may be down to just the results.

Just don’t be looking for the Pulitzer Prize, edge of seat tournament report you have come to expect every Wednesday morning. You will be disappointed with in the morning (twss).

Cautious playing tonight as the race tightens. On to the NPP action:

25 min: xxxKdogxxx (19th)
30 min: Last week’s winner Meatsword (18th) sees his (Qh Tc) open ended straight draw and flush draw [9h 6h Jh], but Douge2’s pair (66) hangs on.

42 min: A short-stacked (SS) Yecats423 (17th) goes with (Ks 9s). But she is double-teamed by Tomservo2 (AT) and the winner, Tigercub8189 (AQ).

43 min: Wingsfancurt (16th) sees his (TT) lose to T3chlady’s (KK).
50 min: LittleRedElf’s (15th) (Ah Jh) cannot catch Nahanni74’s (88).
59 min: Eyekall (14th) sees his (A5) lose to the flush draw of Absea98.
60 min: Pre01 (13th)

1st break:
Theedouble*d 4135
Douge2 3815
Absea98 3590
Tomservo2 3245
Odds2win777 2510
Tigercub8189 2135
Funtoon 2115
Suetman1 2090
ThePunk75 1935
Nahanni74 1210
Derf-63 1030
T3chlady 690

64 min: SS T3chlady (12th) sees her (A5) lose to Theedouble*d’s (Kd Jd) on a flop of [AJK].

71 min: Derf-63 (11th)
74 min: Nahanni74 (10th)
82 min: A SS Tigercub8189 (9th) loses (A9) to Tomservo2’s (AJ).
90 min: A short-stack (SS) Absea98 (8th) (Th 7h) lose to ThePunk75’s (KT).

Funtoon has only 100 chips at this point. Watch where he finishes!

95 min: A SS Suetman1 (7th) sees her (Ac Jc) lose as she gets double-teamed by Theedouble*d (TT) and Funtoon (KQ) who wins with a [Q] on the flop.

99 min: Douge2 (6th) (A6) sees the flop with Tomservo2 and Odds2win777 [Ad 4s Qh]. Douge2 (Ac 6h) min-bets and only Odds2win777 (2s 3s). The turn is the {5c]. Douge2 moves in – and into a buzz saw.

103 min: SS Funtoon (5th) (AA) finally gets a great hand, and they are his death cards. Odds2win777 correctly calls with (Ad 4d) and hits his flush. But what a comeback by Funtoon.

118 min: Tomservo2 (4th) sees his (Ah 4h) lose to Theedouble*d’s (Kd 5d) as a [5] hits on the flop and it holds.

2nd break:
Theedouble*d 13565
Odds2win777 8010
ThePunk75 6925

126 min: ThePunk75’s (3rd) (As 5s) cannot catch Odds2win777’s (AJ).

Heads up: Odds2win777 16235 - LittleRedElf 12265

129 min: Theedouble*d (2nd) and Odds2win777 see a flop of [2c 4d 6s]. Odds min-bets and DD calls. The turn is a [Qs]. Odds min-bets again and DD calls. The river is a [9s]. Odds2win777 now checks and Theedouble*d moves in (Q7) as he hit his top pair on the river. But the river drowns him as Odds has (Qc 4c) for two pair.

Congratulations to Odds2win777 on his 2nd NPP win!

1st – Odds2win777 – 24 points
2nd – Theedouble*d – 19 points
3rd – ThePunk75 – 15 pts
4th – Tomservo2 – 12 pts
5th – Funtoon – 9 pts
6th – Douge2 – 7 pts
7th – Suetman1– 5 pts
8th – Absea98 – 4 pts
9th – Tigercub8189 – 3 pts

Every one else earned one (1) point. Standings on the right side of the blog!

Monday, November 01, 2010

NPP’er Cashing On-line Also

T3chlady did well in a $35,000 Full Tilt tournament:

T3chlady says, “I used a Step 3 ticket to enter this event, winning 35 times the entry.
Last hand my KJ lost to J8 when the opponent hit an 8.”

Pre01 files this report from some PokerStars action: “I had a little success recently. At a two table, 18 person SnG, I came in 1st. Won x6 my buy in!

Simultaneously playing a 9 table, 90 person SnG, I came in 10th – just missing the final table – but doubled my buy in. Also came in 70th on a free roll with 1006 starting players. Won a little.”

Faldo, still trying to recover emotionally from the bubble at PPL, I entered a one-table SNG On BoDog Poker and quickly saw my KK lose to a flush draw that hit.

This leaves me with only 200 chips and a full table of opponents, all with 1300 chips or more. The blinds were still at 10 / 20, fortunately. In Beerhog fashion, I battled back and won it!

That helped my confidence a ton.

Maybe I go back to PPL for the Thursday Night Tourney at 7pm.