Rebuy Tournament Results

Good evening, everybody!

We just completed our rebuy event, at which we had 18 participants. Surprisingly, there were not a lot of rebuys, only about 1.5 average per person, and then the add-on.

The final table started and Greg Joubert was first all in with QT vs Jim Tallakson's KK. The flop was KJ6, the turn was an A, but the river was another J giving Jim the house and sending Greg home. The next one out was Rusty Petermann when he went all-in for 6200 after Marty Tallakson had raised to 3000. Rusty had 33, while Marty reluctantly called the 3200 more with the KJ. After 4 blanks, the river brought a K, and Marty won a nice sized pot. The next 2 went out on the same hand. Matt Morse called all-in for 1200 on the button, while the SB, Corey Eslinger, and the BB Bobi Joubert, called and checked. The flop is J84 -- all diamonds. Check-check. The turn is a T, and after Corey checks, Bobi bets 2000, Corey calls all-in for 1800. Bobi has just made her straight against Matt's AK and Corey's J9. The river card is a J and Bobi takes her first two out at the final table. She was far from over, as she eliminated Jim in 6th when she called his all-in with JJ to Jim's 88. She then eliminated Eric Coughlin on the bubble, after he went all-in with KJh, and Bobi called with 33 and all 5 cards were blanks. In the money Jason Kramer took out Jason Steven with A9s vs JTs. An Ace and a T came on the flop, but the rest were blanks. Jason Kramer was eliminated next when he hit top pair J, with KJ, but Bobi again made the nut striaght with Q9. The heads up was very short lived, as the 2nd or 3rd hand in, Marty raised, Bobi put her all-in, and Marty called with AK. Bobi had AT, and caught her T on the flop and won the tournament.

Our next event will be March 11th at Greg and Bobi's in south Fargo at around 3:00 or 4:00. It will be a $30 Pot Limit Hold em event.

Hope to see you all there!!

Limping and Calling

Hello, everybody,

Because of a few instances I've run across recently I thought I'd spew my thoughts out about what I see as one of the worst plays, typically, in poker. Limping into a pot and then calling large raises.

First, let's divide the different scenarios for each limping and calling:
1. Limping with a monster in hopes someone with raise behind you
2. Limping with a mediocre, 2 paint, type hand
3. Limping with suited connectors, gap connectors
4. Limping with small to medium pocket pairs
5. Limping with junk hands - do I really need to give examples? - to 'see' flops

Second, depending on cash games, early tournament, mid tournament, latter tournament, all the above scenarios would play differently. I'll try to focus on mid to latter tournament play.

1) Limping with AA or KK in hopes of a raise behind is a very dangerous maneuver depending on the current play at the table. If there is a lot of raising pre-flop at the table, this could effectively trap those behind you who like to bet pot size to chase people away. Calling the raise in this situation, I would only advise if you're going to be heads-up with your opponent who raise, after the flop. Typically you'd check to the aggressive player in hopes that he stabs at the pot, if he does, there is no more fooling around, you have to make a raise at that point.
Preferred to this, in every situation, I would make a standard raise, 2 to 3x the BB amount, and hope that someone wakes up with a playable hand. The problem with limping is if the pot is not raised after you, you may end facing a multi-way pot with AA or KK, which is very dangerous.

2) Limping in with mediocre hands, QJ, KT, KJ, QT, JT, A9, AT, even AJ etc., before the flop, especially in early position is probably the most, even including garbage, perplexing of all these scenarios. It is so easy for someone to wake with a hand that has you dominated before or after the flop. If no one raises and you see the flop and hit top pair, you could very easily ship large amounts of chips to your opponent due to a kicker situation or them hitting 2 pr, straights, etc. And, if you do call a reraise in this situation, you are almost always behind, either to a pocket pair, or to a big card, big kicker combo. In my opinion, I would avoid playing these hands from early position at all, if you do play them, be the first to enter (including any limpers) and raise. If your raise is called before the flop and you are out of position, against 1 person, I usually would suggest betting at the flop in most situations. If it comes with an Ace, you could be able to get away from the hand and be confident your opponent may have that Ace. If you are reraised preflop, you are most certainly beat, and depending on chip situation, knowledge of your opponent, you can lay the hand down without anymore invested. I recently saw a person call the BB from UTG with QJo, and then call an all-in for nearly 7x the BB, this with 7 people left in a tournament.. If you think it's good enough to win against an all-in like that why wouldn't you raise?

3) Many people love suited and gap connectors because of the pots they can win if they hit against good hands. Problem in NL Hold-em is that unless you hit a monster flop with them, you can throw away a lot of money chasing if you are calling decent raises before the flop. Limping in with these hands is not a terrible option, but you have to be willing to lay them down before you see the flop if there is a decent raise. Again, raising with these hands, preferably in position is a great move. There is an element of deception obviously, and if you do hit your flop, your opponents will usually be unaware of how strong your hand is, if you miss your flop, you can still, with position, put pressure on your opponent to fold.

4) Limping in with small to medium pocket pairs seems to be the preferred way to play these hands by most people. Typically, I still prefer the raise, as it typically reduces the number of opponents who see the flop, and the number of overcards you will be up against. Again, position is very key with these hands, and if you are in early position a limp to see the flop and hit the magic set is not a bad play. If you are raised preflop, the more callers the better your odds are to call, but even so, I would only recommend calling a significant raise when you've limped before the flop, if the amount of chips you can win if you hit your set are worth it. To me, you shouldn't put more than 5%-10% of your chips in the pot when you call the raise. You are not then pot committed after the flop, but if you hit your set, you can bust a monster overpair, or top pair/top kicker type hand and make it worth the risk. Calling close to 20% - 25% of your chips with these pairs is a terrible move and will send you to the rail quickly unless you get extremely lucky.

5) Finally, limping in with garbage hands. Well, some people do this because they just enjoy to play, see flops, outplay their opponents, etc. If you're going to play garbage hands, play them aggresively in position. But the biggest suggestion, don't play them!

In closing, all of these plays have some merit in different situations, and you obviously have to play to whatever is most your style of play. You also have to keep in mind, the opponent you are playing against and their tendencies if you know them.

SCHEDULE CHANGE!! - PART 2!!

The host is again Jim Tallakson as of today ... his address is in the e-mail as sent out ... if you need more details, please e-mail or comment.

Thank you, and hope this doesn't cause too many problems!!

And yes, the tournament is still Sunday at 1:00!!

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Due to something that came up with our prospective host on the 25th, and he can't host now, our new host will be Roger Tangen and the day will be Sunday, February 26th at 1:00. I will be sending out the e-mail this afternoon!

Thanks, everybody!

BTW, Robert Whalen, who works with Roger Tangen and placed 4th at the Vet's Club tournament, just made a 4 way chop for $2,300 at the first night of the Weekend Wariior's Tournament an Dakota Magic ... Congratulations!!

Casino Night

Was entertaining the idea of coordinating a "Casino Night" after one of our upcoming poker games and wondering who would be interested. Personally, I vote for Dakota Magic down by Hankinson.

Depending on interest we could coordinate transportation to and from possibly as well. Let me know!

Upcoming Tournaments - Hosting

Our next events are scheduled for the weekend of March 11th - a $30 PL Hold-em event, and the 26th of March, will be Sunday for sure - a $60 NL Tournament, including $10 bounties.

If you would be able to host BOTH tournaments, let me know. The weekend of the 11th is flexible as to which day it will be, the $60, will be on the 26th.

Let me know!!

Rebuy Tournament, February 25th

Hello, everybody!!

Our first official league rebuy event will be held Saturday, February 25th, at 1:00. I will send out the appropriate e-mails to those on my list, if you want the details, just send me an e-mail at caeslinger@yahoo.com.

The initial buy-in is $10, for which you will receive $1,000 in chips, rebuys will cost $5 for which you will receive $500 in chips. You will be able to have unlimited rebuys during the first 3 rounds of play, at anytime you are at or below $1,500 in chips. The final add-on will be at the end of the first 3 rounds and will cost $10 for which you will receive $3,000 in chips. We will be following the $40 buy-in blind structure as listed below.

Last year we tested this out, 10 people participated and the action was really lively, but everyone seemed to really enjoy the format.

If you can make it let me know!!

Vet's Club Tournament - Roger Tangen takes 3rd!!

This Saturday, there was a field of 60 players at the Vet's Club tournament in Wahpeton, ND. The buy-in was $100 and everybody started with $2,500 in chips.

Final table was Clair Filbert, Dave Pauly, Dave Taylor, Bill Bilben, Jessie Schuler, Dennis Whalen, Robert Whalen, Eric Hanson, Ken Quam, and Roger Tangen. The blind structure at this tournament was extremely fast paced, which I will make a comment on later.

Clair Filbert was eliminated first in 10th and received a bottle of booze from the Vet's, 9th was Dave Pauly for $150, 8th was Dave Taylor for $200, 7th was Bill Bilben for $250, and 6th was Jessie Schuler for $350.

As blinds started skyrocketing up Robert Whalen made a move with A high for a total of $12,000 and was called for the extra $4,000 by Ken Quam with K2, the A high held up and he was safe for another round. That put Roger Tangen on the hot seat, when UTG, he moved all-in for just $4,000 with blinds at $4K/$8K. Ken Quam moved all-in behind him and then Dennis Whalen called all-in behind him, the small blind and big blinds folded. Roger Tangen was all-in for $4,000, Dennis was all-in for $14,500. Roger had 55, Ken had AJ, and Dennis had AK. Flop is 533!!! and Roger flops his full house, the turn and river were blanks, and Dennis won the side pot of $25,000, while Roger won the $20,000 main pot. Ken Quam ended up being next out in 5th for $450.

4 handed, and blinds at $6K/$12K, Dennis limps in, and Robert moves all-in for an extra $2K ($14K) total, Eric calls from the SB, and Roger and Dennis call the extra $2K ... a 4 way family pot worth $56K, which is over 1/3 of the chips in play. The flop is A53, and Dennis moves all-in. Eric and Roger fold and Dennis shows A8 much to the chagrin of his brother who is holding 44. The A holds and Robert is out in 4th for $550.

3 handed, the play is cautious, but with the blinds as high as they are, there isn't much waiting around. Eric moves all-in from the SB, and Roger calls immediately from the BB with KT, Eric bemoans that he got caught with 84. Roger had $12K in the BB and another $25,500 back. So the pot will be worth $75K, or exactly half the chips in play. The flop is 84Q, and Eric takes a stranglehold lead on the hand, with a 6 on the river, Roger's fate is sealed in 3rd for a take home of $800.

The final hand of the night saw Dennis moving all-in from the SB with A5 for a total of $26K, Eric called the remaining $14K (he had an approximately 5-1 chips lead going into the hand) with 37o.

The flop is 254, and the turn bring the 6 and Eric makes the straight, eliminating Dennis in 2nd for $950, and taking home $1,700 for first.

Congratulations to all players!

My comments on this tournament are this. It was advertised to be taking up to 100. When people arrived, they said they only had room for 60. The blind structure was insanely fast for people putting up $100. The rounds were only 25 minutes long and they doubled every round, plus you only started with $2,500 in chips.

I understand that you may not run tournaments on a regular basis, and while I can say it was nice to see only 10% being taken out vs. some heftier cuts by houses, this does not make for an enjoyable process for almost anyone playing the tournaments. Blinds increasing as fast as they did make it too much of a crapshoot for all players involved and skill becomes almost obselete as a factor. Also there should have been a better process of balancing and breaking tables down. I wish the Vet's all the luck in their future tournaments, and personally I am willing to offer my help to them or any other site who is looking to run a charitable tournament.

Rebuy Event

Our first Rebuy event will be held the weekend of the 25th/26th of February. Stay tuned for further details.

The buy-in will be $10 for which you will receive $1,000 in chips. During the first hour (3 20-minute rounds) there will be unlimited rebuys for $5 each (you receive $500 in chips for each rebuy). You can rebuy at or below $1,500 in chips. The final add-on at the end of the first hour will be $10 for which you will receive $3,000 in chips.

Razz Tournament Results

David Jarrett took down the $20 Razz event, he won most of the big hands at the end and had an enormous chip lead going into 3 handed play. Jason Kramer was behind to Corey Eslinger with 2 cards to come and caught an 8 to make an 86 low to beat Corey's 97. David then called Jason's all-in draw ... Jason needed any 3,6,7,8,9,T, or J, but missed on the last card and David won.

In the $20 NL nightcap, Mike won the big hand of the night, eliminating David, Travis Rodriguez, and Roger all on one hand with 67d. The pot was worth 43,500 - there was 90,000 chips in play. This made a 7 person table, only 4 people left out of the 9 who started.

Mike ended up finishing 3rd, as Jason Stephen went on a run and took his chips when he had Mike all-in with KJ to his QJ on a J high flop ... but a Q on the turn gave Jason the pot and about a 3-1 chip lead going heads up with Corey. Corey check raised all-in on a K86 flop with K4, but Jason had 89 with a flush draw. The turn brought the flush and Jason won $100 for his efforts.

Payout Structure Discussion

Over the past week, and even before that since Brook Lyter took 2nd at the PokerStars Carribean Adventure, and now recently when Roger won the Dead Money Open, I have had some discussions concerning the payouts each place should get when it comes to these major tournaments.

It is my opinion that the difference between the top 5 or 6 spots should be a 50% increase. Typically first should be right around 30% of the prizepool - depending on the size of the tournament. In the PCA, it was just under 25% with 724 entrants, and the last WSOP, it was only around 12%.

Typically, it was the accepted to practice to pay about 10% of the field for major tournaments, however, with the boom in satellite play, that number has grown for some of the recent events. The PCA and recently complete Borgata Winter Open paid about 25% of the field. The WSOP, however, stuck with the 10% of the field rule, which actually was more than they paid out the year before, as the year before they took 10% of the tables that started, and paid that amount of tables x 9 per table.

My opinion, would be that if you are to pay 25% of the field, the bottom half of the cashes shouldn't necessarily get the amount of the buy-in back. This is obvioulsy done for qualifiers through satellites, and even if you pay in completely, you are getting something back for your efforts, where in the past you would have received nothing.

There should be larger jumps at certain points of the payout. At the 10% of the field mark, at the final 2 tables, and making the final table. Each one of those accomplishments should be rewarded more than say moving from 9th to 8th place at the final table - percentage of payout increase at least.

The large discrepancies between first, second, etc. lead to more dealmaking on chopping pots than there should be. Playing for an extra $2000 when you already have won $4000 seems a lot better than having to play for an extra $4400 when you have won $3300. As anybody who was played heads up for a tournament knows, this, of all places is the most determined by luck. Both players had to have luck to get here, don't get me wrong, but playing heads up at this point is usually a crap shoot, and you the 2nd place person should not feel as if they were screwed out of so much money.

I think the WSOP this past year had it about as fair as I've seen ... the payouts seemed to reflect the large amount of luck and skill it takes just to get the final table and didn't overly reward 1st place by such a large amount compared to the rest of the final table.