Small but potent!

After Bobby & I finished off the enchiladas, Deb & Chris joined us for some hold'em. The crowd may have been small but the quality of play was nothing less than what we've come to expect at TNP. Bobby started out strong but was out first. Surprisingly, Deb was out second. The heads up came down to me and the zombie from hell who simply refuses to give up and die! I had to resort to some old tried and true tactics to pull out last night's win. Here's the breakdown.

4. Bobby 1
3. Deb 2
2. Chris 4
1. Jeff 7 (Including retaining my own bounty point)

Planning on the monthly meal on February 12. Because it's just before heart day, let's help our hearts out by having a salad night. Lettuce, tomatos, cucumbers, whatever you like on a salad. Or, that baked potato salad from United or fruit salad, just whatever kind of salad you want to bring. You might also bring your favorite dressing or crackers. ALSO, don't forget we'll have double points and a $5 buy in winner take all that night! Until next week, may all your cards be live and your pots be monsters!

As it should be!

Big hands, larger pots and the return of Bobby marked the night in poker tonight at the BB&L. Justice was done however when Crystal took Nick's bounty point after he took hers last week. Bobby played well and spoiled the fortunes of a couple of players. Chris & Crystal went all in with the same amount of chips and were both eliminated at the same time. Because she called all in first, Chris took the extra point. That left Deb & I in the heads up. I peaked early, and we both had to fight back from near elimination, Deb having a couple of all-ins and I had 3 or 4. But by the time the heads up was determined, I had accumulated enough of a chip lead to call her last all in and win the night. The quality and level of poker has certainly improved since the implementation of the game clock. Here's the breakdown.

8. Justin 1
7. Nick 2
6. Mark 3
5. Bobby 4
4. Crystal 6 (Including Nick's bounty point)
3. Chris 6
2. Deb 8
1. Jeff 10

Deb still holds a slim lead but it's dwindling week by week. See you all next week and until then may all your cards be live and your pots be monsters!

It should have been mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Howled poor Mark, after playing conservatively most of the night he started catching cards towards the end. He accumulated a huge chip lead as the final 3 came down to Mark, Nick & Lisa. Lisa played spoiler plenty of times with her kings but finally was overcome when Nick & Mark teamed up on her. The heads up was a classic battle between the veteran who's been to the winner circle plenty of times and the relative newcomer who had yet to win a game. There were two hands that stood out and proved to be the death knell for Mark. He had strong hands each time, one was a flush and the other was a straight, both strong hands in heads up. The first time, with his flush hand, Mark pushed Nick all in. When the cards were turned up, Nick had 2 pair & Mark showed his flush. With only the river to go Mark seemed assured of victory. But the river wasn't kind to Mark and Nick drew one of the only cards that could have helped him when a 9 was revealed. So Nick doubled up but Mark wasn't out yet. Play continued with it costing $900 just to see a flop. Once again, Mark's strong hand, a straight, was beaten once again by Nick's full house, including 9s once again. So for the first time in TNP history, Nick won his first game and took Crystal's bounty. Congratulations Nick and respect to Mark for playing such a good game. Here's how the rest of the night turned out.

8. Crystal 1
7. Markus 2
6. Deb 3
5. Chris 4
4. Jeff 5
3. Lisa 7 (Including 1 bonus point for quad jacks)
2. Mark 8
1. Nick 11 (Including Crystal's bounty point)

What a great night of poker. See you all next week and may all your cards be live and your pots be monsters.

Pass the syrup!

Ugh, I blew a golden opportunity! Deb called in sick so I had a chance to catch her but just couldn't get the cards at the right time! Mark started out slow but took Nick and I for quite a few chips on a stone cold bluff! So, rest easy Deb and get to feeling better, your lead is safe. Here's the breakdown.

6. Justin 1
5. Mark 2
4. Jeff 3
3. Nick 4
2. Chris 6
1. Crystal 8

For the first time in a long time and certainly the first time in '09, Crystal hits the win column! Way to go Crystal's Pistols! It's looking like the double points $5 buy in will occur once a month in conjunction with the monthly meal. Since we've done both this month, the next one will be in February. Until next week, may all your cards be live and your pots be monsters!

Flap Jacks!

Don't forget we're having a pancake supper tomorrow night! If you like whole milk, bring it. If you have a favorite flavored syrup, bring it. We'll start eating tomorrow about 6 & we'll serve em up hot off the griddle when each person arrives instead of waiting for everyone at the same time. I've got bacon, sausage & blueberry pancakes!

What do you think....

It's been suggested we play for double points & $5 buy in every other week. Others prefer once a month. Be sure to vote in the poll!

Happy New Year!

Double points, $40 pot and a new year. Excellent poker was played tonight at the BB&L with a good crowd attending. Mark & Justin making a return after a month long absence. With Christmas over and the retail season slowing down, we had a full crew. To help bring in the new year, a $5 buy in and double points made playing and, even more important, winning, crucial as the entire bracket could have seen major changes. But, as 2008 ended, so 2009 began with little movement in the leader board.

Mark took 2 players out simultaneously when Crystal & Lisa moved all in on the same hand. Nick was out next followed by Chris. Justin played exceptionally well tonight and placed 4th. The top 3 spots were playing for the top 3 spots and ended in that order. Mark helped himself by garnering a bonus point for quad queens, then Deb put me out to win the night. Here's the breakdown

8. Crystal 2
7. Lisa 4
6. Nick 6
5. Chris 8
4. Justin 10
3. Mark 14 (including 2 bonus points for quad queens)
2. Jeff 15
1. Deb 17

So things remain basically as they did last year. I hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve celebration. I know we did here at the BB&L. See you all next week. And I think we'll have a pancake supper next week as I have lots of bacon & sausage left over. Until then may all your cards be live and your pots be monsters!

Oh Hot Dam!

Let's bring in the new year right! $5 buy in winner take all and double points!