The revenge of Captain John

Huntington Avenue - Fresh off his shocking head's-up loss in S6E5 three weeks earlier, John returned for S6E6 hungry for revenge. And he got just that after defeating head's-up opponent Jim O. in the early morning hours of October 5th to claim this season's sixth event!

Two regulars (both Chris's) were out and were replaced by substitute players Vince J. and Drew M. This kept the field filled at 20 players.

Sub Vince was the first player eliminated after Fran turned an ace-high flush on him. Overall points leader Jason Ta. was out next after he raised in the BB holding two queens to 36k with blinds at 3k/6k/500. Marc made the call and the A-10-10 flop was dealt. Jason checked and Marc bet out 32k. Jason then shoved his remaining 100k in and Marc called revealing pocket kings. The turn brought a 3 and the river a 9 and Jason was gone. You got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. Oh, and yeah, this is advice from someone who hasn't made the Championship in two seasons despite playing in every event.

Fran was eliminated in 18th place after moving his short stack all-in with 6-6 and getting called by Drew's K-K which held. Angie knocked-out Sean in 17th place after each player went all-in blind. Much to his surprise, Sean turned over 5-5. Angie then revealed Q-4 and the race was on. The K-9-4-Q-8 board was dealt giving Angie two-pair and the elimination.

As fate would have it, Angie was expelled next after pushing her last 153k over-the-top of John's 30k raise with blinds at 5k/10k/1k. John called and showed K-Q whilst Angie flipped over 7-7. The K-9-8-A-4 board missed her and she exited the premises in 16th place.

Lolly was out in 15th place with blinds still at 5k/10k/1k. She was all-in preflop with K-K poised for a double-up. Mike M. looked her up with Q-Q. Despite flopping top set on the 3h-Kc-9h flop, running hearts on the turn (5h) and river (2h) gave Mike a queen-high flush.

Jim H. followed Lolly to the rail shortly after blinds reached 7k/15k/2k when he was all-in with K-5 and lost to Jim O's unrecorded holdings on a board of A-4-5-A-?. In the same blind level, Kevin A. shoved with A-J and got called by John's A-K which flopped trip kings which sealed it. Mike M. was out next (12th place) in similar fashion after shoving with A-J and getting called by John's K-Q which flopped trip queens and, once again, held up.

Blinds increased to 10k/20k/3k when Marc was involved in a three-way all-in holding 5s-2s with Mike T. and Anita. Anita's K-K bettered Marc's 5s-2s and Mike's A-Q on the J-10-3-6-J board giving her both eliminations and thus forming the final table.

Blinds remained at 10k/20k/3k when the final table was reseated. Just a few hands into final table play, Eric was all-in for 85k. John, the chip leader, called but then Jason Tr. re-raised all-in for 151k. Keith called for less and John called the raise. Eric showed K-K, John revealed 8-8, Keith flipped over 10-10 and Jason showed A-K. The 8-7-3 flop gave John top set (8's) and the lead. The turn was a 7 furthering John's lead with 8's full. But a river king gave Eric a larger boat (king's full) and the huge pot. Keith had less chips than Jason, so he was out in 9th place and Jason was out in 8th place.

Blinds remained at 10k/20k/3k when substitute Drew M. was out in 7th place. Jim O. raised to 60k and Drew called. John then re-raised to 160k and Jim folded. Drew announced all-in for 315k on top. John made the call and revealed K-K. Drew showed pocket ace's and was sure to double-up as the Js-2h-4d flop was dealt. But Captain John's luck continued as the Kc appeared on the turn giving him the lead in the hand. The Jh river gave John another full house, another elimination and another huge pot for a staggering chip lead in the tournament.

Blinds increased to 15k/30k/5k when Eric W. looked down at A-A after Jim O. raised to 85k. Eric had roughly 300k but he only decided to call. The 9-2-Q flop was dealt out and Jim bet 100k. Eric then shoved-in his remaining 215k and Jim called showing J-10 for an OESD. The turn brought a 5 which kept Eric in front. However a king on the river gave Jim a winning straight and Eric the rail. Eric abruptly left and did not return despite repeated text messages to return for the cash game.

Bill B. was out on the bubble in 5th place after getting it all-in over the top of Nick's 150k raise with blinds at a staggering 20k/40k/6k holding K-Q. Nick called and revealed pocket 4's which held up. Ironically, Nick was eliminated next when John called in the SB and he checked in the BB with 7-4. The flop was K-3-K and Nick bet 50k. John called. The turn was a 7 giving Nick top two-pair. Nick bet 100k and John raised to 300k. Nick called and the river was a 9. Nick checked and John moved all-in. Nick called and John revealed K-8 for trip kings. Nick showed his 7-4 and was out. He collected 4th place prize money for his valiant effort.

Anita followed Nick in 3rd place when she pushed for her last 285k with Q-4 and got called by Jim O. who tabled A-J. The A-K-6-2-10 board gave Jim the elimination and Anita 3rd place prize money. This was Anita's second cash of the season.

Head's-up play between Jim and John started with blinds at 25k/50k/7k and with John holding a sizeable chip lead over his opponent. Not that many hands into play, the final hand of S6E6 was dealt.

Jim looked down at Kd-2c and pushed for 260k. John called with Jd-10s. The Qd-5h-Qc flop put Jim in the lead. But the 10h turn turned the tables John's way with top two-pair. And the 6c river sealed the victory for John!

This is John's 4th career regular season win!

Congrats to John on his win and thanks to everyone who came out for S6E6.

~ Jason Tr.

Regarding the S6E6 Event Sign

I created this event sign due to the league website proprietor Eric W. not updating the site or the blog for both S6E4 and S6E5. He was originally supposed to take care of both but never did. I then agreed to knock out the blog write-up's if he updated the site which he is doing as I type this. I further taunted him with this image:

Random photos from S6E6

 

Cash game at table 2 when the tournament was four handed.

 

 

Another shot from the cash game.

 

 

John and Jim head's-up.

 

 Elimination sheets

 

We've been doing these elimination sheets for a few season's now. It makes recapping the blog much easier. From time to time, players add some snide and snarky comments in the elimination notes. I just wanted to share a few from S6E6.

 

 

 

 

 

September Ninja

 

 

Norborne - Angie S. defeated head's-up opponent John M. to claim S6E5 and pick up her second career win in the early morning hours of September 14th.

This was a standard T100k NLHE tourney with a full rebuy. The field filled at 20 players a week before the event, however a few days before, substitute Carl W. flaked out for the second time in as many events. The field settled at 19 players.

Host Eric W. was the first player eliminated from the tournament when blinds reached 2k/4k/500. Action folded to Nick on the button who made it 14k. Eric called out of the SB for his last 12.5k putting him all-in. Eric showed 3c-3h and Nick tabled Ah-7h. The Qs-9s-2c-As-6s board gave Nick a pair of aces and the elimination.

Next out was substitute Erik M. who was short-stacked and all-in for 32k. Nick looked him up with Ac-Qh. Erik showed 2d-2h. The Qd-10d-7d-Js-4h board failed to bring Erik a deuce or 4th diamond and he was out.

Mike T. joined the rail in 17th place after moving in with Kh-9d and getting calls by both John and Chris S. with blinds at 3k/6k/500. The flop of Qd-7h-4d was dealt and action continued between John and Chris. Chris moved all-in and John quickly folded. Chris showed pocket ace's. The 3d turn and 4h river cards brought no assistance for Mike and he was gone.

Blinds quickly reached the critical 5k/10k/1k level (the level where Champions are made) when Lolly found herself all-in for her last 7,500 with A-9 and a quick call by Bill's A-Q which eventually held up. Jason Tr. followed Lolly to the exit after he pushed with J-10 and got called by Kevin who not only flopped a set of 7's, but then to add insult to injury, made quads on the turn. In the same level, Jason Ta. was eliminated in 14th place after getting his short stack in with Q-J and getting called/destroyed by Jim O's 6-7 which turned trips. Keith K. followed Jason (out in 13th place) with no elimination info recorded.

Nick G. was out in 12th place after moving-in for his last 67k holding 7-7 after Angie's PF raise of 40k. Angie called and showed As-Jd. The 8c-5s-2s flop kept Nick in front. The Js turn gave Angie the lead with a pair of jacks. And to further drive the dagger in deeper, the 9s fell on the river giving Angie an ace-high flush.

With blinds at 7k/15k/2k and John raising to 35k, Chris S. looked down at K-Q and pushed for his last 200k. John made the call and showed A-4. The A-9-3 flop gave John the lead. The 10 turn and river 6 brought no help for Chris and he was out in 11th place. In the same level, Anita pushed her dwindling stack in with 8-9 and Angie quickly called with pocket aces. The 8-3-2 flop gave Anita top pair on the board however Angie's aces remained in front. A 7 on the turn and Q on the river missed Anita and she was dispatched in 10th place thus forming the final table.

Blinds increased to 10k/20k/3k when the final table saw it's first elimination. With only 85k in his stack, Chris Ba. pushed with Qh-8h and got called by John with As-3s. The Kh-6c-10d-10h-5d board gave John the winning hand and elimination.

With blinds still at 10k/20k/3k, Jim O. was out in 8th place after moving in for his last 28k with Q-J and getting calls by both Kevin A. and Sean. The Kd-Qd-10c-6d-4d board was checked to the river where Sean bet out 20k and Kevin folded. Sean then revealed Ad-7c for a winning ace-high flush. In the same level, Kevin A. was eliminated in 7th place after his pocket pair of queens was out-flopped by an unknown player's (Villain info not recorded) flopped set of 8's. Substitute player Kevin L. followed Kevin A. to the rail in 6th place after his pocket queens were rivered for a 4-8 straight by John M's K-7.

Blinds increased to 15k/30k/5k when the event's bubble boy was determined. It would be Jim H. who re-raised Bill's 140k to 240k all-in. Bill called and showed A-10 and Jim tabled K-Q. The A-K-6 flop gave Jim hope in the form of a straight draw. A 4 on the turn and a K on the river failed to bring help and Jim was out on the bubble. (Editor's note: I've written nearly all of the recap entries on this blog and I can't tell you how many times I've seen a player get short-stacked and decide to take a stand with K-Q or K-J only to get obliterated. My advice is to take a stand with a less marginal hand. Just saying.)

Sean O. was the first player eliminated from the money in 4th place. He re-raised John's 60k bet to $160k all-in with 8-6 and John called with J-J. The J-A-K flop gave John a set of jacks and left Sean drawing thin. An 8 on the turn sealed the deal. The meaningless 6 on the river was dealt while Sean collected 4th place prize money.

Three-handed play continued between Bill, Angie and John with blinds at 20k/40k/6k. Then a big hand came up between Angie and John. Angie called in the SB and John checked in the BB. A flop of 2-5-10 was dealt. Angie checked and John bet out 100k. Angie then pushed all-in for 842k. John instantly called and revealed A-10 for top-pair. I'm certain John thought he had it. However, to his shock, Angie turned over pocket aces for the lead. The 8 turn and 9 river missed John and he was crippled. A few hands later, Bill was out in third place. As usual, there was no elimination information recorded. I'm sure he collected the 3rd place money envelope for his effort though.

Head's-up play between Angie and John continued in the 20k/40k/6k level when the final hand of the tournament was dealt.

John pushed his short-stack in with 10d-9s and Angie quickly called with Kh-Js. The 3c-2c-Qs flop gave both players straight draws but kept Angie in the lead with king-high. The Kc turn put Angie in front with a pair of kings but it gave John a GSSD. The river brought the 4d which missed John and S6E5 had it's winner!

This is Angie's 2nd career F&CPT regular season victory!

Congrats to Angie on her win and thanks to everyone who came out for S6E5.

~ Jason Tr.

Take no prisoners Mr. Ta.

Norborne - Jason Ta. managed to outlast a field of 16 players and defeat head's-up opponent Bill B. to claim the first F&CPT bounty tournament in the early morning hours of August 23rd.

In this tournament, only first place would be paid: a measly $95. However, anyone who eliminated someone else got a $30 bounty. This sounded good in principle.

Initially 17 players confirmed, however substitute Carl W. flaked out and cancelled shortly after the tournament started. The field  officially settled at 16 players.

Keith K. was the first casualty of the evening after going all-in with pocket aces and getting called by Jason Ta's pocket kings with blinds at 2k/4k/500. Keith was the dealer on the hand and as he dealt the flop, a king appeared on the board. Keith then slammed the turn and river cards on the table in quick succession whilst muttering something to the effect of "my aces always get cracked by f*%king kings!" before storming out of the solarium.

Kevin A. was next when he got it all-in with pocket 3's on the 10s-Qh-2h flop and got called by Nick G. Nick showed 6h-4h and as it usually go's when I'm on the losing end of this BS, a heart fell on the turn in the form of the 8h giving Nick a winning flush. I can't say this enough, but it seems when I'm in this spot, that being needing a filling flush card, it never comes. However, when I'm ahead and my head's-up opponent needs it, they seem to always get it. And most times, on the f*%cing turn! I'm really starting to hate this game.

Anita G. bowed out in 14th place after getting it in preflop with pocket jack's and getting called by Chris S's poket aces. Nick G, (Anita's spouse), followed her to the rail after his A-J was outflopped by Chris S's A-8. I'm told the couple exited the solarium hand-in-hand and then headed to a late evening matinee of "The Guardians of the Galaxy".

Marc H. was eliminated in 12th place after his Ah-10h ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Mike T's pocket king's. Chris S. followed Marc after he found himself all-in PF holding Ah-7d and getting called by sub Greg D's Kd-Jd. Running jack's on the flop and turn dispatched him.

Ironically, sub Greg D. was out next (in 10th place) when his A-8 was bettered by Mike M's pocket 9's. The final table of 9 players then formed.

Jason Tr. was the first elimination from the final table after he got involved in a big pot which included 3 other players. With blinds at 5k/10k/1k, Jason looked down at As-9s and pushed for his last 125k. Angie S. then instantly called for slightly less. Eric W. (the far and away chip leader at this point) announced "all-in" over-the-top of Jason and Angie. Action then folded to Bill B. who paused for a few seconds and then announced "all-in" with a mid-stack. Bill tabled K-K, Angie showed 10-10 and Eric turned over J-J. The flop brought a king and the turn and river brought no justice for Eric or Angie. Bill scooped the huge pot and Jason and Angie were out in 9th and 8th place respectively.

Jim O. bowed out in 7th place after he was all-in PF with 3h-3d and got called by Eric W's Ah-7d. Neither player's cards matched the flop and turn, however a 4th diamond hit the river and gave Eric a bigger flush and the elimination. Ironically, Jim's spouse Lolly was the next elimination after she was sent packing by Eric's Ah-10h which eventually made an ace-high flush against her Qc-5d.

Mike T. was eliminated in 5th place after his 2c-2h was decimated by Jason Ta's Ks-Qd with blinds at 7k/15k/2k.

The final four players included Eric W, Mike M, Bill B. and Jason Ta. Eric and Jason had 2 bounties each while Mike and Bill had 1 each.

With blinds still at 7k/15k/2k, Eric min-raised to 30k in the BB holding Jd-9d. Bill called and Jason Ta. folded. The Ac-6d-10d flop was checked by Eric and Bill bet 75k. Eric then announced all-in for 400k and Bill called showing Ks-Jc. The Ad turn and 5c river cards failed to fill Eric's flush draw and Bill collected the bounty with his king kicker.

Mike M. found himself all-in and eliminated a short time later after his A-10 failed to overcome Jason Ta's pocket aces.

Head's-up play between Bill and Jason started with blinds at 10k/20k/3k and with Bill holding an approximate 2:1 chip lead over his opponent. But Jason turned the tides with a big double-up a few hands in with A-Q after Bill's 3-3 was counterfeited on a board of K-9-9-K-7.

A few hands later, the final hand of the tournament was dealt. Jason raised 120k and Bill called. Bill bet 150k on the A-10-4 flop. Jason raised all-in and Bill called showing 3-4 for bottom pair. Jason showed A-J for top pair. The 6 turn brought no help for Bill and neither did the 7 river.

Jason collected his 3rd bounty of the tournament along with $95 in first place money for a measly $155 take. This is less than what 2nd place in a normal tournament pays.

Jason still collects first place points for his win giving him a sizeable lead in the overall standings through 4 events. And normal points were awarded to everyone else who participated in the tournament.

All-in-all, I think the tournament wasn't really well received from a majority of the players. There was mention of possibly doing a progressive bounty next season. We'll see.

Congrats to Jason on his win and thanks to everyone who came out for S6E4.

~ Jason Tr.