ADV Patrick's BARGE 2001 Trip Report
My BARGE trip report this year is as least as long as the one I created last year, so I have a similar disclaimer: There may be some poker content mixed in with the long, rambling narrative that follows. Feel free to scroll over the boring parts... If I've left out any important details, or got my facts wrong, please let me know. I did not keep careful notes, so I don’t always remember details like who was at my table, or what hands I busted out with.
I apologize in advance for the extreme length of my trip report. You have been warned!
Thank you!
Since many of you won’t make it to the end of this trip report, I’d better get my thank you’s out of the way early:
Leading up to BARGE
My involvement in BARGE began in March this year, when I signed up for the BARGE chip committee (BCC). The saga of the BCC is a long one, with many twists and turns, but one with a happy ending. I will attempt to tell that tale another time, since my trip report is already too long.
After being a major contributor to both the 2000 and 2001 BARGE chip designs, I tried to interest the BCC in also doing a BARGE coin. I had already done several lapel pin designs, and I found that my pin vendor could also make double-sided coins. Ultimately, the BCC decided that they wanted to focus on just chips, and I continued the designs on my own. The coin saga is yet another long one, which I may tell in the fullness of time.
Once I had finished two coin designs and placed my order, I turned my attention to a lapel pin design. I really like the 2001 coin design with the "Prestolith," so I ended up using it for my pin design as well, in spite of some feedback that "folks wouldn’t get it."
I also made this design available to anyone that wanted to use it on other BARGE memorabilia (such as T-shirts). The only one who stepped forward was Steve "Crunch" Daniel, who wanted to use it for his bust-out T-shirts. Although Crunch wanted his shirts to be unique, he was willing to allow the design to be used for other T-shirts as well. At the time, I wasn’t interested in adding T-shirts to the coins and pins that I’d already planned for BARGE. Crunch also requested permission to the use the "Prestolith" design on the BARGE badges.
After posting the "history" of r.g.p. event pins, I was contacted by Joan Hadley. She wanted to create a reverse bounty "spinner," and with my help (and many design iterations), we ended up with the Bubble Girl spinner.
As it got closer to BARGE, I was approached by Steve Watanabe and Beth Even about T-shirts. Both Steve and Beth were interested in seeing an "official" BARGE T-shirt. Beth was unable to help since this came at the time that she was propping in a small cardroom in Paso Robles, but Steve was willing to handle the business end of the shirts, and with Crunch’s permission, we created and marketed a T-shirt that was available only by advance order. We didn’t want to deal with guessing how many of which sizes to order, so we only ordered exactly what folks requested and paid for.
I also get involved with Scottro’s ADV pin design. Beth was out of email contact, so Scott went ahead with ordering the pins, with the financial backing from Stevan Goldman and Steve Nissman.
With only a couple of weeks to go, Joan requested yet another design, this time for a limited-edition Team Schmengie spinner. I was able to come up with a design honoring Don Perry, Suck Out Master, and Team Schmengie leader. I printed up a set of stickers and Joan was able to put together the final spinners at BARGE.
After months of preparation, everything was ready to go. I’ve received my coins and pins and sent most of them ahead to Timmer Stine, so I didn’t have to check them as luggage. The BARGE chips have arrived in Las Vegas from CHIPCO. I have my special "thank you gift" and Team BCC "uniform" packed (see below). The T-shirts were done and packaged. I was ready for BARGE!
Sunday, July 29th
This year, my wife Eileen and I made plans to arrive before BARGE. We try to plan our vacation around our daughter Erin’s summer camp plans, and this year, camp happens the week before BARGE. Eileen will be leaving on Thursday morning so she can pick up Erin from camp.
We arrive in Las Vegas shortly after noon. After picking up our luggage and renting a car, we head over to the Four Queens to check in. After we’ve unpacked, I try to contact Timmer Stine to find out the status of the BARGE chips. Earlier on Sunday, Randy Collack, Scott "Scottro" Harker, and Sean "oscar" McGuiness had gathered at Timmer’s house in Las Vegas to separate the chips, and I wanted to see if they still needed my help. Timmer isn’t home, but he calls me later and we meet at the Regent where he’s working on his Video Poker. We head to his house and I finally get to see the BARGE chips for the first time. I’m really pleased with how well they’ve turned out.
I pick up my set of chips from Timmer, and also get the shipment of coins and pins that I sent ahead to avoid having them lost or trashed by the airlines. Eileen and I head over to the Sahara so I can play in their Sunday night NLHE tournament. I do fairly well, but bust out on the bubble (6th of 35, 5 places paid).
Monday, July 30th
I run into John Harkness, Scott Harker, and Sean McGuiness having breakfast at the Four Queens. I run up to my room to pick up Scott’s BARGE T-shirt and John’s purple chips for 2000 and 2001.
After breakfast, I make a visit to the Las Vegas Club to drop off some BARGE lapel pins for their dealers. On the recommendation of RazzO, I’ve donated 24 pins to the LVC for the craps and blackjack tournaments planned for Wednesday, as well as the Wednesday night Hold’em tournament. (I also set aside a similar number for Binions’ dealers.) I don’t connect with Stan Baker, but make arrangements to see him later in the week.
Later in the day, we head over to the Orleans to sign up for their evening NLHE tournament. I see several of the usual suspects there. Eileen and I check out the Orleans buffet to use up one of my coupons. We’re done with dinner in plenty of time prior to the start of the tournament. I manage to avoid making multiple rebuys, but I’m pretty short stacked with T875 after the rebuy period ends. Immediately after the guy in seat 1 scores with pocket kings, I get pocket queens and open for a standard raise in early position, using most of my small stack. Seat 1 pushes all in and I call with my remaining chips. He turns over kings again! IGHN. I decompress by playing some video poker, and later wander back to the poker room to see how other BARGErs are doing. Scottro and Dieter are still in the action when it’s down to three tables. Before heading back downtown, I watch the following hand develop: Scottro makes a standard raise in early position. Old gentlemen to Scottro’s left goes all-in, and Scottro calls and turns over pocket nines. Old guy has pocket kings. Flop has a nine. Turn has the case nine! Nice hand sir, well played. (Why can’t I get miracle cards like that?)
Tuesday, July 31st
After running some errands, Eileen and I head over to PF Changs to have lunch with Joan "AlwaysAware" Hadley. Joan is buying, as a thank you for the work I put into her Bubble Girl spinner and Team Schmengie spinner. At lunch, we meet Stevan "GoldieFish" Goldman, Paul Stine, and Timmer Stine and his wife Sandra. We provide a ride for Joan to the Bellagio, and have a look at the extra spinners that she’s received. The Bubble Girl reverse bounty spinners have turned out nice, and Joan has a wide variety of spinner designs for sale.
Before leaving the Bellagio, we pay a quick visit to the poker room. We run into Barry Tanenbaum and Tom Sims near the buffet. Given our late lunch at PF Changs, we skip the informal BARGE gathering at the buffet. I give Tom his purple chips for 2000 and 2001, and his special vanity purple for his contributions to the BARGE chip committee. I also give Barry his coins.
Tuesday evening, I’m back at the Orleans to get some Stud tourney practice prior to the TOC tournament on Friday. I make it past the second break, busting out in 12th place out of 48 players. My Kings Up don’t hold up, losing to three deuces. I go home now.
Wednesday, August 1st
I’m up early so I can get to the Las Vegas Club (LVC) prior to the BARGE craps tournament. I’m not planning on playing, but I wanted to make sure that the floor personnel have the BARGE pins that I dropped off. Stan Baker isn’t in, but I do connect with more of the usual suspects. I give Steve Jacobs his purples, and ADB Ploink gets his coins and pins. I offer to see if I can scare up a few more craps players for the tournament, and head over to Binions. I can’t interest Tiger in craps, and by the time I’m ready to head back to the LVC, Ploink and the other craps players have given up on the tournament.
I stop by the Orleans in time for their noon O/8 tournament, and hand out more pre-ordered pins and coins. I stick around to try and connect with Peter Caldes, but leave about 12:20, since I hadn’t planned on playing. After lunch in a Japanese restaurant in the Venetian, I try to get some shopping done at the nearby mall, but I discover that the big & tall men’s clothing shop that used to be there has moved on. We head back to downtown to recharge, and to change for our dinner at Michaels.
Eileen and I attend the "non-smoking" Smoker at Michaels, hosted by Stevan "GoldieFish" Goldman. I’ve been looking forward to this dinner, based on Stevan’s postings on the BARGE list. At my end of the table, I get to talk with Chic Natkins, Beth Even, and Chuck Weinstock. Also in attendance are Joan Hadley, Steve Daniel, Warren Sanders, and Arty Santella. The food and wine are wonderful, as is the company. The high point of the evening for me is when I present Arty Santella with a pair of "Grocho" glasses with "a sock on it," in honor of his early post in this year’s BARGE list flame wars.
Thursday, August 2nd
My wife Eileen has a 10 AM flight to return in time to pick up our daughter from summer camp. We check out the breakfast buffet at the Fremont, using yet another coupon, and then Eileen catches a cab to the airport.
Thursday is the first day of "official" pickups or sales for BARGE chips. I head over to Binions with my supply of T-shirts, coins, pins, and airtite chip covers. I manage to find homes for most the of T-shirts, and do a brisk business in airtite covers, before packing up prior to the History of Poker tournament.
I’ve been waiting for Patti Beadles to appear, since I had a "special" present for her. At the time of the great BARGE coin controversy, Patti posted a message suggesting that the BARGE "newcomers" avoid building "shopping malls on top of the sacred burial grounds." I took this comment somewhat personally, since I’d been involved with the BARGE chips, coins, and pins. But it gave me an idea: Since I’d been indirectly accused of constructing a shopping mall, I decided to offer free gifts of dirt samples from the BARGE sacred burial ground. I hadn’t been handing these out to my "customers" since I wanted to surprise Patti with "A piece of the Mound" as a special thank you for providing me with the inspiration. Patti’s response was to slap one of her fish stickers on my shirt.
[Special note: I still have some of these samples of the sacred burial ground available. If you want one, send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope to P.O. Box 2501, Cupertino, CA, 95015-2501. I kept forgetting to hand these out to coin and pin customers, and I still have many left.]
History of Poker: I’m at table 1. I remember having Mike "KidZee" Zimmers, "Walter A. Rulla," and Scott "Bwana" Byron at my table. (I didn’t take any notes, so I can’t remember my other opponents). I manage to last until the second hand of no-limit draw. I’m short stacked and take my two pair up against trips. IGHN. I did manage to last longer than KidZee, which I consider to be an accomplishment, given all the r00ling lowball practice that he gets at the Garden City cardroom near my home.
I drive over to the Mirage buffet with Arty, Ken QB, and Ken Zarifies. We try to find an alternative route that avoids the freeway and the strip, but we get lost attempting to get on Industrial. After some detours and some serious map reading, we finally arrive at the buffet.
I don’t stay very long at the Mirage since I’ve got a paid seat in the "cheap" evening NLHE tournament at the Las Vegas Club. I arrive with the tournament in progress, and sit at the same table as ADB Ploink, Jazbo Burns, Susie Isaacs and other familiar faces. I mange to double up during the rebuy period. I get pocket kings, make a standard raise in late position, and Susie comes over the top, all in. I call her bet and turn over my kings. The board apparently doesn’t help Susie since she mucks her hand and rebuys. Ding! I’ve got T3625 at the break, but my attempts to enter the pot with middle-strength hands like AJ or 88 get chopped off with all-in re-raises, and I go into ultra tight mode. I manage to survive until we are down to 1 table (starting with 2), but my AQ offsuit doesn’t stand up to pocket Queens, and I’m out in 9th place (5 places paid).
I join up with the ADB craps tour. We get "warmed up" at Binions, and I’m up a few dollars when we head out to El Cortez. I drop a few dollars, and then it’s off to Fitzgeralds. By the time I get there, it’s a $5 minimum table, but after some long rolls, including a very long and profitable roll by Oz, I’m up around $80 just playing the pass line bets. We stop back at Binions, and I’m up a few more dollars. We next head to the Plaza, and find that the craps tour seems to be dissipating. As we are leaving, we run into one of the splitter groups and head over to the Main Street Stations for some microbrews. We have enough players for our own table, so they scare up a pit crew and we are in business. However, the dark side is r00ling this table. After losing all of my profit (and then some) from my earlier wins, I am seduced to the dark side, and manage to get back to a break even point. I run out of steam around 2 AM, and head back to the Four Queens to get some sleep.
Friday, August 3rd
The day starts with more chip, coin, and pin pickups and sales. Then it’s on the to TOC. North Shore Mike is at my table, but arrives a little late for the tournament start. It is a true pleasure playing with Mike: What a r00ler! I don’t remember too many hands from this tournament. I do remember at least one scoop at O/8 and another hand where I get three-quarters of the pot. Like last year, my worst game is 7 Stud. I do manage to get at least one good stud hand. I’m short stacked and start with A(Ax). It’s the best hand I’ve seen for some time, so I complete the bring-in. By fourth street, I’m all-in and heads up against Jazbo (someone who knows how to play Stud). I start turning over my cards. By 6th street, I’ve picked up two Queens to go with my aces. The river is another beautful Queen, giving me Queens full of Aces. It turned out that Jazbo had trips, so I really needed a miracle river card. Jazbo gets his revenge later, taking me out of the tournament and getting a BARGE coin as his bounty.
I head over to the Symposium early, since I haven’t had any lunch and I wanted to be certain I would be able to get some food. Unlike last year, we had plenty of food this time, and even had left over food at the end. Much better than last year. Jeff Okamoto and I are paired for the bidding, and we go for $110 to Andy Latto. I buy back my quarter and so does Jeff. We don’t trade pieces, so I keep an 1/8 of Jeff and he keeps 1/8 of me. I stick around to the end of the symposium, and end up winning $100 of online poker money at TruePoker.com. (I had thought about leaving early, and I’m happy I stuck around).
Next up is the C-HORSE event. This year, I played Crazy Pineapple for Team BCC (BARGE Chip Committee). We’ve recruited Roy Cooke to play Hold’em. I feel pretty good about our team, but I still have a special fondness for the ADV.com team, which is based on my Virgins.com team from last year. I was surprised and a little disappointed to learn that shortly before the event, ADV.com team captain Jeff Okamoto bailed out, requiring a last minute replacement.
This year, I’ve put some effort into a team uniform. We have team hats, team badges, and special "vanity" purple chips for card protectors. Perhaps I got just a little carried away this year … ;-)
I kept some notes on the "flop" table, but I didn’t see what was happening with our "stud" team of Timmer Stine (Stud/High), Andy Hughes (Razz) and Randy Collack (Stud/8).
In the first round, Roy manages to win a couple of small pots at Hold’em. At Crazy-P, Jerrod Ankenman is dominating the table, getting pocket rockets twice in the first few hands. I manage to recoup some money later in the round with my own pair of Aces, ending up a few dollars for the round. David Lawful continues this trend in the O/8 round, and we are +T37 at the flop table at the end of the first round. The stud table does even better, and we have T454 at each table for the start of Round 2.
On the next round, Roy loses his profit from round 1, but I manage to win it back and then some, ending my orbit +T25. David has a break-even orbit, and we end Round 3 at T467. Our stud team lost a little ground in Round 2, so we equalize our stack at T459.
Round 3 is off to a rocky start, with Roy losing T71. However I have a terrific round of Crazy-P, ending up T240 for my orbit. At the end of round 3, we have T740 at each table, and we appear to be 1st or 2nd in chips overall.
Round 4 starts with no playable hands for Roy. At the higher limits, we are down T50 for the blinds. I try to repeat my performance of the previous round, but I only serve to compound the problem. I play KJs for a raise and get heads up with Charles Haynes with a flop that has two of my suit, but also a small card and an ace. I pay to see the turn, but throw my hand away when I don’t improve and another small card comes. David Lawful (who is sweating me) wonders why I don’t stay for the river, since he points out I also had a inside straight draw in addition to the second nut flush. At the time, I put Charles on a made low or possibly a pair of aces or better, and didn’t think I could continue. A few hands later, I get TTT for my starting hand. Normally, I would throw this hand away, but I’m getting tired and not playing my best. I foolishly stay in thinking my pair of tens might hold up for high. I stay in when the flop brings three small spades that no one bets, since in addition to having an overpair, I now have a four-flush to the ten. I get sucked out on the river when a Jack hits to give someone a pair of jacks, and lose more money on a crying call at the end. I’ve managed to put a big dent in our stack. We continue to lose ground in the O/8 round, when David gets some great starting hands (AA23 double suited) that don’t get there.
We manage to cash out up $15 each at the end of the C-HORSE event, but it is a major disappointment after having a great lead going into the final round. I’ve come the conclusion that the final round is key to success in this event, since the higher limits greatly amplify any wins or losses. I check with Lee Crocker on how ADV.com did. They ended up a little higher than us, but Lee was pleased with the $120 he won in side action with other teams. I guess we missed a chance to make some money there as well… Next time!
Our team does better that Scottro's ADV team, and Andy Hughes collects a personal $10 last longer. Andy gets Scottro to sign the ten-dollar bill, and promises that he will frame it. WTG, Andy!
Saturday, August 4th
I barely make it to the start of the Chip Trading session, and have David Lawful watch my stuff while I head to Starbucks for a quick take-out breakfast. Back at the trading session, I manage to find trades for about half of my trading stock. My $1 chips from the Garlic City cardroom in Gilroy are very popular. I get some nice trades from the east coast, and a couple of special chips from Arty that come from Tinian, near Guam and the Marshall Islands.
At the start of the NLHE tournament, I see a few familiar faces. I remember Gillian Groves, ADB Satan, John "JZK" Kullmann (on my immediate right), Guy "Grizz" Berentsen, and Tom McEvoy to name a few. Geoffrey Gardella joins us later, if I recall correctly, as does Steve Brecher and Mark Trombley. Tom McEvoy is taken out early when Grizz pushes all-in to Tom’s initial raise and manages to hit his nut-flush draw.
I don’t remember too many hands. I must be playing reasonably well since John Kullmann complains that I won’t let him limp in the small blind, so I start getting walks in the big blind. I try to limp in the SB with JTs, but Geoffrey doesn’t want me drawing and makes a big bet, so I start giving some walks to him. After Steve "brec" Brecher has joined us, Geoffrey tries to steal Steve’s big blind from his small blind, but Steve comes over the top, and Geoffrey sheepishly shows and mucks his 52o.
After a very long spell of crap hands, I’m getting short stacked. In late position, after several limpers have joined the pot, I find AA and push all in. ADB Satan gives me action, and shows surprise when I turn over aces. I manage to more than double up. In the very next hand, with blinds of 500/1000, Mark Trombley has entered UTG with a bet of 2000. It is folded to me, and I find AQ. Feeling I’m on a rush, I push all-in again without much thought, and Mark calls and turns over AK. Oops! I don’t improve, and I’m now down to T200, having doubled up Mark (probably the start of his climb to chip leader). In the next hand, I get AT, and throw in my last two chips. The turn pairs my ten, but the river gives Gillian a straight, and I’m out in Round 8.
I played much better this year, outlasting many familiar faces (including JZK and brec), and collected on my first Quick bet (one of many to come in the future). I’ve been kicking myself on the play of AQ, since I didn’t need to enter a raised pot, and I should have smelled a trap with Mark’s small raise UTG. However, it was AQ v.s. AK that worked for Russ Fox later in the tournament, so I guess I shouldn’t feel too badly about my play. I do regret not outlasting Scottro, since the Tom Sims had offered his extra 1995 BARGE coin as a bounty to the BCC member that lasted longest in the NLHE. Scottro lasted only a few minutes longer than I did, so I’m pretty sure I would have won that last longer bet if I hadn’t played my AQ. Oh well… (I’d still love to add one of the ADB Fich coins to my collection someday, since I couldn’t talk Scottro out of parting with his reward).
I grab a quick bowl of chili at the snack bar as a late lunch, and head back to the Four Queens to recharge, freshen up and change clothes for the banquet. When I arrive, many of the tables are full. I find a seat with David Lawful. I sign up for Chow-aha, hoping to repeat my nice win from last year. I’ve come prepared this time to build a bigger chip castle, so I’m looking forward to the event.
The food and company are great, and I really enjoy Phil Hellmuth’s presentation, including the extra Tilt-boy slide. Arty dons his "sock on it" Grocho glasses, and I make a brief (and mysterious) announcement about my special thank you gifts (which are the "Piece of the Mound" dirt bags).
I’m delayed after the banquet in getting to the primary Chow-aha table, and start at the "must move" table. I start getting some practice for my chip castle, but it is not the best environment for the somewhat fragile structure that I’m planning. I don’t get many playable hands, and when I do get a hand, it gets sucked out on. I have AhKh and raise pre-flop. The top board comes with three hearts, giving my the nut flush and a draw to a royal flush. I raise on the flop, and manage to scare a few players out, but Tiger hangs in there to get a full house on the river.
I’m moved to the primary Chow-aha table a little later. Unfortunately, I’ve missed out on the initial chip castles that were built (I hope someone has some pictures). I’m throwing away lots of hands, and not getting there with the few hands that I play. I’m in a hand with Phil Hellmuth with suited connectors that flop two straight draws, but neither gets there. (I was hoping to win a hand from Phil, like I did last year when Chris Ferguson joined us). I manage to finish my chip castle, and get a couple of photos taken. By now, the primary table is starting to break up, making the "must move" table the main game. Since I haven’t won a single hand of Chow-aha, I decided to pack it in, cashing out down a rack of whites. Good thing my ADV last longer and Calcutta winnings take some of the sting out of my loss.
While waiting to cash out, I talk to Jazbo for a while about ATLARGE, trying to interest him in having me do some design work for either event pins or perhaps a small chip set. It would give me an excuse to make it out to the east coast for an ARG event.
Sunday, August 5th
I drive over to the Orleans on Sunday morning, arriving at the same time as Ron "Jalapeno" Galicia. Ron and I have breakfast together and enter the noon NLHE tournament. I see many BARGErs here for this tournament. A late arrival at our table is ADB Fich, who sits down at the number 1 seat just in time to double up.
I manage to make it to the break without doing a rebuy, but I’m pretty short stacked going into round 4. At some point, Scottro joins our table. I didn’t take notes, so I can’t recall what hand I went out on. I do remember outlasting Fich by a few hands. I end up donating my chips to the bully sitting in seat 3 when he sucks out on me. I blow off some steam (and money) at video poker to decompress. I don’t stick around the Orleans to see how things turn out, since I have a few errands to run.
I show up for the Sahara NLHE at 7 pm. Many familiar faces are here as well, including ADB Ploink, Joan Hadley, Jim Bullard, Chieu "ChuChu" Tran, Gerald "gerdog" Peterson and Gillian Groves. Susie Isaacs is here as well. Nothing major happens to me during the first hour. I do remember getting pocket sevens in middle position, but Jim Bullard (2 spots to my right) enters for a standard raise, and the guy to my immediate right re-raises most of his stack. My sevens fly into the muck, and I find that Jim has called with 77 v.s. JJ. After the hand, I tell Jim he was drawing completely dead. Fortunately, he had not used his rebuy yet.
I’m starting to get short stacked when I get AdKd in late position. I push all-in and am called by the player to my immediate left. He turns over AK as well, but the flop brings me two diamonds and a freeroll for a flush draw that gets there on the river. Ding! S00ted is g00t!
I’m moved to a table with Susie Isaacs when we get down to two tables, but I’m unable to repeat my performance at the LVC of doubling up through her this time. I throw away many hands, and manage to stay alive with one blind steal with Kx that doesn’t get called, giving me some blinds and antes.
I’m moved again, and the limits have gone up. In the small blind, it is folded to me. I don’t have much ammo left, and I have a pretty crappy hand (Q6o), but I complete the bet to see if I can see the flop cheap. The big blind checks and the flop comes Q76. Given my hand, I felt pretty good about flopping two pair. I push all-in, and say "Come and get it" to the big blind. He thinks for a while and calls me. He ends up with three sevens, taking down my two pair! When I leave the game, "ChuChu" Tran is the only BARGEr left in the tournament.
I head back to downtown, and pay a final visit to Binions. I run into a small gathering at a $5 Blackjack table: ADB Fold’em, ADB Ploink, , Gerald "gerdog" Peterson and Gillian Groves. I’m pretty much gambled out, but I hang out for a while watching the action. At one point Gillian says "I must consult the oracle" on her pair of threes. She pulls out her blackjack strategy card and I get out mine for comparison.
Fold’em tells me that I can expect to see ADB Un next year among the ranks of the ADB. I mention that probably won’t ever qualify for ADB status since the "drunken" part doesn’t work well with someone who’s seriously trying to lose weight. Fold’em tells me that I’m also pretty low on the "Bastard" scale, although high on the "Alt." I tell him that I take both comments as a complement, and I’m likely to stay that way.
I hang out at Binions for a while, then head back to the Four Queens to get packed. I’m taking back the extra BARGE chips, as well as my left over coins, pins, and dirt. I’ve also got Chris "Jesus" Ferguson’s home set of BARGE 2000 chips to deal with. I spend several hours trying to prepare all my "stuff" for either sending ahead or checking as luggage.
Monday, August 6th
After staying up past 2 AM getting packed, I set a wake up call for 9 AM to finish the job in the morning. I’ve decided I don’t trust the airlines with my boxes, so I make a stop at the post office after I check out. I send ahead the left over memorabilia and also mail Chris Ferguson’s home set to him. I make a final stop at the Gamblers General Store and buy a chip case for my home tournament set, plus yet another deck of KEM cards. I’m just about ready to leave when I make an impulse buy of the complete set of the 1994 WSOP commemorative chips from the Chip Gallery inside the store. I manage to make it to the airport, turn in my rental car, check my luggage, and make it to the gate with enough time to buy and consume a fast-food lunch. Unlike my earlier visit for TARGET, I don’t have time to play the negative EV Video Poker machines near my gate, since I don’t have the time to wait for my money should I hit a 4 deuces jackpot (like I did last time).
I see Gary Brown and John Reed are on the same flight, and I spend a few minutes chatting with them prior to boarding. The flight to San Jose passes without incident, and I’m finally back home and starting to count the days until BARGE 2002.
In looking back over my eight-day stay, I notice that except for playing Chow-aha on Saturday night, I haven’t played any ring game action. I think part of this is due to the fact that my tournament play served to scratch my poker itch. Also, I have many opportunities to play ring games in Northern California (including several home games), but without the smoke I found in most of the poker rooms. (Maybe next time, I’ll make a point of playing at the Mirage and/or the Bellagio).
I did play a lot of tournaments, before, during, and after BARGE, but I didn’t end up in the money. Overall, I think I did much better than last year in tournament play, and I look forward to giving it a shot again next year (and probably at ESCARGOT and TARGET as well). I also managed to get some Video Poker time in, although I still haven’t hit my first natural Royal.
It was good to see my old poker friends and to have the chance to make many new ones. I especially enjoyed sharing my design skills with the making of many different forms of BARGE memorabilia, and I hope to continue to do so in the future. I already have a design in mind for next year’s pin, coin, and T-shirt, and I’ll be lending my artistic abilities to Russ Fox for his chip designs for next year.
I still have many pins and coins left over from BARGE. I’ll be re-establishing the order pages for them in a few days, and I’ll make a posting on the usual lists at that time. If you are interested, you are welcome to drop me an email, and I’ll let you know when the "shopping mall" reopens.
Take care,
--ADV Patrick
