From: "Michael Patterson" To: barge@barge.org Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2003 11:40:23 -0700 Subject: [BARGE] mickdog's seven secrets to a successful BARGE mickdog's seven secrets to a successful BARGE (say that 10 times fast) by Michael Patterson 1) Make sure your flights are delayed Why? Well first of all when your outgoing flight is delayed one-and-half hours you can squeeze in some extra online poker play before leaving home. I did, and made $54 in twenty minutes in a LL PLO game. WooHoo! Then arriving Wed morning at 2:00am to the Golden Nugget you will magically find that they have no regular rooms left on the property, and a gigantor suite will be given to you instead (if only for but a night). You will love the 4 sinks, 3 TVs, 2 Bose Wave Radios, and the Jacuzzi tub. Lastly, you will put on the complimentary bathrobe and strangely feel as if you are channeling Kevin Un.... Making sure that your flight is delayed coming home is as important too. Many of you may not be aware, but the best EV games in town are these funny little machines with bells and whistles located throughout all the terminals. If you are stuck in the airport, you pass the time by staring at their screens and pushing buttons in hopes that something exciting will happen. I tried this and to my pleasant surprise within a half an hour I was $85 richer. It must happen every time.... 2) Donāt bust me out of the tournament Three of the four people who took my last chips in the BARGE tourneys bubbled within a couple spots of the money. Since I do this all the time myself, I've concluded that once I've touched the chips, they are cursed no matter who the recipient is. So my suggestion to you for future ARG events is to not take my chips from me, no matter what. You've been warned. 3) Take all the free poker lessons You didn't know there were free poker lessons at BARGE? Well the locals teach you how to play runner-runner draws correctly and smoke incessantly, the ADBers will teach you how to make final tables while drinking continuously, the guest speaker will teach you some of his favorite poker tips (+10 BB last night from those tips alone, thanks Howard), and people with bigger bankrolls that you will teach you intimidation at the Pot Limit table. Favorite lesson of the trip: Mirage Thursday night 1-2 PLHE Lee Jones/Paul Phillips game. I sweat it for an hour and Adam B. gets up and I get his seat. I fold my first 14 hands or so, and then in succession get AJs, AKo, and Scottro (77) and flop Aces, Aces, and trips respectively. I win all three hands, and I believe none are shown. I fold about seven more hands and it is time for me to get going anyway. I have A8 clubs UTG+1 and raise to $6, Dave calls and Paul bets approximately the pot. I think about whether I want to see a flop or not, I decide my hand is too marginal and I fold, as does Dave. Paul flashes a garbage hand and says that he'd normally not say this to anyone but it being BARGE and all, he knew I had a vulnerable hand by the casual way I'd thrown in my chips in this time as compared to the three times prior, and he knew he'd could move me off the hand know matter what. He read was completely correct, I was in awe, and knew I needed to play less online and more live to get rid off any other tells that were lurking about. Thanks again for the lesson, Paul, it was fun playing with you. Side note: there are Blackjack lessons too. Friday night after North Shore's final table in the TOC, he and I go hit the $10 BJ tables to celebrate. Interestingly, the Pit boss is watching us carefully. Now I used to count (and was barred from one casino in my life, but that is another story) but I've pretty much forgotten most things and barely remember basic strategy. This is apparent from my play and my question asking about splitting nines with a ten showing. The pit boss sees that we are BARGErs and chats us up about online poker a bit. After an hour, I take my $20 profit and am about to leave and he says, "Can I give you some advice about your blackjack play? Stick to poker!" LOL. Mike stays for a while longer and of course crushes the table with his newfound ADB powers. Nice one North Shore! 4) Eat your vegetables I don't mean to sound like your mom, but after three days in Las Vegas it is highly likely the only veggies you've consumed are onions and potatoes. Prime rib is not a vegetable. So when Binions or Paradise Poker give you the dreaded vegetable tray at the Symposium or Cocktail party, eat a few. Your colon will thank me later. 5) Pick your horses carefully I played the horsies three times at BARGE. The first was when I brilliantly swapped 5% with North Shore Mike for all tourneys we played. I made $43 bucks with his final table finish on Friday. Ding! Somehow I also made $10 from him in personal last-longers for the week... Did I mention that this is a multi-year locked-in contract Mike? The second time was in the ADV syndicate when we picked two final table finishers including the winner Paul P. Why don't all of my investments make a one day return of 82%? The last time was at the Bellagio sports book on Sunday with Sean McGuiness and actual horses. This time, my handicapping skills suffered and I took a -$46 loss. Sean seemed to be on fire, and I hope that after I left to head to the airport, his winning ways continued. 6) Play hard to pronounce poker games The games like 2-4 Chowaha, 4-8 HORSE, and the CHORSE event are one of the main reasons I go to ARGE events. Winning money is not the reason, but having ridiculous amounts of fun is. Where do I get to talk to Chris Ferguson about the finer points of chip castle building, and chat with Howard Lederer about the love/hate relationship with TiVo (note to ESPN: Stop moving the WSOP and let me program a Season Pass for God's sake!)? Where else do I get to play in a team event, and have my team finally not lose money, while laughing all the while? Where do I see a Binionās dealer say "You guys aren't gambling enough," reach into his own tip jar and put out 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 chips for a preflopped capped pot in Chowaha? Only at BARGE. Side Note: Missed out on the newly invented Binglaha. Major Saddenz. Maybe next year? 7) Don't forget to thank everyone profusely Chuck, Zimmers, and Peter - you rock. Case Closed. PokerStars, Paradise Poker, and Quiotix - your generosity was seen throughout BARGE and as a result, my loyalty to your companies will be as strong. Binionās Management and Staff - I was really impressed to the level at which you appreciated us and went the extra mile. Thank you. Nolan Dalla - Nice to get to know you better. Sorry Scottro and I didn't cash for you in the NLHE Calcutta. You are doing a good job of getting the Binionās image whipped into shape. Keep it up. Patrick Milligan - for all your hard work with the structure sheets and the free timer, I salute you. Also, welcome to Team Presto!, and I hope we can reward you with a first place trophy next year. And to all my BARGE friends that I ate with, laughed with, played against, told bad beat stories to, shared cabs with, wandered aimlessly around the strip and downtown with - I wish I didn't have to wait 365 days to do it all over again! -Michael "mickdog" Patterson ________ Thanks to PokerStars, Paradise Poker, and Quiotix Technologies for their generous sponsorship of BARGE 2003.