Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:56:24 -0700
From: "David Low"
Subject: Barge 2006 - Blind poker

Here are some minor recollections from BARGE:

At the security checkpoint, girl in front of me shows up with a subway
sandwich and a fountain drink. I guess she missed all of the signs that said
no liquids. As I am pulling my laptop out of my bag, guy behinds me decides
to jump in front of me through the metal detector. Hello cowboy, perhaps
your steeled toe boots need to come off? Now lets take your belt with a 14lb
buckle off. To top off my outbound entertainment, as I am boarding, the lady
behind me asks if Vegas is one or two hours ahead where the flight attendant
responds one.

After busting out of the Lazy Pineapple tournament, played some 3-6 with
Bullbert, Timmer, and Blofeld. Blofeld decides that pocket aces aren't good
enough to bet on the river. One of the poker room staffers sees his plays
and tells him that he plays like a little girl. Sure enough, later that
night he does the same thing. Of course both times he scoops the pot.

As the VP and BJ tourneys were cancelled, headed over to TI for their
morning tournament with Tim and Doug. We have about 20 minutes before the
tourney so we go to find some food. Doug and I order some breakfast to go,
while Tim believes that Startbucks is his only chance to get food in time.
Sure enough, I am enjoying Belgian Waflles while Tim busts out and has to
pay me a last longer. Doug chops top two spots after coming back from being
down to the felt.

While playing 6/12 at the Mirage with Tim, Doug, and Dianne from GB, two
young guys sit down. One of them turns to me and asks if we are in town for
a convention. I tell him that we are in town for BARGE, he turns to his
friend and tells him that they are the tourists.

Found out later that evening that the Venetian brought in an extra 40K $1
chips for Barge to the cage by the poker room. I guess they heard about the
chip building castles.

After having multiple losing sessions in ring games, I figured that it was
time to go big or go home. We are about to leave to meet up with Tim at the
Wynn, and I inform the table that I have to go. I decide that its my last
chance to log a winning session. I then play the entire hand blind. I
straddle which is of course capped pre-flop. Board comes down Q 5 2, all
diamonds. Betting continues J and A off suit follow. Local rock goes all the
way to the river and shows KJ for 3rd pair. I figure I am drawing really
live, but the only way to win is with a terrible beat. so I tell him that I
really want 34. I flip the first card and its the 3 of diamonds. I then flip
the other card, 7 of diamonds. I had him the whole way. I rack 120+ pot and
head out.

I spent the next 3 hours trying to tilt Doug. I manage to have him tilt $400
at the 5/10 O8 game the the Mirage. While we are there, we eat at the
Carnegie Deli. Our waitress tells us that she is excited because she is
getting her first motorcycle back from the shop. Apparently its a 750. I
asked her if she signed her organ donor card. I think Doug set the line at 3
years.

We make our way back to the Venetian and there aren't any interesting games
going, so we sit down at 3 card poker. Doug hits 8+ hands in a row and
cashes out up $740.

Get back into a 3/6 game. Decide to push my luck at blind hand again.
Straddle cap pre-flop, bet/call all the way to the river. Board shows AJJ62.
Player shows KJ (what is it with that hand?) I slow roll again. First card,
I flip the case jack. I then allow the other player to flip the last card
which is the T. Ironically I don't even consider it a bad bet.

Overall on the trip I ended up going 5 for 9 on blind pots. I am not sure if
its a compliment if another BARGEr is calling me a maniac at the table.

Major thanks to Chuck and Peter for pulling this amazing trip off. I can't
wait til next year.

-dave