Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:02:12 -0600
From: Joe Long
Subject: [BARGE] Full Trip Report

OK, the full version.

Flew out Tuesday, with Kat coming out Thursday night.  Checked in at the
Nugget then got to Binions to see cash pot-limit Courchevel games going.
 BARGE pot-limit is still a bit above my comfort level, but I couldn't
resist, so I joined one of the games.  Got lucky for a while and tripled
my $200 buyin, only to run into a hand with nearly $1000 in the pot that
I can't describe because if I did I'd owe you all a dollar (can I say
that I had the nuts when I put the other guy all-in on the turn?  If I
can't, please disregard the previous sentence.).  So then I was below my
original buyin, but managed to get back in the black by the time we
broke for the tournament.

I loved the tournament, but I struggled short-stacked for a long time
before finally going out 18th (out of about 60).  A fun game.
Afterwards played cash Dealer's Choice until about 4am.

Wednesday, played some cash Dealer's Choice and made a few more bucks,
then to the Lowbah tournament.  Did OK for a while, but went out 23rd
out of about 70.  Played cash DC until 4am, made a few more bucks.  The
full choice, where we include games like badugi and ABC.

Thursday, CHORSE.  I had the honor of playing with the Implied Oddballs
this year (you may have heard they had a bit of success in Saturday's
NLHE tourney -- three cashes including 2nd place).  I increased our
stack during the first two Crazy Pineapple rounds, then lost about the
same amount back on the last round.  The team ended up somewhat down. I
had another dip in the Nugget pool, then the stud tournament.  I've
never been more card-dead, I didn't drag a single pot and was out early.
 Then, more DC, down a bit this time, playing only until 2am due to the
TOC Friday.

Enjoyed the "Death Run" Friday am, we were going to do one lap but went
on for two.  Friday's TOC started off the opposite of the stud
tournament.  I was on fire, winning hand after hand in the stud round,
cooling off a bit in the Omaha and HE rounds but still doing well.  A
classic case of bad timing:  being a limit game, you can't make anything
the first rounds even on a rush.  My peak was only  about $4200 from our
starting $3000.  In later rounds that didn't hold.  OK, back to the
pool.  Bought Kat and myself at the Symposium (I thought we'd go cheap
and we did), then more DC, with Kat in that game as well.  I had my most
most profitable cash session of the week, ending around 2am.  Do you
think I might like Dealer's Choice?

Started the NLHE Saturday with much anticipation, and having too good a
time.  I wasn't focused on the game when this early hand came along.  I
can tell you about this one as it's not bad beat, I was behind the whole
way.  I had AK and made a 3xBB raise, a short stack put in his remaining
$300, and the big stack calls.  My first mistake, I should have pushed
to isolate against the SS, but I just called (although as you'll see the
outcome would probably have been the same).

The flop comes Q77, BS checks, I make a continuation bet of $500 (a
third of my remaining chips).  Second mistake.  Had  I checked instead,
and the BS bet the turn, I could have gotten away from the hand.  The
turn is a jack, it goes check-check.  The river is a King, BS bets my
stack and without reviewing the hand I call.  She had QQ and had flopped
a full house.  So I'm the third one out of the tournament and bummed
about my poor play.  Next year I have to be sure to be focused at the
start of the tournaments.

Some consolation, being out early I entered the Binions 2pm tournament
and cashed there.  But I should have cashed deeper.  We had just made
the cash and I was the chip leader at my table (two tables left), and I
was getting a bit manic.  You have probably noticed that I am somewhat
bipolar.  It's moderate enough that I've never sought treatment for it,
the truth be known I actually like it -- the highs are fun and the lows
aren't that bad or very long.  But it can sometimes get me in trouble at
the poker table.  Well, right after we were in the cash I noticed I'd
gotten manic -- I even commented on it to  the other players.  I said I
had to bring myself down or I'd do something stupid.  So I go into my
drill to bring it down, and pick up my next hand.  I have 33 in middle
position, and I make my ghastly error.  I had plenty of chips to make
normal raise but I announce "I am all in."  The next biggest stack's
eyes light up, he says "Did you say all-in?" and when I reply "Yes,
all-in" he yells "CALL" and jumps up out of his seat --  flipping over
aces.  So I'm crippled and a couple of hands later IGHN.

If only I'd gotten calmed down a minute sooner ...

Kat and I thoroughly enjoyed the banquet, and Doyle's interview.  Alas,
she had some alcohol for the first time in several years and after the
banquet went to lie down for a while before joining the Reindeer Games.
 She fell asleep and missed them completely.  I had my worst cash
session of the week there, nothing was working the last couple of  hours
until I hung it up at 4am, but I still finished the week ahead in cash
games.

Kat and I just puttered around Fremont Street Sunday until it was time
to go to the airport.  A great week, I expect that next year Kat will
come for the full time.  Counting the days ...

And one more time, a huge THANK YOU to the guys that make all this possible.


-- 
Joe Long