Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:01:10 -0400
From: Ken
Subject: [BARGE] 2009 BARGE trip report


My first BARGE just concluded and I have to say it was a blast.? After being to several ATLARGEs and FAROGs - now I understand that BARGE is just more of *ARG* events.? Hopefully I can make it an annual trip to attend.? Anyway on to the report..

I landed around 4:30pm on Tuesday and was in my room at the Golden Nugget by 5:30.? A sign Vegas is kind of dead that it only took me an hour to get my luggage and a take ride downtown.? I then did the long hike to Binion's and was able to get the last seat in the Corcival tournament.? 

Like pretty much everyone else I had never played it - but it was a lot of fun.? I had one memorable hand (if Charles Humphrey were to tell this he would owe a lot of money...) I flopped a gut shot straight draw and turned 3 3's.? Sadly he had turned queens full and the money went it.? I thought I had 2 outs (the Jack of clubs and the case 3 but the 3 had been folded).? The river was (wait for it....) - the jack of clubs for my one outer.? I then lasted about another hour and ended up around 30th or so.
After that I just crashed since I had been up for over 20 hours at that point.

The next day went to Egg and I - very good breakfast.? Thanks again to Ice for that.? I then sat in a 2/4 LHE game with several fellow BARGERS.? I saw the worst beat of the trip there - this table was playing with bonuses and for quad 6's it was $600.? On the turn Corey hit quad 6's and beat and got a fold from the only other player, sadly the pot was only $9 so no bonus.? Probably the only hand I saw in 5 hours that was under $10.
I then played in the lowbah tourney - another first for me (also never had played a game that did not allow check-raise).? Early fun was Marlin spewing chips to go to dinner that night - his mission was accomplished.? We had two hands with wheels dealt (no bug) at our table - one with Dan?having a 6.? I don't recall any other special hands and busted in 17th when I was dealt a made 9 and lost to a made 8.

Thursday was CHORSE and I was the stud player (in more ways than one I figure :) ) for Team Jam.? First level I won one pot with aces up and lost one pot with aces up.? The second I played one hand and lost and the 3rd I just put in 9 antes.? Ended up talking politics with Goldie most of the time - a continuation from a discussion we had at ATLARGE during the TOC tournament.? Very enlightening (this was the first election I voted for the Democratic candidate) talking to a lifelong Democrat.? Then on to sushi - went with my Team Jam partners - David, Caryl and Michael.? 
Asya - thanks again for setting up the sushi.? The food and sake were great.? Very fun time.? Came back for the stud shootout.
Had a fun table with Grapes running over the table pretty much.? Went out 3rd at my table- a couple tough hands but not sure any were really bad beats - kind of just played themselves and I lost.

Friday played in the TOC for a short time.? Busted out early after Sabyl crippled me in an O8 hand that she pretty much had me crushed the whole way.? Went to main street for lunch with Michael B., Ron (aka the minion) and met Shirley Kramer there.? Went back to Binion's and ended up in a chinese game - first time for $$. Another first - got to hear an annoucement "immediate seating for Chinese Poker" - not sure when I will hear that again.? Left that game and went to Firefly's (a new tapis restaurant at the Plaza).? Very good food and the best beat of the week - the food was free.? We ended up there during a sneak preview and they were opening the next day.? Very good night and a view of the Fremont Street Experienece (lots of signs for Mayor Goodman).? Left there and went to Karaoke - I did not sing and ended up having a discussion with Dave F, and Mitch regarding best bands of all time.? I think we all agreed The Who tops that list.

Friday night I did not feel too well so did not set a wake up call and woke up at 9 and staggered to Binion's.? Did not last long in the NLHE - lost a race to David K, and then busted with AJs to Len's aces.? Then I got in a dealer's choice Omaha game and had a blast.? Played Oklahoma, a Chowaha variant that the game could be 2-7, O8 and Omaha.? A game was "made up there" - like Oklahoma but Omaha high only and no boards removed (a non-BARGER did not like boards removing).? Had a funny hand during an Oklahoma hand where it was capped on the river, I had the nut low and 3 queens were on one board.? Grizz kept raising and thought he had nut low - turned out his 55 was good enough for high and I got quartered.? Played there until the banquet and the food was good, Nick did a great job as host and Nolan and Doyle was very funny.? Nolan - you just may want to fact check a little next time :).

Went back to reindeer games and got in another dealer's choice Omaha games - the new one there was Omaha high, one board, but the worst high hand won.? When anyone had a "good" hand and folded - we all showed our cards - no player or dealer seemed to care.? Was a lot of fun.
Left that game at about 2 and got a few hours sleep before my flight out.? Again just 45 minutes from the Golden Nugget through security - I have never come close to that fast at the Vegas airport.

All in all - I had a great time meeting people I just knew from here as well as seeing those I already knew from FARGO and ATLARGE.

Nick, Mick and Peter - great job on setting everything up - it all seemed to be seemless (at least from my point of view).
The Binion's poker room was amazing - the dealers and floor bending over backwards for us and letting us do pretty much what we wanted - made the games great.

I hope to be back next year at BARGE 2010 - just 9 more and I can get a 10 year pin :)

Ken