Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:44:54 -0600
From: Joe Long
Subject: [BARGE] 2010 Trip Report

  A fantastic time as usual -- kudos to the organizers and everyone who 
helped out.

Oldbear and Grizz rode their motorcycles to BARGE.  They met at my house 
and traveled together from there.  It was great having them visit.  Oh, 
they saw a little more of Colorado than they bargained for -- they made 
a wrong turn after leaving my house and ended up on a steep mountain 
dirt road.  Scenic, though!

Arrived Tuesday, played some live Dealer's Choice before the badugi 
tournament.  I've been practicing badugi on PokerStars at micro-limits, 
but it's not the same.  Lousy cards anyway, short run.  More live DC after.

Wednesday, found most of Nugget pool closed due to filming CSI. Water 
slide still open.  Ran into Deadhead and family, had good time at 
slide.  Did a bit better at Lowbah tournament but didn't make it halfway.

Thursday, breakfast with CHORSE team at Golden Gate.  Had my first year 
at CHORSE to not build the stack during my time in the box, but only 
lost a little and the team made a small profit (yay!).  CSI still 
filming in the pool at the Nugget.  Had my best run of the week in the 
six-game tournament (I liked that one a lot), but came up short of the 
money, busting out 12th when they paid eight.  More live DC.  Kat 
arrived late and went straight to bed.

Friday, ran two miles with Deadhead and the bunch in the morning.  I was 
afraid I'd slow them down but his five-year-old daughter ran with us so 
the pace was one I could manage.  Uneventful ToC, made it about 
halfway.  More live DC (do ya think I like Dealer's Choice at BARGE?).  
Forgot all about Karaoke until nearly midnight, looked in on it for a 
few minutes (bummer).

Saturday, had a real treat in the NLHE.  I was moved to the left of Andy 
Bloch.  Then a few hands later they moved Bill Chen to the table as 
well.  I was nearly crippled by a hand where I had KK and called an 
all-in preflop who showed QQ -- a Queen flopped and I thought I was 
toast (no, this is not a bad-beat story -- at least not for me).  Until 
a King came on the river, and I got a nice bottle of wine for a bust-out 
gift.  A while later Andy takes out Bill and they break the table, 
moving me to the right of Goldie.  He asked if I had a last-longer bet 
and I said I didn't think so, but he checked his list and I did, for ten 
bucks.  I watched him push with a short stack (yay!) and double up 
(boo!), then a few hands later he's all-in again and busts out.  I 
collected his first payoff, but alas I was short-stacked as well and 
went out myself a few hands later.  I haven't cashed in a BARGE 
tournament since three years ago.

Kat when out of the NLHE before 2pm, so she entered the Binion's 2pm 
tournament.  I did the same last year and cashed, but she did better -- 
she chopped it.  She was still in the tournament when the banquet began, 
so I took her plate down to her.  I was unhappy to see her soon after, 
until she told she was just on break and still in.  The next time she 
came to the banquet she brought the good news that she'd chopped.

Then of course the reindeer games -- DC again, of course.  As some of 
you have noticed I'm a bit bipolar*, and I have a low tolerance for 
alcohol and had used my drink tickets at the banquet.  So I was really 
manic at the start, having a GREAT time.  I had to work hard at bring 
myself down or I might have lost the ranch.  I started out well but 
ended the night with a loss -- no matter, I had a great time as usual.  
Kat and I had an early flight out so I didn't get any sleep, after the 
plane took off the next thing I knew was the "bump" of landing.  The 
only way to fly.

* That "bipolar" thingy ... I did have it diagnosed and treatment 
offered but it's mild, it doesn't interfere with my work and I enjoy the 
highs enough to make the lows worthwhile.  So I declined treatment.  I 
just have to be careful to recognize it at the poker table and go into 
my drill to bring myself down.

Mark and Guy overnighted at my house again on their way back home.  A 
nice cap to a wonderful week.

See y'all next year!!!!!!


-- 
Joe Long aka ChipRider
jlong@chiprider.com