Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2015 07:06:20 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [BARGE] 2015 BARGE Trip Report: Ten Years A BARGEr (Part 1) From: Bruce Iwamoto via BARGE This year marked ten years of BARGE for me. =C2=A0Not as long as a lot of o= thers but more than afew, I=E2=80=99d say. =C2=A0I still remember my first = one.=C2=A0 2005.=C2=A0 We were at the Plaza that year.=C2=A0 I had taken Pe= ter Secor=E2=80=99s bait on RGP (backwhen it was semi-readable) to come to = Vegas in the dog days of summer and playin a series of tournaments against = people I didn=E2=80=99t yet know (and a few I knewonly online on RGP). =C2= =A0I am a child of the Moneymaker Revolution.=C2=A0 I came home from work l= ate one night to findLynsy completely engrossed in ESPN=E2=80=99s coverage = of the 2003 WSOP Main Event finaltable.=C2=A0 I sat down to watch withher.= =C2=A0 The hole camera revealed an amazingdrama.=C2=A0 From then on, we dug= deep intothe coal mines of low-limit no fold 'em Hold =E2=80=98Em. =C2=A0I= didn=E2=80=99t pop my cherry until the following year.=C2=A0 I was in Vega= s for a conference and Lynsy waswith me.=C2=A0 Midway through some boring o= raltreatise, my cellphone vibrates.=C2=A0 It=E2=80=99sLynsy, who shouts wit= hout preamble: =C2=A0=E2=80=9CCome meet me at Excalibur!=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99mi= n a game!=E2=80=9D =C2=A0I said, =E2=80=9CWhat?=E2=80=9D =C2=A0I let myself= out of that meeting room at Caesars and walked through thespringtime heat = to the Excalibur=E2=80=99s little six-table poker space that had beencarved= out among the slots, and found Lynsy at one of the tables.=C2=A0 The deale= rs were spreading 2-6spread-limit.=C2=A0 What the hell else could Ido?=C2= =A0 =C2=A0I lost $37 that day.=C2=A0 I washooked. =C2=A02005: I register f= or my first BARGE.=C2=A0There=E2=80=99s some chat on the BARGE list as to w= hether an influx of poker-mad newbies is good for the BARGE experience.=C2= =A0 Though I can no longer find it online, Iposted that BARGE needs players= like me if it is to avoid going the way of theShakers.=C2=A0 Ten years dow= n the road, BARGEstill needs players like me. =C2=A0That August: =C2=A0Thur= sday afternoon: the super shuttle dropped me off at the Plaza.=C2=A0 It was= really down at the heels, but perfectfor a roomful of BARGERs. =C2=A0I che= cked in and, after unpacking, go down to the casino.=C2=A0 BARGE cash games= are in fulI swing in thepoker room, an alcove where slots were removed to = accommodate the New PokerRevolution.=C2=A0 I recognized no one, noteven fel= low Virgin Dave =E2=80=9CRaider Fan=E2=80=9D Roberman.=C2=A0All of a sudden= , I saw Andy Bloch.=C2=A0Holy shit, I=E2=80=99ve seen him on TV!=C2=A0He wa= s in what appears to be a 4-8 high-low game, check-raising someonewhile pla= ying with a =E2=80=9CBarrel of Monkeys=E2=80=9D game.=C2=A0Poker multi-task= ing at its best.=C2=A0He acknowledged my Full Tilt cap and smiles.=C2=A0 I = was star-struck. =C2=A0I did meet up with Dave.=C2=A0 I assumedhe was from = LA, as a Raiders fan.=C2=A0 He saidhe was from Houston.=C2=A0 Houston? =C2= =A0=E2=80=9CYeah.=C2=A0 I grew up a Vikes fan inMinnesota but came out to s= outhern California to work, and fell in love withthe Raiders.=C2=A0 Even af= ter I moved toHouston, I kept watching them.=C2=A0 Once youwear black, you = can never go back.=E2=80=9D =C2=A0Raider Fan Dave passed away a while ago.= =C2=A0I still think of him every now and then, when I attend BARGE. =C2=A0N= ext morning: my first tourney =E2=80=93 the TOC.=C2=A0 I know a little Hold= =E2=80=98Em.=C2=A0 I played a little Omaha, online.=C2=A0 I know diddly-sq= uat about stud.=C2=A0 =C2=A0A seemingly disheveled man walked up to my tab= le before the start andasked no one in particular, =E2=80=9Cwhere can I fin= d bingo?=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 I laughed.=C2=A0I didn=E2=80=99t know that =E2=80= =9Cbingo=E2=80=9D was actually longtime BARGEr Don Rieck =E2=80=93 andthe g= uy who looked as if he wandered in off the street was actually PhilGustafso= n.=C2=A0 I played in home gamesagainst Phil for a number of years after tha= t, and was impressed by hishumbleness=E2=80=A6and his ability to turn over = the nuts, time and again.=C2=A0 =C2=A0Phil died alone, at home, a few year= s back.=C2=A0 I miss him. =C2=A0I wasn=E2=80=99t the first one out of the T= OC but I might as well havebeen.=C2=A0 Ming Lee taught me, the hard way,wha= t a *real* Omaha low was. =C2=A0Fast forward to 2015: =C2=A0Lynsy and I ent= er Binion=E2=80=99s on Tuesday afternoon.=C2=A0 The 25-game event is in ful= l swing.=C2=A0 We say hello to quite a few fellowBARGErs.=C2=A0 We are genu= inely happy to seethem.=C2=A0 We touch bases with Ira and TerryWiedman; we = met them on a cruise a couple of years ago.=C2=A0 Ira claimed to play at th= e Bike with thelikes of Russ Fox.=C2=A0 Sounds like BARGEmaterial to us, we= think.=C2=A0This year is Ira=E2=80=99s second BARGE. =C2=A0I=E2=80=99m pla= ying the HORSE, TOC and Main Event; just the latter two forLynsy.=C2=A0 Not= sure if we=E2=80=99ll partake in thesocial stuff aside from Egg & I.=C2=A0= We=E2=80=99ll see. =C2=A0While Ira battles the 25-game event, Lynsy, Terry = and I walk down toCarson Kitchen.=C2=A0 We=E2=80=99re dying to tryit.=C2=A0= It doesn=E2=80=99t disappoint. =C2=A0Wednesday: Linda Lewis gives us a lif= t to Egg & I.=C2=A0 I ask her about video poker.=C2=A0 She plays the Atlant= ic City machines and theVegas machines are a wee bit different.=C2=A0I see = so many BARGErs posting screenshots of royals on Facebook, andthink this re= quires some investigating.=C2=A0I am itching to get my hands on a Deuces Wi= ld machine. =C2=A0Egg and I is terrific as always.=C2=A0Thanks to the organ= izers =E2=80=93 Ice, Goldie and Chuck =E2=80=93 for making it happen.=C2=A0= =C2=A0I crash and burn in the HORSE tourney that evening after committing= acardinal sin.=C2=A0 The third raise usuallymeans aces, and that was what = my queens fell to.=C2=A0 =E2=80=9CGrapes=E2=80=9D Grapenthien, on my right,= marveledat how the queens were slaughtered.=C2=A0 Islink out of Binion=E2= =80=99s in disgrace.=C2=A0 =C2=A0Thursday: no tourneys for either me or Ly= nsy.=C2=A0 I am a reformed CHORSE player.=C2=A0 But instead of joining Team= Sleeping In, Lynsy is contemplating doing the FunRun.=C2=A0 =C2=A0I said,= =E2=80=9CWhat?=E2=80=9D =C2=A0As it turned out, we were awake early anyway= .=C2=A0 We are in a room at Main Street Station, aswe have been for the las= t several years.=C2=A0For some reason, our room always overlooks the Union = Pacific tracks,meaning that our usual wake-up call is a southbound freight = train at 6:00 inthe morning.=C2=A0 So we head down to theFremont Street Exp= erience and find Ron Grossberg outside Binion=E2=80=99s at theappointed tim= e. =C2=A0There must have been at least ten of us there =E2=80=93 Ron pronou= nces it as thebest turnout in Fun Run history, perhaps because of the new t= wist involved: FunRun poker.=C2=A0 A =E2=80=9Cdealer=E2=80=9D gave each run= ner(or walker) a card every time they lapped the dealer. =C2=A0The runners = went in one direction, the walkers the other.=C2=A0 David Lawful, nursing a= leg injury, acted asthe dealer.=C2=A0 He walked with Lynsy, me,Sharon Lewi= s and Eileen Milligan.=C2=A0Couldn=E2=80=99t have worked out better.=C2=A0H= e deftly dealt cards while sidestepping various comatose streetpersons. =C2= =A0Lynsy and I do one lap =E2=80=93 a mile around the Golden Nugget.=C2=A0 = I=E2=80=99m acting for her and get two cards.=C2=A0 I show my cards to Ken = Kubey.=C2=A0 =E2=80=9CDead money walking=E2=80=9D, I say.=C2=A0 Most of the= others opt for more laps andcards.=C2=A0 At the end, David finds a flatsur= face to burn and turn a flop.=C2=A0 AndreasWolfram makes a straight flush o= n the turn.=C2=A0Now, David Lawful is a really vibrant, upbeat guy =E2=80= =93 but Andreas isdownright incandescent.=C2=A0 He lets out abig whoop.=C2= =A0 Someone remarked, =E2=80=9Che wasmore excited about winning $40 than he= was about winning the BARGE Main Eventlast year.=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 I love his= enthusiasm. =C2=A0Breakfast follows at McDonalds with Lynsy, Kubey and Len= Greenberg,where we joke about the growing irrelevancy of the midnight crap= s crawl.=C2=A0 It used to work its way from the El Cortez,down Fremont Stre= et to the California.=C2=A0Now it starts at 10:00 p.m. and hits only a coup= le of casinos.=C2=A0 I remark to no one in particular that prettysoon, BARG= Ers will demand an =E2=80=9CEarly-Bird Special=E2=80=9D craps crawl.=E2=80= =9D=C2=A0 It probably would run from 5:00-7:00 p.m. =C2=A0Afterward, Lynsy = said to me, =E2=80=9Cyou have to get back on that horse,=E2=80=9Dmeaning I = had better get over the previous evening=E2=80=99s humiliation and get back= to Binion=E2=80=99s.=C2=A0 =C2=A0We had contemplated playing a tourney at = one of the Strip casinos, suchas Planet Hollywood.=C2=A0 We had heard thatP= H revamped its tourney structure and the tourneys were fun to play.=C2=A0 W= hile we enjoy playing against BARGErs inVegas, we also enjoy playing agains= t non-BARGErs.=C2=A0 Last year during BARGE we played the afternoon tourney= atAria, where I spent quite a bit of time on the left side of Paul Magriel= .=C2=A0 Mr. X-22, who so reveled in tilting PhilHellmuth on ESPN poker tele= casts.=C2=A0Magriel certainly has an =E2=80=9Cinteresting=E2=80=9D bet-sizi= ng style.=C2=A0 =E2=80=9CQuack.=E2=80=9D=C2=A0=E2=80=9CDouble Quack.=E2=80= =9D =C2=A0Lynsy decided she wanted to stay downtown.=C2=A0 Off to Binion=E2= =80=99s we went.=C2=A0 It was Thursday afternoon. =C2=A0A 4-8 HOE game was = just starting in the corner of the poker room.=C2=A0 Dan Nussbaum, Mike Cho= w, the inimitable FrankIrwin, Lynsy, me, and a couple of people I didn=E2= =80=99t know.=C2=A0 The seat on my right was occupied by one blueBinion=E2= =80=99s chip and an unopened can of diet Dr. Pepper.=C2=A0 I figured someon= e would be along soon.=C2=A0 And so they were.=C2=A0 A short, portly, baldi= ng guy sits down with acouple of racks of blues and takes possession of the= single chip =E2=80=93 and the Dr.Pepper. =C2=A0We play.=C2=A0 The guy on m= y right isbetting and raising like it=E2=80=99s his last game of his life.= =C2=A0 Nussbaum is raising him right back, but theguy still pulls down a co= uple of monster pots.=C2=A0As the trash talk continues, there is more than = a whiff of =E2=80=9CMav=E2=80=9D in theair. =C2=A0Holy crap.=C2=A0 I=E2=80= =99m sitting next to THEbad Maverick, who supposedly was banned the previou= s day from the pokerroom?=C2=A0 The supreme antagonist of theBARGE discussi= on list and RGP?=C2=A0 Holycrap. =C2=A0Not for long, however.=C2=A0 After a= few more hands, a Binion=E2=80=99s staffer comes to the table and taps Bad = Mav on theshoulder. =C2=A0=E2=80=9CBret, I want you to pack up your chips a= nd come with me.=E2=80=9D =C2=A0Mav packs up his chips without resistance a= nd follows the brush to thedesk at the other end of the room. =C2=A0Heleft = another blue chip at his seat =E2=80=93 and the Dr. Pepper.=C2=A0 I assume = he thought he was going to talk themanagement into staying.=C2=A0 I look ba= ck atthe desk after a few minutes, but he is gone.=C2=A0 =C2=A0Steve Pierce= came along and took the seat.=C2=A0 =E2=80=9CWhat do I do with this chip,= =E2=80=9D he asks.=C2=A0 The dealer told him to put it in thecupholder.=C2= =A0 And so went Mav=E2=80=99s last gameat Binion=E2=80=99s. =C2=A0Somewhere= in the midst of BARGE 2015, I finally sit down at a five-cent Deuces Wild = machine outside the Binion=E2=80=99s poker room. =C2=A0I hit quad fives.=C2= =A0 Wheeee! To be continued... Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2015 07:08:28 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [BARGE] 2015 BARGE Trip Report: Ten Years A BARGEr (Part 2) From: Bruce Iwamoto via BARGE Throw the DeLorean into reverse.=C2=A0It=E2=80=99s 2005: =C2=A0 The TOC broke for the Symposium.=C2=A0I thought, wow, I might learn somethi= ng and improve my game.=C2=A0=20 =C2=A0 I asked someone in the Plaza poker room where the Symposium will beheld. = =C2=A0It was Barry Tanenbaum. =C2=A0 =E2=80=9CAw, who knows.=C2=A0 Go asksomeone.=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 He appeared to = be in a sourmood.=C2=A0 Perhaps from a TOC bad beat?=C2=A0=20 =C2=A0 Years later, I ask him to autograph a copy of his latest book.=C2=A0 Barry = is pleased to do so.=C2=A0 He is beaming, a man at peace.=C2=A0 And then he= was gone.=C2=A0 I still have that book =E2=80=93 and the autograph. =C2=A0 I eventually followed the herd across the street to a cramped banquethall i= nside the Las Vegas Club.=C2=A0 Drinks wereliberally poured.=C2=A0 BARGERs = ravaged thebuffet table.=C2=A0 At the head table, someonepondered a laptop = computer screen.=C2=A0 Andtout sheets were being passed out. =C2=A0 Oh.=C2=A0 I had wandered into theannual BARGE Calcutta.=C2=A0 I was paired = withsomeone whose name remains lost to history.=C2=A0I don=E2=80=99t think = we hit the $60 mark; I was probably dragging the other guydown. =C2=A0 Calcutta done.=C2=A0 TOC back on.=C2=A0 The final table was in progress.=C2= =A0 Steve Osborne is raking in the chips and hasestablished a chip wall at = his end of the table.=C2=A0 Someone breezed by and with a sweep of hishand,= knocked over all of Oz=E2=80=99s stacks.=C2=A0Oz kept playing and eventual= ly won the TOC. =C2=A0 I played 2-4 Hold =E2=80=98Em the rest of the evening.=C2=A0 Some young pok= er toughs were playing theBARGErs in the cash games.=C2=A0 One of them,acro= ss from me, was boasting of his online exploits.=C2=A0 =E2=80=9CAnd it=E2= =80=99s all tax-free,=E2=80=9D he gloated.=C2=A0 Wonder what he=E2=80=99s d= oing, these days? =C2=A0 Fast forward to 2015: =C2=A0 Friday.=C2=A0 Tournament ofChampions-style tourney.=C2=A0 Lynsy and I godow= n to Eat, to eat.=C2=A0 I had the prime ribhash special.=C2=A0 Satisfaction= guaranteed.=C2=A0 Eat is still the stone-coldnuts. =C2=A0 TOC begins.=C2=A0 I am holding my ownin the early rounds, staying a wee bit= above the chip average.=C2=A0 I really want to repeat my final tableappear= ance the year before but the going is tough.=C2=A0=20 =C2=A0 I show down a straight flush, a Steel Wheel, in the early rounds.=C2=A0 It = draws a lot of oooohs and aaaahs.=C2=A0 I have been mostly silent at my tab= le, butlet out an Antonio Esfandiari-like =E2=80=9CWheeeee!=E2=80=9D=C2=A0I= n return, Claudia tosses a toke chip at me.=C2=A0 Probably the first time i= n the history ofBARGE when someone is actually paid to NOT not talk=E2=80= =A6 =C2=A0 Steve Osborne is at my table.=C2=A0 Hehas not been at BARGE in a while and = wears a well-deserved CHAMPION ribbon onhis badge.=C2=A0 Somewhere I still = have aphoto of him following his 2005 TOC victory.=C2=A0This day, I take se= veral pots from him. =C2=A0 I have Sabyl on my right.=C2=A0 She is only moderately successful in the Ho= ld =E2=80=98Em and Omaha rounds, and some of the wags atthe table keep sayi= ng =E2=80=9Ckeep Sabyl in.=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 Ifigured there would soon be a ha= shtag in front of that motto.=C2=A0 However, Sabyl is slaying everyone in t= hestud rounds, including me. =C2=A0 Symposium time comes, and I=E2=80=99m still in with a short stack.=C2=A0=20 =C2=A0 I am paired with Edmund Hack.=C2=A0 TheBoston group bids $90 for us.=C2=A0 = I like tothink my TOC finish last year improved my value, rather than that = I subscribeto the blind squirrel theorem of poker. =C2=A0 At this time, I need to give a shout-out to Patrick and EileenMilligan.=C2= =A0 At the 2006 BARGE, Patrickinvited Lynsy and me to join his Friday night= home game.=C2=A0 We played dealer=E2=80=99s choice there for yearsafterwar= d.=C2=A0 It was there that I learnedabout the nuances of Omaha and stud, an= d it made me a better player.=C2=A0 Thanks, Patrick and Eileen, for hosting= us. =C2=A0 Lynsy goes off to play cash.=C2=A0 Ihave time to kill and stick around for = the Board meeting.=C2=A0 Kevin Un is stepping down as a BARGE official and = gives an eloquent speech.=C2=A0 He is oneof the most humorous and creative = people I have ever met.=C2=A0 Who else would show up at the 2006 BARGE with= a name badge hacked to read, =E2=80=9CThe Professor=E2=80=9D, =E2=80=9CHowa= rd Lederer=E2=80=9D? =C2=A0 I finish the TOC somewhere in the mid-30s.=C2=A0 I do not embarrass myself = at the end. =C2=A0Short-stacked, I jam with jack-nine ofdiamonds.=C2=A0 And= rew Prock calls with 10-4offsuit.=C2=A0 He flops two pair. =C2=A0I should b= e upset, but toss my bustout gift tohim and go to bed happy.=C2=A0 That=E2= =80=99s poker. =C2=A0 We=E2=80=99re gonna party like it=E2=80=99s 2005: =C2=A0 Saturday.=C2=A0 The 2005 BARGE MainEvent. =C2=A0 NLHE tourney, but not my first rodeo.=C2=A0A few weeks earlier for my 50th = birthday, Lynsy treated me to a weekendof NLHE tournaments at the Palms.=C2= =A0 Bombedout of the first, but came back the next day to final-table the s= econdone.=C2=A0 Happy birthday to me. =C2=A0 No such luck this time.=C2=A0 No cards,no traction.=C2=A0 I don=E2=80=99t r= emember making itto the break.=C2=A0 Mickdog was at my tableand said I shou= ld probably jam my short stack.=C2=A0I followed his advice and turn up Pres= to.=C2=A0 I was called by someone with an overcard thatpairs on the flop an= d I go, not home now, but back upstairs to my room. =C2=A0 I brought a suit for the banquet at the Las Vegas Club.=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99d r= ead prior trip reports by Asya thatgirls dress to the nines and guys dress = to kill.=C2=A0 As it turned out, the only other personwearing anything remo= tely formal was Nolan Dalla, who was there to make apresentation.=C2=A0 Eve= ryone else looked as ifthey just stepped out of their dealer=E2=80=99s choi= ce game across the street at thePlaza.=C2=A0 I lost the tie and coat rather= quickly, after that. =C2=A0 Greg Raymer was at BARGE that year, high off his previous year=E2=80=99s wi= n inthe WSOP Main Event.=C2=A0 I enjoyed speakingwith him at the banquet.= =C2=A0 He was coachinga rather nervous man who I did not recognize. =C2=A0 The stranger turned out to be Wil =E2=80=9CDon=E2=80=99t you fucking boo me= !=E2=80=9DWheaton.=C2=A0 His speech was an engrossingrecounting of his comi= ng out of the woodwork to win a poker tourney in one ofL.A.=E2=80=99s under= ground card clubs. =C2=A0 Post-banquet, I went back to my room to change into something morecomfortab= le for the 2-4 tables.=C2=A0 The NLHEfinal table was reaching its climax, w= ith Don Perry going head-to-head withNick Christenson.=C2=A0 All afternoon,= Donwalked around the Plaza poker room with a horseshoe tucked away in the = back pocketof his jeans to much amusement from fellow BARGErs, but that was= a prettyprophetic object. =C2=A0 I read that Don =E2=80=9CTry That=E2=80=9D Perry, 2005 BARGE Main Event Cha= mpion, died afew years ago.=C2=A0 Suddenly.=C2=A0 He was putting the finish= ing touches on hisretirement residence when he passed away. =C2=A0 At my 2-4 table, a guy sat down next to me with several racks of whiteand r= ed Plaza chips, and proceeded to build a chip castle.=C2=A0 He wore a red a= nd white ball cap with thewords =E2=80=9CA.D.B. UN=E2=80=9D.=C2=A0 It took = him an hour,between hands, to build a replica of one of Las Vegas=E2=80=99 = late, lamented casinotowers.=C2=A0 It was my first encounter withKevin Knou= rek.=C2=A0 Happily, it was not mylast. =C2=A0 The next afternoon, I ran into Asya at McCarran Airport.=C2=A0 I thanked he= r for the trip reports that putthe hook in me about attending BARGE.=C2=A0S= he was pleased. =C2=A0 Does This Bus Stop at 2015th Street: =C2=A0 Saturday.=C2=A0 The BARGE 2015 MainEvent. =C2=A0 David Kluchman is organizing the setup of a table full of boxes ofO-Face Do= ughnuts.=C2=A0 Was it that long agothat Kluchman busted me in the Main Even= t his Virgin year?=C2=A0 Certainly an inauspicious milestone. =C2=A0 I am at a table with Andy Bloch, Grizz, Steve Osborne (who referred tome as= his =E2=80=9Cnemesis=E2=80=9D) and a young BARGEr named Derek Gomez, who h= ad five cashesin the 2015 WSOP and made the final table in two events in th= e Series.=C2=A0 Grizz has his video camera with him andappears to be shooti= ng video of Gomez =E2=80=93 closeups of his own hole cards, shotsof Derek i= n the tank, shots of the board whenever Derek is in a hand.=C2=A0 I assume = he=E2=80=99s assembling a Grizz Poker DVD. =C2=A0 At the far end of the room, I see Monte Christensen go out.=C2=A0 I remark = to no one in particular, =E2=80=9Cwhen Idie, I want to be reincarnated as M= onte=E2=80=99s liver.=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 Grizz liked it so much, he pointed the= cameraat me and asked me to repeat my statement.=C2=A0Anything to be in hi= s DVD=E2=80=A6 =C2=A0 After Grizz busts, Bingo takes his chair.=C2=A0 Bingo is on a heater.=C2=A0= He knocks out Chris O=E2=80=99Connor and wins Chris=E2=80=99bust-out gift:= a stick of Wrigley=E2=80=99s gum, of unknown age.=C2=A0 Bingo was like, = =E2=80=9Care you fucking kiddingme?!=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 We joke that Chris must= have foundthe gum in the poker room toilet. =C2=A0 The tournament rolls on.=C2=A0 I amstill at one of the outer tables and we = probably will be broken up soon.=C2=A0 I am running low on chips.=C2=A0 And= y Bloch already has a DVD, which he isautographing and handing out as busto= ut gifts.=C2=A0I look down and see a pair of sixes.=C2=A0Saying =E2=80=9CI = always wanted an autographed Andy Bloch blackjack DVD,=E2=80=9D Ipush.=C2= =A0 Andy calls.=C2=A0 My sixes outrun his hand and the board.=C2=A0 I am gr= ateful for the double-up. =C2=A0 I am scuffling away, taking small pots, winning a few races.=C2=A0 Then the= table finally breaks up and off I goto Table #1. =C2=A0 It=E2=80=99s Murderer=E2=80=99s Row.=C2=A0 Jordan.=C2=A0 Ron.=C2=A0Doug Mah= er.=C2=A0 SteveLewin-Berlin.=C2=A0 And Sabyl.=C2=A0 Among others. =C2=A0 At my vacant seat, there is a =E2=80=9CWoodchipper=E2=80=9D ribbon. =C2=A0H= aving outrun overcards with pocket nines atmy previous table, I feel this g= ives me license to attach it to my name badgeunder my =E2=80=9COld Timer=E2= =80=9D ribbon. =C2=A0 I continue to win a few more races.=C2=A0 I'm still=C2=A0short-stacked and = it=E2=80=99s jam or fold time. =C2=A0 Sabyl busts.=C2=A0 I shoved, SteveLewin-Berlin called, Sabyl shoved.=C2=A0 = Stevehas both of us outchipped.=C2=A0 He won theside pot to knock out Sabyl= .=C2=A0 I won themain pot.=C2=A0 Sabyl tossed me a chip setfrom BARGE 2006. =C2=A0 It=E2=80=99s my first bust-out gift in ten years.=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99m feeling= pretty good about myself.=C2=A0 Until Steve reminds me =E2=80=93 he busted= Sabyl, notme. =C2=A0 Oops. =C2=A0 I later offer the set to him.=C2=A0Steve graciously declines.=C2=A0 Sincehe= is considering attending BARGE every other year to focus on his fund-raisi= ngbike rides, I promise to make a contribution to his fundraiser.=C2=A0 I t= hink this worked for him, and I hope henotifies the BARGE list about his ne= xt ride. =C2=A0 We break for dinner.=C2=A0 Lynsy and Irun back to Main Street Station to ch= ange.=C2=A0We pass the craps table and run into Steve Watanabe.=C2=A0 There= is a running joke between us at everyBARGE, as to when someone will mistak= e him as me, and vice versa.=C2=A0 Hasn=E2=80=99t happened so far this year= . =C2=A0 Banquet: I eat my mostly inedible salmon because I=E2=80=99m hungry.=C2=A0 = Lynsy pushes away her chicken after a coupleof bites and feasts on an uneat= en salad plate.=C2=A0A couple of our table companions abandon ship and leav= e in search of areal meal.=C2=A0 Worst BARGE food and service sincemy first= banquet at the Las Vegas Club.=C2=A0I listen politely to Jennifer Shahade.= =C2=A0Interesting perspectives about art and poker and OFCP, but I=E2=80=99= m reallyfocused on the next tourney level.=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99venever made it = to the dinner break in the NLHE event before.=C2=A0 I get words of encourag= ement from Ross Poppel(whose aces busted me in HORSE) and Andreas =E2=80=93= much appreciated. =C2=A0 Kevin Un speaks, asking anyone who has ever supported BARGE or a fellowBARG= Er or did anything to better someone=E2=80=99s life, to stand up.=C2=A0 Abo= ut 95% of the audience did.=C2=A0 He then said, =E2=80=9CI always wanted a = standingovation.=E2=80=9D=C2=A0 He got one.=C2=A0 Kevin Un is brilliant. =C2=A0 Tournament resumes with 3,000-6,000 blinds.=C2=A0 Aiyah. =C2=A0 On the first or second hand, I bust Eric Rosenberger.=C2=A0 He was down to = his last big blind orsomething approaching it, and shoves with 2-5 offsuit.= =C2=A0=20 =C2=A0 But no glimmer of hope after that.=C2=A0I look down and see pocket nines, a= gain.=C2=A0I jam.=C2=A0 Bree Goldman calls with anace and another overcard.= =C2=A0 =E2=80=9CLet=E2=80=99s race,=E2=80=9DI say.=C2=A0 Someone remarks th= at I=E2=80=99ve wonwith nines before and have an opportunity to earn a seco= nd =E2=80=9CWoodchipper=E2=80=9D badge.=C2=A0 I reply, =E2=80=9Cyes, but I = think this Woodchippertrick only works once.=E2=80=9D =C2=A0 It did.=C2=A0 Bree hits her overpairand I shake her hand.=C2=A0 I am done.= =C2=A0 Just a few spots short of the money.=C2=A0 No embarrassment.=C2=A0 N= o regrets.=C2=A0It=E2=80=99s my best finish ever in the BARGE main event.= =20 =C2=A0 I have met a lot of great people over my first ten years at BARGE.=C2=A0 I = hope I=E2=80=99ve earned their respect, at thetables and away from them. =C2=A0 It was my pleasure to meet a lot BARGErs who aren=E2=80=99t around anymore.= =C2=A0 Barry.=C2=A0 Raider Fan.=C2=A0Phil.=C2=A0 Lou Krieger.=C2=A0 Razzo.= =C2=A0Their absence reminds me that life is short =E2=80=93 and that there= =E2=80=99s no reasonto piss and moan about a bad beat for longer than five = seconds.=C2=A0 We have come close to losing someothers.=C2=A0 Peter.=C2=A0 = Asya.=C2=A0Warren.=C2=A0 And Lynsy.=C2=A0 I am grateful that they=E2=80=99r= e still coming toBARGE. =C2=A0 And for some reason, it was a personal thrill for me to finally meetFrank I= rwin, in the flesh.=C2=A0 I tell himthat my life and Lynsy=E2=80=99s life i= s pretty much predicated around =E2=80=9CPresto=E2=80=9D.=C2=A0 I don=E2=80= =99t know if he understood that. =C2=A0 I=E2=80=99m up for another ten years of =E2=80=9Cthe best BARGE evah=E2=80= =9D.=C2=A0 Who=E2=80=99s with me? =C2=A0 Bruce =E2=80=9CCyberchomp=E2=80=9D Iwamoto, Old Timer