From: Patrick Milligan Subject: Patrick's TARGET Trip report I've been waiting for Jeffrey Siegal TARGET 2001 eliminations message before posting my report since I wanted to get the details right about my part in the TARGET tournament. Friday, 4/20 I got picked up from the airport by Tom Sims. We had a comp'ed lunch at the Main Street Station buffet, and then visited Paul-Son Gaming Supplies to finalize some details for the BARGE chip sets. I buy a complete set of all 63 color choices for Paul-Son chips. (I'm assuming I'll be designing more chip sets in the future). Tom dropped me off at the Mirage and I got checked in and settled. I had one small screwup: They had me down for only one night at the poker room rate, even though my reservations was for two nights. A quick trip to the poker room fixed this. I don't see any of the usual suspects at the Mirage, so I head to the 'Shoe to see if either ADB Fold'em or ADV Beth are still playing in the first WSOP event for cardroom employees. I say hello to Patri who is playing in one of the HE ring games, and kill some time playing Video Poker. I meet Alan Bostick who is on a break from one of the WSOP satellites. He fills me in on the Paul Phillips situation (I had left my home before the news hit my inbox). I don't connect with any more familiar faces, so I head back to the Mirage. I see David Orr in the poker room, but he's completely into his game, so I unwind with a little more Video Poker and head off to bed. Saturday, 4/21 I'm up in time for the group brunch at the Mirage buffet. There are many familiar faces even though this is my first TARGET. I have an opportunity to show off some the BARGE coin and pin designs that I'm working on over brunch and also during the first break at the TARGET tournament. Before attending TARGET, I read Jeff Okamoto's report from last year. I had similar goals: I didn't want to bust out first, and I didn't want to make a fool of myself. Having won the TARGET entry fee at BELTS (BELmont Target Satellite), I was on a bit of a freeroll, but I wanted to get full value. I had also played well at my home NLHE tournament, so I was hopeful that my game had improved enough to meet the challenge. There are several NorCal players at my starting table. There weren't too many memorable hands. I do remember being on a straight draw that got there at the river, only to chop with Dan Sammartinoo who had the same hand. It seems like all the other tables were busting folks out, so it felt like we were playing too tight. I'm moved to the table with Ken Kubey where there's more action. I did last longer than some of the usual NorCal suspects like Sabyl and Bill Chen. My small stack got crippled first by Tom Goodwin when my AQ didn't hold up. My final stand (a few minutes before the break) was with KcQc against Kevan Garrett's pocket sixes. I finish in 29th place out of 39 players. I stuck around to see the thrilling conclusion. When the final table was formed, there were 5 NorCal r00lers out of the 10 finalists. WTG, NorCal! After grabbing a much needed bite to eat, I head over to the 'Shoe with the gang. I watched the final heads up play for WSOP Event #1, and wandered around Binion's for a while, finally settling on playing some Video Poker. (For some reason, I didn't feel like sampling the ring game action this trip). After playing (and losing) on a quarter Video Poker machine, I switch to a nickel machine, and manage to hit the progressive 4-deuces mini-jackpot to the tune of $53. I'm worried about missing the craps tour while waiting for them to fill the machine so I can cash out. I manage to get paid off and rush to meet the group. But there's no one at the gathering place. I check my printed email and discover that I'm an hour early, so I head down the street to kill some time. A quick snack of shrimp cocktails at the Golden Gate and some $3 blackjack fills the time, and I meet up with the group at the appointed hour. The craps tour is a blast, once we get to the California. Peter Secor is on my left, providing craps advice (I was a craps virgin at BARGE 2000). I play conservatively, mostly sticking to the pass line and occasionally working the come bets. I'm up $80 after all the long rolls. I'm also at the end of the table that gets to see Jaeger go down in flames with his dark side bets. After the craps game starts to break up, I head back to the Las Vegas club to say hello to RazzO and to show him the final BARGE chip designs. I had used his photo of Spencer Sun in an early version of the chip designs for 2000, and I wanted to show him the final version. I also pick up some poker chips to add to my small collection. After a little more video poker at the Plaza (up $27), I'm ready to head back to the Mirage. Since I'm planning on playing in the tournament at the Orleans on Sunday, I make it an early night. Sunday, 4/22 I'm packed and checked out in plenty of time to get to the Orleans before their noon NLHE tournament. I meet up with Roger Park, Bob Blaeser, and Ken Kubey for a quick snack before the tournament. I play much better than at TARGET and I manage to get some cards when I need them. I get a $5 bounty for busting out Sabyl. Later, I cripple Roger when I call his all-in bet. He's got AK v.s. my QQ, and I manage to win unimproved. Shortly after they color up to grey chips, I've got T6100, and they are down to 3 tables (starting with 104 players). When the blinds are 500/1000 with an additional 100 ante, I don't see any playable hands for a long dry spell. Part of my problem is the big stack a few seats to my right. He's got something like T18000 (or more) and is fond of pushing all in when I've got cards that I would play in middle to late position. After a couple of orbits, I'm down to T3000 when the blinds go up to T1000/2000. I push all-in with K2o on the button and I'm called by AK in the big blind. Oops! I don't get a deuce and go out in 13th place, a couple of slots off the final table (and the money). I could have waited a few more hands, but the bully to my right had finally offered to "be good" and didn't push in, so I thought I'd take a shot at a blinds steal while I had the chance. Oh well. I did manage to out last the entire NorCal contingent, so I felt really good about my performance. So close, and yet so far... Bob Blaeser went on to finish in 3rd place, with a $450 pay day. His K7o didn't stand up to the chip leader's suited gumbo. I've got a little time to kill before having to head to the airport. The tournament has left me somewhat drained, so I opt for yet more Video Poker. I find some full-pay Deuces Wild machines and I'm up $20 when it's time to grab a quick snack before leaving the Orleans. I check out Big Al's Oyster Bar and have some fresh oysters and a monster shrimp cocktail before catching my cab. At the airport, I find my flight has been delayed, so I have yet more time to kill. I find a negative EV Deuces Wild machine near my gate, and feed in $20. I get a lot of play for my money, and on my last 5 coins, I hit 4 deuces. Mega-DING! It's a good thing my flight was delayed since it takes a long time to get them to refill the machine so I can cash out my 1000 quarters. I couldn't ask for a better finish to a great weekend! Finals stats: --Video Poker: +$280 --Craps tour: + $80 --Tournaments: - $93 ($53 for Orleans NLHE, $40 for BELTS) Between my 3rd place win at YACHT-2, my frequent-flyer airline ticket, and my Video poker profits, I've more than paid for my weekend of fun. Special thanks to Ken Kubey for making TARGET possible, and to everyone who attended for making it such a special event. I'm looking forward to next year's challenge! --ADV Patrick ____________________________________________________________ Oakleaf Designs phone: 408-257-1547 P. O. Box 2501 fax: 408-257-1547 Cupertino, CA 95015-2501 email: patrick@oakleaf.com Things should be as simple as possible, but no simpler... ____________________________________________________________