Season 19 Week 1

We started week 1 with 2 full tables.  That's right, the VPL was host to 16 people.

Very good action this week.  The 2nd player didn't get busted until after the break.

But we don't talk about that here.  What we talk about here are the last 4 players.

That's right, the bubble.

4 places: George, Joe, Clay and TC

This week 4th place belonged to TC who got busted by a 4 card straight.

Money time:

George, Clay and Joe.

Someone had to go out before qualifying and that someone was Clay.

Clay's 3rd place finish earned him $40.

Head's up:  George and Joe.

Going into this battle Joe had an incredible chip lead.

George made some moves early but they weren't enough.

George went out in 2nd place with a $68 win.

Joe won week 1 of season 19 with the chip and $136.

Congratulations to Joe and George for being the first two qualifiers for season 19.

Good luck and we'll see everyone next week.

Season 18 Tournament of Champions

Here we are once again, the Tournament of Champions for Season 18.

First off, I want to thank everyone who has helped make the VPL what it is today.

I'm going to get the technical news out of the way right off the bat. Rules for the VPL have come from different issues that have occured (ie: raising the cap from 500/1000 to 1000/2000 when more that 20 players)

This is no different. Because of unfortunate circumstances that happened at the cash game after the TOC. Any new members will have to have a contact sheet completed (ie: name, address, # and who referred them to the VPL) before they can play.

I try to provide a tournament that everyone enjoys to participate in. If it's not a nice environment then no one would come. I know that we all talk shit at the table but at the same time I am confident to say that everyone also knows that it's just that.........shit talk. No one takes it personal and those who have simply haven't returned.

That's enough of that, I don't like negative things.

On with the show. TOC Season 18.

There were 14 players players qualified for this TOC. 2 players couldn't show (according to the rules of the VPL, they chose the option to sell their seats to the next eligible people in line.).

The two non-points qualfiiers were: Quentin and Alan. The next two in line to buy the seats were: Angela and Ryan. Angela chose to buy her seat, Ryan chose not to. We then move down the list one more time to James. He did buy his seat.

This is the reason that I would like a list of telephone numbers of our players so that I can easily contact you in case this situation comes up again. Thanks.

Season 18 was the biggest season to date: one week having 21 people. Which made this TOC the one to play in.

We started off with 14 players. 2 tables of 7.

I hate to mention this but this was brutal.

Very first hand of the tournament, there was an
all-in preflop.............................and a call.

Bill went all in with pocket kings only to be called by George who had pocket aces. Georges' aces held up and Bill was out on the first hand.

At this seasons TOC there were 4 places being paid. This meant that bubble contained 5 people. Those five werea: Jared, Brian, Steve, Quentin and Angela.

Steve was the person who reached into his bags of tricks and popped the bubble leaving in 5th place.

Money time: Quentin, Angela, Brian and Jared.

Coming into the money there was only one previous bracelet winner which was last seasons defending champion..Quentin.

4th place needed a name to be placed next to it, that name was Jared. Jared got busted out in 4th place with a win of $68.

Top three players were guaranteed at least $103.

That $103 dollar prized belonged to Brian for going out in 3rd place.

Heads-up: Quentin and Angela

Going into heads-up Quentin was out to defend his championship.

Angela went into this battle the chip leader.

Bets were made and cards were flying but in the end there was only one winner.

When the dust settled it was Quentin who took 2nd place with a win of $171.

That's right, Angela was the TOC winner for Season 18.

Her first place finished earned her the coveted bracelet along with $342. The biggest TOC payout to date.

Interesting side note: In the 18 seasons of the VPL, there have only been two females to win a bracelet.

What makes this even more interesting, those two females were mother and daughter. Sandra won the TOC for Season 3 and Angela for Season 18.

Also for Season 18 the points were won by a female. Michelle won $269 for points.

Good luck to everyone in Season 19. May you all have the 2nd best hand next to me.

Season 18 Week 8

Here it is: The last week of season 18.

This week the VPL had 17 people come together to fight their way to the top.

the real battle was in the points. Michelle was leading coming into the tourney with 97 points.

Right behind here was Quentin with 92. Two others tied for 90 were TC and Steve.

More on that one later.

17 players means that 13 players had to leave before we reached the bubble.

Those four players were: Clay, Alan, Frank and Stan

Stan had the honor of busting the bubble this week in 4th place.

Money time: Alan, Clay and Frank

Alan was next to say goodbye to week 8 in 3rd place with a win of $44.

Heads up:

Frank and Clay.

Frank came into the heads up battle with a tremendous chip lead.

He was able to hold onto his chips and finally get all of them in the end.

Clay finished the tourney in 2nd place with a win of $70.

Frank was the victor with the chip and $145 to his name.

Okay back to the points.

Michelle's closest opponent was Quentin who left the table in with 5 points. She was still not out of the water yet. With Steve and TC still having a chance.

Next to leave was Steve with 6 points.

Right after Steve's exit, Michelle saw it was here turn to leave the table with 7 points.

Only TC left with a nice stack and a definate possibility of stealing the points away from Michelle.

With the final table of 8 (and 7 remaining)

TC saw that he had to get 4th place to win the points.

Blinds were 100/200 (on the last hand before the blinds were to raise)

TC, one from the bubble, looked down and saw pocket 8's.

With $2,000 in front of him decides to go all-in.

Button folds, small blind folds and Frank in the big blind ponders.

Frank finally says "I call"

TC shows 88 and Frank shows As2s

flop comes J 2 2 then rag and rag.

Frank flopped trips to take TC out with 11 points. He was just 3 shy of tying the points.

With TC eliminated Michelle secured the points win. The points for Season 18 was $269.

Congratulations to Michelle for winning points.

14 players for the TOC with two seats being sold (David and Clay cannot make it).

Good luck to everyone in the TOC.

Season 18 Week 7

What can I say about the VPL? Just when you thought it couldn't get any better....................................It certainly does and then some.

The VPL has been around for 3 years. For the first 3 season we played at the bar.

The most players we had at the bar was 20.

Season 4 was when we started playing at the house. The most players we've seen at the house was 19. We saw 19 players quite a few times.

Now erase everything you previously thought about the VPL.

Enter Season 18 Week 7.

This week we saw a few things that we had never seen before.

This week, May 5, 2009, Cinco de Mayo, the VPL was host to a record breaking 21 people.

That's right, we had 3 tables of 7 players going at for their share of the prize money.

Every week there are 4 places that get paid with 3 people who get money (the 4th place money is combined with the $3 each week).

One night we had only 10 players. The payout then was adjusted down to only 3 spots ( 1st - 50%, 2nd - 30% and 3rd - 20%)

This week we had the opposite situation. Since we had 21 players there were 5 places being paid ( 1st -50%, 2nd-%25, 3rd-%10, 4th-8% and 5th-7%).

Week 7 had 4 players getting money and the 5th place will go the pot.

Week 7 was also the first week (since season 3) that the blinds were capped.

This heads -up action was intense. Because the blinds didn't raise after 500/1000 real poker came into play.

Normally the tournament ends about 12:15. Season 18 Week 7 was the tournament that last lasted way past midnight.

The tournament finally ended at 1:54am. And the winner was...................................more on that subject later.

This week the bubble was 5 players. So after 21 player started and then 16 players saw their way off the felt was what brought us to the bubble.

This week the 5 players were: Angela, Jason, Nick, Steve and Brian.

No matter how many places are paid, there is always the bubble boy.

Season 18 week 7 had its own bubble too, that honor belonged to Jason.

This brings us to the money: Nick, Brian, Angela and Steve.

After an earlier win (A2 vs AK and a deuce hits) Angela was playing on borrowed time. Well it was time to cash that time it. Angela saw it was her time to leave the table in 4th place with a $28 win.

This week also had a 3rd place. This position was filled by Steve with a $35 win.

Head-up: Brian and Nick

These guys are two new qualifiers for season 18.

This is where the battle started. They capped the blinds and then lasted another 50 minutes playing at 500/1000.

When the dust settled and the river card was laid, it was time to crown this weeks champion.

In 2nd place and an $89 win was Nick.

That's right. Week 7 champion was Brian with the chip and $178.

This week saw three new things happen.

1: new record of 21 people
2: seeins the blinds being capped.
3: new rule: that's right. A managerial decision was made for the blinds. If there are more than 20 players the blinds will be capped at 1000/2000 with increasing blinds from 500/1000, 600/1200, 800/1600 and finally 1000/2000.

We now have 14 players who are qualified for the TOC (includin the points winners).

Here is the interest point ( for those who have made it this far). David has already indicated that he will not be able to play at the VPL until 8/09. This means that his seat is now available for sale.

The possible players in position for this are: Ryan, Angela and James.

With 1 week left, Michelle is in the points lead by 5. Can she win it?

You will have to come to week 8 to find out.

The only word I have to describe week 7 is: WOW!

The payout schedule can be found in the side bar. With the last payout being combined for the TOC and points money. When there is only 10 players all 3 positions get paid and no money goes to the pot (only $3).

Good luck to everyone

Season 18 Week 6

I owe an apology. I thought that I had already updated the blog for week 6. I discovered this yesterday.

The VPL hosted 18 people for week 6. A very good turnout as always.

Week 6 was the first time that we had 3 tables into play. For the most part I received positive feedback with only one person indicating that they didn't like the short handed play.

Any and all feedback is welcomed and encouraged.

We'll try 3 tables again for week 7.

This week was crazy, at one point there were 3 tournament tables going as well as one cash game table (this table was smaller). That's right, a total of 4 different tables going on at once.

Now onto the action.18 people minus 14 people brings us to the magical bubble:

Steve, TC, Clay and Bill.

It was Clay this week who popped the bubble leaving the table in 4th place.

Money time:

Steve, TC and Bill

There had to be a 3rd place finisher and that person was Steve. Steve earned $46 for his 3rd place finish.

Heads-Up: TC and Bill

Both are new qualifiers this week.

When the final hand was dealt, it was Bill who had the 2nd best hand. He finished the tournament in 2nd place with a $76 win.

TC won the tournament, the chip and earned $153.

There are now 12 players qualified for the TOC (including the points qualifiers).

This week made the points race even closer. Michelle is in the lead by only two points. She has 83 and Quentin has 81.

Will she keep her lead? You will have to join us next week for week 7.

Good luck to everyone!