Season 24 Week 2

One word: INCREDIBLE

There is no other word to describe Season 24 Week 2.

Not only has the record been broken but it was shattered. The old attendance record was 26.

This week the VPL hosted an incredible 30 people.

If I'm not mistaken all the people but 3 received the bonus chips.

Update on "The Joe Challenge":
With these types of attendance numbers it's going to be a hard journey for Joe to win his bets. Although this is only week 2, Joe has alot of work ahead of him. Joe is 20pts down for his challenge. But of course, this is the VPL, and everyone knows that when it comes to poker at the VPL.............anything is possible.

Good Luck Joe.

With these type of growing pains, the Tournament Director has initiated the following new rule:

New Rule

When the people arrive and pay they are put on the list (if they are paid and are there before 7:15 they are eligible for the bonus chips). When the list gets to 24 people. It will be capped and the 25th person will be put on a waiting list (if the 25th person is there before 7:15 and have to wait, they are still eligible for the bonus chips). When someone is knocked out, the 25th person will take their seat (with the according amount of chips - equal to the dead stack +/- bonus chips).

If the 25th person leaves and someone gets knocked out. then the 26th person moves into their position and when that person gets back will be put at the end of the waiting list.
If you pre-pay, you have an automatic spot on the list. You will still have to come by 7:15 to receive the bonus chips. There will be a max of 24 paid spots on the tables (there may not be 24 physical people) If a person pays they receive a spot on the list.

To put this into perspective to show you how big this tournament was: The person who received 28 points did not make any money.

Of course with there being over 21 people, there was money going to the Holiday Inn.

The new balance of the Holiday Inn prize pool is $384.

In any normal tournament, the final table is made between 10:30 - 10:45.

This week, at 10:37 we drew for two tables.

The final table this week started at 11:13pm

With 30 people, one does not expect to end the tournament early.

That certainly was the case tonight.

With this amazing amount of people there are still only four names on the bubble list:

Alan, James, TC and Andy

Coming into this situation there was no real short stack. Everyone had chips, plus everyone at this table is dangerous in their own way.

Alas, there has to be one to graciously bow out in 4th place with the pin.

This week that honor belongs to James. James went out in 4th place with an incredible 28 points.

Money time: TC, Alan and Andy

When the money list was secured, the cable box read 12:30am.

Every person had the chip lead at some point of this 3 way war.

To make the heads up it was TC who moved all-in with AJ only to be called by Andy's AK

Andy's AK held up and TC went out in 3rd place with a win of $51.

Congratulations to Alan and Andy for qualifying for the TOC.

I'll give everyone a minute to read those names again.....................yes you read that correctly.

Coming into this heads up match Andy was the chip leader.

The heads-up started at 1:33am

By 1:43am the tournament was over and we had a winner.

In 2nd place (and qualifying for the TOC) with a win of $127 was...................Andy.

That means that this week's winner of $255 (This marks the VPL's biggest weekly win to date).
with the chip was...........Alan.

Congratulations to both of them.

Nice win for Alan considering just two weeks ago he won his 2nd bracelet to take the TOC for season 23.

What type of insanity will week 3 bring?

Will we have to make more changes?

What will come of "The Joe Challenge"?

You know the routine.

Next week, same bat time, same bat channel.

Good luck everyone.

Season 24 Week 1

What a way to start Season 24.

Even with some regulars not in attendance, Week 1 started off with an amazing 23 people.

This week marks the beginning of the "Joe Challenge". This is Joe's quest to come out on top of the points for Season 24.

Good Luck Joe on your quest.

We had a couple of new players sit down at the VPL this week.

This made for some very interesting poker.

There was 23 people this week. This means that $27 went to the Holiday Invitational Tournament.

The pot for the Holiday Inn so far is now $349.

The rules for the Holiday Inn can be seen at the right.

Back to the program.

The VPL started at 7:30 this week.

The final table was at 10:45.

Here is what is crazy.

The money bubble didn't start until 1:01am.

The names on this list include: Bill, Steve, Todd and Alex

This week it was Todd who was lucky enough to pop the bubble and go out in 4th place with 21 points.

The money list includes:

Steve, Bill and Alex

In third place with a win of $39 was Alex.

Heads-Up and the first two qualifiers of Season 24 are:

Bill and Steve.

Very crafty plays here.

But of course as always there is a 1st place and a 2nd place.

This week the tournament ended at 1:37am.

In 2nd place, with a win of $97 was Bill.

Winning week one, with the chip and $195 was Steve.

Will the new players continue to play?

How will the "Joe Challenge" turn out?

Part of those answers will be answered on April 13, 2010 for Week 2.

Good Luck everyone.

Season 23 TOC

Season 23 Week 8

What a season it has been.

This week brought the end to one of the best seasons for the VPL yet.

Action. That was the word for the night.

This tournament wasn't like the last two where the final table was made by 10:30.

At the break, there were only 3 or 4 people out.

This week the VPL brought together 22 people together to have fun, talk some shit and most importantly..........................win some money!

Coming into this week was the race for points and the race for the 2nd qualifying seat and to see if there were any more qualifying people.

As for the points:

Coming into this match Andrew had a 17 point lead over Jason.

Anything could happen...........and at the VPL it usually does.

Different strategies were discussed on how to play (or not to play) coming into week 8.

In the end, Andrew held strong and ended up with a total of 160 points. The closest person to him was Jason with 127.

Congratulations to Andrew for winning Season 23 points.

For his effort, next week he will be awarded $311.

The next race was the 2nd seat for non-qualifying points.

The race was between Joe, Angela and Nick.

Joe and Angela were tied going in and Nick was only 3 points behind them.

Discussions again played out with who would win.

Would it be Joe's crazy 2 3 style or Angelas quiet demeanor (okay she's not really that quiet)

Or would it be a cinderella story for Nick to over take the both of them?

I have an answer for all those questions:

At the end of the tournament , the points (for the 3 of them) went 95, 84, 83

Joe came up short and ended up with 83 points.

Who had the 84 and 95.?

Congratulations to............................................................Angela!

Angela and TC were the two people who were the top two qualifiers by points.

In case someone cannot make it to the TOC, the next eligible person to have a chance to buy the seat would be Nick.

Enough with the chit chat, let's get on to the money bubble:

The names on the list are the following: Valerie, David J, Janna and Andrew

This group is interesting because it contains two previous qualifiers and two non-qualifiers.

This week the bubble boy was........................Andrew.

It shouldn't bother Andrew that he went out on the bubble since his points win is worth $311.

Money time:

David J, Janna and Valerie

At this point there will be at least one new qualifier.

With some pushes, lucky catches and dominating hands we have a 3rd place finisher.

3rd place, along with $37 belonged to.......................Valerie.

That's right! Two new qualifiers to the TOC.

Heads-Up: Janna and David J.

With the final all-in and call................we have the last winner of season 23.

2nd place, a seat at the TOC and $93 belonged to David.

1st place, a seat at the TOC, her first chip and $187 belonged to Janna.

**Side note: I want to thank Alan for dealing the heads-up. I was unable to deal to some unforseen circumstances..............................let's just say I couldn't drive either.

We have 14 players qualified for the TOC:
Andrew, Jason, Alan, George, David J, Slugger, Todd,Valerie, Janna, Jeremy, Frank, Michelle......the two points qualifiers are: TC and Angela.

With 14 players the payout will be 4 places:

1st - $373
2nd -$187
3rd- $112
4th - $ 75

Congratulations to everyone who qualified.

What will the next season bring?

One thing I can guarantee it will bring is alot more poker action!

Good luck everyone.

La Bamba Tournament

Date: 4-3-10 Place: La Bamba
Buy-in: $30

$5 dontation will get you $300 more in starting chips.

Season 23 Week 7

We are now only 1 tournament away from the Tournament of Champions.

This week was a little on the crazy side.

At the sign up, it looked like there was going to be only 2 tables.

This is unheard of lately at the VPL.

However, our players did not disappointment. By the time, the cards started flying there was 22 people who gathered their pennies and went for the win.

Again with numbers of 21 players, this week we have $26 going to the Holiday Invitational.

Some crazy plays and some surprising early exits caused the final table to be formed around 10:40.

Just like last week it took about three hours to make the final table.

But yet again, I was wrong thinking there was going to be an early end.

It took another three hours to crown this weeks winner.

Coming into this week's tourney, the eyes were on points.

Both for the win and the top two non-qualifiers.

It looked like a session at MIT (ok, maybe no that extreme).

You could hear things like "okay, if so-and-so wins I have to get this many points next week" or "if so-and-so qualifies this week I may have a chance."

People were trying to think so much I'm surprised no one pulled a muscle in their heads.

Of course, there is always the side betting going on. People bragging about I'm leading you by so many points. You haven't qualified.

At the VPL there is always plenty of action both on the felt and off.

The moment of truth. Bubble list:

Alan, Angela, Jeremy and Jason.

Within this group there is only one previous qualifier: Alan

This means, at this point there will be at least one new qualifier.

Ms Babyness (Angela) reached into her pocket and pulled out the pin to pop the bubble going out in 4th place.

With the choice words coming out of her mouth, it was obvious she did not like her 4th place exit.

Money time: Jeremy, Alan and Jason

This was a very interesting position for a few reasons:

1)Jeremy was so tired at this point, he wasn't even talking his normal crap. He could have easily fallen asleep at the table.

2)Jason is leading in the non-qualifiers with points. Either way he'll be in the TOC. If he happens to qualify then it opens the door to another person to come in.

3)Alan could qualify (again) and that would be one less person at the TOC.

So what was the outcome.................................


Some big pushes and calls, chips were being exchanged back and forth.

Jeremy, twice, went all-in (I think hoping to get busted so that he could go home) and doubled up both times.

In the end, there has to be a 3rd place.

This week 3rd place along with $37 went to Alan.

That's right we have two new qualifiers for the TOC.

Head's up: Jeremy and Jason.

There were many pre-flop folds (which was frustrating for the dealer because it would be shuffle, deal and then fold..........shuffle, deal and then fold).

This also had it's time to end.

The tournament ended about 1:26 with the blinds at 600/1200

In 2nd place with a win of $93 was....................Jeremy.

This weeks winner along with the chip and $187 was Jason.

Congratulations to both Jeremy and Jason for qualifying for the TOC.

Congratulations to Andrew who, going into week 8, has a 17 point lead for overall points.

****Interesting****

With Jason qualifying, this makes TC the first spot of the non-qualifiers.

In the 2nd position there is a tie: Joe and Angela are both tied with 78 points.

Right behind the both of them is Nick with 75.

Being that next week is week 8, there cannot be a tie between Joe and Angela who will prevail between the two of them.

Or will Nick run deep and pass them both in points for his shot to qualify.

There can be a tie in points non-qualifers. It has happend and three people went to the TOC on points.

I'm just curious which one can outlast the other Joe or Angela.

I can't wait until next week.

Here come the questions:

Will Andrew take down the points?

Who will win between Angela and Joe"

Who will qualify between Angela, Joe and Nick?

You know the drill...........until next week America.

Good luck to everyone.

Season 23 Week 6

We are one week closer to the Tournament of Champions for season 23.

This week matched the the 3rd biggest tournaments in VPL history.

There was 24 people who came for glory, there would only be 3 with money.

There will be $28 going to the Holiday Inn.

There is only one word that can describe the poker at the VPL>

That word would be.................volitale!

In any given week there are a number of things that can (and do) happen that are sometimes hard to take.

There are the rivers, the disguised two pair, set over set.

Very happy to report that the tournament actually started a few minutes early.

24 people is 3 full tables of 8 people.

This week the final table started at 10:30.

It took only 3 hours to from 3 tables to 1.

That is unheard of at the VPL.

It would take another 2 1/2 hours to declare a winner.

The final table started at 10:30 and ended around 1:00am.

Starting the bubble, there was no single person who was short stacked.

Those battling it out for victory was: Joe, Michelle, Todd and George

Michelle played this week after a brief absence.

In this group there are two previous qualifiers: Todd and George

Popping the bubble was no easy task.

In came down to one all-in...........George, being the gambling man that he is, said "Call"

When the final card hit the river...........it was a 5th spade for George's flush draw call.

With this win, it was Todd who popped the bubble in week 6 going out in 4th place.

You know what time it is...............Money time: Joe, Michelle and George

At this point, there will be at least one new qualifier.

Coming into this 3 way........Michelle was the lowest of the three then Joe and George the chip leader.

Throughout this battle, Joe did a very impressive imitation of Mike "The Mouth" Matusow.

He was talking, berating and calling people names to get them to get off their game.

This tactic would have worked on the average person, however, in the ring were two veterans of the game (George and Michelle).

On the other side of this battle we have Michelle, She is the Queen of working the shortstack (and no marriage jokes please).

She was down to less then three bets on more than one occassion.

All this time, George remained very confident with the most chips.

In any given poker tournament, there has to be a heads-up.

This tournament, of course, was no different.

With the taste of qualifying in his mouth, Joe was the person to go out next.

In 3rd place, Joe won $40.

Heads-Up: George vs Michelle.

Congratulations to Michelle for qualifying for the TOC (the first week she played she qualified).

The final hand was two pair (Kings and Queens) vs trips (Kings).

In 2nd place, winning $102, and being a new qualifier.....Michelle.

This weeks victory went to George, the chip and $204.

**** Andrew has had an impressive season 23 as well. At the end of this week, he is leading the points by 13 with two weeks left.

Can Andrew hold on to the points lead?

Will there be any new qualifiers?

Will I ever stop asking these questions?

Tune in next week...........better yet come and play at the VPL and see all the poker action live as it happens.

Good luck everyone.