I've said it before and I'll say it again................The VPL is THE place to play poker.
17 Seasons and getting stronger by the day.
This week, the VPL was host to 18 people. That's right...18!
This week seemed very tough because at the first color-up there were still 16 people in the tournament.
The 2nd break comes after the 150/300 blinds. When the blinds were 100/200 there 10 people left. It looked like there were still going to be two tables going after the 2nd break. This has never been thought of before. Just shows the caliber of play at the VPL.
Just as we were discussing this possibility, 2 people get knocked out of the tournament at the same time.
With the clock stopped, everyone had to re-draw for seats for the final table at 100/200.
Everyone's favorite spot..................The Bubble:
Alex, Joe, Frank and Ryan.
Within this group, there is only one previous qualifier (Joe).
Ryan brought his "A" game but it was just enough to pop the bubble going out in 4th place.
Money Time: Joe, Frank and Alex.
In any tournament, someone has to leave to make it heads up. That someone was Frank.
Frank left the table in 3rd place with a win of $46.
Heads-Up: Joe and Alex.
Now this heads up was crazy. A variety of hands were played here.
The chip lead went back and forth. Alex got hit hard with a 3 high flush from Joe.
But never count Alex out until the last chip has left his stack.
Joe found out this the hard way and ended up with a 2nd place finish and $76.
Alex took 1st place, the chip and $153. Also with this win, Alex is now qualified for the TOC.
As far as points goes, Clay is killing the competition in Season 17.
Congratulatinos to Alex and Joe.
Joe is on a roll, he has made the money in the last 3 live tournaments.
Good job to everyone and good luck next week.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
La Bamba Tournament
I want to thank everyone who came out to the tournament.
There were 18 people who ponied up $30 to battle it out on the felt.
There were 4 places paid.
There were alot of people from the league there and also a few new faces.
Good job to Allen, Joe, Tim and Quentin for making the money.
Congratulations to Joe for winning the tournament and $205.
We ended up doing another tournament for $20.
10 people on one table.
Congratulations to Tim for winning the 2nd.
Hope everyone had fun.
Hope to see everyone out in Swink next month.
There were 18 people who ponied up $30 to battle it out on the felt.
There were 4 places paid.
There were alot of people from the league there and also a few new faces.
Good job to Allen, Joe, Tim and Quentin for making the money.
Congratulations to Joe for winning the tournament and $205.
We ended up doing another tournament for $20.
10 people on one table.
Congratulations to Tim for winning the 2nd.
Hope everyone had fun.
Hope to see everyone out in Swink next month.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Season 17 Week 5
I want to first start by saying thank you to Joe. He pointed out a mistake I had made with the points and names. The points and names have been corrected and are fully up to date.
This week the VPL brought 14 players together to fight it out for this weeks championship.
Bubble time brought 4 players to the ring. Here are those 4 players: Clay, Brandon, Quentin and Alex.
Someone had to leave the table in 4th place and that someone was Brandon.
Money time: Quentin, Alex and Clay.
This trio made it that there would be at least one new qualifier.
3rd place with $35 was awarded to Alex.
This meant that Quentin and Clay are heads up. Clay had previously qualified.
Both are warriors at the table but only one can win and only one can take 2nd.
As the tournament ended, it was time to award 2nd place.
That honor goes to Quentin. Along with his 2nd place finish, he won $60.
That means that, once again, Clay has finished in 1st place. This is Clay's 2nd win in season17. With the points, the chip and the $119 win, Clay has spread his points lead even further.
Congratulations to Clay and Quentin for 1st and 2nd.
At the end of week5, there are 10 people qualified for the TOC.
That brings an end to week 5.
I hope everyone can make the tournaments at La Bamba and in Swink.
Good luck to everyone.
This week the VPL brought 14 players together to fight it out for this weeks championship.
Bubble time brought 4 players to the ring. Here are those 4 players: Clay, Brandon, Quentin and Alex.
Someone had to leave the table in 4th place and that someone was Brandon.
Money time: Quentin, Alex and Clay.
This trio made it that there would be at least one new qualifier.
3rd place with $35 was awarded to Alex.
This meant that Quentin and Clay are heads up. Clay had previously qualified.
Both are warriors at the table but only one can win and only one can take 2nd.
As the tournament ended, it was time to award 2nd place.
That honor goes to Quentin. Along with his 2nd place finish, he won $60.
That means that, once again, Clay has finished in 1st place. This is Clay's 2nd win in season17. With the points, the chip and the $119 win, Clay has spread his points lead even further.
Congratulations to Clay and Quentin for 1st and 2nd.
At the end of week5, there are 10 people qualified for the TOC.
That brings an end to week 5.
I hope everyone can make the tournaments at La Bamba and in Swink.
Good luck to everyone.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Season 17 Week 4
This week the VPL hosted 15 players. These players battled it out on the felt to see who would rise above the rest.
So let's begin.
The bubble:
Frank, Brian,Joe and Bill
The only previous qualifier was Brian. And as it turns out, Brian was the one who left the table in 4th place.
There will be two new qualifiers.
Money time: Bill, Joe and Frank
After chips were won and lost, it was Frank who had to say goodbye to week 4 in 3rd place.
Frank won $38 for his efforts.
Heads up:
Bill and Joe
Congratulations to Bill and Joe for qualifying for the TOC for season 17.
In any game, there is a winner and a runner up.
This game was no different.
It was Bill who saw himself reach 2nd place and a $64 win.
That means that Joe won Season 17 Week 4. The chip and $128.
Congratulations to Joe, this was his first time qualifying for the TOC and his first chip.
I want to remind everyone about the upcoming tournaments at La Bamba and in Swink.
I also want to thank Frank for dealing the heads up this week.
Halfway through the season and the points are updated.
Good luck everyone and see you next week.
So let's begin.
The bubble:
Frank, Brian,Joe and Bill
The only previous qualifier was Brian. And as it turns out, Brian was the one who left the table in 4th place.
There will be two new qualifiers.
Money time: Bill, Joe and Frank
After chips were won and lost, it was Frank who had to say goodbye to week 4 in 3rd place.
Frank won $38 for his efforts.
Heads up:
Bill and Joe
Congratulations to Bill and Joe for qualifying for the TOC for season 17.
In any game, there is a winner and a runner up.
This game was no different.
It was Bill who saw himself reach 2nd place and a $64 win.
That means that Joe won Season 17 Week 4. The chip and $128.
Congratulations to Joe, this was his first time qualifying for the TOC and his first chip.
I want to remind everyone about the upcoming tournaments at La Bamba and in Swink.
I also want to thank Frank for dealing the heads up this week.
Halfway through the season and the points are updated.
Good luck everyone and see you next week.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Season 17 Week 3
You can always count on finding good poker at the VPL. This week was no exception.
This week the VPL hosted a tournament for 18 people.
The bubble is where this story begins:
Brian, Todd, TC and Michelle.
At this point, it came down to a waiting game. Todd was chip leader with three short stacks at the table.
Whenever there was an all-in, it would seem like that person would double up.
Once again, someone made an all-in move and got called. However the luck wasn't with that person this time and TC had to bow out of the tournament in 4th place with no money.
Money time: Brian Todd and Michelle.
At this point, the blinds were 400/800.
Here is where it got interesting.
Michelle was the short stack at this 3 way battle.
She picked her spot and moved all-in. Brian was to her left and thought about it for a moment.......and then he said all-in. Todd had them both covered and then began to think about it.
Todd calls Brian's all-in.
Michelle turns over AJ, Brian turns over JJ and Todd flipped over AK.
The flop came rags. Brian was out in the lead.
The turn came a K. Now Todd rushed into 1st place with one card coming.
The river came a blank.
With the blank on the river, Todd hit his King and takes out both players in one hand.
Michelle finished in 3rd place with a $46 win, Brian finished in 2nd place with a $76 win.
Todd wins the tournament, the chip and $153.
Congratulations to Todd and Brian for becoming the newest to qualify for the TOC.
Good luck next week.
This week the VPL hosted a tournament for 18 people.
The bubble is where this story begins:
Brian, Todd, TC and Michelle.
At this point, it came down to a waiting game. Todd was chip leader with three short stacks at the table.
Whenever there was an all-in, it would seem like that person would double up.
Once again, someone made an all-in move and got called. However the luck wasn't with that person this time and TC had to bow out of the tournament in 4th place with no money.
Money time: Brian Todd and Michelle.
At this point, the blinds were 400/800.
Here is where it got interesting.
Michelle was the short stack at this 3 way battle.
She picked her spot and moved all-in. Brian was to her left and thought about it for a moment.......and then he said all-in. Todd had them both covered and then began to think about it.
Todd calls Brian's all-in.
Michelle turns over AJ, Brian turns over JJ and Todd flipped over AK.
The flop came rags. Brian was out in the lead.
The turn came a K. Now Todd rushed into 1st place with one card coming.
The river came a blank.
With the blank on the river, Todd hit his King and takes out both players in one hand.
Michelle finished in 3rd place with a $46 win, Brian finished in 2nd place with a $76 win.
Todd wins the tournament, the chip and $153.
Congratulations to Todd and Brian for becoming the newest to qualify for the TOC.
Good luck next week.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Exciting news for poker leagues in Colorado
This was an article that I came by. I wanted to share this information with everyone.
Poker is on a bit of a hot streak, at least in the courts. Following on the victory in the Kentucky domain name case and the recent ruling by a Pennsylvania court judge that poker is a game of skill comes news out of Colorado of another win for poker.
There, a jury found the organizer of a poker league not guilty of illegal gambling.
What had started as a friendly poker tournament at Rafferty's, a Greeley, Colo., bar, ended up with the organizer, Kevin Raley, facing charges of illegal gambling. Law enforcement agencies had raided Rafferty's last August and arrested Raley and four others under Colorado's antigambling law.
But Raley, aided by the Poker Players Alliance and its Litigation Support Network, fought the
lawsuit. His attorney Todd Taylor presented expert testimony by University of Denver statistics professor Robert Hannum that poker is a game of skill. As such, Taylor argued, it was exempt from the antigambling statute under which Raley was prosecuted.
That statute defines illegal gambling as "risking any money, credit, deposit, or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device, or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, over which the person taking a risk has no control, but does not include bona fide contests of skill."
Professor Hannum is the author of Practical Casino Math, which uses mathematical theory to evaluate various casino games, and teaches classes such as the Art and of Science of Poker. He testified at trial that poker was primarily a game of skill and not of chance. The jury agreed and found Raley not guilty of illegal gambling.
"The PPA is pleased with the outcome of this case. It is further confirmation that poker is indeed a game of skill, not chance," said Gary Reed, the Colorado state director of the PPA.
"At the same time, the not guilty verdict cements the rights of Colorado citizens to enjoy the American pastime of poker and will allow law enforcement to use its scarce resources to investigate real unlawful activity in the state, not poker games."
The defendant was understandably happy with the outcome of the prosecution. "I am pleased that the jury agreed that my actions in organizing a poker league did not constitute illegal gambling," said Raley. "As a proud member of the PPA, I want to thank them for their support of my case."
This win was also a victory for the PPA Litigation Support Network, a free service to PPA
members which provides legal advice as well as attorney referrals for those with poker-related legal issues.
Poker is on a bit of a hot streak, at least in the courts. Following on the victory in the Kentucky domain name case and the recent ruling by a Pennsylvania court judge that poker is a game of skill comes news out of Colorado of another win for poker.
There, a jury found the organizer of a poker league not guilty of illegal gambling.
What had started as a friendly poker tournament at Rafferty's, a Greeley, Colo., bar, ended up with the organizer, Kevin Raley, facing charges of illegal gambling. Law enforcement agencies had raided Rafferty's last August and arrested Raley and four others under Colorado's antigambling law.
But Raley, aided by the Poker Players Alliance and its Litigation Support Network, fought the
lawsuit. His attorney Todd Taylor presented expert testimony by University of Denver statistics professor Robert Hannum that poker is a game of skill. As such, Taylor argued, it was exempt from the antigambling statute under which Raley was prosecuted.
That statute defines illegal gambling as "risking any money, credit, deposit, or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device, or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, over which the person taking a risk has no control, but does not include bona fide contests of skill."
Professor Hannum is the author of Practical Casino Math, which uses mathematical theory to evaluate various casino games, and teaches classes such as the Art and of Science of Poker. He testified at trial that poker was primarily a game of skill and not of chance. The jury agreed and found Raley not guilty of illegal gambling.
"The PPA is pleased with the outcome of this case. It is further confirmation that poker is indeed a game of skill, not chance," said Gary Reed, the Colorado state director of the PPA.
"At the same time, the not guilty verdict cements the rights of Colorado citizens to enjoy the American pastime of poker and will allow law enforcement to use its scarce resources to investigate real unlawful activity in the state, not poker games."
The defendant was understandably happy with the outcome of the prosecution. "I am pleased that the jury agreed that my actions in organizing a poker league did not constitute illegal gambling," said Raley. "As a proud member of the PPA, I want to thank them for their support of my case."
This win was also a victory for the PPA Litigation Support Network, a free service to PPA
members which provides legal advice as well as attorney referrals for those with poker-related legal issues.
Season 17 Week 2
This week the VPL was on the verge of making history. As per VPL rules, the blinds will be capped when they reach 500/1000.
The blinds have only been capped twice of the 146 tournaments of the VPL. And they have never been capped while we have been playing at my house.
This week when the final two were battling, the buzzer rang indicating the end of the blinds. The next set of blinds would be 500/1000. The buzzer rang in the middle of the hand while the blinds were 400/800. It turned out that this would be the last hand of the night. The tournament ended at the 400/800 level. There was no hand dealt with blinds at 500/1000.
The final hand was won by..................................not quite yet. Keep reading and you'll find out who won this week.
This week represents week 2 of season 17. This week 15 people came to play for the chip, the money and the bragging rights.
bubble time: Jame, TC, Clay and Randy.
This bubble was a little different. There were 4 players and 2 short stacks. TC and Randy were the two short stacks. Both players were trying to wait out the other to see who would be this weeks bubble boy.
Unfortunately for Randy, the blinds were not kind to his stack. Randy was blinded out in 4th place in week 2.
Money time included TC, James, and Clay.
At this point, it was very good poker. Chips were being traded back and forth between the three players.
Someone had to make a stand and that someone was TC.
TC moved all in with K 10 with a quick call from Clay holding A Q.
flop comes 9 K 10.
TC fires in front with two pair on the flop.
Turn comes a J
Clay fires right past him with a straight.
The river comes a blank and TC exits the table in 3rd place with a $38 win.
Heads up: Clay and James.
Clay has previous qualified by winning week 1.
Again the battle was fierce.
The buzzer rang indicating the end of the blinds of 400/800.
With an All-in from James and a call from Clay. This was the last hand of the night.
I guess this is the point where I have to put in who won. OK.
After the chips going back and forth, after the all-ins and calls, after the lucky river hits and catching cards.
It was James who had to settle for 2nd place with a $64 win.
Clay was the victor, once again, with a 1st place finish, the chip and a $128 win.
Congratulations to James for qualifying this week.
Congratulations to Clay for winning back to back.
Will Clay go for the three-peat? You will just have to come to the VPL and find out.
Good luck everyone and we'll see you next week.
The blinds have only been capped twice of the 146 tournaments of the VPL. And they have never been capped while we have been playing at my house.
This week when the final two were battling, the buzzer rang indicating the end of the blinds. The next set of blinds would be 500/1000. The buzzer rang in the middle of the hand while the blinds were 400/800. It turned out that this would be the last hand of the night. The tournament ended at the 400/800 level. There was no hand dealt with blinds at 500/1000.
The final hand was won by..................................not quite yet. Keep reading and you'll find out who won this week.
This week represents week 2 of season 17. This week 15 people came to play for the chip, the money and the bragging rights.
bubble time: Jame, TC, Clay and Randy.
This bubble was a little different. There were 4 players and 2 short stacks. TC and Randy were the two short stacks. Both players were trying to wait out the other to see who would be this weeks bubble boy.
Unfortunately for Randy, the blinds were not kind to his stack. Randy was blinded out in 4th place in week 2.
Money time included TC, James, and Clay.
At this point, it was very good poker. Chips were being traded back and forth between the three players.
Someone had to make a stand and that someone was TC.
TC moved all in with K 10 with a quick call from Clay holding A Q.
flop comes 9 K 10.
TC fires in front with two pair on the flop.
Turn comes a J
Clay fires right past him with a straight.
The river comes a blank and TC exits the table in 3rd place with a $38 win.
Heads up: Clay and James.
Clay has previous qualified by winning week 1.
Again the battle was fierce.
The buzzer rang indicating the end of the blinds of 400/800.
With an All-in from James and a call from Clay. This was the last hand of the night.
I guess this is the point where I have to put in who won. OK.
After the chips going back and forth, after the all-ins and calls, after the lucky river hits and catching cards.
It was James who had to settle for 2nd place with a $64 win.
Clay was the victor, once again, with a 1st place finish, the chip and a $128 win.
Congratulations to James for qualifying this week.
Congratulations to Clay for winning back to back.
Will Clay go for the three-peat? You will just have to come to the VPL and find out.
Good luck everyone and we'll see you next week.
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