All In By Eight

Go, Daniel, GO!

2009-06-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

Okay...games are still abounding, but I've neglected my duties...summer is upon us, so things are busy...I'm hosting a new games night at the Plains Hotel every Tuesday at 7pm as well, so that's taking up a lot of my time...please join us! For more information, visit the Plains Drink and Think blog or Face Book group...see you there!

And now, for a few links you really shouldn't miss...

I love this clip...I still haven't figured out if it's real, or just set up for the cameras...I can't believe that the interviewer would really talk to Daniel Negreanu like that...and the arm scratching...puhlease!...lice or heroin, it's anybody's guess... My favorite line, though, has to be "Doyle Brunson TOLD me you were a f@$%ing a$$h@le, and I did'nt believe him!" If I ever run into this monkey, he'll be getting more than a big drink of water! Go, Daneil!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeocezrFSs4

And, of course, my favorite Scotty Nguyen impression...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doV7kzqYCjg&feature=related

See ya'll soon! Up the Ante, JJ.

Update

2009-02-20T14:24:00.000-08:00

Okay...sorry I haven't posted in forever...I am getting lots of grief about it...
There is a tourney at 7:30 at Marty's in the hood tonight, and a hockey fundraiser tomorrow at 3pm at the Eastview Community Center...cheap buy ins tonight, and 30 buck buy in tomorrow, with re-buys and an add-on, full bar available...
What else is new? We've had a number of games here, both tourney and cash...give me a shout to get in on the action! A very special thank you to Kelly, who brought us some wicked home made deer sausage and strapped the feed bag on last week! Cheers! Up the Ante, jj.

Queens and More Queens

2009-01-16T10:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I never went to the Moose Jaw Casino until last night, and let me tell ya, it's not all it's cracked up to be...there was a single 5-10 limit game, and I cruised in and out of there pretty quickly, with Jacks holding up once, and Queens bowing to the ever-impressive 3-8. I did deal the first hand of poker ever to a newly engaged cute little lesbian couple...wouldn't you just know it, they held the black queens! I went to the spa, then to a wonderful little place called "Bobby's" for some traditional Scottish fare & trivia...we cruised over to the casino afterward, and the gals played some silly slots while I floundered at the poker table.
I am hosting a game this evening at my place in Walsh Acres...it's been pretty slim pickings lately, so I'm really looking forward to a game! See you tonight! Up the Ante, jj.

Game On

2008-10-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hosting a game in Walsh Acres tonight...email or call if you don't have the address! It's going to be a different sort of game...more gals, & some people I haven't seen in years! Hope to see you all here. I'll be busy for most of the day, so there won't be a huge spread tonight...maybe we'll order a pizza or something! Up the Ante, jj.

Quad Catastrophe

2008-10-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdurs0C8mTM
Mabuchi's therapist is gonna make a killing...

Monkey Business

2008-10-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEaKxNYD2lk
I'm telling ya...this SO reminds me of last night's shenanigans. We played until after 5am, so things were getting more than a little silly. Harland, Brain, Schultz, Fraser, Troy, Brad, Patrick, & I played 2 tournaments last night. There was a multitude of fist pumps, a jalapeno cheese ball, & trash talk that would make a sailor blush...a great time was had by all! We hope your kicking it at the Derby, Glenn, & Kelly, make sure to avoid those bears at all costs! This video will show just how dangerous some of our animal brothers can be! Up the Ante, jj.

Regina Ladies Poker Page

2008-10-04T13:07:00.001-07:00

Our Ladies nights have turned into co-ed games. I don't know how it happened, but it did. I've started a new FaceBook forum for local poker players of the female persuasion, so we can try to ramp up our games. You can visit
http://www.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?info&gid=37965446907#/group.php?gid=37965446907
to become a member or find a game.
Up the Ante, jj.

What Were You Thinking?

2008-10-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

The following post is taken directly from Bob Pajich's article on cardplayer.com of August 21st...

"He cursed. He berated. He gloated. He scolded, steamed, and insulted. He drank beer after beer after beer and shouted when they weren’t coming fast enough, and Scotty Nguyen did all of this on the way to winning what many poker players consider the most prestigious tournament of the year.

Nguyen may have won the 2008 $50,000 World Series of Poker H.O.R.S.E. event, but many believe his behavior and intimidation tactics clearly violated the World Series of Poker’s own rulebook, while tournament officials did nothing but watch and cringe with the rest of the crowd.

For his part, Nguyen seems to understand the consequences of his behavior, and he responded to fans in a comment on a CardPlayer.com article about the event (scroll down to the long comment on Aug. 20). His expansive comment reads, in part:

“I would like to apologize to all my fans for the disappointment I have caused in the H.O.R.S.E. event. For that I would like to express my sincerest apology. I would like to ask for understanding of what really took place,” Nguyen wrote. “All I would ever be sorry (for), is how the fans feel about me, I would never be sorry to beat those players.”

The WSOP, trying so hard to legitimize itself as an American sport through a well-polished broadcast prominently featuring sponsorships with major companies, admits that the matter of rule enforcement and consistency needs to be addressed, and it promised a re-examination of its protocol when contacted by Card Player.

WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel is on vacation and unavailable for comment, and Harrah’s released this paragraph when asked to comment for this article:

“All players at the WSOP must conduct themselves appropriately. We obviously have some work to do on this matter. With that in mind, a process has been under way since the end of the WSOP to re-examine the rules related to player conduct and the enforcement of those rules. We will have something more substantive to say on this matter well before the start of the 2009 WSOP.”

The rules on player conduct are clear, but how to punish rule-breakers is up to interpretation.

Section IV of the 2008 WSOP tournament rules is titled Player Conduct and Tournament Integrity. This chapter contains 11 subsections that warn players that Harrah’s won’t tolerate any kind of questionable behavior, ranging from cheating to abusing fellow players. Violate the rules, and Harrah’s is allowed to implement penalties at the sole discretion of floor personnel.

Michael DeMichele, the main target of Nguyen’s tirades, said the only time a floor person came over to give any of the players warnings was when Nguyen’s talk about his desire to face Lindgren heads-up became detailed. Noting Nguyen’s behavior, DeMichele really wasn’t sure if what Nguyen was doing was breaking written rules.

“There probably could’ve been a couple of points where I could have requested penalties, but I don’t necessarily like to do that,” DeMichele said. “I could handle myself. I could take the berating well and still apply my best game, but what happened to me certainly wasn’t fair, and it would’ve been nice if I had had someone to help me out.”

Someone should have jumped in, and DeMichele didn’t need to ask. Nguyen was in clear violation of at least two written sections:

35. Any player who directs any profane and/or abusive language at another player, dealer, or tournament staff member or who makes any profane and/or abusive comments about another player, dealer, or tournament staff member will be penalized in accordance with Rules No. 31 and/or 51. In particular, the use of the so-called “f-bomb” and “c-bomb,” as well as derivatives of those and similarly offensive terms, will subject the offending player to penalties if they are directed at or refer to another player, dealer, staff member, patron, or official of Harrah’s or the WSOP. In Harrah’s sole and absolute discretion, it may impose at any time a zero-tolerance policy for profane language whether directed at another person or not.

And also:

38. Player or staff abuse will not be tolerated. A player may incur a penalty up to and including disqualification for any abuse toward another player or staff member, and the player could be asked to leave the property. Repeated etiquette violations, such as touching another player’s cards or chips, delay of game, and excessive chatter, will result in penalties.

The World Series of Poker has published the entire rulebook online (PDF).

As repeatedly stated throughout the rules document, though, penalties are made at the sole discretion of the floor staff, so implementation of the written rules can vary from event to event. This wasn’t the only moment during a WSOP event this year that a former champion received what some might feel is preferred treatment. Phil Hellmuth had a penalty removed after he complained about it during an event.

When contacted, DeMichele spent a good portion of the conversation apologizing for his early behavior, which the players translated as gloating. This wasn’t the case, DeMichele said, and it was a lesson he will take with him.

“Let me say, I just wanted to have a good time and be happy-go-lucky, and I didn’t realize how my actions were affecting others,” DeMichele said. “I certainly didn’t mean to rub it in anyone’s face that I won a pot and they lost it. I was just trying to have a good time, and I didn’t realize I was offending anybody, so I apologize about that. And immediately after I realized that I was offending people, I stopped. I really don’t want to get under everyone’s skin. Poker is about having fun for me.”

A collage of Nguyen’s Lowlights is available through YouTube, and viewers are harshly taking Nguyen to task in the comments section there. Immediately after the broadcast, Card Player received e-mails complaining about Nguyen’s antics. Poker forums across the Internet are boiling over with condemnation of Nguyen, and people are also wondering why tournament personnel didn’t jump in and penalize “The Prince of Poker.”

WSOP announcer Norman Chad repeatedly cracked about Nguyen’s drinking ability (the jokes took a tinge of sadness as the show went on) and made it clear to viewers that Nguyen’s behavior was out of line, but hardly anything was said about tournament officials needing to step in and curb the outbursts through warnings and penalties. In fact, if Erick Lindgren wasn’t caught whispering into an official’s ear after one of Nguyen’s outbursts, viewers most likely wouldn’t even know that officials have the option to try to curb this kind of boorish behavior.

Haunted by the Past?

Nguyen watched the broadcast Tuesday night and said he regrets that he was portrayed as a drunk and vehemently denied that he is more than a casual drinker. Nguyen says he was not, or ever is, drunk, and his portrayal during the ESPN broadcast was not accurate. He says that what viewers didn’t see was that most of the beers were taken away before they were half empty, but during the broadcast, Nguyen is shown red in the face and furious that it was taking so long for his cocktails to arrive.

“Where’s my f---ing cocktail, man?” Nguyen was shown yelling, his hands in the air in frustration after watching a chunk of his chip stack go away. “What’s up with this, man? Does this table wait forever? F---, enough is enough, man. We play in this game, we wait for a f---ing cocktail?”

Even one of his friends, Todd Brunson, felt compelled to comment on broadcast through an online poker forum. Brunson said it was so obvious that Nguyen was melting down, that he forced him to have a smoke-break during play.

“Scotty was under a lot of pressure to win. While he almost always drinks while playing, I’ve never seen him drink that much either at or away from the table. I also think the time issue caught up with him. The final table went well into the morning, and once you start drinking like that, you’re going to crash if you stop,” Brunson wrote. “It’s hard to defend him after the display [he] put on, but Scotty truly is a nice guy and a gentleman gambler 99.9 percent of the time. ESPN just caught him during that 0.1 percent when he went freakin’ crazy.”

DeMichele also thinks that the more beer that went into Nguyen, the worse his behavior became.

“Scotty’s behavior was completely uncalled for, in my opinion. I think that he became belligerent as he continued to drink. I know that I had offended the table earlier on, but I think he wanted to pick a target to fight with,” DeMichele said. “There were times when I went into the VIP room (during breaks) and many famous poker players had told me that that this is a normal thing for Scotty. At final tables, he likes to get into the heads of others and berate them and beat them down mentally, and that the best thing I could do is try to fend him off without looking bad on TV myself.”

Take a Bow

Nguyen admits that DeMichele’s bowing after a hand got to him and brought out the emotions that he had felt while suffering a major meltdown during last year’s main event, when he went from second in chips to out the tournament with 11 players left. Nguyen said one of the reasons he let himself play so badly to be knocked out last year was that he bottled his emotions and kept his mouth shut.

“I let the player get under my skin [in 2007], and I didn’t say anything at all, and I got knocked out. I made a big mistake just because of the fans,” Nguyen said. “All my life, I’ve tried to give the fans what they want, what the need, a good game, The Prince of Poker that they know. But you know, [the 2008 H.O.R.S.E] event was too big to keep my mouth shut. If you want to get under my skin, I want to get under yours back. That is my game plan.”

He wasn’t going to let the same meltdown happen as last year. With four players left, Lindgren finally stopped DeMichele’s rush with a big hand, and when he did, he took a table bow and made a comment to the crowd critical of DeMichele’s bowing and hamming it up. Nguyen took that as a cue to teach the youngster a lesson on poker etiquette and proceeded to verbally abuse DeMichele for the remainder of the match. Nguyen called DeMichele names, directed the infamous F-bomb at him repeatedly, berated his play, showed his hands to the crowd while still in a hand, and made it public that he wanted to face Lindgren heads-up.

Later in the match, Nguyen got on Lindgren’s bad side, as well, after getting visibly angry and berating Lindgren for raising a bet, because he said he was working to protect Lindgren’s hand against DeMichele. Lindgren told Nguyen that he wasn’t aware that he was doing that and made it clear that he’s not on “Team Scotty” — and never will be.

After Lindgren was knocked out, he embraced DeMichele and told him to “Go get him, man. Make Chip proud.”

Players who knew Chip Reese before he passed away in December 2007 respected him for his steady demeanor, respect for the game and its players, and kindness and his humble attitude, among many other things. Harrah’s honored the memory of Reese, who won the inaugural $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event in 2006, by awarding a trophy for this event in his honor.

During the last hand, a hold’em hand that Nguyen won by having a better kicker to his ace, DeMichele, in an attempted humbled moment, said to Nguyen that he’s probably too young to win the event and that he doesn’t deserve to win such a prestigious bracelet. Nguyen didn’t hesitate: 'You don’t, baby.'"

All in all, I think it was a pretty sad day for the world of poker. We've talked about it constantly since then...opinions vary, & it's a pretty hot topic. There is a fine line between trash talk & shame, competitive play & poor taste, getting under someone's skin & making a complete ass of yourself...many of us have crossed it, accidentally, or otherwise, but I haven't seen this sort of behavior on the pro circuit. Ever. When you're besting Mike Matusow & Phil Helmuth in this area, I think it's time to take a good, long look in the mirror...

Up the Ante, jj.

Happy Endings

2008-10-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

Tonight is still up in the air...Shane is hosting a stag for a buddy tonight for all you fellas...I think we're out of the loop on this one, ladies! The facts as I know 'em are: 10 buck cover for peelers & poker around 8pm at the Austrian Club. We may play at my place at the same time, then meet here around 11 for the grand finale.

(Please note: A grand finale is NOT the same as a happy ending!)
Last night's attempt at a game was a miserable failure. We did, however, have a lovely supper before last night's exciting Rider game...we did a roast with all the trimmings; mashed potatoes, gravy, yorkshire pudding, etc, with brownies and strawberry ice cream for dessert! Fraser even brought some of his famous granola squares (I'm still wondering if they're HIS famous squares, or his WIFE'S famous squares...ah, well, we'll all be famously square together!) Nice work! Brain insisted on a saucy cheese ball and snack tray for this evening's festivities for all you poor suckers who missed out on last night's feast...he's got your back! Fist Pumps all around...see you tonight!
Up the Ante, jj.

Your Momma!

2008-09-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been playing quite a bit lately...I joined Anastasia for Ladies Night at the Casino (with results not worth discussing)...I ended up in the main poker room after about 3 hours. We've played at the Brain/Pickle household a few times (accompanied by great food!) and at my place a number of times (accompanied by pickles.) I have my name in the pool at a local airline (that now flies directly to Vegas) so I hope to travel a lot more, & play more games outside the province. In one of our last games, we saw a straight flush, a royal, and quads twice inside an hour, so there's been lots of action. There's also been lots of concerts & football games to contend with recently, so we haven't had all the regulars at the same game for quite some time. I'm booked up for the weekend, & have my mother coming to stay with me early next week (no, she's not single, & NO, she does not want to play poker with you!) so I won't see y'all for a bit...shall we say, Wednesday?
Up the Ante, jj.

Geritol, Anyone?

2008-08-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

Apparently, we aren't the young die hards we once were. It has been a long weekend, mind you. It all started with an absolutely mad cash game at Ben's, then a nail biting Rider game, followed by the Tom Nichols Classic ball tournament (complete with 2 cabarets)...we took a day off for some dice & a dip in the pool, then had one last grab at poker last night. The tourney, which started just after 8pm, was over & done with around 11pm. It's not like there were just a couple of us, either...I played like a pansy, & still came in 2nd. It was such an extraordinary occurrence...I'm still baffled! I cannot recall the last time we didn't have a second game. Lord, love a duck, 'cause we just aren't Spring Chickens anymore...
Up the Ante (and down the hatch)...jj.

Non Stop Flop Shop

2008-07-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

I guess my only excuse for not posting recently is that I've been too busy playing poker to write about it. Since my last entry, we've seen a number of games here, & a wild and crazy cash game at Ben's. We had a nice large tournament at my place last week, for which I couldn't even find enough chairs! Turnouts have been so good, we've been resorting to multi-table tournaments with cash games running simultaneously. Last night wasn't my finest showing, but besides that, I've had some decent runs. I've also had some great results online, so all in all, it's been a pretty good couple of weeks. We've seen some folks lately that haven't been out in a while...Aaron, Glenn, Ann, Troy, Darrel, Kelly...it's good to have y'all back! (Practicing my drawl for Texas!) With the Riders undefeated, we've had some really long days...those early afternoon football starts mean that a lot of us are putting in a full day's work! Up the Ante, jj.

Poker for Pirates

2008-06-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Last night's game was at my place in Walsh Acres. There were no power outages or acts of God. There were no 911 calls. There was no choking, beating, or dismemberment of any kind. I thought we might break the streak when I pulled a shocking Royal on 5th on an all-in, but clearer heads prevailed. So really, I guess there's not much to report...just a nice, friendly game. What's good for the heart isn't necessarily good for the blog! I have heard a rumor about a Monday game in Broder's Annex, so we will just have to make it through the weekend...I'm sure we can fill our time with fishing, camping, BBQs, & football...it's only 4,827 minutes away! I am hosting my little buddy Liam's birthday this Wednesday...he wants a pirate party, & by God, that's what he shall have! Everyone will be in costume...I'm constructing a ship for the back yard, to be placed by the pool, so the diving board will be perfectly situated for "walking the plank" & I'm planning the greatest treasure hunt known to man...Liam loves poker almost as much as he loves pirates, so I will be playing with a bunch of 5 year olds (how do you say "send your child with with their piggy-bank and a couple extra hundred" on an invitation?) With my luck lately, it could turn out to be a very expensive afternoon. Have a great weekend! Up the Ante, JJ.

Poor Phil...

2008-06-16T12:41:00.001-07:00

This is terrible, but I had to laugh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT3_6UxN5Ls&feature=related

Choke On This...

2008-06-15T02:17:00.000-07:00

Oh man...what can I even say about tonight's proceedings? I don't feel I'm at liberty to write too much, as I don't want my @$$ hauled in to court to testify! Let's try aliases...Homer & Bart should suffice...if you only knew how accurate this depiction is! The following rendition is in chip values, so it's not as dire as it might sound....It was maybe the third or fourth hand of the evening...there were a number of people in a min-raised pot...perhaps $200 or so...Bart bets $500 out of turn, & the player 2 to his right raises to $2700...Bart rethinks his $500 raise, & attempts to pull it from the pot, with the classic "I didn't see his cards"...Homer takes exception to his "refund" & says that the bet stays...fair enough. There was a little verbal abuse (there's a lot of history I don't have the time or inclination to delve into) & the war was on. Bart relents, & you'd think that might be the end of the story....we should be so lucky! I honestly can't recall how the hand turned out, as Bart left the table after a not-so-quick fold...a few moments later, to my shock & horror, Homer has Bart up against the wall (see image top left) & pizza is flying everywhere (side note---Bart, you may want to look into a higher caliber of guard dog...in your moments of mortal peril, 'Santa's Little Helper' was lapping pepperoni from the furniture!)...I leaped from my seat to break things up (thanks for the help, fellas!) & Homer finally released his grasp, & stormed out of the house. We were all very much in shock. I have never witnessed such a scene in all my years at the tables (save for a very sour game of Monopoly at age 7.) I get both sides, but really guys, let's be honest...there's no shortage of trash-talking, bitching, & whining at our games...it's not an entirely new concept. Life's too short to take things so seriously. I can refer y'all to some great therapists, so let's just take a deep breath, a sip of tequila, & play some cards. A gentle reminder...where would the Simpson's be without BOTH Bart & Homer? Up the Ante, JJ.

The Brothers Grimm & Last Night's Mayhem

2008-06-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

We played the cash game from hell at Ben's last night from 6pm until 2am...minimum buy in was 2, and it got crazier as the night went on...I went home happy after winning only 4 pots the entire evening. There was just no way to take a stab at a pot with a marginal hand...it was, hands down, the worst poker I've seen in my life! (and I've seen a LOT of bad poker--from the driver's seat!) There were, perhaps, 4 pots under a hundred bucks. You could not keep people out of a hand, for love nor money. There were 2 other players with some semblance of a grasp on the game, & one quite good player (who was just as frustrated as I!) There were a lot of beginners that wanted to play like the big cats on TV...anything on the table was game...watches to car keys to big ol' stacks of cash...it was surreal. It sounds like a dream game...patience should pay off eventually, one would think! Without a brilliant hand & ideal flop, you just couldn't afford to play. I wasn't under-funded, either...the game was just that silly. I threw away countless hands I would have played extremely aggressively in any other game in the world. It was incredibly frustrating to sit back & wait for premium hands...even when I finally caught something, it was often not playable after the flop, & I threw good money after bad on a number of occasions. Suck-outs were the rule, not the exception. I know exactly what you're thinking as you read this....how can I get in on this game?!?!?...let me tell ya, brother...I'm not sure your heart can take it! It was the most back-ass-words situation, with odds having absolutely no bearing on reality! Words just cannot describe last night's events...it was something you'd have to see for yourself to believe. I have never had to adjust my play like I did last night...I'm excited about a good solid game tonight! I don't think I will ever be so happy to face good players again (except, of course, for the day when I get to play with Negreanu! I think I will pencil him in!) There's a tourney tonight at the Brothers Grimm residence in Rochdale at 6pm. Kelly's off fishing (we sure do miss you!) but I think the rest of the regular crew will be there! See you then! Up the Ante, jj.

Back to the Dark Age

2008-06-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

We've been playing some cards, but I haven't had time to write. Actually, that's a bold faced lie. I just haven't felt like it. The only thing that really needs recounting is a game from a few nights back...it goes a little like this...
It was a dark & stormy night...really. We were playing indoors thanks to the non-stop rain. There were 3 of us left in the pot. The chips were mounting. I knew I was in the lead on the flop, but not by much. I pushed all in & both players called. 4th street came, & you could hear a pin drop (which is no small matter if you know Linden!) My opponents had a kajillion outs. The dealer was drawing it out for maximum effect. Finally, the moment of truth arrived...the dealer was in mid-turn, & a loud bang erupted from out back, followed by an explosion of light...and then...nothing. Darkness. Not a sound. I shouted "What the heck WAS that?!?!".... Brian loudly exclaimed "The transformer blew! The power's out!" I quickly corrected him by saying "I know THAT, genius...what the hell is the CARD?!?!" We all had a chuckle at his expense, & continued to play by candlelight for the next few hours. It was an interesting game, that's for sure! I'm pleased to announce that 5th was the 10 of hearts, by the by, which was one of the few cards that didn't improve my opponent's hands! Next weekend should bring a poolside game & BBQ...see you then! Up the Ante, JJ.

2008-05-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

Last night's game was a late one....we played at Linden's in the SE. We started around 8 after a smoking barbecue at Brain's...thanks for the amazing steak!...Hartland, Linden, Brain, Brad, Brett, Lee, & Troy were in attendance, & Jen & Don joined us for game 2, which finished around 3:30am. I'm not sure I buy the fact that Don's never played before, by the way...he's a player if ever I've seen one! Brad won both games last night, with Lee in 2nd the first game, & me finishing in 2nd place in the last game. Congrats, you tight coot! I don't remember the last time one individual won both games! We'll be having a tournament at my place on Wednesday night...see you all then! Ann, we really missed you last night!...We'll make sure to organize a sitter early next game! Up the Ante, JJ.

The Age-Old Struggle

2008-04-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Glen hosted a great 2 table tourney last night in Broder's Annex. Ann & I chose this game over Ladies Night at the Casino. Linden was, as usual, loud enough to wake the dead...he hasn't been at the last couple of games, & I have to admit that something seemed a little off in his absence. Out of the 15 or so players, there were a number I hadn't met before, so it was definitely a learning experience. Ann, Kelly, Glen, & I were at one table, while Linden & Patrick were at the other...it was like Christmas dinner at the kid's table for a time. At one point, there was talk that Linden had more chips than our entire table combined. While shouts (and groans) of "all in" and "re-buy" resounded only a few feet away, we kept plugging along...not that we didn't keep things rolling on our end...Brain was also at our table! It was stable vs volatile....the tortoise & the hare...David & Goliath. There was some great poker, & some bingo. The tables combined around midnight. Unfortunately, I was the one who took Ann out, & soon we were down to 3...Linden, Harvey, (whose name I remember because it was tattooed on his arm) & I. After a few chip swings, we cut a deal to play a 'quick' freeze out. I believe Linden finished first in the second game, but much as I like to be all in by eight, I like to be in bed by three, so I headed home. I started a rumor of a Wednesday game, so we'll see how it pans out...please call to RSVP. Cheers! Up the Ante, jj.

Would You Like Fries With That?

2008-04-20T15:38:00.000-07:00

Last night's play consisted of two tournaments at Brad & Brett's place in Walsh Acres. The Brother's Grimm, Fraser, Todd, Hartland, Patrick, Brian, & the new guy were in attendance, & Blaze, the sweet little pooch, was licking everyone she could get her mitts on, & puking on the carpet. I busted out of the first tournament, & headed off to meet some buddies at a steak night. I missed the chow, & decided to return from my 'cooler' for game two. I was starving, so I thought I'd pick up something nasty from McDonald's on the way. As I pulled up to the drive-thru, I considered walking back into the game, a sack of grease-filled goodies under my arm, & knew I could have a potentially dangerous situation on my hands...6 nuggets divided by 8 hungry (and ornery) individuals was just not going to cut it. I decided to make the inevitable call so they could place their orders; let me tell 'ya, Santa's list had nothing on mine. The poor kid at the window looked like he was contemplating early retirement as I placed the substantial order. After what seemed like an eternity, I managed to lug the greasy sacks of 'food' back to the house (I believe we have Fraser to thank, in part, for the delay...who the hell orders McDonald's fries with no salt?) & after a quick snack break, it was business as usual. I sucked out, time & time again. I hit an impossible runner-runner, pulling 2 of the 3 remaining cards in the deck to give me the win. It was a sight to behold (or forget as soon as humanly possible, depending on who you ask.) The night ended around 3am, with Brad, Patrick, & I in the final 3. I don't remember this particular scenario ever occurring before...it was more than interesting. We were all pretty tired, & Patrick was first to be knocked out (not for lack of trying on my part...I must have been all in at least 5 times!) I took 2nd with a pair of Kings, due to my middling kicker (and just plain poor judgment,) losing to Brad's Kings with the Ace. A good, greasy, time was by all. I believe we may have a ladies tournament tonight, so please RSVP before 7! I think us gals will be a tad more discerning regarding sustenance, but other than that, we could do worse than to have a night just like last one! Up the Ante, jj.

Deviled Eggs & Crazy Legs

2008-04-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

I turned up at Brain's for a wicked BBQ, deviled eggs, potato & pasta salads in tow. Tacky as they are, deviled eggs are the first item to disappear from the table at any social gathering. They cooked up some mean steaks, & we had a sinfully delicious meal; then it was off to Glenn's for an interesting mix of Hair Stylist/Realtor/Steel Worker poker. Everyone was half in the bag before arriving, so it was not the demonstration of skill and dexterity we're accustomed to (I was definitely a front runner for biggest jack ass!) I busted out of both games with alarming alacrity! We should be ready for the first poolside game by the weekend! Hope to see you there! Don't forget to bring the deviled eggs! Up the Ante, jj.

Oh Yes, It's Ladies Night...

2008-04-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Well, last night's game started late...again...'7pm sharp' means 'drop by whenever you feel like it' apparently...Brain & I tipped back a cool one at around 1pm. We started planning the evening's festivities, including a BBQ slated for 5pm. After a couple drinks, cooking outdoors seemed like a pretty big hassle...in fact, cooking in general was not an appealing idea...we decided to hit the liquor store & a drive-thru, & save ourselves the hassle. I slammed my cell in the door of my vehicle in the liquor store parking lot, wrecking both the door & the phone in the process. We picked up goodies for a midnight buffet, then crept back to my place as I attempted to hold the driver's side door on...it was a disaster, but a ton of fun. Brain, Linden, Lee, Jen, Ann, Todd, Brett, & myself had a tourney with the ladies finishing in the top 3 (me 1st, Jen, the newbie, 2nd, & An 3rd)...that was a first in our game! Last year sometime we had 4 ladies at the table, but I'm usually the only gal...it was something to behold, let me tell you! The following freeze-out saw Jen finishing 1st & Linden 2nd. The fellas are still scratching their heads (among other things!) We had a good laugh over Jen's husbands' prior warnings about the dire consequences of playing at a table with men! We ladies went for a couple drinks afterwards, as it was Ann's birthday....it was a great night, all told...now we're just waiting for some nice weather for a poolside game! See you this weekend! Up the Ante, jj.

What Beats a Full House?

2008-04-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

Why, a mixed tape, of course! All of us up here in Canada are pretty sore that Pandora is no longer available. There are a lot of American things we don't give a crap about (Bush tops my list) but can't you share the tunes? Music is always an issue at my games...I'm tryin' to focus on cards, & everyone's whining about the Nana Mouskouri Christmas tune that somehow made it onto my computer. Some of my guests want to hear old country, most prefer 70s classic rock, & I'd like a little Drop Kick Murphy's...once again, the solution is only a few clicks away. I really like Finetune these days....I added a few of my lists here, in case you're interested in my outstanding taste in music, or just too damned lazy to create your own. Up the Ante, jj.

www.finetune.com/playlist/2182593

www.finetune.com/playlist/2182762

www.finetune.com/playlist/2182782

www.finetune.com/playlist/2182587

Back in the Saddle

2008-04-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Poker has resumed in my world. After the death of my 2 beloved dogs, I was out of the loop for a while. I also forgot my blogger password, genius that I am. Here we go again...There will be a tournament at my place tonight...Usual game, starting at 8pm...please call to RSVP. I did take in some of the Classic 2 weeks ago...I watched a lot of good play, & entered 2 satellites....no dice. 2 bad beats later, I was at the cash tables...took one bad hit, then recouped...decided to get while the gettin' was good. We had an interesting game in the garage at my place a while back...it went late, & there was a lot of monkey business. We are still waiting for 'Steve 9-4' to join us one of these nights. I've taken a few firsts in other games recently, but not much to say about my regular game...won once, chopped once, one 4th (yeah, I know...4th is for suckers.) Thinking seriously about a move at the end of the summer...looking at places in Texas, Austin area in particular. Should I make a move, I will expect you all for an annual tournament...mid-winter perhaps, so you can take a break from the nasty weather. I look forward to seeing you all soon. Paulie, if you are reading this, leave me a note...I haven't got to the States for quite some time, & I lost your number!
Up the Ante, jj.

In Memory of Marty & Porkchop

2008-04-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

Well, the old gals finally went off to play poker in the sky with the infamous dogs on the velvet tapestries. Marty was 11, & Porkchop 13, so they had a good run. We will miss your shenanigans. You never tired of regaling us with your tricks when we had a run of bad cards...your crotch-sniffing, face-licking, pillow humping antics never ceased to entertain! You will never be forgotten. Always, jj.

What would Dolly do?

2008-02-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

Apparently Ben's back, with a new bride in tow! Congratulations, you wild & crazy man! I guess you can only holiday so often in romantic places until you come back hitched! We are having a decent stakes game this Wednesday at my place. I just made it to last Friday's tourney at the Four Seasons, as I still have a ton of company in town. I did manage to sneak out for a while, but my guests were (rightfully) choked that I was ignoring them, so I got a little ridiculous towards the end...ah, well...you know how much I love to say "all in!" I'm glad I attended anyways, as I met some great people. Hope to see you this week! Up the Ante, jj.

No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn

2008-01-28T13:41:00.001-08:00

Well, this is more than just a little ridiculous. I don't even know what day it is. I have gone from one game to the next for the last 5 days or so. Thankfully, I caught 40 winks this afternoon...along with a cold. Yesterday's benefit at the Four Seasons was a ton of fun. It was great to see so many of you there! There is another on Friday open to the public, & it's for a great cause, so make sure to attend. I placed 4th in the tourney last night...congrats Fraser! Game to get to...
Up the Ante, jj.

@!*&#!

2008-01-24T13:58:00.001-08:00

This is one of my favorite video segments... not only do we get
the pleasure of the infamous Helmuth fury, but Negreanu sings
a few bars too! Sorry to disappoint, but contrary to the photo,
there are no chimps in this video (or are there?)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8O8a_un_r8&feature=related

Check out a couple of my favorite tunes while you're at it...
Monkey Boy & Fly Boy Monkey by the Orangu-Tones at
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=3952738
Up the Ante, jj.

Rap & Poker, Together at Last

2008-01-24T13:15:00.000-08:00

I just don't know if it gets any worse than this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-4gT6FJX-M
Prahlad Friedman has balls of steel, if nothing else!
Got something to post? Send it in! You might even win
yourself one of our fancy new t-shirts! Up the Ante, jj.

How Could I Forget Football?

2008-01-21T21:12:00.000-08:00

I forgot to link to the Negreanu Grey Cup episode! Daniel is on my list of top 5 favorite men in the world, & I love that he 'bet' Green! (well, at least he got the spread right!) Check out the December 11th video diary at http://www.rawvegas.tv/rawreality/negreanu/ and you Saskatchewanites will love him more than ever! I took about 3,000 pictures in 40+ locations on the evening of our victory...the link will appear here soon! (Sorry if I bust you for calling in sick!)
Up the Ante, jj.

3 Month Tour & WSOP Satellite

2008-01-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

There are still a few seats open for the first private "satellite" on February 16th. Buy-in is $1100, & first place pays $11,000, with the condition that the winner represent the team at the WSOP in June/July. (No gambling with plane fare, you geniuses!) There will be 2 more 10 man tables, tentatively scheduled for April 19th, & May 17th. On another note, there are some games scheduled for Houston, Dallas, Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, & Regina, with a few stops in between over the next 3 months...leave a comment, or email for details. Paulie, we're hoping you might come up & deal...maybe even play! I don't have your email address, so do try to track me down! Make sure to invite all those crazy Montana kids!
Up the Ante, jj.

Poker in Korea

2008-01-21T18:01:00.001-08:00

Good luck to Denny (AKA dad!) in the Pro Tournament in Korea!
We'll be waiting for the results! Congrats on the last tournament!
Up the Ante, jj.

Poker Hell

2008-01-17T21:47:00.001-08:00

Last night's cash game at my place game was just plain nasty. Kelly, Ana, Troy, Jack, Lee, Hartland, & Francis were in attendance. It was a great group, but I couldn't play my way out of a paper bag. I'll be hosting a $200 Tourney this Sunday at 8pm. There will be a $50 precursor. Call to RSVP. Congrats to Jack & Beryl on their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend, & good luck to Billy Bones at NAMM in LA! I "retired" (a fancy euphemism for quitting) a few weeks back so I have a lot of free time to play poker these days.
Up the ante, jj.

Players List

2007-11-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

Hello, Friends! I won't even attempt to explain my absence...you'd never believe me anyways! All regular games are still on, & a new player list will be available here soon. Up the Ante, JJ.

Meow

2007-05-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

You know it....it's Ladies Night....time to kick shit & drink Mojitos...don't bother guys...you just ain't gettin' in....my place at 8...(if you're early, you can still be all in by eight)...up the ante...jj.

WHOO-ho-hoo!

2007-05-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I am pleased to announce that, contrary to my last post, poker is alive & well. My very favorite Sunday game has somehow morphed into a Saturday gig, but I sure ain't complainin'! Will wonders never cease? I'll see all you regulars there this evening, & see the rest of you soon! Up the Ante, jj.

Is Poker Gone for Good?

2007-05-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

All I hear is "poker is the fastest growing game on the planet" & "everyone and their dog plays poker nowadays"...sadly, it seems, it's just not true. In the course of a year, I have seen my Friday game dissappear, & 2 Sunday games disbanded (& lost another in a divorce on top of it all!) The well is dry. The games are gone. What's a girl to do? There are a few of us looking for a decent stakes game...no 20s, no 10,000s...just a nice happy medium. The All in By Eight Ladies poker team is on hiatus, as a couple of the gals are expecting, & if we can't smoke, we just don't play....drop us a line if you're in for some cards!....cheers, jj.

The Big Dog Game

2007-04-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well, kids, I regret to inform you that tonite's big dog game is cancelled. Next Friday, usual time, usual place. I can't host the Monday game, as I will be in Montreal until Tuesday (with a stop in TO...anyone out there have a good game going on?)...if y'all want to play Monday, set it up with Jack. Have yourselves a fantiastic weekend! Up the ante, JJ. PS...Happy Birthday, Jackie-boy!

The Rampage

2007-04-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

Well, last night made up for my weak showing last Thursday. I was a Wild Card. A Kamikaze. A force to be reckoned with. Unstoppable. It was a thing of beauty. Surreal. It is so very rare that you get those beautiful hands when it's your blind, but it was like clockwork last night. I continually dealt myself 2-7 or 3-8 off-suit, but the blinds were a gift...these cats don't just play 3-6 either. Yep, last night was deep pocket game. Our host is the sweetest man on the face of the planet, but I think last night may have been a little too much for him....I will be quite surprised if I get invited back (even though I brought a kick-ass deli tray & 120+ oz. of the hard stuff.) You just can't win that many hands & be popular. Wanted. Loved. Sigh. I think I'll get over it. Unfortunately, I did miss a huge charity event at Pioneer last night...I'm always in for rationalizing my vices. The infamous Rip called around 5pm, but my fat cat game started at 6, so I was unable to attend. I am at work today...it is supposed to be my weekend (day, more accurately..."weekend" just makes it seem longer)...I would rather be doing almost anything...driving range, Whack-a-Mole, fishing...you name it! A few more hours to go. 2 hours & 13 minutes to be all in by eight. Cheers, jj.

If You Could Just Go Ahead And Fold

2007-04-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Oh my. Most embarassing poker game last nite. We did start after 4am. It's no excuse, though. I couldn't bluff my way out of a paper bag. Shameful. There's no other words to describe last nite's events. It was one of those "surely he'll fold" and "there's absolutely no way that monkey can call THIS!"...but they can...and they do. I better get over it. See you next week. jj.

The Easter Classic

2007-04-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

All right. The Easter Classic is here again. For anyone not familiar with this bizarre and infantile ritual, I'll give you a quick run down. The hunt starts at 2pm sharp, Sunday. Usual location, usual buy-in. There are a thousand dollars worth of chips per player, in reds, greens, whites, & blues, hidden on the property. You start the freeze-out tournament with only the chips you have found on the hunt. I am pleased to announce that I finally managed to find the chips still missing from '06! Be sharp. Be clever. But don't be nasty. A chip belongs to the first person to touch a chip, not see it. If you make someone bleed, it'll cost you $500 from your starting stack. Really. We're starting our food bank drive as well, so please bring something. Not that dented, unlabled, rusty old tin you found under the sink when you moved in to your low rent apartment, either. See you there!
Up the Ante, JJ.

You've Got to be Kidding Me

2007-03-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Excuse my absence. Things have been busy, and poker hasn't been top priority, unfortunately. I did wrangle myself an invite to a decent stakes sit and go game last Friday, however. With a minimum $200 buy-in (some players starting at $1000) and unlimited re-buys, there was action for the taking. I found me a straight club flush to the king off the flop during the course of the evening, and the strangest thing happened...There were 5 of us in the pot, and I was first to act. I checked, as the room was full of wild-eyed jackals. A bet of $20 turned to $40, with 2 more callers. I raised to an even hundred. And got 3 calls. I could hardly believe my good fortune. I had the KJ in my hand, and the flop had come 9, Q, 10. 2h was the next card out of the gate, and again I checked. I didn't think my thinly veiled ploy was likely to work twice in a row, but I couldn't resist. Check...bet $100...fold...ahhh, the ever entertaining check raise for the second time in a row, making it $200 to go. Fold....CALL. I couldn't believe it. What could this guy possibly have that could warrant a call with no more degree of difficulty than deciding between soup and salad? I put him on AA or a slick...likely holding the Ace of clubs. 5th street brought a 6d. Could it be possible, I wondered...the word "check" was as distasteful in my mouth as "blind date," "chlamydia," or "last call" but I forced it out with a sigh....thank goodness I had only the single syllable to muster. He stared me down, and bet out $200. Impossible, I thought to myself. This cannot be happening. I was feeling pretty guilty about this time...not only had this guy ordered a beautiful cheese and deli platter, he had been the most gracious host. I raised him to $400. He called in a heartbeat. He proudly laid his 10 Q on the table. Not a club in sight. I couldn't believe he'd called my monster with 2 pair, especially with such an intimidating board. I quickly showed my hand, and flashed my most apologetic smile. He was stunned. Mortified. He was frozen in time somehow, like a deer in the headlights. He couldn't quite bring himself to let go of the chips he'd already started raking towards him. It was a terrible, awkward moment. No one said a word. I slowly gathered my winnings. He eventually stammered something like "nice hand...didn't see that one coming" and the game continued. I have dreamed about it every night since. I am not likely to soon forget the day I successfully pulled off 3 check-raises in the same hand. The pot was almost $2000. Them's some pretty high stakes for this cat...it works for me in a freeze-out tourney, but I always seem to run into cash game fans with really deep pockets, which, as you well know, can be an absolute dream or your worst nightmare! Well, I am returning tomorrow for a rematch. I think I will stick to the age-old plan....tread lightly, and carry a big stick. See you there. Cheers, JJ.

Are Four 'A's Good?

2007-02-22T17:09:00.000-08:00

There is nothing in the world so satisfying as a beautifully executed trap. As a woman, I still run into tables (not just individuals) that are certain that I couldn't possibly have idea what I'm holding. At the end of the day, I suppose it is to our advantage to let everyone think that brushing our hair uses up most of the brain power we possess. I don't mean to perpetuate the stereotype, but keeping my mouth shut and acting confused has paid off in a number of situations. About 8 months ago I found myself seated next to some big dogs at an important satellite table. I was dealt KQh in late position on the third hand, tripled the pot amount, got 4 callers, and flopped the straight flush to the King. Will wonders never cease? Trying not to pee my pants, I casually studied the faces around me. I noticed someone familiar, staring back at me, and realized it belonged to an old high school friend's little brother. I had never played against this fellow, but I'd been hearing a lot about him for the past few years; he was making quite a name for himself accross the country. He gave me a goofy grin that said he'd recognized me all along, and gushed "I used to have the hugest crush on you." My heart deflated. He was still in the pot. The Ac and Kd sealed the deal, as I "reluctantly" called every enormous raise, with only one player folding. First to act gave the ultimatum, and I responded with that "what the hell" shrug and moved all in; we found 2 more callers without a moment's hesitation. I will spare you the details, but it did not turn into a very happy reunion.

Saturdays are for Poker

2007-02-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

All right...it's Saturday...2:06 pm....I am supposed to be at work until 8pm, but it just ain't gonna happen...called in the troops, and I'm off to the Press Box for a little NTN poker....meet you there.

Hold'em VS a Happy Home

2007-02-13T09:48:00.000-08:00

If you haven't learned this gem yet, please pay close attention. Playing poker with your significant other can be a dangerous thing. All the therapy in the world cannot undo the damage. My husband and I often play in the same Sunday game, but I have never faced him at a final table, let alone head to head. This past weekend, it all came crashing down. Before leaving for the tournament, we had a few choice words about calling the "all-in" rather than going over the top, pissing off the other players, and allowing a short stack back in the game. Silly me, I thought we were clear on the subject. Cut to 8 hours later, 4 players remaining. I think this would be an excellent time to defer to aliases. Let's call my fella "Lee." I was in seat one, "Lee" in seat 2, "Jake" in seat 3, and "T-Bone" in seat 4, with pay-outs for only the top two finishers. I was the chip leader, with Jake a close second; Lee and T-Bone were distant 3rd and 4th, with enough chips to play only a hand or two. Unfortuneately, Jake voiced the obvious game plan, stating that he would take T-Bone out, as I worked on Lee. This didn't seem to sit well, but poker is poker. Then the unthinkable happened; I doubled Lee up almost instantly, with Jake following suit shortly after. Lee is a bit of a kamikaze (I have heard him say "I don't fold" on more than one occassion), but he hit some nice hands. I ended up taking T-Bone out shortly after; then came the mayhem. Lee had torpedoed his way into 2nd, and Jake had assumed the role of short stack. Jake's few chips should have been a no-brainer. Between Lee and I, he should have been out of the game in no time. It seemed however, that no matter what I bet, Lee would raise (or at least call) because he didn't want to be left out of any kind of a pot. This of course, gave Jake serious pot-odds that he couldn't help but call, and he kept taking hands that he would never ordinarily play. Shaking my head in disbelief, I tried to remain calm as my man fed me to the wolves. No amount of shin kicking mattered...dirty looks went unheeded. The game went on like this for some time. I was breathing fire. My pocket queens were trampled by a pair of 2s; my suited slick lost to 67 offsuit, and on it went. I had finally lost it with my hubby. Embittered, and now shortstacked, a Confucious-like voice repeated the mantra "In order to live, one must be prepared to die" inside my head. I added the phrase "and take one's husband with them," and it was game on. Eventually, a few hands came my way, and I was able to eliminate Jake from the game, simultaneously recouping some chips from my dear hubby. Finally back in the drivers' seat, I decided that I was not in the mood for head to head competition at the moment, and went all in on the first hand, with a K9 of diamonds. Lee called with an K8 of spades. I couldn't believe my luck! The flop came K82, and I wished I had never met him. A rag on 4th convinced me that I could breathe fire, and turn him to stone with just one glance. And my 9 on the river reminded me how very much I love him.

Pump up the Jam

2007-02-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

Music is a huge part of my life. It is also an important part of any social gathering, including home games. You're never going to please everyone, so you might as well play your favorites....they make you listen to Boney M. At my place, changing cds is no small feat...if a disc is actually in the correct case, it's most likely scratched, and try as you might, you can't ignore the Minipops version of Brown Girl in the Ring skipping. I have recently discovered the perfect solution...it's an online radio station called Pandora. All you have to do is enter a few artists you like, and it'll keep the great tunes coming. I swear...it's like being the hot chick at the bar in the tube top who always hears her favorite songs (for some reason.) If you don't like a song, give it the thumbs down and skip it...it will omit songs with similar characteristics. If only life were like that...I didn't particularly care for the 2-7 off-suit you dealt me last hand...If you could just go ahead and deal me a nice high pocket pair, that'd be great...that suited A-K you tossed me was perfect...keep up the good work! We'd like to know your favorite poker tunes...we're making a mixed tape. A few bands to watch for: Waste of Aces (stemming from a lethal combination of copious amounts of liquor, a '4-track, ukelele, and a 3o foot yacht',) Thee Pirates, and Raised By Wolves (featuring frontman and gaming guru Billy Bones) Up the Ante, JJ.

Bones Knows

2007-02-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

A shout out to Billy Bones of Sparrow Guitars. We look forward to the Vancouver tournament this March. Billy is the West Coast King of Poker, Pinball, Ratbikes, and Guitars. You can visit Billy at www.sparrowguitars.com or find Billy and Krista's band at www.myspace.com/raisedbywolves

Oh, Danny Boy

2007-02-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

Daniel Negreanu is our favorite. He is what the game is all about. His approach to poker, and, it seems, life in general, is nothing short of astonishing. Have you seen this guy with his mother? It's unbelieveable! If there is a kinder soul on the face of the planet, we sure haven't met him! Good luck at the WHUC!

Chip and a Chair

2007-02-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

The next All In By 8 Ladies' Texas Hold'em Tournament begins at the traditional 8pm on Saturday February 10th. Costumes are optional. We will be hosting a large freeze-out tournament next month, open to the public...don't forget to vote for your favorite buy-in amount. Postage stamps, sticky pennies, and unruly pets will no longer be accepted. Please remember...we like to smoke. if you are asthmatic, bring your inhaler. Any unattended children will be given unlimited espresso and and a free puppy.

Girls, Girls, Girls

2007-02-05T16:33:00.000-08:00

The ever-vigilant (and vengeful) All In by 8 Team found this delightful item. It's a good thing it actually reads "for girls," or we might have simply been content mocking it amongst ourselves. I haven't belonged to an all-girl club of any kind (save a creepy week of Brownies when I was about 9.) We love poker. Anytime, anywhere. And every once in a while, we like to have a tourney amongst ourselves. Back to regular play, we'll beat you with pink cards if we have to . Up the Ante, JJ.

We Mean it Fellas...

2007-02-05T16:24:00.000-08:00

Seriously, guys....it's Ladies' Night. We don't care if you wear a dress, drink Tia Maria, or bake like Martha Stewart. You cannot goad or cajole us into letting you play. Go to the strip club or something. Don't even think about taking my bike.

Marty and Porkchop

2007-02-05T15:24:00.000-08:00

My dear dogs, Marty and Porkchop are a bit of a distraction during home games. Besides the expected crotch sniffing and having to go outside to pee every 7 minutes, I have been advised that they are the foulest smelling dogs on the face of the planet. An especially gassy Pitbull-Great Dane cross, Marty is at least 70 pounds. A small child would not suffice for supper. They continually hound my guests for love, attention, and snacks. They shed on their clothes, steal their shoes, and swoop in for unwanted kisses at every possible turn. I've also never caught anyone cheating.
Up the Ante, JJ.

We Three Kings

2007-02-05T14:42:00.000-08:00

What simply has to be my favorite poker story of all time originates from last years' Station Classic. My father was visiting from overseas, and I'd managed to pique his interest in a high stakes game, as he was having a bad run with blackjack and craps. We were seated at opposite ends of the same table. Now, my father is not a cheater...collusion would never cross his mind. But there are a lot of things that do not cross my father's mind. Don't get me wrong...the man has a Degree for every day of the week, but he tends to be somewhat obtuse, and even self-involved at times. Now, being so close to the US border, we get alot of Southerners attending our tournaments, and there happened to be the most stereotypical mark sitting next to my father...ten gallon hat, chaw in cheek, and hundreds falling out his back pocket. It was from a Lynch film. Easy pickings, pigeon, and patsy rolled into one. After many a heinous hand, I'm sitting on pocket Queens, and start building the pot. A few hopefuls stay in to see the flop, including old "Lucky." The flop comes 3-Q-K (rainbow) and I'm doing all I can to keep from peeing my pants. Then started the feud...the old codger wouldn't raise, but called everything. Please keep in mind that I've seen this guy play 2-7 suited more aggressive than one would a pair of aces...I knew he wasn't simply inviting action...all I can assume is that he's tilting after being knocked out of the tourney, and has the money to play any damned hand he feels like. And then, for some ungodly reason, I see him lean over and show my father his hand at 4th street. How the dealer missed it, I'll never know, but come 5th, my father is humming away...a Christmas Carol, of all things...and then it hit me..."We Three Kings" were going to kick those Ladies' asses; classic Brunson/Reese. I backed out of the hand as gracefully as I could, and thankfully, he showed 'em, in all their glory. No one at the table, including old "Hickory," noticed my father's tune...including my dad. He swears to this day that I'm making it all up. I think my dad finally gave up on poker. He had a tell or two.

More Bad Beets

2007-02-05T14:20:00.000-08:00

A new Bad Beat Rule was finally instituted at the local Casino Poker Room this year. It happens. A tip of the hat to Scotty Nguyen. I would also like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to the altruistic soul who hit my car 3 times (yes, I did say 3) in the casino parking lot on the weekend. You should be much more careful what you eat for supper...bad beets bite back.

Bad Beats

2007-02-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

Bad Beats are a fact of life. We can whimper, whine, and wail all we like, but it's not going to change a thing. I lost to quad 5s last week in a large tournament, and I'm still having nightmares. Conversely, I went all in (shortstacked) on pocket 10s the other night, and abruptly came face to face with pocket Kings. They were held by a dear friend, and very good card player. With a nerve-racking flop of 9-J-K, an 8 came up on 4th. I advised the dealer to look at the river first, and get a head start if it was a Queen. Will wonders never cease, that all important Q appeared on 5th for the straight. The guilt sure can stick with you. A word of advice...Toronto cops will always stick together when it comes to a bad beat (absolutely no pun intended.)

All In Logos

2007-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

We'd sure like some feedback on these logos...we'd love to see yours as well (designs, that is.)
We look forward to hearing from you. Up the ante, JJ.

Trash Talk & Hors D'oeuvres

2007-02-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

Ladies' Poker Night is a funny thing; it's a little more refined than the usual game, but the trash talk still manages to sneak in at a few crucial moments. The canapes and cocktails were delectable, with Peach being the drink of choice...peach schnapps, peach cider, peach coolers...a little disconcerting for even the girliest of girls. Even though almost every one of us is at some crucial stage of our stop-smoking program, it seemed we were playing in a burning building. And then, there's the pot. I personally cannot smoke pot and play poker. It amazes me the savvy with which some people can...most of my friends are seasoned professionals. Shuffling alone would prove much too daunting a task.

The 3rd game ended the evening around 5am. I won the first 2 games, but was out, and dealing to the last 2 standing by 4am. It was one of those "all-in-gone-wrong" episodes, not really a victory, but rather a confusing combination of several too many beverages and an uncovered bet, with both players grabbing for the chips at the end of the hand. A split pot was not entirely a fair solution, but our newest player didn't seem to mind an equal number of chips, as chip value hasn't proven a particularly relevant factor in her world to this point. She is learning fast, however, and playing some really nice hands. I sure hope she doesn't hold a grudge.

I still love to play with the guys, but Ladies' Night is a refreshing change. The biggest differences, to my untrained eye, would have to be as follows:

mini eggrolls and shrimp cocktail VS stale potato chip remnants
home-made cookies VS home-made bongs
Chianti VS Canadian in a can
Cat Stevens and the Cars VS Slayer and Sabbath
passive aggressive pandering VS pugnacity and porn

My favorite line from Ladies' Night... "I got three aces...suited."

And so it Begins

2007-02-03T17:01:00.000-08:00

I work every day from 11am 'til 8pm...supposedly. I have recently discovered that if you show up 6 minutes late, and leave 9 minutes early, you can shave 15 minutes off your workday with few people being the wiser...if, that is, you are the boss. Don't get me wrong...I have an inestimable work ethic...I just really love to play poker.

I host a weekly game, and play in a few others. It seems that poker always starts at 8. How it happens is beyond me, but invariably, poker games begin at 8pm. My new trick is to leave at 7:51pm, which allows for me to be seated at any poker table in town by 7:59, just in time for that all important first hand. It also allows me to be all-in by 8:00.

It is 7:26 now, so I guess I'd better get crackin'...

All In By Eight is the new moniker for our ladies' poker tournament, held every Saturday night, at, you guessed it, 8 o'clock....and what a great handle it is. Our new clothing line will be out within the month...photos will be posted soon! We are still hoping that the infamous Red Hot Poker Tour will make its' way to the Prairie provinces, 'cause we sure like their style. Poker isn't always about deep pockets...we love the lack of buy-ins and the abundance of smarts (not to mention the aggressive, antagonistic, cut-throat nature of their game!) Until they arrive, however, we will have to be content with competing in our own little domain.

It is so much easier to find a game these days, thanks to the new-found popularity of Texas Hold'em. I have always loved poker...I was country, when country wasn't cool. Please don't allow my narrative to mislead you...I did not say I was always a good poker player. In fact, sometimes I think I should take up knitting. But hot damn...do I love to play poker.

I would love to ramble at great length about this subject, but it's 7:50, and as you all well know, I do like to be all-in by 8.