Smart Baccarat

Yep,

It's back for 2008; and even bigger and better (well, I guess we can't say better.... YET...).

First event of the season is the weekend of 26th, April.

Special thanks to the Tourney Director, Harv and the blog-master (and photographer), Bob.

Check out the new MPT Blog!

If there is anyone out there interested in joining this fun, social event --- give a shout!

Labels: atlantic city, mattress poker, poker

After posting about the most recent MPT [Mattress Poker Tour] that took place on October 20th; Harvey reminded me the story of the humble beginnings of the MPT.

Harv has been the driving force (along with a few other ECLVA'ers) of the event; and can be seen here preparing for the July 2007 event in the House of Blues Suite at Showboat, Atlantic City.



The origins of the MPT, as told by Harv :

It was created on my wedding night! After Cath, one of her bridesmaids Katie, her friend (who also walked her down the aisle Jon and I cleaned up the reception hall (since we didn't think that far in advance of who was doing that) we headed back to the hotel. I told Catherine and the other people that we were going to have a poker game afterwards.

We get back to the hotel around midnight and the hotel bar had just closed. Catherine calls us up (we had just gotten changed) and I hear her voice off of the phone, she was just two rooms down from us! Jon and Katie are still arranging things and Jon has a set of chips in his truck. So he brings them up and we set up in Catherine's room. There isn't a table large enough for everyone, so we play on the mattress (unfortunately she had two beds. Cath was so tired, she didn't play, but was laying across the top of the bed. Catherine and Katie sat on the other side of the bed, I sat on the footstool part of the chair that was there and Jon sat on the desk chair. We couldn't decide whether to play for money or not and since everyone didn't have cash, we played for fun. Cathy ended up falling asleep so much she went back to our room.

I think Catherine went out first and then I did (the two "most" experienced players went out first and second). Katie eventually lost to Jon, who won the first MPT but no money or trophy. Jon and Katie went to their rooms and I was chatting with Catherine (as I often do) and lost track of time. It was around 4 am when I was heading back to my room but my key didn't work. In fact none of the keys I had worked. I knocked on the door but Cathy was dead to the world. I went back to Catherine's room and tried to call her, she didn't answer. Catherine suggested I go to the front desk and get another room key. I said I didn't have any ID on me but she suggested I try.

So I shlep down to the front desk, athletic shorts, t-shirt, no shoes. . .

Me: I got locked out of my room, can I get another key?
Clerk: Do you have any ID?
Me; Uh, no, it's locked in the room.

At that time, the phone rings.

Clerk: Are you Harvey?
Me: Yes.
Clerk: Cathy's awake.

And I do the walk of shame back to the room. . .

And now you know the background story of the MPT!

Labels: atlantic city, mpt, poker, showboat

Just got back from a great weekend in Atlantic City, which included a dealt Royal on a 9/6 JoB (after throwing away 5 cards) LOTS of drinking and relaxing with friends... and perfect 70F and breezy weather! Just fuck'in loverly all around ! Now, if I could only get up the energy to write a complete trip report (hopefully, by the weekend....)

Saturday, October 20th, 2007 11PM

MPT Tournament - Showboat Casino

The MPT is the Mattress Poker Tour, created by Harv on his wedding night --- to be discussed in a separate post.

Here are the results;
Can you guess who won :)

(w/ special thanks to Harv and his wife for providing this poker blog)

The players:

Seat 1 - Mrs. Betdponies – aka Cathy
Seat 2 - Meredith – a friend of Michael’s
Seat 3 - Eric – Michael’s brother-in-law
Seat 4 - Harv29 – aka Harv
Seat 5 - Mtohio – aka the “baccarat king”, Michael *** That's ME.... ***
Seat 6 - Bigfus – aka Catherine
Seat 7 - Dave – another friend of Michael’s
Seat 8 - Rowanb – aka “Row”, Bob

At stake:

$100 for first place and the MPT trophy and the right to come back in December for the MPT Tournament of Champions
$60 for second place
$40 for third place

Buy-in was $25 + $5, $26 went to the trophy cost and $14 went to a high hand of the night jackpot of aces-full or better. If no high hand, the money will be rolled into the ToC prize pool.

The action:

The rounds were 10 minutes long with blinds starting at $5-$10. There were a couple of all-ins early but no one was busted out during the first hour, which according to Cath’s count there were 17 hands before the chip up break, with Michael leading at the break. Then with the blinds at $75-$150, Eric goes all-in for $475 and is called by Meredith. Eric is holding Ah9d, Meredith AdJc.

The flop comes out 5d-Ks-Kd. Turn is 3c and no 9 for Eric with a Qc on the river and ending Eric’s tournament.

Later in round 25 with the blinds at $200-$400, I hold 8h10d in the BB. Michael called and Meredith limps in and I check.

Flop: 2h, 10c, 4c

I check the top pair, it is check around.

Turn: 6d

I check, Michael bets $500, Meredith folds. I have $525 remaining, if I call, I’m going to have to be all-in. Michael is an unpredictable player, but I have a feeling that I am in front. I go all-in and he, of course, calls, showing 4dKd. He is down to 5 outs, I like my chances, I (being the dealer), burn and turn the river of:

Ks

KING?!?!? And just like that, I’m out of the tournament.

Apparently the action got really fast and furious, as in the next hand Michael, Catherine and Meredith see the flop of:

Js-8d-3c. Michael bets out $300, Catherine folds and Meredith calls.

Turn: Jh. Michael bets $500 and Meredith calls.

River: Qh. Michael bets all-in, Meredith calls.

Michael shows Jd8c, Jacks full of eights. Meredith shows 9h10h for a queen high straight. Meredith is eliminated from the tournament.

In the next hand, Catherine, Dave and Michael see the flop:

Qh-10d-10h. Dave bets out $1,000, Michael calls, Catherine folds.

Turn: Kd. Dave bets $875 all-in, Michael calls.

River: 2s

Dave shows QsJd, two pair, Queens and Tens. Michael shows Jc9d, King high straight. Dave is eliminated from the tournament.

Now there are four remaining and three paying spots. Someone is eliminated in the next hand:

Catherine goes all-in and Michael calls.

Catherine shows AcQh and Michael shows 8c7c.

Flop: Ks-4d-7s

Turn: 5d

Catherine is looking for an ace or queen but:

River: 7h

Michael wins with three-of-a-kind, sevens, Catherine has a pair of sevens. Catherine goes out on the bubble.

With the blinds at $200-$400 and a $25 ante, we find Cathy going all-in with Michael calling.

Cathy shows Qs9h, Michael shows Js8d

Flop: 10s-Jc-10d. Michael makes two pair but Cathy has the open-ended straight draw plus the queen for a higher two pair.

Turn: 4h. Cathy still has 11 outs to win.

River: 7c

No luck on the river. Cathy goes out in third place and collects $40.

We are now head’s up between Bob and Michael. Bob having finished second in the July MPT at the House of Blues, which was Michael’s first MPT.

Michael won hand 34 and Bob folded preflop on hand 35. Bob won hand 36 when they both checked down the river.

Hand 37: Bob moves all-in preflop and Michael calls.

Flop: 9d-10d-7d

Turn: Qh

River: Kc

Bob shows 6dJc for a straight, king high.
Michael shows Ah2c for high card, ace.

Hand 38: They see a flop of 9c-Ks-9s and Bob folds to Michael’s bet of $900.

Hand 39: Bob goes all-in preflop for $2,400 and Michael folds.

Hand 40: Michael raises $600 preflop, Bob folds.

Hand 41: Michael raises $600 preflop, Bob folds.

Hand 42: Michael raises $800 preflop, Bob folds.

Hand 43: Bob raises all-in for $700, Michael calls.

Flop: 5s-3h-9d

Turn: 10c

River: Kd

Bob shows 6c8d for king high, Michael shows 5d2d for a pair of fives.

Bob is eliminated in second place for $60.

Michael wins the MPT and $100!

So not only is he baccarat king and thread hi-jack king he can now call himself an MPT Champion! After Meredith knocked out Eric, Michael was the Terminator, eliminating everyone in his path. Of course, it didn't hurt that he gained an early chip lead. . .

I'd also like to thank my lovely wife for keeping the poker blog. I just told her I wanted to keep a record of who knocked out who and with what hand, but she kept a record of all of the action. Bob, if you want me to investigate any chip dumping, let me know, we will review the play. . .

No high hand qualified, so the $14 rolls into the Tournament of Champions prize pool (along with $20 from betdponies (and TSS777 should kick in a $20 as well, perhaps two since he won two this year).

The ToC is currently scheduled for December 27th (or 28th) at Harrah's Marina in Atlantic City

Labels: atlantic city, mpt, poker, showboat, video poker