WSOP BROOKTOWN EVENT OCT 3RD -

We are 1 week away from our penultimate event. NL Texas Hold ‘Em.

Due to a last minute change of plans, the event will be held at my house in Middletown, and as usual we’d like to start by 8pm. Please let me know who will be attending, I’m a little tight on space so FOUNDERS only this month. Below is the blind structure and starting chip counts.

Be sure to visit our websites for additional information.

www.BrooktownLeague.com



Event Overview – NO LIMIT TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

THE GAME

The game is No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Maximum number of players - 14.
• Minimum number of players - 3.
• Chip Value:
o White 25
o Red 50
o Green 100
o Blue 250
o Black 500

BUYIN/REBUY/ADD-ON

• The initial buy-in is $40. This will purchase 3,500 in tournament chips. These chips have no monetary value.
• A player may add-on at any point in the tournament prior to the first hand of round 5. Each player is allowed up to 1 (one) add-on in this tournament.
• Add-on are $20 and will purchase 1,750 in tournament chips.



SEATING

• Table assignment and seating will be determined prior to the start of the tournament by random drawing. (However, the tournament director reserves the right to redraw the tables).
• Button position will be determined by the random assignment of seat #1. Seat #1 will be the first to deal.
• If we have in excess of 10 players at the start of this event we will use two tables.
• If the tournament began with two tables, as soon as the remaining players equal 8, we will combine the two tables and have one table of 8 players.
• When the difference in the number of players at the two tables is greater than 1 then a player must move from the bigger table to the smaller table. When a player is eliminated and a move must be made, the player ‘playing a hand’ in the same position (seat), relative to the left of the button (on the subsequent hand at each table) at the highest populated table must move to the eliminated player’s seat. The move must occur before the next hand is dealt at any table. For the purposes of this rule, a player is ‘playing a hand’ once all the blinds/antes have been posted and the dealer has begun shuffling (riffles the deck).A moved player will be dealt a hand at the start of the next deal and assume any obligation of the new seat including the posting of a blind or dealing.


BLINDS

• The two players to the left of the dealer are required to post “blind” bets before seeing their cards. The 1st is the SB and the 2nd is the BB.
• If the SB is knocked out, the button essentially goes into his empty seat.
• If the BB is knocked out, then the BB moves on to the player who would have had it next and there isn’t a SB on this hand (SB moves into the empty seat). On the following hand, the button would wind up in the empty seat. The player who just had the BB would have SB, and the BB moves on normally to the next player.
• When play is down to two players, figure out who would get the BB next if nothing had happened. He will be the BB on the next hand. The SB is always on the button and the other player is the BB.

SCHEDULE FOR BLINDS
Level Time Limit Little Blind Big Blind
1 40 25 50
2 40 50 75
3 40 50 100
4 30 75 150
5 30 100 200
6 30 150 300
7 20 200 400
8 20 300 600
9 20 500 1000
10 20 800 1600
11 15 1000 2000
12 15 1500 3000
13 10 2000 4000
14 10 3000 6000
15 10 5000 10000

The above schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the tournament director, in an effort to complete the tournament by 2am.






TIMER USE AND BREAKS

A timer will be used to time the blind progression. When the timer expires, it should be immediately restarted. The next hand will be dealt at the new blind level. For the purposes of this rule, a hand is considered currently in play once the all blinds are posted AND the dealer has begun shuffling (riffles the deck).
The timer is stopped during breaks. No additional hands at any table should be started during such a break although hands already in progress should be completed.


THE DEAL

The player to the right of the dealer may be given the right to cut the deck before the cards are dealt.
The dealer is responsible for making sure that all bets have been called before dealing each round of card(s).
Order of the deal:

1. Dealer deals two cards (one at a time) face down to each player.
2. Betting round 1 occurs.
3. Dealer burns one card and deals 3 cards (flop) in the middle of the table face up.
4. Betting round 2 occurs.
5. Dealer burns one card and deals one card (turn/4th Street) in the middle.
6. Betting round 3 occurs.
7. Dealer burns one card and deals the final card (river/5th Street).
8. Betting round 4 occurs.


BETTING

• Check and raise is allowed.
• The minimum bet is equal to the size of the BB.
• The raise must always be at least the size of the previous bet or raise.
• Any player can bet all of their chips at anytime (ALL-IN).
• Betting round 1 begins with the player to the left of the BB.
• Betting rounds 2-4 begin with the player to the left of the button.
• When only two players are left sitting at the table, the BB is dealt to first, the button acts first before the flop, and the BB acts first after the flop.
• Do not splash the pot. Stack your bets in front of you the dealer will rake the bets into the pot after the betting round is complete.
• Do not bet, check, call, fold, or raise out of turn.


WINNING THE TOURNAMENT

The final player remaining, in the championship round, with all the chips will be the first prize winner. The last player eliminated will be the second prize winner; the second last player eliminated will be the third prize winner, etc... If two players get eliminated in the same hand, the person who started the hand with the most chips gets the higher finish and awarded the corresponding prize pool for that placement.

BROOKTOWN POKER APRIL EVENT INFO

One week from tonight is event # 4. No limit Hold Em.

The event will be held at JMAC’s in Spring Lake, and as usual we’d like to start by 8pm. Please let me know who will be attending. Below is the blind structure and starting chip counts.

Be sure to visit our websites for additional information.

http://www.brooktownleague.com/


Event Overview – NO LIMIT TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

THE GAME

The game is No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Maximum number of players - 16.
Minimum number of players - 3.
Chip Value:
White 25
Red 50
Green 100
Blue 250
Black 500

BUYIN/REBUY/ADD-ON

The initial buy-in is $40. This will purchase 3,500 in tournament chips. These chips have no monetary value.
A player may add-on at any point in the tournament prior to the first hand of round 5. Each player is allowed up to 1 (one) add-on in this tournament.
Add-on are $20 and will purchase 1,750 in tournament chips.

BROOKTOWN WSOP MARCH RESULTS

The final order of finish for March's 7 stud Hi/Lo event was:

DARAKJY
TRIOLA
MCCARTHY
FEDEROWICZ
N MARTUCCI
BRUCATO
COLE
BENT
Diahy
FERN
SOUTHARD
DAVIS

BOB WINS BROOKTOWN MARCH EVENT

Well so much for my predictions (and my poker playing). Bob took home his second win in three months, and neither Rich nor I were anywhere near the top 4. I finished 6th and Rich was the second man down.

It was another entertaining, competitive night, and as always with the limit events, there were a number of chip count swings, JMAC down to his last card and nearly eliminated in 11th, survived and rallied back to finish a strong 3rd, and Ken Bent had a commanding lead at my table for most of the event, only to get cold and end up 8th.

I think is obvious Bob likes to play hands, and looking over the list of 7 card stud winners in the past, Mangine (2), Jim Martucci, JMAC, Southard, Frank (2) and now Bob, there sure isn’t a lot of folding going on in that group. When you look at that list of names and playing style you would figure aggressive play is the key to success (when the cards are falling), and seeing lots of cards is the only way to win in this type of game. It makes me thing that Ken or Scott is prime to win the next (and last) limit event of the year.

Well 3 months in (and 2 limit events out of the way) and now we hit a little run of 5 straight Hold ‘Em or Omaha events. Bob has a commanding lead on the point count after winning 2 events, and I know it’s early, but this year is shaping up to be even closer and tighter than last year. Stan and Triola have also cashed twice this year, but have added an 11th and 14th place finish in the other event respectfully.

2nd thru 10th place are separated by only 350 points and Rich Southard isn’t even in that group. Rich is currently in 11th place, and certainly can’t be counted out yet. It’s all about winning events and avoiding the satellite, and with 8 events still to go this year looks like it’s going to even tighter than last year.

The next event in NL Hold ‘Em at JMAC’s house on April 4th.

7 STUD HI/LO TONIGHT

Although not a game loved by the masses, I enjoy it, and look forward to an exciting and special night.

I'm actually predicting a top 4 finish from myself, and a win by Rich Southard tonight.

The Brooktown League Poker Trip to AC

First off, I want to say I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people take the day off, and make the trip down to support my insanity, and Rich’s reward for being the 2006 Brooktown WSOP Champion. Granted, I’m not naive enough to believe anyone really took the day off just to support me and Rich and did it in reality because it was a nice trip and poker day in AC, but, I still want to thank everyone for the really nice day. I know Frank and Rich went home big winners, regardless of their tournament results and I although I didn’t win any money I had a really great day.

The tournament was scheduled to start at the Borgota at 11am. It was a $100 entry fee with a $20 fee to the casino. They guaranteed $20,000 would be paid out in prizes. Entrants were allowed to begin signing up at 9am and there would be some late comers and additional entrants added once some players were eliminated in the early rounds (why does this seem to me like the big brother nomination ceremony, where they feel the need to explain what is happening to the people who know exactly what is about to happen?).

As for our group, we had Rich, Frank, Triola, Neil, Stan, JMAC, Jay, Scott, myself and Chacko even took the ride down with JMAC. You would be hard pressed to find a finer group of players.

I was seated at table 14 (there were 29 tables in full to start) and I was able to see JMAC directly to my left, Stan was right behind me and Rich was a table to my right. Jay was a few tables over the right and I was able to see him only because of his beautifully colored shirt. Neil was in another room, apparently placed at a table with people who simply over raised the pot and bet whatever number they saw on the TV regardless of their cards when it was their turn to act (needless to say, Neil did not have a fun table).

311 playeres were entered, and first prize was just over $9K. Not a bad little take home for the day I thought. The rounds were 20 minutes long and after the first break at round 3, all 10 of us were still alive. No one was low on chips, but no one was really very strong either. I think Frank and Triola were just over $20K, and I was at about $16K. It was a very different game (at least I thought so) then we were all accustomed to. My table didn’t have a lot of action, there were very few showdowns, and NO ONE saw flops for free. It wasn’t until round 4 that I made a couple of moves on some pots strictly playing position and guessing that the other players were weak and wouldn’t call my raise.

I was at about $14K when 2 players limped in, and a 3rd player went all and I looked down on the big blind and saw AJ. I called the all in ($2650 more), 1 player folded and the other called as well. The flop came out J 8 4 but all diamonds (of which I had none), we both checked and then the turn came out a 4th diamond. Again we all checked and the river didn’t help anyone as both players had 1 diamond and made their flushes to negate my top pair, top kicker. The all-in player took a nice $9,500 pot that would have made me happy.

I was hovering in the $10-12K chip count when the last hand before the 2nd break came. By now we were all anteing as well as blinds had increased, so there was probably about $2500 in the pot before anyone even got their cards. I had A-5 suited, not a hand I generally care much for, but I was on the button, no one was else was in the hand so I raised the blinds, got the small blind to call and the big blind folded. The flop came up 2 clubs, so after the small blind checked I bet $1000 into a pot of about $3,000. He called. The turn came up a 2nd heart, so now the board was showing 4 non-picture cards, 2 heart, 2 clubs. I bet $1,500 and again got a call. Finally the river came up a useless 2 of diamonds…I bet $2,000 and as soon as I did I hated it. This guy was probably on a draw and there is no way that 2 helped him, but he might have had a mid pair to go with it, and I had just given him a decent price to put $2K in a pot that was now over $10,000. I didn’t think it out, I rushed my bet and I was livid. He took a long time thinking it out, (to long in my mind, he only had about $5K left in chips, I had maybe $8K) until he finally turned over K-6 of hearts with the 6 being paired, (3rd pair), I showed my (weak) bluff, and immediately realized I was lucky that he was a bigger puss than I was.

In reality the biggest pot I won on the day, was probably the hand I played the worst. I don’t have any hands to second guess, I didn’t get a lot of action because my starting hands left me little to no decision most of the day. I survived a few more levels and finally got knocked out with 12 tables left when my all-in (AQ) was called by a QJ for a pot of over $30K and the Jack hit, sending me home earlier than I’d have liked in my first ever Atlantic City poker tournament.

Rich, JMAC, Stan, Neil, Jay were already eliminated, apparently Rich and JMAC were playing table games, I found Neil and Jay working some cash Hold Em tables, and Frank enjoying the tasty tap beers and generous poker machines in the B-Bar. After hitting 4 of a kind in Let it Ride, Frank treated the group to a nice lunch, we had a lot of laughs and I was hope in time for American Idol and Big Brother by 8pm.

Triola and Scott were the last 2 standing and Scott would have probably won the whole damn thing had he not called 2 player's all in bets with a pair of 10's.

I learned a lot about how different it is playing at a table of 10 strangers as opposed to the same group of guys each month in Brooktown and in the FA league. I also think the Borgota does a great job with the event, and I look forward to doing it again.

Thanks again to everyone for a super day!!!

SCOTT DAVIS WINS FEB POKER EVENT

Thanks again to Jay for hosting the 3rd poker event in his house in the last 60 days or so. He always says "that's what the basement is for" and it's hard to argue with him. He even put out the blue cheese (or is it ranch, I always get the white creamy sauces confused) and the duck sauce and no one spilled any of it.

No Limit Hold 'Em...I have to say, it has really gotten pretty competitive, we have played it 14 times now in BROOKTOWN WSOP history and in any given month, just about anyone can finish in any place. This month, 2 of the top NL Hold 'Em players in Brooktown, if not the world, finished 10th and 12th (Jay and Rich). Jim Martucci had his best showing in over 2 years (not counting the satellite) and Stan, who was the self proclaimed "Hottest player in Brooktown" was gone in 11th place.

Neil, Scott any myself were all seated at the same starting table, and any of us could have easily been out in 10th or 11th place, having been all-in and short stacked a number of times, but "luckily" we all held on. Mike Triola had built up a nice chip stack and was playing very well pushing players around and making things happen, but after the merge, the cards went cold and Mike's quest for that ever elusive 1st Brooktown win, will have to wait at least another month.

At the other table, January winner Bob Darakjy, was again the first time to rebuy, but this time it didn't work out like it did in January as Bob was the 2nd man down. Jay's A3 lost to an A2 when the 2 fell and I know JMAC had a ton of chips early (doesn't he always) but he was 1st man out after the merge.

As a matter of fact, none of this month's top 4, Scott, Neil, Mark and Triola didn't finish higher than 10th last month, and last month's top 4, Bob, Mangine, Jay and Stan, didn't finish higher than 9th this month, making for a no clear cut leader in the points (and top 6) battle.

As Jay showed us last year, and Rich the year before though, until August or September roll around, you're never out of the hunt to avoid the dreaded satellite table.

Next month we play 7 card stud where again, anything can happen. With only 25 days to go until March's event, it's just about time for me to log on to full tilt and figure out a way to increase my luck and win a poker tournament.

BROOKTOWN WSOP NEXT EVENT FEB 8TH

We are less than 2 weeks away from our February event. NL Texas Hold ‘Em.

The event will be held in Jackson, and as usual we’d like to start by 8pm. Please let me know who will be attending. Below is the blind structure and starting chip counts.

Event Overview – NO LIMIT TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

THE GAME

The game is No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Maximum number of players - 16.
Minimum number of players - 3.
Chip Value:
White 25
Red 50
Green 100
Blue 250
Black 500

BUYIN/REBUY/ADD-ON

The initial buy-in is $40. This will purchase 3,500 in tournament chips. These chips have no monetary value.
A player may add-on at any point in the tournament prior to the first hand of round 5. Each player is allowed up to 1 (one) add-on in this tournament.
Add-on are $20 and will purchase 1,750 in tournament chips.



SEATING

Table assignment and seating will be determined prior to the start of the tournament by random drawing. (However, the tournament director reserves the right to redraw the tables).
Button position will be determined by the random assignment of seat #1. Seat #1 will be the first to deal.
If we have in excess of 10 players at the start of this event we will use two tables.
If the tournament began with two tables, as soon as the remaining players equal 8, we will combine the two tables and have one table of 8 players.
When the difference in the number of players at the two tables is greater than 1 then a player must move from the bigger table to the smaller table. When a player is eliminated and a move must be made, the player ‘playing a hand’ in the same position (seat), relative to the left of the button (on the subsequent hand at each table) at the highest populated table must move to the eliminated player’s seat. The move must occur before the next hand is dealt at any table. For the purposes of this rule, a player is ‘playing a hand’ once all the blinds/antes have been posted and the dealer has begun shuffling (riffles the deck).A moved player will be dealt a hand at the start of the next deal and assume any obligation of the new seat including the posting of a blind or dealing.


BLINDS

The two players to the left of the dealer are required to post “blind” bets before seeing their cards. The 1st is the SB and the 2nd is the BB.
If the SB is knocked out, the button essentially goes into his empty seat.
If the BB is knocked out, then the BB moves on to the player who would have had it next and there isn’t a SB on this hand (SB moves into the empty seat). On the following hand, the button would wind up in the empty seat. The player who just had the BB would have SB, and the BB moves on normally to the next player.
When play is down to two players, figure out who would get the BB next if nothing had happened. He will be the BB on the next hand. The SB is always on the button and the other player is the BB.

TIMER USE AND BREAKS

A timer will be used to time the blind progression. When the timer expires, it should be immediately restarted. The next hand will be dealt at the new blind level. For the purposes of this rule, a hand is considered currently in play once the all blinds are posted AND the dealer has begun shuffling (riffles the deck).
The timer is stopped during breaks. No additional hands at any table should be started during such a break although hands already in progress should be completed.


THE DEAL

The player to the right of the dealer may be given the right to cut the deck before the cards are dealt.
The dealer is responsible for making sure that all bets have been called before dealing each round of card(s).
Order of the deal:

Dealer deals two cards (one at a time) face down to each player.
Betting round 1 occurs.
Dealer burns one card and deals 3 cards (flop) in the middle of the table face up.
Betting round 2 occurs.
Dealer burns one card and deals one card (turn/4th Street) in the middle.
Betting round 3 occurs.
Dealer burns one card and deals the final card (river/5th Street).
Betting round 4 occurs.


BETTING

Check and raise is allowed.
The minimum bet is equal to the size of the BB.
The raise must always be at least the size of the previous bet or raise.
Any player can bet all of their chips at anytime (ALL-IN).
Betting round 1 begins with the player to the left of the BB.
Betting rounds 2-4 begin with the player to the left of the button.
When only two players are left sitting at the table, the BB is dealt to first, the button acts first before the flop, and the BB acts first after the flop.
Do not splash the pot. Stack your bets in front of you the dealer will rake the bets into the pot after the betting round is complete.
Do not bet, check, call, fold, or raise out of turn.


WINNING THE TOURNAMENT

The final player remaining, in the championship round, with all the chips will be the first prize winner. The last player eliminated will be the second prize winner; the second last player eliminated will be the third prize winner, etc... If two players get eliminated in the same hand, the person who started the hand with the most chips gets the higher finish and awarded the corresponding prize pool for that placement.

Is Brooktown a "No Limit Hold 'Em League"

As most of you may remember, we considered a couple of possible rule changes to the structure and set up of BROOKTOWN Poker.

One of the suggestions up for consideration, was to have the over all points leader select the final championship game. The votes were a resounding 12-1 against (Stan being the only one that voted for it, with the proposer of the rule even voting against it.) I heard alot of chatter about how we are really a Hold 'Em league above all else.

While is it true that we do have almost half of our events, as well as the two play-off events as NL or PL Hold 'Em, I strongly will argue that this is an all around poker league first, with an emphasis on Hold 'Em. We are modeled after the official WSOP (http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/) with respect to what events they play as well as taking the concept of points and a year end championship from the World Poker Tour (http://www.worldpokertour.com/index.php) but I think we have a much more diverse roster of games then both these formats. These two "leagues" are so over loaded with Hold Em events, it makes us look like a RAZZ league.

It stands to reason, at least to me however, that as long as these two entities have such an emphasis on NL Hold 'Em, so should we, both in number of events, as well as "play-off" events.

If anyone is interested in starting, or running, a league of all Hold 'Em, or all 7 card stud, or even Yahtzee, I would hope you would consider inviting me to join, and you can count on me to be there at every event and support the hell out of it.

First Event of 2008 is in the books

Well...we're off.

And the winner as I am sure you all know by now, is our newest member Bob.

H.O.R.S.E. what can I say....I think I'm a little confused as to how the "real big time" poker players in this world (not Rich and Jay, but Doyle Brunson, Negreanu et al) consider this event "the ultimate test of skill."

Now don't get me wrong, by no means am I disparaging this event, and I am looking forward to playing it again (do I hear requests for playing it twice in 2009?) with a revamped structure as to not have to sit there until 4 in the morning watching people play RAZZ, but until I can get a better feel for how to play RAZZ, Stud, and Stud Hi/Lo, with some better feel for the hands, the odds and the strategy, I'm going to be relegated to sitting there for 4 hours with the proverbial deer caught in the headlights look on my face.

Last night, or actually early this morning, we saw the pitfals (damn I miss Atari 2600 sometimes) of carpooling. Triola was first out and had to wait around for Jay who finished 3rd and Jim was 2nd out and had to sit there until the end as he rode in with 2nd place finisher Richie.

All in all though Brooktown is off to another sold start, I thank everyone for helping keep my house in order and allowing Bosco to drool on most of your legs for the better part of 8 eight hours.

Congrats to Bob on getting 2008 off a great start.

BROOKTOWN WSOP 2008 SET TO START TONIGHT

As we head into the 4th year of BROOKTOWN poker I never would have expected to see this thing do as well as it has. I thank all of you for your support and dedication. I think we've got a great group of 14, and probably could push it to a 3 table league if it was feasible and prudent, but sometimes it's not the size that matters.

Hopefully I won't be sad (not finishing 2nd) after the events, or tired (it does suck driving home from Frank's at 3am) to put down some observations and thoughts after each event.

I ask all of you to keep a thick skin, and open mind, and take most of the comments I put here with a grain of salt. Anything I say is meant to be in good fun and really, isn't that what this is all about? Just a diversion from the real world and an excuse to have some fun.