And so it begins.....
Pre-game Ice Breaker
Before we commenced the stacking of chips and turning of cards, it was time to find the wolf amongst us. Rosh had advised that he was going to be a little late so the waiting players started with a few games of "One Night - Ultimate Werewolf". A game of deception, trickery and Werewolves. Highly recommended to anyone, even my 5 year old loves to play. Although the initial concept seemed to be lost on Jack as he openly declared himself to be a werewolf on the first game.....
The Poker Room
With player seats decided and chip stacks allocated, it was time to begin the game 18 months in the making, deal sat with Mickey (ML) with Daavv (Dv) on small blind and Rosh (RF) on big blind. Danny (DD) to make the first move. The first flop was friendly with all players in action, however, with bets starting to fall so did the players. First hand won by RF with trip 8's
With blinds set at 15 mins, it didn't take long for the first $1,000 chip to be shoved in the middle, unfortunately, it was too much too soon and Dv stole the pot.
Newbie to the game Jack (JF) was eager to partake in every hand played, wondering who the werewolf was. This could be detrimental to his chip stack. RF had also disclosed his poker tactics early as well, "Play Everything or Fold Everything, there is only one way to play!"
Cards seemed to be falling nicely for our poker pro MC (MC) who was the first to claim the prestigious pocket rockets. With bets all the way to the river, Dv revealed his paired 5 with Ace kicker however, the rockets stood strong and claimed a decent pot.
As the blinds commenced and eager players participating in every hand, the initial chip stacks of our plucky players began to diminish. It was at this stage that we entered a hand that rivalled that of the closing hand from Daniel Craig's Casino Royale. ML was the first to shove his chip stack in a bold all in. The Flop, Turn and River had revealed Ace (s), 2 (d), 10 (d), 3 (d), Jack (s).
ML's call was matched by RF but then raised by Mc to a further all in, both players had ML's chips covered so a side pot was formed, JF called the all in as well forming a 3rd side pot this was HUGE!
Both Dv and DD were happy to be out of this hand. RF called the new all in.
Mc was the first to turn revealing his massive King high flush with diamonds.
JF turned his 2 pair, Jacks and Aces, a strong had in most circumstances, but the fishhooks had lured him in.
ML revealed his straight to the Ace, the river Jack had claimed another victim.
Final hand to reveal was from our every-hand player RF, he had hit the first card on the flop and claimed a pair of Aces, but the turn had given him the extra diamond he needed and he trumped Mcs king with an Ace high flush. JF and ML both cashed in their bounceback tickets, MC was down to a serious short stack, RF claimed a massive chip lead and Dv and DD sat back and claimed their own mini victory for staying clear of that hand.
Poker odds on the flop
Poker Odds on the turn
Poker odds on the river
A couple of hands later, our chip lead now feeling very confident shoved in a pre-flop raise. This was raised all in by shortstack Mc who was still feeling the sting from the Diamond heist. Rosh revealed his pocket 10s but this was a short lived joy as Mc turned his pocket cowboys (KK). The river boat showed 2, 3, A, 7, Q so the pockets remained and the cowboys doubled Mc's pot. He was back in the game.
It was time for a break after all this initial excitement which means Chili, Garlic bread and Nacho's time....well, Chili for most, DD needs to remember that an awesome beef chili may not be the dietary needs for all players, and ML this time had to chow down on Garlic Bread on its own. Luckily for Dv, that meant more for him, and more he had.
Plates cleared and bounce back tourney tickets cashed in, we entered the business end. Each all in call would also be with a princess on top. Losing your chip stack now, meant it was game over.
First major all in came from JF with a rainbow flop of A, 2, 8, had he hit the Ace or had his chip stack been pushed down from playing near enough every hand and this was a chip and a chair move? Mc was the caller who had to find out. Both players had not hit the flop, but JFs J3 (off) struggled against Mc's K2(off). With the turn and river not helping (5, 10) it meant our first princess was claimed and Jack out in 6th place and he still didn't find out who the werewolf was. A great opening event for JF.
Mc and DD were the only players at the table who had been playing poker in the past at Pondo's previous establishment and a friendly rivalry was always there. Both have a good read on each other and finally the players clashed. Big bets left Mc and DD to face off to the river, which brought a nobel king. DD thought a little too long about the right move to make and decided to pass this responsibility onto MC who did the only possible move, All in. MC had clawed his way back from short stack and now had DD covered. DD deliberated knowing that MC had made the only move he could have done in the situation, possibly holding nothing, and folded QA. MC turned his QA and claimed a decent pot, DD sat back quietly.
ML had also clawed back from near death and with his belly full of garlic bread he was holding a hefty chip stack in front of him. Unfortunately, ML also declared that he had an early start in the morning and would not be able to stay much longer. This had no impact on his next decision though as his cards convinced him to call Mc's all in bet. The flop had been laid with 6 (s), 2 (c), J (c), the turn was the 8 (c) and river 9 (d). ML turned his J8 two pair and when MC revealed he had the Ace high flush (clubs) that ML admitted he hadn't even seen the possibility of the flush on board. It must have been the carb overload! Another princess claimed for MC and ML could make his early departure earlier than anticipated. ML out in 5th. ML is definitely a strong player to be watched, just make sure he doesn't have plans for the morning after!
With a diminished chip stack after the confrontation with MC earlier, DD pushed all in pre flop with his pocket 7's, finally called by Dv with QA off it was a battle for survival. With a 53% chance of taking the pot, DDs hopes of making it through to the next deal were smashed as Dv saw another lady on the flop, the turn brought a King and the river provided Dv with two pair Qs As, a nice chip stack and a princess to boot. DD out in 4th and the bubble.
Three players remained and the table was weighted to MCs mighty chip stack, it was time for Dv and RF to start trying to claim some chips back from our lead. Unfortunately, they clashed between themselves for a good few major hands.
Dv's K8 vs RF's K3 with a K,6,3 board saw RF push all in. The turn brought Dv's two pair with a snowman and then both completed their full house with a Cowboy on the river. Kings over 8's vs Kings over 3's, Dvs pot grows
Rosh then pushed all in again, Dv with a gut shot straight draw on the flop could not do anything against RF who had already hit the straight. Dvs 6,5, vs RFs 86 with 7,9,10 on the board pushed chips back into RFs stack
Again, another clash with RF's Q,6 suited vs Dv's 3,9 off, however, both players claimed a split pot with the river boat providing a low 2,3,4,5,6 straight.
Finally, RF pushed all in again with A, 5 (hearts) but with 2 clubs already in his hand and a third club on the turn completing Mc's 10 high flush, it was time for heads up. RF out in third and proud to tell his wife that he won some money playing poker.
Heads up MC vs Dv, this is were things get serious. Mc held a majority chip stack over Dv but full of chili, Coors light and a sense of wonder, Dv was not giving up. This was truly evident with the amount of hands that followed. Bet, fold, bet, fold, bet, fold, we did not see a turn card for a good 15 minutes. A whole blind passed with hardly a flop being dealt, surely, someone must have something to play?
Finally, Dv pushed all in and was called by Mc, AQ vs suited 10, 7 (s) for Mc
The flop brought two low spades, the 4 and the 5, the turn produced a 6 of diamonds, the odds were in Dv's favour. Any suit except a spade, a 3, a Q or an A would win the pot, anything but a spade....
The river of dreams brought Dv's game to an end as the Jack of Spades was turned. Mc claimed his final princess ready for the royal ball and Dv out in 2nd place.
Mc wins the first Pondo's Poker and now becomes the culinary provider for the next event.
A truly spectacular event to start the show, great company, great cards and awesome banter. JF never did find his werewolf, but he is still on the hunt
Keep your diaries clear for December poker folks!
League Points:
All players receive 1 "Played" point
Highest hand - Daavv Kings full of 8's
First All in of the night - Mickey
Not cashing in bounceback early - Mc, Daavv, Rosh, Danny
First out - Jack
First 7/2 off win - no winners
Winner - MC - 5 points
2nd - Daavv - 4 points
3rd - Rosh - 3 points
No Royal Flush
Comments
Post a Comment