ANOTHER TOURNEY AND A NEW FAMILY GAME

Hello All:
Today is Sunday the 6th of August. It is another gorgeous day on vacation. I think a bike ride and some whiffle ball to fill up part of the day.

THE POKER TOURNEY IN SUBURBIA

Last night I joined the G.B. King and The Edge of Darkness at a great poker tournament in Guilderland. You had to see this house. You pull onto the street, a high-end cul-de-sac, and are greeted by what has to be a $400,000 house. Perfectly manicured lawn and shrubbery flank a winding driveway which leads up to the garage and big backyard. In the backyard, the hour-glass shaped pool is surrounded by a nice black wrought-iron fence. Nice patio furniture and "hidden-in-the-rock" speakers decorate around the pool (which is heated and lighted). The yard is large enough for all sorts of swing sets and other kids' stuff.

The tournament was played by a full contingent of 32 players at four tables. Roy and I were seated at table 1. The first All-In bust out happened about 1/2 hour into the tourney. As people busted out, others got moved to fill-in their spots. Shortly after we broke down to 3 tables, Roy busted out. Chuck and I held our own for quite a while. I was one of the chip leaders at my table after pulling an Ace-high flush on the river to take a large pot just before we went into break. Shortly after the break I called a guy's All-In bet and looked at his pocket Aces. He tripled up through me and another guy and he was off to the races.

They then broke down to 2 tables. I was at a table with some large chip stacks and had to do alot of folding, unable to play marginal hands or push the action because the larger stacks were playing every hand, regardless of what they held. So, I had to pick my spots. I was able to do well for quite a while. Chuck then busted out to bring the players down to 10. One player bust-out later, we broke down to a Final Table of nine players. Unfortunately, they were only paying 8 spots (4-8 got their money back). I was the short stack on the table. I was on the Big Blind, with about $6000 in chips. I knew my time was short. I then made my only real fatal mistake of the night. I was holding 9-10 suited. The flop came up Q-8-4. I now had 4-ways to a (Inside) Straight. Rather than making a smart Check, I decided to represent a pair of Queens and hope to hit the straight. I went All-In. The guy who tripled up through me earlier was my only caller (almost got away with it). This guy was really annoying to play with. He's one of these guys that has to be told when it's his turn to act, or when it's time to deal. I don't know if it was a ploy or not. Actually it was pretty annoying. Anyway, he turns over A-8. So, now he's got a pair of 8's. The turn comes with another 8, so now I'm really in trouble. I need a Jack and nothing else to make my straight and win. The river brought an Ace and his full-house of Aces and 8's eliminated me in 9th place, on the bubble, with no money. Roy was very quick to chide me on being stupid and making that move instead of checking and folding until I saw a Premium hand. He was right, but if the Jack had come I would have looked like a (lucky) genius. I played well until then. Anyway, it was a well-run tournamnet and everyone had a good time.

A NEW FAMILY OR PARTY GAME
Later on at the tournament a bunch of people, which included some "well-oiled" wives who were hanging out inside the huge house, started playing this dice game called Left-Center-Right. Everyone at the table starts out with 3 dollars (or chips if playing with kids). You put a large bowl or dish into the center of the table. There are 3 dice that have an L, a C, and an R, along with single black dots on them. As each person rolls, the dice tell what happens. If you roll all dots, you get to keep your dollars. If you get an L or an R, you pass a dollar to the person in that direction. If you get a C, you throw a dollar into the bowl in the Center. If you end up having less than 3 dollars in front of you, you roll the number of dice that corresponds to what you have (2 dollars rolls 2 dice. 1 rolls 1). Even if you have nothing in front of you, you are not technically out because someone next to you may make a roll that sends a chip or dollar to you. The winner is the last person to have something left infront of them, with the rest of the chips or dollars in the bowl in the center. It's a faster, easier game than, say, UNO, and is alot of fun for a party. Many times I see people hanging out at parties with nothing to do, maybe not wanting to get invloved with cards. This is a game that EVERYONE can play and have fun with. Plus, there's the chance to win a few dollars, which appeals to the gamblers in the crowd. You can find this game for sale on EBay for around $6.00, or at certain gaming stores.

THANKS TO THE HOSTS
I'd like to thank Joe and Suzanne Gunther for opening up their beautiful home and yard for everyone to enjoy at the tournament. I'd like to send kudos to Nico, who ran a smooth tournament. I'd like to thank Chuck the E.O.D. for getting me into the game. I'd also like to thank those fellows who were sharing the combustibles. You made the evening that much more enjoyable. Also, I'd like to mention that Joe, the host, had some delicious home-brew on tap (OnTap no-less!) that flowed the entire evening. Living large doesn't necessarilly mean you have to be a snob. The Gunthers and their friends are down-to-earth, extremely friendly people, who seem to have a good time sharing time with friends. I'd like to thank them both again for making sure everyone had such a good time.

This leads to Len's point of the day. Snobbishness is unnecessary and wrong. This is obvious to most of us. But occasionally we run into those folks whose attitudes about themselves seems a little high. People, can't we all just get along. Who cares if you have a mansion or a shack? Who cares if you drive a brand-new Mercedes or a 10-year-old Chebby? Isn't it better for us just to enjoy each other's company and have fun? We spend our lives slaving in order to get to the days when we can have fun. No need to have a "better-than-you" attitude is there? HELL NO!!
Don't be a snob. There endeth the lesson...and of course you know that LEN IS RIGHT!!

Peace Earthlings.
I am,
Len Tollerton