Some friendly advice.........

Normally, in our regular TNP contests, we tend to play slow and easy until a few are eliminated. Remember, this tourny is heads up. Sudden death! So, pre flop raises are not only allowed, they're encouraged. Plus, with best 2 out of 3, you can play fast & loose and lose once without it costing you the tourney. This format should make for some exciting games.

Who's bringing what?

I've had one or two of you tell me what you're bringing for our Mexican stack Thursday night. However, you know how bad my memory is, so.....

I'll provide the spicy chicken. Adam said he's bringing a cookie. The rest of you leave me a comment and let me know what you're bringing. I'll post it here so it'll be easy for everyone to see what's been spoken for. As we did last time, we'll start eating about 6:30 so we can get everything done in time.

Jeff__________chicken
Adam__________cookie
Nick__________rice
Deb___________lettuce, tomatos, cheese & black olives
Markus________tortilla chips
Stevie & Tanner__Guacamole, sour cream, salsa

A word of caution!

With the heads up tourney coming up, I thought I'd mention this before game night. The format will allow for spectators to be watching the heads up matches. Usually, when the game comes down to the final 3 or 4, we'll show our hole cards to those spectating. You might want to reconsider that for this week. I'm not saying anyone will intentionally give your hand away. However, the possibility exists that a deep breath or facial expression could give away a hand. A smart opponent will be looking for just such a tell to try and gain an advantage. Just something to consider.

May 1 Heads-Up Tournament Bracket/Schedule

Hey, here's the link to the bracket. I've also posted a schedule for Thursday Night's matches.

May 1, 2008 Heads-Up Bracket and Schedule

Casino Royale

Great Ceasar's Ghost, what a night at TNP. The hand of hands, struggling back from near elimination, nail biting action and concessions were the hallmarks of last night's contest. One table was volatile, with an explosion possible at any time. The other, calm, cool, collected. Crystal, absent from play, did observe late in the contest, yet we did have 2 boobs there, Adam & Nick, to play. So, without further ado, let's jump right into the narrative.


CALM TABLE
Jeff
Deb
Jake
Markus
Adam

VOLATILE TABLE
Mark
Stevie
Justin
Tanner
Nick


Continuing a trend he'd just as soon end, Markus, for the 3rd week in a row, was the first to leave although he played well and was able to concentrate more on the game and less on Jake, even though they were seated next to each other at the same table.

Mark was next to leave the contest, capturing 2 points for his efforts.

Wouldn't you know it, Justin was eliminated next with 3 points, assuring a tie between he and Mark.

Struggling early on, yet finding ways to stay alive, Adam was next to leave, sacrificing LOST in the process, for 4 points.

Playing strong at the calm table, Deb's luck ran out when we joined the VOLATILE table and left the game with 5 points. Much to her chagrin, this left me assured of the top spot.

Lasting until the final 5 were determined, Jake was the next to take home his points for the night, adding 6 to his total.

Having achieved my goal when Deb was eliminated, I was satisfied to end in the top 4, but my exit was done in grand fashion which I'll epand upon shortly. I added 7 points to reclaim a very slim lead over Deb.

Making the top 3, Tanner was in for quite a fight. But, as in a few weeks ago, the real contest here was for second place. He and Nick-o-lot-a-pus battled back and forth, but it was soon resolved when Tanner was finally defeated with 8 points as a reward.

Upon Tanner's removal, Nick, as Mark did a few weeks ago, conceded the match immediately and added 10 points to close to within 1 of Adam, and leaving Crystal in the distance. His ADD wasn't too bad, he didn't expose himself last night. But he did fold a decent diamond flush that could have garnered him quite a number of chips and might have made him more competitive against the chip monger, Stevie.

The winner of the night, in grand fashion, was Stevie. Having accumulated quite a chip lead, he was far ahead of anyone else and that's why Nick called it a night. I mentioned my demise being done with flair earlier. Well, to put me out, Stevie already had a straight to kill my pair of kings, but just before the river card was turned over, he called for and got the king of aces, giving him a
ROYAL FLUSH!!!! If I'm going to get beat, I want to be BEAT, and Stevie certainly did that. So, adding his second victory, along with 12 points, Stevie is closing in on Tanner and distancing himself from Adam and Nick. Congrats Stevie!

So there you have it. The Casino Royale is closed until next week, when rivalries will continue in a new contest. A heads up tourney is scheduled, along with a buffet of Mexican pile on. We've already had our first casualty for next week, as Mark, rather than risk disharmony at home, has conceded his seat and will not participate. The rest of the pack eagerly awaits the new format. The seeds are set, the chips are ready and the points waiting to be apportioned. Here's the break down from last night.

NAME__________POINTS__________PLACE
Markus_____________1_____________10
Mark_______________2______________9
Justin_____________3______________8
Adam_______________4______________7
Deb________________5______________6
Jake_______________6______________5
Jeff_______________7______________4
Tanner_____________8______________3
Nick______________10______________2
Stevie____________12______________1

Now, how did the polls do? Well, I barely came out on top, so that one was correct. Crystal's boobs remain deflated, her inability to play last night costing her a lot, so that's 2 that were right on. Justin and Mark are tied, so that will be determined next week. Actually, it already is, since Mark has withdrawn. 3 right. Nick didn't expose himself, so we missed that one. Tanner's 16 points out of 1st place, so that one has yet to be determined. Stevie's put off buying a house for the forseeable future, so that one is correct. Adam suffered whiplash Wednesday night at Hasting's, so that one is a given. Markus & Jake weren't so inseperable this week, so their disability seems to be in remission. Be sure and look for new polls coming soon.

Until next week, may all your cards be live and your pots be monsters!

ADDENDUM
Adam reminded me, in a comment, about the risk players run of folding 6-3. Suited or not, you fold this combo at your own peril. Since Mark folded this unlikely winning combination, forfeiting a full house, it has come back to haunt others. Adam, folding these now magical two cards while playing an online tournament, let slip a winning straight. Now, that was bad enough. But to repeat this same mistake, as he did last night, with the same results, calls his judgement into question.

Hey Mr. Tally Man

One way or the other, there will be 1 sole leader after tonights TNP. Deb & I are tied, and tomorrow will find one of us alone at the top. The other one likely in second place. Tanner will try to add to his current lead, as far as number of wins, and keep closing in on the top point spot that he once dominated. Will Stevie & Mark show up to defend their positions? If not, this will allow Adam to close in on Stevie and Justin to more than likely surpass Mark. The next contest to watch will be Crystal & Nick. With only 1 point seperating them, can Crystal summon up the reserve mammary power we all know she has, or will Nick be able to avoid exposing himself and put a little more distance between them? Finally, will Markus resist the urge to climb into Jake's pants long enough to finish above last place? And as if this weren't enough, tonight's placements will deterine the brackets for next weeks heads up tourney. Oh the drama! Oh the excitment! How much anticipation can a person take? Find out the thrilling outcome tomorrow!
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THIS JUST IN
CRYSTAL HAS TO WORK TONIGHT, SO NICK WILL INCREASE HIS LEAD, NO MAMMRY GLANDS TONIGHT BOYS!

Who would you like to play?

In a comment, tell me who you would most like to play, or the two people you'd like to see play, in next week's heads up tourney.