CPL Poker Podcast

Live at the SFPT Regionals!!!

CPL Poker Podcast — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:03:06 GMT

We are live at the Straight Flush Poker Tour Final Regionals today being held at the Mirage Bar and Grill in New Brighton.

And, we're uploading videos throughout the day. Check them out on our YouTube channel. Check it out!!

Micros goes to comics

CPL Poker Podcast — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:56:34 GMT

Posting on the TwoPlusTwo forums - "The Micros" co-creator John Wray states that since "animation is really 'spensive" they will be forgoing producing any new episodes until they can pin down a replacement sponsor. FullTilt was funding them until Black Friday hit.

In its place they will be shifting to a Micros web comic with all the same cast. They hope to post these a few times a week. The first one features Lon McEarchen and Norman Chad and the old gang. You can view it here.

Straight Flush Regionals this weekend!

CPL Poker Podcast — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:23:42 GMT

Attention Straight Flush Poker Tour players. If you've qualified for Regionals - they are this weekend, Saturday, May 19 at The Mirage Bar in New Brighton. Sign ups start at 11 am. Cards in the air at noon.

Not sure if you qualified - you can find that info by clicking here.

Karaoke Phil makes deep run in MN State Championship

CPL Poker Podcast — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:23:47 GMT

By Karaoke Phil

The Free Poker Network's (FPN) State Championship for MN was held this past Saturday at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen. This was the Vegas or Bust Championship with the top 16 winning a seat in the Independence Day National Championship in Las Vegas. It is there that 11 seats to the final $1K WSOP event will be awarded with the National Champ also receiving a $10K Main Event buy-in on Day 1a.

This was my 8th straight state championship - one for each promotion I have played. Those who follow the podcast know that I finished in 19th - basically the bubble - in my 7th state championship at Running Aces last October. The top 16 qualified then - as with this championship. Playing well and going deep has its rewards, but becoming a national qualifier must certainly be better and I was looking forward to a good day. In a cost-saving move, I car pooled with state championship qualifiers and friends of the CPL - Wyn Santo and Wanda Bublitz. The had single and double stacks respectively - I also entered the day with a double stack of chips. As an additional cost savings we decided to depart Saturday morning versus a Friday night departure and another night's hotel cost. So, I was up at 5 am and we we rolling towards Mahnomen at 6:30. I'm all decked out in my Show Down Poker Gear attire.

We arrived in plenty of time - at 10:45 - for the Noon tournament start. I got a replacement player's card and then my free beer and nachos as part of Shooting Star's Cinco De Mayo festivities.

I took my chair at table 12, seat 10 at noon sharp and awaited the start. Turnout was good and they needed to sprinkle in one extra player at some tables. We got an eleventh player and the tournament had kicked off by about 12:10 pm. I began level one in the big blind with blinds at 50/100. I won the first hand and a small pot after no one seemed to want it by the turn. My hands were decent enough with the blinds low enough and my extra 10K in chips that I was fairly active. I moved up and down a little but was down about 2K in chips when I was dealt pocket 6s in the BB. A middle position player raised to 325 and I smooth called - we were heads up. The flop came down J high with 2 over cards to me. I check called a bet of 500 - not yet believing my opponent was ahead. The turn brought a 6 giving me a set. I check called a bet of 700. The river brought another 6 and quads. This time I lead out for 925, got the call and moved back up to my starting stack.

I continued my activity through level 2 - ending at 17K in chips. Around this time it was also announced that we had 282 players of the qualified 350 or so check in and play. It is, I believe, the largest field for a state championship that the FPN has had. A boat came in for me in Level 3 to allow to end that level with 22.8K in chips. Level 4 brought a second consecutive uptick in chips and another full house on the last hand. Dealt pocket 6s UTG with blinds at 150/300 I bumped it up to 700 and received 2 callers. The flop came 4/4/4. I led out for 1200 into the pot of 2250. One player called but the BB folded and I was heads up. The turn brought a 7 and I stated, "Bet - 1425" which no-so-coincidentally matched the exact amount remaining in my opponent's stack. He called quickly - a little too quickly for my comfort - but, turned over A/J. I was ahead and needed to fade the A or J which would give him a better boat to my already made full house. The river was a 5. I eliminated the player, ended the level with 26.4K in chips and momentum. We had also begun to lose players and were down to 257 remaining participants.

Level 5 - Blinds at 200/400. The second had of level 5 saw me take a drop in chips to 18.3K. It is also the first notable hand of contention between myself and Matt Neumann who plays out of IDK Sports Bar in Atwater. He had been challenging me up to this point, but this hand hurt the most (up to this point). Tom Bebeau from 50 Lakes Bar from, where else, Fifty Lakes MN was also chipping up nicely, but Matt seemed to be my personal nemesis and may well have also been the tournament chip leader by this time. I get pocket Ts in the SB. UTG+1 raises to 1500, Matt calls and action is on me. I didn't have a great read on the raiser, but Matt had already become a bit of thorn to me. With too many possibilities of being beat/behind I smooth called the 1500 buidling the pot to 4900 with the BB folding. The flop came out 9/7/6. This was likely my mistake, but I checked to see how my opponents felt about the flop. They both checked. I now felt good and when the turn came out a deuce I led for 4700. The original bettor folded and Matt called. The river brought a J. A little gun shy and having a bad feeling. I decided to check. Neumann now bet out 1500 into the 14300 pot. It screamed trouble for me, but I thought there was enough of a chance that he had A/9 - or maybe A/7 that it was worth calling the value bet. It wasn't as Matt tabled pocket 2s for a turned set. About 7 hands later I'm on the BB. Action is folded around to the button who has 11.6K in chips to my 18.3K. He makes a standard bet to 1200. My instinct said he was mostly blind stealing, looking to increase his chip stack by more than 5% with the steal and playing with position should he be called. Looking at his stack (10.4K behind) and my hand, QcTc, I wanted to raise. Bumping it to 3500 would either induce a reraise shove from the button - requiring me to call 6900 into a pot of 15300 or he'd smooth call in position with a pot of 7200 and only 6900 behind. Either way I felt that all the chips would get into the middle in those scenarios. But, if I'm correct and he's stealing and I have him covered in chips then one other option presented more appeal to me. I shoved all-in over the top. He quickly called. Obviously, not a steal attempt as he showed pocket Js. The flop came down 8/K/6 - not terribly good for me. The turn was no help, a 4. The river was peeled off, presented and viola - a Q. It was my first suck out of the day and rather than being down to 6700 chips I had eliminated a second player and was up to 30.1K in chips. I ended the level with 29.2K chips.

Level 7. Blinds 400/800 - 227 players remaining, 30.1K chips. Level 6 was uneventful as I both did not get great cards, but also wanted to try and reestablish a tighter image. Now in level 7 I had splashed in a few pots and lost when I limped in with Qc/Jc UTG. A MP player called, the button moved all in for his last 2400 with the BB calling. I and the other limper called as well building the pot to 10K. The flop came out J/5/J giving me trips with the Q kicker. The BB checked. I decided to slow play and checked. The other live player checked. The turn was a 9. I still felt that I was way ahead. The BB checked but I thought the player in position might take a stab at the pot. He didn't and we went to the river. It was a blank. Checked to me, I couldn't wait any more and tossed in 2200. It was folded around. The all in button's pocket Ks couldn't beat my flopped trips. It was my second suck out and third eliminated player. It also bumped me up to 38K in chips. Taking down some additional pots saw me rise to a high of 47K in chips during this level.

Level 9. Blinds 800/1600 - 171 players remaining, 41.2K chips. The rest of level 7 and all of level 8 saw me dwindle down a little. Much of that due to poor cards and lost blinds, some due to dumping hands post flop to my new nemesis - Matt Neumann. This was the level before dinner break and the final hand. I'm UTG+1 and raise to 3600 with A/Q off. Matt calls OTB and we're heads up. The flop comes out J/3/6. I decide to check as Matt has seemingly owned me through every hand we've played. I don't believe a continuation bet will do much for me and, frankly, I'm a little gun shy right now. He checks. The turn seems harmless - a 7 I think. I decide to check one more time. He checks. The river brings a K. I don't think it's hit him but I have Ace high. I check and he fires out 2500 into the 9600 chip pot. I try to go meta on him and another level deep. I check/raise 5700 more making it 8200 to go. It's a bad play, and a poorly played hand, on my part I think. Matt 3 bets me to 20,200 all day - 12K more call. I have 27K left and decide to let it go. Matt looks at one card, then flips over the second one to show me a 3. It's the first card he's willingly showed. I think he actually ended up with 2 pair, but I didn't have his 3 beat in any event. I've lost about 12K on the hand but I'm above my starting chip stack and able to break and regroup.

Level 10. Blinds 1K/2K - 129 players remaining, 27K chips. We're back from dinner - I didn't eat. I researched the opponents at my table spending the most time on Matt and Tom. I have 13.5 BB and have decided that I am in shove or fold mode right now. I'm not going to "stop and go", limp (other than maybe the BB ), or try some sort of raise. I'm either going to double up or end it. With my luck it'll be the latter, but I'm not going to dwindle down to 5 BB and then have three people call an all-in. They announce that Matt Neumann is indeed the tourney chip leader with 90.5K. Tom Bebeau appears to be in 5th.

I've made up my mind on returning strategy and even discussed it with Wyn Santo who has busted out. The first hand back I wake up with pocket Js....and, shove. It's folded around to the BB who only has 2.5K behind after the blinds. He calls with Q/2. The flop comes A/Q/K. The upside is he's the short stack - I'll still have some chips left. But, I still have some life on this hand. The turn is a 2. I'm down to 7 outs - a J for a set or a T for Broadway. The river is T for the nut straight. Have I sucked out for a third time? Maybe. I have certainly eliminated my 4th player. A few hands later I get A/Q and shove again for about 18 BB after a player had limped. A short stack with a few thousands less than me calls with A/J. It's not a suck out as the A/Q holds. I've eliminated 5 players now and am up to 70K in chips. By this time, Wanda Bublitz has been moved to my table - she is short stacked with about 24K in chips. It's only a hand or two later and I get pocket Ts. Now, with chips, I call. Wanda raises to 4K. A seriously short stacked player moves all in for about 6500. I decide to isolate the all-in player and shove all in versus Wanda. She calls. Wanda shows K/J suited and the short stack player shows Aces. If I remember correctly - the short stack tripled up and Wanda won our side pot. I know I dropped to 46K in chips. I tried to eliminate Wanda again a short while later in the tournament and she took down that hand too. I end the level with 38K in chips.

Level 13. Blinds 3K/6K - 71 players remaining, 41K in chips. Players are dropping quickly now with us losing nearly 1 per minute over the previous 3 levels. I have since moved to a new table and gotten away from my nemesis. Levels 11 and 12 have seen me move between a low of 41K and a high of 51K. I'm now back into shove or fold mode. I pick up pocket Aces and move all in. I'm called by a short stack that has A/9. I hold and eliminate my sixth opponent, moving up to 69.5K in chips. The very next hand I take a hit. I am now dealt pocket Ks. I shove again - taking down 9K in blinds is plenty for my stack. And, with 11.5 BB I'm still in that shove mode. My short stack opponent calls and show pocket Qs. I'm an 80/20 favorite but that changes on the flop when he hits a Q. I lose and am down to 44.5K in chips.

Levels 14 through 17. As we approach the bubble to the top 16 the blinds are increasing dramatically and antes have kicked in. I shove fold from here on out in a level after level of volatility. I hit lows of 13 and 15k but an able to double or triple up. I never have more than 86K which is where I end level 17.

Level 18. Blinds 10K/20K, antes at 2K - 21 players remaining, 86K in chips. We are so close now, but I am terribly short stacked. I have stayed alive with timely double ups and a triple up. I have also used the antes to my advantage. Yes, I have stolen blinds (with antes), but I have gotten decent cards. The worst hands I've shoved with are A/8 suited, A/9 off and Q/7 suited, everything else has been a pair, stronger Ace or two face cards. I mostly avoided confrontations and was able to take blinds without needing to see any flops. Wanda went out in 20th. I lost a hand and was knocked down to 20K in chips only able to get back to 41K. We dropped to 17 left - on the bubble. With 37K left in in chips I put in my 2K ante and another 20K for the BB only 15K behind. There are two other short stacks at my table. If I need to release this hand I still have enough for the SB with 3K left over. It's enough to get through the other shorter stacks. It's folded around to the button who bumps is up to 40K. The SB let's his hand go. I look down at A/2 off. Dropping the hand puts me on life support and puts my future on the someone else losing a hand and going out in the next three hands. The button stalled just long enough to raise that I feel my Ace might be ahead - perhaps he has a suited K/T or Q/J or something in there. It's the bubble. This is where I'm meant to go out, right? I decide to face fate on my terms. Plus, the other short stacks have just enough to try and right out the few hands I can play until I'm forced all in. I've done plenty of folding the last level or so as we've whittled from 25 players to 17 left. I call for less - my last 15K. The button shows A/9. I have about a 23% chance of winning and another 16% for a chop. God, I'm hoping it's a chop. The flop comes Q/2/6. Wow, I'm ahead. I now have an 85% chance to win with two cards to come. Of course, I know how I run. An 85% chance to win really means I have a 20% chance to win. The turn is a blank - a 4. I need to fade a nine. The river brings a J. I've survived. I've doubled up plus and now have plenty of room over the other short stacks at my table to go back to folding - which I do. Thankfully, I never really get any good hands. The short stacks double up and someone on the other table survives their all in and call. It's been just more than a full rotation since my A/2 win. I'm in the BB with K/J suited. A short stack UTG+1 calls. The next player shoves all in for about 75K. There's a call. I know the original bettor will call. I let my hand go and she does call. The two larger stacks check it all down. The shover shows pocket 9s. He was up against pocket Js and A/K. The 9s lose and he's out on the bubble. I have qualified for the National Tournament. Now, it's time to get tot he top to win some airfare and hotel money. The level ends.

Level 19. Blinds 15K/30K, antes at 3K - 16 players remaining, 50K in chips. We're two hands in. I'm on the button and now down to 29K in chips. The BB is the short stack and all in for 23K. There are two calls before it gets to me. I have A/Q. The short stack could have anything - I should be ahead. I may well be ahead of the other two callers or perhaps crushing one with the other sporting a pocket pair giving me two overs. I don't like needing to wind me way through an all in and two callers, but with less than a BB left this may be the best hand I see in the next 6 or 7. I decide to call for a little less. A win here will put me in very good shape. The SB also calls. The board runs out and neither the short stacked BB nor I win. We're both out - but with more chips I take 15th to his 16th.

It's 10:15pm. I've had a granola bar, meat stick, nachos, a little popcorn, power drink and 3 beers since 6 am. I'm spent but, have a sense of heightened alertness. I'm as happy as I've ever been. It was a grueling day full of deep thinking and hard work. The chip leaders on my original table are long gone. Tom Bebeau went out in 79th. My real foe and dinner break chip leader, Matt Neumann, busted out in 53rd. I've secured my seat at nationals - my first in 8 attempts. Friend of the CPL Nels Peterson is also still alive. He becomes the first 4-time National Qualifier.

I play a little blackjack to wind down. Only 1 shoe though. My luck is running high - I make $66 and cash out. It's just about enough to cover all my expenses for the weekend. I toddle of to a great sleep.

8th Straight State for Karaoke Phil

CPL Poker Podcast — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:46:12 GMT

It is Free Poker Network's (FPN) MN State Championships this weekend at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, MN. This is for FPN's "Vegas or Bust" promotion and a chance for a seat in the WSOP Main Event.

Our own Karaoke Phil has qualified for a double stack to start - 20,000 chips. This will be his 8th straight state championship event (he's only played in 8 promotions). About 350 individuals have qualified for the state championship this time around with approximately 40 having qualified for a double starting stack.

Karaoke finished 19th at the last state tournament held this past October at Running Aces' poker room. He'll look to finish a few spots higher and take down a seat in the National Tournament. The top 16 finishers are slated to advance to Las Vegas. Good luck Phil.

Hand of the Week Episode 125--YouTube Version

CPL Poker Podcast — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:30:47 GMT

Check out the Hand of the Week analysis for Episode 125 on YouTube!

CPL Poker Podcast Episode 125

CPL Poker Podcast — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:40:20 GMT

Episode 125
Released 4-29-2012
(0:51:22)
Listen now by clicking the MORE below, the BLUBRRY on the right, or the MEDIA PLAYER on the lower right.

Episode 125 of the CPL Poker Podcast has the following segments:

--CPL Hand of the Week

--CPL Poker News

--CPL MN Music Segment Featuring “How do you know” by Alison Scott

Bumper Music by: Stew, James Ingram, Roster McCabe, B52’s, and IKKI

Enjoy!

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook at CPLPokerPodcast

"Passion" is the right word

CPL Poker Podcast — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:44:17 GMT

The magazine cover shows Chris Moneymaker. At the bottom is written: Minnesota Podcast Passion. It's on page 37 where you'll find that story......the story of the CPL Poker Podcast. The magazine? None other than Ante Up: Your Poker Magazine.

Minnesota Poker Ambassador for Ante Up, John Somsky, interviewed Mark and Phil at Running Aces recently and the article is out in the May 2012 Ante Up issue. As noted above, the interview is at the top of page 37. You can get the pdf of the full issue here: http://www.anteupmagazine.com/rw/issues/pdf/May_2012.pdf

Or, just our article from John's columnist page at the magazine. If you are out Running Aces' way and want a hard copy (perhaps for Mark and Phil to autograph?) John has informed us to get out there, "in the first week or two of May...before they run out."

Double Stack for Karaoke Phil at State

CPL Poker Podcast — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:45:00 GMT

Season II's Twin City Regionals for the FreePokerNetwork's bar poker league took place Saturday at the Golden Valley VFW. There were 79 players showing up from all the qualifiers and the top 20 would advance to the the State Championships in Mahnomen on May 5.

Karaoke had already qualified for what will be his 8th straight state tournament in the FPN, but he was going for a double stack. Friends of the CPL, Nels Peterson, Wyn Santo and Wanda Bublitz were also all present.

Starting with a double stack, 4000 chips, Karaoke took down the first hand for a couple hundred chips. Things hovered between 3000 and 5500 chips for quite some time until an overly aggressive player came to the table with a huge stack of about 13K. The two clashed quickly with Karaoke sporting AsJs and blinds at 75/150. With 5100 chips Karaoke raised to 375 in the cut off and was heads up against the villain who had limp/called. The flop came Ac2d3d. The villain checked. Karaoke threw out 700 to which the villain....shoved all in for his remaining 12k or so. Karaoke had 4025 left and this would be for this tournament life - with about 70 players still remaining. Karaoke tanked. Without inquiry the villain volunteered, "I'll show them whatever you decide." This left Karaoke thinking to himself - "maybe he'll talk." And, so he asked Mr. Villain - "What do you have?" "I have 7 high but half the deck for outs."

If the villain is telling the truth it's a 4/7, or 5/7 of diamonds - giving him 12 outs (9 diamonds for the flush and either three 4s or 5s - the non-diamonds- for a straight). Not quite half the deck, but enough outs to make it fairly close to a coin flip. If the villain is lying, the play could easily be a flopped set of 2s or 3s or even two pair. And, a slow played A/K could easily be in the mix. Any of the scenarios would leave Karaoke in tough shape. He dumped the A/J, deciding to fight on with the 4025 chips he had left. The villain showed the 4d and 7d. We ran the numbers through the odds calculator - Karaoke was ahead with a 53% chance of winning. The villain had a 46% of knocking Phil out of the tourney and there was a 1% chance of a tie.

The next moment of truth between the two came with 38 players left. They had both been moved to new tables but the same table. Blinds were now 200/400. The villain raised to 500 UTG. Karaoke decided to try and trap with AcQd in MP. He cut out the 500 chips from his remaining 4300 chip stack. The flop came down AhKcTh. Mr. Villain shoved all in for the 11K he now had. Karaoke tanked again. Since the villain was talkative last time Phil asked, "What do you have this time?". "Same thing, flush draw with a gut shot," came the reply. The same thought process went through Karaoke's mind again. If villain is telling the truth it's a Q or J of hearts and another heart. Players were dropping more quickly now. Karaoke nearly called, but decided to fight on with his 3800 remaining chips. The villain tabled the Qh5h. Karaoke again had a 53% chance to take down this hand, but the villain's chances drop to 36% with a 10% chance of a tie.

As it turns out - it worked out. Karaoke dropped a lot of hands, made timely blind steals and won a couple of "real" hands to stave off elimination. He was reduced to 2400 chips with 26 left when he called a 2700 chip all in with KcQc. He was up against A/8 off suit. The flop came down A/4/Q. The turn was a blank, but the river brought another Q giving Karaoke a double up plus the blinds. That was about all he needed. Hand-for-hand began with 24 players left. By then, the villain had been eliminated. Both Nels and Wyn failed to make the top 20, but Karaoke and Wanda did. Phil busted out in 17th, with Wanda taking 14th. Both now head to the state championships with a double stack in chips!!

Online Poker

CPL Poker Podcast — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:32:48 GMT

Below is a CPL approved link!

Check it out!

Mark and Phil

Play internet poker at william hill. Texas Hold'em, huge poker tournaments, Omaha Hi/Lo and more

Halcyon Days of Online Poker - A Reminder

CPL Poker Podcast — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:57:00 GMT

By Karaoke Phil

The Straight Flush Poker Tour (SFPT) recently expanded into my neck of the woods, on a pretty convenient night. They moved into the St. Paul Saloon on Hudson Rd and play Monday nights at 7pm. I've played there during their first two weeks and have been reminded of fond times from my early online poker playing.

I started playing Texas Hold'em in January 2005. By July I had downloaded software and was playing online. I don't recall why but, my first room and first love was on the Ongame Network - Holdempoker.com. Unfortunately they closed down after UIGEA and I made the move over to FullTilt. While Ongame had been around (indeed the main skin Pokerroom.com - is now back), Holdempoker.com was a fresh start up skin having only begun cash play in April of 2005.

The timing for me was perfect. By the time I joined they had just started their freerolls - $250 a day paying out the top 100 spots. I cashed a lot for about 2 months. Not every day, but A LOT. Why? I'd like to say that I was the "bomb" skill-wise, and while I think I had some skill, my cashing at the time was mostly due to the start up nature of the site. See, for the first 2 weeks there were days where fewer than 100 people signed up to play. It wasn't until the third week or so that they began to break 300 people signing up. For a long time it was either, literally, free money or it seemed like taking candy from a baby - say, a 120 signups with the top 100 paid out, and skill wise I was certainly in the top 40.

The times have changed and I'd like to believe I'm now a far better player. Still, the SFPT start up at the St. Paul Saloon had me reflecting on those freeroll days at Holdempoker. How so? I've never played a fresh start up bar in free poker before, but, get this, apparently there ARE people that don't actually play a lot of Texas Hold'em. Okay, it seems I may live in some sort of bubble. As a new location there are a batch of the bar regulars who fit that "pretty new to Texas Hold'em" category. I had never been to the The St. Paul Saloon, but it seems like only 2 or 3 of the regulars have moderate or more experience. Similar to my online experience it takes some time to build the day/time recognition and to increase the raw number of players. So, for the first two weeks we've had 14 and 11 players respectively. I expect that to grow over the next few weeks, but for now it seems to me that skill-wise I'm in the top three (okay, I really think I'm the best overall) of a fairly small field. In week 1 I went out in 6th after having two back-to-back A/Q lose to A/9 and K/T. But, this past Monday I took second and the free bar tab that comes with it.

Unfortunately, I can't play every Monday (won't be there on the 23rd), but I'd love to have you stop out and experience it. The halcyon days of online poker are gone, but you can relive a part of it with live play at the St. Paul Saloon! At least until the field grows both in size and skill.

CPL Poker Podcast Episode 124

CPL Poker Podcast — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:42:35 GMT

Episode 124

Released 4-18-2012
(1:00:46)
Listen now by clicking the MORE below, the BLUBRRY on the right, or the MEDIA PLAYER on the lower right.

Episode 124 of the CPL Poker Podcast has the following segments:

--CPL Hand of the Week

--Upcoming MN Poker Tourneys

--M

--MN Music Featuring “Mother May I” by Forever Dumb

Bumper Music by: Stew, Natalie Cole, Roster McCabe, and IKKI

Enjoy!

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook at CPLPokerPodcast

Super TOC rundown

CPL Poker Podcast — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:52:51 GMT

By Karaoke Phil

It was Super Tournament of Champions (TOC) day at Erick's Bar for the Free Poker Network (FPN) today. This was for the "Vegas or Bust" promotion and a seat in the WSOP. Bars in the FPN that host 2 nights a week are afforded a Super TOC giving the weekly winners at the location a home-bar chance at winning a seat in nationals. It is a fairly new promo add-on by the FPN. This was the third TOC and I've qualified for each one. You get a standard 2k chip stack and entry into the TOC with a win. Additional wins get you an extra 1k for each win. I had extra chips in previous two TOCs, finishing 4th and 6th if memory serves. This time I had only the standard starting stack.

We had 32 different qualifying players with 24 of us showing up. In what may be a record anywhere (and certainly at Erick's) Bill Gray entered with a total of 7 wins over the last 6 months giving him 8K in chips. In addition to the 7 wins he pulled down 3-2nds and a 3rd making him the odds on hot favorite going into the match. I was going to do my best to block him and everyone else.

With blinds starting at 25/25 I played several early hands, being able to limp in, with connectors. None hit. At the end of Level 2 I had played 7 of 20 hands and had 2775 chips after having been down to 1650. With much of the play at 7 and 8 handed the 35% of hands I was playing didn't seem too out of bounds.

Through levels 3 and 4 I played 8 of 22 hands (36.4% for those two levels and 35.7% overall). With only a few hands left in level 4 I went with a coin flip. I had A/K UTG with blinds at 75/150 and about 2525 in chips. I bumped it up to 375 - it folded around to David Wilts who pushed all-in for 2225 on the button. The blinds folded and, as I wrote, I was ready to coin flip if needed. I called and Wilts tabled "Presto" - pocket 5s. They held for him and I was crippled with only 300 chips left.

The rest is largely anti-climatic. I folded several hands. Could have/should have tripled up but folded. I did get to 400 chips a little later but ultimately was eliminated in 11th place.

Bill Gray final tabled, but busted in 4th place. Jody Hamilton went out in 3rd leaving Lyle Gangi to go heads up against Tony Johnson for the big prize. Tony took it all down and will be heading out to Vegas representing Erick's Bar.

Just Released: Satellite your way into the $1 Million Big One for $65

CPL Poker Podcast — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:19:02 GMT

Canterbury Park announced today that it is an Official Satellite location for the World Series Of Poker's (WSOP) "The Big One" - A $1 Million Buy In Event. They will be running satellites for as little as $65 from May 7 to May 12. A May 13 Main Event will garner the winner airfare, hotel and the $25,300 buy-in to the Official WSOP The Big One Satellite being held in Las Vegas on June 30th.

The projected first place prize for this tournament, being capped at 48 players, is $17 million. For more information and a schedule, check out: http://www.canterburypark.com/Poker/PokerPromotions/WorldSeriesofPokerSatelliteatCanterburyPark/tabid/465/Default.aspx

CPL Poker Podcast Episode 123

CPL Poker Podcast — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:29:26 GMT

Episode 123

Released 4-1-2012
(1:10:29)
Listen now by clicking the MORE below, the BLUBRRY on the right, or the MEDIA PLAYER on the lower right.

Episode 123 of the CPL Poker Podcast has the following segments:

--CPL Hand of the Week

--Straight Flush Poker Tour News

--MN Music Featuring “Body Electric” by Jordan-X

Bumper Music by: Stew, Spandau Ballet, Roster McCabe, and IKKI

Enjoy!

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CPL Poker Podcast Hosts meeting with Ante Up Magazine

CPL Poker Podcast — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:12:43 GMT

Your CPL Poker Podcast hosts will be meeting with Ante Up Magazine's Minnesota Ambassador John Somsky at Running Aces tonight for an interview.

"As fans of Ante Up - the magazine and their podcast," said co-host Phil Fuehrer, "It's a great pleasure to be contacting by them."

We'll have more info later and, will certainly be talking about it during Episode 123.

CPL Poker Podcast Episode 122

CPL Poker Podcast — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 02:36:37 GMT

Episode 122
Released 3-18-2012
(59:48)
Listen now by clicking the MORE below, the BLUBRRY on the right, or the MEDIA PLAYER on the lower right.

Episode 122 of the CPL Poker Podcast has the following segments:

--CPL Poker News

--CPL Cada Challenge

--CPL Rant

--MN Music Featuring “The Little Beggarman” by Langers Ball

Bumper Music by: Stew, Johnny Hates Jazz, Roster McCabe, and IKKI

Enjoy!

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CPL Poker Podcast Episode 121

CPL Poker Podcast — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:48:15 GMT

Episode 121
Released 2-20-2012
(1:01:00)
Listen now by clicking the MORE below, the BLUBRRY on the right, or the MEDIA PLAYER on the lower right.

Episode 121 of the CPL Poker Podcast has the following segments:

--Milne Big Bash

--CPL Hand of the Week

--MN Music Featuring “Thanks For All The Fish, Baby” by The Trends

Bumper Music by: Stew, B52’s, John Waite, and IKKI

Enjoy!

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook at CPLPokerPodcast

Friend of CPL - Erick Wright at MSPT Final Table

CPL Poker Podcast — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:10:51 GMT

While Tom Stambaugh finished somewhere between 37th and 65th (we're not sure exactly where in there), another friend of the CPL - Erick Wright has gone deep. He's at the final table and just got a huge flop to eliminate Chris Clasen in 10th place. With pocket 4s in the BB, Clasen looked down at A/Q off in the highjack seat. It looked like Clasen may have limped or min raised. Erick called (as did one other player). The flop came down 4/Q/Q. All the money went into the pot with Erick's flopped boat staying afloat against Clasen's flopped top trips/top kicker.

Another player has gone out and we are down to 8 players.

We're cheering on Erick, but regardless of his final result he's had a great tourney.

UPDATE (02/20/12 - 8:30a) - Erick finished 2nd for a $43,328 payout. He tried to pull off a bluff on a flop of rag/rag/9 with K/4 by shoving all-in. However, tourney winner Rodger Johnson had raised preflop with pocket 9s. That was it for Wright as Johnson snap-called.

Friend of CPL - Tom Stambaugh into MSPT Day 2

CPL Poker Podcast — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:41:16 GMT

Friend of the CPL, Tom Stambaugh, survived Day 1a of the Mid-States Poker Tour with 41,400 in chips. The tournament, being held at the Running Aces Harness Park card room, began with a field of 127 qualifiers ponying up the $1100 buy-in. We assume that Tom put up another $10 for the 5,000 chip add-on. That being the case - he began with 20,000 in chips and doubled up over the course of the day. The chip leader, Tony Swanson, ended Day 1a with a 191,400 chip stack.

There is a Day 1b today with the completion of the tournament taking place tomorrow (Sunday). The tournament has already well broken through the $100K guarantee it was offering. UPDATE (9 PM) - the MSPT was able to book 311 participants for a nice, large field.

There will be plenty of play for Stambaugh as he begins Day 2. Blinds will be at 800/1600 with a 200 chip ante. His 41K in chips will give him about 26 BB to work with. The CPL wishes "Good Luck and Good Skill" to Tom as he works to take down his 2nd MSPT Championship.