June 20th, 2009 – also known as Big Easy Tournament NUMBER X! What a great day for our tenth anniversary.  Today started off with the perfect recipe for a great game… 42 People.  That’s 7 tables of 6… and I’m not sure what gets better every year, but it’s a toss up between the players having fun, or Pete’s cooking!

 The biggest surprise this year was Michael C’s vow to not yell for the tenth-year tournament.  A mistake, he will explain, as he finished the lowest in his Big Easy Career this year.  So look for a more voluminous Michael C next year!

On our side events, the first 4 of a kind went to Craig M, and the first 2-4 went to Richard P.

Kelly D was first out this year, easily scooping up the almost coveted prize of $1!  He also won a fine looking hunting dog that mysteriously managed to stay at the chairman’s house.  Kelly, when you read this, be sure to come get your dog.

This year’s ante structure changed somewhat, but it kept most of the players hanging around until dinner time. As players get knocked out, the tables started to dwindle down. There were two tables of four for a long time. But around midnight, we started on our final table.  The lucky 7: Carlos M, Mitch K, Mitch C, John B, Frank P, Robert C, and Red.  Antes get high and Red cannot hang on any longer and gets knocked out. Mitch C follows soon after. And the table payout spots are left doing battle.

5th place goes to Carlos after being knocked down greatly by John B. Robert C manages to catch him on a hand.  Frank P finishes in 4th going all in after losing so many chips to attrition.  Mitch, John and Robert pass some chips around for a few minutes and Mitch goes all in and John calls. Mitch loses, making him 3rd place … and now down to two.

Robert C gets a few lucky breaks and drives John B down to within $1,200 or so. John goes all in and starts to take back the chips. Robert gets pushed down far, which isn’t helped by the aspect of missing some obvious moves.  At a lowly $600, he starts to catch a few breaks and gets back up.  He builds his pot back up to where he is the chip lead by a few $100. The cards start to turn back to John B.  John gets up about $800 or so. Ante and minimum bet are $200.  John Deals Texas Hold’em. The hands are as follows:

Robert Holds

John Holds

The following details are close, and should be exact as the author is the same Robert that was in the hand… and this hand will certainlybe thought about for some time to come…

Robert bets $300 before the flop.  John calls. 

Flop:

Robert make a purposefully slow bet of $200.  John see the bet and goes all in.  And in what turned out to be a surprise to John, Robert calls!  (John is about $800 in chips over Robert.)  Throwing cards down on the board, John B is surprised to see the K’s.. and the level of excitement in the room becomes palpable…

Turn:

That’s Robert with two pairs Aces and Kings to John’s pair of 4s.  John B yells, “Please hit my 4!!!”

The author is pretty sure the next card was somehow magically suspended in air as it slooooowly heads to the table to reveal…

River:

Giving John B the set and the honor of being the Big Easy X Tournament Champion!... And even more respect, as John B becomes the first ever to win a repeat title!