Heads-Up at The Borgata Poker Open...

This past Thursday evneing, I made a last-minute decision to shoot up to A.C. to play the $500 Buy-In NLHE for The U.S. Poker Championship. Just so happened the Final table of The Borgata Poker Open was being shot that night. So, I get to town about 9ish and shoot straight to The Event Center at The Borgata.

I get there and find out I can't get in til some other people come out. However, they were showing the taping on big screen in the lobby of the event center. So, I sit out there for about half-hour and watched. Although what we are seeing in the lobby is tape delayed by about an hour due to N.J. Laws and what have you. D'agostino went out in 4th and Kathy Liebert went out in 3rd.

I finally get in and I get to see heads up play. It was pretty cool to watch the setup. I did snap some flicks with my camera phone which you can see below.

I'll be back shortly to report on my trip to The U.S. Poker Championship.

-Big Syd aka KappaMan

The booth where Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten do commentary for The Borgata Poker Open. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

Picture-taking time after the Borgata Poker Open. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

Al, the winner of The Borgata Poker Open. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

The Winner of The 2005 WPT Borgata Poker Open. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

Setting up for post tournament photos. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

Ricardo, The WPT Borgata Poker Open Runner-Up. He is a a regular at The Taj and is from New Jersey. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

Mike Sexton and the new WPT Spokeswoman (Replaces Shana Hiatt. That's Vince Van Patten blurred next to Mike Sexton. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

Mike Sexton, Co-Host of The World Poker Tour which airs on The Travel Channel. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

The Final Table Set. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

The Final Table set. (Click on Picture to see Full Size Image) 

U.S. Poker Championship at The Taj...Here I come!

I'm headed to Atlantic City this evening to play in the Unites States Poker Championship tomorrow at The Trump Taj Majal. Its the $300+$30 Buy-In No-Limit Holdem event.

I'll be back on Friday Night or Saturday with an update (Unless I decide to stay for the Peter versus Klitschko fight on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall).

Wish me Luck.

-Big Syd

A Poker-Playing free night...

Decided to take the night off from playing poker. Didnt even bother to get online and check the tables. I was dog-dead tired from being up palte the night before with Big Syd's Poker Night.

Instead of playing poker, I decided to watch some. So, I tivo's up the WSOP airing from Tuesday night which featured Minh Nguyen, a poker pro, coming in 2nd Place to Mark Seif (Absolute Poker's Ambassador). It was pretty cool to watch because just last week I was sitting directly across the table from Minh in the $750 Buy-In Borgata Poker Open event.

After watching that episode, I skimmed through the 7-Card Stud episode and then hit the bed.

-Big Syd

Tuesday Results: Last night, I tied for 1st Place...

As you all know by now (if you've been reading my blog for a minute), I host a weekly poker tournament in Maryland on Tuesday nights. Its called Big Syd's Poker Night. Its a MTT (Multi-Table Tournament) that usually had a field of between 2-3 tables.

Well, last night, I tied for 1st Place after we were down to 2 players (heads-up). Because of the lateness of the hour, Jesse (JBombs) and I decided to cut a deal. I had about T22000 to his T31000 at the time.

I played some pretty good poker last night. The hardest thing for me to do last night was to lay down pocket Kings (KK). But when the flop came with an Ace and it was obvious my opponent had an ace, I layed it down. It was actually a King night. I got pocket Kings 3 times and pocket aces 2 times.

September marked the 1 year anniversary of Big Syd's Poker Night. I thank all the participants for making it what it .

Also, congrats to Mary (Zalrymyjynx) for finishing in 3rd Place and BJ (Bjizzle) for finishing in 4th Place.

-Big Syd

$3/$6 Holdem and The Redskins beat the cowboys...

VanGlorious!!!! Oh what a night. Monday Night Football. My Washington Redskins beat The Dallas Cowboys in a last 4minutes comeback. I tell you, it really feels good to be Skins fan today! Hail to The Redskins!

Yes, I played a little bit of poker last night. My new thing is to play 3/6 Limit Holdem while watching tv. I'm actually making money while watching tv. Last night was pretty good and I got to work off most of my bounus I was trying to clear on Full Tilt Poker. I love it.

On the tournament front, I didn't do as well. I played the FTP $8,000 Guarantee and busted out somewhere around the middle of the files after the first break. I just wasnt in my zone last night. Then, I played the RGP Challene where I went down hard when my KJ hand was up against AJ with a J on the board and I was pretty much pot committed. Oh well. There is alwyays next week for that one.

On to tonight. Big Syd's Poker Night. Starts at 8pm and I'm hosting this week. Looks like we have about 20 players registered already for the tournament. I hope to do some damage tonight in that one.

Wish me luck.

-Big Syd

The Weekend....

I did nothing. Decided to let me brain rebuild all the cells it has lost from thinking so hard the past week or two. I actually got some tv watching in as a result and just relaxed.

OK, I take this back. I did play a little bit of poker. I sat down at some low limit tables on Full Tilt Poker and played to burn off a bonus. It was actually fun. I played .25/.50 all the way up to 8/16 on Full Tilt Poker. It was so much fun, I think I'm going to throw it back into the mix as a means of raising funds for tournament fees. I usually use S-N-Gs for this. We'll see.

Well, thats about it.

Oh, Tonight! Redskins versus cowboys. It dont get any better that tat for Monday Night Football.

The only question is will I attend a game party or watch at home where I can play poker at the same time. We shall see.

Don't forget tomorrow night. Big Syd's Poker Night. Celebrating 1 year of hosting this tournament that has grown from one table to averageing 18-28 players a week MTT.

Good Night.

Full Tilt Poker Guarantees for 9/17 - 9/23

Full Tilt Poker has posted the schedule for this week's Guarantee Tournaments. I highly recommend these. You can usually find me in the 8pm and 10pm Guarantee during the week. Both of which I have made final tables on a number of occasions.

Here is this week's schedule with Guarantee amounts:

New Feature: Lessons From The Pros

I have added a new feature to my blog site. Now you can get Lessons from the Full Tilt Poker Pros to help you improve your game. Just visit this site and click on the banner to the right of the screen which leads you to the lessons.

Every 1-2 weeks another lesson will be published by one of the pros. So, do check back regualarly for the latest.

-Big Syd

9th Place Finish in $10,000 Guarantee on Full Tilt Poker

This past Thursday night I played the 10pm $10,000 Guarantee on Full Tilt Poker. 505 Players entered this event. I made the Final Table and finished in 9th Place. Now, let me just say that I could have finished higher if I wanted to sit there and just let the blinds and antes eat away my stack. However, I decided to take a stand and make a move with AhQh and ran into AK which was being held by the table chip leader. It was a play I had to make if I wanted a shot at the top prize which was $3030. So, I'm quite pleased with my 9th Place finish and I feel that the best is yet to come.

-Big Syd

The Borgata Poker Open....

Well, from my standpoint, The Borgata Poker Open was an uneventful event. I mean, I had fun. However, I did not bring home the MOOLA!!!

I entered 3 WPT Borgata Poker Events (Events #1-3). I played the $500+$60, the $750+60, and the $1000+$80 Event. None of which I placed in the money. I will say that although the competition was tough, not one time did I feel that I couldn't compete at those levels.

I feel that I played some of the best poker that I have ever played in my life. However, the cards just didnt fall my way. There is a saying in poker that says, "Sometimes it is better to be lucky than to be good". Well, I was good and played excellent poker. I just didnt have luck on my side. I played the cards I was dealt to the best of my ability and just came up short. But enough of that. I dont want to sounds like I'm making excuses for my results. It just wasn't my time to shine.

Now, I will say that I did have a good time. I had the pleasure of brushing elbows with some of the poker greats. Paul Darden, David Pham, Kristy Gazes, Minh Nguyen, and a host of others. In the $750 event, I spent most of my time dealing with Minh Nguyen who was in the 8 seat and I was in the 2 Seat. Boy, I tell you, playing against pros really forces you to play your "A" game. After playing with Minh, I must say that I respect his play and look forward to seeing great things from him. The guys likes to see a lot of flops and he is willing to take a chance and play you on the flop versus pre-flop. Pleasure to meet you, Minh.

I did play a number of satellites and super satellites which I came up short in. I played an Act I where the top 11 got seats to an ACT II and I finished in 13th Place. It just wans't my trip.

Fortunately, I put in some hours in the cash games to help cover some of the losses in tournament fees. I kinda fell in love again with limit poker as a source of raising funds. I think I'm going to start playing a little more of that online as well.

Well, thats about it from The Borgata Poker Open. The onsite photographer snapped a few shots of me in action. They should be up on www.borgatastyle.com soon. Be on the lookout. It looks like I wont be playing the WPT Main Event this year. Maybe next year.

Next Stop? U.S. Poker Championship at The Taj Majal in Atlantic City. That will be followed by a return trip to Foxwoods in CT for the World Poker Finals. More details to come.

Oh, and one final note. A special thank you to all of those that backed me financially at The Borgata Poker Open. Look for great things in the future. Thanks for having faith in my game.

-Big Syd

I didnt have a real good night...

Last night was not my night. I busted early in two tournaments. I played the 8pm $7,000 Guarantee on Full Tilt and then the 10pm $8,000 Guarantee on Full Tilt. I busted early in both.

First one, My AJ couldnt hold up to AK when a King hit the board. Second one, my Pocket 10's couldnt hold up to JJ.

Its OK. I'm getting all of my bad hands out the way before Atlantic City.

I may jump in and play some tonight. We shall see.

Big Syd's Poker Night (9/6): Results...

Light turnout this week. About 12 or 13 Entrants I hear (But I heard the side games Joo-sayyyy!!!)

1st Place: DJ Big John
2nd Place: Petch
3rd Place: Mary?

Congrats to this week's winners. Sorry I couldn't make it this week.

Still nothing much happening...

I didn't do too much last night. Did a money swap with Pdoggie for Absolute Poker cash for Full Tilt Poker Cash over the holiday. Decided to give them a try again for the first time. Hated it. I dont like the setup of AP.

I played a $50 MTT which only attracted 35 Entrants. I finished in 16th Place. I blew a good deal of my stack on one hand not paying attention. I called a raise when I thought I was limping for at the BB rate. Thats what I get for doing mutltiple things on the computer when playing poker.

I think I could run the tables on AP if I felt like really playing there. I just cant stomach the interface and the software. I'll pass.

Back to Full Tilt Poker tonight!

-Big Syd

Nothing much happening...

I decided to take a day off from poker on Sunday and Monday. Well, not all of Monday. I did play in the RGP Challenge Toourney which I play every Monday night. Finished in 7th Place even though I was about 3rd in chip at the Final table with 8 players remaining. And there was a big jump from 3 to 5th, 6th, and 7th or so. However, I decided to get fancy and play a hand that we know in the RGP circle as Arlo (4-6). I flopped a low straight draw pushed all-in to let Arlo work its magic. The magic didnt happen. I'm out in 7th Place.

Another Full Tilt Poker Charity Event...

Looks like FTP is doing it again. Actually, just about all of the major online poker rooms have announced Charity Events to support the Relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina.

Here are the details on FTP's next one:

Please join us at 9:15PM ET on Sunday, September 4th for a special charity tournament to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Registration for this tournament costs $20 + a $10 donation to the American Red Cross' Hurricane 2005 Relief fund, which will be matched 100% by Full Tilt Poker.

That means for every Tilter that plays, we'll send $20 to aid the victims of this devastating storm. We look forward to seeing you at the table.

Full Tilt Poker's "Jersey Days"

Well, I just came in 1st Place in a Single Table Satellite for Full Tilt Poker's "Jersey Days".

Every Saturday in September, they are running a Tournament called "Jersey Days" and the final 10 players each receive one of their highly sought after FTP Custom-made Jersey's.



The cost to get into the Saturday Tournament is 2500 Full Tilt Poker Points. However, I played a Single Table Satellite with a 300 FTP Point Buy-In and won.

You can read more about "Jersey Days" by visiting this link:

http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/proJersey.php

I sure would love to have that Jersey to wear in The Borgata Poker Open.

Wish me Luck!

-Big Syd

The Full Tilt Poker Charity Event

Well attended with about 718 players. That means FUll Tilt will dontate $14,360 from this tournament alone to the Red Cross.

Lots of Pros signed up to play in this one tonight. They include the following:

david grey
david singer
eirk lindgren
howard lederer
kristy gazes
paul wolfe
phil gordon

I didnt do too well as I lost a hand when my Flush was taken down by a Boat. Here's the hand. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the money and make another donation. I'll come up with something.

FullTiltPoker Game #205217994: Hurricane Relief Tournament (1283354), Table 20 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:46:45 ET - 2005/09/02
Seat 1: hogwild56 (4,755)
Seat 2: CashHot (1,290)
Seat 3: TheRealPicard (1,345)
Seat 4: Bassrat10 (3,580)
Seat 5: foucault x (2,095)
Seat 6: Patman n Robhim (1,255)
Seat 7: celolec (535)
Seat 8: KappaMan (1,250)
Seat 9: ne2crds (1,665)
TheRealPicard posts the small blind of 30
Bassrat10 posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KappaMan [5c 6c]
foucault x folds
Patman n Robhim folds
beedab (Observer): man
celolec folds
KappaMan calls 60
beedab (Observer): heck of a call though
ne2crds raises to 120
hogwild56 calls 120
CashHot folds
TheRealPicard folds
Bassrat10 calls 60
KappaMan calls 60
*** FLOP *** [Qc Qd Jc]
Bassrat10 checks
KappaMan checks
ne2crds checks
hogwild56 checks
*** TURN *** [Qc Qd Jc] [4c]
Bassrat10 checks
KappaMan bets 510
ne2crds folds
hogwild56 calls 510
Bassrat10 calls 510
*** RIVER *** [Qc Qd Jc 4c] [3d]
Bassrat10 checks
KappaMan checks
hogwild56 bets 840
Bassrat10 has 15 seconds left to act
Bassrat10 folds
KappaMan calls 620, and is all in
Uncalled bet of 220 returned to hogwild56
*** SHOW DOWN ***
hogwild56 shows [Qh Jh] (a full house, Queens full of Jacks)
KappaMan mucks
hogwild56 wins the pot (3,280) with a full house, Queens full of Jacks
KappaMan stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,280 | Rake 0
Board: [Qc Qd Jc 4c 3d]
Seat 1: hogwild56 showed [Qh Jh] and won (3,280) with a full house, Queens full of Jacks
Seat 2: CashHot (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: TheRealPicard (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Bassrat10 (big blind) folded on the River
Seat 5: foucault x didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Patman n Robhim didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: celolec didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: KappaMan mucked [5c 6c] - a flush, Queen high
Seat 9: ne2crds folded on the Turn

PS - Good Luck to The Real Picard who made his way to my table and was still in when I busted. Also, Good Luck to BJ, one of my local folk who is in the tourney as well.

Big Syd

AQs sends me to the rail in the $7000 Guarantee (8pm)

Well, I knew my fate when I played it. 9 spots outside the money, immediately after the 2nd Break, I'm dealt AhQh in the Big Blind. Mid Position Bully raises my 500 BB to 1500. Cutoff calls and I call from the BB. Flop comes Td 7s 6s. I push all-in my remaining 1500 or so. Raiser goes into the tank and thinks. Then calls. I know I'm doomed (AQ curse). Other player folds. Raiser shows 33. Well, how about I just show you the hand history:

FullTiltPoker Game #205246202: $7,000 Guarantee (1194364), Table 29 - 250/500 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:13:10 ET - 2005/09/02
Seat 1: SmBoatDrinks (13,875)
Seat 2: eddiepies (31,080)
Seat 3: bigslimfast50 (10,709)
Seat 4: jimmyjames5 (10,765)
Seat 5: KappaMan (3,150)
Seat 6: averageguy (16,255)
Seat 7: Get_R_Done_Ron (5,955)
Seat 8: TucsonTommy (6,397)
Seat 9: poguemahone68 (12,048)
SmBoatDrinks antes 50
eddiepies antes 50
bigslimfast50 antes 50
jimmyjames5 antes 50
KappaMan antes 50
averageguy antes 50
Get_R_Done_Ron antes 50
TucsonTommy antes 50
poguemahone68 antes 50
jimmyjames5 posts the small blind of 250
KappaMan posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KappaMan [Ah Qh]
averageguy folds
Get_R_Done_Ron folds
TucsonTommy folds
poguemahone68 raises to 1,500
SmBoatDrinks folds
eddiepies calls 1,500
bigslimfast50 folds
jimmyjames5 folds
KappaMan calls 1,000
*** FLOP *** [Td 7s 6s]
KappaMan bets 1,600, and is all in
poguemahone68 calls 1,600
eddiepies folds
KappaMan shows [Ah Qh]
poguemahone68 shows [3d 3h]
*** TURN *** [Td 7s 6s] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [Td 7s 6s 6h] [8c]
KappaMan shows a pair of Sixes
poguemahone68 shows two pair, Sixes and Threes
poguemahone68 wins the pot (8,400) with two pair, Sixes and Threes
KappaMan stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8,400 | Rake 0
Board: [Td 7s 6s 6h 8c]
Seat 1: SmBoatDrinks folded before the Flop
Seat 2: eddiepies folded on the Flop
Seat 3: bigslimfast50 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: jimmyjames5 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: KappaMan (big blind) showed [Ah Qh] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 6: averageguy folded before the Flop
Seat 7: Get_R_Done_Ron folded before the Flop
Seat 8: TucsonTommy folded before the Flop
Seat 9: poguemahone68 showed [3d 3h] and won (8,400) with two pair, Sixes and Threes

My Big Blind Special versus Clonie Gowen...

Last night was a bad night for me poker-wise. I didn't do well in the tourneys I played. Well, I did do well in one. Its just that Luck shined upon another player that sucked out on me in the River.

So, instead of going into deep details from last night's play, I'll just try to let my light shine from the fact that last night, I had the pleasure of having Clonie Gowen seated at my table in the $8,000 Guarantee on Full Tilt Poker.

Here is a hand I played against her and won via a reraise. Enjoy!

FullTiltPoker Game #204223444: $8,000 Guarantee (1194358), Table 32 - 50/100 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:52:47 ET - 2005/09/01
Seat 1: lo_pair (7,755)
Seat 2: wizeguy32x (2,395)
Seat 3: MR SPICE (2,650)
Seat 4: Clonie Gowen (9,760)
Seat 5: Blacksheep626 (1,715)
Seat 6: KappaMan (5,610)
Seat 7: dfisheratt (2,220)
Seat 8: lopes (4,930)
Seat 9: herbii (625)
Blacksheep626 posts the small blind of 50
KappaMan posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KappaMan [2h 7s]
dfisheratt calls 100
lopes folds
herbii folds
lo_pair folds
wizeguy32x folds
MR SPICE folds
Clonie Gowen calls 100
Blacksheep626 folds
KappaMan checks
*** FLOP *** [7c 7h 5d]
KappaMan checks
dfisheratt checks
Clonie Gowen bets 350
KappaMan raises to 700
dfisheratt folds
Clonie Gowen folds
Uncalled bet of 350 returned to KappaMan
KappaMan mucks
KappaMan wins the pot (1,050)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,050 | Rake 0
Board: [7c 7h 5d]
Seat 1: lo_pair didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: wizeguy32x didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: MR SPICE didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Clonie Gowen (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Blacksheep626 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: KappaMan (big blind) collected (1,050), mucked
Seat 7: dfisheratt folded on the Flop
Seat 8: lopes didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: herbii didn't bet (folded)

Hurricane Katrina Relief and Full Tilt Charity Event...

Tonight, Full Tilt Poker will be hosting a Charity Tournament to help raise funds for Hurricane Katrina Relief. The buy-in is $20 + $10 and they are matching the vig and donating it all to the Red Cross.

I have decided to not only play this tournament but I am going to donate half of any winnings that I receive in this tourney to The Red Cross. I challenge each and every one of you that reads this to do the same thing.

If you do decide to play and have not opened an account on Full Tilt Poker, please click on any of the links on my website, http://bigsydpoker.blogspot.com and I wlll donate any monies I recieve from your signup, by me being a Full Tilt Poker affiliate, to The Red Cross as well.

Here are the details for tonight's event and I hope to see you there:

Join other Poker Players on Full Tilt Poker at 9:15PM ET on Friday, September 2nd for a special charity tournament to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Registration for this tournament costs $20 + a $10 donation to the American Red Cross' Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund, which will be matched by Full Tilt Poker.

That means, for every Tilter that plays, we'll donate $20 to aid the victims of this devastating storm. We look forward to seeing you at the table.

Big Syd

Massive Blowup...

I'm going to spare you the details of How I blew up last night in the FTP 10pm $8000 Gurantee. It was very ugly. I ran my stack up very early to about 6900 very early in the tournament. 400 something players and we were down to 170 something players remainin and the average stack was bout 2000 or so. But for some reason, I just got greedy and called 2 big All-Ins when I should have just layed my hand down. Within in no time. I was crippled. I just logged off after busting out and decided to not play anymore poker last night. I think I just needed a break. So, I decided to watch Live at The Bike (http://www.thebike.com) for an hour or two and go to bed early. Last night at the ike was pretty good. They had a $50/$100 game going on with Barry Greenstein commenting. Real good commentary.

-Big Syd

PayPal Option added...

FYI, I 've added an option to use PayPal for those that want to get a Piece of Big Syd at The Borgata Poker Open.

To do so, visit the page using the link atop this page. Its quick and secure.

-Big Syd