2011 Main Event.

Can you tell who is sitting to Joe's right?

I know the glasses and hat make it a little difficult but it is...

Picture from: http://seinfeld.wikia.com/wiki/George_Costanza

Jason Alexander! Aka George Costanza from Seinfeld. He is actually a decent poker player and has played in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker quite a few times.

This was about the only exciting thing of the main event since Joe got knocked out today. He made it all the way to Day 3 but the money doesn't start until Day 4. We are going to golf tomorrow to forget about his unsuccessful summer.

So close!

Joe was supposed to come back on June 30th but refused to return to me! I suppose he had good reason to stay longer and I am just being salty.

Mr. P was doing well in a tournament. He made Day 2 so they pushed their flights a day back. Then he made Day 3 so again they pushed their flights back another day. Mr. P made a great run in the event, finishing in 26th out of a starting field of 817 players. Picture of Mr. P is below... Joe has, yet again, creepily and partially made it into the background of a photo:

Joe will finally be coming home tonight! Hip Hip Hooray!

CA$H!

Mr. Patrick, aka the Metalman, made it to a Day 2 yesterday and successfully had the first Patrick cash of the summer! It was not a huge payout but it was certainly better than nothing at all. He was knocked out in 99th which halted his dreams of a final table. Hopefully this will start the ball rolling for more to come...

Can't catch a break.

Joe has been terribly unlucky so far in this World Series of Poker. He gets his chips in with hands that are better than his opponents but, the hands haven't been holding up.

For example, last trip he flopped a straight and got his chips all in against a set of jacks. Then on the river, the board paired giving the guy a full house and sending Joe to spend time with Mrs. P and I.

Yesterday he got his pair of aces in against a pair of kings. There were no draws on the board so the guy could only hit one of the two remaining kings in the deck to beat Joe. The king came on the river and Joe went to the bar for a drink.

Hopefully these "bad beats" will stop and Joe will be able to make it deep into a tournament.

Out!

Joe was knocked out yesterday. 7,319 people entered, 747 get paid and Joe was knocked out in around 990th. After over 3 days of playing, it was pretty disappointing to make it so far and not make the money. Maybe next year...

Time for me to head home tomorrow.

Down to one.

Joe was the only one to survive Day 2 - with 73k in chips, he will resume play on Monday. In the meantime, we are getting ready to golf at the South Shores golf course. Hopefully we won't melt in the 100 degree heat and unyielding sun.

Back from San Fran.

We had a nice quick few days in the San Francisco area. Wednesday was a pretty busy schedule of work related items but Thursday we were able to spend enjoying the city. We walked through some of Golden Gate Park - the best part were the Japanese Tea Gardens. We had a good lunch at a Zuni Cafe. I had a delicious thin crust pizza - my mouth waters at the thought of it! We had just enough time to walk around Fisherman's Wharf before we had to head to the airport.

Day 2 of the poker tournament is today. Good luck to Joe and his Dad!

Update.

Joe and his dad both survived Day One of the Main Event! Joe ended with 56k in chips and his dad with 25k. Since there are 3 more Day Ones, they won't be playing again until Friday. In the mean time, we are headed to San Francisco/Santa Clara for some of Mr. Patrick's business.

Poker Debut

I made my poker debut today when Mrs. Patrick and I registered for a $200 Deepstack tournament at 1 pm. I was pretty nervous even though the buy-in is very small in comparison to all the other World Series of Poker tournaments. 250 people entered and I was knocked out around 160th. My initial goal was to make it through half the field before taking down the whole thing. That obviously did not happen but I felt as though I played well (after my hands stopped shaking from the nerves) for my first time live.

Here is the hand I went out on: I raised with pocket Kings and was called by one guy. The flop came King, Jack, Ten. I bet, he raised and I shoved all-in. He had the one hand I hoped he hadn't - the Ace-Queen for the straight. The board did not pair to give me the full house and thus ended up my tournament.