Looks like I waited too long to go for a swim. Looking out my window, I see the pool is no longer in the shade and I don't really want to show everyone my lobsterboy impersonation so I guess I will wait till later.
No poker tournament for me today - save it for tomorrow - bigger entry on a Saturday. Today was 133 people - tomorrow maybe close to 200 with bigger and more prizes.
Had my morning espresso machiatto with Svetlana and a friendly Somalian dealer called Tigist who always roots for us.
Midway into the first shoe I sensed something funky was up and asked her if anyone had played these cards yet. She confirmed they were new an hour previous and no one had yet played them.
In spite of the dealer's pathetic attempts to "wash the decks" to create a random outcome; new decks are usually very clumped - and you see many low cards clumped together and dealer not busting when she should and you never catch your face on the non-soft double downs
You have to tread cautiously until you break in the cards and they get to know your play. After a few shoes they are properly trained - assuming you have been playing perfectly.
So Svetlana sat out and a young Asian guy seeking his fortune sat down on my left with $100 to try his luck. I played two hands at $25 apiece to start each shoe and adjusted according to my read of the cards.
T'was a bit volatile but in the end (read - after 20 minutes) I was up around $275. Asian guy decided when he was up $50 that two hands for him was also a good idea - it wasn't - not for him and not for me - so I retired then; having peaked at +$350.
I left the shoe in Svetlana's capable hands and went to do some office work in the room. I came down an hour later to find Svetlana morosely nursing the last $50 of her $1000 stake at a different table playing one on one with the dealer.
She begged me to come into the game and I agreed; providing I could have the table to myself and she watched.
I again started with two hands. Glen from Texas ( an advanced-middle aged successful banker)came over after watching me jump up a couple of hundred, and as he was nice enough to ask if he could play with me, I let him and we went at it together. He played one spot and I played two.
After a couple of shoes I was up about $400 and he was up about $300 and he decided to be smart and opened a second hand for himself. I suggested he should not mess with the optimal number of three hands but he was still not housebroken by that point so he went ahead anyway.
After losing the whole $400 and another $200 by way of large bets in favorable count situations I subsided and watched him pooch himself down to his last $100 from an original $1000. (When the count is very favorable I maybe bet up to $150 on two hands. I tend to be conservative in spotting these situations so I look for extreme counts and it may only come up once, if at all, in a session).
I asked Glen then if he was prepared to follow my advice and he did, and we played again in a new shoe - only this time I felt that 4 hands were right (!) and I told him to play two with my two.
We went on a very nice run of several shoes where he got back to $1300 and I popped just over $1000 - with tip bets for the dealer on almost every hand. Winning 3/5 all the way.
Glen realised he was back in the black and asked me nicely if he could play only one hand again as he really wanted to conserve and not go in the hole again. I decided ok but I would only play one myself. I broke even while he lost half his profit. He sat out finally and I played three hands - winning the first and losing the next two - and said that's enough.
I slid the whole session profits over to Svetlana and told her to enjoy herself and went on my merry way.
It may be premature to say anything yet, but I am starting to feel the blackjack juices flowing again. Another reason I eschewed the poker tournament today. Since tonight and all Saturday it will be hard to get a cheap BJ game (that is not crowded)when the hotels are always packed on a weekend.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Vegas in August - part 3 Blackjack characters
It's Friday morning and another sunny day of 40C is on the way. Turned out it was a good job I went back down last night. Found an empty $50 double deck BJ table and tousled with the dealer for several shoes with no one gaining any quarter.
Then an 60'ish Southern guy who always seems to be around bought in for $1000 and he and I started to heat up. Got up $450 and was doing fine until mid nice shoe some very large older guy from Chicago jumps in with a purple chip on the middle spot and pisses me off. I NEVER jump into someone else's shoe.
So I sat out immediately and watched him lose the next 3 hands - which would all have been my hands ironically if he had not sat down ! The guy at the end was pissed off too but as he caught two blackjacks during the same three hands he stayed quiet - literally and metaphorically.
I was within a hair of leaving, but thought, oh well, let's see how the next shoe goes. It went fine - was up a couple of units - thanks to a hairy split of two 8's against dealer's face which bought me a 19 and an 18 and dealer turned over a magnificient 7.
Chicago settled down and rebought for another $1000
We played several shoes together and to my pleasant surprise everyone played their cards well - no mistakes - the Chicago guy even took my advice on a few tricky hands - like should he double A7 vs dealer's 3 (no he should not); should he split his 9's against dealer's 9 (yes he should) and all was fine.
I kept looking for my exit cue but the next hand would keep me in. However, it turned sour on two happenstances. First the anchor decided to get cute with two 7's vs dealer's Jack - god knows why. He made a mess of his two hands; dealer pulled a 19 vs the bust he was slated to get; and that shoe went south.
Chicago decided to bet like a drunken sailor on the next shoe and lost all but $181. I sat out and watched. I came in for the next shoe, where Chicago parlayed his $181 into $2000 plus - by betting recklessly and with great luck - and he was tipping the dealer $25 bets every hand during his run.
So he left with his profit (I think it was a profit - there was a lot of to'ing and fro'ing with his chips) and anchor and I settled down again.
But an Iranian lady decided it was her cue to jump in mid shoe with two hands to go - and against my better (normal) judgement I did not sit out. Lost the first hand she played; bet a second hand to get back the bet I lost and dealer now pulled a blackjack.
So after numerous exit signals over the previous 30 minutes I decided enough was enough and cashed out a healthy winner. I tried to get Svetlana to take over my spot -I was just too tired to keep playing but she is like the Energizer bunny at Blackjack - so she might as well sit in a winning spot at a reasonable table.
But several sharks had been lurking behind me and one of them scooped the spot while it was still warm from my behind before Sveta could walk the five steps over to my table.
I could have made a scene - but next time I will simply reserve the spot.
Then an 60'ish Southern guy who always seems to be around bought in for $1000 and he and I started to heat up. Got up $450 and was doing fine until mid nice shoe some very large older guy from Chicago jumps in with a purple chip on the middle spot and pisses me off. I NEVER jump into someone else's shoe.
So I sat out immediately and watched him lose the next 3 hands - which would all have been my hands ironically if he had not sat down ! The guy at the end was pissed off too but as he caught two blackjacks during the same three hands he stayed quiet - literally and metaphorically.
I was within a hair of leaving, but thought, oh well, let's see how the next shoe goes. It went fine - was up a couple of units - thanks to a hairy split of two 8's against dealer's face which bought me a 19 and an 18 and dealer turned over a magnificient 7.
Chicago settled down and rebought for another $1000
We played several shoes together and to my pleasant surprise everyone played their cards well - no mistakes - the Chicago guy even took my advice on a few tricky hands - like should he double A7 vs dealer's 3 (no he should not); should he split his 9's against dealer's 9 (yes he should) and all was fine.
I kept looking for my exit cue but the next hand would keep me in. However, it turned sour on two happenstances. First the anchor decided to get cute with two 7's vs dealer's Jack - god knows why. He made a mess of his two hands; dealer pulled a 19 vs the bust he was slated to get; and that shoe went south.
Chicago decided to bet like a drunken sailor on the next shoe and lost all but $181. I sat out and watched. I came in for the next shoe, where Chicago parlayed his $181 into $2000 plus - by betting recklessly and with great luck - and he was tipping the dealer $25 bets every hand during his run.
So he left with his profit (I think it was a profit - there was a lot of to'ing and fro'ing with his chips) and anchor and I settled down again.
But an Iranian lady decided it was her cue to jump in mid shoe with two hands to go - and against my better (normal) judgement I did not sit out. Lost the first hand she played; bet a second hand to get back the bet I lost and dealer now pulled a blackjack.
So after numerous exit signals over the previous 30 minutes I decided enough was enough and cashed out a healthy winner. I tried to get Svetlana to take over my spot -I was just too tired to keep playing but she is like the Energizer bunny at Blackjack - so she might as well sit in a winning spot at a reasonable table.
But several sharks had been lurking behind me and one of them scooped the spot while it was still warm from my behind before Sveta could walk the five steps over to my table.
I could have made a scene - but next time I will simply reserve the spot.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Vegas in August - part 2 Poker Tournament
I forgot to mention the best thing about the Venetian - although I don't play heavy enough or long enough to rate a gold or platinum card, the last couple of trips they have given me "VIP check-in" . So when you arrive at the hotel, and see literally dozens of people in a snake-like lineup waiting to check-in, you can quietly smirk to yourself as you take the hidden doorway to the Venetian's equivalent of the Maple Leaf Lounge - and no one ahead of you in the line-up.
But the past few Vegas trips, including this one, the blackjack table gods have not been so kind to me - it has been hard to score a hit and run - since more often than not I am the one getting hit.
This morning I eschewed the morning swim (in light of my head cold) and sat down at a $25 table where I promptly lost a few hundred. The table next door was no kinder. So I caught up on some reading in the room and later entered the daily noon poker tournament.
Today I played MUCH better than yesterday - that is right up till the point where I got knocked out - 12th of 100 original players - just on the wrong side of the cashing bubble.
The blinds were now up to $1000-$2000; with a $300 ante, so with 7 players left at our table, each orbit was costing $5100. Still I had a decent stack of around $45,000. I figured if I made it to the final table, the average stack size would be around $80,000 - so I was a bit under the average at that time - but the pots were getting so large that it would not take much to put me in good shape.
All day I had been disciplined and laid down a number of hands that I believe saved my skin and lots of chips at those times. On the exit hand however, I did not play it safe. I had 99 in the small blind ($1000) and everyone folded to the button who made the standard courtesy raise of $6,000. This particular player liked to get involved, but usually backed off to a show of strength. His stack was slightly bigger than mine.
I decided my hand was not a hand that plays well after many flops so I decided to take down the pot then and there. I shoved all in. He agonized and finally called with AJo.
The board flopped K84 rainbow, and I was doing fine. The next card was a king and of course the river was a jack and I sheepishly headed for the rail. I don't think anyone at the table thought much of this - there had been lots of similar races by this point -but I knew I had mangled my position and the hand.
First, I think I should have just called his raise - if I don't like post flop developments I can get out and wait for another hand to make a move with. As it happens, with this flop, I can lead out fairly strongly with a pot or near pot sized bet. If he has a king, I'll get the vibe. If not, he will probably fold and look for another spot. I don't think this guy had the balls to raise me big time or all in with a bluff or semi bluff.
What a swing - I think I would have taken down the pot before the turn - and been alive and healthy - instead of guarding the rail as I did.
OK enough beating myself up. Any good hands? Well I got dealt AA in the BB with the blinds around $600/$1200 and a $100 ante. First position called; as did the SB; and I raised it up to $5000. The guy in first called, and the SB folded. I checked before the flop came down - called "checking dark" - I don't know what the book says this play may indicate - but it's my sense that it's often from a weak or ambiguous hand.
Well as it happens the board hit with A65 - two spades (I had no spades). Not a bad flop for me - and I have checked to the other guy. He shoved all in - he was either on a flush draw, an open ended straight draw; or maybe a big Ace. Anyway I called, and he flipped K9 of spades. My aces held up and I doubled up.
Early in the tournament I held KK and was involved with one other guy - he had position on me. The board was QJ107 after the turn - with no flush possibilities. The pot was pretty heavy and he shoved me all in.I knew he did not have AK. I didn't want to put my tournament life on a drawing hand, but I did have lots of outs - 4 aces; 4 nines; two kings; 3 sevens; and as it happens 3 jacks. If I folded I would be short stacked again and that's no fun.
Anyway I called and spiked an Ace on the river to best his Q10. I don't know if my poker expert friends would approve of my call, but it worked here.
A few orbits before the exit hand (with lower blinds)I had 97o on the button and I raised to $4000 which only seemed to interest the BB. The flop was 862 and he fired a serious looking $9000 at the pot - and again I think I made an error here. The flop had two spades (I had one) but I had a decision to make. I could fold (save some money); I could call and see what comes on the turn and see what his next move is - or I could raise.
I think if I am going to raise I should shove all-in. Anyway I folded - I did not want to get called and come down to a straight draw with only 8 outs. Chicken. I think the shove would have worked - he only had middle pair.
Generally I played small ball poker - trying to avoid the all-in shoot outs unless I felt I had an edge - more often than not I respected re-raises and re-re-raises, and this helped.
I folded a lot of Ace rag hands in most positions; and also let go an AK and an AJ suited pre flop when the action suggested I would either be an underdog or in a race for all my chips.
I played (and am generally playing) more hands post flop - which is the area of my game that needs the most work and the area I have been working to improve on - another reason why my exit hand was so bad. Big pre flop moves seem to be the purview of weaker players who are afraid to play some poker - and instead like to gamble.
Anyway, 6 hours of poker was for naught - financially that is - but for any bridge players out there I can tell you the buzz is almost as good as after a tough session of top level bridge - you relive the moments and the hands for hours afterwards - and it's not so much about the money I might have won - though for sure that's why I am here - bridge doesn't make me money yet I really enjoy it - same with a poker tournament.
After the tourney I joined Svetlana for a few hands of BJ and took revenge on the casino by scoring a $200 BJ on the last hand of a pregnant 2 deck shoe.
Came upstairs and bid some BBO hands with Keith and then back down for some BJ. Won another $150, then great dinner from the tasting menu at Zine in the Palazzo. After that, we sat down for some more BJ at the Palazzo - but the tables are filling up and the minimums are at least $50 (and those are hard to find)
I dropped a bit at two tables there and prepared to come back to the room. Svetlana plans to play some more so I scouted a table at the venetian for her while she went to powder her nose. First hand I split two two's versus dealer's two - scored a 21 with a double down and a 20 on the other hand and lost money as dealer pulled her own 21.
The shoe count got very favorable and I was pressing and losing. Svetlana came along and I advised her not to play so of course she immediately placed a bet - thinking this was some kind of advanced couples-speak for you gotta bet now!
Well it all worked out as I scored three big hands in a row in the second shoe; recouping the prior losses, and I got out of Dodge while the going was good.
I don't know where all the words come from - I wrote a ton here - I really have to stop this and just enjoy myself more here in fabulous Las Vegas.
But the past few Vegas trips, including this one, the blackjack table gods have not been so kind to me - it has been hard to score a hit and run - since more often than not I am the one getting hit.
This morning I eschewed the morning swim (in light of my head cold) and sat down at a $25 table where I promptly lost a few hundred. The table next door was no kinder. So I caught up on some reading in the room and later entered the daily noon poker tournament.
Today I played MUCH better than yesterday - that is right up till the point where I got knocked out - 12th of 100 original players - just on the wrong side of the cashing bubble.
The blinds were now up to $1000-$2000; with a $300 ante, so with 7 players left at our table, each orbit was costing $5100. Still I had a decent stack of around $45,000. I figured if I made it to the final table, the average stack size would be around $80,000 - so I was a bit under the average at that time - but the pots were getting so large that it would not take much to put me in good shape.
All day I had been disciplined and laid down a number of hands that I believe saved my skin and lots of chips at those times. On the exit hand however, I did not play it safe. I had 99 in the small blind ($1000) and everyone folded to the button who made the standard courtesy raise of $6,000. This particular player liked to get involved, but usually backed off to a show of strength. His stack was slightly bigger than mine.
I decided my hand was not a hand that plays well after many flops so I decided to take down the pot then and there. I shoved all in. He agonized and finally called with AJo.
The board flopped K84 rainbow, and I was doing fine. The next card was a king and of course the river was a jack and I sheepishly headed for the rail. I don't think anyone at the table thought much of this - there had been lots of similar races by this point -but I knew I had mangled my position and the hand.
First, I think I should have just called his raise - if I don't like post flop developments I can get out and wait for another hand to make a move with. As it happens, with this flop, I can lead out fairly strongly with a pot or near pot sized bet. If he has a king, I'll get the vibe. If not, he will probably fold and look for another spot. I don't think this guy had the balls to raise me big time or all in with a bluff or semi bluff.
What a swing - I think I would have taken down the pot before the turn - and been alive and healthy - instead of guarding the rail as I did.
OK enough beating myself up. Any good hands? Well I got dealt AA in the BB with the blinds around $600/$1200 and a $100 ante. First position called; as did the SB; and I raised it up to $5000. The guy in first called, and the SB folded. I checked before the flop came down - called "checking dark" - I don't know what the book says this play may indicate - but it's my sense that it's often from a weak or ambiguous hand.
Well as it happens the board hit with A65 - two spades (I had no spades). Not a bad flop for me - and I have checked to the other guy. He shoved all in - he was either on a flush draw, an open ended straight draw; or maybe a big Ace. Anyway I called, and he flipped K9 of spades. My aces held up and I doubled up.
Early in the tournament I held KK and was involved with one other guy - he had position on me. The board was QJ107 after the turn - with no flush possibilities. The pot was pretty heavy and he shoved me all in.I knew he did not have AK. I didn't want to put my tournament life on a drawing hand, but I did have lots of outs - 4 aces; 4 nines; two kings; 3 sevens; and as it happens 3 jacks. If I folded I would be short stacked again and that's no fun.
Anyway I called and spiked an Ace on the river to best his Q10. I don't know if my poker expert friends would approve of my call, but it worked here.
A few orbits before the exit hand (with lower blinds)I had 97o on the button and I raised to $4000 which only seemed to interest the BB. The flop was 862 and he fired a serious looking $9000 at the pot - and again I think I made an error here. The flop had two spades (I had one) but I had a decision to make. I could fold (save some money); I could call and see what comes on the turn and see what his next move is - or I could raise.
I think if I am going to raise I should shove all-in. Anyway I folded - I did not want to get called and come down to a straight draw with only 8 outs. Chicken. I think the shove would have worked - he only had middle pair.
Generally I played small ball poker - trying to avoid the all-in shoot outs unless I felt I had an edge - more often than not I respected re-raises and re-re-raises, and this helped.
I folded a lot of Ace rag hands in most positions; and also let go an AK and an AJ suited pre flop when the action suggested I would either be an underdog or in a race for all my chips.
I played (and am generally playing) more hands post flop - which is the area of my game that needs the most work and the area I have been working to improve on - another reason why my exit hand was so bad. Big pre flop moves seem to be the purview of weaker players who are afraid to play some poker - and instead like to gamble.
Anyway, 6 hours of poker was for naught - financially that is - but for any bridge players out there I can tell you the buzz is almost as good as after a tough session of top level bridge - you relive the moments and the hands for hours afterwards - and it's not so much about the money I might have won - though for sure that's why I am here - bridge doesn't make me money yet I really enjoy it - same with a poker tournament.
After the tourney I joined Svetlana for a few hands of BJ and took revenge on the casino by scoring a $200 BJ on the last hand of a pregnant 2 deck shoe.
Came upstairs and bid some BBO hands with Keith and then back down for some BJ. Won another $150, then great dinner from the tasting menu at Zine in the Palazzo. After that, we sat down for some more BJ at the Palazzo - but the tables are filling up and the minimums are at least $50 (and those are hard to find)
I dropped a bit at two tables there and prepared to come back to the room. Svetlana plans to play some more so I scouted a table at the venetian for her while she went to powder her nose. First hand I split two two's versus dealer's two - scored a 21 with a double down and a 20 on the other hand and lost money as dealer pulled her own 21.
The shoe count got very favorable and I was pressing and losing. Svetlana came along and I advised her not to play so of course she immediately placed a bet - thinking this was some kind of advanced couples-speak for you gotta bet now!
Well it all worked out as I scored three big hands in a row in the second shoe; recouping the prior losses, and I got out of Dodge while the going was good.
I don't know where all the words come from - I wrote a ton here - I really have to stop this and just enjoy myself more here in fabulous Las Vegas.
Las Vegas in August 2009 - Day 1 - Poker Tournament, Blackjack, and bits n pieces
Not sure if this is a bad omen, but (a) we slept in and were woken up by the limo driver at 6.30 in the morning yesterday. Dashed to the airport; no strip searches this time; and sneezed and coughed all the way on the plane.
My seatmates were charmed I am sure. I thought maybe it was allergies. Svetlana decided to ask the attendants for meds. I told her not to waste her time - they won't even give you an aspirin if you ask.
Silly me ! She came back with several Benadryl simply by refusing to take no for an answer.
But the pill did not really help - except zone me out - and I decided I must have a head cold.
Played in a tournament in the afternoon regardless. Must have played like a pooch as it seemed everyone could read me like a book.
One guy walked a pair of Aces from the small blind. I was in mid position with KQ of spades and had raised it up to 2.5 times the BB. Another player on the button came along for the ride.
The flop was AJ8 rainbow. SB checked and I checked; praying for a free card. Button checked too.
Next card was a ten - with no flush draws available; and SB checked again, and I bet 60% of the pot. Button folded and SB called.
Last card was a brick and SB checked (again !) to me. I bet 40% of the pot for value - he raised me. I re-raised; and he threw his cards away in disgust with himself for pooching the hand - would not even call with his flopped set of Aces. Good play.
He got revenge when I flopped a rainbow straight off the flop with 10-8 clubs suited. Flop was J-9-7 (9-7 suited)
I had an open ended straight flush draw and at that point I had the nut straight. I walked a bit and a ten on the turn gave hope to the card shark with his Q8. We built a healthy pot on the river and I lost of course to his superior straight.
Very next hand I had K10 suited and saw a flop of 3-10-K. I got involved with one other player who was playing A9s. Suited in clubs.
Turn was a club (to go with the three spot on the board and the two clubs in my hand) and the other guy started getting aggressive and we got all the chips in the middle.
The river was a little club - allowing him to go runner runner and score the nut flush to my King high flush - and on the rail I was - 25th/153
I never felt good all day though and it was probably a fair outcome - though too early an exit to cash.
Won $150 at a cash game right after to recoup my entry fee.
Video poker was the worse I can remember in a year - I only cashed once - and had three losing sessions - so down $220 overall there
BJ - first session was a minus $400. I left. Played after dinner at a steady table where nothing spectacular happened except the cards kept me there for almost 3 hours - which for me is almost unheard of.
Only bet heavy one hand; but was always raising my stop-win target. Got up $1700 at one point; but gave back $300 before the stop win kicked in and thanked the lord for a plus day overall - considering it's my first day here and my health - I could not complain.
My seatmates were charmed I am sure. I thought maybe it was allergies. Svetlana decided to ask the attendants for meds. I told her not to waste her time - they won't even give you an aspirin if you ask.
Silly me ! She came back with several Benadryl simply by refusing to take no for an answer.
But the pill did not really help - except zone me out - and I decided I must have a head cold.
Played in a tournament in the afternoon regardless. Must have played like a pooch as it seemed everyone could read me like a book.
One guy walked a pair of Aces from the small blind. I was in mid position with KQ of spades and had raised it up to 2.5 times the BB. Another player on the button came along for the ride.
The flop was AJ8 rainbow. SB checked and I checked; praying for a free card. Button checked too.
Next card was a ten - with no flush draws available; and SB checked again, and I bet 60% of the pot. Button folded and SB called.
Last card was a brick and SB checked (again !) to me. I bet 40% of the pot for value - he raised me. I re-raised; and he threw his cards away in disgust with himself for pooching the hand - would not even call with his flopped set of Aces. Good play.
He got revenge when I flopped a rainbow straight off the flop with 10-8 clubs suited. Flop was J-9-7 (9-7 suited)
I had an open ended straight flush draw and at that point I had the nut straight. I walked a bit and a ten on the turn gave hope to the card shark with his Q8. We built a healthy pot on the river and I lost of course to his superior straight.
Very next hand I had K10 suited and saw a flop of 3-10-K. I got involved with one other player who was playing A9s. Suited in clubs.
Turn was a club (to go with the three spot on the board and the two clubs in my hand) and the other guy started getting aggressive and we got all the chips in the middle.
The river was a little club - allowing him to go runner runner and score the nut flush to my King high flush - and on the rail I was - 25th/153
I never felt good all day though and it was probably a fair outcome - though too early an exit to cash.
Won $150 at a cash game right after to recoup my entry fee.
Video poker was the worse I can remember in a year - I only cashed once - and had three losing sessions - so down $220 overall there
BJ - first session was a minus $400. I left. Played after dinner at a steady table where nothing spectacular happened except the cards kept me there for almost 3 hours - which for me is almost unheard of.
Only bet heavy one hand; but was always raising my stop-win target. Got up $1700 at one point; but gave back $300 before the stop win kicked in and thanked the lord for a plus day overall - considering it's my first day here and my health - I could not complain.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Canadian Senior Teams Winners
The Shoe pictured on his own, Marty and Arno below, with Boris tucked in behind.
Marty Kirr, Boris Baran, Arno Hobart, and Michael (The Shoe) Schoenborn triumphed over Ray Jotcham, Steve Mackay, Alan Lee, and Lew Richardson. In a dominating display, Baran overcame a 10 imp deficit at the half and gained 82 imps in the third quarter, resulting in a pragmatic withdrawal from Jotcham at that stage.
These guys sure don't look like my definition of seniors - they are a strong quartet in any event, and when they add back Joey and JC, watch out at the World's Championship in Brazil.
COPC Winners - Todd and Fisher
The COPC came to an exciting conclusion this evening with Western Canadian players dominating the final overalls. First place went to Douglas Fisher and Bob Todd, pictured above. Second to Michael Yuen and Maurice De La Salle, and third place went to Vince Lambert and Vince Nowlan.
Conspicuous by their absence is ANY of the pairs I was prognosticating victory for, and in our case, Keith and I had a decent game this evening to climb back from 22nd to 13th overall.
The top 8 places (these may be slightly off and are unofficial - subject to checking at the CBF website)
Todd - Fisher 553
Yuen - De La Salle 537
Lambert - Nowlan 523
Willis - Frucacz 522
Gartaganis - Gartaganis 521
Ballantyne - Litwin 518
Jones - Foster 511
Bowman - Bowman 510
Our score was 501 - basically just over a board out of the bronze medal.
Congratulations to the winners (gold medal AND $2000 cash), and to the other medallists.
Final results will be posted at the CBF website at :
http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html
Any questions or comments can be sent to me at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com
CNTC Winners - L'Ecuyer
The gold medal winners are pictured on top, and the silver medalists, captained by John Carruthers, immediately below.
In the end, the L'Ecuyer team just kept grinding down their opponents. With 18 boards to play, the margin was down to only 15 imps, and the game was on. However, in the fourth quarter, the match was put away and the final margin of victory was just over 40imps. Congratulations to Nick L'Ecuyer, Kamel Fergani, Jurek Czyzowicz , Darren Wolpert, Dan Korbel, and David Grainger - who will represent Canada in the playoff with Mexico in July, and (we expect) in Brazil in the Fall Bermuda Bowl.
Congratulations to the winners and well done to the silver medallists - they put up a tremendous fight, and performed with distinction over the entire eight days of the event.
The full scores are available on the CBF website at http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html
If anyone wishes to contact me directly, you can reach me at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com
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