Chop It Up

The year has started off with poker tournaments galore, too bad I've only had time for one, so far! The Horseshoe's $150 (+$10) re-entry $25k ended up with 608 entries and $15k for 1st, but I read it was chopped 5 ways and the 'winner' taking only $8k and a seat to the WSOPC main event coming up.

Gold Strike held their Farewell Tournament last weekend, also a $150 (+$10) re-entry, closing their poker room for good. :( I didn't get to play in this one, as I couldn't be there for the 11am Day 2 start time on Sunday. If it had been at 2pm, I could've played, but oh well. They added almost $18k to the prize pool in leftover poker promo money. This brought 308 entries with 1st paying a little under $17k, but it was chopped. 7 ways for this one, with the chip leader taking $10,500.

I don't understand chopping 7 ways. Maybe I am too competitive (greedy? lol) or whatever, but if I'm at your final table, do not expect me to agree to one. Sorry, not happening! I have been at tables where the whole final table wanted to chop, it's ok to say no. Really it is! I did chop 5 ways once at Harrah's, 2nd in chips with 2 super short stacks. Dumbest thing ever. But my husband, who was in it, too, really wanted to chop. Like reallyyy wanted to chop. So, I reluctantly agreed that time, but I regretted it and vowed never again. I'd rather limp Aces from the small blind in a family pot than agree to a bad chop! Haha, seriously, though.

Down in Biloxi, I read the Beau's "Million Dollar Heater" $2600 main event was chopped 5 ways, as well. This time the chip leader gave up $90k. Ninety thousand dollars. Say what!? Yep. First place was paying $178k and he decided to settle for $88k. The four other players took $79k evenly. Ok. Somebody at that table is obviously one hell of a negotiator! I just don't see giving up that much money, he musta been scared to death. Bless his heart.

While it's true, I wasn't in his position, playing for that amount of money, so I can't really say what exactly I'd agree to or what I wouldn't, but it seemed like such a bad chop to me...I dunno. But I'm speaking as the chip leader here. If I were a short stack, of course I'd jump all over that deal as 5th place was only $32k. ;)

In other news, more tournaments are coming. Horseshoe Tunica is hosting the 1st ever series of a new poker tour called the Senior Poker Tour. It's for players aged 50+, so I don't know much about this one. It's already started and runs Jan 15th - 19th. It says the $550 main event final table will be live streamed.  That's cool. The schedule is here on 2+2.  Hope we see Memphis Mojo on the live stream!

The WSOP circuit event will start Jan 23rd at Harrah's and run through Feb 3rd. Then the HPO is coming to Hollywood Tunica. Which I find hard to believe because who plays there?? But they are coming anyway and bringing Chris Moneymaker with them. I can't find a schedule on their website, but someone posted it in a 2+2 thread here. It runs Feb 7 - 16th.

So, lots of poker to be played around here. Hope I can be available to play some of them! glglgl :)