MATH Recap, and WSOP / WPBT Summer 2008

86 runners came out for Mondays at the Hoy this week on full tilt, starting off the second week of the BBT3 as everyone is on the prowl for the early spot in the BBT3 Tournament of Champions to play for the WSOP seats at the end of the three-month challenge. This made for a $2064 prize pool, with a solid $650.16 going to the eventual winner.

Our first player out on the night was former blogger NewinNov, who, true to the typical pace of the 6-max nlh MATH tournament, busted just two minutes in when his AK ran into KK allin preflop. Three players were already out by 10:15pm ET, and ten were gone in the first half hour. You gotta love the 6-max. Meanwhile, nabbing the early chip lead sometime in the first 30 minutes or so was Lucko who has been known to crush blogger fields once given some chips. Lucko stormed to the early chip lead, and the man simply did not give it up for the next few hours. Despite a very brief period at the final two tables, which was quickly rectified btw, Lucko ran over the MATH field on Monday, almost as badly as Scott Fischman did to us last week in the first Big Game of the BBT3. He got a little lucky, played his big hands well and basically got paid off with all kinds of hands along the way to as thorough a domination as you are going to see in a blonkament, taking down the ToC seat in addition to over $650 cold hard cashish.

And the best part about Lucko's performance in the Hoy this week? It won me $250 in a side bet with another blogger. See, last week as I mentioned previously, Lucko won the pokerstars 25k guaranteed tournament for some $6700 cash. This was not Lucko's biggest score ever by a long shot, but it was a huge chunk of coin and it was his first big tournament win in several months. Well if there's one thing I have noticed about Lucko over the past couple of years, it is that his tournament play is streaky. Like most of us, when he is running good you can see two or three big mtt cashes from the man over just a couple of weeks, and I figured this time would be no exception. So I took 5 to 1 odds for $50 that Lucko would win a BBT3 Tournament of Champions seat sometime within the next two weeks, starting around the middle of last week. And BOOoooooooooooom! Now he's done it. 250 samolians to me, all for doing nothing. Can't beat that. So congratulations to Lucko for the big win and for the ToC seat, may your hot streak in mtt's continue. I don't know how long all of you have been reading poker blogs out there, but take it from me, Lucko is one guy who can really crush it when he is running well.

Here are all of the 10 cashers in this week's Mondays at the Hoy tournament:

10. $51.60 zeroluck001
9. $51.60 jeciimd
8. $61.92 CheckinMyAA
7. $61.92 twoblackaces
6. $103.20 jamthewson_iii
5. $154.80 DaBag
4. $216.72 Roberto55
3. $288.96 tilt away
2. $423.12 TuscaloosaJohn
1. $650.16 lucko21

And here is the updated 2008 MATH moneyboard, including this week's results:

1. columbo $928
2. astin $664
3. lucko21 $650
4. Pirate Wes $581
5. fuel55 $512
6. surflexus $488
7. pureprophet $484
8. zeroluck001 $476
8. Jordan $476
10. TuscaloosaJohn $423
11. twoblackaces $409
12. bayne_s $291
13. tilt away $289
14. Tripjax $288
15. jmathewson_III $274
16. Breeze81 $253
17. Miami Don $224
18. Roberto55 $217
19. Donkey Shortz $215
20. VinNay $203
21. Byron $202
22. DaBag $155
23. buckhoya $150
23. Mike Maloney $150
25. chitwood $127
26. cubanlinks $120
27. LJ $119
28. ChiipyMcStacks $117
29. thepokergrind $95
30. ANIguy $89
30. bartonf $89
32. HotPants29 $74
33. katiemother $67
33. Hoyazo $67
35. CheckinMyAA $62
36. PirateLawyer $60
37. DonkeyPuncher74 $56
37. RaisingCayne $56
39. jeciimd $52
39. zeroluck001 $52
41. kevin_with_AK $49

Congratulations again to Lucko and to all of this week's cashers, and I look forward to seeing you all again next week for Mondays at the Hoy.

In other news, today I wanted to see what anyone is thinking about the dates for the WPBT summer gathering. Unlike in previous years, there will be no suspense for me thanks to my huge February in the online poker world that I will be playing in the World Series of Poker in 2008. While I will still try to play as many of those Bracelet Races as I can, in the end that will just be to hoard cash as I have already won my buyin to the event of my choice in the Rio between the end of May and early July. As with previous years, playing in the Main Event is just not an option for me for various reasons, not the least of which is that I would not want to leave my family for two weeks just to go play some silly poker tournament. But for a long weekend? Hells yeah.

So, the first step here the way I see it is to look at the WSOP schedule for 2008 at the Rio and see when the primo preliminary events are. And for me, "primo" means lower-buyin tournaments, starting at convenient times (i.e. not a Tuesday or Wednesday which make it very hard for me and those of us with actual day jobs to play and be there for a few days after the start day) and in games that I want to play. Now, a year ago I was completely immersed in 6-max nlh. I was dabblind in 6-max cash already, and more than that I was playing those juicy turbo satellites into the nightly 30k guaranteed 6max nlh tournament at 11pm ET on full tilt almost every night, eventually culminating in a 5 grand score for taking 2nd place in this tournament about 11 months ago or so. So at this time last year, 6-max nlh was my game. But at this point in time, I would never make such a claim. Even with the MATH switching to shorthanded format in 2008, I am simply not as practiced or comfortable in 6max right now as I am in good old fashioned regular no-limit holdem, nor in some other games like Omaha and O8 where I have been recording the majority of my tournament scores lately. So let's check out the 2008 WSOP schedule here:


Friday May 30, 12pm #1 World Championship pot-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $10,000 TBA
Saturday May 31, 12pm #2 No-limit hold 'em (4 day event) $1,500 TBA
Monday June 2, 12pm #3 Pot-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Monday June 2, 5 pm #4 Mixed hold 'em (3 day event) $5,000 TBA
Tuesday June 3, 12pm #5 No-limit hold 'em with rebuys (3 day event) $1,000 TBA
Tuesday June 3, 5pm #6 Omaha high-low split, eight or better (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Wednesday June 4, 12pm #7 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $2,000 TBA
Wednesday June 4, 5pm #8 World Championship mixed event (3 day event) $10,000 TBA
Thursday June 5, 12pm #9 No-limit hold'em six-handed (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Thursday June 5, 5pm #10 Omaha/Seven card stud high low, eight or better (3 day event) $2,500 TBA
Friday June 6, 12pm #11 No-limit hold 'em shootout $5,000 TBA
Friday June 6, 5pm #12 Limit hold 'em (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Saturday June 7, 12pm #13 No-limit hold 'em $2,500 TBA
Saturday June 7, 5pm #14 World Championship seven card stud (3 day event) $10,000 TBA
Sunday June 8, 12pm #15 Ladies no-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $1,000 TBA
Sunday June 8, 5pm #16 Omaha high-low split, eight or better (3 day event) $2,000 TBA
Monday June 9, 12pm #17 No-limit hold 'em shootout (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Monday June 9, 5pm #18 No-limit 2-7 draw lowball with rebuys (3 day event) $5,000 TBA
Tuesday June 10, 12pm #19 Pot-limit Omaha (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Tuesday June 10, 5pm #20 Limit hold 'em (3 day event) $2,000 TBA
Wednesday June 11, 12pm #21 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $5,000 TBA
Wednesday June 11, 5pm #22 HORSE (3 day event) $5,000 TBA
Thursday June 12, 12pm #23 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $2,000 TBA
Thursday June 12, 5pm #24 Pot-limit hold 'em/Omaha (3 day event) $2,500 TBA
Friday June 13, 12pm #25 World Championship heads-up no-limit hold 'em (256 player max, 3 day event) $10,000 TBA
Friday June 13, 5pm #26 Razz (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Saturday June 14, 12pm #27 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Saturday June 14, 5pm #28 Pot-limit Omaha with rebuys (3 day event) $5,000 TBA
Sunday June 15, 12pm #29 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $3,000 TBA
Sunday June 15, 5pm #30 World Championship limit hold 'em (3 day event) $10,000 TBA
Monday June 16, 12pm #31 No-liimit hold 'em, six handed (3 day event) $2,500 TBA
Tuesday June 17, 12pm #32 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Tuesday June 17, 5pm #33 World Championship seven card stud high slow split, eight or better (3 day event) $5,000 TBA
Wednesday June 18, 12pm #34 Pot-limit Omaha with rebuys (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Wednesday June 18, 5pm #35 Seven Card Stud (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Thursday June 19, 12pm #36 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Thursday June 19, 5pm #37 World Championship Omaha, high-low split, eight or better (3 day event) $10,000 TBA
Friday June 20, 12pm #38 Pot-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $2,000 TBA
Saturday June 21, 12pm #39 No-limit hold 'em $1,500 TBA
Sunday June 22, 12pm #40 2-7 triple daw lowball (limit, 3 day event) $2,500 TBA
Sunday June 22, 5pm #41 Mixed hold 'em (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Monday June 23, 12pm #42 Seniors no-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $1,000 TBA
Tuesday June 24, 12pm #43 Pot-limit Omaha high-low split, eight or better (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Wednesday June 25, 12pm #44 No-limit hold 'em with rebuys (3 day event) $1,000 TBA
Wednesday June 25, 5pm #45 World Championship HORSE (5 day event) $50,000 TBA
Thursday June 26, 12pm #46 No-limit hold 'em, six handed (3 day event) $5,000 TBA
Thursday June 26, 5pm #47 Seven card stud high-low, eight or better (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Friday June 27, 12pm #48 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $2,000 TBA
Saturday June 28, 12pm #49 No-limit hold 'em (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Sunday June 29, 12pm #50 World Championship pot-limit Omaha (3 day event) $10,000 TBA
Sunday June 29, 5pm #51 HORSE (3 day event) $1,500 TBA
Monday June 30, 12pm #52 No-limit hold 'em $1,500 TBA
Tuesday July 1, 12pm #53 Limit hold 'em shootout $1,500 TBA
Monday July 7, 12pm #55 Casino employees no-limit hold 'em $500 TBA

2008 Event #54 -- $10,000 no-limit Texas hold 'em
Date Day of Action
Thursday July 3, noon Day 1A - 2,500 Players
Friday July 4, noon Day 1B - 2,500 Players
Saturday July 5, noon Day 1C - 2,500 Players
Sunday July 6 Day 1D - 2,500 Players
Through Wednesday July 16, noon Final Table


OK so the first obvious candidate is that second weekend in June. On Thursday June 12 at noon Vegas time is Event #23, the $2000 buyin nlh tournament, a 3-day event. This is the game and at a price point that a few of us bloggers might actually be willing and able to play in, including the -- count them -- five preliminary WSOP seats being given away as part of the BBT3. So for those of us who could come into town for a Thursday noon tournament, this is a great option to start the trip. Also, that Saturday, June 14 at noon is Event #27, the $1500 nlh event, which is the cheapest and easiest way for any no-limit holdem donkey to play in the WSOP. And then, just for good measure is Event #29 on Sunday the 15th at noon, the $3000 buyin nlh tournament. So that weekend might be a great one, WSOP-wise, because it is smack dab in the middle of the Series, and yet in one four-day period there are options for a no-limit holdem tournament at the $1500, 2k or 3k buyin levels. You're probably not going to beat that from a variety and opportunity standpoint as far as picking the WPBT summer weekend.

The following weekend could also work well for those bloggers looking to meet up and take some shots in the WSOP. On Thursday, June 19 is Event #36, another $1500 nlh tournament, as cheap as they come for playing most people's preferred game in the World Series. Event #38 on Friday at noon Vegas time is the $2,000 buyin pot-limit holdem tournament as well, another attainable goal for some of the bloggers and surely for the five preliminary event packages to be won in the BBT3. And then on Saturday June 21 at noon is another $1500 nlh tournament.

The first weekend of June and the last weekend of June also present some decent WSOP opportunities for those looking to play in the preliminary events, but not as much variety and opportunity as during those two middle weekends I described above. Given the choice, I would probably lean towards that second weekend (June 14-15), because then like last year I could probably come in late Wednesday night and play in the Thursday WSOP event before things really get kicking with the bloggers.

I would love to hear from everyone:

(1) Falstaff, have you or anyone else given any thought to the logistics of the summer 2008 WPBT gathering?

(2) Who of you out there is not man enough to be in Vegas in June to get together with some bloggers and try out a little WSOP action or at least the side games? Seriously, who is in?

(3) Does anyone have any thoughts on a particular weekend in June, either in favor of the second weekend suggestion or any other time in that month?

Don't forget the latest BBT3 event is also the latest Skills Series tournament on full tilt. So tonight at 9:30pm ET (password is "skillz") will be PLO with Bloggers, otherwise known as the Most Laughable Game on the Earth. I would not miss this one for the world.

And don't forget the Blowdonkey on Bodog as well, I think at 9pm ET, for yet another chance for a blogger to win a free package to the World Series of Poker Main Event coming up in July in Las Vegas.