'Really! Come in for a nightcap and tell me all about it.' I can usually tell when Hobby's cooking up something special, but this announcement surprised me. I poured a couple of Bailey's on-the-rocks and said, 'Let's hear it.'

'Lazybuns is about to have her tenth birthday, and so far I've never gone any further than San Francisco north and Ensenada to the south. I've decided to take a six-week cruise starting in December, and I'd like you to come.'

'Six weeks! That's a hell of a long vacation.'

'I know it is, but it'll be my trip of a lifetime. My first mate, Mike, has agreed to go, and Pablo will go as second mate. You should have seen him when I mentioned it. He just about came out of his shoes. I'll ask the girls too, but I don't think they'll leave their jobs that... Continue reading Global Poker Run: A Joe & Hobby poker fiction

Just a few months ago, if I was still awake at 4 o'clock in the morning it was a great sign that I was running hot at the poker tables. It either meant that I was several hours deep into a large tournament, or I was killing a cash game and simply had to keep playing to pick up more pots from the weak opponents around the felt.

Nowadays I see the clock at the wee hours of the morning regularly, but there is never a deck of cards in sight. With a two-month old infant in the house, sleep is no longer a scheduled routine. Four in the morning is more likely to involve diaper changes and bottle feedings than check-raises and bluffs. Finding time to get some valuable sleep is a challenge, just as finding time to play cards is quite a challenge as well.

It seems that we are all busier than ever these days. After our regular 9-to-5 job, we still have housework and family demands that swallow up the remainder of the evening. For many recreational (and professional) ... Continue reading Family and Poker

My good friend Scott called me this morning to relate his latest horror story from playing $1-$2 no-limit hold 'em. He was at an action table (his words), when he looked down at Kc-Kh. Scott had $225 in his stack, about average for the table. Scott elected to try for a limp re-raise, so he called. Four others called, the small blind called, the big blind checked, so seven players saw the flop.

The flop was Kd-9d-7s, giving Scott top set but straight and flush draws were both possible. Scott told me he planned to bet big, but first the small blind moved all-in for $100 and the big blind called. Scott looked at the big blind's stack, saw he had another $200 or so, and decided there was no reason not to move all-in. He did, and it was folded around to the big blind. He called all-in for just under Scott's bet. The button called, too.

The hands were revealed. The small blind had 7c-7d for bottom set, the big blind had Ts-Td, and the button held 8d-6d and had t... Continue reading Scott's Horror Story

Timoshenko was first for $500,000, with Joon Hee Yeah from South Korea finishing second for $250,000. In third place was Rober Karlian from Thailand, who won $126,000 and Casey Kastle from the United States finished fourth. In fifth was Julio Diaz from Spain, sixth was Quang Nguyen from Vietnam, who won US$52,000, and seventh, Chong Wing Cheong from Hong Kong who won US$37,500. Eighth place went to Michael Pedley of Australia. These players triumphed in a field which featured some of the most high profile names in the game including the legendary Doyle Brunson,... Continue reading Yevgeniy Timoshenko Wins Historic APT Macau!

Canterbury Park, home of the largest poker room in the Midwest, and uncontested leader in poker tournaments concluded a new, and highly successful tournament, The Twin Cities Poker Open.

The August tournament was added to Canterbury's popular tournament line-up for the first time, and proved to be a huge success. Next on the agenda, the most anticipated event of the year, is their Fall Classic, beginning on October 10 and running through the 23.

PLAYERS 173

PRIZE POOL $252,932

1. Michael Schneider . $81,818

2. David Townsend . . . $47,148

3. Gary Pihlstrom . . . . $29,752

4. Bill Criego . . . . . . . . $22,314

5. Jeff Petronack . . . . . $14,876

6. Mike Carlson . . . . . $12,397

7. Charles Anderson . . . $9,917

8. John Hoppmann . . . . $7,439

9. Sam Olson . . . . . . . . . $4,960

... Continue reading Canterbury Park Hosts Twin Cities Poker Open