Ended up too busy at work to head over to Milwaukee. So I decided to cut the drive in half and head over to MCC on Friday. BBJ is well over $400K and climbing.

The 1/2 action is a Chinese Water Torture (for me) but the 2/5 was wonderful during a 14 hour session Friday into Saturday AM. 1/2 was just as bad on Saturday but then I was put on a pretty nitty/tight 2/5 table and got sucked out on a couple of Rivers. I've got no problem with variance, it's just trying to get chips back from certain playing styles is a bit of a problem ... or they cash-n-dash when they double up.

I didn't table change since I needed to head over to FireKeepers for the MSPT Satellite anyway. Missed out on that since the wife ended up driving through her last stop on her way back to Michigan from Spring Break ... very nice surprise!!

MCC BBJ is at $439K as of today ... worth heading down there, even for just a few hours IMO. Call ahead and expect to wait for either 1/2 or 2/5. Great spots to steal pots when players don't hit their sets!! GL

I totally agree. Wherever 2/5 is not offered the 1/2 action is escalated by default. Since MCC has 2/5 going all the time their 1/2 game suffers IMO.

I one thing I like about 2/5 is the deeper stacks all around the table. You don't need to pay attention to the 3 guys with $80 behind that will suck you into spots where you end up 'clicking' your way into calls.

The 'bad' thing about 2/5 is that it's a slower game due to the elevated stacks with most players stretching their bankroll to sit down. GL

Didn't realize that they bumped their max BI at FKeepers ... $400 is a good number.

That guy sounds like someone I might know of down there .. Happy that you got a piece of it but he could've ended up with a few hands just the same. Always nice to be good with 2nd pair and work with your reads. GL

If you like tournaments King's Room has quickly become the place to play poker.

Blind Structure has greatly improved at King's Room.

King's room is picking up steam. 2 charities yesterday!!

We got a very nice 2/5 game going for a few hours. They even had the guts to TELL some players to change tables so they could get the 2/5 going. This is something that we haven't see enough of in GR ...

We started the table as 1/2 but 5 of the players were on the 2/5 list. As the 2/5 list grew the 1/2 players were told to move to the other 1/2 table as the bust outs occurred over there. It was interesting since when the the floor wanted to move the last player they had just won a huge pot and decided to stay and play 2/5 ... and of course lost it all a very short time later.

None of the 1/2 players had to sit out. They just were told they needed to change tables and none of them made a big fuss about it either, very nice.

Not sure the pattern, but King's will be trying to set up a schedule (not every week) for the 2/5 game. It may just be whenever they have their $125 BI Sunday day tournament since they will have 2 charities. Please call or stop in to be put on the text trail for the notifications if you want 2/5. The player pool for 2/5 in GR is small, but knowing when the game will be spread should be helpful in growing it. GL

mini-bump ..

2/5 at Woody's was good again. Full table with 2-3 waiting until after 12:30. One guy waited quite awhile but did get his seat and got his double up!! $13K in chip sales with some nice cash-outs throughout the night.

Might just be a trend but it looks like the 2/5 'game' may be growing in WM, but let's just see how things go all Summer before we judge that.

MCC BBJ is up to $472K today ... hoping it gets through the weekend so I can get down there next week for a day session.

FKeepers had two 1-3 PLO tables with 8 waiting at 10:30 last night. That's a nice crowd ... at 3:00 AM they were down to two 1-2 NL and one 1-3 PLO. If you plan on playing the $260 MSPT satty Saturday night plan on a long night. The last one went to around 1 AM. Lots of locals trying to win multiple seats so they can sell them or have a couple of bullets available. Remember that if you win one of these you MUST play on Thursday or Friday (or sell it and use the money to play on Saturday). GL

Weekly Woody's 2/5 report ... Another great game with a full table through at least 12:30 or so and 7 handed until 1:15. The usual 'suspect' PF action at times but overall a pretty good cast of characters. I got turned around from being down with some decent play and a timely 4-flush with AA to break even for the night. A guy wanted to play for stacks ($900 eff) on the last hand but I laid down JcJs on a 5s4h2s Flop after some 'discussion'. He indicated AsKs after the fact but we will never know and the dealer didn't run it out ... no biggie.

Motor City BBJ went up over $20K in a week and stands at $495,600 today. Hope they can save that for me as I want to head down there on Tuesday.

MSPT at Firekeepers is almost here with 'everyday' qualifiers and sattys starting next Friday. They have them today and tomorrow and will run SnG anytime they can fill a table until then. The $300K guarantee will get blown out of the water most likely.

HPT is at AmeriStar near Chicago starting today with a $300 BI event and plenty of opportunity to get into the $1650 Main Event next weekend. GL

Take a break from Motor City Casino BBJ fever ('only' $520K) and remember to consider MSPT-Firekeepers starting TODAY.

There are 2 $260 sattys tomorrow and then daily including next Thursday morning with Day 1A starting at 4:00. With a lot of attention on HPT-AmeriStar the 2 sattys tomorrow could be pretty fishy. You CAN'T satty into Saturday's Day 1C unless you play the Turbo on Friday night ... it must be used on Thursday or Friday so that may be a consideration for you or you can just sell them and use the money to play on Saturday!!

You wont see me cuz Momma's on a weekend retreat but I'll be getting into it hot and heavy on Monday .. GL

2/5 Thursday was another good table. We didn't sell as many chips as usual but there were some new players that got to sit down with some regs getting ready for the HPT and not present.

The Woody's day game has been pretty good as well but getting the 2nd table going has been a bit tough the last couple of weeks. Tax season is over folks!! GL

Casey Carroll from GR is at the HPT ME final table today after 2:00. Catch it via stream if you have time.

He took down the $300 HPT warm up at Soaring Eagle last year and has been 'a Pro' basically in 2016.

Ship it!! Big win for a 'young' Pro with Mom and Dad watching in the wings. We'll see how this plays out beyond WSOP this Summer. Very happy for him after a disaster of a trip to Florida and then being sick the last week or so. We even told him to stay away from the Thursday 2/5 so we didn't get sick too!!

Now time to make it 2 in a row for WM poker and bring this MSPT 'home' come Sunday. GL

I guess this is more of a diary than a blog, but I will keep posting.

MSPT had a great weekend in BC at FKeepers. $174K to the winner which matched the 1st place money at the HPT near Chicago last weekend with a BI of 33% less!! (1100 v 1650)

Not sure when the next 'big' tournament will be near Michigan with WSOP starting at the end of the month. I Know Hollywood-Toledo is doing something but I don't know much about it. MSPT will have a Fall date and HPT hasn't announced any dates at Soaring Eagle.

Woody's day game had 2 tables for awhile yesterday ...

Chris Blix (ex Woodys dealer) was at the Final Table of the MSPT and finished 5th for $35K. He was trying to match his 'best man' CCarroll's win at the HPT last Monday ... and give his new wife (Friday, between Day 1 and Day 2) a nice wedding present!! Good thing he didn't bust Thursday or he would've had to postpone the wedding to play Friday!! GL

I have not played much poker so far this year but I find your posts interesting.

BBJ fever is over at MCC ... and I was ssssoooo close!! I was playing Saturday morning around 2:30 AM and the table next to mine hit it big. Quad 4s under 7s to 'finally' hit the $566K jackpot.

It could've been a disaster as the board read 4477 and then the 5 hit the River. If someone had shown a straight flush (instead of smartly mucking) only the mini-BBJ would've been paid out and someone would've had 9 new enemies in life!!

Arrived late (11:00 PM) and didn't really have much time, so I sat down at the 5/10 game after watching an orbit or 2 of action. Chipped up a bit before the game broke down and became 2/5 around 2 AM. I actually could've slipped over onto the table that hit the BBJ but one change in the cards and the hand would've never happened. It was 1/2 anyway, which I don't normally play in casinos unless 2/5 isn't offered at the time.

We can all dream of a nice hit like that 'for free' and it just sucks when you are only 12 feet away!! I know the odds remain the same, but would you keep playing PowerBall if someone in your town actually won it? Probably not for awhile ... GL

Anyone have a tourney schedule for kings room?
I know
TJs
Monday ????
Tuesday $35 / $10 add on
Wednesday 20/30/40/50 with a Add on option at break $10
Thursday is a freeze out$ $40??
Friday freeze out $40 ??
Saturday freeze out $50
Sunday $30 / $40 freeze out

If accurate ... King's Room schedule is on their phone message. 616-550-7399 They also have a bigger BI event mixed in there as well ... not sure as I play mainly cash locally. Pretty sure they aren't allowed to post that info on their website per Gaming Commission rules.


Don't forget that Firekeeper's 5th Sunday $400 is this weekend. 181 entries with top 4 chopping $10600 each last time in January. Noon start with 20K in chips I believe.


Another solid week of 2/5 at Woody's. Don't think anyone left from the starting lineup for a very long time. There were a few reloads of course and they actually started a 1/3 must move game for the 6 players that got stacked up waiting. I think 3 or 4 of them did make it onto the 2/5 table by the end of the night. Good to see this game keep going ...

BUT the next 2 weeks is your opportunity to get into this game as some of the regs are headed to Vegas for the start of WSOP Series. I ran into a couple of sets this week but that's going to happen. If I hadn't run into the first one I probably could've gotten away from the 2nd!! GL

Answer20 - can you post or pm me info where Woodys and Kings are located. Have some meetings in W MI next week and might want to ck them out.

West Michigan Poker scene ...

Mon to Thur ...

Woody's Press Box (Spectrum Lanes) on Clyde Park near 131 and 54th Street exit. Day game 10:00 to 4:40 PM, Night game 5:30 to 1:40 AM with RxR on Monday and 2/5 Thursday nights .. call ahead seating .. 616-588-2192 .. cash games only

Mon to Wed ...

Eastbrook Bowling (Lake Eastbrook Drive) near Centerpointe/Woodland Malls. Open by 6 PM with small BI tournaments and cash

Thrus - Sun

King's Room (Russo's Restaurant) on South Division near M6 overpass. Open by 5PM with cash and small BI tournaments Kingscharitypoker.com ... 616-550-7399

Westgate Bowling on Alpine Ave. Open by 5PM Cash only

TJ's at Lincoln (Lincoln Country Club and Bowling) on Lake Michigan Drive between GR and Standale ... Hours? with cash and small BI tournaments

All of the poker is middle to west side of GR with the exception being Eastbrook Lanes, which is sort of close to the airport.

To be fair, there is also a game in Muskegon, but PokerCliff will fill you in on that if he is reading this.

You can also check online with the Millionaire Party Locator on the Michigan.gov website for the locations of all the charity poker rooms in Michigan that have liscenses 'ready to go'. GL

^^^ Thanks!

Here is the Muskegon information:

MUSKEGON POKER TOURNAMENTS
Northway Lanes
1751 Evanston Ave, Muskegon, MI 49442-5402
231-773-9181 (bowling alley number)
231-955-8069 (poker number)

$100 tournament every Saturday.

Thursday
Build a stack
$20 - $50 buy in
$20 gets you 20k in chips
$30 gets you 30k in chips
$40 gets you 40k in chips
$50 gets you 50k in chips
$10 for 10k add on at first break if you still have chips in play
15 min. blinds

Friday
Rebuy tournament, $40 gets you 30k in chips
Also if you get felted before first break you can get a one time rebuy for $40 which gets you another 30k in chips
At first beak if you have chips in play there is a $40 add on that gets you another 30k in chips
20 min blinds

Saturday
$100 buy in
$100 gets you 30k in chips
20 min blinds
limited to first 30 people signed up and paid

Sunday
Build a stack
$20 - $50 buy in
$20 gets you 20k in chips
$30 gets you 30k in chips
$40 gets you 40k in chips
$50 gets you 50k in chips
$10 for 10k add on at first break if you still have chips in play
15 min. blinds

Thursday through Saturday tournaments start 6 pm and you till first break to get signed up. except Saturdays you have to be signed up and paid before first break no call ins.

Sunday open at 2pm tournament starts at 3pm
Cash games
During business hours $1/$2 no limit hold em
$1/$2 Pot Limit Omaha when enough people want to play.

Some of you may recognize the Day 3 chip leader for the WSOP Colossus. Ben has been mainly playing in Florida the last 6 months but should be a somewhat familiar face to poker players in WM and in Hammond. He has been hanging out with Cody while they try to make a dent in the live poker world.

Very much a math player, these low BI events with short levels are perfect for his 'all or nothing' approach that can sometimes be seen as 'overplaying your hand'. Once you have a boat load of chips its a perfect style for running short stacks over.

He won a pretty big flip last night late with AK v QQ and has 5.5M going into Day 3. That's more than 2M more than 2nd place!! Keep an eye on this if you have any interest. GL

Great structure for Ben, but live by the sword and die by the sword. He took a high variance line, the guy made a pretty light call, and won a big race. Ben out in 27th for over $35K.

Quite the showing for West MI guys since May! CC binks $178K in Chicago, we say a 5th place finish for $35K at MSPT FireKeepers, and now a huge run in a major event two years in a row (Cody finished in top 170 last year). I've had the (dis)pleasure of playing with all 4 of these guys at a $1-$2 game. Need to find a softer spot!!!

I guess that West MI run-good means I'm basically guaranteed a deep charge later this month in Event #54, $1500 NLHE/PLO. Good luck to everyone else playing this summer.

Casey Carroll is at it again ... He is 8th in chips (with 80 left) going into Day 2 of the $585? PLO event in Vegas re-starting at 3PM today. What an event!! 'Only' 1550 players entered but there were over 2400 'entries' into the tournament ... So that's a lot of re-entries by busted players. Someone told me that Casey was on a 2nd bullet, but don't think he Tweeted that from what I saw.

He got a huge double late when drawing to the high end straight and flush when his opponent flopped the low end straight .. FLUSH on Turn, nice double.

2-5 at Woody's was short handed last night but we still managed to run for 3.5 hours with no more than 6 at the table at any one time. Ran well so no complaints.

King's Room sold out of chips by Midnight last night with 3 cash tables going strong when I got there after Woody's broke. Westgate was already closed when I drove by on my way home at 12:45 so not sure what was gonig on there at all. GL

Just a little bump ... King's is having their $125 BI this coming Sunday (19th) so there will be 2 charities that day. With 2 charities they will also try to spread a 2/5 game in the evening to take advantage of the 'extra' chips.

Contact the room if you have any questions about the status of either 'event'. I don't know when the $125 starts but it's probably earlier in the day ... Come enjoy the US Open and play some poker on Father's Day!! GL