UMP Michigan Poker Tour Nov 20 - 28

UMP is embarking on a poker tour of Michigan! We will be visiting a whole bunch of cities and checking out the local poker scene. Here's our tentative agenda:

11/20 Lansing
11/21 Holland
11/22 Muskegon
11/23 Grand Rapids
11/24 Mt. Pleasant
11/25 West Branch
11/26 Happy Thanksgiving - we will be with family
11/27 Saginaw/ Owosso
11/28 Troy / Auburn Hills

We will be posting trip reports & photos. Meet us at a local poker room during the tour!!

Trip Report: Aug 4 Joe's vs Pros at Kickers

The Kickers Poker Room crew really know how to host an event! I arrived early to make sure I got a seat, and have a little time to grab dinner, meet the folks who work at Kickers, and just network a little. The tournament tonight was up in Joe's Comedy Club. There was a cash table going when I arrived, and the charity volunteers were signing folks up for the tourney. I paid my money and drew a seat card out of the bucket.

Dinner downstairs at the restaurant was amazing - the Kicker's salad is very tasty - highly recommended! After dinner, it was time to play. There was a silent auction of sports equipment - jerseys, photos, equipment, etc - all autographed and authenticated. In hindsight - wish I would have bid on a few items!!

The tournament started a little late - there was a better than expected turn-out. The Kickers team added another seat to every table, and set up an 11th tournament table to accommodate all 110 Joe's and Pros in record time. Jeff introduced each pro was introduced before the cards flew - it was a really great welcome for each professional who came out to play, and a great opportunity for the players to match up the pro's names and faces.

Each tournament table had its own dealer, keeping the game moving, the bets and pots correct, and really adding to the great poker room atmosphere at Kickers. Floor people were easy to find and easy to get their attention. With all the great things about the whole night, I never won a pot. Seriously - never won a single pot!

Here's the good, bad and ugly of my tournament experience. Each pot at my table was a multi-way pot with four to seven player in each pot. Very few limped pots - no cheap flops. I got into a few hands with AK-off, AQ-off, small pocket pairs. Not bad cards, just never matched a flop, and never found myself in position to steal a pot with so many players paying to see the flop. Slowly but surely, my stack was evaporating.

Shortly after the break, I found myself in 3rd or 4th position with pocket 10's. The pot was raised in front of me to 500. I called, and so did four other players. The flop came 9-5-6 rainbow. First to act after the flop, all of a sudden, my 10-10 hand looked pretty good! I went all-in for another 2000 chips, hoping to take down the pot right there, or at lease narrow the field to one or two other players. *One* player folded - three of us were all-in with three callers. The turn and river didn't help or hurt anyone. Here's how it ended:

me, all-in #1: 10-10
caller #1: J-J
All-in #2: 5-5 for trips
All-in #3: 6-6 for trips
caller #2: 9-9 for the highest trips
caller #3: mucked

Three of us out in one hand!!! I was beat in so many ways, I'm still counting them up! Very unfortunate place to try to make a move... Here's the player who won that monster pot! He made a deep run towards the final table, I'm not sure if he cashed.

This was the most fun I've ever had at a tournament where I didn't win a single pot. Jeff had each pro sign a UMP t-shirt for me, and I walked out all smiles.


Jeff K- the tournament organizer

Pete S. - owner of Kickers
and yours truly

Hi Michigan Poker Fans -

Hope we're finding you pulling in monster pots! Here's this week's listing of charity poker events - check it out & share our info with a friend.

UMichiganPoker llc is always working to get more and more tournaments from all over Michigan on the web site. Take a look and see if we’ve got a listing close to you.

Announcements!

On July 1, the state put out a new set of directives. Your local charity poker rooms will be updating their schedules and tweaking their offerings to comply with the new rules.

Friday $10 buy-in, $1000 Guaranteed Prize PoolSunday $30 Deep Stack Tournament, Trip Kings at Garden Lanes
Trip Kings at Garden Lanes is hosting a $10 buy-in, $1000 Guaranteed Tournament on Fridays, and a $30 Deep Stack Tournament on Sundays! Be sure to check out Trip Kings regular schedule! They also offer great Live Action Cash Games spreading Hold'em, Omaha, Round by Round & Blackjack daily.

Benefitting: K of C 5446 Sr Citizens Club General Fund M48724 July 9-12

When: July 10 & 12 starting at 7pm

Where: Trip Kings at Garden Lanes, 29145 Warren Rd, Garden City, MI 734-556-2163

$4000 Guaranteed Prize Pool, $20 buy-in, $20 Rebuys at Queen of Hearts July 10
Queen of Hearts at Woodhaven Lanes is hosting a $20 buy-in, $20 rebuy tournament with a Guaranteed Prize Pool of $4000! Queen of hearts also has some of the best live action cash games in the area!

Benefitting: Trenton High School for books & equipment M

When: Friday, July 10

Where: Queen of Hearts, 20000 Van Horn, Woodhaven MI 48183 734-556-2164

Ball Joint $400 buy-in Deep-Stack Tourney July 11
The Ball Joint is hosting an exciting, high payout Deep Stack Tournament. The tournament is capped at 37 players, with a $6000 First Prize, paying 6 places. Direct buy-in is $400 - you can reserve your seat today with a $50 non-refundable deposit. They are also running $60 Satellite tournaments every Thur - Sun to win a seat in the Main Event. Win your $400 Seat for $60!! Call the Ball Joint for more details!!

Benefitting: Lakeview High School General Fund M49176

When: July 11th with $60 satellites running every Thur - Sun until July 11

What: 37 player Deep Stack Tournament

Buy-in: $400 Main Event

Where: Ball Joint 4720 Beckley Rd, Battle Creek, MI 49015 269-979-0080

Hazel Park Deep Stack NL Texas Hold'em $20,000 estimated Prize Pool July 9-12
Don't miss this great deep stack tournament for some serious prize money. Satellites will run from Thur - Sat with the Main Event starting on Sunday at 2pm. All proceeds benefit the Bridging Communities General Fund M49025. Early Direct buy-in are $225. Here's the info:

Benefitting: Bridging Communities General Fund M49025

When: Thur July 9 - Sun July 12

• Thur @ 7pm $35 Main Event Qualifier Rebuy tourney min 10% to Main Event
  
• Fri & Sat @ 2:30 $35 Main Event Qualifier Rebuy tourney min 10% to Main Event
  
• Fri & Sat @ 7pm $65 Main Event Qualifier, min 20% to Main Event
  
• Sun @ 2pm $250 direct buy-in Deep Stack Main Event 85% payout, no rebuys, no add-ons, 30 min blinds for first 4 rounds, 20 min blinds thereafter
  

Where: Hazel Park Raceway Poker Room 1650 E. 10 Mile Rd, Hazel Park, MI

Trippers Deep Stack NL Texas Hold'em $10,000 estimated Prize Pool July 9-12
Don't miss this great deep stack tournament for some serious prize money. Satellites will run from Thur - Sat with the Main Event starting on Sunday at 2pm. All proceeds benefit the Williamston Foundation General Fund M48937. Here's the info:

Benefitting: Williamston Foundation General Fund M48937

When: Thur July 9 - Sun July 12

• Thur @ 7pm $20 Main Event Qualifier Rebuy tourney min 10% to Main Event
  
• Fri & Sat @ 2pm $20 Main Event Qualifier Rebuy tourney min 10% to Main Event
  
• Fri & Sat @ 7pm $40 Main Event Qualifier, min 20% to Main Event
  
• Sun @ 2pm $150 direct buy-in Deep Stack Main Event, no rebuys, no add-ons, 30 min blinds for first 4 rounds, 20 min blinds thereafter
  

Where: Trippers Sports Bar, 350 Frandor, Lansing, MI

Northville Downs Deep Stack NL Texas Hold'em $20,000 estimated Prize Pool July 23-26
Don't miss this great deep stack tournament for some serious prize money. Satellites will run from Thur - Sat with the Main Event starting on Sunday at 2pm. All proceeds benefit the Homer Trojan Athletic Club General Fund M43918. Early Direct buy-in are $225. Here's the info:
Benefitting: Homer Trojan Athletic Club General Fund M43918.
When: Thur July 23 - Sun July 26

• Thur @ 7pm $35 Main Event Qualifier Rebuy tourney min 10% to Main Event
  
• Fri & Sat @ 2pm $35 Main Event Qualifier Rebuy tourney min 10% to Main Event
  
• Fri & Sat @ 7pm $65 Main Event Qualifier, min 20% to Main Event
  
• Sun @ 2pm $250 direct buy-in Deep Stack Main Event, 85% payout, no rebuys, no add-ons, 30 min blinds for first 4 rounds, 20 min blinds thereafter
  
• Where: Northville Downs, 301 Center St, Northville, MI
  

August 4th at Kickers: Joe's vs Pro's
The first Joe's vs Pro's, $100.00 buy-in Hold em tourney, at Joey's Comedy club, inside Kicker's All American Grill. Here's your chance to play alongside some of the area's best atheltes and local celebrities. We will have book signings from the Pro's and special prizes, throughout the night.
Benefitting: VFW 4553 Building Fund M49224

When: August 4th, 2009 @ 7pm

Buy-in: $100 - pre-register at Kickers starting 7/6, only 100 seats available!

Who: Scheduled to appear Lem Barney NFL, Willie Horton MLB, Tyrone Wheatley NFL, Pete Stoyanovich NFL, Chris Tamer NHL, Dave Roberts NHL, Linda Lee (WYCD), Terry T Brown WWJ, plus more celeb's added each day.

Where: Kickers, 36071 Plymouth Rd, Livonia, MI 48150

Tuesday Online Tourney hosted by Nik's Poker Palace
UMichiganPoker.com and Nik's Poker Palace have partnered up to bring you the toughest private tournament on Poker Stars! Come join us every Tuesday at 8pm for a $5 + $0.50 buy-in tournament. More details are here!

Wed Online Tourney hosted by MIPokerForum.com
UMichiganPoker.com and MiPokerForum.com have partnered up to bring you a great forum, plus an exciting weekly tournament! For now, the MIPF weekly tournaments are on break through mid June. Be sure to check back to find out when they start up again! The tourneys will start at 8PM with the same $5 + $0.50 buy-in. More info here!

When you go to an event, please let the organizers know you found the listing on UMichiganPoker!


Putting More Buns in Seats
Promoting Local Charity Poker Tournaments
Michele Ingalls
734-864-1280
mich@umichiganpoker.com
http://umichiganpoker.com
myspace.com/umichiganpoker
facebook.com/umichiganpoker
twitter.com/umichiganpoker

Trip Report: The Links Poker Palace in Whitmore Lake, Michigan

The Links Poker Palace in Whitmore Lake, Michigan

Vital Stats
Date: May 23, 2009
Address: 1111 Six Mile Rd, Whitmore Lake, MI 48184
Phone: 734-449-5451
Charity & License: American Legion 419 Auxiliary M46441
Tournament: 8pm $5 entry, $500 Guaranteed

The Set-up:
It’s a beautiful sunny Saturday over Memorial Day week-end. Chris, my husband, Lisa, my sister and I headed out to the Links around 6pm, with the 45 minute drive, that would put us at the Links around 7pm – enough time to grab some dinner and maybe get into a cash game before the 8pm tournament start. We expected a little slower day due to the 80° weather and holiday week-end. The Links is at the golf course club-house, tables set up in the restaurant/bar area with huge windows overlooking the course, and a deck just outside. The room is non-smoking, easy to find, with a full bar, keno, kitchen and waitstaff.

There was one waiting cash player when we arrived, and no cash games going before the tournament. The tournament did fill up just before 8pm with four full tables (36 players). The total prize pool was $750 paying 1st $375, 2nd $200, 3rd $175 and 4th $50.

Players on the trip: Lisa is a newbie live player this was her 3rd or 4th live tournament. Her biggest problem is that she tends to think players are bluffing – I think this may be directly related to living with three teen-agers...

Chris is a numbers guy and computer programmer (think Chris Ferguson). I’m always amazed at the statistics he can figure out in his head.

I’m a middle of the pack player. Sometimes I play by the numbers, sometimes I play by my guy. More often than not, I’m checking when I should be raising, and calling when I should be folding.

Tournament: We all sat at different tables for the $5 buy-in for 1k chips, $5 add-on for another 1k chips. Unlimited $10 (2k chips) or $20 (5k chips) rebuys until the break when a player busts out. At the break, add-ons were available for the same amounts, $10 for 2k chips or $20 for 5k chips. The blinds went up every 15 minutes, and doubled every level after the 1st break. This wrapped up the tournament quickly after the rebuy period was over.

There were two other ladies at my table. One I recognized from a tournament at an Ann Arbor poker room – a solid, aggressive player from what I remember. It’s nice to see the girls getting out there to play cards with the guys. Jeff, the dealer until the break, was familiar with a couple of the regular players, kept the game friendly and moving. He was really nice about washing the cards upon request, and demonstrating his custom “speed wash” a couple times. One guy at my table busted out before the break and didn’t rebuy. Lisa also busted out before the break after one rebuy.

Going into the first break, I was short-stacked 1350 chips and had been card dead for quite some time. Blinds were 400/800. In first position, I peeked at A-7 and figured if I bust out before the break, I can do the $20 rebuy, plus the $20 add-on and come back with a healthier stack. Bob, immediately to my left called with a smaller stack than mine, the blond called with 1300 chips, and John – one of the table big stacks. Three players all-in, last hand before the break.

Me: A©-7§
Flop: 4§-4¨-5© (no danger – good flop for me!)
Turn: A¨ **woo-hoo – Aces!!!
River: 3¨ seems to be a blank...

Bob turns up his cards: K¨-2¨ for a flush – winning the main pot
Blond turns up A§-7ª to split with me, each winning 1300 chips
John mucked his cards.

After the break, four tables went down to three, then down to two very quickly. I won a few small pots, stealing the blinds, but mostly I was card dead. I kept looking for a place to make my move. The best cards I got were Q-7. About three hands after we went to two tables, I was out. In the big blind, I was all-in blind with three callers/limpers. As much as I wished for it, I just didn’t come up with that miracle river card, and I was out.

Chris made it to the final table and ended up taking 4th. He too was short-stacked from the 2nd break on, but managed to make the right moves at the right times and held out to the money.


Cash Games: I played on the $1/$2 cash table for about an hour after I busted out of the tournament. The play was friendly, and not overly-aggressive. There were a few limped pots, a few expensive flops. I saw a really horrible bad beat – here it is to the best of my memory:

Limped pot, 4 players in – player 3, 4, small and big blinds. The flop comes A, Q, 7 rainbow. Player 3 bets ~$15, player 4 re-raises all-in ~$75, blinds fold. Player 3 has 4 covered and calls.

Flop: A-7-Q
Player 3: 7-7
Player 4: A-Q

Turn: 7
River: A

Just sick – full house, aces over queens beat by quad sevens. Player 3 scoops, player 4 buys more chips.

As players dropped out of the tournament, they joint the cash tables. There was one $1/$2 table going with a few players waiting for another. After the tournament, a full $1/$1 table opened up.

Wrap-Up: This is a very nice poker room with a regular, friendly crowd. The players and dealers know eachother – there’s a lot of friendly banter going back and fourth. If you are in the area – drive out here and play in the tournaments or cash games.

ps. - Ed - I wrote all this stuff down ;)

The Links at Whitmore Lake:Freeze-Out Tournament and Poker 7 Days a Week!

Sometimes we get news so exciting we can't wait to share it! Do you want to share this info? Forward to a Friend

May 31, 5pm $60 Freeze-Out NLHE Tournament Benefitting Agnus Dei Academy M48543 May 28-31

The Links will be playing 7 Days a week starting June 8th!!

Benefitting the Whitmore Lake Rod & Gun Club for community projects M48438 June 8-10

The Links hosts 8pm $500 Freerolls with a $5 entry fee Thursday - Sundays. Starting June 8th, the freerolls will be 7 nights a week!

$25 Bounty Tournaments Sundays at 5pm (unless there is a special event - like the $60 Freeze-out on 5/31!

The Links hosts $1/$1, $1/$2 and $2/$4 Cash Tables, spreading NLHE, Round-by-Round and Black Jack from open to close.

The Links Poker Palace
1111 Six Mile Rd
Whitmore Lake, MI 48184

734-449-5451