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

Canton Charity Casino at the Shark Club

Canton Charity Casino at the Shark Club
42070 Ford Rd
Canton, MI 48187
734-844-7665
7 Days a Week
M-F 6PM—1AM, Sat & Sun 2PM—1AM
23 of 25 Chips

The Canton Charity Casino was playing for Strategic Partners in Community Athletic Development on the day I came in. The Shark Club is a huge venue with pool tables, darts, and large screen TV’s everywhere you look! At 6:30 there were two full cash tables running, with players waiting for a third table to open up. Tom, the poker room manager, seems to be having
the time of his life, and it shows everywhere in the venue.

#1 Games: 5 of 5 chips
The Canton Shark Club is another one of those venues that offer more games than I have chips to give! You can play $1/$2 or $2/$5 NL, $3/$6 Limit, $1/$2 or $2/$5 Omaha H/L, 7-Card Stud and Round by Round. Plenty of cash game players come into the Shark Club—there are always enough players to get a cash game going. They offer Sit-N-Goes any time and a different tourney format every day of the week.

#2 Tournaments : 4 of 5 chips
80% of the tournament buy-ins go back into the prize pool, along with a generous 70% of the add-ons and rebuys. Each day the tournament format changes. Tournament Director
software on a laptop keeps the blinds and timer on display. Dealers keep the game moving along. There’s not always enough tournament players to get a game going—though the cash tables are packed!

#3 Atmosphere: 5 of 5 chips
What a great location! Just off 275, a little past Ikea. Lots of well lit, close parking. As you walk in, the bar is in front of you, pool table & darts to the right, more pool tables and
poker tables to the left. Big screen and projections TV’s are everywhere. Music plays in the background. Giant fish tanks run the length of the room. The high ceiling and ventilation
keep smoke to a minimum. The pool tables are well lit. The place is huge, but arranged to keep the atmosphere friendly and social. The Shark Club has gone above and beyond to welcome the charity poker room players.

#4 Equipment : 4 of 5 chips
This is a well-equipped poker room! Each table seats nine players plus a dealer in nice cushy
chairs. These are the race-track style tables with cup holders at each seat. Custom stamped chips at each cash table, professional dealer buttons. Minus one chip for the folding legs on the poker tables.

#5 Staff: 5 of 5 chips
Tom and his team run a professional and welcoming poker room. Tom welcomes each one of his regulars with a smile and a handshake, escorting each new player to their seat. The dealers are fast, friendly and accurate! Jen, Charlie and the rest of the dealers are great making new players feel welcome, and moving the game along to keep the veteran players happy. The Shark Club also gets extra chips for the fast, friendly wait staff!

The Canton Shark Club is a first-class establishment, fun atmosphere, a great location, amazing staff and great equipment. The players have fun and the non profit organizations raise funds for great causes.