CCC Campus Tourney April 21 Offers Good Fun, $960 Top Prize

After what seems like a short break from local charity poker tournaments in the Quad-Cities, there’s a good one coming up next weekend that you should check out. Here’s the flier, and below that, at my invitation, is a description of the event from Matt Plumley, a poker pal of mine who also is one of the organizers. - Russ Scott

BY MATT PLUMLEY

I would like to invite you to the 7th Annual Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament at Clinton Community College on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

Registration begins at 9:00 AM and the tournament starts at 10:00.

We have done this event in the past to get money for the I.T. program at Clinton Community College for new equipment for students to learn on. We are able to seat 96 players and this is a self-deal event until we get down to the final table. This is determined by the number of players left. Usually it’s 8 players on the table.

We just try to have a good time and play some poker. The club keeps 50% of the proceeds while the rest is paid out in gift cards (player’s choice) for Wal-Mart, HyVee and Target.

If the tourney sells out, first place will be a hefty $960 prize. Plus, the top six all get a percentage of the prize pool. (See “Payouts and Rules” link below)

Buy-in is $40 dollars for 1,000 in chips. Players are allowed to rebuy if they lose their chips within the first 3 rounds for another $20 dollars for 1,000 additional chips.

Please contact Matt Plumley (pluckey55@gmail.com) or Glenn Williams (gwilliams@eicc.edu) for more information and to sign up.

CLICK HERE for a list of tournament prize payouts and rules.

CLICK HERE for the tournament registration form.

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Don’t Have $1 Million to Enter ‘Big One’? How About Just $65?

Most poker players know a bargain when they see one. There’s one coming up soon that definitely will catch their eye.

For a fee ranging from as little as $65 to a few hundred, every player has the chance to qualify in May for a seat in The Big One for One Drop tournament on July 1-3 at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Why is that a big deal? Well, the WSOP just announced today that 30 players have confirmed their entry into the event, meaning that first-place money will make this the richest poker payout in history!

With 30 committed participants, the prize pool is projected to exceed $26,000,000. The winner will get an estimated $12,266,668 – breaking Jamie Gold’s $12 million haul at the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Plus, the organizers are convinced the player cap of 48 still could be reached, adding millions more to the prize pool and first-place award.

To win that coveted seat, you’ll first need to find a card room that’s holding step-satellite tournaments. Advance from there to the mega-satellite event on June 30 at the Rio in Vegas (trip expenses paid!), and you’re just one win away from a potential monster payday.

Your other option is to come up with a cool $1 million for the straight-up buy-in, but heck, anyone with deep pockets can do that. It’d be lots more fun to win a seat than buy one!

The website listing participating card rooms and other info is http://www.wsop.com/2012/thebigone/satellites/. For schedules and specific buy-in details, call the individual casino nearest you. For my Midwest readers, at least 5 casinos are on the list that probably are just a few hours away from you.

Here’s a WSOP news release from last week that has even more info.

To read this week’s LuckyDog Poker column about entering The Big One, click here.

Here’s a list of the 30 confirmed players so far. The WSOP is allowing players to remain anonymous at this point, if they wish.

1. Guy Laliberté
2. Phil Ruffin
3. Andy Beal
4. Montreal private citizen group (Sean O’Donnell)
5. Loto-Québec/Casino Montreal seat (Lottery scratch-off/live satellite)
6. Cary Katz
7. Paul Newey
8. Richard Yong
9. Erik Seidel
10. Anonymous – U.S. Venture Capitalist
11. Anonymous – European Hedge Fund Manager
12. Anonymous – U.S. Hedge Fund Manager
13. Anonymous – French businessman
14. Caesars Entertainment seat
15. Caesars Entertainment via June 30 $25,300 satellite at Rio
16. MGM Mirage Satellite seat
17. Bobby Baldwin
18. Patrik Antonius
19. Gus Hansen
20. Daniel Negreanu
21. Johnny Chan
22. Tom Dwan
23. Tony Guoga
24. Jonathan Duhamel
25. Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier
26. Daniel Shak
27. Justin Smith
28. Bob Bright
29. Arnaud Mimran
30. Paul Phua

Go to www.allinforonedrop.com if you’d like to see a profile for most of these participants.

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Editor’s Note: A new poker flick — “All In: The Poker Movie” — opens in wider release in the next couple of weeks and soon will be available on DVD. Many in the poker industry believe it could be a catalyst for wider acceptance of the game. Check out allinthepokermovie.com and see if you agree. Here’s my recent column on the topic.

‘All In: The Poker Movie’: Mainstream Bid for Game’s Acceptance?

By RUSS SCOTT

Can a new movie accomplish what poker proponents have been struggling for years to achieve — specifically, the game’s favorable acceptance and regulated online poker in the U.S.?

Probably not.

But “All In: The Poker Movie,” which opened Friday (March 23) in Los Angeles and New York and gains wider release this week, aims to raise understanding about poker’s roots and its memorable, albeit also rocky, injection into the mainstream.

The documentary, released by 4th Row Films and directed by Douglas Tirola, tackles the history of poker in the U.S. in 109 minutes, with an entertaining and educational flow described by reviewers as “engaging” and “riveting.”

The film reminds some viewers there hasn’t been an exceptional poker movie since “Rounders” in 1998, starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton. Indeed, “All In” describes the “Rounders” impact on a poker generation in those years leading up to the game’s modern-day boom in 2003-2006.

That’s just one element of the new film’s deep look into the poker phenomenon, which includes a rich history that encompasses the Civil War era and the lure of early day riverboat gambling on the Mississippi River.

But it’s poker’s dramatic national surge a decade ago that viewers will most remember. The hole-card camera, for example, triggered a televised poker breakthrough of the game as major entertainment.

Toss in Chris Moneymaker’s improbable victory in the 2003 World Series of Poker main event — including what that meant for online poker’s connection to the live poker scene — and you had a wildfire of success like never before.

“All In” uses an extended interview with Moneymaker to tell this part of the story.

Poker’s history, however, has never been smooth or free of controversy.
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Champion Larry McDonald of North Liberty, Iowa, is all smiles after capturing the Spring 2012 U.S. Army Texas Hold’em Tournament on Arsenal Island this past weekend.

Event Raises Funds for Programs to Benefit Soldiers & Families

Larry McDonald took home the tallest trophy and the biggest prize on Saturday after winning the 10th Texas Hold’em event sponsored on Arsenal Island by the U.S. Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command.

McDonald, of North Liberty, Iowa, outlasted a field of 68 players to claim the title, a tall trophy, a $400 gift card, his buy-in to the next Arsenal tournament, and bragging rights until that event is held at the historic Arsenal Island Golf Clubhouse ballroom later this year.

To reach the winner’s circle, McDonald had to get past runner-up Tommie Conner in a short heads-up duel that featured a dramatic full house vs. a bigger full house hand that decided the contest.

On the final hand, McDonald held Q-J and Conner had Q-7. McDonald held a chip lead, but had he lost this pot, he would have been severely short-stacked. The flop, amazingly, came Q-Q-7, giving Conner a full house and McDonald trips. Conner checked, but in a quick series of bets and raises after that, all the chips went in and the cards were turned up. McDonald needed help, and it came on the turn incredibly when a jack fell, giving him a bigger full house and the title.

Conner won a $200 gift card for second place and a tall trophy.

The third-place tall trophy went to Russ Plambeck, who also received a $100 gift card.

The remaining five final-tablists all received smaller trophies and either free rounds of golf, with cart, at the scenic Arsenal Golf Course or dinner in the Arsenal Golf Clubhouse. Those finalists were Karen Weir, 4th; Diane Voss, 5th; Jeremy Williams, 6th; Scott Kokemuller, 7th, and Damen Johnson, 8th.

This was the second time that two women made the final table at an Army event. Last Fall’s champ, Army Capt. Sid Priest, finished 13th. And, 8th-place finisher Damen Johnson of the Arsenal helped host the event along with Cathy Harris.

“We’re grateful to the players and volunteers who make this tournament such a fine event on the Quad-Cities poker scene,” said Johnson.
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Dougal Nelson from Habitat for Humanity, left, presents a $2,500 VISA gift card to the 2012 Habitat hold’em champion Lucky Lang of Davenport. Lang outlasted nearly 150 players to claim the title on March 2. (Submitted photos)

Fundraiser Helps Habitat for Humanity Provide Shelter for Those in Need

The annual Habitat for Humanity Texas Hold’em charity tournament crowned a new champ last weekend and successfully completed another worthy fundraising effort in the process.

Nearly 150 players came March 2 to the Golden Leaf Banquet Center on Kimberley Road, where Lucky Lang of Davenport — perhaps living up to his name? — came out on top to claim the top prize of a $2,500 VISA card.

The other top prize-winners were Jeff Ortiz, second, who received a 46-inch flat-screen television; Mitch Jurevitz of Bettendorf, who won a getaway weekend at Jumers Casino & Hotel; Nick Schwertman of Davenport, fourth place, winner o a fold-up poker table, and, keeping it in the family, Lucky Lang II of Davenport was fifth, taking home a nice set of poker chips.

Event organizers at the Quad City Area Realtors Association and Habitat for Humanity treated players and guests to a friendly, well-run event that included good food before cards hit the air. Last year’s tourney raised about $11,000 and, with a matching turnout this year, the proceeds were expected to equal or surpass 2011’s results.

Congrats to the winners and to the folks behind this successful Q-C tourney!

Jeff Ortiz, second place, won a 46-inch flat-screen television.

Mitch Jurevitz of Bettendorf received support from a friend on the tournament rail to win third place — a weekend getaway at Jumers Casino & Hotel.

Nick Schwertman, Davenport, 4th place

Lucky Lang II, Davenport, fifth place

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10th Army Hold’em Tourney Fires Up Saturday at Arsenal Golf Clubhouse

BY RUSS SCOTT
LUCKYDOG POKER

It’s time for the 10th deep-stack poker tourney on Arsenal Island conducted by the U.S. Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command to raise money for activities benefitting local soldiers and their families.

The event will be held this Saturday in the ballroom of the scenic Arsenal Island Golf Clubhouse, 1838 Gillespie St., on Arsenal Island.

Buy-in is $40 and includes a taco bar lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. No rebuys, and players start with a whopping 5,000 in chips and 25-50 starting blinds. The tournament begins at 1 p.m., directed this time by Peggy Van Zandt of the LuckyDog Poker Team. Hosting the event are the Arsenal’s Cathy Harris and Damen Johnson.

Turnout for recent events has been approaching 100 players, so reservations are recommended by calling 309-793-1601 or 309-782-4371. Walk-ins are welcome, but entries are expected to be closed out at 1 p.m., when the tournament starts.

The tournament is open to the public. Players must be at least 18 years old.

The event will begin as self-deal (like a home game), then switch to non-playing dealer-provided action as soon as the number of remaining tables matches the number of volunteer dealers available.

Prizes include trophies for all eight final-table finishers, plus gift cards totaling $700 for the top three. Additional prizes include free golf with cart at Arsenal Island Golf Club and dinner at the Arsenal Golf Club.

To get to the historic Clubhouse, travel Rodman Avenue (the main drag through the island) to Gillespie Street, then turn north. The Clubhouse will be on your left perhaps 300 yards or so out Gillespie Street just before you reach the Mississippi River. You can park on the street, on the lot next to the Golf Pro Shop, or around back (where there’s direct access to the Ballroom from the river side of the building).

Remember to have your driver’s license available to show the security guards when you reach the Island entrance checkpoint. The officers can give you additional directions to the Golf Clubhouse.

This is our 5th Spring event and 10th overall, counting the annual Fall tournaments we’ve conducted.

We can’t promise you’ll win a gift card or a trophy, but we guarantee you’ll have a blast! We use high-quality chips and cards, plus there’s a tournament clock to keep you posted on blinds, antes, etc. The Arsenal Golf Club wait staff will provide table service during the tournament. Plus, the Club’s chefs will be available to prepare dinner for anyone who wants to enjoy a nice meal after the tourney (not included in your entry fee.)

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Ryan Rasche of Moline sports a big smile after capturing the second annual Kennedi’s Kisses Charity Poker Tournament.

Rasche Outlasts Tourney Vet Ken Auker for Shot at WSOP Fame

Ryan Rasche of Moline, Ill., will spend the next few months thinking about his trip to the 2012 World Series of Poker and the life-changing implications should he win a gold bracelet.

Rasche won his seat in a $1,000 WSOP tournament, along with a $1,500 travel voucher, by capturing the second annual Kennedi’s Kisses Charity Tournament held Feb. 24 at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport.

At the end, he had to somehow get past Ken Auker of Rock Island, Ill., who is no stranger to big tournament competition in Las Vegas and elsewhere. Indeed, just recently Auker won $58,000 for his third-place finish in an event at the Venetian Spring Extravaganza on the Vegas Strip.

The deciding moment came on the next-to-last hand when Rasche’s pocket pair of fours overtook Auker’s pocket pair of sixes on a dramatic 3-5-6-7-A board to win a huge pot. It was over just one hand later.

This tournament burst onto the Q-C charity poker scene last February by attracting an overflow crowd and launching the Kennedi’s Kisses mission — burial and memorial assistance for parents who lose an infant child — with an impressive $23,000 start.

“Our second annual Kennedi’s Kisses poker tournament was again a huge success,” said event organizer Julie Bechtel. “We had over 240 players that settled in for a night of cards and fun for a great cause. More than $20,000 was raised.”

Bechtel said the evening started with Matt and Crystal Sherwood, who lost their child Kennedi before her first birthday, explaining the evening’s plans and the charity’s mission.

“Several of the young families that were helped by Kennedi’s Kisses this past year attended the event and were touched to see their baby angel’s photo on the stage, and each baby had their own table,” Bechtel said.

“It was bittersweet that we received a call that morning from a family member telling us of a baby angel that needed our help as he is without a headstone and his first birthday is approaching. We are working with them now to get this little guy his headstone,” she said.

Since the charity’s launch a year or so ago, the target area for providing help has been expanded to include both sides of the river in the Q-C area.

“We thank the many poker players, event volunteers, family and friends that came out to support us,” Bechtel said.

Here’s a list of the final-table finishers and their prizes:

1st — Ryan Rasche of Moline, IL, won a $1,500 travel voucher for a trip to Vegas donated by Burlington Trailways and $1,000 entry in a WSOP qualifying event.

2nd — Ken Auker of Rock Island, IL, won the 47″ LG LCD television.

3rd — Kevin Trettin of Clinton, IA, won the iPad 2 wifi 16g.

4th — Mark Marietta of Bettendorf, IA, won 2 two-day passes to the Heartland Jam concert and a pass for next year’s poker tournament.

5th — Shawn Jones of Coal Valley, IL, won the use of a River Bandits Suite and 12 tickets donated by the Quad-City Times and a pass to next year’s poker tournament.

6th — Scott Mattly of Moline, IL, won 2 tickets to Daughtry (donated by and at the iwireless center) and a pass to next year’s poker tournament.

7th — Bob Ratcliff of Davenport, IA, won $250 in gift certificates to 61 Kartway (donated by 61 Kartway) and a pass to next year’s poker tournament.

8th — Les Crew of Colona, IL, won a $50 gift certificate to HyVee (donated by HyVee) and a pass to next year’s tournament.

Ken Auker — 2nd place

Kevin Trettin — 3rd place

Mark Marietta — 4th place

Shawn Jones — 5th place

Scott Mattly — 6th place

Bob Ratcliff — 7th place

Les Crew — 8th place

The Kennedi’s Kisses final table draws some railbirds to watch the action.

The key hand near the end!

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Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser Features Big Fun, Great Cause

Whether you come for the good food, the nice prizes, to help the cause or just an enjoyable evening out — the annual Habitat for Humanity Texas hold’em tournament on Friday, March 2, is where you want to be.

Doors open at 5 p.m. at the Golden Leaf Banquet Center, 2902 E. Kimberley Road, Suite 1, Davenport (west end of the complex). You’ll want to be there early to enjoy yummy appetizers, which is part of your $30 tournament entry fee. A cash bar is right next to the chow. If you only want food and camaraderie, that’s just $10. For players, there’s one $20 rebuy available until the first break, which gets you 2,000 additional chips.

Cards hit the air at 6 p.m., and this year organizers at the Quad City Area Realtors Association and Habitat hope to max out the tournament at 200 players. Last year’s successful event drew 147 players and raised about $11,000 for Habitat for Humanity. If you’re a QCARA member, you can play for just $10.

The prizes are eye-catching! The champion will receive a whopping $2,500 VISA card, second-place gets a 46-inch flat-screen television, and third place wins a getaway weekend at Jumers Casino & Hotel in Rock Island. This year, additional prizes for fourth and fifth place finishers also will be given.

This event has an impressive lineup of sponsors, and the QCARA and Habitat folks work mighty hard to put on a good show. They deserve your support!

Call QCARA at 563-355-6655 to pre-register. Walk-ins are welcome, but remember, the cutoff is 200 players, so don’t get shut out by waiting until the last minute.

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Wildly Successful Event Helps Families Who Suffer the Loss of an Infant

One of the most popular charity poker tournaments in the Quad-Cities is just days away.

The second annual Kennedi’s Kisses event is set for Friday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. at Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport, Iowa. Doors open at 5 p.m. at the ballpark, 209 S. Gaines St.

PRIZES UPDATE: First place receives a seat in a $1,000 WSOP event plus a trip for two to Las Vegas that includes airfare and a 3-night stay. The runner-up takes home a 47-inch LG flat-screen television, and third place gets a new iPad. The next 5 finishers will receives prizes valued at more than $100.

This tourney, no doubt because of the wonderful cause, was a smash hit in its debut last year. All 296 seats were filled and people still were hoping to get in when it was time to start — and that all happened even with snow all over the place!

That’s why I highly recommend you go to kennediskisses.org and pre-register. If you decide to go as a walk-in, you might still get in as an alternate if there are any no-shows — but I wouldn’t chance it if you really want to play.

See you there!

Here’s the tournament flier, and after that is the event’s official news release with important details.

KENNEDI’S KISSES NEWS RELEASE

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Three Quad-Cities area families who endured the heartbreak of the loss of a toddler in 2011 also felt the warmth of Kennedi’s Kisses.

Parents of those lost children received assistance with burial expenses and memorial costs as well as the more important message that a community cares, through money raised by Kennedi’s Kisses.

Kennedi’s Kisses is a support organization and charity founded by local couple Matt and Crystal Sherwood following the death of their young daughter Kennedi Eve on April 27, 2009.

The second annual Kennedi’s Kisses Poker Tournament, a primary fundraiser for the fledgling organization, will take place on Friday, Feb. 24, at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport.

Seats are available for 296 players, and the inaugural event sold out last year well before the first hand was dealt. Buy-in is $40 with one $20 rebuy. Prizes include a first-place award of airfare for two and a three-night hotel stay in Las Vegas, plus a $1,000 entry into a World Series of Poker qualifying event.

Cards will hit the air at 6 p.m., with doors to open at 5 p.m.

Pre-registration is recommended at kennediskisses.org. Registration also will take place the night of the event until all seats are sold.

For more information, contact: Kennedi’s Kisses, 120 Crestview Drive, Eldridge, IA, 52748, or call Matt Sherwood at (563) 529-4623 or email kennediskisses@yahoo.com.

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Itching to play a little fundraiser poker this weekend and support the Scott County Republicans at the same time? Then mark down Saturday night (Feb. 18) on your calendar.

The 4th annual Texas hold’em tournament sponsored by the Scott County Republicans opens its doors at 4:30 p.m. at Tanglewood Hills, 4500 Middle Road, Bettendorf. The tournament starts at 6 p.m.

Buy-in is $35, with a $10 rebuy available. If your poker skills need a touch-up, be there by 5 for a free training session. And if you don’t play at all but want to join the fun anyhow, you can do that for just $5.

The flier below includes a mail-in registration form, but with just two days to go before the event, your best bet probably is to call 563-823-5854 if you have questions or want to see about pre-registering.

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