ARSENAL ISLAND TOURNEY FEATURES FUN, LOCAL COMPETITION

Thanks to the folks of the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command, twice a year on Arsenal Island I get to transform from poker player to tournament director.

It’s an enjoyable transition, and you can join the fun this Saturday!

The party starts at Noon with lunch, followed at 1 p.m. by the no-limit hold’em tournament. Players receive 5,000 in chips to start, with first-level blinds of 25-50. Betting levels are 30 minutes long.

Tournament fields at the Arsenal Club (Building 60) have ranged from 64 to 101 players in the five previous events, and the thrill of competition is exceeded only by the camaraderie.

Although we can’t give cash to the winners, there are nice prizes and trophies awarded to the final-table finishers. The champ also receives a coveted LuckyDog Poker 24-karat gold-flake vial card protector (photo below)!

Unlike some local tournaments, trained amateur dealers are stationed at each table so you can concentrate solely on your game and your opponents rather than doing the shuffling and dealing yourself.

There’s a tournament clock projected on a big screen, cocktail service, and a former professional dealer available for floor decisions. Also, we use high-quality cards and chips. We try to make the overall tournament experience similar to what you’d find in a casino.

The price is right, too — just $40, and that includes lunch!

To reserve your seat, call 782-6319 or 782-3956 by Friday afternoon. Walk-ins are accepted Saturday until 1 p.m. but seating is limited to the first 100 players.

Click “read the rest” for a story about the event which appeared in Tuesday’s Dispatch-Argus and a photo of the LuckyDog Poker Gold Flake Card Protector:

STORY FROM THE DISPATCH/ARGUS

The Rock Island Arsenal’s annual fall Texas hold’em poker tournament is set for Saturday (Nov. 7) at the Arsenal Club in Building 60 on Arsenal Island.

The event will begin with sign-up and lunch at noon followed by the tournament at 1 p.m. The $40 entry fee covers both lunch and the tournament, which features prizes for the eight final-table finishers and non-cash gift cards worth $400, $250 and $150 for the top three competitors. Trained volunteer poker dealers are used.

The tournament is open to all authorized patrons of the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command and sponsored local players. This includes active and non-active military personnel plus Department of Defense civilians, their family members and guests.

To reserve a seat, call 782-6319 or 782-3956. Advance registration at the Arsenal Club ends Friday, but walk-ins will be accepted on Saturday until the field tops out at 100 players. Participants must be 18 or older. For more details visit www.riamwr.com.

The event is coordinated by Cathy Harris, Jeff McMahon and the Arsenal Club staff, with LuckyDog Poker columnist Russ Scott serving as tournament director.

The LuckyDog Poker card protector features genuine 24-karat gold flake in a vial of heavy clear liquid that allows the suspended flakes to swirl around (for good luck!). The vial is nearly three inches tall, has an Old West prospector guy on top, and carries the LuckyDog Poker logo. Saturday’s tournament winner gets one free, but I’ll have others on hand for sale at $20 each.

Posted by Russ Scott on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 9:59 pm.