Season 2 gets underway

June 2008 -

The start of season 2 of the DDR league was beyond improbable. If I wouldn't have witnessed it myself, I still wouldn't believe it.

It started with 10 people as Coopzilla and StillNotFat decided to take the night off. After taking more than $900 in season one Coop couldn't even show up for the championship trophy presentation (not to mention he should have been the bounty player). At least StillNotFat had a decent excuse - surprise birthday trip to Vegas to play some real poker.

We got through the rebuy period without incident and it only took a few minutes for the first victim to fall. After starting round 4 with the minimum amount of chips, Motown found himself short-stacked with a pocket pair (55). I had already raised with KQ and made the easy call for just a few more chips. A couple of kings fell and Motown (one of the most consistent players from season one) found himself bounced early for the first time in 10th.

With nine left we combined the tables and play slowed down significantly. In two prior tournaments, DoctorLove had implemented his "show up late, win money" strategy and it had worked out well. The Docta, usually so cool with the ladies, should have thought better than to make his final stand with QQ. None other than the only lady in the tournament (Jodizzle) called his all in with AQ. We all know what happens next - the ace comes to bust DoctorLove in 9th. Jodizzle takes down the pot, and the bounty since 'Docta finished behind Coopzilla in the championship.

Next it was TheCanuck who started making moves and hitting cards. His first victim was Mojo on a hand where the chips went into the pot after a flop of KJx. Mojo showed J4s but Canuck had him destroyed with the KQ. Mojo out 8th.

Jodizzle had made some plays and gotten short stacked and decided to make her stand with A9. SunshinesBitch, who had accumulated a shitpile of chips made the call with T9s and was dominated. Unfortunately for 'dizzle the board didn't cooperate and the flush came for 'bitch. Jodizzle out 7th.

The next elimination came on the hand of the night - where the tide turned and a mis-read might have cost Manwhore the tournament. With decent stacks all around, Manwhore opened the betting before the flop from early position. Behind him, the always dangerous MiniMuth re-raised. TheCanuck pushes all in with a monster stack over the top of Mini. Manwhore ponders for a good two minutes before finally flashing me JJ and throwing it in the muck. MiniMuth is forced to call with his remaining chips and shows 88. Canuck flips over 99. Neither improve and TheCanuck takes down his second victim and a huge pot. MiniMuth out 6th.

Kattaclysm was playing severely short-stacked and finally pushed all in with T8. TheCanuck continued his streak of monster hands and eliminations with QQ busting Katt in 5th.

After building a huge stack before the rebuy period ended, I hit some bad luck and bad timing. Earlier I had lost half my stack when I pushed over the top of MiniMuth's open raise with AKs. He had KK and it held up. Before the tournament started, MiniMuth had actually put up a bet for all takers that I would finish in the money (top 3). Two assholes ponied up $5 to bet against me. I went on a endless streak of 72, 92, 94, T3, 62 type hands. I had a double-up with JJ that still left me as the shortest stack. I finally made another stand with JTs and was called by non other than TheCanuck who had me dominated with QT. It held and I was busted, CMoney out in 4th.

The final three included perennial favorite Manwhore who always seems to be in the mix, and the two most unlikely contenders - SunshinesBitch and TheCanuck, the bottom finishers from season one (neither had made the cash, and combined had just a single top five finish).

Manwhore was playing patient poker, waiting for his spot to make a move, while TheCanuck and SunshinesBitch went after each other. Manwhore was positioned perfectly to take the tournament if the big stacks were going to keep getting into pissing contests. After 10 hands of three-way poker, Manwhore re-raises TheCanuck and goes all in. TheCanuck calls and Manwhore shows a monster - KK. TheCanuck flips over A7. Manwhore has "that look" - you know - the look that says "I know a goddamn ace is going to fall". Sure enough, an ace falls on the flop and Manwhore goes out 3rd.

Heads up play started with two fairly even stacks. Amazingly, the two loosest players in the tournament tightened up significantly during this duel. About 20 minutes into play, SunshinesBitch raised from the button and TheCanuck called. The flop came king high. TheCanuck bet, and SunshinesBitch goes into the tank. Pondering for a few minutes, he finally comes out with "I'm all in". Now TheCanuck goes into the tank. This is what it's all about - putting someone to the test for all their chips. He finally calls and shows K5 for top pair with a weak kicker. SunshinesBitch shows his JJ. Both played the hand perfectly - the two-outer doesn't fall for 'bitch and TheCanuck takes down the tournament.

Final payout:

1st - TheCanuck - $246
2nd - SunshinesBitch - $134
3rd - Manwhore - $67

Jodizzle took the bounty and the deuce-deuce bonus ($20 + $56). All she needed was winning the tournament for the elusive tripple crown (DD bonus, bounty, and win).

Congrats to all who cashed - there is one player in the league who hasn't taken down a single dime yet (DD bonus, bounty, or money finish). Any guesses who?