Let me state that the following is to the best of my memory and it's accuracy is questionable as I wrote nothing down. But, for some reason people kept saying to me, you should include that in a trip report. So here by special requests, my thoughts and musings on my very first "RGE" (Recreational Gambling Excursion).

First of all a very big thank you to those that made it possible. Bill Alan for his organization of the event, Chuck Weinstock for use of conjelco for communications, Steve (Crunch) Daniel for recording the tournament placing and name tags, and Don Perry whom organized the Smoker, Midnight Madness and will be taking over Bill Alan's 'shoes' for FARGOY2K. And, to the many others that played a role behind the scenes and have not had their share of the limelight. Accolades to Kathy Raymond and Mike Ward, both of whom do a superb job in running Foxwoods poker room and accommodated our many requests during the weekend. Bill Alan said the following in an email to the FARGO group: "But it is not the organizers that make ARG events great events. It is every single player who makes it a point to go out of their way to be a friendly competitor and fun seeker." So, a big thank you to all the friendly competitors and fun seekers as well.

Friday Night

At 7:58 I arrive for the smoker (which is to start at 8 PM). No one else has arrived yet and I wander around the bar, which is too crowded and return to the foray. A few minutes later five guys walk in and they are shown to the room in the back where the smoker is to be held, so I tag along. They head to the table in the corner which is seated for five and say they might as well be antisocial. I came here to get information.....I will not be shut out! I grab a chair, pull it up to their table and inform them they can be as antisocial as they want, after the others arrive - but for now they are stuck with me. They then decide to relocate to a bigger table (taking me with them) and later in the night state it was a manipulation tactic to get me to join them. They turn out to be anything but stuffy and stodgy. Four of these guys know each other and have traveled to FARGO together: Mike Manvell, Matthew Moore, Chris Paquin and Steve Watkins, the fifth is Jason Sheedy and like Matt, Mike and myself is a FARGO newbie.

The four that knew each other (Chris, Matthew, Mike and Steve) will bet on anything, and I mean anything. It can't be for the money because the bets are never really big, it must be for the thrill of betting and the challenge. During the course of dinner, Steve who is lactose intolerant has eaten an entire crock full of sour cream straight up. Chris has swallowed a giant gristle of fat left over from another's plate. (I am supposed to say that it is the size of a golf ball....truth is, it was more like the size of Rhode Island) Other bets are pondered and suggested....but we will not go into those, let's just say that Chris (and probably Steve) are the guys that will eat anything for a buck (or $10) and it doesn't have to be food! Luckily, the two doing the consuming are sharing a room, hope they packed the air freshener (grin). The question has been asked about who will wear the toga this year, all eyes are upon me. I don't think so, but thanks for the thought (grin).

I attempt to extract information from these guys about their style of play, they are on to me early and I obtain very little (though they do slip later in the evening after a bottle of clos du bois merlot and talk poker strategy). Now there are three things I wish: 1) I had a memory, 2) in lieu of a memory, a notebook and pen available instead of tucked away in my bag 3) that I had not said "ooh, I knew I could get you talking!" At which point they immediately ceased (how DUMB can I be?...smile) I did ask Mike about the possibility that he would soft play against me, but will no success. He mentioned something about how that would show disrespect to me and my game. (Mental note: avoid this guy at the table.) Don Perry was seated diagonally to my left and I found him quite personable, not at all stodgy. Turns out that though he believes in equality of the sexes (for the most part) he strongly believes that women should not smoke cigars You can see the pain on his face every time I take a puff on my cigar, or to be more accurate try to keep it lit...hmmm seems my "buddies" forgot to mention champing off the end of the cigar first and a few other things (grin).

Dinner is over. Nolan Dalla as set the line for the total food bill including tax at $1235, under/over bets are taken. Chris (Paquin) takes numerous under bets, for a reason he says. His reason turns out to be that a couple of people at the other table did not eat. The actual total is $1252. Chris, even though we were not aware of the non eaters (as we had our backs to them, and you did not), Nolan was seated at their table and must have taken that into account. Nice try though (smile), only wished I had bet! We head out to the poker room.

My intention for the evening is to WATCH pot limit. This is the game which I most want to be proficient. The list is long so I sign up. (Thinking I am too far down the list to be seated, but if on the list I can watch with the excuse that I will at some point be in the game. Then just before it is my turn to play I can leave. Thus, I can learn without paying tuition.) The game is called and so am I. Didn't realize these guys would each sign up for 20 other games as well, and not all of them would actually play pot....sheeesh. I am now in the game. Well, I did come here to learn. I take my entire bankroll for live play to the cashier (because I want to start with at least a rack) and exchange it for chips. Even as an inexperienced pot limit player it becomes clear to me quite early on, that this is not your typical pot game. The blinds are 1-2 and about 1/2 hour into the game a $5 straddle has become standard. Four players are experienced pot players, three are solid hold em players (but I think not experienced pot players) and two (myself included) are "clueless."

I hold my own for the first two hours, up $22! Then in basically three hands, in the course of the next few hours I am toast. I keep trying to protect and regain my initial loss of $200. Finally an opportunity arrives when I have about $300 remaining in chips. Or, perhaps I should say what I thought was an opportunity, my first clues to the contrary should have been that Scott Byron had: 1) stopped reading his magazine at the table 2) was heads up with me in that pot and, 3) after the flop when he eyed my chips and said "I'm going to put you all in" (Warren Sander told me the next day that limit is a game of the turn and river, no limit a game of preflop and pot limit a game of the flop. Gee Warren, really wish we had that little talk a day earlier.....grin) Though I had top pair on the flop (A's) and a four flush, and by the turn a straight draw as well, my hand lost to Scott's which was two pair on the flop (A's over 5's). and a boat on the river. Tuition paid, lesson to be pondered. I said to Scott (as he raked in my former chips). I will never forget you (smiling sadly). Scott is really a terrific guy as well as a top player, he tapped his heart and said something like, and I you. As I walked away from the table I heard them discussing how strong my hand was.

By the time I got to my room I decided I was over my head and it was time to quit poker, that only a rank amateur would ever have stayed in that hand "hoping" for one of 12 outs. (Never mind that I am a "rank amateur" - that is not the point!) On the turn (I am already all-in) with 16 outs (now had a gut shot draw as well) which later proved to be 21 outs by the river, as Scott's pair included the low card and if either of the other board cards paired, I would either win or split. What had me thinking about quitting is that Scott made the boat, a five fell on the river. Though his odds at the boat were low (only 3 cards could fill his house), I was so concentrated on the flush or the str8, that I never thought about his hand improving. The next day Scott looked me up and told me how he thought I should have played the hand. Though the outcome would have been the same (loss of all my chips), the strategy would have been correct as my hand was favored. So, it turns out that a "top player" and not just a "rank amateur" might have played that hand. (But the fact remains that it took Scott pointing that out to me, that causes me to realize how rank an amateur I really am). It was nice of him, and very much appreciated that such an experienced player would "look me up" and explain, and I'll reconsider my "career in poker." The real truth is there could have been no other outcome for the my pot limit play that evening. I was truly out of my league and out played. My demise would have come eventually whether to Scott (in that hand) or by playing tighter and surviving a few more hours only to be out played by someone else, but in the meantime I have a no limit tournament to win!

Saturday

I steal the blinds. The big blinds says "this is a friendly game, I suggest you rethink stealing the blinds." He is a more aggressive player than me, I do not want this conversation to resurface as Tess is two to my right and I don't want her heeding 'steal the blind' advice...(grin). I decide not to mess with his blinds He then starts betting my A/K's, not extremely high, but enough to make me fold. (I got AK a lot - I do not raise this hand in tournament play, and for some reason was not betting it either) The next time he does this, the flop comes 3 x 3, he bets into it. I am now extremely tight, afraid of two measly 3's I tossed my cards face up (it's headsup) and state, I keep getting this hand and I am sick of it! This is when my "wake-up calls" comes via the shocked look on D Karma's face, and I realize I am playing just a tad to tight. However, I did go on to use that tight image to later push mediocre hands, so what I lost on those early A/K folds I probably made up for in the long run. I am very new to poker and still make mistakes both in plays and table etiquette. A hand is checked to me and I say "raise." Realizing that raise is the wrong because I am the first to bet, I say "oh never mind I check." Trying to cover my lack of correct terminology, but then remembering that if you say raise you are committed to a raise, so I then say, "oh I said raise so I have to bet," and throw a $100 chip in. The guy that kept betting my AK hands looks at me at says, "You sure you aren't a professional? That has to be the best ploy I have ever seen." The entire table is laughing, but it truly was a mistake trying to cover a previous mistake. (Tess and I certainly kept the table entertained!) Two players have been high carded out and one has busted out. Mike Ward comes over to break our table, even though we plead we are a happy family and point out other possible tables to mess with, but to no avail.

I progress through the tournament, the blinds are increasing. I am now moved to a table where another player is also moved, me with the chips in the palm of my hand - he via Ryder truck to handle his mountain of chips. This guy (Thomas Hummel) is wearing a vibrant purple shirt that matches his purple chips and sun glasses. He is down right scary and he is taking notes. My goal just changes from winning, to making the final two tables. This guy is about to run me over and I must think of a way to stop him! I start counting down with a happy smile how many need to be eliminated until I make it to the final two. Miraculously, I make it through two rotations around the table. On my big blind everyone folds including the small blind, Mary Marciano. I am even, my big blinds are returned to me and the small blind has funded me to pay my small blinds, twice! Now I would like to believe that these people headed my pleads to make the final two tables (smile), but the truth is that is was probably a combination of not having the cards and the realization that if they busted me their table would then break and their shot at Thomas and his never ending mountain of chips would be gone. These are very savvy players. My other "brilliant play" at this table is to realize that Raydon (Ray DiDonato) is seated at my immediate left. After his "self Imposed no talking rule" has been met, we chat and I mention a number of posting he has made including the one about the NL tournament at ATLARGE. (I did manage to do some research on the "dangerous players" before attending), my thinking is to make friends on my left (grin) And Raydon is indeed a likable guy. Players have busted out at the other tables and once again, I will soon be relocated. However, we are now down to the final two tables, woohoo (this woohoo is in honor of NewJane, who was unable to attend due to a death in the family).

I should have set a new goal, mistake number one. Mistake number two is not realizing that I can still survive if I am careful. I have about T900 in chips, the blinds are not as high as I thought and I never thought about how the 82000 in chips was distributed. It is at this point that Bill Alan has about T250 and he ultimately placed 7th (in the money). I have never made it this far in the three previous tournaments I have played, so at the table I fail to take that, and a lot of other things in account. It now seems like a good idea to double up instead of just surviving. When I got AK I decided to go for it, all in, (funny, the hand I am not much liking today and the hand I never raise in tournament play) one caller, Uncle Al (Al Stuart) seated on my immediate left, whom I had sat with for a brief time at another table, for some reason always on my left. Really a nice guy (until he called, grin). This part is fuzzy, he may have been a blind (for some reason can no longer remember position) he has A8 clubs (how threatening could that be, after all I had the A7 of hearts in my bust out of pot limit because it never hit) on the flop an Ace & 8 fell, and by the river he had made the flush. AK, I really am sick of that hand (grin).

So, I came in 16th in the no limit tourney and am pleased. The field of contenders were good players and I have limited experience. So will I quit poker?.....don't know.....but I will read the 18 or so books that I have bought on the subject and see, ask me in a month or so. But regardless, I will attend FARGO next year!

After getting knocked out, Jim Mogal introduced himself to me. He is another FARGO newbie, one of three that had responded to my post inquiring about an interest in doing something together as newbies. Jason Sheedy and Mark Oldenburg (winner of the NL tourney) are the two others that also indicated an interest. Due to numerous reason, the lateness of the attempt and the uncertainty that I would even be able to attend, the newbies group never got past the concept stage. Too bad as the newbies took all the tournament events, the recognition, the praise....oh, darn and all I had to do was provide a little more effort and direction....and I could have been famous because of their abilities (grin). Oh well, hope all the newbies had at least half as much fun as I did.

As I am talking to Jim I seek his advice on how to play the stud tournament tomorrow. He gives me some advice and he appears to really know the game well. Andy Latto then comes up to me and asked if I am joining their group for dinner. (He had previously posted about math weenies getting together Saturday night for dinner to discuss what, I can't remember now, as I am not a math weenie, but thought it would be a good way to meet more people, especially those that might be able to teach me something)...well YES! So off to dinner I went with the math weenies....Andy, Crunch and a media shy guy that shall remain nameless. It was enlightening and fun. And these guys are by no means weanies.

At this point I am so tired that I went back to the room, though I couldn't sleep, I rested. At 11:55 I bolted up to discover there was only 5 minutes until midnight madness started. I rushed to the poker room to see if I could still sign up. (Though my live money for play was gone, when we went out to dinner I put the tab on my room and now had cash again to play. Always thinking and this was another form of NL at a capped cost... big grin) Yup, in the game. Solid players, not a lot of dead money. I really wanted to win this one, $150 buy in, two tables, ten players, freeze-out, deals can be made when three people remain. I was not the first to leave, nor the second not even the third, I believe I was the fourth (hmmm, that would place me at 16th again.....grin). Pocket kings, I have been told not to slow play them, but I (so thought I) wanted callers. By betting 10 I got 2 callers, by betting 40 on the flop with middle cards on the board, one player dropped, the other 'Ploink' eyed my stack and said those famous words, "I'm going to put you all in." Now I should have thought about it, but instead I pushed the chips forward, about $92 at this point. So my cowboys never improve and Ploink has pocket 8's that hit the 8 on the flop. Yup, will never slow play that hand again, would rather bet big and have no callers that to slow play and get the wrong caller. I am going to practice just saying no. The next time I hear "I'm going to put you all in," I am tightening the old running shoe laces and bolting. (I never make this mistake on the computer.....but in live play, just too tempting). Too bad Chris won that California tournament and decided to come to FARGO on the winnings (grin....just kidding, learned a lot from you Ploink)

At the next table I see a 1-5 stud game. The scary guy from the NL tourney is there, Thomas Hummel who really isn't scary when not wearing his shades and is actually quite nice. It turns out that the notes he was taking were for a trip report. And for the record placed second in the NL tournament. D Karma from my first table at NL is there as well. I decide to play to get some practice for the tournament tomorrow, but first I must obtain funding. Discover that my bank card is in my room not my backpack, lines at the ATM, etc....finally make it to back to the table where Tony (D. Karma) has locked up a seat for me and "learn" the game. It is fun, (probably too much fun, I am only half paying attention and starting to goof around, so much so, that Thomas gently taps on my aquarium, thanks for the wake up call). I am holding my own and in fact when the table breaks at 4 AM I am up $12. The first time ever I have left a table with money (never mind the fact that I did not walk away, the table broke, the point is I have finally left a table with chips!)

But the best hand of the night is Tony's. He has an Ace showing, gets one or two callers....gets another Ace and says "I bet $5 and see if anyone is willing to call" he gets one caller, his next card is a 9, again the caller stays for $5. The next card is another 9 and the caller now drops out. Tony turns his hand over to show rolled up Aces (giving him quad Aces on the first four cards.....damn those nine's - smile). Turns out this hand was good "Karma" for Tony, as he went on to win the Seven Card Stud Tourney the next day.

Sunday

I decide to defend my bring in bet for the $100 max with 4 6 clubs in the hole and a four at the door. Michael Klein (Big Mike) decides to dance with me, after betting, raising and sometimes reraising it is now down to 7th street. His cards appear to be a broadway, no pairs showing. He studies my cards before reraising with his remaining chips. I called and say boat, he turns his cards over and says bigger boat (paint over paint actually). Turns out my boat is a dingy, and his a yacht. Someone at the table said, "You are the titanic and just learned what it felt like to hit the iceberg." My only saving grace was that I had him out chipped or I would have been history. My really big mistake here was playing him like I played Rith. Once in a hand Rith never lays down and goes to showdown no matter what. Big Mike on the other hand had shown the ability to fold. My boat was totally concealed, should have occurred to me that his could have been as well, but it so looked like a broadway....things are not always as they appear (grin). Very nice hand sir, well played (smile), and I truly mean that. About three hands later, Big Mike and I are headsup once again, and again his boat beats mine. After that I decide not to take any more cruises on that line, and avoid pots where he has remained (grin). I am now short stacked and our table will soon be merged with others.

Also of note at that table is the education I received. At one point Scott Byron asks me to be careful with my hands and the door card (he had trouble seeing the door card). Now, I am thinking how do I clarify this without showing myself to be the total fish I am? I finally give it up and simply say, softy, raising my eyebrows, "doorcard?" ...lol. A few hands later, if not already totally obvious that I belong to an elite school of fish, a conversations breaks out on why I didn't double the bet on 4th street with a pair showing, hmmm 4th street, pair showing, you can double the bet? (smile).

When our table breaks, I am short stacked (thanks to Big Mike's Cruise Line - smile) and my heart is not really in the game. I have work obligations and my time line really doesn't fit into staying to the end of the tournament. Yet, I wanted to play and if I actually did well - I would make arrangements. Plus the chances of actually remaining are slim. If I had not made the errors of trying to overpower Mike's two yachts my frame of mind might have been different. However, since I am going to lose I might as well lose now and get on with my obligations. Of course this is an excuse, but it also my reasoning for deciding to be very aggressive and "let the chips fall where they may."

At my new table I find Raydon on my left. I become the "bring-in girl" at this table, and quickly find that between the antes and the bring ins my short stack is well, barely visible. I decide to take a stand on my bring in bet with split 4's and throw out a $100 bet. Being new and learning I forget to say "complete" (and Warren had explained the over chip rule to me less than 3 hours previous). Raydon then says "raise to $100" and throws out a chip. I have a shocked look on my face and say to him, "oops that's what I meant to do, raise." He too now has a shocked look on his face and claims to be "worried." When the action returns to me, I actually forgot that my $100 chip is not committed and I could get change and exit this hand. I chase with a few hundred more before I admit (to myself) that I am not going to catch Raydon, and finally fold. Now Raydon is a bright guy and my mistake (not saying complete) puts in his head the thought that I am not a stud player, and he makes a comment to me which I (foolishly) answer truthfully (grin). At this point Greg Pappas wants to know about the conversation at our end of the table and Raydon tells him it's a secret for his ears only, (lots of laugh Radyon - wouldn't want Greg to get my last $275 or so in chips).

A few hands later it is becoming clear that soon I will ante out. So again I make a stand saying, "you guys don't want to call, bust me and this table will break." Greg Pappas doesn't buy it and neither does another low stack. I am out, as is the other all-in and the table breaks. As it turns out, it was a tough table and perhaps breaking was exactly what they wanted, (need to keep that possibility in mind the next time I try to plead my case....smile). Even funnier is that Pappas indeed gets my remaining chips, the ones that Raydon had been eyeing for himself (smile). Or, perhaps Raydon was trying to protect me from Greg,,, Raydon really is a great guy and a lot of fun. FARGO was far more than I ever expected, well organized, fun and very educational. Though I have never had a bad card room experience, all the RGP'ers were friendly and non whiners (day and night difference between reg card room play) . Also, I always thought I looked at my cards correctly but atleast 5 people mentioned to me that I needed to protect my cards (hmmm perhaps my new nickname should be Flash). NO ONE has ever told me that before.....so THANK YOU VERY MUCH....I will work on my technique.

I hit the road, I really want to stay. I want to help record the bust outs so I can meet more people and put faces to names. The traffic is heavier than I expect, but the drive home seems to glide by. My reasons for returning have been delayed and as it turns out, I have an extra 5 hours on my hands. There are two people with whom I discuss poker. These discussion take place in various communication modes, but I can usually find one or the other on the Internet. I power up and indeed find one. I am like a kid that just returned from the first day of school with positive experiences to babble about, and lessons learned to report. Alas, he is tired and busy and I am extremely disappointed. A few hours later I connect with the other one and give my full report. It is now 7 days since FARGO, I am stuck over a grand, (Bill could you please teach me how to play craps!) but the smile is still on my face and the memories will always remain.

REGARDING NICK NAMES: I have received various suggestions...all of them entertaining or downright funny. Don Perry suggested "BeenHad" due to my "stellar performances" in pot limit and Midnight Madness. But I discounted it due to the double entendre. However, Jim Kearns pointed out the following: "Stick with "Been Had" it has the appropriate amount of rube-like innocence combined with the Mae West overtone." So, who knows, I will take it under advisement.

COMMENT on Rec.Gambling.Poker: There are many things that make RGP'ers great, one is the heartfelt advice they give. After reading this trip report Bill Alan emailed me with much encouragement, some words of wisdom and this excellent admonition: I offer you just one piece of advice. Earn your bones in games with more modest stakes. You are not ready yet for Pot Limit, or Midnight Madness. The former can be devastating: Two examples . . Both of these are atypical happenings. I do not belong in the same game as Scott Byron or Ray DiDonato. But I am about twice your age and I can write off a big loss against 50-something years of winning enough money to afford the occasional challenge. i.e. I have, long since, paid my tuition, and I can afford an occasional foray against the best in the house. I urge you to get into games like the "yellow chip" game we played at FARGO. It's a loose game, usually, but you don't have to contribute much to it unless you have a nut hand possibility. (When you complete one you can get rich quick. If the flop disappoints you can usually get out cheap.) I will be 70 in April and I am still learning the game.

Another RGP'er went even further, messaging me words of encouragement but also the following: I wouldn't be quite so inclined to play in tough games as you appear to be. You don't want to learn it TOO hard, and might not be as productive over time anyway. Spend more time looking for easy games and then beat them. THEN beat the hard games. But just be wary that you dont get too excited about butting heads with great players. That kind of pride is very expensive.

They are of course, correct. Absolutely. What I haven't told them is that I only spent 2/3 of the money I allocated myself for FARGO tuition. I never rebought. I never played in another pot limit game. Though I yearn to one day play in the final event of the World Series Of Poker, it will probably never happen.....but don't tell that to the flame inside me that fuels my soul. Today, I am in a job that affords me much discretionary income, in a year or two this may not be the case. I had the opportunity to play those that "are the best in the house," those that are "dangerous" (9 2 offsuit). I got to gage my ability. I got to see my possibilities. Tomorrow, I may not be in a financial position to do so. This FARGO pot limit game may be the closest that I ever come to the WSOP. I savor that, I have learned from it. One day I will tell them all of this, but not today. Today, I will listen to their accumulated wisdom of almost a century of experience. This to me is what makes RGP great.

FOOTNOTE: Will I quit poker? Not a chance, one day I will truly be an awesome player. I have the heart and one day I will have the skill. I have already spent more on "poker tuition" than I have on two college degrees. (So, OK I had scholarships and financial aide and college didn't cost me all that much...but still....it sounds compelling, does it not?) Speaking of funding, anyone wishing to contribute to my learning curve, can mail their check to.... Can't send money? Then send all the notes you have compiled on various players. Can you say manipulation? Well, yes....but isn't that what poker is all about?

Joan

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