OK, it’s time to talk about BARGE (Big August Rec.Gambling Excursion) again. This series of events is a terrific way to have fun playing in low buy-in tournaments and side games against some of the best players around (and some not so great as well.)

You can find all of the information regarding registration here, but I will give you a sneak preview now.

First, here is the “Official” schedule:

Binion’s: Tuesday, 7/29/2008: NL Shootout to Limit HORSE @ 7:00pm. Entry: $50 + $10 + $10
Binion’s: Wednesday, 7/30/2008: Blackjack Tournament @ 11:00am. Entry: $50 + $10***
Binion’s: Wednesday, 7/30/2008: Video Poker Tournament @ 3:00pm. Entry: $40 + $10***
Binion’s: Wednesday, 7/30/2008: Draw Lowball Tournament @ 7:00pm. Entry: $60 + $15 + $10
GN: Thursday, 7/31/2008: Team CHORSE @ 11:00am. Entry $400 + $20 per Team (See Below)
Binion’s: Thursday, 7/31/2008: Stud Shootout @ 7:00pm. Entry: $75 + $20 + $10
Binion’s: Thursday, 7/31/2008: Significant Others Stud Tournament @ 7:30pm. Entry: $20 +$5 (**)
Binion’s: Friday, 8/1/2008: TOC™-style @ 10:00am. Entry: $75 + $20 + $10
GN: Friday, 8/1/2008: Symposium @ 4:00pm, $15
Binion’s: Friday, 8/1/2008: TOC™-style (Finals) @ 6:30pm
GN: Friday, 8/1/2008: “Second Chance” NLH @ 8:30pm. Entry: $55
Binion’s: Saturday, 8/2/2008: No Limit Hold’em @ 10:00am. Entry: $100 + $20 + $10
Binion’s: Saturday, 8/2/2008: Significant Others Hold’em @ 11:00am. Entry: $20 + $5 (**)
GN: Saturday, 8/2/2008: Banquet @ 7:00pm, $25
Binion’s: Saturday, 8/2/2008: No Limit Hold’em Finish (if needed) @ 10:30pm
Binion’s: Saturday, 8/2/2008: Expanded Cash Game Roster @ 10:30pm

I say “Official” because there are tons of other events, from Craps Crawls to Sushi Outings to Karaoke, that are not listed. Also, many fun (mostly invented by BARGERS) cash games. Also sometimes weddings, golf events, whatever people want to do.

The banquet will have a guest speaker, yet to be named. Previous years have seen Gavin Smith, Greg Raymer, Mike Caro (talking on a ledge on the roof of a Strip restaurant), Linda Johnson, Phil Hellmuth, many others.

Registration fee is $25, and the events range from $60 to $130 for our beg NLHE tournament. The winninr, in addition to the prize pool and bragging rights, gets to design next year’s BARGE chip set.

One note: The “significant others” events are designed for total novices accompanying poker playing friends. No ringers, please.

If you think poker can be a great fun time, with players having the most fun they have at the tables all year, please join us. Registration will be open until July 13.

OK, it’s time to talk about BARGE (Big August Rec.Gambling Excursion) again. This series of events is a terrific way to have fun playing in low buy-in tournaments and side games against some of the best players around (and some not so great as well.)

You can find all of the information regarding registration here, but I will give you a sneak preview now.

First, here is the “Official” schedule:

Binion’s: Tuesday, 7/29/2008: NL Shootout to Limit HORSE @ 7:00pm. Entry: $50 + $10 + $10
Binion’s: Wednesday, 7/30/2008: Blackjack Tournament @ 11:00am. Entry: $50 + $10***
Binion’s: Wednesday, 7/30/2008: Video Poker Tournament @ 3:00pm. Entry: $40 + $10***
Binion’s: Wednesday, 7/30/2008: Draw Lowball Tournament @ 7:00pm. Entry: $60 + $15 + $10
GN: Thursday, 7/31/2008: Team CHORSE @ 11:00am. Entry $400 + $20 per Team (See Below)
Binion’s: Thursday, 7/31/2008: Stud Shootout @ 7:00pm. Entry: $75 + $20 + $10
Binion’s: Thursday, 7/31/2008: Significant Others Stud Tournament @ 7:30pm. Entry: $20 +$5 (**)
Binion’s: Friday, 8/1/2008: TOC™-style @ 10:00am. Entry: $75 + $20 + $10
GN: Friday, 8/1/2008: Symposium @ 4:00pm, $15
Binion’s: Friday, 8/1/2008: TOC™-style (Finals) @ 6:30pm
GN: Friday, 8/1/2008: “Second Chance” NLH @ 8:30pm. Entry: $55
Binion’s: Saturday, 8/2/2008: No Limit Hold’em @ 10:00am. Entry: $100 + $20 + $10
Binion’s: Saturday, 8/2/2008: Significant Others Hold’em @ 11:00am. Entry: $20 + $5 (**)
GN: Saturday, 8/2/2008: Banquet @ 7:00pm, $25
Binion’s: Saturday, 8/2/2008: No Limit Hold’em Finish (if needed) @ 10:30pm
Binion’s: Saturday, 8/2/2008: Expanded Cash Game Roster @ 10:30pm

I say “Official” because there are tons of other events, from Craps Crawls to Sushi Outings to Karaoke, that are not listed. Also, many fun (mostly invented by BARGERS) cash games. Also sometimes weddings, golf events, whatever people want to do.

The banquet will have a guest speaker, yet to be named. Previous years have seen Gavin Smith, Greg Raymer, Mike Caro (talking on a ledge on the roof of a Strip restaurant), Linda Johnson, Phil Hellmuth, many others.

Registration fee is $25, and the events range from $60 to $130 for our beg NLHE tournament. The winninr, in addition to the prize pool and bragging rights, gets to design next year’s BARGE chip set.

One note: The “significant others” events are designed for total novices accompanying poker playing friends. No ringers, please.

If you think poker can be a great fun time, with players having the best time they have at the tables allyear, p,lease join us.

I want to discuss a theory I have regarding playing is such a way at to let your opponent know what you have. The topic arises from a question about a reply I made in the Forum. You are welcome to join the Forum and contribute.

Essentially, a player had an ace on an ace high flop. I suggested check-raising the flop (as did others) and said as reason that I wanted my opponents to know I held an ace. Poker s mostly about deception, and not letting your opponent know what you have, so why am I trying to inform my opposition.

I think I did a column on this topic once, possibly called “Full Disclosure.” Essentially the concept comes into play when you are possibly going to have some difficult decisions later in the hand, and you want to be able to trust your opponents’ actions.

Of course, they may still try to fool you, but if they believe (correctly) that you have a real hand and are unlikely to lay it down, they generally bet and raise with that expectation. For example, if a player knows you have set and still raises you, you can pretty sure he can beat a set. if you have disguised your set, then you have no idea if his raise is based on a powerful hand, a mediocre hand that he thinks beats yours, or a bluff hoping you are weak and will fold. Since you cannot know, you must pay off.

As I discussed in my book “Advanced Limit Hold’em Strategy”, one the keys to winning is making your opponents predictable. If the situation is right, telling him what you have will help achieve that objective.

I have recovered enough to return to playing. Maybe it is just World Series Time, but the games I have played in the last three nights have been monumentally soft. I am still playing $30-$60, and seeing 5-6 way action on raised pots preflop, and some incredible chasing.

I took multiple beats yesterday, and still made a tidy profit. There were some interesting hands involving pocket aces, which I held three times. On the first, I raised in middle position and got usual six callers. I am relating this hand because it is similar to one that was recently posed on the Forum. The flop came Qh Jh 10c and had no hearts. this was a lousy flop for my hand, and when everyone checked tome, I checked, as did the two players behind me. After a jack came on the turn,. the small blind bets and the big blind raised. Everyone folded to me, and I folded as well. Heads up, the river went check-bet- call, and the K-J beat the J-7. I like my flop check on the dangerous board, with the option to bet/raise the turn should a blank fall. Needless to say, unless they read this, they will not know what I held. I did not show it or discuss it. I suggest you do the same in these situations.

The other A-A are sort of a pair. On the first, the was a preflop raise and call to me on the button with A- A. I three-bet, which of course through the small blind ( a truly terrible player), and a reluctant big blind, and the other two. Five to the flop of Q-7-2. Checks to the preflop raiser, a pro who bet, fold to me, and I raised. SB three-bet and the raiser folded. I paid off the Q-7, calling all the way. No chance I would lay down a hand in a big pot t this guy. Nice hand, sir, take the pot.

Three hours later, I had black aces on the button, and after four limpers, I raised. This of course brought both blinds, and we took the flop seven handed. I hit a set on a board of Ah Qs 7s. Yes, the queen-seven was there again. Everyone checked to me, and I bet, getting only four callers. Now the turn was the good news-bad news jack of spades. I now have a nut flush draw as well as top set, but of course may still have suddenly lost my lead. everyone checked again, and I bet. Now SB glanced at this hole cards and raised. Everyone folded, and I of course three-bet. Since he cannot have the nuts, it is almost impossible for him to reraise me even if I am behind, and I do have at least 18 outs, perhaps more. He thought for a long time and called. The river 8h did not help, and I checked behind him. I missed,” he said tabling the Jh 10s. He did have three outs. I showed my aces. “That’s what I thought you had,” he commented. Huh?

Anyway he gave me some of my earlier money back which was nice of him.