Hero Calls.  We all make them from time to time.  We’ll get a feeling or an inkling, and make a call very light.  Or maybe we’re just sick of being run over all day and we get stubborn; my Hero Calls often stem from a simple question I’ve asked myself: “Can I seriously have the worst of it every single time today?”  Usually the answer is yes, and a fold is the wisest of plays.

The most amusing Hero Calls, however, are the ones where the pots are nearly vacant.  In these hands, somebody will call the river bet, and the motivation will not be money.  It can’t be, as there is hardly any money to be won.  The reason for these calls can be only two things: pride or stupidity.  Either you have some sort of vendetta against the bettor, and can’t stomach to see him win, OR, you are too lazy a player to actually determine that the pot isn’t worth fighting for.

Three of us see the flop in a limped-action hand.  The flop is Q-Q-4.  Action checks around.  The turn is another 4.  Action checks around.  The river is  9, and I check to the cut-off who bets.  The man on the button holding A-3 calls the bet, justifying in his own mind that the person who wagered is a maniac.  I fold, and the bettor tables 9-8 for the win.

Now, what is this man hoping to accomplish with a call?  Sure, his hand could be the best.  It’s possible.  But, realistically, all he can beat is a total bluff.  If the bettor himself has an Ace, he gets only half the pot with a call.  And what pot?!?  There is 3 small bets in the pot prior to the river bet.  What are you hoping to win, sir?  Save your Hero Call for a time when you’re getting 19-1 on your no-pair, as opposed to 2.5-1.  Pride or Stupidity.  And, honestly, I usually think the most accurate analysis of these calls is a healthy combination of the two.

ALSO, FOR ANY READERS WHO ENJOY MY BLOGS, PLEASE CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE, A PERSONAL BLOG SITE:

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So a while back I wanted to start posting random chip stack photos because poeple can be very creative when building their stack.  So spread the word, if you can build a sweet stack, send me the photo and I’ll post it.  Build a house, build a car, whatever.

I’ll get it started. 

This one isn’t necessarily creative, just monsterous.  A buddy of mine was playing $5/$60 spread the other night and made $6,100 in 9 hours.  That’s awesome…and I have stack envy.

Every poker table is littered with miserable, sweaty, stinky men on tilt.  These players have been in the same seat for nine hours, they’ve lost six racks and have delusions of winning it all back in the next big pot.  But, rake aside, if there are so many losers it stands to reason that there’s going to be at least one winner!  It seems that every poker table has one guy, that lucky chosen soul who can’t lose.

This dude is so easy to spot.  You sit down, and the curmudgeons scowl at you, a yet unscathed man, a clean slate, “even” on the ledgers, something they are so desperately jealous of.  But you can’t help but notice the man in the two seat, with towers and towers of checks almost obscuring the view of his permanent smirk.

There’s nothing wrong with these guys; we simply loathe them on account of our wild subconscious jealousy.  What can be so astonishing, however, is their absolute inability to miss.  When a player gets hot, it’s quite a remarkable thing to witness.  No draw is too slim and his opponents can’t have enough outs.  He’s nailing that river gutshot every time while fading your sixty-eight outer as he stacks yet another pot.

I realize “this guy” doesn’t exist at every poker table.  It seems lately, however, that I’ve been running into one every session!  I mostly attempt to stay out of the way and marvel at their incredible fortune.  I, myself, rarely am this guy.  My game simply doesn’t have the constitution for giant up-and-down swings.  At the same time, I rarely get stuck six racks.  I don’t play enough hands.  This style, however, if done effectively, can yield huge single-session paydays!

ALSO, FOR ANY READERS WHO ENJOY MY BLOGS, PLEASE CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE, A PERSONAL BLOG SITE:

WWW.JAYMIND.COM

Congratulations to Jason Seitz for winning Season 2, Event 1 of the Minnesota State Poker Tour at Running Aces.  Seitz outlasted the largest MSPT field to date of 201 entrants to take home $56K! 

Getting there was no easy task.  There were three former MSPT champions in the final twelve.  As two of the top chip stacks remaining, Season 1, Event 5 MSPT Hinckley Champion Matt Hyland and Season 1, Event 1 MSPT Mille Lacs Champion Jeremy Dresch went toe-to-toe.  Dresch came out on top eliminating Hyland in 12th place.

Defending MSPT Running Aces Champion Joe Matheson made another deep run before being busted by Seitz in 3rd, almost doing the improbable by repeating! 

Seitz was a Heartland Poker Tour Champion in 2006 when he won $47K at Mille Lacs.  The summer prior he went deep in the $10K WSOP Main Event, earning $16K.

8:46 PM Update:  Jason Seitz rolls during final table.  Seitz and Dresch met heads up where Dresch is a known closer.  Seitz entered at 2:1 chip advantage.  It only took 4 hands before they got it all in.  Dresch with 10-10 and Seitz with A-8 of clubs.  Seitz flopped an Ace and turned an Ace to close the deal.

1. Jason Seitz ($56,295)

2. Jeremy Dresch (Fridley)

3. Joe Matheson (Andover)

4. Hank Mlekoday (Minneapolis)

7:08 PM Update: Beedle shoves with A6, Mlekoday calls with AA.  AA holds, Beedle out in 5th.

5. Rob Beedle (Stillwater)

7:06 PM Update:  Seitz shoves with 10-10, Mlekoday calls with AK, 10′s hold. Seitz doubles.

7:03 PM Update:  DeSilva shoves all in with AJ, Dresch calls with KK, KK holds.  DeSilva out in 6th, Dresch refuels.

6. Sam DeSilva (Austin)

7:00 PM Update:  Flop 10-3-3, Matheson bets, Dresch shoves, Matheson calls and shows 99, Dresch shows 44.  Matheson’s 9′s hold and he doubles through Dresch.

6 remaining players:  Dresch, Mlekoday, Seitz, Matheson, Beedle, SeSilva

6:43 PM Update:  DeSilva shoves with QQ, Mandt calls with 99.  QQ holds to eliminate Mandt in 7th place.

7. David Mandt (East Gull Lake)

6:24 PM Update:  Shogren shoved all in for $304K, Dresch called.  Shogren showed 99, Dresch AK.  The flop and turn were 7-8-10-J giving Shogren the straight.  Then the Q hit the river giving Dresch a bigger straight.  Unreal!

8. Dan Shogren (Isanti)

6:11 PM Update: Jason Seitz now on a roll and just eliminated a very short stacked Tim Miceczkowski.

9. Tim Miceczkowski

6:04 PM Update:  Rob WazWaz eliminated 10th by Dan Shogren.  Shogren’s AJ bested Rob’s KQs.  WazWaz was coolered the hand before when Seitz hit runner-runner to crack Rob’s Aces.

10. Rob WazWaz (Brooklyn Park)

6:00 PM Update:  we’re now at the final table, here are the remaining players

Seat 1 – Jason Seitz $121K

Seat 2 – Bob Beedle $387K

Seat 3 – Sam Desilva $367K

Seat 4 – Dan Shogren $127K

Seat 5 – Rob WazWaz $257K

Seat 6 – Tim Mieczkowski $52K

Seat 7 – Jeremy Dresch $753K

Seat 8 – Hank Mlekoday $175K

Seat 9 – Joe Matheson $375K

5:11 Update: Huge pot!  Dresch elminates Hyland.  Hyland raises pre-flop, Dresch re-raises, Hyland shoves.  Dresch tanks and calls.  Dresch shows AK, Hyland 9-10.  King on the flop and holds.  Hyland gone, Dresch massive chip leader.

12. Matt Hyland (Brainerd)

4:55 Update: Just had a sick hand, Matheson raised with KK, Mandt shoved with A high.  Mandt turned the wheel, then an Ace hit the river for a wheel on the board…and a chop.

13. Mat Hart

4:50 Update: Bob Beedle just eliminated Matt Christensen.  AK over 10-10.

14. Matt Christensen (Roseville)

4:42 Update: Play has definitely picked up again, just lost two more. WazWaz now back at the featured table. 14 remain.

15. Ken Cary (Eden Prairie)

16. Jay Philips (North Branch)

4:35 Update: Play had slowed for almost an hour between bust outs before Curt Freese was eliminated in 17th.

17. Curt Freese (Summerset, WI)

3:42 Update:  Joe Matheson just raked a big pot to get really healthy again and elminated a player in the process.  Likely the 3 favorites left in the field, Hyland, Dresch and WazWaz are all at the same table.  17 players remain.

18. Rocky Wylie (Sturgeon Lake)

3:25 Update: 18 players remain, Hyland still chip leader with about $520K.  Recent bust-outs are:

19. Michael Tester (St. Paul)

20. Dan Serie (St. Paul)

21. Al Giardina (Colorado)

22. Edward Janezich (Minneapolis)

3:15 PM Update:  Currently down to 22 players in the Main Event.  Congratulations to the players that have all ready cashed.

23. Andrew Karon (Duluth)

24. Mark Sandness(Wayzata)

25. Alan Curl (South Dakota)

26. Paul Pederson (Apple Valley)

27. Robert Meshbesher (Crystal)

2:50 PM Update:  When you’re hot you’re hot…Matt Hyland just eliminated another player with JJ vs. AA all-in pre-flop.  Hyland flopped a Jack.  24 players remain.

2:30 PM Update:  As we get ready to resume play, the current chip leader is MSPT-Hinckley champion Matt Hyland with about $400K.  Jeremy Dresch, the MSPT-Mille Lacs champion has about $135K and last year’s MSPT-Running Aces champion Joe Matheson has roughly $135K as well.

2:15 PM Update:  We’ve just arrived at the money here at Running Aces.  Todd Melander bubbled #28 so 27 players remain.  Min-cash is $1,355, 1st place is $56,295.  We’re currently moving to the main room so a short break.  We will be up live on Ustream here in a minute as well.  The link will be on the MNPokerMag.com home page. 

The current chip leader is MSPT-Hinckley champion Matt Hyland with about $400K.  Jeremy Dresch, MSPT-Mille Lacs champion has about $135K and last year’s MSPT-Running Aces champion Joe Matheson has roughly $135K as well.

1:15 Update: Day 1 for MSPT Running Aces is in the books.  201 runners started the day, 70 remain.  27 players will get paid.  2010 MSPT Running Aces champion Joe Matheson is healthy and in the hunt.  Other MSPT champions Jeremy Dresch and Matt Hyland are in the top 20 as well heading into Day 2.  Day 2 will begin at 10:30 AM sharp.  Here is a list of the top 20 chip leaders heading into the morning.

Joshua Grover  – 147,000

Rob Waz Waz – 141,100

Dan Shogren – 124,900

Sam Desilva – 100,400

Joe Matheson – 98,400

Heidi Roggankamp – 95,300

Dan Sherman – 81,100

Jeremy Dresch – 73,000

Jim Erickson – 72,400

Derek McMaster – 65,200

Paul Penderson – 63,100

Steve Brost – 61,800

Jeremy Mandler – 61,200

Mark Sandness – 60,000

Daniel Serie – 53,200

Andy Karon – 51,200

Robert Beedle – 51,200

Jeff Bartlett – 50,600

Matt Hyland – 50,300

Jason Seitz – 50,100

11:00 (Jocelyn)  We are now at 93 players remaining.  Currently on level 7 with chip average at 31K.  After level 8 we will bag and tag the remaining players chips and restart at 10:30am on Sunday.  Payouts have been posted and later after the night is done we will be posting too 10 chip counts.

1st place $56,295

2nd place $27,760

3rd place $17,470

4th place $13,585

5th place $11,650

6th place $8,735

7th place $7,570

8th place $6,600

9th place $5,435

10th place $4,465

11th place $3,885

12th place $3,400

13th place $2,910

14th place $2,425

15th place $2,135

16th – 18th $1,945

19th – 21st $1,750

22nd – 24th $1,550

25th – 27th $1,355

9:15pm (Jocelyn) Breaking records like they are going out of style.  201 entrants in the MSPT Running Aces Main Event.  Currently we are on Level 5 with Blinds at 200/400 with a 50 ante.  143 players remain. 

11:00am (Bryan) We’re here at the Saturday morning qualifier and the turnout is fantastic again.  103 players entered this AM trying to qualify for the Main Event, 21 will do so.  That means we’ve qualified 108 so far this week with a few $250 single-table satellites possible yet today. 

The $1000+$100 Main Event will start at 5:00 PM sharp this evening.  Players will be allowed to buy-in for two levels or roughly 7:00 PM.  We will play 8 levels which will take us to about 12:15 AM.  Then play will resume at 10:30 AM Sunday morning.

Last year’s champion Joe Matheson took home over $51K when there were 183 entrants.  It looks promising to surpass that this year.

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The Minnesota State Poker Tour at Running Aces has been hoppin all week.  Today though the MSPT had its most attended day in its 8 event, 15 month existence.

On Friday alone, 22o players took their shot in a $250 qualifier at getting to the $100K, $1000+$100 buy-in, 2-day Main Event.  During the evening session, the poker room was filled to capacity.  At one point, over 40 players stood nearby with their name on a waiting list – waiting for players to bust out.

With the buzz in the air today and the record attendance, the goal of a 200 player Main Event field looks very realistic.

Roughly 90 Main Event seats are already spoken for with another $250 qualifier yet Saturday morning, 10:30 AM.  100+ direct buys are expected as well. 

Buckle up!

Things are lively here at Running Aces, the MSPT has already qualified 43 through Thursday’s action into the $100,ooo Guaranteed Main Event.  Matt “Craigslist” Kirby just picked up his 3rd Main Event seat in 4 attempts.  Once again today, $60 & $90 satellites ran constantly.  We are currently ahead of last year’s pace that landed at 183 main event entrants. 

The entire room is packed, the cash game tables are full.  Not only that, 3 Putts [photo] just now hit the high end of a $13K jackpot in a live cash game.  Congrats Putts!

St. Paul’s JohnnyGstaks has been dominating the online poker scene as of late and added to his already magnificent resume by finishing 2nd in FTOPS Event #15 on February 11th for $152,750. 

Gstaks’  monster cashes are now too long to list but just to name a couple to refresh you memory, he won the PokerStars USACOOP for $164,050 on November 28th and the $100K Guaranteed on Tilt on Dec. 15 for $35K. 

JohnnyGstaks now has almost $2.4 million career online winnings.  Sick.