[Invigilator]

There is a lot to be said for fun and games. I just finished up the first season of my home game league this past Sunday.

We met on the last Friday of each month (except for the Main Event) and played a $5 buy-in tournament that usually took from about 8:30 pm untill 11:00 to 11:30.

What made this interesting is the variety of players. There were those who had a pretty good idea what they were doing. Me, my wife, my cousin who plays online, a friend who plays limit hold'em at the casino, etc. There were those who watch a lot of poker on TV and play in these types of home games. And there were those who know the rules, but frankly, come for the food, fun, and pictionary side game.

The hard part of the game was navigating the limpers. Not one or two either. Depending on who was at who's table, I sometimes found myself in the middle of limpy-land, trapped between the mayor and his wife.

Some players had quite a bit of skill post flop, but in the end they played so many hands, it would kill them.

I managed 2 wins out of 7 tournaments, but I had the most fun just running a good game...

First time players (very first time for money anywhere) got their buy-in on the house.

At the ME we gave away prizes for player of the year, best hand, bad beat, heck, we even gave free entry to next years main event to the bubble boy.

The play can't really be compared to what I get at the casino or in a good online game, but for someone who spends most of his poker time online, it was a good way to keep my feet wet in live play and to be patient with the slower rate of play.

If any of you need a tournament director, I am cheap (But not easy).

Here are some pics the poker digs at my place. My cousin built the table. It is very nice. The center is micro-fibre swede instead of felt.

left-final table of main event at dinner break (yep, those are hand ranking sheets)
right-the final hand. My father-in-law won.