WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Tournament

It is the first day of the World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting Star in San Jose, California (March 14, 2011) and the first to be eliminated from the tournament's floor is your Casino Examiner. After enduring the WPT vetting process for a press credentential , one is required to report to Bay 101's security office to receive another badge. Since the tournament had just started, the security office can wait until the first break, your Casino Examiner had to catch the action. The Casino Manager and a security guard hauled me off the floor rudely with the Barney Fife appearing guard saying sarcastically "You need to go to the security office, if you are a member of the press." Not a good start, but appreciate Bay 101's concern for the safety of the tournament's participants and staff.

The Shooting Star attracted 415 players who shelled out $10,000 for the chance to win a little over $1 million in first place money and collect bounties of $5,000 for knocking out 50 well known poker players seated at each table. Some included Phil Hellmuth, Scotty Nguyen, Antonio Esfandiari, Erik Seidel, Kathy Liebert, Men Nguyen, Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Tilly, Tony Dunst, Mike Sexton, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Freddy Deeb, Todd Brunson, John Juanda, Dan Harrington, Barry Greenstein, Mike Matusow, Gavin Smith, Hoyt Corkins, Jerry Yang, and other premier poker players. Day 1A and Day 1B chip leaders receive $10,000.

Tournament director Matt Savage conducted this event named this year for the late Marko Trapani, founder of Bay 101 and creator of the Shooting Star Tournament. Marko's son Chris wound up collecting 10k on Day 1B as the chip leader and wound up playing in the 6 player table format of the final 24 players remaining on Thursday. Two bounty players (Mike Matusow and WPT announcer Mike Sexton) made it to the final table yielding to Alan Sternberg who emerged as the WPT champion.

Mike Matusow blow up while giving a bad beat

Moviemakerjjcasino (your Casino Examiner) filming Mike Matusow all in, then berating his opponent Richard Toth (a professional poker player from Hungary) with profanity after giving him a bad beat on the river at the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star 2011 poker tournament on Day 1. During the meltdown, Mike "The Mouth" blows up because his opponent called his $2400 bet after the flop with a pair of sevens and a Queen on the board. Tournament director Matt Savage, who was announcing the action at the table, did not penalize Matusow for the outburst. Still a scary moment for those around the table. Matusow advanced to the final table in this World Poker Tour event instead of being sent to the rail.

Artichoke Joe's folds to Feds

Artichoke Joe's in San Bruno was the go-to card room to play $6-$12 limit Texas Hold'em poker in the San Francisco Bay Area because of its competitive $4 collection fee that included a Bad Beat jackpot and a royal flush payout. A two hour period between 5:00pm - 7:00pm included bonuses for a straight flush that paid out $200 and four of a kind paid $100. Bay 101 Casino and Garden City Casino in San Jose charge the same $5 collection fee, but without the jackpots and bonuses because of city laws. A good deal for a player looking to increase the odds of winning.

On March 2, 2011, federal agents raided Artichoke Joe's and closed the casino indefinitely after federal agents raided the card room over allegations that loan sharks advanced money to broke players at exorbitant rates and then threatened them with violence to get repayment according to the Bay Area News Group. A bad beat for legit players such as doctors, lawyers, retirees, blue collar workers, and others who play there to relax. My YouTube video "Poker/casino chip tricks-How to handle chips like a pro" used the casino's $1 chips and luckily I cashed them in at the end of February.

I played limit poker there once a month and rarely went over to the "Dark Side" as one manager remarked concerning the Asian games in the casino. It is now out of my rotation and am now limited to Lucky Chances in Colma, Bay 101, and Garden City. All have had similar problems in the past and will always cash out all my chips knowing that they can be next.

Late Breaking News (March 10, 2011)

From Artichoke Joe's website: Reopening FRIDAY MARCH 11, 10 A. M.

Artichoke Joe's Reopening on Friday, March 11, 2011 The State Gambling Control Commission ratified an agreement today (March 10, 2011) that permits Artichoke Joe's to reopen on Friday, March 11, 2011. New security measures and procedures are being implemented immediately to ensure the highest possible standards. We do not and will not condone any illegal activity on or near the Casino. Thank you for your expressions of well wishes during this past week. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Kourabiedes: Greek butter cookies(Video)

Greek recipe secret prepared and baked by a Greek born mother and her daughter (my wife). Greek food festivals always sell these cookies that also is called kourabiethes. They are also popular at Christmas, Easter, weddings, and whenever you feel the urge to eat them.