Twenty-seven players showed up ready to battle, complain about their cards, make questionable decisions, and then explain why those decisions were actually correct.  In other words, it was another great night at the RPL.

For the first time in league history, we activated the Jackpot Accelerator. In addition to the official Jackpot Hands, the best quads of the night would collect a portion of the prize pool unless someone made better quads or hit the actual jackpot. PGood wasted no time, hitting quad 3s and putting himself in position to collect $1,190.  For a brief moment, he was probably already spending the money. Then Crime Dog started complaining.

Before the first merge, Crime Dog informed his entire table, repeatedly, that he had not seen a pocket pair all season. Apparently the poker gods were tired of listening because, on the very next hand, he woke up with pocket 9s.  Pocket 9s also happened to be a Jackpot Hand.  The flop came 9-9-X.

Crime Dog went from “I never get a pocket pair” to winning the entire $2,190 Jackpot Prize Pool in approximately 90 seconds. It was the largest jackpot payout in RPL history and further proof that complaining works, provided you do it loudly and often enough.

His quad 9s also took over Best Hand, but this was not the night to get comfortable.  Later, Black Kat played Q-10 and watched the other three 10s arrive on the board. His queen kicker played, giving him quad 10s, the new Best Hand, and $250.  Crime Dog kept the record jackpot. Black Kat took the Best Hand money. PGood was left with a very nice story about the time he almost won $1,190.  Last month’s champion made an early exit, with Maverick pulling the trigger and collecting the $135 Sniper Award. Apparently, past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

The final table featured several large stacks, which meant nobody was going anywhere quickly. After a long battle, Stoneface JG finished on the bubble, earning the most painful prize in poker: absolutely nothing.  The players who did get paid:

5th: Dub, $255
4th: NOLABridge, $340
3rd: Shooter, $650

That left Reaper and Daddy O heads-up.

With the blinds at 3,000/6,000, Reaper raised to 12,000 with J-9. Daddy O responded by jamming for 45,000 with Q-7 suited.  Reaper went deep into the tank, presumably reviewing years of poker training, calculating pot odds, studying his opponent, and wondering why he raised with J-9 in the first place.  He eventually called. A 9 landed on the flop and held, sending a massive pile of chips in Reaper’s direction.  On the final hand, Daddy O was down to 40,000 and moved all-in with Q-J. Reaper looked down at K-J and could not call fast enough.  The flop came 9-high. An ace hit the turn. The river was a brick.  King-high was good, and Reaper closed out the victory.  The win was Reaper’s third RPL title, placing him among the elite few who have earned the coveted three-win badge. Daddy O finished runner-up after a strong run, while Reaper added another championship to the résumé.

Final damage:

Reaper: Third RPL victory
Crime Dog: RPL-record $2,190 jackpot
Black Kat: $250 Best Hand
Maverick: $135 Sniper Award
Stoneface JG: Our thoughts and prayers

The Jackpot Hand now resets for the final game.

If tonight taught us anything, it is that no lead is safe, quads are apparently everywhere, and complaining about your cards may be a legitimate strategy.