Freeroll Friday at the Quality Inn

Starting tonight, and every Friday night, we will be hosting free-roll Texas HoldEm poker at the Quality Inn in Carlisle at 7:30 & 9:30. It will be the same set-up for those familiar with Johnny Joe's and the Field House.

Prizes awarded to winner.

Quality Inn (click for map)
1255 Harrisburg Pike
CARLISLE, PA, US 17013

Directions: 81 to New Kingston Exit (Carlise Pike by the truck stops), follow exit ramp signs to Quality Inn. We are playing in the Polo Lounge.

This pub is smoking friendly.

See you there!

Team Poker: A Twist on Tournaments

I am getting this from our friends at the great poker blog, The Poker Prof.

Interesting twist on Texas Hold'em tournaments, Team poker, sounds like fun and am wondering if we could implement something like this for our quarterly tournaments at Johnny Joe's and the Field House:

The second annual Dream Team Poker Event takes place at Caesars Palace from March 27-29.

Unlike last year's event, the $500+50 tourney has now been opened to all, with an opportunity to go up against poker celebrities and professionals.

An expected 100 teams composed of 300 players will be vying for a $150,000 prize pool.

The tournament is patent-pendingly unique in that players compete individually while also receiving scores as part of a team (teams will be given customized jerseys to wear). Players then compete for both individual as well as team prizes.

To register and for more information, visit Dream Team Poker.

Johnny Joe's Will Have Poker on Mondays

There was some talk about JJ's not having poker on Mondays, but that rumor is officially squashed!

THERE IS POKER AT JOHNNY JOE'S TONIGHT
AND EVERY MONDAY!

The lineup is as follows:

Mon-Thurs: 8 & 10
Sat-Sun: 1 & 3:30
(No Friday Poker)

And remember, there is poker at the Field House in Etters on Monday at 8 & 10 as well, and Brandon and I run that game as well!

See you all tonight!

3-Way Split in Tourney

There was a three man split in yesterdays Johnny Joe's big Winter Tournament!

Congrats to Brad L, Seth and 'Crazy' Dave for winning the big tournament, all three agreed to split the prize money equally!

Thanks to JJ's and Brandon for another great tourny, good luck all in the next 'season'!

from left to right: Seth (thanks for doing outstanding with my chips, Brad L (far right) and Crazy Dave! Good Job!

Johnny Joe's Wedding

As of the last hour or so, I am pleased to announce and congratulate my good friend Andre and his now wife, Kristy...

I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Andre Woods!

Do Poker Dealers Make Good Poker Players?

With all the new young guys playing regularly at Johnny Joe's and two of them being dealers at the Borgata, i had to chuckle at this article from OnlinePoker.com:

"Do Poker Dealers Make Good Poker Players?

I have always wondered why most poker dealers are poor poker players. Nothing seems to make a game better than a dealer who just finished working and then hops into the game. I don’t know if it is because they are tired from work but they always seem to play poorly and immediately start to gamble it up. You would think that a dealer would become a better player simply by watching all that poker while working. They certainly should become better at reading hands from seeing a couple hundred hands a day. Dealers could also imitate things that the winning players do and incorporate it into there own games.

So why do most dealers play poorly? Maybe they see 2 3 off-suit crack aces for a big pot and they figure they can do it too. If approximately 90 percent of poker players are losing players, then your average poker dealer is watching primarily poor play and then do it themselves. It seems that most dealers know how to play good poker but choose not too most of the time. They seem to want to blow off steam and “gamble with the boys” instead of playing good, fundamentally sound poker. Maybe that’s the reason they are dealing in the first place; because they couldn’t make it playing and are now trying to rebuild their bankroll by dealing.

On the other hand, there is a long list of successful professional poker players that started out dealing poker. Mike Matusow, Johnny Chan, Scott Fischman, Ted Forrest, and Scotty Nguyen top the list of dealers that have had success on the other side of the table. Most of them attribute their good card reading sense to the countless hours they spent in the box dealing cards. I think anyone who spends 40 hours a week watching poker should quickly become an expert at reading hands. A dealer should certainly be aware of the pitfalls of playing professional poker such as playing out of your bankroll, gambling in the pit, and going on tilt. They see it ruin poker players every day!

I think that any poker dealer who wants to become a good poker player certainly has the opportunity to become one. It comes down to deciding to play your best game all the time and having the discipline to play good solid poker. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more dealers make it “big” and reach professional status as a result of the poker boom. There are certainly more people dealing poker at casinos around the country than ever before and just on strictly a numbers basis, some of them will climb to the top of the poker ladder."

No Poker on New Years Eve @ Johnny Joe's

No Poker on New Years Eve @ Johnny Joe's .

We will resume on Thursday, January 1st normal times.. 8 & 10

Holiday Schedule at Johnny Joe's

As of right now, there will be no poker at Johnny Joe's on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Years Eve.... However we our trying to effort Hany into letting us play on xmas eve... since at least two dozen folks wanted too...

I know this is late notice, and the people that this effects don't read this blog, hell, more people hit this blog from the UK than here in central PA... but...

Al "Alfonzo" is making and bringing in ten pounds of peel and eat shrimp with lots of Old Bay and everyone is invited to bring a dish, i guess this is our poker "dysfunctional" family xmas party!

see you guys tonight and for the love that is the all holy nut flush, please, at least tonight, stop chasing draws (and draws i mean needing runner-runner to complete said flush) and for the sake of the holidays, stop playing like a complete and utter donkey! ;)

No Poker at JJ's Friday, Dec. 19th

There will be no poker December 19th, Johnny Joe's is doing a 'metalfest' instead! Poker will continue as normal on Saturday.

Not yet sure on the holiday schedule.

Johnny Joes: No Poker 11/26

Poker for Wednesday night (Thanksgiving Eve) has been canceled, Johnny Joe's is having a band, Adrian Blitzer playing instead.... Thanksgiving night, however, is still on....

As far as I know, Hooters, Angies and Doc Hollidays are still on if you are looking for an alternative... If anyone knows of others, add them in the comments..

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Edit: I went to see Adrian Blitzer play Wednesday night, very cool band and would recommend them to anyone!

Congrats to Paps, Finals Winner

Congrats to Dan "Pappy" Scheaffer for winning Johnny Joe's Big Summer/Fall Poker Texas Hold Em' Tournament.


Remember new season begins tonight at 8... We are all tied at this point!

Current Point List

Below is the current point totals for this season at Johnny Joe's through Sunday November 2nd. The tournament is this Sunday, Novermber 9th at 3:30 (note: there will not be a 1:00 game). Remember the top 40 are only eligible to play, so if you are on the bubble for the top 40, points will be accumulated through Saturdays (11/8) play... Complete List

1-Mike riordan 3704
2-Alan keffz 3158
3-Rod m 2956
4-Roberto 2182
5-Bridget bell 2174
6-Jim benson 2016
7-Brandon B 1782
8-Kirby 1666
9-Steve goddin 1664
10-Dan shaff 1620
11-Stacey blumenstein 1298
12-Jim follmer 1272
13-Joshua martin 1264
14-Judy follmer 1152
15-B ross 1132
16-Michael d 1102
17-Jessica singer 880
18-Dan williams 872
19-Dave m 850
20-Rick chaffee 800
21-Andre woods 800
22-Brad l 780
23-Shaun soloma 756
24-Jessica richard 648
25-Lisa hawkins 642
26-Chris havens 634
27-John gray 586
28-Kevin M 586
29-Frank katz 568
30-Jen ege 566
31-Dena henry 524
32-Jay mrozinski 444
33-Tony d 430
34-Curtis smith 426
35-Doug kuhn 420
36-Justin lovell 412
37-Shawn unger 400
38-Mike french 388
39-Rebecca hill 366
40-Brian knepper sr 356
41-D allen 356
42-Jeff westhafer 348
43-Stacy wilson 346
44-Chuck byrd 340
45-Frank smith 330
46-Scott frampton 326
47-Mike plofsky 324
48-Willis gardner 310
49-Bryan english 284
50-Frank coaxum 262

Complete List

Johnny Joe's Final (Summer/Fall) Tournament

The big tournament is slated for Sunday, November 9th at Johnny Joe's. More details to follow.

The top 40 point earners qualify, the list will be done in a few days so tune in again in the near future for updates!

Johhny Joe's Points List

Many of you have been asking about this seasons points list and the lack of updates, but have no fear, Scott is back in town from his humanitarian visit to Florida and I suspect once he gets caught up at work, he will update the points.

Just give him a break for the next few days!

It would be wiser spending time on not being a poker jackass ;)

Montana Banana

Thanks to Rodney "Hot Rod" Morton, the phrase Montana Banana has been going around Johnny Joe's the last month or so... Most people are unfamiliar with this poker hand nickname, so here is the skinny....

Montana Banana

The pocket cards 9-2, either suited or offsuit.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: It is a widely asserted myth that this nickname originates from the legalization of poker in Montana by Proposition 92. However, poker was legalized in Montana by the Card Games Act, 23-5-311.

Some people also have argued the term comes from a joke that bananas will grow in Montana before that hand makes any money.

The actual origin of the term is unknown.

EXAMPLE: "I had Montana Banana and quickly folded."

A spin on Montana Banana is Joe Montana Banana which is the hand 9-4 suited or offsuit, because Joe Montana was a San Fransisco 49er.

And now you know!

The Johnny Joe's Tourney

Congrats to Brad who took the Tournament down... nicely done sir!

Michael Coulson came in second, not bad for his first Johnny Joe's Experience!

Not sure about third through sixth, Rod and I busted out in 8th and 7th respectively on the same hand, by Brad of course...

When I busted out, Dan "Pops" was big stack with Scott and Brad in second in chips, Sam and Michael right behind them with Karate Frank, and DHL Lisa also still in the game...

Brandon, good tourney, it was fun... and again big props to Brad...!

Starting tonight, we are all tied again with zero points... :)

New Pictures from Johnny Joe's

Johnny Joe's Tournament

The final tournament will be held on Sunday, July 13, at 3:30 for the top 40 people in points.

There will be prizes awarded to the final 8 people first place being a trip to Atlantic city, one night in a casino hotel and and a buy-in for a tournament.