It's going to take more than a Player of the Year award to get me back. It's great that you take less juice, but your lack to control your chips, provide a decent blind schedule and more than a hot dog has hurt your event.

Ditto to lefty2...... Well put! You need a schedule like the Civic Center or the VFW. Speaking of the VFW, that's where I'll be playing on Saturday, January 9th.

Hey at least someone will have a 1 in 20 shot at winning $500....... It won't be me though.

You think an award, like a player of the year is going to bring back your players???????? Think again, the damage is done. You never listened when players would tell you about Doug and Allen. No body wants to be cheated by anyone, let alone someone in charge of the tournament. I've heard Doug isn't there anymore, but I've also heard your numbers are low and have been low. You need to do more then give an award away to get players back there on a regular basis.

well eric,
If you use 09 as an example of what would have been won. Then u need to include who probably would have won it ALLAN LYNCH, the cheater caught, OR Doug, the cheater that wasnt caught. And they probably would have done as they always have done, SPLIT IT.
You had doug running your games. Sometimes you wheren't even there. To run poker tournaments, you must have knowledge of the game, AND maybe to as the JEFFs do. Play every now and then. Good luck with your turnout.

Hold it! Are you guys saying that Doug and Allen cheated in Mardela? Well that explains alot. I always noticed that one or both of them were always at the final table and usually cashed. I quit playing in Mardela because the attendance was low. Same for Willards. But I always play at the VFW and the Civic Centers. Is that why Doug hasn't helped at the Civic Center this year? I remember reading about Allen and the cheating at the VFW but I think I'm now putting 2 and 2 together to get why Mardela and Willards attendances are so low. Doug and Allen? Wow, boy I'm slow, maybe why I'm no good at poker either? Ha Ha.

Okay guys. I've allowed the first several post because they were indicating to Mardela some issues. We all know the attendance at most of the Saturday Lower Shore Poker Tournaments have fallen off. The reasons are many, including what you have indicated here. I think (Erik) Mardela is trying to show they have recognized their issues and trying to correct and do something good with their dates. Unfortunately, the Salisbury VFW also scheduled one of their Saturday tournament the same date. (The Salisbury VFW only does 4 Saturdays a year). What I would like to see in these posts is constructive criticism or positive things about Mardela's venue. If you have bad things to say, please call or email Erik.

Hey Erik, Willards had 16 today. How does that work in your plan for the player of the year award.......

I quit playing long before this so called incident ADMIN. keeps harping on. I Quit cold turkey frankly because their were way to many poker games and not enough money to go around. To Many tourneys to many split attendees like Mardella And the VFW this week. To many games a week period. I would call what has happened BURN-OUT. Its lucky it lasted as long as it did.

Scale back the number of games to about 4 a month and you'll see attendance increase over time. And I don"t mean $500 big stacks or $40 and to many re-buy-add-on either. Lets go back to the beginning when Willards and Mardella first started these games and $150 buy-ins and re-buys for the first hour. And we don't need anyone running these games but the local FIRE-COMPANIES themselves. Eric or designated official at Mardella and Vernon Perdue at Willards.

When that happens You'll get me back.And some of you people who have no proof about so called cheating should remember their are SLANDER Laws and hiding behind fictitious e-mail names is the act of cowards. And if you re found out you could be sued.And I personally hope you are sued.

Jim Pond

Jim,

Thanks for your comments. I think what you said is some of what needs to be said to the charity sponsors.

I have long said there were too many events during the week. However, the VFW has a "niche" that many players like. Their Thursday night events average 50+ with close to 100 as the Civic Center events near. Thier Saturday events average 60 to 80. So something they do must be right. Before you react, I have nothing to do with the VFW's event. Ask any of their players and they know that Jeff Rantz and Bill King run those events. I seldom play at the VFW, but have plans of playing this Saturday.

As far as the slander comments, I'm not really sure where you are coming from. I don't believe anything said in this forum is slanderous. As an online forum to vent and state your mind, I don't think anything has been out of line.

Again, thanks for your comments.

Jim you are a friggen idiot that can't spell, among other things like play poker. Everyone knows who you are and they can't stand your smelly self. Plus they are glad you don't play anymore. You whine about someone beating you and you are very arrogant at the table. We thought the only reason why you played was to eat. So save yourself some money, buy some new "used" clothes, take a bath and go buy yourself a hot dog instead of eating the fire company's. Oh, and take that cigar and shove it up your fat ass! And for the reason you think, like most idiots who think they know everything, Maryland doesn't have the type of slander law you are referring. You're such an idiot, oh wait, I said that already. Must have been worth saying again. Now sue me you fat slop......

Hey Jim, in case you didn't know, the bigger buyins have a larger attendance then those Saturday $150's. I think its becuase poor poker players like you can't afford it and the average players come out for the better play. We don't get fools like you staying with Ace anything in the bigger games. I'm pretty sure I know who you are and can say I haven't missed you.

Jim, the Admin should keep harping on it. They CHEATED! Makes me wonder if you weren't in on it too.

To all the players,
Thank you for most of the comments. Let me first say that NO ONE said anything to any representative of the Mardela Springs Vol. Fire Co. about suspecting Doug and/or Allen of cheating at our events prior to Allen being caught. If someone had said anything, the issue would have been handled prior to the VFW incident. So Mr. 7dueceplayer, please refrain from saying things you cannot back up.
Additionally, the reason I had asked Doug to help me out with the tournaments is because I work every fourth Saturday and do not wish to use my vacation time so I can work somewhere else for free. I am sorry that I cannot be there for every tournament, but please put yourself in my situation and you would probably understand why I am not always there.
As for the blinds, I do realize they need work and I have adjusted them and believe the extra $5000 in chips will provide players with enough breathing room to play. I am also going to slow them down slightly. I truely believe this will be the last adjustment.
The food is an issue we would like to change, but we cannot start up stoves and other things for the limited demand. We are not like the VFW and don't operate a kitchen on a daily basis with a paid cook and waitresses. What I can do is take orders and send someone to Millie's or Chicken Man.
Last, but most important, is that I have ben playing when I get the chance and have gotten better at the rules of directing a tournament. I have begun to address issues such as players talking about hands that are in progress and actually gave out a verbal warning a couple of months ago for someone that was folded out and made a statement after the flop. As long as I know about an issue, I will do my best to handle it fairly and believe I have gotten better at doing so.
Erik

Our points system will be based on the final table of 9 players. The points are based on the number of players in the field. Thus a tourny with 33 players will have a 33point basis. Each position will recieve a multiplier also so that first is awarded more points than second and so on. The multipliers are as follows:
1st- 9x
2nd- 8x
3rd- 7x
4th- 6x
5th- 5x
etc to the 9th.
Therefor the winner of a 33 player tourny will be awarded 297 points. If players choose to chop, they will each recieve the points of the position they chop at. Thus if the last three players chop, they will each get a 7x multiplier.
Thank you for your support.
Erik

I will begin by saying that I know I will receive a great deal of criticism for my retort; however, I’m a big boy and I can handle it. I will also, unlike most, sign my name at the end of this missive so that anyone who wishes to debate me face to face, will know who I am. That said; let me opine that you all need to take a pill. Everyone knows about the cheating incident. Well, guess what? There are cheats in the world. If that’s what you’re still using as an excuse for not playing; get over it. Move on! One final word, if I may, on cheating. There was ONE, and ONE only, cheat that was caught. I personally would not accuse anyone else unless I had absolute proof.

As to the tournament venues and directors, I wholeheartedly agree that some are much better than others. I think, though, that a bit of constructive criticism, rather than the caustic verbiage being put forth, would be a much better approach to seek improvement. I think we should all remember that these guys are running the tournaments on their own time, for no personal reward, and for no other reason than to help support our local organizations. I would personally like to thank each and every director for providing me a safe, friendly and, hopefully, honest venue to play the game I love.

Finally, and so as not to sound overly pro-director, I will say that ALL the directors need to better correlate their efforts as to rule interpretation. I don’t think it would take much time or effort to set up a meeting among all the directors to standardize rule interpretations and enforcement. The conclusions could then be published on the website so that everyone could familiarize themselves with the standardization and be able to participate on a level playing field. If I have one complaint with the tournaments, and directors, it is this lack of rule knowledge and enforcement. And, yes, I have made this suggestion many times in the past, unfortunately to no avail.

Thanks for listening.

Pat Lynch

Pat, well said.....again! I'll be the first to say that you are a gentleman and a good poker player. I know you have asked for consistency with the rules and have suggested many times for the local sponsors to get together and "standardize" the local rules.

What many of you probably don't know or remember. "We" tried this many years ago. Doug and I setup a meeting between all the local sponsors and we met one time. Basically, what we were told is "you run your event and we'll run ours". Doug and I are very close in our rules decision. Then a couple years ago the Salisbury VFW started holding charity events. Jeff Rantz and I were already familiar with each other and started a great repore which continues today. Jeff Rantz has come a long way and definately took the inititive to LEARN the rules. Not just by playing, but by reading, attending TDA courses and by asking.

Many ask why I don't play more often. The answer is simple. I'm ALWAYS asked for an opinion about a decision that was made by the "floor". And my answer is always the same. A decision had to made, was made, now move on and play. Even I don't make the "correct" decision all the time, however I try my best. That is what I think all the directors are doing. As Pat said, some better then others.

Jeff Rantz took it upon himself and asked me to post the Salisbury VFW Rules online, which can be found on the left side menu under Resourses. Those rules are good. Do I agree with every one, NO! But I abide by them when I play at the VFW.

I'd welcome the opportunity to post rules for every venue. Or better yet, have all the locals agree to use one set of rules. Funny Pat makes mention, becuase Jeff and I just talked about this very same thing. Teaching or holding seminars for local chairties to learn the rules and how to hold a successful event.

This forum is here for all. Whether to vent, rant, rave and COMPLAIN! At the same time I'd like to see some constructive comments and criticism regarding the venues, the directors and the players.

Again I'll agree with Pat and say MOVE ON! The sponsors are aware of the cheating, have taking precautions and are doing everything they can to benefit their charity.