I'd like to comment about the long thread below about the Poker Tourn. sign-ups.

First, my thanks to Gene and Andy for their local help and advice. I sincerely hope that if the Orleans can add additional tables to allow everyone to play, that's the ideal solution. Adding an 11th chair per table, and seating alternates during the first hour as original players bust-out are additional methods we hopefully can use as necessary. The Orleans Poker Room is experienced and creative in running tournaments, so I hope we can all take a deep breath, relax, and anticipate a fun tournament.

On the other hand, if we still have more players than seats, I do think it's important that the way we seat players is fair...and is perceived to be fair... to club members attending the convention.

It's true that the on-line chipping community was invaluable in getting this off the ground in record time, and I appreciate the prompt responses of interest and support in making this happen. Still, I reflect on the fact that as of last year's convention, I was NOT on-line, and I would not have known about the tournament until arriving at the Orleans, if this tournament had been 1 year ago. That's why I (and others) are sensitive to giving every one a shot at entering. BB readers obviously have advance information on the tournament, and can make entry plans accordingly. But I don't think it's "sportsmanlike conduct" to stack the deck against our non on-line members, given that the tournament has not been announced in any written communication (i.e. club magazine) to members. Maybe next year we can refine and improve the sign-up process.

The comments below are my thoughts/reactions to the interchange in the prior thread... and it looks like the efforts to secure extra seating capacity will make a lot of the debate moot. However, "for the record", here's my input if you care to read further:

1. As stated before, this is structured as a CC>CC tournament, not a
"ChipBoard Invitational" tournament. It's published in the club events program,
etc. So...important that any member have the ability to learn about it (as of the official 10:00am Thursday opening, then have a shot at entering at 1:00pm. I'll reiterate my interest in the process being perceived as fair, within the reality of limited seating.

2. When first asking for responses from BB readers interested in a tournament, I was glad to receive about 25 "yes" responses, so we moved forward with planning. Just to clarify, I never offered early responders an advantage or guarantee in signing up. In fact, after first announcing the tournament and
clarifying some questions, we opted NOT to start an advance sign-up
roster from the BB. Any end-run attempts at manipulating the sign-up
process is not in the spirit of the rules, even if it fits within the
"letter of the law".

3. The accomodation on bending an absolute first-come sign up rule was a
pragmatic one to allow a convention floor dealer, or someone with
similar circumstance, to have a shot at signing up. The purpose was NOT
to create a back-door way for advance sign-ups. In fact, I commented
in that original response, weeks ago, that the accomodation was NOT for signing up "39 of your closest friends".

4. When I have talked with the Orleans Poker Room manager, I HAVE expressed our interest in additional tables/seats if possible. The logistics have been covered in other posts, so I won't repeat here.

5. You can call me naive, but I believe we CAN conduct ourselves in the
spirit of sportsmanlike conduct and fair play... at least until the
cards are in the air <g>.

Let's focus on the original intent of having some fun over a game of hold'em,
and try not to be devisive.

See you all next week!