Thursday, November 5, 2009
FullTilt Makes the World Right Again
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Karaoke Phil Wins CPL Week 7!

Karaoke Phil stands strong during a marathon 3 hr 30 min Week 7 and outlasted a field of 16 CPL members to take the top spot for the week! A crazy crazy week of poker which saw 3 quads during the night (including quad aces) and on the lower table no-ones hand was safe as runner-runner along with miracle flops were rampant. It was the first win for either of the CPL Directors and a much needed win for Karaoke. The first place points have vaulted him into 5th on the CPL leaderboard. Congrats Karaoke! Coming in 2nd place was James Aguilar! It was another fine performance by James which has moved him into 3rd on the leaderboard, and also makes him the third person to clinch a seat at the coveted TOC! Congrats James!Sunday, August 23, 2009
Malinda Wins 2009 Summer Tournament of Champions!
In a 5 hour 37 minute long match that saw chips flying back and forth between the 9 Tournament of Champions players...it was Malinda "Nemesis" Cardenas who was the only one with chips left on the felt at the end of this 2009 Summer TOC!Saturday, July 18, 2009
Matson Wins During CPL Week 8!
We are going to call this the CPL Summer of Suck Outs....as the suck outs were rampant again and again on Wednesday! CPL Quote of the Week:


Monday, May 4, 2009
Karaoke Phil "schools" Poker Pro David Bradley
Karaoke continues his self-exploration in the wake of putting in, arguably, the worst-ever CPL session.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
CPL Directors record first "Double Cash" in Monday Madness
Monday, March 23, 2009
BREAKING NEWS - Erik Seidel 'bout broke, working the grill up soon
KidCardfish inquired of Erik Seidel: "r you playing this limit to get practice in"
To which poker pro Seidel responded: "well this is it, if i don't win tonight I'm off to work at KFC"
Likely, Erik was kidding, but......
** Update 3/31 - Here's the screen shot:
Monday, March 9, 2009
CPL Members Taking it to the Online Poker Community
Karaoke Phil who ended 2008 in the 97th percentile range struggled in the new year and saw his Official Poker Rankings (OPR) drop to the low 80% mark. A couple of solid HORSE final tables in the last week (3 of 160 and 3 of 169) have him back to nipping at 90% (89.27% to be exact).
Our other CPL Director - Mark "Verbal" Cardenas,put in a very solid 88th place finish out of 1058 a couple days back in a holdem tourney. That along with his win from last month has propelled his OPR to 93.16%.
Next up is our (currently) hottest, and certainly the most prolific, online player in the CPL: Blind Me Down Behr. BMD consistently places well in tournaments but the real deep finishes were a little harder to come by. As a result his OPR tended to suffer (deep finishes in deep fields are richly rewarded - as are final tables). That all changed this week. First, BMD double cashed in the FullTilt Daily Double with finishes of 71 of 1035 and 120 of 1098. He followed that up the next day with another shot at the Daily Double - going about mid-field in one but final tabling the other (5 of 1135). All that deep play skyrocketed BMD to 94.67%.
As an aside - we took a look at WSPL director's - Gene "Ninja" Milne - stats. And, they were not too shabby. The showing from the hinterlands shows him (get this) - exactly tied with Karaoke at 89.27%.
Good results all around - keep it up boys.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Biggest Upset Since Tyson/Douglas
Nearly two decades later (Jan. 24, 2009) - in the nearer east town of Independence, Minnesota - the West Side Poker League (WSPL) came of age in defeating their sensei league, the CPL. Gene "Ninja" Milne gathered his forces for the showdown between these two behemoths. The inter-league competition, comprised of a No Limit Hold 'em match and a HORSE match, would consist of 200 pts (100 pts for each match) with progressively more pts awarded for the higher up a player finished (30 pts to the team who won a match). The league with the most points would be crowned champion.
The WSPL - or, more specifically, JP "The Eliminator" - struck early and often taking out 3 of the 5 CPL players in Hold 'em. This meant that the CPL's two remaining players (Voni and Steve) would need to finish 1st and 3rd to even have a chance at calling this half of the match "a draw". Though Steve busted out in third, the draw didn't materialize as Voni went out in 6th. "The Eliminator", somewhat slowed by Jill "JJ Gold" (who managed to eliminate three of the 10 players), was able to score his 5th elimination when he took out Jill to win the match. This gave the WSPL a 76-24 edge (The WSPL took the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th place positions).
At the HORSE table, about this time, Brad had taken a hit for the WSPL in 8th while CPL Co-Director Mark "Verbal" Cardenas fell in 7th. The CPL held an early 2.5 to 0 pt lead. And, while the math hadn't yet been done - the match was over. When the CPL's Mike "Blind Me Down" Behr busted in 6th everyone knew that all was lost. Pam "Black Widow" Muldoon and Karaoke Phil, though, battled on valiantly and eventually Phil scored his third elimination when he took down "Ninja" Milne for the HORSE victory (and a 50pt to 50 pt HORSE table tie).
In the end, the WSPL gave the CPL its comeuppance with a 126-74 win. If we're physically able there may be some additional posts (with, perhaps a picture or two). For now, just be sure to listen to this week's upcoming podcast.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Home Poker League Tip and CPL Record Books
The CPL has finished up two complete seasons (6 sessions total – Spring, Summer and Fall sessions make up a season with each session consisting of, usually, 11 weeks), which, in total make up 77 matches that have been played. And, while there have been tweaks from time to time this is still largely comparing apples to apples (since we’re in charge we’re saying it is exactly like comparing apples to apples). So, here’s a look back at the first two CPL seasons and the CPL record books.
Most Points in a Session
Karaoke Phil – 128.8 (Summer, Season I)
JP “The Eliminator” – 120.8 (Spring, Season II)
Mike “Blind Me Down” – 113.8 (Fall, Season I)
Most Regular Sessions (11-weeks) Won
Karaoke Phil – Summer, Season I and the recently concluded Fall, Season II (95.4 pts)
Mark “Verbal” Cardenas, Blind Me Down Behr, Jeff “Matusow” Matson, and JP “The Elimator” have each won one session.
Most “Career” Points
Karaoke Phil – 506.9
Mark “Verbal” Cardenas – 476.5
Malinda “Nemesis” Cardenas – 422.85
Mike “Blind Me Down” Behr – 401.9
Bill “Comeback Kid” Lanoux – 366.2
The following records are based on a minimum of 16 matches played within the CPL:
Most Matches Played
Mark “Verbal” Cardenas – 74
Karaoke Phil - 72
Malinda “Nemesis” Cardenas - 70
Career Wins
Karaoke Phil - 11
Mark “Verbal” Cardenas and Malinda “Nemesis” Cardenas tied with – 9
4 players tied at 5 wins each
Times in the Points (top half finishes)
Mark “Verbal” – 43
Malinda “Nemesis” – 39
Karaoke Phil – 36
Percentage of Time Winning
Karaoke Phil – 15.28% (11 of 72 matches)
Malinda “Nemesis” 12.86% (9 wins in 70 matches)
Mark “Verbal” – 12.16% (9 of 74)
Vince “Cursed One” Castellanos – 11.76% (2 of 17 matches)
Jeff “Matusow” Matson – 11.63% (5 of 43)
NOTE: In seeking to confirm whether a Mike “BMD” win is either a “rare” or “100-year” event we have ascertained that prior to his Season III, Week I win Mike had pulled off the feat 3 other times in 49 matches. That 6.12% winning percentage puts him in 13th place of 14 qualifying CPL players (minimum of 16 matches). However, take a look at who leads the next CPL record.
Percentage of the Time in Points
Mike “Blind Me Down” – 65.31% (32 times in 49 matches)
Jeff “Urkelnator” Kuhlman – 61.54 % (24 of 39)
Mark “Verbal” – 58.11% (43 of 74)
Malinda “Nemesis” – 55.71% (39 of 70)
Steve “The Chaser” Bennewitz – 54.76% (23 of 42)
Honorable Mention goes to JP “The Eliminator”, Gene “Ninja” Milne, "Whatever happened to" Damon and Jill “JJ Gold” who, variously, have the percentages to qualify as top record holders in some of the these categories but who have failed to play the required 16 CPL matches to qualify.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Karaoke Phil busts poker pro Esther Rossi, Blind Me Down Mike Behr, however, posts a better finish
Karaoke went out during RAZZ about 2hr 5 min into the tourney in 56th place outlasting FullTilt pros Diego Cordovez and Adam Schoenfeld. He also assisted in knocking out Esther Rossi (in 96th place). Here are the winning (and losing hands) that busted Rossi (it should be noted that Karaoke also took down a nice pot against her during the Stud level as well-even if it was a bit of a suck out):

As this entry went to posting, Mike "Blind Me Down" Behr had taken some damage during Stud and Stud H/L dropping from about 8K in chips to just under 5K, but pumped it back up and ended the Stud H/L round with 8K once again . He then moved up to nearly 12K during holdem. With 34 players left he stood in 11th. Look for updates in the comments section as they available.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Holiday 100Ks on FullTilt in the books, CPL co-director final tables
Saturday: The Holiday 100K - Blind Me Down, New Life Durand and Karaoke played on Saturday, though we aren't entirely sure which routes were taken (other than Karaoke getting in on a 400 points tourney after trying a 35, 100 and one other 400 pt one). Blind Me Down went down early - 9500 or so if memory serves. Karaoke Phil took a nose dive and was on life support about the time that New Life exploded from the 2000 starting chip stack to about 10K. It looked for all the world as if New Life would last the longest. But, then boom (we're not sure how, but it seemed to be in only about 4 hands) New Life dropped from 10K to about 6K to out at about 6500th place. Karaoke nursed his short stack back from 195 chips to around a short lived 4K. However, he managed to stay in the zone of 1200 to 2000 for nearly 4000 players. Ultimately, he couldn't get the one last double up to make it into the money and went out in 2059th.
Sunday: The Extra Holiday 100K - We saw only Karaoke Phil participating (getting in after ponying up about 1300 more FTPs in tournies) in the Extra 100K. Karaoke layed fairly low in the beginning - striking with 6500 players left to chip up to more than 9K which put him in the top 150 at the time. He largely held this position through about 3500 players left (gathering more than 11K in chips) when he took a hit that dropped him to about 8K in chips. Attrition and other hits lowered his total to under 7K as they hit payout at 1800 players left with Karaoke in about 1050th. At this point he kicked it up a gear and quickly moved to 13K to 20K to 25K in chips and stood in the top 300 with 1000 players to go. The chips ups continued to 33K to 45K to 60K to 111K and our own Karaoke Phil stood in the top 40 with 300 players still alive just under 300 hands into the tournament.
A mini disaster dropped him to 71K just a couple of hands later and he floated in the 70 to 100K zone for 40 some hands when he exploded to 183K putting him back to 31st place with 163 remaining. Thirteen hands later there were 131 players left and Karaoke had moved up to 279K and was in 11th. While the field cut in half over 60 hands to 61 left, Karaoke stagnated and dropped to 30th while increasing his stack to 312K. However, waking up with Pocket Rockets and having Big Slick move all-in ahead of him allowed Karoake to more than double up to 667K and with 48 left he now sat in 6th place. He largely sat back waiting for more opportunities and was in 9th (with 696K in chips) with 37 remaining.
Another mini disaster occured as Karaoke totally misread an opponent (his notes said the player was poor). Apparently, however, the player has vastly improved and raised with Qs. Based on his notes, Phil reraised over the top with A/6 suited and took a blow putting him just under 275K in chips and in 24th with 26 players left. As an aside, the "donkey" player also made solid plays with Js and A/J suited and Phil never saw the less than premium holdings his notes alluded to.
With blinds at 20K/40K with a 6K ante Karaoke went back into short stack mode: fold or all-in. That continued for about 30 hands (getting a couple/three blinds during that time) when Karaoke was able to break the 1 million mark and move into 7th with 16 players left - still only 20 times the BB at this point in the tourney. More good luck, good cards and good karma (when he pushed all-in with 12 players left with Q/J and ran into A/K - only to have his Broadway beat the opponent's 2 pair and then having his A/6 hold up against a shorter stacked all-in push with K/J) brought Phil to the final table with just under 2.4 Million in chips and in 3rd place.
Final table lasted all of 9 hands for Karaoke - on hand 5 his preflop call of a rasie and flop reraise with pocket Js (on a board of 3/4/3) were called by a player with A/K. The turn brought a K - from that point on he lost the minimum but he dropped to 1.3 million in chips. Then on hand 9 he woke up with 9s in the small blind. The cut off raised to 198K (blinds at 40/80K with a 10K ante at this point). Karaoke decided to reraise all in and the villian called with A/K. The 9s didn't hold and Phil hit the rail with a 9th place finish - a decided improvement on his finish from the day before.
He's now taking offers from investors for next year's WSOP Main Event.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Karaoke and Hollywood Win CPL Super Satellite to Running Aces HPT!
--
CPL Director Mark Cardenas
and
CPL Co-Director Phil Fuehrer
Find the Podcast on ITunes: CPLDirectors Podcast
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Karaoke Phil's Report: Fall Poker Classic Event #6, OH8
This year saw 199 entrants. Over the past year and, particularly the last 6 months, I have been working on both my HORSE and OH8 games. So, I entered the tournament feeling pretty good about my play and my chances. The tourney structure starts with 3000 chips, 30-minute blind levels and blinds at 25/50 (with betting at 50/100).
I held steady during Level 1 ending with 2950 in chips. Level 2 saw the first elimination from the tournament and I ended with 3600 chips. Level 3 was flat for me and had 3500 chips going into Level 4.
It was in Level that I made some strong moves (and got some good cards). My peak for the level was at about 6500 chips, but I took a hit on the last hand of the level (just before break) and ended with 4800. At break I counted 108 players left (the tourney clock listed 125 but they were consistently slow in recording the knock outs).
Level 5 was flat for me and I finished with 4400 chips. Level 6 was a break out level for me that carried into Level 7. I finished Level 6 with 14800 chips and Level 7 with 16000.
Level 8 nearly saw my demise. With blinds at 1000/1500 and betting at 1500/3000 I was dealt A/3/4/6 in early position with 7800 left in chips (I had taken some hits earlier). I’m first in and decide to try and trap – so I limp in. I had a fairly aggressive (and good) player immediately to my left. He raises to 3000. Only the big blind calls and were three handed (10000 in the pot). The flop comes 3/5/T with the 5/T suited in something I didn’t have. The BB checks. I didn’t want to bet out yet (knew my opponent on the left would do it). Plus, I hadn’t quite hit what I wanted yet with only two pair, a flush and possible straight draws against me and my having only 4 cards to a non-nut low. The UTG bets 1500, which was called by the big blind and myself (14500 in the pot). The turn brought a 4 (3/5/T/4 on the board) – I felt that my opponent on the left had an A/2 within his 4 cards. I figured the big blind for something less than the nuts and/or maybe a flush draw. The BB checked and I opted to check and the UTG player immediately bet out 3000. The button smooth called. I thought long and hard about whether to call or not with 3 pair and a low of A/3/4/5/6. Again, I felt he had an A/2 (now giving him the nut low and a wheel). I went through my outs – An A, 3 or 4 give me strong boats (6 of those left), and a 2 gives me a 6 high straight and a nut low chop (4 of those left). All in all that’s 10 outs. Then there is the possibility that just maybe I’m ahead (though I don’t think so). Then there’s the big blind – a loose player who could have anything but was probably chasing that flush draw. With 20500 in the pot – I called and added 3000 more – leaving me 300 chips left. The river bricked me completely when a K came out. UTG bets out 3000 again and the button calls. There are now 29500 chips in the pot (I can play for 24100 of it). I stop. I think. I think some more. I think long enough (probably 35 or 40 seconds that I’m sure everyone else at the table is thinking, “It’s 300 into a pot of 30K – CALL”). I know I’m beat – I fold and keep my 300. So, what did they have? UTG turns over A/A/2/5 for the nut low and a wheel. The Button shows 2/7/K/K – he was chasing a K-high flush that didn’t hit (and rivered a set that wasn’t good enough).
Two hands later I’m forced all-in in the big blind. I triple up to 900. I’m forced all-in the next hand in the SB and quadruple up to 3600. I sit out the next two hands (I would’ve scooped them both). A few hands after that I make a stand and more than double up and end Level 8 with 8500 in chips.
We go to break with 34 players remaining. I’m sitting in about 25th. The top 18 will get paid.
Level 9 begins with blinds at 1K/2K. I lay down both blinds to preflop raises leaving me 5500 in chips. I finally get 2/2/3/8 double suited and decide to make my stand – all the money gets in preflop with me and another player all-in versus my nemesis to the left. I lose and bust out in 27th place – 15 minutes into Level 9. I’m relatively pleased with my finish. I saw great improvement over the previous year and know I can compete. I thought overall I played a “B” grade game that would’ve been a “B+” without that Level 8 hand (had I folded on the turn and saved 3K in chips). Just a little better play and I make the money.
I go to the buffet and use my tourney comp ticket for dinner – a nice meal of mashed potatoes and gravy, great roast beef au jus, and warm cherry cobbler. It’s a good dinner, but not worth $230.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Google is 10 years old - and, another blast from the past
Check out Karoake Phil's 1999 web site from his run for St. Paul City Council here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20010508091536/www.users.qwest.net/~pfuehrer/City_Council_run_1999.htm
And, check out a decade younger "Verbal" here (from his days as a Rockstar - rumor has it that Nickleback's song of the same name was written largely due to Mark):
http://web.archive.org/web/20010412021032/www.getstew.com/index.html
Be sure to click on Mark's name on the bottom row picture. Then notice how they butchered his name in the top header (blue) bar. The older version had the same spelling on the main page.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Before He Was Karaoke Phil....
From: Philip Fuehrer
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 2:03 PM
To: Mark Cardenas; Jeffrey.W.Kuhlman
Subject: Re: FW: Poker round # 2. Saturday Jan 8th 6:00pm
I will come - this time for sure. I'll need to review the Texas Hold 'em rules though. I've never really played it (that I can recall) just seen it on ESPN a couple/three times. Beginner's luck??
Phil
>>> <Mark.Cardenas 1/6/2005 2:01:46 PM >>>
cough, cough..
Um...hello? Are you guys available on Saturday? I haven't heard for either of you?
Mark Cardenas
From: Mark Cardenas
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 12:30 PM
To: Scott Walter; Greg Allen; Kerri Benne; 'Philip Fuehrer'; 'Jeffrey.W.Kuhlman; 'Pamela Muldoon'; Jon Menz; Susan Stuart
Subject: Poker round # 2. Saturday Jan 8th 6:00pm
Happy New Year Everyone!
Now that the bustle of the Holiday season is over it's time to do some gambling!!
Poker Round 2
When: Saturday January 8th 6:00pm.
Where: My place...
Game: Texas Hold'em. Last person standing takes all.
Buy in: $25.00 per person gets you $1000 in chips.
Please RSVP and let me know if you need more specific instructions!
P.S. Congrats to Scott Walter who was the winner of round number one!
Mark Cardenas
--
CPL Director Mark Cardenas
and
CPL Co-Director Phil Fuehrer
Find the Podcast on ITunes: CPLDirectors Podcast
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Running Aces October Tourney Schedule Up - OH8 Tourney on 10/5
http://www.runningacesharness.com/gaming/tournament_calendar_102008.pdf
And, there's some consistency - the monthly OH8 tourney is still on the first Sunday - this time Oct. 5th . Show up and you may see a couple of CPL members playing it this month. CPL Co-Director "Karaoke" Phil Fuehrer has played in the first two and is looking to get in another "practice" session before Canterbury's Fall Poker Classic Event #6 (OH Hi-Lo) on Oct. 15 (though he has a dinner he's supposed to attend which might preclude him from making the 5th). It also looks as if Jeff "Matusow" Matson is planning on being Runnig Aces - and, who knows, there may be others in attendance as well.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Andy Bloch Interview, Karaoke Phil at the State Fair and More!!!
Also, Karaoke Phil spent some time at the Minnesota State Fair yesterday. You can catch a glimpse of him on the web at:
http://www.livecast.com/live/Default.aspx?dotheimpossible08
Click on "Day 6 of Minnesota Political Theater" and then go to the 8 min 18 sec mark through about 8min 50 sec. You'll see Phil off and on for about 11 or 12 of those 30 seconds (he's the one in the background handing out literature).
Finally, Running Aces has come up with a name for their HPT Tournament in November. Drum roll......it'll be called .....The 10,000 Lakes Poker Championship.


