How did it all turn out? I would say allow up to 200bbs or make the buy in 25, minimum buy in 15, with .25/.25 blinds
Here’s the fun I had piecing together my, for the good of my game, slight decision reversal.
Everything is run by “Committees” at The Godfather Club. I just happen to chair them, co-chair them, and am the only member. Provides me with faux insulation and I’m not the lightning rod.
The Breaking News:
Breaking News
Just in from The Godfather Club:
Some time ago, Executive Game leadership and Godfather Club management began discussing changes involving the Friday night game including the retirement of the Rock Straddle, altering of the blind structure, and written guidance on pre-session buy-ins and add-ons. After much deliberation, a final proposal had reached club ownership and was scheduled for signature into policy.
A great deal of deliberation had reportedly taken place. Additionally, degrees of input and feedback had been received and taken into consideration from a small but vocal group of players in emphatic support of the retirement of the Rock Straddle and an increase in the blind structure to .25/.50.
The opinion coming out of the bilateral and unified Godfather Club and Executive Game Special Committee, tasked with weighing in on the matter, recommended swift ratification of language in support of these changes.
During a late night emergency meeting between the owner and founder of The Godfather Club and his first Lieutenant at an undisclosed location, the decision to ratify this language was discussed.
Only hours after this rendezvous and still under cover of darkness, another meeting reportedly took place in the club itself. The only confirmed or verified member being Godfather Club owner.
During a brunch briefing with the only other stakeholder in Club operations at his side, the games leader announced the scrapping of the plan to move forward with the changes that had relatively swiftly moved through committee and received the full endorsement of a small but invested group of the games regulars.
In confident fashion the games owner, manager, and spokesperson took the podium in the East Parlor and delivered a brief announcement.
“Ladies and gentleman, thank you for being here this morning. Everyone here knows what has been discussed and considered for the Executive Game. I’ve put much thought into this and I’ve decided against the somewhat well-received changes, that I proposed mind you, to the Executive Game played on Friday nights here at the Godfather Club. I’ve grown this chapter of my hosting career meticulously and methodically. No change has been made without intensive thought and consideration. I’ve gone to these lengths to protect the game itself and no players in particular, but all players and most importantly the game I’ve worked so hard to build and deliver. So at this time the changes that have been sent to my office for signature will not be put into place. More information to follow. Thank you for your time. I’ve slept very little and need some coffee. Thank you.”
The games manager left the East Parlor with his backer and disappeared into another area of the home.
Unnamed insiders cite managements decision to back off on proposed changes being tied to fundamental roots including an “open door policy for players to leave the game if it’s not big enough” and that games historically at the now retired Frogtown Card Club and at The Godfather Club boast “never having lost a player because the game had gotten too big.”
Those close to the spokesperson report a long night of contemplation and that the decision involved damage control for not implementing the much anticipated changes being “a hell of a lot more enjoyable than having to unravel an ill-conceived plan that wasn’t consistent to my over 20 years of managing a game.”
Anticipating disappointment and possible push back from players, the games leadership is said to be “sympathetic to their thoughts on the matter but the decision has been made” and that he expects players “loyalty to leadership and discretion in making their feelings known” to be driving forces to any potential shifts in how the game is tabled and operates week to week.
In an early week reference to an upcoming decision the manager hinted to his ongoing mixed feelings.
“If anyone, anyone questions my commitment to this game they need to take the blinders off. The amount of time, blood - yes blood, and sweat, not to mention the incalculable resources of many sorts that I’ve poured into this game is staggering. I welcome my partners in this thing we call poker into the room week in and week out. Players, on both sides of any decision that comes from the top, need to take that into consideration before they spend time asking about the forces that drive how the game is managed.”
Hinting toward how questions about the decision will be handled the manager simply stated; “Like all inquires historically in-session time is for poker. All discussion related to how the game is managed and how and why decisions are made on a more global level will require a sit down. I’m always happy to hear what the players are thinking.”
When asked about any untoward effects the decision might have on players he added “I can’t control who ultimately accepts a seat at my game. What I can control is making the game accessible to as many players as possible. No players, no game. Get it? And of course who actually gets invited. I’ve intentionally and unintentionally driven players out of my games and I don’t expect that to ever change.”
As of Sunday, July 21st at 2100 the official statement from The Godfather Club on the matter is as follows:
“As of Session 119 set for Friday, July 26th and moving forward, the Executive Game will operate as a .25/.25 ring game with no straddle as the Rock is on a hiatus of an undetermined length. Minimum buy-ins pre-session will remain at $25 and maximum pre-session buy-ins at $40. Players can freshen their stacks in any amount that does not put them in a position of being the largest stack. While these changes will disappoint some, they will not affect the vast majority of the player pool who had not been apprised that any structure decisions were being considered. The game is insistent that all inquires on these, and any other matters, be held directly with the game manager and outside of sessions. The decision exemplifies the philosophy leadership holds that changes of all types need to be considered only after intensive thought and input but ultimately lie within the jurisdiction of ownership.”
There is no other information available at this time.
Ken Merwin is the owner/operator/founder of The Godfather Club, Eagan, host and manager of The Executive Game, and founder of The Frogtown Card Club, St. Paul (retired). He has hosted and managed over 500 home games in the lifespan of game play at the two venues.
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