Its all about solving puzzles

Life is a puzzle, and for many years, its easy to get trapped trying to solve it - rather than go with the flow, and enjoy it.

We have many demands placed upon us - which can be hard to ignore - but, I don't think u can under-emphasise, u need to do what makes u happy.

As one gets older, the rigour of travel, is less of an enjoyment - and certainly now, I prefer to be less mobile.

Poker has a lot of what I am looking for : Its a gamble, with a cast full of characters, looking to solve a puzzle, for money.

This weekend, I was able to play :

Normally I play at a certain casino - but, after a 30 minute drive, got there to discover, the poker room was being used for a private poker event - so, was turned away. I went to the blackjack pit, got the normal shit service (no one says hello, says fuck-all actually), so, I played in the same fashion, and when cashed out, and they asked for my name, picked up my chips, and left.

Drove to another place, and was lucky to find a seat at a $2/5 table. Just the one game going .. its was early Saturday afternoon, and would maybe only get 4 tables, later that evening.

The table was reg heavy .. many of which I knew, would be happy to see me .. but, was not in the mood to blast off my chips.

I bought in for $500, which was about average.

Maybe an hour in, the regs were starting to ask themselves, what was going on. I was resolutely folding out of position, just playing position, with hands of decent quality. In poker, its definitely an advantage to get premium hands, but, just as big an advantage, is position, and knowing what range of hands, both your opponents have, and what they perceive u to have.

A female lady reg, whose range is decent pocket pairs, and maybe suited connectors, got her AA cracked by a set of 7's, and left. She would be important later.

I was playing solid, good poker .. but, generally in the 1st 3 hrs or so, seeing few playable hands.

As the afternoon past into evening, the game attracted some new characters. On my immediate left, was a tight elderly dunnit merchant, who had zero chance of winning. After playing poorly to lose 2 buy-ins, he borrowed a 3rd, from someone at the table .. which surprised me a little, as thought the person loaning the money, would know better. He later blew this off, shoving A♦K♠, into a board of Q♥ 7♥ 6♠ .. which shows u etc. I later saw him in the salon prive, sitting next to a guy, with maybe $20k, watching that guy play blackjack. Maybe another loan beckoned.

There were 2 supposed 'whales' who might play/donate at my game, but so far, they had escaped the net - preferring to play baccarat.

The female lady reg returned, with a v solid reg, who I really respected, to her immediate left. They knew each other, and generally slow-played against each other, which was fine.

A short while later, I picked up Q♦8♦ in late position, which I decided to make a small raise with, and the lady reg, in BB called. Just the 2 of us. The flop came Q♥8♠9♣ and u would think, this would be good. But, as I say, she just plays a v narrow range .. so, when she raised my continuation bet, I folded and showed the table (which u shouldn't do, but, I was there to have fun). The table was frankly stunned, but, it was a good fold, as she had me coolered, with Q♣9♦. Now, this isn't a suited connector, so, am not totally sure why she was still in the hand -- but, still.

Maybe 15 mins later, I get my first premium hand, in 4 hrs. K♦K♠, and decided to flat in early position, hoping for a check-raise situation, as the table was seeing a lot of raises. Sure enough, a reg in seat 5 raised, the lady reg called, and I re-raised. All other fold, but, the lady reg, who again called.

Flop came Q♦5♥4♠ .. pretty good for my Kings .. but she can definitely have QQ, or maybe AA. I put out a decent bet, and she comes over the top, with a big raise. I felt totally in the zone, and put her 100% on AA, so again folded my KK - face up. The table was again, stunned - but, was proved right when she showed her hand. If she had flat-called, she would have got all my chips, but, the raise, told me enough, to get away.

This stellar play, was all good, but, u want to get paid for playing well. I was now seeing cards, and picked up KK again, UTG+2. My raise, was re-raised, by a v solid pro, in mid-position, and either I could shove, or, see a flop, and if no A hit, then shove, as our stacks meant, we would have little choice. The flop came K 4 10, and was lucky to have out-drawn his AA. This gave me a v playable stack, when a whale came back from the baccarat, and sat down with $1k.

The very first hand, I picked up 9♦9♠ in the BB, and with a straddle on, it was pricey to call a raise from the whale, but, decided I had enough to get well-paid if a 9 hits the flop.

Sure enough, the flop comes J♦9♥5♠, and the whale shoves all-in, for about $750 effective (my stack). I called, and his A♦A♣ never improved.

Winning, maybe $1000 .. I decided to quit, and take a walk in the salon prive. As I was walking round, there was a commotion at the  3 card poker table .. a Chinese high-roller, had hit the straight flush jackpot, for $80k .. must be nice .. He handed out high-fives .. I would have preferred $100 notes, but, maybe that's being unrealistic.

It was a fun visit.

They dont want u to win ...

Its a problem.

If u are good at gambling, it seems, just about everywhere u want to ply your trade, has discovered bean-counters, who have obviously dissected each business revenue source, and recommended changes, to make more revenue/profit.

We have long known Betfair have Premium Charge, which some days, I can understand, as the markets are 'wrong', and u should be charged a premium for access to the idiots.

Casinos discourage Advantage Players, be they card counters, or player point whores.

Now, Poker Stars, have radically changed the elite poker rake-back system .. Super Nova Elite.

Poker has become far harder to beat online, and many pro players, now, are basically flat on the game, but, make money, getting rake-back, from the many thousands of hands they play each month.

(This can be real money .. they previously changed terms of play, from 12 tables max, to 24 tables max SIMULTANEOUS play, and used to offer bonuses of about $100k a yr, if u played for 12 hrs a day)

This will change from next yr (which is v controversial, as, to get to a certain rake-back status, u have to invest many hundreds of hours play, and cutting it off, with less than 3 mths notice, is seen by some, as breaking a contract).

Poker Stars say, they are changing the poker landscape, to make it easier for the recreational player .. and thus harder, for the professional, who they are trying to discourage. I can understand their logic .. player acquisition/player retention are key buzzwords, and certainly, public companies, owe their shareholders more than they do to professional gamblers .. but, u do need a base, for people to play with/against.

If companies like Betfair/poker Stars make it too hard for market makers/pro players, overall liquidity has to fall .. their has to be a balance.

Amaya, the holding company of Poker Stars, dropped 33% in the last few days ..

Happy little hampster

I have had a busy last 3 mths. This seems to be a common theme with me .. maybe I am a 110% person, who just cant rest, be it working or doing sporting stuff.

The majority of it, has been spent in the US of A - with my time mainly spent in between New York/Baltimore and Tampa.

The time was exceptionally interesting, and let me un-wind a bit, from the intense ckt schedule I seem to maintain, and generally think about things.

I did a lot of the thinking, whilst at a poker table, playing either $1/2 No limit holdem, or $2/$5 Nlhe. Thou they should be roughly the same game, its like comparing test ckt, to T20's, each have their own dynamic.

Professional players - known as regs - try and grind at the low limits - 8-10 hrs a day, trying to average $15 an hr - which is barely minimum wage. These regs, are by no-means bad players - the casino rake, is just so big, that, u have to play a v defensive style, to win, and its both mundane, and demoralising, to experience 'variance' - which in Poker, happens, probably more than in ckt.

By variance, I mean - a reg can sit for 2 hrs, folding everything, finally picking up pocket Aces, the best starting hand - and maybe, if hes lucky, get to play a $400 pot, where he might be 60/40 fav, 80/20 fav, 95/5% fav .. but, might lose, in anyone of those spots. Mentally and financially, thats v tough - tilt can easily ensue - but, it obviously happens, if u are playing for a living.

I played a lot .. maybe 100 hrs .. (I just love the challenge - even thou, its def -EV, for me to even sit there) and came to a number of conclusions - some of which I will share :

1) The US is a phenomenal country.

2) The US has some v odd state laws, re both poker and sports betting

3) Poker regs, are a solid bunch of people

4) The edge I have found in ckt, is colossal, compared to what these people put themselves thru.


Number 4, is a watershed moment for me.

Although many poker forums, will debate how to play certain hands in certain spots, often the advice is non-optimal.

This is becos Poker has become v hard to beat - at least, its definitely not as easy to beat, as it was, before the US banned internet poker - the poker player pool has declined, and those left, are more regs, than fish.

Twitch - may help change this. Twitch is a platform, which gamers stream their screen, while they are playing some shoot-em-up game - getting thousands of followers - but, recently, Jason Sommerville, who streams as jcarver, has been getting 7-10k viewers - who watch him play 8-10 hrs of poker a day - while he explain his thought process/entertains. Twitch is largely free - but, if u pay a nominal amount, u can chat directly to the streamer .. maybe $5 a mth, but, obviously $5 a mth, from 10k people, is worth having.

Getting access to a huge player pool, is enormous, for all dynamics. Right now, it maybe, just sub-30 yr olds watching, who have few financial resources. But, given the right level of education, they can learn/earn.

This platform, may one day - be useful for pro traders .. but, I dont think that day, is yet here.

Maybe when, the US legalises internet sports betting ??

Poker famlies

Gonna be a busy week, as have a major poker tourny on (potentially), Sat/Sun ..

Its a 10k buy-in, but won a seat thru a satellite, and field is capped at 80 players, most of whom I regularly play with.

There is a One-day cricket match in Durban (1 hr flight), on the Sunday, which I would normally watch live - plus the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City (Thrs-Sun), so, will try and sell my seat for the Poker - for 12-15k - I wouldn't take less ..

The Saturday start time is 11am, and we play for 12 hrs - v nice starting stack of 30k, with decent levels .. so, figure will play normal aggressive game, during second part of the day, and try to get a big stack for Day 2 - or go to the cricket.

Playing are really hating being to my immediate left .. as I almost always attack their blinds, either by raising or shoving, and thou they all talk a good game .. That next time etc, they will re-shove .. they never re-shove light .. they almost have to have Q's+, to do anything, and, they aint so easy to pick up.

Played in a really fun tourny on Sunday, (41) players, for a buy-in of $150.

15 mins in, I get 8♦ 3♣ in the big blind, and check.

Flop is 8♣, 5♥, 3♣, and Leggan Zackey (Warrens son - 2008 WSOP 22nd), get it all-in, when he has 5♣, 3♠.

I manage to dodge a 5 .. and double-up, which was nice .. as I have ammo to bully for later.

20 mins later, got involved in some mad hands, where the same guy flopped quad 3's, and kings, in the space of 20 mins, and then this hand came up :

I had : 3♦ 3♠

I raised, and he called ..

Flop : 3♣ Q♥ 10♦

He bet, I raised, he shoved, and I called.

He turns over Q♦ 9♦ .. so, hes a 20/1 chance to win the hand .. Turn Q♠, River 9♣ ..


Anyway, it happens, the odd thing was, people kept saying I was lucky .. and running really well !!

I must have got some chips somehow .. and with 20 players left, got moved to a really tough table, with Warren Zackey, Leggan Zackey, Peter Nasser and a tough reg to my immediate left.

We are all good talkers, and the verbals were fantastic, when we attacked each others blinds.

Its in fun, and done the right way, its both great for the table, and your image. Everyone thinks I am v loose/too aggressive .. and its true, I am involved in a lot of pots .. but, its always when I have good position. I have cut-out, speculate raises from early position with 8/9 suited etc .. now, its a solid pair or better.

Having raised a tight nits blind, something like 8 times in a row, players start asking if I even bother looking at my cards .. and they are right .. If u know the guy wont 4 bet with air .. its an easy steal.

Anyway, Warren stole some chips from me, with 6♣, 4♥, when I had A♥ J♠ but we all got to the final table.

1st prize was $2500, down to 5th $250. So, its all about winning or coming second.

I immediately start raising etc, but, run into some good hands, and am knocked down to 12k chips .. chip leader has 70k, with blinds at 600-1200.

I pick up A♠, J♠ in the big blind, and Leggan shoves on me, with K♥, 10♣ .. and I manage to double up.

V next hand, I get A♣, A♠ .. Hello !! .. Ist time all night, and chip leader, has opened under the gun, for 6500.

I shove .. and my image gets me the call, as she has A♦, K♦  .. and I double up, to almost chip leader.

I lost 22k chips, calling an all-in with J♠, J♣, against his A♥, 5♥ .. with another player folding A♦, J♥ .. so, I'm 4/1 fav .. but he finds an Ace and a flush !!

Down to last 7 .. we are meandering about, and we do a deal .. the 4 of us, from the second last table, all get money .. which was v likely, as we all can play, and it was a lovely nights poker.

(( Odd thing about the deal, was .. money on screens etc, was $125 over, what we got to share .. they said numbers were over-stated .. but, customer service non-existent, and no-one tells us, till we get the loot ))

WPT SA - Winner

As the saying goes .. u could have knocked me down with a feather.

The winner, was Deon .. at least thats what I know him as .. and its a major sadness he was recorded in the event as Daniel .. with no picture, cos, I would have loved to have railed him to victory.

Deon is a regular feature at the Wednesday/Sunday tournys, and we often get to play together, as there are only 50-60 players. I am not surprised he went so deep, and am sincerely happy, he pulled off a major win.

Hes a nice guy, (thou, his pocket 5's cracked my Aces), 3 weeks ago !!

WPT - Event 2 - 6 Max thoughts, the day after ...

Heads up, went to a duel between Diana and Greg.

I played with Diana a lot, and when I was knocked out, she had about 650k, compared to Gregs 400k .. but, would think the heads-up must have been fun.

Diana finally won, when her pocket 10's, beat Gregs pocket 5's .. congrats to both.


The event taught me a lot .. especially abut final stages .. and if u could have your time over, etc, I would have done quite a few things differently.

Really pleased, that I hung in for the money .. played much tighter, from out of position, and was only really willing to throw chips in, with strong suited connectors (above 7), and solid pairs.

I didn't make many chips, once again, from Aces or Kings .. and probably even lost chips, with Kings.

When u have your monsters, u need opponents to also have v strong hands .. Diana picked up 400k in 2 pots, with Aces v Queens in 2 pots, and that can be the difference.

I peaked at about 345k chips, but, moving to the 'Table of Death' , really ended my chance to win the thing .. especially once I 3 bet, Leo Margets, with pocket 4's, and she shoved on me. I lost 60k, in that encounter, and tossed away another 100k, with a 10 high flush, when she re-shipped on me - maybe I should have called .. but, probably, think not.

U can always look back, and think things could have gone differently .. but, 6th was v fair ..

The play from the overseas professionals, is at a different level, to most of the locals .. but, the deep chip stacks, maybe makes them play differently, which they have more experience of ..

I wish the local tournys, were not as 'fast', at the end stages.

WPT - Event 2 - $1000 6-Max NLHE - Day 2

Day 2, reconvened at the Emperors casino, Johannesburg, at 1.30pm.

24 players left, and I am lying in 12th place, with an above average stack.

After making a Day 2, at Emerald casino, 6 mths ago .. 20th overnite, of 55 or so, with 30 making the money, and lasting 20 mins, when my pocket 10's crashed and burned against Aces, was determined, to A) last longer than 20 mins, and B) Make the money.

We all got new table draws, and I had a fair one, with 2 short stacks, I think I can bully.

Early on, I completed in the big blind, with 10♦, 9♠, and saw a flop with one other person.

A♠,10♠, 6♣. As the pot was unraised, figured my 10 was good .. and bet, which was called.

Turn was 9♥, giving me 2 pair, which definately seemed good, but, my opponent called.

River was 10♣ .. giving me a boat, and was able to get another street of value. Big pot, which moved my stack over 190k.

A few hands later, I get almost the same hand -  9♣, 10♣, and get to see a cheap flop.

This time, its J♣, 7♣, 2♠ .. it gets checked, and the turn is the 7♠ .. I check raise, and the other player calls .. which isnt so good .. but, hit the 8♦ on the river, for a well hidden straight, and get another 40k.

Players at the table are getting a big short-stacked, and a 85k stack, shoves his 7♦,7♠, and I call with A♠,J♠.

The flop comes :

8♠,9♠, 9♦, meaning I have the flush draw, and overcards .. turn is 8♣, which counterfeits his 7's and the K♦ on the river, is no help to him, so I win with Ace high.

My stack is now 220 k .. 19 left, and am feeling invincible.

Soon lose 15k in chips, and cut-back on opening range .. which might have cost me, as sucessive pots would have been won, with 4/5 offsuit, and A 3 spades, which I chose not to play.

Lost a 75k pot . somehow .. dont remember .. it got too hard to record it all ..so, am on 122k, with 18 left, when I pick up pocket Kings, for the 3rd time, in the tourny.

Won a small pot, with them, and move back above 150k, with 18 left (in the money, and we have re-drawn for seats).

I stilll havent played with Leo Margets (Poker Stars pro - or Greg Ronaldson), which was a good thing, as they both outclass me ..

On my new table, there is a Canadian .. and I manage to put him on tilt, when he starts attacking my blinds. I re-raise .. he re-raises, so I shove .. with

J♣, 3♥ .. not the best, but, he folds to the pressure, and I show the bluff.

2 hands later, I pick up 10♠,10♦, and a 10♥ on the river, causes him to give me 45k, and some deep breaths. (thou I think 10,s were in front, without the last card).

This run of cards continues .. I get 6♣,7♣ .. hit a flush on the flop, and push my stack over 325k.

As we lost players, our table broke .. 12 left, and I get the worlds worst new table :

Leo Margets/Greg Ronaldson/Jennifer leigh/another female pro .. and me.

I need a lotta help .. and literally gave away 150k in chips, before I adjusted.

Made some all-ins moves, and didnt totally panic, and soon, Greg dents Jennifer, and as short stack, she goes out shortly after. The other lady pro, got severely dented, in another 300k pot with Greg, and .. she was soon, also out .. making a final 7 .. and the final table !!

Some good prize money, and I am 2nd short stack.

The blond lady, (Dianna), is the lady I gave 35k chips to, on Day 1, with pocket Qs, beaten by her pocket Aces, and .. almost 3rd hand of the final table, she gets Aces again, and her all-in of 300k, is called .. by pocket Queens !!

She holds up, and the guy is left, with 15k, which althou he doubles, isnt enough, as the blinds are so aggresive, and he soon gets eliminated.

6 left, and I decide to try and wait for one more elimation, before getting hyper-aggresive.

As it happens, I picked up A♠,Q♦, UTG, so, just trying to not get eaten away myself (BB is 10k, I have 165k), I shove .. and get called by Gregs A♣,K♦ .. and go out.

No complaints .. was more than fair ..and picked up $6000.


Over the 2 days, I saw pocket Aces twice, pocket Kings 4 times, Queens once, and Jacks .. maybe twice.

I feel I had some run, but, also, but some pressure on, at both good and bad times .. in hindsight, the J/3 bluff was excessive .. to have gone out, in 18th or so, would have been devastating.

The pros, are v controlled, and once they have a stack, can make calculated moves, without endangering their tournament life. Its good to watch and learn.

I was a bit tired after day 1, but, day 2 was better .. but, cant justify entering the main event.

I may play, one more event, on Saturday.


///


As I write this .. 3 left .. no surprises .. Dianna/Leo/Greg .. all would be worthy champions.

Many thanks to all the WPT staff .. who made the event run so smoothly .. it was a lot of fun, and great experience.

WPT - Event 1 - $200 NL Holdem, with re-buys and add-on

3rd fucking time I am trying to write this .. and am not happy.

Ipad has eaten 2 attempts, if this one dies .. then .. fuck it.

Day 1 started at 7pm, which is pretty odd, for a 7 hrs ship fest, as starting stacks of 20k, for $200, when u can re-buy and get 10k chips, for $50, for all of Day 1, or double re-buy for $100/20k, and get a top-up at the end of the night, for $50, another 20k chips.

The 1st 4 hrs, was senseless, and was so bored, often raised with 9♠, 4♦, and showed multiple bluffs.

Table didn't really care .. only the guy to my left, could actually play .. rest were defensive / limping nits, who wont gamble, and wouldn't put chips in play.

For all that, finished the nite on 87k chips, .. and got to bed at 3am .. had to be on the golf course .. at 7am .. so got 3 hrs sleep .. played v decently .. shot 46 on the back 9, and got 3 more hrs sleep, before Day 2 started, at 3pm.

320 entries, 220k highest stack. Now a freeze out.

Early on, was able to add 65k to my stack, with A♦, A♣, on a board of 2♠,2♦,Q♥, when one guy was all in pre-flop, and another gave me 3 streets of value, with presumably A Q.

So, got to 135 k .. and that was pretty much that.

Then got into 3 'races'

1st race .. K♥, 9♥, for a 90k pot, aganst Q♦,J♣, - pre-flop .. and board comes : Q♥, 10♥, 7♣.

I was/am such a big fav, its unfunny, but his pair held up.

2nd race .. A♦, K♠, against A♥, 10♦, pre-flop for 75k chips .. he made trip 10s.

3rd race .. Q♠, J♠, against 4♣, 4♦ on a board of J♦, Q♦, 8♣, and he makes a fucking flush.

Unbelievably sick, played v well, but didn't get any bounces.


Preparing for the $1k 6 max tomorrow ..

The pain of a poker player

Ok, so, it's a heading full of fore boding .. But, there are some highlights.

This week, the satellites for the WPT poker events are running, for the main events next week.

I am thinking about entering the main event .. But, it's $3500 to enter, and, really, it's too much. Satellites, are $100 to enter, and I tried my hand for the 1st time on Monday nite .. But, generally played poorly, and finally went out, beaten by flush over flush, which came on the river.

My Tuesday started, with a game of golf at Observatory .. A really tough course, which u have to play well, to have even a decent score. I was playing ok .. But, no consistency, when, I came to the 4 th hole. It's a par 3, uphill into the wind, (and creek, just before the green) and, as the course was being prepared for a Tourny later that day, the tee was right at the back .. Making it 178 yards.

I topped, my drive !! .. And hit it 16 yards, just past the ladies tee. Not good, but, took my 5 iron, and absolutely nailed a career best .. 4 foot past the hole !! .. Missed the putt .. Then, 2 holes later, is a v demanding, genuine par 5, which requires a straight drive, or you put your ball in the road, a solid second, and - 3rd 130 over water into the green.

I hit 2 good opening shots, and nailed an 8 iron, which looked phenomenal in the air, to 6 feet, for the 3rd .. Again missed the putt .. But, really enjoyed those 2 shots.

Still took 51 for the 9 holes .. But, some progress.

Back to the poker ..

Tuesday, I tried again, and there were 81 entrants .. So, there were 2 places in the main event up for grabs, plus a smaller cash prize for 3rd.

Nothing really fancy happened early on, but managed to get a workable stack, with some solid cards. After an hour, re-buys stopped, and some loose plays from the fish .. And some really poor play in places, got me to the final table .. 10 players, with 20 Big Blinds .. 40k chips .. Chip leader has 140k .. But, almost 1st hand, I get

A ♠ K ♠, and all in with a short stack, and a medium stack, I get a flush on the turn, and have a v nice stack.

An ex-jockey, I know, is on my left, and gets crippled, when his A Q, gets run down, by A J , when the other guy, hits a J on the river, for a really cruel blow.

He is left with 1k chip, but, amazingly, doubles up, 5 times In a row .. It shows it can be done.

There are 2 really loose players at the table, 2 absolute nits .. So, I try and pick my spots, when, a loose foreigner .. Raises again from early position.

He has 90 k stack, and I look at A♣ J ♣ , from the big blind. The blinds were 5000/10000, and his raise of 24k, is what he has raised previously, with middle pairs.

He has folded middle pairs .. In the past .. To shoves .. So, I have a dilemma.

Do I shove, and try and chip up .. Or call, see a flop etc .. Or just fold, and wait to pick on another smaller stack ?

I am going for the seat .. And think, a double up, would make me 90% for a seat, so .. Decide to shove.

He calls, with K J offsuit .. Which is just horrible .. I am 75 % fav, but, he hits a straight on the flop, and am crippled - both chip wise, and mentally.

I went out, shortly after .. And it's crushing .. To be so close .. And get beat, when such a good fav .. But, that's poker ..

Will try again, on Thursday .. but, feel this was my shot. Won't pay the $3500 to enter, but, will play the $200 smaller event. The $6500 event satellites, have had no interest, so, expect the High Roller event will have a v small field. U can see how top pros, can pick up bracelets, when, there are only 100 or so players .. If u enter enough, eventually, by sheer chance, u almost have to win.

When u  play a lot of tourneys, u see, a lot of the time, u are folding, just crap .. And waiting for good pairs/sited connectors, in late position, with which u either try and see a cheapest flop, or try and jam.

U don't especially need fancy bluffs .. They tend to matter more, on the final table - it's just about, what cards u get, in what position, and if anyone has a hand against u.

Pokers Ups and Downs

Presently writing this, whilst plating the early stages of  $55 of an online, Multi-Table-Tournament (MTT), with currently 3500 entries. Sitting in 325th place .. but, theres a long way to go.

Early stages can be v slow .. u only should be playing premium hands, medium suited connectors in late position .. so have some time to write.

In the lead-up to the WSOP satellite next week, have been playing a fair amount, and have, by and large, been crushed, by some v odd calls.

An example :

$40 re-buy tourney, 3 hrs in :

Have 45000 chips .. about 37 Big Blinds.

Its 600/1200 blinds, with 200 antes .. so, 4400 in the pot, and find A♦, J♠ in the big blind.

I re-raise, 5000, and, just the small blind calls .. a good player, who ..has a 21k stack. Now, calling .. is a bit odd .. I would have expected a shove .. so, am on my guard.

Flop comes : A♥, Q♣, 3♦

I think I'm ahead, but, he can have AQ, but, more likely, put him on pocket 10's, J's etc.

I check .. as, am not sure what I would do, if he raises, and turn is 5♦.

Basically, its a blank, and, wanting a small pot, I check, and he also checks.

River is another blank .. 6♠ .. making the board, A♥, Q♣, 3♦, 5♦, 6♠   he checks, I bet 6k, into the 14400 pot, and he shoves all-in.

I was really surprised by this, and .. figuring to beat a pocket pair .. call .. and he flips :

2♦, 4♥   for a straight.

Now, of all the cards, he could turn, that's just about the most unreal .. thou, I suppose, if u go back thru the hand .. pre-flop .. 2, 4 is 33% against A,J .. ok, hes dead against a pocket pair .. but, maybe he had odds to call, and the check on the flop, allowed him to get there.

I am not sure, I played it that badly .. ok, a c-bet, of 6k or so, would have killed it .. but, am not sure I would have called a shove, at that stage .. anyway .. a severe dent to my stack - and has me talking to myself, for quite a while.

A bit later on, I have 35k in chips, when, in late position, I pick up Q♠, 9♠, and raise.

Blinds are 800/1600 with 200 antes, so, raise 4k. Its called, by 2 players, and comes :

9♦, J♠, 4♠

Now, I have flush re-draw, and a pair of 9's. Just about the world. I c-bet, a bloated pot, 7k, and both guys ship, .. so its a monster pot.

One flips A♦, K♦, another shows A♠, 4♣ ?? .. anyway, I am ahead, but, turn comes A♦, and didn't find a spade on the river.

These are the pots, I play aggressively, to accumulate chips, but, am not winning right now.

The absolute doozy, of the weekend, was this gem :

$300 to enter, and I have an absolute loony to my left .. which is fine, who plays any 2.

There are only 34 players, starting stack, 10k chips, in the early stages .. I am trying to only play quality stuff, as there are a few decent faces at the table, when I pick up, 10♦, 8♦, in the big blind. 

I raise, small .. blinds are just 50/100, .. we have 100 BB, to 350.

The loony calls, and the flop, is 9♦, 7♦, 4♣.

So, have the world again .. straight flush draws. I bet 600, into a pot of 1050, and just the loony calls.

The turn, is 5♠, and I bet 1400, into 2250, and he ships !!  I have to call, and he turns : 7♠, 2♣

So, he has a pair of 7's .. I mean, come on !! 

I have the following cards to hit, to beat him : Any 10, any 8, any J, any 6, and any club. Thats .. count them, 3 x 10's, 3 x 8's, 3 x J's, 3 x 6's, and 6 clubs .. 18 cards  .. let alone, how the fuck he knows, I cant beat, a pair of fucking 7's ..

Anyway, I miss, and its not right.

Week-end Poker

Am playing more and more, in the lead-up to the WPT - World Poker Tour events, coming here from Nov 4-11.

As have only played at the Emperors Casino, a long time ago, decided to play the Saturday comp, which, is a 2 hr re-buy, shuv fest, followed by some serious poker.

The 1st 2 hrs, u should read a a book, as the blinds are low, and u can top-up, with 12k chips, for the same money as the initial buy-in, for which u get 6k chips.

Anyway .. after 3 hrs, there are 40 left, with a $10k prize pool.

The format has antes, which I like, as it encourages aggressive play, and was doing ok, - chip leader on my table, when I picked up

J♥ Q♥ in the big blind. I had 55k chips, blinds 200/400, 200 ante.

I raised 2 limpers, to 2200, and got one caller.

The flop came : 5♥, 5♦, J♠ and I checked.

He checked, and the turn came Q♠.

I put the a bet - about 3600 to see whats happening, and he flats. Now, he either has A,J, which I crush, maybe A,Q, or a random 5.

The River, was a 2♠, total blank, so, figure I'm prob ahead, and want to get paid off, by 2nd best hands, bet 6500. He calls, and shows A♠, 5♣ .. so, lose about 15k chips, and went steadily downhill from there.

The place was unbelievably noisy .. the Poker 'Room', is bang in the middle, of a v large casino, with an Elvis tribute band, singing literally 20 yards away :

Headphones, are a must, for next time.


Anyway, finally went out, in 30th place or so .. and would play again . its pretty much the same mix of regs, but, a few new faces, and .. with the structure, I like my chances.


On Sunday, I played in the $150, normal comp .. 40 players, and its amazing how hands repeat.

With an average stack .. I pick up : 5♠, 5♦, and raise, from mid-position, called, by a tight/weak, lady, in the Big Blind. We both had similar stacks.

The flop is : 5♣, 5♥, 4♣ .. and its hard not to shout out .. YAHTZEE !!

Its only the 2nd time, I have flopped quads, in about  6 mths, and manage to get all the money-in, by check calling her small bets, and letting her make a flush, which I .. naturally crush.

A while later, I had pocket Q♣,Q♠, downed, in a 3 way all-in pre-flop, by Pocket 8♦,8♠, and Pocket 10♦,10♣ .. but, still managed to survive.

I get to the final table .. with about 6 regs, and 3 unknowns. I play a very loose aggressive game, at this stage, and show bluffs, and everyone knows, I can have, almost anything.

Down to 5 players .. 5th gets $300, but 1st gets $3000, I am in 2nd place, when get pocket Aces under the gun !!

Blinds at the time, were 3000/6000 .. I have a 75k stack, and raise to 18k.

This is the normal raise, and its one, I put-in with, suited connectors/total air, or strong starting hands.

Its folded to the Big Button, the chip leader, who has 95k chips, and he calls.

The flop comes, 5♣, J♠, Q♦, and I bet 30k .. too much really .. looking back, I would have preferred 20k, and the chip leader, calls, all-in.

The 30k I have in, commits me, and I call, and he flops over, pocket 5♦, 5♥ .. and I find no miracles, to down his set.

I feel, a little unlucky, but, could have go away, if my bet on the flop, was less .. so, its a mistake.

Anyway, am playing well ..

$600 Poker-Shootout

Really enjoying my poker, and decided to go for a 'next level' jump, by playing with the big boys.

Silver Star casino, which only has 4 licenced Poker tables, hosted a $600 event, which had a little unusual structure.

It was based, on 10 man tables, with a starting stack of 15000 chips, blinds 25/50 to start, 30 min levels, and antes come in, after level 4.

The top 2 players, from each table, go forward to the final 20 .. or so, who will play for .. $80k roughly.

I decided to play in the Saturday Am, section, starting 11am.

The casino is an hr or so from me, but, easy enough to find, and its a refreshingly new/well laid out casino.

I walked in, just as my nemesis Alon Arguman arrvies, and as we draw for which of the 4 tables we are playing on, he draws the same table as me. I dont especially mind this, as I know his solid style (hes v good), and, hes a face I know.

It turns out, of the 10 players, I know 4 of them, v well, so, their are 5 unknowns, althogh I recall playing with 1 before.

So, basically, the structure is a Sit'n'Go, paying 2 places .. and read up, a lot, in the previous days, finding optimum ways to play.

I decide to just play, premium pairs, down to AQ, in early position, and small pairs/suited connecters, in mid-late position, with raises of 4x Big Blind, from early position, in the early rounds, 3xBB, in mid rounds, and 2.2 x BB, later than that, if I make it.

Early on, I see nothing, as(usual) and run a bluff, which costs me 3500 chips, which gets called by Alon, .. he has 4th pair, but, it serves me well, as it shows the table, I have a loose image (they think), and I am a target to go for.

In 5 hrs of play, I see pocket Kings once (A on the board, so win minimum chips), AK once, and mid pairs, maybe 3 times. Being totally card dead, I have to steal where I can, but, have a v decent read on 2 of the unknown players, who are weak, and often rob them of chips.

Being v desciplined, I folded to re-raises, but felt I had 2 chances, to really get chips.

One hand, I have 6♦ 6♠, with the blinds 100/200, and I raise to 900.

Its called by a reg, who only plays good face cards .. and the flop comes :  A♦ 7♥ 4♣  ..

I c-bet, 1450, and its called.

The turn, BINK !! is 6♣, giving me trips, and I hope the reg, has A J, A 10, or maybe better, so I can get well paid.

I bet the turn, 2000, and he raises, 3000 on top. I shove, almost immediately, and he folds, also, almost immediately  .. but, looking back, I wish I had just flat called, and let him bet the river, as, I dont think any card can help him.

About an hr later, my stack was back to about 20k, when I pick up A♥ J♥ under the gun. Blinds were, 200/400, and I raise to 1600, just called by Alon, in the Big blind, who, has a monster stack, from getting Pocket Aces twice, once, hitting quads.

Flop comes, A♣, 9♦, 7♥, and I bet 2500. He flat calls, and am little unsure where I am. He must have an Ace, but, could also have a pocket pair, including pocket 9's or 7's.

Turn comes K♣. and here, I make a key mistake, in checking. I should have bet, 3500 or so, but didnt.

River comes, a harmless looking 3♦, and I check, hoping to showdown, but, he bets 3k. I call, and he flips, A♦, 3♠, for 2 pair .. he hit a 3 outer on the river, and won a v decent pot, that should have been mine.

A wihle later, I picked up my dream hand .. I literally have dreams about 8♥,7♥ .. never oddly, with it finishing that I make a straight. Anyway .. in the Big Blind, 4 players called, so, I also flat call, and the flop comes :

9♥, 6♦, 4♣.

Not the worst, with 8 immediate winning outs, and some back-door flushes.

I bet, into a bloated pot, 2200, and its called by a weakish player, who has loads of chips, I have a read on - all others fold.

The turn comes, Q♣, a blank, and I check, and he also checks. I was really hoping for a 10, or 5, for my straight, but, an 8♦ comes ..  and I check. .. Board now 9♥, 6♦, 4♣, Q♣, 8♥

He bets 3k, and .. into a pot of about 11k, I was getting too good odds to fold, so, called, and he shows 7♣, 7♦, giving me a winning hand. The table is well impressed with my call - Just a pair 8's, but, with my read/odds, it was fairly easy.

Anyway, I boxed on, and players got knocked out, so there were 4 of us left .. top 2, going thru. 2 players, were regs I play with, (including Alon,) and an unknown. I was short stacked, 12 Big Blinds or so, but, won chips here and there, till, Alon shoves, on my big blind, when I pick up K♠, J♦.

I only have 7 BB left so call, and he flips 8♣,8♠ .. hes 55% fav, but flop comes :

3♦, K♦, 7♥ .. and I have solid 90%  lead, to finaly win against my nemesis, but, the turn is 8♠, and I have no outs.

Its a cruel end, but, suppose it played itself.

I feel I  played really well, with nothing, and am looking forward to some WSOP events, in early Nov.

On-line streams

Am currently watching 2 streams :

pokerstars.tv   which is showing Day 3 of the EPT Poker tour in London. I watched a lot of it yesterday, as I had 5% of a player ..

There were 800 entrants, who paid the £5500 to enter, making 87th place getting £9k, and 1st, a cool £500k.

Sadly, my horse went out, in 175th or so, but, it was interesting.

The quality of the stream, is phenomenally good .. I suppose its great advertising for Poker Stars, but, even so, it shows what can be done.

The 2nd stream, is of the Bangladesh v New Zealand test match, on Cricvid.com.

This stream, is 5 minutes behind live .. cricinfo, has ball-by-ball, miles in front, and the stream is almost useless, apart from showing pitch/weather condiitons.

Now, there are differences .. one stream is 100% legal, the other, might not be .. but, it shows how the interent has advanced, and how fast streams can be sent, at high quality, if the desire is there.


I have a book on the test match, which I will try and update .. busy times ..

Swing in Progress ..

After the 2 disastrous rounds, shooting 114 and 116, I have made some radical changes.

Those games, made me depressed, and it was affecting my work life, so, had to do something.

I now have a longer back swing/follow-thru for my drives, coupled with a wider address. My irons, have a much narrower address, and less follow thru, but, it feels more controllable.

Am playing today and tomorrow, so, will post the results.


The poker has been going great. I came 5th in the Sunday $300 competition, and won the $100 last night.

This must be the 7 th or 8th time I have won in the last 3 mths, and people are starting to steer clear of me, (not raising my blinds), which, means I can steal even more !!

Its fun, when u get a decent stack, and can play with the table. I am developing some table talk .. there are 2 world-class talkers to learn from, in the usual games, and its a big help to your game.

Of the people I am now regularly final-tabling with, 4 have had scores of over $30k-$75k, and am looking forward to some WSOP events in November.

I have found a nice app, for calculating chip-chops at the end of tournaments .. Its called Poker Cruncher ICM, from the same stable as Poker Cruncher - an odds calculator, and its well worth the £2 or so.

I still dont do deals, until the last 3-4 people, but, it lets u realise, what your stack is worth, in relation to the final pay-outs.

Long Day

Decided to go and play the Regular Wednesday Nite Poker Tourny, despite being tired, and not in the best frame of mind.

More players than usual .. 50, and people queueing to get in, once people have lost 1 re-buy, during the 1st 40 min level.

This 1st level, was v active at my table, with Peter .. shoving his 8k starting stack in blind, on 2 occasions.

I was in the mood to gamble, and called (also Blind).

Each bullet is $100, but u are only allowed 1 re-buy, so, its not so expensive.

In the 1st shove fest, I had A ♣, 5♠, which held up, against his K♠, 7♦. Once I had doubled up, I wasn't looking for much more action, but, Peter re-bought, and, shoved, when I held J♠,10♠.

This is a hand, I can gamble with, and when another loose player, also shoved, I figured I didn't mind the odds.

Up against A,K off-suit, and 10♣,9♦, its a fair race, but, Peters A,K held up.

I re-bought, and the very next hand, I get A♦,A♠.

Given the dynamic of the table, I thought it would be easy to induce action .. and sure enough it was !!

Peter had K♦,K♥, and another player had Q,♦,Q♠.

My pocket Aces held up, and my stack was back to 23k, from 8k starting.

Over the last few weeks, I have regularly been winning races, with a guy called Neil, and when I picked up 7♠,9♠ under the gun, I elected to call his small raise, once Peter also called.

I announced, Check dark, to see a board of 7♦,9♦,Q♠.

That's not really a board, I would have checked, but, was stuck etc, and everyone checked.

The turn was 10♠, and I bet 1400, into a pot of 2600, and Neil shoved for 11k more.

He was almost certain to have a flush/straight draw, and even thou, it was a lot of chips, felt I had to call.

I did so, which was right, but, he hit one of his straight outs, to cripple me back to 10k or so.

From there, I lost several more races, and finally got knocked out, in about 35th place.


The play was extremely loose, and I was probably in a bad frame of mind, to concentrate .. but, in all the hands, I was a good fav .. which, is all u can really ask for.

Players at the table

3rd time in a week, and almost tired of playing .. will definitely give the normal Monday nite tourny, a miss.

$200 Hold-em Tourny, which gets 40 high quality players.

Am getting to know all the players styles .. most are defensive, and its easy to see why they so dislike my aggressive style, as they want to see cheap flops, hit there hand, and get paid.

My interruptions, scupper this, and I am easily the most hated player at the table.

One or two, with WSOP experience, recognise etc, and adjust, but, most, just give me aggro, but, only call my raises, with top 5% premium hands.

Played fantastic early, and was able to get a playable stack, when my Pocket 9♦, 9♠, held up against Pocket 2♦, 2♣, and later, Pocket 7♥, 7♦, held against Pocket 6♠,6♣.

Down to 20 players, and there is a very enjoyable Israeli to my right, some v tight nits to my left, who I raise relentlessly, and a handicapped (Wheelchair) player, in seat 10 - called Jamie.

Jamie, is a good player, but a bit tight for my liking.

He is short of chips, as tight players, normally are, but wins a decent pot race against me, when his A♣,K♠, spikes an A♦, on the river, against my pocket Q♦,Q♠.

A female player to my left .. Loren, got involved in a very interesting hand, against the chip leader.

The Flop was A♦, 4♠, 7♣, with blinds 2000/4000.

The chip leader (Andre) .. a really good player, has 65k in chips. Loren has 22k.

Pre-flop, Andre bet, 11k, called by Loren. So, its a very decent pot .. 450,000 chips in play, and its checked by both players on the flop.

The turn is 8♠, and Andre bets, enough to put Loren all-in. He is gob-smacked, to see his A♠, 4♥, - two pair, totally outgunned by her Pocket 8♦, 8♣ - trips.

He loses the chip lead, and quite quickly, is eliminated.

He didn't do much wrong .. he knows she never plays 5,6 .. and quite reasonably, puts her on a good Ace, or a high pair .. it shows u, slow-play, can really bite.

Anyway, there are about 14 players left, and Jamie puts another bad beat on me, when he hits a flush on the river, against my flopped trips (all-in), on the flop.

We make the final table .. and its good money .. $3000 for 1st, down to $200 for 6th.

I get a fairly decent table draw .. most of the players are known, nits, but, to my right, is a guy called James, who I played golf with, the previous week, and hes the best player at the table, but, has no chips.

I have 60k, blinds are 3000/6000, so, I obviously attack the blinds, non-stop.

Everyone comments, about my play, but, I say v little - there is no point.

One of my 17k raises, gets called by a short-stack of 14k, with K♦, 8♠ ? .. but, he beats my A♣, 7♣, when he hits the 8♠.

This is the price of being so aggressive, and from having a 60k stack, almost guaranteed a top 3 finish, I end up, finally going out in 8th place .. with no money.

I dont really mind this .. I am playing for the top 3 places, and know, sometimes, I wont get there .. but, like my aggressive style .. thou, after 5 hrs work, it can be mentally draining, to go home with nothing.

Back to Back

After Mondays success, I had to try go for the double.

The Wednesday Tourny, is much tougher .. $150 to enter, 55 players, starting stacks 8000 chips, blinds 50-100, with 40 minute levels.

Nothing much happened early on, thou did get a good table draw, and was able to establish some table prescience, by re-raising a min-raise, which he put down. I had pocket Kings, so, suppose I wish he had called, but, Kings don't always hold up.

I got to about 14000 chips, when I get dealt :

A ♣ , 3 ♣  in late position.

It's checked to me, so, I raise 2.5x, and get one caller.

The board comes    2 ♦, 4 ♦, 3 ♠ ..

First to act, I check, and he bets 900, into a pot of 1300.

I decide to re-raise, 2600 more, and he ships, all-in.

It's about another 3400 to me, to win, 8200, and as I have the chips, and figure my outs are ..

Any Ace, Any 3, any 5, and back door flushes.

He has an over pair .. Pocket 9,s, and I get there on the turn .. 5 ♥, so it's all over.

My stack is now 21k, and it's all good.

The table breaks .. There are 34 players left, and I get some ridiculous bad-beats .. AK beaten by A,6, A 10, beaten by Jack 10, and then, the last hand before the break, there is a monster pot.

I have A♦, K♦ , under the gun, but know, the last hand before the break is normal very wild, so, just flat call.

Sure enough, 2 limpers, then, the big blind shoves, for 8k chips.

 In all, there is 28k in the pot, once I re-raise, and he turns over A♣, 7♠ , but hits his 7

I have a diamond re-draw, but miss, and go into the break, with about 15k chips ..a huge difference, from 43k or so, .. Total chips in play 450k.

I box on, and without seeing any real hands, pick up chips here and there.

The short stack to my left, goes all in for 3700 chips, I flat, and it's also flatted by the table chip leader.

I have J♦ 10♥ , and the board comes a lovely, J♠, J♣, 4♥,.

I check, and he checks.

The turn is the 9♥, which puts a flush draw out there,  and, some possible straights, so, I bet 10k, int the 10k pot, expecting to pick it up, right there.

He thinks for a good while, and calls.

The K♥ arrives on the river, completing the flush .. He checks, and shows the flush.

He was getting 2/1, about a 4/1 chance, but cripples me, down to 11k chips, but, say nothing, thou, the general feeling around me, was he shouldn't have been in the hand.

Anyway, I still recover, winning some decent blinds, and have about 22k chips, when the last 2 tables are formed.

I have Pocket Kings cracked by A 3, and have 14k left, when I shove all-in, with a bluff .. 9♠ Q♥, on a board of 5♣,6♦ J♠.

I am called by A♦ J♣, but hit a miracle straight, when the 7♥, comes on the turn, and a staggering 8♥, comes on the river. I didn't even see it straight away, but, am happy to win the 30k pot.

The night is v hard work, but, make the final table, with about 50k chips, and want to get into the money (top 6), at least.

The table is fairly good quality players, but, the best, are short stacked, and I nick blinds here and there.

I get to about 95k chips, when, I re-raise the big blind with 8♠ 10♥ offsuit, and he calls .. Having 25 k chips left.

The board comes 4♥,8♣,Q♦ .. He checks, and I check.

The turn is the 4♠, and I figure I am good, so bet 20 k, into a 26k pot.

He thinks, and then calls.

The river is the  7♥ ,and I check, wanting to see a cheap showdown, but, he bets 20k, leaving himself 12 k or so.

I think he's bluffing, but, he might have a Q and decide to lay it down .. Which I regret, thou, I don't know what he had.

Anyway, we got down to 6 players, and the money, then 5, then 4.

The pay jumps now, are quite decent .. $500 for 4th, $700 for 3rd, but, am the joint short-stack, with 9 big blinds, when I shove with KQ, and am called by pocket Jacks, and miss my draws.

So, I finished 4th .. Another late nite, but, still a win .. And am feeling pretty good about my game right now.

Posted with Blogsy

Back to the Tables

Have been spending some time away, for many reasons, not least, summer is a good time to play golf.

I wont bore u with the trials and tribulations of my golf swing, but, one of the unchecked items on my 'bucket list' is to break 90, at a regular 72 handicap golf course, and realistically, I am a few years away.

There is hope, and I am working at it, but, its not in place yet ...

As a distraction to the golf, I am playing more poker, with mixed results.

My game has become less aggressive, which I don't really like, but, am valuing tournament life more, and waiting for later stages, before really, hitting the screws.

Still not seeing cards !! but, as ever, its not about the cards .. well it is sometimes ..


Regular Monday tourney, $80 freeze-out, has become less popular, and last nights event had maybe 35 runners.

Normal mix of regs and fish, thou, the fish are becoming better, and younger, graduating from the on line
economy.

Starting stack is a very restricting 5000, blinds 25/50, levels increase every 40 mins.

This tends to run v fast, till the last 2 tables, even final table, which can take ages.

Key hand, on my 1st table.

Stack - 6400 .. just above average, 31 players left.

In late position, I get 6♠, 8♠.

I call a min raise, of 125, so, with 4 players, there is 600 in the post.

Board comes down :   5♣, 7♥, A♠

Initial opener, bets, 225, and 3 callers, so, am priced in, even thou, its more chips than I want to use on a draw.

Turn is a meaningless, J♠, and the pot is 1600.

Initial raiser bets again, something like, 450. I know he has top pair, and if I hit my draw it will be good, and when the middle 2 players, fold, feel, I have to call, as I know I will get his chips, if I hit one of my 8 outs.

The river is a pretty looking 4♥, he checks, I bet 1500 into a pot of 2500, and he calls/mucks.

So, a good start.

The table then breaks, and I get moved next to my new nemesis, a v decent Indian player, who Carry's cards like he has them up his sleeve, and wont be put down, top 2.

I am concentrating my moves, in late position, and again in a 4 way pot, call an chunky pre-flop raise, with

6♦ , 9♦ 

Flop is, 6♠, 6♣, 10♦, which looks pretty good to me.

Its checked to me, and I bet, as people know, I am prone to do.

It eventually, gets all in, as he has the case 6♥, but his kicker is 5♥, and my 9 outkicks him, giving me 30k in chips, about 20% of those in play.

I get moved to the final table, and tangle almost immediately, with some of the smaller/weaker stakes.

Again in late position,  I get 4♣, 5♠.

Its cheap enough, so, I decide to raise. I get 3 callers.

Flop comes, a scary looking 10♠, 9♦, K♣

Everyone checks, I have uber-nothing, so, also check.

Turn comes, 4♠, and I decide to bet, and get one caller.

Obviously behind, probably tailed-off, the river, is 4♥, giving me trips, and clearly the best hand.

I bet 7000 chips, into a pot of 9000, and a pretty young women, who thinks I am bluffing, re-ships on me, for 15k more. I instanta call, show her the trips, the table gasps, and people really stay away from me, after that.

Top 4 places paid, and, at one stage, I had 45% of the chips in play, but, despite having 5 chances, to kill players off, the flips always went against me, and had to settle for an equal 1/3rd share, for about $400, at 2 a.m.

I would have played on, but had a golf game booked for 7am,  and I need my rest ...

WSOP - 2013

Have been wasting huge swathes of time, watching both the live feeds, and on-demand output, from the 60 odd bracelet events, in this years competitions.

ESPN hold the rights, and the coverage is v good, with only some moans, arising from occasional sound/picture loss, and a few events, missing key parts.

The coverage is mainly final table,and shows hand-by-hand,for between 5-8 hrs,depending how the events take.

The final table money ladders, are often v considerable, ranging from say $50k, in 9th place, to $300k in 4th, and $750k to the winner, so, bad beats etc, are v costly.

As the pay jumps are so big, ICM, (independent chip model), has great usage, as players have to be v aware, of playing marginal hands, or even strong hands, where variance can be either extremely costly or rewarding.

It's notable, a lot of the tables are mainly male, normally, young males, who have all paid between $1k and $111k, to pay each event. The $111k event, - the "One Drop", supports a water charity, and 11k per entry, is donated.

Field size has been v good, and this years $10k main event, had 6500 entries .. That's a big prize pool, with the top 10% getting paid.

On-line poker has just about begun in New Jersey, and Las Vegas is not far behind. The sites are rushing to finish the products, and its a question, of whether u want to be first to market, or have the best product. I hope the products are good - for now, only state-wide is legal, so, someone in Texas can't play with someone in Vegas, but, hopefully, things will change a the federal level, fairly soon.

Posted with Blogsy

Poker in the Uk

Havent played that much, thou, not for lack of choice.

The structure at my local casino is different, from S.Africa.

The Tourneys all start at 9pm, (later than I would like), and allow re-buys/re-entry, till 11pm, in most of these games, which .. with 60-100 players, means the final table is 3-4pm .. way past my bed-time.

Thats a bit of a shame, as the overall levels of play, is better, than I am used to, and am learning etc, but, the late nights are v draining .. so, have largely avoided.

Will try look for a 2 day .. tourney, which suits my schedule.