blonde poker forum

me

me too...

me three

me

Ah gowan then... oi'll have a game with you

And lovely to see Brendan Hartnett - aka ericstoner - in too.

 :hello: ferry for me

 ;D

now to tell mrs EcK   ;hide;

Didnt even make the reserve list.....mightly impressed!

Well if all you lot got in then I must've done too, cos Des said I beat you all to the email!

See you there.

I'm in ;)  lololol

Me

Thx for telling me Tony........I could not find the list.

What a Philip..........bring it on.

the reason why email vetting wont work!!! Just opened my hotmail acount to find that the email sent last night was delayed!!!! Nice

I'll most likely be on the sideline with you mate

2nd reserve, was 7th reserve for Edinburgh and got in easily, hope it's the same this time.

Will be travelling anyhows.

See you there.

Geo

LOL good stuff ... im loving the rail already :)

Give me 10 minutes in Dublin and I'll join you.

I'm in, so is Laz  ;yippee;

Mark your email arrived in line with your post last night about going to spiderman and somebody sending the email on your behalf to the wrong address.  The process worked fine.

You guys flying out of prestwick?? its looking cheaper for me to do that

i am out of aberdeen

£40 more than if i booked middle of last week

FFS i knew i should of booked and hoped

now anyone know of a cheap wheelchair accessable hotel?

More than likely, not really made any plans yet.
How many nights are you doing?

fri to sunday

just seen ryanairs website there is a hotel tehre for £46.48 for 3 nights (friday-mon)

now if only i knew if it has wheelcahir access

My 40th  birthday party on the 2 nd is shaping up well .Loads of pi** heads and worse (kev). Game on

Prestwick for me.... booked a few days back...

Flight out 99p  flight back 9.99  total cost after tax etc. around £55.....  ::)

Hotel now booked - looking forward to it  :cheers:

I'm going to rail leknave and maybe the rest of you!

I'm in....(http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/phew.gif)

Im not in.

But no suprise really, I forgot all about it!!!!

LOL GL fellas

You Numpty!

But I'm in  ;)

nope didnt even make the reserve list.  Had email ready to go just click and paste address and send.  Reckon it was sent within 10 secs

Out of interest did any Hotmail or Tiscali email addressees get in?

Good luck all in Ireland

The Holiday Inn Express (Dublin Airport) has rooms with wheelchair access available - €80 a night.

dublin airport is miles away from the casino and i'll spend more on taxis that i would save getting a more expensive room nearer the casino

All booked... "The Witney Mob" are staying at the Parliament Hotel (just at the west edge of Temple Bar), Fri - Mon... Single rooms, inc breakfast €125 / night

my boss said i could not play as i work for grosvenor

Thats a bummer mate, I hope that after September that will change for you. They are smashing tourneys, played in a lovely spirit by true poker enthusiasts & I know you'd love it.

Come september we will be able to play in anything not in a grosvenor and whats better i will use all the tips gathered from all you lovely poker players. except flushy who will still be the bubble king

tipping dealers guess we might get a dealer in every game now

and they will be polite willing to take advice and maybe wont take the piss out of everyone.

i dont tip that much

Im not in. V dissapointed. Booo @ the APAT

Dunc...i had some problems with hotmail......trying to establish exactly what though before i really start moaning!!

I'm in and extra whisky has been ordered - gl to all playing

sod the players, its us railers that need good luck.... ;)

Well done young man, & good luck n Dublin.

xx

You cheeky so and so - i'm going to have to take you back to school and teach you some biology!!!!! LMAO

I'm in too - looking forward to it a lot.

Now, should I catch the ferry on Friday evening or risk it being on time on Saturday morning to save on the hotel costs?????

p.s. if anyone goes over on Friday night and you haven't been to Dublin before, I recommend the Sporting Emporium (Anne Street I think). It was a 25 euro buy in event in superb surroundings. I think it started around 9pm. And don't forget the smoking ban is already in place - the card room was on the 2nd floor.......

Im in too

me too

flying over on Saturday morning, flying back Saturday tea time (just joking)

not booked hotel yet, any ideas?

stopping one night

I'm in

Looking for ideas on hotels, not to far from the casino. Who is the blonde irish connection?

6th reserve for me....

Congratulations and commiserations to all.


Clipboard Boy will of course be attending.

ul Dunc, my mate got in using a hotmail address...

As I said earlier Flights are booked. Arriving in Dublin 4pm Friday till 11 am monday.

The hatel booking is proving to be much more difficult........anyone any ideas, whare have others booked Help needed.

I'm also waiting for ideas brendan, I've PM Kinboshi to find out where he's staying

As mentioned earlier... we've booked the Parliament Hotel - http://www.regencyhotels.com/hotels/content.asp?PageID=39

€125 (euros) / night for a single room with breakfast. It is a little over a mile from the casino and right on the edge of the Temple Bar area.

Mmmm Guiness  :cheers:

I'm in (qualified online ;whistle;) and my mate's got a seat too so it's all systems go for a fantastic weekend - all in first hand(s) and straight on the black stuff!  :cheers:

Flying Friday night and back on Sunday night (work Monday) - got two single rooms in the Riverhouse Hotel, Eustace Street for £55pppn.

A few of us are staying in the Jacobs Inn Plus Hostel.

http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/ireland/dublin/   

Others are listed on there.  They're far cheaper than the hotels I've looked at.

Think it's works out at about £30 a night if you're in a private room for 4, and a bit more if there are 3 of you - not sure if they have any for two, but that would also be a little more - not a lot though.  That includes breakfast as well apparently.

Hope that helps someone.

i get into dublin at 15 30 if anyone wants to start early

Me Ad Qh

Me not, can't go.  :(

This event looks awesome,  it would be cool to play one of these APAT events one day.  gl to all who are playing.

Looks like i'm in coming, no Mrs Eck this time so if anyone is looking for a room share or has any bright ideas re accomodation please let me know.

i'll share with mrs eck if she doesnt mind

I've also booked into the Riverside, sounds OK with a large Irish Breakfast

No problem i'll give you directions to alloa just send me your room booking.    :)up

Me and Mrs Bantam are there.

Arriving Dublin on the Friday at 2:30pm via RyanAir, and staying for 3 nights at the Fitzwilliam Townhouse.

Guiness anyone ?

get the drinks in i will be 30 minutes behind you mr ramyer, i mean mr bantam

Hello all,

I'm in.  Just looking for somewhere to stay...

Steve.

I'll get the drinks in.......

Booked....Hotel St George, Parnell Square.

See you all there.

Has anyone received their payment link? I know i'm 44 minutes premature in worrying ;)

They might be a little late going out Richard.  But they will go out tonight. 

I'm in ....ya hoo! Staying at The Longfields Hotel, Fitzwilliam St.......card room same street....result! Chrissie coming too Fri - Mon can't wait! Dublin is just fantastic  :cheers: ;karabiner; :cheers: ;reallyamsorry; :cheers: :cheers: ;letsparty;

"Tonight" as in tonight or early hrs the next day.

When should we worry about not having received it  ;carlocitrone;

Edit - Received 1am panic over  ;)

not got here yet

There is a voucher for a free €10 bet - HERE (http://www.fitzwilliamcardclub.com/pdf/voucher.pdf) - on the Fitz website.

Just print it out, take it with you and get it validated when you join.

I know this sounds like sour grapes but I'm confused as to how I missed out on getting a seat. Along with Duncthehat I sent my e-mail within 10 seconds of the address appearing on the Apat website. Time on my sent message says 9.10. Yet according to the Apat home page it took over two minutes for the all the seats to sell. I also use tiscali e-mail so is it their fault that my e-mail didnt arrive in time? Anyone else have a similar result.

Anyhow good luck everyone, I will still be travelling over to the green isle as I've already got permission from her in doors to go away for the weekend.

Bodddders

The seat allocation was based on when the emails were received, rather than sent.  It could very possibly be an issue with tiscali, and some delay in those emails being sent from their servers to the Yahoo servers.

I'd email APAT directly and ask them if anyone with a tiscali email address managed to get their email in on time. 

Sent an e-mail to Apat on Sunday morning but havn't recieved a reply as yet. If it is a server problem then how can this be a fair way of allocating seats. If your server delays the sending of your e-mails you stand next to no chance of getting a seat.

unfortunate yes ... but come on chap, how can you have a pop at APAT for not seeing a problem with YOUR server ... I mean, if you use them and you didnt know that there might be a problem, how do you expect APAT to know ?

You have misunderstood. I am not "having a go" at Apat I think everyone there does a fantastic job. I've been lucky to play at Birmingham, Newcastle and Cardiff (not drawn out the hat for Scotland) and just really gutted at missing out on Ireland because I know what a great tourney/weekend they put on. We all know there have been a few teething problems with season one and all I'm trying to do is highlight the flaw with this way of allocating seats. Surely the fairest way has to be a draw, everyone then has the same chance.

Keep up the good work Des,Richard andTikay

Thanks Bodddddddddeeerrrs

I'll make sure Des sees this, as I am not sure of the correct answer to your query myself

It's definitely the fairest way, but not necessarily the best.

It also seems to be a bit of a nightmare for the organisers, as many who put their names forward for the draw then drop out. 

Maybe the answer is a deposit that is paid to be included in the draw (say a tenner).  This is returned to those who don't get an offer of a seat, but isn't returned to those who are offered a seat and then drop out.  For those that are offered a seat and do take it up, their deposit goes towards the £75 entry fee (so it's effectively returned to them).

How about a free on line tournament?

Top 50 places receive a chance to pay in to the event if they want to, the other 50 places being a random draw. Reserve list would be places 51 onwards in the free tournament.

To be fair to APAT, I don't see what more they can do with the entry process, other than perhaps decide on one of the various methods they've trialled so far.

The big restriction they have is venue capacity and every tournament to date has sold out virtually instantly.  I like the fact that recent events have included a limited number of online satellite seats (I'm less convinced by the live satellites at the venues but I can see why they'd want to encourage local members to play).  However, I think its important that there is more than one route into the events so that people who can't be around for something like the email thing at least have an alternative method to try for.

I must admit thought that, despite getting into this event, the email was probably my least favourite method of signing up so far.  Everything which hasn't involved a draw has been a 'clickfest' to some extent and I think this is unavoidable.  The big problem this time around was that everyone suffered from a lack of feedback on whether they were in or not, which the instant payment methods didn't have.

However, I wasn't affected in previous events with issues such as the payment site crashing, so perhaps there are differing views on this.  However, given the choice, I'd rather have a clickfest with instant feedback than one where I have to wait 24hours for the results.

Just a bit of constructive feedback for those making the decisions.

Good Post Sheriff.

With demand so strong, & finding Venues with adequate capacity "difficult", finding the fairest way to allocate Seats has been a headache all Season. We have tried most methods in Season One, and before Season Two we will give much thought to refining the methods. It's likely that Season Two will include miore Regional Qualifiers, but no firm decision  has been made yet.

We do sympathise with those who have missed out - we'd love to accommodate everyone.

I'd agree with Sheriff, despite it's flaws the clickfest seems to be the best single way of allocating seats so far. Not least because very few people who are dedicated enough to really want a seat miss out with this method.

The best way of allocating seats overall is to use a mixture of methods, which seems like the way it is headed.

Some seats available from online qualifying, some from live regional qualifying, and the majority from a clickfest with a seat reserved to invite the reigning champion to defend their title would be the mix I'd go for.

Although obviously I'd expect a bit more tinkering from APAT before they decide on a single mix of methods.

how about the regaler people who play every other week on line gets first option. they are committed to the APAT
and should get the chance to play live. since they is about 160 to 200 play on a Saturday probable they would be 50 or so who would like to play then the rest can be on a qualification basis via pokerstars.

may be the top 20 should get an automatic invite

I agree with some of the points Wayne has made. Maybe some sort of seeding could be used in the future,  be it the top 20 ranked players, defending champion etc. For instance it looks like Mark may miss out on Ireland (his own fault some might say) and with it could go his chance of a trip to the caribbean.

It seems demand is very high for these live events (all sold out in a matter of minutes), yet the online qualifiers only averaged around 100 entrants? If 200+ are trying to get a seat through a clickfest why don't they play the satellites. (dont they like playing poker!) I know you cant please everyone but my problem with clickfests is your relying on technology and sometimes that can fail. For me it has to be a draw every time.

Whilst I have played probably over half of the online events I feel that it is unfair to punish those as Saturdays nights ain't always the best night to be plonked down in front of a screen for 4-5 hrs (or until the standard stars bad beat comes along) thus maybe why the turnout is so low. I personally think if the day was moved to tournament day sunday at about 6pm it would get more runners.

Also worth remembering that some people only play live events, or are interested in the live events.

There is a case to be out forward for regular APAT players (or those who reach the final 2 or 3 tables in the previous event) to have some sort of priority entry, but then others could also argue that those who have missed out on a previous event(s) should get their chance as well. 

Always going to be difficult when demand outweighs supply.

few questions

1.Smart Casual dress is essential while on the premises.

Jeans trainers and a hoodie gonna cut it????

2. Cash games??

If I get stuck in limbo on the 2nd day ie dont bust out before the last flight im not gonna sponge out for a hotel ( was exhausting enough trying to find one for the sat) can i just sit and play cash games all night??

I think any suggestion of seeding or giving priority to anyone is just wrong (unless it is to the inaugural S American Open Champion!!).

This just means that someone who was not lucky enough (for any number of reasons), to secure a seat in one or more previous tourneys, then has even less chance of getting into a future one.

APAT live tournaments, it seems to me, should be open to all APAT members, with equal oppurtunity.

For what it's worth, I think the method used this time is getting there ie.

1. Live satellite at venue - although I think 20 of 150 seats is a bit high.
2. Online satellites - I think 3 x 9 seats is about right. (DesD, Would it be possible to prevent someone playing a 2nd sat if they had already won a seat in a previous one)
3. A direct pay 'Clickfest' - with remaining seats made available in 3 seperate lots over 3 days, this should give most people the oppurtunity to have a go.

As for a draw, I think this is the worst option. Whilst it may appear to be the fairest way, I can assure you that the only way to may a random draw look truely random is to rig it!! You will get some people getting into every tourney while others never get into one.

Well, that's my 2p worth... I think I need a lay down!

I think that seeding/giving priority to certain individuals is a thing to be avoided at all costs.  Each event should be open to everyone on the same basis and I hope they do nothing to change this.

Someone referred to the popularity of the online events, compared to the live sats.  The biggest issue for me is that 8pm on a Saturday evening is not a good time for me to play them.  Most of the events this year have clashed with something else in the diary and, while its justifiable to prioritise a live APAT weekend ahead of most things, its hard to do the same for sitting at home to play an online tournament.

Personally, I think early Sunday afternoons would be a better time to hold them (say 4pm-ish start) but no time is going to suit everyone.  However, I have been surprised that the online numbers haven't changed to any great extent as the season has gone on and perhaps the scheduling is a factor in this.

Bodders,

i too had problems with the email......(not the old lady sending them) I then got emails saying that the sent emails were delayed...... This problem has been happening since friday, unbeknown to me..... some emails are still being delayed.... this is with hotmail. Like yourself, not trying to sound bitter. I totally accept that i went out during the registration, but an email was sent. Being points leader i want to be there and try and add to the tally already. I dont think that the email idea is the best, because like it or not, you cant account for many factors, ranging from servers to ......power cuts!! At least with names in a hat you all get a fair shot! There are so many ideas for what registration should be used..... and prior to and after every registration we all put our 5 bob into the pot. I'm sure APA appraciate all our moans etc.....(Wish you all well......as long as no one overtakes me!!!)

seeing as you got to play while i was stuck in hospital and bed rest i am planning on using ireland after getting 18 points online in next 2 games to put your total into huge trouble giving me something like a 28 point lead

All that bed rest has gone to your head Ironside........keep dreaming mate

i need the points i cant play online poker and i am already 7 behind with only 3 live events left

i need to start playing online and getting points

I'm in.
I look forward to meeting some blondites in the Fitz.

As for the guy asking about cash games in the Fitz, the action is always plentiful until 8.00 or 9.00 am. On the weekends in Dublin you can hit one of the other clubs for poker action until 12.00 midday so if you are still full of life at 9.00am just ask a local where you can go for a game and they'll point you in the right direction. (I don't want to be advertising anywhere else in this thread as this is a Fitz event and they'll be able to handle all the action you guys can throw at it up until 9.00 am!)

No hotel recommendation here I'm afraid - locals are never the right people to ask about these sort of things. Online review sites are probably the best way to go.

Fair play to all you guys for travelling I would have thought the buyin was too low to justify the travel involved but in fairness there are plenty of tournies and cash action in Dublin on any given weekend so you'll definitely get plenty of chances to gamble! lol


Olly
 

Should be okay for the Fitz as they are fairly relaxed. Not okay if you want to hit the Sporting Emporium at any stage over the weekend.

Finally someone else with sanity speaks up!!! I have been saying this all along and hopefully most people will realise before season 2 that this is the way it should be, it works for every other poker tournament so why APAT feels it has to do lucky draws and email entries is a bit strange (even though in each every entry method i have been offered a seat for all the APATS thus far). If anybody argues with this then all that has to be said is "This is how just about every other poker tournament entry IN THE WORLD is decided so.......!"
Nobody should be prioritised a seat, just because i might win an event doesnt mean i should be allowed to play every other event, thats not how other tournaments work, they have won they're big prize entry into a tournament now it is back to normal life and try to get in for the next one just like every person has too!
I believe poker works like a sport and people have to earn their shirt/place/seat in a game and thats how it should be! One goal/try/win shouldnt carry a person for the rest of his life or even for the rest of the season no matter how influential it was.

If i wanna do draws i will go and play the lottery or bingo!

But he may only be in that position because he was lucky in a draw for a previous tournament.

Perhaps another solution would be that the the 'league championship' is decided on your best 4 (of 7) live event results plus your best 20 (of 30) online results.

I'd like that ;) Only got to play 2 live and 3 online so far

Finally someone else with sanity speaks up!!! I have been saying this all along and hopefully most people will realise before season 2 that this is the way it should be, it works for every other poker tournament so why APAT feels it has to do lucky draws and email entries is a bit strange (even though in each every entry method i have been offered a seat for all the APATS thus far). If anybody argues with this then all that has to be said is "This is how just about every other poker tournament entry IN THE WORLD is decided so.......!"

We don't aspire to be like "......every other Tournament in the world".  Our sights are higher. ;). We aim to have a fun weekend every time, run the Touney punctually & well, & add some real value, which is why, answering someone else's point, folks travel across to Dublin (from as far away as Norway) for a £75 event.

The Entry method is a big problem for us, because of the demand relative to Venue capacity. We deliberately set out to trial different methods throughout Season One, to see Member reaction & just to see how it worked really. There have been no foul-ups yet (fingers crossed...) on entries, the right number have been allocated seats every time, & it has worked well. If we, say, said "post your Entry, with a cheque" heaven knows how many entries we would get, how would we sort out that mess?

You only have to read the numerous APAT threads on entry methods to see that opinion is widely varied, you have, & are entitled, to your view, many others see it very differently. But please understand just one thing - it ain't as simple as you think!

Hope to see you at another APAT Event soon, you ran very well in a couple if I'm not mistaken.

Bit if they have something right why change it?

All tournaments have players sat on chairs, are you going to change that to stools?

Check the postmarks?  ;scarymoment;

For people that have never had the opertunity to play live poker before APATis a god send For give all the problems .I've had 3 of the best live (sorry the only) the 3 best tournaments .Great structure ,great people .

Because - as you well know Mr Chopper Sir - they don't have the capacity problems we have with over demand, or sell out 3 weeks in advance. Maybe because they don't add $100,000 of value in a single season, or they charge reg fees (we don't), or make their big Events affordable for regular guys.

We will decide on stools before Season Two. An excellent suggestion, if I may say so. We will get you your own Fence though, as I've never seen you sat on one. ;)

lol

I was not knocking the system, merely your defence that "we wont do it like everyone else"

I know, but in my naivety, I genuinely believe what I said - we don't do it the same as others - for good reason.

I do love you. Not as much as Tantrum, mind.

I agree with your point about wanting everyone to play or get a chance to play at least but surely as someone who as stated in my other post has got in through every entry method tried out so far that what i am saying is not out of sour grapes. I have no reason to be bitter as i have had an opportunity to play in all live events and am merely pointing out what is in my opinion and im sure a fair few others' aswell is how can a draw possibly be the best way to allocate seats.
Its not just every other poker tournament in the world does it line either, this is how they do it for any selling of tickets be it for a football match, rugby match and rock/music concert.
The ONLY time i have EVER seen a DRAW for tickets is to a FREE concert (capitalised to show the main point im overemphasising!).
When money is concerned why cant it just be the fairest route which is a clickfest. Im sorry for repeating jjandellis but his points above say it all. If you want to play enough you will be there for that time of registration. Most people like to think a draw is fair coz it means they dont have to miss their football match or aerobics (not very likely for most poker players) class to register but that p****s me off more than anything because then you are being unfair on the people who are committed enough to put other things aside to get a seat in the APAT.
If you want something enough you do what it takes!

(Ive gone a bit dramatic towards the end but its just coz its what i genuinely believe to be the fairest and the correct way for it to be!)

I never suggested or implied it was sour grapes on your part.

I said "it ain't as easy as you seem to think".

We shall continue to take feedback from all of our Members on this, but they have a very varied view on the best way forward. Your views are noted.

Sorry for the confusion tk, i didnt mean you were saying that at all, i just meant that just because i was backing the clickfest idea it wasnt because that is the only way i feel i can qualify for any event i want because so far i have been lucky enough to get in by the email entry, random draws and clickfests so my opinion was not biased one way or the other. Simply i was saying from a neutral standpoint on which is the best for everyone concerned.

I'm in as well.

How do you ge four of Flushy's friends on a barstool............................























Turn it upside down.

 rotflmfao