blonde poker forum

Hi from Helsinki!

Yes, I'm OUT, gory details to follow.

Quick Update first.

Of the travelling contingent, let's start with the Blue Square Unusual Suspects

Burnley John - OUT, very early, Level 1 I think.

Royal Flush - Up to 38k (started with 20k), down to 11k, now back up to 21k. Flopped top 2 pair n a Q-T-3 flop, with Pascal holding TT, & did well to get away fom the hand.

J P Kelly. Up to 45k early, on 38k now. I just had dinner with him, Jen, John, Mex & Flushy - I bought the little boy an ice-cream. as you do.

Jen - 25k. Got Pascal to her immediate right, & Flushy on same table.

More in a mo......

Joe Grech - OUT

Roy The Boy Brindley - here with Mags - OUT

Mex - OUT. We shared opening (indeed, only....) tables, & he was playing well, but had a setback when he invested 12k in total with AK & got moved off it, but then doubled back up before losing the lot. He had a ball, nice lad. Someone (Suzanne) asked his real name, I will try & find out. He sells & fits bathrooms - does that help?

Pascal Perrault - the only person, realstically, who can shift Lord Wernick of the top of the Rankings, has got off to a a flyer, up to 56k within 2 levels, & only played 3 hands. I am keeping Micky updated by text, at Micky's request. I am not absolutely certain of the maths, but Pasacal, if he finished 1st or 2nd, CAN still win the Rankings I believe.

sod the poker............we want to know about your small boy


is this a traditional helsinki custom ?
were rubber gloves involved?

The Casino is BEAUTIFUL, really. And o is the structure.

20,000 starting chips, 60 minute levels.

50 - 100

100 - 200

100 - 200 + 25 Ante

150 - 300 + 25 Ante

200 - 400 + 50 Ante

300 - 600 + 50 Ante

400 - 800 + 100 Ante

600 - 1,200 + 100 Ante

Get the picture - a truly awesome structure. Impossible to bust out ealy, then.

Best structure I've ever seen, put me in, they can blind me away tiil i get there

We getting a mini live update from the ex tourney player that is tikay???

Come on the Crew...

OK, so how did I manage to exit so ingloriously early? I was, Im afraid, the architect of my own downfall.

Was LOVING the comp, the atmo, the struture, & was digging in for a long stint, on a lively table. A few handy local & Scandies on the table, plus Mex, & J P Kelly.

JP was busy, VERY aggressive, from the very first hand, Raising & bullying generlly. He really does have some game.

I was messing around in a few pots - why not with a 20k starting stack? - but not having much success, then I outplayed a local (well, I had a better hand....). Anyway, soon had around 23k.

But Mex & I clashed, & I had to let go. Then, I raised ith AJ, flop came A high, but judging by the betting, I ran onto AK or AQ, as I had to let THAT go too.

Next up, I Raise on the Button with QT suited - nobody else in the pot - but it was JP's BB, & he defended. There's a thing. Flop came Q-7-2, JP checks, I bet, JP Re-Raises. Hmm...... I Pass reluctantly. I don't believe he had anything, but his Re-Raise was too big, & I did not wanna go any deeper in this situation. In fact, I WAS losing, though I was not to learn this until after I exited. JP, apparently, had KQ, so I was way behind. I said "but supposing I'd had AQ, you wold be in trouble". To which he replied, quite matter of factly, "I'd still have won, as I woulda moved you off the hand". Kids, eh?

JP then pushes me off yet another pot, & we have a mini-crisis unfolding, I've played 4 hands aggressively, & had to let go each time. Table image, & all that. I decide that next time, it won't happen. Time to make a stand, send a message.

I pick up A-4 suited on the button, small R before it gets to me, I call, JP inevitably calls. I aint gonna stand for any nonsense from the boy, THIS time I'm sending that message.

The flop comes down....

 As 5h 4d

So, 2 pairs, lovely.

Matey Boy bets 1,200. Got his number, he's got a big A, AK, AQ, summat like that.

I just smooth call, I'm gonna extrract a whole heap of chips from this geezer.

Then a funny thing happened, to wake me from my plannig - JP makes it 4,025. HOW MUCH? WHAT?

Very quickly, I run through his likely holdings. 2-3? Nope. AA? No, he'd play it slower. 55? Ditto. AK? Possibly. But, actully, I don't think he's got ANY of them, in fact, I don't think he's got any hand at all. He's seen I can be pushed off hands, & now he's taking advantage.

Wel, he's got a surprise coming, because I'm gonna play back at him.

Matey Boy, in the middle, eventually passes, & the second he does, the very nanasecond, I go "All-IN". There, that'll show WonderBoy.

But JP gives it about a 1 second dwell, & says "CALL". Uh-oh.

He turns over  5s 5c.

SHIT. And the turn?

 5d

And it's goodnight from tikay.

The Lad just outplayed me. Because of the "over Re-Raise", & the fact he had been bullying, I just decided he had no hand, & was at it.

I was a bit miffed (with myself), come all this way, great structure, & I'd blown it.

But no complaints, it was self-inflicted, & JP really is a terrific lad, for whom I have a great deal of time, & much respect.

Facts are facts, and have to be faced, the Boy did me good & proper.

So I'm back at the Hotel, sulking.

Poker 425 are here, & Rhowena gives me the exit interview. "So how did it go today tikay?"

"Oh, fine, just fine......"

JP played it great, he knows you have a hand, he knows you won't be pushed off again, the big bet is perfect

I would have fallen for it too

So, answering your questions,

Boo - BEHAVE

Red - Yes, WHAT a structure! Best I've ever played in. And I'm getting more cross with myself by the second, for being so daft and not biding my time. What a donkey. I'm embarrassed, too.

At-It - Mini -Update? Mybe. I'm busy sulking at the moment. You want progress on anyone in particular? I'm back at the Hotel right now, but the Casino is right next door, so I guess I'll venture back when the shame has subsided a bit.

My thoughts exactly. Fair play to him. The Big Bet suckered me. I don't know if many of you guys know JP, but he really is a great kid.

Also spotted in the comp.....

Murray Brown

The Chandra Brothers. Apologies for mis-spelling their name - two real Indian Gents, well-spoken, perfect table manners.

Juha (?) Sointula, the long, blonde-haired guy - Flushy just busted him.

Juha Helppi

And Martin Wendt. Martin was due to play the William Hll Grand Prix, but had  serious car crash the day before. And I do mean serious. But he's OK now, fit and well, but with THE biggest scar you ever saw, right across his skull. His car flipped over 8 times, he never broke a bone - except his skull - and he must be one lucky fella to have got out alive.

I'm gonna have a ciggie, then wander back across to the Casino, and I'll post any relevant counts here in a while. If you want Updates on anyone particular, text me.

I will get all the Unusual Suspects anyway, plus Pascal etc.

can you get red dogs chip count aswell please as does he know that he owes you and me 50% each of the buy in

Just the suspects for me really tikay... Don't worry tony, jp will bust many more players out and the hand was tough to get away from there!

Don't know what happened, but another text from James just now. He is out.  :(

Just got off the phone from Tikay and James, Tikay sounds rather "merry" he must have the Christmas spirit.......

Jen is on about 40K in chips, which is about average at the moment.

Oh, and while I'm at it,  :redcard: for Tikay for posting updates in the wrong section!! I don't know, his own forum and he doesn't know where to post  ::) ,  comes swanning in here, 6hrs after the start of the comp and posts it in General, when I have been posting mini updates (very mini) on the Helsinki thread since 4pm!!!! 

You just can't get the staff...

How does Jen now stand in the Usual Suspects league?

Not totally sure, but at a guess with James now going bottom after the last few bad results and John's early exit, I think she can get into 2nd. I don't think it is possible for her to reach the top spot today. I'll have a look at the league standings and see if it is any different. I can't remember off the top of my head what John's points were previous to tonight, 3rd may be the answer

We will give a full Susects Update at the end of play in about an hour. As of now....

James is OUT

John is OUT

J P Kelly has about 60k

Jen has about 40k.

70 players left, average around 44k.

Blinds are 600-1,200, ante 100.

I have Jonathan Rabb with me, so I'll try & get him to sum up the Suspects points standings "in running" shortly

Ginger - sorry! You are right. Except I'm NOT merry. I'm sulking. Happily sulking though, life is good.

Simon Trumper has 40k.

Pascal Perrault is BLESSED.

After becoming joint chip leader with Chandra Khajuri, all their chips (65k each) went in PRE-FLOP, with Chandra holding  Ks Kh and Pascal  As Kd. First card out,  Ah.....

So, Pascal 130k.

THEN, geezer moves all-in on Pascal for 35k with  Qd 9s. Pascal calls with, wait for it...... Qs Qh

Pascal 175k now. He's massive.

This could give Micky Wernick's Rankings aspirations a problem. Micky has asked me to keep him updated - he is at Brighton - & I am doing so.

Pascal is sat to the immediate right of Jen. But largely peaking, Pascal is sitting quietly. But he may think Jen is weak - she's only little, and a girlie, after all -  & try to bully her. Hope he does, 'cos that Lady is not one to bully, she'll play back at him if she thinks he's messing about with her.

Ummm, ok "merry" was a being a bit polite lol. Maybe I should of said it sounded like you had partaken in a few Christmas spirits? lol  :cheers: <<hint

Just had a look at the league and it is extremely interesting if I have it right. James is now on 56pts, John on 59pts.

There are 2 places left, a 12pt and a 9pt:

JP is currently on 50pts, and Jen is on 47pts......

So, if Jen wins this, then all bar James are on a tie of 59pts!!!!...............BUT that is TOTALLY UNOFFICIAL

By the way Ginger, I am teetotal - really!

hic!

On the Blue Squirrel website it says there are going to be heads up matches in Helsinki.

Have any these happened yet?

Where do you get your scores from Ginger?

Latest scores on the site say:

James 49
John 48
Jen 47
JP 45

Jonthn Rabb, who is with me - sat on my laptop actully (or is it my lap?) says that Ginger is CORRECT in her assumptions about the Points standings "in running".

The results from yesterdays Heads-Up matches have only just been sent to Had Office, literlly 2 minutes ago, (lack of internet fcailities in JR's Hotel) so the Site has NOT been updated. Keith's figures - from the Blue Square site - was the situation BEFORE the Heads-Up matches.

In those matches, Burnley John beat Jen, & J P Kelly beat James Dempsey.

All clear now Camel?

Nearly clear.

Are any more heads up matches planned for this round?

Some people have real money at stake here you know...

There was a round of heads up matches yesterday, and If I heard James correctly there may be another round very soon (but a bad line so I may of totally misheard him)

I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I have been keeping track of the league from the start, so I always know where James stands in it. On the weekends the league results don't get updated so I like to always keep my own so we know where he stands in every tourny.


EDIT: Just looked at the schedule, and there are no more heads up PLANNED for this round.

Keith,

YES.

All 4 remaining Suspects have  to play each other ONCE in THIS round. We have had 2 matches - Jen v John, & JP v James, so there are FOUR matches left to play.

Still to come....

John v James

John v JP

Jen v James

Jen v JP

Clear now?

Thanks for making that clear Tikay, I wasn't totally sure how it was going to work with only 2 games being played lol. Sould of been obvious that of course they had not all played each other as yet so there would be more to come, but not extra in the round, if you know what I mean.

 ;topofclass; Far too many late nights of study this week for me, I think.  ;sleep;

Perfect.

Isn't it passed your bedtime now ol' fella?

They stop serving horlicks at midnight in Finland I believe.

Moving now from the Suspects to the European Ranking, it's all got a bit hot tonight.

Last Sunday, we THOUGHT it was all over, & Mickey had won it.

But Pascal is BIG chip leader here, or was an hour ago. (We will Update at end of play, in an hour or so).

Meanwhile, down in Brighton, guess who is massive Chip Daddy? Yup, Lord Wernick.

Interesting stuff.....

As for Camel's puny riposte, I assume he means "past" my bedtime, not "passed" my bedtime.

AND another thing. We are two hours AHEAD in Finland, so it's 02.50 am here. I can cope with late nights, as long as I have my afternoon nap. The old bladder is getting a bit weak though, so jut half a cup of Horlicks.

Classic line on Poker425. Words to the effect:

"The bladder is weak at either ends of life, I'm at this end, so hurry up"

Need a twinkle?

Play has ended for the day.

Unusual Suspects.....

J P Kelly 82k

Jen 49k

Average, with 5 tables left, is 62k.

Pascal has, I think, 110k, or close to that.

He had this hand for a pot of well over 100k.

Geezer makes it 5k, Pascal calls.

Flop  9h 7s 3d

Geezer bets 11k, Pascal calls.

Turn,..... 2d

Geezer has a BIG dwell, then says "all-in". Pascal calls in a flash.

Geezer Turns over...... As Ah

Pascal shows..... 9s 9d

Geezer is gutted, gets up in exasparation, he's deader than a dead thing.

River...... Ac.......!

<<The flop comes down....

 As 5h 4d

So, 2 pairs, lovely.

Matey Boy bets 1,200. Got his number, he's got a big A, AK, AQ, summat like that.

I just smooth call, I'm gonna extrract a whole heap of chips from this geezer.

Then a funny thing happened, to wake me from my plannig - JP makes it 4,025. HOW MUCH? WHAT?

Very quickly, I run through his likely holdings. 2-3? Nope. AA? No, he'd play it slower. 55? Ditto. AK? Possibly. But, actully, I don't think he's got ANY of them, in fact, I don't think he's got any hand at all. He's seen I can be pushed off hands, & now he's taking advantage.

Wel, he's got a surprise coming, because I'm gonna play back at him.

Matey Boy, in the middle, eventually passes, & the second he does, the very nanasecond, I go "All-IN". There, that'll show WonderBoy.

But JP gives it about a 1 second dwell, & says "CALL". Uh-oh.>>


Wish you hadn't told me what he had - i was thinking 4 7

I've just got out of bed, 2.30 pm Local, so I've missed the start of play.

But word reaches me that Jen is OUT.

The casino is literally next door to the Hotel, so I'll have a quick shower then go & see.

Bizarrely, news of Jen's demise, 25 yards from here in Helsinki, reached me via Micky Wernick, who rung from Brghton to tell me!

Jens exit - she was getting a bit low-chipped, so she tried a "stop and go" with  Ts 8h. Flop came Ten high, so he moved in, as you do. Geezer had AA, as they do.

With 18 playrs left, J P Kelly is stll in there, battling away, with around 90k the last time I looked.

But Pascal exited pretty quickly today.

I think this means that Lord Wernick is the William Hill European Rankngs winner.

Well played Micky. I spoke to him he & he was absolutely thrilled. Apparently, he's gonna be plying me with Champagne in Brighton tomorrow.

nice one mickey...a gentleman on and off the table   
 :)up ;applause; ;applause;

Just an update on the heads up games, James has played Jen and won. Putting James now in 61pts. There is a match in progress now between JP and John, I'll post the result as soon as I know it.

The running points at the moment are:

JP on 62pts (after leaving todays tourny in 15th place)
James on 61pts
John on 59pts
Jen on 56pts

Typical, as soon as I post, I get the result  ::)

John won his match against  JP, the league (with matches still left) now looks like this:

John   64pts
JP       62pts
James  61pts
Jen     56pts

ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Burnley :)

And ALREADY we have another result, Jen has just played JP, and has won already!!!!! GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!

John   64pts
JP       62pts
James  61pts
Jen     61pts

Pascal is the ultimate ranking points whore :-).  He says to me, "you know for some of us in these little tournaments the rankings points me a lot."  I said, yea and if I win I'll be ahead you.  Whoops.  

Of course Pascal is much more dedicated than me, and kudos to mickey for winning the 750.  Makes #1 much more legitimate now.   I still don't like the fact that you can not leave england and be #1.  Try not leaving romania and see how many points you get!

The last Heads Up match of this round has just finished, James against John, and James was the Victor ..... ;D

League is now the following:

James  66pts
John   64pts
JP       62pts
Jen     61pts

Goooooooo James!!!!!!!!  :-*

Excellent for the league ... looks like its gonna go right down to the wire

All within 5 points, I think that the gloves are going to come off very soon.

Next game isn't until Boxing day, $200 FO on Blue Square. I believe that is one of the 5GR tournys.