blonde poker forum

I am on a train (cross country 172 if that helps, Tikay) from Birmingham New Street to Cambridge.

Lovely and quiet.

At Leicester, about ten mins ago, on get two chaps in their late 30s. One has 80% of his body tattooed, a good chunk of which looks like prison art. He and his mate stink of weed and beer.

Matey boy is quiet but a bit giggly. All good. The inked man swears like a trucker who's nailing his hand to a wall. He picks up his mobile and calls a friend of his. While it is ringing, matey asks where they're watching the match tonight and that agree - to much hilarity - that the pub next to the prison will be fun. Marv.

Inked man then gets through to number 3. Number 3 has apparently beaten up his girlfriend. They were on a night out last night and went kerbcrawling, got chased by the police and somehow managed to convince the officer all was well. Nope. They were in the cells!

Much chat about drugs and just about everything else.

So I'm going to stop typing as heaven forbid they suspect I'm typing about them! They're enjoying themselves anyway and not causing any trouble. All good.

All for a £20 train ticket. Better than a film this.

pictures or it did not happen

Odds on them having a ticket? You might be witnessing a ticket collector beating in a minute.

Anyone for a game of Chess?

I am not sure I follow the kerb crawling/wife beating/prison cell incident too clearly and do they let ruffians keep their cellular phones when incarcerated these days?

...or is it just compulsory to post here while drunk these days.

I'm doing my level best not to listen too intently, tbf. Suspect it's a mixture of fact and fiction. I don't think he's been released today; just that he's out and spent a night without charge in the cells last night. Would get his mobile back afterwards then.

Ticket issue would be hilarious and by hilarious I mean not hilarious.

They seem amiable enough - like 90% of those who have spent time at Her Majesty's pleasure. Probably not leaving the valuables unattended, mind.

Will ask if they'll pose for photos, right after I've spent a night with Kate Moss and Sienna Miller.

There's me with a Telegraph and a book on the Riemann Hypothesis. I'm so urban.

Just passing Peterborough prison.

They've got off now (as in alighted. They're not kissing)

Train seems eerily quiet, despite being full.

Isn't it brilliant how everyone seems to unite in these situations? I've just exchanged glances with a few other people on the train. Just a raised eyebrow or two and half a smile and everyone knows they feel the same.

I never felt in any danger but it wasn't what I expected on this journey.

I now have a woman sitting opposite me who is obviously about to visit a lover: checking and re-checking her make-up, constantly adjusting herself, spraying comically cheap perfume all over the place (down her cleavage, if you please! She must have plans) and one more thing... yes a minor detail...a 3 litre bottle of cider.

Haven't been to East Anglia in a while.

Or maybe she is about to offer you a mouthful?

if you book in advance it's amazing how reasonable  the Frst Class tickets are...

Women in there spray expensive perfume and offer champagne you know :)

How can you be so sure.... ?

Well the next part of my journey was even more fun.

I used the opportunity of the coach being quiet to pop to the facilities. On my return, as I was putting in my headphones, the lady opposite said "horrible when it's quiet, isn't it?!" I put my generic MP3 player down and agreed, as would seem only right, being the chivalrous sort I am.

She then proceeded to tell me, over the next 45 minutes, a sizeable chunk of her life story. She had just been released from Peterborough Magistrates' Court...from a charge of shoplifting!

She spoke well and told a pretty sorry tale of minor offences, trips in and out of Her Majesty's pleasure and was fully accepting of the fact that it was her own doing. She has been homeless for some time.

After what might have seemed like a 45minute confession, she asked what I did for a living. I very carefully answered that I had an office job in Birmingham, omitting any details like working in the legal sector!

She was good company, although it is entirely true that I found both halves of the journey more stressful than I wanted.

I hadn't appreciated that Coach C stood for Convicts, but no more reprehensible than casino company, I suppose :)

I made it to Cambridge without a word said in anger or a sense that my property was in any danger. But it was still a long 2.5 hours!

Tal... are you a poshboy like Cambridgealex?

Tal makes Alex look like a chav  :D

absolutely no idea who you are in person, but love your posts.

I also read the chess thread, it's just by the time i've watched someone explain why i'm so shit at chess i've closed the thread and forgotten :p

I completely agree with this. I also have no idea who you are, but you are my favourite poster on Blonde at the moment. And not just because of the chess thread.

How come you don't post in PHA much/at all Mr Tal?

And are you really super posh as pokerfan says?

I use short vowells and find classical music boring.

On the other hand, I'm currently in black tie, about to walk in to my ten year dinner at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Discuss!

Is the Reiman hypothesis anything to do with this hand ?

2:30 in, Moormans face is a picture @ 5:25  ::)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS9DdJkiAIs

Are you the guy that all the public school chaps at Cambridge liked having as a friend as their bit of rough, yet to everyone else you are their posh friend?

Also, are you any good at poker? Please post in PHA.

Not everyone at Oxbridge is posh. I was a state school boy albeit a grammar school, which I got into by passing an entrance exam. I certainly wasn't the only one, although the number of people with strong regional accents is eclipsed by upper-middle class English and then the odd Home Counties tone.

I come from a lower-middle class family but both my parents come from pretty poor, working class families, if that makes sense.

I met some great people in my time at Cambridge. I mean that both in the matey sense of "some great guys and a great girls" and the academic sense of some truly great minds. Days like today remind me just how fortunate I have been.

As for the poker side, I don't post on PHA much as I find the analysis a little overcooked sometimes for my interest level. Plus there are plenty of people who play and know much more than I posting, so I add little value.

I'm a low-medium stakes live player (biggest comp $330/€250/£225 in respective jurisdictions; median would be £50). Have done ok over the years. Largest field win was Super 50; largest payout was taking down the £150 six-max at DTD before it became £250. This would be my one HM entry.

Don't play cash really these days and barely play online. If I do it is small stakes mixed games, Heads Up PLO8 or STT stud games. I get bored easily online and have a habit of playing terrible poker.

And so to bed.

Perfect ending to the Post. Understated, great timing, leaves just enough to the imagination.

You have great observational skills, you might even be, in that area, of Jeeves standard.

You should consider starting a Tal Diary.

Chess Bloke & his Mates. Check it out.

You remain too kind

King Edward or Bishop Vesey?

This is Tal's diary  ;whistle;

Shouldnt this be on the diary board....

Thin!

;)

Please introduce yourself at DTD, the first drink is on me. We can discuss the relative merits and weaknesses of the Najdorf.

:cheers:

Thank you again, all.

It's a first class upgrade return for £10, so am not expecting any drama.

The diary won't be happening. You get more than enough from me (always leave 'em wanting more).

Tal, you wanna swap some chess lessons for some poker lessons? I'm half serious btw.

Kinboshi... You want a game of chess next time I come to DTD? I'll supply board, pieces and clock. You supply the Nadjdorf Variation.

Definitely up for a game.

How long on the clock, 15 or 30 minutes should be good.

I fully expect you to trounce me though, a bit rusty - but I'll give it a go.

Tell you what: next time I'm at DTD, if I see two chaps (I assume hirsuit and elegantly attired) playing chess, I'll join you.

Lol at elegantly attired. I am a scruffy bastard. Look for the guy buying his table puddings, and then spilling most of his down his top. I must be the least blingy poker player out there.

Seriously though guys, I'd love to play chess - although you will both definitely thump me. I haven't played in years and can't even remember the first five moves of a single opening. But I'd like to play, and I'd love to meet Mr Tal. You're becoming a bit of a hero in these parts and I don't know who you are. Most people don't know who I am either mind. I'll buy you a drink or two when I finally meet you.

Don't worry Stu, it's been a few years since I last played, and a few decades since I played properly. If we set the time to ten minutes each on the clock, we can blame any blunders on the time constraints...

Then if a hirsuit and elegantly attired bloke walking over in our direction we can hide to save our embarrassment at our terrible play.

(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c17/JCtheMessiah/Tramps.jpg)

I can't believe my eyes, not just Tal but 'boshi too!

It's hirsute.

You are absolutely right. I blame a long Friday night, but a blank moment more likely the culprit

I'm sorry if that seemed picky Tal, on re-reading it came across harsher than intended.

I enjoy your posts greatly and was actually more having a dig at young 'boshi's deference.

No problem. Just a reminder for me to read posts before sending.