blonde poker forum

Good evening Blonde,

Having enjoyed all of the blogs and advice these last couple of years, and have been wanting to sign up an account for some time now, if finally gotten around to joining the community.

I've been mainly solely been playing online for the past 5 years now, with having the odd monthly trip to luton g casino to play the monthly special, and more recently up to Nottingham to play in John's deep 1-2 game. Juggling this with having a full time job, and a young family, has often left it's toll, emotionally and mentally in particular. For this reason, I've finally withdrawn my roll and have decided to cut down my hours and solely play local(to Bedford) GUKPT,UKIPT and the sky poker tour up in Nottingham, and the odd value comp in luton. I'm not sure if this will improve the time I spend with the family more, but that's the plan.

My first planned trip is the gukpt London down at the vic in a couple of weeks,(fortunate enough to have won 2 seats online in the past few weeks), and I'm looking to play the six max and the Omaha events in between some cash sessions. I'm told playing live the long periods are more mentally draining, and being gym fit helps to keep my mentally ticking over..... Not sure about this, but I may need to invest in a gym membership if proven correct.

Ive noticed blonde has quite a strong following from Bedfordshire/London area, so I have probably met and played with a few of you on here, and look forward to meeting others...... Bedtime routine calls..... Over and out.

Hi and welcome

we do have a big presence that play in Luton, not as big as it used to be but still plenty of posters who started and used to play there me included

my kids live in wootton and i lived there and flitwick, btw. just down the road...

Hey and welcome.

You said you played in Skalie's games. Have we played before?

Do you enjoy playing those games? I used to play them a bit a year ago, don't live there now but miss the banter. Don't get games like them really anywhere else...Skalie does a really good job. Not easy for him though.

ps if mitch is bullying everyone too much, just tell skalie you don't wanna play with mitch and he'll sort the rest ;)

Hey and thanks for the welcome Alex.

I just started playing in them about October time, and have only played a few times. But yeah, I find the games good fun, plenty of action and a good atmosphere to play in... No complaints so far. next time I'm up I'll ask the table if CambridgeAlex is about, good to put a name to a face.

Are your kids still school age TightEnd ? My oldest starts school this September, so it's the first time I've ever been visiting schools, reading offstead reports Ect trying to figure out the best place to send my little princess.

yes and no

wootton upper

what part of bedford are you in, and which catchment area?

I live near beford park, so Livingstone primary and Edith Cavell are the schools within the catchment area. We've put livingstone as first choice, so we are hoping that's the one we get.... Not sure what they take into account when the powers to be let us know which one we have got.

distance from the school

http://www.bedford.gov.uk/education_and_learning/schools_and_collegescadem/school_admissions/bedford.aspx

Thanks, I'll have a butchers.

Are many blondes heading down to the vic next week?

Not long been home from work, and already having withdrawal symptoms from not being able to fire up few cash tables along with the normal evening MTT. I guess this new "live only" Schedule is going to take some time to get used to. Have been sitting around replaying hands in my head from a few days ago. One in particular was my exit hand from the big 55 on Friday night  when i managed to flop top set on an all club board and run into two flopped flushes, with a 4th club on the river for good measure, is it just me or are these spots just so common online? I know its the old cliche of your playing so many more hands its just higher variance, but that's not how it was felt the last 18 months or so......... I want to try and fill some of my time with training videos, in particular Razz, Padoki and 2-7 as these are my worst games in DC. I guess the old google.com will be in use shortly.

Looking forward to playing again at the Vic as its been a while, and I like the changes they have made to the poker room last year or so. Dealers are competent and the massage ladies are always on hand to help work out a blood clot or too. I also find the room more than a brunch of seniors grinding out 1/2, 2/5, ect for a living, with plenty of value to be found, if you look in the right places, at the right time of day. I normally find sessions between 10pm-3am to be the most juicy n the 1/2 games for anyone who is interested.

Long, long day at work today.... But despite that I'm in a really good mood! I guess its a relief its all over.

We have just moved back to our head office site, and this morning was the go "live" date. now this usually means one of 2 things will happen. 1. IT and logistics would have moved across the desks, files and computers across and set up and tested the computers have work in an orderly fashion ready for the users to carry on work as normal or 2) Well the obvious option number 2 is none of the above is carried out and i have staff believing its some type of day off and asking can they go home, instead of the more useful question of "What can i do to help?"......

Anyway i think that's enough moaning for one day, looking forward to watching Chelsea beat liverpool. Puntered a score on Chelsea to win 4-0 with Costa to score twice @ 66-1. good for 1320 return.... Any footie or Chelsea fans on Blonde?

Hey,

Will be at the Vic soon for the GUKPT.

I used to go to Luton 1/2 times a week but last couple of years put more volume online and also the bigger festivals.  Do try and get there when I can tho.  If you are looking for a more local cash game than the Vic then talk to Jason Beazley. About 6 months ago all you could get a Luton was a .50/1 (part of the reason why I stopped going) but he has worked hard and now there are regular 1/2 games there a few times a week that he organises via FB.

Hey Ryan,

Thanks for the info, I did notice that a 1/2 game has been running the last couple of times i had been done there. No free seat though, No idea Jason organised it I would have to message him on FB. I'll come over to say him next week if I see you.

Nice win the other day for 8K i hear!

Decided to head down to g luton for the level of each tonight.... Couldn't handle 3 days without seeing some flops! I'll update at the breaks for anyone who is interest and post up and interesting spots.

 Ks Ac Qc 6 Js on a  Qh Ts 7s flop 9 on turn for a good double up vs j8.....

So decieded to head back down to the g in Luton after bricking the Wednesday comp, and managed to go through a 2 debuts and a re entry in the 45 plus one rebut add on Friday comp....

Level 2 50/100 siting with 16000 in the cut off. Utg makes it 300 to go getting called by everyone we get dealt a j104 flop holding kq, utg makes ut 2200 to go, and then gets shoved in immediately to his left two calls before he gets to me. With so much value I call off my stack with prompts the button and initial raiser calls. Ugt shows 104 for two pair shover shows a set of fours over call has 1010 next has 89 and the button shows q9... 2(action card) on the turn followed by a 8 and the button has 100k and living the life with 1000 bb. Is this a good  call for me? Not too sure.....

So went off and re brought back in.... came to the new table and immediately called for my re buy to take me up to the 16K mark.... Now this must be a new record for me as I lasted exactly one hand.

Again in the Cut off, i see the following action in front of me at the 75/150 level. UTG limps in, UTG +1 folds and the rest in front of me call. I look down at 34 off and deiced 5-1 odds are good here so i come along. The button makes it 1050 to go and gets called buy both blinds. The rest of the table follow suit. (You can see where this is going from my last post!) (And yes this is the standard process of how raises are seen at Luton in every comp apart from from the monthly 100 buy in). The flop brings  3h 4c 5h.... All check to the raiser who makes it 3700 blinds fold and UTG flats.. rest fold to me. With about 14000 in the pot I decide to shove for my remaining 15K or so...... Call, Call i hear and I'm thinking what the hell could they have. I'm shown AA and KK and are loving life. K on the turn and I find myself drawing dead..... followed by and A on the river.

Slightly steaming, I immediately head for the door without saying my goodbyes to anyone.... (Sorry Ransom).

Not sure if I could of done anything differently, as I haven't  really found myself in those spots online.

Roll on the GUKPT main next week.... I might get to see flops heads up!

Come on the Blues, start my grind at the Vic with a win! Let me down last week with my bet so I thought I would try it again!

Decided for some early morning cash at the vic, expecting a few tables to be going. Just got here and with 1 table running and a waiting list...... Sigh

Fingers crossed, I'll be there tomorrow for the Omaha 4/5/6 affair.

Good luck Tikay, I'm tempted to join you in that and play the main day 1b it's just such a fun game!

I love it to bits, I really do.

Should warn you, if you go deep in it, you'll be there all night - literally.

Worse ways to spend a night, mind.

So After an entertaining day grinding at the Vic posting a small profit for the days work, I thought i would go and enter into the main tomorrow. Now I planed on using one of my £550 GUKPT main seats which i won online as a part payment. This had been confirmed by Rory Cartwright (Online poker manager I believe) and I had brought the email with me (via my ipad). I proceed to try and use this as part payment and the very helpful lady(Honestly) advised that I'm not on any list and she is not aware of a Rory Cartwright.......


So Now I'm struck having to either pay the full fee (not something I really want to do) or missing out on the main which I have been looking forward to for the past few weeks...


I have emailed Rory a few hours ago and still have not had a reply, which is concerning as when i emailed before asking for the seat to be sent to the vic as part payment he responded within 20 mins. Perhaps he isn't in the office today!

Off home now.... unless I get a response from the online poker manager then I'm off to DTD for the Big game tournament.

Will be checking my account to ensure that my tokens are still on my account!

Will probally just pay Edinburgh and Reading if i don't get any luck with this.

It seems like this online self ban lasted all of about a month...

After I but of a reality check on what is required to turn a profit it MTT, I will be playing the day 1d online tonight. I was planing to play the on Friday/Saturday night, but it just seems to make sense to save costs and play a couple of online days if required.

I'll be playing on the old ipad so will post screen shots of me progress and discuss some (if any) interesting hands or spots.

I guess the old pro saying of cash games are their bread and butter is finally ringing home..... Must have a thick skull or something.

Let the grind begin... Well in a few hours :-)

So after starting on a manic opening table, Raise call calll re raise call call call.... I found kk and got it all in on a 10 5 5 flop and ran into a5 in a 3 bet pre flop pot... A quick k on the turn doubled me up before losing a medium pot with AJ against A7 in anther 3 bet pot, on an a710 flop and I had to pay off a river value bet. On first break time for a coffee.

so after the standard 2 hour first break, I chip up to about 90k before calling a 10k shove off the button in the small blind with kk and run into ak who gets there, back to 76 bb

gl ugo!

Wow another hour already.... Flying by. Up and down level I chipped up to 200k mark mainly by getting ak vs ac of clubs on an k57 two clubs board and holding. I then proceeded to lose with AQ vs 84 and managed to cheque it on the river with top pair no over card. Then I abandoned my abc approach and tried to rep the ace on a AQ 7 x x board and failing to get kk to fold.

Before finding JJ and getting it in vs 10 10 and holding to make the break with 150k about 50 bigs

Busted in 16th must be a thing this week 3rd time it's happened, shoved 18 bb with AJ and got snapped by 33 and the board ran out dry oh well there is always another leg.

Currently on my lunch break and thought I would write down some of my thoughts from the last week in regard to my online play.

I have constantly gone deep in the DTD Sat and the UKPC Mini online day 1 last night, and constantly have been grinding a top 10 stack all the way to the Final two tables before losing some key pots and then having to shove for 10-20 BB with AJ pocket 88's type of range. Perhaps I'm looking to get it in when I still have some play in my stack?

Generally happy with my play overall but have been making about 1 or 2 mistakes a comp when it comes to the old semi-bluffing which has resulted in me going from a nice deep final post flop final table stack to a getting it in with anything decent and hoping for the best.

Part of this just seems to be timing, I'm folding on turns with naked nut flush draws to a 2/3 bet pot only to see it hit the river and calling and missing (Variance I guess). Perhaps I should be check raising this type of hand out of position more often, as opposed to check calling, (however my success rate is small historically) instead of basically floating out of position hoping for a free turn and betting most rivers. The other part is probably getting a bit twitchy or impatient in the later stages and trying to chip up too fast......

I was wondering yesterday, what would be an average players ROI when it comes to 1-1 0r 1-2 live cash games and compare that to an established player. Cant seem find anything on good old Google. I might just have to put some numbers in excel and actually record my live buy ins and cash outs on a regular basis and see what happens.
 

It's not measured in ROI for cash games it's measured in big blinds won per 100 hands (online) or hourly rate (for live).

From experience (live) I don't think its possible to make more than £20 per hour at 1/1 over a large sample and I would bet a lot of money on that if it were possible.

A average, solid winning player will probably make £8-£13 depending on the games he's in.

Thanks Alex- Appreciated.

I think I'm going to rip up my old schedule and plan to play a lot more Cash on Friday/Saturday(Family permitting) nights with the Monthly DTD and Luton Special as my standard monthly schedule, with the view of playing a few local festivals.

I feel like although I have had a couple of winning years now (Not recorded, just more based on extra cash in the pocket)  but its just been random, One day I'll play a comp next day some NLH cash and the next some DC. I probably had a negative EV overall in the comps, but must of been on some type of heater, cause I cant recall the last losing cash game I played in NLH or DC. 

I'll write up a schedule and then record it over the next couple of years and see what numbers pop out. I'll post weekly updates on here...

Just Reading back the Party Poker down thread, and have noticed I've come across as a bit of a "insert whatever cockish word"

I guess I was a bit more stressed out about the situation than I first thought, and very needy.

Need to watch what I write and how I write things in the future as words don't lie I suppose.

I'm excited to be playing the UKPC mini tonight, even more so than Monday. I probably don't appreciate having some spare cash to play poker, especially in the current recession over the last few years.

I will try and post some progress in the breaks (if I make one :-) ) and write down a few hands that are interesting. no idea why I like to pre empt what I plan to do, I guess I'm just getting a tad addicted to posting on blonde. It should all calm down I. A week or so...... I hope.   

UKPC comp started badly had a Agro agree skive play with position on me who was clicking buttons, had to fold so me big hands to really timed re raises on turns and rivers..... Until I couldn't find a fold button with A Q and blinked an ace against his kings.

Since then I have manged to take down some pots with some c bets and have chipped up nicely at the first break with about 90k

Not a good hour... Re shoving time.... Open shoving time have just under 20bb going into the next level

Busto.... Shoved the button with J9 after an open and a call. Got called by a9 which held. Oh well always next time

15-20 big blinds seems too much to be in auto reshoving / open shoving mode, think I'd be circa 10-12 big blinds before feeling I'm restricted to those options? Can def open fold a 18 BB stack, for example.

After much thought I've finally settled on heading up to DTD tomorrow for the 2pm day 1 of  the mini. Planning to catch the first train back home in the morning, so it looks like an all nighter playing cash for me. I haven't been up to DTD since the WPT so looking forward to it all.

 Hopefully I bump into some of the blondes,Look forward to putting some screen names to faces over a drink or two.

Ps if you see me near the blackjack table please escort me back to the poker table...... I get a bit confused between the two at times....

Agree completely, and normally I would. I had a very call any open and any 3 bet table and was looking to pick up flops pre and adding 20% plus to my stack with no show down, shoving was the only way I felt I could do this.

Also didn't really want to play day two with a 20bb stack.

Going up tomorrow for the 2.00pm, i get you a drink in at the bar - easy way to find me be sitting outside in silver merc coupe LL09 during the first break eating my mrs ham sandwich

Mike

So thin! Tempted to play tomorrow just so I can meet Mike and see if he will stake me to win the world!

Come along I'd like to put a face to your name.

I'll come and say hi, I'll be the aggro looking kid with a grey nikey hoodie and big dark pink headphones..... Probably see me before the break.

You can see my ugly face online! Much nicer than meeting it in person!  I do want to meet Mike though!

:-) Which I could. I have no idea who you are or what your name is.... Not sure i could find you if i put Arbboy into google.


Edit: I thought I would wack your name into google and it honestly found you! well on the betfair community anyway and some of your old poker results.....

No pic though!

on the train up to Nottingham, and I thought I would bring my bike, as I'm trying to shred some pounds. Anyway got on the train, standing up in between garages eating my Greek yogurt, and all of a sudden I feel seasick( if that is even possible on a train.

Now the nearest carriage is  first class and I feel that if I try and make it up the train I'm going to empty my stomach over someone's lunch, ipad, laptop or head. So I settle on upgrading my ticket  to 1st class. Little did I know it was 80% of a new ticket to upgrade.


Think I'm leaving the old bike at home next time!

Edit: just thought I saw Tikay in my carriage.... Must be just a look a like

So another weekend playing poker has come to an end. After 4 bullets in the Mini I had it through to say two with about 16bb after a couple of blow ups in the final level of day 1 on Friday night. Met Tikay, mike, and Chris from blonde in the order, and Tikay kindly pointed out some more of the blonde poker members, Cambridge Alex and a few others.

Day two was a bit of a nightmare, I knew I had a lot of work to do with 16bb and it wasn't going to get any easier even if I found a couple of double ups, due to the blinds increasing at a rapid pace. So when I saw two limps in front of me, and looked down at AK first hand I thought it would be a good spot to pick up a few big blinds, only to be looked up by KK who turned over is hand before Chris had a chance to fold. Anyway the board ran out dry and I was left with 1 bb which went in the next hand and found a set of sixes. Chris said he had 4's and was going to call if the first limper didn't.


The first limper was old mikey from blonde, who I had met on Friday night and over a drink he had some really funny life stories to tell, and all in all a really nice bloke.. I never played with him on day 1 and had no idea how tight he had been playing. After watching and chipping in with a few of my observations I realised how obvious it was he had a big hand by limping from early position. May have just flat called the bet and seen a flop in hindsight.

Also bumped into a few of the local regs from luton travelled up from luton to play the turbo in the morning which is always nice to see.

next stop for me is the luton monthly next weekend... The max number of entires is 4, and as my ticket to luton is 25% if the Nottingham one I might make a smaller loss!

GlGl to anyone in e main or still in the Mini

VERNDOG was playing well and running golden.... long May it continue.

I can't believe its been nearly a month since I last updated this. I knew it had been a while, but was under the impression it was only a couple of weeks.

Its been a bit of a manic month so far, I haven't played much poker in the last few weeks. Have been doing up my Sons bedroom and fitting in a new bathroom. And making plans on turning my outside bricked shed/come spare room, into a poker themed chill out room. Have purchased a Marshall Budweiser Fridge via Auction, and needed somewhere sensible to put it which kicked off the idea of a chill out room. Somewhere away from the wife and kids. Once Completed I will post some pictures up, looking to have a 9 handed poker table, Mini bar, TV with Sky and the old PS4 to kit it out a bit. maybe a recliner chair which I can sleep In, If I'm feeling too lazy to head back into the house.

I had some bailiff's from Marston come knocking on my door a couple of weeks back now, demanding debt for someone I had never heard of. After forcing their way in and threatening to Drop me like a sack of shit, the Police were called and advised as this was a civil matter they couldn't interfere. Me and my partner both showed our ID, which should of ended the matter, but apparently this "didn't prove shit" and they will be bring the Van around to start unplugging things. Stressed, and fearful of losing our stuff, I paid the £616 quid.

Livid with what just happened, I decided to do a bit of research to find out our rights on what just happened, and emailed Marston's CEO with my complaint, detailing the various laws his firm had ignored. To my surprise he emailed back the same day and copied in his heads of department and basically told them to sort this out. After a few emails back and forth I arranged a meeting with their head of fraud at the Costa in Bedford town centre. I thought this was going to be a Letter of the law meeting, and them trying to Wessel their way out of it. However without much prompting they agreed to repay the money which I had paid plus 50% in compensation. I agreed immediately and they then asked if I had any loss of earnings for taking the time out to meet them and I declined the offer. In hindsight I probably should of charged them my daily rate as I had to take a day's holiday to sort this all out. Payment was received a couple of days after.

I knew I would be getting my money back at some point, but thought I would need to go through the ombudsmen to do it. As it turns out, this is the only +EV transaction I have had in the last 3 months, taking my wage packet out of the equation!

Next stop of my poker tour is likely to be the 25/25 at the Vic at the end of the month or the DTD deep stack the week after. Don't really want to play both, not feeling it really. Currently favour the Vic at the moment, as it is slightly closer and easier to get back home via the train after.

Any other Blondes playing the 25/25 at the Vic this month?

So the trip to the Vic was a +EV trip from a PLO cash game perspective. Got to the Vic around 2ish and put my list on all the games going at that time and the 1/2 deep Omaha game and the 2/5. Grinded the 1/1 game for a couple of hours and posted a small win for me in real money worth, but about 180BB in poker terms. The game got really nitty and I could feel I was going to lose patience and end up playing like a donk.

So I took a break and headed down to Hyde park to chill for a bit, before heading down Oxford Street, to get a couple of bits for the kids and the Mrs. Got back to the Vic about 6ish and head my name being called for the 1/2 Omaha game which was finally about to get started. Played for around an hour and managed to find some good spots to take the pot down on the turn, which has sometimes 4 handed action. Also managed to flop the bottom end of a straight flush which was nice and practically got a double up vs a jack high flopped flush. Didn't really want to quit the game, but hand come down to play the 25/25 and was looking forward to it so off I trotted to play that.

Busted about half way through level 2! Just couldn't get anything going really, was running my made flush on the turn, into a bigger river flush, had top set flushed away, just not my tournament really.  Don't feel I played any hands incorrectly, just kept on getting outdrawn. Maybe I inflated the pot pre  too much thinking about it. went to re-enter but was like 14 on the list and with the PLO Full I decided to head back home.... Not until I did a couple of hundred on the BJ like a fool.

Will probably be forced to skip the UKIPT, as I wait for my passport to turn up.  So the next comp will be the 25/25 at my local casino, always tend to play better, go deep there. I must be more relaxed I guess.

Played the last 25/25 game in Edinburgh, it was really good fun with a decent structure.

There was quite a mix of players as well, from "pros" to just your normal casino player.

You've got me thinking about playing another one of these!

Gl for the next one.

Got a couple of spare 21 inch monitors for that grind room when you get it sorted.

Over/under before the police show up to investigate nosebleed cash games?

Why do you need a passport for the UKIPT?

hi

i have my passport so will probably go up friday - if your going up let me know

mike

I've never played a pokerstars live comp before. Was told you need photo ID, I dont drive so only photo I'd I have is my work pass, and my passport which I sent off for renewal a couple of weeks back.

If I don't need photo ID I'll play it. Can anyone confirm?

Will do Mike- if I can't play, you should come across to luton for the 25/25 at the end of the month! It would be good to catch up.

Thanks, I'll take them. Who much do you want for them? Or are they a donation? 😎

How did you get on at the G tonight?

Agreed- it has a good structure and a nice mix of players. Quite relaxed too.

Thanks for the run good, you should come and play the luton one this month? If it's not too much of a trip for you.

I think this is the most boring, dragging morning at work I have had to endure for a long time. Being the only human being sat up in Finance is a bit of a drag, I thought I would enjoy the peace and quiet but this reminds me of the time sitting in a Police detention cell after being nicked for being involved in an after school fight about 10 years ago......

Have been using my time productively by looking up the SCOOP schedule(Now my self imposed ban is going to an end), and pencilling the events on a Friday/Saturday nights, so I can avoid playing on work nights, and being a walking zombie during the day, followed by doing my nuts later that evening as I'm too stubborn not to play when I'm tired. This is a common problem when I play online, but not so much when I play Live. I also get so excited about playing the SCOOP, even more than the WCOOP events, I guess they are more suitable to my pretend bankroll.

As a credit manager, you would of thought I would be a bankroll nit, assessing the risk and variance and comparing it to the rewards, but I don't really keep money aside just for poker. I vaguely track how much I'm winning or losing and just go from there. Treat the family when we are winning, and dull it down a bit when I'm not and never slip into using bill money and family money for poker. Its just not worth the gamble. Now that I understand(Apparently) how Poker pros calculate their ROI, I guess they pay themselves a wage, and then add a % to their bankroll to help compensate for the swings. Its basically equates to having working capital to continue to trade, while having a bad debt provision to compensate for your losses.... Easy when I think of it that way.
 

My Mrs is heading to a 2 day Midwifery conference next month, which means It will be the first time in nearly 9 months I will be responsible for two little people. Its scary to think how fast time has come since Zara gave birth to our son Logan last August. I must admit, I'm not particularly great with babies and feel my stress levels after a couple of days will be sky high. I love spending time with my kids, but I'm dreading trying to entertain a 4 year old girl whilst keeping an 8 month old baby from crying the house down. Logan is a very high maintenance baby, very clingy, hates sleeping (Still sleeps in about 20 min busts throughout the day, and a couple of hours at night). If Logan was Ivey's age then I think It would be a much easier task as I could take them out places which they both would enjoy. Might still take them to Cadburys world, as Ivey has been wanting to go since Christmas.

I don't know how Zara does it day in day out whilst I'm working or out playing poker. Zara will be going back to University in a few months to complete her final year of Midwifery, so looking after the children will even out again and I'll get back into the swing of things.

Reading this back It comes across like I'm an absent Dad, who is married to his work and plays out all night. Maybe I'm a bit, perhaps I need to cut out some of the Friday nights out, and now my Pokerstars account is back up and running, Maybe just limit myself to a few hours of cash online rather than grinding schedules of tournaments. Its a juggling act I'm yet to solve.

So I decided to play some MTT on stars with one 6 max 50/1 PLO game to keep me ticking over last night. Busted the big 109,22 and the hot 11 and 16, but managed to run deep in the Big 11 which I eventually cashed for $60 coming in 102 so down around $120 on the MTT front, but being up around six buy in the PLO I managed to post a winning session.

Had a situation come up on stars last night, which I'm not sure if this should be allowed. I has above average in chips in the Big 11, already enjoying a deep run in the cash, when I'm booted off the site. I receive an email asking for ID. Now this isn't an issue as I have my old passport scans on the PC, and I sent them across. However because of this interruption it most likely cost me a final table appearance. Should they be allowed to do this? Why don't they wait for you to finish the tournament and just not let you cash out until the ID has been provided?

I was so pissed of... haven't felt like that in a long while....

That can't be right surely?

Afraid so .. got back on tonight.....

That's awful from stars, never heard of it happening before.

I know exactly how you feel when it comes to balancing a family life with work and poker, it's impossible to put in the amount of time to each that you need to.  I'm lucky in the family and work fronts, in that I'm self employed so depending on the time of year I can be really flexible with my working hours, just a couple of 6-8 week spells when I get next to zero poker in.  On the family front I couldn't ask much more from the wife, as long as I put aside at least a day to take them out once every couple of weeks I do pretty much whatever I want poker wise, even got a pass out to Vegas with a poker friend of mine. As long as the hallway is wallpapered and the caravan is sited for the year so she can bugger off with the kids when I'm busy at harvest :)

Don't know about you (or anyone else) but the worst thing about live poker for me is the travelling, I live away from any cities, 50mins from nearest casino, 80mins dtd, I get home, have tea, wash change see kids for a bit, walk out the door and look at the car and think 'I sit behind a wheel all day, I really can't be arsed with the drive' decent local cash games have dried up, the Internet is getting more and more appealing.  I've even taken to offering mates the buyin for 10% action in whatever bowl comp is on if they drive if I want to go play cash, buts that's not so good for the expenses column!

1. can i exchange my mrs for pokerplayingfarmers mrs.
2. will be up to dtd tommorrow for ukipt if your there

Doesn't sound like the old Stars, not so sure with this motley crew but I would certainly be asking for some compensation. Possibly some cashier action (withdrawal/deposit) flagged something up, but to do it mid tournament is quite out of order!

Sounds like your a very lucky man @pokerplayingfamer!

I agree the traveling is a bit of a killer. I don't drive, so jump on the train everywhere. Fortunately I'm about 45 mins from London and about 90 from dtd. Issue is the trains home from DTD don't run late and I either book a place to stay or have a couple of hours wait at Costa in the early hours of the morning. London/luton is much more forgiving when it comes to the return trip.

I've emailed pokerstars complaining about the timing, and have just got a generic email back saying they reserve the right to suspend accounts at any time when necessary, and they aploigise for the inconvienance caused, and they never ment to imply any wrong doing. This has happened a couple of years back on full tilt, but I was only playing cash games at the time If I remember correctly.

I'm working tomorrow unfortunately, and have family stuff to do on Saturday, so I won't be up at dtd for the ukipt Mike. Good luck though mate, im sure you'll have another deep run! (Plus Im still passportless! You must let me know if they do indeed ask for it, I have heard so many stories!)

She laughed out loud, had to show her, so she saw what I wrote, for extra brownie points!  I should be up to dtd Friday too might see you there.

Update to ugo on my friday trip to dtd - please feel free to give me a good slating

Played the 2.00pm - 2 bullets - bombed out at 7.00pm

entered the 7.00pm had 15k at level 10 average i think about 90k

Made some audacious bluffs with 32o and 87o when raised i just shoved and got folded to by level 14 up to 100k.

Down to the last 1 minute 57 seconds of play - day 2 in the bag all i have to do is fold - new player sits down and opens the pot with a 7k raise (level 1500/3000 antes 400) from ep - 4 folds i look at my cards pair of 33 instant shove - knowing that i am way behind - but i had decided that i couldnt be arsed to come back on sunday with 25bb - i know get slating -

anyway chap has about 102k ask how much it is - clock time has finished - he calls - pair of jj - he wins i lose - the 2 short stacks ahead in the sb and bb who both have about 50k start moaning that i shoved and they folded ak and aq - of which neither would have hit

I think i lack any motivation - lol

No slating here Mike. If you couldn't be arsed to grind 25bb stack going into day two and wanted to gamble then that's fine. If you thought it was the right play then we would be having words! :-)

Did you enjoy it? Did they ask for photo ID to enter?

no to photo id

in fact couple of guys didnt have there dtd cards and just gave their names and entered

Seems Like I could of played then... Oh well lesson learnt.

Its been a Manic few weeks at work. Haven't been so glad its the weekend in a long while. My two most senior staff have been either on holiday or have been off with sick, I also worked over the bank holiday weekend. Covering two companies ledgers entirely, posting the incoming cash as really keeping on top of my weekly/daily reports, releasing credit held orders, dealing with the incoming calls from our lovely customers and being on hand to answer any questions my newish boss may throw my way and be on hand to help her with the system processes is really starting to take its toll on me mentally. Probably physically too. It has been a constant few weeks, with another one in store next week. This was made evident when I turned  on my computer last night to play some MTT'S on Stars and my eyes couldn't even see the screen, really had to focus to make anything out. I took the hint and headed for a shower before turning in for an early night.

Today I must of posted a personal best time for waking up and not turning on some type of computer device. Instead I spring cleaned the shit hole that I call a home as the kids have wrecked it again, before heading off to see an old school friend with the family. She has a lovely two bedroom semi detached house with a massive pebbled driveway, which could easily be a home for 5 cars. The sun was out and even with a chilly wind blowing, it was nice just to see the kids playing and having a chance to relax and rest the mind in some good company.

As I type this I have busted the first 8 of the 10 $2.50 turbos i have fired up on stars, and have now final tabled two as chip leader by some distance. Slowly learning why the internet is soo good for riding out variance and why correct bankroll management is so important in today's game. Normally I would be playing the big 109,55,11,22 and the hot 75, 16 ect ect instead of grinding these turbo's. Not because my roll is sufficiently rolled to take the hit, but just because I like to take shots and because I have the cash at the time to do it. This approach has had its good times but is just not sustainable for me at the moment. So grind, grind and grind it will have to be.   

Two more weeks before I have a nice week off from work. Plan on using this time to go and sign up to the new gym in Bedford, take the kids for a nice walk through some local woods, and generally just have some time to relax and not worry about a thing in the world. The back end of my week off is the 25/25 in Luton which I will be attending. Hopefully with a clear refreshed mind, looking to do some damage.

I think I'm coming to an end of an era when it goes to my poker playing days. Its just not the same as it used to be, repetitive, boring even. The excitement has just been extinguishing slowly over the last 8 months or so. As I'm feeling like this after a nice little win online last night it is probably best if i just do something else indefinitely.

 I stumbled onto the game, about 8 years ago now by chance really. I was having my local Monday night 7 a side game when a young chap mentioned a home poker game. Now I had only seen it on the TV, but that did not stop me from bluffing that i knew the game and would like to join if a seat was open. So off I trotted to my first poker game a 50 quid SNG and with luck on my side i managed to win it for 300 odd quid. I felt amazing, felt like I could beat the world, so off i went and brought some poker books and was spending every waking moment thinking about hands and strategy and it wasn't too long after i was playing at my local G casino. I never had much of an upbringing and was fending for myself from an early age, finances where tight, and often I was in a spot having to choose between having no gas for two weeks or punting 20 quid on Pokerstars trying to win the Sunday Storm or one of the Bigger Sunday comps. I guess I saw it as a way out of my hell, a chance to make something of myself no matter of the cost, a dream that would soon turn into a gambling nightmare. Not long after I started playing at the casinos I found Blackjack which would almost put me on the streets on more than one occasion, me and my addictive personality was hooked. Mix that with awful luck when it comes to BJ, even the dealers felt sorry for me, I could see it in there eyes.

I guess I've come a long way from then. Have a wonderful wife, daughter and two sons,have a steady comfortable job with career progression and the need for the game has just stopped. As we all know poker can be one of the most time consuming things god has ever created, factor in the travel to and from destinations, or staring at a screen concentrating on multi tabling is just eating into the time i personally feel should be spent with the family. And the money I've lost over the years could of been spent more wisely... could of saved for that mortgage the wife has been going on about :-)

Bottom line is life is too short and if you don't enjoy doing something anymore you should just not do it or find another variable option. I think this is as good of a time as any.

 

Hey mate,

The game will always be there, if and when you want a game.

Never ending game ;)

Just from a "fun" perspective, played 1 game on stars tonight along side sky tables. A lot slower the fact it's 9 handed.

Not to sure if you play on Sky or not but if not would defo try it out sometime.

It's all 6 max so there's always plenty of action.

Thanks Mate.

I used to play a bit on Sky enjoyed the nightly bounty hunters for a while, but not the cash games as much. Might give it a try in the near future. 

9 handed is defiantly slower with like a 10-15 min clock. I tend to play turbos mostly, as they have 5 min levels and play much faster. 

I Probably just need to head to the gym to get some happy endorphin's pumping around my blood. Either that or get some anti d's from the the doctors :-) Kids and the partner are heading off to a party today. i would be heading off with them if it wasn't for this stupid chest cold. Will probably end up on stars as have nothing else to be getting on with today... Dead money here ;-)

We all fall out of love with the game at some time. However its probably best if you do take a break for a while, the want and love will come back to you and your family are certainly more important than poker, that being said when you do start playing again try and treat it like a great hobby that gives you a little income to treat the family with, practice bankroll management to the letter and stay away from the casino games and you will be fine. While your not playing it will give you time to build up  a nice bankroll (good old fashion saving?) and suddenly a big bink will be around the corner. Trust me, i have been there, along with hundreds of others. Good luck for the future.

Thanks for the advice- Much appreciated

Sounds like you have got a good dose of down in the dumps - and things in general not going right at the moment.

Happens to us all - but it is never as bad as you think -

With regards to poker - i think that the grinding is the thing to lay off - just play a tournament a night and if that bores you switch to playing a couple a week - and if that bores you lay off completely.

But i hope you get back into the swing of things - be good to see you again at dtd if you go up for the PP.

What ever you do keep the blog going as i always find it interesting.

Good luck which ever you choose.

Mike

Cheers Mike- I took the advise and played only a couple of comps last night, and managed to go deep in the cash in the big 22 and 11 last night. Albeit for a 91% favourite on the turn to 0% on the river I would of probably won the big 22 on stars. I was 3rd in chips with 70 remaining and tangled with the chip leader who barley had me covered and couldn't find a fold with 55 against my QQ  on a 932 rainbow board. Happens. Anyway i actually enjoyed playing just a couple of tables and took breaks on the hour instead of playing spin & goes. Maybe I was just burning myself out. Lightweight in my old age.

i am old you are young

Went down to the G Luton for friendly Glenn Invitational Friday comp. Spent most of it just catching up with some people who i haven't seen in a while before failing to make the end of level 2 and heading out for a walk with the view of coming back and re entering just before the end of the first break. After chatting to Harry for a bit who convinced me there is little value in reentering, I made my way home well before 10pm. Feel asleep on the train only to be woken up by a member of staff from station. Might of been best after all not to punt off another 60 quid.

Looking at the SCOOP Schedule next month it looks like i will only be playing 11 out of the 30 odd comps, All Low level though, might play the odd Medium level if I start well. Not looking to play on a work night, especially as they are mainly 5K starting stacks with 15 min levels, so will solely be playing Friday/Saturday nights,maybe Sunday.

Schedule will be something like this:

Event    Torun ID
1   SCOOP-01-L: $11 NL Hold'em, $75K Gtd
2   SCOOP-02-L: $27 NL Hold'em [6-Max, Progressive Super-Knockout], $250K Gtd
3   SCOOP-03-L: $27 NL Hold'em, $300K Gtd
4   SCOOP-04-L: $11 NL Hold'em [Turbo], $100K Gtd
6   SCOOP-06-L: $7.50 NL Hold'em [Heads-Up], $50K Gtd, No Late Registration
24   SCOOP-24-L: $27 NL Hold'em, $300K Gtd
30   SCOOP-30-L: $11 NL Hold'em, $100K Gtd
36   SCOOP-36-L: $11 NL Hold'em [Progressive Super-Knockout], $150K Gtd
43   SCOOP-43-L: $27 NL Hold'em [6-Max, Variable Level Times, Progressive Super-Knockout], $200K Gtd
45   SCOOP-45-L: $109 NL Hold'em Main Event, $1M Gtd, $100K+ to 1st!
46   SCOOP-46-L: $11 NL Hold'em Wrap-Up [Turbo, Optional Re-Entry], $150K Gtd

Might add a mixed game or a PLO game, not sure yet though.

I think the Friday comp may have ended up with ~ £1000 overlay in the end, so my advice about going home early may not have been that good. Cash was apparently jumping as well with 4 games running at one point. Which probably sounds hilarious to anyone from DTD reading, but it's pretty good that weekend cash is picking up now. Wasn't too long ago we'd have one 50p/£1 going with a list 7 people deep at 1am. Gentings up the road has been getting the same, 3 or 4 cash games running in the evenings and Casino MK have £1/£2 running now as well.

- 6   SCOOP-06-L: $7.50 NL Hold'em [Heads-Up], $50K Gtd, No Late Registration

I hope you've got a full day free for this one. Takes forever to run until maybe the last 128. Going to be waiting over an hour each between your second/third/fourth... round matches if you get through them.

Have a go at some satellites to some of the SCOOP-M events, there will be a ton of deadline sats with a whole load of seats in them a couple of hours before they're due to kick off.

Its crazy how one week we are waiting around playing heads up waiting for a seat, then the next they open up 4 tables. You should of just taken he credit for 60 quid saved mate!

I think the heads up is on a Saturday, so probably will be about watching the football in between the matches If something comes up I guess I can always skip it.

Need a new Itunes playlist. Songs are getting a bit old and repetitive.

Get Spotify mate. Well worth the £10 a month for the premium. They might still do a £5 a month version as well with some restrictions on the amount of playlists you can have.

Couldn't live without it. Have it on my phone almost 24/7. You can still get a free trial through Facebook I think for a month. 

The free wer soon is also good. Minimal commercials that barely interrupt on the music

Thanks guys, I'll check them out.

Settled on Spotify, Really enjoying it so far , run up like a 11 hour playlist. Should be long enough for now.

Have the whole week off work (Thank god) really enjoyed taking the family out today, haven't had this much fun in a long time. Enjoyed all the smiles on there faces, and I genuinely smiled all day long!

Not got much planned tomorrow, Had arranged for Harry to come and chill out, review some hands have a drink, grab a pizza ect ect, but not sure if he can make it. So plan on playing the following schedule:

Big    $5.50
big   $109.00
big   $55.00
big   $22.00
big   $8.80
big   $11.00
hot   $11.00
hot   $16.50
hot   $4.40
hot   $3.30
hot   $33.00

Will play this regardless of what happens tomorrow I guess and would be happy to swap with any blondes who are playing the same event. Let me know.

 

It's crazy how fast a week goes by!

I have had a pretty good week from a poker point of view made super deep runs in 4 figure fields, making the final table in the PLO before eventually finishing 4th. Had a few final tables in 180 man Turbo's. Played for 3 nights straight, but only around 6 MTT a night and cashed 14 times. Not too bad must be my upswing! I have put alot of time this week reviewing hands, watching training video's and following JCarvers and JStaples Twitch streams and by the looks of things it has defiantly paid off. Still along way to go though and many more hours in the lab studying required.

Main areas I have improved on is hand section VS position and the maths from defending from the blinds, and bet sizing to achieve different outcome.

It has come at a cost though, Wife is pissed off with me because of the amount of time I have been up at unsociable hours. "you've been up all week at different hours to your family" she bitches at me. Then the constant nagging, and seemly fighting for my attention for no good reason other than the fact I'm not doing jobs around the house or sitting down "enjoying" the soaps she watches. She acts as if I'm having an affair with someone. Maybe I'm, just maybe its not a living being. It got to the point when she threw some laundry at me in protest and then took the kids out and didn't come back last night after I told her what I thought of her attitude. Apparently she was at some random house that her sister is sitting after she drove to Cambridge or seemingly no reason I can think of. Now I can imagine the looks I will be getting from her family at the next family event.... Joy!

The last paragraph is probably too personal to write on a public forum but it felt good to write it down. A lot of emotional strain off my chest!

Well done on some nice results at poker this week.

But defo have some family time too. Maybe agree on times you are going to play/ have sessions and treat the family with some of the winnings  :)

Thanks man :-)

I think she just hates all forms of gambling. Hates spending money, won on gambling, hates watching me gamble ect ect. She is very much a hard working type, very intelligent and just hates gambling. I now know why this is, but it is not my place to write on an open forum. I took your advise and agreed to kinda book "session time". She doesn't want to know how much I've won or lost though, and doesn't want to talk about it at all.

As I posted a couple of weeks back, I'm kinda falling out of love with the game, and as such have played alot less than I would normally. Taking a couple more sessions off will probably do me good anyway. Probably just play Friday/Saturday night or something. Would love yo play Sunday's but with work in the morning its probably best not to.

Very tough one mate really, def shouldn't be putting poker before family but getting a balance can sometimes be difficult as it's different for everyone. Can't be healthy either that she doesn't want to know anything about what you are doing but then if u show no interest in her soaps (I know that is very difficult to do) then she probably thinks the same. I'm only talking from experience but a few things I have done to make sure the wife, 3 kids and myself all live in harmony (my missis has no interest at all with poker) I have set days that I play, usually Sunday, Wednesday and Fri, but I never play on Saturdays as that is our family day/night. If I change my schedule (usually to play live) then it's all done in advance and on the calendar so all the communication is there, when I have a nice score the wife is on 20% for herself personally, can spend it on whatever she wants for herself, no questions asked. We always have a date night once a month where the kids stay at the grandparents and we go out, no drinking, just a nice meal, cinema, the odd trip to London. We also always have dinner with the kids at the dinner table every night, gives us all a chance to have a chat and talk to each other, which can be quite rare in this world of social networking and iPads. Works well for us, we all have an interest in listening to each other's hobbies, work, school etc etc. just seems that life is about give and take in equal measure, communication and mutual respect. Poker has a place in that somewhere for us all but should certainly not have a bigger piece of the pie than anything else (unless your a pro, even then with kids u have to make certain sacrifices). Anyway just wanted to let u know your not alone in what your going through as many of us will have been there, it's what you choose to do next that matters. Look after your family mate, poker will always be there, they may not.

Know how you feel on the poker front, I often go through periods where I don't play at all, or load a few comps up, get 2/3 outtered, then think fk this and watch a movie/read a book instead.

Gotta make time for the family obviously but you also need time for yourself, whatever it is that you do with the time.

My mrs did moan about me always being on my laptop of an evening. Just told her how awful her soaps/reality tv shit was and we could always watch the stuff I like (American tv drama mostly) soon put her off moaning about it.

TBH I never tell my mrs how much I gamble and she's not interested either, unless I have a decent win, though she knows i'm sensible with money (never play with money I can't afford and probably play lower than I should)

Yeah completely agree with this.If I cant come to an agreement then It will deffo be the one to go. Would 100% rather have the family over any game.

Thanks for your experience on this, much appreciated. Felt like i was the only one in the world with this issue for a bit. I think I like your schedule idea will give that a go!

So things between my and the Mrs have sorted out and we have come to an agreement we are both happy with, with immediate effect. Already feel alot happier with life :-).

I pulled this off sharkscope for my finishing positions in MTT'S stats:

Early Finishes (10%):
20.30%
Early/Middle Finishes (20%):
17.20%
Late Finishes (10%):
13.20%
Middle Finishes (40%):
37.90%

This is over 655 MTTS with an average fields of 1489. Not sure if these are really good stats or bad? Anyone have an idea of what these should be for a winning player compared to a losing player or a break even one?

Good to see you have sorted things out with the Mrs - i presume you will now only be playing six days a week instead of seven - lol

Are you going to play any of the live PP at dtd next week -

What is your tag on PS as i thought it might of been you running deep on the big $11 last week - bit of a bummer thought i was going to win it finished 19th

See you later + are you going to the blonde bash

yeah that's about right 6 days instead of 7. On a serious not I will just be playing a few times a week max, and all my live ventures will be booked well in advance. Not sure I will be playing live that much at the moment. Only thing I have booked is the GUKPT in reading at the end of June. I might have a go at the PP, but will play online if anything as I have quite a busy May.

I did indeed go deep in the Big 11 last week, finished 41st it was probably you knocked me out with your KQ hitting a Q on the river! I'll PM you my Stars name, if you've got Skype let me know as I'm always on Skype when playing.

I will be going to the blonde Bash however I need to catch up with what's the latest on it.

More Pokerstars Incompetence. Trying to cash out a little on stars last night an they decided to freeze my account for the third time in just under a month. I received an email asking me to verify my ID, bank card and bank account statement again! Sent an email back saying you should have this on your records as I have sent this across on X and z date. Received an email saying they cannot progress without me providing the documents again and this is standard practice, sorry for the inconvenience.

Will be now splitting my online games across 888 and Party and possibly Sky who I have had no issue with depositing and Withdrawing in the past.

Not that stars will care about this, being a billion dollar company and all, but I can not support them any longer.

Laugh - i have been trying to cash out from stars for over a year - i then realised i needed to win some money first - the only site i have not had a decent win on - with regards to 888 - i tend to play on lucky aces which is a sister company of 888 - same platform and same tournaments - never won on 888 but taken down several on LA - payout times do vary though can be between 3 - 5 days.

If you go back to PS let me know

Great run - unlucky to run into AA - but you played very well and must be pleased - big bink will happen soon i am sure

I got mullered  all night,  always another day though

again well played

Thanks Mike appreciated. I had no idea you had been railing me the whole time. Shame I went card dead for the last 8 levels or so, had tough tables the whole way through also, running into EPT high rollers, online pros ect. All part of the fun.

I regret posting my business with pokerstars (as it has now been sorted), reading it all back I just come across as a whining emotional little bitch, maybe I am a bit lately with everything which has been going on. But that's life right, just need to pick yourself up and carry on, no point in crying about it.

If you get Skype we can chat without it being displayed to the whole world of online poker. Maybe talk through some hands.

Decided to have give myself the rest of the week off scoop, after a pretty crap session on Monday night. Just lost all flips and managed to convert 3 94% on the turn to 0% on the river in the big 109, 55 and the scoop rebuy event. All times with KK VS 1010. Happens. Will be back on it for Sunday.

Finally got round to "doing" the weeding in the garden (Mrs and her sister did most of the work), It looks great, just need to get round to going to a gardening shop to pick up some Flowers to plant and get the old pressure washer out to clean down the slaps. Fingers crossed we get some nice weather to accommodate a barbecue! Turned up to work this morning to the news that we had no water as there had been a main line pipe bust in the next town which had effected the best part of Bedford. Instead of closing down for H&S reasons they have decided to get some portable loos in and buy some heaps of water from Tesco to hydrate us. More cost effective I suppose than paying 70% of the work force an extra day's holiday. Was looking forward to the day of as the weather is good.  The loos are situated right outside the ground floor offices which contain our telesales team, its almost like a walk of shame to head down and use them with everyone peering out of the window!

Everyone's action for the WSOP seems to be selling out in hours on here! Look forward to getting some action when I have enough posts, will probably not be in time for this years :-(
 

 

Oh you never know Ugo, your post count could go up if people start asking daft questions.

BTW- How many top lips do you have?

Good question! I can never quite figure out if I have just the one, or thousands of top lips all pilled on top of each other. Who knows eh?

Think of a card and don't tell me what it is.

 2c 2d 2h 2s 3c 3d 3h 3s 4d 4h 4s 5c 5d 5h 5s 6c 6d 6h 6s 7c 7d 7h 8c 8d 8h 8s 9c 9d 9h 9s Tc Td Th Ts Jc Jd Jh Js Qc Qd Qh Qs Kd Kc Kh Ks Ad Ac Ahrt Aspades

Okay Got it!

Is it the seven of spades?

  ;applause;

Very good. I though magic was dead!

 ;yippee;

You're not getting this are you. reply quickly and say no.

Is it the seven of spades?

Sorry I thought my response meant Yes!

It did, but you need to get your post count to 300, right?

So you say "No, it's not the seven of spades..."

Sorry after a long night i was a bit dim.

No its not the 7 of spades !

Any more deep SCOOP runs this week?

Ran into any more sicko EPT High Rollers?

Well done on the deep run last night! Scary 6k runner fields  :)up

7 of clubs?

Nope, its a heart!

Six of clubs?

Nope

You can buy %'s of people if you have less than 300 posts.

Now you tell me Vinny!

Thanks mate. I guess you just cant sell action unless you have 300 posts

When do you think you will get to 300 posts? 

Going on my current rate of 2.6 posts a day. In approx 1.5 days time! 😄

All In all I have had a pretty week on both a personal front and poker. Made back to back final tables in a 5000+ and 800+ fields on Stars and and pretty much cashed every MTT i played on Saturday bar a couple. I have started reviewing/booming any interesting hands or hands I feel i played really badly/good and am talking about them to a few friends on Skype/Facebook that I really value their opinions. I find it really helps you to engrave it in my brain what I should be doing more of and what I should never do again. Reviewing this weeks sessions and comparing them to less successful weeks I find that my VPIP has dropped between 5-12% and my PFR has also decreased slightly at around 3%.

I have also cut down the amount I'm bluffing on turns and rivers. Even cutting down on my C-bets on wet boards and when the flop brings a 3 flush and I hold the ace of that suit, as people are more likely to pay off two streets when I hit and I can get away cheaply when I miss. Even the small percentage when I'm bluffing on the turn it seems to get way more respect than just punting in a C-bet which 95% of the poker world can play profitably against.

The only bad tournament I had was in the 5 Card PLO where I ran up a 35K stack in under an hour and then proceeded to "try and win the tournament" with 95% of the field in play. It was late in my session and I had two turbo's, two standard NLH, one 8 game and two PLO5 games going at the same time which was a bit of a brain wreak for me.

Heading to Birmingham on Tuesday evening for the week, so will take a nice earned break from the online world for a few days before returning for the Scoop Main event next Sunday.

Hope for some run good on my Birthday!

Was it the 3 of hearts?

 3h Correct! Well done Red-Dog. Thanks for playing! :-)

I have been wanting to take the family aware for a long weekend for a little while now. Put us up in a nice hotel, with a pool, gym and breakfast included and perhaps a nice view of the city. Wanted it to be somewhere none of us have been, and somewhere I could run off and play some poker whilst the Mrs does some shopping.

Found Cardiff.

Found a good Deal on the Hilton In Cardiff. It ticks all the boxes, Pool, gym, massage room if required(Probably not as I'm not on a massive budget). Booked the family room with the view of the Castle, and it is right slap bang in the middle of the City and just over a mile to the local G casino which just so happens to be running their leg of the GUKPT that week! Result!



Brought into day 1B. If that doesn't go so well, hopefully the cash games will be good, or I could also buy into whatever comps will be running over the weekend. 100 quid on Saturday on the GUKPT weeks if memory serves me right. Will probably sell 20-30% of my action if anyone wants a sweat.

Any Blondes heading down for this? Anyone local?

Can't post in the staking thread because of my measly 100 post total, but I'll have 5% of your GUKPT for £27.

For anyone considering buying a piece - I've done a ton of transactions with Shane for online comps and all payouts have been received very quickly. He's also on a heater having some really deep runs online, so here's hoping for a nice score in Cardiff.

S

are you playing dtd at all this week - as your in birmingham - also just looked at the cardiff event - what day you playing as i might be there as its only an 1 hour for me

M

Hi mike,

Cant make DTD unfortunately. Will be playing day 1b which is next Friday if you fancied a game?

will let you know about cardiff

Decided to take a break from online yesterday (Rather forced I must say) and head down to Luton for the Monday Madness £35 quid comp. I must admit putting my shoes on to leave I was already regretting it. 30K starting chips and only 1500 Guaranteed this was going to be a long night. I had to remind myself the only reason I was going was to try out a few things in a deepish stack comp, remind myself of all those live tells the not so experienced players give off and to pick off some of the more experienced players moves.

Got their almost bang on 19.30 got a drink and then headed down to the card room. Bumped into a few of the regulars had a chat, helped to register a friend into the Scoop PLO5 Hi/Lo rebuy. He wanted to play the M and the L (he though it was just a freeze out) when I reminded him it was a rebuy he settled the Low only. Not that he couldn't afford both, just he isn't that reckless!  

Got Drawn on the Luton Feature table with Will Kassouf, his partner and some regs who's name's escape me. The table was mental, everyone was taking advantage of the fact they are so deep and splashing around. Will had talked himself into a 400BB stack at one point. I just sat there called in a few spots and folded on the river when missed. Playing so much online I make almost all of my actions based on the amount of Big blinds I have. No point in playing ranges like J5 off. Just let the nutters knock themselves out and wait to pick up some hands, don't get married and overplay them and just watch the Chelsea Vs West brom game.

First hand I picked up which I had to think about  Ahrt Ac on the button at 75/150. Action had been Min raise UTG, call, call, call, raise (Cut off, to 500). I make it 2000 flat, BB flat calls everyone calls and then action was back on the Cuttoff  (ex G casino Dealer who's name escapes me) he tanks for a min and makes it 6500. If this was heads up I would really want to flat call this, but seeing if I flat call here everyone will be getting such a good price to call.  So I made it 13700, hoping this was enough to get all the overcallers to fold but not enough to get the cut off to. Everyone folded and I pick up 27K* pot preflop  ;applause;.

 

Hi Shane

Played 3 times @DTD on thurs - the worst i have ever played - at one stage i had to go outside to see if i still had a pair of gonads.

Made a mental note of cardiff - if i am going will let you know - if not good luck and i hope you run well.

M

Unlucky Mike. Any interesting hands to share?

I'm heading down to Cardiff on my own now. Cars turbo valve has gone and we can't get it in the garage until the first week of June. Had to cancel my Hilton reservation and book a B&B as I won't their for the most part and it was really only for the kids and the Mrs to enjoy more than me.

If you come down will you be playing?

Interesting hand from the other night. Blinds are 150/300 and we have around 35K(155BB) and are in the small blind with  Qh 9h.

Action is the following: UTG+3 opens for a min raise (We have live tells on this one. Never seen him before, but in the hour i have been playing when he has a strong hand he blows his cheeks out and sits up straight!) two calls, Will calls on the button also, we call and the so does the BB. Pot 3.5Kish

Flop

 8d  7d 3c

Action folds round to Will who bets out 1500 (He has been betting on all flops when checked to and giving up on most turns. We have a look around and can tell the original raiser has already mentally folded and decided to float with the plan to take it away on scary cards (Flushes and Aces and kings mainly). To my surprise the original raiser calls behind. Pot 7.5K

Turn

 Aspades

I have a look around and the guy isn't giving off his strong tell and Will is not talking for a change. So I decide to donk bet out 3.2K. Both players snap fold.

Someone mentioned to Will why did he fold, to which he responded "he didn't float with anything less than the nut flush draw and got their on the turn. I found this interesting, as it seems that people give a lot of respect to tight players (Hadn't been as active as normal) and it forces them to tighten up their range to the top to continue on bad turn cards.

Thinking about how I react when in the spot i put them in I do the same. Sometimes I get stubborn, but it depends on the player. Might be a play to deploy a bit more often, add it to my arsenal.

Then I was watching the live stream of the GUKPT of Edinburgh and saw a player using this all the time and getting it through. It seems like people are not sure how to proceed against this and end up just calling when they should be raising for value or just giving up the worse hand incorrectly.

Pretty sure this play is not a new thing, but it just seems to be working against the current meta game.

The  Aspades is a pretty deece barrel card for Will though, and it's such a small portion of your perceived range there. Like you can't have 56, 89, 9T, JT, KJdd etc seeing as you just called a min raise out of the SB in a multiway pot.

If you did have A-T of Diamonds for example, are you not more likely to check/raise flop that deep? Or at least check/call turn as I'd expect Will to continue barreling.

If you get called on the turn with  9h Qh and the river bricks, it's a mandatory bet, and I think you get snapped off by like 8x, 99, TT a lot, and the only value hand I think you really rep is A-X diamonds. Everything else is just other missed draws. If we river a pair we just try and check it through I guess.

I think leading turn just makes the hand way more difficult for ourselves sometimes, and while it worked this time - we both know how sticky Luton tourney regs can be with a even a single pair, especially when it's gigantic stack Monday where they can flick in 5k on the river and still have 100bb at 11pm. Against someone like Will who's switched on, we can have a go at it, but I don't advocate floating OOP multiway with two overs (one of which isn't really that great for us) and potentially dirty backdoor outs.

Just my 2c. Not saying you're wrong for doing it, I just think that we end up having to bang the river a lot and try and get a fold there and risking 10k of our stack when we can just check/give up and move on.

Cheers for the feedback. Appreciated.

I think your right in what your saying. Maybe it wont work a high % of the time to make it worth while. Just something I think might be worth playing with. Not so much in main events but just the fun tournaments.

It does put a lot of over cards combo hands in a tough spot and you probably have to be deep to make this play/work.

Trip up to Birmingham, was a mixed bag. Heading up the Boost Valve for the turbo went 3 times. First time in the Middle Lane on the M1, with no traffic on our left, so we got across safely to the hard shoulder. Managed to get the engine going and got back on to the road. The old heart was pumping as I was convinced we wouldn't be able to make the speed up in time and would end up causing an accident.

We stayed in the slow lane for a while before the it went again and we made our way to the hard shoulder and repeated the process to get the car starting again. Driving on the M6 was okay as the speed was capped at 50MPH which the car handled comfortably, but as the road works came to an end we found ourselves in the fast line, boxed in by a line of Lorries. We tired to speed up a bit to get in front, to allow us to move across the lanes, as we had guys behind wanting to do 70+ and wanted to get out of the way. Then it happened again. engine stalled, hazard lights on, losing speed, we saw a gab just in front of a Eddie Stowbart Lorry. The Idiot wasn't paying attention to the road and speed up instead of letting as across. Thankfully the car behind us put his hazard lights on too and the traffic slowed down behind us. After a the next lorry aloud us to move across, and then the power steering went. A few moments later we had finally managed to get to the safety of the hard shoulder.

After a phone call to our trusty retired mechanic and bangers racer. We had been told not to take the car out of 4th gear and if it went again we would come out with a rope and tow as back! Thankfully we made it the rest of the way in 4th gear and checked into our hotel on top of a Toby Carvery. Never experienced anything like it. It felt like a since out of the next fast and furious film, Just this time without the stunt men and cameras.  

Had dinner and breakfast at the Carvery both days/nights we were there. I never realised how cheap it would be for a family of 4. Its been a while since I had been to a Toby's and the last time I was there I wasn't paying! The food was lovely too, and the portions of meat plentiful.

Took the kids to Cadbury's world the first morning there, had to take a couple of busses and was there for 9. Walking up to the entrance I noticed no one was around. Completely empty. Grab my phone out of my pocket and check the opening times. 10-3 on the Wednesday. Bugger. What to do with two little ones for an hour? Weather wasn't great. We found some of the moving car/tractor toy machine things and hang about their with the kids having turns and playing around with them. Then an old fashioned game of I spy which it turned out they are slightly too young to grasp how the game works.

Checked the watch. 09.50. Time flew by. Making my way back to the entrance I hear a noise similar to Thunder. I turn around to look and can see an army of students (Turned out to be French) heading up to the entrance. Great, I was hoping for a private show! Arrived at the entrance and was greeted by two lovey Canadian women (Having kids means that your a walking magnet when it comes to talking to strangers). They had come over and flew into Scotland to visit some friends and family, and other various parts of the country, had a free day and decided to check out Cadbury's World. I assumed they hadn't just driven down from Scotland for the pleasure?  

We got our tickets and I wanted to get out in front of the School trip, so we picked up our free chocolates and headed to the main event which is a tour of the factory and history of chocolate and how Mr Cadbury built is company from the bottom up. I didn't know who was enjoying it more at this point me or the kids. The whole place smelt like melting chocolate. As you wonder your way around you get to see how they make, and package the chocolate, try some of the melted goods yourself with 3 toppings of your choice, and be told some stories of how expensive chocolate used to be. Played on some interactive games with Ivey which involved planting and growing a coco tree, before harvesting the beans. Another one involved chasing around cream eggs in order to smash them before moving on to the next level. Great fun.  

At the end of the tour you exit to the shop where you can buy chocolate at basically wholesale price. You can also get chocolate which I haven't seen in shops for a while, Like the Curly Wurly! Also new chocolates which haven't  yet been distributed nationwide. I knew my Mrs would never forgive me if I didn't come back with a basket full or two. Wasn't as expensive as I first thought.  Money well spent.

Kids enjoyed it which was then main aim, they had fallen to sleep on the walk back to the bus stop.  One on my shoulders and one in the push chair. Bumped into the Canadian ladies again at the bus stop for another chat. I have never met a Canadian who wasn't friendly, bubbly and easy to start a conversation with. Probably thought I was stalking them at this point.... Maybe I was....    

Decided I will be heading down to Cardiff on the Thursday instead of the Friday. Cant resist a bit of PLO 4/5/6 round of each!

Trouble is I probably wont get the time off work, overdue a sick day I think. Any ingenious ideas for sick day excuses?

Generally found that sickness and diarrhoea is dependable :-)

Did they have any Fuse bars up there?

I have been looking for them for ages, pretty sure they've been discontinued. Stone cold nut chocolate IMO.

Might just try this! ;carlocitrone;

No Fuse bars. :'( Just googled it... they are classed as a top 5 Cadbury's failed bars!

No email for complaints unfortunately 

Bags packed, train booked for 12.45. Just enough time to watch penny dreadful before heading out. Should get to Cardiff around 5ish and have just enough time to get to my hotel check in and then head to the casino for the PLO at 6.

Looking forward to this trip... Can you tell!

GL this weekend Shane.

Thanks Rich.

gl - shane - down to london tommorrow - post your results - and hope you run deep

Pretty grim start to the weekend. Did two bullets in the PLO getting it in 65% ahead both times (propoker tooled it!). Then late regrestered into the main. Started well, then run KK into AA preflop. Back at the hotel now for some cool down time me thinks. Not before doing 200 on the BJ.... Sigh.

Will post some of the hands up later. Tomorrow is another day!

Last weekend was swingy as hell. Cardiff was a nightmare, booked three nights and only stayed for one night before heading back to home. Popped to the Vic for a bit of cash on the way back, and ended up grinding the pensioners 50/1 game for a few hours for a decent return. Then stopped off in Luton for the Monthly special deep stack, only to continue my shocking run in Live MTT's as of late. Wont go into the details as I'm a bit fed up of bad beat stories of late.

Decided against rebuying into the Luton and headed home. Spent most of Saturday catching up on TV and just having a Lazy day. Sunday I was surfing the internet when a promotion came up for a site I didn't know too much about. The promotion was giving away free €12.50 to try out the site. I duly completed the download and received my sign up bonus. It came with a catch, I had to see 750 flops and could only play 2/4 cent. With nothing to do, I spent the next 6 hours completing the bonus and winning around €50 (Sad I know). Logged off and went about my evening routine. Logged back in yesterday morning as using perfect bankroll management jumped into a 25/50 cent game, and proceeded to run it up to around €560 before leaving for work. Decided to take off 100 quid off just to make sure this was real!

Got home that night logged in and was browsing the lobby and could see a short handed €2/4 PLO game running. Watched it for a while and couldn't believe how soft it was. So I jumped in. Within the hour I had spun it up to €2k before coming off the table with 1600ish. Thought about just calling it a day and maybe cashing this off to compensate for my losses over the weekend, before jumping into a couple of 2/4 NLH games . This was equally as soft, it was like they had been stuck in a time loop and was playing 2006 poker! Got rivered a couple of times all in on the flop with best of it, before calling it a day and cashing out the rest for a small profit for the start of the month, instead of a medium hole.

All swings and roundabouts.

Never been to Leicester before, So have booked a room for the Family for a night. Decent hotel, close to the shopping centre for the misses, while I head off and try to break this MTT nightmare in the 25/25.

undecided so will put it to a vote.

DTD for the $550 and maybe the second chance or the 25/25 in Leicester with the Family?

i'm biased, but the DTD value (if you can afford the buy ins) is excellent

the second chance guarantee alone is $100,000

only 45 mins from Leicester too.

This ^^

Looks like it is decided then! B&B and train ticket booked!

lucky for me i checked the cardiff results - as i was going to come down and rail you on day 2

Yeah that didn't go so well.... I did update my dairy though the same day. PM me your number Mike. Easier to arrange things then.

Are you at DTD this weekend?

Shane

No to DTD - my mrs has banned live poker on the basis that i have not done any work at all this year - so in the next few weeks i will have to get a project going and earn some money so i can get back to xboxing and other chilled out things - though i think i will be able to blag a pass out at the end of july - will look out for a tournament down your way and let you know - if you want to come out to play

Good to see you are running well on line - wont be long before you bink an biggin - will pm you later

GL in your live play

M

Thanks Mike.

It looks like you've ran out of free passes, that sucks. Good luck with which ever project you decide on.

--------------------------------

I'm hoping that my cash withdrawal comes through before Friday. Cashed off on Monday, got approved and sent today so should clear Friday morning!

All set for DTD this weekend!..... Today is going to drag😭!

Taxi's Ffs booked it for 18.30 turns up at 18.50.  booked it last night as well.

Running late!

Fashionably late, gl!

What site was this? Is it for uk players?

Tournament poker. Bust first bullet qq v kk, after folding jj on the turn on a 10844 board, correctly for half my stack.

Reload and bluff off 60% of my stack in a bad spot. Then grind my stack from 10k to 400k @ 1500/3000. 6 mins left of the day, DTD balance the tables, and I'm off to a new table. Fold first hand. Second hand open with kq get min raised and peel.  Kc 9d 7d flop. Ck call. Turn  Td ck ck. river  Jc. Over bet pot to 48k get called by jj. Guy slams the table in rage.

Counting up my chips as the last hand is being dealt. Find AA. Open utg. Tilted guy 3 bets, I proceed to 4 bet. Tilted guy shoves for just over 100bb.. We call  2s in the window..... Sigh. Would of been chip leader. Still, have 16bb and an hour clock to grind it up again. Still in it.

Sick game.

Night.

Btw my min tournament report was supposed to say 300kish.

Shane

was semi railing you last night - shame DTD dont do regular live feeds just for normal play - ended up running deep online til about 4.00 am.

Looks like you are playing well and you still have enough chips - few double ups and you will be back in contention.

GL

Nice I hope you had a nice cash last night?

Yeah coming back to an hour clock there is no rush. Play 15bb online for fun pretty much every night. Very comfortable with it.

I think the DTD live bit just tells you who's busted where. Not sure how many get paid but there will be about 200ish returning. Top 50 get paid maybe?

Think I was sat next to you last night? KK v 44 hand where you turned a set?

Yep that was me!

Nice talking and playing you.

You too mate. Go for today.

How did you put playing/meeting me and this blog together?

Read the bit about busting first bullet then bluffing off 60% of your stack early on 2nd, guy did this next to me with J8 vs btm set, then read earlier in the blog you are from Bedford and remembered our chat.

Ahh, I see. You never know who you bump into. I remember who you are now. You went out in a 3 way pot? Can't remember what you had though. Did you renter?

Busted with AQ vs AK.

Played the hand pretty bad on the flop and turn, quite disappointed in myself. I opened to 9k out of a 80k stack @2/4k 500a. Got a caller from the button,and the bb made up. Flop game  Qh Th 4c. By checked. I though about shoving this, and picking up calls vs FD/SD, kq qj ect. But then wrong decided I had too much back to shove 70k into 30. Tired for a
Check raise but the button checked back. Turn was a Jack. BB heckled to me again and  I bet out 13k. Button makes it 25k more. I then didn't think it through correctly, I ruled out AK because he would raise pre flop most of the time. Qj would probably bet the flop, so would hands like j10 a lot of the time I feel. So I shoved and he snaps with AK.

Thinking it back he is never bluffing in this spot and it makes sense for AK to
Just call with position. I didn't need to narrow down my options to shoving the flop or ck shoving. A 13k bet on the flop would of got the job done and I would be back up to 20bb...

Live and learn I guess. Sorry i couldn't cash foor the people who brought a peice.

Next comp I play I'll be giving everyone who had a peice a free roll for the same percentage.

Nah was a HU pot, and no didn't re enter, I played really bad so did couldn't justify it even with the overlay.

s

just remembered who you remind me of - phil galfond

m

In what way?

slight looks and just his demeanor - and he is a very good player

whats going on - anything exciting to report

Well it's been a couple of weeks of change for me. Last Monday I decided I had enough of my current role and handed in my notice. Just had enough of dealing with shitty team mates who had been slowly dragging me into there clinical depression for the last 18 months. I'm on a months notice, and have never had an issue in getting interviews and turning them into job offers. I put my cv on all the usual sights, and downloaded the glass door app, which Frazer accidentally told me about last month. Within 48 hours I had arranged three interviews, and my phone was still ringing more than a sexy talk hotline on a Saturday night.

Fast forward 7 days I had been to all the interviews and had gotten through to the second interview stage which is common in my line of work. You have to be interviewed by hr and your to be line manager first, and then if you tick your boxes you need to be cleared by their boss In the next round before they will offer you the job. A couple of days later I have two job offers and a still a second interview to look forward to next Wednesday. One job is near London Bridge and the other is across in Milton Keynes. Will be looking for a new bike to get me across to Milton Keynes, if I chose that option. After my last interview next week I will start to play the salary game a bit and see who will offer me the most money. Of course I will have to take into consideration travel costs, and the school runs.

Finally I'm smiling again, and not feeling numb which I have been for as long as I can remember. Maybe I just need to be a bit more sociable and hang out with friends on a more regular basis, instead of the same daily routine of work, dinner with the family before the bedtime routine and then signing off the night with some MTTS.

I have been playing less online over the last month or so, but managed to sort out my party poker account, although I was told to open a new account and send the documents across cause my account I opened in February had been closed due to my faluire to provided the requested documents. Only really interested in the DTD tab, had a little play and managed to win a few 120 seats which I'll use in the next week or so. Had to really adapt my game on PP. not used to playing 15 min levels in small buyin comps. Much more used to turbo structure in stars which I have put a lot of work over the last 12 months or so. Also want to use the to improve my game for the DTD deep stacks which I will be playing most months now. Still really struggle with the early parts of the comp, normally find myself short before chipping up to a decent stack before eventually losing with Ak to KQ or KK to 88. It's been happening to me for nearly 7 months now no matter how well I feel like I'm playing. Maybe it's negative thinking. I get dealt a big hand and roll my eyes thinking 'here we go again'... Maybe I'm playing them incorrectly. Talked them through with a couple of poker mates and they seem happy with my thinking and play I'm really in between what is right and wrong. Maybe it's just the fact it's still a gambling game no matter how you dress it up. Thinking about getting an independent opinion with a bit of coaching.



Next live comp will be the Luton monthly special, before the DTD deepstack.

Have been watching Harry's progress in Vegas With interest via Twitter @killhollywood he seems to be doing well, up a decent amount and he isn't the only Luton poker buddy who is killing it in Vegas at the moment. Jealous I could t join in the fun this year. Already looking to book for next summer.

sounds good - good luck with job offers

What are you doing with yourself at the moment Mike? How's your next project coming along?

Managing to just keep chilling at the moment - but will have to go back to work soon as my Mrs has said she prefers it when i am working - that said will need to earn some cash soon - so i can come and play the DTD deepstack -

 hopefully found a building i want to convert - offer has been accepted - so that should keep me busy for six months and allow me to have my chill time off next year.

That said i have been looking at maybe getting back into starting some businesses - do not know what/where at the moment - sometimes i really do wish i had motivation - but i just love chilling

Notice you are probably going to play a dtd ds each month so will defo catch up with you at some stage-

be lucky 

Can one of the mods delete this blog please? Thanks

Anyone playing at the Hippodrome this weekend? They have the old £250 35K guarantee on.. got 50K last time out.

Has anyone played it before? Recommend it?

The torunament schedule is shocking this weekend around Luton/London area.... Best option is the 5k garuntree at the grovenor Luton. Rest are like 30 quid buy in 1k gaurentee. DTD is a bit awkward to get to but it might be worth it @ 10k prize pool 25 quid entry!

Any suggestions?

Its been a month of change, and I'm feeling really good about it all. I made a decision to quit my old job back at the beginning of June and join a company who will match my salary, and effectively reduce me level of responsibility as I will no longer be managing a team (Less stress)  Catch is I have to wake up an hour and a half earlier than I used to as I need to travel across to Milton Keynes Via public transport, or what I like to go the "slow train to nowhere". |The train takes about 50 mins to complete its journey of what must be about 20 miles from Bedford to Bletchley, hardly an express service. I have a train inspector who likes to ask me for my ticket 3 times a journey, must have one of those suspicious looking faces who has printed off a ticket from my home computer and stuffed it into the monthly pass national rail holder. I thought leaving the ticket on the table would stop the harassment, but he still checks it on his way through the one carriage train with a max speed of 25MPH. I have one regular on the train who tells me he bikes the journey a few times a week, and often beats the train time. I would love to be fit enough to bike 15 odd miles in around 45 mins, not sure if I believe that is true.

The new office atmosphere has an upbeat vibe to it, light-hearted banter on a day to day basis and are willing to help in anyway they can. They seem take new ideas on board and welcome positive change rather than the old " I'm 45 years old, I just want to come to work do my thing and go home" or "I'm past the learning stage of my career and I refuse to do any personal development" speech I had grown a custom to in my previous role. Those old conversations often left me frustrated and having me hold my tongue instead of telling them if they could perform a simple vlookup or use the auto filter they might be more suited to the role as times have changed since you joined the company 25 years ago and a new skill set is required. Maybe I should of just been blunt about the subject, might of got more success.

I haven't played much poker for the last month, and have replaced it with family stuff like going swimming with the kids, or taking them to "Bounce" which is a place fall of tumpline's. After 10 mins bouncing around I had confirmation of just how unfit I was. Probably couldn't be used as an injury time sub at the end of a football game, a far cry from playing semi professional football. Really enjoyed the change from the normal routine of 9-5 before grinding or studying poker in the evenings and just sitting around watching Dragons of Berk with the kids!

Off to Hippodrome for the second time ever this weekend and am really looking forward to it. Finally get to play in the area overlooking the casino! Small things get my excited it seems.... Simple minds and all. (Note to self, Must go for a swim/gym session before heading off to London). will probably have to make a stupid weight loss prob bet to get me going.
 

Hey mate,

Apologies for not commenting on the blog that often, sometimes it's just hard to know what to say in blogs, there's always the usual Gl, WP, GG

I'm really bad for it, I read a number of diaries regularly but seldom ever post in them.

Glad the new job is going well for you and more importantly there is plenty of family stuff going on.

Someone was telling me the hippodrome was an awesome venue, will be paying it a visit when i'm down in London.

All the best for the tournament at the weekend, crush it!

No need to apologise mate, I know my writing isn't the best  ;) One of the many things I need to work on.

Thanks for good luck messages and taking a piece! Hopefully we can have a good weekend, will not be punting it off at any stage!

Can't find the structure for this one, I assume it will be the same as the UKIPT? Anyone know?

12 levels day 1

Blinds start at 50/100 and last level is 1000/2000/300

Day 2 starts at 1200/2400 and is usually over at a reasonable time

good luck.....

cheers for the info mate.

good to see you back

😜👍

So the hippodrome is a no go this weekend as my id is enough to play but not enough to take the money when I would of taken it down! So instead came down to genting Luton for the DC, couldn't turn down the invite. Need to play more cash games anyway, less variance.

Will post up some hands a bit later, to be flamed no doubt!

I have been reading a lot on various websites on how hard the game currently is, especially the online format. I have read posts stating that the poker rooms should do more to get new players in, do more to keep them to stay and do more. And on the flip side that the Pros should just leave the recs alone and battle it out between themselves and that HUDS and seating scripts should be banned. The “Regs” are also moaning about the games being much tougher than before. I haven’t seen many comments about what the recs can do to enjoy the game more. I agree with the posts that comment on the game requiring much more skill than gamble than in previous years and the game being likened more to a sport then gambling. Sites like Full tilt, Sky poker, Unibet, Party Poker/DTD are doing more to encourage new players and to keep the recs playing by slashing the huge cash games, promoting more on TV, running free roll’s, sign up and reload bonuses. Fact is it’s a grey area and no one has the answer.

Recs don’t mind losing money but they don’t want to lose it at such a rate that it isn’t an enjoyable hobby. Recs have figured out that they are probably not going to be the next Moneymaker and have more enjoyable hobbies now than staring at a screen for 6 hours after work most days, and on Sat/Sunday and neglecting other responsibilities of their life. And would rather go to their local casino and play the Friday/Saturday night tournaments once a month, and might buy in for 50 quid in the 50/1 cash game running for a total outlay of 100 quid. Basically giving themselves a better Work/Family/hobby balanced lifestyle.

Now for the recs who want to pursue with playing poker they would need to either, study, learn, and improve their poker game so they can be more competitive, win a little to pay for those little extra’s or even breaking even (having a cost free hobby) and get that poker buzz back. Or continue to play the game losing at a horrible rate and slowly sinking into a poker driven depression. Hobbies like sport, painting, ect are enjoyed as hobbies because you have the interest and in most cases I find competiveness to improve yourself in some way shape or form.  
Last year was a fun year for poker for me, because I was winning, spending the money on other areas of my life. I caught the bug a little bit. This year I have been practicing no bankroll management, and have been playing in tournaments and cash games far outside my means and have given back 90% of what I won last year in 8 months of this year. Why because I believed I had such an edge that the variance element didn’t matter anymore.

So what have I done about it?

I decided that I firstly needed to sort my bankroll management out. So after some youtube video’s I learned that I would need 100 average buyins for MTTS (Gone are the days of my buying into £220 and £500 tournaments directly), 80 for SNG’s and 50 buyins for cash games. Then I decided I need to specialize in one form of poker, but first of all decide if I’m a tournament player or a cash game player. Then if I wanted to play Mainly MTTS or SNG’S and what format, Turbo or standard.

Next I needed to commit to some training sites, so I signed up to Run it once and started watching Jamie staples and Jason Carvers Twitch Streams to pick up bits and pieces from their games which I can add to mine, and pencil in at least a few hours of training a week. Heck I even inquired if Patrick was still into coaching. And finally I promised I would make one maximum deposit on Pokerstars and the same value on PartyPoker and no deposit again with my own money for a minim of 6 months.

Its early days, 9 days to be exact, but I’m enjoying playing poker again as a rec basically breaking even, having a few deep runs and a final table appearances in the hot and bigger daily events on pokerstars. I guess poker is like all things you get what you put into it.

A lot of what folk are talking about is probably quite specific to cash games.

Mtts will still appeal to a wide array of players, they know there outlay from the get go with the chance of a deep run / big bink.

Rio is really decent and twitch is good for free. Was pretty amazing how many viewers watched js twitch last night, no other player can get close to the figures he consistently pulls in. Biggest thing anyone could pick up from him is he keeps it simple, nothing fancy.

Welcome back to the felt, enjoy.

good to see you back - fella

are you still using K**********S as your name on stars

Super fast week at work. Just flown by. I'm one of those types who lidless to find the simplest and quickest way of completing tasks, but on the flip side I'm quite lazy and probably only put 45% effort and concentration into most things I do. So when I put in say 80% effort into my working week, what would normally take a couple of weeks to complete takes a few days. Having said that Friday was a drag, found myself helping out the accounts Clarks with the filing..... Forgot how therapeutic that could be.

My Daughter Ivey started school on the Monday just gone. She absolutely loves it  :)up. First week was just half days but she already comes home and falls to sleep within an hour or two, using up all that energy. Logan has also started at nursery and has settled well. I was worried he would scream the place down , but he was taken well to the staff and his new toddling mates.

Fantasy football has started well. In the top 4000 in the Sky sports game and in the top 1000 in the Sun football league. I've joined the Luton getting private league within the sky sports game and am currently 1st and 3rd going into this weeks games. long way to go but if come March next year I'm in a similar position I could take risks to try and get in the money spots in the main games and pretty much lock up the free GPS seat for the winner of the private league. Not too bad considering I started the sky game a week into the season.

Can't be bothered to play any poker today, just chilling watching the football recovering from Ivey's 5th birthday party yesterday.... Knackered. Loved watching Jason Summerville making the final table in the stud 8 or better last night. Drifted asleep watching it last night when it was down to the top 5. Anyone know how it ended up? 

Watched a bit of his stream tonight, he said he's had a 3rd and 6th.

He was toiling in the 10k tonight, was a really tough table but he was playing super passive, just dwindling down his stack.

I watched a bit of it too. Wasn't a fan of the non 3 betting hands and having a pop at UK players being too aggressive. It was just lets make a pair and then hold on.

Getting it done, 1st and second in the table! Roll on may....

Have won a couple of seats to the Sunday kick off and the million. Not sure if its better to use the tournament credits from the Sunday Kick off to play the bigger 109 or just play the kick off? Most of the tournaments I play on the Sunday start around 5ish, and not sure I want to be one tabling for a while. But The Sunday kick off is more likely to be softer than the 109?

Any suggestions?

I wouldnt know for sure, but id say the Kickoff would be more reggy than the b109. Alot of regs would start their sundays off with the kickoff, whereas more recs might be on at 6pm for the b109

Yeah you might have a point there. Saves me one tabling for a few hours too. Going to save the seats until the first weekend of October when I have the week off. Getting to old to play all night and catch the train to work at 7.30.

I'll give away five 1% sweats to this line up below too if any one what's a free sweat on the 4th October, just let me know below.

B109   
215/Sunday mil
82/PLO
B55
B11   
11/SS
B22   
Hot 16.5   
H11
27/PSK
27/PSK T
 

Logan has been teething recently and has caught a couple of infections and a tummy bug over the past couple of months. This has led him to be teary and basically screaming for most hours of the day. Extremely stressful to deal with after a long day at work. I don’t know how Zara copes sometimes. She must have immense patience…even though I think she is losing her hearing a bit from all the screaming, not surprising really. Anyway he has started Nursery fulltime this week and it’s like we have adopted a completely new child. He has a smile on his face, running around playing, giggling all evening, I hope this is a sign of things to come! ;D, ;cupcake;

I’ve been on a Shane version of the slimming work diet the last 4 weeks and have managed to lose 15 pounds. Really excited that I’ve managed to shift the weight. I went through a stage last year where I pretty much gave up ever getting back to any type of footballing level of fitness. Haven’t played for nearly two years now and now have the motivation to get into shape and down the park for some training sessions. Might give a friend of mine from Bedford Town FC a call and see if I can train with the reserves to help in the quest of getting back into shape. Might wait until I lose a bit more weight first and actually learn how to kid a ball again mind.
 
Team building day on Friday , we have some problem solving games to do here in the morning before going to Chiquitos, for lunch(Rice instead of chips for me) and then off to this place http://www.spy-games-corporate.com/. The kind souls of blonde are going to have to help me out with some general knowledge on James Bond as I’m not the biggest fan of them and would like to impress!

That James Bond thing looks pretty fun actually, though I bet everyone is going to be secretly marked on their strengths and weaknesses by some management type. We had a similar thing with one of my old jobs. It was basically a test to see who was lazy, who was willing to get stuck in, who asked questions and who didn't.

If you want my advice - go full Rambo, shoot everyone in the back and you might get promoted to a board member or something.

No need to buy any mate, just looking to give blonde members a little something back. I'll put you down for 1%, if no one else want's the other 4% then you can have the 5% for nothing.  :)

I'm looking forward to it. Apparently part of it is like the old crystal maze show. You need to work as a team to get out of the room type of thing before going through an obstacle course to get to the next stage. I'll bear your advice in mind mate, always wanted to be on the board!  ;snoopy'sguns;

Ok mate thanks and good luck :-)

@doctorfiasco No problem and thanks I'll message you my screen name closer to the time. I'm do some updates to follow. Probally on my twitter account though @Addy_Shane.

Have just been reminiscing today sat at work. Not a lot to get through, so my mind often drifts. I don't think I have put a picture of my kids up in my blog, which is really bad I think. So I though I would change that below.....

hi shane

i take 1 percent - not playing any volume at the moment - 1 game a night usually just a sng - had to go back to work - but hopefully will be up to dtd at the end of the year - will give you 3 percent of whatever tourney i play

mike

Thanks mike 1% booked for you-no need to give me 3% though. Let me know when your heading up to DTD.

What work project did you settle on?

I knew one of your children were called Ivey. Never clocked on to the spelling though.

Did you actually manage to sneakily name her after Phil Ivey without Zara knowing?

3 percent in the bag mate - will let you know when i go

just bought an old school house that was built in 1855 - total wreck but will be cracking when i finish.

not posted much lately - though i always look at what blonde members views are - i would love to play poker full time - but it would not be financially viable -

hope all is well with you

in for a free sweat if still giving them away!!

Will happily take a 1% for free

Good diary will also get to follow it from in here keep me occupied

Good luck

Cool, will add you to the team

 

Will happily take a 1% for free

Good diary will also get to follow it from in here keep me occupied

Good luck
[/quote]

Thanks- Will add you to the team.

Have had a really interesting weekend, will post in the next day or so as I'm a little short on time.

The Team for the Sunday Grind (04/10/15)

DoctorFiasco
MikeyMike
IamVerndog
Horseplayer
McMillian Nurses

I have made some changes to the line up due the timing of the tournaments, but have kept all the better ones in. New locked in line up s;

B109   
215 Milly   
82PLO/PSK
B55   
B11   
SS   
B22   


Good Luck us!

Unfortunately I've had to cancel my leave next week as internal company auditors have turned up unannounced yesterday. Will be moving my leave to the end of October, so will play this schedule then.  ;grr; ;grr; ;nemesis;
 

Are you playing this schedule today atall mate?

Well it’s been an emotional 8 or so months. Parts seem to go on for all eternity, especially through some of the more difficult and dark times. Back in September last year I became a chronic suffer of migraines, which seemed to be a by-product of intense eye strain which I have had for as long as I can remember. Fast forward to October I wake up face down in my keyboard with no idea how I ended up there. A couple of days in hospital and still no reason for my symptoms and no closer to any type of remedy to get me back on my feet.

At this point the best way to describe my every waking moment, was like I had downed 20 pints of Guinness swaying all over the place, room spinning, vomiting from time to time.  I’m not really a “go to the doctor’s” type of guy, never have been. Also just tried to get through it with, well, tenacity I suppose. But in this condition I had little choice but to go and see multiple specialists, which for a couple of months came up with nothing. By this point I had decided to leave my Job and try and concentrate on getting well again.

January came and I stumbled down to the G in Luton to play the monthly special, and somehow managed to luck box my way into a 4 way chop for the better part of 5K. Finally I thought, some good news, maybe I’m a pro now! At this point I had been given some pills to take twice a day which, where making me feel worse. Stopping me from passing out but everything else felt more intensive.   

Countless more trips to the hospital for tests in the next couple of months followed to no avail. A few of my family members decided to make comments of how maybe this is all in my head. At this point my mood was terrible and I was taking it out on the people who meant the most to me. Then on a routine trip to my GP for a repeat prescription and a moan about how they aren’t working, I’m seen by a new GP. He introduces me to a pill called Topiramate. While it doesn’t fix the route course (still unknown), taking it twice a day does take away all of my health issues :-)

I have been back looking to get back into work since April, and although I have been getting through to the 2nd interview stage my recent health issues have put employers off. Understandably so. So I have been stuck on short term temping contracts which can end at any moment. The feedback I have been getting from interviews are positive, so hopefully my next solid placement is just around the corner.

Looking forward to Poker in June. The Vic seems to be packed full of decent tournament’s starting with the 25/25 next weekend, followed by the deep stack and then the GUKPT at the end of the month. Probably won’t play all of them but will see how it goes financially and how the health olds up. Two months with no issues is a good start. Long may it continue. May head to the Luton G for a bit of tournament practice tonight. I know they have a good old 7 card stud pot limit game going, which is a fun game to get involved in too.

Anyone playing any of the comps at the Vic this month?

Second trip to the G in Luton was an eventful one. I’m still a bit stunned that they have a pot limit stud game going these days, but I’m all for a little change of game. The A team (as it was put to me) wasn’t there so the value was a bit thin at the start of the game and a bit too solid for my liking. So after a quick double up I decided to move across to a lively PLO game on the table across. This is something I’ve been really bad at in the past. Normally once I’m in a game I’ll stay for the night no matter how the game changes and how bad it gets. I guess it’s the Gemini in me, always willing to seek out and adapt to new situations.

Long story short it was a good night, I enjoyed myself and felt I played pretty close to my A game which I was happy with.

Still I went to play the Comp for a bit of practice and found myself playing cash, so perhaps after 4 hours sleep and another day at work I’ll find myself playing the Friday night comp for a bit of practice ahead of the 25/25 at the Vic next weekend. I’m sure I’ll be the added value by 11pm tonight if I’m still in. GL us for a bowl of rice!

Hey everyone- Its been nearly two years since I last posted on this dairy or on blonde in general. Reason being I decided to take a break from poker and focus on other areas of my life.

So what have I been up to? Where have I been? Why am I back now? These are all questions I have been asking myself recently.

I think the most exciting thing I have learnt to do is play chess competitively. Inspired by reading a book on the late Bobby Fisher, before watching Pawn Sacrifice (Toby Migure, playing Bobby Fisher) and i was hooked on the game, good players simply don't lose to bad ones and the number of combinations chess pieces can develop into after 3 moves are in the millions. Sounds a lot like another game I fell in love with. Without playing poker I found myself working 14+ hours a day and gaining a huge bundle of experience and respect from my fellow colleagues. The downside being I automated a number of key processes within the financial department of the energy company i was working for that I ended up doing a lot of people out of Jobs. You see, in my line of work you have "technical" and "business minded" professionals and rarely do you manage to merge the two. I managed to combine the two, and as a result I ended up managing the technical guys and the strategic guys working towards mine and the COO"S vision. Albeit on an middle managers wage. All was going well until the COO brought in an "Industry" expert who then decided it was a good idea to pull me up on working too many hours instead of thanking me for my efforts. And thats my weakness I just do not deal well with office politics and bullying. I quickly handed in my notice, which they excepted and I was put on garden leave. Then to my sick amusement I watched them crumble and fall to hit a number of group targets. which lead to a number of senior leadership team losing their jobs and an offer being on the table for me to return on as a Senior Management Information Analyst. Never go back to an ex they say... Depends if they had another 15K to my offer or not I guess. So Ive been enjoying some time off the last 5 weeks or so and as . a result I decided to treat myself to the Luton "Nuts" Genting....

Luton "Nuts" Genting!

Well after so long out of the game I found it refreshing to see a mix of the old luton legends and to my surprise a lot of new faces. The style of play has changed too, much more aggressive and happy to shove over 3 bets with marginal holdings. Took a couple of low level tournaments to adjust before I made a final table and won a seat to the next GPS along with a little change. Online poker has not changed much. not at the level I play. Playing 2/4 PLO has been a bumpy ride. UP 3 buy ins... Down 5 buy ins and now a couple of buy ins up. Happy with my play overall. lost a few big pots on the river when on the turn i was 78%. Still really enjoying playing and is a breath of fresh air compared to what I was feeling playing a couple of years back. Long may that continue.

Any blondies heading to Barca this week?

I was looking for a short break to get away last night and decided on Spain, Barcelona. At that point I had no idea the Party Poker Millions are taking place alongside my break. Must have some type of sixth sense. So I'm going to play a couple of side events and a satellite to the main. I noticed they have a few high roller events so it will be great to see some of my poker idols around the venue. Really excited. Cant wait to be on my flight across on Friday morning. Exchanged few quid @ 1.11 (Sterling to Euro) Not sure if I got a good deal or not but I was happy with it so thats all that matters I guess.

Hopefully the next time I update next week I would have final tabled something and be buzzing about it.

Whats the Casino like in Barcelona? Hope the weather is nice.

Till Next time....

Goodluck in Barcelona, make sure you do a trip report.

Thanks Omen-Will do. Will have to be on my phone, but I’ll try and keep it interesting and with some pictures.... now I really should pack for the trip!  ;sark;

Schedule for Barcelona will be something like this;

Friday- Explore the city, take note of good places to eat in, visit the aquarium. Evening nap before maybe heading down for some 2/5 NLH.
Saturday- Play day 1A (PPM open) 1100 (1m Guarantee)
Sunday- Day trip to the local theme park if the weather is decent. Then hire those electric bikes to ride around on for a while and sight see. Play a couple of hours cash before bed.
Monday- Play day two of the PPM open/or go on a tour of Barcelona FC. Cash in the evening. 5/10 PLO if the game is good.
Tuesday- Go and see some more landmarks and the famous local market. Play the Mega sat to the main.
Wednesday- Play Main if I bink a seat (would need to book some more nights in my hotel) or just chill at the bars.

All in all this seems like a nicely balanced trip. I’ll have to keep my new partner in crime happy, but I think this will do it.

Any suggestions on what I should see or do?

Nice places to eat?

Sounds like a great trip Ugo,

Travelling is one of my 'big five' reasons for living. Enjoy.

I agree with that Red-Dog. Shame I haven't done more in recent times. Will hopefully have the oppertunirty to travel a bit more now.

Decided to go and get a 2K more in Euros. Got a really good deal and they will but back euros up to the same amount I brought at the same rate on my return for a fee of 3 quid. Can't argue with that.

Treated myself to some new shorts and trainers along with a wired fish T-shirt which I just couldn't say no to.

Currently sitting in the best coffee ship in MK. Not quite as good as the one in Bedford called Coffee with Art.

Will head back once the Mrs finishes work upstairs and start packing... Hmm thinking about it I'm sure she wants to go and get her nails done tonight and then go and see her dad. So I will probably be packed 5 mins before leaving for the airport at 5am tomorrow morning.

On another note. Super quite on here!

I was reading back the last couple of days of my diary. I never got round to playing the schedule I gave aware 5% for. So I think its only right if I give aware 5% of my side event "PPM Open" tournament.

1% for 5 blondies.

Just drop a message below with your favourite hand and the first 5 get a sweat this weekend.

6 7 of clubs!
Won my first ever tournament with it.

Good luck!

Love those suited connectors. 1% booked.  6s 7s

not really got one but good luck I wil say  3d 3h

aces for me

 9d  Td for me. Haven't been to genting for years, has it changed at all?

Super updates, and easy to see why you not been about much.

Trip looks incred, and I'd love to do Barca one day. Hope you bink the lot!

Fave crap hand q 9.

Hey guys.

So the team so far is

Me 95%
Killerkilsby 1%
Horseplayer 1%
Bunnydas8888 1%
Arbboy 1%
Red-Dog 1%

Thanks Marky147 me too-Hope to bump into you in the not so distant future.

BunnyDas- Has the Luton Genting changed much? No not really. Run some better value tournaments on a regular basis and this year hosts the grand final of the GPS along with an additional two stops over the year.

So how has the game been treating everyone? I heard that a blondie went really deep in the WPT last weekend. I love reading success stories for local players. I'm sure he is off somewhere working on his tan with a pint in his hand.

Ive decided to bring the laptop across with me so will try and do a daily write up for everyone.

Okay... I think I really should pack a bag now  ;whistle; and maybe get some sleep. Taxi picking us up at 4:30am.

Super excited! Night everyone.

Indulge me if you will...

Favourite Luton legend?
Favourite Luton moment?

Used to be a good bar/nightclub - come out of the hotel arts walk right along the beach about 300m. Otherwise Barca has something for everybody.

Good luck S

I bump into lots of things, mostly walls and floors :)

I'm in Vegas for a few weeks during the summer, and hopefully going to play some 25/25 comps later in the year.

Have a great trip, and watch out for those pickpockets!

Chandiler and his brother.

Learning to play poker 10 years ago in a 20 rebuy event after watching Chandiler lose 2k on Roulette.

How about you Das?

I’ll see if I can find it- Thanks Mike- How have you been? How has your projects been going? Fancy building me a house? ;djinn;

I’ll stick the cash in my man bag and smell really badly to scare off any potential predators.

I’m looking on going to Vegas in the summer too. Time I break that cherry! Hopefully we both crush it out there and meet up for some drinks.

Hard to say for legend, love yannick and his cash games, hate his ability to always hit!

Favourite moment is even harder to say! For a blonde connection I would say calling down nirvana(I think) in the old £5 rebuy at bury park with J high and being good.

What a place to learn the game!

Actually scrap that, few years back when they had the 25p/25p table just outside the poker room by the side of the pit. Span a fiver up to 125+ from mostly playing all in spins with a few of the other cash game regs waiting for seats/new table to be opened up on the 1/1 or 1/2 tables. Dread to think what some of those guys were thinking on that table.

Raise to 75p, call, call, re-raise to £2, fold, fold, all in to £5, call £5, all in to £70, call, call, call, call, call £70.

By the time that table broke it was probably one of the bigger cash tables of the night in terms of stacks!

I remember that Das. That table was incredible!

So through security. Just having some breakfast before boarding.

I was singing along in the taxi on the way down. Joking told the taxi driver I was practicing for Xfactor.

Let The report continue on touch down. Can’t wait to see all the fishes... in the aquarium of course. Might need to rehouse some by the end of the week though...  :)up






 

Safely arrived in Barcelona after a really nice short flight. Lovely views over London, France before gliding along the barca coast. Total travel time 1h 50mins shaved off 25 mind scheduled. Must have been really good tail wind.

Got to the hotel around 10:30 local time. Had a mix up with the taxi driver. It said 25 euros on the meter but he charged me 35? I ended up just giving him two 20s regardless but I t lt a bit scammed. Room
Wasn’t ready so we decided to head to the beach for a stroll. Very clean place. No litter anywhere and a real friendly feel. Registered at the casino, apparently I can’t put cash on deposit here instead of carrying around cash?

Only the first floor of the casino was open. Guess they are getting downstairs ready for the PPM. But I noticed that the pit seems to be chip less. It’s all electronic even the table games. Wanting to know how it worked down here I put 200 on a Texas Holden heads up type of game against the house. You bet pre flop and on side bets then if you like your hand you can 3x or 4x or check your hand. The dealer was lovely and was having a lot of banter on flops,turns and rivers. Was breaking even before I got dealt KK dealer had 96 and tugboats ran out 4 spades. Me and the dealer both had a spade so I got paid out a flush bonus, my stack and also the Bad beat bonus (this is when the dealer make trips or better. So ended up being up about 300 Euro before the dealer left and was replaced by a miserable one. I promptly left too. Found the nice dealer and tipped her for the fun game.

Back at the hotel now as the poker room doesn’t open until 4. Will catch some sleep before heading back over tonight.

Really enjoying it so far.

Where can I get adapters from to charge my phone/laptop please?

Ask hotel reception?

Apparently them don't give them out. I woke up from a 2 hour nap (Man I needed that more than I thought) And my lovely lady had been on a walk to the supermarket to find one! One lucky man!

Ha, good luck with the bag.

Drinks I can definitely do :)

What an amazing first day in Barcelona....

Key Positives:

Lovely views
Great places to go form long walks
Amazing food
Soft local regs on the PLO
Mcdonalds serves chicken on the bone!
Lovely restaurants with a view on the beach.

Negatives

Non to date!

Update for the evening session....

Went back and played 5-10 PLO in for 1K. Semi bluffed the first 4 hands and got it through each time. Making a nice 600 profit. Game was 5 locals and 3 travellers. Had a lovely Irish guy on the table who liked to tell me each time I didn't have the nut flush draw, flashed the ace of the suit and then folds. Would of expected at least one repot bluff with the bare ace. Played for a couple of hours, maybe a little less. Next key pot I played I had  9d Td Qh  Kh in the cut off. UTG opens pot, two callers. I flat. I don't like raising here as I don't think it will fin out the field and will end up facing some tricky spots for stacks. Flop  Qd Jd 9s. Action goes Pot, shove, Fold. I think about it for a while as I want a call from the original raiser. Then Re-Shove all in. I get the call I wanted. up against Nut flash draw AAXX and JJXX Turn is a queen and we hold on the rivered 4. Nice sized pot. Quit the game about an orbit later. No real pots played. Cashed out for a nice 2.5K profit before buying into Day 1A tomorrow at mid day. Hopped into the Turbo Stage 1 satellite. 8 1100 tickets which could be used against any event. Busted out in 21/88 players. AK vs Chip leaders Q4 all in pre. He shoved the button and I called it off in the small blind. Had seen him do it for the last 2 hours so was very happy to get it in and then blind into a seat. I could have taken an ICM approach and folded as I was about 5th in chips at the time. Maybe a mistake? I'm not sure.

Went out for dinner with the Mrs, and had a lovely Steak N eggs dish with a lovely view of the sea front. Then took a nice long stroll down the beach and then back to the hotel for an earlier night. Early start tomorrow. If the weather is nice I nice swim before breakfast followed by some fresh sea air before I see if I can make it to day 2 on Monday for me and the 5 Blondies! Basically free rolling the event from my nice PLO session anyway so no pressure what so ever and I can just play my game. Will need to be sharp through. I'm sure there are some solid players in the field. Must be close to 200K first prize... Wouldn't that be nice.....

Night Blonde.

Hopefully we have some more good news to share tomorrow!

Great report.  Good luck to you.

Gougo

Good luck to you! Always nice to freeroll a trip on day1!

 Very nice,sounds like you are having a great trip.

Very, very late report. I'm so sorry guys. I have been super busy of late and have only just remembered I had a blog to update.

Okay so.... Barcelona... Well despite using 4 bullets in the Warm up I just couldn't get anything going over the weekend. I basically lost 4 pots on the river to 2 flushes, a full house and a straight if memory serves me right. All in on the Turn once and 3 times on the flop. PLO was a great game for me over the weekend of my Barcelona trip. I headed back to the casino during the earlier hours of the Saturday morning. I couldn't sleep. Probably just too excited about being involved in such a huge festival aboard. Wanted to play some more 5/10 PLO but that game was full. Only game going was a 20/40/80 game in the VIP room. Well I came to play so why not. Brought in for 7.5k. Game was 7 handed, 3 pros, one local, Two rich bad players and me. I played a tighter range than I would normally, just because I had never played with any of these guys and it was for a lot more money than I was used to having in the middle on every street. I also still needed to figure out how everyone was playing and who to target at that point. Most players had around 10k in play. Watched a couple of the Fun players stack off with middling two pair with no redraws a few times. They had been playing almost every pot too. The game was being played in good spirit no arguing, running the board a couple of times, everyone was just having fun. I managed to pick up a couple of double suited straightening combos and get paid off by over pairs. One for full value and the second for around 2K. Then I ran a wrap into straight and got there for another 3/4K. Thinking about buying into the Main event I  bluff the Chinese looking kid (The one who played with Will Kassouf in the main a couple of years back on day 6/7) he correctly called it off with middling two pair. A guy commenting you just cant fold can you... I believed him with a smile on his face. I shortly left the game to book a nice 5 figure profit for a couple of hours work... Not bad.

My Mrs caught a tummy bug over there so I spent Sunday and most of Monday looking after her. Tuesday we went to the Zoo and Wednesday to the see the fishes.

So why I have I been busy?

Nothing too exciting, have recently been brought on board by a global company, who has now decided that having a credit and risk department is a good idea. So I have been busy setting this up from scratch. Working about 13 hours a day.

What's next for poker?

Well I recently opened up a new pokerstars account. I hadn't touched it for a couple of years and had no idea what my old login details are. I got an email from Stars advising me I had an account. After some emailing back and forth I agreed to close my old one and use my new account. Fresh start and all.

I will be playing the Sunday Million this weekend. 10M guaranteed is just awesome. Plus I'm told they need a new bubble boy so I thought I would oblige.

If anyone would of played the Million if able to but cant for any reason, I'll sell up to 40% max for this event at no mark up as it would only be a punt.

Until next time guys. Be lucky!

will take 20% of million if still available please.

can only bank transfer and would ideally  be before 1pm saturday.

will check pms before work in the morning.

Sure. Booked with Thanks. GL US.

I’ll message you my Pokerstars ID and bank details. 30 quid by transfer or 42 dollars on stars = 20%.

I’ve decided to play a bit of a schedule tomorrow. Like many over the world Sunday is online poker day. Now I’m back working a project I’ll be fully engrossed in that for the next 6 months.

A weekly schedule of the following will have me looking forward to it each week/fortnight.

215 Sunday MILLY
11 storm
Big 11
22 SPK
Big 22
22 spk turbo
Big 55
Hot 11

Not sure if they have a Sunday 8 game if so I’ll play that.

Am I missing any of the good ones?

If anyone wants some action, I’ll open up a percentage. Not sure what that would be. But a max of 40%

I am no super horse just someone with a bit of skill, and a love for the game. Hopefully we can have some deep runs and get a fun blonde rail going.

Hourly updates for the MILLY.

I wish I knew some more blondes that are playing? Id like to keep a tab on their progress.



 

sent gl

Good to see you're still about mate. Throwing in the big boy games in Barca because why not eh?

Just to add to Das's question -

Favourite Luton Player: John The Pen.

I used to really enjoy playing the Saturday 2pm £30er where he would kick off at someone to the point the floor had to come and have a word with him, bust after first break and have to sit in the corner all night while his daughter did her ladybollocks on the fruities. No idea if he's still with us because he always sounded like he was a stiff cough from snuffing it, but I always thought he was alright for a miserable old bugger.

Favourite Luton Moment:

There was some fella throwing money over the roulette on a table he had to himself. Word was he had shat off the better part of £20,000 before giving up. Probably hard to get out of at that point when it was £100 max on a number. The pit boss told him he could cool off in the restaurant and they'd bring him some food. 15 minutes later he is screaming bloody murder because they bought him a steak and chips, and he was a vegan. What a needle.

---

If you see Panos, tell him Harry says hello and let him know I'm in Liverpool now.

I got your PM, I'll give you a shout pal. I've got some wacky stories to tell you.

Checked my bank this morning and I haven't received the £30?

Could you check and come back to me?

Thanks

Had a nice run last night. Won a few nice pots early on and had a top 200 stack for hours. Stack was 750K @ 4K 8K blinds. Then I lost a few pots where I semi bluffed and missed and bet the river. Not sure It was a massive mistake. Then lost a couple of 200K pots with AK/AQ vs lower pairs which hit a set. Finally I opened up with AK missed flop but C bet into a "Fun" player who called. it was a draw heavy board and the turn went check, check. River missed draws so I decided to turn my hand into a bluff trying to rep a set. Get called off with second pair no kicker.

Still a nice cash, went through a couple of small pay jumps on the way to my finish of around 3K of around 56000 Runners. Really was a fun tournament. Played more like the Sunday Storm than a Sunday Million. Would really recommend it to anyone thinking of playing it next year.

3am finish mind and I was up at 7:30 for work... Real dedication.

Think I will go and play the Deepstack special at Genting Luton next. Should be fun and good value.

Anyone going this weekend? I will probably play on Wednesday night. Drinks and a chat anyone?

 

Well done on the run in the Milly, great tournament, decided to play last min, really enjoyed it, usual badbeat stuff but cant complain.

I would have said id meet up on Wednesday now that I'm feeling better but after my last visit to Genting I'm very much in the "not going back camp", I may be missing out on a lot of value in the bigger tournaments but I have just had enough of the environment (nothing against James or Paul and the majority of the dealers as they are fab), its the poker layout itself, cant stand the machines always pinging so hate getting a seat draw near them, more than that though is these bigger tournaments are 10 handed so you have no room especially with the huge side tables they have which in itself takes up a seat and the one thing that lets the dealers down is you constantly have to tell them to reset the table seating, apart from the fact that they should be aware enough to do it as part of the customer service experience it leads to all sorts of issues with other players who take exception to it. I just cant be bothered with all the hassle. Not saying G is perfect and they still have 10 handed tables but I'm sure the fact that the side tables are skinny makes all the difference to the amount of space you have.

anyway, rant over. Goodluck at Genting.

Thanks Omen. Did you manage to cash?

Maybe bring some headphones with you on Wednesday. We can swap 10% or whatever then.

I agree the location of the room isn't the best, but they players are generally really weak and I've always found headphones helps me to zone out the noise and focus on all of the interesting plays I'm witnessing. Saying that because of the style of play in Luton compared to my own, I find it really hard to make final tables there often. Its a bit like Bingo.

If you change your mind PM me your number and we can organise something.

Nice to hear from you Bud. It's been way too long. I look forward to hearing your stories, I've got a few of my own. If there are any GPS stocks around Liverpool I will be sure to give you a shout if I'm in the area. Make sure you text me... I know what you are like!

I loved John the Pen, I remember we made a personal deal when we both made the final table. He had a lot going on, I knew him from outside of poker due to his nephew and I used to play YU-GI-OH as kids.

Das- If you are about, Fancy giving me a lift to Luton now I live in MK? No shoving 100BB in the first level though pre flop, I wouldn't want you hanging around for me after or getting a taxi back. :D

If I was around then I wouldn't mind playing taxi for you. Problem is I've recently been made redundant and have taken a part time bar job to keep some money coming in. Where I've been on night shift for 3 years solid I've told them to keep putting me on the close. Problem is after a week and a half they've realised I'm better than most the current staff so put me on almost every day! The days I'm  not working I have pre planned stuff that I do every week.

Next time I'm free and can play a night of poker I'll deffo drop you a pm and can sort from there.

What is the mk casino like? (Not just for poker, just in general as well) been meaning to go up there ever since it opened!

Hey Das

I'll drop you a PM with my number.

MK Casino- Very nice poker room, tables and chairs. Dealers not the best. Tournaments are rubbish, Cash full of bad Regs so would be profitable. A couple of good players there to be fair. but u would normally find 4 marks on the cash table.

Its pretty wasted if you ask me. Could be so much more better. Needs to start by offering better tournaments.

SPT Brighton Day 1A

Arrived an hour before kick off. Signed up to the casino for the free bets and drInks and 10% off. Was really impressed with the space of he card room and the high ceiling. Made me feel like it was 14 years ago and I was playing in a YUGIOH regional championship.

SPT USP is the friendliest poker tour in the UK and based on my table and the atmosphere before and during the break I can 100% agree with this. Dealers are excellent also.

First 3 levels was steady. Climbing from 25k up to 30k. Very swingy though. Won a decent pot, lost a decent pot rinse and repeat. Table started off as a good one. Changed at the start of level 3 with a few good players joining the action. Folded the second nuts twice on the river and was shown the nuts 🥜. Lost 11k so down to 19k. 

Blinds 150/300. Open with AhJS and bet 3 bet to 2k from the button. I picked up a solid live tell that he was weak and made the call. (Should have 4 bet.. big mistake on my part)  flop Q high all hearts. We check and he fires a C bet of 2.5k immediately. I call. Turn is an off suit 5. I decided to lead here 60% of pot to 5.5k with the veiw of shoving river regardless of what comes as I block the nuts and have all the strong ha dis in my range. He dwells and then calls. Blank on the river. I pause for a few seconds before announcing all in. He goes into the tank for 5 mins and is thinking it through outloud. Hmm I think you are bluffing but you could be bluffing with the best hand. 5 mins later he makes the call and shows 54 offsuit to take it down.

Off to the bars in Brighton we go. Will play again today as the 50k guarantee is nearly hit after one day. I can see this getting 80-90k which is awesome value for a 220 I think.

Not to self. Don’t bluff random regs who you don’t know. Just value bet for max value.