blonde poker forum

Hi all,

Just thought I would put in a (not so) brief introduction.

I am very much a recreational player with dreams of moving up. Sadly, work does hinder my attempts at a more active poker life, but as kids are getting older, opportunities are opening.

I first started playing poker in 2004. Grew up playing all sorts of card games with my family (bridge, whist, brag, crib, pontoon) so when the poker boom hit it was natural that I would get involved. I found the poker channel & followed the Poker Night Live shows and also joined that forum.

A few members here know me through APAT events that I have been playing for the last 5-6 years.

Although mostly a NLHE player I much prefer mixed games - 8-game, HORSE & all stud variants. Favourite game is 2-7 triple draw.

My two biggest cashes came online in 2009. In March I FT'd the Sunday Million going out in 9th for $12k. Three months later I won a $27.50 satellite into a $515 satellite and from there I finished 20/3600 to win one of 150 $12k WSOP ME packages (on Full Tilt).

I kept a diary of my Main Event experience and I will post this up. The ME was only my 4th live poker tournament in a proper venue.

Diary of a Hound at WSOP.

Day 1.

Leave Gatwick at around Midday (½ hour late but not an issue). Around 100 seats free on plane. I am in aisle seat on right of plane. No passenger in middle seat and young Russian girl, Valentina, in window seat. She has already had a 4 hour flight from Moscow to London + 4 hour stop over, so is tired. On her way to visit her sister who lives in Vegas. Very pleasant and easy to talk to (when not asleep). Pilot makes up time so we actually land ½ hour earlier than scheduled at around 1.50 pm. See Dave Colclough (aka El Blondie) in the customs queue behind me and we have a chat. He doesn’t realised that day 1d is on Monday and thinks that last day to play is Sunday (he is a little out of it – sleep wise). Heat hits you as you leave the airport. It is around 102 F – thank goodness for air conditioned cabs. Arrive at my hotel, Tuscany Suites & Casino, at 2.45 and check–in is quick & smooth. Room is very nice.

Then I hit my first snag – trying to get my laptop working for the free wifi in the hotel. No matter what I try it doesn’t work. I can get connected to my brother’s account and the hotels, but as soon as I hit internet explorer it disconnects. After an hour and half of frustration I give up.

Right – now to the Rio. It’s a fair old walk and very hot, but 35mins later I am at the Rio and so are about 1500 others all walking around the WSOP area.

Very hard to work out what is actually Main Event tables and which are satellites, which are still running. I think I turned up just as they called a break.

Time to find room 12007, where I can get my free Full Tilt gear. After a bit of hunting I find the room and get a load of gear. They will also send me a free personalised shirt after WSOP. Guy asks me what a number I want on the shirt. No hesitation – “No 1 please”. In addition to this I also get a card that lets me into the Full Tilt Pro Suite – just opposite the Main Event tables. This is awesome, quite small and a cordoned off section for the pro’s but free food, soft drinks and an area to just chill out and catch a glimpse of the Pro’s. I am free to come and go as I please.

Time to head back to my hotel. It is around 7pm and still scorching hot, so I put my white Full Tilt hoody on. I know I am gonna sweat like a moggie with a tough turn call, but I have to protect my head and arms from the sun.

Have a pizza in my hotel and then head off to bed. Have been up for around 22 hours and want an early night to try and let body adjust to new time zone.

Day 2.

Wake up around 5.30am. Not slept well, as it’s too hot without a/c on and too noisy with it on. Have a bottle of water next to my bed and sip that through the night. Still had lots of little naps and body and mind are quite relaxed. WSOP registration is open 24 hours so I figure it is time to head back to the Rio and complete my registration. Fairly smooth, I now have my player card and registration. I am playing day 1c (Sunday 5th July). I am on table 176 seat 9 in the Brasilia Room.
I am playing it cool – wearing my Full Tilt gear to look just like a wannabe, I will unleash my EMS shirt tomorrow – then it is time for them to be afraid, very afraid.

Off to have some breakfast. I am quite hungry and figure I’ll have a big brekkie and then skip lunch until dinner time (I can always grab some fresh fruit in the FT Pro Suite).

Have a wander around the hotel. They have a load of extra WSOP and poker related stuff going on, in particular the “Poker Palooza”. Loads of stalls and celebrity signings. I bought a new poker book – “Deal Me In” with personal sections by a host of star names. These are small Bio’s rather than tips/advice. I get my book signed by Howard Lederer ( in the FT Pro Suite). You might see me mention this again - FT Pro Suite – sorry but it feels great! Scotty Nguyen is being interviewed in the Exhibition hall and I get him to sign my book too.

Others that signed my book (even though they did not contribute to the book) were:
Tom McEvoy
Mike Sexton (Mike played Day 1a and got through with average chips)
Humberto Brenes
T J Cloutier
Tony (TK) Kendal – reporting for Sky Poker.

I also see Dennis Philips (one of last years November 9). He is playing Sunday as is Howard Lederer.

Back to the ME and time to watch some play. Mike “The Mouth” Matesow is sitting next to Shaun Deeb (Mike has position) on the ESPN feature table. Don’t see any big pots or blow ups. Doyle Brunson is on the other feature table, but this one doesn’t have any commentary. Hang around until 3pm then head back to my hotel (get the bus this time). Try to have a nap but it’s not happening. Still no internet connection.!!!

Head out to the Strip around 7pm for some photo opportunities and to grab a bite to eat. Take a load of piccies and eat in the Outback on the Strip – there is a larger Outback opposite the Rio, but a bit far to walk for a meal. Head back to my room around 10pm and try for an early night. Sleep pattern still the same as previous night.

 Day 3.

Wake up early and have a coffee, try to rest up as it’s 7.30am and play doesn’t start until midday. Have a couple of coffees and then head off to Rio at around 9.30. Have breakfast in the Rio, then just hang around reading Deanp’s tips on live play for beginners. Walk into the mega satellite room to see some players trying to qualify for main event. To the side on the Big Screen is the Wimbledon Men’s Final – 8-8 in the fifth. A great way to pass the next 40 minutes. Really feel for Roddick as his serve stat’s were phenomenal but unfortunately Federer is the consummate big game player and produces the goods when needed.

15 minutes to go, and I take my seat at the table. I have my seat assignment, WSOP membership card but no photo ID – Doh! Didn’t realise this. The dealer calls the floor manager called Rachael, luckily we had been watching the tennis together and she cleared me, but made sure that if I come back for day 2, to bring ID with me. Days 1a & 1b played 4 levels (each level is 2 hours with 20 min break at the end of the level) due to the small fields. We will play 5 levels as will day 1d. On Day 2a they will catch up and play 5 levels, whilst Day 2b will only play 4 levels. 9 seat tables, and I am in seat 9, so start with the button.

Action starts (blinds 50/100 – 30k start chips), we have a sit out in seat 2. Two rounds go round and no major action. I pick up 10 10 in mid position and raise to 300. One caller and flop comes 8 high. I lead out and caller folds. Over play Ah9h from button to lose 2k chips, then lose more with the Banin that fails to hit a gutshot. Down to 25k.

Pick up a steal from button. Then a big hand. I have Tens again, on button. UTG raises and three callers before me so I call along. Small blind (seat 3) seems very good and folds despite the value and BB calls. Flop 10 6 4 rainbow. Dream flop. BB leads out with 950 (into pot of 1550). Folded to me and I flat call. Turn is an A. BB leads out for 1200 and I re-raise to 3100. He calls and then check folds my river bet. I’m back over starting stack. A couple of more big hands follow JJ in BB & KK in cut-off. JJ is a re-raise of button who calls my raise. I bet out on 10 high flop and he calls. Turn is an A and I lead out again and he folds. Same player three hands later, but this time he folds to my pre-flop re-raise with KK. I’m sitting good with around 34k. Still level 1, and I lose a couple of pots and drop to 28k.

I pick up AA in cut-off and raise it up to 300, BB (seat 1), who has pushed me off a couple of pots (as well as beating my 99 with Q5), raises it to 1300. I re-raise to 3300, he calls. Flop is 8 9 9. I bet 6k, he calls. Turn 7, I bet 12k, he calls. I am wondering what he has. Is he trapping? I originally put him on AK/KK/QQ. Discounted AK after turn. So think I am still ahead. River is a 10. No flush but now worried that he has JJ for the straight or has had a full house all along. I have 7.5k left. I check the river, he checks and I show AA and he mucks. Phew! Up to around 51k.

Level 2 (100/200)

Seat 2 finally turns up, Poker Stars pro (user name “goral” or something). 1st hand after the break and I have AA again. I raise to 600 and BB (a regular WSOP player called Rocky) calls. He bets the flop, I re-raise and he folds. I play quite tight for the rest of the level, pick up a few pots but nothing major and go to the break on around 53k.

Level 3 (150/300)

Here comes the cooler. Early in the level and I have QQ. UTG (seat 4 – tight player) raises to 800 and (seat 6 – Londoner Jack) calls. I raise it up to 2100 (yes – I know I should have made it 4k+) and they both call. Flop 6 4 3 rainbow. UTG bets out 5.2k, Jack flat calls. Then comes the worst play in my poker career! I am more interested in UTG knowing that I had him beat, that I didn’t consider what Jack was calling with. I re-raise to 15k UTG folds and Jack shoves his last 13k in the pot. I call the extra 3k and see with dread that he has 7d5d for the nuts. No running cards for me and it is a big hit. Lost half my stack and lose a hell of a lot more in confidence. The pot has shaken me up, not because of the beat, but the fact that I am better than that and I could have folded. BTW, UTG said he had 77, so Jack was a mile behind preflop. I lose a few more chips with 99 against the BB with an A high flop. This was against seat 3, who re-raised me on the turn. Down to 18k. Rest of the level is a blur and we break for a 90 min dinner break. More time than I need to dwell on the QQ hand.

Level 4 (150/300 a25)

I have my head back on and figure that I need to get to 25k to have a realistic chance on day 2. No much going on and I am pretty card dead.

Level 5 (200/400 a50)

Around 1700 started the day and we are down to 1200 with average chips of 39k. I am yo-yoing around the 20k mark, then lose a couple of pots with 88, AK, AJ. I’m down to 14k with an hour to go. Seat 8 (Brian cash player) limps in and I raise to 900 with 77 and seat 1 re-raises to 2100. Brian folds and I call the extra 1200. Flop Ac 7d 5c. I bet out 1.2k, opponent raises to 4.2k, I make it 9k and he folds. I know I could have played it slower, but the 2 clubs worried me. I find out after that Brian folded 55. I could have got a lot more chips if I had just flat called preflop and let seat 1 raise up, as Brian would have called and we would have been set v set. C’est la vie. I’m up to 23k now with around 30 minutes to go. With 10 minutes left on the clock tournament director announces that after the current hand we will play 3 more hands and then finish and bag up. Rotten timing. Last three hands and I am UTG, BB & SB. I close the night on 21550. Not disastrous, but will need some help from the poker gods if I am to survive day 2. Blinds will be 250/500 a50. Back to hotel & it is 1.50am and time to sleep.

Day 4

I have a reasonable nights sleep and wake up at 8.30. Still cannot get internet working and this is pissing me off. Interesting to know that “pissing” does not have a red squiggly line underneath it so it must be in the dictionary!

Have a wander down to McD’s to see if their wi-fi is better but no joy.

It’s 3pm so I am now heading back to the Rio to try and squeeze in a freezeout and also just hang around there rather than in my hotel.

Well, that didn’t plan out – at 6.40 there were only 5 players registered for the $340 at the Rio, so no poker on my 1st day off.

I hang around the FT Pro Suite as there is a constant supply of free drinks and fresh fruit. I am getting more than my 5 a – day. They also bring out hot food during the day. During the tournament dinner break there is a flowing supply of pizzas. I just make sure that I let the players of the day get first refusal before tucking in. Saves a fortune on evening meals (well not a fortune but a few bucks).

Jennifer Harman & Annie Duke both sign my book. Jennifer was on 60k at the dinner break. Unfortunately Annie had already been eliminated earlier in the week. I watch some more ME action. Can’t find Phil Ivey, he has been up and down in chips today. Was on 65k early on, then drops off the leader board. Erick Lindgren is on the ESPN feature table and Peter Eastgate is on ESPN 2nd table. The tournament clock is showing that they are paying out 648 places. I heard that they closed the entry at 2800 for day 1d. There was a rumour that they might play an extra day (day 1e), but I can’t see that happening as it will clash with day 2a.

I leave the Rio around 8.30pm and head back to the Strip. Heading for the Wynn to see if I can get any joy with my brother’s phone. I get to Sugar & Ice in the Wynn entrance and JOY! I can access the web on my phone. Bro knows! I log on to Twitter & Facebook and read comments of support and read NickW’s twitter updates.

Just hovering outside Sugar & Ice and I hear a voice I recognise from behind me. As I turn my head Vicki Coren walks into Sugar & Ice with John Duthie. I give it a second then follow them in and politely say hello and ask if Vicki is still in. Unfortunately she isn’t. I chat for a couple of minutes about British successes this year and commiserate with John over his 2nd place in the HU event. They ask me if I am still in and wish me well for day 2. Back to hotel around 10.30 and try to have an early night.

Day 5

Another restless nights sleep, and finally get up at 6.45 after being awake from around 5.30. A couple of coffees and shower and shave later and I am ready for another day in Vegas. I am going to head to the Wynn and try and browse the web again.

Web phone is working well and I have a quick chat to my brother, Mark, then have a long chat with Sarah & the kids. I am really missing home as it is a lonely place when you are in Vegas on your own. I have made a number of friends in the Full Tilt suite though. Notably amongst these is Chris from Ohio. After surfing the web and chatting to Bro, I head off to the Rio to watch some action and try to get more names for my book. This is a great success, and really pleased that I got the book and started collecting the names. New additions are:

Barney Boatman (Ross & Joe Beevers play tomorrow)
Chris “Jesus” Ferguson
Mike Matesow
Andy Black
Annette Obrestad
Erik Seidel

At the first break Kara was being interviewed and I had a quick chat with her (my EMS shirt helped). She was up to 60k from starting with 22k, so this gives me great hope for tomorrow (although I will start at a later blind level). After Kara dashes back to her seat I see Annette Obrestad (she is so cute!) and I have a chat with her. She is only 20 (turns 21 in September) so can’t play in Vegas, but is here with Betfair. We chat about John Tabatabai (as we have both played against him). She will be back in London for WSOPE in September.

Watch Chris Ferguson on the ESPN 2nd table. Button raises and Chris in SB calls. Flop is Q 2 Q. 6k or so in the pot, Chris checks and button shoves all in for 75k (blinds are only 300/600). Chris snap calls with AQ and button is in a world of hurt with AK. He is left with around 2k whilst Chris is over 140k and in top 5 chip stacks. Worse play than mine. He surprisingly lasts around another 50 minutes before getting it all in with QJ that is dominated by KQ. Board double pairs but the K kicker plays and his tournament is over. Greg Raymer is on the main ESPN table sitting next to Jason Alexander (from Seinfeld). Greg seems to be doing ok, but can’t see his stack that clearly as he is sitting with his back to the rail.

During dinner break I have a good chat with Hendon Mobster Barney Boatman who is playing today but is short stacked. Ross is very short tomorrow (on around 9k), Joe also plays tomorrow but not sure of his stack. Ram missed the event this year due to other commitments. After the dinner break, I have one last walk through the tables – wave to Kara – then head to the Bellagio hoping to get more names but give this up as a bad idea and head back to hotel for an early night. It’s 10.30pm now, so off to bed and try to get some sleep.

Day 6

Another restless night, not getting more than 1 hour’s kip at a time. Downloaded photo’s from yesterday. Kicking myself for not getting a picture of Annette, hopefully she will be around today. Having a coffee in my room before heading to Sugar & Ice for breakfast. Country & Western music on my laptop (big surprise there!). You can’t beat a bit of C & W to relax you.

After breakfast I head to the Rio around 11am. Bump into Ross Boatman and have a chat and he signs my book.

I find my new seating assignment and sit down in Seat 6. Seat 7 is another Brit, Stephen Mills – originally from Stoke now based in Norwich. He is an old school live player and knows Malcolm.

Level 6 (250/500 a50)

I am starting with 21550 and a few players have around 60k – 70k, but no monster stacks yet, Seat 4 on my right has 6k and is the short stack. I sit tight and after 30 mins I pick up AA. I make my first bet of the day and raise to 1300. Steve raises to 4k, and I think about it and then make it 9k to play. He moves all in and I call. AA v KK. Flop is Q J 10 with two diamonds. He has Kd. Turn is 5d. Steve now has any diamond, any 9, any A. River is Kc to give me a straight over his set. Up to 40k. I feel a bit of relief to have got a few chips in this level. Couple of rounds later and short stack raises it to 5k (leaving 300 chips behind). I have 10 10 and there are still 5 players behind me. I raise it to 10k to isolate and we are heads up. He shows Ad Qd. Flop is Kd Jd 8c (I have the 10d to spoil his chance of a Royal) turn is Ac and I now need a Q to bust him. Turn is a low diamond to make the unnecessary flush and he is now up to 10k and I have lost 5.3k in chips and am down to 35k. Not the end of the world. Little while later I pick up AcKc in mid position and raise it to 1300. BB in seat 2 raises it to 4800 (he is a very chatty young Thai guy). I have position, but he has 60k in chips so I call to see a flop. Flop is Q 10 4 with one club. He checks and I fire out 7k. He looks at me and asks if I have KQ. He thinks for a while and folds. I am back to 40k. Midway through the level I get QQ and raise it to 1400. This time Seat 2 has the button and flat calls. Flop is As 8s 2c, and I fire out 3k and he flat calls. Turn is 4s, putting a possible flush out there. I have Qs, so I fire 6k into the pot and he flats me again. River is a blank (low off spade). The board is not good for me (A, possible flush and he has been smooth calling me). I check it and he fires 8k and I fold. Back to 20k. That really hurt my stack. I lose a few more pots and am down to 16k at the break.

Level 7 (300/600 a75)

This is a sick level for me. I do not play a single hand in the two hours leading up to the dinner break. An hour in and short stack is down to 8k and raises to 1375 on the button. I have 22. Steve on BB has around 100k after winning a couple of big pots as is very capable of raising to isolate the small stack, so I fold my little pair and flop comes 5 4 2. Steve checks and small stack shoves for 7k. Steve calls with 8 4 and small stack shows A 7 and misses his outs and we lose our 2nd player of the day. I know that I wouldn’t have got paid by Steve, but I could have picked up a few extra chips there. 30 minutes later Seat 2 raises from UTG and Seat 3 (new short stack on 13k) shoves. He had shoved a few hands ago and against Seat 2 and his A Q held up against K J when the board ran dry. I am looking down at A Q and have 14k. We are just about to break the table. If it was just the short stack I might have called, but with UTG raising first I figure I could be in trouble. I ask for a count and think about it before folding. UTG considers for a while and mucks 6 6. Seat 3 turns over AK and I have made a good fold. I move to my new table and I am in seat 5 with 14k. 30 minutes to the break. I am still getting no cards, but this table seems to have a few limpers. Seat 6 to my left has a couple of thou more than me and we are the two short stacks. As a new player, I have no reads and although the table has some limpers there appears to be a couple of trappers so I have to be patient. I end the level on 12k dead but have the button for the start of level 8.

Level 8 (400/800 a100)

Cost of poker is expensive and I am leaking chips with the blinds and antes and I am soon down to 8200 when I finally find JJ. I shove and the other short stack on my left pushes his 15k into the pot. He has AK off. Board is good to me Q x x 3 3. Up to 18k, still low, but I have a bit more fold equity now. A few hands later I pick up QQ, finally I am getting a few hands. Seat 4 on my right raises to 2100 from UTG+1 ,and I think about it counting out different amounts of chips. I finally fire out 7200. Folds round and he thinks about it and folds. I see the flash of an A. He says that if I had shoved he would have called. He folded AJ, and I now have around 25k One orbit later and Seat 4 again raises to 2100. I think for a while and raise to 7k with AQ, it folds back to raiser and he thinks for a while before putting me all in. I go into the tank for 5 minutes. If I fold, I am down to 13k but a successful race gives me 45k and a real chance of making day 3. I call and he says I’m not in bad shape as he shows 88.
Flop is Q 9 5 and I am looking good to double up, turn is 7 and seat 4 says “nice hand to me” before the river brings the 6 to give him a straight! A few “oh Jeez” from the table. I stand up, say “nice hand” and depart WSOP.

My adventure is almost over. I wander around in a bit of a daze while I come to terms with the deadly blow that crushed my poker soul.

I go back to the FT suite and grab a coffee while I get my head together. I go back to the Amazon room where the feature table is and I watch Phil Helmuth playing. I also try to search out my friend Chris to see how he is doing. I can’t find his table and he doesn’t return to the FT room at the break. With 30 minutes of play left I find Chris at the tables, and he is low on 22k. I tell him to hang in there. With 15 minutes left all spectators are cleared from the rooms so that the players can bag up their chips. I hang around outside the main room then sneak back in and get Phil to sign my book. I also get Peter Eastgate & Joe Hachem to sign it. Peter Eastgate had a great last level. I saw him with 12k and when I went back 20 minutes later he was up to 70k. Apparently he tripled up then doubled up. Also watched Phil Ivey with his ¼ million stack.

Back to Sugar & Ice and call Sarah to tell her I will be home early. I will try to get a flight on Friday (originally scheduled to fly home on Sunday). I chat to the kids and that cheers me up.

Day 7

This will probably be my last full day in Vegas. I am off to the airport to try and get my flight changed.
Got flight changed and I am now flying back on Friday afternoon, landing at Gatwick on Saturday 10.30am. It’s midday on Thursday and there is no play in the Main Event, so I head off to see what games are around. I don’t want to play a late game, so I go to Caesars Palace to register for the 4pm $200 turbo. It is too early to register so I go off to grab some lunch. I find a Planet Hollywood inside the Caesar’s Forum Shops, so I tuck into a full rack of Ribs. Only the fourth meal I have paid for since arriving in Vegas. I wander round the shops looking for gifts for the family. I get back to Caesars to register at 2pm, then depart to do some more shopping.

I return to the Caesar’s poker room at 3.45pm and get ready to play. I am in seat 10, so start with the button. Some dodgy Englishman called Tikay sits down in seat 2. It’s a 7500 starting stack with an optional add-on of 2500 for $10 (the $10 is for casino staff and not added to the prize pool). Everyone I see has taken the add-on. I start off quiet and let a couple of rounds go buy. Seat 1 arrives late and immediately doubles up with 7 4 that flops a straight (then disappears again to take a phone call). I steadily build a stack to 20k with rubbish that no one sees. At level 3, I raise from the button with 9h4h. seat 1 says “raising my blind”, Tikay pipes up that it is his BB and only the small for Seat 1. They both call my raise. Flop is 8 6 2 with two diamonds. They both check to me and I fire out a ¾ pot bet and they both fold. I muck my “monster”. Soon after, I am in BB, for 400, with AK off and Seat 1 limps in. Seat 8 has only 1400 and she goes all in. I decide that I am out of position against seat 1 who has been loose and playing a wide range of cards, so I raise to 5k to isolate. He gives me the stare, then folds. Short stack has A 9. Flop A 10 9. Turn 9, river blank. Hasn’t cost me much, but this is the first hand that I have shown down. A few hands later, I pick up QQ in early position and raise to 2200 (blinds have just gone up to 300/600). It folds round to BB (a slightly erratic Italian) who shoves his 7k stack. I call and he shows 88. Of course he turns an 8 and I lose a third of my chips. I have shown two dominating hands and both have lost. I pick up a small pot with 99 that flops a set, but no action. We break the table and the Italian has around 40k and I have 11k. 103 starters, paying out 18 places and we are down to 45. I am seat 9 on the new table. Seat 5 is immediately busted and replaced by Jerry who has two trays of chips. There are three short stacks now – all eyeing up his chips. Lady to my right is first to double up off him. Young guy to my left then doubles up. He had 75k when he sat down and now has 55k. I double up next with KJ against his A8 and I flop two pair. I had 7.2k now have 21k (blinds are 800/1600 a200). The starting pot is around 4.4k and I nick another pot with a shove. We break tables again and I am now in seat 4. Jerry has 55k in seat 2 and the Italian has 40k in seat 1. I nick another lot of blinds and I now have 27k. Italian raises UTG and I shove with KQ. Folds round to him and he snap calls with AJ. I hit my Q and double up to 60K. A few histrionics from the Italian (bit rich considering he should have been gone 2 hours ago!).

We are down to 20 players, and all agree to put $20 into a pot so that next two out each get $200, effectively removing the bubble. 18th pays out $350.

Down to 17 and blinds are now 2000/4000 a500. I still have 60k and raise to 15k. Tight older player shoves for 100k. I have AJ and think I might be dominated, so I let it go. I later realise that it might have been a race as he has shoved with 55 & 66, and wish I had called. I drop to 30k, then shove with Q 10. BB calls and shows AA (he has just lost half his stack with AK v A3 that hit 3. Flop is 2 K 4, turn J, river 9. I’m back up to 70k. I feel sorry for the guy, as he is now on 4k. Moral of the story is get your chips in behind and you will win!

I lose a big pot with AK against QQ to drop to 35k. Blinds are moving up now and I am sitting tight with no cards and no opportunities to steal. I am down to 17k and blinds are 5k/10k a1k. Down to 11 players and it is the final table bubble. I am UTG +1 and pick up K 9 and shove. Lady to my right flat calls and BB shoves. Lady (Lisa still in ME) folds and BB shows AQ. Flop is QQx, I am out for a cash of $450.

Very happy with my play. Tikay & Phil Conklin (of Sky Poker dictionary fame) both busted out earlier – Tikay went on to play the 7pm $150 double chance. (Bumped into Phil at the airport and he tells me he took down the 11pm at Caesars that night).

I do some more shopping with my winnings then head back to hotel around 11pm for an early night.

Day 8

Final day and I am flying out at 5pm. I have not told my hotel that I am checking out a day early, as I want to keep my room (otherwise check-out is 10 am).

I head off to Sugar & Ice and browse web and chat to Mark before a last visit to the Rio. Reach the Rio and I meet Chris in the FT suite. He has crept into day 3 with 21700 chips. His wife, Natasha, has just flown in to see if he can make it into the money. I wish them both well and commiserate with a couple of other guys that have just busted out at start of day 3. I head off to hotel and finish packing before checking out and heading to airport. I get to airport at 2pm, and discover I have a 3 hour delay. After checking my bags, I grab a taxi and head back to Rio. No sign of Chris or Natasha, so I can only assume that he has busted out after making an early play. I find a couple of others that have busted out (Andy – American & John an Aussie). Andy faced an early raise from an aggressive big stack and shoved with JJ. Unfortunately the big stack had KK. No help and he is out. It was a low flop, so unlikely to get away from it even if he played the preflop differently. I hang around FT suite awhile and update my blog from yesterday.

I wander into the main tournament hall and find NickW on the rail watching Kara. She is three tables away with her back to us but doing very well. Does help when you crack KK with AK. Have a brief chat with Nick and ask the media guy that is also chatting with Nick to pass on my best to Kara.

Time to head back to the airport and after passing through the security check in I find a seat and bump into Phil Conklin. Very surprised to find he has only been playing 6 years. He suggests that I play more live games and invites me to Luton.

I manage a couple of hours kip on plane, and finally arrive home at 4pm Saturday.

Skip forward 10 years -

Tomorrow, I will be heading to the Ricoh to play the Omaha 4/5/6 @ 5.30.

That's a most enjoyable read, thank you.

Those sponsored lounges in the Rio corridor, what memories. So much money sloshing around in poker at the time.

Let us know how it goes at Ricoh PLO please.

Hoping to make it along to the Ricoh this evening to defend my title (thin...), was going to suggest you say hi to the grey haired old guy but that's 90% of the field. Good luck tonight.

I'll be the young silver-highlighted guy in the Johnny Cash T-shirt giving you the bird!

Good luck to both of you.

1st break on 37k from 15k start. Going back to 300/600 6 card. Number of cards changes every level.

Just bust in 4 card. Will post details once home. Enjoyed the experience.

Well home eventually after a few detours/roadworks etc.

After the break we came back to 300/600 6 card. Lost around 6k with a turned nut flush which lost to a rivered house. Down to 31k

Won a small pot with an over pair and straight wrap which no-one else wanted - 34k

New guy had sat down (seat 4) at break with around 70k and immediately hits everything. He is up to 100k quite quickly with a flopped straight and back door flush. Opponent (seat 1) had same flopped straight, Flush arrives on river. Seat 3, then cripples seat 5 who is left with around 3k.

New level 400/800 - 4 card.

Seat 3 (UTG) calls 800, seat 4 folds, seat 5 shoves for his last chips. SB calls, I am in BB (seat 2) with  Qd Qc 2d 7c not the best starting hand but well ahead of shove range of shorty so I repot to 14k ish (risky, I know). UTG folds and SB debates it but lets it go. Shorty has  Ahrt Th 3d 2h. Board is KKXXX no hearts. I pick up a nice pot to go to around 40k.

Next hand I am in SB with  Jh Ts 8d 7c - Seat 4 limps rest fold, I call 400 & BB checks. Three way to flop

Flop is  Tc 9s 7d

I bet 2400 (pot), both players call.

Turn is  7h

I again pot to 9600, BB folds and seat 4 repots it to put me all in. Without thinking, I push my remaining chips in and immediately realise he has pocket tens.

Sure enough, he rolls over  Th Td meaning I need to hit the case 7 on river. No joy.

I looked at the hand as having flopped nuts and improved to a house. I should have thought that I had gone from nuts to 3rd nuts. If I had thought more about the hand, I might have folded or more likely called but Seat 4 was definitely a strong omaha player and unlikely to bluff in this spot.

It was a great evening, but unfortunately ended too soon. On the bright side, I saved the two extra bullets I was prepared to fire.

Unlucky Albus. But at least you can always say you were there when they briefly played a PLO tournie with antes.

Yes, the antes did get a few quizzical looks.

Seat 4 was older with grey hair - it wasn't you was it??

How did you get on?

Table 91 seat 4 to begin with, think I lasted 6 hands on the first bullet. AA8Q v QT98 on T848. Table 101 for the 2nd bullet, 4b allin with bad Aces in the 300/600 6card and did not do a win.

Played on a fun cash game afterwards. Convinced the dealer to let us play a round of 7 card and then 8 card. Also managed to raise blind pre, bet flop blind, bet river blind, get called and do the one card turnover to reveal quads. [  ] all skill.

Bloody luckbox  ;D ;D

I managed 5th in this comp. Wish I'd read this first lol.

Bust when I flopped top set on T74 at 4 card vs KK with a flush draw for about 2/3 the chips in play.

Was a fun comp; fast and furious!

I noticed that you had cashed, Ky, well done. It certainly was fun.

I didn't know that you had a profile on Hendon Mob, as I had previously searched for you but the search came up empty! Then I realised that I had searched for you under "Dave Garden's Mate"  ;D

That old chestnut..............

Off to the Vic for Day 1 of Summer Sizzler tomorrow - 7pm start. 30k stack, 12 levels, should finish around 2.30am.

Will post up anything interesting & my exit hand  ;)

Save the exit hand for Monday.

Played my day 1 on Thursday in Sunderland. Structure is very good, sadly my ability to hit half the deck with two cards to come isn’t what it was.

Sadly, I didn't make it through to Day 2 of the Sizzler.

Got off to a great start winning a 3 bet multi-way pot with  Tc Jc (from SB - BB made 3 bet) on a  8h Td 6c  5c  4c board to move to 50k after 3 hands.

Slowly chipped up to 75k with not much 8 7 off, K T off & 6 4. Lost a big pot with A Q v KK on a Q J X rainbow flop to drop to 55K.

Won a race with AK (limp, re-raise) v JJ (short stack on 20k). A on river clinched it. Reach a peak of 89K around end of level 6.

Quiet level 7 (500/1k/1k) and miss a couple of draws to drop to 70k. Raise cut off with  5c 5s SB & BB call - flop is  Jh 6c 2d - checked to me. I bet, SB raises, BB calls - I get out of the way. SB has  Ahrt Js & BB has 9s 9c. A J wins pot. Down to 65k.

Level 8 (600/1200/1200) Few hands later I have  Td Th on button, UTG raises to 4k, I flat on button as BB (just sat down) is already reaching for chips. He raises to 11k and UTG tank folds. BB has around 27k. I re-raise to 30k to cover him and he calls with  Ac Kh.  Ad on the flop loses me the pot - down to 35K.

Level 9 (800/1600/1600) last level before final break of night. Nick a couple of pots to keep stack at 35k. Last hand before break I pick up  Ahrt Qh in cut-off. I raise to 4000 BB (80k new to table) calls. Flop is  Ad  Qd 5c, BB bets 3000, I raise to 12000, he shoves - I am putting him on AK or A5, although consider QQ (prob 3 bet pre) or 55 (more likely check flop) as possible holdings. I call and he turns over  5h 5d. Board runs out  9c 8s.

I can still re-enter but would be coming back with 15BB's so I cut my losses and headed home.

Will need to go back to Aspers to recoup my buyin through the £1/£1 cash tables.

Well not much poker in the last 3 months due to starting a new job, gall stones & Tax season (working most of Dec/Jan). After finishing work at 6.30pm on 31st Jan I got straight in my car and drove to DTD for the annual APAT team event.

I arrived at DTD around 9.30pm (after stopping to check in to Travelodge).

I had never intended to play the £50 bounty event, so I regged at the poker desk for £1/£1 cash. Took around an hour for them to open a table but eventually got seat 4 on a new table and sat with £100 (max is £150). They do not allow straddles on £1/£1.

Lost a couple of small pots and on bigger pot with AQ v AK on an A high board and dropped to £65. I picked up Jh Jd and raised to £6. Seat 6 (button/geordie) raises to £18. It folds back to me. He has 3-bet before with AQ so I flat and see a flop  6h 6s Jc. Happy days. I check and wait for the c-bet. He checks behind. Turn is  4d. Again check/check. River is  4c, I need to get some value so fire out £20. He instantly shove for more than I have and I call and he sighs and shows  6c 2h wtf! He is left with just over £20. Very next hand I pick up  Js Jh, I limp as I think seat 6 might shove. He doesn't he limps and with 7 limpers round to BB, seat one makes it £13. He has done this twice before and everyone folded. I make it £33 to go and it folds back to BB who makes the call. Flop  Ks Td 5h - check check - turn  Kd - again check check. River  Jc - he checks a third time and I slide out £50 - AQ he asks? I'll have to pay you off and calls and shows AK. If he'd bet flop I would probably have folded. I'm guessing he wanted to check-raise flop.
I played until around 1pm & got up with £270 for a £170 profit.

Saturday is the team event and although I hung around for most of the day, busting just before the final level, it was not to be Blonde's weekend. Steve & I busted around the same time to leave only Curtis going through to Sunday. It was around 11pm so was thinking of going back to get some much needed sleep, but Steve twisted my arm with those immortal words - they are opening another table soon! We both sit down with £150. I win a couple of small pots. I pick up   Js Jh (loving the hooks this weekend). I make it £6 and guy on my left nonchalantly throws out £20. folds round to me and I call. flop is  Jc 9s 5d - I fire out £20 and guy shows for £80 and I call and flip over the Jacks. The board is clean and he shows me AA before mucking. I starting hitting everything and grow my stack to £550. close to 1am and thinking of cashing out when I pick up  8h 8d, I raise to £7 and guy from Midland Poker shoves for around £70. Folds back to me. I don't think it is a monster pair so after a bit of deliberation I call and he shows AQ. He hits his Q. A couple of hands later I get up and cash out for £480. Steve told me the table broke up after I left.

Sunday - I wish Curtis good luck and get my name down for £1/£1. I sit down eventually (S 6) with £150. It is a friendly table but a hard slog. I am leaking chips and drop to around £35. Get a timely double with AA v AK and climb to £70 before dropping back to around £40. I top up with £100 but my fortunes do not change & slide back to £56. Almost £200 in the hole for this session. Chatty older guy (Woody) in  seat 7 raises my BB to £10. two callers and I look down at  Ad Ks - no brainer - all goes in. Woody calls as does young guy in seat 8. Woody has QQ & seat 8 has 77. K on flop seals my triple up. Still below my buyin but much happier. Slowly chip up and get to £243. Only £7 on session and 3hrs in - should have got up but I am stubborn and wanted to finish with a profit. I slide back to £200 and then claw back to £244 - 4hrs in and only £6 down. The APAT team event is HU and I can't leave until it is over, so I keep playing. Tom Bacon sits down (S 2) and I bluff him off a small pot. A little while later he raises my BB and I call with with Ts 6s. Flop is Qc Jc 9h tom bets and I call. Turn 8d. I lead out and he calls. River is 7s. I bet £20 and he slowly & deliberately pulls out raising chips. He pushes out £95 into a pot of around £70. I am really concerned he has K 10 for the nuts but I have the 2nd nuts. I eventually call and he shows  Kd Tc. Down to around £120. Manage to rebuild to around £180. Then get AA v Woody who is a non believer and calls with 2nd pair to the river to win another £50. Finally get above £250 and when the APAT event is finally won I get up with £300 for a £50 profit. Cash session was around 7 hrs so hourly rate not the best but was enjoyable!

Making a set is very much the best way to play Jacks.

Good to see you last weekend Vince.

Good to see you too David & the Raise 4 Jack team.

Continued my winning cash session at Aspers, Stratford last night.

Drove straight from work. No normal Friday night comp as they had a £440 888 special on. I was only there for the cash anyway.

I was 20th on list for £1/£1 but the way the tournament tables were breaking, it was only about a 25 min wait for a new table to open.

I sit down in seat 6 with £160 - I play there regularly but didn't recognise any of the other players. win a couple of small pots then a loose aggro English guy that I have played against before sits down on my immediate left. Not ideal, but I know how to play him. He opened first for hands (including straddling by BB) but only won one with 2nd pair. Slowly chipped up including a couple of pots against a loose guy in seat 3. He had not long sat down and he raised to £10. I have  8h 8d and see a flop of  3s 5c Jc. he bets £20 and I call to see  9h on Turn. He ships for £45 and I tank call thinking he has AK or AQ. River is  2s and he is slow to turn over so I show and he mucks - looked like K7 off. He asks what the minimum reload is - apparently £30 one time reload after that it is £40. He scrounges £30 from a mate on another table.

Two hands later I pick up  Tc Td I limp as I think loose guy might tilt shove. Seat 7 makes it £4 and two callers + loose guy so I flat. Flop  9s 9h 7s Loose guy bets £6, I call and OR calls. Turn  6d loose guy ships for £20 and I call rest fold. River is  Ts - I flip over my house and he shows  7d 8c for a useless rivered straight. He leaves and a lady sits down. We chop a small pot on river with KJ on a Q955T board. I am sitting on around £295 and get  Jc Js I raise to £6 one caller and lady makes it £22. I called and it is HU to flop of  9s 7h 4d. I bet £20 and she ships for £56 total - I am concerned she could have an overpair but can't fold. She has  Qc Qs - board runs out clean but I am still in profit. I carry on for another 30-40 minutes and end up leaving with £270 and a nice £110 profit over a two hour period.

Looking forward to my next visit

I love these old school hand histories Mr Fawkes.

I can't decipher the modern algebraic ones that the kidz post. They make me feel like I need an Enigma machine and a mate at Bletchley Park.