I admire your courage in going public over your desire to quit smoking, never an easy thing to do? You leave yourself open to all sorts of witty and abusive comments from friends and associates if you fail in your attempt, which could have long term effects on your inner confidence and self esteem? This of course could also effect your ability to play your poker 'A' game and consequently drain your bankroll and see you drift into a perpetual haze which spills over into your personal life......well, need i go on?

I for one gave up 30 years ago after watching an autopsy on a 55 year old man who died of lung cancer-he was a smoker? I vowed never to smoke again and live longer than 55, only 5 years to go!

I look forward to shaking your hand in congratulation at Luton because you sound like a person who makes a decision then makes it work.

Kevin 

and a picture of a laaarrrggge crane too-i can't wait!

I would like to play poker at Dusk till Dawn because if i want to play chess i go to the chess club, if i want to play bridge i go to the bridge club, if i want to play golf i go to the golf club. Currently if i want to play poker i have to go to a casino whose main interest is not poker? I do not wish to play blackjack, roulette or slots, but i do not begrudge the casino the right to offer these games because a casino is where you go to play them. I am an amateur poker player and wish to play that game in a dedicated, licensed and controlled poker club......please grant Dusk till Dawn the license to make my wish come true.

Kevin Shutt
Dedicated amateur poker player

I think the effort put in and results achieved by APAT and its organisers for season 2 is outstanding and will benifit most members. Obviously changes often do not suit everyone and i am sure that any constructive criticism or views expressing concerns will be heard and responded to in APAT's usual positive manner.
For me the change from Pokerstars to Blue Square appears a positive one and will give added value in many areas.

The regional qualifier system will introduce a more cost effective local entry into the National Championship. The possible challenge here is that the 11 casinos do not serve all areas of the UK effectively, Scotland being a large area for only one casino? But i am sure that more venues will come on board as the season/seasons progress. Although the 2,500 chips and 30 minute blinds are not the usual APAT format, they are practical for a one day regional qualifier.
Having the regional qualifiers on the same day in each region will restrict the possible extra regional points scoring in say the Southern region where 4 casinos are available.

Limiting the individual points scoring to twenty events with only 5 live ensures that players cannot dominate the points from specialising in live or online, a mix of results will be required to win.

The addition of events like the WCOAP in London, the APAT Forum Challenge, the APAT International Team Challenge all add value and interest to current and future APAT members.

Introducing the professional membership is interesting and will create a healthy debate from current APAT members, perhaps some current members already qualify for this new position already?

Apat is growing bigger and stronger under good management and along with the members elected representatives will raise the bar for amateur poker players everywhere.

  

A pure % split for the remaining 4 players on their chip/£ % is as follows;

1. 130K = 46% = £1,270
2. 90K = 31% = £855
3. 45K = 15% = £415
4. 25K = 8% = £220

All in!?

I was introduced to the delights of poker 3 years ago by a fellow chess player at a county game. By the way his name is Ian McDonald who cashed in 453rd at this years main event-nice one Ian! Got the bug and last year gave up playing live chess to concentrate on poker, although i still play correspondance chess. So i'm up for a game or two if you have any places left?

A sincere honest post Suzanne and some great advice from players who are winners at this game. My point comes from a slightly different angle, where i believe a lot of players-including myself, have gone wrong? We discover poker and all it's delights and spend our time learning how to win. We read books, watch the masters at work and try to emulate them & develop a winning game.
We hit the tables and have mixed results, we tend to boast of our skill when we win and blame bad luck when we lose? We become emotionally involved with the game and winning boosts your inner self, but losing crushes you?
After a prolonged losing spell we slip into despair and our game with it & we begin to expect to lose? We actually create the losing scenerio's subconsciously to back up our self defeatised attitude. We check when a bet would win, we bet when we know we are beat, we play marginal hands out of position because we see some donkey play and win that way? Suzanne, i have been there & so have the other players who have given you great advice.
Well, i believe that is the main problem, it is more complex of course, but you get the picture. So what is the solution? In my opinion we need to change our emphasise and create a different mindset, i believe we need to spend as much time on 'LEARNING TO LOSE AS WE DO ON LEARNING TO WIN'.
We need to understand that losing at poker is a part of winning, it is inherent in the game. The edge of a winning player is usually a small one that is why they must always play there 'A' game and have a winning attitude. Okay you ask how can i start to learn to lose? Well i believe the first step is to try and remove the result of any given hand and just focus on the play of the hand. In this way you become detached from the emotion of the result and doing so will not undermine your ability to improve your game. Just focussing on the play of the hand and being honest with yourself is the fastest road to improving your game and just as important, your attitude.
Using this cold analytical approach is helping me improve my game and that winning attitude is developing too!?. Suzanne i hope this helps along with all the great advice you will always receive here.

Keep smiling!    

If it's a boy call him Robin!

Must congratulate Sky Poker for a great day of live poker at the Broadway Casino yesterday! Raj and the Broadway Casino team were excellent as usual, dealing with everything in a calm professional manner.  With Tikay at the helm supported by Norm, Ed and Compo with bounties on there heads, what more could a true poker player wish for! For many this was a daunting first time live event, but they rose to the occasion and contributed to a truly memorable day! It was great to meet up with APAT/Blondites Bainn & MickeyP, who as you can all imagine soon got onto the amber nectar! My special memories of the day are taking out Bainn, who was extremely short stacked-well done tho m8! Respect to Marco who gave me a tremendous heads up battle in this his first live event-WELL DONE! Also my wife Angela who, whenever i looked at her on the rail smiled and whispered 'YOU CAN DO IT!'.
We all love this game, but never ever forget the true value of the loved ones who believe in you, i certainly won't-thanks darling.
Well i suppose you guessed it, yes i won! An APAT/Blondite wins the 1st Sky Poker live tournament!

I would like to offer special thanks to everyone who offered there sincere congratulations and i hope to meet you all on the final table at the next Sky Poker live event!
So come on Sky-whens the next one!     

Angela & i both send our congratulations on a great WSOP baptism-well done!