Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Dom is a few tables away from me, he is seat 8 to Mr Barry Shulman in seat 1, looking particularly curmudgeonly today. Would love to move to that table, could get feisty......

touched down in sin city..wandered through the card room..Dom was looking focused and tikay looking like the value as he called an early shove and folded to pressure..was last seen grinding a bowl... Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Bit of a tough spot that one, but I'm happy with the play, for once.

Think I had 26,000, Blinds were something like 300-600, & shortie, UTG, playing 10 Bigs, shoves, me, next to speak, CALLED (?) with 7-7. Then it goes re-shove/re-shove behind me, whoops, & it's an easy fold. The re-shovers had 10-10 & J-J, the shortie had 6-6.

I discussed it at length afterwards with Dom, & he was sort of 50/50 between call or fold, because there were so many behind me. I was a tad fortunate that I did not brain fart & raise to isolate, in fact.

I'm happy with the play, the only question being should I fold to the shorties shove there? I don't think so, not at all.

I exited later in spectacular fashion, as I did the previous day. Been very happy with both my exits so far, in fact. Been in some VERY odd spots, too, one of which still has me intrigued. If I ever get the Daily Blog started, (blame Tom's diary for that) I'll bore everyone with that one.

[tikay]

Not seen the boy Nicholson yet. Think he's running scared, as I challenged him to some Heads Up Omaha.

[outragous76]

Not seen the boy Nicholson yet. Think he's running scared, as I challenged him to some Heads Up Omaha.

it helps to get down low!

(sorry dave)

[mondatoo]

Do you get the Times whilst in Vegas ? There was another very good piece by Matthew Sayed about footballers salaries juxtaposed to the morality of there behaviour, very good writing.

Sadly not, I really ought to invest in the Online Edition, I much miss it, although there are some quite splendid American newspapers - The Washington Post (best paper in the world, & Warren Buffett has quite an amazing involvement in that), & the Wall Street Journal, the latter which I take weekly back home, in fact.

I think Mathew Sayed is an incredibly perceptive journo, nobody can even get near to him, he's different class to the rest, as is Barclay. Do you take The Times, then? 

Well done on a fine effort in UKOPS. We will do it again quite soon, hopefully you will run a little better next time.

Someone at works gets it, I just read it on my break.

[tikay]

Had a really peculiar 2xup in yesterday's Venetian Deepie. It's 12k starting, we are on 200-400/25, & I'm playing about 13k.

UTG - active, good, internet type (I know, because he was young), min raises to 800. 4 callers, I am in the BB, & make up the obligatory 400 with 

Flop......

 

I check (wimp alert), UTG makes a weak lead, 1,600.

Folded to button, a sharp type, very opportunistic. He makes it 5k.

FWIW, my read is that he knows UTG man is probably just c-betting his missed flop, & as everyone else behind had folded, it was a good spot for him (button man) to tid. Seems reasonable.

I now shove for my 12k or so, & Button man was so keen to snap me off he had his chips in the middle out of turn, even before UTG man had done his standard theatrical dwell-fold.

Overpair probably, 8-9, or flush draw?

Not quite. He tabled 

My head hurts too much if I try & rationalise it, maybe someone will tell me he had the right price, but it's all a bit above me. Not complaining, mind......

[tikay]

Arrived on Monday, dumped my case in the room (3pm) , & dashed across to the Venetian, I wanna play!

Too late to late reg for the noon, don't fancy the BH, so look for some Omaha cash, but nothing doing that I can afford, don't really wanna play $8-$16 on Day One, straight off the plane.

Eventually, I late reg for the 3pm Bounty job, & run pretty good, taking 3 bounties & am soon double average. Variance can overcome skill any day.

Then I get in a monsta pot, 3 of us all-in pre, me A-K, v A-Q & K-J (!). K-J man rivers his J, & I take the small side pot, & am down to 7 bigs. I'm not troubled, I'll have another bash at finding some Omaha cash.

Almost immediately, I get A-J & jam, & the BB makes the standard call with A-4. Helllo comeback!

But the most peculiar thing now happens.

My cards were Tabled, so were the BB's, &, presumably the Dealer assumed the BB had passed face-up, because he now mucks the A-4, AND destroys the deck, by bringing in the "muck" cards!

There was no question, the BB had called, so now the whole Table are hooting & hollering, & the Floor is summoned. I have no idea how he intends to sort this mess out, & I'm not that fussed really, though I'd rather he did not void the hand.

Eventually, after we name the BB's hand & suits, & both of us say we are happy with whatever is decided, the deck is re-shuffled, & off we go.

What a mess!

Really not sure what is supposed to happen in this spot, but the Dealer was mortified, poor chap, & of course, being poker, he did not lack views from all & sundry on his competence or otherwise. Who'd be a Dealer? -  one mistake & you'd think he had run over your dog.

[tikay]

Played the so-called "Big O" hi-lo Omaha game, being $1-$2, with a $5 bring in.

Sat with $500, won $200 the very first hand, then flopped quad tens on a J-T-T flop against the poor sod (moaning poor sod, I might add) who was holding J-J. He tickle betted flop & turn, I abo know his hand, of course, & he calls my river jam without a moments hesitation, then throws a major strop @ the "lucky tourist". Yup, that's me.

P & L so far is......

Tourneys.

1 x $360

1 x $340

No second bullets, & no returns except 3 x $25 Bounties,.

Cash, $1,497 profit.

So, about $725 to the good so far.

Playing the Noon $340 today (actual cost $360 I think), so if I need my 2nd bullet, that's the profit gone.

Optimism ftw.

If I bust early, will try & find some Omaha Cash.

Only been here 2 days, but abso loving it. Been working pretty hard lately, SPT, UKOPs, & some heavy planning meets on 865, & I'm really enjoying the break.

I still field my work e-Mails daily, don't wanna come home to x thousand of them, but it's stress-free & pretty easy really.

We have just about finalised the way forward for UKOPS, with dates & Schedule for the next 2 just about agreed, just a bit of fine-tuning & that's sorted.

[tikay]

We've (Ch 865, not the cardroom) had several painful Meetings the last few weeks with Compliance. OFCOM & ASA, between them, don't 'arf make it complicated, one is Advisory, the other mandatory, & they don't have common views on some stuff.

Add in that 865 has a "teleshopping" Licence, so is obliged to do & say some things, "call to action" in particular (sell), but when we simulcast on Sky Sports, we are covered by totally different regulations, & teleshopping is a complete & utter no-no. Sky Sports also insist upon very strict standards as to what we do, & say. Which is fine, but the Thursday Show is well awkward, because the first 2 hours are 865 only, covered by Teleshopping Licence, & the 2nd 2 hours is totally different, with a new audience, & different regulations, taking effect halfway through the Show, @ 10pm. Add-in two completely different audiences, with different target messages, & a different understanding of poker, & you have quite a challenge.

So, at 10pm, we sort of "re-set" the Show, as if it were just starting.

Now it gets even more complex, as the whole 4 hour Show is then repeated through the week, on 865 ONLY, so the message needs to be Teleshopping compliant again.

So, taking all that into account, plus the fact that swearing, sexual innuendo, etc are both compete no-nos (like it or not, those are the regulations, I can't even diss the Welsh, even in jest.....), now add in the absolute obligation NOT to offend our Clients with overly-vigorous analysis of arguably poor plays (criticism has gotta be phrased "just so"), so it's quite an interesting, & very enjoyable, challenge.

All of which is a pre-amble to mention tomorrow's Guest, on the Show which will be simulcast with Sky Sports.

Welcome to Sky Poker, Channel 865, Sir, have a great Show.

[Karabiner]

I was sure it was going to be the devilfish.

[tikay]

I was sure it was going to be the devilfish.

We have dress standards, you know........

Really, I am pretty sure he'd be a step too far for us, although he is under consideration. Interestingly, whatever the kids might say or think, he would be a viewer magnet for us. Not saying that is either good or bad, but that's the way it is. The "old familiar" faces still do it for the recreational poker market.

We have trebled our viewing audiences in the last 12 months, so no need to gamble. Whether we can continue to justify the horrific expense of our own TV Channel is another matter altogether. It's pretty tough to quantify, or value, the benefits it brings. On a straight cost-benefit exercise, it does not even begin to add up, the benefits are brand awareness & profile, which is extremely hard to justify to Accountants, to be fair, & it is a constant battle. The reality is, there is very little financial incentive to serve the needs of the existing Client Base - it's sign-ups, & new players, that are crucial to sustainable growth. We would lose some players, for sure, mainly smaller rakers, but the cost saving would massively outwight that specific loss.

Every other form of Marketing we do, all the spend, can be accurately measured, to the last penny, but 865 cannot. 

How long it will survive is anyone's guess, I'm quite surprised it has survived this long, in truth. I have a habit of help close Poker TV channels - Ch 435 (Wm Hil), Poker Night Live, etc......

I hope it continues, I really do, but if it does not, I've left nothing on the Table personally, I've given it my best shot, & know the "message" pefectly, saddo that I am. The annual budgets are the key moment of every financial year for all parts of the business, so we re OK yet awhile. I hope.

And if it happens, well so be it, plenty of stuff remains on my bucket list, & I still have a thoroughly engaging & satisfying role elsewhere in SB&G, for the time being, anyway. Pensionable age is less than a year away, so whatever happens, I can't complain, it's been a wonderful final chapter in my working career.

[mickyp]

Tikay,whats the weather like in vegas just now.Me and mrs p fly out next week and the better half is wondering what to pack.

[tikay]

Right, I'm done, I have poker to play, wonderful.

I got brave yesterday & Monday, & never took my 'phone with me, what a difference it makes not to be shackled to that addiction, but I need it today, as I'm expecting a call. (Already had one long call from the Office today, though that was a great one, I'm much relieved to say).

What I did try yesterday, though, was taking the i-pad with me. I half loved it, such a joy to use (or try to learn to use), & I can do e-Mails, surf blonde, Tweet if I so wish, da de da, but I half hated it, too, as it really is a distraction, & I miss subtle interaction with other players, & little nuances. I also suspect it is a tad disrespectful to use it at the Table.

Am gonna try it again today, but I'm pretty sure it will be the last occasion I do so, as it does not quite sit comfortably with me, it seems slightly wrong somehow, & I'm not deriving the maximum pleasure from sitting at a poker Table, & observing all the various charcters.

Met an extraordinary German Gentleman yesterday, the original Mr Angry, & when I busted him, (standard flip, my 7-7 v his A-Q, AIPF) I genuinely thought he was going to explode, or hit me, or have a heart attack or something. Incredible how peeps travel all that way to play poker, & then get so het up. Do they really enjoy it? I suspect not.

[tikay]

Tikay,whats the weather like in vegas just now.Me and mrs p fly out next week and the better half is wondering what to pack.

Bloody cold! Bright sunshine, & at this very moment, 12c. Really quite "fresh" in truth.

It gets dark before 6pm, too.

[Karabiner]

Best of luck Tony.

This has the potential to be the greatest ever spin-up of the winter fuel allowance.

Marv......

Thanks Ralph. I've run outrageously well in cash games this year at DTD, as it happens, just found myself in some incredibly nice spots, & cleared over £5k in the last three visits, & that's been good for the cash-flow, as well as a simply incredible 12 months of staking.

I really ought to quit staking now, I can never run this good again! Binks of £27k, £16k, £4.5k, £3k, & an assortment of lesser sums, all inside 12 months, how can you explain such good fortune?

Hope you are well, & in good heart. A shame you & Tom could not be here, it would have been such fun. Instead, I get Chompy. In evey life, a little rain must fall.....

Oooooh I think I got a bite there, Herbie would be proud of me. GIQ FFS.

PS Would you like the details of that charity for un-needed winter fuel payments?

[tikay]

And today, after Dom wound him up a treat yesterday, it is my turn to share a Table with Mr B. Shulman. Should be a fun table.