Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Very well done sustaining a diary for so long, happy anniversary.

sustaining

Great choice of word, from our resident Norweigan wordsmith.

Thanks Ray.

You still crushing (bugger, I LOATHE that term almost as much as "flicking it in") those SNG things on 'Stars?

I hate "Sick".

Me too, though I'd not go quite as far as "hate". I just yearn for a little more originality.

There was an incident in Vegas, & a lad just sat there, refusing to table or muck his hand, for what seemed minutes.

He kept looking at the board, looking at his hand, looking back at the board.

sick

so sick

This is so sick

sick.

sickest thing ever

Oh my god, this is so sick.

Would have been the best slowroll ever if he then turned over the nuts. 

That reminds me of a chap in Vegas this trip. I had intended it to be in my Trip Report as "Best Slowroller All Trip", but might as well do it now.

He played all the PLO, PLO8 & Mixed Games in GN & Binions.

Elderly, perhaps 70, never spoke a word except to grunt at the dealer & other players, a total wet blanket. He had bad catarrh, too, which, to our chagrin, he gargled with great dexterity & fluency, before the obligatory full throat clear, with players diving for cover in all directions.

We all got used to him eventually, & knew EXACTLY what to expect, every single time, but he never varied his routine.

I'm not sure of the rule or etiquette in Limit Poker as to who shows firrst, but I know one thing, he was always last.

So, geezer in Seat 2 would table his hand, ditto Seat 4. Wet Blanket in 8 would squint, stand up, then say...

"what's he got, whats he got, I can't see from here, what's he got?".

Eventually he'd be told, say, 2nd/2nd.

Rinse repeat for the seat 4 hand.

"what's he got, what's he got, I can't see from here, what's he got?".

And Seat 4 would say "2nd nut high, no low" or whatever.

Wet Blanket now sits himself down, with some difficulty, I believe he must have had piles. 

Now he picks his hand up, right close to his face, eyes squinting, & examines it, left to right, then back again. 

Now he looks at the board again, then back at his hand.

Eventually, he peels a card off, & casually tables it.

It's a dead card.

After some more examination of his hand, & the board, he peels off another dead card.

Now it's getting good, as we know what's coming next.

After some more looking back & forth, he tables (say) the 2 of diamonds. On it's own, it does nothing, but now he has draws.

And then, eventually, & e-v-e-r  s-o  s-l-o-w-l-y, he uses his finger to motion to the Dealer "everything to me, I've got the lot" & slowly tables the Ace of Diamonds for nut nut.

He did it every single time, & it became quite an event which we all looked forward to.

I could not help wonder what he is like away from the Tables. I had him bookmarked as Noel Edmonds & his oh-so-humourless "Gotcha" thing, but of course the name of Noel Edmonds was lost on the locals.

You do meet all sorts at the tables.

Well I might have mellowed but I couldn't have stood that.

That would have driven me absolutely crazy. I'd have had to have said something. In a mellow manner of course

We were all too scared!

He really was a Premiership Chunterer.

[mondatoo]

Very well done sustaining a diary for so long, happy anniversary.

sustaining

Great choice of word, from our resident Norweigan wordsmith.

Thanks Ray.

You still crushing (bugger, I LOATHE that term almost as much as "flicking it in" & "joke"") those SNG things on 'Stars?

Still playing them, that's about the most positive thing I have to say

[Machka]

Hi tikay, just watched this and though of you stood outside the fence at Heathrow photographing planes (most of them anyway) taking off and landing...

[GreekStein]

Oh no, TV Star Conky Cos itt. 

I'll need to lay low for a bit, whilst he tears me a new one.

I really enjoyed yesterday.

The last time I was on was when the studios were in Feltham when I had to make my own way their and get 2 trains back at midnight. This time everything seemed way more important and professional. My Green Tomato was nice . Walking past the Sky News desk on my way to makeup was a bit weird but I felt comfortable after that. Obviously Richard Orford and Karl are so easy to get on with. Richard is clearly great at what he does.

I hadn't seen Karl present (I know he isn't technically in a presenter role, but he kind of is) but if I had to hazard a guess I wouldn't have thought this was his cup of tea or that he would have been particularly good at it. Karl might read this and I hope he doesn't take offence to that. He just likes to fly a bit under the radar so I didn't think he'd be much good. At the second break I asked him where his autocue was because I could see Mr Orford's and Karl laughed explaining that he didn't have one. Just goes to show how good he was. Really excellent imo, I was in awe.

Would be good to do it again before you leave but if not will definitely see you next year in Vegas. I'll be spending the time between now and then losing the weight I've put on since I broke my arm nearly a year ago.

[tikay]

Hi tikay, just watched this and though of you stood outside the fence at Heathrow photographing planes (most of them anyway) taking off and landing...

Thanks Aaron.

Whisper it quietly, but I spent some time @ McCarron Airport, Vegas, watching the 'planes come & go. Weird Airport that - it has FOUR runways (Gatwick has one), & is a hub for Southwest Airlines, who were the model for the wonderful & always popular Ryanair. 

Quite a comical thread about it on PPRuNe, which is largely populated by self-appointed "experts".


It would seem that Barcelona Airport has a reputation for these sorts of sloppy control procedures.

http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/543082-aerolineas-argentina-a340-runway-incursion-bcn-video.html


One resident PPRuNe comedian, responding to a Post suggesting the Pilot of the A340 was blameless, noted dryly.....


"....I stand to be corrected, but there appear to be some windows in the front of that A340, not sure what they might be there for though...."


Anyway, how are you, & what is Leon up to these days? Has he decided what he wants to do when he leaves school yet?

[tikay]

Oh no, TV Star Conky Cos itt.  

I'll need to lay low for a bit, whilst he tears me a new one.

I really enjoyed yesterday.

The last time I was on was when the studios were in Feltham when I had to make my own way their and get 2 trains back at midnight. This time everything seemed way more important and professional. My Green Tomato was nice . Walking past the Sky News desk on my way to makeup was a bit weird but I felt comfortable after that. Obviously Richard Orford and Karl are so easy to get on with. Richard is clearly great at what he does.

I hadn't seen Karl present (I know he isn't technically in a presenter role, but he kind of is) but if I had to hazard a guess I wouldn't have thought this was his cup of tea or that he would have been particularly good at it. Karl might read this and I hope he doesn't take offence to that. He just likes to fly a bit under the radar so I didn't think he'd be much good. At the second break I asked him where his autocue was because I could see Mr Orford's and Karl laughed explaining that he didn't have one. Just goes to show how good he was. Really excellent imo, I was in awe.

Would be good to do it again before you leave but if not will definitely see you next year in Vegas. I'll be spending the time between now and then losing the weight I've put on since I broke my arm nearly a year ago.

Good stuff Conky.

For those not aware (presumably almost everyone), Cos was the Celebrity Guest/Expert on Sunday's Show on Ch 861, alongside Tall Bloke Mahrenholz. Well worth watching a repeat, this was the evening that Doobsy finished 2nd in the Main & Mini for a pleasing £1,500 Bonus on top of his Prize Money.

Glad you enjoyed it.

I remember when you were last on, we were in that painful "Green Studio" in Feltham, (5 years ago?) & yes, it was a pain to get to. Now Guests get a "Green Tomato" to deliver & collect them to the door, & quite right too.

I always get a bit of a tingle when walking past, or almost through, that "Live & On Air" Sky News Studio.

Orford? Yes, top notch at his job, right up there with the now-departed James Hartigan.

Only the Presenter has Autocue. Three Cameras, all with Autocue, 1 for the Presenter, 1 for the Analyst &/or Guests, & 1 for the "two-shot".

It's quite hard to use Autocue, as you tend to look & talk wooden, but Orford manages it well.  

Analysts just ad-lib, which, imo, is actually a lot easier.

There is a Legal requirement - because we have a Teleshopping Licence, to "sell" x times per hour, including "call to action", which is, say, "still time to register for tonight's Main Event, & plenty of seats available at the Mastercash Tables" da de da.  

The Presenter & Analyst share those duties. If we do a Sky Sports simulcast though, the rules change completely, as we must not sell, or call to action, on Sky Sports. The Simulcast is only from 10pm until Midnight, so it's quite a shift of mindset required @ 10pm on a Thursday, so Guests are rarely invited on a Thursday, as it's a bit complicated at first attempt.

So yes, Karl has taken to it very quickly. He is, obviously, very good at poker hand analysis, & articulates his thought processes very well. The awkward part is understanding "Message", which includes, for example, encouraging players to use the App, & for those on Desktops & the like, to multi-table. On blonde, the thought of players single tabling is viewed as almost hilarious, but in the real world of recreational players, the vast majority of them one-table. So if we could just encourage even 5% or 10% of them to 2-Table, it makes a massive difference to MPU, though it has to be done in a way that does not offend "Responsible Gaming".  

Would be good to do it again before you leave

You heard?

But yes, would be great to do a Show with you, though nowadays I have much less input as to who does which Show. Bit like an old married couple, been together a long time, we don't talk so much these days......

Presumably you are returning to Thailand soon? Any other long-term life plans?

Maybe see you in Vegas next year, though I think I'm quite a long-shot to do Vegas ever again. We shall see.

Good to see you on the Diary. Post more.

[Doobs]

Love it when the officials say there was no danger to passengers.  

That thread fills me full of confidence for my trip to Barcelona next month.  Thanks got posting.  

PS Bring Cos back as soon as possible, he brings much run good and is not a complete bok like another presenter I could mention. 

[tikay]

Vegas 2014, End Of Term Report (cont'd).

I will finish this - eventually - then we can  move on.

Next up, the WSOP $1,000 Omaha.

To me, playing a WSOP event fills me with excitement, anticipation, hope, fear, everything, the buzz is outstanding.

After 3 nice results on the bounce in PLO, I had built a little self-belief, & genuinely expected a good performance, &, hopefully, a deep run.

It was an unmitigated disaster, from start to finish. And "finish" was not long after it started, think I barely made Level 3, ugh.

That walk back up the Rio corridor was a long, long, walk, I was so deflated, & did not know what to do with myself for the rest of the day. It was like being thrown out of a party before it got going. I would have done anything to start again! But we've all been there, done that, it's no big deal really, but strewth, it hurt my pride.

What went wrong?

What went right, more like, everything went wrong. My nerves were worse than ever, they usually settle down after I've played or won a pot or two, but "comfort" never arrived, & as I got deeper into the mire, my nerves worsened. I don't much like it when my hands shake, just self-conscious I suppose, but 2 players at the table mentioned it, & not in a kindly way.

I certainly never ran well, but I certainly never played well either.

As a rule, with an hour clock, I tell myself to sit out for a while, to see what is what. Fail. One kid was really aggro, & raising pre every hand. I had position on him, & was sure I could catch him, but instead of re-raising him I just kept calling & missing.

He soon had an accident & was down to a bowl, 550 or something, I had opened with a Bet, got one caller, & then he moved in for a couple of hundo more. I hated life, but had to call. I had both of them all the way for a 2,000 pot (starting stack 3,000, so quite significant @ that stage) but he turned a lovely wrap & rivered it, so another 550 slid across the table. I was all paint, double suited, he had a middling messy 4-5-6-8 sorta hand, exactly as I expected.

One problem with sitting quiet the first Level (as intended) was that we were 5 handed for the first 20 mins, & then only 6 handed for another hour. It's a job to sit quiet six handed really. I always sit very quiet first few levels, so much so that it prompts mocking comment, but for whatever reason, I was messing around in too many pots, mainly because I thought I could catch Mr Open Every Pot.

We "only" got 3,000 chips, but it started 25-25 for an hour, then 25-50, so 3,000 is fine really. But psychologically, 3,000 feels so vulnerable, especially if you lose the first few pots. Guess it is the same for all these $1,000 & $1,500 WSOP Events, but I had trouble adjusting to it. 

Anyway, I got in a spot with Top 2 & NFD, bet it, & Mr Loosey potted it, so, with around 2,000 remaining, I decided it was time to stop being pushed around & get it in. He had middle set, & I never improved.

I sat there momentarily, stunned. How can I be busto this early? To a small degree, "opening up" my game was to blame, & that carries the inevitable risk of an early bath.

It was just one of those days when I did everything wrong, & nothing went right.

Doubt I've ever had a less satisfying Tournament experience, & can't really point any fingers at others, it just happened.

Next case, then.

PS - Just re-read all that, & it looks a bit "woe is me", but I am just explaining my thought processes after time to reflect. Job to dress it up nicely. Not a disaster, not at all, 90% of us would not cash, but it was all such an anti-climax after months of looking forward to it.       

[Jac]

Sky broken?

[tikay]

Sky broken?

Ha!

The Games are running normally, but the Forum (sorry, "Community") is currently AWOL. It's my cunning plan to migrate players to blonde....

I saw a note early this morning to the mechanics asking them to mend it.

Good to see you here. How is Penny, & the Little One?

Expectations for Derby County this season? Presumably just happy to finish above Forest & Leicester?

[tikay]

Ooh, quick apology to Paul (Jac).

Just realised, Leicester are in the Premier League now, whilst Derby are still in the Championship, sorry.

[tikay]

Can barely believe I did that rub & the very next moment, PhilThePower turned up itt.

Two direct hits with one bullet.

[Jac]

Grrr

Was considering a loan move to Blonde but think I'll stay put.
They're much nicer over there! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tikay]

Vegas 2014, End Of Term Report (cont'd).

Before we get to the fun stuff, I need to finish the tale of woe.

I had really good stacks in 2 particular Tourneys, both PLO8, the first was at Venetian in, I think, the $600.

I had a really good stack, & was trundling along most pleasantly.

Then I got into an awkward spot with a set of Aces against Dave Barnes. I rarely play big pots (pre-flop) in PLO8 without a good ace, I had 2, & one flopped, so I had Dave on a "good" ace. But the turn came bad, a third low card, & I only had an emergency low.

Bla bla, I could not let go, & he had the wheel, "taxi", I felt crushed again, as this was a clear error. I could almost certainly only win one end unless I was very lucky, & it's a terrible rookie error to play for half the pot at best. It's quite frustrating to get some run-good, as I did that day, then throw it away.   

Then I did much the same thing again in, I think, 5 Card PLO8 @ Golden Nugget.

Same scenario, plenty of chips, & going along nicely. There was some "edge" (nice edge, good fun, but edge all the same) between me & Mr Arkansas. There was only one other "player" on the Table besides he & I, but we kept tangling.

Arkansas kept hitting, too, & on the fateful hand, he 4 bet me for the 900th time & I was not buying. He can't always have it, & I had a nice 2 way hand, drawing to the nuts/2nd nuts. In it went, & I was in awful shape, lol, & never improved. Felt so daft, walking away afterwards & another early night. 

So that's 2 unforced errors, both when I had really playable stack. Can't keep wasting these chances.

I can only suggest it was down to lapses of concentration, because I know better than that.

Without getting the 50p tin out, I also seemed to run bad all trip, too, though the mind plays tricks in hindsight of course. We make our own luck I suppose.

In PLO & PLO8 we get Aces plenty of times, especially in 5 card, but I rarely seemed to get them, & lost every time when I did, including that 2xUp spot in Day 2 of the WSOP PLO8. It might just be all in the mind, I suppose, but I'm generally realistic in these matters.

Guess some run bad & some play bad sums it up.

Hope all this does not sound too tail between legs, it's just the way things panned out.

There were some great moments too, though, & if anyone thinks I did not have the time of my life, they'd be wrong.

More follows......

[tikay]

Vegas 2014, End Of Term Report (cont'd).

I shared tables with some great characters & made some lovely friends.

In the WSOP PLO8, I think, I had a handsome young lad to my immediate right.

I clicked straight away that...

1) He was not a genuine PLO8 player, he was a NLH lad.

2) He was good, very good.

We had a few verbals early, not nasty, but got into each other a wee bit. Then, as so often happens, we were kissing & cuddling like long lost souls.

He was very active, but that suits me perfectly to have a strong active player to my immediate right, so we got it on a few times.
 
Then Flushy passed by & they exchanged warm greetings, & so I started trying to suss who he was.

It was this fine young man, Taylor Raur.


http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=118277


To save you scrolling through that lot, he has 20 WSOP Cashes, including no less than EIGHT so far this Series, & he won a Bracelet last year.

I heard rumour that he used to be staked by Chris Moorman, (who was not?!) but thats no longer the case I gather.

A lovely kid, good looking, nicely turned out (in the modern style), reasonably well-mannered, very good player.

Online Pro, I believe, bases himself in Vancouver these days, previously Mexico I think.

These lads live the life of Riley, but you can't begrudge it them, they can't 'arf play.

Great memory sitting next to a player like that for 5 or 6 hours. Ironically, I busted him, but only for a bowl, due to a previous misunderstanding.

PS - Just noticed he ended Day 1 of the Main with 116,000. Good luck him.





Few "faces" in this one......