Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

My outrageous suckout with the Kings apart, I was pretty much luck-neutral the rest of the night, but even though I go back low-stacked, as per, I was quite pleased with my game.

I Passed Nines in the Big Blind to UTG Raiser Rupiner early, he had K-Q, but "better spot" (& wimpish tendancies) came to mind.

I then got A-K in the BB, & with 5 callers, lumped in a hefty bet, only to find a check-shover behind me. Easy & immediate Pass, & he was kind enough to show - he had Kings.  He can only make that play with 2 hands imo.

I was trundling along steadily around average, & with a first-to-speak Raise to 700 in front of me, I made it an extra 2,500 with Jacks, prompting an immediate shove. Again, a quick Pass from me, to the aghastness of a few. He had A-K, & we shall never know. "Better Spot", or wimp? I always think that the "first Raise" is the hardest one to judge, by far - subsequent re-Raises are a shoe-in to read, but that first one could be anything. This set me back badly, & I went a bit silly for half-an-hour, & pretended I was Pete Linton, moving in repeatedly. But unlike him, I have a very small willy, & I'm not comfy with that sort of game, & so I soon reverted to type, grinding along sub-average all evening.

Later, the same guy & myself locked horns properly, my A-K Re-Raise called by his Jacks, & I hit both my cards.

I slipped to very low with an hour to go, but got a lovely 2xUp with A-Q v A-T, & return on Sunday at 3.30pm.

It's a bit odd that they are paying 9 places for a 47 runner affair, but no point arguing, it is what it is. However, with 10 folks retuning for a 9 paid affair, inevitably there was talk of a saver for 10th tomorrow. But one Gent objected - he was refused a similar deal recently, & so objected on principle. So be it.

[tikay]

Red, Lord Wernick & myself were chiling in the eating-area pre-comp, & were joined by Marcus Bebb-Jones, following which an odd thing happened.

Marcus was holding a Grosvenor "Promotional Flyer", which gave him various freebies. (Nobody else seemed to have one of these).

Among the little Vouchers he had was one offering a £10 Bet at 50/1 for a correct number on Roulette -  single spin, £10 only. 50/1 at Roulette? Roulette is for idiots, we all know that, but 50/1 on a 35/1 Shot is a different matter. Red, never slow to spot a deal, purchased half of Marcus's action for a fiver, & off they toddled, me in tow (to watch Tom on Roulette, of al things!)  to the Cash Desk to get the Voucher validated. They then walked exactly 3 paces to the nearest - & completely empty - Roulette Table, & with the ball already long-spinning, placed the Bet in readiness for the next spin. The Croupier promptly removed the £10, Marcus & Tom said "hey, that was the next spin, not this spin", but the Croupier was having none of it, & the £10 was lost.

Which just proves that even at 50/1, Roulette is a mugs game.

Play resumes at 3.30pm later today (Sunday), & if all goes to plan (early exit anticipated, but I'd quite like to Cash first), I'll drop down the M6 & M1 & play the Luton £100 Freeze. If I were, by some miracle, to cash big, I might consider the DTD £100 RebuyFest, but that's just bad value for me with my game, so it's almost certainly Luton. I can then head on down to London, as I'm working in Feltham both Monday & Tuesday.

[Newmanseye]

My outrageous suckout with the Kings apart, I was pretty much luck-neutral the rest of the night, but even though I go back low-stacked, as per, I was quite pleased with my game.

I Passed Nines in the Big Blind to UTG Raiser Rupiner early, he had K-Q, but "better spot" (& wimpish tendancies) came to mind.

I then got A-K in the BB, & with 5 callers, lumped in a hefty bet, only to find a check-shover behind me. Easy & immediate Pass, & he was kind enough to show - he had Kings.  He can only make that play with 2 hands imo.

I was trundling along steadily around average, & with a first-to-speak Raise to 700 in front of me, I made it an extra 2,500 with Jacks, prompting an immediate shove. Again, a quick Pass from me, to the aghastness of a few. He had A-K, & we shall never know. "Better Spot", or wimp? I always think that the "first Raise" is the hardest one to judge, by far - subsequent re-Raises are a shoe-in to read, but that first one could be anything. This set me back badly, & I went a bit silly for half-an-hour, & pretended I was Pete Linton, moving in repeatedly. But unlike him, I have a very small willy, & I'm not comfy with that sort of game, & so I soon reverted to type, grinding along sub-average all evening.

Later, the same guy & myself locked horns properly, my A-K Re-Raise called by his Jacks, & I hit both my cards.

I slipped to very low with an hour to go, but got a lovely 2xUp with A-Q v A-T, & return on Sunday at 3.30pm.

It's a bit odd that they are paying 9 places for a 47 runner affair, but no point arguing, it is what it is. However, with 10 folks retuning for a 9 paid affair, inevitably there was talk of a saver for 10th tomorrow. But one Gent objected - he was refused a similar deal recently, & so objected on principle. So be it.

LOL   

[redsimon]

Grosvenor held "clashing" Events today, the £500 at Blackpool (cancelled, lack of runners, though a whopping 17 turned up for yesterday's £250), & the famous Walsall monthly £300.

The latter used to regularly attract 120+, as many as 150 on numerous occasions, & in Feb 2006, when I Cashed one spot above a certain J Thew, there were no less than 186 runners.

Today, there were........47. Which is more than it attracted last month.

Why? I'm not sure. But lack of Promotion or Flyers cannot help, any more than taking the clientele for granted.

I'm sad about it, but "Series Poker" continues to attract monster-sized fields. Perhaps folks just can't be arsed to play £300 Events any more. As £300 Events go, there are few, if any, better than this, imo.

Used to enjoy the Walsall £300 and would go over from Friday night until early Monday. However, with DtD and bankroll etc I imagine a lot of semi-recreational punters like me play no more than 1 £300 type event a month and go to DtD instead? Better food, closer (for me at least!), and a good structure with plenty of cash games, no choice really I am afraid.Also think Rank/Grosvenor have lost their way.

[RED-DOG]

But one Gent objected - he was refused a similar deal recently


Small but important correction. Said gent was not refused a deal, he said, and I quote, "Last time, no one mentioned a saver" (So presumably, he didn't mention it either)

He may also be influenced by the fact that he has plenty of chips.

As a rule, I don't mind wheather people do savers or not, but in these circumstances, with 10 players returning and 9 getting paid, it seems a bit churlish to refuse.

[MANTIS01]

Yep, good to see you at Walsall Tikay. Good luck today. I did gamble with the flush draw and my first set of chips....but my exit hand was a real beauty.

After taking my second set of 3.5k chips I was up to about 6k. UTG limps in for 50 and I raise to 250 from mid position with    , button calls, limper calls. Flop comes      and UTG bets 500, I call, button folds. Turn  and UTG bets 1K. I move all-in and UTG snap-calls with    ....before rivering one of his clearly deserved kings. Jesus. And I'm heading to the wailing wall after 30 mins of play with a strange pain in my stomach.

[RED-DOG]

Yep, good to see you at Walsall Tikay. Good luck today. I did gamble with the flush draw and my first set of chips....but my exit hand was a real beauty.

After taking my second set of 3.5k chips I was up to about 6k. UTG limps in for 50 and I raise to 250 from mid position with    , button calls, limper calls. Flop comes      and UTG bets 500, I call, button folds. Turn  and UTG bets 1K. I move all-in and UTG snap-calls with    ....before rivering one of his clearly deserved kings. Jesus. And I'm heading to the wailing wall after 30 mins of play with a strange pain in my stomach.

Unlucky Mantis, Sorry I diddn't get a chance to say hello.

[ripple11]

Yep, good to see you at Walsall Tikay. Good luck today. I did gamble with the flush draw and my first set of chips....but my exit hand was a real beauty.

After taking my second set of 3.5k chips I was up to about 6k. UTG limps in for 50 and I raise to 250 from mid position with    , button calls, limper calls. Flop comes      and UTG bets 500, I call, button folds. Turn  and UTG bets 1K. I move all-in and UTG snap-calls with    ....before rivering one of his clearly deserved kings. Jesus. And I'm heading to the wailing wall after 30 mins of play with a strange pain in my stomach.

Very unlucky.Presume he hadn't taken his second set of chips, and was willing to gamble....otherwise he had a memory loss and thought it was a £5 rebuy.

[tikay]

Yep, good to see you at Walsall Tikay. Good luck today. I did gamble with the flush draw and my first set of chips....but my exit hand was a real beauty.

After taking my second set of 3.5k chips I was up to about 6k. UTG limps in for 50 and I raise to 250 from mid position with    , button calls, limper calls. Flop comes      and UTG bets 500, I call, button folds. Turn  and UTG bets 1K. I move all-in and UTG snap-calls with    ....before rivering one of his clearly deserved kings. Jesus. And I'm heading to the wailing wall after 30 mins of play with a strange pain in my stomach.

Very unlucky Mark. I think I may have re-Raised the 500 Bet on that flop, but I guess K-Q man calls anyway, so it made no odds.

We saw some extraordinary plays actually - I think the way folks play Tourney poker is changing dramatically, it's becoming much more of a gamble-fest.

We saw this flop late on.....

 

Passive, solid, very quiet Gent Check Raises all-in, a massive overbet, with  . His deep-stacked & un-pot-committed oppo gave it a dwell, & then said, "OK, I'll give you a spin". And turned over  . He missed his optimistic gutshot. And rivered an off-suit 4. I'm coming to believe that Online play is spreading to B & M. No bad thing, mind, but fascinating to see, & try to imagine, players thought processes. Laast week, in Luton, with just under average chips, I squeezed with 8-8, & got looked up, for his Tourney, by 8-10. On Friday in Luton, (me not in hand), in Level 4, we saw a R, a R-R all-in, & then a call, all three players for their Tourney. The last Caller, with 2 players all-in already, had 6-7.

We should, & I am, delighted with this trend, but it does bring a tear to the eye when, 1 time in 3 or 4, the miracle spanner-hand wins.

I forgot to mention another "face" present last night - DTD regular & Joe Pasquali impressionist Chinese Frankie. He was very subdued last night, quite unlike him. He talks for England - or is it China? - but when you chat to him off-table, he's a most-likeable & erudite individual.

[celtic]

Yep, good to see you at Walsall Tikay. Good luck today. I did gamble with the flush draw and my first set of chips....but my exit hand was a real beauty.

After taking my second set of 3.5k chips I was up to about 6k. UTG limps in for 50 and I raise to 250 from mid position with    , button calls, limper calls. Flop comes      and UTG bets 500, I call, button folds. Turn  and UTG bets 1K. I move all-in and UTG snap-calls with    ....before rivering one of his clearly deserved kings. Jesus. And I'm heading to the wailing wall after 30 mins of play with a strange pain in my stomach.

Very unlucky Mark. I think I may have re-Raised the 500 Bet on that flop, but I guess K-Q man calls anyway, so it made no odds.

We saw some extraordinary plays actually - I think the way folks play Tourney poker is changing dramatically, it's becoming much more of a gamble-fest.

We saw this flop late on.....

 

Passive, solid, very quiet Gent Check Raises all-in, a massive overbet, with  . His deep-stacked & un-pot-committed oppo gave it a dwell, & then said, "OK, I'll give you a spin". And turned over  . He missed his optimistic gutshot. And rivered an off-suit 4. I'm coming to believe that Online play is spreading to B & M. No bad thing, mind, but fascinating to see, & try to imagine, players thought processes. Laast week, in Luton, with just under average chips, I squeezed with 8-8, & got looked up, for his Tourney, by 8-10. On Friday in Luton, (me not in hand), in Level 4, we saw a R, a R-R all-in, & then a call, all three players for their Tourney. The last Caller, with 2 players all-in already, had 6-7.

We should, & I am, delighted with this trend, but it does bring a tear to the eye when, 1 time in 3 or 4, the miracle spanner-hand wins.

I forgot to mention another "face" present last night - DTD regular & Joe Pasquali impressionist Chinese Frankie. He was very subdued last night, quite unlike him. He talks for England - or is it China? - but when you chat to him off-table, he's a most-likeable & erudite individual.

he must have thought the new 'celebrity bounty' comp at luton had started already!!!!

[tikay]

Yep, good to see you at Walsall Tikay. Good luck today. I did gamble with the flush draw and my first set of chips....but my exit hand was a real beauty.

After taking my second set of 3.5k chips I was up to about 6k. UTG limps in for 50 and I raise to 250 from mid position with    , button calls, limper calls. Flop comes      and UTG bets 500, I call, button folds. Turn  and UTG bets 1K. I move all-in and UTG snap-calls with    ....before rivering one of his clearly deserved kings. Jesus. And I'm heading to the wailing wall after 30 mins of play with a strange pain in my stomach.

Very unlucky Mark. I think I may have re-Raised the 500 Bet on that flop, but I guess K-Q man calls anyway, so it made no odds.

We saw some extraordinary plays actually - I think the way folks play Tourney poker is changing dramatically, it's becoming much more of a gamble-fest.

We saw this flop late on.....

 

Passive, solid, very quiet Gent Check Raises all-in, a massive overbet, with  . His deep-stacked & un-pot-committed oppo gave it a dwell, & then said, "OK, I'll give you a spin". And turned over  . He missed his optimistic gutshot. And rivered an off-suit 4. I'm coming to believe that Online play is spreading to B & M. No bad thing, mind, but fascinating to see, & try to imagine, players thought processes. Laast week, in Luton, with just under average chips, I squeezed with 8-8, & got looked up, for his Tourney, by 8-10. On Friday in Luton, (me not in hand), in Level 4, we saw a R, a R-R all-in, & then a call, all three players for their Tourney. The last Caller, with 2 players all-in already, had 6-7.

We should, & I am, delighted with this trend, but it does bring a tear to the eye when, 1 time in 3 or 4, the miracle spanner-hand wins.

I forgot to mention another "face" present last night - DTD regular & Joe Pasquali impressionist Chinese Frankie. He was very subdued last night, quite unlike him. He talks for England - or is it China? - but when you chat to him off-table, he's a most-likeable & erudite individual.

he must have thought the new 'celebrity bounty' comp at luton had started already!!!!

Not as daft as it might sound.....

At 25-50 last night, it's Passed round to me in the SB & I make up with junk. BB then goes "Raise", & chucks in a 1k chip. (The Pot is 100). "Eh?" I enquire post-Pass. "I just wanted to be able to tell my missus I outplayed a bloke off the telly". He joined a very long list

[celtic]

obv doesn't take much to please his missus......

[tikay]

obv doesn't take much to please his missus......

Correct - I have no difficulty pleasing her.

[NoflopsHomer]

Passive, solid, very quiet Gent Check Raises all-in, a massive overbet, with  . His deep-stacked & un-pot-committed oppo gave it a dwell, & then said, "OK, I'll give you a spin". And turned over  . He missed his optimistic gutshot. And rivered an off-suit 4. I'm coming to believe that Online play is spreading to B & M.

Surely it's just that the standard of live play has never been that high in the UK?

[tikay]

Passive, solid, very quiet Gent Check Raises all-in, a massive overbet, with  . His deep-stacked & un-pot-committed oppo gave it a dwell, & then said, "OK, I'll give you a spin". And turned over  . He missed his optimistic gutshot. And rivered an off-suit 4. I'm coming to believe that Online play is spreading to B & M.

Surely it's just that the standard of live play has never been that high in the UK?

Well if it's improved to the point where calling with 8 high & a gutshot is deemed ok.......

I actually think the standard of Live Play in UK Medium & Big Buck Tournaments is, or was until recently, quite good. Is it as good now? No idea. But it has changed, I'm quite sure of that, there is much more gamble now.