Prose from a Poshboy

[cambridgealex]

There was 8 left and I was in the booth with Simon Trumper, but Rob Yong was keen to do some as well, thought I was gonna get kicked off, but Rob took over from Simon instead and it was Rob and I for the entire final. Was an interesting experience - I loved it on the whole though.

Was hard commentating with Rob, we both see the game through totally different eyes and at the start I think I was a bit quick to disagree with him too often - he turned off his mike and slapped my wrists about this once! So I had to adjust that a bit.

It was a really interesting final though, and what an amazing result. For the second big tournament in a row, the final 4 have been 2 professionals and 2 amateurs and AGAIN the pros have come 3/4. So unpredictable this game is and what a credit to the guys that have come out on top each time. The two guys that came 1/2 - what legends they were. They both came and gave interviews, which were streamed but I don't know if any of you managed to catch them. If it gets on youtube, do watch them - they'll make you smile I promise.

Frank Flanagan came in 2nd for £45k and was such a gentleman about it, it was a pleasure to witness. Rob grilled him about his playing style and he simply said "I'd like to pretend I was mixing it up or doing some fancy moves, but the truth is, those guys are all better than me, I'm just a man who loves playing poker and today everything went my way". What a humble thing to say, fair play to him.

The winner was Andrew Wan, who I recognised from my first ever tournament at DTD. The £10+£4 beginners freezeout back in 2009. He still grinds those comps every day and loves them. He was the best possible ambassador for mine and Dave's #lovethegame trend - he hardly ever stopped smiling all weekend. His interview was awesome too - the man freerolled in from the final table challenge, has never played a comp >£15 I don't think so the £52k he picked up was just enormous. He was speechless and then his phone rang, whilst live on air, he answers and says "Hey sis I just won 52 fucking grand! I'm live on air right now oh shit I can't swear sorry sorry sorry!" Was hilarious.

We asked him whether he'd be moving up to the £50s now, and he just said "no, those guy are all too good for me, I know where my level is at, I'm gonna stick with the £15s". What a hero, so great to see someone like that win, and it's awesome for poker too.

Didn't get much feedback on the thread about the commentary, would love to hear what you all thought of it. Great experience though, would definitely do it again.

[tikay]

That is a stunningly good Post Alex, well done.

As you note, for the 2nd month in a row, the last 4 players have been split 2-2 between "amateurs" & "pros", & on each occasion, the pros have been unable to close the deal. Poker is a remarkable game, with it's unique balance between skill & luck, & all the Alex-Martin speak on earth won't help much (in the short term) against the amateurs.

Fine efforts yesterday too by Vinni, Sir Giblin, Maria, & someone who I think has improved more than anyone in the last 12 months, Rupinder.

Glad you enjoyed the commentary work, too.   

[claypole]

That is a stunningly good Post Alex, well done.

As you note, for the 2nd month in a row, the last 4 players have been split 2-2 between "amateurs" & "pros", & on each occasion, the pros have been unable to close the deal. Poker is a remarkable game, with it's unique balance between skill & luck, & all the Alex-Martin speak on earth won't help much (in the short term) against the amateurs.

Fine efforts yesterday too by Vinni, Sir Giblin, Maria, & someone who I think has improved more than anyone in the last 12 months, Rupinder.

Glad you enjoyed the commentary work, too.   

This.  Great post Alex, you write really well and clearly observe the human side really well. Didn't see the stream, but sure you were great.

[edgascoigne]

As you say, a lot of love for Mr Wan. Massive hero.

He gets moved to my table, and after about 30mins with no hands of note opens to I think 41k from the cutoff at 10-20k - playing c425k.

I'm playing c700k, we've never played together before, I haven't yet played a hand whilst he's been there. I 3b K-10o to 72k.

Folds back round to him, slight dwell, then calm as you like announces he's all-in. I'm dwelling to protect what is left of my image if I'm honest, then figure I may as well take the opportunity to find out a bit about him. Ask him how confident he is about his hand. Doesn't respond but seems calm. Then starts talking about how he qualified etc. and a calmer tone of voice I have never heard.

I pass.


He later tells Jonathan-DTD that he had J-10. If this is true, he might be my new hero.

[SuuPRlim]

There was 8 left and I was in the booth with Simon Trumper, but Rob Yong was keen to do some as well, thought I was gonna get kicked off, but Rob took over from Simon instead and it was Rob and I for the entire final. Was an interesting experience - I loved it on the whole though.

Was hard commentating with Rob, we both see the game through totally different eyes and at the start I think I was a bit quick to disagree with him too often - he turned off his mike and slapped my wrists about this once! So I had to adjust that a bit.

It was a really interesting final though, and what an amazing result. For the second big tournament in a row, the final 4 have been 2 professionals and 2 amateurs and AGAIN the pros have come 3/4. So unpredictable this game is and what a credit to the guys that have come out on top each time. The two guys that came 1/2 - what legends they were. They both came and gave interviews, which were streamed but I don't know if any of you managed to catch them. If it gets on youtube, do watch them - they'll make you smile I promise.

Frank Flanagan came in 2nd for £45k and was such a gentleman about it, it was a pleasure to witness. Rob grilled him about his playing style and he simply said "I'd like to pretend I was mixing it up or doing some fancy moves, but the truth is, those guys are all better than me, I'm just a man who loves playing poker and today everything went my way". What a humble thing to say, fair play to him.

The winner was Andrew Wan, who I recognised from my first ever tournament at DTD. The £10+£4 beginners freezeout back in 2009. He still grinds those comps every day and loves them. He was the best possible ambassador for mine and Dave's #lovethegame trend - he hardly ever stopped smiling all weekend. His interview was awesome too - the man freerolled in from the final table challenge, has never played a comp >£15 I don't think so the £52k he picked up was just enormous. He was speechless and then his phone rang, whilst live on air, he answers and says "Hey sis I just won 52 fucking grand! I'm live on air right now oh shit I can't swear sorry sorry sorry!" Was hilarious.

We asked him whether he'd be moving up to the £50s now, and he just said "no, those guy are all too good for me, I know where my level is at, I'm gonna stick with the £15s". What a hero, so great to see someone like that win, and it's awesome for poker too.

Didn't get much feedback on the thread about the commentary, would love to hear what you all thought of it. Great experience though, would definitely do it again.

Mate you absolutely get it

[tikay]

There was 8 left and I was in the booth with Simon Trumper, but Rob Yong was keen to do some as well, thought I was gonna get kicked off, but Rob took over from Simon instead and it was Rob and I for the entire final. Was an interesting experience - I loved it on the whole though.

Was hard commentating with Rob, we both see the game through totally different eyes and at the start I think I was a bit quick to disagree with him too often - he turned off his mike and slapped my wrists about this once! So I had to adjust that a bit.

It was a really interesting final though, and what an amazing result. For the second big tournament in a row, the final 4 have been 2 professionals and 2 amateurs and AGAIN the pros have come 3/4. So unpredictable this game is and what a credit to the guys that have come out on top each time. The two guys that came 1/2 - what legends they were. They both came and gave interviews, which were streamed but I don't know if any of you managed to catch them. If it gets on youtube, do watch them - they'll make you smile I promise.

Frank Flanagan came in 2nd for £45k and was such a gentleman about it, it was a pleasure to witness. Rob grilled him about his playing style and he simply said "I'd like to pretend I was mixing it up or doing some fancy moves, but the truth is, those guys are all better than me, I'm just a man who loves playing poker and today everything went my way". What a humble thing to say, fair play to him.

The winner was Andrew Wan, who I recognised from my first ever tournament at DTD. The £10+£4 beginners freezeout back in 2009. He still grinds those comps every day and loves them. He was the best possible ambassador for mine and Dave's #lovethegame trend - he hardly ever stopped smiling all weekend. His interview was awesome too - the man freerolled in from the final table challenge, has never played a comp >£15 I don't think so the £52k he picked up was just enormous. He was speechless and then his phone rang, whilst live on air, he answers and says "Hey sis I just won 52 fucking grand! I'm live on air right now oh shit I can't swear sorry sorry sorry!" Was hilarious.

We asked him whether he'd be moving up to the £50s now, and he just said "no, those guy are all too good for me, I know where my level is at, I'm gonna stick with the £15s". What a hero, so great to see someone like that win, and it's awesome for poker too.

Didn't get much feedback on the thread about the commentary, would love to hear what you all thought of it. Great experience though, would definitely do it again.

Mate you absolutely get it

100% this.  Understanding of human nature is SO important as an ingredient for success in life.

[cambridgealex]

A just a couple of HHs from yesterdays poker. First one was my biggest ever online pot (dw it's not very big at all!) but it was pretty sick the way it played out. The second was a bizarre bit of play from villain in the 1/2 at DTD yesterday.

1) Preflop: Hero is BTN with   
wilsonpa calls $2.00, 1 fold, Villain raises to $7.00, Hero raises to $20.00, 3 folds, Villain calls $20.00
 
Flop: ($45.00)      (2 players)
Villain checks, Hero bets $25.00, Villain calls $25.00
 
Turn: ($95.00)       (2 players)
Villain checks, Hero  bets $57.00, Villain calls $57.00
 
River: ($209.00)        (2 players)
Villain checks, Hero bets $102.00, Villain raises to $287.90, Hero calls $287.90

Villain plays 32/27/13 - ridic aggro, folds to 3b 52% and has clashed with me quite a lot recently and not come off well (I 4b/called ATo vs him in one hand, didnt hold vs KQ though) and I just generally have got the better of him recently and have always had it in big pots also. He's been staying out of my way in this session, so I thought it was a good time unload the clip, and of course, we flop and turn alright and river a straight so it's not exactly unloading any more

Gross river spot when we get shoved on, vs most ppl I'd fold this fairly happily, but this guy is so much more likely to be bluffing in this spot than a random. Us having the  is pretty crucial, there's not a huge number of ss combos he can have, he would sometimes 4b, and would sometimes c/r the flop so I discounted that a decent %. He'd fold a lot of ss combos pre, even 200bbs deep don't think he'd peel oop with 89ss and 9Tss but he might, but again I though he might c/r flop or turn with these sometimes so I discount them a decent amount too. I felt he was definitely capable of turning a J or a smaller pair into a bluff, and I thought my bet sizing might induce a bluff, because I usually bet bigger on the river with really strong hands, sets and flushes in these spots, so it looks like maybe I'm going for some thinner value with AA/KK for example, so he's wayyy more likely to bluff shove over a 45% river bet than a 55-65% one. So I like my bet sizing there. Also it looks like I'm really unlikely to have a straight, which he can easily have, so it's a good spot for him. He had .

Would've preferred his shove if he at least had one blocker to my flush combos, something like or , so it's less likely I have or sort of hand, but still, it's a gutsy play and I'd almost certainly fold if I didn't have the . So in a way it's really unlucky for him cos the only hand with the in other than flushes that I call with is A8o! Interesting hand.

[cambridgealex]

The second is a comedy bit of live poker. Not 1% of the brain power of the previous hand went into this one.

I raise from MP £7, the big blind calls. He's just lost a decent pot to me, my AT outdrawing his AK. He seemed a bit frustrated about this.

Flop is    yummmy. check, I cbet £12, he makes it £25, I make it £75, He makes it £190, I shove for £270 total effective. He snap calls.

I say "I've got a straight"

He then instantly turns over his hand.

Million anyone guesses it.

[chatban]

T3 with backdoors.
Ship cash plz.

[DMorgan]

  and he's misread the board?

[smashedagain]

and he's misread the board?

and has probably seen the board clear as day

[cambridgealex]

Think more along the lines of a hand you'd never ever play like this on any street.

[chatban]

Think more along the lines of a hand you'd never ever play like this on any street.

AK?

[outragous76]

Think more along the lines of a hand you'd never ever play like this on any street.

what streets?

I think he has 9T or 6s4s

[outragous76]

I actually came here to post that I thought you did an excellent job in the booth as a technical commentator.

Having spent the afternoon listening to Jesse May, who is incredible on the general commentating front, I thought you could have easily slipped in alongside him for the co commentator job!


Great work