Plod
It was Leg 4 of the UKPT in Manchester last Friday and I went up feeling pretty confident, fresh from a final table appearance in Luton the week before. Sadly though, it was another frustratingly lack lustre performance and I’ll keep the analysis brief as I fear this blog is rapidly turning into a catalogue of woes:
On the second hand I did 1500 chips running K-Q into a set of jacks on a queen high board.
At 7500 I ran into Chris Sokrati’s kings full holding J-Q on a Q,6,7,K,Q board.
Down to 4500 we saw a ray of hope when I check raised all-in on a flush draw cracking aces with 9-10s.
Right after the dinner break though, I doubled up the tight guy Pete Singleton, with A-Q vs. A-K. I blame this poor state of affairs entirely on dinner at Groucho’s; a sirloin steak with béarnaise sauce, big chips, a tomato and red onion salad and some red to quench the thirst. We arrived back twenty minutes late and all I really felt like was a post meal snooze. My bad.
Short again with 4k I was only too happy to push into a re-raised pot against Nick Persaud with two seemingly beautiful queens...but he had the bullets.
Stuck in Manchester I dived straight into a cash game and wouldn't you know hit two or three nice flops with ease, which coupled with a wee saver from 4th place finisher Nick Slade meant that on paper at least, the evening wasn't a complete write-off.
I really can’t be bothered to travel to the WPT in Paris or the WHUPC in Barcelona next month, instead I shall be saving my pennies for an early WSOP hit and run in about five weeks time. In-between there’s Leg 5 at Brighton and then I’ll probably head over to Drogheda for the Green Joker Poker Festival a week later.
Oh and there’s a large project about to unfold in the garden involving twelve holes, some concrete and about 125m of timber; given that my DIY skills lie somewhere between those of Homer Simpson and Bob the Builder I’ll see how it all looks before I consider posting any pictures.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Pressure Drop
I don’t recall the Bellagio or the Wynn having a dress code the last time I was in Vegas, but they treat such matters a little more gravely in Luton where ridiculousness is present at it’s very worst at their new G Casino. I mean it’s not like it’s in the middle of Mayfair or anything, but still they try to inflict the pettiest of dress codes on their male punters. I’m talking trainers, and whilst I just about got away with a pair of scuffed up Campers two others in front of me weren’t awarded such a generous welcome.
That gripe aside, the casino is a vast improvement on the bland multiplex styling’s of the former venue and the good news is that the very friendly staff are all still present.
I played two events, an early bath in the 500 and a final in the sixty runner 1500. I'll try and choose these events with more care in the future as the popularity of the UKPT means many will just avoid the more expensive in-between ones.
We got a 15,000 starting stack and by the beginning of Level 5 I was as low as 2900 but got some breaks and ended the day in a good position with 55k. Early on Day 2 I got up to 160k thanks to three big pots that all went my way (in front twice, chips in first on the third, cough, cough).
Despite this dominating chip lead, two tables out it very nearly went tits up when I doubled up Jeff Kimber three times on consecutive hands; A-K vs. 2-2, J-J vs. K-Q and then Q-Q vs. A-K; I still had a 100k but one expensive flush draw later I was slumming it back in the pack.
Play slowed for nearly two hours on the bubble and sick of getting played back at, I made an ill-timed all-in heave with a J-7 for 55k only to find my old mate Jeff Kimber with K-K. I sucked out hitting two pair and managed to final bang on average with a 100k.
Unfortunately, despite treading water I never really made any headway in the final and as soon as I attempted a change of gears I was out the door; six-handed and sitting on 85k it was an auto re-push in the BB with K-10s when a chipped up Willie Tann raised. Bad timing though as he had A-Q, made the right call and it held up.
Some wages then and a boost to the confidence, as it really does feel like a long time since I got a decent stack and have had a run at a decent win. Trajectory; onwards and upwards we hope.
I don’t recall the Bellagio or the Wynn having a dress code the last time I was in Vegas, but they treat such matters a little more gravely in Luton where ridiculousness is present at it’s very worst at their new G Casino. I mean it’s not like it’s in the middle of Mayfair or anything, but still they try to inflict the pettiest of dress codes on their male punters. I’m talking trainers, and whilst I just about got away with a pair of scuffed up Campers two others in front of me weren’t awarded such a generous welcome.
That gripe aside, the casino is a vast improvement on the bland multiplex styling’s of the former venue and the good news is that the very friendly staff are all still present.
I played two events, an early bath in the 500 and a final in the sixty runner 1500. I'll try and choose these events with more care in the future as the popularity of the UKPT means many will just avoid the more expensive in-between ones.
We got a 15,000 starting stack and by the beginning of Level 5 I was as low as 2900 but got some breaks and ended the day in a good position with 55k. Early on Day 2 I got up to 160k thanks to three big pots that all went my way (in front twice, chips in first on the third, cough, cough).
Despite this dominating chip lead, two tables out it very nearly went tits up when I doubled up Jeff Kimber three times on consecutive hands; A-K vs. 2-2, J-J vs. K-Q and then Q-Q vs. A-K; I still had a 100k but one expensive flush draw later I was slumming it back in the pack.
Play slowed for nearly two hours on the bubble and sick of getting played back at, I made an ill-timed all-in heave with a J-7 for 55k only to find my old mate Jeff Kimber with K-K. I sucked out hitting two pair and managed to final bang on average with a 100k.
Unfortunately, despite treading water I never really made any headway in the final and as soon as I attempted a change of gears I was out the door; six-handed and sitting on 85k it was an auto re-push in the BB with K-10s when a chipped up Willie Tann raised. Bad timing though as he had A-Q, made the right call and it held up.
Some wages then and a boost to the confidence, as it really does feel like a long time since I got a decent stack and have had a run at a decent win. Trajectory; onwards and upwards we hope.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Glimmer
An improvement of sorts at the Irish Open and hey, I even made it through to Day 2. The first two levels were woeful, I played a whole bunch of hands, mostly crud, missed everything but still tried to get clever and all of a sudden I was down in the doldrums with just 4000.
I got a reprieve though, finding kings when someone had queens, swiftly followed by a Brucie bonus, getting ejected to another table. Paul Zimbler was chipped up and captaining the new line-up with ease. I managed to squeeze a couple of make or break moves past him, though given the amount of times he raised my blinds we probably ended up about even on a chips garnered count.
My biggest triumph of the day occurred when I was up to 11k. The button min raised to 600 and I called with K-Q from the SB. We checked the 3,4s,6s flop, I checked the jack on the turn and he bet 1600. I raised him 2800 back and he just called. With 5500 left I was pretty sure I’d fire once more on the river but when the Qs fell betting out no longer felt like the compulsory play. I checked it to him, he looked at my stack and bet 4500. I wearily called and breathed easy when he mucked an A-5.
Chipped up with average chips for the first time all day, I then donked-off 6000 making it 1900 to go with 8-9s. A short stack then pushed for 6000 with A-10s; I know that’s what he had because I called that bet. Perhaps a pass for the other 4100 would have been a better decision, but I guess I wanted to test my momentum; if you can win one or two of these punts you feel unstoppable: conclusion = poor momentum.
Eights then came to the rescue. I‘d made it 1900 again and got re-popped to 6000 by an aggressive Dane with a big stack. This guy ticked just enough boxes to make a stand for my last 10k and to my relief I was well in front of his sixes.
I was more than pleased to end up bagging 25,500 at the close of play, an average stack, after what had been a tough day with very few big hands or straightforward decisions.
My good fortune continued when, despite my raging thirst, I skipped the option of a Guinness or two and headed straight back home (Mum‘s house), running into a Garda checkpoint, my minty fresh breath meaning I was waved along.
Day 2 had all the makings of being something very special. In the first level I picked up K-K five times and A-K twice. Of course the two times I got action I got spanked, running into a set of sevens with the kings and missing everything in a re-raised, bet the flop pot with the A-K.
This meant that despite still having 25k I felt very hard done by. The gloves came off and a level or two of yoyo-ing then followed, with lows of 15k and highs of 35k.
I made my last stand with A-5 against Ian Woodley during one of the lows, re-pushing from the BB for 15k in the face of his 5k late position raise. He didn’t think too long, told me I was in front and called with K-Js. It was a good flop, A,J,5 but he hit a king on the river and I was gone.
Given my performance in the last three events I’m gonna have to continue managing my budget with care, which means skipping the 25k event at the Bellagio…a shame but as I don’t yet feel I’m playing even close to where I could, or should be it’s the sensible choice.
Finally, I’d like to wish Xuyen and Steve Vladar, formally aka Smokie and Badgirl all the best as they have chosen to move onto pastures new. Though they barely knew me, they were instrumental in helping me garner a sponsorship deal with William Hill in 2004 as well looking after me once I was in. We shared many great trips and Xuyen’s excellent, if short-lived babysitting potential will be missed.
An improvement of sorts at the Irish Open and hey, I even made it through to Day 2. The first two levels were woeful, I played a whole bunch of hands, mostly crud, missed everything but still tried to get clever and all of a sudden I was down in the doldrums with just 4000.
I got a reprieve though, finding kings when someone had queens, swiftly followed by a Brucie bonus, getting ejected to another table. Paul Zimbler was chipped up and captaining the new line-up with ease. I managed to squeeze a couple of make or break moves past him, though given the amount of times he raised my blinds we probably ended up about even on a chips garnered count.
My biggest triumph of the day occurred when I was up to 11k. The button min raised to 600 and I called with K-Q from the SB. We checked the 3,4s,6s flop, I checked the jack on the turn and he bet 1600. I raised him 2800 back and he just called. With 5500 left I was pretty sure I’d fire once more on the river but when the Qs fell betting out no longer felt like the compulsory play. I checked it to him, he looked at my stack and bet 4500. I wearily called and breathed easy when he mucked an A-5.
Chipped up with average chips for the first time all day, I then donked-off 6000 making it 1900 to go with 8-9s. A short stack then pushed for 6000 with A-10s; I know that’s what he had because I called that bet. Perhaps a pass for the other 4100 would have been a better decision, but I guess I wanted to test my momentum; if you can win one or two of these punts you feel unstoppable: conclusion = poor momentum.
Eights then came to the rescue. I‘d made it 1900 again and got re-popped to 6000 by an aggressive Dane with a big stack. This guy ticked just enough boxes to make a stand for my last 10k and to my relief I was well in front of his sixes.
I was more than pleased to end up bagging 25,500 at the close of play, an average stack, after what had been a tough day with very few big hands or straightforward decisions.
My good fortune continued when, despite my raging thirst, I skipped the option of a Guinness or two and headed straight back home (Mum‘s house), running into a Garda checkpoint, my minty fresh breath meaning I was waved along.
Day 2 had all the makings of being something very special. In the first level I picked up K-K five times and A-K twice. Of course the two times I got action I got spanked, running into a set of sevens with the kings and missing everything in a re-raised, bet the flop pot with the A-K.
This meant that despite still having 25k I felt very hard done by. The gloves came off and a level or two of yoyo-ing then followed, with lows of 15k and highs of 35k.
I made my last stand with A-5 against Ian Woodley during one of the lows, re-pushing from the BB for 15k in the face of his 5k late position raise. He didn’t think too long, told me I was in front and called with K-Js. It was a good flop, A,J,5 but he hit a king on the river and I was gone.
Given my performance in the last three events I’m gonna have to continue managing my budget with care, which means skipping the 25k event at the Bellagio…a shame but as I don’t yet feel I’m playing even close to where I could, or should be it’s the sensible choice.
Finally, I’d like to wish Xuyen and Steve Vladar, formally aka Smokie and Badgirl all the best as they have chosen to move onto pastures new. Though they barely knew me, they were instrumental in helping me garner a sponsorship deal with William Hill in 2004 as well looking after me once I was in. We shared many great trips and Xuyen’s excellent, if short-lived babysitting potential will be missed.
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