Snowball Result

Well my predicition for number of runners for the summer snowball was well out. Ony 22 ended up playing, so with the extra £500 added, the value was pretty good.

Pleased to say that in the earlier hours of this morning, I ended up doing a deal for £300 plus seat into the xmas snowball with the runner up taking £276+ plus change. The top 5 were paid.

I had a game plan which worked a treat, I wont share it as I'll be using it again in the future, but I think must have taken the majority of the field out without really that many premium hands.

So a good night, ended very well for me, but feeling it today.

Back to the grind at work Monday, unless my 6 numbers come up tonight on the lottery, which would be just perfect right now.

AOC Summer Snowball

Its the summer snowball at the Ace of Clubs tonight. £500 added to the £20 buyin, 10K starting chips with 20 min blinds, as opposed to the usual Friday night £10 buyin 5K starting chips 20 minutes.

Only 42 members have played enough qualifying games to play tonight but I estimate that we'll probably only get around 35 turn up with probably the top 5 cashing.

A top 3 finish for the pair of us would be very welcome tonight, here's hoping.

Heads or Tails

A Horseshoe. A Rabbit’s foot. A Four-leaf clover.

These objects are traditionally known for being lucky charms. Items that the owner relies on to avoid misfortune and bring good.

Lets take the horseshoe. In time’s gone by, people would nail a horseshoe the open end pointing skywards to their house front door. Being made of iron, this was said to protect the house from evil witches and fairies. If the horseshoe is to slip then, the magic or luck is thought to drain away.

A rabbit’s foot, or to be a exact the back left foot of the rabbit, in Africa was thought to protect against voodoo, providing of course that the rabbit had been killed during a full moon on Friday the 13th.

Finding a four leaf clover is pretty lucky in itself, as experts believe there to be ten thousand common 3 leaf clovers to every one four leaf type. Each leaf is said to represent something important, hope, faith, love and the fourth being luck.

Of course, these are not the only items that are thought of as being lucky. Some people will associate an item of clothing with an event where they experienced good fortune, an example being a poker shirt for somebody who has worn the same shirt on several occasions and had success each time.

Whatever the object, the belief of the owner that this item will assist them with good fortune, is, in my opinion frankly quite ridiculous.

Let me tell you the story of Ian and his lucky pound coin.

Six of us from the Ace of Clubs travelled to DTD in Nottingham for the £50 Saturday night tournament. It had been arranged as there were several birthdays being celebrated over the course of a couple of weeks, so it had been decided to pick the middle Saturday night and go and play some poker and have a few beers there.

The party included Andy, Julie, Ian, Mark Kelly, Mark Barsley and myself. Andy being a good chap volunteered to drive and we were advised the night before that he would pick us up in one of his horse boxes. He actually turned up in a very luxurious people carrier. Julie took the front passenger seat, Ian and I spread ourselves out in the middle enjoying as much leg room as British Airways first class, and Mark and Ian, the two taller of the other passengers slummed in the cheap seats at the back with their legs upto their chins.

There was a level of excitement on the journey down. We were all in a jovial mood and expectations for the coming game were high, especially from Ian, who was in top form having recently cashed in consecutive tournaments at the Ace of Clubs. His recent good results were not down to an improvement in his game, his ability to pick up on reads or the fact that probability and variance were on his side, no, the results were all down to his lucky pound coin which he used as a card marker and chip protector whilst playing.

Legend has it, that the lucky pound was discovered as containing magical powers, as this was his buyin for a 13 man game of chase the ace which he won. The facts that he introduced more rules and get out clauses to this game which aided his success is neither here or there. The most bizarre being that if you and another both hold an Ace then that counterfeits the entire point of the game so everybody who doesn’t hold an Ace loses a life. Also I should mention that this coin, had been swapped with several other coins which were similar in appearance and value every time he nipped out for a smoke break during the game the night before so there was some doubt about its authenticity. We wont let facts get in the way of a good story though, Ian had his lucky pound and it was going to be his night.

We arrived at DTD and the atmosphere was electric. The place was packed due to the Sky Poker Grand Final taking place that day. I knew a number of others there from various poker groups around the country so it was a great social gathering with the beers flowing as we caught up with old acquaintances.

Onto our game, 168 runners playing the £50+6 tournament, with a starting stack of 4000 chips and a 24 minute clock. The top 16 would get paid.

I’ll keep my tournament details brief. I was sat on the same table as Andy who raised the first 6 hands, claiming to have a monster every hand, by the fourth hand he was being called by half the table who didn’t quite believe him. I hit quads whilst holding the hammer in the big blind, however unfortunately didn’t get paid off. I lost two thirds of my stack with A6 suited on a board of A62 as the guy holding A10 hit runner runner Jack’s to have 2 pair with a better kicker, I got back to starting stack but never really threatened, eventually going out in 78th place.

Julie went out in 141st and started tucking into the wine, Andy in 62nd and started on the orange juice, Mark Kelly gone in 39th place and headed to the bar and then disaster struck,………….. Ian out in 24th place, 8 places away from the money. His lucky pound had got him close, but not close enough, however it was not yet spent.

Ian had been sitting next to Michelle who is one of the Sky Poker TV show presenters for a large period of the evening. Upon his departure he left her his "lucky" pound whilst he went for a smoke break and a grilling from his better half Julie for flirtation with said TV presenter. On his return, he joined the rest of us, railing Mark Barsley who was still in the tournament. Michelle had been moved to this table and with horror, Ian discovered that she had left his pound on the previous table. It didn’t take him long to get reacquainted with it though, and it was soon back on the table of play.

"What you doing leaving my lucky pound" Ian asked, "Well it didn’t bring you much luck did it" Michelle responded. However he eventually persuaded her to believe in the powers of the lucky pound and it was soon being used as a chip protector. When her cards started to run dry, he advised her " to rub it harder, it will bring you luck" and then eventually when she had no choice but to push in with 52o and binked a 5 to beat her opponents A10s, the entire club heard " what did I tell you, that’s the power of the lucky pound".

The table had an audience now. A number of others who were involved with Sky Poker had come to support their girl. Ian recognised one and said "I’m sure I know you", "yeah, I’m Rob, I’m a presenter on Sky" came the response, as quick as a flash, Mark Kelly chirped up "that’s Ian, he works for Tesco", which brought laughter not just to other railers but several of the players sat on the nearby table.

Mark Barsley eventually got knocked out in 11th place, Michelle went out in 10th, both made the cash.

Fast forward a week to the Ace of Clubs. Ian proudly advises all on how well his lucky pound had run the weekend before. With one game to go he was at the top of the monthly club leaderboad and it was looking like the power of the lucky pound would strike again as one by one his nearest opponents got knocked out of the tournament, only one dark horse could overtake him – Mark Kelly, but he had to win the tournament outright to leapfrog Ian by a fiver. In true fairy tale fashion obviously this occurred.

What happened to the power of the lucky pound, Ian was asked, seconds before a small metallic circular object was launched to the other side of the room.

A Magpie. Friday the 13th. A Pound Coin.

These objects are known for being unlucky charms. Items that a person considers will bring misfortune.

Crossroads

I've been meaning to blog all week about a visit to DTD last Saturday.

It was the Sky Poker grand final at DTD during last weekend and along with several of our mates from the Ace of Clubs, I made the journey to play in the £50 Saturday night tournament. I met up with a lot of people I know from various poker groups around the country and it was a great social event.

One our of mates, Ian, entertained the group of us who had travelled, with his flirting ability with one of the female Sky Poker presenters, wont mention any names but she had blonde hair and her name rhymes with sea shell by using a single pound coin. Not just a pound coin, but His lucky pound coin. We were just bystanders railing another mate - Mark, mentioned on this blog several times, who by the way went on to cash, however the comments made very entertaining, if not at times cringeworthy railing for the audience, with at times included most of the other Sky Poker presenters.

I had a story to tell, and with that many quotes to.. er...quote, it could have been quite entertaining. But time has passed and my head has been filled with other things recently, that I'll let it go, maybe save it for another time.

So, what's filling my head ? well I've recently celebrated my 10th anniversary with the company I work for. Its a nice milestone, it's a good job, pays ok, but, is this it ? I'm unsure what the next step is, I certainly don't want to be doing the same thing as I am today in another 10 years. I think a change is due, a new challenge, something to look forward to in the morning. I'm bored if I'm honest, I need a new direction. Any offers ?

Anyway enough depression, here's a little tune to cheer us up. Enjoy.

DTD Visit

We played at DTD last night, in the £25+6 tournament.

Its the first time I've been there for a couple of months and they've had to put the rake up to help with the new absurd tax laws, where I understand they are being hammered for every table they have. Its so typical of this country, regardless of who's in power, there seems an attitude that if somebody or something is doing well, they need to be brought down to their knee's by means of taxation or some other punishment. I really do hope that the poker community and people of Nottingham continue to support DTD so that it can remain open, as it would be a massive injustice if it had to close or reduce the quality of its service, because of these new laws.

Anyway, enough of the rant. I've been to DTD several times this year, but last night was the quietest I've seen it. There were 121 in the tournament and a few cash game tables on the go, which I don't suspose you can complain about, but the last few times I've been, were during the monthly £300 tournament and the Norweigan Championships when the place was packed to the rafters, and it certainly makes a big difference to the atmosphere when its full like that.

S0 121 runners, 3k starting chips with 24 minute blinds, to be honest, I don't like this structure, its too fast and there is not enough time to play, you need to make chips quickly to survive, but there again on the flip side, during the week, not every tournament can be a two dayer minimum.

Both me and Lou got seated at the same table much to her disgust, but thinking through the night I don't think I attacked her chips once.... I can do without the earache when we get home.

I made some chips pretty earlier, then played 1010 very poorly and lost a load and struggled to get back into the game to a level where I was comfortable. With blinds at 50/25, I had already got up to 4.5K, I raised 1010 UTG to 175 and got the 1 caller. The flop came J8x rainbow, I bet 300 and got raised to 750, I had attempted to steal this guys blind on the two orbits that had gone round and he had played back at me everytime, so I beginning to feel that he might be trying to outplay me, I asked him how much he had left and he showed 1 green 1K chip, so I just called thinking that I might be ahead still but if not I could push him off it on the turn.

The flop came the Q, putting QJ8x on the board, which slightly improved my hand with the inside straight draw, so I chuck a green chip out, to which my opponent responds by telling me actually he's got 1300 and chucked them in - so maybe he found some, I don't know, but obviously I know I am behind and am drawing to the 9, of course he shows QJo, and the river blanked. So I lose around 3K on that hand and need to double again.

No cards or opportunity to get them in first mean that I quickly go down to around just 800, when on the big blind now at 150/75, an early raiser just makes it 300, a couple of limpers I have to call here with any two, and surely very pleased to see the hammer - 72o different colours. I make the call and the flop comes 765 rainbow, first to act I shove the rest of my chips in and only the initial caller makes the call with A4h, turn comes another 7 and the river is paint so I'm back in the game.

Several orbits later, clinging on by the skin of my teeth, I managed to get into the pot first from the cutover for all my chips with J8o, the BB calls and shows J3o, magic, I hit an 8 on the turn just for good measure and get to stay alive for a little bit longer. The blinds go around again and I find my self on the cutoff again with no action infront of me, this time all the chips go with K9o, a different BB this time calls with A3o - flop K9Q, turn and river blank and I'm now upto around 6K with an average of 8, so very short but still in. A few blind and ante steals ensure that I stay in, but not getting anywhere fast. I get moved tables and then mess up big time. On the button, the cutoff raises to 2K when blinds 800/400 ante 100, I only have 4K now after the blinds have gone through, here I should push or fold, but I see QJs and decide to call. Big mistake, the flop comes all low and black - I have hearts. Obviously the CO puts me allin and I can't call, so I fold and have 2K left. The next couple of hands are trash then I get 68s with 1800 left, I decide that this is the hand to make a last stand with and in they go. I get 2 callers, so there is 7400 in the pot which I can win, this would have been my highest peak all night, but unfortunately the cards all came high and red - I had clubs and I departed in 30th place, with the top 12 being paid.

So no joy, put I enjoyed the run, even if I don't favour the structure. Lou finished in 70th apparently going out with JJ v AQ.

By the way, I'm sure that it was announced DTD are going to have £10 rebuys to the £300 event from now on, on a Wednesday evening, 9pm start with 5 seats guaranteed, if I heard right, then I hope to be making a few more visits on a Wednesday evening during the coming weeks.

Independent Vegas Comp

What was that about races when it mattered ?

I played the Independent newspaper final tonight for a trip to Vegas, 32 runners, played ok, got lucky in a few hands and made it to the last 3. Got all my chips in on a K high flop with K9 against K7 to put me a 4-1 chipleader headsups, 7 on the turn, finished 3rd for £200. FML.

Finally

Not great but ......



7 / 133 for $170

Losing every Race

It has been a terrible month so far, I feel like I'm losing every race when loitering around the cash stages in both NLHE and PLO tournaments. In SNG's, my best day this week was only to win as many as I lost, thus still down due to rake. The only brightspot was cashing on Friday night at the Ace of Clubs, but again it was only a 4th place, when my push with A2o preflop could not beat the K5o of the BB who flopped his house.

I've got a couple of games scheduled for the next couple of nights, so I'll play them and then have a few days break.