tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30406889693422210862024-02-20T13:37:39.301-08:00Paul's Golden BlogsHi my name is Paul " goldenballs" gardener, i play poker mainly in the north esst of the u.k and occasionally dip my feet in the circuit throughout the uk.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-90062265665902258952010-09-13T06:13:00.000-07:002010-09-15T13:50:08.021-07:00swampy on parkinson (aug 2010.)Thought I would tell you about my time on the world famous chat show Parkinson, but more about that later.<br /><br />POKER.<br />Ever since February of this year poker at Teesside has been very rewarding. A record of 24 finals out of 33 on my only night of play a Monday and the occasional Friday has been very pleasing.<br />Everything that has happened poker wise at Teesside has come up smelling of roses however this run could not continue and August was the complete opposite. Not one final table. One bubble and a few 12TH places and that's been about it. Towards the end of the month I did win a seat in the Teesside leg of the corals masters poker tour main event to be held at Teesside in early September.<br />Online I did win a £1000.00 main event seat which I am using for Blackpool in November.<br />The more observant of the regular followers will realize this is being written in September but for clarity the topic is August.<br />I did not manage the dusk till dawn £300.00 in August but sadly did manage the £1000.00 main event at Luton.<br />I played the same event last year almost to the day and busted out with pocket kings on a king 5 5 board, my opponent the legendary Dave Smith holding pocket fives.<br /><br />This year I went out holding pocket Aces on a QUEEN 5 5 board my opponent holding pocket fives. Spooky.<br /><br />Have you improved as a poker player?.<br />Are you a better player than this time last year?.<br />What aspect of your game have you intended to improve?.<br />Have you maintained the best part of your game or improved that aspect?.<br />Have you ironed out the small flaws and habits that have crept into your game?. <br />Have you realized what impression players in your regular game have of you?.<br />What have you learnt poker wise recently?.<br /><br />A endless list of questions that could take a week to write if not longer.<br /><br />However the one question that will end the pre mentioned list is ...<br />What have you done about any of the above?.<br /><br />In my case the answer to all of the above is a resounding no and what have I done about the answer at best is very little.<br />I wonder if anyone even asks themselves these questions.<br /><br />In 2005 -2008 I was on top of my game. My results nationally were ok or slightly better than average, at local level second to none and I say that with out fear of contradiction.<br />2oo9 was a really bad year poker wise both at home here in the north east and on my travels.<br />I had many deep conversations with people in poker who's opinions I really value regarding the lack of success, the change in my game etc.<br />Eventually between friends and more importantly myself the tweaks were made, the little issues identified and ironed out and with that the results this year have returned.<br />So that's that sorted one would think, a little blip, identified and fixed easy, one would think. <br /><br />But it is not. Today I am a better player than I was in 2009 but not better than I was in 2008. That is a fact and true at that.<br /><br />Every poker player has a skill and the more elite among us have several.<br /><br />I have one.<br />I am not a gambler I actually dislike gambling which for a poker player you would think it is a contradiction, but it is not.<br />If anyone has seen me play roulette form a orderly queue.<br />If anyone has seen me play blackjack in the last 5 years form a orderly queue.<br /><br />When i said every poker player has a skill here is mine.<br />I can read people to level that some people will never get to in there life's.<br />Mix that with a brain that holds tells on people with a recall system second to non and that's me. That's why I am slightly better than average no other reason.<br /><br />So when someone points out to you that you are not at the level you were at previously and that is what you have been thinking for a while you have to take notice.<br /><br />You have to ask yourself why?.<br /><br />To me it is pretty apparent. For the want of a better saying I have become to nice.<br /><br />At a recent competition which I entered on level two it took me another two levels to get over the niceties with my fellow players.<br />Hows you?<br />Did you hear about so and so...<br />Are you going there next weekend?<br />How did you do in Vegas?<br /><br />Then a few hellos and hand shakes from the table behind you and by the time that all over it is level 4.<br />I than start playing poker and within a few levels have the run of the table, therefore giving myself a chance of progressing.<br /><br />Wind back to 3 or 4 years ago I wanted to beat everyone in the room. I still do but 3or 4 years ago my mentality was I wanted the opposition to raise the white flag or call there mum asking for help.<br />I wanted to kill them psychologically.<br /><br />I don't think I am doing this at the moment.<br /><br />I AM NOT MAXIMISING MY STRENGTHS ARE YOU?.<br /><br />In 2007 I broke one of the best readers of players on the circuit, and this is when he was on top of his game.<br />Like I said every player has a skill Nick Slades is reading people and he is a master.<br />The only other poker player I seen read people better than Nick is a local lad called Ian Bradley who no longer plays poker.<br /><br />A hand occurred in Blackpool where Nick went for his read to my all in re raise and Nick passed.<br />Sounds so trivial written like that doesn't it but let me tell you as far as poker playing goes it was the severest test I have ever faced. I passed the test.<br /><br />What I am saying here is not that I am a better player than Nick slade as I am not, what I am saying that moment was a deciding factor in how far I could go in the game.<br />That was the acid test to what slight advantage I have.<br /><br />So going forward no more Mr nice guy.<br />I used to box badly but I done it. Every now and again you would square up to someone who would have "fire in his belly".<br />You did,nt know what it was but there was fire there and you were in for a tough time.<br />There are poker players out there who have fire in there belly. Chris Brammer has it now, Sam tricket had it and may still have. When I first met Sunny Chatta he had it , Priyan de Mel has it from the first time I met him.<br />Locally Mark Trett has it , Dave Hudson has it , Tom Middleton has it , Chris Woods has it.<br />Mark Goodwin had it <br />and I could go on.<br />I had it but don't have it now, but it will come back.<br /><br />So have you improved as a poker player from this time last week, last month , last year?<br /><br /><br />With all that heavy stuff guess now is a good time to tell you about my Parkinson experience.<br /><br />Years ago I used to go every so often to the Vic in London.Play a few comps but primarily grind out the cash games with the weekend tourists.<br />It proved very profitable. A lonely journey, a bit of a grind but rewarding never the less.<br />Once I got to know Dave Maudlin he regularly accompanied me down to London and both him & I done very well.<br />Every Friday that we went we had the same routine.<br />Enter the Friday night competition, and once both of us were out we would head to a Local Greek restaurant for a decent meal before grinding the cash game.<br /><br />This particular night Dave finished 7TH and we were late getting to the restaurant.<br />However as we had got to know the staff they fitted us in, on a little 2 seater table right at the front of the restaurant.<br />I grabbed the seat facing the restaurant with Dave sitting with his back to everyone.<br /><br />We ordered our usual and chatted about our plan of attack foot the forth coming cash game.<br /><br />As Dave waffled on about percentages in this hand and that hand(yawn) I started to look round the restaurant and paid close attention to the noisy table right at the back. I could not make out who they were as the restaurant was quite busy.<br />However as people made there way home and a clearer view was secured I couldn't believe who was making all that noise.<br />Non other than...<br /><br /><br />Des O'conner.<br /><br />The world famous Des who had major hits with dic a dum dum and I believe.<br /><br />Now at this point Dave had not even bothered to look round and had no idea the world famous Des was sat behind him.<br /><br />I so wanted to say something to Dave but then my mind started thinking.<br /><br /><br />MMM a cunning plan.<br /><br />About 10 minutes later off goes Des to the loo.<br /><br />"Just nipping to the loo" I tell Dave.<br /><br />Once in the said little boys room there stands Des at the urinals with his dic a dum dum in is hands.<br />I sensibly wait.<br /><br />Des goes to the sink and starts washing his hands.<br /><br />"Des I exclaim, wow how brill it is to meet you, can I have your autograph. My mum is your greatest fan etc etc.<br /><br />He pulls a pre written autographed photo from his inside pocket and hands it over.<br /><br />Then I said...<br /><br />Des your game for a laugh, I want to wind my mate up who I'm sat with.<br /><br />After promising to donate a healthy sum to the variety club I hand me cash over and Des agrees to my request.<br /><br /><br />All I have asked him to do is come over to out table when we are eating and say...<br /><br />Hi Paul, how's the poker going.<br /><br />Simple really, I did tell him the answer would make him laugh.<br /><br />Heading back to the table I sat down with Dave and our meal dually arrived. <br /><br />About 10 minutes later up gets Des and heads toward our table.<br /><br />He arrives and blurts out "hi Paul hows the poker going"<br /><br />At this point Dave's mouth just opens and for once he is totally speechless<br /><br />But after my reply his jaw drops to his plate , as I reply......<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hi Des nice to meet you again but do me a favour and fuck off as I,m eating my tea".<br /><br />Des moves behind Dave and is pissing himself laughing.<br /><br />Dave is staring at me as if I have just insulted the queen.<br /><br /><br />Question after question follow off Dave and I make some story up about advising on a celebrity t.v poker programme with Des on it.<br /><br />He believes every word.!!!!<br /><br />On his way out Des pops a bottle of wine on our table and as he goes out says<br /><br />"I will give you a ring Paul tomorrow"<br /><br />class.<br /><br />Many months later I was watching Parkinson with the golfer Sam Torrance as the main guest and lo and behold Des O'Connor was also on.<br /><br />Sam Torrance was going on about how he hates fame and the intrusion on his private life etc and says he hates being disturbed when eating out with his family etc.<br /><br />Des pipes up...<br /><br />"Your not gonna believe what happened to me."<br /><br />I went to this restaurant in London a while back when I was approached in the gents....<br /><br />Priceless.<br /><br />Until next time.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-24843230157253579522010-06-09T17:16:00.000-07:002010-08-01T14:02:16.507-07:00Topless for peace (June & July 2010).Many of the people who read this blog know I am into poker, football horses and the like but not many will know I am passionate about world peace and travel Europe campaigning tirelessly, but more about that later.<br /><br />Firstly apology's for having to do June & July's blog in one but I have been rather busy of late.<br /><br />In Mays blog I left you all with a run of 18 out of 23 final tables at Teesside.<br />June and July were no different and I managed a further 6 out of 9 finishing in the following positions.<br />1ST, 2 SECONDS, ONE 5 WAY SPLIT, 1 FOURTH & A EIGHTH.<br />I also fitted in one Friday night where I finished second for £660.00.<br />So the run continues locally at Teesside and now stands at 24 out of 29.<br /><br />I managed to fit in the monthly £300.00 deep stack at Dusk Till Dawn in June.<br />As regular followers will know winning this is competition is my only goal in poker.<br /><br />I survived day one and reappeared with 50 odd other hopefuls hoping to grab the first prize of 25k. <br />Sadly the poker gods did not look down on me and I lost 3 races, twice holding pairs v ace big and once holding ACE KING v POCKET 5'S which failed to connect.<br /><br />A big congratulations goes to "sugar" Ray Ryder who managed to involve himself in a 3way chop ending up with £13,500.00 the biggest cash in the north east this year.<br />A fantastic performance as coming back on day 2 he was the lowest stack, well done Raymondo.<br /><br />Newcastle Grosvenor held there summer series festival and I played the £200 freeze out and the £300 main event.<br />In the £200.00 I finished 8TH for £250.00 and the main event in about 30TH for nowt.<br />However back to back final tables on the circuit so things were looking up.<br /><br />Aspers at Newcastle held a mini festival but with a awful anti structure was very disappointing and got the numbers it deserved.<br /><br />Next in line was the Coral Gala masters poker tour which was held just down the road at Leeds.<br />I only played the main event the £500.00 Freeze out.<br /><br />This competition will always be remembered as the tournament of outdraws.<br />Daniel Trett got his ACES busted by Steve Holden's pocket kings,first card a king.<br />Quad 9's got busted by quad Queens on a 9 9 2 flop!.<br />I outdrew pocket queens with ak the list was endless. That's poker I guess nice to see the outdrawn players taking it in style.<br />I managed to make the second day with 17 other hopefuls all after the 12k first prize.<br />I made the final table with little difficulty along with Newcastle player Ross Johnson.<br />Ash Hussain was also another notable gracing the centre stage.<br />My game plan was not to get involved in too many pots with Ash as he is very dangerous with chips and one hell of a player.<br /><br />That plan went straight out of the window as I doubled him up with JJ v his KK.<br /><br />One by one the players departed leaving 4 of us left. Me and Ash were hanging on for dear life as the two others had mountains of chips.<br />Then a hand occurred that beggars belief.<br /><br />The two chip leaders collided Ross and some other.<br />Mr some other who had 40% of the chips in play gift wrapped them all and sent them to the ever so grateful Ross who played the hand perfectly.<br />Ash went in third leaving me with a mountain the size of Everest to climb. One hand later it was all over I finished in second place for £7,230.00.<br /><br />A awesome well played to Ross who played one of the best final tables I have seen for a long time and fully deserved his success.<br /><br />JUNE & JULY'S WINNERS FROM THE NORTH EAST.<br /><br />Ray Ryder. (3RD) £13,500.00 dusk till £300 deep stack.<br />Ross Johnson.(1ST) £12,500.00 Leeds gala poker tour main event.<br />Paul Gardener (2ND) £7,2000.00 Leeds Gala poker tour main event.<br /><br /><br />Last year I had the pleasure of attending my good mate Dave Maudlin's stag do in Prague.<br /><br />To be honest it was a class weekend , good craic but with non of the high jinx's and tortures that sometimes accompanies a stag do.<br />No arrests , no traffic cones up the bottom and no waking up to find every hair on your body had disappeared over night.<br /><br />The Sunday before the day we were due home we all went for a cultural walk through the magnificent City of Prague.a awesome place if you have never visited.<br />We walked into the main square and walked straight into a peace gathering with over 1000 peace marchers. <br />A closer look at the marchers and there banners bought the realization the march was no ordinary peace march but a...<br /><br /><br />"topless for peace march"<br /><br />All men and more importantly the women were topless.<br />Some had painted important peace signs over certain bits of there bodies , but some had not.<br />.<br />My top was soon off followed closely by Howie & John Cairns.<br />As Howie and John skirted round the edges I got right in the middle.<br /><br />I am a great believer in "why look at a few pair of boobs when you can look at hundreds".<br /><br /><br />Right in the middle I got talking to some Swedish Guy who I Told in conversation that I had come from England especially for the march.<br />I was the founder member of the Teesside peace movement and 13 of us had travelled over especially to support world peace.!<br /><br /><br />This was a fateful mistake.<br />With in seconds and from nowhere he produced 3 t.v crews one from the premier t.v channel in the Czech republic, German channel R.T.L and Frances national news channel.<br />The guy I happened to be talking to was only the march organiser and to drum up publicity had grabbed the media and sent them to interview the leading peace activist from England.<br /><br />With microphones under my nose and what seemed like every t.v news channels in Europe pointing there camera at me I quickly realized I was in the shit.<br />I have been in the proverbial many times and managed to come out of things smelling of roses but this time there looked like no way out.<br /><br />In broken English one t.v guy said speech please and the crowd went quiet. They were expecting a inspirational speech, sadly I was speechless.<br />Looking round for support the remaining 12 were no where to be seen.<br /><br />Then like a bolt of lightening it hit me.<br /><br />( I am a massive Beatles fan and know all the words to all there songs)<br /><br />I opened my mouth and out came...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout<br />Revolution, Evolution, Masturbation, Flagellation, Regulation,<br />Integrations, mediations, United Nations, congratulations<br />All we are saying is give peace a chance<br /><br /><br />John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary,<br />Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan, Tommy Cooper,<br />Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna<br />Hare Hare Krishna<br />All we are saying is give peace a chance<br /><br />and at the top of my voice I shouted to the audience "what is our message"<br />they eagerly replied<br />"give peace a chance from the top of the voices followed by a round of applause.<br /><br />Phew a close shave.<br /><br />When we got back to our hotel the receptionist shouted us over.<br />"I have just seen you on the news. I am so sorry I thought you lot were just a load of drunken Englishmen on a stag do or something, I did not realize you were hear for world peace<br /><br />Priceless. <br /><br />If you google or you tube topless for peace 2009 Czech you can see my interview.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-66223900634920143922010-06-01T08:38:00.000-07:002010-06-03T16:47:21.138-07:00Dick Turpin on the M6. (May 2010.)Dick Turpin is alive and well and roams somewhere near the M6, but more about that later.<br /><br />POKER.<br />At the end of April I was on some run at Teeside on a Monday , having final tabled something like 10 out of 12 Monday competitions.<br />So Monday the 3RD of May was important to see if the run could continue. Sadly the end was nigh and even tho with my best effort I bubbled in 8TH place. A bubble prize was gratefully received £60.00, so a profit of £20.00.<br />Does this actually qualify as a cash!!!.<br /><br />When you fall of your bike you have two options. Buy a new bike or get back on the old one.<br />I chose the latter and a few days later I headed up to Newcastle to play the Circus £75.00 freezeout.<br /><br />This was held the same day as the Gala tour Bristol's main event, but with the poker stars event starting three days later I really wanted to be fresh for the stars event.<br /><br />The circus casino is a old favourite venue of mine as previously mentioned and holds many happy memory's.<br />It was nice to meet up with some old friends who I hadn't seen for a while. It is only when you bump into people who you have not seen do you realize how many Friends you miss when so busy.<br /><br />The tournament for me ran pretty smoothly down to the last two tables. I then had a card dead hour but was saved by the savior of most poker players.<br />I got moved tables at 16 players and met my saviour who is commonly known in poker as...<br />"I'm pissed but can play poker better than you" player.<br />His 100k to my 20k looked intimidating but a nut flush, a pair of kings and two pair later dispelled his theory of alcohol and you don't frighten me strategy is enough to win a tournament.<br /><br />With enough chips to take most players on in the final I was able to play aggressively. A bit of luck outdrawing QQ with my 5 on the river however the rest was plain sailing.<br />When the dust was settled 3 of us done a deal with me and another taking £1100.00 and the other £940.00.<br /><br />Since I re-started the blog back in December any one new to my blog would think this poker malarkey is all right. Turn up play ABC poker, collect most times at the end of the tournament.<br />When travelling, nick your expenses from the bookies or the cash games, have a laugh ,wind someone up and travel home.<br />And to be honest this year that is what has happened...<br />until...<br /><br />The biggest £500.00 competition in the U.K held to date.<br />Over 700 runners, held over 5 days. <br /><br />I was so looking forward to this event. Held at Dusk Till Dawn on Wednesday the 16th.<br />I sacrificed the Gala main event at Bristol to prepare properly.<br /><br />A early night the night before and a early start to arrive in plenty of time.<br />So perfect preparation.<br /><br />However the poker god's had other plans.<br /><br />The starting stack of 15,000 chips meant plenty of time and plenty of play. Sadly I did not see plenty of play and as for the plenty of time bit all I had was plenty of spare time.<br />After 13 dealt hands I was out. Of those 13 hands dealt I played 3.!!!<br /><br />The 3rd hand dealt I was in the big blind. A small raise to 250 was called by the small blind and also by myself. I held pocket nines.<br /><br />FLOP ace nine three (2 clubs).<br /><br />Small blind checks, I check initial raiser bets 400, small blind passes I flat.<br /><br />TURN 5 spades, I check opponent bets 1450, I call<br /><br />RIVER 6 hearts.<br /><br />So I come out betting 1475 and my opponent re raises to 5500.<br />Looking at his possible holding here trip 3's, trip aces or any ace jack to king.<br />There was nothing in his betting pattern that could of told me his hand and I had no option to call. I gave the re raise some thought but decided to err on the side of caution.<br />I called, I flipped my set of nines he flipped his set of aces.<br /><br />The fifth hand dealt I raised with j9 suited no callers won 75 chips.<br /><br />The 13Th hand dealt once again my big blind.<br />A scandi in first position raises to 400 his 5Th consecutive raise gets two callers and it is back to me in the big blind. I look at my cards QQ.<br /><br />with two callers flatting the raise my best option here is to narrow the field. So I re raise to 1800. The original raiser the re raises to 3600 more the other two get out the way and it is back to me.<br />Now I am in a tight spot here. Calling is not a option. It is either all in or pass.<br />I honestly thought I had walked once again into aces at worst kings. I decided to give my decision some time before passing. <br />In this time the young scandi started to show a bit of apprehension. The longer I waited the more concerned he was looking. My thinking had changed about his holding I was now sure he held Ace King do I wanna race.<br />Darn tooting I do, "I'm all in I announce immediately followed by "call".<br />Oops got this one wrong expecting the aces or kings to be flipped over.<br /><br />He proudly flipped ACE QUEEN OFF SUIT!!!!.<br /><br />Five cards and four clubs later gave my scandi a nut flush.<br /><br />The drive home was painful.<br /><br />If you fall of a horse the best thing you can do is either buy a new horse or get straight back on.<br />I chose the latter.<br /><br />The gukpt tour hit Coventry and a last minute decision to play the main event.<br />So off we set. Me, Dave Maudlin and Mark James down the M1 and right at the traffic lights.<br />After the poker stars fiasco I decided to pay in the main event as a late comer, don't want that early exit thingy again.<br /><br />Day one.<br />Once again uneventful and I ended up coming back to 50 odd runners on day two in about 25Th position of 55 runners.<br />Once again I grind down to the last 30 or so and once again find myself getting low and once again bust out.<br />I don't seem to be able to gather chips these days as well as I used too, and often, to often in main events I find myself hanging on.<br /><br />I played the two day £250.00 freezeout and managed to finish 6TH for £780.00.<br /><br />During the Saturday night I bumped into Peekay from a worldofpoker who had finished work for the day covering the main event.<br />Asking him what he was up to now he had finished he told me a UB40 tribute act was playing in the function suite of the casino.<br />Mark James was on the table next to me and I leaned across and told him I had just seen Ali Cambell from UB40 in the casino.<br />Fifteen minutes went by and right on cue as the opening lines to Red Red wine burst out Marks face was a picture.<br />However nothing prepared me for what happened next.<br />A scouse gentleman who had overheard my conversation to Mark asked me did you say<br />UB40 are playing here, yes I replied.<br />Out came his mobile phone, he rang his wife.<br />"Hiya Doris your not going to believe this. UB40 are playing here live"<br />he whispers to me there my wife's favourite group.<br />I tell him at half past ten they are doing a book signing.<br />"Doris do want his autobiography signed" he asks.<br />So once off the phone from ten to ten all he does is ask the time.<br />As ten thirty approaches he asks me if I know how much the book is, £20.00 came the reply.<br />He whips £20.00 out of his wallet and rushes out the card room.<br />Fifteen minutes later he returns to the card room and says absolutely nothing.<br />My next ten raises he calls every one!!!<br />I eventually knock him out. He leaves with out wishing me good luck, don't know why?.<br /><br />I played a £500.00 super satellite at dusk till Dawn for the wsop main event and with 10 seats guarantied I fancied my chances.<br />Once again so close so far exiting in 21st place from 125 runners, very frustrating my game at the moment.<br /><br />MAY MONTHLY WINNERS FROM THE NORTH EAST.<br /><br />TOM MANNION*********************** GUKPT MAIN EVENT COVENTRY (5TH) £8,800.00.<br />PAUL GARDENER********************* GUKPT £250.00 FREEZE OUT COVENTRY (6TH) £750.00.<br />MARK TRETT************************ GCBMPT MAIN EVENT BRISTOL (3RD) £8000.00.<br />DARREN MEYNELL******************** DUSK TILL DAWN £300.00 MONTHLY (26TH) £450.00.<br />CHRIS WOOD************************ DUSK TILL DAWN VEGAS MAIN EVENT (SEAT( £8,300.00.<br />GARETH WALKER************POKER STARS TOUR MAIN EVENT DUSK TILL DAWN (8TH) £7,600.00.<br />KIERAN APPLEBY***********POKER STARS TOUR MAIN EVENT DUSK TILL DAWN (15TH) £2,700.00.<br /><br />A big well done to them all.<br /><br />Not wanting to single any one out in particular as everyone above deserves congrats.<br />However Mark Trett finishing 3rd was some achievement considering this was the first Gala/coral event since his sponsorship.<br />Not a easy thing to do when in the spotlight. <br /><br />SPORTS BETTING.<br />Once again it has been a good month for my betting tips which are posted on <br />aworldofpoker.com<br />sports and betting section.<br />This month I made approximately 20 points profit. A first for me was the posting of my Australian football tips. Two weeks into this side of football tips I have recorded a profit both weeks.<br />I have spent two seasons studying Australian football lets hope the run continues.<br /><br />Dick Turpin is alive and well and robs travellers at Tebay services near to the M6 in Cumbria.<br /><br />Last November me and Latif Azis were travelling to Blackpool for the GUKPT main event when just passed Scotch corner we received a phone call from Howie who was travelling to Blackpool along with John the burglar Cairns and Mark there's only one Foggin. <br />They were half a hour ahead of us on the A66 across the pennines but happened to mention that they were stopping at Tebay services.<br />This was a fateful mistake.!!! PEOPLE NEVER LEARN!!!<br /><br />I put the Morris Minor into second gear and sped like wild horses to catch them up all the time thinking what can I do.<br /><br />As me and latte got to Tebay there was Johns car parked up.<br />Me and Latte sat wondering what we could do. Let the tyres down , banana up the exhaust the it suddenly dawned on me. <br />Like a eureka moment its Johns car he is stupid he will not have locked his car.<br /><br />So I wander over to the car and sure as eggs is eggs the car is unlocked. (he had the car 3 days!!!).<br /><br />So I dive into the car and think what should I help myself to, the sat nav, the mobile even the porn DVD'S on the back seat.<br /><br />Then like a thunderbolt from the sky it hit me.... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................<br /><br />The boot <br />and whats in the boot???<br />3 suitcases and a lap top.<br /><br /><br />They were not there for long. The said itens were put straight into my boot and me and Latte were off down the M6 as fast as the Morris Minor would travel.<br /><br /><br />We were all stopping at the same hotel and with a few disguised phone calls enquiring about how far away they were it was not hard to time our arrival bang on cue as john pulled up outside the hotel.<br /><br />John Boesfeild had been forwarned and was the willing camera man via his mobile.<br /><br />We exchange a few pleasantry's and wait for the fun to begin.<br /><br /><br />Mark was first one to the boot. <br />"Pop the boot open John".<br /><br />Mark fell backwards against the car parked behind, his jaw dropped as he screamed we've been robbed.<br /><br />He then went into a repetitive shock syndrome as all he could say was "me lap top" over and over again.<br /><br />Howie shouted at John " you cupid stunt, you have left the car unlocked at the services".<br /><br />John went white. <br />"I don't believe it I had 4 grand in my bag, howie replied fook yr 4 grand I had a new pair of shoes and I have not worn them yet".<br /><br />Finding it hard to contain the laughter I looked at Mark who had now fallen into the boot of Johns car and was rigid stiff.I honestly thought he was dead.<br /><br />Howie ran off as if to run the 92 miles back to Tebay to see if they had dropped his shoes.<br /><br />John was on his phone.<br /><br />" Hello I would like to report a robbery"<br />" where Tebay services"<br />"I had 3 lap tops, 5 suitcases, 12 grand and 3 brand new pair of shoes in my boot"<br />(john always thinks ahead and was obviously getting his insurance claim into gear)<br /><br />At this point nobody could contain themselves any longer, we just fell about pissing ourselves.<br /><br />This was like a miracle to Mark who realized what had happened.<br /><br />From his rigor mortis state he jumped up and kissed me and Latte like long lost brothers.<br />John put the phone down to the police and when they rang him back gave some explanation about how he had left his phone in a pub.<br /><br />Fifteen minutes later Howie returned with a new pair of shoes from Wynsors world of shoes.<br /><br />When we played the tape back Mark Foggin said me lap top 37 times before he collapsed into the boot.<br />Howie complained all week about how he had to fork out £15.99 for a new pair of shoes, twice as much as the one's in the boot.<br />John went to Halfords and bought a car alarm.<br /><br />No one went to bed that night without double checking there bedroom door was locked.<br />Least of all me.!!!<br /><br />Until next time.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-79462570848761007472010-05-02T09:16:00.000-07:002010-05-02T12:53:22.683-07:00The fish finger lorry crash ( April 2010 ).I left you at the end of March with a consecutive run of 7 final appearances on the final table on a Monday at Teesside, and a run of 13 out of 16 competitions at Teesside.<br />So come the first Monday in April (5Th) the pressure was on, especially as word had got out among the locals who were determined to halt the run.<br />Well cometh the hour cometh the man. I managed to do a 3 way split for £700.00.<br /><br />With not being able to attend on Monday the 12Th I thought I would give the Friday a go (9Th).<br />Well cometh the hour cometh the man and I ended up with a 4 way chop for £450.00.<br /><br />I was in Manchester for Monday the 19Th more about that later.<br /><br />So the last Monday in April (26Th) the pressure was really on. Fatwa's were being issued by the local infidels and even bounty's placed on my head. Did notice in the re buy period I was getting called of everyone. I immediately counter acted this by going into super tight mode to confuse them all.<br />The first rule of battle is to confuse the enemy!!!<br /><br />After all the dust settled it was a case of...<br /><br /><br /><br />Cometh the hour cometh the man. I managed to secure a four way chop for £560.00.<br /><br />During April I had planned to play a few events in Manchester as the gukpt hit town.<br />The obvious choice was the Mondays £200.00 event how could I fail. All I had to do was turn up pay my money and collect at the end, after all I win money every Monday.<br />Well that did not work. I have never had a tournament like it. The swings were .amazing 20k after 3 hands 4k after 10 hands.<br />This is how the whole competition went up down up down . I outdrew aces twice, lost with aces once , hit the nut flush but lost to a straight flush the list was never ending.<br />I eventually exited in 29Th place when my second 50/50 lost both times me holding a pair v AK.<br /><br />Dave Maudlin played the £300.00 event on Tuesday and finished a creditable 7Th for £1300.00 so a big well done to Dave.<br /><br />I travelled back down to Manchester for the Thursdays £100.00 event which flew past very quickly with no result and nothing to report.<br /><br />MANCHESTER £1000.00 MAIN EVENT REPORT.<br /><br />This was to be my first gukpt main event of the year and the first time I had travelled with any significance. <br />The starting stack had increased from 10,000 to 15,000 chips so plenty time and plenty play in the game.<br /><br />After the first 1 hour level I had managed to turn 15,000 into 7,000 when losing with top set v a made straight.<br />Against the same player I held aces v ak on a king high board , betting every street until another dreaded king on the river forced me to check call due to the size of the pot.<br />I maintained the 7k until level 5 before a missed flush draw and a few moves that did not quite work left me with 3.4k and in serious trouble of exiting on day 1.<br /><br />With 6 levels left of day 1 I had no option but to grind and grind I did.<br />Somehow I managed to survive the day and finish up with 20k at the end of day 1 but almost the lowest of the survivors which totalled 53.<br /><br />I was in serious need of a double/treble up which eventually came with ak v a pair a ace and king hitting the flop.<br />I was back in now but still way below average but managed to get with 30k of average chips , sitting with 90k while the average was approx 140k.<br /><br />Now this is the hand that was to decide my tournament.<br />I was moved to the table that held Chris Brammer with his 300k stack and knew he was the player that was either going to make or break my tournament.<br />I have played with Chris just a few times but enough to know he was wary but very tricky to play against.<br /><br />With me in the big blind a tight player limps and it come round to Chris who makes the standard raise to 12k (blinds were 1000/2000.<br />Off a 90k stack it was fine to see a flop with my holding of AJ and the limper also called.<br />This immediately let me know the limper's holding and it was pretty obvious to me that he held a mid pair or AJ or AQ.<br /><br />The flop came J-6-4 rainbow.<br /><br />I checked as did the limper then Chris bet 15k into a 30k pot.<br /><br />I just called for a number of reasons the main one was to see what Mr limper did as he might of hit a set, he passed.<br /><br />Now here I am in a pot with the ultra aggressive Chris holding top pair marvellous.<br /><br />The turn bought a nothing card a six and still rainbow.<br /><br />I again checked and Chris bet 20k.<br />Now I have to think about how to play from here and had seen enough to realize that Chris was holding air and should I check the river he will bet again to complete his ultra aggressiveness. I'm my opinion Chris was betting the river regardless what card came.<br />At this point I did consider the "all in" but I wanted the other bet chips, and the chance to win the tournament, and Chris was going to give me that chance.<br /><br />The river bought KING , I checked he bet I called.<br />On there backs he held K 10 giving him top pair on the river.<br />Chris got lucky on the river I played the hand as perfect as I could and that's poker.<br /><br />Chris went on to finish second and well done to him.<br /><br />I eventually exited in 24TH place four places short of the money.<br /><br />A word on Chris Brammer.<br />Chris took a bit of stick from some poker players probably due to his aggressive play and his quiet manner.<br />Let me repeat what I posted on awop poker forum.<br />Chris is the best young player to come through in many a year and I wish him every success in the future. Chris has a natural ability and the attitude to go as far as he wants in the game.<br /><br />So Manchester came and went and thanks to the cash games some good % swop's and a more than willing bookie in Paddy power both me and DAVE Maudlin were able to head back home along the M62 with profit after everything was paid for.<br /><br />May promises to be busy poker wise with another gukpt event with in travelling distance (Coventry), the poker stars tour hitting Dusk till Dawn and the start of the Gala/Coral poker tour in Bristol.<br /><br />With a bit of spare time at the end of the blog seems I have room for some of the story's and tales to come out of the travels in 2009.<br /><br />As most of the regular readers know we like a bit of a laugh us lot and don,t take life too seriously like Dave Maudlin Say's "there's always a story".<br /><br />I am dying to tell the "how to train a pigeon" tale or the "great highway robbery" story but will leave than for another time and tell the tale regarding the "fish finger lorry crash".<br /><br />One Friday night, the night before the £300.00 monthly event at Dusk till Dawn I was at Teesside playing the £10.00 re buy event.<br />Lee Dan asked me if I was going to Dusk till Dawn in the morning , I told him I was and he replied he was going early with Darren Maynall.<br />They were setting off early so they could use the hotels Gym and Sauna and spend a few relaxing hours before the tournament started. <br />Me and Dave Maudlin were also setting off early but for other reasons.<br /><br />So theres me and Dave driving down the A1 at 8.30 in the morning and who do we overtake but Lee and Darren who are deep in conversation (probably talking about saunas and gym) and oblivios to who has just overtaken them.<br /><br />Dave puts his foot down and we soon lose site of them way behind.<br />So out comes the mobile phone.<br /><br />I Ring g Lee dan the passenger.<br /><br />"Hi Lee it's Paul, where are you?<br /><br />near wetherby why wats up<br /><br />been a accident I reply on the M1 with a lorry , we have been stuck for 2 hours whatever you do , do not go on the M1, take the A1 until you see a sign for Nottingham.<br /><br />Now both you and I know there are no signs for Nottingham on the A1.!!!<br /><br />Lee for some bizarre reason only known to himself asks<br />"what was in the lorry"<br />fish fingers came the reply they are all over the road.<br /><br />At 2.55pm 5 minutes before the tournament starts and 5 hours after the phone call Lee and Darren burst through the doors of Dusk Till Dawn still in there travel clothes and breathless.<br /><br />What happened to you two I asked full of concern<br />you you b*stard<br />we got to a sign that said London 60 miles and Darren looked at me, I looked at Darren and both blurted out<br />"that tosser Gardener"<br /><br />Aye till next timegoldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-88812619329107753312010-03-31T12:11:00.000-07:002010-04-01T15:34:42.035-07:00cometh the hour... (march 2010)The saying goes cometh the hour cometh the man, page 94 of thr new testament chapter 6 verse 4.<br /><br />POKER.<br /><br />In February I left the blog with a run of 3 consecutive finals at Teesside in the Monday night £20.00 rebuy.<br /><br />So the pressure was on come Monday march the 1ST to continue the run. Well cometh the hour cometh the man and I managed to not only final table but actually get a share doing a 3 way split for £820.00.<br /><br />So the pressure was on come Monday the 8TH to continue the run. Well cometh the hour cometh the man and I managed to finish a hard fought 6th for £250.00 for 5 out of 5 final on a Mondays<br /><br />So the pressure was on come Monday the 15Th to continue the run. Well cometh the hour cometh the man and I managed to finish a hard fought 4TH for £410.00 for 6 out of 6 finals on a Monday.<br /><br />So the pressure was on come Monday the 22ND to continue the run. Well cometh the hour cometh the man and I managed to finish 7Th for £190.00 for 7 out of 7 finals on a Monday.<br /><br />So the pressure was on come Monday the 29Th to continue the run. Well cometh the hour cometh the man and I managed to secure a 4 way share for £620.00 for 8 out of 8 finals on a Monday.<br /><br />I attended one Friday night competition during this run and managed to do a 4 way share for £420.00, cometh the hour cometh the man.<br /><br />During the run the monthly £100.00 freezeout came along. With 80 odd players in the mix it was never going to be easy. However a gift of some chips from one of the chip leaders and a bit of luck when holding A Q against pocket queens ( I hit a straight). I managed to make the final table but sadly low on chips.<br /><br />My re found patience allowed me to win a 3 way all in with 9, 10, the board coming <br />A K J 7 2, my ten high holding up against 4,5 and 8,9 goldenballs strikes again or as Gary Collins put it "you run like god".<br /><br />After the dust had settled I and 2 other players took £1700.00 and the chip leader took £2000.00.Cometh the hour cometh the man.<br />So 9 out of 9 finals at Teesside some consistency beginning to show.<br /><br />The actual run over February and march is 13 out of 16 finals. One bubble, one 14th and one early exit.<br /><br />After doing a guest spot on Mark Trett's excellent blog it set me thinking about the games in Newcastle, and remembering all the good competitions that I used to attend regularly at the old Stanley, Aspers and Grosvenor casino's.<br />With the appetite wetted I decided to attend the monthly £75.00 freezeout held once a month at the old Stanley now circus casino.<br />All I can say is what a excellent well run competition this is. With £500.00 added from the casino and 60 od runners it is fantastic value.<br />The staff are very player friendly and go out of the way to look after the players, nothing is to much trouble.<br />What was surprising was the amount of players who had travelled the 35 miles up from Teesside!!!. ONE ME!!!. Astonishing considering the added value the start and finish time, think the Teesside lot are missing out on a very good competition here.<br />I finished 14Th.<br /><br />Rather than go on about the competition I would like to waffle on about something that crossed my mind while at Newcastle.<br />The subject that crossed my mind is how do you build a bankroll from whats available competition wise in the north east today.<br />When i first started to get a foot on the ladder it was easy to get a roll together. The competitions were plentiful with large pots and most nights if not all.<br />Teesside had 3 competitions all with over 7k in the pot.<br />Newcastle Stanley had a weekly £50.00 rebuy that generated in excess of 10k and a monthly £100.00 rebuy that regularly got over £15k.<br />Even the lower £20 and £25.00 rebuys regularly made over 6k and there was always one somewhere in the north east.<br />Now if you are a slightly better than average player it was not hard to get some money together with a decent run inside a month or two.<br />Once rolled up, players could then dip there toe's into the circuit and gain some experience and hopefully hit, then you were on your way.<br /><br />But what about players in the north east today?<br /><br />They are faced with low freezeout comps, low prize pools, less numbers and not one pot in the north east that regularly gets over 5k apart from the £100.00 freezeout at teesside and the £50.00 monthly game at circus Newcastle.<br />I think it is extremely difficult in today's poker scene to get going at all, and I think we will see less and less players breaking through.<br />Tom middleton, Mark trett are two who have come through to play regularly from starting off in low comps and building bankrolls, and for those others that play the circuit from our area, they seem to have some other sort of income outside of poker.<br /><br />I do not know players from Newcastle like I used to but Teeesside does have it fair share of talent in Dave Hudson, Kieron appleby Martin Turnbull & Brett Angel who have the potential to go further but may struggle to get a roll together.<br />Have noticed Kierron has started to play the monthly dusk till dawn £300.00 definitely a step in the right direction.<br /><br />Sports betting.<br />Been once again a very good month going approx 15 points and finish up on approx 97 points for the season 8 months into a betting year.<br />In December I posted a bet on www.aworldofpoker.com that bore fruition this month. The bet was Barrow to reach the F.A. Trophy final at 16/1. Two weeks ago they dually achieved that. I also in the same bet have them to win @ 33/1 which is nothing short of fantastic .<br />For anyone wanting to view the bets go to the sports and betting section of<br />www.aworldofpoker.com<br /><br />Trading activities.<br />Just started back today after taking a week off after wearing my shoes and nerves out for chetenham . The week was tiring , exhausting but very profitable. <br />As most of you know we are a team and we all seem to pull in the right direction.<br />We have the best trader in the country barr non and the fact is...<br /><br />she is a woman which is even more amazing how she does it I do not know. The effort she puts in is awe inspiring. She now has a assistant which should help lessen the work load.<br /><br /><br />On that note will leave the blog for another month<br /><br />L8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-85937191688632723652010-02-10T14:20:00.000-08:002010-03-23T17:41:53.377-07:00There ain't no thing as a free meal.(feb 2010)There ain't no thing as a free meal or is there! more about that later.<br /><br />POKER.<br /><br />Poker is on the back burner of late and have only fitted in five tournaments.<br />The Monday night at Teesside is one of the only few competitions worth playing at the moment in the north east, but even so the pots are decreasing.<br />I fitted in four Mondays and final tabled three of those. Sadly 2 ninths and a eighth is scant reward for the effort. However some consistency.<br />I don,t expect to travel this year until May at the earliest due to trading being a bit slow mainly due to the recent bad weather.<br />The other competition I played was the £100.00 freeze out at Teesside and I will post the hand that ended my chance of progressing. <br />With approx 30 runners left I sitting with slightly average chips raised under the gun with 9, 8 of clubs. It was folded round to the small blind who raised to 8k (the blinds were 500/1000 and I had raised to 3400). Now I had every intention of folding here as I am well aware of the small blinds re-raising holdings, but now the big blind pushes all in for 5200 and my thinking was that I was against the small blinds holding at worst jacks or AK. I called the extra 3600 off a stack of 29k but was well prepared to pass if the flop was not favourable. The flop came J 6 3 all clubs, I checked my opponent pushed all in for 18,400.<br />I was pretty much sure that I was against one of four hands. Trip jacks, QQ, KK, AA with a definite suited club in the pairs. I eventually called and on there backs. No surprise to see two black aces staring at me. I was in good shape especially as the big blind had called with two black tens, so one less club in the deck. The turn bought the 3 of hearts to put a pair on the board and the river the dreaded ace to give my opponent a full house.<br />That's poker as the say.<br />Newcastle hold a £75.00 freezeout on a monthly basis and I am hoping to attend in march. I have some good Friends in Newcastle and some enemy's so look forward to getting back up there. I really do miss poker in Newcastle it is where I learnt so much, not just about poker but how to carry yourself both in victory but more importantly in defeat.<br /><br />SPORTS BETTING.<br /><br />It has been a good month in betting. I entered February on approximately 63 points and finished just over 80 points. A 17 points profit this month is excellent. I have two consecutive runs of bankers , consisting of 7 out of 7 and 6 out of 6.<br />For those who do not understand a points system, a £100.00 level stake this month would of seen a £1700.00 profit for February. After 7 months into a betting year and at 80 points profit this would equate to £8000.00 clear tax free profit for a £100.00stake.<br />All my selections are posted on the excellent poker site<br />www.aworldofpoker.com<br />in the sports and betting section.<br /><br />I was very honoured to be chosen as a guest on Daniel Trett's blog. With some excellent preset questions to answer I really enjoyed the experience. Daniels blog really puts this pile of shite to shame and I am sure it is linked to mine, but as I am hopeless with anything techno you will have to find the link yourself. If it is not linked I am sure Daniel will somehow provide link.<br />May I take this opportunity to wish Daniels brother Mark all the success in his year long sponsorship venture . Mark won the Teesside main event late last year which qualified Mark for a place in a playoff for a years sponsorship. Mark dually won the package and deservedly so. Here's wishing you all the best for this year bud.<br /><br />TRADING.<br />With all the bad weather of late it has been a grind and a test of commitment. Nice to see a team working together all pulling in one direction. The weather along with the markets do seemed to have turned so onwards and upwards.<br /><br />So with just about everything covered in February it is now time to answer the question " is there such thing as a free meal".<br /><br />I was playing online in the 20 seat guaranteed satellite on dusk till dawns site. With 21 players left i typed into the site "don't forget the top 5 players receive a £50.00 meal and drinks voucher. As most of you know dtd Sat's play on even when u have won a seat for no reason what so ever.<br />My comment was met by "bullshit, really, nice one, brilliant amongst others.<br />To confirm my statement Dave Maudlin typed into the spectators chat box it was indeed true. The players on the tables took Dave to be the tournament supervisor and the expected occurred. With the 20 prizes secured all 20 players online went into super tight mode playing for the non existent 5 prizes of a £50.00 meal and drinks voucher.<br />when there was 19 left was having non of it, rubbish he exclaimed. I finally convinced him and he turned from the loosest player to the proverbial rock. One player said he did not want the prize and offered it to me should he win one. <br />"Whats your name he typed in"?<br />"JOHN BOUSFEILD I replied, OK I will find you on Saturday mate came the answer.<br /><br />John actually played the event but sadly no one came up to John offering his free meal voucher, now that would of been the icing on the cake.<br /><br />Finally if anyone wants to comment on anything I have written weather good or bad please use the comments section.<br />I will accept comments the only condition being you must not be anonymous like the fat spineless cretin who commented on last months.<br /><br />Hope you all enjoyed this drivel and see you all end of march.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-22573178243709803182010-01-29T15:35:00.001-08:002010-01-31T16:12:39.209-08:00The best hat trick ever scored. (JAN 2010)Who scored the best hat trick ever. Geoff Hurst maybe? Not even close but more about that later.<br /><br />POKER.<br />January a new start all bad habits put to bed. Unfortunately the weather put paid to any plans I may of had to play Bolton. With the winter snow not going anywhere when It cleared which was the week of Bolton it was time to start trading, after a a Xmas break, and rightly so trading comes first. Me and Dave managed to fit the £200.00 freezeout in on the Saturday but both of us exited early. However the 180 mile round trip was worth it just for the Indians truly scrumptious.<br />My attempt to win the main event at Dusk till Dawn ended very early when my trip 7's walked into trip jacks, as did the £50.00 when my nut flush was no good against the rivered full house.<br />Locally competition wise I have played 3 times but non cashes hopefully will have more time now that trading is up and running.<br /><br />Found time one Tuesday to visit Newcastle and play the legendary dealers choice cash game. The game at Newcastle has become a bit of a talking point up here in the north with talk of some pots reaching 10k on many a night. I don,t know if all the crazies had heard I was on my way or they decided to stay in and do there nails, but that particular night did not seem any more reckless than any other cash game I have visited. Did manage to leave with a £800.00 profit so not grumbling.<br />Cash games at my local Teesside have been small but gentle, made a little from the game but not really put the hours in yet to determine weather to play regularly.<br /><br />So all quiet in January and I can,t see February being much different as a busy month ahead.<br /><br />Football tips which are posted on aworldofpoker.com performed very well with a increase of 7 points for January bring the total up to 61 points for the first 6 months of the year.<br />Also been putting some other bets I do on the site which produced a 56/1 treble and also a good paying 6 timer.<br />Thanks to our man from Dubai I also gave out a snooker bet which was guaranteed even down to the frame scores. All I can say is the best 2 am phone call I have received.<br /><br />Now I know you all wondering who scored the best ever hat trick in the history of football well let me tell you who.<br />But before I do maybe it is worth giving you all some background into how me and Dave Maudlin managed to place a bet on a hat trick at 19/1 and watch it come up.<br /><br />If you rewind back to the opening game of the season our beloved Newcastle were playing W.B.Albion on the opening day. Dave rang me and we discussed how Newcastle would fair both agreeing a draw was the likely result (it is vary rare for us to agree mind). So we decided to place £50.00 on 0-0 my preference and 1-1 Dave's preferred choice. The result came 1-1 @ 6/1,nice. So we decided to keep the kitty going till it was dust but fortunately it grew and grew. You would be amazed at the things we have pulled out in Newcastle's games. Correct score 3-0 at 16/1, first goal scorer and correct score we just could not fall off. Any way the kitty grew and grew until just before Newcastle played Plymouth in the cup replay after drawing 0-0 (yip we had 0-0 & 1-1 covered)the kitty stood at £1300. With Dave going to the replay we decided to spend £200.00 each on a bet. Dave rang me from the ground and told me his bet, Plymouth half time/Plymouth full time at 20/1.<br />With less than half a hour before kick off I had to find something opened up betfair and scoured. There staring me in the face @ 19/1 was "any player to score a hat trick".<br />When peter Lovenkrands scored his third goal of the game in the 72ND minute the roar from the east stand could be heard in my living room 40 miles away. The bet paid £3800.00 plus stake return booooooooooooooooom.<br /><br />So if any one asks me "who scored the best hat trick ever?".The answer will be<br /><br />Peter Lovenkrands on the 13TH of January 2010.<br /><br />Until next month don't have nightmares.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-1556616825093031182010-01-09T07:34:00.000-08:002010-01-09T09:09:22.298-08:002009 and all that.Well I think it is about time I got around to redoing my blog on a regular basis? So will do it monthly from now on (promise!!!). <br />2009 has been a difficult year with so many things going on and one major decision to make regarding my future something had to give and sadly it had to be the blog. However now I know what direction my life is going in hopefully my mind we be alot clearer and I will have more free time.<br />So guess the thing to do is review 2009 on a gambling front ,then in a week or so will bring you the humorous stuff that happened in 2009. As Dave Maudlin says "there's always a story". More about the pigeons, pigs, fish fingers, taxis,joiners,eastenders,suitcase robbery next time.<br />So over to the boring bit poker and the likes.<br />2008 was a good year on my travels and a bad year locally.2009 was a complete reversal with back to the norm at poker locally but poker on the road I can,t believe the positions I was in only to come away with very little.<br />This year saw Edinburgh,Bristol, Manchester, Leeds,Vegas and god knows how many other places.<br />Rather than go on about Individual competitions maybe best to select a few hands I witnessed or was involved in.<br />Going great guns in the £1000.00 main event at Newcastle and down to the last 17 the following hand occurred.<br />Andreas Hoivold from Sweden was a consistent raiser and played very aggressively when once again he raised my big blind but this time I had a hand to at least see a flop.<br />The flop came k 10 4 a good flop for me as I was holding pocket fours. I checked hoping for a bet from Mr aggressive and was,nt disappointed as he duly obliged, I instantly moved all in as I was getting a bit low in chips. Thomas went into the tank and nearly passed twice before I decided I needed to issue some verbals and talk him into calling. It did,nt take much as I said " the amount of time you have taken I must be ahead as I thought I was behind" he instantly called declaring "you have ace 10", and flipped over pocket queens. I should of learnt to keep my big mouth shut as a queen on the river sent me to the rails one short of the money and what would of been my fourth cash in the gukpt main event. <br /><br />The other hand which I was involved in albeit a small way was again the gukpt main event this time at Manchester.<br />Down to 14 players I was very low in chips and desperately looking for a spot where I could get me chips in. A guy who had a load of chips kept raising in first position raised once again and I looked down at my hole cards pocket tens. I moved all in then next to act behind me Dave Maudlin spoke. "BLOODY HELL I can,t . ass ,sorry bud, oh no" etc. What I am pointing out is Dave made it known that we were m8s and everyone on the table new he had a hand. Dave announces all in a whole 178k worth of chips. Back to the original raiser who then thinks, he has 20k invested in the pot and is sat on a stack of 220k well above average. The amount of time he was taking lead me to believe he had pocket kings, however he called and proudly flipped over pocket queens. WTF!!!!!!!!!!! THE WORST CALL i HAVE SEEN FOR A LONG TIME. Dave flipped over his kings and they held up knocking me out and decimating the lunatic in the process. Dave went on to finish 6Th and cashing for<br />11k while I received £2500.00 for my efforts.<br /><br />I made my first visit to Dusk To Dawn in August and what a place. If carlsburg could make a poker club well this would be it. I have made it my next ambition to win the £300.00 main event. So far I have cashed once out of 4 attempts and finished 3rd in the £50.00 but no victories to speak of.<br /><br />I won the William Hill sponsored event held at Newcastle for £4k outright finally getting the better of my opponent at 9.30 in the morning after starting at 4pm the previous day.<br /><br />Cash games have been good and stayed well ahead of the game both locally and on my travels.<br /><br />Trading activities have gone from strength to strength and is now the future.<br /><br />Sport betting has once again proved very rewarding. I now post my tips on <br />www.aworldofpoker.com<br />sports and betting section.<br />I am currently 50 points up for the season which is excellent. So if you had done £100.00 a point you would now be in profit of £5000.00. Not bad in 5 months.<br /><br />Well that's about it for my first blog of 2010 will do this every month as close as I can to the first of the month<br /><br />L8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-11259993890000553412008-12-22T06:44:00.000-08:002009-01-21T13:53:08.862-08:00And the winner is...Firstly a apology regarding the blog. I have been very busy lately with non poker/gambling things so been unable to update the blog. I also have had flu recently over Xmas /new year but on the road to full recovery. So now the blog is back to normal.<br />firstly a quick update on our financial situation.<br /><br />To summarise quickly we finished the year with a total balance of £17,980.00 which from a starting balance of £10,000.00 is a massive achievement.<br /><br />We have made £7,980.00 in 17 weeks which is fantastic.<br />Certainly further ahead of where I thought we would be at this time.<br /><br />Since new year there have been no poker, no bets and only a little bit of trading. Rather than add this to our balance I will add it next time.<br />Poker will be taking a back seat this week as busy and only a little bit of free time.<br />I also need to think which direction to take in the future.<br /><br />I mentioned in previous blogs about changing habits and goals. Well to be honest I have become a bit down lately or to put it another way unmotivated.<br />The drop in prize money at local level has been of concern but also the fact that financially I reached my goal I set myself many years ago. This £ figure should with careful money management allow me to enjoy my later years with out concern, however I really wish the credit crunch would go away.<br /><br />I have been so unmotivated I have only played once at local level since new year which as you all know is not like me.<br />However a source of inspiration came from a unlikely source this week. Someone I met recently less than a week or so ago provided a spark which was the proverbial kick up the arse I needed.<br />And considering they are from non poker& gambling is even more bizarre but hey ho lets go.<br /><br />2008 REVIEW.<br /><br />last year in the poker world was a bit of a roller coaster for myself.<br /><br />The year started of really good with a first place in Brighton in the £300.00 freeze out and a 22ND in the main event which resulted in a £9,000.00 profit in the first month.<br /><br />After that it seemed to get more and more frustrating on the grosvenor and gala tours. Four times I came back for day two in the main event with a really healthy chip stack (with in the top 20) only to become totally card dead and exit before the money.<br /><br />However on the gala tour of which I played most events there was only one minor cash, certainly room for improvement there this year (goal number 1).<br /><br />Sandwiched in between was the unexpected online win on mansion in their big deal competition. A first place in April resulted in a prize of a massive £96,000.00.<br />They retained a % as I play for them online with there money and also me good mate Michael Jackson received his % for his outstanding contribution.<br /><br />At local level Teeside and Newcastle I struggled through out the early part of the year to make any progress and was running at a loss at Teeside until the summer and was a bit concerned.<br />However a good second part of the year allowed me to finish in profit for the 6Th consecutive year, so hopefully I can continue that into 2009 (another goal).<br /><br />Trading activity has been the years biggest positive. With out going into any detail it is something that will increase in 2009 as the rewards out weigh the effort.<br /><br /><br />Now to our Annual awards.<br /><br />Congratulations go to non other than...<br /><br /><br />James "Hollywood" Browning who has the honour of winning the first N.A.P.P.Y award.(Northeast Poker Player of the Year).<br /><br />The voting numbers were very successful, thank god for face book.<br /><br />I would like to thank all the 72 people who took time to vote.<br /><br />I will be presenting James with his award as soon as I bump into him and hopefully will be able to get a picture posted on here.<br /><br />I have decided to do the blog on a monthly basis as it is very time consuming, however a update will occur if there are any major happenings in the crazy world of poker and gambling. <br />If I travel for instance I will update on my return.<br />This will help as the blog will not become repetitive and stale.<br /><br />The first festival I have my eye on is not until the end of February in Walsall but I am constantly keeping my eyes open for opportunities.<br /><br />Well time is of the essence so until next time (first week in Feb) .<br /><br />L8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-85505682474820851282008-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:002008-12-15T07:49:09.662-08:00What is a nappy?WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY DEC 8TH DECEMBER.<br /><br />What is a nappy?. Well more about that later.<br /><br />After the exhausting travels of last week it was time to catch up with everything that had been put on the back burner.<br />Xmas shopping my least fave thing in the whole wild world. Can,t wait for bird flu to fly over here and confine us all indoors over the Xmas period.<br /><br />Not had much time for anything but did manage to fit in one poker comp at Tees side this week. Thursdays £10.00 re buy.<br /><br />Started of really well during the re buy period and only lost one major pot when my Aces failed to outdraw pocket Eight,s, a 8 turning up on the river.<br />Any way survived the re buy period with a healthy, bigger than average stack.<br /><br />The levels between the end of the re buy period and the final was tantamount to my reborn patience (which I used to have in abundance) and my survival skills.<br /><br />This back to basics strategy is starting to pay dividends.<br /><br />Made the final without too much trouble with about average chips.<br /><br />Question: which hand would you rather hold in a heads up situation? pocket Queens or Ace King suited?<br /><br />That question was asked generally around the final table where every one vented there opinion.<br /><br />Taxi Kev certainly opted for the correct answer of pocket queens as he raised from early position and getting one caller.<br />With the discussion still ongoing the two gladiators continued in the hand as the flop came down of ...<br /><br />Q 4 5 (1 DIAMOND)<br /><br />CHECK CHECK<br /><br />Turn K of diamonds.<br /><br />Now comes a raise war with all the chips of both players ending up in the middle.<br /><br />Pocket Queens for Kev giving him trips and Ace King for Kev,s opponent but with the Ace of diamonds...<br /><br />river...<br /><br />a seven of diamonds<br /><br />So Kev you wanna change your mind mate?<br /><br />Any way back to the final.<br />Without too much trouble managed to get down to the last three and eventually chipped away at the weaker player which left me in a heads up situation with my friend Paul Wilson.<br /><br />Even tho I had a massive chip advantage I immediately offered a even split of first and second prize, well after all it is Xmas.<br /><br />So for a spend of £10.00 we recorded a profit of £530.00.<br />Very welcome at least it means it will be turkey this year instead of pigeon!<br /><br />For those statisticians out there AK suited v pocket queens.<br /><br />Pocket queens v AK suited without the queen of the AK suit is a %53.786 fave to win the hand,<br />Pocket queens with the queen of the AK suit is 54.117 fave to win the hand.<br /><br />Now to our bankroll.<br /><br />PREVIOUS BALANCE £17,403.00<br /><br />LUTON COSTS -£630.00<br /><br />5% DOM +£250.00<br /><br />CASH GAMES +£450.00<br /><br />LOCAL POKER PROFIT/LOSS +£450.00<br /><br />ROY KEANE TO BE NEXT MANAGER TO GO +£225.00<br /><br />LEWIS HAMILTON BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY £- £200.00<br /><br />SPORTS/BETTING -£250.00<br /><br />TRADING -£20.00<br /><br />CURRENT BANKROLL NOW STANDS AT £17,678.00<br /><br />So we have increased our starting balance of £10,000.00 by 7 grandish in approx 15 weeks with little or no effort.<br /><br /><br />What is a nappy? or should I say what is a N.A.P.P.Y. <br /><br />Well N.A.P.P.Y. stands for...<br /><br /><br /><br />Northern area poker player of the year.<br /><br />The first of our annual awards.<br /><br />Now come the candidates (in no particular order).<br /><br /><br />1. Keith Hawkins.<br /><br />Keith has made 4 excellent cashes this year on the international circuit. In Australia in Jan he cashed in 28Th place in the main event. Sandwiched in between his 3rd place in Teesside,s gala main event was two cashes in the wsop.<br />The first was when he finished 24Th in the $5000.00 no limit hold em event and the highlight of his career finishing 75Th in the wsop main event FROM OVER 6000 entrants.<br /><br />DOES THIS EARN YOUR VOTE? <br /><br />2 James browning.<br /><br />James has had no fewer than 25 cashes in ranking events this year. <br />He currently sits at no1 in the world in competitions valued at $1000.00 or less.<br />James also won the £200.00 no limit event at Blackpool in November.<br /><br />DOES THIS GET YOUR VOTE?.<br /><br />3.LYNNE BEAUMONT.<br /><br /><br />Lynne has cashed 13 times in 2008 on her travels through out the UK. Lynne successfully retained her Betfred title she won in 2007 which allows her another years sponsorship.<br />Lynne's consistency continues and maybe this is why she is considered the ladies UK number one player.<br /><br />Does this get your vote?<br /><br />So there we have it 3 contenders for the first ever north east poker awards and the honour of being the <br />NORTH EASTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2008.<br /><br />Now the interactive part. Any one who reads this blog is eligible to vote.<br /><br />Lots of people have commented on this blog saying how much they enjoy it. So now is the time to give something back by voting.<br />You can vote by the comments section on this blog or by message on face book. Alternately you can tell me in person for those of you who do not use face book.<br /><br />Now as in all contests covered by voting "YOUR VOTE COUNTS". So no excuses the future of the blog rests on your shoulders.<br />If the votes are low and no one bothers the end of the blog is in site so come on all, forward your vote now.<br /><br />I will not be voting unless in a tie situation for first place.<br /><br />So who is your top north east player?<br /><br />The prizes for the winning nominee is two iconic products of this wonderful area in which we live.<br /><br /><br />A greggs sausage roll and a bottle of newcy brown, and more importantly your photo in the blog which could lead to sponsorship.<br /><br />VOTING CLOSES SUNDAY THE 21ST DECEMBER AT MIDNIGHT AND THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE BLOG ON MONDAY THE 22ND DECEMBER.<br /><br />Only one vote per person and any one who has been nominated can vote for themselves.<br />And all votes are in the strictest confidence.<br /><br />So until next week<br />L8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-47207833886332053212008-12-07T13:03:00.000-08:002008-12-08T09:59:26.775-08:00Close but no cigar.WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY THE 1ST DECEMBER.<br /><br />Before Luton on Thurs I played Teesside Mon and Tues. I did not cash in either event, but however did make the final on Monday which is my 3rd consecutive Monday final. Unfortunately I exited in 10th place which meant no financial reward for the effort as there were only 7 prizes.<br /><br />Thurs bought the trip to Luton but also the snow that blanketed the north. It took me over a hour just to get out of Teeside. Down south there was no sign of any adverse weather. I managed to take my seat only 5 Min's late.<br /><br />With 13 prizes and a first prize of just over 20 grand It was worth the effort of 220miles of continuous driving.<br /><br />Ninety three hope fulls eager to get there hands on the wonga started the 1 day event, with a 45 min clock.<br /><br />My starting stack of 5000 soon increased to 9000 by slow playing pocket kings versus AQ on a Queen high board.<br />Then I got moved tables!!!!!!!<br /><br />Moved onto the table that included Mark Goodwin and Sam Tricket who had been busy early on increasing there starting stacks to well over 30k.<br /><br />This table was really aggressive with both Mark and Sam having there own personnel duel. Nearly every pot was raised pre flop.<br />I certainly had to play a very patient game hoping to flop a monster hand and trap one of these but alas it did not happen.<br />Every time I was involved with either of them they slowed down or got out of the way.<br />It was only after the tournament ended when speaking to Mark did he confess that him and Sam had discussed my chip position in a break and had both decided not to double me up as they new if I had chips I was dangerous. A compliment there some where but as I was sat with them from 80 players down to 29 maybe you can realize how hard a position I was in.<br />Mark especially was in no mood to tangle he folded aq suited to my re raise preflop and pocket nines on a 5 5 2 flop ( I had pocket queens) but I could not extract anything out of him.<br />As the tournament progressed I never got over 12k in chips and it was down to my patience and blind stealing that I survived to 23rd place before exiting holding AJ suited versus pocket tens, the tens holding up.<br />Again I played the best I could giving the circumstances and with a bit more luck maybe I could have gone a little further.<br />I held pocket aces twice and pocket kings 3 times but all I got were the blinds.<br /><br />I played the £250.00 1 re buy on the Thurs night. <br />Going really well i made a bad mistake to donk all me chips with the ever so grate full James Browning. <br />No excuses simple bad play on my behalf. The only saving grace is that since this blog started it is as far as I can recollect the only bad hand I have played.<br /><br />My mate Dominic Kay 3 way split the event and as I had %5 of him it did return £270.00. Well played m8 hopefully you can use this to progress back onto the poker circuit.<br /><br /><br /><br />Woke up Friday and decided to stay in Luton and play the Friday nights £200.00 rather than Bristol as to be honest I was pokered out.<br /><br />Very unfortunate in this event as early on holding pocket two,s on a flop of 6 6 2 all my chips ended up in the middle versus the blinds holding of 6 4. He rivered a 4to leave me with a few chips which evaporated on aq versus pocket jacks.<br /><br />After this played a little cash game £100.00 sit down no limit.<br /><br />First hand I get dealt pocket jacks it is raised to £25.00 pre flop with two callers.It comes to me and i,m all in, they all call.<br /><br />Flop<br />J 3 2 RAINBOW <br />SCOOP<br />good start.<br /><br />I played my customary 3 hours showing a profit of £425.00, ah well i bit of a profit helps with the costs.<br /><br />Now over to our regular feature...<br /><br />"STAR IN A REASONABLE PRICED BLOG".<br /><br />The honour this week goes to non other than...<br /><br />James Browning.<br /><br />Again one of the stalwarts of the poker scene here in the north east, James seems to be around since time began.<br />James the ever so analytical has survived where many others have come and gone.<br />You say you learn off every player you come across and one of the best things you can learn from James is money management.<br />His experience in this department is with out doubt the best in the country, with out fear of contradiction. I have mentioned this before in previous postings in the blog how important it is. Sometimes when I am a bit indecisive about what to do I always ask myself what would James do.<br />A massive plus in this world in which we play.<br />You need many disciplines to survive in poker and gambling, but money management is the most important and James is the expert.<br /><br />To survive in poker you certainly need to be able to play a bit and maybe James is a bit underestimated in this area by some.I hear it often "how can you play so tight" etc, I just laugh to myself and think he will still be hear in ten years time, but will you?.<br /><br />James has been playing on the circuit as long as I remember. There have been no large cashes for James but consistent final tables for several years.<br />Year after year James consistently cashes and finances his way through the poker circuit.<br />This year James is ranked number 1 in the world in tournaments under $1000.00 and you can,t get much better than that.<br />Just last week James made another final at Luton in the £500.00 event.<br /><br />James is one of the best cash game players in the country, I can,t think of anyone who consistently profits year after year.<br /><br />To end, if calsberg could make a winning gambler then James would be it.<br /><br />So that ends our 5 weekly series of the top 5 north east players in my opinion. As I said previously in no particular order apart from Steven Lui at number 1.<br /><br />So Steve Lui, Keith Hawkins, J law, Hamid & James sit at the top of the pile in the North east with the standards and ability we all hope to attain.<br /><br />Now the hard part I have to think of another feature for next week.<br /><br />I have got something in mind which requires a bit of audience participation so tune in next week to find out whats in store.<br /><br />I will update our bankroll next week once all this weeks costs have come through.<br /><br />L8<br />A final well done to Dave Maudlin who finished in 6Th in the gala poker tour grand final yesterday. A excellent performance by Dave.<br />Dave has now earned the nickname of Dave awesome Maudlin.<br />well done m8.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-18101227281736715112008-11-28T20:18:00.000-08:002008-12-01T11:06:41.248-08:00All quiet on the eastern frontWEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 24/11/08.<br /><br />After last Mondays success at Teesside took the obvious choice and again played the Mondays £20.00 re buy.<br />With once again over 40 runners a pot of just over £3.5k was generated.<br />While last weeks effort was a gentle route through the re buy period today's affair was a little more rocky. With my re buys mounting up I eventually got a hold of some chips just at the end of the re buys.<br />Not at all happy about some of the starting hands I played in this period, something I still have to work on.<br />Well they say football can sometimes be a game of two half's and so can poker.<br />All the hastiness of the first half disappeared as patience set in for part two.<br /><br />Nursing a less than average chip stack through the numbers was precarious to say the least but some how I survived to reach my second consecutive Monday final.<br /><br />All that was standing in my way was John Law one of the best players in Teeside with a boat load of chips and some one else who was at the opposite end in playing ability scale to John, but with a boat load of chips.<br /><br />Somewhere in the middle were 8 other players hanging on for dear life.<br /><br />Anyway a early double up at least give me the foundations to build and once Mr non ability shared his chips among the grateful dead we all at least had a chance.<br /><br />After some patient play on my behalf I managed to get down to the last 3, J law and young Darren.<br />Now to be honest I really wanted to knock Darren out for no other reason than I wanted heads up with John.<br />I wanted to play him to test my game but unfortunately John had other ideas as he called my re raise with A 4, and my holding of A K held to take the pot.<br /><br />Which left me and young Darren heads up. Darren is on a bit of a roll at the moment especially on the net where he seems to be tearing Ladbrokes up in tourneys for fun.<br />After the chip lead went back and forwards a few times we agreed to split first and second prize, both of us collecting just over £1000.00 for our efforts.<br /><br />To summarize I really must not get into this multi re buy malarkey constantly and I have rediscovered my patience a necessary tool to survive in this shark infested poker world of which we swim.<br /><br />Wednesday I played the £30.00 super satellite at Teesside for Galas grand final at Bristol. <br />With two seats available I exited in 10Th place. Was very pleased with the way I played and not too disappointed to exit holding A K versus pocket fives.<br />A lot better than the 75/25% of late.<br /><br />Next week (Thurs) sees me travel down to Luton for the Grosvenor poker tour champions of champions tournament.<br />I qualified for this event by winning the £300.00 freeze out in January in Brighton. You can only partake in this event by winning one of the events on the gukpt, but the downside is the starting chips.<br />The starting chips is determined by the size of the event you won. So as a example I am starting with 5000 chips but some one who has won a main event will be starting with 10,000.<br />There is a prize pool of £70.000 so expect first prize to be about £20,000.00 so fingers crossed.<br />There is a mini festival on in Luton so will probably play some of the side events or dash over to Bristol for the Gala grand final on Friday.<br />No cast in stone decisions made as yet will take it as it comes from Thurs onwards.<br /><br />Trading opportunities were a bit limited this week due to a busy schedule on my behalf . I managed to fit in 5 hours this week showing a profit of £95.00 which is very welcome.<br /><br />Deal of the century.<br /><br />I have been asked to include this story in the blog so never one to refuse OK then.<br /><br />On the Sunday of the Teesside festival the night time event was a £50.00 double chance freeze out.<br />After being knocked out of the main by kq (it still hurts) I entered along with approx 70 others.<br />After the first ten hands I had done me first chance chips in and half of my second chance chips as well!<br />So I asked the guy next to me to slide his chips slightly into my box he reluctantly agreed, but thought I was bonkers.<br />Then I approached a couple of locals asking if they wanted %10. With in a few minutes I had secured (well at the last count it was 13) ten percents.<br /><br />Now the coup de grace.<br /><br />My monster hand of 7 3 off suit didn't fair to well against a raise and a re raise and I was out.<br />But now had umpteen 10% running for me lol.<br /><br />The ironic ending to this tale is one of my percentages got a share in a deal and I have,nt seen em since.<br /><br />Ah well "best laid plans of mice and men".<br /><br />Now over to our bankroll.<br /><br />PREVIOUS BALANCE £16,388.00<br /><br />POKER PROFIT £920.00<br /><br />SPORTS £no bets<br /><br />TRADING £95.00<br /><br />BALANCE £17,403.00.<br /><br />Finally over to our regular feature " Star in a reasonable priced blog"<br /><br />And the honour this week goes to non other than...<br /><br />Hamid.<br /><br />Now Hamid away from the poker table is one of the nicest people you will come across in north east poker but...<br />On the table he is simply awesome and certainly holds no Friends when playing.<br /><br />When I said in a previous blog to progress watch the good players well this is certainly one you can watch. I know I did and it was the best decision I made.<br /><br />Hamid along with S Lui have held captain at Newcastle since I started several yrs ago, consistency a sure sign of a winning player.<br /><br />Hamid maybe has not played nationally as much as some but I have no doubt if he did regularly he would be up there with the best.<br /><br />Hamid has showed consistent results when travelling. <br />Back in 2005 I remember Hamid tearing up a class Field of players not once but twice when winning two events out of 3 in Sheffield, including two firsts.<br /><br />Back in 2002 Hamid recorded his largest cash when finishing 4Th in the £2500.00 main event named the "European championships".<br />He also finished 3rd in the £500.00 event at the same festival.<br />This was a fantastic achievement against a Field of some of the best players of the time. <br /><br />I mentioned Hamid being one of the nicest people you can meet and maybe this little tale will verify this.<br /><br />Way back not long after I first started Teesside held a poker festival. I at the time could only afford the side events, hoping to cash which would let me play the main.<br />No cashes in the side comps left me one chance to get in the main a one table satellite.<br />Before it started I was talking to Hamid and explained my precarious financial situation, asking his advice on weather if i did not get through how best to turn my remaining £120.00 into a seat. His reply perhaps demonstrates the man.<br /><br />Look Paul go and play the satellite if you don,t get in I Will pay you in. <br />As it happens I won a seat but I have never forgot the offer.<br /><br />So think this is a good way to end the blog and welcome Hamid as our 4Th star in<br />a reasonable priced blog.<br /><br />May I take this opportunity to wish all the locals travelling down to Bristol for the Gala grand Final, come on lads<br />UP THE LADDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />As a footnote I have put some of our blog money into betfair to let someone trade on our behalf. Can,t say who but next week we will find out how our initial investment has fared<br /><br />until next week<br />l8.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-47180926399776165132008-11-18T20:24:00.000-08:002008-11-25T15:22:31.399-08:00Back to basics.Well after the positives and negatives it was back to basics and on Monday played the £20.00 re buy at Tees side.<br />Tees side has reintroduced a extra 15 minutes re buy period and cut down the time late entry,s are allowed to enter the tournaments in a effort to boost the pots.<br /><br />With 40 odd players in the mix it was well attended and created a prize pool of over 3.5k a excellent start.<br /><br />I actually got of to a good start and got chips quite early. Some decent starting hands and situations allowed me to finish the re buy period with double the average and with no re buys or add on,s.<br /><br />I noticed my starting hand selection had improved maybe the verbal in Blackpool was still in my head.<br /><br />The period between the end of the re buy period and the final table was a bit of a roller coaster for me twice my AK walked into pocket kings, but somehow managed to survive to make the final, lowest chips but hey beggars can,t be choosers.<br /><br />The final was a long drawn out affair. I doubled and trebled up easily and also outdrew pocket kings with pocket jacks when a jack arrived on the flop (did I mention my son was called Jason)?. <br /><br />Eventually a deal was discussed among the five remaining players. A even split of £600.00 for four of us and the chip leader taking £720.00.<br /><br />Now as I have stated in previous posts I will only deal; if it is good for me, and this time it certainly was.<br />Factors were that with a average stack of just over a 100k the blinds were 5000/10,000 a crap shoot situ here.<br />Also it was now after 3am in the morning and we had been playing for 7 hrs long enough by any ones standards.<br /><br />So my back to basics strategy has shown a instant success with a profit of £580.00 a real good start.<br /><br />Resisting the temptation of the £10.00 re buys at Tee side I headed up to Newcastle for the £50.00 freeze out on Saturday.<br />With 53 runners it held a decent prize pool. A good starting stack and clock make this comp very player friendly maybe a bit too player friendly.<br /><br />Down to the last couple of tables and fairly healthy in chips the following hand played like this.<br /><br />Me holding 7 - 9 in late position opened the pot with a 3 x big blind raise, the big blind eventually called. He had a decent chip stack so my thought process was it might be possible to win this pot if a raggy flop appears, or, I might get paid if I flop a two pair or better.<br />The flop 10 - 10 - 8.<br />A nice flop for my hand defo a flop I can bet into.<br />However the big blind had other idea,s and opened up with 4k, I called leaving myself 8.2k.<br />Up and down I could certainly afford to see the turn and make my decision after the turn.<br />If I hit a six or jack felt I would get paid. However was a bit wary of his possible holding of jack ten.<br />A nice little six appeared on the turn.<br />The big blind immediately put me all in which I duly called, flipping over my straight but no match for his holding of 10 - 8.<br />He had flopped a full house.<br />EXIT ME.<br /><br />Quite possibly I could of got away from this hand but would of been very hard. Did not feel so bad as over all I thoroughly enjoyed the game and played very well through out the competition.<br /><br />A little compensation is I played the "pot limit" hold em game and managed to record a £260.00 profit for a couple of hours work.<br />I got paid off, on pocket fours on a flop of ace- four - two, my opponent holding ak.<br /><br />Dave obviously did not know my son was born on the fourth!!!.<br /><br /><br />Trading went very well this week. <br /><br />Eleven hours work produced a profit of £725.00, very nice and very welcome after the costs of Blackpool.<br /><br />Did not have a lot of time on sports this week and it was the weekend before I could do any serious research.<br /><br />Bet £200.00 on Preston to beat Norwich which obliged at evens.<br />Bet £200.00 on barrow which lost.<br /><br />Sunday bet £200.00 on A.Madrid away at evens which lost.<br /><br />So sports produced a loss of -£200.00.<br /><br />So our previous balance was £15,023.00<br /><br />POKER + £530.00<br /><br />TRADING + £725.00<br /><br />SPORTS - £200.00<br /><br />CASH GAMES £260.00<br /><br /><br /><br />Weekly profit £1315.00<br /><br /><br />Balance ends up at £16,388.00.<br /><br />It was aprox 12 weeks ago I started this social experiment and already I/we have made £6,388.00, which is fantastic. We have had no major costs apart from Bolton & Blackpool.<br />We have also survived at bit of a barren spell loccaly at poker and with out tempting fate we may have just turned the corner.<br />It is too early to take the + 6k as a average but if we were we would be on a annual income of over 25k TAX FREE.! <br /><br />So over all a forward step after the backwards one at Blackpool. I have to say I have enjoyed this week. Lots of rest in between poker, and playing quite well is a bonus.<br />Back to basics.<br /><br />Congratulations go to Lynn Buemont who for the second year running has won the Betfair,s ladies championship.<br />As well as decent prize money Lynn also receives sponsorship into events next year.<br />A fantastic achievement well done Lynn. <br /><br />As a footnote I joined in with a local syndicate for the scoop 6 jackpot at the weekend. As I know nothing about horse racing I left the selections to the experts. <br />So close with 3 winners and 3 seconds, unlucky, next time.<br /><br />Now over to our weekly feature.<br /><br />"Star in a reasonable priced blog".<br /><br />The honour this week goes to non other than...<br /><br />Tees sides own...<br /><br />John Law.<br /><br />Now any one who knows how John plays please let me no as honestly I have not got a clue.<br />After several years of playing along side John I am still not sure of what his game is all about but hey so what neither has John.<br /><br />I am sure deep down in John,s head somewhere there is a strategy.<br /><br />John has been one of the most consistent winners at local tournaments for many years.<br />Between here and Newcastle he has consistently won his pick of competitions.<br /><br />Not content with local success John has transferred his success to national competitions.<br />He is currently ranked number 61 in the uk in the most prize money list, hot on the heels of the other two north east players Keith Hawkins & Carlo Citrone.<br /><br />In 2005 John came as close as one could get, to winning a wsop bracelet.<br /><br />In the $1000.00 no limit event, Heads up and pretty even in chips all the chips end up in the middle on a flop of J - 8 -5.<br />John opponent holding q-8 was deep in the mire against Johns holding of J - Q.<br />Unfortunately it was game over as a 8 appeared on the turn to give his opponent trips, so close but yet so far.<br /><br />With countless final tables throughout the UK John is one of the most feared players on the circuit as his many ranking results confirm.<br /><br />I think it is fair to say that when ever you are in a pot with John you are never quite sure where you are.<br /><br />2008 has been a quiet year for John on his travels but I an sure it won,t be long before he re-discovers his form and justify,s his place in the north east,s top players<br /><br />So John Law joins S Lui & K Hawkins as stars in a reasonable priced blog<br /><br />until next time <br />L8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-50039080193720145252008-11-15T16:48:00.000-08:002008-11-18T07:50:25.208-08:00Blackpool donkey (part 2)Now in part 1, I talked about a meal I had with a good Friend.<br />He arrived in town on Tues so after my super sat exit we headed away from the casino to eat & talk.<br />I asked him if I could name him on this blog but he did not want it so respect there.<br />I met him a four years ago and we just clicked.<br />He has amassed a decent bankroll mainly from sports betting and some from poker.<br />He was a great help when I was trying to rebuild a bankroll after going skint in the past. Mistakes were identified and corrected and to be honest I don't think I would of stayed in poker if it was not for him.<br /><br />Anyway we were now faced with a different problem than last time.<br />My confidence is shattered where as before I just did not have the bankroll to survive.<br />Now financially I am pretty much sorted in that department however I wished the credit crunch would go away soon.<br />The tournament selection is one thing that is wrong.<br /><br />I should not be playing ten pound re buy,s at all unless it,s a social evening.<br />I would be better off playing freeze outs and larger re buy events it is obvious to me now that I am no longer hungry enough to compete in these comps.<br />They served there purpose when rebuilding but not now. I am not saying I am to big or good for the game as that is certainly not the case, it is just not the right event for me to play.<br />As most main event and side events are freeze out,s now, surely that is what I should be playing.<br />Also the amount of comps I play a week is too many it averages 3 at the mo.<br />We researched the net and come up with a couple of freeze outs in Leeds, two a month costing £100.00 & £200.00.<br />Dusk to dawn hold there monthly 123 weekend which is not too far to travel. <br />Newcastle hold a £50.00 freeze out on a Saturday.<br />Stockport hold a twice weekly £50.00 re buy which attracts a large number and a good pot. They also hold a monthly £250.00 re buy which consistently takes 40k.<br /><br />I was reminded by my Friend of the goals we set which consisted of travelling to better comps rather than local all the time.<br />I have kept a record of every comp I have played and looking back I can see when I would think nothing of travelling down to Leeds, Sheffield Manchester and even every couple of months London.<br />But apart from Stockport or Festivals I have not travelled out of the north east at all now it is apparent to me things have to change.<br /><br />I will not be missimg from Teeside at all. I will still play the occasional comp as I cant travel all the time just less that,s all.<br /><br />The change will not happen overnight it will happen gradually probably into next year.<br />I will always support my local casino but I just have to change my schedule and as targets have been set it is the right decision.<br /><br />The man hours I use per week on poker, sports betting trading cash games etc has got to decrease.<br /><br />Trading has become obvious to me that is one area where a Increase in hours is going to be of benefit. <br />I fitted in last week 10 hours and returned £425.00 so if anything this will increase as time allows.<br /><br />So with a breath of confidence Blackpool was a positive experience. We may of lost financially but I/WE have identified problems and found solutions.<br />When I previously said I had not lost the hunger I think that was not correct, the hunger has returned, the cobwebs dusted away and a new outlook has dawned.<br /><br />I think in poker every player should have someone they can bounce ideas off, talk hands and situation,s through. I know locally I talk a lot with Howie Dave and john it certainly helps.<br />Also you should be able to self analyze, find faults and be honest with yourself and correct them.<br /><br />I went to Blackpool confident in my own ability but did not see the other factors that were affecting my game.<br /><br />However to put things in perspective our bankroll has grown so more fine tuning than major surgery. <br /><br />SO now over to our bankroll.<br /><br />Previous balance £16,268.00<br /><br />Blackpool costs £1510.00 (INCLUDING COSTS)<br /><br />Trading + £625.00<br /><br />Previous comps and sports -£360.00<br /><br />Balance now £15,023.00<br /><br />Now to our weekly feature the <br /><br />"Star in a reasonable priced blog". <br /><br />2ND of five.<br /><br />Many people have tried to 2nd guess the star in the reasonable priced blog but no one came up with Keith "the camel" Hawkins.<br /><br />Keith lives in Middleton Tyas near to scotch corner and as far as I am concerned that is in the north east <br /><br />Keith would probably admit he is not as well known in the north east as some, as he prefers the lure of the net rather than the local comps.<br />But what is not in doubt is Keith's natural ability in large national comps. <br /><br />Keith has been playing poker as early as 1999, winning his first comp in 2000 in Southampton and from there has the best record of any north east player. <br /><br />Keith sits proudly at number 38Th in the UK;s all time money list highest of all north east players and one of only three from the north east in the top 100.<br /><br />When looking at Keith,s record what stands out is his consistency year in year out. Final after Final which shows Keith's ability for the game.<br />He has had more wsop cashes than any north east player and recently finished 75th in this years main event at the wsop a fantastic performance.<br /><br />One little known fact is Keith went to school with Neil Channing. You can picture the scene now come on Keith lets play poker for dinner money!<br /><br />There is no doubt Keith will go from strength to strength and continue his high placed finishes through out his career.<br /><br />Most recently Keith finished 3rd in the Tees side gala festival,s main event.<br /><br />Keith is at the standard all north east players must hope to attain. Top of the tree in all departments, number of cashes, most money won, highest ranked, the list is endless.<br /><br />Quite out of character Keith was in Tee side gala less than 12 hours before this blog was published, maybe just maybe he had got wind of this publicity and thought he would attend for a autograph session.<br /><br />So here we have it Keith "the camel Hawkins " joining Steven " lucky " Lui in our <br />"star in a reasonable priced blog".<br /><br />So tune in next week to find out who will make a appearance in our top five north east players,<br />and<br />find out if me going back to basics produces results<br /><br />*************************************************************************************<br />This bit of info certainly does not belong at the bottom of this blog really it should be at the top.<br />Congratulations go to Tom Middleton a regular in Newcastle who secured a £20,000.00 pay day in the £500.00 event at Blackpool.<br />Tom dominated a high class feild to record hid highest live cash of his career.<br />The only down side to this is Tom spoilt a future feature of mine called<br /> "one,s to watch"<br />However I did pick out Tom as one to watch on a post on the Newcastle poker forum a few months ago so don,t feel to bad.<br /><br />Congratulations Tom on a fantastic result the 3rd highest in the north east in 2008 so far.<br />Well done<br /><br /><br /><br />until nest week l8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-16958735908558280442008-11-15T08:19:00.000-08:002008-11-18T06:59:26.108-08:00Blackpool donkey (part 1)Blackpool last year I came second & won 56.5k in the main event my largest live cash & 2ND largest cash i have made. This year I had more chance winning the x factor than cashing in Blackpool.<br /><br /><br />£300.00 FREEZE OUT.<br /><br />Determined not to sit and grind as I think I have been doing too much of that lately I decided to play a bit more aggressively and try & amass some chips early on. Looking up some early flops with marginal hands was the strategy but unluckily I never seemed to connect with any flops.<br />Forced to tighten up when %50 of my starting stack disappeared I then called a all in with ak versus 99. The 99 held up which crippled me leaving me with 1025 in chips.<br />Obviously with the blinds of 300/600 they were going to be in the mix sooner rather than later.<br /><br />Enter the monster hand of 9 3 (HEY SUITED)<br />The hand played like this.<br />First position raises to 2200, then a re raise to 5000, a all in for 4100, me to act "VALUE ALL IN".<br />Ali Mallu behind me announces all in for 15k and is instantly called by the re raiser.<br />On there backs...<br /><br />ACES FOR ALI<br /><br />KINGS,<br /><br />ACE KING &POCKET TENS COMPLETE THE HANDS ALONG WITH MY MONSTER HOLDING OF 9 3!<br /><br />First card out a ACE trips for Ali, followed by a 4 and eight, shit!<br /><br />Turn a five, hey i see a out here!" come on the little duck"<br /><br />River...<br />a nice little duck quack quack, giving me the bottom straight, bizarre but very welcome.<br /><br />This happened about 3 hours into the comp. My luck had returned.<br />I continued to build ever so slowly cutting through the Field of 200+ players I managed to survive down to the last hour of play,holding approx 14k in chips and a average of 22k ish. <br />With approx 60 players remaining my thought process was to survive the last hour, try and increase my stack if possible but survive day 1 and see what tomorrow brings.<br /><br />Me in the big blind holding 9 7 first position limps the proverbial Blackpool rock and two other callers compete to see the flop.<br /><br />Flop came 9 7 5 me two pair.<br />Now I push all in hoping to get a call from the limper with her over pair to the board and she duly obliges flipping her pocket ACES.<br />The turn<br />A five giving Mrs Rock a higher two pair.<br />Exit me.<br /><br />To summarise I got very lucky to survive , played very well to survive and the luck evened out to send me crashing out.<br />Over all I am pleased that I played well to at least give myself a chance.<br /><br /><br />£500.00 FREEZE OUT.<br /><br />Arriving a hour late after a 2 hour chat with my mentor (more about that in part two),I exited quite early in bizarre fashion.<br />Moving from my original table I was moved to what I thought was going to be a good table. Ewan Jones Tom Middleton Farook and a couple of others I know felt I could certainly make progress here, & patience was the best strategy.<br />A player 2ND to my left went on a run where he hit everything and was certainly playing the rush, he also got well paid of some good hands also increasing his stack to well over 40k with a average of 14k.<br /><br />When he limped on my big blind(he is 2Nd to act) his eyes followed every players action round the table indicating his hand was very strong I hoped for a nice hand like aces or 7 2 nothing in between.<br />The small blind makes it up and I look at my cards pocket nines.<br />Now THERE IS NO WAY i am raising here as I am sure Mr Rush probably has a over pair.<br />Flop 9 8 3 two clubs<br /><br />I check Mr Rush bets 800 and the small blind raises to 2000.<br />I instant push all in and Mr Rush instant calls.<br />The small blind dwells then passes announcing he had two pair.<br /><br />Mr Rush proudly turns his pair of queens as I reveal my top set.<br /><br />Turn a QUEEN goodnight Vienna.<br /><br />To summarise "what can you do"<br /><br />I alsom played two super sats for the main event going deep in both. The second one hurt a bit when my AK lost to KJ!!<br /><br />I played a one table satellite getting heads up with pocket kings versus pocket tens, a ten on the river.<br /><br />That was it.<br /><br />Back to the hotel,packed and left town on the nearest donkey, Blackpool was over for me this year.<br /><br />A few people have asked me why i have not played the main event at Blackpool this year & after reading the above maybe they will understand why.<br />What happened last year really has no bearing on this year. I am out of form and luck so really it was not the right decision.<br />I will also add to massive outdraws to the occasion in super sat,s for the main event so I knew it just was,not my week.<br /><br />However a POSITIVE result at Blackpool which will be explained in full in part two<br />l8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-46376792821159417602008-11-08T11:42:00.000-08:002008-11-09T16:47:34.531-08:00After the lord mayors showWell, where do I begin.<br /><br />POKER nightmare.<br /><br />Sports nightmare.<br /><br />I played 3 comps at local level this week and never got close once.There are no specific hands or situations to talk about not even 75/25 positions just loads of hands like 48 off suit. This week poker wise has been a non entity. I have been through lean spells before but this one seems to be lasting longer than the norm, all I can say is roll on 2009.<br />In poker it is certainly a confidence game and mine is low at the moment I just can,t seem to get into a winning position, however as most of you who know me will vouch that I am a very analytical person and apart from maybe playing a bit tighter I don;t think I am playing that bad, my reads are proving correct most of the time and I am pretty sure that I have not turned into a bad player over night.<br /><br />However to put things in perspective I was asked this week " how,s yer luck "terrible I replied I have won or shared only 3 comps in the last month or so"<br /><br />"bloody hell came the reply I haven't made a final for 7 weeks"<br /><br />Maybe my expectations are set higher than others.<br /><br />Looking back over my records (i have kept a record of every comp I have ever played)<br />what is apparent is the lack of breaks I have given myself.<br />This year for example I have had 2 weeks off from poker which is not nearly enough maybe time to rethink I thinks.<br />However before any break can be planned in it is of to Blackpool on Monday. All week I have been thinking weather to play the main event it's a daddy or chips,daddy or chips quandary.<br />Financially it is affordable for myself but it is not the money issue it is the expected value return.<br />I am not on top of my game at the mo so really need to justify my chances before deciding.<br />What happened last year when I finished 2ND has no bearing or influence on my decision and rightly so.<br />So I am going to play the Monday £300.00 freeze out & Tues £500.00 freeze out before I make any decision. It will not be made on a where I finish in these events but on how I am playing simple as that.<br /><br /><br />Football went just as well as poker this week. By Thurs we had had 7 bets and only two winners.All the research and effort had been done 7 man hours through the week but the footie gods just were not on our side.<br />Out of desperation I back Leeds on Friday at 4/7 just to restore a bit of confidence in readiness for Saturday and they drew 1-1!.<br />I said to others that if Leeds do not win this I will not have a bet on Saturday so when Saturday came I did not bother.<br />I had already done research for Saturdays games and if I had a bet I would of got us back on track, but hey ho lets go.<br /><br />The only positive this week was trading activities which produced a profit of £220.00for 5 hours work. Maybe just maybe this is where the future lies. <br /><br />unfortunately I have run out of time so going to end this blog here. I am defo back on Wednesday where i will post a financial update and carry on our northeast players malaki<br />The next one will surprise you all tho.<br />until wed<br />tygoldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-77439928773575741672008-11-01T14:12:00.000-07:002008-11-02T16:20:24.280-08:00Seven out of eightPOKER.<br /><br />Well after the buzz of the Gala Teeside festival it was back to some sort of normality, whatever normality is.<br />First pleasing point of the week was the numbers at Teeside last Monday. As mentioned in a previous blog the numbers have struggled of late for the £20.00 re buy. First prize has struggled to reach over a grand most Mondays but last Monday it was £1300.00 to the winner. Over 40 runners so looks like Mondays could be back on the agenda.<br />Last week I played Tuesday, Thursday & Friday.<br /><br />Tuesday's £50.00 freeze out was a complete struggle. One of those nights when nothing goes right and every half decent hand is hammerred by better hands. The only pleasing thing to come from Tuesday was with 40 runners left I had no chips but managed to battle down to the last two tables until my luck ran out or was it my constant "all in,s" that annoyed my opponents so much that one called with pocket aces, the worse thing about it was he did not even think, sheesh! <br />FINANCIAL COST £55.00.<br /><br />Thursdays comp again was a night of two half's. Sometimes when you have a bad night at the office you arrive next time more determined to put the wrongs right. After a quiet re buy period I managed to maneuver me way to the final and arrive there in a average chip position.<br />A couple of good hands which were paid of resulted in a chance of a top prize which has been sorely missed of late.<br />Enter pocket kings.<br />With blinds of 3000/6000 & me finding KK I raise to 21,3000 everyone folds. Two hands later I wake up to pocket kings again and raise it up to 21,400 a 100 more than last time, why? well to be honest I don,t no.<br />Anyway the big blind announces all in,I call he flips AK, the flop AA2, well that's me drawing dead then!<br />Exited in 5Th place for £170.00 & a profit of £120.00.<br /><br />Fridays again was a struggle never got going until there were about 40 runners left then managed a treble up to put me above average. Then enter the 75/25's again. My pocket queens sending me to the rails when 45 suited hit trips on the flop, ah well that's poker?<br />Financial cost £40.00.<br />So overall poker profit for the week £25.00<br /><br />CASH GAMES.<br /><br />Only played in Tue,s hold em game at Teeside. Sticking to the 2/3 hour maximum time rule I left wining £165.00<br /><br />Trading.<br />Spent a total 11 of hours throughout the week which returned a nice profit of £210.00<br /><br />SPORTS/FOOTBALL.<br /><br />Bit of success this week with 7 out of 8 which equates to approx 83%, which is on par with any top tipster.<br /><br />NEWCASTLE v w brom won profit £176.00<br />BAYERN MUNICH v frankfurt won profit £142.00<br />bolton v EVERTON won £194.00<br />HOFFENHEIM v karlsruhe won profit £136.00<br />MONTROSE V stenhousemuir LOST -£250.00<br />EVERTON v fulham won profit £97.00<br />LILLE v nantes won profit £85.00<br />GIJON v numancia won profit £141.00<br /><br />Funny old game football Montrose were my biggest fancy of the weekend so placed approx 5% of our bankroll on this match and it was the only one which lost. However did pass this one on to a mackem maybe he put the mockers on it.<br /><br />Did have a large punt on n/cle with me own pennies so 4 out of 5 this year for me so far.<br />Already started me research for next week champion,s league but struggling to find any value at the moment.<br /><br />So over to our bankroll which stood at £15,147.00 last week<br /><br />POKER + £25.00<br /><br />CASH GAMES + £165.00<br /><br />TRADING + £210.00<br /><br />SPORTS + £721.00<br /><br />So overall a successful week with a profit of £1121.00.<br /><br />This brings our bankroll up to £16,268.00<br /><br />So this coming week 1% of our bankroll is worth £62,00, 2% £124.00 etc.<br /><br />Now to a feature weeks which is to look at the careers of some of the top players in the north east and first to have the honour is...<br /><br />Stephen Liu.<br /><br />Stephen is without doubt and without fear of contradiction the best tournament player to grace the felt in the north east in my humble opinion.<br />When I first started out in this game Stephen was one of the players I constantly watched and harassed for advice, why because it was obvious to all he was a winning player.<br />I never had the opportunity to see Steven play 7 card stud but from all accounts he was practically unbeatable.<br />The fact that he was able to transfer his skills to hold em shows the talent this man has. For all those who have maybe just come into the game you may now not see the best of him as there are know competitions locally that tempt him regularly.<br />Steven burst on the national poker scene in the year 2000 when he won what was then the unofficial European championships in Amsterdam. The same festival he also finished 4Th in the seven card stud event.Two years later he finished 4Th in the omaha main event.<br />A little known fact is that Steven played in the first series of late night poker at the time it was really a closed shop ran by those down south but Steve was held in such high regard.<br />Maybe one side of Steve that is not shown so much is his willingness to help other players especially those new to poker. Throughout my early years in the game he was a great help and inspiration and I have no doubt I would not be the player I am without his help.<br />Those players who maybe came into the game after the boom in Newcastle may not have seen his success at local level, but when the old Stanley held there weekly £50.00 re buys and monthly £100.00 re buys he was the man to beat. I reckon he took more out of them games than any other player.<br />The one down side to Steve is his unwilling less to travel nationally. His poker data base is like stop start or here and there.<br />Steve showed his ability was not just live play as he adapted to Internet poker winning the poker million on stars then the following week coming second.<br />Steve is one of only a few north east players who have cashed at the wsop when in 2005 he finished 6Th in the $5000.00 pot limit event, one of only two players from the north east to make a wsop final table<br />His poker data base shows a career record of over $340.000 in winnings which coupled with his annual wages from the north east makes him my number 1 north east player.<br /><br />Until next week<br />all comments welcome<br />l8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-40370661952263146522008-10-28T07:48:00.000-07:002008-10-29T17:40:42.953-07:00My sons called jason (part two)Well day two soon came round and I found my 46k was in the top twenty of chips.Forty seven players remained to fight it out for the title of Teeside champ. My mates Howey, Dave maudlin & John Bowsfield had all made day two so loads of freindly banter and hopefully one of us could come good.<br />Only one local on my table just the way I like it as it makes you concentrate more when you are trying to gather info.<br />With blinds of 1000/2000 and a running anti of 500 felt confident and comfortable enter hand 3 of the day.!<br /><br />My big blind and the button raise to 5.5k small blind in the hand.<br />I look at my cards ace queen suited. Now I am 99% certain I am ahead so ask how much have u got left.<br />33.2 he say's<br />ok I reply I am all in, he instantly calls and flips over KING QUEEN OFF SUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />WTF<br /><br />I turn over me ace queen the dealer deals the killer king.<br /><br />Now I pride myself of never moaning at out draws but this is so bad play on his behalf.I ask him if he thought he was ahead and to anger me even more he said no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />So you sit for 9 hours to put your self into contention then attempt to commit poker suicide i say crazy call.<br /><br />I went for a walk after my small blind and button needed to try and turn this round.<br /><br />When I got back the table was soon split.<br /><br />My chip stack ended up in the middle with me holding AK versus pocket jacks. No ace or king exit one unhappy chappy<br /><br />Now anyone who would of done the same play as Mr kq go and sit on the naughty stair. <br /><br /><br />So overall I think I played to the best of my ability. One minor cash and the disappointment of the main event. Players say to win a comp you have to win your 50/50's so hopefully once I win my 75/25% i should come good.<br /><br />Howie went on to cash and was so unlucky to get his aces cracked by pocket jacks, horrible game at times.<br /><br />So the overall cost of teeside £890.00 & a return of £370.00 = a total spend of £520.00.<br /><br />Football.<br /><br />I have decided to change the way the bets are used in our bankroll. Most weeks I can have about 10 - 20 bets per week. The ammount wager differs depending on odds, value etc. So to minimize the ammount posted on the blog about football I am only going to use the major bets (i.e) the ones where I am doing a full research and are confident that they will move our bankroll f/ward. So most weeks there will be only upto 5 bets ,and some weeks even less. Any other bets I will keep separate. Guess you can call them me naps.<br />As a example last night I was on Newcastle v W Brom.<br />Tonight I am on Bayern Munich for the bankroll, I have also got on Everton but this is not from the bank roll.<br />After a long discussion with my mentor on Football betting & bankroll management I have decided to wager upto 10% of our bankroll profit on our bets. So as a example we started with 10k we now have 13k our bet on bayern munich tonight would be upto 10% of our 3k profit = £300.00.<br />This will allow us to hopefully grow the bankroll on a slower but more successful formula. It certainly is the right way to grow a bankroll and maybe will teach people the correct discipline required.<br />I will continue to post my selections on facebook comments page but do not take em as tips.<br /><br />As a footnote the % wagered for tonight on Bayern Munich is 5% of our profit.<br /><br />Trading.<br /><br />I have been able to put in a few hours trading recently which has proved rewarding.<br />For a total of 12 hours i have returned £450.00 .<br /><br />Now our bankroll position.<br /><br />PREVIOUS BALANCE. £14,077.00<br /><br />POKER PROFIT £710.00<br /><br />CASH GAMES £360.00<br /><br />SPORTS Zero no bets placed<br /><br /><br />BALANCE £15,147.00.<br /><br />So our bankroll has grew in 11 weeks by £5147.00 which is a lot quicker than I anticipated.<br />However with only 2 festivals played Bolton & Teeside we have no expense of note.<br /><br />Blackpool is fast approaching & I have to make a decision of weather to play the main event. I am defo playing the £200 & £300 comps and hope to play a couple of super sats for the main event.<br /><br />Now I am back on track my blog will be done most Sundays or Mondays.<br /><br />If anyone wants to link there blog to mine please feel free the more the merrier i say, just don't ask me to do it as I do not have a clue how to do it.<br /><br />Finally next week I am going to add a feature which will be of interest to poker players esspecially north east players so tune in next week<br /><br />L8<blockquote></blockquote>goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-4576566643582519732008-10-27T12:41:00.000-07:002008-10-28T07:44:22.141-07:00My son;s called jason and was born on the fourth.Well Teeside approached and the Gala poker tour was in town and at my local casino.<br />Last year I finished 4th in the main event and any chance to get near that would be much appreciated.<br /><br />£100 freeze out.<br />Event no1 attracted a sell out 110 runners and as anyone who has played any of the side events on the gala tour would realize that the structure is fast and furious. This was a non event for me. Once my pocket kings got cracked it was down hill all the way and I exited quite quickly.<br />Straight over to the hold em cash game & in less than 2 hours later I turned a £100.00 into £460.00. Wanting to stay fresh a quick bite to eat and a early night think was the best strategy with hopefully a few busy days ahead.<br /><br />£200.00 freezeout.<br /><br />Started this event quite well. Doubled up in the 2nd level with aces v queens on a ten high board. Armed with chips it was quite easy to bully and manouver through the numbers towards the final 25. They say in marathons you hit the preverbial wall at about 18 - 20 miles, well for me it seems in poker my wall is at about 18 runners. From sitting at about average and down to tables I could just not get a playable hand<br /><br /><br />I swear if 8 3 were aces I would be retired and living in luxury with £10.00 tourny players tending the grounds and fanning me with palm leaves when it gets a bit to hot.<br />I managed to survive down to 15 players when in the small blind i flat called with 4 5 hitting the bottom straight and getting a much needed double up from a guy who missed his flush and top straight draw.Still low I progressed to 11th place before exiting when my 9 10 all in got called by king ten. The person holding k 10 had just doubled up in the previous hand and it is a good move to make if he is on the big blind as i think he feels like "i,ve just got these chips don,t want to give em back". However not in this case. The comp paid thirteen prizes so collected £370.00 for my efforts.<br />I did have %10 of the eventuall winner but will keep that seperate from our bankroll.<br />Over all was pleased the way I played, but have to get over this wall malaki. Not quite sure why it has happening so frequently this year. I have never played just to cash in a comp I feel even at 20 places out I am always trying to win the damm thing so don,t think that is the case, maybe it is just the poker gods having fun?<br /><br />THE MAIN EVENT.<br /><br />Made the delibarate decision to play the Saturday rather than the Friday as a day of rest in between comps would only do better than good.<br />Nice and refreshed I sat at my table and found a few locals Richard Baker Sunderlands Mr angry among others.<br />I accually sat down 5 mins late once i knew Mr angry was at my table as I wanted to see his reaction when i seated.<br />Got the perfect reaction "oh no i cant win a 50/50 against you"<br />Cheers m8 I know who,s big blind I will be knicking if I need to. <br />As it happens there were no major clashes between us but not for the want of trying on my behalf.<br />Early doors i played very tight. I lost a couple of races and a few moves did not come off. I had played me chip stack to about 6500 from a starting stack of 10,000 but was not unduely worried.<br />Steven Lui got moved to the table and i played my pocket jj's to perfection which along with a few other hands got me upto 11k.<br />Then the following hand occurred.<br />Blind v blind me be the small blind and holding ace 5 of hearts i flat called the big blind did not raise.<br />The flop 3 3 king two hearts, i bet out 900 and the player done the old hollywood act which let me know that he indeed had a 3, as did every one else on the table.<br />After his oscar winning performance he eventually called.<br />The turn a magic heart great the only danger was to avoid the full house.#<br />I checked he bet i just flat called.<br />The river had no bearing to my hand i just had to hope he had not hit a house, i checked he bet 3k. I had 2900 left if i called and lost the hand. Obviously i just called he had a three and no house phew.<br />I think this was the best option here, i knew if i pushed all in on the river he would call but did not want to put my tourney life on the line.<br />Any way 2900 chips would have bought the contingency plan in to action mmmmmmm mr angrys blinds<br /><br />Now comftable in chips & slightly above average i could afford to sit back and enjoy the show<br />And what a show.<br />This is the hand that i witnessed on my table.<br />Mister trip three,s the went on a roll. Hand after hand kings v queens etc he is now sitting with 45k.<br />A smashing guy but you know the type any two cards.Anyway a bit of bad feeling develops between him and Richard after he stays in with bottom pair a four i think hits his two pair on the river and takes a few chips of richard.<br />Now richard does not take this likely and soon as it is mr trips big blind he raises, everyone passes richard asks mr chips u gunna call this time with crap.<br />Mr trips replys well i have the chips why not, he calls<br />Flop 6J6<br />Mr trips bets 1k and richard raises to 2k, mr trips reraises to 4k and richard exclaims i am sick of this i am all in.<br />Mr trips announces call.<br />On there backs...<br />QQ for mr tripps and...<br /><br />QUAD SIXES FOR RICHARD<br /><br />Turn a QUEEN, river...<br /><br />A BIG FAT JUICY QEEEN.<br />WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />What a way to go out.<br /><br />Told the dealer he was a very lucky guy. When he asked why i replied if that had happened to Mr angry you would of been thirty foot from here with a poker table embedded in your head. Mr angry would of been in Durham getting outdrawn off the jails Mr lucky bastard and having to bend over for another forfit.!!!<br /><br />Not long after that hand I moved tables and now holding 21k in chips well above the average.<br />My first hand I wake up and see pocket queens. With blinds of 300/600 I make it 2600 to go, the big blind thinks then calls.Flop q j 8 rainbow, blind checks and I decide to continue bet 2600 to disquise my hand. Also the board is good for my hand but a bit dangerous as any card above a 9 to fill in the gaps would put me in a situation where I would not be sure where I am.<br />The big blind called, the turn came a 9, so now the board shows qj89, this is geting scary. The big blind checks and I put in 4200 into the ever growing pot. The big blind announces "all in" 10.4 k more!. Now once analysing his possible holdings the only cards that he could have were 10 k which would give him a straight. Having had ni info on the guy I just had to hope that he had not called a raise with k 10 suited.<br />After a long think I guessed he had flopped a set of jacks or 8,s and I was ahead.<br />I called he flipped over trip 9,s, he had stayed in the pot for a middle pin 10 but ended up with trips on the turn. River a blank so now my stack had grown to over double the chip average.<br />The table was very aggressive and it was so hard to gather any chips a combination of no decent hands and two chipped up young ones trying to beat up each other.<br />Eventually my 40+ k dwindelled to 20 as the table split.<br />Now into the last hour of play I desperatly needed a double up quick.Enter the monster hand of J4.<br />As most of you know MY SON IS CALLED JASON AND WAS BORN ON THE 4TH. So j4 has become a novelty hand for me. It is fantastic in a £10.00 rebuy when you have no chips J4 i,m all in baby.<br />However this was no £10.00 rebuy comp and was not a hand I was gunna use to double up.<br />The hand played like this.Button flat called, James keys in the small blind made it up me with J4 in the big blind checked.<br />Flop ace 7 4<br />ALL check<br />Turn JACK hey ho 2 pair<br />I bet out 5k and the button puts me all in,small blind scarpers i call on there backs, he turns over two pair ace 7.<br />The dealer is just about to deal the river when i stop him and tell my opponent he is beat.My son is called jason he was born on the fourth this is my favourite hand and it never lets me down. He looked at me as if I was completly bonkers but turned a whiter shade of pale when the dealer turned a FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />wELL DONE MY SON.<br /><br />I finished day one with a above average 46k<br /><br />NOW GOING TO PUBLISH THIS POST IN TWO PARTS AS IT IS A BIT LONG WINDED, SO LOOK OUT FOR PART TWO.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-2756386948048628432008-10-21T15:54:00.000-07:002008-10-21T16:41:17.904-07:00Yorkshire PuddingPoker<br />Well first of all sorry for the delay I have had so much going on I have had to let slip the blog. I have had so much on that even poker has had to take a back seat.<br />Since my last blog I have only played 3 comps 1 early exit, 1 12th place and one equal split. The equal split earned me £900.00 which was in last Fridays comp at Teesside.<br /><br />Earlier in the day I had a long discussion with my friend over how I think my game had changed. I had mentioned this in an earlier blog that I had lost the hunger a bit. So throughout the discussion it was reminded to me about what the smaller comps mean. They pay the costs of travel and entry fees into larger events and help with the expense.<br /><br />I made the comment in the conversation to go back to what I think is my strengths. Chip building and being in the situation where my opponents were not sure where they were in most hands.<br />I have had the ability to play the player which is a large part of my game but I think this has been put to the background through out the summer as I played the cards, trying to grind out a win.<br />So it was b to b, Back to Basics. No re buys or top ups & to be honest always in a good position chip wise. Result £890.00 profit.<br /><br />On Sunday I travelled down to Huddersfield for a £50.00 re buy. This was the first £50.00 re buy at a brand new casino. Looking at the numbers for the comps mid week it was hopefully going to be a well attended event. With a catchment area of Yorkshire, Manchester etc it certainly had potential.<br />Result 20 players, smashing!<br />Ah well lets make it a £100.00 f/out I suggested which was eagerly agreed by all. Three prizes of £1000 £600 & £400.<br />Five hours later and 5 players left and me lowest chips someone who had travelled further than me suggested an even split of £400 each, all agreed.<br />I snapped there hand off. Got on me horse and galloped back to Teesside as quick as old Trigger would gallop.<br /><br />Huddersfield neigh lad!<br /><br />I do apologize for this blog being short and sweet but time is of the essence.<br />So I am going to end it there and do a full financial update this coming Friday the 22nd. <br />Finally this week is Teesside gala festival week. Last years winner Colin Pearson will be doing his damdest to defend his crown while 139 hopefuls will be doing the best to win it.<br />So next Sundays/Mondays blog will be all about Teesside. Hopefully some interesting hands will come up that I can discuss. I will have my eyes and ears open for any strange and funny situations that may arise, so be on yer best behaviour or you may find yourself on here.<br />Until Friday L8goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-76030526573726605172008-10-06T13:00:00.000-07:002008-10-07T11:18:07.717-07:00Bloody Partck.POKER.
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<br />Well after recovering from jet lag I ventured down to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Teeside</span> on Tuesday for the weekly £50.00 freeze out.
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<br />Arriving slightly later than planned I was pleasantly surprised to see 50 odd runners.
<br />Sitting down at my table there were quite a few decent stacks so really had my work cut out.
<br />A hand came up that got me a good triple up, holding A 10 clubs I called a raise along with 2 other players. A nine high flop with 2 clubs & me first to act I checked to the raiser who came out betting. The 2 other players both called which generated an instant all in for me for a few chips more than the initial raise. An ace on the turn secured the pot outdrawing the pocket queens held by the original raiser. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Goldenballs</span> strikes again.
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<br />I finished the double chance period with 11k in chips with an average of 7k so not to bad of a position.
<br />A few people who read this blog told me I have to put this hand/ situation into the blog, so not wanting to disappoint here goes.
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<br />As regulars at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Teeside</span> all know our weekly comps are all self dealt. With the dealer being knocked out on the previous hand a volunteer offered to deal once the blinds had passed through the dealers spot. I offered to deal as I was in the blind. With blinds of 1<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">oo</span>/200 first position raises to 800. He gets two callers and it comes round to me to act. I look at my cards & stare down at two wonderful black aces, lovely <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">jubbly</span>. I raise it up to 1900 not wanting to price the original raiser out, he instant calls. One of the original callers goes all in for a few more.
<br />The other caller calls so now I make it up, a nice healthy pot here now.
<br />A flop of 774 rainbow & me first to act. I come out betting 2500 and the original raiser re raises to 5k, the other players pushes his remaining 1200 into the middle. Now I am all in. The original raiser calls on there backs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">qq</span> for my opponent. Result <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">scooooop</span>, not bad for my first dealt hand!!!!!!!!!!!1
<br />Another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">goldenballs</span> moment!!!
<br />Any one fancy a heads up match, I will deal!!!!!!!!
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<br />To keep things short, I made the final without too many problems and soon found myself in a 3 way battle. After an hour of three handed play we lost one which put me in a heads up situation against young Martin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Turnbull</span>. I was looking forward to this as I really admire Martins game and felt it would be a good challenge. Unfortunately it was all over in 3 hands. Martins full house walking into my Quad sixes. Martin was unlucky a hand he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">defo</span> could not get away from.
<br />So a nice outright win of £900.00 which after the entry fee results in £845.00 profit. Maybe that week away in hurricane alley was more beneficial than I realized. This is my 3rd consecutive final so on this form maybe a place in Neil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Channings</span> hit squad could be on the cards?
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<br />Friday played the £10.00 re buy. Total spend £80.00. Not much of interest here, called an “all in” holding 7-7 really hoping to be in a 50/50 spot here but was way behind, my opponent holding of pocket tens. This did not take me out but left me in bad shape. Struggled on finally exiting in about 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">th</span> place.
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<br /><strong>Cash games.</strong>
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<br /></strong>Played a little hold game at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Teesside</span> on Friday no winnings here dropping £180.00 in 2 hours. The 2 major hands <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">AQ</span> twice and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">qq</span> all walked into bigger hands. Sticking to my 3am rule exited, kicked the cat and headed home.
<br />In summary Friday was a bad day at the office. However I can’t complain as it is my first losing session since the bankroll started.
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<br />Sports/Football betting.</strong>
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<br /></strong>This week had a very good run starting Tues. I also had my eye on a football bet on Saturday which was going to be my first football bet off my own money this season & only my 3rd bet of the year. For sports betting purposes the year starts on the opening day of the football season.
<br />Our first bet was on
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<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">VILLAREAL</span> v Celtic £200.00 at 1.48 won profit £96.00
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<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Shaktarr</span> v BARCELONA £200.00 at 1.82 won profit £164.00
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<br />Wednesday.
<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">ATLETICO</span> MADRID v <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Marseille</span> £200.00 at 1.74 won profit £148.00
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<br />Thursday
<br />F.C Zurich v A.C MILAN £100.00 at 1.89 won profit £89.00
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<br />So after the midweek games we were showing a profit of £497.00 going into the weekend just in time for my great bet the first of the season.
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<br />Just before I post the bet details let me lead you up to the situation. The bet in question was to back <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Partick</span> at home to Dundee. I had my eye on this fixture for 2 weeks. Dundee who are the Scottish version of Newcastle, a club in crisis. Fans up in arms, boardroom and manager problems and to further add value to our bet Dundee had an injury list as long as a horse’s tail.
<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Partick</span> the team who took Rangers into extra time had scored an average of 3 goals per game, unbeaten in there last 3 games. Then the odds <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Partick</span> 11/8 to win fantastic value.
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<br />Then on Friday two of the betting forums I visit picked this bet as the value bet of the day!!!
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<br />So £300.00 of our bankroll on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Partick</span>
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<br /><strong>RESULT <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">PARTICK</span> 0 DUNDEE 0.</strong>
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<br />No return <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">nada</span>, zilch nothing.
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<br />A £100.00 on Reading at least gives us some comfort as they ran out comfy 4-0 winners and returned us £61.00 profit.
<br />It is worth noting that I also had a large <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">lumper</span> of me own pennies on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Partick</span>, partly financed by a buy money bet on Friday AK <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Alkmaar</span> , but still a backwards step.
<br />I did mention <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Partick</span> to a few people so if you placed a bet on my advice YOU ARE STUPID as warned in a previous blog.
<br />No bets on Sunday so are bankroll finishes as below
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<br />Previous balance. £13,219.00
<br />Poker profit. +£780.00
<br />Cash games.-£<strong>180.00</strong>
<br />Betting +£258.00
<br />BANKROLL BALANCE £14,077.00.
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<br />Last week I asked for some response from you to a purpose of the bankroll. A few replies favouring taking whatever profit the bankroll is to the World Series next year but need more replies.
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<br />On a brighter note would like to take this opportunity to tell you all some happy news. Me Howie & Michelle are going to have a baby.
<br />Seriously though I am sure you will all join me and wish the happy couple all the best.
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<br />Either next week or the week after I am going to bring a new feature to this blog which will be of interest to all poker players from the North East.
<br />As a footnote I have spent the best part of the week trying to add a hit counter to this blog to no avail. So to all whom I have harassed sorry. I now have Harry Potter on the case though
<br />Later
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<br />As a footnote thanks to Brett & Adam for the help with all things <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">computering</span>.
<br />goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-68831442608146178752008-10-01T06:46:00.000-07:002008-11-02T16:22:26.766-08:00Free bet part 2 (blog no 6)Well after a week away in the sun and rain thought i would do a quick update to bring our blog <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">uo</span> to date and explain the title "Free bet"<br /><br /><br />I placed £900.00 on Chelsea versus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bordauex</span> at 1/3 on ,a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">defo</span> buying money bet<br /><br /><br />Chelsea won easily which gave us a £300.00 profit to play with for the rest of the week.<br /><br /><br /><br />I do not recommend this strategy as it is very risky long term. I got bit with this type of bet last season when Real Madrid failed to win there home game against the bottom team who had not won an away game all season. A 1-1 draw proved hurtful 3k down the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">swanee</span> ouch.<br />Anyway with C <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">helsea</span> providing our bank roll I placed £200.00 on Man <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Utd</span> to beat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Villereal</span> at odds of 1.64. The thinking was Man <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Utd</span> after there loss to Liverpool the previous weekend would come out all guns blazing. I felt the odds were wrong for Man <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Utd</span> so thought it was a good bet. Man <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Utd</span> failed to fire any bullets and a draw killed our bet.<br /><br /><br /><br />The same night I placed the remaining £100.00 on our good friends <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">QPR</span> to beat Southampton at Odds of 1.77 which bared fruition giving us £177.00 going into Thursday.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thursday two bets were placed on British teams in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">EUFA</span> cup. A £100.00 on Portsmouth & £76.00 on Man City. Both were successful which returned a £118.00 profit.<br /><br /><br />Then over to the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">nd</span> best bet of the bankroll so far the first being <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Federer</span> v Murray. £300.0 was placed of our bankroll was deposited on USA to beat Europe in the Ryder cup at odds of 2.64 (11/8).<br /><br /><br /><br />I have done a lot of research into this over many months and was as confident as I have ever been about any sports bet I have placed. I had a lot of info on this match and spent many man hours on golf sites, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">cnn</span> facts and figures absorbing every little snippet.<br /><br /><br />The reason being I had the largest bet on USA to win that I have ever placed in 5 years of sports betting. Sometimes you plan in your head how you think things will turn out and I hoped/wished & dreamed that after the first day the USA would be leading and I would be in a position to lay it off for a guaranteed profit. This is exactly what happened so took the option to take nearly 2k profit rather than let it run especially as I would not be here to watch over the bet.<br />However if I had let it run I would of been nearly 20k better off but my intention was to hopefully be in a good position to trade. Obviously our separate bankroll bet of £200.00 ran its course and returned a £402.00 profit for us.<br />Before I jetted of into the sun and rain I left a £200.00 bet on Spurs v <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Wigan</span> which was a losing bet.<br />So overall our sports betting returned a £796.00 profit for the week. A nice wage all earned from our “free money” bet on Chelsea.<br /><br /><br /><br />As the bankroll grows hopefully we will soon have to alter the betting amount strategy to fall in with the guide lines set out in successful sports betting strategies which dictates a maximum 5% risk of bankroll on any bet. At the moment we are well within those guide lines but the larger the bankroll the more we have to protect it.<br />The strategy I am soon to use is the one that let me turn £1000.00 into 12k in 2 years when I used it a few years ago but more when that time arrives.<br />I do where possible try to post info on my bets on face book “Paul is...” section but please do not take these as tips surely no one is that foolish!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So to update our bankroll. Our previous balance was £12,322.00<br /><br /><br /><br />POKER PROFIT £95.00<br /><br />BETTING £796.00<br /><br /><br /><br />TOTAL PROFIT £897.00<br /><br /><br /><br />This brings our total bankroll <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">up to</span> £13,219.00.<br /><br />Certainly moving in the right direction,but remember we have had no large entry fee,s for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">tournaments</span> but there are a couple looming on the horizon but we are well placed to afford the costs.<br /><br /><br /><br />I was asked this week "is there any purpose to the bankroll" . To be honest I had never really thought about it so now comes the interactive bit. Please feel free to think about where we want to take this and could we maybe use it as a goal. Using the start of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">next</span> years football season as the end of year one what should our aim be.<br /><br />Some suggestions are get it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">up to</span> 20k and use 5k to enter a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">wpt</span> or similar event. Another is what ever the profit at the start of next years <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">wsop</span> use the profit to enter as many <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">wsop</span> events as the profit allows.<br /><br />So over to you please send your suggestions via the comments feature on this blog site or message me via <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">facebook</span> and we will see what the most popular suggestions are. This will also let me know how many people read this.<br /><br /><br /><br />So we are now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">up to</span> date and back to normality. So find out next <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Monday</span> if a week in the sun & rain has done more harm than good<br /><br />Later<br /><br />p.s thanks for the comments so far they are appreciated.goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-49002999786805716602008-09-17T08:38:00.000-07:002008-11-02T16:21:43.637-08:00Free bets ( blog no 5)I played the £50.00 freeze out on Tuesday at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Teesside</span>. Disappointing turnout this week as only 37 runners. Made the final but with only 7 prizes so 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> place finish for me was odds on! Luckily survived the bubble prize and finished 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> for £120.00 accumulating a £65.00 profit really enjoyed this final, it had plenty of play & to prove this when there was 7 players left it took about a hour to knock one player out. There were no major incidents really to discuss but over all a profit is a profit. I felt maybe I have at last broken the 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> -15<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> spell that has been apparent this year.<br />Friday I played the 10.00 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">rebuy</span> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Teeside</span>. As expected the numbers were down due to the Liverpool leg of the Gala poker tour. This is the first leg i have missed this year due to a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">pre</span> booked holiday. With a total spend of £30.00 and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">reasonable</span> chip stack at the end of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">rebuy</span> and only 50 odd players to get through felt maybe the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">hoodoo</span> was about to be broken.<br />I reached the final just below average chips and what followed was the shortest final I have played. Here are the hands.<br />(1) Dealt 8 3 pass<br />(2) Dealt AK raise no callers.<br />(3) Dealt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">QQ</span> raise then get the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">funniest</span> speech play of someone I have ever heard before<br />“<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Don't</span> think you can raise every hand on here m8 I know you have nowt your just a bully my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Friend</span> was here a couple of weeks ago and he said you raise with shite, I,m all in now what you going to do lets see you call that. I tell him i,m calling and i know your hand. He asks me to name his hand and i reply tens or jacks as i turn over my queens. He sheepishly turns over 10 10. A ten on the flop sends me out. The parting shot was its better to be good than lucky (think he should of reversed that quote). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">LOL</span><br />Taking the Friday night stranger out of the equation I played two comps and made two finals this week so things are heading in the right direction.<br /><br />Thats all I have time for as i am off on our jollies. I wil explain the free bet next week and update our balance<br />Just out of interest tomorrow sunday we have £3oo of our bank roll on usa in the golf at 11/8 and £200 on tottenham v wigan<br />latergoldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-76564293486479700632008-09-13T11:33:00.000-07:002008-11-01T16:25:52.425-07:00Legs Eleventh (BLOG NO4)<div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">-----------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br />Well after a week off after the hectic travelling between Teesside & Bolton felt recovered enough to play the £50.00 freeze out at Teesside on Tuesday. 50 odd runners made the effort to attend this popular weekly comp. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">After a good start I was more than comfortable throughout the comp holding a healthy chip stack as we progressed towards the final table. With 11 players left the following happened. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">A player played a bad hand badly and lost a fair few of his chips, so next hand he raised again with a bad hand which allowed him to collect the blinds & antes. The 3rd hand on the trot he raises again, when it comes to me I see A6 suited and move all me chips in. My chip stack was quite low certainly in the bottom four chip stacks, he instantly called flipped over his pocket jacks. An ace on the flop made a bad move look good but a jack on the turn sealed my fate out in 11TH. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking back over my play in this hand I am of the opinion I played this hand very badly, flat call maybe but all in was a bad move. Not learning from my own criteria regarding players I should have passed.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">By this statement I mean from experience, a player who rises after showing a bluff has a hand especially if it is the hand after the bluff is shown. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">The psychology of the player who has shown a bluff will go into the mind set of ah they think I don’t have a hands next time I raise but going even deeper into the players psyche he will also be thinking I better not bluff in the near future as I may get called.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I know this is all heavy Sigmund Freud stuff but it is the correct decision. So in reflection I should have instantly passed.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">A bubble prize of £50.00 did little to cover the disappointment of my bad play.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wednesday decided to check out the £50.00 re-buy at Stockport that I mentioned in a previous blog. Knowing that the Wednesday was the least well attended of the 3 comps they do, I knew I would have no problem gaining entry which was comforting after the 108 mile drive.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Going through my old phone numbers found a contact that paid me in so knew it was not going to be a wasted journey.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">The comp is held in a casino called casino 36 & all I can say it is fantastic. The decor is like a old style gentleman’s club all wooden panelled walls and a excellent buffet</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">.The comp only attracted 35 players apparently Ramadan is on so a few were missing.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">The 35 players still generated a prize pool of over £6 grand so good value. </span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Again a good start no problems to the end of the re-buy period. I took the option of a top-up as the value was there.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Going deep into the comp the blind structure caught me out a little and with 11 players left I knew I had to make a move soon. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I had already picked 2 players who I was going to push against and when one of my targets raised in first position I re-raised holding pocket 8’s. He sheepishly had to call as he had put to many chips into the pot and turned over the monster hand of A2 off suit. Two aces on the flop sent me out in 11th place again with no reward for the right play but hey that’s poker. I will definitely play again here but probably on a Monday or Friday as the pots are bigger than the normal Wednesday.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">The second Sunday of the month they hold a £250.00 re-buy. Last few months had 39 players & generated a pot of £41,250, defiantly one for the diary.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Starting in October a new casino in Huddersfield opens and they are starting a £50.00 re-buy on a Sunday. I know this will be well attended as Huddersfield has a good catchment area Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester etc. Huddersfield is only 50 miles from Teesside not that far so maybe a good comp on the horizon.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Played Friday’s £10.00 re-buy at Teesside along with the other 90 hopefuls. After a few re-buys (7) I ended up having to add on and top up at the break. Armed with 3000 chips I set about the table with gusto and ended up going out 14th, again low on chips forcing my hand. Now this is getting a bit frustrating these deep finishes but no results.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Talking to some players and friends it’s been pointed out that maybe I am trying too hard to make the final rather than gathering chips as I used to do. I am not sure if this analysis is correct but is something i am going to have to correct. I must admit I felt a bit stale lately especially at Teesside. I am a little disappointed at the prize funds at Teesside and i know that is something that bothers me. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I have a holiday booked next Sunday so a week in the sun may recharge my batteries hopefully. Also the hunger seems to have diminished a tad but I am on the case. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Played Tuesdays dealers choice cash game Tuesdays night for approx 2 hours, walking off with £255.00 profit. Also had a go at the hold‘em cash game on Friday only played a hour and broke even. I did feel tired during that cash game so maybe that holiday can’t come soon enough.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Down to the sports betting and maybe you all missed the best opportunity this year on Monday. Federer was 8/15 on Betfair to beat Murray!!!!!!!!!!!A opportunity not to be missed so i lumped £300 of our bank roll along with a large sum of me own pennies onto Federer, no shock with the result Federer winning 3 sets to zero.<br />Bankroll profit on this bet £162.00#</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I followed this bet up with Russia to beat Wales on Wednesday, again the sum of £300 was invested on Russia winning 2-1. A saving bet developed on Betfair in this game in the 83/84th minute the draw came up as 90-1 so £20 on the draw covered our win bet on Russia if Wales happened to nick a goal which they did not.Profit off this bet £108.00</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Saturday bought our first losing bet with Leicester going down 1-0 at home to Millwall, but a good recovery with Portsmouth beating Middlesbrough and Chelsea just above evens to beat man city. This resulted in a profit of £291.00 off the three sat bets.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I have my eye on QPR at home to Southampton tomorrow the odds are not quite correct (QPR are currently at odds of 4/5 at home to Southampton) just going to do more research before deciding and see the team news tomorrow, as writing this Saturday night. If i do decide to punt on QPR the stake will be £100.00</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Looking at sports betting as a income thought i would give you some insight into my thinking. Firstly what I look for is the wrong odds but not in the sense that some publications on the subject preach.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Most so called experts say as a example if Man Utd were playing Hartlepool and Hartlepool’s odds should be 20-1 but are being offered at 40-1 then you should back Hartlepool as the odds are over generous. Well I don’t agree with this theory all I look for are the wrong odds on a result that i think is going to happen. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">As a example today Middlesbrough v Portsmouth. Portsmouth had got there bad start out of the way after a away win in their last game. Middlesbrough struggled to beat stoke in there last home game and had key players out both in attack and defence. So in my opinion Portsmouth should be priced at maybe 4/7 on but they were 2.12 0n Betfair which equates to 11/10, totally the wrong odds in my opinion so hence the punt. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">The other criteria is the amount of % bankroll you should place on a single bet. The general consensus is never more than 5% on one bet.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">This i agree with but allow myself I little flexibility on this subject, But once the stakes increase this becomes a absolute cast in stone rule.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">With the advancement in betting exchanges more people are becoming sports traders betting and laying which would seem to be the sensible way to go but I prefer betting sports as I enjoy the research and info gathering. As long as it’s done within bankroll criteria and sensible and not on horse racing it is not so difficult.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Betfair trading activity on Thursday & Friday produced a profit of £180.00 for a measly 8 hours work well pleased#</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">.Sunday decide to risk a £100.00 of our bankroll on QPR to beat Southampton. Spent well over a hour researching this match & decided it was worth the punt. Approached this match with a bit of caution regarding the stake as QPR had their top scorer suspended but with odds of on Betfair felt it was worth the risk as in my opinion the odds should of been about 1.45ish. Got in a great position, protecting our £77.00 profit as was able to risk £2.00 & £3.00 on the draw & Southampton which give us a profit no matter what the result. In the end QPR ran out comfortable winners at 4-1, which results in £77.00 profit minus £5.00 totalling £72.00 from the bet.#</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">So looking at our bankroll last week it finished on £1 1,274.00 </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">This week poker comps is a minus £ 120.00 (includes fuel costs)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">sports betting is a plus £ 633.00</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">cash games is a plus £ 255.00</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Betfair activity is a plus £ 180.00</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Total weekly profit of £1048.00 taking our bankroll up to £ 12,322.00.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">To summarise all seems to be running smoothly except poker comps & that’s what I’m supposed to be slightly better than average at!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /><br />As a footnote I bet £10.00 on Kevin Keegan becoming next Newcastle manager at odds of 17-1<br />earlier this week not a bad novelty bet me thinks.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Well that’s all this week thanks for all the comments</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Later<br />-------------------------------------------------------</span> </div>goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040688969342221086.post-29514892788238634972008-08-31T18:15:00.000-07:002008-11-01T15:38:17.409-07:00The best article written on poker ever (BLOG NO 3)<div>This week took the decision to play the early events at Bolton. Mondays event was a £200.00 freeze out. The event attracted 150 runners so there was no doubt it was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">gunna</span></span></span></span> be one long slog.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>With a starting stack of 6000 chips and good blind structure & clock it made for a good tournament. The only regular <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">circuit</span> player on my st<a href="javascript:emoticon("></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">arting</span> table was Adam "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sgt</span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wilko</span></span></span>" Wilkinson who is a good player very aggressive but remains a very good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">freind</span></span></span>, so at least i knew it was not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">gunna</span></span></span> be boring as Adam,s banter is first class.</div><br /><br /><div>With in the first 2 levels i had no real playable hands so did not get involved much. Towards the end of level two with blinds of 50/100 a player raised to 350 me holding pocket queens <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">re raised</span> to 950 the original player called. Then followed the worst flop for my hand AK7 all diamonds. The original raiser <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">immediately</span> came out betting 2000 which was a auto pass as no queen of diamonds in me hand, break shortly followed finishing level 2 with 4600</div><br /><br /><div>Level 3 & 4 were uneventful a couple of moves which did not work but managed to get back up to 5500 with 15 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mins</span></span></span> of level 4 remaining. Then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">da</span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ja</span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">vu</span></span></span> pocket queens again blinds of 100/200 i re-raised the original raiser to 2200 which co <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">incidently</span></span></span> was the same player who was involved when i had queens before. Flop <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">AJJ</span></span></span> (smashing eh) he again puts me all in which I have to pass. I show my pocket queens he shows AK which he says what he held last time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">DOH</span></span></span>!</div><br /><br /><div>Finishing the level with 3725 and facing blinds of 150/300 i had to get a hand quick. First hand back I pick up pocket aces choosing to flat call in 4<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Th</span> position hoping for a raise which did,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">nt</span></span></span> come i ended up in the pot with 2blinds & 1 limper. Flop of 6 9 10 & two hearts blinds check i,m all in, they all pass. Then got low over the next 45 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">mins</span></span></span> with pocket tens & a missed flush nut draw I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">eventually</span> limped with q9 diamonds. Flop q84 rainbow i move me short stack into the middle and am called by a player holding 88 for trips exit me.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Event two the £300 double chance <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">freeze out</span> maybe held better things to come. My starting table of Dave <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Colclough</span></span></span> & Nick Slade among others was not going to be a easy ride but "hey ho".</div><br /><br /><div>Well i found the table easier than i first thought and gradually built me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">chippo's</span></span></span> up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">t0</span> a respectable total of 19,000 by the end of level six. The table broke & i was moved to another table but with the average of 14,000 felt really <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">comfortable</span>. What followed was a utter nightmare. My above average chip stack <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">dwindled</span> to a below average being <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">totally</span> card dead for the following two hours. It was only shear "balls" and experience that allowed me to survive deep before exiting in a respectable 27<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Th</span> place. My AK missing against (yes you have guessed it) pocket queens! Being card dead is so frustrating. It happened to me in Manchester earlier this year when on two occasions I went back for the second day in healthy shape only for the cards & hands to dry up. One of these times was the main event which to date remains my biggest <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">disappointment</span> this year as coming back for day two I really felt I could outplay my table, but alas not to be.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>So overall I feel I played very well at Bolton <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">especially</span> the second event but no returns for effort.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>To many this sort of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">occurrences</span> seem may be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">glamorous</span> from the outside. But when you take into account the 98 miles driving through the rain not once but four times, the costs £550.00 on 2 events without fuel costs, meals & drinks etc it does not feel <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">glamorous</span> i can tell you. I finally arrived back in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Teeside</span></span></span> on wed morn at 4.30 am totally shattered and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">pokered</span></span></span> out I decided not to play again this week. £500.00 plus is a lot of money by any one,s standards it is only by good money <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">management</span> that i am in a position to ride the costs so let that be a lesson to you all.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>With no further poker this week apart from a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">satellite</span> on blue square which cost $100.00 (£50.00) i finished 7<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Th</span> only 3 seats our bankroll has taking a expected hit. May be just as well that i am unable to play this weeks main event!!!!!<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Hopefully with world cup internationals this weekend i can buy some money. I am looking at</div><br /><br /><div>Cyprus v Italy on sat as one if the odds come in the right favour.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div>When <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Saturday</span> comes Italy were 1.33 0n <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">betfair</span></span> just prior to kick off. So a punt of £500.00 was placed on one of the top teams in Europe versus a fishing village some where near Greece I am not a great fan of these <em>odds on shots </em>it only takes one slip up to cancel out previous wins. It was the opening game in the world cup qualifying campaign and I felt it was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">definitely</span> worth the risk, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">especially</span> after the costs of earlier in the week. Italy as expected soon took the lead and I was sure this was just the start of the expected rout. Then some kebab farmer equalized to make the score 1-1 which never changed until the 94TH minute when some cool Italian dude popped up to secure the win PHEW and I mean PHEW. This resulted in a profit of £165.00.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So poker costs of £700.00 (includes travelling costs)</div><br /><div>Profit if £165.00 from football,</div><br /><div>our bankroll settles at £11,274.00.</div><br /><p><span style="color:#333399;">The heading of this blog is called the best article ever written on poker. This article was first published in 2004 in poker <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">europa</span></span>. The author of this article was Simon "Aces" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Trumper</span></span> who was well known in poker circles <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">especially</span> after his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">appearances</span> on Late Night Poker . That programme was a inspiration to many people playing poker today. What I admire about this article apart from the subject matter is the absolute courage it must of took Simon to publish. Simon was at the time one of the pioneers of poker in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">uk</span></span> and it must of took some soul searching and complete honesty to publish "HAT,S OFF MATE". I had a long discussion with Simon earlier this year at Dusk to Dawn in Nottingham and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">confessed</span> to him I still had the original copy and it was such a inspiration to me at the time of re-building my poker bankroll. If you do not learn anything from this well, you will never learn. <span style="color:#000000;">Without further ado here is the complete article ...</span></span> </p><br /><div><em>I often hear players say that tournament poker on the "circuit" is not sustainable because of the overheads and wonder what it costs. They are not far from the truth, as far as my own case is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">concerned</span></span>. I like to think that one of my strongest attributes is to self analyse after each tournament and look for improvement. I wish now that in doing so I had known when to stop. All the signs were there to tell me enough is enough way before I dropped my last $45,000 in Vegas at last years <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">WSOP</span></span></span></span>.<br /><br />If you want to see a true account of two years on the tournament circuit and learn from my mistakes - read on. I started with a few results at the Vic in the festivals in 96, but it was 97 when I came 1st 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">nd</span></span></span></span> 3rd and 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">th</span></span></span></span> out of 6 events at the European championships that I became better known.<br /><br />This then dramatically increased in 2000 when I won the second series of Late Night Poker but even by the end of 2000 I still didn't play the circuit.<br /><br />I In March 2001 I went to Reading where I originally began playing back in 95 with players such as Bob <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Coombes</span></span></span></span>, Sean Hayes,Graham Pound, Tony Chapman and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Nourri</span></span></span></span> who now plays the big game at the Vic.<br /><br />I played in a £500 Pot Limit hold-em and split it with Mark Hall.<br /><br />The following day I went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Luton</span></span></span></span> to play another £500 Pot Limit.I worked out if I came top 3 I could afford to go to Vienna for the European <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">WSOP</span></span></span></span> Trial so that was my goal. I eventually split it with Steve <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Vladar</span></span></span></span>.<br /><br />The following Monday on the first day of the Trial I arrived in Vienna, four days later I flew home with the trophy and approx £30,000 and that's when it all started.<br /><br />I began travelling to other events including Paris and Vegas to no avail, then back to Vienna in June where I won my second £1,000 No Limit event. On to Paris for a second spot in the £1,000 Grand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Prix</span></span></span></span> No Limit and I was now playing in a different country every month with at least one final.<br /><br />This culminated with another £5000 No Limit win in Paris and 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">nd</span></span></span></span> to the fantastic Hamish Shah in the fourth series of Late Night Poker.<br /><br />So obviously having won about £140,000 I was now in great shape.<br /><br />Or was I?<br /><br />That year after all my expenses were taken out (including cash game losses!You should have seen the glee in the cash game players' eyes when I sat down) I was actually ahead only £20,000.<br /><br />My business suffered and turnover dropped but I was still able to take a minimum wage and a small dividend. However I would have been better off not playing, concentrating on my company and just targeting selected events in this country to cut out the expenses. So of course in 2002 this is exactly what I did... Not.<br /><br />Right first stop Melbourne Australia and the Aussie Million. No good.<br /><br />Then I had a few results, split the £750 No Limit in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Luton</span></span></span></span> for £20,000 and won the 250 Euro Pot Limit Omaha in Vienna, came 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">th</span></span></span></span> in the $3000 No Limit at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">WSOP</span></span></span></span>, made both the No Limit finals at the European championships at the Vic and five more finals in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Luton</span></span></span></span> and Paris for a total of £120,000 without the smaller placings.<br /><br />By 23rd September 2002 I was now £30,000 up.<br /><br />I had gained tremendous experience at the highest level all over Europe and America, was making finals virtually every month and was completely self financed from winnings.<br /><br />My best game is obviously No Limit with 18 finals in 18 months with a buy-in between E500 and E5000 so what could possibly go wrong?<br /><br />Well here is what: I was spending a minimum £10,000 a month in flights, hotels, food, taxis and tournament entries so even £30,000 only gave me a three month cushion. But as I had only missed out on a result in two months of the last 18 for me it was unthinkable that what was about to happen could.<br /><br />From 23 September to 15<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">th</span></span></span></span> December I went to Vienna, Baden, the Vic, Dublin, Amsterdam, Paris, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Walsall</span></span></span></span> and Helsinki playing probably 30 events and only cashing in twice for E5000 .<br /><br />I then played in the Poker Million and came second in my heat losing another £6,500.I ended the year £10,000 down.<br /><br />Of course yet again my business had suffered and I had now stopped taking a wage. Something had to change.<br /><br />At this time some players had come up to me saying that I had changed my style and was clearly under pressure.<br /><br />Well the reason I had had such a drought was a few unforced errors of my own followed by 17 lost even money shots at crucial stages of events including AK against 55 in the Lido 3 tables out for a big pot against Johan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Storakers</span></span></span></span> who went on to come 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">nd</span></span></span></span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">QQ</span></span></span></span> against AK of Isabelle from the Aviation in the 800 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">ENo</span></span></span></span> Limit. Such beats as these are everyday occurrences in No Limit but 17 in a row hurts.<br /><br />However I thought about what people had said and realised they were right. Although I had taken a lot of beats I knew I was not accumulating as many chips as I normally did so when I lost these pots I was being knocked out when previously I would have had enough chips left to make a recovery.<br /><br />I decide to take a month off so in January apart from the Ashes heads up in Australia where I played and lost the deciding leg and the Aussie Million where I donated my chips to Ram I didn't play. I was convinced this bad run couldn't continue and as I was "only" £15,000 down was prepared to continue hitting my credit cards until the wins started again. After all one decent result I told myself and this minor hiccup will soon be a memory. So off to Paris, Vienna, back to Paris then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Luton</span></span></span></span> and after scraping three finals winning only E5000 by the middle of April I was £35,000 down.<br /><br />The thing is I figured I was playing well and that it was only the poker gods conspiring to challenge my sanity with beats like the Omaha in Vienna.<br /><br />This was a key event. I had won it the year before and with eight players left and average chips I fancied my chances.<br /><br />The chip leader raised and I looked down at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">AAKJ</span></span></span> double suited and moved all. I was called by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">AQQ</span></span></span>4 and naturally the queen was the first card on the flop. I was out and he went on to win the tournament. It's times like these when you have to decide: Do I stop now and take a break or what?<br /><br />So I booked a flight to Vegas.<br /><br />Yet again a little voice in my head said <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">ok</span></span></span> you're £35,000 down but you won £42,000 there last year so go for it - this is your last chance to get out of trouble.<br /><br />I arrived five weeks before the main event with £5,000 intending to play one event the $2,000 No Limit and use the rest for super satellites.<br /><br />I had pumped myself full of self belief that I could turn things round and I sat down to play the $2,000 very confident.<br /><br />But now I know what happens when you're under pressure.<br /><br />You play without feel and with fear.<br /><br />And this is what happened. I had built up a good stack and a player two off the button made a standard raise. He had only been in two other pots with AK and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">KK</span></span></span> so looking down to find <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">QQ</span></span></span> in the big blind I chose to call rather than raise as both times he had been raised before he moved all in.<br /><br />The flop was 8 9 J and I made my second mistake and moved all in. He shrugged his shoulders, sighed, checked his cards and called flipping over Q-10 and I was out.<br /><br />Not a good start.<br /><br />The supers were very quiet at the beginning due to a $200 No Limit event being held every night but I decided I had no option but to play even if there was no seat just cash. My first try was uneventful then suddenly for the first time in eight months I hit form.<br /><br />It was a Friday five days before I was booked to leave - three weeks before the big one. It was the afternoon super satellite - two tables and not enough for a seat. Down to three I'm chip leader and offered a proportional deal I take $2,300. That evening there's only enough for one table down to three again I'm chip leader and take $1,700.The following night there's one $10,000 seat, with three left I'm chip leader but can't afford to offer the others a deal. Then one of the players offers me $3,500 and the other guy $3,000 and takes the seat.<br /><br />Now I am $6,825 up and I enter the Sunday evening super. This time there's a seat and $2,000. I get heads up with Casey Castle, we can't agree a deal so we save a $1,000 and play on. He raises and I move in with pocket 3s. He quickly calls showing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">QQ</span></span>. Here comes the flop for a seat in the big one - 6 6 3. Lucky me. I'm in the main event but all is not well.<br /><br />What I should have done is flown home and then back two weeks later. Instead I decide to stay and try and win some more supers which will earn me $10,000 a time.<br /><br />The rest was a blur. Basically I played another 17 supers made 3 more finals but missed the seats. Also due to some help from some great players who knew my predicament I was put into the $5,000 and $3,000 No Limit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">hold'em</span></span> events but to no avail.<br /><br />The weekend before the main event I had told myself I was going to rest ready for Monday. But by now I had done my tank and borrowed a few thousand to try the one table satellites which I had previously done well in.<br /><br />The last four supers always give the most seats so on Saturday afternoon my good intentions to take a break went out of the window and I sat down with 301 other players. After the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">rebuys</span></span> had finished it was announced that we were playing for 15 seats. With 60 players left I was chip leader and dreaming of winning the $10,000, paying back my friend and being in great form for the big one. Sadly it wasn't to be. I finished a gut-wrenching 17<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">th</span></span>.You can't believe how much it would have meant to win at this time.<br /><br />I tried to get over it Sunday but after five weeks in Vegas and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">roller coaster</span></span> taking a steep drop I was never in shape to play my "A" game so for the first time in four attempts I failed to make the second day in the $10,000 Championship Event.<br /><br />Yet again it was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">QQ</span></span> in my big blind that cost me most of my chips. Under the gun raised, I flat called the flop was 5- 6- 7 and he milked my calls all the way to the river before flipping 8 9.<br /><br />For the first time in two years I completely lost my focus and walked away from the table in a daze a few hands later.<br /><br />To be honest I almost felt a sense of relief. I knew I was at the end of the road.<br /><br />I had gone from £30,000 up to £50,000 down in eight months and I finally came to my senses. I flew home from Vegas and knew I had to make a lot of changes before I could play again.<br /><br />I would like to be able to say that I got up the next day full of enthusiasm and started working again and sorting my life out. But it was not that simple.<br /><br />When you have lived this almost surreal existence travelling all over the world, experiencing the wonderful highs for 18 months before finally hitting your personal wall and with it the despair of failure and financial difficulty it takes time to recover. I was depressed for three months with no energy and it wasn't until one day in August I woke up and thought: That's it. I'm sick of feeling sorry for myself. If I had listened to my friends this could have been prevented but the way I figured it with my record it was only a matter of time before I won another decent sized win.<br /><br />Well I learnt the hard way. It doesn't matter what you've achieved before, if things start to go against you and you won't accept it and you won't believe your game is affected a small loss soon becomes a big loss. Fortunately I have always been able to earn a good living outside of poker so I am getting every thing back under control and enjoying it. I still love the poker world and feel ready to play again. I played a £400 No Limit in Southampton and came fifth when my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">JJ</span></span> got beat by AK with an A on the turn. I managed to raise a smile and thought it will all even out in the long run. All I have to do is play my best as and when I can afford it and the results will be there.<br /><br />One thing I guarantee you I will be back.</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em><strong><span style="color:#000000;">So there you go hope it is of benifit to someone. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed this blog, any feedback is always welcome</span></strong></em></div><br /><div><strong><em>Later</em></strong></div>goldenballshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626501318748828278noreply@blogger.com1