Chief's Take on Things ...

Pubs are for Drinking In ....Sigh !

So after my incredible recent run, I go to Drogheda on the Thursday night. I wasn't going to play it, but as I was going to miss the AUL game on the Friday, as I was going to Mayo, I decided to go up to the wee county again. I had come 3rd the previous week.

I meet a fellah I know for the second week in a row (I hadn't met him for 18 years previous to that!) and I tell him of my recent good run, and he's genuinely pleased for me. It's great to meet up with old pals, and he's a good player as well.

We register early for the bonus chips, and head in to the bar for a pint.

When I collect my chips to play, one of the organisers tells me that 'a chap' was looking for me, I guessed it would be Rounders123, but it was Shuffle Up and Deal time, so I siad to the organiser to point him out to me at the break.

Drogheda is a tourney you need to accumulate chips quickly, and had my 10 10 out on the table against JJ, when I get a tap on the shoulder from a sullen looking fellahs who just had his Aces cracked....Rounders123 !!
We agree to meet at the break for a chat, but he is back over in 10 minutes, not a happy bunny, and is heading home after another bad beat ... I know the feeling Rounders, next time we'll chat !

So after my 2nd rebuy and on the last hand before the break 1600 chips, (blinds 100/200 I think) which is nothing at this point, I have K7 hearts, UTG limps, I limp, folded around to BB who goes All-In for his last 300, UTG raises to 700, so I have a little think.
UTG and me had locked heads a couple of times, and there was a little edge between us. BB was throwing his chips in regardless, and I know UTG has a reasonable hand, but not a monster, so I decide this is an good opportunity to make a move. I go over the top for an extra 900, and UTG does not like it one little bit. I know I'm behind, but not far. I need chips for the freezeout.

BB has A4, UTG has QK, and I have K7 hearts. I flip my cards over and say "Come on the hearts" .... and they did, my opponent was seriously sick, and not one wee bit impressed and went out to the break bitching and moaning to the lads outside having a smoke.
An aggressive play I know, I didn't like seeing his King, I'll admit, but sometimes you get a gut feeling that this is the time to make a move, and it was. So my 1600 lowstack, now becomes a very workable 6800 with my top up.

I never looked back from there really, just played solid poker, and got to the final table about 4th in Chips. An awful lot of All-Ins preflop, but with the blind structure, it's understandable. I think they can relax them a little.

Lost a big pot early on final table when in SB, my A 10 met AA in the BB, so really put a big dent in my stack and I done well to survive until 5th and 4th place were put out by the chip leader. 4th had one more chip than me, so he got €650 and I got €400.

So in a week my winnings from live poker came to €2050 ....better than a kick in the ass ! Paid off a couple of bills and myself and Sherwin spent a few quid on some clothes etc...at the weekend ... feels good!

Only other game was last night, when against all my better judgement played a VegasNights pub game.....bad idea, Pubs are for drinking in only, I got shite cards, all around me were muppets, and I just didn't want to be there, so I was home by 10.30pm, happy to throw my 88 in against AK and lose ...no more pub games.

Forest have strung two, yes two, back to back victories together against mighty Rotherham and Bristol City, I got the text updates from my brother who was at the matches, so it looks like they may have turned the corner at last. I stress the word may.

I think it's more to do with Jack lester coming back from injury, at least he gives 100%, and is a good bloody player. We'll see soon enough, up to lofty heights of 13th now anyway.

Brian Kerr under pressure as Irish Boss now, and with Keano out, looks very dodgy for World Cup qualification now, when we should have been looking at hotel accommodation by now, we've thrown it away I'm afraid.

Putting in for planning permission for house in Sligo, more on that in later blogs.

Will travel again to Drogheda tomorrow again, hoping to complete a final table hat trick up there.

Reading Harrington's second book still, great stuff, payed for itself already.

Booked in two weeks radio and street activity for public launch of http://www.magazines365.com ..... don't be shy now readers ...buy a magazine !!

Downloaded Full Tilt and Paradise Poker late last night to have a look at them. Just played a $5 STT to get used to software on Full Tilt and it is 'sweet'. Hard to tell from a $5 game but the opposition doesn't look too tough either, so might be a profitable exercise to give it a lash some night Sherwin is out.

I need a holiday, but too much going on. Should be getting the keys to our place in Croatia this week as well http://www.villa-bili.com/eng.asp?lang=eng, so I think next year will take a month off work or whatever and enjoy travelling around Croatia which is probably the most beautiful country in Europe.
I'm going to do up another blog/website for the apartment once I get around to it as well.

Next week should be some craic, the old BMW my brother bought for me at an auction in the UK is due for it's NCT (MOT in UK) .... lol, can't wait for that report !!

All Ireland Final at the weekend,Kerry V Tyrone, I think Kerry are going to win by 5 or 6 points at least, a bold prediction I know, but hey, this is a blog !

Hope to see Mayo win the minor final, will be at home shouting them on in the pub anyway.

I think that's it ..... Keep going Trickies, 3 in a row sounds good.

posted by Chief_OHara @ 2:25 PM