Tuesday, May 30, 2006

I've been spoilt !











Having commenced live Poker in August 2005, I had my first win in my 3rd tournament, in the AUL complex in Clonshaugh. I followed that up by winning it the week later, and indeed evry single month since August 2005, I had won a live multi-table turnament of at least 50 runners.....until May 2006! :( ... in fact I didn't make any final table or in the money finish.

Yes the month of May is over, and I've had my first losing month. I haven't lost my shirt or anything, because I haven't played that much, 6 tournaments, but still ... tell that to my bank balance!

In fairness, I've just been spoilt, and it's my turn for a spot of negative variance ... at least I hope that's the reason.

I had posted a couple of tournament reports, but you know what, I've just deleted them, I'll only upset myself :) ... and no-one really gives a shit if i got outdrawn by muppets do they :) ....so I'm just parking the month of May to one side.


So we're into June, should be moving house this month, should be going to Croatia to our pad out there for a week as well, scorchio !!

For some nice photos of the area we have bought in.
http://dalmacija.modrojezero.org/South%20Dalmatian%20Coast/slides/S%20Dalmacija%2002.html

We'll hit Korcula, Hvar and Brac this trip I think.
We'll go out in late August/early September as well, and I want to do Plitivice lakes, and up towards Zadar, Zagreb direction then, quite a few of our friends are going to visit in August so that will be great.

Going to Scotland in July up to my mother's homeplace in the Highlands, small place called Dufftown. She's 60, so we're having a get together dinner for that, back on her home soil....really can't wait for that.

Played in two WSOP qualifiers this week on Paddy Power, went out 34th in the first one when my AK lost to AQ (sigh) and bombed out very early in the second one to a stealth set.
Great excitement at the final table though with a good few of the boardsters roaring on the lads on the final table. A sickening beat for Dead Parrott when his Kings lost to JJ on the river, when they were down to the last 4. Careca bust out the same hand, well played Neil.

I'm going back to my spiritual online home on betfair.com from 1st June, I sneaked in two STT's at lunchtime, and won them both ... so we're off to a flyer :)

I've finished reading Phil Gordon's Little Green Book, which is an exceptional well laid out and informative book. Reading Bob Caffione now 'Improve your poker' ... which is very text heavy, and layed out poorly, but the content is excellent.
I've Negreanus book ordered as well.... so I've just about them all read at this stage ... I just need to play more now !!

World Cup starts soon.
I fancy Italy and Argentina, but I'm going to back Holland and Croatia for the value, and the craic.

Anything else I want to say? Nope. That's all Folks !!!

Friday, May 19, 2006

You Gotta Laugh !

Rounders123, Ntlbell, Shortstack, HectorJelly, Fuzzbox, Culchie, Mr Pillowtalk, El Stuntman, Big Dragon.

If you are anyway a normal person, you are probably a little confused.

No, these are the not the names of ex-presidents, indeed, nor or they names picked from the 2.30 at Chepstow. Maybe they're an Irish Version of the Tellytubbies or The Wombles?

Hope, these are the internet aliases of grown men, who in some instances have become friends.

Look at what Poker has done to me !

I used to be called Michael (when I was in trouble with my mother, I was anyway) and more commonly 'Mick'.

I was in out having a couple of pints in Lucan during the week, meeting up with an old school pal, lifelong friend, but unfortunately a non poker player, but is an Arsenal Fan, so we met up for The Champions League Final.
So we were having the few scoops, happy as Larry, and it was my twist, probably the 4th or 5th pint, and when the barman came back with the change, he said "there ya go Culchie" ... "Thanks" I said, not taking my eyes of the TV screen.
Next second I get a dig in the ribs from my buddy. "Hey, that fellah called you a Culchie" he said.
"What" says I.
"He called you a Culchie, he has some cheek!".... I looked up and recognised a guy I had played against at one of The Anglers Rest tournaments, I don't even know his name. I nodded in recognition at the barman, he 'saluted' back.

Anyways when the match was over, I had to explain to my buddy about boards.ie and how poker players have aliases, often not knowing the first name of many players, but knowing them by their aliases.

He thought it was hilarious ...you know what he's dead right !

Saturday, May 06, 2006

The Poker Police

Well, I'm back!

3 months since my last post, which I see was the day before we played in The Angler Rest team event, which is a co-incidence, because it's on again tomorrow,

Hopefully we'll have the same result, as 'The Culchies' covered themselves in glory (and beer) by folding ourselves to victory :) ... It was such a good laugh, and looking forward to tomorrow.

Anyways haven't played a tremendous amount of poker really, and I can't be arsed talking about the events either on this post... my head hurts from being on the beer last night, so I feel like shite, and I decided I'd rather talk about The Poker Police.

The Poker Police are a recently established organisation formed in mid to late 2005, but have recently become a more powerful group, with recently recruited young kadets added to their ranks, they are becoming quite a formidable force.

I don't really mind the fact that there is a Poker Police force, but it does kinda grate my gears when the rules they lay down and dictate are not really followed by their own members.

Hypothetical Example ...

Poker Police player raises from the early position with 56 hearts (well it is suited), gets a caller. Flop comes down Ace high, Poker Police Player takes the pot with a bet representing the Ace .... N1, wp .... sometimes because of their fierce reputation, they actually just steal the blinds, as no-one calls.

'Donkey' (an affectionate term for random player not in Poker Police) raises from early position with 56hearts, Poker Police man 'smooth calls' from the BB with his pocket Kings, he doesn't like to re-raise here, because he can outplay the donkey after the flop. Flop comes 5 6 2.

Policeman checks, Donkey makes a pot sized bet, Policeman has him trapped, goes all-in, turns over his Aces gleefully, only to see the smile wiped from his face by the Donkey's two pair.

As you can see, this is a criminal offence that the Donkey has committed here.

Policeman " You're some Donkey, you're under arrest for raising from Early position with that shite ! 56 soooted ... have you no respect for Poker Law and Order? ... You are an idiot"

Donkey "Hee Haw, but officer, I've seen you raise with 56 once before from early position, I even see you ....."


Anyways, you get the picture.

I'm a little weary of the Poker Police lately, they've been 'dissing' quite a few players which is pretty disrespectful. It's their to be seen in their 'tone'... they rubbish certain achievements or tournaments.... they are quite clever in the way that they do that as well. They don't say " You're a shite player, and you're no good" ....... they'll say something like "At that level of player" or they'll challenge their hand analysis in a spiteful rather than in a constructively critical way. They seem to patrol in packs as well, they gang up on their prey, not nice to watch really.

Don't get me wrong, I love poker, but I think the main reason I love poker is the challenge against fellow players, pitting your wits against them, being aggressive when you think you can get away with it, or have the best hand ..... selling a false image for a play later in the tournament and best of all having the banter with folks who also love poker ... the comradery is great. Sure it's great when you win, but there has to be losers as well.... I like shaking the hand of losers, and when I lose I like someone offering me a handshake as well.

That handshake means alot in poker. It means more than "good game", it means "See you around next time, fellow competitior" ..... or at least it should.

I just wish The Poker Police would join in the fun, and stop being so disrespectful and aggressive with others, and then we can all just get on with one and all.