Chief's Take on Things ...

I've been spoilt !

2006-05-30T02:05:00.000-07:00

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 !!!

You Gotta Laugh !

2006-05-19T01:41:00.000-07:00

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 !

The Poker Police

2006-05-06T02:56:00.000-07:00

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.

Advertising doesn't always mean you have to spend money.

2006-02-10T01:31:00.000-08:00

Just 4 live games since my last blog entry.

I played the Drogheda tourney on January 27th and got busted out nearly immediately after the break, in the most non-eventful tourney I've played in. Delighted that Scotty won it.

I had caught a very bad cold, so as well as playing poorly, I was feeling poorly and this was the start of 6 or 7 days of not feeling 'The Mae West' ... I never get sick, so this was difficult to get used to.

On the Saturday, the Vegas Nights monthly game was on, a very good tournament, and I got busted by the most stupid call I've ever been the victim of.

Blinds 200/400, I have 6000 after taking a bad beat when an ace spiked on river ten mins earlier to kill my Kings.
I have Jh Qh on the button, folded to me, I raise to 1400, called by BB who is a largely stacked calling station fish.

Flop comes down Js Qs 6d .... a great flop for me, but I don't like the apparent flush draw. Fish bets out 800, and I want to finish this pot now, I can't afford to slowplay with just 10BB, so I move in.

He says to me "I don't think that flop hit you" and said call. I was sure he was on the flush draw, I hated his call, he wasn't getting the odds tocall, but he was a fish, so I'd just have to hope no spade came.

Imagine my absolute amazement when he turned over 4 4 ! This fellah was putting at least 50% of his stack on the line. I looked at him and just said "What the hell are you doing?"

So of course readers you know what happens now don't you ... a 4 comes on the turn .... and hey, guess what, just for good measure, a 4 comes on the river, giving our superstar Quad 4's ... and all my chips.

Cleaned up on the STT action during the day though and drowned my sorrows, BrianMc was going great until the wheels came off, and NTLBell was in a 4 way chop for 1st place.
Felt for BrianMc, as he played well, and he actually showed me when I was a complete newb, how to milk a fish (me) on my first visit to the Fitz 14 monnths or so, I told him that story as well to his amusement. He won the next day in the Fitz €20 rebuy, so he is obviously on form now.
Myself and NTLBell ended up in the Fitz, where I played my first cash game live, and I trebled up for the night with some very very loose play, and finished the day with more money than if I had won the Vegas Nights tourney.... but still that fecking 4 4 call was pissing me off.

I played the Fitz €30 tourney the next day, and chopped that with Andy, although I was involved in two lucky results, one which was just one of these things, when Rounders123 had a pocket pair counterfeited and I ended up with a bigger full house http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054882321&highlight=luckbox..... and one hand I played very poorly when down to 3, and I sucked out on Crumbs http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054882443&highlight=luck+box.

The win rounded off a fantastic January for me.

Played Drogheda then Feb 5th.

First, what a great tournament, layout, dealers .. the atmospehere was great, very amicable and alot of familiar faces, I play Drogheda alot so I probably knew about 3 faces on every table at the very least.

I was on my first table only about 10 mins, KarlH (who made the money, Congrat!), Scotty and one of the Poker Lounge lads, so it was a tough table, but I didn't even get to play a hand, as I was moved to a newly formed table within 10 mins.

The newly formed table included The Snapper, a very good tourney player and no-one else that I knew although Shane Devlin who made the money as well was on it, I didn't know him at the time.

I felt quite comfortable at the table, and felt happy enough I had a read on most players, so was settling in for a long day.
Nothing for until the 100/200 level, won a small pot post flop with JQ on a J high board to keep my starting stack of 6000, lost a couple of minor pots and was at about 5000, when the first of my 3 defining hands happened.

UTG got JJ which I limped with, the table was reasonably active with a couple of Ace Rag merchants who were calling raises so I expected there to be a raise later on in the orbit which there was to 600, so there was 3 players, one of them the small blind was was playing his first hand, so alarm bells were going off.
I figured a raise wouldn't take the pot preflop (hence the limp), and was obviously hoping for a low flop, but both an Ace and a King flopped so I knew JJ was no good at this point, SB checked, I checked, the preflop raiser put in a pot size bet, which the SB called, so that was enough info for me to get out then. So stack now 4400

About 20 mins later, I get AQs in CO, one limper so far, I raise to 600 and the BB pushes all-in. I don't think this guy is a great player, so my first inclination was he had a mid pair, so that means a race. AK would have been even worse and was also a very probable hand, and the more I thought about it, I couldn't really call this. I folded my AQ face up hoping he would show, and he did, he had QQ, so I suppose it was a justified fold.
However Stack is now only 3800.

To make things even more interesting Dathio joins the table, first time I played on his table, but I didn't get too long to witness the legend at work really.
3rd and final definging hand ....Last hand before the levels were to go up. I'm dealt QQ on the button.

Daithio raises to 650 from UTG, he has a caller from an Ace Rag merchant, so 1600 in pot already with blinds, and I've 3600 left.
Purely based on Daithios reputation, I briefly considered folding the QQ, but I couldn't make another laydown, I needed to win this pot really, so I pushed.
Daithio folded (10 10 I believe), and I knew Ace Rag merchant would call, but what would the rag be, anything from 2-K would be in this guys range.
He has AK as it turns out, so I can't berate his call, and the flop brought an Ace, and that was the end of my tourney.

Short and Sweet.

Finally, www.vegasbabypoker.com is absolutely flying, I have an advertisment http://media.putfile.com/Vegas-Baby-Radio-Ad running on Newstalk106 at the moment, but the best advertisment of all is word of mouth, and Irish players seem to be winning big and telling their buddies.

I'm sponsoring Nicky O'D on his Vienna ESOP tournament, so I'm sure he'll be on the final table in front of all the cameras.

More on http://www.vegasbabypoker.com in my next blog entry, I'll go more into my thoughts then.

Running Good ! Can It Continue?

2006-01-21T05:02:00.000-08:00

Running Good - It can't continue, can it?

Here are my live results for 2006 so far.

Jan 8 City West €250 Entry Fee €0 Result OTM Return €0 (I won a Satelitte, and Shortstack 'took a piece of me, hence the €0 entry fee)

Jan 10 The Fitz €50 double chance, 53 runners, 1st place
Jan 13 Anglers Rest Scalps €25 (1 rebuy), 52 runners, 1st place
Jan 17 Anglers Rest €25 (1 rebuy), 56 runners, 5th place
Jan 20 Drogheda €25 (1 rebuy), 93 runners, 2nd place
Jan 21 Anglers Rest 6 handed €25 (1 rebuy)52 runners 3rd place

I haven't had any dry spell since I started playing live last August, this is a particular purple patch though, and it's nice to know that on the 21st January, I have already secured enough funds to bankroll me through the rest of this year, based on playing €25 rebuys or €50 Freezeouts, playing 2 nights per week ... happy days. Surely it can't continue, I'm prepared for a bad run, I hope it doesn't come, but if it does, I'm going to stick to the same poker I've been playing regardless.

I'm playing a little more live poker than normal at the moment due to our imminent departure from Dublin, so I'm going to squeeze in as much play as I can, because I know that a good game is hard to find down the west, however things are improving quickly, so it shouldn;t be too bad.

My goal this year is to play in the bigger tournament, the ones that take a full day to play out, rather than the hectic night time games where you have to race to stay ahead of the blinds. So I'm delighted in my recent run to have secured tickets to

€50+€50 Anglers Rest Jan 28th
€250 Drogheda Feb 5th
€20 Team Event Anglers Rest Feb 11th
and also a €250 ticket for the March Drogheda tournament as well.

All these are full day events, and I'm especially looking forward to the team event which will be a drink fest !

Vegas Nights are also running a league over the next 3 months, the top 25 point scorers will be brought on an all expenses paid weekend to London, so I'vbe half an eye on that as well.
Prize money isn't great at the vegas night tourneys because they limit it normally to a €50 spend, so you don't get the frenzy that goes on in Drogheda, but the prize pool in Drogheda makes it very much worthwhile....however they are both good set ups in their own right.

www.vegasbabypoker.com is going well, I got some business referral cards yesterday, and will start a little advertisment online and offline over the next couple of weeks.
Big Dragon is making a fecking fortune from the site, and The Snapper is also going very well, the Canadian players on the site are truly atrocious, and I haven't met anyone that doesn't agree with me. Any readers of this blog ... you really should try it out, fish in a barrell!

Interesting to see that a company was formed this week called "Andy Black Poker Ltd", I wonder what he's got up his sleeve.

Forest are going OK, keeping in touch with play off positions, I've really lost alot of interest in them at this stage, I look out for their results, see who scored (a rarity), glance at their position in the table, and that's about it.

Planning permission in Sligo is running into problems, need to make amendments to house design, but sure that's par for the course really, it's a money making racket for the County Councils, as we will have to re-apply now, with another fee of course.

Going to New York for Paddy's Day, hope to get to Atlantic City with the brother in law for some POKER as well.

OK folks, that's it ... have to head down to Mayo now, so must get cracking.

P.S If you read this leave a message, just so I know that at least there is other people out there sad enough to be interested in blogs !

Keep Lucky.

Test

2006-01-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

2006 - A Fresh Start

2006-01-09T05:02:00.000-08:00

Well I am due another blog entry.

Apologies if I've had any visitors over the last 6 weeks or so, but I needed a bit of a rest from the blogging as I was getting tired of writing about wins:)

I haven't been playing too much poker lately as I've been busy, when I have I'm doing OK, won a $5 re-buy MTT on Saturday for $800 and also had a 2nd and a 6th in the last week so I'm running good on-line.

I decided to re-invest my live winnings into www.vegasbabypoker.com which I bought.

It's a site that is different to all the others, and something I feel has real potential as the online poker industry continues to grow at extraordinary rates.
It will take quite a while to be earning money as I will be re-investing income I receive in advertising and marketing for at least the first 6 months, but it is a challenge anyway, and an enjoyable one at that.

We have our house 'Sale Agreed' in Dublin, so will be moving end of February back to the west.
Another new challenge lays ahead of us there, as it will time to adapt, find jobs etc... hopefully I'll be self employed ! ... and we commence building of our own house, and all the things people do when they hit their mid thirties and start to settle down a wee bit.

Happy New Year to any readers I do have, please leave a comment if you have visited, and I apologise for lack of action on my blog in recent weeks.

Another Victory :)

2005-11-04T03:34:00.000-08:00

So despite not being able to walk on Tuesday evening through tiredness, I went in and played the Double Chance in The Fitz.

Double up early on when I flopped a straight against a set of 9's, who had pushed All-In, and basiclly nursed a stack of about 6000 or so through to the final table.
I'm being honest, I remember very little until the final table, as I was sleeping half the time, and my concentration levels were poor, but I just got poor cards that I couldn't really play anyway, so I stayed safe, knicking a few blinds here and there.

On the final table I can remember quite a bit. BMC from boards was there, as was Rita a very nice lady, and Gavin who is a regular in the Fitz and a regular on the final table, a Morrocan(?) guy, Paddy Hicks and a couple of others I didn't know.
9th through to 6th were being paid €80, 5th €100, 4th €120, 3rd €200, 2nd €450 and the winner €900.

Won a couple of early pots, and worked stack up to 11000 when the following happened. Paddy Hicks in the BB was left very shortstacked from a previous beat. Still 9 at the table.
Blinds 400/800 Morrocan Guy (MG) raised UTG to 5000, I looked down at QQ in mid position. I put MG on a mid pair and pushed All-In, Paddy called in the BB, for his last few chips, and so did MG UTG, who I just covered by 1100 chips.

So I had QQ, Paddy had A9, and MG had 99. It was great to see Paddy's 9, but it fell on the river, and I'm down to just 1.5BB,1100 ...feck it.
Next hand I get 68o, but two early limpers made my mind up to go with this, as I needed to treble or even quadruple up or go home, as I was terminally crippled now. Well Well Well, a pair of 6's wins it when the boards misses everyone. 4400 on the kitty now, and a few of the players shuffle as they were sure I was going home.
Next hand 87 hearts, I push again, just the one caller in the BB with AK, I double through again with an 8 on the flop. So back around 9000.
Blinds up to 500/1000 and I'm in the BB and have AJ. BMC raised from UTG to 5000. He's a good player and give him respect, but put myself in his position and I figure he's attacking my BB, and thinks I will let it go, after I'm just managing to get myself back in the game. I know I was right when I went back over the top of him for all my stack, and he sheepishly has to call with J8, not one of his better moments, but we all get caught like that sometimes. No help for him, and now within 4 hands I'm 3rd chip leader.
The others fall by the wayside until we get to 5 left, and the real money starts. We freeze the clock and play goes on for an hour or so with chips moving from one to another, when I'm in the BB get raised by the SB. I'm falling asleep and getting pissed off with the lack of 'action', no-one is falling by the wayside at all. I have QK, and I figure, it could be good. I weigh up villan, he knows I'm thinking of going over the top, and he's not best pleased about that. Feck it, I need my bed. All-In with QK, he flops over 10 10 and it's a race, and a lovely Queen falls on the river to break the lads stack, and now I really have a decent stack.

The rest was very much cat and mouse, MG seen off one player, I seen off the other, and when we get heads up I have 90000 chips to his 60000. I'm bushed I offer a deal of 800/550 rather than the 900/450, and he accepts, and thank god I can go home and get some sleep for the first time in 4 nights.

I played well, got some bad luck, then some good luck and Happy days !

Just played one MTT on-line since and finished 11th from 191 runners in a $8 MTT for a whopping $20 profit!

I don't know whether to keep the blog going, as it;s really just talking about Poker at this stage, and I'm sure it makes boring reading to others.

I might write about some other things in my next entry.

BTW sign up to All-In Poker here https://www.allinpoker.com/aip/registration/register.jsp?refCode=MOA009F

Keep Lucky

All In Poker

2005-11-03T16:08:00.000-08:00

Lads, the opportunity to make some real money !

Sign Up to All In Poker

https://www.allinpoker.com/aip/registration/register.jsp?refCode=MOA009F

Reflections & Decisions Made

2005-11-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

So with my friend " The Big A " (A for Aidan) getting married at the bank holiday weekend, it was pretty much a 3 day drinking session, and boy am I hung over today. Arrived back in Dublin at 2am this morning.
I just want to go to bed for a week, but the realities of life means that you just have to keep on going, and I dragged myself out of bed this morning at 7am to face another working week.

One thing that has really started to become clear in recent nmonths, is my time in Dublin is drawing to a close....I'm simply fed up with the traffic, the traffic and then there's the traffic. I've just had enough now. No job or city is worth all this hassle.

So with the most recent surge in house prices in Dublin (ours has jumped about 20% this year), I think it's time to cash in the chips, and make a move west to Mayo, probably at christmas. With the equity built up in the house in Dublin, we can take our time, and not be under any pressure to take the first job that comes along. I think I'd like to maybe take on a retail outlet or shop in the Sligo area, or maybe buy some outlets and rent them out, or buy a business...who knows.... but I can't see me working for anyone anymore on a salary. Probably won't even need a mortgage to build our own house now... so I think it's a "no brainer" at this stage, we should make the big move.

Was going to write a bit about Poker but I'm too damn tired.

Alright, Calm Down, Calm Down !

2005-10-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry about delay in new blog entry, but I've just about returned to sobriety !

Was in Liverpool last weekend for a friends Stag weekend. Pints in the City centre were £1.19 each .... need I say more? So a £10 note gets you just about 9 pints !
Well, talk about favourable pot odds !!!
Nightlife is great as well, just shows you how badly we're being ripped off here.
Got tickets from touts for Liverpool game, all the lads support them. Match was shite, and was not impressed by Anfield at all really, City Ground Nottingham is a far nicer ground.
Hotel was nice, staff were Nazi's, Fire Alarm went off at 4.30am, good job we were still up ...lol ... what a weekend !!

Very little live poker so far this month, although when I play it's still going quite well.

4 Live tourneys this month so far. Friday 7th was in the AUL, which has now ceased it's tourneys, 22 runners, I was 4th for £100. Pushed with 10 10 and called by chip leaders A 7, he spiked an Ace on the river. Pity, the double up would have given me a nice base to make a claim on first place for a 3 in a row at the AUL.

Then on the following Sunday, played Oscars €30 tourney for the first time, very good value. Got shite cards for an hour and a half, but the 12 seater tables, and relaxed blind structure meant time was on my hands. Starting getting some cards and worked my starting stack of 4000 up to about 5500, when I got busted.
Dealt AA in SB, folded around to me, I raised 3*BB (3*400=1200) and The Snapper in the BB called me.
Flop K 7 4 ... I led out with a bet of 1500, The Snapper re-raises me all-in. I couldn't put him on any 2 pair, as he wouldn't have called the raise, as he would have given me credit for a decent hand.
The set of 7's or 4's crossed my mind, but I felt the most probable scenario was, he had AK, and thought that I had raised with AK, AQ, AJ or QQ, JJ etc...
I felt I was in trouble here, as The Snapper is a good tourney player, but I had 2700 of my 5500 chips in the middle, and having 2800 left if I folded was going to leave me very shortstacked, so I called hoping to see that he had pushed thinking the King put him ahead. Alas he had 44 so a set of 4's put me out.

Went Upstairs and played the freeroll, which I won, so I've now €350 credit in the Fitz, so I'll play the €270 game this month.

Only other game was in Drogheda, where a lot of Dublin based boardsters made the trip, and were duly sent home by the locals.
I finished on the bubble in 10th, again had poor cards, and got as far as I felt I could. Maybe should have pushed one orbit earlier but had 2 all-ins before me, and thought I was behind, which did prove to be the case.

Think I'll take trip up to Drogheda again this evening for Shortstack's Tourney.

Forest up to 8th now, so hope the run continues.

Bloggers Tourney

2005-10-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

I have registered to play in the
Online Poker Blogger Championship!

This event is powered by PokerStars.

Registration code: 8048495

Can we do September Again?

2005-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, this is primarily a Poker Blog, and what a month September was for me.

As you know, I withdrew some money from my on-line bankroll to give live poker a fair go.

After a fairly slow start and some incredible bad beats, I've been on an amazing run. Of my last 10 live tournaments, I've made 9 final tables !

Last Sunday I was down home and made the final table in a pub tourney in Kitimagh, playing with Louis Walsh's brother on my table most of the night. Lost a huge pot on the second last table so limped onto final table very low stacked but managed to win a free ticket for the next time I'm down ... 8th out of 46 runners.

Thursday, I was in town in the afternoon and decided to play the Fitz freeroll, the €270 game was taking place afterwards, I won a ticket there at the freeroll, so very happy, however decided to leave it in credit and play it next month (October) as I was feeling a little tired and wanted to get home to some nice home made food....by me, Lasagne, my favourite! Kinaldo from Boards also won a ticket, and Doc Farrell went out around 11th or 12th.
And last Friday night, to top it all off, I won again at the AUL taking home €800. There's talk of moving from the AUL due to poor taxi access, but I can't complain about the place. Played 2, Won 2 ! Big Dragon from Boards was 3rd, I'm afraid I took him out, but put his chips to good use. Heads Up I was 3/1 down starting off, but after 10 mins or so, I felt I had the upper hand, and just ground my opponent down with constant pressure. I felt I had a good read on him as well, so I knew when to drop the cards when he came back at me.

The heads up was very enjoyable and took about 30 mins before my A9 beat his Q6 when he made his deperate last attempt to double up.

All in all for the month of September, I cleared over €3300 profit which is just brilliant.

However, Ollie Boy makes that look like peanuts ! Ollie won the Speed Poker open in the UK for STG £50000 ! He qualified through a $4 satellite, won his heat and semi final and obviously the final as well. He said he will give me a DVD of the series, as I have NTL and not Sky so I don't have the Poker Channel. what a result !

Another lad from Boards.ie, Imposter won a trip to Vegas !

The guys on Boards are going to be serious players in the future !

Forest seemed to have turned the corner at long last, and are looking like they should be there or there abouts at the end of the season pushing for promotion. I'll keep my feet on the ground for a while yet, but it makes a change to have some sort of promise at last.

Next weekend Sherwin is off on a hen weekend to London, I'm going to Liverpool to the stag the weekend afterwards, so busy time ahead.

I think I'll play the Sunday €30 fFreezeout for the first time when Sherwin is away , as well as my Friday AUL game, if it's still going ahead there. Rounders123 won that a couple of weeks ago, and it is supposed to be a great tourney.

Playing a wee bit of on-line poker again, Betfair STT's, going to be disciplined and try and work up a nice big wad of money to have a great blow out of a Christmas! No Messing about, I'm on a mission !

Radio Campaign starts tomorrow on Newstalk , so here we go with Magazines365.com, it's time to tell the public !

A Visit from 'The Stupid Fairy'

2005-09-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

As Gerry Adams once said (sorta) .... "She hasn't gone away you know."

Well I had a visit from an old friend last night at the Drogheda tournament, shortstacked as usual until the freezeout begun, I built my stack through some quite nice poker based on solid hands, nothing amazing, but just played quite strongly, to build my stack up to about 30000, and we were down to 21 or 22 people.

My stack is in the top 6 or 7 left, and there's plenty of shortstacks around, so I'm feeling quietly confident of another final table appearance.

Then the wheels come off, and I'm disappointed in myself really, I though I had left this poor play behind.

Firstly, I got AJ spades, in CO position, so definitely a blind robbing opportunity (800/1500), so I put in a raise of 5000 into the BB who has only about 12000 left, so he was going to have to have a good hand to defend his blind. Anyway he called flop came 7 4 10 (2 spades), so I had overcards and nut flush draw, so put him all-in for his last 7000. He himmed and hawwed and called with his A 4, so my stack is reduced to 18000, as no help came for my flush.

I wasn't too bothered about this play, I tried to put pressure on the shortstack from the off, I think he made a very questionable call of the raise, and spiked a 4, shit happens. You have to make moves like this in a tournament of these amount of runners, it was a power play semi-bluff, and all the conditions were right for the move, it just didn't pay off.

Then I get my visit from Stupid Fairy a couple of hands later, I'm embarrassed writing this but heh, it's a blog, so there has to be Bad and Ugly as well as the Good ...right?

UTG, stack of 18000, blinds about to go up to 1500/3000 next hand, I get 88. My instinct said fold, a raise would require 8000 at least to get around this table, and if called I'd be in limbo land, and after my recent flush draw episode, there was a good chance I would be called. So fold is the decision, next thing I hear is 'All-In' (who said that?) ...lol.... it was the 'Stupid Fairy' and my stack is in the middle of the table, a very quick call from a large stack to my immediate left, and I knew that I'll be home an hour earlier than the last couple of weeks.

So my 8d8h is up against KsKc .....goodnight Irene, and thanks Stupid Fairy, I've missed you, I thought you had found some other sucker to play with.

Flop 6d 9d 5d .... oooohhhhh, any diamond, any 7, and 8 .... the lad with KK is shitting himself

Turn 8 ! ... damn, it's a 9, I thought it was an 8 for a second ..... pant pant

River ... K

I fairness, it was nearly worth it, to see the sweat running off yerman with the KK.

Cherrio Cheerio Cheerio

Myself and the Stupid Fairy had quite a discussion going home in the car !

Pubs are for Drinking In ....Sigh !

2005-09-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

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.

H...H...H...HOT !

2005-09-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm long overdue a new post on the blog, but the run has been so good lately I didn't want to disturb the Karma !
An early exit in the Crapshoot that is the Merrion freeroll last night, has given the licence to publish blog again!

In my last post, I mentioned that I won at The Mayfair Freeroll which was worth €100 to me, well anyways two days later, the place went out of business ! .. Ha Ha, trust me ! I had shares with a stockbroker in Cork that went out of business a few years ago as well, and got caught there as well, when once of the partners was involved in serious fraud of theft of clients monies (including mine and our share club !) ... so a Casino and a Stockbrokers go bust owing me money .... lucky or what !!
I believe they will send out a cheque for my €100 .... we'll see !

However, that final table in the mayfair was the first of 5 final Multi Table Tourneys tables in a row !

A couple of days later, made the final table in the Merrion freeroll, missed the prizes when going out on the bubble, but another good performance. Then won $412 on an on-line tourney on betfair finishing 3rd of 400 runners.
Then last week, the highlight of my shortish poker career, finishing 3rd of 90 runners in Drogheda for €650 last Thursday, and then the following night winning the tournament of 39 runners in the AUL for €1000 ....:) Happy Days !
Met Big Dragon before, met Dub 13 and Corben Dallas for the 1st time at the AUL, so 4 'boardies' on the final table I think speaks for itself.

Both Drogheda and the AUL tourneys are run by Shortstack and the quality of the tournament and of the players is very good, better than the casinos at this buy-in level of €25

I changed my game ever so slightly, getting involved in more pots, however the main reason for success is that I didn't receive any bad beats, I was putting the chips in when ahead, and the hands had stood up. I took some unbelieveable bad beats a few weeks ago that were unreal, and I would have cashed in a few tourneys if it wasn't for that, so overall I'm delighted with my game, and feel I now have the game to compete for the money in any tourney I enter.

That's not to say there's alot more to learn, I'm reading Harringtons 2nd book at the moment, and I'm just coming to parts of the book where there are some totally new concepts I'm trying to get my head around (Inflection Points ....(wtf!) )

I think my 'freeroll' days are behind me now, I'm going to make the AUL game on a Friday my 'home tourney', it's a 20 minute spin down the M50, and if I feel like a few beers as well, it's fine to get a taxi from there if needed. The game in Drogheda on Thursday is only 30 mins away, and that is a cracking tournament, so when I'm going home to Mayo at the weekend, when I miss the Friday game, I will play the Thursday one instead .... great to have a choice !

I think I'll also play the Fitz on a Wednesday anymore, so they will be my two live tourneys a week from now on. I'm getting bored of playing on-line, while it is profitable in the main, it is just not worth the effort and unsociable aspect of it.
It's OK if Sherwin is out, or gone shopping for a while, but not when she's in the house, it's not fair. Will log on for an hour or so, when 'Off the Rails' is on etc.... as she will be glad to be rid of me then :)

In other news www.magazines365.com is up and running, so hopefully that will go well. Got alot of nice comments and feedback from the 'boardies' so that's positive. Will commence a marketing campaign in October, booked some time on Newstalk 106 and working on some other promotions as well, including on-street activity.

Any of you guys who play poker can get Cardplayer (America and Europe versions)http://www.magazines365.com/searchresult.php?cid=2 (pimping I know), but our slogan is "Magazines For All Sorts!", so hopefully after a few weeks, we'll have a massive range of magazines that can live up to that slogan.

Will be going home this weekend for a visit, it's a month today since my pal Bernard was killed, I still can't believe he is gone. I was very upset when I didn't think I had a really good photo of us together (you don't think (do you?) of bringing a camera out for a few pints), but my wife Sherwin assured me she had a good one...and boy was she right. If I had to choose any night to have a photo of us together it was the night of the Millenium, and that is the one I have, you can see all the decorations up in the background, it's a brilliant photo, and now one of my most treasured possessions, especially poignant as Bernard's Birthday was January 1st as well.

Qualified for Grand Final of European Tour qualifier on PPP through a satelitte, so will play that tonight, and see if my good run can continue.
I'm enjoying playing good poker now, and I'm getting most of Hectorjelly's conundrums and scientific formulas right as well, so I must be making progress :)

Forest relegation zone Division 2 (3!) ... no more words necessary, they are only wasted :(

Keep Lucky Folks !

The 'Treble' is completed .

2005-08-30T05:23:00.000-07:00

So how did my weekend go on the poker front .... not so great really.

Firstly I withdrew from Neteller some money from on-line winnings to give a few live tourneys a crack. I truly believe in good bankroll manegement and don't dip in to other funds.

Starting with Wednesday night, at a local pub game that was paying about €900 for first prize, was down to the last 12 and a healthy stack cruise onto last table if I want to, dealt KK.
UTG, about same size stack as me, raised 5BB, folded around to me, and I put him all-in, I was quite sure he would fold, as any time my cards were shown all night, I had the goods. But nope he called with 99, which I thought was a terrible call, but of course he made a 9 high straight (wtf!). If it was in a casino I would have won the hand as when the first card on the flop came as a King, he threw his cards into the middle face down, only when he saw the other two helping cards, did he pick them up again, if it happened in a casino a dealer would have mopped up the cards. I didn't make a big deal of it, and accepted the beat, but looking back I was a fool, and should have got a ruling, especially as I was well in the hunt for the dosh. Played very well, and got yet another terrible beat, surely I can't keep getting these hammer blows?

Next up to Drogheda on the Thursday night to Shortstack tourney which was a disaster for me. I went up with the buy in and 3 re-buys and I used them all :(
Was behind once when I stuck my chips in with TPTK against a set of 9's, which was my first move of the night, but after that was out drawn on each occassion.
It's a good tourney but you must acculumulate chips quickly as you start with 1000, and blinds are 25/50 to start with, so the pressure is on if you get involved in any pot you don't win initially. Eventually out when I had 88 on button, shortstacked, and moved against UTG raiser who i hoped would fold, as after giving him a good studying, I knew he didn't want a caller. Anyways he called me with A 10, which again is a very dubious raising hand UTG, and he hit a 10 on the turn so that was that. Disappointed with myself, but simply no cards. Next Time !

Friday night there was a €40 freezeout in The Anglers Rest which was a great tourney, well structured, nice crowd and a good standard. Again absolutley terrible cards, and lasted alot longer than I should have considering, and from the 56 starters made it to the last 15. Top 10 was paid, all be it top 5 was where the real money was, so I was not going to get anywhere with my poor stack unless I made some rapid progress, so with a raiser and 2 callers, I went all in with 89 suited, thinking alot of overcards were in play, and this was a chance to at least treble up.... I nearly pulled it of, as 89 fell on the flop, but the preflop raiser with QQ caught a Q on the river. Joe O'Neill won it. Happy with play, just no cards again. Sigh

Saturday went on the beer with a buddy of mine in the city and watched the Tyrone/Dublin game, back out to Clonsilla to the local and spent the night there trying to talk sense which was getting difficult at that stage. Met a nice Czech fellah that night who was out for a few pints, so hope to see him again around the place, even though Myself and Michael didn't make much sense at that stage to each other, never mind the language barrier we had with yerman.

Sunday, I had €60 credit at the Merrion from a freeroll win, so used it in a €15 tourney, was sitting at same table as a RTE broadcaster who was a very nice bloke. Man this was a loose game of cards, and again, I'm low stacked to medium stacked all night, and I'm thinking to myself I need to re-access my live play. How come I make very regular money on-line, but not off-line?
Main answer is I suppose, I'm only starting off-line and need to get more experience, and a decent run of cards to see if things even themselves out. Again I go out with about 18 left from 60 starters or so, with QK, and made a similar value move in an attempt to win a big pot. No good, no help so home again James!

So still nothing doing, I think about it on the way home, I think about it the next day, and I think I'm just playing too tight. I can play tighter on line because you get alot more hands in for the blind levels. In live play you might only get one orbit per blind level, and if I'm not prepared to mix it, then I'll get blinded out.

So, decided to go to the Mayfair freeroll. Mayfair is very nice, great dealers, and the highest standard of freeroll players I've seen. 37 starters. Had decided I was going to play alot more hands straight from the off, and played more like a cash game player and sure enough the chips starting coming my way with some aggressive play. Anyways long story short, got some luck with 1/3 of my chips on the way when I hit a 10 high straight against KK, but made the final table as one of 4 big stacks against 4 very short stacks.

4 tickets on offer, you would think the 4 big stacks would play together against the short stacks ....not on your nelly.

I get dealt AK, I have two big stacks to my left, and the short stacks are at the other end, I raise 4BB and two of the shorties go all in, I take them both out, so just two more to go. Then all us big stacks get involved in the craic and really play agressively against each other including some all-in moves and the shorties are just praying we will take one of us out...it didn't happen in the end, so wrapped up a ticket for myself to their monthly big tournament.
The final table is a beatiful table at the Mayfair as well, some piece of furniture.

Really enjoyed the evening, and enjoyed playing more hands post flop, which I know I can do, so that is new approach for a while anyway and we'll see where it leads.

The Mayfair win completes the 'treble' on the Dublin Casino's freerolls in the last 2 months or so (first time there as well) ... time to start cashing out now !!

Sherwin arrived back this morning from New York so that'll put a halt to my live poker gallop for a while, but now with renewed optimism, I'm ready to play winning live poker now .... need to fill up Neteller first though !

Young (ish), Free (ish) and Single (ish) for the weekend !

2005-08-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

So my lovely darling wife has gone to see her brother in New York, she did however remember to bring the Credit Card with her.

I wonder what I will do for the weekend ?

First stop is Shortstacks €25 Tourney in Drogheda anyway...... report to follow soon (ish)

I hate "Namby Pamby's"

2005-08-22T03:53:00.000-07:00

After watching the Gladiators of Galway and Kilkenny sweat blood, sweat and tears in honour of their county jersey, and put on a sporting spectacle of immense proportions, by flicking the channel and seeing Chelsea V Arsenal on TV, it makes you realise just how lucky we are to have the GAA in this country.

As I am getting older, I'm getting more and more into the GAA, and less and less into Soccer.

Why?

Amongst many things (including Nottingham Forest playing in the never never league), I think the main reason is I hate Namby Pamby's. I hate Pires rolling around clutching his shoelaces after triping on a blade of grass. I hate Rio Ferdinand stalling over a £120,000 a week wage deal. I hate Lee Bowyer walking free away from court after nearly killing an Asian Kid. I hate Sven Boring Erikson, who hasn't a clue what he's at.

I love seeing players giving 100% for their supporters, in return these players get idolised, the sport is cherished and passed on to the next generation, people are happy to pay their money to watch them, and life for all of us is enhanced.

I haven't spoke much about Forest on my blog so far, despite being a fan all my life.
My brother is a season ticket holder, and been born in Nottingham, I still travel over 3 or 4 times a year for matches.

Nottingham Forest are a bunch of overpaid footballers who badly need a weeks training with Ger Loughnane or John Maughan. At the moment, Forest players make me sick.

In fact a trip to Croke Park in Dublin would be very beneficial.
Let those overpaid, self egotistical, soft Namby Pamby's see what it is like when 15 amateur sportsmen meet 15 amateur sportsmen with pride and passion, and play to 100% of their capabilities every single time they pull on their beloved jersey.
Let Nottingham Forest players see how 85,000 people are on the edge of their seats roaring on their team as if life itself depended on it. Let them see 2 fellahs collide at full force, eyes only for the ball, and then get back up again. Let them see there is no such thing as a magic sponge. If you are hurt, you are hurt.... If you not hurt, you get back up again and go.

Soccer is now rotten, it is plastic, it means nothing.
At least the Irish Lads make it bearable, we will not allow our Irish team to give anything other than 100%.

Yes Indeed, we are lucky to have the GAA in Ireland, at least I can look forward (please god) to another 40 years of this fantastic sport.

Yes Indeed, I hate Namby Pamby's.

Sums up the week.

2005-08-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

So after drowning my sorrows all week, I decided to try and keep occupied until the weekend, where I think I will sleep as long as I can.

So, I went to the Merrion for a game of poker, with the determination to do well. Determined to try and harness some pent up energy and emotions and channel them poistively.....sounds so stupid I know, if I was a boxer it would make sense, but I'm not.
Played some great poker I thought, some good folds, and some very well timed agression, and we were down to the last 10 from a field os about 80 I'd say..... Only one more to go to get onto the final table.... I was looking good.

Of the 10 left in the room, I am 2nd in chips, marginally behind a young lad immediately on my right. I had been impressed by this guys reads of players throughout the evening, and had the opportunity to use this observation to my advantage.

Under the Gun (1st to act for non poker buffs) I get dealt the infamous AA. A call from me would look very unusual so I raised 3 times the blind, and it was folded around to the lad on the Big Blind on my right, who I had already sensed had also picked up a nice hand.

As I said before, I had been impressed by his read of people, and he was giving me quite a studying, deciding whether to fold or re-raise me all in I guess. So, I actually fed him a bit of a 'false tell' which he fell for, and he came over the top all-in. I was delighted as I really felt I had induced a mistake out of him.

He has AQ, so I'll leave the poker mathematicians to work it out, but I must be at least a 6/1 favourite, with him being dominated. However it wouldn't be the first time AA was cracked, so I braced myself for the flop.

Over it game, a beautiful rainbow 9 3 9 .... any flush or straight possibilities are gone ... I'm looking being massive chip leader on the final table, only runner runner 2 Queens can help this guy now ..... again I'll leave the mathematicians to work it out.
The guy to my left said he folded a queen then, so this guy needs the only 2 queens left in the pack to come out now on the turn and river............and they did.

Unbelievable, all I can do is shrug, and leave my chair. Unbelievable. It just sums up my week, kicked in the balls again.

However, by the time I had left the room, I was over it......... After what has happened this week, it's not important, not one little bit, and you know what, I think that this realisation will help my poker game......not that that is very important either, but you only live once, and I enjoy it.

Come on Forest, let's try and turn the corner.

It puts it all in persepective.

2005-08-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night, one of my very best buddies was killed in a car crash. I miss him badly.
Rest in peace Bernard, my pal.

Rant

2005-08-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

OK, one last rant, while I'm waiting for my fucking website to be finished.

This has been on my mind a little over the last 3 months or so ........

WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO NOTTINGHAM FOREST ?

Rant over :-)

The Wall?

2005-08-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

Trying to keep an up to date blog going is hard work !

Mayo were useless again at the weekend against Cavan, hopefully not too long until Maughan is gone, and O'Mahony is in.

I post quite a bit on boards.ie, and find it a good place to keep up to date with what's happening around the Poker and GAA scene, it's a great place to spend your lunchtime munching a sandwich, or just browsing at night, whilst folding bad hands at poker.

One thing that is really pissing me off though, is the way fellahs that only took up the game a few months ago feel that somehow they are the 'chosen few' or something, that new players are somehow invading their space. They tend to be pretty short on 'newbie' questions that get asked on discussion forums, questions like "Did I play this right?" when their Aces get cracked by 67 off suits.
Sure some of the questions have been asked before, guaranteed they were asked by the fellahs slagging people off at the moment, but somehow after 18 months of playing poker, they now have gained enough stripes to become the poker police, and refuse to answer certain questions that don't meet up to their new found elite standards within the game.
These guys are assholes.

I then look at lads like HectorJelly, Nicky O'D and BigDragon ... none of them are actually the soft cuddly type, but they give their time and knowledge to others, and they get their point of view across in a (cough :)) straightforward manner.

I'm about 10 months playing now, and doing well, but I've hit a bit of a wall at the moment, not losing money, but not earning either. Bit like the golfer changing his swing, the more knowledge I am gaining, the more it is making my game feel to me more technical.

I guess I need to play through it. The concenus seems to be it is normal to go through such a phase.

Going to hit into The Fitz on Thursday, time to start producing a few results now, so first on the agenda is to win a ticket into the €270 game this month.

Reading Slanksky theory on poker at the moment, and then Harrington's 2nd book.

Work is going OK, though still waiting for the web designer to finish the bloody website www.magazines365.com. Anyone would think he was creating a nuclear missile the amount of time he is taking over it, it's getting embarrassing having to keep telling people it will be ready 'next week' (again).
Still, we have alot of the major UK and Irish publishers on board so things do look promising. Biggest hurdle to the success of the buisness is the postage costs involved for the subscriptions, but hopefully the digital magazines and newspapers will enable us to overcome that, and An Post should be getting some competition soon, and things should improve then...and who knows whats around the corner then.

Sherwin is gearing up for her trip to the USA at the end of the month, and shopping will be a plenty, so time for me to try and make a few quid this month.

Brothers Neil and Chris & Family was home for the bank holiday weekend from the UK, so it was nice to catch up over a few pints. With Forest playing in the never never league, it will be hard to pick a couple of 'must see' matches next season, but I guess I will go over for a couple of games ...depressing thought really.

Getting involved in a little business on the side ...more about that next time hopefully.

Summer Time and the Living is Easy ... (yeh right) !

2005-07-19T02:33:00.000-07:00

Poker, did I mention I like poker?

Anyways my debut in the €270 in the fitz was shortlived, after an hour or so, last hand before the break my set of queens met a 'nordie' on a Flush draw, I pushed all-in on the flop to take him of the draw, but he decided to gamble, and his AK suited found another pal, and I was on my way home.

Enjoyed the experience, although the standard of play was nowhere near as daunting as I thought it would be. Indeed the first hand on my table a guy busted out on top pair (6) with an gut buster straight draw (wtf !) to the unraised big blind who had flopped a straight !!
He got a rapturous round of applause from everyone, but he must have felt a right muppet.
I had played at his table before and he raises everything, and does build quite a stack normally through getting weak players to fold their cards.

This information came in handy a couple of weeks ago when he was on my table at the only other cash tourney I have entered in the Fitz so far, the €20 rebuy, he was quite shortstacked raised into me on the big blind, I had AA, and had great satisfaction in re-raising him all-in.
I didn't take too kindly to that and said " I will decide if you are putting me all-in or not... he then folded. I don't like his smugness, and will be waiting for him again, as I have a reasonable read on him now, and think he will be a chip donator over time.
Finished on the bubble in that €20 tourney, which was good going, but ahould have just cruised into final table and not get involved in the pot that got my knocked out.... Lesson learned.

At a bit of a crossroads now in my poker development. I'm up around €3K this year, but have made this primarily from $10 and $15 STT's, the odd MTT. I have cashed out any large amounts, paying for a new PC and a holiday to Croatia, so only keep about $150 on-line, enough to furnish my present STT requirements.
I think I am a better player than this, but that means proving it, and moving up the scale a little and entering more tourneys to start making some real money.
With this, obviously the higher risk factor kicks in, and I bloody well hate losing money.

Anyways, I've decided to commence with an off-line bankroll as well as an on-line bankroll, because a new poker club has opened in the locality above a pub called the Anglers Rest. This will enable me to start from a bankroll off €100 or so and play the €10 STT's and take it from there. I'm confident that this is the right approach and soon enough I can have a profitable income from offline poker, which is far more sociable than on-line poker, which means playing in isolation in a room away from Sherwin and Scooby and cups of cocoa etc... you know yourself. Far better to designate 2 nights a week to offline profitable (hopefully) poker, than 5 or 6 nights grinding it out on-line.

In other news www.magazines365.com is about ready to open it's virtual doors for business. Been tough getting the publishing houses to come on board ..in fact it has been tough just getting them to take calls or reply to e-mails etc... however one by one, we have signed up some leading publishing houses such as National Magazines (UK), Brooklands Media Group (UK) Dennis Publishing (UK) , Ashville (Ireland) .... so it's looking promising. Have been disappointed with the Irish response, typical Irish 'wait and see, sit on fence' attitude, despite our business offer being a 'no-brainer/no win-no fee' concept to them.....more about Magazines365.com in my next blog update.

Friends Michael and Caroline got engaged by visiting Strawberry Fields (not beds !) in Liverpool a couple of weeks ago, so that was cool, went on the beer in Ennis with them to celebrate, and then up to the Connaught Final in Galway last weekend, where Mayo were shite. Shite is an understatement. Maughan has to go now, he has fell out with ahlf the squad. If he can't get the best 15 lads out on the field, what chance do we have ......none.

Hope to God, Johnno gets the job.

Heading over to Croatia in August to finalise appartment, as it is ready, just do snag list etc.... should have photos soon and will put up some here.

My mother and brother Neil both have birthdays this week, so when the lads come home from UK at the end of the month, we'll have a few beers. Nice to have brothers to have a few beers with ! I'm not buying any more cars of them though :)

Sherwin going to USA in September to her niece's christening. I'm not going, have to go out again to Croatia in Sept/Oct to but furniture etc.... and can't get time off work but she is in good hands as there is a gang of Carter family going over.

Was at U2 as well, great gig, although seemed to go flat for about 30 mins or so towards the end IMHO.

Busted the lawnmower, after only that day preaching to my stubborn buddy Aidan about how great it was, he was going buying a petrol one, and preceded to do so.

Anyways, hope to get into a more frequent routine updating the blog, so until next time...cheerio.

The Promised Land

2005-06-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

I had intended to post an Action Packed II blog, but I was too action packed to post it !!
Business is getting ready to launch, and I've a personal interest in it's success, so I'm giving it 100% at the moment.

Tomorrow night, is a night I've been looking forward to since I started playing poker about 8 months ago ... the big €270 buy-in tournament in The Fitz in Dublin. I secured my ticket with a win last Sunday in the freeroll, where a combination of good luck when short stacked at the final table (my 22 made a flush !) and good cards (KK held up at last) meant a comfortable cruise into the 'money spot' ... so roll on Thursday.
This game is 'the game' in Dublin every month, the best players will be there, so I'll see where my game stands. I just want to play well, hopefully I'll get some decent cards, and not make a 'tyre-kicking' mistake that is a possibility when stepping up to this level..... I hope the 'Stupid Fairy' takes a night off anyway.

The young Irish lads who have gone over to Vegas have started well at the WSOP ... I'd like to play that in the next couple of years, so I better keep on improving and earn the entry fee !

I think I'm definitely going to play in The Irish Open next year, a €2k entry fee, so I think that is achievable if I set that as a goal and ringfence winnings into Neteller or somewhere.

Brought a '96 BMW car in from the UK, Chris my builder brother bought it for me at an auction, and I'd say he's glad to see the back of it, as the head needed replacing. It's going fine now, leaking a little oil, but I'm going to drive it into the ground anyway, it's only a runaround.
Was also at Conor's (my nephew) christening earleir in the month as well, and the session that followed it was legendary, my dad certainly enjoyed it anyway !!

Apartment in Croatia should be ready in a couple of weeks, going to be hard to get off work to get the keys and do snag list, but hopefully investment will pay off.

Action Packed Few Days ! - Part 1

2005-06-03T05:28:00.000-07:00

I suppose I'll start with Liverpool's win in the Champions League.
I'm a Nottingham Forest fan since the late 1970's, and Liverpool would have been our traditional rivals, I seen Dalglish, McDermott, Souness etc ... strutt their stuff at the City Ground at my second match (first was 2-0 V's Bristol City... remember them !!).
I never really had any strong dislike for Liverpool, but they would annoy me, as they were the rivals.
I think Hillsborough (V's Forest) changed all that, whenever I hear "You'll never walk alone" now, it puts hairs on the back of my neck, it's the greatest football song of all time without a doubt...so I kinda secretly like them now.
Anyways I was delighted they won the other night, because I'm sick of the way football is going, commercially driven corporations, exploiting marketing opportunities and indeed exploiting people in Asia etc... and just using football clubs and their fans as pawns in a Global game of Monopoly.
Football is deeper than that, it was anyway, your club was for life, you were proud of your team, your players were part of the community, you drank bovril at half time with your dad .... football was important.
Now it makes me sick, crappy footballers earning 100K a week, Vodafone etc... with their brands shoved in your face every where you turn, footballers diving, cheating.
Look at all the small provincial clubs.. Forest, Notts County, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry, Wolves.... gone to the hinterlands of football 'Championship' ..... There's another thing, the fucking Premiership, the Championship, and then the Football League 1 and 2 ..... what a load of commercial marketing codswallop .... exactly the sort of crap that is ruining football .... that and 2 new football kits per club per season to rip off parents even further.
Anyways, most of my friends are Liverpool fans, and in fairness it was the greatest football comeback of all time, so kudos to 'De Pool'

Anyways, moving on, went over to Tuscany for a long weekend to a wedding of close friends, Hetty & Eamonn who weren't prepared to get ripped off here by greedy hoteliers....fair play to them, had a mighy weekend and had some craic. 30/31 Celcius every day .... happy days. Stayed on a Wine Estate with swimming pool etc ... great trip away. Wedding was in a courtyard of this old Castle Hotel, seven course meal, took about 5 hours to serve ....it's the Italian way, but it was really cool.
Sherwin went on the piss with the other girls Nuala, Rachel and Amy on the plane back and was very funny.
Italian bar we were drinking in ran out of beer (bottles, draught you name it) 3 nights in a row, the owner never seen 50 Irish people away for the weekend drink :-)
Cops even came into bar to see what was happening with the bar being so busy, but they just had a drink themselves and left .... all good natured fun.
Couple of the single Irish girls scored as well, so that kept a grin on their face.

P.S

Do not drive on motorways at night in Italy , the truckers are mental ... not funny mental, fatally mental !

I Don't Believe It !! (Zig & Zag late 1980's)

2005-05-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I'm doing this, my own blog !

Never heard of a blog until recently, a couple of people I know through from on-line discussion forums have them, and I think they are a good idea.

The aim of my blog will be just for me to say things as I see them.
Most probably will be about Poker, GAA, Golf or something trivial like that, but I hope not, I'd like to think I have more substance to me than that.

Maybe nobody will read it ... we'll see.