I Actually Won

We have a steady 10 and sometimes 11 for our house game but sometimes we change it around a little and a niece of Cathys is one of those who joins us when she is around. Unfortunately she had suffered some ill health of late but thankfully a recent transplant has greatly improved things for her. As often happens when someone you know benifits like this Liam and Cathy ran the half marathon in Dublin last weekend to raise funds for a transplant charity. SO the pay in at our last house game went towards their fundraising. Normally this would lead to a very very loose game but with league points on offer it was amazingly steady for a freeroll. Now having said that our games are never tight. James (the kid) raises or reraises the first hand every night blind. As can be expected he frequently gets called or reraised and pots build even on the first blind level. True to form he open raised blind last week got two callers I'm big blind and look down and big slick. I motion to push all in and say the same followed by a laugh before retreating but the kid quickly delares the verbal bet binding( rightly) so I push them out the full way this time. Now he looks at his cards and quickly folds and the rest follow, a winning start.
The kid is aggressive but he was running into hands on the night and made an early exit which seemed to open up a few more chances for me to make moves and I had to. For the 3 hours we played I got two pocket pairs both sixies and 3 big slicks but I was hitting a few flops and got away with a few bluffs when needed. I flopped trips holding Q3 and it turned into a house on the turn to take down a big pot. Later when it was down to the last 3 Jim, Liam and myself I held the same hand but my stack was begining to drop and I was ready to make a play from the BB. Jim folded the button and Liam made a standard raise. I called not that worried about my hand. Flop is A 2 5 rainbow left me with an inside straight draw but Liam bet the pot so I should have left it go but as I said I wasn't playing my hand, I liked the flop as I would have called Liam's raise preflop with an ace small so I am calling here to reraise all in on the turn no matter what comes. Well wouldn't you know it a four comes on the turn to give me the straight!!!!!! Liam again bet out and my first instinct is to flat call with my big hand but then I decide to stick to the original plan and pushed. The only difference is now I am hoping Liam actually has a hand he can't let go, but "go" he did. Still I won a good pot and Liam soon knocked out Jim to leave us heads up. I soon got the chip lead and never gave it up finally taking it down when I limped in (not for the first time) with Big slick, Liam moved all in and of course I called. He turned over a K9--perfect first card on the flop a--- 9---but I got my ACE ON THE RIVER.

I've been quiet on the poker front for the last while. I've played a few nights at the local--cashed without winning, a few house games--we have started a league over ten nights, I am bottom after the first two nights and I've had my biggest online cash--a modest $31 but good for the stakes I play. It all sounds like a lot but really my mind has been else where lately as I am trying to get a new business off the ground. It won't be full time work but it will hit my poker playing due to the unsociable working hours of being a track side bookie at Limerick greyhound track. It will be November at least before I start (if I get a licence)but the homework has started already. Of course if things go well I might have the finances to take my poker too another level but am I good enough to play at that level???

Fish Hooked

After my little break over the previous month I have been on something of a poker binge for the last week. First I had my "BIG WIN" in the $3 tournament then took to the local pub for the first time in ages and make the cash when finishing 4th. On Thursday I bubbled for the ticket to the Brucepoker game and after I posted about that I played a little cash. It was late and I sat in with only 60 BB not intending to stay long but man it was a lovely table. Before long I had doubled my stack and then I got involved in a big hand with over 250 BB in the middle. I hit my king high flush on the river but got wacked when the other guy turned over the Ace high flush to beat me. Not long ago this would have hit me hard but on the night I merely bough back in for the max. 100 BB and set to work. Within 10 minutes I again got it all in the middle with the same guy for 230 BB and busted him. Unfortunately he had loss the rest of his stack before I could get it but still I turned if a profit and logged off happy
On Friday I was back to the cash bought in for the hundred BB and set to work. But it just wasn't going right!! Not that I didn't get cards but when I did no one else did and I only took down small pots. And when I made a move I just seemed to run into it. Example--Guy looses a big pot and goes all in on the hand, I have Ace Queen suited in Late position and re raise all in but one of the blinds joins the party!! First guy turns over 10-3 off and the blind shows ace king and an ace on the turn means I have to re buy.
Now long after these 3 hands happen. Firstly I pick up pocket Jacks and raise getting one caller, finally a little action. An ace on the flop sees the betting very cautious but a Jack on the river sets it in motion and I am delighted when he calls my re raise to put him all in---------BUT what does he turn over??? Pocket aces!!!
Next hand I pick up ace king suited and hope they will put me down as being on tilt when I re raise an early small stacked raiser. Anyway we end up getting it all in as my raise means he has to go all in or fold and I call the small re raise. He turns over ace king off and we split.
The very next hand I pick up the fish hooks (jacks) again surely this time!! I raise again, they will definitely think I am gone mad and I am not surprised to get re raised and follow the script of the mad man by making an over the top re raise HA HA--- He gladly calls and proudly(can you do proudly online??) turns over pocket ACES and john is on the ropes. No help from the dealer, always blame the dealer and I hit the canvas. Hook Line and Sinker I fell for it blinded by my own GREAT PLAN!!
A good kick does everyone good once in awhile.

Sick as a PIG

Just played the Brucepoker freeroll for two tickets to their tournament in Carrick on Shannon next Friday. I'm not going to go into details but I bubbled in an unusual final table that left me sick as a pig. The only comfort is that I have just seen on boards.ie that the game is off!!!!

Back Playing

Despite what I said in my last post I got back to the tables over the weekend. I started on a .02-.04 cent cash game on Saturday evening(my level) and after doubling up I used my winnings to pay for a €3 tournament on Bruce poker. There where 160 starters and with the help of some nice cards I worked my way to the last table with an average stack and with six players I was lying third when I made a misstep and took my leave. It was however my biggest online cash at $22.08, a massive cash!!! and cheap fun.
Last night I played another of our house games. I haven't made the money in one of these in LONG TIME and decided to really give this one my "A" game. I lost a big hand in the third blind level with flopped trips fell to a flopped flush-- I made a bad read!!
But I wasn't giving up and was back to third in chips when I reraised all in with Jacks and the raiser gladly called with the rockets. I lost both these pots to Liam and he went on to win comfortably. The game went so quick we played a second one and again I was going nicely when Liam raised from early position and I reraised with my pocket rockets!! The big blind called and Liam called. Flop comes 7-7-10 and Liam moves all-in???? He out played me as I put him on a ten called and he turned over ?? yes that monster that is is is 7-2 OFF. F***** B******!!!
It was actually a night of bad beats and 7-2 proved a monster Jim low stacked reraised All In blind, from the BB after Marie had raised from the SB. Marie happily called and turned over 6-6.
No he didn't hit the Seven. No it wasn't trip twos, not a straight or a flush??? The board was J-J-8-8-3 and Jim's seven kicker played!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a sick game. Liam fell in the second game in two successive hands when his A-A was beaten by 9-9, it hit a straight and then his J-J was beaten by 8-8 when the eights hit a flush. There where more but that's enough for now. At least I was behind in the two hands I went out on and have no complaints.

Summer Time

Its over a month since I posted and I have played very little poker in that time. Two house games, poor showing as usual and a few hours a week online mainly NLH mixed with the odd bit of PLO.
So why so little?? Work thankfully has been more demanding but really its the long summer evenings and some good weather. I like to spend time in my garden not a pastime for poker players. My eldest daughter has taken up Camoige and there's no better way to spend your evenings than playing with your kids or taking them to matches. So why post on a poker blog about my "Other interests". Well my advice to anyone would be don't let poker rule your life. Having others outlets for your time gives you balance and when the cards turn against you BALANCE can be vital. Its healthier for both body and mind to get away from the tables for awhile and refresh your spirit.
Anyway enough mush!! I broke one of my top rules a few weeks back when I turned on the laptop to check my email when I got home from the dogs one night. I logged onto to Brucepoker and donkey called off one hundred BBs. I KNEW HE WAS BLUFFING!!!! I had only played a few hands how could I possibly have known anything??Of course he wasn't and I lost my buy in. LESSON never play when tired!!
So next time I was determined to get my game back on track. I kept my cool made some great reads, great calls god bluffs and value bets---result--- I lost one hundred and twenty five BB's. But that's poker the river just killed me time and time again and I left the game far happier than the previous night. Since then I have got my account back into better shape with a few cashes in the Freerolls and some nice wins on the cash tables. Nothing big just nice steady play. During this time I went almost 3 hours without a pocket pair and still came out winning so I have to be happy with that.
I have also been dipping my toe into PLO. I enjoy Omaha but as I have never played live I am taking in a little practice online before I venture out. The Cue Club has been running an Omaha game on Thursday nights and while I will have a runner in Limerick next Thursday night I am hoping to make it back shortly.

Knowing your level

I follow both Colette Murphy and Nicky Powers blogs and would like to congratulate both on their recent successes. Colette won two tickets for the recent JP Masters each worth €750 and cashed for €700 at her local The Fitz when finishing 3rd in a €125 game. Nicky took down his first ever live PLO tournament also at the JP Masters adding over €3000 to his bankroll.
Am I jealous? Are these the sort of results I aspire to?Not in the slightest and of course I would like to cash figures like that. But these guys play at a different level to me just now and just as I love to watch Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson or Phil Laak playing High Stakes I know I can't afford to play at any thing like these levels. There are four different No limit hold'em games, online tournament and cash plus live tournament and cash. Online I have accounts on both Boyles and Bruce which have small balance and I play tournaments and cash at very low buyin's and blinds. If I am good enough my balance will increase and allow me to play at higher levels if not then I am playing the right games. I am not willing to buy myself into bigger money games by lodging more money to my accounts so in this way I will find my own level online.
The live game is a little different. As I have said before I don't have a bankroll but when I have a few quid to spare I like to play. Tomorrow night I am off to the Cue Club again to try and win a ticket for the Munster Open. If I win one I'll play if I don't well then I will have to give it a miss. That's my level, I play small local event's and satts for bigger events.
What about Live Cash?? This is the hardest one!! I can play 5 cent 10 cent blinds online and take as little as a few dollars to a table but the smallest Live games are 1-2 euro blinds and you can't really sit at a table with less than €100 and really a bit more wouldn't go astray. So I have only ever played once in a live casino game and lost my whole buy-in in what was a great move until the river hit!!! However due to the kind donations of a few Limerick bookmakers I am thinking of giving it another go!!

Bruce Poker

I have followed Nicky Power Bloghttp://nicnicnicnic.blogspot.com/ since I first played against him at the Cue Club over 18 months ago and Bruce Pokershttp://www.brucebetting.com/ sponsorship deal with him was my first introduction to the site. Mind you I only opened an account with them a few weeks ago and transferred €10 (hey I said I was small time)to the poker account just over a week ago. Anyway it didn't take me long to lose my bankroll on the cash tables--I raised from under the gun with pocket jacks got called, raised,called,and called before it came back to me. I flat called?? and my first caller again called the raise. Flop comes two small spades and Jack of hearts. Lets cut the story short I end up getting it all in on the turn and only my first caller (last to call the reraise) called me. River is a spade and the guy turns over a seven high flush--------------------------. Maggie (my better half) was sitting alongside me and near flipped, how did he call the first raise, then the reraise and the "Big" all in on the turn???
Well not long ago I would have agreed but as I get older(at least that's my excuse) I take these things a little better. My only complaints where I have no more money in my account to rebuy and as it's online I may never get to play with this guy again and believe me I want to play with him every day so no rant but also no money in my account!!!
Solution??? FREEROLLS!!!!
Bruce run a €50 freeroll every night at eight so last Monday or was it Tuesday, no matter, I set to work. One hundred and ten started seventeen to get paid with a top prize of $11.50 I was on a mission. And just over 3 hours later mission was accomplished $11.50 in my account. No great stories to tell-- well what do you expect from an online freeroll but I'm back in business and while it's far from my biggest ever cash it was numerically the biggest event I have ever won.
I returned to the cash tables and played a few small tourneys for the rest of the week, ahead in the cash down in the tourneys and again played the freeroll on Thursday but ended up tossing in the chips silly as I had to put the kids to bed and maggie got a call. Not to worry it was only the freeroll and kids are far more important than poker.
I sat back into a cash game early yesterday evening with a small stack of $4.50 and as 3 other players joined at the same time and we all checked I didn't read the all-in from the big blind as strong. Now I had just arrived at the table so you can't say my read was strong but as I had more chips to call upon for a rebuy I decided to call and give a little action with my Kh 10h and was delighted to be facing a Qs 10s well I was delighted until 3 spades hit that is!!! Anyway I had 35 cents left and my 6-5 off was enough to call an early raises from the same player(I hadn't reloaded it time) and with another caller I tripled up against an A K and A Q by hitting trips on the river. Funny thing is I would have folded if I had reloaded t time!! And my luck continued as I left the table with over $23 and decided to try the freeroll again, I'm a cheap skate.
Ninety two sat down at eight o clock and at 11.15 I finished runnerup after I called an all-in with my top pair when I was slightly out chipped the the guy hit runner runner flush to take it down. Another $8 for my bulging account.
The lesson is for people like me who can get the trill from small money http://www.brucebetting.com/ ain't a bad site.

Cue Club Anniveresy

I have been playing a decent few live games since I posted last with my best result coming in Knockaderry last Wednesday when I got €105 for winning a 19 starter event. They play there twice a week on Wednesdays and Friday and it has always been a nice earner for me but I have only played there 3 times this year mainly due to work and that fact that I enjoy spending time at home with my family. Now it's always nice to win but the highlight of my poker playing over the last few weeks was in Killarney at the Cue Club for their 10th Anniversy event. It was the first time I have played in a three day event or anything longer than a single night event come to think of it and all I can say is I can't wait to play in my next one. We had a one hour clock and a 15,000 starting stack brilliant!!! We started at 6.30 and the first blind level was only 25-25 in which got all my big hands barr one. Not than I got many big hands, my pocket kings , 6-6, 3-3 and 2-2 all came in the first level and my only other two pocket pairs where 10-10 and 3-3 in later rounds. Now I am not complaining as I was fortunate enough to hit the flop on enough occasions to keep me going. Indeed I had the chip lead for much of the night at my table but had slipped back to 18,000 entering the last level 200-400 for the night. Maurice had been raising a lot of pots lately and I wasn't too surprised to see him make it 1200 from early position. I looked down and saw Kh Qh and as I had been quite for some time felt a good reraise had a good chance of getting through so I made it 32oo but Maurice called, still I was happy enough. Flop came As Ah 3h giving me a nut flush draw and with 7300 in the pot I shoved my remaining 15000 into the middle. Maurice called showing Ad 10d and his trips held up with no heart coming to my rescue. It was 2.10 a.m. and I was the first player to be knocked out from our table. I think the best way to sum up my night was the answer I gave Jim when he asked me what had I learnt from the night? Answer----That I love it!!!!!!!!!!

Out of the Wilderness

My name is John Corbett and I am coming out of the Poker Wilderness!!

I was watching an interview Danny Wong http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=35925 gave during one of his appearances in a WPT final table in which he stressed the importance of confidence for a player in his own ability. Following this I read http://smurphspoker.blogspot.com/2009/04/2000th-post-on-boardsie.html where Colette Murphy one of Ireland's leading female players questions her own ability and confidence!! So what does this mean for me. Well for a start it made me look at my own game and realise that I have lost some of my own confidence at the table and it has dragged my game downwards. And what am I going to do about it. Well for a start I am putting my name to this blog, no more "JC" its John Corbett. On its own this will do nothing for my game I have to transfer a new more IN YOUR FACE game to the table and that's easier said than done but you have to start somewhere and for me its HERE.

Hotdog Jack

My Claim To Fame!!!!
Well it's somewhat unlikely that my pastime of poker will ever provide me with a claim to fame so it's just as well I have a day job. I can now say that I have schooled a Grand National winner. No not Aintree---I only know one end of a horse from the other because the nose (hopefully) goes over the line first. I mean Wimbledon where last night Hotdog Jack claimed the Grand National in great fashion for Lee Wiggin and Patsy Canavan. In the past he was owned by fellow Limerick man Larry O'Shea when he made a minor indiscretion during a race in Shelbourne Park. I was asked to take him in order to school him over hurdles and while I could claim to have worked wonders the truth is he was a natural and boy did it show last night. Every time they jumped he made ground and is surely the best hurdler in England over the last two years having now added the Grand national to his victory in the Springbok last year. Congrats to all the boys involved last night.

Why Do You Play

As I was saying in my last post I was at Limerick track last Saturday night. I have had a poor start to the year, 11 runners, 5 seconds but WINNERS ZERO. Well we set that one straight on Saturday and to say the least I enjoyed it. I have played all sorts of sports since I was a kid soccer, football, hurling, running to the slightly slower games like chess, darts and cards. While I don't remember it my mother tells me that my grandfather played cards (not poker) with me in the morning before I would go to school and as he passed away when I was seven you can take it that I started young. I like to compete but Saturday reminded me
why I really play----------I LOVE TO WIN

Cooling Off

Still not playing, still not playing, I'm cooling off but there's no harm in having a little bet at the dogs!! Mind you Limerick was deserted last night but still the track is where I am amongst my own and I'll be back there tomorrow night. Whatever about Limerick there is a really top class card in Shelbourne tomorrow night. Tonight I might read a little Supersystem 11 and I'l be back to playing on Sunday refreshed???

Multi Tilt

There I was playing three tables online at Boylepoker, two double ups(easier when playing several tables) and a MTT. Doing ok in one double up just below starting and going really well in the early stages of the other two when all of a sudden it happened--TILT. In the space of thirty seconds I had ace's cracked by 10's, top pair top kicker out drawn by an inside straight and two pair outdrawn by an open ended straight draw. I was still alive in all three indeed still strong in two but I lost it mentally and went on tilt. I made bad calls transparent bluffs and just played like a donkey. On course I was soon out in all three but not happy with that I started two more tables continued with my DONKEY game and made a quick exit in both before I finally got my brain in gear and logged off. So tonight I watching Arsenal play Roma tomorrow night I'm going to the dogs and Boyle poker won't see me at least untill next week.

OOOOOHhhhhhhhh f*** Roma just scored

Playing Multitables

No not MTTS but playing more than one table at the time online!!
As I have said before I'm not big into playing online co's I'm one of those guys who likes to talk, give out, have a laugh and that bit of banter. Online is too slow, there is always at least one guy who seems to be half a sleep and takes ages to act. Of course the reason is often that he is playing at several tables and gets caught up in the action at one table leaving a countdown fold at my table. Well if you can't beat them join them so I have for the last few weeks I have started playing between two and four tables at once and suddenly this game is a challenge and yea sometimes my hand at one table gets a slow fold when I am in a big hand in one or even two other tables. I don't have any trouble playing two at once and I can manage three but at present I'm not good enough for four. Of course the night I played four together I was playing PLO on one table and I definitely ain't good enough at Omaha for that. So now that its more fun the big question is will it be more profitable?? I started well but over the last few nights I have slipped into negative territory but it can swing like that anyway so I will run the trial for a few weeks and report back.

Online

I'm not much of an online player. I can lose my money in a live game and still have a good nights crack but online if I don't win I don't enjoy it. There is just no atmosphere and while some chat it's not the same. I sometimes play real small time cash or sit & go's and once in a while I play a MTT but with little success. However tonight I broke my duck in the mtt's. It was only a small stake's 30 player event but I won it and that's all that counts. I got an early soft double up when I called an all-in after hitting top pair on the flop and an overactive player couldn't get his money in fast enough. After that I was always in the top 5 in chip count and worked my stack well to arrive at the last table with the chip lead. Then a bad beat set me back but two hands later I came from well behind to hit a straight on the river and followed that double up by knocking out a player in the next hand. I started the heads up with 80% of the chips but two bad beats had it level. Luck then turned for me with two strong hands getting action before I took it down pushing in enough to cover my opponent pre flop with a KJ off called by Q3 and hit double pair on the flop. The money was small but winning is fun.

Killarney Calls Again

Connie O' Sullivan must be one of Ireland's leading poker promoters, only a few weeks after his highly successful "Lakes" event he has announced a tenth anniversary tournament priced at €250+€25 for the last weekend of April. I failed in my bid to qualify for the Lakes event and have decided to take a different route to gain cheap entry to this one. I have booked 3 tickets from Connie and next Saturday we are going to hold a home game for €25 a head with the winner getting the first of our tickets. I WANT THIS ONE!!!!!!

Back To Basics

Clonmel is the center of the Irish poker world from the first Sunday to Wednesday of Feburary each year but what carries me there each year is the coursing event from which the poker games grew. It's the biggest event of the year in the coursing world and attracts gamblers from all parts of Ireland, Britain and a few from farther away. And what would you expect these gamblers to do each night while they are in town? Poker was a natural child of the event.
I don't do the night shift in Clonmel but I did make it home in time to make it to the "Local" for the regular Wednesday night game. It was my first time there for months and it's where I first started playing outside the house games. We only had 10 last night and while I had a great few early rounds my lovely sister cut me down to size later on but I got my money back finishing third. I should have done better but t just went on too late for me and I broke one of my Cardinal rules "Don't play if you are tired". However I must try to play the local a bit more regular in the future as its a great place to work up that bankroll I don't have!!

The Lakes

As I write hey are down to the last table at the second annual Lakes of Killarney tournament. I would have loved to play this one but the €550 ticket is outside my budget. However Jim and I did make a trip to the Cue Club for a qualifier two weeks ago but to no avail. It was only my second time playing at the club, 15 months ago I had my biggest cash when collecting €880 for a 5th place finish there. Good memories don't buy success and Jim made an early exit while I did little better going out shortly after the break. I was down to 2,000 at the break but with two double ups and a steal or two I raced to over 11,000 but got caught big time after limping in to a pot with 8-6 off. Four saw the flop of 7-6-3. SB checked BB raised third guy folded and with my read telling me he was weak I reraised BUT then SB reraised me all-in. BB folded claiming he only hit the 6!! and I was pot committed and called what was a small raise. SB turned over pocket 6-6(with all four 6's now on the table BB had to admit he had raised with nothing making my read good but that wasn't going to help me now). After that hand I was down to a few big blinds and while I got it in good with JJ the BB had to call with a lonely looking 9-6 off but he filled a straight and I was on the road home. A bit of fun but no Ticket.
My good buddy Sean played a qualifier at the Fitzpatrick in Limerick but lot the head to head to collect €250 with the winner getting the ticket. Our only rep. at this weekend tournament was Liam who collected €300 at the Sporting Emporium the week before he bought in but was home early after losing with middle set against top set in the third blind level.
Off the table I backed one horse and two dogs over the weekend all "good things" all finished second----------not my week!!!

Nicky Power's IPC

Well done to Nicky Power on his win in the charity game and cashing in the main event at the IPC in Galway last weekend. I have added a link from his own blog of his interview after the event to let him tell you the story. I have had the pleasure of playing with Nicky at the Cue Club in Killarney and yea he is constantly talking to you trying go get that edge but it beats the hell out of sitting with nine silent stiffs for a ten hour session.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPtqcq585pc&eurl=http://nicnicnicnic.blogspot.com/&feature=player_embedded

Monday at the Fitzpatrick

On Monday nights the Fitz hosts a nice €25 euro game with a 15 minute clock and a starting stack of 6,500. With that short stack and quick blind structure its not a game for game for sitting around and waiting for those big hands. It's loose and IMO you have to be to get deep. Now I said loose not reckless but if you are too tight you will quickly find yourself in all-in territory. I have played it a few times before but I've never even made the final table and this was my modest goal for the night. Maggie who had never played there before and Jim came along and our buddy Sean who lives in Limerick was also there. I didn't get much early on but held my stack by taking a few small pots with modest holdings. I did get away from a tricky had when a shaky hand tipped my off to a big hand and another players willingness to call with a draw allowed me to confirm my read on the guy. Jim had a bad start when his pocket nines turned into trips and despite his strong bets his opponent called and made a flush on the river--I said it was loose!!
I played tigher than normal get poor cards and finding few spots to make a move but by the break after 4 levels I was just ahead of average with 22 of the 29 starters still in. Four had been knocked out at our table and Jim had already survived two all-ins', one a very good read. Maggie had dropped to 4,500 and Sean was a bit better having been very low and all-in earlier.
Maggie 's night got cut short in the first after the break when she called an all-in from a big stack and found herself way ahead but the river connected for the big stack and maggie was out. We where soon down to two tabels with Sean joining Jim and myself but with a small stack and while he first doubled up he soon exited when a drawing bigger stack but him all in and he gladly called with two pair but again he drowned at the river!!! Jim lasted a few more rounds but was always struggling before he got caught with an all-in bluff and went out around fifteenth. I had biuld to over 17,000 with the average before hitting trouble. Firstly I raised from the button with pocket eights and the BB shoved. I called and his pocket KK held up. I was down to 4,700 but had it up to 9,600 without a double up when the button came back to me. Again it was folded to me and again I had pocket eights but this time I shoved. The BB called!!!! This time he had bullets and I can't dodge bullets baby!!!

Happy New Year

I had a somewhat mixed start to the new year on the gambling front. Thursday was the 1st and the phone rang early with info on "a good thing for Crayford" and another strongly fancied second runner for the same trainer. Now I'm more of an on course punter than a betting shop man but when this guy rings I make the trip to town or get on the phone and on Thursday I went to the shop to watch both dogs run. But a 4th and 6th place finish--the "good thing" was sixth!!! didn't exactly ring in the new year for me. But like any punter I didn't sit on the sideline for long. Tom was hosting our first house game of the year eleven of us sitting down with 11,000 starting stack and a 20 min. clock. We where only on the 75-150 level when a massive pot hit with two all-ins took place. Jim raised to 400 from early position and was called by Liam in middle position. I picked up pocket 5s in the big blind and joined the party. Flop comes j-h 10-h 5-s. Hitting my set I bet out 700 Jim re raised me to 2000, I'm putting him on ace jack and doesn't want me drawing to a flush or straight I'm happy. But then Liam calls, I'd go with a flush draw but now we have a real big pot and I want it. I shove the rest of my stack into the middle. I had started the hand with the chip lead of over 13,500 and pulling this down now will leave me very strong with my two most feared opponents on the back foot. What happened next was not part of the plan. Jim called with a stack between 9,000 and 10,000 now I'm thinking trip jacks or tens I'm in big trouble AND THEN Liam calls with just over 12,000 WHATS HAPPENING. Could he still be on that flush draw??? I turn over my pocket pair sure that I'm about to be crippled. Jim turns over Ace Jack-no heart WHAT, and Liam shows the Queen and Nine of Hearts for an open ended straight flush draw fair enough he has a bucket of outs but it looks a lot better than I was expecting. Turn comes a black 3 and the river is 5 of diamonds YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Two of the strongest players out and I have a monster stack yea I'm happy.
I have to explain Jim's call. It wouldn't be fair to let it go without comment. Jim is my twin brother and we talk poker all the time. We always tell each other what our thinking on a game is and how we intend to play certain hands in an upcoming game. Well all week I'm telling Jim that if I hit a set on the flop when I am not the open raiser that I am going to bet out and what do you know??? Jim just happens to be the that "open raiser"!! Of course Now he thinks I'm putting a play on him--as if I would risk my chip lead on a monster bluff?? ME!! So sometimes knowing what your opponent is at can work against you.
Back to the game. After that big hand the carnage continued and I strangely got a little sidelined. James (my nephew) took center stage and only two hours into the game we are down to four. James and I have a reasonable chip lead over Tom and Maggie but as its so early I suggest a deal as it lets the other 7 back in for a second tournament on the night. We carve it up and everyone its in again slightly smaller stacks same clock but we start the blinds at 100-200. To cut a long story short Maggie took it down Sean K. runner up and again I cashed in third. Maggie is on a good run having loosened up her game a little bit while still able to take advantage of her image as THE ROCK. What she really has done is bring her online game to the live table and it is working time.