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!!!