Serious poker

It’s been a very strange 2010 so far. Sadly I’ve had one close family member death, one VERY close family member near-death/hospitalisation/drama, and a continuing lack of anything much to do. I bet that REALLY makes you wanna read on eh! Do I know how to capture an audience or WHAT!

The funny thing is I thought I’d accounted for the way in which a freelancer’s life tends to come and go with various bits of work. In case the TV stuff ended I had my writing; in case the writing ended I had the radio; in case the radio stuff ended I had my voice-over work… and so on. Sadly I failed to implement an “in case it all ends at exactly the same time” plan, which is kind of where I find myself.

Sure the radio show (www.thepokershowlive.com) is still going very strong but it’s changed shape this series. Rather than three three-hour live shows a week, it’s now three pre-record 70 minute shows that we nail in one LONG day. Also – and I’ll just be straight with you on this – I’ve already been paid for the work so it kinda feels like I’m ‘doing it for nothing’. I know that’s twisted logic, but there you go.

The funny thing is, with all my work suddenly dormant I find myself in a position that I’d previously dreamt of, namely with no reason not to take my poker more seriously. I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions, but I have regularly (for about the last six years) promised myself that I would DEFINITELY go out and play more live poker. I have another recurring self-lie that says I should take my poker more seriously, perhaps dedicating two or three days a week to playing online as if it were a job. In the past this hasn’t happened because other guaranteed paying work options have popped up to block it, but now I have no good reason. The interesting thing is… I find I don’t want to do this.

But why? Isn’t this every poker enthusiast’s dream? Well yes, but also… no. If you’re commuting every damn day to work a 9-to-5 (and just for the record I did this from the age of 17 to about 33, so I do know) then this must seem like a dream. However, playing a game for love is different to playing a game for need… and next time I’ll explain further.

I know: just like a proper blog isn’t it! ^__^

Be seeing you…

PLO tourneys and Derren

This is a bit rushed as things have got busy as I thought they would

First up the PLO tourney went pretty well.

I finished 33^rd out of almost 2800 for just under a 2k cash.

Obviously I’m pleased but it’s always a bit disappointing when you make a deep run in a tourney and don’t have a huge score.

I got off to a fast start – tripling up early with Aces vs 2 optimists. And was able to build on that to be in the top 10 for a long time

I lost a couple of big pots and then had to grind for the last couple of hours. Ended up getting it in with bad Aces fro 15 big blinds vs tw others. Only had 38% equity but if I’d have holed up I would have been right back in it – all pretty standard

This finish goes with my 10^th in the FTOPs last year and a 14^th in a £500 live tourney in the Vic. I’ve also won two small PLO buy in events online.

So in my short PLO career I have a ludicrous ROI in tournament and am showing about a $10k profit.

Clearly I’ve run very hot and gotten lucky so far however I do think theres a lot of money to be made in PLO tourneys. The play is much too passive with very little non AA 3 betting. There are also a lot of players taking a shot at the game and a ton of dead money

I’m going to play more (obviously) hopefully with one of the live events at the London EPT or upcoming Vic festival.

In other news I’m sure you all saw the Derren Brown predict the lottery results programme.

I love Derren – especially his book – not only is he great at what he does he’s also funny and is clearly on a mission to expose the nonsense people believe while simultaneously taking advantage of it.

Though I wouldn’t care to guess the logistics -it’s pretty obvious the lottery prediction show was a form of past posting (knowing the result before declaring it).

However the interesting thing was the ‘explanation’ show. I thought it was pretty funny – actually hilarious.

Then on a train journey yesterday I heard a woman explaining to her friend how he’d used the ‘wisdom of crowds’ to predict the lottery. I was actually shocked anyone could view the show as credible or anything other than funny – as I’m sure it was intended. But then we live in a world where people believe in astrology, homeopathy and who knows what else so I shouldn’t be.

Like everything it relates to poker and the scores of players who refuse to approach the logic of the game and blame anything but bad decisions for their bad results.

Wisdom of crowds?! I can think of other words….

Can’t wait for what Derren has next

Vegas…

Hi guys, 

I’ve been really bad about keeping my blog updated but Vegas seems to have that effect on me. It’s like a black hole where productive work just disappears. I’ve been playing a fair amount of poker but have been keeping it mostly to the cash tables since my first event at the WSOP. I’ve been traveling back and forth to California and so have missed out on the other NLHE events but I’ll be playing the Main Event in a week and a half. 

Nick has just arrived in Vegas and its so good to have him here. We just hit the Rio for a quick walk around and then dinner at a nice restaurant overlooking the fountains. Ahhh, just like old times. I’m looking forward to railing him in the Main Event so I’m hoping we don’t end up playing the same day 1. I’m thinking Day 1a for me looks best so far…. 

As a complete opposite to last year I’ve taken zero photos in Vegas so I’ll have to remedy that and get some posted up here.

living the dream….

As I write this my plane to Vegas for the World Series leaves in 11 hours.

I have to write a poker article I haven’t started yet, I have about 4 money moves to sort out online and not only have I not packed a single thing my suitcase isn’t even out the airing cupboard.

It looks like I’ll be getting a completely pointless 2 hour sleep….which is roughly average for my night before rest on any Vegas trip.

It’s not as bad as it sounds – you sleep on the plane (and in the cab on the way to the airport and going through security) and arrive in that slightly spaced out state you’ll spend most of your time in during your stay.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Vegas many times and spend a lot of time there. Ever since I first visited 15 years ago it’s been a unique place for me. It’s always felt incredibly comfortable and almost peaceful for me. It’s something that’s tough to describe as it’s a feeling more than anything else – while everyone else was saying how much they enjoyed visiting Vegas but it was a bit much after a while I was busy making my retirement plans there.

Not much has changed – I don’t get the same excitement about going as I used to but once I’m there it’s like slipping into a pair of comfortable slippers….that have neon on them.

This year I’m playing the World Series Main Event for the first time. I’ve tried many times to satellite in but have burned my way through a tonne of money and never made it. This year – with the help of Virgin Poker – I’m buying in so no chance of not playing.

When I play it’ll be weird as it’s been a dream to play it for so many years of poker playing. I’m sure a few hands in it’ll be just another poker tournament. I’m guessing there’ll be about 7000 runners so anything in the top 20 is acceptable

The great news is in the last two weeks I’ve been playing badly and running badly….so I’m heading out there with no form whatsoever!!

Oh well everyone knows the great ones have a bad dress rehearsal before the main event…. Please baby Jesus

I’ll talk to you again from the promised land

Play well – run better.