Round 2, Gingertoys 5th, Mig.com 563rd :P

UPDATE, now uploaded video of me on final table, please ignore some of the babble :D Those of u that know me will get some of the jokes :P
To watch, go to this link http://www.esnips.com/doc/a311dead-a304-4c3f-a27c-d9349a54e159/$50k-GTD-on-Pokerstars

Just finished playing the $50k GTD on pokerstars, $55 buy in. 990 runners, I finished 5th for $2620, played so well, I actually think I played as good as, if not better, than the 24th place finish in the Sunday Warmup. I made some great reads, and made a few moves, kind of standard squeezes etc, but was really feeling it.

As with any tourney, I also got super lucky in a couple of spots, notably on the final table. JUST SICK HANDS EVERYWHERE.

I have recorded the whole final table with my babbling commentary on it, I will need to watch it first as I was talking constant garbage, hopefully I can post it here anyway. If not, friends can have a private screening :D

Here is a timeline of a few key hands in the tourney that got me to the final table.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4056372 :- This hand was relatively early on in the tournament, I had a read on the guy, and went with it, i think he has flush draw at absolute max, or complete air (going on previous hands with myself and others)

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4056772 :- Ok, I am a luckbox and it is amazing I have not won a major yet :P (actually player named st@ rk, had been 3 betting me alot whenever i raised, so I was delighted to pick up AA, obviously lucky he was as strong as KK this time lol)

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4056875 :- Stutter step, to show I do not play perfectly, I kind of bottled it on the river, perhaps he calls anyway, I think in hindsight, firing the turn was needed.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4057655 :- AND I'M OUT :( kind of ironic, or some sick jibe by the poker gods, 1010 put me out my deep run in the warm up, and this time i go out with 1010 :D

Final thoughts, I played very well, and have been doing so for the last 3-4 months, I am starting to see results. You are never going to play every hand perfectly, there were times I got super lucky, especially on the final table when I was short stacked my AA cracked USCPHILDO's AA, another online superstar got a taste of the toys ;)

Really, watch this space. If I continue to learn, develop and improve, and keep going over my game. I know that a final table, and maybe, just maybe, a 1st in one of the majors ;) xxxx

Good Luck at the tables.

P.S RUNNING LIKE ME HELPS :P xxxxx

The Dust Settles.........BACK TO REALITY :D

Ok, so it's been a few days since I ran very deep in the Sunday Warm-Up, that's done and dusted. Back to reality :D Since then my cash results online have been up and down like the proverbial Dutch working girls undergarments. I have in fairness ran into cooler after cooler, flopped straight crushed by board pairing, and turned straight crushed (again by board pairing) KK beat by 78 and just stuff like that! So I have lost around 5 buy ins at totalling $500, nothing major, but definitely taking a break from online cash for at least a week. If I'm playing online, it will just be tournaments in the short run.

I will play the £50 freezeout at the local casino, won it last week for £650, so hope to do the same tonight (would certainly take the sting out of the 5 buy ins coolered off) :D

Side issues, I am now goldstar (and not that far off platinum on pokerstars now) BIG WOW, I have enough FPP's now, to get a few books or clothing items HAHAHA

mmm, Oh, huge shout out to Colin Wu, called me last night and told me he won the £300 1/rebuy/addon event at the Grosvenor side event in London, good for £30k, the Wu done good again. Will come in handy for all the nappies he is going to have to buy the twins that are on the way :D

The last month has been very good, I have built up a decent bankroll from the local cash games, couple of tourney scores and the $1800 cash in the warm-up.

As I say taking a break from online cash just now, I totally expect it is a bit of variance, but it is starting to affect my play a bit in the online ring games, so I am going to do the sensible thing and have a break, so that the bankroll is preserved.

Also, looking to go to vegas on 19th of June for 9 nights, leaving Edinburgh Airport, staying at Harrah's Hotel and casino, cost is around £580, so if anyone fancys it, get in touch. Few boys from casino going already, so looking for a room mate :D

Good Luck at the tables, and keep the head ;) xxx

Gingertoys Vs Moorman1 and mig.com :D

So I used my $215 tournament ticket to enter the Sunday Warm Up, WHAT A RIDE :D

Just recently knocked out of the Sunday Warm-Up game on Pokerstars $215 buy in event, $750k GTD 4353 entrants, I finished a brave 24th. ABSOLUTELY SICK.

Poker is the only game where you can satellite into an event for $11.70, cash in 24th place for over $1800, AND FEEL GUTTED :D

Were lots of highlights, won a big pot against the UK's Chris Moorman aka Moorman1, one of these online player of the year, triple crown people! I shoved to a few of his raises, and think he finally got sick of it! I had AK though on that occasion, he had A9 http://www.pokerhand.org/?4014172

I also clashed with another online monster that is mig.com! Again, I was either shoving or re-raising when he was entering pots for his standard raises. I did it with AJ (at this point blinds 30k-60k, ante 6k. I have a little over $1million in chips at this point, he makes it $150k, I shove all in, he tanks for a bit, then eventually calls with 1010. http://www.pokerhand.org/?4014640

In the cold light of day I will be happy with the $1800 for my minimal investment! However, last time i felt like this was cashing 5th for $6k when first was $24k. Well first was $112k, and I went out 24th!



DAS IST POKER :D

Back to the grind, and expect to see me deep in more of these events ;)

Almost forgot, a big congratulations to cush aka 2fingerz 2u, who final tabled the $109 $50k GTD and walked away in 6th place I think for a nice score. Obviously watching me and discussing hands is finally paying off for the young goldfish ;) Keep it up ;) xx

Thanks to all my railers, Blair, Niall from UK Gambling forums, Steve, Cush and Ant and notably El__Z0rr0 he was a calming influence at times, and had his heart in his mouth with some of my plays :P Thanks to the people at skype, thanks to my mum (as it's mothers day :P) and thanks to my lord and saviour the divine energy :D Thanks to Clarkes the bakery for providing catering. :D

All in all a good week on the tournament front (see previous post)

Love and light :P xxxxxx

Coming along nicely

Been a really good week, after cashing for £800 on Monday night in the 80 runners tourney, I followed it up with 1st in the £50 freezeout on Thursday, good for £650. Couple of nice scores on the tourney side this week, and cash games are going well. I have also qualified for the Sunday million for a bargain $11.70! :D (through one of those double shootout things). Not sure what I am going to play, maybe just use the tournament ticket for the warm up instead.

Kind of strange today, just played online (some PLO, mixed results :D, qualified for a $215 game on pokerstars and got a few 1st's and 3rds in a few sng's)

I planned on playing cash at the local casino, Saturday night usually a lively game with a few fish :D But been really tired, I am on painkillers and they are making me feel very drowsy! It's fine for playing in tourneys (as my results over the last week will testify BRAG AGAIN :P) But for a cash game, I like to be 100% alert and playing tired is not a great idea. So I have shown tremendous discipline and not went to the casino :D

Instead, I just went to a friends house (even a non poker playing friend and talked about non poker playing stuff, FUCK WAS THAT WEIRD:P)

Anyway, maybe go down to local casino tomorrow (well today now!!!) Maybe play their tournament and then cash game after it (depending on tourney situation on poker stars) Kind of be nice as I usually play football on a Sunday (thus letting all the other players down there have a chance) But really having trouble with my neck and shoulder just now, so not gonna make it this week.

I plan on taking out my frustration on the Sunday regulars, they have had it too easy with me not attending :P

Good luck x x x

A little later than planned!

I had planned to post much earlier, it has been well over a month since my last post! So what, only my poker buddies have this link and they have probably heard enough of me lately :P

I have been playing really well recently, not really hitting the deck, but making good decisions. (God help boost eating monkeys when I also hit the deck :D)

A few interesting hands in local cash games, I ran a major bluff on a fish down there, Top pair with 10 kicker, flush and straight board, he bets river, and i re-raise all in.

Anyway, had to get that out the way cos I know he reads this :D (the only one :Dhahaha)

Played the biggest game my local casino has seen in a while, £50 plus one add on or rebuy, with £2900 added to prize pool.

The game got the full 80 runners and was capped at this level, i got to final table and a deal was made, I cashed for £800. The game was a crapshoot from the start, and it kind of forced me into playing a style that I do not usually enjoy (short stacking it, shoving now and again to pick up blinds and having to fold nice hands to a raise!) But I did enjoy the challenge and was determined to make it to the final table atl east, £800 cash was a nice result.

Online cash sessions have been very swingy, up $1300 in 4 days, and lost $700 of that in a few days, I was taking shots here and there so not reading too much into it.

Started to be more disciplined and playing away both online cash and live cash, although my results at live cash are still FAR more consistent.

Future plans, looking at possibly going to Vegas on 19th June, definitely going this year, just looking for confirm a date. 19th of June is a definite possibility as a few poker playing mates are already booked for there, so would kind of make sense, we shall see.

On a side note, I am feeling really mellow when taking a bad beat, although I think it's due to the painkillers I am on just now! SERIOUSLY they are very good, and definitely positive EV ;)

Good luck at the tables.

Will post again soon, (hopefully some bragging thread about a few more tourney cashes and a massive heater at the cash games ;) xxx

High Stakes For The Win!

Been over a month since my last post, reasons??.......Playing poker, Watching poker, and trying to have a little bit non poker related fun (it does exist if u give it a chance :D)

No results to speak of, cashed in local tourney, playing cash in local casino! Which is quite a lively game these days, blinds of £1-and £1, but usual raises £6-£12 range, it is actually like a $3-$6 or even $5-$10 game essentially. (providing the right mix of players are in the mood!)

In summation, a little bit here and there online (profit) a little bit here and there live (down a little bit for the month)

Anyway forget all that, I have started to watch all the GSN high stakes poker seasons again, seriously THANK GOD FOR THIS SHOW :P As entertainment goes, (particularly if u love poker!) It is unmatched, I think Poker After Dark is amazing as u see effectively a full 6 handed sit and go (i.e all their folds etc, like 90% of the hands)

But high stakes is just the business, Gabe Kaplan is a comic genius... "I know poker players that lose a $1.40 and can't sleep" "Hey AJ, do u ever just throw money around? I do some days I just go mad and buy a toaster, or even tip the valet guy $2, just cos I can"

The new season is due out soon, I seriously cannot wait!!

(Just thinking!! Jesus christ it means that much to me!! :D)

Upcoming events, Paul Hendo's home game, should be another great game, made the final table last two times i've played there, great game, great group of poker players together, drink, karaoke and food.

I really do not know where u can have a great night for a £50 + one add on or rebuy, plus u can get close to a grand if u win!! If anyone knows of a better poker night, I'd like to see it.

Planning on really kicking up the grind online towards the end of the month and for the whole of March, have a few targets and goals, multi-tabling.

I MUST ALSO PLAY MORE MTT'S ONLINE, I HAVE NOT PLAYED ONE IN OVER A MONTH AN THAT IS NOT RIGHT! :D

To close, sad to see Gala cancelled the GCBPT this year, terrible. It was a great tour, with great games, and the main events had good structures.

Positive, the Grosvenor have a summer series in Aberdeen, £200, £300 and £500 games, will definitely play the £500 game. Depends on structure of the other ones.

Good Luck at the tables, life is good ;) xxxxx

Hello 2009 (all I ask is you to be fair!!)

Happy New year to everyone!

Recent results have not been great, lost £200 in local cash game (but left with £300 still in my pocket, it was just one of those nights when you really should up and walk away :D) Sets flushed away and rivered a few times :D

I played the £200 game in Aberdeen, really did not like the structure. This is a shame, because I have always thought International casino in Aberdeen put on a great game with a great structure, but it was really botched this time. Also the inconcistencies in their rulings are crazy. Anyway, 5 of us from Dundee made the trip, and were all knocked out.

I played the £100 game on the Monday night at the Maybury in Edinburgh, wont even start! Short story I built my stack up to around 15k, blinds were at 200-400, got into a pot with a guy who called my 5xBB raise with Q7 diamonds!!!!!! I had 99, needless to say he chased a flush and hit. Knocking me out, luckily a few other dundee boys were knocked out and we headed to the bar.

Also as a side note, the guy who knocked me out built a monster stack that should have cruised to the final table, he blew up and went out 1 or 2 spots before final!!!! Justice proving plays like that cant get u there in the good old long run ;)

Online cash has been a bitch lately, nut flush cracked twice by houses and two pair against AA, running paired board on the turn and river to ship the pot away from me.

So not a great end to 2008, but I can't complain, have ran well, had many, many scores in online and live tournaments, played my first major two day tournament and have improved my game so much.

In 2009 with my local cardroom basically on life support, I see me moving more and more online, both tournaments and cash games. Also looking to play atleast 1 GUKPT this year and a few of the GCBPT's (if the tour gets the go ahead again, so fingers crossed)

I will still play the Thursday deepstack game, mainly for the social aspect and it is the only really decent game there. I will also attend as many of the cash games down there as I can.

I will be posting a clear outline of my goals for 2009, but I really want to think about them first, and then post them.

Good Luck at the tables, and in life in 2009.

Barry