Decisively Indecisive

Ok quick recap.

Paul Hendersons tournament (ZERO CASH)

Gala £100 game (ZEROR CASH) Cash game losses sunday night £240 (don't think i was behind once, made a call when re-raised on river by nut straight, i had low straight, pay off wizard!!)

Key Hand that cripples me, I raise from the cut off with 3-3, button folds, and small blind folds. (have raised this persons big blind a few times and have it in my head 99.9999% sure he is gonna re-raise me with pretty much anything.

Blinds 400-800, I have 17k, I make it 2400, sure enough big blind makes it 2400 with 4000. I tank for a bit, as I say i think he is doing this move with any two cards. I re-raise him all in (he has 12k left. He calls with AK, ok he has a hand, but i'm ahead :D Board double pairs on the river and he wins with his A kicker, my 3's counterfeited.

I have 5k left, very next hand, guy raises, i shover for 5k with AQ, he calls with KJ, trip kings send me to the rail.

Cash games online, stuck in a small amount, ran it up, bust it out! Cannot even be bothered discussing it, no real amazing hands or bad beats (apart from a guy calling my all in on a Q-J-rag flop) I had Top two pair, he had AK, 10 river, what is it with some people refusing to fold AK :D)

So not been a great week and a bit, but it's just variance, playing really well and experienced a bit of a rough ride with flips, but I run sooooooo good in the long run that I don't care :D

OK POSITIVE MINDSET NOW :D

I really want to play this £500 main event of the British Masters Edinburgh leg, I really should try and sattelite into it or make the buy in elsewhere (believe me, I'm trying :D) As buying in with £550 of my own roll plus expenses is a bit of a shot, but you have to play these main events and take shots like this, if you want to make that score that could set you on your way in terms of the next level.

All in all, it really is going to depend on my mindset. The main even starts at 3pm on Saturday 16th May.

SO............If I remain confident this week and feel good about myself and my game, then I am buying into this tournament, it comes once a year, and I fancy it. Have always taken risks, and I want a shot at it :D I can make the £550 back if I work hard on those cash tables and stay disciplined in other tournaments! So it's just like a £550 loan from future winnings :D (SHIT I SOUND LIKE NICK LEESON :D)

Anyway, nothing much else to speak of, just really going through a lot of decisions, long term vegas for 2 month minimum plan (but that's another blog!!) When I win the £500 main event, i will just get a flight the following week ;)

Good luck at the tables, and TAKE RISKS AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS ahahahah xxxx

Breaks can be good!!

So after a little rush of good tournament scores, I went back to the cash games. I then lost $1100 online in the cash games. So I emptied my stars account (so at least u have a 5 day cooling off until it hits your bank account :D) But I imposed a 10 day ban on cash games, which I can't believe i stuck to :D

So i just played small sit and go's and the odd tourney, nothing major at all.

Played the local £50 freezeout on Thursday and took first place, good for £800, there were no deals or savers, so was a good result. I got heads up with the gentleman Paul Henderson, who provides his home for an amazing home game every few months. (next one being next Friday May 1st)

The heads up was a good battle, and I overcame a 3-1 chip lead and won.

So plans.

Well, I was thinking of setting myself a challenge, like deposit $500-$1k in stars, and then play within my bankroll (5% max rule of bankroll at table at any one time) and try and spin it up, and really follow bankroll management strategy.

However, I dipped into those sort of stakes and it really is bad, all in blind for stacks etc, so I cannot see it benefiting my game or furthering my education as a poker player!

As a result, If i am playing cash online, i am going to be in the right frame of mind, and play minimum 50-$1 NLHE, up to $3-$6NLHE. Depending on, mindset, game selection and of course bankroll :D

So upcoming tournament plans..............

Next Weekend is busy, local casino open 24 hrs a day from May 1st right through Bank Holiday weekend!! I really hope after pauls home game (which finishes early hours of sat morning) I do not end up in casino and there right through until monday! That would be kind of sickness personified :D But you never know :P

May 1st - Friday Night, Hendo's Home Game, £50 + 1 add on/rebuy, usually 30+ players so £3-£4k in the pot, great night and lively cash games also.

After Hendos, probably head down to casino, it's open 24 hrs a day from May 1st - 5th May, if a few boys fancy it, they are putting on a breakfast buffet and cash games and sit and gos 24 hrs a day :D Should be fun if busy!!

Saturday:-Might be playing cash games all day, Hatton fight at night and tourney next day, although gonna have to fit some sleep in somewhere!!

May 3rd - Sunday, £100 freezeout in Dundee Gala Casino, 10k chips 45 minute levels, should be a good game, tons of dead money etc etc.

I am looking to download Coral Poker software and start to play some satellites for the British Masters Poker to be held in the Maybury 15th-17th May Main Event is £500 buy in, 10k chips with 1hr clock, love tournaments like this. Made day 2 last night, and made a squeeze/type blow up that i would never do now. So really want to get to the Maybury and avenge that :D Side events are £100 and £200. Not sure if i will play them, they always turn into crapshoots, will see though.

So a few decent tourneys coming up, and a few opportunities for decent live cash games.

Lets hope my next post is a brag post and all about taking down a few things and juicy scores at the cash tables ;)

Good Luck

Barry x x

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