It's weird. I've had this blog for five years, had the link bookmarked on three different computers and made just one post in the last four years celebrating winning the PKR Road to Vegas league in 2010. Probably fair to say I've not had a great deal to shout about since. I've improved hugely as a poker player since - reading my old posts makes me realise how much I've learnt. Relatively speaking though, I've fallen behind my peers. In past years I shared tables with some of the best young UK poker talent in Southampton Grosvenor. They've moved on and up, the games have got tougher. I got a job and stagnated, and now I'm at a crossroads. I believe I'm a bloody good player and I take the belief with me to the table that I can adapt and give myself the best chance of beating anyone. Can I prove this? No.
But this blog is back, and I'm involved in the thick end of another Vegas WSOP league. Good omens, I hope. Especially given this blog would've been deleted had I not accessed it prior to 30th May, hence the post title. There is a reason of course; I'm hardly the individual to do something without reason.
This reason is Sorel Mizzi's Health Challenge he has issued to the poker community. The aim is to go through a 3 month fitness program, charting progress and body transformation, and blogging about my experience and the challenges I face. The incentive for doing so (aside from the obvious health implications) is that Sorel will fully analyse a poker hand every three weeks I participate. Progress will also be assessed by four judges (including Sorel), and the winner will be taken under his wing for a year. An additional incentive shall we say. Regardless of the outcome, I hope I see health benefits, plenty of blog posts and comments, and that I experience one of those poker epiphanies that takes you to the next plane in the poker player's existence.
Anyone reading this has probably read my plea on Facebook, APAT or Twitter - I would be really grateful for any following and encouragement you can offer.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step" - Lao Tzu
Friday, 11 May 2012
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Resurrection
Thanks Chopper, thought I'd resurrect this blog after your comment at the £100! Especially seeing as I'm going back to Vegas for the WSOP!
Was pretty sick really, the league leader LockeLamora was over 1100 points prior to start of play, plus any points he scored for a top 100 finish. Didn't help when my 5,000 starting stack was cut to 1,100 30 minutes in when I failed to get away from AA preflop vs KK.
But as Perry would say, Dave runs good, and from there I did not lost a race that mattered and all of my key hands held. A shove from mid-position with QJo was met with two callers, bets on flop, turn and river from the SB on a J8778 board left me thinking my tournament was over, but QJ>J2 funnily enough to bring my tournament back from the dead.
A further double up to just under 7k was mine snap calling a 4-bet shove from a muppet, my 77 holding v QJs.
From there, it was a real drag, TT binked a two-outer vs JJ in a 4 way all-in for my tournament life, and on the final table AJ chopped with AQ on the river and a Queen was flopped when my Q9 from the SB was shoved into the BB's A9. Never felt so much pressure playing poker, shouting in my own room and as good as hyperventilating when my AT flops an Ace vs KQ.
Really seemed my name was on this, at the same time I finished 4th in the main tournament of the night, the PKR Open for over $700. A real grind when down to the final 7, with just one card over a Jack for around 30 hands with an M of 5, managed to hold on and eventually take an unassailable chip position - sealing a top 3 finish by knocking out 4th and 5th in a few hands.
At all times LockeLamora was a complete gent whilst railing, as were the railbirds, the majority of which were pulling for him. My comeback was a 1 in 100 shot, and I know how he must be feeling, but he was unfailingly sporting and generous in his praise and congratulations. I hope he grabs one of the other six packages on offer, as no-one deserves it more.
Can't wait for this camaraderie as part of Team PKR in three weeks time!
Report Below:
The Road to Vegas League concluded last night in spectacular fashion when longtime leader LockeLamora lost his grip on the title, as rival dwh103 clinched the top spot courtesy of a thrilling victory over a 194-strong field.
dwh103 - Southampton, UK
Going into last night's final event, dwh103, who also won the very first R2V League event, required seventh or better (and Locke to finish outside the top 24) to snatch the top spot and a $4K WSOP Experience package. Once Locke had busted in 77th place, all eyes were on the man from Southampton, who in turn claimed the League title emphatically, with victory at his fifth Road to Vegas final table - a worthy winner.
Locke and the other nine highest finishers will now contest a ten-seat SNG for two $4K packages on Sunday night. Last ditch points scores for FlushDream and suarnboy saw them claim a place in the 10-seat SNG, at the expense of salakaro and LetMeInTop.
Head to the rail on Sunday night at 19:15 GMT as the 2nd - 11th place finishers square off for two $4K WSOP packages!
Was pretty sick really, the league leader LockeLamora was over 1100 points prior to start of play, plus any points he scored for a top 100 finish. Didn't help when my 5,000 starting stack was cut to 1,100 30 minutes in when I failed to get away from AA preflop vs KK.
But as Perry would say, Dave runs good, and from there I did not lost a race that mattered and all of my key hands held. A shove from mid-position with QJo was met with two callers, bets on flop, turn and river from the SB on a J8778 board left me thinking my tournament was over, but QJ>J2 funnily enough to bring my tournament back from the dead.
A further double up to just under 7k was mine snap calling a 4-bet shove from a muppet, my 77 holding v QJs.
From there, it was a real drag, TT binked a two-outer vs JJ in a 4 way all-in for my tournament life, and on the final table AJ chopped with AQ on the river and a Queen was flopped when my Q9 from the SB was shoved into the BB's A9. Never felt so much pressure playing poker, shouting in my own room and as good as hyperventilating when my AT flops an Ace vs KQ.
Really seemed my name was on this, at the same time I finished 4th in the main tournament of the night, the PKR Open for over $700. A real grind when down to the final 7, with just one card over a Jack for around 30 hands with an M of 5, managed to hold on and eventually take an unassailable chip position - sealing a top 3 finish by knocking out 4th and 5th in a few hands.
At all times LockeLamora was a complete gent whilst railing, as were the railbirds, the majority of which were pulling for him. My comeback was a 1 in 100 shot, and I know how he must be feeling, but he was unfailingly sporting and generous in his praise and congratulations. I hope he grabs one of the other six packages on offer, as no-one deserves it more.
Can't wait for this camaraderie as part of Team PKR in three weeks time!
Report Below:
dwh103 wins Road to Vegas League!
Locke loses out on dramatic final day...
By PKR_Danski on Friday 4 Jun 2010 15:00
Locke loses out on dramatic final day...
The Road to Vegas League concluded last night in spectacular fashion when longtime leader LockeLamora lost his grip on the title, as rival dwh103 clinched the top spot courtesy of a thrilling victory over a 194-strong field.
dwh103 - Southampton, UK
Going into last night's final event, dwh103, who also won the very first R2V League event, required seventh or better (and Locke to finish outside the top 24) to snatch the top spot and a $4K WSOP Experience package. Once Locke had busted in 77th place, all eyes were on the man from Southampton, who in turn claimed the League title emphatically, with victory at his fifth Road to Vegas final table - a worthy winner.
Locke and the other nine highest finishers will now contest a ten-seat SNG for two $4K packages on Sunday night. Last ditch points scores for FlushDream and suarnboy saw them claim a place in the 10-seat SNG, at the expense of salakaro and LetMeInTop.
Head to the rail on Sunday night at 19:15 GMT as the 2nd - 11th place finishers square off for two $4K WSOP packages!
| Pos | Username | Tourneys | Points cashes | Points |
| 1 | dwh103 | 22 | 15 | 10,615 |
| 2 | LockeLamora | 22 | 19 | 10,365 |
| 3 | Gambit69 | 22 | 21 | 9,855 |
| 4 | JACKBLACK1 | 21 | 20 | 9,290 |
| 5 | osteomat | 20 | 15 | 8,820 |
| 6 | FlushDream | 22 | 19 | 8,805 |
| 7 | mike65537 | 22 | 15 | 8,770 |
| 8 | riverboatray | 22 | 17 | 8,710 |
| 9 | suarnboy | 22 | 15 | 8,695 |
| 10 | theblackbear43 | 21 | 18 | 8,680 |
| 11 | hrabia11 | 22 | 15 | 8,675 |
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
WCOAP No-Limit Hold Em Main Event Review
£75, 10k starting stacks on a 45 minute clock. Plenty of room for play in the main event. It didn't stop me seeing some horrific play though! I was leading the Player of the Series race, but I would love to get a nice score in the big one, where a little more money is on offer! Over 200 runners to get through - not easy. But I do have interest in the event, with £30 on myself at 150/1, and another £40 spread amongst other runners, one of whom being Tony, sat on my table, two to my right.
I'm on a high after the Omaha and Stud successes, and I start like a train, picking up 6 of the first 9 pots and boosting my stack by a not-insignificant 20%. I think I've probably solidified my table image pretty early on! In that time though, we see a hideously played pot. Blinds 25/50
UTG+1 opens to 300 with KK. UTG+3 raises to 800 with AA. Everyone else passes. Original raiser makes it 1800.
I love this last raise, he is able to get maximum information about his hand for the minimum. He has been allowed to do that though by the re-raiser. His raise is far too small for AA at a deep-stack table. He should be committing more chips pre-flop. It's far too easy for KQs, 78s, 44 etc to make an easy call with massive implied odds. I'd prefer him to raise to 1,300 or so, take some of those implied odds away, and pretty much rule out a re-raise for the other guy to find out where he is.
UTG+3 then makes it 3800. Alarm bells should be ringing here for the KK. The AA is hideously telegraphed, and I can honestly say it's the only situation I've seen where, hand on heart, I could lay down KK pre-flop, especially in a tournament this deep. I am certain of both their hands. It then goes from bad to worse. UTG+1 calls the extra 2,000, and with both have around 6.2k behind, they see a flop of 223.
KK, inexplicably, leads out for 5,000. AA makes a quick shove for 1,200 more, to be met with a TANK from KK. Obviously by now it's impossible to pass, and the AA holds up and is gifted a double up. Based on the action, he's lucky to have found a customer, as many players would not be so generous.
A previous APAT main event winner then hideously donks out. Blinds 75/150 - A raise to 450 on his button with KJo is met by a reraise to 1,350 from the rocky SB, who check-raises all-in on a J high flop with KK. The previous winner calls off his entire 30BB stack with top pair, 2nd kicker, against an out of position rock.
Meanwhile, I'm playing some great stuff. Raising with 33, I am called by said rock. Seeing a TT4 board, I lead out, only to get raised. Putting the rock on a solid pair, I am aware he can't call a 3-bet, so proceed to raise, and sure enough, he passes. The key hand (am pretty much guessing the details here, it's a bit hazy) is soon to develop with blinds 100/200. I cautiously limp AQs and smooth call a raise from the small blind. We see a J98 board, I smooth the c-bet with the intention of raising the turn. I carry this out on the turn 4s, which gives me a flush draw. My SB opponent calls, making the pot about 16k, I have only 4.5k left behind. The river pairs the 8, missing all my draws, and my opponent amazingly checks. I actually recoil, and gather my thoughts quick enough to shove - my only chance of winning the pot. The SB, getting 5 to 1, passes KK face up, and I show my A high. I'm a bit lucky, but the hand is bizarre. He convinced himself he was ahead on the turn, but changed his mind on the river. I was very grateful, as I was shoving, expecting to be receiving the exit round of applause.
I'm soon on a very strong 25k with 140 runners left, with the average being around 16k and blinds 400/800. A couple of new faces arrive at the table, one of which being Willis. My tournament however, is soon to be over within the space of a minute.
Hand 1:
I raise UTG to 2,400 with AQ. A new player in the SB smooth calls. Flop comes A99. He checks, there's no need for me to inflate the pot and announce my hand, so I check behind. The turn is a brick, and my opponent checks again. I bet 3,000, and receive a quick call. At the moment I'm putting him on something like AJ, or more likely a pair from TT-KK. I also think this is a similar range to what he's putting me on. The river is another blank, and again I'm checked to. I make a value bet of 4,000. Only to be snapped by the SB, holding J9o. Disgusting! How he hasn't got more out of me - I guess he's worried about my flop check, perhaps he thinks I hold Aces? But his pre-flop call against an UTG raiser is annoying, and I'm down to 12k.
Hand 2:
Willis raises in the cut-off to about 2,500 or so. Muppet from the previous hand calls on the button. Tony considers making a squeeze, but decides to pass (he's very glad when he sees my action). I look down at AKo, with the pot representing 60% of my stack, I have the easiest shove in the world. I try to make it look as tilty as possible, but that doesn't work when the original raiser has AA. Bugger. From 25k to out in 2 hands. Nothing I can do.
Out of 210 runners or so, the Southampton crew brought along 14 players. Despite my poor 142nd place exit, I'm still only outlasted by 3 others and none of them get anywhere near the cash. Not the best of tournaments for us!
I recieve consolation in the fact that none of my leaderboard opponents make the money, so I am confirmed as the Player of the Series! Score!
I'm on a high after the Omaha and Stud successes, and I start like a train, picking up 6 of the first 9 pots and boosting my stack by a not-insignificant 20%. I think I've probably solidified my table image pretty early on! In that time though, we see a hideously played pot. Blinds 25/50
UTG+1 opens to 300 with KK. UTG+3 raises to 800 with AA. Everyone else passes. Original raiser makes it 1800.
I love this last raise, he is able to get maximum information about his hand for the minimum. He has been allowed to do that though by the re-raiser. His raise is far too small for AA at a deep-stack table. He should be committing more chips pre-flop. It's far too easy for KQs, 78s, 44 etc to make an easy call with massive implied odds. I'd prefer him to raise to 1,300 or so, take some of those implied odds away, and pretty much rule out a re-raise for the other guy to find out where he is.
UTG+3 then makes it 3800. Alarm bells should be ringing here for the KK. The AA is hideously telegraphed, and I can honestly say it's the only situation I've seen where, hand on heart, I could lay down KK pre-flop, especially in a tournament this deep. I am certain of both their hands. It then goes from bad to worse. UTG+1 calls the extra 2,000, and with both have around 6.2k behind, they see a flop of 223.
KK, inexplicably, leads out for 5,000. AA makes a quick shove for 1,200 more, to be met with a TANK from KK. Obviously by now it's impossible to pass, and the AA holds up and is gifted a double up. Based on the action, he's lucky to have found a customer, as many players would not be so generous.
A previous APAT main event winner then hideously donks out. Blinds 75/150 - A raise to 450 on his button with KJo is met by a reraise to 1,350 from the rocky SB, who check-raises all-in on a J high flop with KK. The previous winner calls off his entire 30BB stack with top pair, 2nd kicker, against an out of position rock.
Meanwhile, I'm playing some great stuff. Raising with 33, I am called by said rock. Seeing a TT4 board, I lead out, only to get raised. Putting the rock on a solid pair, I am aware he can't call a 3-bet, so proceed to raise, and sure enough, he passes. The key hand (am pretty much guessing the details here, it's a bit hazy) is soon to develop with blinds 100/200. I cautiously limp AQs and smooth call a raise from the small blind. We see a J98 board, I smooth the c-bet with the intention of raising the turn. I carry this out on the turn 4s, which gives me a flush draw. My SB opponent calls, making the pot about 16k, I have only 4.5k left behind. The river pairs the 8, missing all my draws, and my opponent amazingly checks. I actually recoil, and gather my thoughts quick enough to shove - my only chance of winning the pot. The SB, getting 5 to 1, passes KK face up, and I show my A high. I'm a bit lucky, but the hand is bizarre. He convinced himself he was ahead on the turn, but changed his mind on the river. I was very grateful, as I was shoving, expecting to be receiving the exit round of applause.
I'm soon on a very strong 25k with 140 runners left, with the average being around 16k and blinds 400/800. A couple of new faces arrive at the table, one of which being Willis. My tournament however, is soon to be over within the space of a minute.
Hand 1:
I raise UTG to 2,400 with AQ. A new player in the SB smooth calls. Flop comes A99. He checks, there's no need for me to inflate the pot and announce my hand, so I check behind. The turn is a brick, and my opponent checks again. I bet 3,000, and receive a quick call. At the moment I'm putting him on something like AJ, or more likely a pair from TT-KK. I also think this is a similar range to what he's putting me on. The river is another blank, and again I'm checked to. I make a value bet of 4,000. Only to be snapped by the SB, holding J9o. Disgusting! How he hasn't got more out of me - I guess he's worried about my flop check, perhaps he thinks I hold Aces? But his pre-flop call against an UTG raiser is annoying, and I'm down to 12k.
Hand 2:
Willis raises in the cut-off to about 2,500 or so. Muppet from the previous hand calls on the button. Tony considers making a squeeze, but decides to pass (he's very glad when he sees my action). I look down at AKo, with the pot representing 60% of my stack, I have the easiest shove in the world. I try to make it look as tilty as possible, but that doesn't work when the original raiser has AA. Bugger. From 25k to out in 2 hands. Nothing I can do.
Out of 210 runners or so, the Southampton crew brought along 14 players. Despite my poor 142nd place exit, I'm still only outlasted by 3 others and none of them get anywhere near the cash. Not the best of tournaments for us!
I recieve consolation in the fact that none of my leaderboard opponents make the money, so I am confirmed as the Player of the Series! Score!
WCOAP Stud Championship Review
Same structure as the Razz, but with only 32 runners, something that surprises me. Stud is by far and away the better game, and I was hoping to have a bigger field. It's definitely more enjoyable for me, and with it being the old powerhouse of poker I guess I'm a little surprised to see the tournament so light on runners.
As I've left it so very, very long to write this review, I've forgotten many things of note. The main thing that stands out is the standard of the play. It was very poor, especially in the early stages. A lot of people owed their existence in the tournament to horrific outdraws. As usual, I sat back and played tight, hoping to profit from these mistakes. I enter the first break pretty much on my starting stack. I'm just waiting to hit anything of note!
The second phase of the tournament goes much better. I begin to pick up big pairs, and managing to hit at least two pair by the river, which is most unusual for me! Again, no specific hands I remember, but I enter the second break as chip leader on my table, with 7,800. There are 21 left at this point and I'm well above the average.
I am able to attack the short stacks, and continue to pick up reasonable cards when needed. I enter the final table 2nd in chips:
Final Table
Seat 1 - Owen Rankin - 8,500
Seat 2 - Francis Lincoln - 7,200
Seat 3 - Don Roberts - 14,000
Seat 4 - David Rice - 12,500
Seat 5 - Robert Resurreccion - 7,600
Seat 6 - Charles Sanderson - 22,100
Seat 7 - Dave Howard - 17,500
Seat 8 - Richard Rudling-Smith - 4,700
The biggest mover on the final table was eventual winner Owen Rankin. He was fortunate in a couple of spots, hitting monster cards in big pots to propel him into the medal running along with myself and Charles Sanderson, who had played very solidly. We entered three handed with Owen on 16k, Charles on 43k, and me holding 37k.
The live updates are very sketchy at this point, and coupled by my lack of memory. I believe Owen Rankin does most of the damage in crippling and then eliminating Sanderson in 3rd. He's made his way up to 60k, playing very aggressively and hitting cards at the right time. He holds a 2 to 1 chip lead as we enter heads up.
I still felt like I was going to win, I was steadily clawing my way back, which included a massive bluff on the river, betting 8k with just 12k left behind with K high. Fortunately my board was scary as hell and I win a huge pot when Owen folds his solitary pair of 7s (I've missed K high straight and flush draws). I am soon holding a large chiplead, and have Owen down to the felt. I can't quite finish him off though, he survives with the best hand on one occasion, and then the key hand on the final that weakens my resolve occurs.
I bring in, holding [Kc Jc] 4c
Owen raises with [K 7] K and I call.
4th street brings me the Tc and Owen a brick. The money is 4-bet all-in, and the cards are flipped over, with me a 60:40 favourite holding 9 flush outs and the remaining K as an out, but behind to Owen's pair of Kings. 5th street gives Owen a brick and me the Ad, adding another 5 outs, but the board blanks out and catapults Owen to the chip lead.
That was my chance, I'm now about 3 to 1 down, and fail to put up much of a fight thereafter, exiting meekly when Owen wins a race. He played a ggressively, and is a lovely bloke, but I wish he didn't have a habit of picking up great cards and holding on when it was really needed! But that's the way you win a tournament!
UK Sharks review of this tournament can be found here.
APAT live updates are here.
WCOAP Razz Championship Review
£75, 48 runners. 3,000 starting chips.
I begin badly, attempting to bluff my way out of a hole first hand. This fails and I've quickly lost 20% of my stack. I am very nearly the first one out, before I hit a miracle 7th street card to save me. It only prolongs the inevitable, everyone outdrew me, and I couldn't outdraw anyone. I finish in 39th, but after the previous day, I'm hardly bothered.
Razz is shit anyway.
I begin badly, attempting to bluff my way out of a hole first hand. This fails and I've quickly lost 20% of my stack. I am very nearly the first one out, before I hit a miracle 7th street card to save me. It only prolongs the inevitable, everyone outdrew me, and I couldn't outdraw anyone. I finish in 39th, but after the previous day, I'm hardly bothered.
Razz is shit anyway.
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