Monday, July 31, 2006

Thanks for all the support

Cheers to all the well wishers and messages of support I have had since going out of the main event.

You will be pleased to know that I did not mope around and instead went out to the bluff magazine party and partied the night away!

I will continue to keep a record of my events out here and will update you all on events that are going on. I intend to play a few more events.

On reflection yesterday, I could not have played any better, so I have to take comfort in the fact that it was just not my day.

Favourite moment of the day for me was that there were people complaining about the all-in chip and then on the next hand a relatively short stacked guy (but he had lots of $25 chips) pushed all his chips into the middle and they went everywhere, nobody knew how many chips he had. Then they tried to sort out the mess and it took them nearly 20 mins! Very amusing!

One thing I noticed yesterday, was just how many people limp in with hands such as AK and QQ.
Also one guy limped in with Aces after three people had already limped in. There is generally a lot of differences. Any checked flop is treated with caution and only once in 8 hours, did it fold around to the big blind!

Right I am off to lunch with poker pro Tony Chessa and I will keep updating the blog!

ClintonO

The Dream is over!

I am not destined to do well in this event and I am even more gutted than last year.

With only two premium pairs and four aces in the entire eight hours, I had to work really hard.

I reraised a limp and raise with KQ and both folded and stole two blinds in the first 30 mins and moved up to 9.5k.

The next hour proved uneventful and my stack had dwindled slightly to 8750.

Then with twenty minutes to go in level 4, I get dealt pocket 8s in mid position. I raise to 700 (blinds 100/200 and antes 25 (250)). The big blind calls. Flop 986, my second set of eights of the day. Big Blind checks and I bet at the pot. I bet another 700 and he moves all in for his last 4000. I have to call. He turns over 77. The turn is a T and river a 4. Sick!

On the last hand of level 4 on the BB I have AK hearts. Only my fourth ace in 8 hours, 4 limpers means my move has to be all in. The Chip leader with 35k calls with KQ. Cards 4h2h7cQs6d. I thought for a brief second the red six was a heart but alas it was not to be.

Could I have played any better - I don't think so. I did not get the cards, I laid down two big hands when it was right to do so. I lost two hands when a big favourite.

I really enjoyed the experience, I feel I have improved so much since last year, but you have to have luck at this game and as usual it deserted me.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey so far, it has really been appreciated. I vow to improve and continue playing, but right now I need a drink.

A couple of people have asked me about the seat and how I qualified for the event, the answer is with a bit of help from the guys at Littlewoods. They have helped me so much with my poker career to date and I am extremely grateful to them for that.

Cheers all
ClintonO

WSOP Live Update!

Its 3 levels in and six hours of poker later and am sitting with just over 7k in chips.

A fairly uneventful level 1 saw me end up on 9600, I had QQ under the gun fairly early but no-one was interested.

Level 2 I made some nice progress moving up to near 12000, without much in the way of hands, I had KK under the gun but everyone folded. My main earner was hitting a set of 6s.

Level 3 was a disaster, but I am pleased to still be in the tournament. I entered a raised pot with 88 and saw a flop of Q83. I was checked raised by seat two, who had already had Aces 3 times and Kings twice, I called the raise, but got out after a bet on the turn. They turned over pocket queens and I was very relieved.

I moved tables and soon found AQ, I raised the chip leader in the big blind, who called the raise. He bet the AT4 flop and I called. The turn was a Q leaving a flush draw and possible straight. I moved in with a bet of 3/4 the pot to which he immediately went all in. I was left for a decision for my tournament and I threw them away, he showed me pocket tens and again a good decision was made.

I am probably playing a little too tight, but I have only had two aces in 6 hours and one KK and one QQ, so I know I am due some hands.

The blinds have just gone to 100/200 with an ante of 25.
I will maintain a fairly tight approach to level 4 and see what happens, if I have not made any significant progress at this point, it will be time to step my game and see what happens.

Anyway wish me luck, I am going back in!
ClintonO

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Useful Live Experience

I finished 24th in a field of 125 last night in the $200 event, when my Two pair lost to a straight. QT vs AJ.
It was a good experience and I felt very comfortable at the table that I was playing on. I never hit any cards in the 3 and a half hours I played, I hit a pair of 7s and AQ, but that was my lot.

Starting with 1000 chips, I never really got a stack of chips together, I reached 1800, but was a low stack through most the tournament. Prizes were top 18, but it was playing live again that I needed to do and will have helped me more than a money finish.

In the meantime the main event is going crazy, they played 15 +hours on Day1, getting down to 782 players. However, people are still being allowed to register and they were running qualifiers all night. I think they are trying to get to 10000 people. I think getting through day 1 has just got even tougher, it was 2000 down to 800, by my day, it could well me 2500 or even higher down to 800.

It is a much needed rest day for me today, before the main event.
I have to say, I am feeling a lot more confident about my game from playing last night, although some people, should not be allowed to play the game.

One guy on my table last night, lasted 4 hands, calling off his last 500 chips after all cards were dealt with just queen high!
I also had the guy next to me who folded with an open ended straight draw after the turn when he had just 125 with 1500 in the pot. He said he would only go out of the tournament on a real hand! (He went out next hand with JJ to K8 - so I guess he got his wish!)

Have a good day!
ClintonO

WSOP Madness

This event is truly spectactular.
A new world record was set today with the number of entrants currently at 8532. There are rumours that there may well be alternates, i.e people starting with 10,000 chips as soon as people have gone out.

It there are so many people needing the toilet, so the players are having breaks at different times! Half the players go on break and as they return the others go on break!

There is one new edition this year, the all in button, rather than shoving all your chips in the middle when you want to commit your whole stack, you just put one chip in!
I think it is a good idea, but gone are the exaggerated big pushes of chips into the middle.

It is really tough trying to keep up with what is going on. I know that one player only lasted 7 mins, that is $1428 per minute!
Also my friend Tony Chessa has started well and has moved up to $17000.

With the sheer numbers of players playing, I really don't know how long each day will last, the last count I got after between levels 2 and 3 is that 338 players had been eliminated.

I will keep you updated.
I on the other had have found a small tournament to play in tonight, its only a $200 entry and with only 1000 chips (blinds 30 mins levels starts at 25/25) so will be a quick affair, but I will be grateful of the live practice.

ClintonO

Friday, July 28, 2006

The Winning Seat

Registration has been completed this morning and the winning seat is

Day 3 Table 183 Seat 8!

I will be there from 8pm GMT Sunday!

ClintonO

Day 1 - It was supposed to be a day of rest, but what can you do!.

A welcome party at 8pm (free bar) thanks to cryptologic and of course Littlewoods, followed by an invitation to party on the roof! These poker people want me!

Attached above is an image from the roof at the rio! Apologies for any blurring, but an unlimited amount of beers later, what can you do! Just to clarify this is the roof and 51st floor of the Rio Grande!

I have meet up with lots of people tonight, including the legendary Kinghawko! So relieved I am not playing until Sunday. The player count has gone through the roof, already 6900 have registered and rumours are that we may hit 10,000 people. I have heard that it may be capped at 8800, but whatever happens it will be the biggest event in the world!

Not a big day planned tomorrow, but I will try to get in my first live game since st.kitts.

Laters!
ClintonO

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Vegas!

Yes I have made it!

Wait there is more good news, I have been moved to day 1C of the main event, so I can relax until Sunday, which to be honest is great news!

Of the Littlewoods guys, only Poker Tony Chessa is now playing on Day 1.
I will keep you updated throughout my stay. Right now its time for a 2 hour power nap!

All the best
ClintonO

You can't deny the Henry factor!

Well I am off in 20 mins, still doing my packing!
I had to put an update on Henry in!

My one and only game since he is back, the £15k, my first final table for 2 weeks. 5th place £900, okay a coin flip didn't go my way at a crucial time, 55 losing to K9, but there is no denying the Henry factor!

Confidence is back, its up for grabs now!

See you in Vegas
ClintonO

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Henry's Back!

With just over 24 hours to go , things were looking a little desperate. Now I am not talking about my poker form - which is just rubbish! (Losing last night with JJ on a KJJ flop, was the pick of them!)
I am talking about my cat - Henry!
He went missing last Monday and I had not seen him until this morning, Rachael (my wife) had almost given up on him and her optimism for Vegas was fading fast!

When I look back on the last week, it all makes sense, my computer blew up, losing all my notes, records etc, I missed out on playing for a number of days and since then I have not won a single tournament, MTT or STT, in fact I was scared to play a heads up!

As the great Sherlock Holmes once said 'When you have removed all outcomes until just one remains, that, however unlikely is the cause of the event'. Well that's it I have been rubbish at poker, because my cat was missing, which caused such negative vibes that everything went wrong!

Now my confidence is fully restored and my run of bad luck is now over! (Clutching at straws - maybe - but I'm feeling good!)

As for the WSOP, I am confirmed for Day 1A, no time for practice, its straight in at the deep end.
As for numbers 6500 were in as of Monday, so it is still possible the 8000 will be hit.

Okay Day 1 objectives
1) Enjoy it - I was far too nervous last year, this is the WSOP - It doesn't get any better!
2) Be one of the 800 survivors from Day 1. I have not yet survived a whole day in the main tournament, going out right at the end in both that I have played in so far.
3) Double chip count from 10k to 20k.

That's in plain and simple. I will settle for objectives 1 and 2, as I just don't want that world has ended feeling after day 1 of my 15 days!.

It looks like all the Littlewoods boys will be playing on day 1A.
I am really looking forward to meeting up with good friend Tony Chessa, despite chatting a few times I have not seen him since St.Kitts.

Today, I finally managed to speak to Leonarch! He has been trying to call me for ages (I wasn't ignoring you - honest) and it just goes to show how wrong you can be about someone! I thought he was a nice guy, but in fact he is a really nice guy! Thanks for the good luck message!

Loads of people have been texting and emailing your best wishes for which I am truely apprecitive of.

I even had the Cambridge Evening News on yesterday wishing me good luck! They also told me two other people had qualified from the region! So my mission has to be to beat them. I can't lose my local legend status!

I feel like I am representing a whole host of people, who for whatever reason cannot make this years event.

I hope you can live the experience through me and this blog and that we will experience more highs than lows and most importantly, it is not all over after day1.

Anyway, nice one Henry!
ClintonO

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Introducing TheDeacon

This young man qualified for the 2005 wsop on the same table as me with Betfair.

I managed to persuade him to join us at Littlewoods and like myself is now playing in his second consecutive WSOP.

Here he is....

1) Crypto Alias ............TheDeacon
2) Site you play on ........ Littlewoods
3) Real Name ....... Joseph Amatuzzi but you can me Joe
4) Age ................... 45
5) Playing Style...... Varied to suit table
6) Profession ...... Bathrrom Fitter
7) How long have you been playing poker ..... 6 years
8) What got you started .... The desire to retire early
9) What is your Poker claim to fame winning WSOP main event seats 2 years in a row..one from a $10 satellite, this year cost 100 My Poker points in a Littlewoods satellite & over the years I have also won a few handfuls of MTT tournaments at various sites, winning a 15k MTT followed by a 10k MTT the next night was a good week for me"....
10) Favourite Poker Moment winning this years entry to WSOP main event.. I was heads up for over and hour before i finally won.
11) What are your Poker Ambitions................ I would like to win a couple big professional tournaments then turn professional....
12) Where are we most likely to find you .. drinking beer beside a swimming pool or on a beach when Im not if front of my computer playing poker.
13) What is your favourite move check-raise
14) How do we beat you .... pray ( after all I am TheDeacon)
15) Live or Online live
16) AK or QQ AK
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto I fear no one at the poker table
18) One lesson you would give to new players ..... play tight and only play in loose games for small stakes 25/50 pence/cents untill you start winning alot.
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in WSOP 2007
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto ... more real money free rolls..... for players who go broke and need to try to rebuild a bank roll and to encourage new players....
21) Anything else you want to tell us ....... What else would you like to know?

22) What are your expectations for the 2006 WSOP. I am going to win
23) Have you got a game plan for the main event yes, tight,then loose, then tight/loose.

Thank you - A very confident Joe!

ClintonO

Introducing deviant69

Next up in Team Littlewoods is deviant69 our US qualifier.

1) Crypto Alias deviant69
2) Site you play on littlewoods
3) Real NameLin-Chuan Lee
4) Age 34
5) Playing Style tight aggresive
6) Profession data analyst, pizza maker
7) How long have you been playing poker 20 yrs
8) What got you started playing with friends in high school
9) What is your Poker claim to fame THIS!!!!
10) Favourite Poker Moment when I slow played my QQ to win this final hand oftourney for this seat
11) What are your Poker Ambitionsinstead of working in office, "work" will be computeron beach in Rio or cafe in Europe
12) Where are we most likely to find you at the bar
13) What is your favourite move still trying to fgure this one out
14) How do we beat you get lucky
15) Live or Online online all the way
16) AK or QQ ep QQ, lp AK
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto nothing
18) One lesson you would give to new players stop chasing
19) Which tournament would you most like to play> in WSOP of course!
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto more advertising targeted at newbies
21) Anything else you want to tell us Sites need to get their govts to pressure US to allowsitesto operate freely.
22) What are your expectations for the 2006 WSOP.Have fun. Hope for a little luck and ....
23) Have you got a game plan for the main eventTo be honest, not really.

Thank you Lin

ClintonO

Introducing Animal

I met Animal in St.Kitts where he took the place by a storm. A nice cash finish in the main event and qualifying with me to represent Littlewoods in the Crypto Team Challenge.

He has since played the EPT in Deauville and can be considered a little bit useful!

Mr Animal!

When will we see a "Introducing ClintonO" post , i know youve probably answered half of it in your blog already but surely there are other requests for you to answer the same questions in a summary :))


1) Animal
2) Littlewoods/Betfair mainly + various others
3) Robert "Animal" Price :)
4) 29
5) Very Variable
6) Professional Poker Player
7) Since Feb 2004
8) Always been a gambler and mate suggested i should give it a go, 3 months later on after worrying it could become another bad addiction i downloaded and the journey began
9) I guess im best known for finishing 13th/252 in the 2005 Carribean Poker Classic
10) No doubts here. Finishing 5th/1727 in the Oct 2005 million $ guaranteed on Party on a Saturday night. Had subbed for $70 and received my highest payout of $51,810. Also the night before i had won my seat to the CPC but was being investigated for possible collusion so when i played the Party game my head was all over the place. Crypto agreed their software was to blame for the CPC satellite and on the monday or tuesday after a surreal weekend i had a place at the CPC confirmed.
11) To carry on making ample money to avoid going back to an office job. To get deep into another big live event. Sponsorship at some point would be nice if i can get some proven results. To lose some of the 1 stone ive put on in the year ive been full time in poker. :((
12) Crypto 10k , 15k or similar.
13) Lately i seem to like a resteal with crap (wont be surprised if i go out of the WSOP on one of these !)
14) Getting lucky or big cards usually.
15) Online
16) QQ always go with the stats favourite
17) Sorry but i'll cop out of this one, if i make the final table i always believe i will win so try to never fear any player at the table.
18) Only play premium cards at 10 handed tables and only play at a stake you can afford to lose but also one that the money means something to you.
19) The WSOP main event but if you ask me again in 3 weeks this will probably change
20) One thing, there are several things :). I guess at the moment it would be the observer chat, everyone wants it back but crypto dont seem to like listening to their customers.
21) Catch me at my blog http://pokeranimal.blogspot.com/ . Apologies for any swearing i haven't held back lately on the rough beats.
22) To make the cash if i play my "A" game
23) That would be telling :) I actually have several but i will only decide how im playing when i see how everyone else plays at my table.
Would be nice to not draw day 1A (as i'll be tired) and i would like a table that doesnt split all day so i really get to know other players habits.

Thanks Robert!
I will see you at the airport!

ClintonO

We are almost there!

Its less than 36 hours until the flight to Vegas and its starting to get a little exciting.

The early rumours are that I have drawn day one of the main event. Flying Thursday, playing Friday! So much for the warm up game.

I have not played live since bubbling in St.Kitts and I am certain I have used up all my bad luck!.

I thought it would be nice to introduce team Littlewoods to the world and who I am going to be spending the next couple of weeks with.

So lets meet them!
ClintonO

Introducing Macaroon

Surely one of the nicest guys you will ever meet on the tables and someone is who is getting better at a rapid rate of knots.

Give it up everyone - its Macaroon.

1) Crypto Alias Macaroon
2) Site you play on Littlewoods
3) Real Name Robert Campbell (Mac)
4) Age 63
5) Playing Style Very conservative most of the time (AKA Dan Harrington)
6) Profession Journalist sort of retired
7) How long have you been playing poker 1 year
8) What got you started ClintonO
9) What is your Poker claim to fame Best result probably 10th in 15k
10) Favourite Poker Moment Knocking ClintonO out of LOQ qualifier (went all-in on a flush draw - stupid call really because I guessed Clinton had a great hand, but I got the flush)
11) What are your Poker Ambitions To make a modest living wage
12) Where are we most likely to find you Playing MTT satellites
13) What is your favourite move Checking when holding the nuts then calling an all-in
14) How do we beat you Wait until the river to get a full house when I've got the nut flush (It's happened so many times)
15) Live or Online Played live only 3 times but prefer it to online
16) AK or QQ QQ every time. Have seen AK go down too many times - it produces irrational exhuberance
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto A table of complete unknowns. I get much better results against better players. The best I have seen include 007apr, ClintonO, ThierryH, Leonarch, CRACKHEAD, Noseboy, Honeybear, Dewi_cool (there are 2 Dewi Cools) 18) One lesson you would give to new players - Be patient and read Harrington
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in WSOP at the rio.
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto Its the tendency to give the worst hand the board cards it needs to win; and its tendency to give several pairs in the same deal.
21) Anything else you want to tell us Have never played cash tables, only tourneys, but after Noseyboys comments I will try it.

Thank you Mac
ClintonO

Introducing Menace

One of the most underrated players on the site.
Please meet Mr Kai from Norway - he is near LEGEND status.

1) Crypto Alias - Menace
2) Site you play on - LittleWoods
3) Real Name - Kai Nesbakken
4) Age - 34
5) Playing Style - Tight
6) Profession - Software developer
7) How long have you been playing poker - Online for about a year now
8) What got you started - You!
9) What is your Poker claim to fame - None so far, I'm afraid. Working on that
10) Favourite Poker Moment - Must be whenever I finish a tournament ahead of
ClintonO. I'm pretty sure it has happened once or twice
11) What are your Poker Ambitions - For the time being I'm just playing for fun,
but some day it would be nice to play this game for a living. Seems like the
perfect life for a lazy b... like myself.
12) Where are we most likely to find you - At home playing smallish STT's and
the occational MTT
13) What is your favourite move - Reaching across the table to collect my
opponent's chips
14)How do we beat you - Confuse me. Some days that's very easy, some days it's
not
15)LiveLive or Online - Online. My kind of live tournaments tends to involve
way to many beers... lol
16)AK or QQ - QQ
17)What would be your most feared final table on Crypto - I don't really know
that many players, but ClintonO will be on it. Also very impressed with
ThierryH, a great player who will get even better
18)One lesson you would give to new players - Do your homework. Don't play a
whole bunch of freerolls if you're planning to learn poker. Do some reading,
watch the good players and pay to play. You'll have to pay to get
information in this game, so you'd better get used to it. Doing your
homework will reduce the cost, though.
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in - WSOP
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto - It's getting better,
but I still miss the player search
21) Anything else you want to tell us - Be lucky. Just not when you're up
against me.

Thanks Kai

ClintonO

Introducing Dumbsmuck

Here is a treat for you all.
One of the inspirations behind me starting this game, in that he was the only player that I knew who played the game.

Not a big player on Crypto but here is anyway - Dumbsmuck!

1) Crypto Alias - Dumbsmuck/sharkbait
2) Site you play on - Littlewoods/Betfair/VC
3) Real Name - Paul Barrington-Light
4) Age - 33
5) Playing Style - Adaptive
6) Profession - Quantity Surveyor
7) How long have you been playing poker - 3 years
8) What got you started - Late night poker - what a show
9) What is your Poker claim to fame - 6th in $1m gauranteed on Party Poker after playing for 6 months - won $48k, won the £10k guaranteed on crypto at 2nd attempt
10) Favourite Poker Moment - Clinton O qualifying for WSOP 2005
11) What are your Poker Ambitions - To become a better live player and feature in main live events (and win them)
12) Where are we most likely to find you - I play on VC alot under the name arniejokin - the same name I use on PP - I find crypto to be a bit slower.
13) What is your favourite move - Confusing my opponent.
14) How do we beat you - call me whatever you have, PLEASE!
15) Live or Online - Online right now, soon to be a live monster!
16) AK or QQ - QQ please, AK misses so often on flop (apart from when I have QQ)
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto - 5 of me and 5 ClintonO's
18) One lesson you would give to new players - don't play rag aces out of position.
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in - WSOP 2007, couldn't do this year due to other commitments
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto - the speed, cut down time allowed for action to 15 seconds and give one 30 second allowance to each player in a STT or MTT.
21) Anything else you want to tell us - I was chipleader with 12 to go in the inaugural £100k on crypto and ended up 12th - NEVER believe you have won it until the money is in your hands - I lost the lot in 2 hands to the same player and got a small payout instead of a huge one. Also - change you playing style according to the table you are on.

Thank you kind sir, come back to Crypto soon!
ClintonO

Introducing Leonarch

One of the greats of the crypto world joins us now, a coin flip away from joining us in the World Series. Mr Leon!

1) Crypto Alias Leonarch
2) Site you play on Will Hill
3) Real Name Leon Arghyrou (R-G-ROO) Greek btw
4) Age 41
5) Playing Style Greek Orthadox
6) Profession BarrowBoy
7) How long have you been playing poker 1 year (hold Em) 31 years poker (all forms)
8) What got you started My Dad (God Bless his soul)
9) What is your Poker claim to fame Nothing much, suppose winning 15k?
10) Favourite Poker Moment Has to be the 15k win
11) What are your Poker Ambitions To win back the 40k I lost last year on the cash tables learning the game of Hold Em lol
12) Where are we most likely to find you Tourneys
13) What is your favourite move The Moonwalk
14) How do we beat you Call my big bets
15) Live or Online Online.. although I love playing live, but find the Gutshot to far.
16) AK or QQ depends on flop
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto TH (the man), ClintonO (of course) Tiddles( always does me)SUN_DESHI (what an improvement)! Oranges is a gr8 player too, 007APR (but I'll kick ur sry ass real soon) The Cheese is good too, Daes265 (Nahcwoot saying) Andy1965 and last would be Homer2004, but he has dissapeard, anyone know where he went?
18) One lesson you would give to new players STAY AWAY FROM THE CASH GAMES!! (online)
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in 50K never seem to tho. CPC which I would like to go to this year.
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto More big tourneys at other times apart from 8pm-10:15pm something like the 50k more often.
21) Anything else you want to tell us Yes, I would like to say that there are so many great players that it’s a pleasure to play against them, also I have made so many friends through online poker and that I hope to meet up with some of you real soon, I couldn't go to Vegas this year as my girl is getting Christened in Norway in August...But for all of you that have got seats.. I wish you the best of luck.. You as well --00-- hope you do something with my seat lol... Clinton keep the gr8 blog going m8.

What a great guy!
ClintonO

Apologies

First of all sorry for the delay in the posts.
My Vaio blew up last week, preventing me from posting and even playing poker!

I am playing in the World Series in 3 days and I am more out of practice than at any time in the last year!

Anyway, lets get cracking with the interviews

ClintonO

Monday, July 17, 2006

Introducing ThierryH

A real coup this one. He is without doubt on everyones top player list.
Fresh from winning 2 wsop seats on Saturday.
Here he is Mr ThierryH.

1) Crypto Alias ThierryH
2) Site you play on SunPoker
3) Real Name Mihai Manole
4) Age 24
5) Playing Style Aggressive most of the time
6) Profession Student
7) How long have you been playing poker 2 years
8) What got you started The beauty of the game and the money that can be won playing
9) What is your Poker claim to fame Winning 2 WSOP packages in one day
10) Favourite Poker Moment Winning the last hand of a tournament
11) What are your Poker Ambitions Win as much money as I can online and to qualify for all major live tournaments
12) Where are we most likely to find you In sixpaks and every major mtt tourney on the site.
13) What is your favourite move All in when I think I have the best hand and getcalled.
14) How do we beat you Getting very lucky. Joking!
15) Live or Online Online
16) AK or QQ QQ - I prefer 56% instead of 43%
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto noseyboy, ClintonO, 007apr, ariston, kinghawko,kpnuts,xcuseme,SUN_DESHI,Leonarch
18) One lesson you would give to new players Don't quit playing, even if at the begining youwill have a hard time.
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in Don't know yet, I will try it all!
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto Player Search
21) Anything else you want to tell us Thierry Henry - The Legend Continues

Thank you Mihai, I know you had to cut back from playing eight tables at once, to just seven in order to do this!

ClintonO

Introducing --00--

The mysterious --00-- is next on my list of interviewees.

I am still waiting to find out if I can use their real name!

1) Crypto Alias ---00--- (resemblance of my specs!)
2) Site you play on Littlewoods / Sun
3) Real Name (Name Hidden)
4) Age 36
5) Playing Style Adaptive
6) Profession Poker Player
7) How long have you been playing poker 20 Years
8) What got you started Dad!
9) What is your Poker claim to fame Final table WSOP Main Event 2006!!! (Well here's hoping lol)
10) Favourite Poker Moment knocking Stephen Hendry out of a Tourney in Dundee
11) What are your Poker Ambitions To play with and beat the best of the best of the best SIR!
12) Where are we most likely to find you £15k + £50k MTT's + NL Ring Games + S+G's
13) What is your favourite move Moving a step closer to Pole Position (-;
14) How do we beat you You don't if I have anything to do with it lol
15) Live or Online Love live but have to play Online due to location
16) AK or QQ AK
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto Can't have fear but certainly feel work cut out with this lot (in no particular order)- ThierryH, 007apr, SUN_DESHI, Noseyboy, Leonarch, Animal, Azimut, ClintonO
18) One lesson you would give to new players Be honest and discipline yourself - You don't have to win today - you just have to win
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in Montecarlo Millions would be nice lol
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto Give us MPP's for tourney entries and allow AA to win more than 16% of the time
21) Anything else you want to tell us Your born skint, you die skint, everything in between is just fluctuation (-;

Thank you so much.
A few names are appearing a lot now! Do you agree, please let me know!

ClintonO

Introducing Alfi17032

One of my favourite players on the site and all round nice guy. Mr Alfi17032

1) Crypto Alias ALFI17032
2) Site you play on WILLIAM HILL
3) Real Name ALFIE BALDWIN
4) Age 25
5) Playing Style SOLID, AGGRESSIVE, IF SOMEWHAT UNORTHODOX

6) Profession MAC OPERATOR
7) How long have you been playing poker 18 MONTHS
8) What got you started LATE NIGHT POKER-GREAT SHOW
9) What is your Poker claim to fame GETTING KNOCKED OUT OF TOURNAMENT BY PHIL GORDON @ THE SUMMER SERIES 2005, THE PALMS, VEGAS.

10) Favourite Poker Moment WINNING THE 15K NIGHT BEFORE I WENT FLEW OUT TO VEGAS LAST MAY, MARVELLOUS!

11) What are your Poker Ambitions TO BECOME A REGULAR ON THE EPT
12) Where are we most likely to find you @ THE GUTSHOT-CARDROOM -CLERKENWELL RD
13) What is your favourite move RE-RAISE, IT SCARES PEOPLE!
14) How do we beat you WAIT FOR ME TO BLOW UP, IT HAS BEEN KNOWN
15) Live or Online THERE REALLY IS NOTHING LIKE LIVE POKER
16) AK or QQ QQ EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK - UNMADE HAND v MADE HAND
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto CLINTON O- HES THE MOST CONSISTANT PLAYER I NOW
18) One lesson you would give to new players PATIENCE AND DISCIPLINE
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in 15 K @ 8.00
20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto EITHER BRING BACK OR FIX THE CHAT FEATURE- ITS A BIG LET DOWN
21) Anything else you want to tell us BE LUCKY.

Thank you Alfie, especially for the compliment!

ClintonO

Introducing Noseyboy

Ladies and Gents,
We have a real treat here, one of the sites top players - Mr Noseyboy.

1) Crypto Alias - Noseyboy
2) Site you play on - Sunpoker
3) Real Name Matt Osborne
4) Age - 32
5) Playing Style - selectively aggresive
6) Profession - sparky / poker
7) How long have you been playing poker - 4 years
8) What got you started - TV on Late night poker
9) What is your Poker claim to fame - Qualified for last 2 CPCs (11th in 2004), paid off mortgage with 2nd place in 1/2 million mtt on Crypto $45k, & sponsored by Sunpoker

10) Favourite Poker Moment - Knocking out phil laak in $500 mtt in CPC 2005, & going on to win, after crashing out of main event on day1 with pocket 10s v pocket 9s..board was 789 6 8..ill never forget the see-saw hand.

11) What are your Poker Ambitions - To play proffesionally making enough to live on, eventually moving to vegas.

12) Where are we most likely to find you - In front of my two 24" screens at home in essex.
13) What is your favourite move - fearless all in stealing... (silly question to ask me) or check raising all in on a big draw. (Someone will explain the theory of small pot poker to me oneday, so far ive yet to use it...!!)

14) How do we beat you - Play back at me if you get the chance or wait for a big hand and catch me on a steal...

15) Live or Online - Online for profits.. live for enjoyment
16) AK or QQ - QQ all day long
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto - I think fear only comes when your afraid to lose and im now numb to that pain so i wouldnt say i fear any particualar players, although knowing over 1000 players were watching the H/up of the 1/2 million i should have feared reraising all in with q3 os in the 2nd hand for 2 million chips... but i didnt.

17b) Come on whose your top 5 players? Sooo hard to pick out of the 1000s of players.. but heres Noseyboys MTT Internet top 5 and im not even going to be big headed and include myself despite the 6 x 15k wins and the 1/2 million 2nd... although surelt i should be in there somewhere.. ;)
1. ThierryH (not only a solid player but very lucky to.. deadly combination)
2. Azimut (solid player..very hard to beat)
3. $Mate1 (Mtt satellite king..)
4. KingHawko (solid player, hard to knock off his perch)
5. Dubai (usually turns it up for the big events)

18) One lesson you would give to new players - Learn to play cash tables as soon as possible as this is where you make money (for me this is limit cash mainly 10/20 and 20/40) and a rakeback deal is an absolute must, as this will save you thousands over the course of a year.
Tournaments are ok for fun and the occasional big win but very hard to make constant money & become frustrating on bad runs (for instance last year i made the FT of the 15k 6 nights in a row cashing £7k+. The next month i didnt cash in the top 30 once and bust £1500 on entry fees.

19) Which tournament would you most like to play in - The whole WSOP festival one year when i can fund a 2 month stay in vegas

20) What is the one thing you would improve about Crypto - Improve their marketing to bring more players in on cash tables and increase prize pools in tournaments. On the scale of things they are a small fish in a very big sea and seem to make little effort to grow in size and i think this is one of their downfalls. Minor improvements to sites could include rebuy torurnaments, and those that use Ecash find an alternative accounting company (chocolate fireguards come to mind).....

21) Anything else you want to tell us - I have a moto that has served me well overall and it is " Never be afraid to lose to win" & finally about my new site http://www.rakeaddicts.com/ worth a look for that rakeback deal.
"If you cant be good be lucky".. see you all at the tables.

Thank you kind sir! And you managed to plug your site as well!

Cheers
ClintonO

Introducing Sun_Deshi

Fresh from winning his wsop seat on Sunday, here is Mr Sun_Deshi

1) Crypto Name - too many to name, Sun_Deshi is the most famous one
2) Site Playing on - All of them! Mainly Sun and Betfair
3) Real Name - Afzal Hussain
4) Age - 31
5) How would you describe your playing style - Tight Aggressive, and totally crazy when I have a big stack
6) What is your profession- IT Engineer
7) How long have you been playing Poker - Since December 05
8) How did you get started in this great game - Sunday Poker sessions with friend, kept walkin away £15 £20 richer
9) What is your claim to fame in Poker - Dont really have one, Not sure if wins in 10k, 15k, and wsop seat count (They Count! - ClintonO)
10) Favourite Poker Moment - Deffo the WSOP seat win
11) What are you ambitions in Poker - WSOP champion. What else ?
12) Where are we most likely to find you - At home playing on Crypto
13) What is your favourite move - Calling an allin when you have the stone cold nuts
14) How do we beat you - You need to be one lucky feck.
15) Do you prefer to play live or online - Online
16) AK or QQ - QQ (Those that say AK are mugs, cos its 48% v 52%)
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto - 007apr, ThierryH, ClintonO Noseyboy, Leonarch, --00--, laz, MrTurn3
18) One lesson that you would give to new players - AK (or Anna Kournakova Hand) always looks good rarely wins much
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in - WSOP and EPT Monte Carlo
20) What is the one thing you would improve about crypto - The RNG (Random Number Generator). Too many underdog hands win too often
21) Anything else you want to tell us - ClintonO is a true Legend.

That is so nice of you! Thank you.
Mr Afzal Hussain everybody!

Cheers
ClintonO

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Congrats Team Mates!

Well I can't win for Toffee, but my BadBeat Team Mates are on fire.

Mihay (ThierryH) won two WSOP seats on Saturday
Afzal (Deshi) won his WSOP seat today
Kev (Azimut) won another WSOP seat yesterday
Ewan (strokeit) won the $25k added tonight - $8k+
Andy (007apr) won the Highrollers in the week - £3k+

Congratulations guys - you are all LEGENDS.

Now can I please win something (just got knocked out of the £50k in 83rd! AJ to 99 with an ace on the flop!)

Maybe the WSOP has my name on it! LOL

ClintonO

Introducing niceguy77


Next up on our interviews is Northampton based niceguy77.
Heres what he has to say!

1) Crypto Name - niceguy77
2) Site Playing on - Littlewoods
3) Real Name - Ian Overson
4) Age - 29
5) How would you describe your playing style - Conservative
6) What is your profession- Category Manager
7) How long have you been playing Poker - 12 months
8) How did you get started in this great game - CLINTON ORCHARD!!!!!!!!
9) What is your claim to fame in Poker - Was Raceclubs poker champion, beating ClintonO heads up at the end
10) Favourite Poker Moment - Watching ClintonO qualify for his first WSOP last year after only playing for a couple of months - his pocket 9's just holding up when he was on the bubble then someone going out the very next hand.
11) What are you ambitions in Poker - To play in large live event
12) Where are we most likely to find you - Golf course or at home.
12a) In the poker room! - I will be playing £10 - £20 STT's, High rollers MTT's and Carrib Qualies
13) What is your favourite move - Rope-a-dope
14) How do we beat you - Bully Bully Bully!
15) Do you prefer to play live or online - Live (although not played much)
16) AK or QQ - AK - hate those ladies.
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto - I dont fear anyone - I respect plenty
17b) Well who in your opinion are the sites best players - ThierryH, ClintonO, BestMate$ and Menace, also Leonarch he is quality too.
18) One lesson that you would give to new players - Be patient and read a good system such as Dan Harrington
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in - WSOP
20) What is the one thing you would improve about crypto - Introduce STT step competitions similar in style to the MTT highrollers with cash and UK based tourney buy ins as prizes
21) Anything else you want to tell us - I'm 30 next year and getting married!

Thank you and what a niceguy!

Good Luck and see you on the tables
ClintonO

Introducing 007apr!

The first of my interviews is with Crypto Legend 007apr
Winner of two WSOP 2006 seats and recently the High Roller tournament here he is!

1) Crypto Name - 007apr
2) Site Playing on - Littlewoods
3) Real Name - Andy Reynolds
4) Age - 36
5) How would you describe your playing style - Various
6) What is your profession- Professional Poker Player
7) How long have you been playing Poker - 3 years
8) How did you get started in this great game - A friend got me started
9) What is your claim to fame in Poker - None as yet, but was 22nd in the Caribbean Poker Classic 2005
10) Favourite Poker Moment - The CPC
11) What are you ambitions in Poker - To Keep Winning
12) Where are we most likely to find you - Playing Sixpacs
13) What is your favourite move - Overbet a monster after flop to induce call or re-raise, if re-raised just flat call then check, 100% you get all his chips then.
14) How do we beat you - LOL!
15) Do you prefer to play live or online - Online
16) AK or QQ - QQ - ladies love 007 :)
17) What would be your most feared final table on Crypto- LOL
17b) Well who in your opinion are the sites best players - madturk1, jet70, NightmarE, babitiger
18) One lesson that you would give to new players - Patience
19) Which tournament would you most like to play in - CPC
20) What is the one thing you would improve about crypto - Allow observer chat
21) Anything else you want to tell us - We are all Worms, but i do believe that i am a glow-worm

Um, thanks for that!

So there you have it that is 007apr, if you have any further questions for Andy, please let me know!

Cheers
ClintonO

Is my account Jinxed!

I got someone to play a few tournaments for me from my account yesterday as I was out.

Their view - your account is cursed mate!
Today with AA losing to AK and then flopping a straight, calling an all in and being knocked out to a Full house.

I might try playing my wifes account and see what happens!

Anyway I have started the interviews and will post them now! Enjoy

ClintonO

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Happy Birthday to Me!

33 today! Happy Birthday to Me!
What better way to celebrate than everyone allowing me to win tonight!

I apologise for not updating my blog in the last week, I have really busy and not had much time for poker.

I managed 13th in the 15k on Friday and another cash finish on Tuesday, which were the only two days I played the tournament this week.

I failed miserably in the world series qualifier on Sunday, someone was telling me repeatedly that they had me beat, but I refused to believe them!

It is last chance saloon this week. 5 games on Saturday and 1 on Sunday, you will find me in all of them! I am sure the amount of games I have played I could have bought a seat twice over! What the hell, I am winning one this weekend! So it does not matter!

Its two weeks until Vegas, I cannot wait. I will be on-line whilst I am there, so I will be updating regularly. Please login and follow the progress.

I have been thinking how to make my blog different to being just another poker blog and have been trying to think about how I can improve it.

The site I am playing on is Littlewoods, who used Cryptologic and on this site we have some fantastic players. So why don't we meet them?

I have decided to have a feature on the best players from the site. We can also look to have a vote to see who everyone thinks is the best. Maybe we can run a tournament to actually find out. (Proposals to Crypto are in!)

Right I am off to find some players to interview, if you want to appear on my blog, let me know. Or if you have a top 5 players on the site, lets hear from you and I will get on to them about appearing.

Right time to raise a glass, Happy Birthday Me and Good Luck to one and all
ClintonO

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Objectives for July

July completes my first full year of keeping records, which I started after my trip to the WSOP last year.
I am really pleased I have done this, as it allows me justify playing the game so much!

Anyway July is all about the trip to Vegas, but I still have the odd objective.

1) Last chance to qualify.
There is simply no better opportunity to pre qualify than this Sunday. It is a ten seater tournament, defeat is not an option. It quite simply about time I made it happen.

There is a further opportunity the following sunday, in a 10 seats guarranteed, but I am not even thinking about that one!

2) Get ready for Vegas.
I have had a successful few weeks and the current thinking is to relax a little and slowly build myself up ready to hit Vegas in top form.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to play less, but concentrate on fine tuning my skills, working my way through some FL cash tables/STTs and finally the few days before back on the MTTs.

3) Final Tables - I would like to make 2 final tables over the next couple of weeks, just as a confidence boost. A nice easy objective which will help with the spending money.

4) Cash in Vegas - Okay this will transcend August, but that is my overall aim, whilst I am there to make the money!

I would also like to avoid flopping full houses and losing - 3 already in July is not much fun!
Last night in the £15k - holding 33. Flop 553. Small blind bets, position 3 all in, position 7 all in. I have to call. They have 54 and 56. Next two cards KK! Out again.

I got an email last night after I raised all in with AA and was called by 95 and found a flop containing two 9s to be disadvantageous.
It said ' Sorry about the call with your Aces, you have been playing a bit looser over the last six weeks, had the chips to call and wanted to take the chance on taking out one of the better players'

Obviously losing with AA to 95 preflop for your tournament is harsh, but a loosening up in my game has been detected! My plan of action has hopefully worked, lowerings peoples requirements to call me, so that I can profit in the future!
Although if they are going to call my Aces with 95 and win, I think I would rather every one just fold!

Good Luck All
ClintonO

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Review of June

June had its moments, winning the £2.5k guaranteed was a key highlight.

As for the objectives.
1) Win a WSOP Seat, well this has not happened, but I am going anyway! There was never any chance of me missing out on this one!

2) £50k. I still can get to grips with this tournament! It always goes wrong. Would love to sort it out, but I am playing it as I write this and lose half my stack to a flush on river! Typical

3) £2k profit - YES - job done, a cracking month on the profit stakes. £2.4k against the target of £2k

4) Sharkscope - Just failed, tried to make $1k, but I ended up at plus $900. Will continue to work at it this month.

5) 15k - I did not play it much this month, but 18th was the best I could manage.

6) Bad Beat Team - 3 of us are clear of the rest and there is less than 100 points between the top 3, but despite being best performer 3 out of 4 times, I am just in 3rd.

7) WSOP Tour - I never had a chance to play in this, so this went out the window.

Only 1 objective met, so it looks dissapointing, but the cash earnt, ultimately makes it successful.

I have decided to change my 30 day objective, I set a few days ago. 4 great consecutive days was the perfect start, however I feel that I have been playing too much recently and am in need of a small break before Vegas.
Over the next two weeks I am going to reduce my play, before having a solid week of practice before going off to Vegas, where my objective will be to make the money in the one of the WSOP events.

I will post Julys objectives soon.
ClintonO