Final Table Blues

A solid performance in the 15k tonight. I was winning the tournament right the way from 200 people to the last 20! However it all went wrong and I finished 10th (£250).

Positives played some great stuff tonight, did not really put a foot wrong.
Negatives not making more money, but made the right decisions.

3 key pots on the night.
1st - Sitting in the big blind with 49, two limpers, I check. Flop 449! Guy UTG goes all in. I thought about and decided to call! Guess what I lost to AT! Turn A River A.

2nd - UTG with 99, limp in for 400, UB4MATT raises to 1200, five others call, I call also.
Flop 589. UB4MATT all in for 8k, next guy all in for 10k, next guy all in for 8k. I obviously call. We have an overpair, a flush draw, a set of 8's and my set of 9's. They hold up and I get 40k in chips

3rd - Final Hand. SuzItal, knows I am a solid player, already said I fold to you when on the blinds and I showed AK. They raise to 7200 3xBB. I hold AQ and go all in for 42k. (Pot is 12300) Happy to take pot there and then. They are holding 50k, so its for their tournament. Calls with 77. Hits two more 7's - game over. Admits it was a crazy call and ends up going out in 5th.

I could of raised less in hindsight, but did not want to let them in. Plus they knew I am solid, so I am happy with my decision.

Monthly profit is just shy of £2k, very impressed with that as not playing for money this month. My first years profits have surpassed £20k!
I made my 2nd final table of the 15k this month and my 11th in total.

I have also booked my flights for Vegas, so whatever happens I will be there.
Well done to Mr Tony Chessa, another tournament win, this time in Barcelona. The boy is on fire.

See you soon
ClintonO

Never Going to Happen

There comes a point when you realise that something you want is never going to happen!

I have been trying for this World Series seat for a couple of months now and whilst I keep getting close, I have always maintained that I will eventually make it. However something happened to me in the final on Sunday, that makes me wonder is this not meant to be!

I am sitting in the top four in the event, I hold 44. My favourite hand! The flop comes down 433. Christmas. Incredibly I get someone to put all their chips in at this point. Not surprising though when they are holding 33!
With most of my chips gone, I move in with AJ preflop and lose to KQ, I then put my remainder in with KQ and lose to A8.

I have had too many bad beats in these qualifiers to make me realise, it is not supposed to happen!

I however will got give up and will be going to Las Vegas anyway as last year was the best holiday I have ever had. I will play in some of the smaller competitions to increase my experience. I still have to remember I have been playing this game for less than a year.

I am not going to give up though, as the true competitive nature I have inside me, will not let me. There is still plenty of time to make it and I will not give up whilst there is a glimmer of hope.

I played in the $25 wsop qualifier last night and won that to proceed to the $140 event on Wednesday. I also played in the 448 runner £10k event and finished 16th (£112) I had 46k in chips and AcKc, but lost to QQ, taking out most of my stack.

My main hope for Vegas has to be through the Littlewoods Player Points competition. There are five more qualifiers this week for the final. Winning one of those is my target this week.

I will publish my views of the month later this week. In the meantime.
Good Luck at the tables
ClintonO

Super Sunday?

I have had a couple of days off this week, the less I play the better my game seems to be.

I played in the Team Event on Thursday, for the second week running I was best performer, but failed to reach my objective of a final table finish.

Tonight was all about the LOQ. 25 runners and one world series seat. Unfortunately it was not the night for me, as I ended up in 13th. SB vs BB battle I had KQ he had 77, nothing helped me.

The competition produced a great heads up between ---00--- (Littlewoods) and Leonarch. Both players I have played against many times. It came down to 66 vs AK for a seat! with 66 winning.

I thought this weekend was the one for me and played in the late World Series qualifier. I am happy to say I finished in the top six and have secured my seat in the 6pm final tomorrow. I also won a 29 runner tournament to qualify for tomorrows £50k also.

So one more attempt tomorrow, lets hope its a Super Sunday.

ClintonO

Another Chance!

Tonight I thought it was going to be back to the good ole days of disastrous luck.

In the £15k I ran into Aces twice.
I played the £10k for the first time this month and was going nicely. I called an all in raise of 6k with my remaining £5k with JJ, as I knew the player goes all in with mid pairs, usually regardless of blinds. True to form he had 99, but a 9 hit the flop.

In the $5k again I was going nicely, when AA appears, I am put all in, I obviously call. He has JJ, Flop is A78, nice! Turn 10, River 9, he has a straight! Unreal.

So it was down to the LOQ qualifier. I won this tournament the last time I played it on Tuesday before the Paris trip.
I played some great poker and ended up heads up with DaVinch, a player I have played against many times.

I was a big chip leader to start with 26k vs 11k. However to start with Luck was very much on his side.
All in with AQ against A4. We split the pot. The second time he needed an ace on the river to survive. An Ace came.
By time the third beat came, I thought I was not destined to win. I have AK on an A82 flop, he has 47. Turn 4, River 4! OMG this is not my night.

So I decided to play some rubbish cards and to my amazement it was all change. I went in with T3 (very short stacked) against AJ and the cards came 44466. Then the next hand I hit a 9 on the river to make a straight and finally my Jacks beat his Kings. To make it 3-3 in bad beats! 6 hands later, I had all the chips when my favourite hand 44 beat his J9.

It was a very enjoyable heads up which lasted for 84 hands and 30 mins. What a game! Thats two LOQ qualifiers I have won on the trot and for once luck evened itself over a short period of time!

Roll on Saturday, I want this World Series seat.
ClintonO

The week of Football!

The last week has been dominated by football. On Wednesday it was the Champions league final in Paris, which was a great experience, but not quite the result. Twice I have watched Arsenal in Paris, two finals against two spanish teams, both times 2-1 defeats! Still Mr Henry is staying which gives us all a lot of hope.

Yesterday it was my own cup final for the team I player manage. After 11 years of management and at the 3rd time of asking we finally won the cup and in some style! Houghton 8-0 Southoe.
So nursing a bit of a hangover today!

Right back to poker.
I returned on Thursday and played in my team competition through Badbeat. I played quite well and finished the highest of my team, but ultimately went out in 21st when an 8 hit on the river. I was pleased with the performance, but felt I should have gone on to make the final table.
Friday saw me regain my Sharkscope stats, I am now $3 in profit! Don't know whether to play any more this month, to avoid failing a monthly objective!!

Saturday was a big night. The LOQ final. 22 runners, so there was the one all important place in the World Series up for grabs. As I was playing well I was as confident as I had been in a long time. With just six players left, I took the chip lead.

The very next hand I was dealt AcKc and got some action. I was on 15k in chips and was up against the 3rd placed guy who had around 11k, The guy bet hard into an interesting looking 7hTh7c flop, I decided he did not have the goods and put him all in. I was wrong he had AhTd The turn card was beautiful the Kh. I was about to move in too a big lead with over 50% of the chips in play.
The river was a fourth heart giving him the Flush.

Two hands later I put my remaining 4k in the middle with another AK and was called by KQ. Along came a Queen and it was all over. From 1st to out in 3 hands, from being in front with 6 left. It was very dissapointing result, but I had again played well to get in that position.

This week I will continue my quest for the WSOP, starting with the qualifiers tonight.

ClintonO

A New me!

Time for one game before my flight to Paris.

I pick the 28 runner LOQ qualifier. 1st Place and a seat in the LOQ final on Saturday.

This gives me two more chances for that Las Vegas seat, Saturday night in the LOQ and the Littlewoods 10 seater tournament on Sunday.

Back to loving this game! Objective 1 is around the corner!

ClintonO

Knowledge is Power

In my first game after a real learning experience this weekend, I produce my 3rd best performance of the year in the £15k and achieve Objective 3 of making a final table in this tournament.

All this despite problems with my computer, meaning I was out of action for 15 mins, losing over 10k in chips.

I finished in 6th place with £785 when my KQ ran into QQ and there was no King to help me.
I was very pleased with this, I had no idea where I was in the tournament from about 9pm, as my computer would not let me see the lobby. I could not play in any other games as a result, so for the first time in ages I concentrated on just one game - the way forward perhaps?

I will take £500 for the bankroll, which moves the monthly total to £1.2k, this is particuarly pleasing, as this month is not about profit, but about getting that elusive seat.

I hope that the lessons learnt over the last few days, have given me a few more tricks at the table and that my competitors will have to reevaluate their views on me.

In the meantime a great result and I look forward to posting again, hopefully when Arsenal are crowned champions of Europe.

Cheers
ClintonO

Back to School!

It has been an interesting weekend. I feel that I have learnt many lessons over the last few days.

This is why this game is so special, you have to keep learning, because everyone else is learning about you.

Friday was a decent night, my second consecutive money finish in the £15k, 25th place.

Saturday was the $250k tournament and after a decent start it went sadly wrong. Firstly I got too cute with Tens and lost to AK. He put in a heavy raise prelop, which put me off AK. After two kings on the flop, I thought he had missed. When he bet out I assumed he had missed, but a call of my reraise told me otherwise!

The big lesson for Saturday was limping can be very dangerous. A lot of the pros live by the saying pump it or dump it. I limped in with a hand instead of raising and the big blind holding 73, enjoyed the 7J3 flop more than I did! If it ain't good enough to raise it ain't worth playing - another popular saying and one I will pay more credence to in the future.

Sunday was the big night, the WSOP qualifier. This was the one. The first hour was spectactular I moved from 2500 to 6500 and was leading the tournament.
Then I get KK, I put a normal raise in, we get a call and a big all in. I have to call. He turns over 44! Christmas! 67AJ is the first four cards. Boom! river is a 4! Ouch.

I have to regroup and to my credit did so. By time we got to the final table I was in 5th, with the top two going to Vegas. At which point I did not get even a marginal hand for an hour. By time I get a hand in KQ, my chips are getting low and I am called by 66 and go out in 8th.

The lessons here, you can't always wait for a hand, you are playing the players, if they are constantly stealing - reraise them, put the pressure back on. You are never guaranteed to get cards.
Also play your normal game, when the stakes are high it is easier said than done, but I so want to win my seat, that I tighten up more so than usual. From now on, I play my normal game in all tournaments.

The £50k gave me another lesson. Even when you get a hand, you can never be certain. With only 75 left in the tournament and prizes for top 50. It was looking good when I got Aces in the small blind.
Fourth position calls, button raises 5xBB. I go all in for another 3000 chips. A nice pot to take down.
BB goes all in and button calls! Its a monster theres almost 20k out there.
Button has KcQc, BB JJ.
Flop Kd7sQd. Disaster, in a whole heap of trouble now. The turn is 7d. Get in. A higher two pairs! River is a harmless looking 5d. But wait four diamonds on the board, my Aces are black and BB Jacks are red, gutted I am out to a flush! Theres no guarantees in poker!

Plenty of lessons learnt!
I will not be playing much this week because of the Champions League final. Come on the Arsenal! I will play in the 15k on Monday and return on Thursday. I am also having a week off WSOP Qualifiers.
Confidence is a little dented, after discovering I still have so much to learn, but I am ready to take the tables with a little more knowledge and perhaps some more flair!

Good Luck All
ClintonO

Two more money finishes

Dissapointment in my first badbeat team game last night when I ran into Aces with my first hand of the night AK. I finished fourth out of our six players, but not high enough to register any points.
We did have one final table finish, with our star player finishing 7th! So that should keep us right up there.

For me personally, I had my best finish of the month in the £15k, coming 18th and winning £150. Unfortunately I re-raised at the wrong time. Going all in with AT and coming up against Aces again!

I also played the $5k after my recent success in this tournament, I finished 13th with $70 dollars. I was going very well in this tournament for a long while, but failed to really build on it. It emphasised you can have all the patience in the world, but you are never guaranteed a hand. I am not sure what the odds are, but I did not see an Ace, a King, a pair or a suited connector for 62 hands (yes I counted!).

Its a big weekend in store, with the $250k on Littlewoods Bet Direct on Saturday and a World Series ($1k) qualifier on Sunday.

Keep those fingers crossed!
ClintonO

Back in the Swing

I feel a definite improvement in my game in the last few days.

I added another £100 to the bankroll following another final table finish.

However it is the three big tournament performances in the last two days and securing of two seats in World Series Final Qualifiers, that have pleased me most.

Yesterday I won a 21 player Littlewoods player points tournament, to win a place in a ten seater qualifier for the World Series on the 21st May.

Tonight I managed to finish in the top 5 of the $25 WSOP qualifier for Saturday nights $140 WSOP qualifier, but straight after I finished in the top 6 of tonights $140 WSOP qualifier to win a place in the $1000 final on Sunday.

So after two weeks with no World Series finals, I have secured two in two days.
Roll on Sunday, I have a feeling! This is the one!

ClintonO

Time to mix it up again

I feel that my form has started to dip a little in the last few days.

I have fallen into the trap of slow playing big hands and getting stung, tonight I was down to the last 50 in the £15k and limped in with Aces and ended up losing to the small blind holding 87 and with a 965 flop he was laughing!
Most people have got it figured at that level that a limp at that stage of the game is a monster.

I had a run of bad luck in the stts tonight, which tipped my sharkscope stats back into the negative, I will obviously address that shortly, but in the 5 games I played I was ahead until the river, when I went out.

In the Multis, I have found a tournament which I like, the $5k guaranteed, My previous two attempts saw me take 1st place and then 17th place (Still in the money). Tonight I made the final table and finished in 5th place, taking home $441. I have put £100 aside for the monthly profit figures and used the rest to push for my World Series place.

Congratulations to fellow Littlewoods players Robert 'Animal' Price who secured his seat in the World Series on Sunday in the Littlewoods player points tournament. Well done sir!
Also to my Dream Team Captain Andy '007apr' Reynolds, who incredibly won his second seat in the World Series on Sunday night - although that is a bit greedy!
Whilst we are in the congratulating mode. Mr Poker himself 'Poker Tony' Chessa won a nice Omaha event in Blackpool last week, earning himself a decent £8k! You are a legend!

I have decided to go to the World Series no matter what happens, as even if I fail to qualify, last year was still a fantastic holiday and the experience from playing in other tournaments out there will certainly help me in the future.

I am going to try to play in every qualifier I can this week, as I have not played in a final for two weeks and I am definitely due one. I also have the $250,000 guaranteed on Littlewoods Bet Direct on Saturday, where any winnings will be used to fund the World Series trip.

The new design of the Littlewoods tables have been uploaded and they do look very stylish indeed. For all those put off my the colour before, we now have the most professional looking table in the poker world. Great work guys.

For those who have not seen it yet, make sure you download the Littlewoods software from the link to the right of this note.

One final comment for your views, would you have played it different? It was a reasonably earlier hand in a multi tournament. Blinds are 25/50. You are sitting in the big blind with 7d8d. 4th position raises to 150, button calls, small blind calls. You are getting 5-1 to one odds you decide to call.

The flop is 3s5d6d. Small Blind checks, you check (lots of options but would like to see a cheap next card). Intial raiser makes a continuation bet of half the pot of 300. Button folds. Small blind folds. You have 1500 left, 900 in the pot, raiser has 2500.

Whats he holding, from what you know of him, he is fairly loose tonight, but has recent success in reaching the final table of the $10k, so obviously can play a bit. After I check the flop and he makes a continuation bet, I think his most likely holding is two overcards. He doesn't want to risk me having a free card, so bets to signify strength and win the pot there an then. I don't believe he would bet out he if hit trips and the chances of him having a mid pair are slim because of my holding. He could have a bigger pair, but his bet says that he can't afford me taking a card, although the straight and flush draw is out there, so there is a small possibility he has an overpair.

I decide that he most likely has two overcards, probably AK, AQ or KQ. If that is the case, then I have plenty of outs, the 3 remaining 7's and 8's, the 9 remaining diamonds and the 3 non diamond 4's and 9's. This gives me 21 outs from the 45 remaining cards. It is 50/50, I decide to put all my chips in.

This way, if he does not call, I take the 900 in the pot, if he does I am 50/50 to double up my stack. He does call and shows AJ, I was almost right in my thoughts. The remaining cards were a 9 and an Ace. I won with the 9 high straight.

As a result of this, the losing player decided to go on a rampage and throw every insult in the book at me! I would be interested to know if anyone would have played it differently.

Cheers
ClintonO

Objective 5 completed!

One of my eight objectives was to put my STTs statistics back into profit.

I have always felt my STT game was strong and was very surprised to see my stats down at -$2k, when I discovered www.sharkscope.com. One of my immediate objectives was to address this.

Well I am pleased to say just 5 weeks later, my stats are now reading + $110.
This is a great potential source of revenue for me. My record in ten seater single table tournaments are fantastic. It is those in particular that I will concentrate on.

ClintonO

Hard Luck Stories

Something did not feel right tonight and the results showed that.

However on the night I put £100 into the monthly profit figure after taking home $560 for finishing 5th in the World Series and paying for some more tournaments, so still positive results.

The World Series 5th whilst making money was dissapointing as the top 4 got places in Sundays final.

Other tournaments included the high roller tournament, where I finished 12th, in a event I will play more £9k available and just 30 odd players. I went out when a Jack hit the river and gave my opponent a straight, when I had him beat all hands up!

The Littlewoods player points saw me on another final table (went out 6th), but I ran into the chip leaders bigger hand, when in 3rd place and going well.

The 15k was a dissapointment, going out midway through when all in with Jacks against Eights and he hit an eight on the flop.

I am pleased to walk away tonight with a profit, especially with some hard to take losses, which also included flopping a straight and losing to a higher straight on the river. It is amazing how your mood and confidence effects your game, I felt tired when I started out this evening and as result my early play was unsuccessful. If you can avoid it, don't play when tired, you will not get the results your play deserves.

If anyone is interested in playing poker, then I have to recommend Littlewoods as a great place to play. Please follow the link on the right hand side to join in the action and hopefully I will see you on the tables.

ClintonO

One More Title

My run of form continues with the successful win of another tournament.

Tonight it was the six pack highrollers qualifier which I won - 17 entrants and one seat available in Wednesdays £320 entry tournament.

This tournament has proved quite fruitful over the last two days and I look forward to tomorrows final.

I had one other cash in the $5k guaranteed finishing 17th out of 117. I defended my big blind with As7s from the small blind, but he had A9 and took me out.

I have started a reserve fund to help me fund a trip to Vegas should I fail to qualify, so a percentage of my winnings will go to this cause.

In other events the £15k saw an early exit when I flopped a set of dueces, only to end up in an all in situation with a guy holding 44, he hit another 4 on the turn.

Two final tables in the LOQ qualifiers were not good enough for a LOQ final seat.
I also played one Stt - a £10 six seater, which I also won.

A good night, a very small profit (allocated to WSOP fund) and a £320 seat in tomorrows final.

Tomorrow promises to be a big night - lets hope so.
ClintonO

We are off and running!

May has started on a positive note.
I found myself playing in the £2k guaranteed at 12pm today and finished 4th of 147 runners, taking home £250.

Further gains were made by finishing 3rd in the six pac highrollers qualifier. £150. This is the first time I have played in this tournament and was happy with the result.
The reason I played it was due to a LOQ qualifier this afternoon which was a six pac tournament, which I won. ($75 seat in the LOQ on Tuesday)
I feel my recent improvements on single table tournaments have contributed to this.

Of course I got my share of bad beats! My site would not be same without it! My Aces got called by 35 and the flop was 733 and of course there were many more.

It was nice to hear a comment from one the sites top players No3putts, who I met in the Caribbean.

'No3putts: Clinton - over the last month I have seen you suffer from more than your fair share of bad beats m8'

See its not just me who thinks I have been hard done by!

So as promised objectives for the month
1) Secure World Series seat - surely this month is the month. There is a minimum of ten finals this month. I will be hoping to reach 5 of these, in which I definitely have the ability to win one.

2) 50k. There are 4 50ks this month, of which I can play in 3. I was pleased with my cash this Sunday of £300. My objective for this month, is just to improve on that. So beating last months best finishing of 33rd.

3) 15k. My best finish last month was 11th, my aim is to make a final table in this tournament.

4) Money. I am setting no money targets this month, as it puts to much pressure on me. I play this game for enjoyment and get much better results when I am enjoying it. I have made money in each of the nine months I have kept records for since my return from Vegas. I would like to continue this run and hope and expect to do so, but I will set no figure.

5) Sharkscope stats. I am currently $450 dollars down on this after improving from $2000 down last month. My simple target is to get back into profit. My longer term aim is to be officially a shark!

6) Badbeat. I have been asked to take part in a team event organised by the website. www.badbeat.com The team I will be representing is made up of some very good players, it will certainly be a different challenge. I would very much like to be part of a winning team! So a final table appearance in this challenge is my aim

7) Littlewoods Bet Direct. I played on this site the other day and ended up winning a tournament for a seat for a $250,000 guaranteed tournament on the 13th May. My target is to make the money in this one.

8) Arsenal winning the Champions league. Okay so its not poker related, but I will be in Paris to support my team and am hoping that this will be a once in a lifetime experience.

I figure the more objectives I set, the more chances I have of meeting at least one!

All the best
ClintonO

April Review

Before I post on the month of April, tonights performances were again pleasing.

In the £50k, I finished in 33rd place (£300). It could have been better, I was up against the chip leader in my last hand 44 vs J6, he hit a Jack on the River (Could anything of else happened!)

In the LOQ $1 tournament, there was 193 players. I had my record stack after an hour up to 28,000. At one point with six left I was chip leader with 100,000. I end up all in with the guy in 2nd place AK vs AQ, here they come JT47, wait for it, yes its a King. Giving him the straight. These rivers!

I played one other tournament on Bet Direct, Littlewoods sister site. It was a qualifier for a $250,000 tournament. One seat available, I managed to win it and have secured my seat on Sunday 13th May.

So reflections on April.
Positive's - I have won more tournaments this month than the rest of my short career put together, winning the $5k guaranteed was the pinnacle.
I have played my best poker to date and am pleased that my game has definitely improved.
I have learnt to play different styles of poker and switch in and out as the situation demands.

Negative's - I have failed on my objectives, but will have a review of them now.
1) A World Series seat - I have made 5 finals this month, with 4th being my best finish. This is still the priority for next month.
2) A top 20 in the £50k, my best effort was 33rd, which is my best effort this year, so good progress made, but just short of target
3) 2 final tables of the £15k, unfortunately I fell short on this one, 11th was my best effort. Overall this tournament was the most dissapointing this month
4) Cash Profit - Due to the World Series games, I knew I would have a lower target, but still I managed my ninth successive profitable month, adding £500 to the kitty.
5) Sharkscope Stats - My single table stats have taken a significant turnaround, however have fallen just short of my aim. I am a little over $400 behind schedule. However a number of 10 seaters (£50) where I placed did not get recorded, so I would have hit my target! But the aim was to beat the stats, so I ended up a little short.

Its hard not to be dissapointed when I failed on all my objectives, but I know if I play like this again for another month, there is no way, I will fail on these.

I will set some revised targets tomorrow.
ClintonO

My 3rd Major!

Its not the tournament I planned on, but a win is a win!

I had made some good progress on Sharkscope today, only to discover that the two £50 10 stts, where I made the money, have not been counted! So still a little more work to go!

With my typical luck - AQ losing to AJ in the LOQ. Going out with QdJd on a Kd, Td,4s flop to Aces!

I decided to have a go at the $5k guaranteed. There were 133 runners and the prize pool of $6,650.
It was a quick moving tournaments with only 10 mins levels. After the first hour I had moved to 7k in chips and there were only 44 players left.

After 2 hours and 20 mins we were down to just 2. 50_pence was the competition, who had a small lead of 8k in chips.
After 20 mins of heads up the crucial hand! At this point I had a lead of 111k to 87k in chips. Blinds 1500/3000 (ante 400) I call to the big blind, he raises to 9k and I reraise with AdJs to 27k. The flop comes down Jc5d9s. A check from 50_pence, so I bet 27k which is again called. The turn is a 2c, to which he puts his remaining 33k in the middle. If he has an overpair, I am beat at this point, but I can't believe the 2 helped him, so I am calling. He turns over Ac5c. He needs a five or a club. The river is an Ace. It's all over!

I win my first major tournament win since January, I happily take the $2k first prize (£1.1k)

I am pleased with this as I have been playing well for quite some time, without the financial rewards, hopefully this will now give me the impetus to get my World Series seat sorted!

Best of Luck
ClintonO

Am I supposed to play this game?!

3 tournaments tonight - 3rd in the Littlewoods player points, 26th in the 15k (£75 and 2nd successive cash) and 2nd in the LOQ.

On the face of it some great play, but how how harsh were the results.

The Littlewoods tournament, I am winning, I am holding KK, Guy goes all in with A2 on a 7 high flop. Turn 2, River 2.

The £15k got nasty near the end. My AJ losing to K7, then 88 losing to A5, before my AT all in bet was called by AJ.

The LOQ was horrible! Some good play to get me in a great position. I am slightly behind heads up. I have AQ and get the other guy all in preflop. He has AJ. Flop 4QT, Turn 7, River K. He hits the straight.

All that play for so little to show for it!
My game continues to improve, I am really starting to step my game up.
Hopefully I can get some nice results over the last few days of April and qualify for a final at the weekend.

Good Luck
ClintonO

Those Ladies are taking the mick!

The night did not appear to be looking good.
In the $140 WSOP qualifier, my Aces were busted by AsJs and I was down to 350 chips in the 15k.

Then however I hit a seven on the river to keep me in and there was no looking back.
After almost 4 hours we were down to 12 players. I have 55000 chips and am in 4th. I turned over QQ.

With blinds up at 1200/2400. I raise to 9600, the big blind who had just doubled up with T9, decides to go all in for 42000. I decide that the chances of him being in front are slim and call. He turns over 99. This pot will put me in the lead.

The first four cards are blank, here comes the river - of course its a 9! Gutted as usual!

We lose one more player, so there is 11 left and I am down to 8500. I have Q7 in the blinds and button puts me all in, I have to call with the pot odds available. He turns over J5. This would move me up to 20k with the antes and other blind. I can't believe I am in front, that soon fades though, as a Jack appears on the river!

£150 and 11th place, but no final table as I said I would achieve in my objectives. Another good game, but those Ladies really don't like me!

Next Time then!
ClintonO

Where do they find them!

Picture the scene.
Its the last 65 of the 15k. I have a little over 4k in chips and would like a hand to help me out.

Big Slick arrives, that should do it. Blinds 150/300 with 25 ante. Under the gun HAN50M raises to 600. I decide to push and go all in.

HAN50M has about 7k in chips and decides to call. He turns over 7d6d. What the! Still I am rubbing my hands at that.
The flop come 579, oh my god. Thankfully the turn is an ace, to sort me out. Then the river, yes its another 7. What can you do!

I can understand the raise, Dan Harrington raises with suited connectors under the gun, as a way of taking advantage of his tight game. However 76 has got to be the absolute minimum and would he call a tight players all in raise, in a word. NO!

As I was writing HAN50M was sitting in 10th with 20k in chips, with just 25 left. I find it no surprise that he is now out!

Aside from that disaster I played in three other tournaments. I went out in the LOQ 1 in 50, when someone called my allin with openended straight draw, he obviously hit it!

The other tournaments were the $25 WSOP qualifier, where I reached the final 9 to qualify for Wednesdays $140 WSOP qualifier and the £50k qualifier where I finished in the final 3 to qualify for the £110 event on Sunday.
So £210 in seats won, so not a bad night, but honestly 76!

ClintonO

Those ladies are haunting me again!

This week has been a hell of a week!
I have had two second places in LOQ Qualifiers and a 3rd in a Littlewoods qualifier.

It was looking like a Weekend without a final, but at 2.30pm today I won the $140 World Series Qualifier, putting me in this afternoons final.
At one point even Vegas (Mr Crypto) came on and said well played, so that was a first for me!

The final was just horrible. With 16 people left I pick up QQ under the gun.
When the flop comes down 9s 5c Qd, I thought this was going to a fantastic double up. I am playing against As, Ks. Can you predict what happens?! 7s and then 3s. How cruel!

I do feel like my game is continuing to improve. I finished 6th in a £1.5k guaranteed taking home £100+ last night, also my Stt form is getting much better and I have made marked improvement in my stats over the last few days.
I am almost in danger of meeting one of my objectives!

Two more finals available this forthcoming weekend, I will be doing everything I can to secure a seat.

ClintonO

Another Day of what might have been!

Tonight was a frustrating night as site problems prevented me from playing for almost an hour, jeopardising most of my tournaments.

The £15k was the worst affected as I lost half my 4500 stack.
In the LOQ qualifier I managed to recovered from starting with 1300 instead of 2000, but ultimately finished 4th, two made the final.

The Littlewoods tournament was almost a sublime comeback, down to 350 chips, I made the final table for the 11th consecutive time, but my JJ was busted by 26, yes 26, so I finished 6th.

The last tournament of the night was the LOQ 1 in 50. I managed to take this one to the wire, but ended losing heads up against 007apr, I was 3-1 down in chips so had to make a move where I could and came up against pocket tens when trying a maneouvre.

Still onwards and upwards.
Another note on Poker Tony, there I am saying he is going to win a tournament and he takes down the 150 Euro rebuy at the Irish Open, nice one sir! Now about my percentage!!!

Also as from today you can read an article about me on the Littlewoods Website.
http://www.littlewoodspoker.com/wsop/player-views.htm

I will have to get another photo taken!
Once again a big thank you to those guys at Littlewoods who are really supporting me, I will repaying them by having a big finish at the World Series - WHEN I FINALLY GET THERE!!!!!

ClintonO

Back to the Drawing Board!

After 2 finals this weekend, it is back to the qualification stages again!
The 4th place finish on Saturday night was really dissapointing after coming so close.

The final on Sunday did not go according to plan. I ran into Kings with my Queens quite early on.
Despite recovering my intitial stack, I got reraised when holding Jacks and threw them away and then lost with AQ to KJ on a four heart board to a flush.

The qualification process began again last night and it was the Littlewoods Competition on the agenda. For the tenth consectutive time, I made the final table, but this time I went out in 7th.
Raising 4 times the big blind with AT suited, I was called by the chip leader. On a AK3 flop, I felt confident, he did not have an ace with a higher kicker. I was right, but his set of 3s was a problem!

I had a little slip in my STT quest, but that is what you get for playing with a hangover. However I have recovered well over the last two days and am now back to being officially in 'HOT' form.

I have signed up for the Sharkscope premium service, as I have found the information on there to be a useful guide. It does surprise me how seeing the stats in advance can enable you to predict the finishing order of the tournament. Definitely useful.

A quick note on my pal Poker Tony Chessa, he had another excellent performance in the Paddy Power Irish Open this weekend, finishing in 16th place, a future champion in the making for sure.

Whilst reflecting on the month so far and looking back at the stats, I cannot help but feel disappointed, in that none of my objectives are looking likely to be met. Yet when I look back at the results, I have actually won 4 MTT's in 17 days, but as they have no cash value other than a seat, I am probably being overly critical. In reality this is an excellent performance and I have learnt many lessons and that should reap many more rewards going forwards.

There are 3 more World Series finals available this weekend and I will play in every possible qualifier to get there. After making two finals last weekend, I do not see why I can't make at least one of them.

I am concerned about my regular tournament form, I am without a cash in the last five now. I am considering taking a break from these until my world series seat is secured.
Although over the weekend, whilst sitting nicely in fourth place, I turn over J7 in the big blind. With a flop of 7J7, I did not expect to go out on that hand! Going out to pocket Jacks in an unraised pot. Not sure how I get away from that one!

I have a few tournaments tonight. The £15k, World Series Level 1, LOQ Level 2 and the Littlewoods points competition. I obviously will not have a chance to play much else, but I do want to play a couple of Stt's to keep my progress on the upwards curve.

I remain buoyant about my game and approach the rest of the month with confidence.
ClintonO

The Worst Feeling

Absolutely gutted!
Tonights LOQ final I finished in 4th place after leading with 5 players left.
3rd prize got $2400, 4th got nothing.

After playing some of my finest poker, I slipped up in three major hands. Firstly flopping top two pair, to lose to trips. Secondly flopping trips and losing to a runner runner straight. Then finally, having KT on a KTA flop, I come up against a slow played AK.

I am absolutely devasted by this, as I thought this was the night!

I had earlier won the $140 qualifier for the World Series final, so I will take my place in tomorrows final and I am determined to avenge my defeat here.

So Gutted!
ClintonO

Confidence restored!

Tonight was looking like being one of those nights again.
The Littlewoods player points was first on the agenda, after a poor start, I picked my game up and found myself on the final table.
With 5 players left I had moved into 3rd and found myself with AK on the button, I put a steal size raise in and HUABOY goes all in with A6, a flop of A58 looks like giving me first place, a turn and a river of 7 and 9 eliminates me to a straight. SICK!

The 15k was a similiar story, a slow start but picked up as the tournament progress. Unfortunately another nine on the river, crippled me. This time AK to A9. I eventually went out in 47th when my tens ran into Cowboys.

The World Series qualifiers saw me eliminated when my Aces were busted by Jacks and I overplayed AK on a AJ9 flop and went out to a set of Jacks.

I decided to play one last game, a 37 player LOQ Tournament, with the winner taking a seat in the final on Saturday. (The first of the seven remaining World Series tournaments left this month).
I played very loose poker to start with as I was still reeling from the lack of success, but whilst my chip stack yo-yoed I did not move much. Then when I was short stacked and I pushed all in with A3, on a 668 flop, I was called with A7 and after a 9 on the turn, with the pot looking like it would be split pot, the river was a 3. Oh my god, I got lucky!

This event gave me the confidence I needed and the realisation that not every card is against me!
I played some good aggressive poker and by time we got to ten players, I was the chip leader. This was a position that I never slip until the last 3. The short stacked went all in with A7 and I called with AK, of course the flop included a 7!.

At this point the useful Meijer was 50 chips in front! Meijer had already won a LOQ Final so this would be a real test for me. We had 25k in chips each and jolindi1 had 5k. From this point on I regained my composure and played some great poker to take this tournament and win my seat in the LOQ final on Saturday. After 2hours and 11 seconds, I had won my first MTT this month and maintained my target of achieving at least one World Series opportunity a weekend.

It really is time to get my world series seat! A night off is in order after that performance tonight, but I will be back with renewed confidence on Friday.

With Dewi Cool and bifta, two of the sites best players already in the LOQ final on Saturday, this will be a real challenge, but I feel I am ready for it.

Time to take it down!
ClintonO

Small Progress Made

Not the most successful of nights, but progress has been made on point five of my monthly objectives.

The Littlewoods player points route for the World Series was another dissapointment last night. For the seventh consecutive time I made the final table, but my preflop raise of 4 times the blind with 99 did not scare off an A2 off suit call. Needless to say the flop of 345, did not help me! I went out in 9th

During the £15k I played a patient game, moving up to 5k in chips with 101 players left. When my AK suited met with an AT3 board, I thought I would move further up the leader board, but as the guy had TT, I soon realised that it was not to be!

The new objective of sorting out my STT record, took a step in the positive direction though. I played four games last night, winning one and coming 2nd in three. It was dissapointing that I could not win more, but making money in each was my target. According to sharkscope.com my form is now officially HOT!

Tonights games include the Littlewoods Player Points, £15k and World Series Stage 2 Qualifier ($140). Depending on performance I will try to get in a few STT's to help achieve Target 5.

These are important games, as a good performance tonight, will put me in two of the finals for the remaining 7 opportunities for a world series seat this month.

ClintonO

Latest Update

After a few days break from the world of poker its back to business again.

On the PR front, I made the front page of the St.Ives Weekly News! I will get this scanned in and available for everyone to see.

As for the Poker, it is been a quiet return.
I qualified for the $1k World Series final on Sunday, but unfortunately went out in 11th place, reraising an agressive button with AQ, but he had Kings and I was beaten. The tournament though was abandoned with 7 people left due to software failure, so I would not been able to win my seat, but I would have had a equal share of the $30k prize money.

At least I am continuing to give myself the opportunity at least once a weekend.

A quick review of my monthly targets
1) Qualify for World Series seat, I have had two finals so far this month and finished 7th and 11th, so I am not too far away. I have a maximum of 7 further opportunities during the month. I would obviously like to make them all, but if I can make 3 of them, I am confident I can secure my seat in one of them.

2) Achieve a top 20 in the £50k. This months record reads 65th, Abandonded. With 3 more to play this remains a realistic but stretching target.

3) Achieve two final tables in the £15k, so far from 5 efforts, I have finished in the last 50 in four of them, my best finish has been 22nd twice! Again this remains a realistic target.

4) £3k profit, this month has failed to add any money to the bankroll so far, but as I have stressed this month is more about securing my seat, rather than winning money. In reality, my target was too ambitious and I am lowering my aims to £1.5k, as I will mainly be playing world series games.

5) I am however adding a further target. There is a website that provides results of everyones single seater tournament results. www.sharkscope.com. This is a very useful site, but it does highlight some very significant findings. My profits to date have enitirely come from Multi Table Tournaments and so I am in a negative position on Single Table Tournaments. As a result of this I would like to turn this around by the end of the month.

There is a lot left to achieve for the remainder of April and the quest for glory starts tonight.

Very Focused!
ClintonO

This game can be so cruel

It at times like these you wonder why you play this game.

After the bad luck from last night, the $600k tournament was very cruel.

I hit top set on the flop and one player goes all in and hits runner runner to hit a flush. Shortly after with a pair of Kings, I go all in on a Jack high flop, I get called with AJ. The remaining cards are two spades giving them a Ace high flush with 4 spades on the board.

The £50k was going very well, with only 65 players remaining from the 404 that started. I have A7 suited in the small blind. The button raises me, which he has done for the last three blinds. I defend my blind all in and he turns over Aces. Two nights on the trot, I run into aces near the end of a tournament.

After this latest run of luck, I am going to have a little break!
See you in a few days
ClintonO

April Fool?

A mixed start to the month of April.

The positive start is a £350 profit on day 1 thanks to money finishes in the World Series qualifier and another money finish in the 15k.

Unfortunately my quest for a World Series seat is not yet complete. Having made it to the last nine players in the final and sitting in 2nd position, I am dealt a pair of Kings on the button. There is one initial raiser so I re-raise him, he goes all in. Can I throw away a pair of Kings, there is one place up for grabs and I have to win the tournament to get it. I call and he has those dreaded Aces. Unfortunately the Aces hold up and lose the majority of my stack. I go all in on my first decent hand KQ suited and run into AQ.

Its hard to be disappointed after a profitable day, but I was winning the 15k with 40 left. AK in the small blind, ran into JJ in the big blind and he hit four spades to a flush, taking out most of my stack. I was also 2nd in the LOQ and had I not run into Aces, I could have my plane tickets booked my now.

Still I have played well again, tomorrow I have the $600k final and the £50k tournament. I am having a few days rest next week, so I am hoping to continue my form into tomorrow.
I might have one last go at getting in the world series qualifier, but I have not decided yet.

Good Luck All
ClintonO

Monthly Report

Its the end of March and its time to reflect on the month.

This month has been quite surreal, becoming a local celebrity has been fantastic! Once again big thanks to Littlewoods and I hope they got a lot out of it also.

On the playing front, I have played a lot better than my results have suggested. Too many times, the odds of gone against me.
However the records show+£1.7k for the month (6th best from 8) and an 8 month total of +£18k.

I expected this month to be lower than normal, as my main aim is qualification for the world series, so my concentration has been there.

April has the potential to start well, with the LOQ final tomorrow and the $600k on Sunday.
But it is time to stand up and be counted. The pressure to get my world series seat is considerable, especially with all the PR and expectations of my family, the wonderful Littlewoods and especially from myself.

I have been experimenting with many styles of play over the last month, so I can adapt to whatever situation I find myself in and as a result I do feel more comfortable in different situations.

My aims for April -
1) Secure World Series seat - It is important to be playing in at least one final each weekend where I can play. So that means either the LOQ on Saturday, or World Series on Sunday.
2) Top Twenty finish in the £50k - I am finding my Sunday performances quite disappointing, I believe that after I have given my all playing football on Sunday morning, I am not at my best on Sundays. I have two weeks without a game this month, so I will see whether results improve
3) Two Final Table finishes in the £15k - I have not been in the top 5 in this tournament since early Feb, and I would like to improve my performance here.
4) Post a top two month profit record - +£3k is the target.

This is an important month, but I don't care whether I hit targets 2,3 and 4, as long as I hit number one.

Take Care
ClintonO

25 Not Out

Tonight I cashed in the 15k for the 25th time since I started keeping records. Disappointingly I only finished 24th and took home £75, but the manner in which I played was pleasing.

I suffered a big knock back when my Jacks were called by Ace 8 and lost to an ace on the river.

I didn't get many cards tonight, so it was a matter of being creative when I needed to be.
I am still pleased with my game and feel I have been playing well for most of the month. I feel though I do need a nice win to reward me for my play so far.

I went out when my pocket eights ran into jacks and didn't get any help.

Littlewoods have kindly moved the Player points free rolls to 7.30pm, so that gives me another avenue to qualify for the world series, I will play in that one tomorrow.

Still hoping for a big weekend
ClintonO

Here comes the weekend!

I am hoping for a couple of nice results over the next two days, as I frequently end the month well and would like to push the monthly winnings up.

However the key focus for me is the Weekend.
On Saturday I am in the $750 LOQ final, with a World Series place for the winner. I qualified for this by winning a $15 qualifier last night. I was particularly pleased with these, as when I started the Heads up I had 6k in chips compared to the other guy with 36k.
Also on Saturday Night is the $140 world series qualifier for the $1000 final on Sunday.

Sunday brings the $1050 World Series final (hopefully), the $600k six pack tournament and the £50k tournament (recently increased from £40k).

These all have a lot of potential to get April off to a flying start and get my World Series seat secured.
ClintonO

How do you know when its not your night?

15k - The first decent hand you have is KK and you run into Aces.
WS qualifier - You pick up KK, get two people all in on a 968 flop and you are up against JJ and A8 and the river is a J.
50k qualifier - You get QQ, hit a third Queen on the flop, and get put all in by AK, who hits a Jack and Ten to give him a straight.

Same time tomorrow then!
ClintonO

No seat yet!

The $1000 World Series qualifier, did not quite have the desired result this evening.

40 players, with 2 seats available, was a tough ask with the quality of players playing.

The first hour was fairly uneventful and I ended up pretty much where I started with 2500 chips, the second hour was better, moving me on to 5000 chips. At this point there was 20 people left and I was sitting in about 10th.

The third hour was where it all went wrong. I was sitting with 77 in the Big Blind. The small blind went all in and it was 700 more to call. He turned over 87 suited and hit an 8 on the flop.

Two hands later on the button I had 10,10 and raised 3 times the blind, the small blind went all in for another 1800, I decided to call, he turned over A8, but an Ace was the first card out.

I fought my way back into it and with 14 remaining, I made a move on the button with QJ suited and unfortunately the chip leader had KQ and that was the tournament over.

It is dissapointing to not have anything to show for a couple of great days play, but if I can keep this level of play up, then I hope to be having another go next week. With the $600k tournament also next weekend, there is lots to be playing for.

ClintonO

Mothers Day!

Today has been a good day. Aside from waking up with a hangover, I have had some good results today.

I won a £20STT to start the day off and then entered a £20 MTT.
Out of 94 runners I came 3rd, taking home £240. March total back at +£1.3k.

However it is the World Series qualifiers I have been most pleased with.
I started off in $25 Level 1 qualifier at 9pm and succesfully got through that one.
The $140 Level 2 qualifier started at 00:30 and with the clocks going forward it was going to be a long night!
Well at 4:23 am I won the qualifier and now take my place in the $1000 World Series final for a place in the main event later today at 6pm. There are currently 22 entered, so I suspect there will be 2 seats available.
A world series for £15 would be very nice!
Time to get some sleep!
One tiny quirk of fate, last year I qualified for Vegas on Fathers Day, today it is Mothers Day. Too much of a coincidence?!?! Game on!

ClintonO

A Spell on me?

I continue to play well, but I currently feel I am cursed!

Tonight in the 10k. We are down to 33 people and I am dealt 88. I have 10k in chips, I raise to 2.4k. I get one caller.
Flop is 242, I bet 2.4k again and get raised all in. I call. The guy turns over 77. The turn is a 3. I am about take down a 22k pot and move into the top 6.

He only has two outs, the remaining sevens, That is a 2 in 44 chance. I am 95%+ certain to win. Only five times in a hundred should I lose. This is one of them. Again! By my maths, I therefore must win the next 92 to balance out the odds!

33rd - Just £35 into the bankroll.

My day must be close by!
ClintonO

Latest Press Article

My latest feature has been triggered on Google Alerts!

Here is an article about me from todays Cambridge Evening News.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/huntingdon/2006/03/23/a47ecc26-0808-498c-8d52-14c58acd2227.lpf

Look out for the superimposed cards!

ClintonO

Bubble Boy Part 2

The curse of the Bubble continued last night in the all important World Series Level 2 qualifier.
With the top 7 winning themselves a seat in Sundays $1000 final, I found myself finishing in 8th place. The $592 prize for 8th was a small consolation, as I felt like I almost had one foot on the plane!

With 32 players remaining I found myself in last position and played one of my best ever short stacked games. By time it got to the last eight, the blinds were up to 1200/2400 with chip counts ranging from 10 - 32k.

I entered a pot with JT and had a great flop of T98, giving myself a top pair and an opened ended straight draw.

All in up against AQ, I thought that I had secured my seat in the final, as only an ace on the last two cards would see my departure, unfortunately the turn brought the Ace and I was out.

My consolation is that if I can maintain my current form, then some more big prizes cannot be too far away.

Media Update, a few more articles on me are appearing in regional press, here is one from the Hunts Post.
http://www.huntspost.co.uk/content/hunts/news/story.aspx?brand=HPTOnline&category=News&tBrand=cambs24&tCategory=NewsHPT&itemid=WEED22%20Mar%202006%2012%3A39%3A12%3A173

Take Care
ClintonO

Bubble Boy

Tonight was a case of what might have been!
Again playing some excellent poker, I managed to qualify for the next stage of the World Series qualifiers, taking place on Wednesday night.

However, it was almost a great night, but I managed to bubble in both the LOQ and the $600k, which would have been worth another £600. The nut flush losing to Full House on the river and Kings to Jacks.

My game is really good at the moment, I am very confident that this will turn into some nice prizes soon. My total for March has slipped to +£1.1k after entering a number of tournaments over the last 7 days, but this should be easily improved upon over the next week.

My photo shoot for the Cambridge Evening News was completed tonight, so I should hopefully appear in there tomorrow.

I also pleased to say that one of the guys I am teaching to play came 4th in the 15k tonight, taking home £1,125! Nice one Fenners!

Wednesday 9.30pm World Series Level 2 qualifier $150 entry is the agenda tomorrow night, as I search for a place in the final qualifier on Sunday.

Its coming together
ClintonO

Down to Business

The world series qualifying has just begun this week and now becomes my number one target in poker.
The last few days have been disappointing from a results point of view, but my game is still sound. Last nights elimination in the 15k summed it up. With just 50 players left I was holding JJ. Flop was J83 rainbow and I go out to a backdoor flush.

I am still confident that I am playing well enough to secure a world series sear and as soon as my hands start holding up, I can see some very positive results coming my way.

On the publicity front, I am currently awaiting a photographer from the Cambridge Evening News to take a few pictures of me, the feature should be in tomorrows edition. I imagine this will be last of the recent media frenzy and I can concentrate on winning some more tournaments!

See you on the tables
ClintonO

Getting the Bad Beats out of the way!

I am continuing to play some good poker, but am getting undone by some bad luck.
I am hoping that by Sunday, all the bad beats will be out of the system!

Tonights 15k, saw me lose with JJ to 88 on a 443 flop, when going very nicely having doubled up early.
Last night, again going well, I was put all in with KK on a K87 flop. The guy turned over 88 and hit the final 8 on the turn!
To cap it off in a LOQ qualifier very late on, I rose pre flop with AA and then post flop, I was reraised all in on a 826 flop. The guy turns over 10,4. The following cards were 75! Not my night!

Its a big night tomorrow, so I will happily save my luck for then.
ClintonO

Local Celebrity Special!

I hope you managed to catch my radio interviews this morning on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (96.0 fm), I did two interviews one with the Cambridge division and then one with the Peterborough show.

I felt the Cambridge one went really well, the Peterborough was a little tougher, but overall they were both really enjoyable.

I am expecting to do an interview with the Cambridge Evening News later today and have a photoshoot to arrange, so the media coverage continues.

My article in the Biggleswade Chronicle hits the press today, so that will be an interesting one to read!

STOP PRESS! - BBC Look East have been in contact with me this morning, following my radio interview and are interested in doing a TV feature with me next week. That means my interview must have been quite good! Full Details to follow.

I will continue to push the wonderful game of poker and those fantastic people at www.littlewoodspoker.com. This has made me more determined than ever to get my seat at the World Series in July.

On the poker front, its a big weekend ahead, with the £40k and $100k on Sunday. With my game continuing on the up, I am hopeful of a good result. I will catch you all later.

Take Care
ClintonO

Another Money Finish

Tonight was more a case of what might have been.
Another money finish in the 15k 21st taking home £75, but it really should have been more.
Going well throughout the tournament, ultimately the finish was a dissapoinment.

I am questioning my tactics of being so aggressive when I could have hung on for one more person to go out and made £150. My trademark is patience and I question whether I neglected that.

However on reflection I am happy with my play, the blinds were massive and I play to win. I was called by the big blind with A6, which was a very bad call considering his stack. It was dissapointing but I take heart that once again I am playing well and consistently making the money.

Its a night off tomorrow, but I am confident of another final table performance over the weekend.

Cheers
ClintonO

I am a Celebrity update!

Its not quite a media frenzy, but it is all great fun.

After a hectics mornings work, my PR guys were on to me setting up an radio interview.
You can hear me live on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (Cambridge) at 08:40 on Friday morning followed by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (Peterborough).

This was followed up by an interview with the delightful Laura from the Biggleswade Chronicle, followed by a photo shoot which I have just finished doing! I should be featuring in this weeks edition which I believe is out on Friday.

Lets hope the attention continues!
I now feel ready to take on the world of poker and will hopefully add to my recent successes tonight.

ClintonO

The first of many?!?!

After my press release was sent out on Monday, I have had my first request for an article on me, the very next day. I have an interview with a reporter from the Biggleswade Chronicle tomorrow, with a photo shoot to come. World stage here I come!

As for the poker tonight - nothing exceptional but I have managed to add another £250 to the bankroll and move the March total to +£1.5k.

The 15k was another disappointment as for the second day in succession I ran into Aces. Also the LOQ qualifier proved uneventful and I am now relying on qualifying on Friday night for Saturdays final.
The success however came in the form of the Thunder six packs. Three tournaments £20, £30 and £50 and three wins, enabled me to reigster for some more tournaments this week and register a profit to the bankroll. After this success, I have set myself a little challenge.

The THUNDER 33! I am going to play in 33 six packs over the course of the week and see how I fare.
At the time of writing, I have played 6, had 2 wins and am currently £140 in profit with a 64% ROI, not bad at all! Lets hope it continues.

I will update you on my first interview tomorrow.
ClintonO

An Important week ahead

Following the publication of my profile in Littlewoods Full House magazine and the sending out of my press release, this week is an important week for me to do well. If people are writing about me then it is important to me to justify that.

Monday started well, although it did not add to the bankroll, in the 15k I defended my big blind (KJ) against an aggressive small blind but ran into pocket rockets and that was the end of that.
I did however qualify for a number of events for later in the week, including the $100k Icebreaker that is being held on Sunday.
This tournament costs 5000 Player points to enter, although they have been running qualifiers for the cost of 200 player points.

As I am not a cash player it has taken me the best part of two months to amass just 200 points and with the final this Sunday, I made it to a qualifier just in time.

As this was my only shot to qualify I had to take it seriously. 178 players entered and only 7 would book a seat in the final. This game took over 2 and half hours, but when the game finished I was sitting comfortably in 3rd place.

Tonight is usually the night I play best (the night of both my 15k wins and my Caribbean qualification)and with the 15k and qualifiers in the LOQ and $600k, I am hoping for some positive results. I am especially keen to book my place in the LOQ final on Saturday, as I have been unable to play in the last two and with just four months to go to the WSOP, I want my seat assured as soon as possible!

See you on the tables
ClintonO

Fame at Last!

There is something very satisfying about reading an article on yourself!
In the post today was a centre page feature on me in the Littlewoods Poker Full House magazine.

Thats one step closer to me making the big time!!

A big thank you again to Littlewoods who have been nothing short of amazing in my poker journey to date and have also appointed me a PR company to look after me!

It was also nice playing tonight, as a number of people had actually read about me.

As for the tournaments it was back to the 15k and after one night out of the money, it was nice to get right back amongst it. Again though it went wrong near the end and after losing a big pot with QQ to A6, the very next hand saw my AK suited fall to 22. So it was 18th and another £150 for the bankroll. It was so nearly more, but my AK (again) came up against KK in the $600k qualifier, just 4 short of the money. March bankroll moves up to +£1.25k.

I am hoping to kick my game up a level shortly and get a few more final table appearances.

Just a note on my good pal Tony Chessa, he has been playing magnificently in the Monte Carlo Millions this week and missed out on the money by a couple of places when his Aces lost to Jacks. This guy is a superstar and it is only a matter of time before he takes down a big tournament.

Although I do have to point out that the feature on me came before his feature in the magazine and I am by far the best looking in the magazine!!!!

Its a night off tommorrow, but I will be back for the £40k on Sunday.

Take Care
ClintonO

Now the cowboys are joining in!

The run of finishing in the money has ended, but I still feel I am playing well enough to take down a big tournament soon.

Tonight with just 50 left in the 15k, I pick up my first real hand of the evening KK. I put in a small raise and am re-raised all in. I call and I am up against 66. Its all looking good until the turn brings a 6.

The 10k was a similiar picture, but it was predictably those ladies that saw my exit! This time I ran into a monster 88! At least they sealed my fate on the flop this time!

March continues positively as a couple of good peformances in some single table tournaments moves me along to +£1.2k.

Let me be Lucky!
ClintonO

The next big win is around the corner

Another successful night in the world of poker and two more money finishes.
In the 15k I had to settle for 15th and £150 despite one of the best starts I have ever made in this tournament.

A few costly AK's knocked the stuffing out of me late on, followed by my Jacks losing to AQ on the river.

By time I was down to my last 14k, I got A9 suited and moved in (blinds 1200/2400), unfortunately I ran into AQ and had to settle for 15th.

The other tournament was the $600k qualifier. Having already qualified for the final in April, I was playing for the $530 cash prize.

I flew into a big lead early on, moving from 1500 to 10000 in the first hour, before almost losing the lot running into aces. Down to 765, it was not looking good! However some nice play got me back in the running and by time the final ten were announced I was chip leader with 25k, giving me £300 more for the bankroll.

£450 more for March, moves the monthly total to £1.1k and more importantly I am playing well and feel it is just a short time before the next big win arrives.

Be Lucky
ClintonO

Can no-one throw away AK!

Thought I would have another go at the 10k tonight and am happy to say that I made the money for the fourth consecutive time, although only finishing in 29th place. Still it all adds to the bankroll, even if it is just £70.
March is still going okay and we are +£0.65k after day 6.

Tonights lesson, people cannot throw away AK.

Down to 9k, I am one off the button and raise to 3.2k with nothing 35off suit. The button (10k) flat calls me. Flop comes 275. I move all in and after a few moments he calls me for his remaining chips, he turns over AK. Got him! 20k pot with the blinds, but no the turn is a King and on come the sugababes!

Until next time
ClintonO

Consistency Returns - But so does the curse of the ladies!

March has started on a positive note, with two more money finishes in the 10k, to make it 3 consecutive nights on the trot.

The 10k was a tournament I had been avoiding, due to the late finish, but providing I have a built up a stack of chips fairly early, I am happy to give it a go.
Two days in and I have almost equalled the profit from last month, so March is looking promising.

I am having a night off tonight as a run of 3 late sessions has left me feeling a little jaded and I will return for the 15k on Saturday. I will not playing in the LOQ final this week as I have not been able to play in the qualifiers and I am not paying £430 for the final, so my World Series dream will have to wait for a couple of weeks. I am hoping that my good friends at Littlewoods will start running qualifiers for the World Series as soon as the Monte Carlo qualifiers are over, so that I can stop worrying about securing my place.

Now the curse of the ladies! Most people who know me know that when I am dealt a pair of queens, it spells trouble, but my latest curse is slightly different. During the last few days I have been listening to music after the first two hours (to keep me awake mainly!). The previous two nights had seen me go out of the tournament on the same song - Sugababes - Red Dress!

Last night I was sitting happily on 30k with just over 20 players left when it came on. Before the end of the song I was out!

I am dealt AQ diamonds in mid position and the very short stack goes all in for his last 1k, the next short stack throws all his chips in 7k. I decide that the short stack is going in on any hand with blinds at 600/1200 and the next guy has probably got a decent showing, but not that good as he would have probably encouraged some action. So I join them and throw my chips in. I am up against K9 and A10, a good read and provided it holds up about 10k more chips for me.
The Flop has mixed blessings a Ten, but two diamonds. However an ace and a six with no diamonds dont help me.

A few hands later I pick up KQ in the big blind. I am raised by the new chip leader (Just got very lucky calling an all in bet with JJ to AQ on a QQ3 flop - hit a Jack on river!) to 3600, I am not too worried about this, although he will probably call a reraise so I decide to call. The flop comes down Q62. I bet out 5k which he calls. From his previous play I know I am in front as he did not reraise, I suspect he is on a ace, mid high kicker or low/mid pair. The turn comes a another 6 and decide to take down the pot there, by putting in my remaining 9k. He calls with A6. Harsh but thats the way it goes. I could have put a smaller bet in on the turn but I would have been pot comitted, so was as well to go all in. So ultimately I am comfortable with my bet and I never put him on A6.

Dissapointed I look up and those ladies start to fade out their song about the red dress, damn those ladies! If I see a lady in a red dress in the near future, warning signs will be going off! Next time they come on, I am changing the channel!

Be Lucky
ClintonO

But I had AK!

There is something about the last day of the month, that focuses my mind.

It is the day I post my results for the month. February +£0k. Hmmm, my first non profit making month. It had not been a bad month, but due to other commitments, I am finding myself paying full price for tournaments rather than qualifying for them. So my winnings may be going up, but my costs are also. With one night left the quest to show a profit was on.

The £15k was not going to be the solution, as that ended early, the $600k qualifier was looking very promising, but when someone hit their gutshot straight draw on the river that was the end of that solution.

So it was the £10k that was my last chance, I do not usually play in this event as it finishes at 2am and getting up at 6.30am, leaves me a little drained for the day!

I had managed to lose half my stack in the first 6 hands and I was resigned to a non profit February.
However just as I was about to lose interest I flopped a full house and doubled up. It was time to start playing.

I slowly worked my way up the leaderboard and really started playing well. After we were down to 170 players, I was moved to table 1 (always a good omen!), where I was to stay and therefore get a feel for everyone around the stable.
When we had 20 players left, I was in 3rd place, on top of my game and only forseeing one outcome - victory.
At 1.30am there was six players left and I was a narrow chip leader. Guaranteed £500 at this point (therefore sorting February out) I was only focused on the £2.5k first prize.
Then came the crucial hand. JJ in the big blind. I have 130k Blinds were 1.5k and 3k. Seat 3 'bradpit'(105k) puts in a raise of 12k, which I decide to reraise to 36k. Brad calls.

A great flop 7 high, with 2 clubs. I checked the flop, hoping for a bet and brad obliged with a 12k bet. This was too small a bet for him to have a bigger pair than me, also he would have gone all in already. I immediately put him on two overcards and move all in.

To my great surprise he called my bet with Ace spades and King Clubs! Fantastic. This would put be so far clear, I should go on and win the tournament. Turn is a 9, excellent - oh hang on its another club. Surely we can't have four. The river is a fourth club! - I have just lost a monster pot.

I type unbelievable into the forum and get a sarcastic comment back again. I asked him how he called a bet that would put him out of the tournament when he had absolutely nothing. His reply ' but I had AK'.

Ultimately I went out 6th place when my 99's crashed out to AJ. February at least ended up +£0.5k, even though it could have been so much more. I take comfort in the fact that without these type of players my success in this game would not be so great, also the fact that I am back on a final table again.

But those immortal words will stay with me for a little while. 'But I had AK!.
Take Care
ClintonO

Close but no cigar!

Tonight I resumed my quest for a world series place and unfortunately fell just short finishing 7 places behind that so important seat.

Once again I was reminded of how cruel this game can be.
After making a solid start and eliminating two players, I was feeling confident.

The first piece of bad luck came when holding AK hearts. I called a reraise and saw a K63 flop two hearts. I checked the flop for the guy to go all in and quickly got my chips in. I was up against QQ. No guesses for what the turn card was. Yes a queen! No heart followed.

I fought my way back to make it to the final table and with just eight people left, I was dealt Tens on the button. I tried to make it look like a steal and went all in. Small blind called me instantly. He turned over 55. This was fantastic, a double up plus antes would put me right in the thick of things.
Flop J94. No worries, just no 5. Turn is a 7. No 5 and I am right back in. Here comes the river! Two cards left in the pack out of 44, that will knock me out. I am more than a 95% favourite. Its a five, I am out!

The previously quiet table sees the following comments, ouch, vul, omg! Oh my god indeed! I leave the table, this is ridculous, how can I play this game when that happens. I vow never to play again - same time next week then!

Vegas is getting closer!

Be luckier than me
Clinton

Start of something?

My run of six 15k tournaments without cashing is over. Okay I only came 25th tonight taking home £75, but I feel my game is starting to happen again.

This game is a bit of a rollercoaster, you win for a couple of weeks and then lose for a few. Mostly it is about confidence, when you are on a high you play better, until a point when you get too confident and you start to lose again!.

Tonight I was playing well and going nicely, staying in the top ten for the 2nd and 3rd hour of the tournament. After losing a nice pot with JJ against AT, I was left with 11k in chips with the blinds up at 600 & 1200.

Dealt KQhearts I decided to raise to 4800 and had one caller. When the flop was Ah,9h,6d in was time to put the rest of my chips. When I was called I figured it would be with a big hand. But even if he had an ace, I still would not be too far off 50/50 to win. To my amazement it was 78off. I was a huge favourite with two cards to come, I started to see where I was going to be on the leaderboard. Before I got time to do it, the turn card came down a 5! For the fourth consecutive tournament, I had been a big favourite and lost to straight on the turn or river!

I have the feeling that my game is about to take off again and hope to record some nice payouts in the next few days. (Hopefully the World series seat on Saturday!)

Thanks to those people supporting me tonight! Mac your first big tournament win is coming!

Be lucky
ClintonO

Thunder & Lightning - Very Very Frightening

This weekend did not go according to plan as luck deserted me at crucial moments.

My first attempt at a world series seat was a major disappointment as I finished 18 places short of the seat I so desire. My Ace Jack was looking fantastic with AJ7 flop and when I got an all-in reraise by someone holding Ace Seven, I was rubbing my hands. That is until the turn card showed another seven! When I ran into pocket cowboys twenty minutes later, it was all over.

The 40k was looking more promising, 3 hours in, I had steadily built up to 13k in chips.
When we got down to 46 players, I had 8k in chips with AK in the big blind. Everyone folded around to the small blind, who went all in with his 16k. This was my moment, I called and he showed Q8 off. This would put me right back in it. Flop 679, Turn 10. Ouch!

The discovery of the weekend for me was a new format of single table tournaments, Thunder tournaments. These are the same as regular STT's but with only six hands per level. For a player who only plays with Aces, these are a potential nightmare. However curiousity got the better of me and I started to play one. First hand saw two players all in preflop, 44 & JT, this was crazy stuff. However 3 games later and 3 wins, I was starting to change my view!

I played 16 games in all (in about 2 1/2 hours!) winning 9 and coming second in 4. Whilst I am not sure these are the future for me, they certainly helped me fund my Multi tournaments in an otherwise unspectactular month.

One of the key skills in poker is being able to change your game depending on your position in the tournament, your ratio of chips to blinds and how tight/loose your table is.

These Thunder tournaments are certainly helpful in forcing you to play more hands and get more experience of hands that you rarely play with.

The week ahead for me is focused around the world series qualifier on Saturday, but in the meantime I have not made the money in my last 5 attempts at the 15k and not added to my bankroll in February. These are areas I intend to address over the next week.

Be lucky!
ClintonO

Poker vs Women - The Valentines Debate

February has been a fairly quiet month for me, with work and family commitments, I have not played as much as I would ideally like. That said I have managed to book my seat in the $600k tournament on April 2nd, win a few single table tournaments and highlight of the month so far, win a seat in the LOQ (Land-based Online Qualifier) final for this Saturday. I am very keen to book my seat for the World Series in July as soon as possible and winning this would do the job.

As it is Valentines week, I thought I would look at the similiarities between a winning poker strategy and a successful relationship. As I believe that the strategies for success are very similiar.

It intrigued me how many people would be playing in the £15k on Tuesday night. Usually there are around 300 people playing, this Tuesday there was 225. A 25% reduction.
Does that mean then that 75% people prefer poker to the opposite sex!

From these stats it would appear that winning at poker is easier or dare I say more enjoyable than trying to maintain a good relationship! It may be that the baby boom in poker has started and that most of the people playing online don't worry about these things as they are under 16 anyway!

The intriguing thing for me is whether there is a winning strategy for both poker that can also be applied to maintaining a healthy relationship.

Lets have a look.
Neglect. If you neglect your poker, your game suffers, you don't enjoy it and ultimately someone else ends up enjoying the benefits.
If you neglect your partner, your relationship suffers, you don't enjoy it and ultimately someone else ends up enjoying the benefits.

Playing Away. I am a loyal Littlewoods player, however a got offered a free roll from another site, which I played in, when I went back to Littlewoods my cards were awful for a week. I won't make that mistake again.

I am a married man, I can only imagine that is I was offered a free roll from another, things would be awful for more than a week.

Understanding. Sometimes in poker you can not understand why things are going wrong and no matter how much you ask the computer you don't get an answer.

Sometimes in a realtionship you can not understand why things are going wrong and no matter how much you ask your partner you don't get an answer.

Beer Goggles. Don't play drunk! suddendly Queen seven offsuit becomes pocket aces and you think you are on a winner. At the end of the game you realise it was just Queen Seven.

Need I make a comparison!!

Over reliance. Spend too much time with your computer, you lose your mates
Spend too much time with your partner, you lose your mates.

Bragging Rights - Both areas offer serious potential in this category.

Knowing when to end your relationship. You might have pocket aces, but sometimes they have to be discarded if things don't go right. Ultimately you can get very hurt.

Hot Stuff - At poker when your hot your hot, you win and keep on winning. When your cold, my god your awful
When you meet a lovely girl, everyone wants a piece of you. When you don't, nobody is interested!

Changing Tactics - Your poker game can get stale, you need to sometimes do things different, try playing different ways, playing from different postions.
In a relationship you need to keep you romance alive, doing things differently, again using different positions!

Menage a troi - Can this ever be a bad thing! How about introducing your partner to poker. There is something incredibly sexy about watching your two loves interact. All I can say is that when you want to join in - be careful who you give your attention too.

Overall being successful at poker and in a relationship boil down to patience, knowing when to make a move, knowing when you are beat and reading the signals that are being put out.

However there is always the unknown factor. Whether its poker or with women, you can approach something that is clearly out of your league - like 83 off suit or a beautiful woman and sometimes you just get lucky!

Be lucky
ClintonO

New Year, High Hopes

It was boxing day and I was driving back home to play in a football match.

I got a text message from Scott (party animal and Mr Marketing at Littlewoods).
It finished off saying ' I am expecting big things from you this year'

The next day I sat down at computer for my first game for about 7 days.
I started by playing in a £11 STT qualifier for the £15k. I was happy to say I won that after my QQ (yes I won with QQ) beat AK.

8pm 315 players.
12.44am 1 player me. My first ever win

Dear Clinton,
Thank you for participating in the tournament "£15K TUESDAY 1582226", on Dec 28 2005 12:44AM GMT.
Congratulations! You placed 1st and won 4016.25 GBP!

Two things stood out for me in this game. One of the sites top players slickqwik was watching and when it was down to 7 people, he quoted odds on who would win. I was about 4th/5th at the time and he made me second favourite behind s shooter who was in 2nd/3rd. I was well happy with this and would happily settle for 2nd as I had a couple of 3rds and 4ths, but nothing better.
Players slowly went out and when s shooter knocked out the 2nd place guy. I was left heads up, as slickqwik had predicted - knowing who you are playing against gives you an edge.
He had 560k, I had 70k. 9 hands later it was all over. I had won!

The other realisation was that 'it ain't over till its over'

I hardly played again for a few days, with new year and preparing for work again.
December ended up a record month +£3.5k

On the 3rd January, I started my new job as Marketing Controller within Jordans Cereals. I thought this might be the end of my poker playing. So that night I was determined to have a game. I also wanted to defend my title from the previous Tuesday.

8pm 254 players
12.44am (again) 1 player - my 2nd win. £4,200.

I defended my title. Olaf was the runner up on this occasion.
This meant more to me than the first one as it proved it was no fluke. My game was really coming together.
This was the ideal start to the year. January finished at +£5k.

With work I have had a lot less time to play, but I am determined to keep improving at this game.

The qualifiers for the World Series are starting and that is my next aim.
February has started well enough and I have already qualified for the $600k in April.

8 months since starting I have won 2 holidays (Las Vegas & St.Kitts) as well as over £16k through online poker tournaments.

I hope that this year, poker will bring me more success.

As we are up to the present day, I will let you follow my progress from now on in.

Good Luck to you all
ClintonO

Winter Blues

Coming back from St.Kitts was tough.

I really struggled to adjust back to on-line play.
My game had totally disappeared.
I went back to basics, re-read my Harrington's books and tried every way I knew how to get my game back together.
Christmas came and I was on schedule to have my first losing month since I started.
I was starting work again in January, I would have a lot less time to play.

It was all going horribly wrong.

Poker in the Sun

St.Kitts.

10 days in the sun, which a few games of poker thrown in for fun.
Again it was with Littlewoods and all the gang were back, it felt like a family reunion. Dave Colclough, John Kabbaj and Tony Cascarino were new additions to the team and they all added to the whole experience.

This time I was not the lone qualifier like I was in Vegas, there were many others. This made the event even more special. Hi to Steve the butcher at this point, really great to meet you.

Linen shirts, cricket hats and an all inclusive package. Bruce and Scott thank you. I have never been anywhere and had a minus room bill at the end of the holiday!

The main event was mixed for me. I had started well enough, moving from 6k starting chips up to 10k.
Then it was the curse of the big pocket pair. Twice I had KK and twice hit a third King on the flop. First time I lost to a flush on the river, the next time a straight.

I recovered to see one of the funniest moments in my short poker career. There were five minutes left before the evening dinner break (6hours of play). The guy on my left 'Clothey' started building a wall with his chips when it was his turn to act. He started with one colour chip all the way across the table, then the next colour, then the next colour. Five minutes later he built his masterpiece and proceeded to fold! So So Funny!

I lasted until the last few hands of that day, I had AK suited against John Kabbaj who held pocket sevens. To this day I have never won a coin flip in a live event.

Whilst I was there I made the Littlewoods team final which was another great experience. My team was Dave Colclough, Tony Cascarino and Robert Price 'Animal' and myself. I had high hopes indeed of winning some money! Unfortunately both Dave and Tony went out early in their STT. I came third in my event when my K6 was beaten by K4 - (my luck will come!). We came 5th of 9.

One of the things that made my holiday, was one of the very successful online players 'Riphja' asked for a picture with me, because I was one of the best players on the site! Fame at last!

The peniultimate night was a great night for Littlewoods and especially those players who had made the Littlewoods team. First of all Tony Cascarino won the pro-am taking home $100,000. Dave (eventually came 6th) and Animal (12th) had just made the money in the main event. 3 of the 4 who represented Littlewoods had just made a wedge of money. So this has to be my night?!?!

I was playing in the $500 No limit with 150 players. I was playing well and feeling confident.
I had made it to the last three tables (27 players) thinking I was only nine from the money. At this point I find out they are only paying 9!

I was continuing to play well until my QQ (yes again) was busted by JT. I was determined to recover and make that final table. 3 tables become 2 and soon 18 became 11.
I was short stacked in the small blind, everyone else had folded. I had QJ suited (Diamonds) - I was all in.
I was immediately called by 44. This was it, I needed to win a coin flip to make the money.
The flop gave me some hope, two diamonds and a ten, the turn was a nine. Any diamond, any King, Queen, Jack or Eight. 23 cards out of the 45 remaining in the pack that would show me the money. The river was the 7 hearts. That was not one of them.

The four of us in our team won $150,000 that day. I won $0. That felt very bad!

So I don't feel really awful I have to include a story where I did win money in the Caribbean.
The last thing I expected to be doing whilst I was there was playing on-line poker. It was 32 degrees c outside! However Poker Tony asked me to play in the Labrokes $50k for him as he was busy doing hundreds of interviews. Four hours later, I had finished 18th and secured $450. I think that was missed off the Littlewoods summary of money won during the tournament! I think I will write to them.

Another amazing holiday and amazing experience. Thanks again to the Littlewoods guys, you were awesome. If anyone needs a recommendation of where to start playing poker. Look no further than the link on this page.

This has been an incredible start to my poker career - I can only hope its gets better.

Becoming a Poker Player

Between August & November it was all about playing as much as I could.
Learning about me, experimenting with styles. Learning about everyone elses game. Learning.
I read every poker book known to man. Dan Harringtons win by a mile.

I started keeping records of all my games. I was only playing tournament games, single table and multi table.
Without every winning a major tournament, I was making plenty of high finishes and making money.

August + £2k. inc 12th in £35k, three final table appearances in £10k/£15k
September + £2.4k inc 4th in the £15k
October + £2.6k inc 3rd in the £15k and 2nd in £3k
November +£1k inc 3rd in the 15k.

I never won any major tournaments aside from a couple of £10 entry MTT's and the one for Caribbean.

I was however getting a fantastic strike rate - 33% of the time I was making the money in the 15k.

It was also a time for meeting new people and making friends. There is such a close community within this game. I have to say thank you at this point, to all those people who have sat down and watched me play and given me support. It is really much appreciated. Thanks in particular goes out to Kai, Alfie, Ian, Neal, Mick, Dave and Mac, but there are a whole host of others who without them, would not make this game anywhere near as interesting.

I finished my job at the end of October, and I had a two month period to see how good I could get before I started again in January.
A broken ankle robbed me of some playing time in November, but it was not going to stop me playing in St.Kitts and thankfully it was fully recovered when I set off for the Caribbean.

Was it a fluke?

As soon as I got back from Vegas, I just knew I had to do it again.
Bruce had told me that I should try and qualify for the Caribbean Poker Classic in St.Kitts, as it would be even better than Las Vegas.

I wasn't worried about it being being better, anything that comes close would be awesome.

I needed to qualify for another event to prove to myself that the World Series was not just a fluke.
I started to play a few more games when I got back. I managed 5th place in the 10k tournament (£500) on the 5th August.
I also made a promising start in the CPC qualifiers reaching two final tables finishing 8th and 6th (7th Aug, won £312) when just 3 qualified.

My game was starting to improve quickly.
Then they introduced a Tuesday night Caribbean Qualifier on the 9th August at the cost of $200. It started at 10.45pm and it was by far the most I had ever paid to play. There were 50 players. Only place won a seat. The next morning I received this email.

Dear Clinton,
Congratulations on winning your seat at the Caribbean Poker Classic with Littlewoods Poker !

Imagine all the excitement of first-class poker combined with the beauty, charm and elegance of the Caribbean, complete with endless beaches, emerald green hills and a majestic volcano.

Add a tropical rainforest and breathtaking reefs abundant with sea life and you'll have an idea of what is in store for you on the beautiful island of St. Kitts.

Your $10,000 prize package includes:-
$6,300 buy-in to the Championship Event starting on Wednesday, November 30, 2005
$1,300 for 9 nights accommodation for two at the luxurious St. Kitts Marriott Resort from November 25 to December 3 inclusive (departing December 4)
$1,400 travel allowance deposited to your poker account
$1,000 cash when you register in St. Kitts.

It wasn't a fluke. I could actually play this game!

Viva Las Vegas - The World Series 2005

Before I left for Vegas, I asked bookmakers Victor Chandler to give me odds on myself for reaching the final table. The odds were only 400-1 but I was able to bet on myself for a major sporting event. That felt good!
What was better was I then saw myself on Oddschecker, my odds had been cut from 400-1 to 250-1! LOL!

This was my first ever visit to Las Vegas. I expected it to be amazing and I wasn't wrong.
Littlewoods who were looking after me during my stay, where just absolutely fantastic.
From the moment I was picked up in a stretched limo from the airport, by the Littlewoods superstar Tony (The Athlete) Chessa. I knew it was going to be a great experience.

We were staying at the Rio Grande, where the World Series was being held, the whole place was magical.
It was not until I went down to the convention centre, that I actually realised how absolutely massive this was. I was introduced to some of the top players in the world and I knew just how out of my depth I was.

I was playing on day 2 of the main event. I sat down at my table, this was totally mental. What a way to start your live career! I was as nervous as hell!
We had an american national anthem before the event, by a female poker player, it was so terribly sung that it made me relax, I looked across at the dealer and he was laughing too!.

I was on the big blind first hand and had JToff, two limpers and me. Flop was J85, I bet and they both folded. I won my first hand, I was chip leader on my table! This was easy!
My first big moment came with QT in the big blind. The Flop came TT9. I checked, had one guy bet which I called. The turn was a Jack and gave me a straight and flush draw. I bet out, the guy raised me and I called. The river was a three. I checked he bet the pot and it was decision time, I decided to call and he turned over T3. The river gave him a full house! Damn!

My next significant hand gave me KK, again I was in the big blind. I had two limpers and decided to slow play. The flop was KK8. I had hit quad kings. There was no action on the flop, or the turn. I put a small bet in on the river, they both folded!

As the day progress I moved from table to table, playing on five different tables. Some I felt comfortable, others I felt out of my depth.
My end came in the fifth level (each level was 2 hours long) I had QQ and was down to about 4500 chips (started with 10k). I followed two limpers and a raise. I reraised and was called by the guy who had initially raised. The flop was 6 high rainbow (three different suits). I made my move and went all in. The guy called me and he turned over AJ. I was saying to myself - no ace, no ace. There wasn't an ace, but the turn was a Jack and then the river card came (after what seemed the longest pause I have ever witnessed between turn and river) it was another Jack. My heart sank.

Two lessions were learnt initially - one - playing live can be a cruel as online, - two - being knocked out of the world series was one of the lowest feelings you can ever experience.

During the time I was out there my wife Rachael and myself were looked after by Littlewoods and three of the most incredible people. Bruce Martin, Scott Richardson and Poker Tony Chessa (the best player I have ever played with). These three will be my friends for life and they are responsible for my desire to be successful in this game. I want to do this again.

I played in two other World Series whilst I was out there. At one point, I knew every single player on the table from seeing them on tv! I had Men the Master on my right and Ross Boatman on my left. I finished six off the money in the $1500 when my QQ lost to JJ with a J arriving on the river.
Queens are now my most feared hand, whenever I see them I expect my tournament to be over. 23 consecutive losses with QQ is my best record!

I will never forget this experience and will do everything I can to repeat in this year.