2 more final tables last night, not the $3k last night, but the bigger £12k and £8k tournaments. Where is the leaderboard competition when you need it!
It was £480 return in both tournaments - 7th in the £12k and 5th in the £8k.
I do have a really good record at the end of each month, when I have not won much at the beginning. Its that look at the records and seeing a very small figure in the profit column that inspires me to do something about it. £960 last night and $1500 from the previous three evenings has helped address the balance.
A night off tonight as its my football clubs poker night. It won't be for large amounts of money, but I fully intend to win!
ClintonO
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
The 10pm $3k tournament
I really believe I should just stick to this tournament, maybe they could rename it for me lol!
I have a 50% strike rate for reaching the final table, reaching the top 4 on 12 occasions.
Last night I reached my 3 consecutive final table, eventually losing in a heads up battle. I was dissapointed not to win, as my record in heads up is quite good.
I led the tournament from the first hand to the last three people.
When it got to heads up I was 75-45k behind, the guy I was playing hit a jack on the river to survive against me when 7 were left. I turned around the lead very quickly, but lost a lot of chips with TT to KQ. At the end I played a limp reraise, but unfortunately ran into JJ. Dissapointing but another $850 in the bankroll. 9th,3rd and 2nd in the last three nights, I will play it tonight, but dont expect anything, as I am going to do well in the £12k and £8k!
The debate on the QJ hand continues! Excellent to get so much response on this one. I fully except all the criticism and comments. I have to agree that I played it quite weak, but just some instinct alongside the pot odds told me it was right!
The last comment referred to being blinded away and not going out with a fight. I do agree with this sentiment. Whilst I was in Dortmund there was part of me that wanted to survive as long as possible. However I also was willing to put my chips in when it was possible. I was all in with 3 hands that I usually would not be. Due to the nature of the table, someone was all in everytime in the lasts 60 hands. Also the great thing about this game is that you are always learning. As I approach 2 years of playing the game, I have never stopped learning.
I need to get more live experience and that is my plan whenever I can. I have only played 6 big live tournaments to date and this is one area that by playing more, will help my all round game
Please keep the comments coming in and continue to share any advice you may have.
ClintonO
I have a 50% strike rate for reaching the final table, reaching the top 4 on 12 occasions.
Last night I reached my 3 consecutive final table, eventually losing in a heads up battle. I was dissapointed not to win, as my record in heads up is quite good.
I led the tournament from the first hand to the last three people.
When it got to heads up I was 75-45k behind, the guy I was playing hit a jack on the river to survive against me when 7 were left. I turned around the lead very quickly, but lost a lot of chips with TT to KQ. At the end I played a limp reraise, but unfortunately ran into JJ. Dissapointing but another $850 in the bankroll. 9th,3rd and 2nd in the last three nights, I will play it tonight, but dont expect anything, as I am going to do well in the £12k and £8k!
The debate on the QJ hand continues! Excellent to get so much response on this one. I fully except all the criticism and comments. I have to agree that I played it quite weak, but just some instinct alongside the pot odds told me it was right!
The last comment referred to being blinded away and not going out with a fight. I do agree with this sentiment. Whilst I was in Dortmund there was part of me that wanted to survive as long as possible. However I also was willing to put my chips in when it was possible. I was all in with 3 hands that I usually would not be. Due to the nature of the table, someone was all in everytime in the lasts 60 hands. Also the great thing about this game is that you are always learning. As I approach 2 years of playing the game, I have never stopped learning.
I need to get more live experience and that is my plan whenever I can. I have only played 6 big live tournaments to date and this is one area that by playing more, will help my all round game
Please keep the comments coming in and continue to share any advice you may have.
ClintonO
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Aces continue to cost me
Last night, two tournaments and three times I run into Aces!
In the 12k I was down to the last fifty, when I was dealt KK, I thought I played the hand absolutely brilliantly until my opponent turned over AA! LOL! I bet he thought he played it exactly the same and ended up with my chips! I have ran into AA a lot with Kings recently.
I have just seen a further comment on the play I made last night with QJ. In this situation I could not put my opponent on a pocket pair of Jacks or above, or indeed a hand that would have me dominated and therefore with 6-4 pot odds, I have odds to call against a possible combination of small mid pair, ace rag or total bluff. I think it is also knowing who you are playing. My belief from experience is that Dewi would have not pushed all in with a premium hand, if I was playing Jamie 'FISHMAC' it would have been a lot more difficult to make that call, as he would push there with a much wider range of cards, which makes him so difficult to read. He could have easily gone all in there with Aces or 45.
My improved form continued last night in the $3k. I finished in 3rd place with $500+, but am dissapointed I did not finish in the top 2. I started well and was chip leader early on. I then lost over half my stack with QQ to AK, meaning I had to adjust my game.
I managed a double up just before the final table when my AA beat QQ and again when I flopped a set of 9s against 8s.
On the final table, the short stacks got themselves knocked out fairly early. When we were down to five players, I called a raise with 77. The flop was 9TT. With just 5000 in the pot, one guy bet 7500 of his 10000. It just felt wrong, so I moved all in. To my suprise he then folded leaving himself just 2500 chips. I am amazed he did not call, but I obviously got the read correct.
With 3 left, I was in 2nd place. Chip leader was on 80k, I had 36k with 3rd place on 10k.
At this point any luck I had ran out.
The chip leader was using his chips well. After I had lost 10k and there was another raise from him, I had to move over the top with my 76 to which he folded. Chips were back up and I was going for the win.
I have AK against the short stack, he has 3T all the chips are in the middle and the 3 is paired.
Two hands later I get 77, the short stack raises, I reraise he has AA. I fight my way back to 25k from 10k over the next 10 hands, without a showdown. The chip leader raises yet again, I am over the top with my 44. He turns over AA. How many times am I going to run into AA this week! Still my second consecutive final table in this tournament. A win is coming.
Dissapointment last night as the Winner Choice final was cancelled due to just 8 runners (10 required) First prize is £1200 for a live event in the UK, which is a great prize if you have just 10 players. For some reason it appeared 20 - 25% of the network decided to watch the England game last night! Why!
A quick word on Monte Carlo, a few friends of mine have all survived day 1A. Well done to Mihay, Desh and Tony Cas. All below starting chips (12,6 and 12) but great to be coming back to play on Friday.
Good luck today to Martyn, Onny and the legend Tony Chessa.
Tonights its the Dream Team tournament, (lots of pressure with half the team missing) the £12k on Littlewoods and I am also going to enter the Mansion $100k at 9pm.
ClintonO
In the 12k I was down to the last fifty, when I was dealt KK, I thought I played the hand absolutely brilliantly until my opponent turned over AA! LOL! I bet he thought he played it exactly the same and ended up with my chips! I have ran into AA a lot with Kings recently.
I have just seen a further comment on the play I made last night with QJ. In this situation I could not put my opponent on a pocket pair of Jacks or above, or indeed a hand that would have me dominated and therefore with 6-4 pot odds, I have odds to call against a possible combination of small mid pair, ace rag or total bluff. I think it is also knowing who you are playing. My belief from experience is that Dewi would have not pushed all in with a premium hand, if I was playing Jamie 'FISHMAC' it would have been a lot more difficult to make that call, as he would push there with a much wider range of cards, which makes him so difficult to read. He could have easily gone all in there with Aces or 45.
My improved form continued last night in the $3k. I finished in 3rd place with $500+, but am dissapointed I did not finish in the top 2. I started well and was chip leader early on. I then lost over half my stack with QQ to AK, meaning I had to adjust my game.
I managed a double up just before the final table when my AA beat QQ and again when I flopped a set of 9s against 8s.
On the final table, the short stacks got themselves knocked out fairly early. When we were down to five players, I called a raise with 77. The flop was 9TT. With just 5000 in the pot, one guy bet 7500 of his 10000. It just felt wrong, so I moved all in. To my suprise he then folded leaving himself just 2500 chips. I am amazed he did not call, but I obviously got the read correct.
With 3 left, I was in 2nd place. Chip leader was on 80k, I had 36k with 3rd place on 10k.
At this point any luck I had ran out.
The chip leader was using his chips well. After I had lost 10k and there was another raise from him, I had to move over the top with my 76 to which he folded. Chips were back up and I was going for the win.
I have AK against the short stack, he has 3T all the chips are in the middle and the 3 is paired.
Two hands later I get 77, the short stack raises, I reraise he has AA. I fight my way back to 25k from 10k over the next 10 hands, without a showdown. The chip leader raises yet again, I am over the top with my 44. He turns over AA. How many times am I going to run into AA this week! Still my second consecutive final table in this tournament. A win is coming.
Dissapointment last night as the Winner Choice final was cancelled due to just 8 runners (10 required) First prize is £1200 for a live event in the UK, which is a great prize if you have just 10 players. For some reason it appeared 20 - 25% of the network decided to watch the England game last night! Why!
A quick word on Monte Carlo, a few friends of mine have all survived day 1A. Well done to Mihay, Desh and Tony Cas. All below starting chips (12,6 and 12) but great to be coming back to play on Friday.
Good luck today to Martyn, Onny and the legend Tony Chessa.
Tonights its the Dream Team tournament, (lots of pressure with half the team missing) the £12k on Littlewoods and I am also going to enter the Mansion $100k at 9pm.
ClintonO
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
comment from tonights game
Not sure if this was a comment from Dewi himself! lol
Interestingly enough before tonight I read an article about Dewi on blondepoker and he was referring to his love of alcohol!
I have played Dewi many many times I also think he is an exceptional player.
Tonight though this was the circumstance. Early call from Jas in seat 2, he had just won 3 of the last four hands, so I felt his call was nothing to be concerned about. QJ hearts on the button for 8% of my stack it was worth a call to flop something nice.
Dewi then moved all in from the big blind with a massive overbet. 2000 chips into a 600 pot. He does not have a premium hand. He also knows that Jas would have called with little and I would have raised if I had a big hand, so by moving he was adding 25% to his chip count without showing his cards.
Dewi was in short stack mode, he had previously moved all in twice in the last two rounds, once unchallenged, the second from earlier position with just A8.
So I have 1220 left. I have a chance to move to 3040 with QJ hearts against a player who does not have a premium hand and is capable of making a move with any 2 cards, especially with the weak play in the hand to date.
Therefore in this circumstance, I felt that the 6-4 odds I was getting was the right odds to make the call.
I hope that explains my logic!
Cheers
ClintonO
Interestingly enough before tonight I read an article about Dewi on blondepoker and he was referring to his love of alcohol!
I have played Dewi many many times I also think he is an exceptional player.
Tonight though this was the circumstance. Early call from Jas in seat 2, he had just won 3 of the last four hands, so I felt his call was nothing to be concerned about. QJ hearts on the button for 8% of my stack it was worth a call to flop something nice.
Dewi then moved all in from the big blind with a massive overbet. 2000 chips into a 600 pot. He does not have a premium hand. He also knows that Jas would have called with little and I would have raised if I had a big hand, so by moving he was adding 25% to his chip count without showing his cards.
Dewi was in short stack mode, he had previously moved all in twice in the last two rounds, once unchallenged, the second from earlier position with just A8.
So I have 1220 left. I have a chance to move to 3040 with QJ hearts against a player who does not have a premium hand and is capable of making a move with any 2 cards, especially with the weak play in the hand to date.
Therefore in this circumstance, I felt that the 6-4 odds I was getting was the right odds to make the call.
I hope that explains my logic!
Cheers
ClintonO
Starting to enjoy the game again
The poker feeling is starting to come back again. For the last couple of days I have played my poker with a clear head and full of positivity and all of a sudden it becomes an easier game.
There has been nothing exceptional to write home about. I finished 15th in the £12k last night for £120. Got short in the first hour, recovered to a nice stack, blew half of it trying to push someone off trips with 32, but generally enjoyed the game. A bit of luck in the final stages and I could have done well. I just never got above the 20k mark to really make a go at winning it.
I made the final table of the $3k on Monday night, again not much than a £100 return, but it was nice to get that final table feeling again.
The only other two games I played I went out with KK to AA.
My STT challenge was starting to look good, after my initial 2nd place to break the super tilt, I then won my next game a £20 STT. I thought I would keep this run up and found a nice $60 STT to play. 3 levels in we were down to 5 players, I had doubled my chip stack and was sitting in second place and controlling the table, it was very comfortable.
Then I got dealt pocket Kings, under the gun, I raise to 150 (blinds 25/50), the player to my left goes all in for 670 chips and then the chip leader moves all in also. Standard isolation play I am guessing, unless they were buddies. Short Stack has A6, fair enough there was 225 in the pot, worth making a move. Our chip leader has 78 off suit. Even if out short stack hits an ace, I am losing 670 to him, but making 1500 from the chip leader.
Flop 456. Out in 4th. What on earth can you do about that. The only consolation is that from having 80% of the chips in play, the 87 man still managed to only come 2nd.
Disappointed that I did not make Super Hot at first attempt, but I will try again. I need to get my Sharkscope stats up by £400.
Tonight, I am definitely playing the £12k on Littlewoods as well as the Winners Choice tournament on Littlewoods. I have got a plan of action in place again, so this has given me more focus.
I would however like to get back in the Winners Enclosure, that I feel is not too far away.
Whilst I am on, I would like to wish all my dream team buddies success in Monte Carlo, four of the team are out there, it would be wonderful if one of them can do something special – Good Luck guys.
ClintonO
There has been nothing exceptional to write home about. I finished 15th in the £12k last night for £120. Got short in the first hour, recovered to a nice stack, blew half of it trying to push someone off trips with 32, but generally enjoyed the game. A bit of luck in the final stages and I could have done well. I just never got above the 20k mark to really make a go at winning it.
I made the final table of the $3k on Monday night, again not much than a £100 return, but it was nice to get that final table feeling again.
The only other two games I played I went out with KK to AA.
My STT challenge was starting to look good, after my initial 2nd place to break the super tilt, I then won my next game a £20 STT. I thought I would keep this run up and found a nice $60 STT to play. 3 levels in we were down to 5 players, I had doubled my chip stack and was sitting in second place and controlling the table, it was very comfortable.
Then I got dealt pocket Kings, under the gun, I raise to 150 (blinds 25/50), the player to my left goes all in for 670 chips and then the chip leader moves all in also. Standard isolation play I am guessing, unless they were buddies. Short Stack has A6, fair enough there was 225 in the pot, worth making a move. Our chip leader has 78 off suit. Even if out short stack hits an ace, I am losing 670 to him, but making 1500 from the chip leader.
Flop 456. Out in 4th. What on earth can you do about that. The only consolation is that from having 80% of the chips in play, the 87 man still managed to only come 2nd.
Disappointed that I did not make Super Hot at first attempt, but I will try again. I need to get my Sharkscope stats up by £400.
Tonight, I am definitely playing the £12k on Littlewoods as well as the Winners Choice tournament on Littlewoods. I have got a plan of action in place again, so this has given me more focus.
I would however like to get back in the Winners Enclosure, that I feel is not too far away.
Whilst I am on, I would like to wish all my dream team buddies success in Monte Carlo, four of the team are out there, it would be wonderful if one of them can do something special – Good Luck guys.
ClintonO
Monday, March 26, 2007
Super Tilt to Super Hot
No I have not achieved that but thats the short term challenge.
I look at my Sharkscope stats over the weekend and was disappointed but not suprised by my records. I only play STT when I am limited by time and therefore do not treat them with the respect they require.
Somehow though I have managed to go 8 games without placing in the money, even if I am not taken it seriously thats still not good form, besides my stats say -£400 for profit, which is also unacceptable by even my relatively moderate ability.
The weekend was nothing to write home about. Two games on Friday - £12k was in the top five most of the tournament and then with 50 left, my KK gets beaten by T9. A 9TT flop did not help! I did manage the top twenty in the £8k, which was nice as at one point I was down to 116 chips! However, I got myself back into a position to win it, so it was ultimately dissapointing.
Saturday was just the £12k and I really should not have bothered. I was watching Casino Royale at the time, now they had some hands! Could I borrow one!
On Sunday I played the last qualifier for the £40k and won that, so I was in for just £12. (Here again though I recovered from 200 chips to 44000) I started really well, adding a 1000 chips in the first three hands. In level 2 though I had a SB vs BB confrontation. I had 55. I limped, he raised to 120 which I called (BB 30). Flop 344. Very unlikely he has hit that. I go for the check raise. I check, he bets 200 into the pot, as I hoped, plus the bet looks too big. I move to 500. He thinks and then moves all in for another 1100. I have him covered and would have 1100 back. I dont think he has hit the board, but there has to be a chance he has a bigger pair. I don't think the chances of the pair are bigger than the odds being offered, so I call.
He turns over A5 and hits a 2 for a straight, just great, I then get called a fish for my troubles.
I manage to double with AQ vs KQ, but go out with 55 (hand of the night!) to 22. Board was 234.
I also had the WSOP final on Sunday night, but that did not go to plan. I was short and moved with QJ with a Q high board, other guy had two more queens - c'est la vie.
I have just seen the dream team table and at the half way point we are up to 5th place. We are currently sorting out our 4 players for the live final. I have lined up Jamie 'dream team specialist', Onny'flying out to Monte Carlo as we speak for the EPT grand final' and Heffernan'Aussie Millions Final Tablist. With one more place to sort out, we do have a great team.
Just worked out that at least four of my team are playing the EPT Monte Carlo this week! Time to start playing better I feel!
Focus. That is the problem, I tried some fixed limit last night for an hour, one STT which I finished second QQ to K2. Two more twos! At least I am off of Super Tilt and reached 1 consecutive cash!! I am though just playing random events.
As of tonight, it is back to the planning and playing for a purpose. I will continue my STT challenge whilst putting together a tournament plan. April needs to see me back playing and playing properly. I miss my second income!
ClintonO
I look at my Sharkscope stats over the weekend and was disappointed but not suprised by my records. I only play STT when I am limited by time and therefore do not treat them with the respect they require.
Somehow though I have managed to go 8 games without placing in the money, even if I am not taken it seriously thats still not good form, besides my stats say -£400 for profit, which is also unacceptable by even my relatively moderate ability.
The weekend was nothing to write home about. Two games on Friday - £12k was in the top five most of the tournament and then with 50 left, my KK gets beaten by T9. A 9TT flop did not help! I did manage the top twenty in the £8k, which was nice as at one point I was down to 116 chips! However, I got myself back into a position to win it, so it was ultimately dissapointing.
Saturday was just the £12k and I really should not have bothered. I was watching Casino Royale at the time, now they had some hands! Could I borrow one!
On Sunday I played the last qualifier for the £40k and won that, so I was in for just £12. (Here again though I recovered from 200 chips to 44000) I started really well, adding a 1000 chips in the first three hands. In level 2 though I had a SB vs BB confrontation. I had 55. I limped, he raised to 120 which I called (BB 30). Flop 344. Very unlikely he has hit that. I go for the check raise. I check, he bets 200 into the pot, as I hoped, plus the bet looks too big. I move to 500. He thinks and then moves all in for another 1100. I have him covered and would have 1100 back. I dont think he has hit the board, but there has to be a chance he has a bigger pair. I don't think the chances of the pair are bigger than the odds being offered, so I call.
He turns over A5 and hits a 2 for a straight, just great, I then get called a fish for my troubles.
I manage to double with AQ vs KQ, but go out with 55 (hand of the night!) to 22. Board was 234.
I also had the WSOP final on Sunday night, but that did not go to plan. I was short and moved with QJ with a Q high board, other guy had two more queens - c'est la vie.
I have just seen the dream team table and at the half way point we are up to 5th place. We are currently sorting out our 4 players for the live final. I have lined up Jamie 'dream team specialist', Onny'flying out to Monte Carlo as we speak for the EPT grand final' and Heffernan'Aussie Millions Final Tablist. With one more place to sort out, we do have a great team.
Just worked out that at least four of my team are playing the EPT Monte Carlo this week! Time to start playing better I feel!
Focus. That is the problem, I tried some fixed limit last night for an hour, one STT which I finished second QQ to K2. Two more twos! At least I am off of Super Tilt and reached 1 consecutive cash!! I am though just playing random events.
As of tonight, it is back to the planning and playing for a purpose. I will continue my STT challenge whilst putting together a tournament plan. April needs to see me back playing and playing properly. I miss my second income!
ClintonO
Friday, March 23, 2007
Further Dream Team Update
Congratulations to M.M who last night won the highrollers their first victory in the dream team event.
A fantastic performance which catapults us up the league table and right into contention, providing some much needed impetus for this event. The new Betfair software has not gone down well with the team, causing many issues and problems. Hopefully now we can pull together in the quest for retaining our crown.
Whilst we are in congratulatory mode, I only recently found out that Alex '--00--' won the $100k on Mansion last week, very well done to you sir.
From a personal point of view, with the little time I get to play poker at the moment, I may as well give up! Work has been the order of the day. I do hope to announce a new venture very shortly, this probably won't help the amount of poker I am playing but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Only a few games this week. I managed a final table and 5th place in the $3k and I won another $77 WSOP qualifier for this sundays $530 final, but aside from that my few games have not materialised in anything fantastic.
March has been a very quiet month and following my great start to the year in January, February and March have not followed suit. Not because of anything other than the time and energy to play Poker have not been available.
Short term I do not see this changing, so I have to remain very focused on what I am going to try to achieve. I will consider my objectives over the weekend and come back with a challenge, so that in the limited time I have available, I can focus to the best of my abilities.
ClintonO
A fantastic performance which catapults us up the league table and right into contention, providing some much needed impetus for this event. The new Betfair software has not gone down well with the team, causing many issues and problems. Hopefully now we can pull together in the quest for retaining our crown.
Whilst we are in congratulatory mode, I only recently found out that Alex '--00--' won the $100k on Mansion last week, very well done to you sir.
From a personal point of view, with the little time I get to play poker at the moment, I may as well give up! Work has been the order of the day. I do hope to announce a new venture very shortly, this probably won't help the amount of poker I am playing but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Only a few games this week. I managed a final table and 5th place in the $3k and I won another $77 WSOP qualifier for this sundays $530 final, but aside from that my few games have not materialised in anything fantastic.
March has been a very quiet month and following my great start to the year in January, February and March have not followed suit. Not because of anything other than the time and energy to play Poker have not been available.
Short term I do not see this changing, so I have to remain very focused on what I am going to try to achieve. I will consider my objectives over the weekend and come back with a challenge, so that in the limited time I have available, I can focus to the best of my abilities.
ClintonO
Friday, March 16, 2007
Dream Team Update
After two awful weeks, the team had their second best performance of the season.
Once again it was Jamie 'FISHMAC' who is driving is us forwards, with another final table performance - this time finishing 4th, taking him into the top 20 on the individual leaderboard.
I am doing my best to support him, last night finishing in 26th. AT vs KQ - all in preflop. Between us we account for over 60% of the teams total points. Come on guys! There are severe bragging rights at stake here.
At the moment it is a case of badbeat or running into aces which is knocking me out. I did not make the £12k last night - internet issues, so I could not go for 3 successive cashes.
I played the £8k, finishing in the last 60, but with A9 on the button found AA in the small blind.
I played two smaller tournaments last night, one on sky poker. Just 90 left of the few hundred who started. I have KQ vs 78 all in after Q6T flop. Next two cards 78!
A futher smaller tournament on crypto saw me with AK on an AKJ flop. I am put all in by T9! 9 on the turn, 9 on the river! What can you do!
I also played the $77 WSOP qualifier on Littlewoods. There was only 14 people and 1 seat for Sundays $530 final. I played very aggressively and ended up winning this tournament. I was quite pleased with the way I played in this event. I do feel that I am playing well again and can accept the way I am going out of any event.
I am hoping for a few good performances tonight!
ClintonO
Once again it was Jamie 'FISHMAC' who is driving is us forwards, with another final table performance - this time finishing 4th, taking him into the top 20 on the individual leaderboard.
I am doing my best to support him, last night finishing in 26th. AT vs KQ - all in preflop. Between us we account for over 60% of the teams total points. Come on guys! There are severe bragging rights at stake here.
At the moment it is a case of badbeat or running into aces which is knocking me out. I did not make the £12k last night - internet issues, so I could not go for 3 successive cashes.
I played the £8k, finishing in the last 60, but with A9 on the button found AA in the small blind.
I played two smaller tournaments last night, one on sky poker. Just 90 left of the few hundred who started. I have KQ vs 78 all in after Q6T flop. Next two cards 78!
A futher smaller tournament on crypto saw me with AK on an AKJ flop. I am put all in by T9! 9 on the turn, 9 on the river! What can you do!
I also played the $77 WSOP qualifier on Littlewoods. There was only 14 people and 1 seat for Sundays $530 final. I played very aggressively and ended up winning this tournament. I was quite pleased with the way I played in this event. I do feel that I am playing well again and can accept the way I am going out of any event.
I am hoping for a few good performances tonight!
ClintonO
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Just short of final tables
I have been consistently making the money in tournaments recently, but not making the big finishing positions that I would like. A 24th place in the £12k on Tuesday, followed by 22nd in the £12k last night.
Tuesday was dissapointing, I had battled with a low stack for the first two hours, was 72nd out of 73 left. From this point I changed gears and I was in the top five for the a lot of the latter stages. I get A9 in the small blind. Then on a board 8A6A. Someone moves all in, for about half my chips. From the way the hand was played, I could not put him on an ace or big hand. I called and he turned over J3 diamonds. The turn had bought a second diamond on the board. Of course the the river was another diamond.
This left me with about 20k, blinds 600/1200. I raise to 4800 from the cutoff with KT. The big blind calls. He has 30k before calling, Flop 46T. BB checks, I bet 7000 in the 12k pot, from which I am raised all in. I am committed to the pot and call. He turns over 46 offsuit! Then hits another 6 for a full house.
Why he called 1/6 of his stack with 46 off suit I will never know, but he went on to win the tournament from this point.
Last night I doubled up early, but never got much improvement on this until the later stages. I peaked at about 24k, I get AA with just 14k left, I hope for action!.
Blinds 600/1200, UTG raises to 2400, 2nd pos calls. Heres the action, I am all in, guy next to me all in. The 2nd position is also all in. It ends up with 50k in the pot, enough to put me in the top 2. Its AA vs JJ vs TT. The J came on the turn and it was game over.
Two decent performances, two cashes, but just £12 profit!
I vow to do better tonight!
ClintonO
Tuesday was dissapointing, I had battled with a low stack for the first two hours, was 72nd out of 73 left. From this point I changed gears and I was in the top five for the a lot of the latter stages. I get A9 in the small blind. Then on a board 8A6A. Someone moves all in, for about half my chips. From the way the hand was played, I could not put him on an ace or big hand. I called and he turned over J3 diamonds. The turn had bought a second diamond on the board. Of course the the river was another diamond.
This left me with about 20k, blinds 600/1200. I raise to 4800 from the cutoff with KT. The big blind calls. He has 30k before calling, Flop 46T. BB checks, I bet 7000 in the 12k pot, from which I am raised all in. I am committed to the pot and call. He turns over 46 offsuit! Then hits another 6 for a full house.
Why he called 1/6 of his stack with 46 off suit I will never know, but he went on to win the tournament from this point.
Last night I doubled up early, but never got much improvement on this until the later stages. I peaked at about 24k, I get AA with just 14k left, I hope for action!.
Blinds 600/1200, UTG raises to 2400, 2nd pos calls. Heres the action, I am all in, guy next to me all in. The 2nd position is also all in. It ends up with 50k in the pot, enough to put me in the top 2. Its AA vs JJ vs TT. The J came on the turn and it was game over.
Two decent performances, two cashes, but just £12 profit!
I vow to do better tonight!
ClintonO
Monday, March 12, 2007
Back to Business
I got back online on Sunday night, with the aim of repeating my final table feat in the £40k last Sunday.
First up though, there was a $77 World Series qualifier to the $500 event later that night. I was happy to win this and take my seat in final.
The final started terribly!
AA first hand, what was I saying about wanting good hands. I reraise an early raiser which he calls. 3 clubs on flop, I have none. I bet he calls. Turn is a blank I put a big bet in after he calls. River is 4th club, he is all in. I have to fold. I lose half of my chips.
I recover to a good position when I am dealt 88. I raise to 4 xBB, three callers and big blind goes all in. I am convinced it’s a squeeze play and go over the top, I have him covered by 1000 chips. The others fold. He turns over AK. Much better than expected, but I am still a small favourite. An Ace is the 2nd card out and ruins that. I then lose another race and am out of the competition.
The £40k started slowly and I only doubled my stack to 5000 after 2 hours, when my TT beat AT with a ten on the board.
I had a great piece of fortune when my AQ in big blind, tangled with KK on the button. I managed to hit two Queens and marched onwards. I managed to make the money for the 2nd week in succession and 5th time in 8 appearances this year. I was towards the bottom of the leaderboard when there were 31 left. 30th is double the prize money of 31st so maybe not the best move, but I moved in with AJ clubs. I was called by 77. An ace on the flop was great, a jack on the turn was nice, but the seven on the river was sick!
Still a positive start back to online play.
I do not have too many aims for the moment regards online play. I just want to spend some time working on my game.
Littlewoods are generously offering £100 for 1000mpps this month. I have generated 500 in the last two days of play, so I am aiming to generate the rest over the next few days. I am going to hone some skills in the small cash games as well as some of the sit and go’s.
My live poker aims, revolve around winning something for the World Series and trying to get to the Luton and Nottingham GUKPT and GBPT events respectively.
ClintonO
First up though, there was a $77 World Series qualifier to the $500 event later that night. I was happy to win this and take my seat in final.
The final started terribly!
AA first hand, what was I saying about wanting good hands. I reraise an early raiser which he calls. 3 clubs on flop, I have none. I bet he calls. Turn is a blank I put a big bet in after he calls. River is 4th club, he is all in. I have to fold. I lose half of my chips.
I recover to a good position when I am dealt 88. I raise to 4 xBB, three callers and big blind goes all in. I am convinced it’s a squeeze play and go over the top, I have him covered by 1000 chips. The others fold. He turns over AK. Much better than expected, but I am still a small favourite. An Ace is the 2nd card out and ruins that. I then lose another race and am out of the competition.
The £40k started slowly and I only doubled my stack to 5000 after 2 hours, when my TT beat AT with a ten on the board.
I had a great piece of fortune when my AQ in big blind, tangled with KK on the button. I managed to hit two Queens and marched onwards. I managed to make the money for the 2nd week in succession and 5th time in 8 appearances this year. I was towards the bottom of the leaderboard when there were 31 left. 30th is double the prize money of 31st so maybe not the best move, but I moved in with AJ clubs. I was called by 77. An ace on the flop was great, a jack on the turn was nice, but the seven on the river was sick!
Still a positive start back to online play.
I do not have too many aims for the moment regards online play. I just want to spend some time working on my game.
Littlewoods are generously offering £100 for 1000mpps this month. I have generated 500 in the last two days of play, so I am aiming to generate the rest over the next few days. I am going to hone some skills in the small cash games as well as some of the sit and go’s.
My live poker aims, revolve around winning something for the World Series and trying to get to the Luton and Nottingham GUKPT and GBPT events respectively.
ClintonO
Responding to Comments
A couple of posts this week have asked me about my final hand in Dortmund and also about preparation.
Firstly my final hand.
I started level 9 with just over 5000 chips. Blinds 400/800 antes 100. So I am looking to put my chips in at the first opportunity. My best hand from the first seven hands I received was 7 high and every pot had a substantial raise ahead of me. The hand where I was under the gun I had 5 high and did not fancy my chances. I decided that the best move was to go all in with the big blind. Here however two short stacks had already gone all in and a big stack had called them both. My 7 high was not going to have much hope here.
In the small blind with 76 and 500 chips already committed to the middle. It folds around to the button. He puts a small raise in. This was clearly an attempt to steal and my belief was that 76 is not going to be too much of an underdog. I had a small amount of fold equity but not much. The decision was I could put in 3700 to get back 9500. Against any random hand I had the odds and it was unlikely my hand would be dominated.
He called with J9, I also know he expected to be behind, so there was no fold equity.
The flop came 235, two diamonds. Fours, sixes and sevens are all working for me. The turn bought the 8 diamonds, so now diamonds and nines are also good. 22 outs I make that, that’s about as many as you can get. Unfortunately it was the King of Clubs. I was left to take the walk of shame!
Preparation.
By time I played my final hand, I had been at the casino for over 13 hours. You have to be mentally and physically prepared to play this game.
An example is Ram Vashwani. After about an hour, he said to a friend of his, my minds not on this today and started talking about what to do that evening. He had been reraised a few times and clearly he was going to have to work hard and put in some hours, this he was not prepared to do and bluffed himself out of the competition in level 2.
To do well in a big event, you need to watch your opponents, how they act, what they do, how they bet and this takes a lot of concentration. This you will need to do for 3 consecutive days, all at least 12 hours long.
You need rest and slow release energy from the appropriate food sources. (Try Jordans Frusli bars!)
ClintonO
Firstly my final hand.
I started level 9 with just over 5000 chips. Blinds 400/800 antes 100. So I am looking to put my chips in at the first opportunity. My best hand from the first seven hands I received was 7 high and every pot had a substantial raise ahead of me. The hand where I was under the gun I had 5 high and did not fancy my chances. I decided that the best move was to go all in with the big blind. Here however two short stacks had already gone all in and a big stack had called them both. My 7 high was not going to have much hope here.
In the small blind with 76 and 500 chips already committed to the middle. It folds around to the button. He puts a small raise in. This was clearly an attempt to steal and my belief was that 76 is not going to be too much of an underdog. I had a small amount of fold equity but not much. The decision was I could put in 3700 to get back 9500. Against any random hand I had the odds and it was unlikely my hand would be dominated.
He called with J9, I also know he expected to be behind, so there was no fold equity.
The flop came 235, two diamonds. Fours, sixes and sevens are all working for me. The turn bought the 8 diamonds, so now diamonds and nines are also good. 22 outs I make that, that’s about as many as you can get. Unfortunately it was the King of Clubs. I was left to take the walk of shame!
Preparation.
By time I played my final hand, I had been at the casino for over 13 hours. You have to be mentally and physically prepared to play this game.
An example is Ram Vashwani. After about an hour, he said to a friend of his, my minds not on this today and started talking about what to do that evening. He had been reraised a few times and clearly he was going to have to work hard and put in some hours, this he was not prepared to do and bluffed himself out of the competition in level 2.
To do well in a big event, you need to watch your opponents, how they act, what they do, how they bet and this takes a lot of concentration. This you will need to do for 3 consecutive days, all at least 12 hours long.
You need rest and slow release energy from the appropriate food sources. (Try Jordans Frusli bars!)
ClintonO
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Proof that I was there
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Just a quick picture to prove that I was in Dortmund.
Thanks to Snoopy and the team at blondepoker for this. They do a great in running commentary of whats happening, so always worth checking out.
Despite having more than my starting chip count at this point 10350 (I know it doesn't look very much - the blues are 1000, reds 500), I am looking fairly bored!
I am hoping that Littlewoods got a new picture for me, they have been using the Caribbean Poker Classic 2005 one for too long now!
ClintonO
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Early Reflections
6 hours on and its time to reflect on the days play.
Thanks for the comment 'not good enough im afraid'. It helps to look at the negative aspect of the day and the room for improvement rather and then the positives.
So what happened. Yes I did wait for some cards and yes I would expect better than I received. I played tight in the first levels and that was my intention. When the antes kicked in, I was going to open up more. I was comfortable that I would be able to do that on my first table.
When I moved tables in level 7, I was left with a table with 6 short stacks and 3 very large stacks. I made 3 all in moves with nothing and went down unchallenged.
For the last hour nearly every hand was all in, the opportunites I had to move were very slim.
The final hand, for the first time in 30 mins, no one in first 3 positions entered the pot, it folded around to the button, who was going to move with any two cards. I figured that 76 was not going to be a massive underdog and I was not going to let my chip stack deplete and further.
I obviously would have like to have done better, but getting this far was a step in the right direction for me.
I made more moves than I usually do, I took down a couple of pots that I was very pleased with to keep my stack up.
Being critical, I could have thrown my chips around more, but I also have to ask myself would that have made any difference. Yes I wanted to make the money and yes I am dissapointed.
On the positive side enough, I have learnt so much more from the live game that, it can only help me for the future.
Keep the comments coming, its the only way I can learn.
Cheers
ClintonO
Thanks for the comment 'not good enough im afraid'. It helps to look at the negative aspect of the day and the room for improvement rather and then the positives.
So what happened. Yes I did wait for some cards and yes I would expect better than I received. I played tight in the first levels and that was my intention. When the antes kicked in, I was going to open up more. I was comfortable that I would be able to do that on my first table.
When I moved tables in level 7, I was left with a table with 6 short stacks and 3 very large stacks. I made 3 all in moves with nothing and went down unchallenged.
For the last hour nearly every hand was all in, the opportunites I had to move were very slim.
The final hand, for the first time in 30 mins, no one in first 3 positions entered the pot, it folded around to the button, who was going to move with any two cards. I figured that 76 was not going to be a massive underdog and I was not going to let my chip stack deplete and further.
I obviously would have like to have done better, but getting this far was a step in the right direction for me.
I made more moves than I usually do, I took down a couple of pots that I was very pleased with to keep my stack up.
Being critical, I could have thrown my chips around more, but I also have to ask myself would that have made any difference. Yes I wanted to make the money and yes I am dissapointed.
On the positive side enough, I have learnt so much more from the live game that, it can only help me for the future.
Keep the comments coming, its the only way I can learn.
Cheers
ClintonO
EPT Dortmund Day 1b
At 3.45pm German Time, my first taste of the European Poker Tour took place. Was due to start at 3pm, but as I mentioned before the organisation was not good all week.
There were 257 players today, making the total just short of 500, but still a EPT record.
The whole building was full of big names and it was certainly going to be an interesting day.
Tisch (Table) 11 seat 3 was to be my home for most of the day, at least until level 7 when I moved to table 13 seat 3.
On my table the biggest name was Ram Vashwani in seat 7. I was delighted with this as it meant the table would be full of action, waiting to pay off all the big hands I was going to get.
Although he did not last long and was 2nd out of the 257 at the start of level 2. Raising all in with A5 on a Q235 board. The other guy had 33.
Level 1. Start 10000 chips, end 9875. A fairly uneventful level for me, lowest was 9700 highest 10300. I had one had of note QQ in the small blind, after about 20 mins, I reraised a raise from the cutoff and he folded. A premium pocket pair every 20 mins, that would be great 2.
Level 2. End 9925, I touched 11500 on this level. I hit AQ and raised with one caller. Flop was J high, I did a continuation bet and he folded. I also took a nice pot with AT, when the cutoff was trying to steal. I also had 88, but had to fold to two reraises and lost 500 when I flopped a flush draw
Level 3. End 9850. Nothing happened on this level, no cards, I raised a couple unchallenged with QT and KJ.
Level 4. End 8450. AK first hand, I raise and they fold. This is my only hand in two hours. I try to get involved with a few hand but to no avail.
Level 5. End 7775. I am starting to lose some ground. One hand of note AQ, again no action, as it was small blind versus big blind. I am going to have to get busy when the antes kick in next level.
Level 6. End 6050. I have never been so card dead.
Level 7. End 8100. Back on the road to recovery? I am still completely card dead. I have not had a pocket pair since level 2 and have not seen an ace since level 5. Chip leader limps into me on big blind I have 28. Flop 259. He bets 1000, I decide this is my time to make some inroads. I call. Turn T. He bets 2000, I move all in for my last 4800. He folds! Phew! Almost up to 10k.
Level 8. End 5700. I have moved tables. Level is now 300/600 plus Ante 75. I have no cards. I reraise all in with Q5 when button raises into me, he folds. I move all in with K7 on cutoff. Everyone folds. I just want any two cards to move all in.
Level 9. Its now 400/800 ante 100. I am in button, so I have a round to make my move. Hands are 53,42,54,64,43,75. All day long this has been happening. By time I get to the small blind, I have only 4200, although 500 of those are already committed and pick up the massive 76. It folds to the button, and he raises as I knew he would, I decide this is my moment and reraise all in. He calls with J9.
Flop 235. Any 7 any 6, any 4. Turn is an 8. Any Diamond will now also be a winning card. River is a King. Its game over and I make my exit. 87 players remain when I leave.
It was a great experience and will stand me in good stead for the future. I battled and fought as best I could. Two pocket pairs in nine levels, one AK and two AQs. That is not much to play with.
Thanks to everyone who supported me. I really appreciated the mention on the blondepoker site. Thanks for that. Unfortunately its time to get that early flight back home and concentrate on getting my World Series seat.
Take Care all
ClintonO
There were 257 players today, making the total just short of 500, but still a EPT record.
The whole building was full of big names and it was certainly going to be an interesting day.
Tisch (Table) 11 seat 3 was to be my home for most of the day, at least until level 7 when I moved to table 13 seat 3.
On my table the biggest name was Ram Vashwani in seat 7. I was delighted with this as it meant the table would be full of action, waiting to pay off all the big hands I was going to get.
Although he did not last long and was 2nd out of the 257 at the start of level 2. Raising all in with A5 on a Q235 board. The other guy had 33.
Level 1. Start 10000 chips, end 9875. A fairly uneventful level for me, lowest was 9700 highest 10300. I had one had of note QQ in the small blind, after about 20 mins, I reraised a raise from the cutoff and he folded. A premium pocket pair every 20 mins, that would be great 2.
Level 2. End 9925, I touched 11500 on this level. I hit AQ and raised with one caller. Flop was J high, I did a continuation bet and he folded. I also took a nice pot with AT, when the cutoff was trying to steal. I also had 88, but had to fold to two reraises and lost 500 when I flopped a flush draw
Level 3. End 9850. Nothing happened on this level, no cards, I raised a couple unchallenged with QT and KJ.
Level 4. End 8450. AK first hand, I raise and they fold. This is my only hand in two hours. I try to get involved with a few hand but to no avail.
Level 5. End 7775. I am starting to lose some ground. One hand of note AQ, again no action, as it was small blind versus big blind. I am going to have to get busy when the antes kick in next level.
Level 6. End 6050. I have never been so card dead.
Level 7. End 8100. Back on the road to recovery? I am still completely card dead. I have not had a pocket pair since level 2 and have not seen an ace since level 5. Chip leader limps into me on big blind I have 28. Flop 259. He bets 1000, I decide this is my time to make some inroads. I call. Turn T. He bets 2000, I move all in for my last 4800. He folds! Phew! Almost up to 10k.
Level 8. End 5700. I have moved tables. Level is now 300/600 plus Ante 75. I have no cards. I reraise all in with Q5 when button raises into me, he folds. I move all in with K7 on cutoff. Everyone folds. I just want any two cards to move all in.
Level 9. Its now 400/800 ante 100. I am in button, so I have a round to make my move. Hands are 53,42,54,64,43,75. All day long this has been happening. By time I get to the small blind, I have only 4200, although 500 of those are already committed and pick up the massive 76. It folds to the button, and he raises as I knew he would, I decide this is my moment and reraise all in. He calls with J9.
Flop 235. Any 7 any 6, any 4. Turn is an 8. Any Diamond will now also be a winning card. River is a King. Its game over and I make my exit. 87 players remain when I leave.
It was a great experience and will stand me in good stead for the future. I battled and fought as best I could. Two pocket pairs in nine levels, one AK and two AQs. That is not much to play with.
Thanks to everyone who supported me. I really appreciated the mention on the blondepoker site. Thanks for that. Unfortunately its time to get that early flight back home and concentrate on getting my World Series seat.
Take Care all
ClintonO
Friday, March 09, 2007
A day of Waiting
The organisation has not been the best at this EPT event.
Turning up at 1pm today to register for the main event, 3 and a half hours later still no resolution! No suprises that it was a late start today.
The setting is a bit odd, most people staying in hotels which are a 20 Euro ride away, every taxi seems to be 20 Euros! The casino and poker rooms are very seperate, the casino requires a jacket and tie to enter, how many poker players do you know that wear a jacket and tie!
Also a bit odd, is that is you want to go in and watch the event, it costs 60 euros, even for players! I fancied going to see the event and see how it was, but was not paying 60 euros for the priveledge. I briefly became a member of the press to check it out.
It was supposed to be a 500 sell out, but only 237 started today, I saw a number of big names arrive tonight, delayed 24 hours from the recent Goa tournament, so I am wondering whether they will try and squeeze 263 in tomorrow.
I had dinner tonight with Tony Chessa and John Kabbaj and am learning card games that I never even knew existed.
I would just like to say a big thanks to Bruce at Littlewoods again, no matter what is happening, he can never do enough for you.
Right sleep time now and get ready for the big day.
ClintonO
Turning up at 1pm today to register for the main event, 3 and a half hours later still no resolution! No suprises that it was a late start today.
The setting is a bit odd, most people staying in hotels which are a 20 Euro ride away, every taxi seems to be 20 Euros! The casino and poker rooms are very seperate, the casino requires a jacket and tie to enter, how many poker players do you know that wear a jacket and tie!
Also a bit odd, is that is you want to go in and watch the event, it costs 60 euros, even for players! I fancied going to see the event and see how it was, but was not paying 60 euros for the priveledge. I briefly became a member of the press to check it out.
It was supposed to be a 500 sell out, but only 237 started today, I saw a number of big names arrive tonight, delayed 24 hours from the recent Goa tournament, so I am wondering whether they will try and squeeze 263 in tomorrow.
I had dinner tonight with Tony Chessa and John Kabbaj and am learning card games that I never even knew existed.
I would just like to say a big thanks to Bruce at Littlewoods again, no matter what is happening, he can never do enough for you.
Right sleep time now and get ready for the big day.
ClintonO
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Day 1 in Dortmund
I am now successfully in Dortmund, eagerly awaiting the start of the EPT. My day is 1B, so I still have one day to wait.
Littlewoods as ever make the events as special as they can, by throwing in some champagne on the short flight over from Luton. Thank you Bruce!
It was nice to meet up with the two Tony's, Mr Chessa and Mr Cascarino. Although Mr Chessa was asleep for most of the day!
Tony Cascarino and myself went off to try and find and find a bar showing the Arsenal - PSV, but in Germany when Bayern Munich were playing Real Madrid, it was always likely to be in vain!
Instead we ended up at the Poker Stars party, which was nicely set out with a beach setting and a free bar (that always helps). They also showed all of the Champions League games on two minute rotations, with the results as they were though, I wish they had not of bothered.
I will check out the casino and poker room, later on today to get a feel for the layout and then have a relaxing day preparing myself for my first EPT event experience.
ClintonO
Littlewoods as ever make the events as special as they can, by throwing in some champagne on the short flight over from Luton. Thank you Bruce!
It was nice to meet up with the two Tony's, Mr Chessa and Mr Cascarino. Although Mr Chessa was asleep for most of the day!
Tony Cascarino and myself went off to try and find and find a bar showing the Arsenal - PSV, but in Germany when Bayern Munich were playing Real Madrid, it was always likely to be in vain!
Instead we ended up at the Poker Stars party, which was nicely set out with a beach setting and a free bar (that always helps). They also showed all of the Champions League games on two minute rotations, with the results as they were though, I wish they had not of bothered.
I will check out the casino and poker room, later on today to get a feel for the layout and then have a relaxing day preparing myself for my first EPT event experience.
ClintonO
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Dortmund Countdown
Its definitely starting to come together!
Another good performance last night, this time 17th in the £12k. I crashed out when my KK ran into that monster of Q7 spades.
The chip leader raises from the cutoff, I think I can call and then get him to bet into me.
Flop is T high with 2 spades. I change my mind and bet out not wanting to give odds for flush and he goes all in. He does have the flush draw. The turn pairs the board. Which means he only has 7 outs on the river, which of course he hits one of them. A win there would have put me onto 50k in chips and in the top 3.
Frustrating of course, but another good night. Again I believe I played well, I potentially made one mistake earlier when raising with AJ and being called by the big blind. I had been particular aggressive the four or five hands prior to this and was now chip leader. The board came J high but all hearts. I bet out to take the pot there and he went over the top with a check raise. It was only another 4k to call and it would leave me 15k back if I called, the pot was already 11k. I felt it could be on the draw, so I called with those good odds. He had AT of hearts and already made the nut flush.
Two decent performances in the last two nights, my confidence is growing slightly and at the right time.
The Littlewoods lobby has become filled with World Series competitions, which is great news. However anyone who wins the tournament will win a cash prize. I am really not sure how many people after winning $12k in cash, will then give that up to enter the World Series. I really don’t think I could!
If this is the same for all on line sites then the World Series numbers are going to be considerably down for the main event this year.
1 day to go to Dortmund and one fact I did not realise, it will be the biggest EPT event to date. I am eager to get playing now. Friday at 2pm cannot come soon enough from a Poker point of view, but I am very much looking forward to a few days off work!
ClintonO
Another good performance last night, this time 17th in the £12k. I crashed out when my KK ran into that monster of Q7 spades.
The chip leader raises from the cutoff, I think I can call and then get him to bet into me.
Flop is T high with 2 spades. I change my mind and bet out not wanting to give odds for flush and he goes all in. He does have the flush draw. The turn pairs the board. Which means he only has 7 outs on the river, which of course he hits one of them. A win there would have put me onto 50k in chips and in the top 3.
Frustrating of course, but another good night. Again I believe I played well, I potentially made one mistake earlier when raising with AJ and being called by the big blind. I had been particular aggressive the four or five hands prior to this and was now chip leader. The board came J high but all hearts. I bet out to take the pot there and he went over the top with a check raise. It was only another 4k to call and it would leave me 15k back if I called, the pot was already 11k. I felt it could be on the draw, so I called with those good odds. He had AT of hearts and already made the nut flush.
Two decent performances in the last two nights, my confidence is growing slightly and at the right time.
The Littlewoods lobby has become filled with World Series competitions, which is great news. However anyone who wins the tournament will win a cash prize. I am really not sure how many people after winning $12k in cash, will then give that up to enter the World Series. I really don’t think I could!
If this is the same for all on line sites then the World Series numbers are going to be considerably down for the main event this year.
1 day to go to Dortmund and one fact I did not realise, it will be the biggest EPT event to date. I am eager to get playing now. Friday at 2pm cannot come soon enough from a Poker point of view, but I am very much looking forward to a few days off work!
ClintonO
Monday, March 05, 2007
Objective 2i) completed.
Well I hoped more than anything that I would achieve one of my objectives in March. Well last night I did, but it wasn’t the one I was hoping it would be, the cashing at a live event, it was the final table of the £40k.
Before I talk about that, can I just say thank you to the people that have commented over the last few days, wishing me luck in Dortmund. It means a lot, to know there are a few people that would actually like to see me do well.
I will be completely honest with you (as I always am!), the reason I write this blog is in the hope that some people either learn something or get some enjoyment out of it. There is no greater sense of achievement that being able to help someone reach their goals or achieve something that was previously beyond reach.
However, just this once I will gladly take up all the luck that is being offered to me, as cashing in this event, is something that I would like to do for my family who have always encouraged me, my new poker community who have done nothing but help me, Littlewoods who have always supported me and for once in my life, I would love to do this for me. Something that one day I can tell my grandchildren about!
I don’t believe I am good enough or anywhere near experienced enough at this game to be in contention for winning this event, but if I play at my absolute top game for two days, I am capable of making the money.
For those of you who enquired about placing bets on me, I would urge you to save it! However if you still fancy it then, if you ask Betfair nicely, I am sure they will give you a price of at least 200-1.
Last nights play.
My confidence in my poker ability before yesterday was quite low. I had not picked up my game in the last few days as I wished and traditionally Sundays were poor. I picked out 3 games that I would play for the evening to try and help the preparation.
The £40k on Littlewoods, the $200k on the Prima network and a WSOP ($1.5k event) qualifier on Full Tilt.
I had only previously ventured onto Full Tilt once, but I liked the idea of qualifying for a WSOP side event. It definitely gives me the excuse I need to get over to Vegas! With two seats available and a $69 entry I felt it was good value for money. That was until my trips were busted by a runner runner straight and I crashed out in 20th, when I was working out whether I was going to move up into the top 4!
Still a good event, which I think I will come back to.
Next up was the Prima $200k. First prize $44k. I played a game on Crazy Poker once, where I cashed so I decided to keep using it, for my odd venture away from Littlewoods. I had never failed to cash on this site (okay only 3 games played – but it sounds impressive). This was a $50 rebuy event, with an incredible 1694 runners.
I had moved to 5.5k from my initial 2k stack at the first break and took the add-on to move to 7.5k.
I battled and fought and never moved above average chips. I did get up to 35k at one point. I ended up pushing my chips in with A8 to be called by K6. My 8 on the flop looked nice, but the 7 and the 5 that followed meant I lost to my second runner runner straight of the evening. $200 and 133rd place for me.
Off to the £40k, the tournament I could never make the final table in, until now.
I got off to a great start. Dealt JJ I called a raise and a call. Flop 56T. Two checks, so I bet and get two calls. Warning signs go up. Turn is a J. Two checks again, I bet and get reraised by KipsterDK, I push all in and get an immediate call. He has 55 and was slow playing a set. A river J gave me quads and the perfect start, doubling early doors.
I was really happy with the way I was playing, laying down hands when I knew it was right too and using my tight image to keep my stack nicely above average.
When I got to 30 people left, I had fallen towards the short stacks and called an all in with QQ, I was up against AK and it held. My one and only coin flip of the night and it held.
By time it got to 11 places, I was only in 9th. I got AK in the big blind and the small blind had AQ. The chips were always going in the pot and the K on the flop was perfect.
I had played some really good poker and had made my first final table. I had about 70k and was sitting in 7th place, but aside from the top 2, it was quite close.
The prize money for 10th is £650, but first is £11k, the steps are massive. I need to be selective, as the money matters!
Then after 5 and half hours, I have a rush of blood, make my first mistake of the night and end up out the tournament. I have lost late on to bad beats, but going out because of own mistake, hurts so much more.
I pick up JJ in 6th position, no action so far. MNY75 reraises on the button. Now this player is the loosest player on the table. So far tonight he had had 180k in chips and went down to 60k by raising and then folding to reraises. He had just doubled up again and had me covered.
Also for notes, is that he has knocked me out of this tournament 3 times this year alone, always to massive suckouts.
The fact that he reraised me and not the other way round should have told me he had a hand I needed to fold, but I couldn’t. I had JJ on the final table, a serial raiser is at it again. My final table aggressive instincts had kicked in and I could not fold. I moved all in, saw KK and saw an end to my tournament.
9 hours on, I still feel sick about my play.
Aside from the positive of making the final table for the first time, it also felt good to be playing well again. A real timely reminder just before the biggest week of my poker career, that I do have that ability to make the money in Dortmund. However one other important factor, I need to be at my best for the whole tournament and one mistake could end my dream.
The next couple of days, I will just keep my poker brain ticking over, playing a couple of small tournament, before flying out midweek.
I have been told that, I need a new photo! The new issue of Littlewoods Full House has gone out, with my photo from the Caribbean Poker Classic 2005 on it. I have had a lot of abuse about this one, so I promise to get a new one. I hope Littlewoods have some nice clothes to wear!
Since starting playing poker in June 2005 this is my
Main Event Live History to date.
2005
World Series of Poker – Unplaced
Caribbean Poker Classic – Unplaced
2006
World Series of Poker – Unplaced
English Amateur Championships – Unplaced
Caribbean Poker Classic – Unplaced
2007
European Poker Tour Dortmund - ??????
Right that’s enough talk of Dortmund, I am already putting myself under enough pressure!
I wish everyone a successful week. I will have my laptop with me to give updates as we go, but if I can manage to link up with Blondepoker, hopefully they will kindly keep anyone that wants to know how I am doing informed.
ClintonO
Before I talk about that, can I just say thank you to the people that have commented over the last few days, wishing me luck in Dortmund. It means a lot, to know there are a few people that would actually like to see me do well.
I will be completely honest with you (as I always am!), the reason I write this blog is in the hope that some people either learn something or get some enjoyment out of it. There is no greater sense of achievement that being able to help someone reach their goals or achieve something that was previously beyond reach.
However, just this once I will gladly take up all the luck that is being offered to me, as cashing in this event, is something that I would like to do for my family who have always encouraged me, my new poker community who have done nothing but help me, Littlewoods who have always supported me and for once in my life, I would love to do this for me. Something that one day I can tell my grandchildren about!
I don’t believe I am good enough or anywhere near experienced enough at this game to be in contention for winning this event, but if I play at my absolute top game for two days, I am capable of making the money.
For those of you who enquired about placing bets on me, I would urge you to save it! However if you still fancy it then, if you ask Betfair nicely, I am sure they will give you a price of at least 200-1.
Last nights play.
My confidence in my poker ability before yesterday was quite low. I had not picked up my game in the last few days as I wished and traditionally Sundays were poor. I picked out 3 games that I would play for the evening to try and help the preparation.
The £40k on Littlewoods, the $200k on the Prima network and a WSOP ($1.5k event) qualifier on Full Tilt.
I had only previously ventured onto Full Tilt once, but I liked the idea of qualifying for a WSOP side event. It definitely gives me the excuse I need to get over to Vegas! With two seats available and a $69 entry I felt it was good value for money. That was until my trips were busted by a runner runner straight and I crashed out in 20th, when I was working out whether I was going to move up into the top 4!
Still a good event, which I think I will come back to.
Next up was the Prima $200k. First prize $44k. I played a game on Crazy Poker once, where I cashed so I decided to keep using it, for my odd venture away from Littlewoods. I had never failed to cash on this site (okay only 3 games played – but it sounds impressive). This was a $50 rebuy event, with an incredible 1694 runners.
I had moved to 5.5k from my initial 2k stack at the first break and took the add-on to move to 7.5k.
I battled and fought and never moved above average chips. I did get up to 35k at one point. I ended up pushing my chips in with A8 to be called by K6. My 8 on the flop looked nice, but the 7 and the 5 that followed meant I lost to my second runner runner straight of the evening. $200 and 133rd place for me.
Off to the £40k, the tournament I could never make the final table in, until now.
I got off to a great start. Dealt JJ I called a raise and a call. Flop 56T. Two checks, so I bet and get two calls. Warning signs go up. Turn is a J. Two checks again, I bet and get reraised by KipsterDK, I push all in and get an immediate call. He has 55 and was slow playing a set. A river J gave me quads and the perfect start, doubling early doors.
I was really happy with the way I was playing, laying down hands when I knew it was right too and using my tight image to keep my stack nicely above average.
When I got to 30 people left, I had fallen towards the short stacks and called an all in with QQ, I was up against AK and it held. My one and only coin flip of the night and it held.
By time it got to 11 places, I was only in 9th. I got AK in the big blind and the small blind had AQ. The chips were always going in the pot and the K on the flop was perfect.
I had played some really good poker and had made my first final table. I had about 70k and was sitting in 7th place, but aside from the top 2, it was quite close.
The prize money for 10th is £650, but first is £11k, the steps are massive. I need to be selective, as the money matters!
Then after 5 and half hours, I have a rush of blood, make my first mistake of the night and end up out the tournament. I have lost late on to bad beats, but going out because of own mistake, hurts so much more.
I pick up JJ in 6th position, no action so far. MNY75 reraises on the button. Now this player is the loosest player on the table. So far tonight he had had 180k in chips and went down to 60k by raising and then folding to reraises. He had just doubled up again and had me covered.
Also for notes, is that he has knocked me out of this tournament 3 times this year alone, always to massive suckouts.
The fact that he reraised me and not the other way round should have told me he had a hand I needed to fold, but I couldn’t. I had JJ on the final table, a serial raiser is at it again. My final table aggressive instincts had kicked in and I could not fold. I moved all in, saw KK and saw an end to my tournament.
9 hours on, I still feel sick about my play.
Aside from the positive of making the final table for the first time, it also felt good to be playing well again. A real timely reminder just before the biggest week of my poker career, that I do have that ability to make the money in Dortmund. However one other important factor, I need to be at my best for the whole tournament and one mistake could end my dream.
The next couple of days, I will just keep my poker brain ticking over, playing a couple of small tournament, before flying out midweek.
I have been told that, I need a new photo! The new issue of Littlewoods Full House has gone out, with my photo from the Caribbean Poker Classic 2005 on it. I have had a lot of abuse about this one, so I promise to get a new one. I hope Littlewoods have some nice clothes to wear!
Since starting playing poker in June 2005 this is my
Main Event Live History to date.
2005
World Series of Poker – Unplaced
Caribbean Poker Classic – Unplaced
2006
World Series of Poker – Unplaced
English Amateur Championships – Unplaced
Caribbean Poker Classic – Unplaced
2007
European Poker Tour Dortmund - ??????
Right that’s enough talk of Dortmund, I am already putting myself under enough pressure!
I wish everyone a successful week. I will have my laptop with me to give updates as we go, but if I can manage to link up with Blondepoker, hopefully they will kindly keep anyone that wants to know how I am doing informed.
ClintonO
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Ept Dortmund Update
I have just had my starting date confirmed for Dortmund.
Its Day 1B Friday 9th March. 8 days time at 3pm, my quest for glory begins!
In other news Littlewoods have taken my advice and got a great new tournament starting, for those players like me that want to take part in more live events in the UK.
The details are listed below.
The Winners Choice tournaments offer a low cost qualifier to play in some of the biggest events in the UK. What's more, if you win the online qualifier, there's no need to be restricted to one live event, we give you the choice of where you want to play. Our recommended live events include the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT)
There will be a weekly final for £70 + £7 with one live package for every fifteen entrants. There's one package guaranteed!
Daily feeder satellites to this weekly final and STT satellites on the day will also be available so it's really easy to stake your claim.
How To Get There:
QUALIFICATION ROUTE £3 + £0.30 Daily THUNDER Sub-Satellites to Daily Satellite 6:45pm and 7:45pm (daily basis)
INTO £15 + £1.50Daily Satellites to Weekly Final 9:45pm Daily
INTO £70+ £7 Wednesday at 8:45pm 1 Prize for every 15 Entrie (Value £1050) 1 Winners Choice Prize Guaranteed
ClintonO
Its Day 1B Friday 9th March. 8 days time at 3pm, my quest for glory begins!
In other news Littlewoods have taken my advice and got a great new tournament starting, for those players like me that want to take part in more live events in the UK.
The details are listed below.
The Winners Choice tournaments offer a low cost qualifier to play in some of the biggest events in the UK. What's more, if you win the online qualifier, there's no need to be restricted to one live event, we give you the choice of where you want to play. Our recommended live events include the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT)
There will be a weekly final for £70 + £7 with one live package for every fifteen entrants. There's one package guaranteed!
Daily feeder satellites to this weekly final and STT satellites on the day will also be available so it's really easy to stake your claim.
How To Get There:
QUALIFICATION ROUTE £3 + £0.30 Daily THUNDER Sub-Satellites to Daily Satellite 6:45pm and 7:45pm (daily basis)
INTO £15 + £1.50Daily Satellites to Weekly Final 9:45pm Daily
INTO £70+ £7 Wednesday at 8:45pm 1 Prize for every 15 Entrie (Value £1050) 1 Winners Choice Prize Guaranteed
ClintonO
Time to make my March
The EPT Dortmund is almost upon us.
This is my opportunity to make a name for myself (hopefully positively!). My aim at the end of it is to be able to be found on the Hendon mob database, due to a cash in a major tournament.
I am still waiting to ascertain what day I will be playing on, but aside from knowing this I am relatively happy with my preparations.
I have not played more than the odd game here and there for quite some time. In the last few games I am definitely finding my game is coming back.
A few more games over the weekend and I feel that I will be ready but also fresh for Dortmund.
February has been a profitable month, but a quiet one. I definitely feel I played too much during January. The main highlight being the 2nd place in the highrollers event winning over £2k.
I was disappointed that I could not go for the leaderboard in a bigger way, I was just simply far too tired to maintain a level of play over the 20 days. Well done to Matt (Noseyboy) for securing his Monte Carlo seat. There are some real crypto stars flying over to Monte Carlo, good luck to them all.
I am still finding it a little difficult to get completely motivated for playing poker, but this is really due to the amount of things I have going on from a work point of view. I know that in order to play at my best I need to be free of distractions, or at least know exactly what I am going from a work point of view.
I do know for certain that I want to go back to Las Vegas this year, so when I return from Dortmund, Vegas becomes number one on the agenda. I am not that bothered about playing the main event (although it would be nice), but I would like to be there and play in a few of the events.
I will be playing tonight in the Dream Team tournament. The team have started playing in the last two weeks and we are moving nicely up the table. I am hoping we can continue this positive momentum. I will also play in the £12k, just to keep my poker brain ticking over!
ClintonO
This is my opportunity to make a name for myself (hopefully positively!). My aim at the end of it is to be able to be found on the Hendon mob database, due to a cash in a major tournament.
I am still waiting to ascertain what day I will be playing on, but aside from knowing this I am relatively happy with my preparations.
I have not played more than the odd game here and there for quite some time. In the last few games I am definitely finding my game is coming back.
A few more games over the weekend and I feel that I will be ready but also fresh for Dortmund.
February has been a profitable month, but a quiet one. I definitely feel I played too much during January. The main highlight being the 2nd place in the highrollers event winning over £2k.
I was disappointed that I could not go for the leaderboard in a bigger way, I was just simply far too tired to maintain a level of play over the 20 days. Well done to Matt (Noseyboy) for securing his Monte Carlo seat. There are some real crypto stars flying over to Monte Carlo, good luck to them all.
I am still finding it a little difficult to get completely motivated for playing poker, but this is really due to the amount of things I have going on from a work point of view. I know that in order to play at my best I need to be free of distractions, or at least know exactly what I am going from a work point of view.
I do know for certain that I want to go back to Las Vegas this year, so when I return from Dortmund, Vegas becomes number one on the agenda. I am not that bothered about playing the main event (although it would be nice), but I would like to be there and play in a few of the events.
I will be playing tonight in the Dream Team tournament. The team have started playing in the last two weeks and we are moving nicely up the table. I am hoping we can continue this positive momentum. I will also play in the £12k, just to keep my poker brain ticking over!
ClintonO
Friday, February 23, 2007
Getting back into the swing
I played two games yesterday the £12k and the Bad Beat Team Event.
I enjoyed the £12k, especially doubling up first hand 88 vs A5 on a 678A board.
I played well enough, laying down AQ twice when it recent weeks I probably would have gone bust.
I ended up in 42nd, losing two hands on the trot JJ to AK and then AK to JT, both all in preflop.
AJT flop was a bit nasty at the end. Overall I played well and felt my head was getting back into the game.
In the dream team I had my best performance of the season, finishing in 10th place, earning $60 but more importantly 1000 pts for the team.
After six weeks, we have moved up to 12th place and with two good weeks on the trot its starting to look promising.
The top 4 players in the team so far
Jamie 'FISHMAC' 2790
Clinton 'ClintonO' 2300
Martyn ' 50kinred' 1900
Desh ' INJUSTICE' 1400
Whilst I am writing I have doubled in the first hand in the £12k for the second consecutive night, lets hope it ends up better than last night! AA vs AQ.
I had a comment a few days back reference making deals on cryptologic. The few I have made have always been honoured by all players, it has to be done on trust and so far everyone has been trustworthy.
I made a deal on bluesquare a couple of weeks ago, whereby the top 7 paid £50 each to 8th place, however whilst 4 of them honoured the deal, 3 decided not to.
So all I can say is get as much information as you can from the players you are making deals with.
ClintonO
I enjoyed the £12k, especially doubling up first hand 88 vs A5 on a 678A board.
I played well enough, laying down AQ twice when it recent weeks I probably would have gone bust.
I ended up in 42nd, losing two hands on the trot JJ to AK and then AK to JT, both all in preflop.
AJT flop was a bit nasty at the end. Overall I played well and felt my head was getting back into the game.
In the dream team I had my best performance of the season, finishing in 10th place, earning $60 but more importantly 1000 pts for the team.
After six weeks, we have moved up to 12th place and with two good weeks on the trot its starting to look promising.
The top 4 players in the team so far
Jamie 'FISHMAC' 2790
Clinton 'ClintonO' 2300
Martyn ' 50kinred' 1900
Desh ' INJUSTICE' 1400
Whilst I am writing I have doubled in the first hand in the £12k for the second consecutive night, lets hope it ends up better than last night! AA vs AQ.
I had a comment a few days back reference making deals on cryptologic. The few I have made have always been honoured by all players, it has to be done on trust and so far everyone has been trustworthy.
I made a deal on bluesquare a couple of weeks ago, whereby the top 7 paid £50 each to 8th place, however whilst 4 of them honoured the deal, 3 decided not to.
So all I can say is get as much information as you can from the players you are making deals with.
ClintonO
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
A week off
Well a week has passed since I played any real poker. 2 hands in my bad beat team event on Thursday and an hour and a half in the £12k last night.
I have to say I am not yet feeling the overwhelming desire to rush back into playing. Bizarrely I am feeling more tired through not playing than I am when I am putting everything in to it. With 17 days to go to Dortmund, I still feel like I need a bit longer to recharge those batteries.
I am going to play very selectively this week before hopefully wanting to step up again next.
A quick congratulations to Sun_Deshi who has taken advantage of my absence by winning the £12k and moving 5-4 up in our mini competition on that tournament.
Also to ThierryH who was winning the leaderboard competition when I checked last night.
See you all in a few days.
ClintonO
I have to say I am not yet feeling the overwhelming desire to rush back into playing. Bizarrely I am feeling more tired through not playing than I am when I am putting everything in to it. With 17 days to go to Dortmund, I still feel like I need a bit longer to recharge those batteries.
I am going to play very selectively this week before hopefully wanting to step up again next.
A quick congratulations to Sun_Deshi who has taken advantage of my absence by winning the £12k and moving 5-4 up in our mini competition on that tournament.
Also to ThierryH who was winning the leaderboard competition when I checked last night.
See you all in a few days.
ClintonO
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Day 1 of break
Well Day 1 of the break did not go according to plan.
I had already qualified for the Highrollers six pac £215 entry so I had to play it.
Six pacs tournies are not my game, I am still adjusting to the amount you have to play.
This tournament was a very slow structure, allowing lots of time to play poker.
I was a shortstack throughout, but hung on in there.
All of a sudden I was on the final table. The top three get paid. I was by far the smallest stack.
I offered the table a split with 6 players left and again with 5, but they declined!
I doubled up with AQ against AJ, 55 against 22 and 33 against AJ. 4 left and I was around 3rd/4th.
My 77 then lost to AJ and one of the other guys hit a two outer to survive.
After an hour with 4 players, finally it was down to 3 players. I had won £1360.
With 3 left I was in 2nd, the short stack moved in with 83, I had t8, and the chip leader 9T. The board was 68387. I had trips, leader straight, but amazingly shortstack had a boat!
I then lost a massive pot with 3 left, QJ hearts vs AA and it left me with 551 chips against 23k and 59k. I don't know how but I managed to finish 2nd and take home £2040.
The guy who won it was called montcarlo, I don't think I have played against him before, but he played very well and totally dominated the final table. I lost with AJ against 33 for the final hand, incredibly the hand that had kept me in it before.
Right as Ross from friends so famously says 'We were on a break!'
Well breaks like these I can do with more often.
ClintonO
I had already qualified for the Highrollers six pac £215 entry so I had to play it.
Six pacs tournies are not my game, I am still adjusting to the amount you have to play.
This tournament was a very slow structure, allowing lots of time to play poker.
I was a shortstack throughout, but hung on in there.
All of a sudden I was on the final table. The top three get paid. I was by far the smallest stack.
I offered the table a split with 6 players left and again with 5, but they declined!
I doubled up with AQ against AJ, 55 against 22 and 33 against AJ. 4 left and I was around 3rd/4th.
My 77 then lost to AJ and one of the other guys hit a two outer to survive.
After an hour with 4 players, finally it was down to 3 players. I had won £1360.
With 3 left I was in 2nd, the short stack moved in with 83, I had t8, and the chip leader 9T. The board was 68387. I had trips, leader straight, but amazingly shortstack had a boat!
I then lost a massive pot with 3 left, QJ hearts vs AA and it left me with 551 chips against 23k and 59k. I don't know how but I managed to finish 2nd and take home £2040.
The guy who won it was called montcarlo, I don't think I have played against him before, but he played very well and totally dominated the final table. I lost with AJ against 33 for the final hand, incredibly the hand that had kept me in it before.
Right as Ross from friends so famously says 'We were on a break!'
Well breaks like these I can do with more often.
ClintonO
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Time for a little break!
The Poker Gods are not shining on me at present!
I played a number of tournaments today, where going nicely in each, got hit by a 2 or 3 outer on the river. Recently my luck has not been in, so I am going to ease up over the next week or so.
Tonight I was playing in the £40k my bogey tournament, I had already had a couple of nasty little beats, I am dealt AA in the Small Blind and two people are already all in! Christmas has come early!
dealt to ClintonO [Ac As]
mrlort: folds
Sofia1979: folds
Loverat: folds
Myggebo: raises to 1795 and is all-in
Karl25125: folds
100k: folds
Rhaegar: raises to 3395 and is all-in
ClintonO: is all-in 1765
--burakki: folds
Returned uncalled bets 1,555 to Rhaegar
----- FLOP ----- [Qd Jd 3c]
----- TURN ----- [Qd Jd 3c][6s]
----- RIVER ----- [Qd Jd 3c 6s][9d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Rhaegar: shows [Qc Ah] (A Pair of Queens, Ace high)
ClintonO: shows [Ac As] (A Pair of Aces, Queen high)
Myggebo: shows [Tc 8c] (A Straight, Queen high)
ClintonO collected 90 from Side pot #1
Myggebo collected 5535 from Main pot
However, I refuse to moan about bad beats as they do happen.
I am though going to take a little rest from this game. My sole focus is now the EPT Dortmund. I am giving up on the Leaderboard this month and aside from the Highrollers final tomorrow night, I am going to have the week off.
My game is about preparation, I have 25 days ahead of the biggest poker game of my career to date and its time to get ready and right now that means a break.
See you in a little while
ClintonO
I played a number of tournaments today, where going nicely in each, got hit by a 2 or 3 outer on the river. Recently my luck has not been in, so I am going to ease up over the next week or so.
Tonight I was playing in the £40k my bogey tournament, I had already had a couple of nasty little beats, I am dealt AA in the Small Blind and two people are already all in! Christmas has come early!
dealt to ClintonO [Ac As]
mrlort: folds
Sofia1979: folds
Loverat: folds
Myggebo: raises to 1795 and is all-in
Karl25125: folds
100k: folds
Rhaegar: raises to 3395 and is all-in
ClintonO: is all-in 1765
--burakki: folds
Returned uncalled bets 1,555 to Rhaegar
----- FLOP ----- [Qd Jd 3c]
----- TURN ----- [Qd Jd 3c][6s]
----- RIVER ----- [Qd Jd 3c 6s][9d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Rhaegar: shows [Qc Ah] (A Pair of Queens, Ace high)
ClintonO: shows [Ac As] (A Pair of Aces, Queen high)
Myggebo: shows [Tc 8c] (A Straight, Queen high)
ClintonO collected 90 from Side pot #1
Myggebo collected 5535 from Main pot
However, I refuse to moan about bad beats as they do happen.
I am though going to take a little rest from this game. My sole focus is now the EPT Dortmund. I am giving up on the Leaderboard this month and aside from the Highrollers final tomorrow night, I am going to have the week off.
My game is about preparation, I have 25 days ahead of the biggest poker game of my career to date and its time to get ready and right now that means a break.
See you in a little while
ClintonO
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Leaderboard Update
4 days in and I am sitting in 74th position with 107.95 points.
One more cash finish to record, a 25th in the £12k on Thursday.
It would have been better but my AK lost to an AJ which hit a runner runner flush after a A hit the flop.
Aside from that my MTT form has not been much kop.
I was going well in the $4k last night but my Aces were cracked by fives.
I also managed to miss out on the GUKPT in Walsall by three places again, I am destined not to qualify for that. It becomes a total crap shoot towards the end. Three times in three hands I had my chips in with the best hand but lost everytime. AQ vs KJ, AT vs QT and 99 vs AK.
I have had some success though, so its not all doom and gloom. I won a highrollers qualifier and am in Mondays £215 final. I also won the EPT Monte Carlo qualifier earlier today for tonights final.
Amazingly I have had a fair amount on the cash tables. I dont usually play on there and have been playing at fairly low levels, but have somehow managed to add £1k to my profits for February through cash tables alone. All I can say is that some people have been very generous to me.
I have just under a month to sort my MTT form out before Dortmund. Although February has been good from a profit point of view, I am not at my best and I know it. I have too much else that I am thinking about and therefore I am only playing at about 70%.
I did not have a great February last year so I need to work on why.
Looking through my records, my hot period is August to January and then go cold from February to July, so thats not good!
Time to find my MTT form, now where did I put it!
ClintonO
One more cash finish to record, a 25th in the £12k on Thursday.
It would have been better but my AK lost to an AJ which hit a runner runner flush after a A hit the flop.
Aside from that my MTT form has not been much kop.
I was going well in the $4k last night but my Aces were cracked by fives.
I also managed to miss out on the GUKPT in Walsall by three places again, I am destined not to qualify for that. It becomes a total crap shoot towards the end. Three times in three hands I had my chips in with the best hand but lost everytime. AQ vs KJ, AT vs QT and 99 vs AK.
I have had some success though, so its not all doom and gloom. I won a highrollers qualifier and am in Mondays £215 final. I also won the EPT Monte Carlo qualifier earlier today for tonights final.
Amazingly I have had a fair amount on the cash tables. I dont usually play on there and have been playing at fairly low levels, but have somehow managed to add £1k to my profits for February through cash tables alone. All I can say is that some people have been very generous to me.
I have just under a month to sort my MTT form out before Dortmund. Although February has been good from a profit point of view, I am not at my best and I know it. I have too much else that I am thinking about and therefore I am only playing at about 70%.
I did not have a great February last year so I need to work on why.
Looking through my records, my hot period is August to January and then go cold from February to July, so thats not good!
Time to find my MTT form, now where did I put it!
ClintonO
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Leaderboard Day 2
Day 1 was officially rubbish 9pts and joint 141st place.
Day 2 was going the same way until a final table in the $4k helped matters. Now 56 pts and 60th place.
I played in all 3 tournaments on Day 2.
The 8k was over with 15 mins. I had KK and ran into AA, fair enough it happens.
The 12k was dissapointing. I went out in 50th shortly before the points start getting interesting.
I was sat with KQ in the big blind. Mny75 was in the small blind and moved all in for a little less than what I had. He tends to play any two cards in that position, KQ is a favourite over most hands so I called. He turns over QT and of course hits the ten.
The $4k started well, KK in the first hand and I got someone to donate all their chips with second pair! I moved up steadily and a set of nines late on enabled me to be comfortable going into the last 30.
With 14 left I lost a big pot when my two pair lost to a gutshot on the river. I fought back to make the final table. With 9 left I was down to just 12k, blinds at 2k/4k and had to move from the cutoff with A8 I came up against AT and with 6799 on the board i had outs, but none of them materialised.
I will give it another go tonight, to try and get some more points on the board.
ClintonO
Day 2 was going the same way until a final table in the $4k helped matters. Now 56 pts and 60th place.
I played in all 3 tournaments on Day 2.
The 8k was over with 15 mins. I had KK and ran into AA, fair enough it happens.
The 12k was dissapointing. I went out in 50th shortly before the points start getting interesting.
I was sat with KQ in the big blind. Mny75 was in the small blind and moved all in for a little less than what I had. He tends to play any two cards in that position, KQ is a favourite over most hands so I called. He turns over QT and of course hits the ten.
The $4k started well, KK in the first hand and I got someone to donate all their chips with second pair! I moved up steadily and a set of nines late on enabled me to be comfortable going into the last 30.
With 14 left I lost a big pot when my two pair lost to a gutshot on the river. I fought back to make the final table. With 9 left I was down to just 12k, blinds at 2k/4k and had to move from the cutoff with A8 I came up against AT and with 6799 on the board i had outs, but none of them materialised.
I will give it another go tonight, to try and get some more points on the board.
ClintonO
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Mid Month Leaderboard Day 1
Februarys Leaderboard competition is underway and all was looking positive until about ten minutes ago!
Today I managed a final table appearance, fifth in the £1.5k, which helps pay for a number of the leaderboard events. I also won the qualifier for the £12k quite comfortably.
So Event 1 Tuesday 6th February £12k 300 Entrants
A tough starting table with ThierryH, Animalgod and Stinger05 all present. I get absolutely nothing worth playing for 40 mins. Then the black aces in the big blind appear. Most fold until the loose fill_ivey calls, and animalgod in the small blind also. I raise it up and ivey comes along. A harmless looking board of K75 rainbow. I bet half the pot and get called. Turn is 3, I again lead out and he reraises for the rest of chips, he has less than me and its only another 400 to call. At this point I am not too worried. I dont think he has a set as he would have raised from the cutoff, two pair is unlikely, but possible, I have to call. He turns over 64 offsuit for the straight.
Well I have to admit I did not see that one coming!
I was left with few chips and pushed with QJ against 88, but an 8 on the flop put an end to tournament number 1. 207th place and 5 points. It can only get better!
As part of my tour at the moment, I tried a stop at Ladbrokes, what a waste of time! I entered a tournament to win a share in a racehorse. I then got a message telling me the site had packed in and no further poker would be played tonight!
Event 2 £8k 387 Players
I tried to play this far too quickly, playing many more hands than I usually do. I was making good progress until I lost half my stack calling an all in with AK and losing to 88. I regained my chip position and then managed to throw my chips away by being too aggressive with AK this time running into QQ and losing.
227th place and 2 points.
I was not happy with my game in the 8k, I was too tired to play it properly and therefore was overvaluing my high aces. I know its only day 1, but I am already not sure I have the stamina to play all the leaderboard games, I will see how I feel tomorrow.
Event 3 $4k 287 players.
Again I am playing a little too pacy, I move to 4k early doors, before falling back to 2k when I run into AA with AQ, again overplaying high Aces.
Hopefully I have now reset my image for the rest of the tournament! I actually won 8 hands on the trot at one point. I got back up to 4k and beyond. I eventually met my match when my QQ was beaten by AJ. Blinds were still only smallish, so again overplaying. I finished 103rd with 2 points. Giving me a total of 9!
I know that I am not on my game tonight, too much going on in my head to concentrate fully.
I am for some reason committing myself with almost everyhand I go in with. I would hope that tomorrow I can get back the discipline that is normally so good in my game. Just goes to show if you are not operating at your best, then there is really no point playing.
Still at least I have not done any worse in day 1 of the leaderboard in comparison to the last one!
ClintonO
Today I managed a final table appearance, fifth in the £1.5k, which helps pay for a number of the leaderboard events. I also won the qualifier for the £12k quite comfortably.
So Event 1 Tuesday 6th February £12k 300 Entrants
A tough starting table with ThierryH, Animalgod and Stinger05 all present. I get absolutely nothing worth playing for 40 mins. Then the black aces in the big blind appear. Most fold until the loose fill_ivey calls, and animalgod in the small blind also. I raise it up and ivey comes along. A harmless looking board of K75 rainbow. I bet half the pot and get called. Turn is 3, I again lead out and he reraises for the rest of chips, he has less than me and its only another 400 to call. At this point I am not too worried. I dont think he has a set as he would have raised from the cutoff, two pair is unlikely, but possible, I have to call. He turns over 64 offsuit for the straight.
Well I have to admit I did not see that one coming!
I was left with few chips and pushed with QJ against 88, but an 8 on the flop put an end to tournament number 1. 207th place and 5 points. It can only get better!
As part of my tour at the moment, I tried a stop at Ladbrokes, what a waste of time! I entered a tournament to win a share in a racehorse. I then got a message telling me the site had packed in and no further poker would be played tonight!
Event 2 £8k 387 Players
I tried to play this far too quickly, playing many more hands than I usually do. I was making good progress until I lost half my stack calling an all in with AK and losing to 88. I regained my chip position and then managed to throw my chips away by being too aggressive with AK this time running into QQ and losing.
227th place and 2 points.
I was not happy with my game in the 8k, I was too tired to play it properly and therefore was overvaluing my high aces. I know its only day 1, but I am already not sure I have the stamina to play all the leaderboard games, I will see how I feel tomorrow.
Event 3 $4k 287 players.
Again I am playing a little too pacy, I move to 4k early doors, before falling back to 2k when I run into AA with AQ, again overplaying high Aces.
Hopefully I have now reset my image for the rest of the tournament! I actually won 8 hands on the trot at one point. I got back up to 4k and beyond. I eventually met my match when my QQ was beaten by AJ. Blinds were still only smallish, so again overplaying. I finished 103rd with 2 points. Giving me a total of 9!
I know that I am not on my game tonight, too much going on in my head to concentrate fully.
I am for some reason committing myself with almost everyhand I go in with. I would hope that tomorrow I can get back the discipline that is normally so good in my game. Just goes to show if you are not operating at your best, then there is really no point playing.
Still at least I have not done any worse in day 1 of the leaderboard in comparison to the last one!
ClintonO
Monday, February 05, 2007
Slowly coming back into form.
After a relatively quiet period of just ticking along. I can see signs that things are starting to click into shape. With the leaderboard competition starting tomorrow, I am quietly confident.
I equalled my yearly best position in the £40k with a 21st place last night and £300. Although I was in 8th place 5 minutes before I went out! I am destined never to hit that final table in this tournament.
I held AK suited on the small blind. Book from the cut-off had moved all in for half my stack. He had been raising a lot, but no-one was believing him, as he was reraised all-in every time, so he changed his tactic by pushing them all-in.
I had a decision to make, if I called and won I would be in the top 2, if I lost then I would be back in the pack. I decided that an all in move with the chips he had (28k into a 5k pot) then he was happy to take it down there and then and therefore had a mid/low pair or a high ace. As the worse I could be was 50/50 I made the call. He turned over tens and I did not improve.
A few hands later I had AK suited again, I raised from the cut off and the loose button came over the top of me. There was a short stack on another table (one more out and prizes moved from £300 to £450) with just 4k, but I had 6.4k invested of my 20k and the chance to win near enough 50k meant I went with it. Another race this time against queens. A flop with JT gave me two more outs, the turn gave me outs with the flush potential, but the river bought pain and the disappointment of going out 21st for the 2nd time in 3 weeks.
I had some success on the cash tables, I was experimenting on a low £1/£2 game and managed to win enough to pay for any entry fee I invested over the weekend.
I was running well in the DTD freeroll for a WSOP seat, down to the last two tables and I reraise all in with KQ only to be called with QT. They hit a straight! C’est la vie!
Congrats to Andy for winning the EPT Monte Carlo qualifier. Definitely need to get my act together and qualify for this one. I finished 13th in that qualifier, still not sure how someone instant called my reraise for nearly all his chips with K9, but it was too good for my 99.
I played the Mansion $100k Guaranteed over the weekend, the value there is incredible. $100 and 450 players entered. $55k overlay. This did not stop me crashing out very early though!
Despite just ticking along February has started well enough.
My priority for the week still remains with the GUKPT qualifier for Walsall (I will win this seat!), but with the Mid Month Leaderboard starting tomorrow, I have a lot to concentrate on over the next few weeks.
ClintonO
I equalled my yearly best position in the £40k with a 21st place last night and £300. Although I was in 8th place 5 minutes before I went out! I am destined never to hit that final table in this tournament.
I held AK suited on the small blind. Book from the cut-off had moved all in for half my stack. He had been raising a lot, but no-one was believing him, as he was reraised all-in every time, so he changed his tactic by pushing them all-in.
I had a decision to make, if I called and won I would be in the top 2, if I lost then I would be back in the pack. I decided that an all in move with the chips he had (28k into a 5k pot) then he was happy to take it down there and then and therefore had a mid/low pair or a high ace. As the worse I could be was 50/50 I made the call. He turned over tens and I did not improve.
A few hands later I had AK suited again, I raised from the cut off and the loose button came over the top of me. There was a short stack on another table (one more out and prizes moved from £300 to £450) with just 4k, but I had 6.4k invested of my 20k and the chance to win near enough 50k meant I went with it. Another race this time against queens. A flop with JT gave me two more outs, the turn gave me outs with the flush potential, but the river bought pain and the disappointment of going out 21st for the 2nd time in 3 weeks.
I had some success on the cash tables, I was experimenting on a low £1/£2 game and managed to win enough to pay for any entry fee I invested over the weekend.
I was running well in the DTD freeroll for a WSOP seat, down to the last two tables and I reraise all in with KQ only to be called with QT. They hit a straight! C’est la vie!
Congrats to Andy for winning the EPT Monte Carlo qualifier. Definitely need to get my act together and qualify for this one. I finished 13th in that qualifier, still not sure how someone instant called my reraise for nearly all his chips with K9, but it was too good for my 99.
I played the Mansion $100k Guaranteed over the weekend, the value there is incredible. $100 and 450 players entered. $55k overlay. This did not stop me crashing out very early though!
Despite just ticking along February has started well enough.
My priority for the week still remains with the GUKPT qualifier for Walsall (I will win this seat!), but with the Mid Month Leaderboard starting tomorrow, I have a lot to concentrate on over the next few weeks.
ClintonO
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Updated Events on Crypto
Both UK Betting and Wm Hill must have taken notice of my comment, that they had nothing going on, as they now both have promos for Feb.
UK Betting are offering £100 for 1000 MPPs generated. This is less value though than the current schemes on Inter Poker and Parbet, although if you can generated 1000MPPs fairly easily it may be worth having.
Wm Hill have followed Sun Pokers lead and are now having a similiar WSOP Promotion. Whereby their top ten MPP earners between Feb and May can win themselves money for Vegas.
If you are a big cash player and have missed out on the Sun promo, this may be worth your time.
Today I will playing the $100k on Mansion at 6pm. This will be a great value tournament with a great overlay.
This will be alongside the £12k and Monte Carlo Final on Littlewoods.
ClintonO
UK Betting are offering £100 for 1000 MPPs generated. This is less value though than the current schemes on Inter Poker and Parbet, although if you can generated 1000MPPs fairly easily it may be worth having.
Wm Hill have followed Sun Pokers lead and are now having a similiar WSOP Promotion. Whereby their top ten MPP earners between Feb and May can win themselves money for Vegas.
If you are a big cash player and have missed out on the Sun promo, this may be worth your time.
Today I will playing the $100k on Mansion at 6pm. This will be a great value tournament with a great overlay.
This will be alongside the £12k and Monte Carlo Final on Littlewoods.
ClintonO
January Review
A good start to the year, but how did I do versus my objectives for the year!
Objective 1) Cash in major live event. Well EPT Deauville has become EPT Dortmund and this objective is still ongoing, as I have not played a major live event yet. I was hoping to get to the GUKPT in Walsall in February, but I have bubbled twice and lost with 88 tonight against A2 when ten were left and 7 seats.
Objective 2) Final Table in the £40k. I have not managed this yet but did reach 21st two weeks ago.
Objective 3 MTTS - Win 10 online tournaments in 2007 - January I recorded 2.
To cash in 20% of all tournaments played. I am currently hitting a very impressive 34% cash rate.
Make £40k in the year - January saw +£5k
Objective 3 STTS/CASH - I have hardly played any so I am not going to look at this yet.
Objective 4 Live Events.
My plan for the year is now
EPT Dortmund (replaces Deauville)
EPT Monte Carlo
GBPT Nottingham
WSOP
GUKPT Luton
EPT Barcelona
CPC
Aussie Millions.
I am trying to make the GUKPT in Walsall, but I keep falling at the final hurdle.
I have been pleased with my start to the year and the leaderboard competition was a very successful one.
February started okay tonight with a 13th place finish in the 12k, but I am ready to take on the crypto world in the leaderboard tournament starting next week.
See you all on the tables
ClintonO
Objective 1) Cash in major live event. Well EPT Deauville has become EPT Dortmund and this objective is still ongoing, as I have not played a major live event yet. I was hoping to get to the GUKPT in Walsall in February, but I have bubbled twice and lost with 88 tonight against A2 when ten were left and 7 seats.
Objective 2) Final Table in the £40k. I have not managed this yet but did reach 21st two weeks ago.
Objective 3 MTTS - Win 10 online tournaments in 2007 - January I recorded 2.
To cash in 20% of all tournaments played. I am currently hitting a very impressive 34% cash rate.
Make £40k in the year - January saw +£5k
Objective 3 STTS/CASH - I have hardly played any so I am not going to look at this yet.
Objective 4 Live Events.
My plan for the year is now
EPT Dortmund (replaces Deauville)
EPT Monte Carlo
GBPT Nottingham
WSOP
GUKPT Luton
EPT Barcelona
CPC
Aussie Millions.
I am trying to make the GUKPT in Walsall, but I keep falling at the final hurdle.
I have been pleased with my start to the year and the leaderboard competition was a very successful one.
February started okay tonight with a 13th place finish in the 12k, but I am ready to take on the crypto world in the leaderboard tournament starting next week.
See you all on the tables
ClintonO
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Light play ahead of new Leaderboard competition
Nothing much to report this week, I have been catching up on sleep ahead of the 20 day marathon that starts on Tuesday.
Last night I took one of four seats for the EPT final qualifier for Monte Carlo on saturday night.
I have also played a couple of the highroller qualifiers, bubbling twice, but taking home some £170 for my troubles.
Dissapointment last night in the GUKPT qualifier last night, there was 10 seats available and I was sitting comfortably in 5th with just 50 left. I got tangled up in a small blind/big blind situation where my Q9 ran into 32 on a 229Q board. Then I had a TT versus AK which I lost and then when I had a straight, the river then dealt a 2 outer to split the board. I was not happy with this performance as I felt I should have secured my seat from that position.
Also time is running out to get myself a seat (Betfair appear to have pulled their qualifiers for it)
Tonight I will be in action in the Dream Team event as well as the £12k and smaller events on Littlewoods.
I will also post a January performance update, yes we are 1 month in already!
ClintonO
Last night I took one of four seats for the EPT final qualifier for Monte Carlo on saturday night.
I have also played a couple of the highroller qualifiers, bubbling twice, but taking home some £170 for my troubles.
Dissapointment last night in the GUKPT qualifier last night, there was 10 seats available and I was sitting comfortably in 5th with just 50 left. I got tangled up in a small blind/big blind situation where my Q9 ran into 32 on a 229Q board. Then I had a TT versus AK which I lost and then when I had a straight, the river then dealt a 2 outer to split the board. I was not happy with this performance as I felt I should have secured my seat from that position.
Also time is running out to get myself a seat (Betfair appear to have pulled their qualifiers for it)
Tonight I will be in action in the Dream Team event as well as the £12k and smaller events on Littlewoods.
I will also post a January performance update, yes we are 1 month in already!
ClintonO
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Whats available to qualify for?
Just a quick post for those of you like me who fancys playing in more live events, heres where and what you can qualify for in February.
GUKPT Walsall - Blue Square (Tribeca), Betfair (Poker Champs) and DTD(?) (Crypto)
EPT Monte Carlo - Littlewoods (Crypto), Betfair, TGF (Boss), Crazy Poker (Prima), Club on the Park (Playtech), Poker Stars, Paradise
WSOP - DTD (Crypto), Bodog
To join me at the EPT Dortmund - Crazy Poker, Club on the Park, Poker Stars. Paradise
Irish Open - Blue Square, TGF
Others Include.
Blue Square - Caribbean Poker Cruise, any WPT event, Pokerface (VEGAS)
Betfair - Northern Ireland Poker Championships
TGF - Asian Poker Classic
Coral - Great British Poker Tour
Mansion - Pokerdome (VEGAS)
Bodog - WPT La Poker Classic.
Also for those bargain hunters. Earn 1 MPP on Playboy Poker and get $20. Code SUPJANPB.
My immediate priority before the leaderboard starts again is the GUKPT Walsall qualifiers.
Blue Square (Wed & Fri), Betfair (Thurs)
ClintonO
GUKPT Walsall - Blue Square (Tribeca), Betfair (Poker Champs) and DTD(?) (Crypto)
EPT Monte Carlo - Littlewoods (Crypto), Betfair, TGF (Boss), Crazy Poker (Prima), Club on the Park (Playtech), Poker Stars, Paradise
WSOP - DTD (Crypto), Bodog
To join me at the EPT Dortmund - Crazy Poker, Club on the Park, Poker Stars. Paradise
Irish Open - Blue Square, TGF
Others Include.
Blue Square - Caribbean Poker Cruise, any WPT event, Pokerface (VEGAS)
Betfair - Northern Ireland Poker Championships
TGF - Asian Poker Classic
Coral - Great British Poker Tour
Mansion - Pokerdome (VEGAS)
Bodog - WPT La Poker Classic.
Also for those bargain hunters. Earn 1 MPP on Playboy Poker and get $20. Code SUPJANPB.
My immediate priority before the leaderboard starts again is the GUKPT Walsall qualifiers.
Blue Square (Wed & Fri), Betfair (Thurs)
ClintonO
Monday, January 29, 2007
What happening on Crypto at the moment
Lots of new events appearing on cryptologic as the number of skins are increased.
Heres whats happening
Littlewoods - My software provider is where I will be playing the Mid Month leaderboard for February 6th-25th. The top two once again will secure a Monte Carlo seat.
Also every saturday night there is an E250 qualifier with one seat guaranteed for Monte Carlo.
Betsafe - A new site with some good promos going on. Money for MPPs is running at the moment. Top prize of $1000 for earning 5000 MPPS. Plus the top 40 MPP earners between Jan 20 and Feb 20 earn a weekend in Riga - 9th -11th March, be warned though this does clash with the EPT in Dortmund.
DTD - Earn 400 MPPs before 4th Feb and get into a Freeroll for the WSOP, definitely worth a look, only 56 players in at present.
They also have a GUKPT Walsall holding tank, so will be watching closely to see what happens here.
Inter - They are also in with MPP bonuses, with their Reload promotions. Best value seems to be $300 for 1500 MPPs.
Parbet - Another new site and the only one running exclusive qualifiers for the EPT in Warsaw. The have a final on March 11 E600 with weekly finals on Saturdays at 5pm E60.
Playboy - They have a trip for two in the Playboy towers in Vegas up for grabs on the 25th Feb. $100 entry fee for this one. Plus Bunny Money freerolls every Thursday at 6.30 and 9pm
Sun Poker - Really going to town with their sick promo, giving away loads of seats to the World Series. Also a freeroll for the $50k HORSE event for all those players earning 50000 MPPS before May 31.
There is nothing exclusive happening at UK Betting, William Hill, Poker Plex or Classic Poker
I will be looking what else is available around the sites over the next few days, as the Leaderboard competition does not start until the 6th February.
ClintonO
Heres whats happening
Littlewoods - My software provider is where I will be playing the Mid Month leaderboard for February 6th-25th. The top two once again will secure a Monte Carlo seat.
Also every saturday night there is an E250 qualifier with one seat guaranteed for Monte Carlo.
Betsafe - A new site with some good promos going on. Money for MPPs is running at the moment. Top prize of $1000 for earning 5000 MPPS. Plus the top 40 MPP earners between Jan 20 and Feb 20 earn a weekend in Riga - 9th -11th March, be warned though this does clash with the EPT in Dortmund.
DTD - Earn 400 MPPs before 4th Feb and get into a Freeroll for the WSOP, definitely worth a look, only 56 players in at present.
They also have a GUKPT Walsall holding tank, so will be watching closely to see what happens here.
Inter - They are also in with MPP bonuses, with their Reload promotions. Best value seems to be $300 for 1500 MPPs.
Parbet - Another new site and the only one running exclusive qualifiers for the EPT in Warsaw. The have a final on March 11 E600 with weekly finals on Saturdays at 5pm E60.
Playboy - They have a trip for two in the Playboy towers in Vegas up for grabs on the 25th Feb. $100 entry fee for this one. Plus Bunny Money freerolls every Thursday at 6.30 and 9pm
Sun Poker - Really going to town with their sick promo, giving away loads of seats to the World Series. Also a freeroll for the $50k HORSE event for all those players earning 50000 MPPS before May 31.
There is nothing exclusive happening at UK Betting, William Hill, Poker Plex or Classic Poker
I will be looking what else is available around the sites over the next few days, as the Leaderboard competition does not start until the 6th February.
ClintonO
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Leaderboard is Over
6th place and $1k bonus money. I am happy with that and will be back to fight next month.
Well done to those who battled it out. Logictech was absolutely outstanding, I do not know you, but fantastically well done.
The top ten.
1) logitech - 2445.8 - Monte Carlo package
2) Onny87 - 1179.3 - Monte Carlo package
3) BLIMEEY2 - 1143.9 - $4k
4) DESHONDTD - 1136.5 - $2.8k (Won his Monte Carlo package last night)
5) Filleter - 1088.85 - $1.8k
6) ClintonO - 921.27 - $1k
7) Threeaces - 858.65 - $500
8) Stinger05 - 839.72 - $400
9) Straggler - 832.45 - $300
10) n.a.t - 815.65 - $200
I played in 51 tournaments, cashed in 15 of them and had 4 final table appearances. With my $1k 6th place prize, I made just under £2k for the event. So at the end of the day I am not complaining!
Roll on February! Although in the mean time, I need to catch up on my sleep.
ClintonO
Well done to those who battled it out. Logictech was absolutely outstanding, I do not know you, but fantastically well done.
The top ten.
1) logitech - 2445.8 - Monte Carlo package
2) Onny87 - 1179.3 - Monte Carlo package
3) BLIMEEY2 - 1143.9 - $4k
4) DESHONDTD - 1136.5 - $2.8k (Won his Monte Carlo package last night)
5) Filleter - 1088.85 - $1.8k
6) ClintonO - 921.27 - $1k
7) Threeaces - 858.65 - $500
8) Stinger05 - 839.72 - $400
9) Straggler - 832.45 - $300
10) n.a.t - 815.65 - $200
I played in 51 tournaments, cashed in 15 of them and had 4 final table appearances. With my $1k 6th place prize, I made just under £2k for the event. So at the end of the day I am not complaining!
Roll on February! Although in the mean time, I need to catch up on my sleep.
ClintonO
Recent Posts
Hey all,
I just wanted to make a couple of points following some recent comments. Please keep them coming by the way, always appreciated.
Firstly my comment reference 'one of the best players on the site', I am not big headed and often dismiss what I achieve, it is only when people remind me of what I have achieved in less than two years, that I realise, do you know what I have done well. For me the mid-month leaderboard was great test, I can't play every game, I have to balance a job, a young family and a love of poker. 6th whilst not second place, was a decent effort which I am proud of.
Also I am certain that most players could comfortably beat me at cash games and my single table game, whilst improving needs a lot more work.
My multi table game though is coming on leaps and bounds. I am not totally comfortable with it and know there is room for improvement. You have to keep learning at this game. Last night I was fourth in the Monte Carlo final, where if my AJ had beaten A8 and my 99 had beaten 55, then maybe just maybe I could have won that. I also know that for the last two hours of the game, I was completly card dead and relying on playing the opposition and not the cards. However many many congratulations to my good friend Sun_Deshi who secured his seat, after playing some fantastic final table play.
My second reference is regards the legends comment. I do not think for one second that I have achieved anything in this game worthy of legend status, however it is term we use amongst friends as recognition of anything we achieve, no matter what it is. It is lighthearted and not meant in any other way.
When I started playing I had one game and when people worked it out, people knew how to play me. I have adapted my game to situations and players and believe I can hold my own. I have also never played under any other name, I have nothing to hide, if you can outplay then good luck to you, but I will continue to try to improve my game.
I will never be a flamboyant character of poker, my game is about preparation, numerical ability and strategy, but mark my words I will keep trying to improve my game. I am having a great time with the game and enjoying my progress.
Please keep the comments coming, positive or negative I can only learn from then.
Cheers
ClintonO
I just wanted to make a couple of points following some recent comments. Please keep them coming by the way, always appreciated.
Firstly my comment reference 'one of the best players on the site', I am not big headed and often dismiss what I achieve, it is only when people remind me of what I have achieved in less than two years, that I realise, do you know what I have done well. For me the mid-month leaderboard was great test, I can't play every game, I have to balance a job, a young family and a love of poker. 6th whilst not second place, was a decent effort which I am proud of.
Also I am certain that most players could comfortably beat me at cash games and my single table game, whilst improving needs a lot more work.
My multi table game though is coming on leaps and bounds. I am not totally comfortable with it and know there is room for improvement. You have to keep learning at this game. Last night I was fourth in the Monte Carlo final, where if my AJ had beaten A8 and my 99 had beaten 55, then maybe just maybe I could have won that. I also know that for the last two hours of the game, I was completly card dead and relying on playing the opposition and not the cards. However many many congratulations to my good friend Sun_Deshi who secured his seat, after playing some fantastic final table play.
My second reference is regards the legends comment. I do not think for one second that I have achieved anything in this game worthy of legend status, however it is term we use amongst friends as recognition of anything we achieve, no matter what it is. It is lighthearted and not meant in any other way.
When I started playing I had one game and when people worked it out, people knew how to play me. I have adapted my game to situations and players and believe I can hold my own. I have also never played under any other name, I have nothing to hide, if you can outplay then good luck to you, but I will continue to try to improve my game.
I will never be a flamboyant character of poker, my game is about preparation, numerical ability and strategy, but mark my words I will keep trying to improve my game. I am having a great time with the game and enjoying my progress.
Please keep the comments coming, positive or negative I can only learn from then.
Cheers
ClintonO
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Leaderboard draws to a close
Well I gave it a damn good go. A 7th place in the £8k last night helped me consolidate my position in 6th. I took a couple of shockers in the first two hours, but recovered with even a bit of luck on my side. AJ beating AK and KJ beating JJ when short stacked.
I was the short stack for most of the time I was on the final table. With blinds at 2k/4k, approaching 3k/6k my 30k was not going to last too long. I moved with AJ and was called by AT. The river paired the board for a second time. I needed that to have a real go.
By time I was first to act again with anything resembling a hand I was down to 18k and went out.
I am aware there is still one day left in the leaderboard tournament, but I have to rely on a friend to play tonights game (a very good player), as I have a leaving do for a good friend who has worked for me for a year. I know the chance for Monte Carlo is still there, but as great as Poker is, it cannot dictate your life!
As long as I don’t lose 6th place I will be happy. Although I will still take higher if it happens!
I have fallen just short of the important number 2 slot by a small margin. It has been really enjoyable event and added a real competitive edge to the site. I am pleased that the cryptologic skins are running it again for February and March. With the 3 recent additions (Betsafe, Parbet and Playboy), the site seems to be going from strength to strength.
On the flip side this event has been absolutely exhausting. I have played in all bar 6 of the qualifying tournaments (51/57) finishing most nights at between 1 and 3am and then getting up for work at 7am, not the most healthy situation.
I will report back a full review on the leaderboard with a full profit & loss situation tomorrow when I have access to all my statistics. At the end of the day being one of the top ten players on the site is a great achievement.
Tomorrow I will also publish my schedule for qualifying for live events over the next few weeks.
I have also written a new article entitled ‘How to win an online MTT tournament! This will be published in Littlewoods next Full House magazine. I will post it on here shortly.
ClintonO
I was the short stack for most of the time I was on the final table. With blinds at 2k/4k, approaching 3k/6k my 30k was not going to last too long. I moved with AJ and was called by AT. The river paired the board for a second time. I needed that to have a real go.
By time I was first to act again with anything resembling a hand I was down to 18k and went out.
I am aware there is still one day left in the leaderboard tournament, but I have to rely on a friend to play tonights game (a very good player), as I have a leaving do for a good friend who has worked for me for a year. I know the chance for Monte Carlo is still there, but as great as Poker is, it cannot dictate your life!
As long as I don’t lose 6th place I will be happy. Although I will still take higher if it happens!
I have fallen just short of the important number 2 slot by a small margin. It has been really enjoyable event and added a real competitive edge to the site. I am pleased that the cryptologic skins are running it again for February and March. With the 3 recent additions (Betsafe, Parbet and Playboy), the site seems to be going from strength to strength.
On the flip side this event has been absolutely exhausting. I have played in all bar 6 of the qualifying tournaments (51/57) finishing most nights at between 1 and 3am and then getting up for work at 7am, not the most healthy situation.
I will report back a full review on the leaderboard with a full profit & loss situation tomorrow when I have access to all my statistics. At the end of the day being one of the top ten players on the site is a great achievement.
Tomorrow I will also publish my schedule for qualifying for live events over the next few weeks.
I have also written a new article entitled ‘How to win an online MTT tournament! This will be published in Littlewoods next Full House magazine. I will post it on here shortly.
ClintonO
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Monte Carlo or ...
BUST!
It was the night that was supposed to catapult me to the coveted 2nd place position in the monthly leaderboard, but it could not have gone more wrong!
First the basics I did manage 35 points for the night which should take me up to 6th place (worth $1k).
However it really is a case of what might have been.
Firstly the £12k. A nice comfortable start adding 50% to my starting stack in the first hour. 15 minutes later I get my first hand of the night. KK in the cut off. One UTG limper for 150, I raise it up to 600. Button calls, limper folds.
Flop is nine high. I bet half the pot leaving me 1500 chips back to which he calls. I put him on two overcards with a flush draw or a pocket pair. Pot is now worth 3200. I push the remainder of my chips in and am called with a set of 9s. Nicely played by him. Probably a bit risky with an under the gun limper to call 600, with a potential reraise behind him, but well played nonetheless. I then move whats left of my chips with AQ and lose to KJ.
The £8k.
Started this tournament really well. Doubled early with AQ against AJ on an AQ4 flop and moved in the top 5 with 8k in the first hour.
Then I am dealt A5 in the big blind, with 3 limpers I take a look at the flop. A53. Very nice.
Button bets ¾ of the pot, to which I call. Turn is a King, which is probably a good card for me. Button bets the pot, I decide to take the pot there and then and he calls the remainder of his 6.5k with AJ. Surprised he limped preflop, but happy that I am about to move into a nice lead in the tournament. River another king, my 2nd pair is now worthless and his Jack kicker plays. Sick – I believe the phrase is.
$4k.
Last chance saloon for the night, my aim is to make top 35 to move me up to 6th in the rankings as my two rivals had crashed out in all the tournaments.
I never build up a stack, but claw and fight my way through to that 35th place. I am sitting 34th of 35.
Having accomplished this, it was a matter of seeing how far I could go. I was raising 2 pots a round without any resistance. Suddenly my 3k stack was up at 18k.
I then got fortunate as my AJclubs beat AQ, with a flush and suddenly winning the tournament was a reality. I had stayed up until 2.30am so I might as well win the thing. A win would put me within 16 points of the Monte Carlo seat.
We are down to 11 players, I am in 2nd place. 5 players on the table, myself and the chip leader are taking down every pot.
I am dealt QQ under the gun, to which I make my standard 3x BB raise (7200 at this point). The Big Blind (shortest stack on the table) moves in for his final 20k. I decide to call and am up against A7, to join the chip leader in the 75k mark. However the river card decided to be an Ace and I am right back in the thick of things!
The very next hand I have AT clubs in the BB. The chip leader continued his approach of raising every hand where he was ahead of me to act. I moved all in. Unfortunately he had a hand QQ. The flop bought two clubs, giving me two chances to hit the 12 outs (plus the backdoor straight and running tens) but it was not to be. I crashed out in 11th.
$60 and 28 points for almost 4 hours work, plus a severe dent on my sleeping time.
So so disappointing when I could almost sense victory.
Last chance saloon tonight, to be honest holding onto 6th place (assuming no-one managed to overtake me from the final table last night) is my number aim and taking the $1k prize associated with it. The leaderboard has two days to run, but I can’t play on Thursday, so I want to sure up my position was a points scoring position in the £12k tonight.
I will also be playing the UKPT Walsall qualifier on blue square, where I am going to make it 3rd time lucky!
ClintonO
It was the night that was supposed to catapult me to the coveted 2nd place position in the monthly leaderboard, but it could not have gone more wrong!
First the basics I did manage 35 points for the night which should take me up to 6th place (worth $1k).
However it really is a case of what might have been.
Firstly the £12k. A nice comfortable start adding 50% to my starting stack in the first hour. 15 minutes later I get my first hand of the night. KK in the cut off. One UTG limper for 150, I raise it up to 600. Button calls, limper folds.
Flop is nine high. I bet half the pot leaving me 1500 chips back to which he calls. I put him on two overcards with a flush draw or a pocket pair. Pot is now worth 3200. I push the remainder of my chips in and am called with a set of 9s. Nicely played by him. Probably a bit risky with an under the gun limper to call 600, with a potential reraise behind him, but well played nonetheless. I then move whats left of my chips with AQ and lose to KJ.
The £8k.
Started this tournament really well. Doubled early with AQ against AJ on an AQ4 flop and moved in the top 5 with 8k in the first hour.
Then I am dealt A5 in the big blind, with 3 limpers I take a look at the flop. A53. Very nice.
Button bets ¾ of the pot, to which I call. Turn is a King, which is probably a good card for me. Button bets the pot, I decide to take the pot there and then and he calls the remainder of his 6.5k with AJ. Surprised he limped preflop, but happy that I am about to move into a nice lead in the tournament. River another king, my 2nd pair is now worthless and his Jack kicker plays. Sick – I believe the phrase is.
$4k.
Last chance saloon for the night, my aim is to make top 35 to move me up to 6th in the rankings as my two rivals had crashed out in all the tournaments.
I never build up a stack, but claw and fight my way through to that 35th place. I am sitting 34th of 35.
Having accomplished this, it was a matter of seeing how far I could go. I was raising 2 pots a round without any resistance. Suddenly my 3k stack was up at 18k.
I then got fortunate as my AJclubs beat AQ, with a flush and suddenly winning the tournament was a reality. I had stayed up until 2.30am so I might as well win the thing. A win would put me within 16 points of the Monte Carlo seat.
We are down to 11 players, I am in 2nd place. 5 players on the table, myself and the chip leader are taking down every pot.
I am dealt QQ under the gun, to which I make my standard 3x BB raise (7200 at this point). The Big Blind (shortest stack on the table) moves in for his final 20k. I decide to call and am up against A7, to join the chip leader in the 75k mark. However the river card decided to be an Ace and I am right back in the thick of things!
The very next hand I have AT clubs in the BB. The chip leader continued his approach of raising every hand where he was ahead of me to act. I moved all in. Unfortunately he had a hand QQ. The flop bought two clubs, giving me two chances to hit the 12 outs (plus the backdoor straight and running tens) but it was not to be. I crashed out in 11th.
$60 and 28 points for almost 4 hours work, plus a severe dent on my sleeping time.
So so disappointing when I could almost sense victory.
Last chance saloon tonight, to be honest holding onto 6th place (assuming no-one managed to overtake me from the final table last night) is my number aim and taking the $1k prize associated with it. The leaderboard has two days to run, but I can’t play on Thursday, so I want to sure up my position was a points scoring position in the £12k tonight.
I will also be playing the UKPT Walsall qualifier on blue square, where I am going to make it 3rd time lucky!
ClintonO
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
8th place and 3 days left
Two decent performances in the 8k and 4k last night earnt me some more points (39 for the night) and right in the thick of it.
I am realistically competiting for 6th place, with only 9 points seperating Threeaces, Straggler and myself. I am on 807 points. Those in 2nd through 5th all have over a thousand points so it will have to be a top 4 finish tonight in the £12k if I want to earn a Monte Carlo seat through this competition.
6th is worth $1k and compared to the $400 for 8th so that would be nice. However one big result would do it!
Straggler who is in 7th place has gone out early tonight, so a top 36 place would see me overtake him.
I also played the EPT qualifier last night and won a seat in saturdays E270 final for a seat at Monte Carlo.
Well done to Desh for moving into 2nd place in the leaderboard, Jamie (FISHMAC) for winning last nights $3k and also to Eyesight who has been having a great week.
Lets hope its a big night Tuesday once again.
ClintonO
I am realistically competiting for 6th place, with only 9 points seperating Threeaces, Straggler and myself. I am on 807 points. Those in 2nd through 5th all have over a thousand points so it will have to be a top 4 finish tonight in the £12k if I want to earn a Monte Carlo seat through this competition.
6th is worth $1k and compared to the $400 for 8th so that would be nice. However one big result would do it!
Straggler who is in 7th place has gone out early tonight, so a top 36 place would see me overtake him.
I also played the EPT qualifier last night and won a seat in saturdays E270 final for a seat at Monte Carlo.
Well done to Desh for moving into 2nd place in the leaderboard, Jamie (FISHMAC) for winning last nights $3k and also to Eyesight who has been having a great week.
Lets hope its a big night Tuesday once again.
ClintonO
Monday, January 22, 2007
Into the Home Straight.
The leaderboard competition has just 4 days to run and I am currently sitting in 8th place. A Top 3 performance in the £12k this week though, should be enough to secure that so important 2nd place.
I gained some much needed points on Saturday night when reaching the final table of the £8k, by finishing sixth and winning £400.
All in all it is reaching a very interesting climax.
My good friend Desh under one of his 27 alias’ (DESHONDTD) has thrown himself into contention by moving into 3rd which adds a little more spice to the contest.
Last night was a profitable night, although as usual could have been better! I managed a 21st place in the main weekly tournament on Littlewoods – the £40k, which added a little over £300 to the bankroll.
I also played in the Prima network $150k GTD on a platform called Crazy Poker, where I had previously played one freeroll game a year or so ago.
There were 1356 players in this event and five hours on, my pair of eights got busted by a straight on the river to prevent me going into 3rd place and left me crippled going out in 34th. I earned $540 for my troubles, a decent return, but less than the $35k first prize I was eyeing up!
This week my main aim will still be the Leaderboard tournament, although I am going to have one more going at winning this UKPT seat for Walsall.
ClintonO
I gained some much needed points on Saturday night when reaching the final table of the £8k, by finishing sixth and winning £400.
All in all it is reaching a very interesting climax.
My good friend Desh under one of his 27 alias’ (DESHONDTD) has thrown himself into contention by moving into 3rd which adds a little more spice to the contest.
Last night was a profitable night, although as usual could have been better! I managed a 21st place in the main weekly tournament on Littlewoods – the £40k, which added a little over £300 to the bankroll.
I also played in the Prima network $150k GTD on a platform called Crazy Poker, where I had previously played one freeroll game a year or so ago.
There were 1356 players in this event and five hours on, my pair of eights got busted by a straight on the river to prevent me going into 3rd place and left me crippled going out in 34th. I earned $540 for my troubles, a decent return, but less than the $35k first prize I was eyeing up!
This week my main aim will still be the Leaderboard tournament, although I am going to have one more going at winning this UKPT seat for Walsall.
ClintonO
Saturday, January 20, 2007
You know its not your night when (part 3).....
You bubble for a seat in a major tournament for the second time in 3 days!
Once again QQ did me in as I move in with AJ.
I will win this seat - 3rd time lucky I am sure.
Things are not going well for me at the moment, I am getting my chips in with the best hand and they are simply not holding. I have lost 5 consecutive AK to AQ all preflop!
The leaderboard despite a cash in the £12k last night has continued on the downward trend. I am now sitting in 8th place. The good news remains that a top 3 in the £12k and I am back in the Monte Carlo seat.
There are still 6 days to go, so it is definitely still possible.
The Bad Beat tournament on Thursday was a poor week for the defending champions. I added some more points to our total, but without our star performer Jamie (FISHMAC) we would be in all sorts of trouble.
ClintonO
Once again QQ did me in as I move in with AJ.
I will win this seat - 3rd time lucky I am sure.
Things are not going well for me at the moment, I am getting my chips in with the best hand and they are simply not holding. I have lost 5 consecutive AK to AQ all preflop!
The leaderboard despite a cash in the £12k last night has continued on the downward trend. I am now sitting in 8th place. The good news remains that a top 3 in the £12k and I am back in the Monte Carlo seat.
There are still 6 days to go, so it is definitely still possible.
The Bad Beat tournament on Thursday was a poor week for the defending champions. I added some more points to our total, but without our star performer Jamie (FISHMAC) we would be in all sorts of trouble.
ClintonO
Thursday, January 18, 2007
You know its not your night when (part 2) ......
There are seven seats available to major live tournament and you crash out in 8th.
I was playing a tournament for seats at the UKPT at Walsall next month, I had played well all night, disciplined but aggressive poker. I had even folded QQ to all in reraise on the bubble.
Blinds were up at 2,000/4,000 and there was 3 of us on the 20,000 mark. I then pick up pocket sevens and decide the blinds are needed to keep me ahead. The big blind has QQ and I am out. So so annoyed! I did not need to play that hand. Grrrr!
There was some positive news as we had agreed a bubble deal, whereby the person in 8th got £350, however I found no solace in this.
The leaderboard competition is slipping away from me, with no successes last night.
A big big night is needed tonight.
The pressure is now officially on.
ClintonO
I was playing a tournament for seats at the UKPT at Walsall next month, I had played well all night, disciplined but aggressive poker. I had even folded QQ to all in reraise on the bubble.
Blinds were up at 2,000/4,000 and there was 3 of us on the 20,000 mark. I then pick up pocket sevens and decide the blinds are needed to keep me ahead. The big blind has QQ and I am out. So so annoyed! I did not need to play that hand. Grrrr!
There was some positive news as we had agreed a bubble deal, whereby the person in 8th got £350, however I found no solace in this.
The leaderboard competition is slipping away from me, with no successes last night.
A big big night is needed tonight.
The pressure is now officially on.
ClintonO
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
You know its not your night when.....
You are winning a MTT comfortably with 3 players left and your computer crashes and fails to reboot!
Yes its true in the $3k (prize pool $4.7k) tournament tonight, just about to wield the axe with AQ against the remaining short stacks and the computer just stops.
My 62k in chips disappear as I try to log back on.
Operating system not found.....
Oh my god, thats my computer knackered.
Somehow it eventually comes back on, (a lot of pleading with the computer gods!) the other two have been sharing my chips between them, how amicable of them!
19k left. I pick up Ak, perhaps there is justice - All in - called by KQ. There is no justice.
$564 instead of $1410. That my friends is damn sick.
I reached another final table in the £1.5k tonight, but crashed early when I ran into AA with my 99 on a 8 high flop.
In the leaderboard tournaments, I comfortably played my worst 3 games in forever. Although KK losing to K9 for 90% of my chips in the 8k did not help.
I am actually just relieved my computer is still working, I feared my hard drive was gone for a second.
Quick everything on the D:Drive!
To lose $900 because of a computer and then £2k to replace would have been too much to take.
2 Final tables is not bad for a nights work, but I still feel robbed of my 3 title of the year.
Amazingly relieved rather than tearing my hair out!
ClintonO
Yes its true in the $3k (prize pool $4.7k) tournament tonight, just about to wield the axe with AQ against the remaining short stacks and the computer just stops.
My 62k in chips disappear as I try to log back on.
Operating system not found.....
Oh my god, thats my computer knackered.
Somehow it eventually comes back on, (a lot of pleading with the computer gods!) the other two have been sharing my chips between them, how amicable of them!
19k left. I pick up Ak, perhaps there is justice - All in - called by KQ. There is no justice.
$564 instead of $1410. That my friends is damn sick.
I reached another final table in the £1.5k tonight, but crashed early when I ran into AA with my 99 on a 8 high flop.
In the leaderboard tournaments, I comfortably played my worst 3 games in forever. Although KK losing to K9 for 90% of my chips in the 8k did not help.
I am actually just relieved my computer is still working, I feared my hard drive was gone for a second.
Quick everything on the D:Drive!
To lose $900 because of a computer and then £2k to replace would have been too much to take.
2 Final tables is not bad for a nights work, but I still feel robbed of my 3 title of the year.
Amazingly relieved rather than tearing my hair out!
ClintonO
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Leaderboard Reaches Halfway
10 days of the 20 gone and I have slipped to 6th place. Just the one small cash in the last 3 days has now left me with work to.
Unfortunately the 2nd place spot looks firmly on the way to Filleter, who when I went to bed last night was comfortably winning the £8k.
I am now 300pts behing 2nd place, which is a top 3 finish in the £12k.
I believe I need another 500pts to take 2nd place and my quest starts tonight. Although I am incredibly tired at the moment and feel I will probably get better towards the end of the week. Anything more than the 9pts you get for just playing will be a bonus tonight!
1) logitech 1093.25
2) Filleter 914.6
3) Straggler 665.45
4) Threeaces 660.45
5) Costy 622.75
6) ClintonO 608.77
The prize money for 6th slips to $1k from $1.8k for 5th and falls to $200 for 10th! I really need to sort this out. (Starting with the £8k tonight - I have just crashed from the £12k - where I played officially rubbish!) As much as I hate to say it, maybe an early night is on the cards!
Fingers crossed for a great week!
ClintonO
Unfortunately the 2nd place spot looks firmly on the way to Filleter, who when I went to bed last night was comfortably winning the £8k.
I am now 300pts behing 2nd place, which is a top 3 finish in the £12k.
I believe I need another 500pts to take 2nd place and my quest starts tonight. Although I am incredibly tired at the moment and feel I will probably get better towards the end of the week. Anything more than the 9pts you get for just playing will be a bonus tonight!
1) logitech 1093.25
2) Filleter 914.6
3) Straggler 665.45
4) Threeaces 660.45
5) Costy 622.75
6) ClintonO 608.77
The prize money for 6th slips to $1k from $1.8k for 5th and falls to $200 for 10th! I really need to sort this out. (Starting with the £8k tonight - I have just crashed from the £12k - where I played officially rubbish!) As much as I hate to say it, maybe an early night is on the cards!
Fingers crossed for a great week!
ClintonO
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Monte Carlo Leaderboard Hotting Up
After 7 days of 20 in the Mid Month Leaderboard running on Littlewoods, I am currently sitting in 5th place.
5th place is worth $1,800 after 20 days, but I have my sights firmly on the first two places which are Monte Carlo packages.
The Top 5 is currently
logitech 1000.6pts
Filleter 637.0pts
Threeaces 625.95pts
Straggler 581.7pts
ClintonO 573.47pts.
logitech have got themselves into a very nice position, but the second spot is definitely within reach.
4 cashes in the last 3 days has moved me right into contention, with a 4th place in the £12k on Wednesday and a 3rd place in the £8k on Thursday.
I have so far invested £489 into the competition, with a return of £1987.25 (Profit £1,498.25)
So far so good, but its time to step it up to the top two places!
We have also had week 1 of the Dream Team II competition with Bad Beat. This was not a great start and we are languishing in the bottom half of the table. Jamie (FISHMAC) was our best performer earning 600pts with his 30th place. I added 400pts and Martin (5okinred) 80pts more.
In the Poker in Goa competition also on Bad Beat, I had a respectable 5th place this week, which leaves me in 6th place overall with two weeks to go.
My focus remains very much on Monte Carlo, which is somewhere I really want to go.
I also had a small article about me on the Betrescue site this week.
http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:IVExV_ZDYEcJ:www.betrescue.com/ps.shtml+clinton+orchard+poker&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=5
More points tonight please!
ClintonO
5th place is worth $1,800 after 20 days, but I have my sights firmly on the first two places which are Monte Carlo packages.
The Top 5 is currently
logitech 1000.6pts
Filleter 637.0pts
Threeaces 625.95pts
Straggler 581.7pts
ClintonO 573.47pts.
logitech have got themselves into a very nice position, but the second spot is definitely within reach.
4 cashes in the last 3 days has moved me right into contention, with a 4th place in the £12k on Wednesday and a 3rd place in the £8k on Thursday.
I have so far invested £489 into the competition, with a return of £1987.25 (Profit £1,498.25)
So far so good, but its time to step it up to the top two places!
We have also had week 1 of the Dream Team II competition with Bad Beat. This was not a great start and we are languishing in the bottom half of the table. Jamie (FISHMAC) was our best performer earning 600pts with his 30th place. I added 400pts and Martin (5okinred) 80pts more.
In the Poker in Goa competition also on Bad Beat, I had a respectable 5th place this week, which leaves me in 6th place overall with two weeks to go.
My focus remains very much on Monte Carlo, which is somewhere I really want to go.
I also had a small article about me on the Betrescue site this week.
http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:IVExV_ZDYEcJ:www.betrescue.com/ps.shtml+clinton+orchard+poker&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=5
More points tonight please!
ClintonO
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
EPT Deauville Cancelled
Terrible news today as we hear than the EPT event in Deauville has been cancelled. This was to be my EPT debut, which will now have to wait.
Possible options are Dortmund or Warsaw. A further option is to stump up the additional E5k and go to Monte Carlo, but the price is a bit steep for me, so it will have to be one of the other two. My preference is for Dortmund at this time.
With event being cancelled, I will try my luck at the UKPT event in Walsall the week before. (15th - 18th Feb)
On the Leadeboard front things improved a little with two top 30 finishes in the 12k and the 4k, but there is still much more work to be done as I languished down the field in 61st.
I made another final table on Sunday night, getting a 5th place finish in the £1.5k, running into AA in the big blind with AK in the small. This at least takes my final table tally up to four in the first week of the year.
I had a comment yesterday about my STT form and the comment was right, my STT record is not good enough. I know exactly why because I do not treat them with the same respect as a MTT and therefore my preparation is wrong.
I played one last night with the right attitude and won in comfortably. If I am going to play these they have to be serious from now on. My record at £50/£60 STTs are good because I treat them right.
From now on its only when I have the proper time to play them.
ClintonO
Possible options are Dortmund or Warsaw. A further option is to stump up the additional E5k and go to Monte Carlo, but the price is a bit steep for me, so it will have to be one of the other two. My preference is for Dortmund at this time.
With event being cancelled, I will try my luck at the UKPT event in Walsall the week before. (15th - 18th Feb)
On the Leadeboard front things improved a little with two top 30 finishes in the 12k and the 4k, but there is still much more work to be done as I languished down the field in 61st.
I made another final table on Sunday night, getting a 5th place finish in the £1.5k, running into AA in the big blind with AK in the small. This at least takes my final table tally up to four in the first week of the year.
I had a comment yesterday about my STT form and the comment was right, my STT record is not good enough. I know exactly why because I do not treat them with the same respect as a MTT and therefore my preparation is wrong.
I played one last night with the right attitude and won in comfortably. If I am going to play these they have to be serious from now on. My record at £50/£60 STTs are good because I treat them right.
From now on its only when I have the proper time to play them.
ClintonO
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Another Title
January has definitely started in a positive manner, as I made my 2nd win of the year, plus I also managed a 3rd place in another. Making it 3 final tables for the year and 2 wins.
The win came in the $3k GTD which had 174 runners and $1044 for first place. My 3rd place in the other tournament also generated $534 in winnings. Well done to Lynchem who won thoroughly deserved his win in that tournament.
Unfortunately my Mid Month Leaderboard competition started in disastrous fashion. When going nicely my all in reraise with AQ was called by AT. Flop TT5. Ouch. The guy that knocked me out with that mny75 only lasted 16 places longer!
So I have 9 points from day 1. A lot of catching up to do. The competition does run until the 25th so time is on my side.
Leaderboard investement £53 Returns £0. Points 9. Position - Well off the pace!
MTTs are really my game at the moment and I am going to stick to them until I can build a bankroll that will allow me to try my luck at the STT and Cash world of poker.
I did manage one win at a STT earlier though to qualify for the £12k.
Thanks to Joe (The Deacons) note earlier. Don't you worry that I am going to go off around the world and throw everything away. Every win so far has been invested back into property (ie the house) and I am not thinking of only playing poker full time, just want it to be a bigger part of my life.
I am not foolish enough to think that I am a world beater and it is the answer to everything, however I do have a bit of skill for this game and want to maximise my return on my investment.
I am pleased to already have 2 tournament wins under my belt after 6 days this year.
I am hoping my target for 2007 of 10 is well beaten!
ClintonO
Friday, January 05, 2007
Sunday Mail Article
Evening everybody.
Its been a promising start to the year and I am really enjoying playing at the moment.
I do feel another big win is not too far away.
The poker world continues to get bigger and better and the EPT has suddenly got two new tournamnents in this seasons tour. We now have EPT Dortmund and EPT Warsaw. Obviously no chance for me to play in them this year, but lets pencil them in for the future!
I am pleased to see Littlewoods is running another Leaderboard tournmanent, this time with the top two winning seats for the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo. This is up there as my priority tournament, so I am going to give this challenge everything, even if I am a walking zombie for the next 3 weeks!
I also had an email today from Littlewoods regarding an article in the new years eve edition of the Sunday mail.
Check it out for yourselves!
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport/unpdate/tm_method=full%26objectid=18356160%26siteid=64736-name_page.html
I love the fact I won the £12k the day after this was out!
Anyway I am settling down for a nights play after another exhausting week at work.
Good Luck to everyone I play.
ClintonO
Its been a promising start to the year and I am really enjoying playing at the moment.
I do feel another big win is not too far away.
The poker world continues to get bigger and better and the EPT has suddenly got two new tournamnents in this seasons tour. We now have EPT Dortmund and EPT Warsaw. Obviously no chance for me to play in them this year, but lets pencil them in for the future!
I am pleased to see Littlewoods is running another Leaderboard tournmanent, this time with the top two winning seats for the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo. This is up there as my priority tournament, so I am going to give this challenge everything, even if I am a walking zombie for the next 3 weeks!
I also had an email today from Littlewoods regarding an article in the new years eve edition of the Sunday mail.
Check it out for yourselves!
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport/unpdate/tm_method=full%26objectid=18356160%26siteid=64736-name_page.html
I love the fact I won the £12k the day after this was out!
Anyway I am settling down for a nights play after another exhausting week at work.
Good Luck to everyone I play.
ClintonO
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
WPT Mag
Well its taken a while, but thanks to my good friend Kai, I can now operate my scanner!
So as promised here is the article featuring the first WPT Rookie of the month.
Cheers
ClintonO
Nothing for two weeks - Now two in a Day!
Well its about time I let you know my objectives for the year. At this point, I am still undecided about my career, do I make poker a more prominent part (degree, MBA, 13 years in the FMCG world – most at a senior level – believe me it’s a difficult decision to make, especially for a Cancerian (we don’t do change))
This years objectives revolve around live poker, something I do very infrequently and at the moment am no good at! Well I bubbled in the $500 at St.Kitts in 2005, so there is a bit of potential, but so far no good!
At the moment if you look me up on the internet on poker pages or the Hendon mob web sites, you will see no record of me, how is that possible I hear you ask!? (lol!) Well I have never cashed in a big live tournament.
Now I could happily stay online and continue to make great strides, but I can not refuse a challenge. This year I want to set myself up for the 2008 live scene.
I am very excited by the Grosvenor and Gala (separate) poker tours and want to take part in them. To play the complete tour I will have to wait until 2008, so my aim is to get established enough that I can do this.
I will play in as many significant events as I can and will try to qualify for as many of those as possible.
This year I would like to take part in at least one EPT, UKPT, GBPT, APAT and WSOP event!
Objective 1) – Cash in a major live event.
My first realistic target is the EPT in Deauville (France) in February. My first EPT event and my first significant tournament in Europe.
It is vital for my poker future that I am able to switch my success from online to live poker and also vital that I do not put myself under excess pressure to do so with silly statements like I just made!
As soon as I know exactly what I am doing with my career, I can see how many live events I can try to qualify for. Needless to say any success achieved in Deauville will greatly enhance my prospects of playing more.
So what about online, I have won every tournament on the Littlewoods site except one, the Sunday night £40k, in fact I am still to make the final table.
Objective 2i) – Make the final table of the £40k
Objective 2ii) – Win the Sunday £40k
I am hoping that this will not continue to elude me!
It is vital for me to keep improving and learning at this game, as the influx of new people continue and they continue to get better. So what can I set myself as objectives, well I have to improve at each area and that includes MTT, STT and Cash games, therefore I need objectives in each.
Objective 3 MTTS) - To win 10 online tournaments in 2007
To Final Table in 40 online tournaments
To cash in 20% of all tournaments played
To achieve a profit of £40k
Objective 3 STTS) - To achieve a sharkscope profit of £5k
To move my sharkscope ROI to 5%
To move my £20 & £30 sharkscope ROI into positive territory
Objective 3 Cash) - To achieve a profit of £5k
To make a profit of 500 big blinds at each level I play
.15/.25 - £125
.25/.5 - £250
.5/1 - £500
1/2 - £1000
2/5 - £2500
Objective 4 Qualifiers) – These are vital for my plans in 2007, I must play in more live events.
This list will be a ridiculously tough target to achieve and I will have to play occasionally on unfamiliar sites to achieve it however these are my aims.
Feb – EPT Deauville
Mar – Asian Poker Classic *
Mar/Apr - Monte Carlo Millions
Apr - Paddy Power Irish Open *
May - GBPT Nottingham
Jul - WSOP
Aug - UKPT Luton
Sep - EPT Barcelona
Nov - CPC (or equiv)
Jan - Aussie Millons
The two that are have asterisk may not be achievable purely through work reasons.
Objective 5) Defend our Bad Beat dream Team title.
Quite simply I am captain and therefore it is my responsibility to ensure success for the team and defend the title we won last year.
Winning is the only measurement here.
These objectives will be added to throughout the course of the year, but for now they are plenty.
My next objective is to find a flat screen HDTV to spend my winnings from last night on.
Take care
ClintonO
This years objectives revolve around live poker, something I do very infrequently and at the moment am no good at! Well I bubbled in the $500 at St.Kitts in 2005, so there is a bit of potential, but so far no good!
At the moment if you look me up on the internet on poker pages or the Hendon mob web sites, you will see no record of me, how is that possible I hear you ask!? (lol!) Well I have never cashed in a big live tournament.
Now I could happily stay online and continue to make great strides, but I can not refuse a challenge. This year I want to set myself up for the 2008 live scene.
I am very excited by the Grosvenor and Gala (separate) poker tours and want to take part in them. To play the complete tour I will have to wait until 2008, so my aim is to get established enough that I can do this.
I will play in as many significant events as I can and will try to qualify for as many of those as possible.
This year I would like to take part in at least one EPT, UKPT, GBPT, APAT and WSOP event!
Objective 1) – Cash in a major live event.
My first realistic target is the EPT in Deauville (France) in February. My first EPT event and my first significant tournament in Europe.
It is vital for my poker future that I am able to switch my success from online to live poker and also vital that I do not put myself under excess pressure to do so with silly statements like I just made!
As soon as I know exactly what I am doing with my career, I can see how many live events I can try to qualify for. Needless to say any success achieved in Deauville will greatly enhance my prospects of playing more.
So what about online, I have won every tournament on the Littlewoods site except one, the Sunday night £40k, in fact I am still to make the final table.
Objective 2i) – Make the final table of the £40k
Objective 2ii) – Win the Sunday £40k
I am hoping that this will not continue to elude me!
It is vital for me to keep improving and learning at this game, as the influx of new people continue and they continue to get better. So what can I set myself as objectives, well I have to improve at each area and that includes MTT, STT and Cash games, therefore I need objectives in each.
Objective 3 MTTS) - To win 10 online tournaments in 2007
To Final Table in 40 online tournaments
To cash in 20% of all tournaments played
To achieve a profit of £40k
Objective 3 STTS) - To achieve a sharkscope profit of £5k
To move my sharkscope ROI to 5%
To move my £20 & £30 sharkscope ROI into positive territory
Objective 3 Cash) - To achieve a profit of £5k
To make a profit of 500 big blinds at each level I play
.15/.25 - £125
.25/.5 - £250
.5/1 - £500
1/2 - £1000
2/5 - £2500
Objective 4 Qualifiers) – These are vital for my plans in 2007, I must play in more live events.
This list will be a ridiculously tough target to achieve and I will have to play occasionally on unfamiliar sites to achieve it however these are my aims.
Feb – EPT Deauville
Mar – Asian Poker Classic *
Mar/Apr - Monte Carlo Millions
Apr - Paddy Power Irish Open *
May - GBPT Nottingham
Jul - WSOP
Aug - UKPT Luton
Sep - EPT Barcelona
Nov - CPC (or equiv)
Jan - Aussie Millons
The two that are have asterisk may not be achievable purely through work reasons.
Objective 5) Defend our Bad Beat dream Team title.
Quite simply I am captain and therefore it is my responsibility to ensure success for the team and defend the title we won last year.
Winning is the only measurement here.
These objectives will be added to throughout the course of the year, but for now they are plenty.
My next objective is to find a flat screen HDTV to spend my winnings from last night on.
Take care
ClintonO
Happy New Year to All
Firstly, a happy new year to one all. I wish you all the very best for 2007. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and as always please feel free to add your comments and share your views.
Its 2007 and this is now my 3rd year playing poker, ok so its only really just over 18 months but it sounds like I am more experienced!
2006 was a massive year for me on the poker front and something that is still very much a hobby, I can only see becoming a bigger part of my life.
Looking back at last year, there are so many highlights. On a personal note and for the benefit of my game, there was nothing better than meeting and getting to know some of the finest players I share the online felt with. Being able to talk, listen and learn from the likes of 007apr, ThierryH and Sun_Deshi has added so much to my game and to them I am very thankful.
I have got to know some wonderful people through this game, I managed to meet up with many in St.Kitts, but hope to meet up with the rest of you at an event soon.
My 2nd highlight was watching my wife discover the game that I love and then do something that I have not yet managed to do and that is cash in numerous events. Both in Vegas and St.Kitts she kept the kitty money topped up! Whilst I am sure she will never get a taste for online play, it is great to have someone who generally wants to get involved and enjoys the game.
So what else, my 2nd World Series was a short lived but amazing experience, I so love Las Vegas so! St.Kitts the 2nd time around was brilliant, meeting so many great people.
Winning my CPC and my EPT seats on the same day was special. As was my other two CPC seats and winning the Bad Beat Tournament for the Singapore Poker Classic. Appearing on the radio and in many newspapers, my features in the Littlewoods Full House magazine and my article in the WPT magazine (Their first ever Rookie of the Month!) Not to mention the £25k that has come my way! All in all, a simply life changing year.
However now is not the time to look back and relax, far from it, it is now that I must look forward and decide how much of my life this game will become.
I have been seriously tempted during the latter part of 2006 into doing more within the industry, but now more than ever I am coming up to some big decisions.
December was a very quiet poker month for me. I missed the start due to being in St.Kitts and with my family and work commitments, I kept my poker play down to the lowest level of the year. In fact there were more days where I did not play that when I did.
At one point before Christmas I honestly believed I had forgotten how to play the game and as a direct result of not playing my confidence was starting to dwindle.
Christmas with my family was perfect apart from the lack of time to play, plus no wireless or even broadband at the inlaws was never going to make it easy.
So with no poker to play, I found some time to read, I have a vast library of poker books to which I yet again added to and found one in particular a real inspiration. This was Phil Gordons little blue book.
Now I had read his first book ‘Little Green Book’ and it just seemed to demonstrate that Phil hit a hell of a lot of sets and I found myself thinking this is not realistic and was quite dismissive of the book, he also seemed to be overly loose and aggressive and as much as I want to develop my game, I am simply not going to play this way.
That said there was enough in the book to keep me interested in reading his ‘Little Blue Book’.
At one page in the book it simply dawned on me that he actually played an incredibly similar game to me, it was not about playing any two cards, his game was about gears, changing both up and down. This is how I have been successful at this game. At this point my confidence shot up without even playing a game.
For those of you who like me find Dan Harringtons books to be their poker bibles, then let me please recommend Phil Gordons Little Blue Book as something you should add to your collection, it now has pride of place next to Action Dan on my shelf.
Last year I had a great start to the year, I had won the £15k at the end of Dec (27th) and then the following Tuesday won the £15k again – Jan 3rd, after my first day at my new job.
Well last night I decided to make my first game of the year the £12k. 244 runners, 1st Place and £3416 in prize money. The absolute perfect start to the year.
The trick – Confidence, controlled aggression and changing gears.
I started with 2000 chips and I was up to 6000 chips by the first break. I managed to double up in level 3 when my pocket Aces turned into quads and I got called all the way down to the river by 2nd pair. Thank you!
I took my big risk after 2 hours, I had 9k in chips and pocket queens for the 3rd time. (I had previously folded them twice, once to reraises (KK and AQ) and once when AK hit the flop)
We had a limper under the gun, who I knew was going to reraise, I put him on AK as soon as he did it. He pushed all in as soon as I raised with my Queens, which convinced me it was AK, my queens held up and I was just short of 20k and into the top ten.
I had two more coin flips before the final table, none of them tournament threatening (around half my stack). I lost one and won one.
At the final table it was all very close and I was sitting in 8th with 35k, there was no runaway leader and two short stacks (16-19k). I arrived on the big blind, but my disappointment was short lived when QQ arrived also and knocked out one of the short stacks. I actually ended up knocking out 7 of the final table!
My chip count fluctuated a little, I called an all in button raise from the other short stack with A7 and lost to J5, but then doubled up with KK versus 66 against the guy who eventually finished 2nd.
It was a tight scrappy final table, with everyone so closely stacked in chips. The game itself was getting on for 5 hours. The last 6 however was under 10 mins!
I limped in the Small Blind with AJ hoping the BB to raise, he duly obliged with T8 and was out 5th when my Ace hit the flop. From this point I just built a stack and used it effectively, raising at any sign of weakness.
The heads up saw me in front with a big lead 360k to 130k and it lasted just three hands. I took the first two with raises. I was then dealt 67 clubs. He just called from the small blind, I am more than happy to see what the flop is. Tc Kh 8c. A Great Flop! Flush and inside straight draws. 13 outs if he has anything. I checked and was happy to check raise, but he also checked. The turn was a 9h. I have my straight, okay it’s the dumb end, but I am certain he would have raised with QJ preflop.
I check for the third time, surely inviting a bet. He bets 8k into the 18k pot, I raise to 24k, he is immediately all in. I have the straight, nine outs to a flush if somehow he does have QJ, but I cant see it. He most probably has two pair T8, T9 or 98. A king he surely would have raised preflop, unless he is slowplaying a monster.
I call and he has KK, he was dealt and flopped a monster and was slowplaying. The river was a deuce and the title was mine. To be honest after the flop came down, I was never getting away from this hand and only a big raise preflop would have got rid of me here.
So a fantastic start to the year, by the time I make it to bed at 2.30am, I have just won £3,400 and yet I am getting up for work in less than five hours. Why oh Why! It’s definitely time to sort my life out!
I will write again soon!
ClintonO
Its 2007 and this is now my 3rd year playing poker, ok so its only really just over 18 months but it sounds like I am more experienced!
2006 was a massive year for me on the poker front and something that is still very much a hobby, I can only see becoming a bigger part of my life.
Looking back at last year, there are so many highlights. On a personal note and for the benefit of my game, there was nothing better than meeting and getting to know some of the finest players I share the online felt with. Being able to talk, listen and learn from the likes of 007apr, ThierryH and Sun_Deshi has added so much to my game and to them I am very thankful.
I have got to know some wonderful people through this game, I managed to meet up with many in St.Kitts, but hope to meet up with the rest of you at an event soon.
My 2nd highlight was watching my wife discover the game that I love and then do something that I have not yet managed to do and that is cash in numerous events. Both in Vegas and St.Kitts she kept the kitty money topped up! Whilst I am sure she will never get a taste for online play, it is great to have someone who generally wants to get involved and enjoys the game.
So what else, my 2nd World Series was a short lived but amazing experience, I so love Las Vegas so! St.Kitts the 2nd time around was brilliant, meeting so many great people.
Winning my CPC and my EPT seats on the same day was special. As was my other two CPC seats and winning the Bad Beat Tournament for the Singapore Poker Classic. Appearing on the radio and in many newspapers, my features in the Littlewoods Full House magazine and my article in the WPT magazine (Their first ever Rookie of the Month!) Not to mention the £25k that has come my way! All in all, a simply life changing year.
However now is not the time to look back and relax, far from it, it is now that I must look forward and decide how much of my life this game will become.
I have been seriously tempted during the latter part of 2006 into doing more within the industry, but now more than ever I am coming up to some big decisions.
December was a very quiet poker month for me. I missed the start due to being in St.Kitts and with my family and work commitments, I kept my poker play down to the lowest level of the year. In fact there were more days where I did not play that when I did.
At one point before Christmas I honestly believed I had forgotten how to play the game and as a direct result of not playing my confidence was starting to dwindle.
Christmas with my family was perfect apart from the lack of time to play, plus no wireless or even broadband at the inlaws was never going to make it easy.
So with no poker to play, I found some time to read, I have a vast library of poker books to which I yet again added to and found one in particular a real inspiration. This was Phil Gordons little blue book.
Now I had read his first book ‘Little Green Book’ and it just seemed to demonstrate that Phil hit a hell of a lot of sets and I found myself thinking this is not realistic and was quite dismissive of the book, he also seemed to be overly loose and aggressive and as much as I want to develop my game, I am simply not going to play this way.
That said there was enough in the book to keep me interested in reading his ‘Little Blue Book’.
At one page in the book it simply dawned on me that he actually played an incredibly similar game to me, it was not about playing any two cards, his game was about gears, changing both up and down. This is how I have been successful at this game. At this point my confidence shot up without even playing a game.
For those of you who like me find Dan Harringtons books to be their poker bibles, then let me please recommend Phil Gordons Little Blue Book as something you should add to your collection, it now has pride of place next to Action Dan on my shelf.
Last year I had a great start to the year, I had won the £15k at the end of Dec (27th) and then the following Tuesday won the £15k again – Jan 3rd, after my first day at my new job.
Well last night I decided to make my first game of the year the £12k. 244 runners, 1st Place and £3416 in prize money. The absolute perfect start to the year.
The trick – Confidence, controlled aggression and changing gears.
I started with 2000 chips and I was up to 6000 chips by the first break. I managed to double up in level 3 when my pocket Aces turned into quads and I got called all the way down to the river by 2nd pair. Thank you!
I took my big risk after 2 hours, I had 9k in chips and pocket queens for the 3rd time. (I had previously folded them twice, once to reraises (KK and AQ) and once when AK hit the flop)
We had a limper under the gun, who I knew was going to reraise, I put him on AK as soon as he did it. He pushed all in as soon as I raised with my Queens, which convinced me it was AK, my queens held up and I was just short of 20k and into the top ten.
I had two more coin flips before the final table, none of them tournament threatening (around half my stack). I lost one and won one.
At the final table it was all very close and I was sitting in 8th with 35k, there was no runaway leader and two short stacks (16-19k). I arrived on the big blind, but my disappointment was short lived when QQ arrived also and knocked out one of the short stacks. I actually ended up knocking out 7 of the final table!
My chip count fluctuated a little, I called an all in button raise from the other short stack with A7 and lost to J5, but then doubled up with KK versus 66 against the guy who eventually finished 2nd.
It was a tight scrappy final table, with everyone so closely stacked in chips. The game itself was getting on for 5 hours. The last 6 however was under 10 mins!
I limped in the Small Blind with AJ hoping the BB to raise, he duly obliged with T8 and was out 5th when my Ace hit the flop. From this point I just built a stack and used it effectively, raising at any sign of weakness.
The heads up saw me in front with a big lead 360k to 130k and it lasted just three hands. I took the first two with raises. I was then dealt 67 clubs. He just called from the small blind, I am more than happy to see what the flop is. Tc Kh 8c. A Great Flop! Flush and inside straight draws. 13 outs if he has anything. I checked and was happy to check raise, but he also checked. The turn was a 9h. I have my straight, okay it’s the dumb end, but I am certain he would have raised with QJ preflop.
I check for the third time, surely inviting a bet. He bets 8k into the 18k pot, I raise to 24k, he is immediately all in. I have the straight, nine outs to a flush if somehow he does have QJ, but I cant see it. He most probably has two pair T8, T9 or 98. A king he surely would have raised preflop, unless he is slowplaying a monster.
I call and he has KK, he was dealt and flopped a monster and was slowplaying. The river was a deuce and the title was mine. To be honest after the flop came down, I was never getting away from this hand and only a big raise preflop would have got rid of me here.
So a fantastic start to the year, by the time I make it to bed at 2.30am, I have just won £3,400 and yet I am getting up for work in less than five hours. Why oh Why! It’s definitely time to sort my life out!
I will write again soon!
ClintonO
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