! ЯED SQUAЯE POKEЯ !

Welcome to the Pleasure Dome

2009-06-25T01:08:00.003+01:00

I haven't played any cash games for while, preferring to play mainly SnGs and a few MTTs. Today I decided to play some cash, and boy, was I hammered on, like a tent peg.

These hands are standard, but don't do your confidence much good when you're getting back into cash games.

Well, the WSOP has been very exciting so far this year. Jeff Lisandro is on course to win his 3rd bracelet in Razz. Vitaly Lunkin won the 40th anniversary event and nearly took down the $10k PLO. It's particularly exciting for me, because I used to play poker with these guys in Moscow....

My mate, rabbit143 has now won two satellites to the 'Main' Event. I read an article about Stevie444 that he won 101 packages last year. Now that's talent.

It looks like I'm off to Kyrgyzstan for a few months to do some work. I hope that they've got a decent internet connection....

You have to look on the bright side though, a bad connection might actually save me a few quid lol.

40th Anniversary of WSOP

2009-06-07T00:43:00.003+01:00

I Wondered Where I Was Going Wrong...

2009-06-02T22:32:00.000+01:00

Tom McEvoy Takes One Down For The Old School

2009-06-02T21:19:00.001+01:00

The Merry Month of May

2009-05-28T14:27:00.005+01:00

So, the WSOP has officially started with the first event well under way. Unfortunately, I didn't win a satellite to the 'Main Event' this year (unlike my mate rabbit143), so I'm giving it a miss.

I've been playing mostly MTTs, SnGs, and a little PLO cash, but nothing to write home about. My tournament game has definitely improved, but the variance, especially in the smaller buy-in events, is atrocious. It's like walking through a minefield - blindfolded...

Recently, I went to play some live poker in the local casino, with rabbit143. The tournaments are self dealt, and you meet so many different characters. One guy was the spitting image of Ricky Tomlinson from the 'Royle Family' soap. We didn't make the money; bombing out in the last two tables.

I played in a 'home game' for the first time in ages the other day. There was only 4 of us, so instead of playing an SnG, we played TX NL with 10p/20p blinds. The beer was free flowing as was the colourful banter. I was winning until a huge hand, just before the end of the session. I raised preflop with JJ, and get 2 callers. The flop comes 3 rags and I cbet. Matey calls with pockets 8s. An 8 comes on the turn and we get it all in. The host won the pot, so that paid for the beer and food lol.

In the last two weeks, I've been offered two jobs abroad. One friend is opening a new casino in Kiev, Ukraine, and another friend is the Director of a new casino in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Kiev job is doubtful though, because the Government is planning new legislation that will ban casinos from most cities, except for a small area specifically for gambling ala Las Vegas. This same legislation has already been passed by Russia, Tatarstan, and Kazakhstan. Bishkek has become a very popular place for gamblers, especially from Kazakhstan, as it's only a couple of hundred kilometres away. I'll keep you posted.

There is a show on British tv called 'Britain's Got Talent', and I've been glued to the box. I'ts the most entertaining show on tv atm. Check it out on youtube.

Be lucky........

2009 WSOP - Shuffle Up & Deal !

2009-05-28T14:21:00.002+01:00

Now this game looks like fun....

2009-05-26T14:26:00.001+01:00

What a great advertisement...

2009-05-08T03:04:00.000+01:00

Kudos to Annie Duke

2009-05-05T08:58:00.001+01:00

Close but no cigar !

2009-05-04T23:07:00.002+01:00

PokerStars Tournament #160529122, HORSE
Buy-In: $15.00/$1.50
144 players
Total Prize Pool: $2160.00
Tournament started 2009/05/04 14:45:00 WET [2009/05/04 9:45:00 ET]

Dear xxxxxx,

You finished the tournament in 6th place. A $102.60 award has been credited to your Real Money account.

You earned 106.96 tournament leader points in this tournament. For information about our tournament leader board, see our web site at http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/tournaments/leader-board/

Congratulations!

Thank you for participating.

My exit hand was while playing 7 Stud, with pocket Jacks in the hole against pocket Tens, which would have given me the chiplead and an excellent chance of taking down the tournament, but it wasn't to be.

I'm now playing mixed cash games again, as well as tournaments. I find the 'HA' games at Fulltilt particularly enjoyable. The 8-game at Stars is also entertaining.

Episode 10 of HSP is out. It's the best poker show on TV by a long way. I can't wait till the next episode, when Dario Minieri will make an appearance. Joe Hachem has gained my respect since appearing on the show. He has showed that he has more than one gear. Tom Dwan is the star of the show, and I just love the reaction on Howard Lederer's face when Tom wins a huge pot with a meagre pair of eights. You couldn't write this stuff.

My mate 'rabbit143' has come over from Auz' to stay for a little holiday. He won a satellite to the WSOP Main Event recently. He makes it look so easy.

Be lucky.....

Escape the Rat Race.....

2009-05-02T12:01:00.000+01:00

Another Final Table....!

2009-04-21T21:26:00.000+01:00

Full Tilt Poker Tournament #88367519 $10 + $1 Tournament PL Omaha H/L
Buy-In: $10.00 + $1.00
129 players
Total Prize Pool: $1290.00
Start Date: April 21 10:15 AM ET

Dear xxxxxx,

You finished the tournament in 5th place.
There has been $96.75 added to your account.

You have earned leaderboard points for this tournament.
To view your current leaderboard points use the My Promotions button in the Cashier window.

Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.

A Little Tournament Success !

2009-04-19T00:03:00.008+01:00

PokerStars Tournament #155233723, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $2.50/$0.25
6147 players
Total Prize Pool: $15367.50
Tournament started 2009/04/17 22:00:00 WET [2009/04/17 17:00:00 ET]

Dear xxxxxx,

You finished the tournament in 5th place. A $576.29 award has been credited to your Real Money account.

You earned 504.67 tournament leader points in this tournament. For information about our tournament leader board, see our web site at

http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/tournaments/leader-board/

Congratulations!

Thank you for participating.

HSP S5 E7

2009-04-14T00:12:00.001+01:00

SCOOP - Event 14 Great HU Match with Hoss_TBF

2009-04-09T22:35:00.001+01:00

Watch SCOOP 2009: Event 14 - $5,200 NLHE 6-max on PokerStars.tv

Roberto Benigni - A Comic Genius !

2009-04-02T23:00:00.011+01:00

I first saw Roberto Benigni in the film 'Life is Beautiful' (Italian: La vita è bella). He won an Oscar for Best Actor. Roberto's reaction having won the Oscar was priceless.

The Wonders of Egypt !

2009-03-31T11:31:00.011+01:00

Hi Guys !

On the poker front, I haven't played much, so nothing to write home about. I'm really enjoying the High Stakes Poker Series. Durrr is really shaking up the 'dinosaurs' of poker lol.

I recently started to play in the Live Pub Poker League at my local pub. They hold Freerolls every week, and the leaders of the league go through to play nationally for big prizes. It's great fun and you don't mind having a few beers while playing.

I've been helping my brother with his gardening business. Even though I have a garden, I'm not much of a gardener, but helping my brother is whetting my appetite. Maybe I'm getting to that age where gardening becomes appealing lol.

I've also been working on a website for my friend's business. His name is Nasser, he lives in Cairo, Egypt and works as a Chauffeur, Organiser and Translator. I first met him on holiday a few years ago, and we became good friends. If you're thinking about a trip to Cairo, then take a look at Nasser's site. He has lived in Cairo all his life, and has an excellent knowledge of the area.

Check out his tours here.

Be lucky......

HSP S5 E4

2009-03-23T09:59:00.000Z

Something to Aspire to !

2009-03-20T12:29:00.000Z

PLO aka OMG !

2009-03-06T19:37:00.003Z

I played a three hour session today, losing a few BI straight away, then spending almost the entire session winning it back. PLO seems to be even more frustrating than TX NL when someone sucks out on you. I've had many hands in the last couple of days, where the villain sucked out on me with one and two outers. I can manage tilt issues playing TX, but PLO seems to get me steaming. My mouse has come very close to being smashed to bits a few times.
In the hand below I had 55% equity on the flop and 44% equity on the turn, even though I was up against the nutz, held by both the villains:

Phil Galfond of Bluefirepoker has issued a $1 million poker challenge to President Obama:

This challenge will certainly prove that there is an element of skill in poker, but it will have to be held over many games to prove that skill is the deciding factor in winning.
I believe that by showing a successful players PT statistics over a number of years i.e., Leatherass, who has played something like 6 million hands of poker, will prove beyond all reasonable doubt that poker is a game of skill.

Be lucky.......

Badugi !

2009-03-05T09:47:00.001Z

I found a new game to lose some money on....

I couldn't have said it better myself !

2009-03-01T11:29:00.003Z

This video sums up my feelings about poker at the moment.

PLO - aka Palestinian Liberation Organisation

2009-02-28T21:38:00.004Z

I've decided to play some short handed PLO for a change. PLO8 has frustrated the hell out of me. Next up will probably be 7 Stud or maybe even a little 5 card Draw lol.

Here is an interesting hand that came up today. I played my drawing hand very aggressively, check raising the button on the flop, and was surprised to get two callers. I was even more surprised when they called my pot size turn bet:

In this hand, I have a gazillion outs, but against top set, it's exactly 50/50:

In this hand, the SB 3bet me with a probably big pair (typical at small stakes). I knew my 2 pair were good on the turn. The villain made a classical Texas Hold'em player mistake of overplaying an over pair:

Be lucky........

The Last Straw !

2009-02-25T02:56:00.003Z

I've had enough of poker. This hand was the last straw. I set the villain up by checking the flop, because I knew he would bet the turn, if checked to him. I was way ahead on the flop and turn.

You might wander what the 'big deal' is. Well, this B.S has been happening to me consistently over the last couple of months, and I've had enough.

I think that I need a complete break from poker. It's not fun anymore. I've been running bad for the last couple of months, eventhough I haven't been playing badly.

C'est la vie.....

PLO8 FUN !

2009-02-24T01:36:00.006Z

Here is an interesting PLO8 hand that I played tonight.

I raised the limper in late position with double suited aces. I was a slight favourite on the flop against his set and bad low draw, and a slight dog on the turn. I was excited about the river, until I realised it paired the board:

The villain in this hand was a super donk. The replayer doesn't want to show his hand, which was [Qh Ks 9d 4c]. This type of player makes the games very profitable:

Playing PLO8 makes a nice change from TX, but you have to play more tables, due to the slow pace of the games. Also, apparently there is less variance, although I haven't noticed lol.....