Last Post

My previous post on my blog is going to be my last. I will no longer be posting anymore results or mentioning any hands. I hope you enjoyed my blog whilst it was here and wish you the best of luck with your poker.

James

Best Month Since turning Pro :)

This month I decided to try out multi-tabling before this month I was playing 4 tables maximum at any time and after I was advised by some friends I went out and bought a second 24" monitor for my desktop So now I could play upto 8 tables at 1st this was pretty tough and I was timing out alot and gettting a bit stressed with it all, but after a day or so I soon got used to it and started making some decent profit. I was playing anything from £100nl upto £500nl with the occasional game of £1000nl I made just over $55,000 this month and this is nearly double of my previous record in a month. This has definately been my best month due to the increase in tables I am now able to play and also a few new theories I have been trying out in my game. I also won the monthly tournament on Sky Poker known as the Five-0 which is a 110£ buyin tournament with a maximum of 50 runners, I had a bit of TV time where they showed highlights of me winning the tournament and a couple of plays I made, I had alot of positive comments from Sky Poker Presenter Tony "Tikay" Kendall which was very flattering.

I also won the cash leaderboard on Sky Poker which had been won two months in a row by the same player who this time finished 2nd behind myself I had to put in alot of hours to win this league so its a nice achievement to win but I wont be entering next month as it takes up too much time in my opinion for such a small prize at the end of it, the Cash League Points (CLP's) are awarded per hand won, based on the blind limits you can read this on this link here https://www.skypoker.com/secure/poker/sky_lobby?action=show_static&page=loyalty_poker-league just under the heading How we award the League Points.

So I won the most hands in the month of March and was therefore top of the league . The league table can be seen here my alias is lJAMESl... https://www.skypoker.com/secure/poker/sky_lobby?action=show_static&page=loyalty_previous-tables

Usually on a poker blog you see a badbeat that someone has given out to the blogger but I am going to mention one I gave out as In all fairness it was unreal I didn't do anything wrong in my opinion but it is still a horrible one.

I am playing £300nl couple of hands in a TAG reg is on the bb I raise to 12£ 4 bb with pocket 3s The TAG reg calls who I know is a good player and has the ability to bluff and mix things up.

The flop comes A-A-10 rainbow the TAG checks I check behind.

Turn card comes a 3.. board now reads A-A-10-3 I have made a fullhouse 3-3-3-A-A

The TAG bets out £18 into around £25 pot I now put him on an ace so I'm pretty confident I'm infront so decide to re-raise I raise to £61 which he then re-raises me to £161 should I call or am I infact behind to Pocket 10s, A-10 or really unlikely A-3? Here I put him on a strong ace like AQ/AJ maybe even AK as he sometimes cold calls AK, so shove the rest of my chips in which he insta-calls. He turns over A-10 so its a cooler really I don't think I'm folding here as its too easy for him to make this move with a big ace... the river brings a... 3!! And I give out the sickest beat I've ever given anyone since I've played poker hitting a 1 outer on the river for a pot thats just under £600 It's definately nicer to give out a badbeat rather than recieve that's for sure he played his hand well and was very unlucky at the end of the day.. but it does make a change to dish one out rather than recieve one :)

All in all this month had alot of Poker involved and at the end of the month I was honestly getting a bit bored of playing these last few days, so I am planning on a week break before I start again but I am delighted with my monthly result and hope things can only get better :)

Poccer - Bouncebackability

Last weekend I decided to enter a team Bouncebackability (Me, Dwayne, Keiran, Jon & Ross) into an event called Poccer a day of football and poker started in the day with a 5aside tournament which we did really well in, we won every group game then won the quarter finals, semi's and lost in the final 1-0 :( after completely dominating the game and hitting the post 3 times there one shot was enough to give them the win as we just couldn't find the back of the net. But runners up not too bad on our first ever appearance at Poccer. Anyway then we played the poker tournament good blind levels and decent deep stack tourney with 108 players a few of our players went out early to a huge round of applause by everyone playing there was a really good atmosphere at Poccer everyone was really friendly including the main organiser Clinton a nice friendly guy who was very helpful. We ended up getting 3 players to the last 14 of the tournament (myself, Keiran and Dwayne) Dwayne went out in 14th after being badly short stacked and not seeing any cards to get a double up from but he is always known for hanging in there whilst everyone else makes mistakes and ends up going out. Keiran went out in 11th after a dubious call from the eventual winner. The player raised from the button to 10k blinds 1-2k Keiran in the big blind had around 60k and shoved allin the player insta called with AQo :-s Keiran flipped over 99 and the guy who seemed to hit everything that night hit his queen on the turn. I got to the final table and ended up finishing 4th after a guy shoved utg blinds being 8k-16k I had around 70k in the Big blind looked down at a6 of diamonds and made the call as I knew he could be shoving UTG any 2 he flipped QJo and hit his Jack.

A bit dissappointing to go out after all that play (around 8/9 hours) I felt I played well but at the end of the day it all comes down to Luck when the blinds are that big and I'm not a huge favourite anyway but I got it in good :).

Well After our Poker team did so well having 3 players make the final 14 and finish 2nd overall in the Poker team event just missing out on 1st place, everyone absolutely loved Poccer and I'm really glad I decided to enter a team because it was a great day fun with some quality banter! Also we have been invited back to the grand final in September due to finishing 2nd overall in the team events ...where we hope to win both events this time :)

http://www.poccer.co.uk/poccer4.html

The Update...

I haven't posted since the death of Jon it was a very sad time for me and I wanted to leave his memory as the main headline for a while. Jons funeral was a very sad one but it had a fantastic turn out and it truly showed what a popular guy Jon was he will be terribly missed, God bless you Jon your memory will live on forever.

In January I had a good month and made $20k In february I made $23k so two great months for me. I have been playing professionally 5 months now, March being my 6 month into professional poker and I am really enjoying it I feel that I am improving all the time. I have recently moved on to multi-tabling up to 8 cash tables at a time, before this I only really did 4 maximum it is alot tougher playing this many tables and I've really had to be sharp and energetic at all times, I'm sure it will become easier and more natural through time.

I recently attended the Vic for a tournament with a couple of friends we decided to enter the 300£ freezeout 150 runners 1st prize £17,000 not bad value at all :).

Starting stack 6000 chips so its definately a marathon and not a sprint.... 4th hand In I get pocket Queens blinds 25-50, Im in the small blind there are 2 limpers So i decide to bump it up to 250 total.

They both call flop comes 7s-4c-3d I fire out 600 1st to act 1st guy folds 2nd player flat calls. To be honest I don't particularly like this flop it may be a rainbow but its not that nice especially if someone has limped with a small pocket pair or low suited connectors. Anyway the turn comes Queen of diamonds.. perfect :).. I carry on betting to disguise my hand really no point in checking here I want to build up the pot and if i bet noway he can put me on top set.. So I go ahead and fire 900 into the pot the player pauses for like 10 seconds and then moves allin I'm like Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat! I have to check the board twice 7s-4c-3d-Qd ... Yes I have top set but it's not the nuts I think for a little bit and I say "Theres noway you have 5-6 you wouldn't move allin here u would reel me in, I call!" He takes off his sunglasses and says "do you have queens?" I reply "yeah!" I'm expecting for him to show me pocket 4s here for a lower set but he flips 5 of diamonds... At this point I'm thinking Oh dear, but then flips the 7 of diamonds...

I say "Oh two pair... no a draw?!" So he has a gutshot straight draw 2nd pair which is irrelevant and a flush draw so I'm about 75% favourite to win the hand at this point.. In cash his play is not so bad but in a tournament this is horrible hes risking his tournament life on a draw.

River comes the Ace of Diamonds and gives him his flush and I am out of the tournament, I really have to be honest here I was absolutely devastated, I waited 6 hours to play that tournament to end up going out 1st out of 150 entrants 4th hand, instead of doubling through... not only is it embarrassing because although I did nothing wrong and was seriously unlucky... but it just dents your confidence, I've always hated tournaments but I usually do pretty well in them but I am a cash player through and through. The whole table one by one so "Unlucky!!" whilst I just look at the board in disbelief.

"The guy then says sorry man but I lost 36k online today and am feeling tilty" I had to pause and count to 10 after that comment as my blood just boiled like a kettle, I walked away and my mates who were still in the tournament start saying "Noway not again.. it must of been sick?" They know how I run in tournaments and its not good at all hence why I don't like them.

Anyway I began chatting with Marc Goodwin and Julian Thew (who are both really nice friendly guys) and tell them about my beat I just felt like I needed to say something to someone who would understand. I was seriously in shock, but thats Poker a cruel cruel game at times.

I later played some cash for the rest of the night met up with some friends online who I was really glad I met and I had a great time at the Vic even after my tournament devastation and will definately be popping back soon for another attempt and hopefully next time things will run better for me.

Good Luck

A Truly Sad and Devastating week :-(

This week has been very sad, I have lost a great friend who I met from playing live poker, my friend Jon Chan (Sik Jong Chan) passed away on sunday the 27th January 2008 at the age of 68, Jon was involved in a tragic accident and had to go to hospital where his injuries to his brain were so bad he sadly could not pull through.

Jon was the most amazing guy I have ever met, he may of been 68 but he acted like a 21 year old his energy and charisma would light up any room he could make anyone who was in a bad mood smile and laugh! He would burst into our local Poker club showing us his tai-chi which truly was incredible.

He would always be joking and having great fun with everybody at the poker table. Not only was Jon a great character he was an excellent cash game player and he would consistently win week after week at the poker table he was simply a true talent to the game, he was always gracious and polite in victory and defeat. Me and Jon became very good friends in the time we knew eachother and I will never forget him for as long as I live. I am truly proud to have known Jon and to of had him as a friend because he was an amazing guy. His family are really nice people and you can tell his children were brought up by an exceptional role model that Jon was. (Jon is pictured above here with his daughter Kitty.)

Jon always lived everyday in a happy and enthusiastic manner not only that but he was as fit as a 30 year old and as strong as one too. It is so sad that such a great man has been taken from us and he can never be replaced. We could all learn a little something from Jons attitude to life and we should never take anything for granted. Everyone that knew Jon will never forget him and all are so pleased that they did meet such an exceptional person.

I hope you are having fun playing poker in heaven Jon we will all sorely miss you. God bless.

I feel like a Yoyo :-S

Well Its been an interesting week I've made a Royal Flush with AKss, my 1st in a cash game on good old ladbrokes > lJAMESl wins $886.48 with a Royal Flush, Spades... I shoved the river after a reraise on the flop and a checked turn and the guy insta called board was Qs Qc 10s 7h Js Never saw his hand as it was mucked but I imagine trip queens poor him if he had a boat!

I think I've worked out I'm up for the month around 14k$ so far but the last few days or so has been tough I haven't played my best Poker and to be honest I've tilted a bit.. which is neither cool nor acceptable!

I won two MTT's last Tuesday an 11$ rebuy and a 109$ (1 add-on 1 rebuy) wsop satellites I didn't rebuy in either or use the add-on. There were only 24 entrants in 11$ rebuy which got me through to the 109$ which had around 26 players in which I also won. That got me into the final the next day for the 1090$ Weekly final for the WSOP in Vegas where 1 in 14 qualify for the 14k$ package.

On the wednesday I rushed home from a 6aside game where I had managed to show my true elite Poker player fitness and run to the sidelines to be sick for most of the time off the pitch, what a lightweight!

Somehow I managed to come on at the end and score 2 goals to give "Bouncebackability FC" the win we (the rest of the team that wasn't sick) deserved!

So I got in and in almost 2 mins the tournament was due to commence, I got dealt pocket Kings in like the 4th hand which I played so bad on a flop of 10-9-4 2 spades ended up losing almost all my stack to a set of 9's. I was really annoyed with myself and I went out a few hands later with 66 vs AJo allin pre! Hopefully I've learnt from the mistake I made, its one that I don't make very often laying down a big overpair to a potential made set I should of had no problem laying my Kings down considering it was so early on in the tournament... Live and Learn!

On the cash scene I was flying up untill the last few days where I have been up and down like a Yoyo I have taken some beats too but its no excuse to the tilting I have followed through with!

Some of the calls I have been making are so loose at times it has paid off but others well.. I'll let you be the judge!

I am playing NL 200£ I am dealt AKcc on the button, 3 limpers,

I raise to 14£ 1 caller a loose player the flop comes 8s-4s-8c

he bets out 4£ he has about a 100£ stack a weak bet in my opinion I reraise to 32£ He calls.

The turn brings the 3 of diamonds

He checks to me I'm now putting him on a draw.. Should I shove here as I'm thinking he is on a draw? I check behind anyway.

River brings a deuce of clubs he instantly shoves his last 68£ or so into the middle, I have a think before deciding the 2 is a safe card and I am probably good with ace high. I call and he shows q10ss a missed flush draw why he didn't shove the flop I have no idea but still this is a loose call from me although correct and I take down the pot.

I will be updating the other hands shortly.

GL :-D

God Save our Queen

Last night I decided to go the local poker club with a mate of mine called Quinny. Was just for a 30£ freezeout just a good bit of fun in the evening. Everyone had sat at there tables ready for the game to commence and Quinny does his usual thing and decides to tell us one of his jokes It gave the table a good laugh, So here it is...

Dolly Parton and the Queen die on the same day, There spirits both go to the gates of heaven where they find God waiting outside for them. They both get ready to go through the gates when God suddenly stops them..

"I'm sorry Dolly, your Majesty but there is only one place left in heaven I'm afraid!"

Dolly Parton "What do you mean?!"

God "Well you are both going to have to compete for the place and prove to me who is more worthy to be here!"

So Dolly looks at the queen in an evil glare and suddenly flops her breasts out and starts juggling them about shouting

"Look at these, surely there why I should be in heaven there perfect!"

The Queen looks at Dolly in disgust but instead of saying anything rude she slowly walks off to a toilet where she flushes the chain without even uttering a word. Dolly looks at the Queen with a baffled face.

So Dolly asks "OK God who is worthy to enter the gates of heaven?!"

God replies "I'm sorry Dolly, come in your majesty make yourself at home"

Dolly shouts "Why does she deserve to be in heaven God, all she did was flush a stupid toilet chain?!"

God replies "Come on Dolly, everyone knows in heaven a Royal flush beats a Pair!"

AQ hmmm..

At the start of the year (2008) I decided to deposit a small amount of money into Ladbrokes Poker and give there software a trial. Where my alias is currently lJAMESl I found there software to be lightning quick and there deposit and withdrawl methods are extremely quick and efficient. I put 200$ into my ladbrokes account and decided to give 1-2$ a little trial, I do not recommend this for anyone who is trying to build a bankroll but I was prepared to lose the money without any real bother just to get a feel for the site. A couple of hours later I found myself quadrupled up and found the site pretty soft at NL 200$ this could of possibly just been due to the fact I was on a weak table.

So I gave it another try the next day I sat on NL 200$ this time I found myself tripled up at the end of the session. I now had around 1400$ in my account from a starting amount of 200$.

To be honest I was pretty happy with the way things were goin in just two days. I decided to do something again I don't personally recommend with a 1400$ Bankroll and that was give NL 400$ a taster.

I sat for a while stayed pretty tight and aggressive and watched a couple of aggressive scandinavian players wipe eachother out, show bluffs to each other and then berate eachothers play. I managed to double up early on with Jacks full where a scandinavian player tried bluffin me on the river by shoving with AKcc a missed gutshot straight draw on a J 10 6 6 9 board.

My stack was now around 900$... I found myself in the cut-off in which there had been 3 limpers so I decided to squeeze the pot slightly with AcQh I raised to 8 bb = 32$

I got two callers who I both had positon on an aggressive loose scandinavian player and a tight british player who I was a bit wary of.

The flop came Ks Qs 7h both players checked so I led out a 1/3rd pot bet around 35$ to see where I was, the tight british player folded and the loose scandinavian flat called.

I assumed now he was on a draw possibly a straight or flush draw or maybe he had a weak queen I didn't think he had a King as I felt being his playing style he would of reraised me on the flop same with a flush draw.

The turn brought the 8 of spades the board now read Ks Qs 7h 8s The scandi player checked to me I decided to fire small and see his reaction I fired around a 1/3rd of the pot again he reraised me around 5-6 times my bet, Alarm bells rang I genuinely believed this bet was not one of a player holding a flush in his hand but infact one of a player who was representing a flush, I decided to call the bet.

The river brought the 2 of clubs a blank in my mind the board read Ks Qs 7h 8s 2c

My best hand being A pair of Queens and an Ace kicker. On the river the scandi player fired almost his full stack (525$) into a 550$ pot.

I had to click the time bank because in all honesty this was a very good bet I was 100% sure he did not have a king and I was pretty sure he did not have a flush I couldn't see him playing a set like this and If he had a flush why would he bet so big on the river? Surely he would value bet his flush.

After a long think and believing I was facing J10 or maybe even A8 with the ace of spades I called the bet and the scandi player showed 9-10os a missed gutshot straight draw.

I took down the 1500$ pot and was pretty happy with my call and my thought process on the hand but I don't particularly believe I played the hand that well but I believe if I didn't play the hand in this weak manner I wouldn't of been able to win such a big pot and of induced such a huge bluff.

I have won a bit more since and I currently have 3800$ in my ladbrokes account since the new year from my 200$ deposit. Hopefully I can build this into a decent bankroll and move up to the higher stakes.

Any thoughts about the hand please feel free to make a comment

Thanks and Goodluck James :)