Sheffield Summer Festival £750

Well following on from recent live success, I decided to head to Sheffield to play in the main event, a £750 double chance freezeout.

I got drawn on Table 1, and had a good start. Pok 7's and tripped up on the flop with an agressive player betting into me. The turn card bought a flush draw and he again bet 1000 (leaving him 2500 of his starting 5000). I was pretty sure he would call a raise, so I raised him 2500. He didnt call, but still a nice pot none the less.

Apart from that hand, nothing much happened. I was struggling from there on, nicking a few blinds/pots when I could in order to survive.

By the 2nd level we had to take the second 5000 chips. This gave me a grand total of 10200! A gain of 200 chips.

Hassan Mohammed was also on my table and was also struggling. We both were around the 12,000 mark with 3 tables left and fast approaching the 10xBB level.

Oh, there was two other hands that were of interest, both involving the c/l at the time. He had pok Aces cracked by pok 7's (SB vs BB)which left him short. The very next hand I get pok Kings UTG and on a table full of aggressive players, I limped in. Sure enough, the guy who just had Aces cracked raised it 4xBB. I had around 3000 more chips than him at this stage and decided to set him all in. He duly called and siad "it cant happen again surely!" He turns over Pok Aces again!!! BACK TO BACK!! - Well a King came on the river to see him exit, not in the best of moods!! (but who can blame him)

Struggled on, as I have said, with the blinds going up again, i find myself with 7000 chips with blinds of 1000 and 2000. In late position I find pok 8's. Now I know if I go all in, the SB and BB are likely to fold - which was no good for me as I needed to get chips fast!! With this in mind, I min raised to 4000 (leaving myself only 3000) The both called. Flop came 10 4 2, I couldnt hope for much better and throw my last 3000 into the pot. The SB folds but the big blind calls. He had Q2 and my pok 8's help up. So now on 18,000 chips (the most I had had all tourney) I find AQ and decide to "get busy". I make it 6000 to play. It folds round to the button who thinks for a while , then says "all in". SB and BB fold. So now its decision time.

There were around 20 left, and I had committed 6000 chips leaving myself with just 12000 (blinds fast approaching 2000 1000). I put him on a pocket pair and decided that this was the right time to take the 50 50 shot. If I win this pot I am on 39000 and should make the final table.

Well he turns over pok 9's and they hold up - out I go 19th.

All in all a struggle from start to finish, but a brave struggle none the less. I could of held out for 15th (ie £575) but as I had bought in, I wanted more.

Hassan, on the other hand, who had struggled like me from the start, saw his 50 50 gamble pay off and went on to make the final table. N1 hassan)

As usual, met some great people, including Julian Thew (a player I have admired for quite some time) He came over and congratulated me on my success at Luton the previous week. A nice touch I thought.

UK Open Final Table

The final started off very cagey, with little or no action early on.

Then once 2 people went out, it started to get a little mad.

"Vic" was raising every hand with his monster stack and was beginning to push the table around. Bad Girl took offence to this and went back at him. One classic example was a raise from Vic on every street and a call from Bad Girl, until the river where Vic bets and Bad Girl announces ALL IN. It was a horrible board with 4 to the flush and str8 possibilities. Vic threw his cards away and "Bad Girl" shows 6 high!!!! (That was a monster pot)

She then got unlucky when she was all in with Vic again. She had QQ , Vic had AK and hit his Ace, so out she went.

I had JJ 3 times on that table and made them all pay.

So down to 3 left, and I know I am guaranteed £26k. All I want now was to get heads up and have a real go at winning the event.

Simon and Vic were going at it like hammer and tongs and I decided to "sit back" and let them.

I then found JJ again, on the SB with Vic the BB. Simon had folded. I had 220k at this time with vic on 300k. Now I knew if i limped in, he would push all in. So I limped and sure enough he went "all in". I couldnt call quick enough. Vic had A 2 o/s

First card out was an Ace and that was the end of me.

I was disapointed cos that pot would of practically put me heads up with Simon on equalish chips. I feel we could of had a good game - Vic was more of an "all in and hope" merchant.

But that was the 7th time I had JJ so I cant complain really. And £26k was a nice return on an investment of £150.

I seem to be running good at the moment which has lifted my confidence and amde me (i feel) play better, so I might go to Sheffield this weekend for the next event.

Oh and I am now ranked 188th in Europe - lol

You can watch the final on Poker 425 all this week at 11pm.

UK Open Luton 2nd Day

Well came back on Sunday with my 26000 chips (a little under average) and started quite well, doubling up early with pocket aces. Had pocket aces again, and again made a little (that makes 6 times in the tourney!!!)

Down to last 3 tables and i get moved to a table with "Vic"(chip leader) and Simon Nowab (2nd in chips) both to my left. One of the money and I had 60k (close to average) and am under the gun with JJ (approx 4th time that day) . I raise 4xbb and "Vic" (chip leader) comes over the top "All in"

At the same time I see someone has been knocked oput and we are in the money. I ask for a ruling as to what would happen should I call and loose. Now I know Vic is playing over aggressive and using his big stack to scare people off pots. I am told if I call and loose, I would share 18th place and the prize money. If I fold I am guaranteed £1500. So I fold.

Final two tables, and I go card dead. Down to 13 left and I have 12xBB. Now both "Vic" and Simon are on my right and I say to "Vic" that I wish I had called him with my JJ earlier and taken a chance. With this , the next hand I am BB. It is folded round to Simon who makes it 4xBB to go. "Vic" calls. SB folds. I look down and find Pocket Jacks (AGAIN!!!). I think for a while and announce "All in". Simon Folds and Vic Calls.

My JJ holds up and I almost trebble up.

Within 6 or so hands I am in md position with John Falkner on the BB. I raise 4 xBB and it folds round to him. He looks down and announces "All in". He has me outchipped slightly and I consider what to do. I decided that he probably had AK or AQ and did I want to gamble with JJ? I decided to call.

Sure enough he had AQ and my Jacks held up. I doubled up again.

Soon after this, John went out , so did a few others and we were final table!! I had 144k (about 5th)

There are 2 hands I would like to mention from the other table involving "Bad Girl" and the current chip leader at the time. I am not sure of the exact details, but the C/L had Aces and was all in with "Bad Girl" with A 3 . She caught two 3's to double up on him. THE VERY NEXT HAND, the same two clashed, this time "Bad Girl" had pok aces and they held up. What a way to exit a tourney :(

UK Open Main Event 1st Day

Well , first day and 139 entrants in the event. I had a plan of getting to 30k for the 1st day, as I knew this would be average stack (prob 50 going back for the second day)

10000 chips with an hour clock and we were only playing 6 levels on Saturday.

Well the cards were coming good for me, with pocket Aces twice in the first 2 levels, but sadly no action. Then I got pocket Kings and made it 4xBB (from middle position)

Got 3 callers .

If any ace comes on the flop, I can get away easily. Flop came 10 high.

I bet out a little to see where I am, and am flat called with the other 2 folding.

Turn = another low card (still rainbow) so I bet pot size bet and am again called.

River = Q

I check, and the guy makes a pot size bet and I call.

He has pok 10's - so I'm down to 6000 early - Not the best of starts.

I then decided to play a little looser in the hope of getting some chips back. Sure enough I hit a flop while playing 8 9. (flopped 2 pair) with the other guy hitting top pair with an ACE kicker. SO i was back over 10k.

I had pok Aces another 4 times that day, again with little or no action, but I managed to finish the day with 26,000 chips (now was this an omen?!?!?!?)

First Day of Luton Festival Week

Well I travelled to Luton again on the monday, to play in the 1st event, a £200 n/l/h freezeout.

When I got there at 2pm, I was told it was sold out. GUTTED!!!

They had a £50 sat for the main event (£1500) so I decided to play this. Made the final table (after one rebuy and add on) with a healthy stack and as there were 5 tickets up for grabs and 4 short stacks at the table, decided not to get involved. Took the ticket :)

£100 f/o at Luton

After running cold online (for about 4 months) I decided it was time to get back inot the live sceene.

Went to Luton on Friday night for the £100 f/o.

Only 56 runners (due to the Vic Poker Cup and Festival at the Vic)

Played my way to the final table - what a long night!! Specially as there were only so few runners.

Well at 4am, there were still 5 of us left in. The blinds were HUGE!! The C/L only had 8 x BB

I was in 3rd (just a few chips behind 2nd) and 4th and 5th had about 4 xBB

The prize money (approx) was as follows : !st £2000 2nd £900 3rd £600 4th £450 and 5th £250.

A deal was suggested, which was too good to turn down. We split it, the CL taking £1200, both me and the guy in 2nd taking £950 with 4th and 5th taking £750.

Now I dont usually do deals (have always said this) but that one was just too good to turn down.

This gave me some money to play the festival at Luton the following week.