Sunny August

Well it may be raining outside, but the sun has been shining on my poker in August.
Havig a chat with Mr Edge last night and decided to check my accounts and see how August has been on the tables.

I was pleasantly surprised to add up nearly £750 profit for the month of August (my neteller account is £ not $). I then double checked to make sure I was right, and yes, it all added up to £750.

He asked me what I put this success down to, as it has been clearly my best month ever. Can't really put my finger on the exact reason, but I think the main one is that the Inter challenge was ended.

It was a great idea and I really enjoyed the banter at the SNG's and getting to know my new poker 'family' - but it took my eye off what was doing well before - Cash Games. I played reguarly at Poker Room, then CD Poker, and my cash games revolved purely around Inter, as I strove to achieve my 1000$ target. A return to focus at CD and Bodog (in place of Poker Room) and getting back into my cash table game has paid real dividends. Sayin g this though, I think that the SNG mentality has stood me in good stead and I often find myself thinking 'how would I play this in a SNG', and 'why do it differently on a cash table' and it has added an extra dimension to my game.
I've had some luck in finding some poor players and juicy fish, but I have to thank my religious note-taking and seeking out the best tables to play at, rather than the first available. Fingers crossed lady luck stays with me in September.


On a much less enjoyable note, My football career
came to a abrupt end last night, with a torn muscle in the groin having put paid to my short, 7 week return. Last September I tore some ankle ligaments and was just getting back into my stride. Horribly, it was virtually the last kick of the game, and as I crumpled to the floor in a heap, the whistle blew for full time and I can't help but feel worse that it happened when the game was virtually over.

Fortunatley, the call centre girls have rallied round and I have a queue at the end of my desk, on the hour, every hour, with offers of massages and helping me around the office. I sometimes struggle to see how God works in the ways he does, but I'll soilder on and make the most of a painful situation.

Looking forward to a nice weekend with the family and will leave you a poker story you should remember next time you're playing live:

Poker legend Doyle Brunson was thrown a major curve ball when a dealer mistakenly took $5,000 in chips from him.
Brunson’s opponent went all-in and Brunson called with the larger of the two stacks. His opponent won the hand but after the dealer had collected most of Brunson’s chips it was realized he had taken $5,000 too much.
A tournament director was called but the table play wasn't videotaped, so it was ruled that the chips could not be returned to Brunson.

It was early in the tournament and $5,000 was a critical loss. Brunson discussed the incident with reporters and said it caused him to go on tilt and bust out soon after.


It's hard enough playing the cards and the players, now you gotta watch the dealer too!?!?

Table Talk

Sat at CD Poker 20c PL table (I know, I'm a real high roller!!).
I get KK and raise to the max - about 1.40 with people calling before me.
One caller and a flop of 9 10 3
He bets 1$ and I re-raise to 5$, he folds.
He asks 'what did you have?'
I pause for a few minutes as I don't usually give away my hand unless I can gain an advantage from it. As I'm thinking, he types in 'I had A10 - could you beat that?'
I type in 'I had AK, thought you were trying to steal'
''nicely played, I had u' was his reply.

About 15/20 hands later I get AA and make the same raise, with the same guy calling. Jack high flop, he bets 4$ and I re-raise to the max. He re-raises me, moving all in and I call.
He turns over KJ.
'Damn, thought you had nothing again' he said, as the turn and river were no help to him. I took a 60$ pot on this hand.

Wonder if he still call's my raise if I hadn't typed in the little lie earlier?

Sunday Update

After a relatively quiet week's poker, I've had a pretty good week. Not sure if this has anything to do with less hours at the tables, or just one of those things. I've been heading off to bed early-ish and had a few days off the tables, and I'm not sure if this has helped me with concentration and focus. Maybe it's just coincidence, though I've always believed things happen for a reason, hard as it is sometimes to see that reason.

My previous post (To rant or not to rant) had a few big hands, and with many standing up against those stupid calls, have seen a good increase on my bankroll. Almost all of these hands were at Poker4ever, and my BR has increased to 104$ - so I'm back in credit against my 100$ starting point.
I was close to closing this account and taking back my remaining 32$ - but knew that a wave would come soon, it was just a matter of whether or not I would have anything left when it came. Well, it came when I was down to 18$, and I doubled up 3 times pretty quickly and did peak at 118$ before my flush was beaten by a higher flush to take me back down to 104$.

Bodog is still proving fruitful, after a bad session on Friday saw me drop back a little, Saturday pulled it back and I am now sitting at 370$ and 30 points short of my points target for a cashout and a nice 270$ profit - if this remains the same. Then I need to decide whether to stay or move on to the next bonus. Decisions, decisions.

Also on a positive note, Acorn's Charity Challenge is officially underway, and after an initial minus session, I had a big hand of KK v QQ which has seen my 60$ starting balance finish at 78$ at close of play last night. Currently playing this at Poker Room, but I may shift it to another site so the BR can benefit from a bonus as well.
I was feeling pretty bad after my first session, lost a SNG in very unlucky circumstances, and hit a couple of str8's that lost to flushes and was nearly half the stack down. I have offered to replace the 60$ should I lose it, and have also added that I will double any winnings I make in the time from now - 15th September when the challenge is over. So fingers crossed, I hope my luck holds and I can make a good few $$'s for Acorns charity.

OK, off to the park with Mia now - no wonder I need my early nights!!