Sleepless Nights

I am so tired, I think I could sleep on a washing line! Mia has not been well these past few days, temperature still high and whilst the Calpol gives her a few hours relief, she is still really unsettled at night and has been waking up every 3 hours or so, crying and wanting some company. She saw a doctor yesterday who said the rosy cheeks, temperature and general lethargic way are all signs of teething and it should pass in the next few days. She is much chirpier this morning and although waking up only twice last night, managed to sleep in till 11am. This was good for Mummy, who also managed to catch up on sleep, but not for me as I left for work at 8am this morning.
Still, we’re off tomorrow to a friends wedding so may catch a little lie in before I’m up, suited up and ready for the day ahead.

Apart from one memorable hand, had a frustrating night on the tables. Crashed out of my first 4 SNG outside the money with the same scenario - my flush beaten by a higher one. Hit the cash tables for a while and could not seem to get any momentum going. None of my premium hands were standing up and then the memorable hand happened.

On the BB / 50$ NL table, dealt KK. The table maniac raised from early position to $4.50, there was then a raise to $8.50 by player 2 and a flat call from player 3 before getting to me.
I was a bit confused here, the first player could have any 2 cards, his last raise I saw was with K4s, and he’d lost a 50$ buy in already, and was aggressive in his chat. Player 2 called a 60$ all in bet the previous hand with nothing but a flush draw, and hit the river to beat a set of Jacks – probably thought she could do no wrong. Player 3 had just joined the table, so no read on him.
Already at this table, I had twice seen KK v AA confrontations, so was pretty confident that this couldn’t happen again so quickly (not sure now if this was justified!). I decided to push all-in with my 40$ or so, with the idea that this would scare them all off.
Not so, all 3 call! Ouch, I’m f**ked here, I thought. 4 way pot with KK. Hmmmm.

Player 1 turns over Q5, Player 2 AK, Player 3 AQ.
Flop was a low, rainbow, raggedy type thing. Then a Q hits the turn.

Nooooo, please no 5, please no 5, please no 5

River 7.

The two red kings stood proud on the table and $140 came into my pot.

The banter afterwards was amazing, Mr Q5 got really annoyed – especially after I questioned how he calls a 40$ bet with those cards. Mr AQ was quiet, Mr AK got into an argument with Mr Q5, which went on for the next 20minutes, when I left the table. Very amusing, though the comments made were very unsavoury!

Anway, BR continuing a steady growth, despite my SNG setback. Out tonight with the groom, then his wedding tomorrow, and Saturday night I’m out at a friends dinner party – so I face the prospect of 3 nights without playing poker!
Wonder when the shakes will kick in ;-)

MTT Seventh Heaven

Been staying way from the cash tables these last few nights. Can't take the variance at the moment, and seem to be getting better returns from the SNG's. Was scanning over the PKR tournies and found a 5$, 750$ added MTT with only 200 or so registered (254 at the start) so decided to have a go.

Top 30 paid and I played the tight conservative game that I should have been playing on Sunday night at the blogger game. Very few premium hands came my way over the next 4 hours, AA the only high pair I had, and got them on 2 occasions. Both times fell at a perfect time for me, with a few people in the pot pre flop already, my raise scaring all but 2 away, and the Aces held up for 2 big pots.

The big difference was my premium non paired hands, AK & AQ, wich stood up against weaker hands and pocket pairs every time bar one when into a confrontation. At the end, I was in 4th place in the last 7 when I got AQ and pushed from late position with 2 previous callers limping in (blinds were 6k at this point). Unfortunately for me, the BB had AK and called to leave me with enough for 1 small blind. Dealt K4 and for a brief moment of seing a flop of K 4 x, I thought I may scrape another postion. Alas, one player had JJ and it was checked to the river when another J fell, and out I went in 7th and a 44$ payout.

Happy with this, especially as I was so knackered after 2 nights of disjointed sleep. Mia has a temperature and has been up a few times in the night, which means we get up a few times in the night too. Got home from work tonight and she was red-cheeked and very lethargic, even sat and cuddled up on my knee for 45 mins, which for her is the longest I have ever seen her awake and still! She was so tired looking so hopefully the Calpol will kick in and help her get a good nights sleep, which is probably what she needs the most.

Finally, congrats to Richard for winning the Blogger tourny, beating Acorn into 2nd place for his 2nd win. I had incorrectly blogged there would be a new winner as all previous one's were out, but must have missed his name. Apologies sir. Acorn was my pre-tourny tip to win, and think it will be a matter of time before he grabs the first place.

OK, enough from me, got some work to do and maybe a few SNG's. Good luck all.

Mixed Sunday

Championes, Championes!!

Chelsea's poor run of recent results continued, and handed Man U the Premier League title earlier this afternoon. Although Chelsea played pretty well, especially the 2nd half they just couldn't score the winning goal that would have made Wednesday nights game much more fiesty than it will probably now be. Both managers may rest key players as they look forward to a much more improtant game a week on Saturday. Still, it's good to win it, and I think, if you're totally honest, the best team this season won.

It was good to see Jose's reaction after the game, making sure his players and fans know they haven't let him or anyone down. That they did their best. In the post-match interview he congatulated United's players, managers, staff and fans for their efforts in securing the title, and reminded them that Chelsea would be back next season.

Shame that a certain poker player can't be as gracious and seemed to delight in my early exit from the Brit Blogger tourny earlier (it is still going on now), praising opponents for their winning hands everytime I lost, and never once when I won. Shame really, but hey, we are all free to be the way we choose.

This tourny was a bit disappointing for me. Built up a nice stack early on, and tried to steal at the wrong time on 3 occasions. Firstly, with AK, tried to push Cadmunky off a pot on a low flop, but he had 10s to cut me in half. Then, when I was the bigger stack, tried to steal the blinds with QJ and ran into Simonjj's QQ. Then, when my stack was less than 500, pushed with A7 and ran in Juice's KK. On some day's I'd be sat with a nice stack, today it wasn't to be. I'll be back. Maybe a little more conservative next time!
Looks like there will be a new winner, with 3 previous winners going out in the bottom 6 - good luck to all left in.

Anyway, off to the tables, hoping my recent good form on the cash tables continues.

Almost There....

Half Time, Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0

Can almost taste it......