DAY 2

This wont take long . Going on the piss didnt help but I started the day with 13k average stack 23k ish. The day started bad and I got forced out of a couple of hands and was down to 7k. Our table was then split which was a dissapointment as I was really enjoying the table. I was moved to a table with Julian Gardner and a few other brits who I didnt recognise. I struggled on for an hour and a half hoving between 7k and 4k. I then doubled up with AJ in the BB called by Gardners K 10 and I held up. Now on 15k I had a rush of blood UTG and raised all in with kq suited (blinds were 1500 3k) and ran into pocket rockets got a lot of help and had a lot of outs by the river but didnt hit and that was all she wrote. I finished in roughly 45th of 161 but was never in danger of getting in the money.

Overall I was happy how I played the short stack but it was disappointing having cashed in the Boyles 1k in JAN and the Paddy Power open but to be honest it wasnt quite my A game and I deserved to finish where I did.

$800 buy in

When I was knocked out of the main event the 800 buy in was just due to start so I decided to give it a shot. It was worth it for the table alone Kevin Kileen and ken Corkery from Cork were on the table along with a few funny Dubs so the table was entertaining. $8k starting stacks 30 minute blinds and a 100 runners.

After level two I was up to 9.5k and just ahead of average stack when this hand happened. I have 10 10 on the button 3 callers and I raise to 1200 (bb = 300) and get two callers. Flop comes 10 5 2 rainbow and I bet 500 with both calling next card an ace (still rainbow!!!) when norwegian guy bets 2k happy days he has a 10 at best I raise to 4k when 3rd player goes all in . I know noone has pocket aces from preflop betting and I know am a mile ahead. Norwegian guy folds and I call staight away the other player shows a set of twos and great Im up above 20k and in a great position. Then the case 2 comes on river the and Im out and in not so good a position. The player who put the beat on me was a gent and couldnt apologise enough but as I siad to him it wasnt unlike what I did in the main event so the poker gods were only getting revenge.

After that I decided to hop in the car and head back to Galway with Derek Murray. the plans for the next few weeks is to ease off on the poker before the main event in Vegas we fly out on the 26th July and I play on the second 1st day . Between now and then the regular Wednesday night in the Westwood will be sufficent.

On another note have read a few poker books recently and my opinion of them:

Barry Greensteins Ace on the River - very average not much strategy of any real value (imho)
Man Behind the shades Rise and fall of Stuy Unger - A cracking read about a flawed genius highly recommended
Amerillo Slim in a world of Fat People - just buy this one he would bet on anything a great read

Irish Poker Championships Day 1

The Irish poker chamionships took place this weekend in the Citywest Hotel. I had won my ticket online through Boylesports and in addition to this had won a second ticket on Wednesday night in the Westwood. Dave curtis was going to use the second ticket but unfortunately couldnt make it so Pokerevents agreed to refund the money so the weekend was off to a good start Im 3k up.

The main event was one long hard struggle for me. With starting stacks of 10k I had nudged up to 12k in the first hour on a tough table including Mick Mcloskey , Don Fagan and a very good Norwegian player. The next hour was a disaster when I lost two two big hands having qq and jj both times on a raggy flop but to run into kk both times , thankfully I managed to fold on each occasion and both players showed the kk so I was happy to be still in but struggling on 3.5k.

First hand after the break I gave away another 2.5k holding AK raising utg to be called by BB with q 9 and getting beaten on a board of x x 9 9 a . Now I have just under 1k and am getting ready to hit the bar. I double through with AJ and then double through again with JJ against 99 and Im up to 7k ish and then this hand happens.

Im BB holding 6 9 five players call and I get to see the flop for free. Flop comes 7 8 10 . Position 2 bets 500 and i raise to 2.5k everyone else folds and he goes all in I think about it for a while and I cant put him on jack 9 from position two I call and what does he have but j9!!!!!! (great read) Im out I think but then the turn and river come two hearts to give me a flush and the biggest suckout Ive had in a long long time .

I work my stack from 14k up to 25k until the last hand of the night. Sylvester Geoghagan has joined our table . Blinds 150/300 UTG SG raises to 1500 and I know he is strong UTG +2 goes all in for 7k I look down and see ak suited not too worried about the allin but SG has been playing very tight I have seen him lay down aq my gut says fold but I dont and end up with the other two players allin and i have 10 k committed to the pot SG has QQ other player has ak as well so no help and SG takes circa 28k . I finish the day on 13k average stack 20k ish. Happy to be still in it but not happy that I played the last hand .

Its 2 in the morning at this stage and Im knackered so rather than head to bed we head to the bar and it is 7 before we hit the cot should be in greta form for tomorrow.