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THE TOUR · 351 POSTS · 7 CITIES

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03 OCT 2026 · MusingsOh My God We're Back Again“OH MY GOD WE’RE BACK AGAIN” thundered out AJ McLean in Las Vegas 2018, without quite the same gusto as the mid 90s. AJ looked first…
23 DEC 2010 · MusingsEnd of YearWell, a disappointing year on the poker front comes to a close, my first losing year so far. It would have been worse had it not…£ ledger
10 DEC 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonA Smidgen of PointsRegistered some minor improvement at the League this week night placing 5th, not good enough for any cash, but at least securing 30 points as opposed…♠ 3 hands
18 NOV 2010 · The Punch (pub game), LondonMonkey DrumsI was on tilt before I'd even played a hand at the Punch the other night. Somehow I'd managed to remove the wooden separators from inside…
06 NOV 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonPoor Night at the LeagueI was eliminated from the League tournament in short order as is the standard. I played the hand badly - I decided to limp AQ UTG…
29 OCT 2010 · The Punch (pub game), LondonSuited GappersI played at the pub again last night and continued my upswing with another £600 win. I realised when I dealt myself pocket Jacks, that it…
27 OCT 2010 · The Punch (pub game), LondonThe ModeratorThe pub game was fun last night. A nice gentle £1/£1 game with a max buy in of £100. It being a pub, of course, the…
26 OCT 2010 · MusingsBack to The Pub GameSo, from the glitz of Vegas to four handed mayhem. Wonder if my favourable run will continue on this side of the Atlantic? Seeing as one…
23 OCT 2010 · MusingsVegas - two final shorties1) Had just finished dinner in the over-rated Jasmine at the Bellagio and left the table for the toilet. Opened the door stretching, with my eyes…Vegas, October 2010
21 OCT 2010 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - Time to leaveThe last day of Vegas had little to write about from a poker perspective. I couldn't get motivated to play another cash game so just played…Vegas, October 2010
20 OCT 2010 · Luxor, Las VegasVegas - More Luxor FunI put in a 3 hour session in the Luxor cash game yesterday with more fun and games. I normally try to establish a stupid image…Vegas, October 2010♠ 1 hand
19 OCT 2010 · MusingsVegas - SpaJimbo talking to prim and proper spa American lady: "Well it would only take 5 seconds if you waxed my chest" Shazbo: "Not if they did…Vegas, October 2010
19 OCT 2010 · Treasure Island, Las VegasVegas - a good dayYesterday went very well with only 4 hours of poker action. Chopped the Treasure Island $50 tournament for $200 when we were 4 handed and everyone…Vegas, October 2010
18 OCT 2010 · MusingsVegas - Quad RunNo poker yesterday, as Shazbo arrived in town and I was pretty drained after the Luxor game the other day. However, we did play "3 card…Vegas, October 2010
17 OCT 2010 · Luxor, Las VegasVegas - Luxor cash game funI put in a 6 hour shift at the Luxor yesterday, with Shaun and Neil, and we all came away with big wins (I finished on…Vegas, October 2010
17 OCT 2010 · MusingsVegas - Roulette SlowrollMyself, Shaun and Neil were playing $100 each on roulette whilst waiting for our seat at the Steakhouse in Luxor. Myself and Shaun had both busted,…Vegas, October 2010
15 OCT 2010 · Treasure Island, Las VegasVegas - Treasure IslandThere is a 40 year old lady on the table dressed at a 20 year old. Her breasts are fighting to join the chips on the…Vegas, October 2010♠ 1 hand
15 OCT 2010 · Caesars Palace, Las VegasVegas - funny hanndsHand 1 - Caesars Final Table Blinds 400-800 I make it 1800 UTG with K(x)? Rock calls in SB. Uber rock BB folds but keeps his…Vegas, October 2010♠ 3 hands
15 OCT 2010 · Binion's, Las VegasVegas - BinnionsI first met Shaun in Planet Hollywood as he was coming to the end of a 36 hour cash session. We got on like a house…Vegas, October 2010
15 OCT 2010 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - BallysSo - $70 for 5k starting stack sounds okay right? When we didn't receive any "25" chips in our starting stack I realised I'd been sold…Vegas, October 2010
14 OCT 2010 · Luxor, Las VegasVegas - Luxor/Excalibur/MGMDidn't feel like playing tournies on day 3 so after seeing off Shazbo post 2 bottles of premimum saki, decided to go and play cash at…Vegas, October 2010♠ 1 hand
14 OCT 2010 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - First ImpressionsWow……Vegas is in recession - that is for certain. I've spoken to a couple of the card room managers and all have confirmed that unemployment is…Vegas, October 2010
07 OCT 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonMoney Never Sleeps"So.........what's in it for moi?" Ah - Wall Street 2 is finally here, 23 years after the first film. I'm sure the sequel won't be a…
04 OCT 2010 · The Fox Club, LondonA Day at the FoxLast week I visited the new Fox Poker Club on Shaftsbury Avenue for their £25 afternoon tournament and a some cash afterwards. The venue is really…
28 SEPT 2010 · MusingsChange of sceneryI'm going to play at the new Fox club tomorrow afternoon, ahead of our WSOP league game in a week's time. I've been happy to not…
23 SEPT 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonUrghhhCash games have been an absolute disaster the last 2/3 weeks. A combination of being coolered and then promptly going on monkey tilt to burn an…
18 SEPT 2010 · OnlineDecepticon PoliticsWhilst watching Transformers cartoons with my son, my mind tends to wander. Last week it occurred to me that the entire New Labour political movement was…
16 SEPT 2010 · OnlinePoker Month - Day 1I'm going to be in and out of the office for the next few weeks, so thought I'd use today's day off to play a solid…Poker Month 2010
16 SEPT 2010 · The International, LondonThe Neverending WeekendI’ve been cobbling together a plan for the next month or so on the poker front. Originally I was planning to play a lot of live…
08 SEPT 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonWSOP League - Week 5More misery for me at the WSOP League. Hand 1 I raise to 300 with QQ UTG. Get 4 customers. Flop is J3J rainbow. Checked around…WSOP League 2010♠ 2 hands
05 SEPT 2010 · MusingsA Poker MonthIt looks like I will have a little bit of spare time on my hands over the coming months. As a result I’m going to try…
03 SEPT 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonWSOP League - Week 4Long time in posting this, but thought I’d keep up to date on the WSOP league from a few weeks ago. I should be posting far…WSOP League 2010
01 AUG 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonWSOP League Week 3Still can't get much going in our league, and sit in lower mid table after 3 fixtures. In truth I don't feel like writing much, but…WSOP League 2010
09 JUL 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonWSOP League Week 2Nothing happening for me so far in this, but early days I guess. Played tight first 3 levels and chipped down to 4.5k from my 6k…WSOP League 2010
09 JUL 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonCan I get the ball back?I spent a lot of time playing Madden 2001 on the PS2 some eight years ago. Well I think it was Madden 2001 anyway, although it…
01 JUL 2010 · The Empire, LondonMidweek FlurryAfter keeping my head low for the first half of the year, this week saw a veritable flurry of activity on the poker front, as I…
26 JUN 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonWSOP league - Week 1Our WSOP league for 2011 kicked off on Thursday, with 12 runners making it, out of a 28 strong player pool. Given the summer fixtures are…WSOP League 2010♠ 3 hands
06 JUN 2010 · Home games, LondonChrist EmbassyI was accosted last weekend outside McDonalds by some happy religious people with balloons, who thrust some literature into my hands before I could escape. Since…
06 APR 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonTournie BugI played the Irish Open main event in both 2007 and 2008, but haven't played for the last 2 years, as I have found myself drifting…
25 FEB 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonPrimePrimes are good. I have 77 in my hand. Two, a pair, a duo of primes. Two is prime. Two primes together. 7 5 2 on…
20 FEB 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonFinally a live winWell I finally generated a positive result for the year in a live cash game, winning £610 in the last encounter. One noticeable aspect of the…
18 FEB 2010 · OnlineWhere's Wally?After my drunken street fracas before Christmas I have understandably been attempting to keep a low profile in the neighbourhood. The Baron however, made a wry…
04 JAN 2010 · MusingsRedknapp AlertFollowing my rant this morning, someone has just alerted me that Thomas Cook have just launched an advert featuring the Redknapps. Good grief - this is…
04 JAN 2010 · MusingsThe New YearNew Year, for me, inevitably conjures images of a smiling Phil Taylor. I will grudgingly admit the man is a class apart in terms of darts…
04 JAN 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonMindsetI played abysmally in my first outing of 2009 (edit! 2010), ending with a £458 loss in the cash game and I probably deserved a four…
04 JAN 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonHow To Write Off a WeekendWell this weekend wasn't much fun. The cash game on Friday night went on continuously till midday on Saturday, and since I'm an old fogie these…♠ 2 hands
01 JAN 2010 · Loose Cannon, LondonMore Run GoodI don't have time to write much, but I ran extremely well yet again in the final cash game of 2009 in the Loose Cannon on…♠ 2 hands£ ledger
23 DEC 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonFestive CheerI had another big score last night at the Loose Cannon, winning £1800 in the £1/£2 game in a long session. It could have been a…£ ledger
14 DEC 2009 · Home games, LondonHome Game Hat-trickThe home game I hosted this weekend was a marathon, lasting from 11am Saturday till 7am Sunday morning. I had a stormer, winning the £40 warm…
28 NOV 2009 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - Final DayAnother pretty unproductive day today on the poker front. Wandered downstairs a little after 10:30 and bought into the $60 tournament late, which impressively lasted one…Vegas, November 2009
27 NOV 2009 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - Quote of the WeekDidn't play much poker at all yesterday - just the 7pm Planet Hollywood tournament. It transpired I wasted 5 hours playing Pai Gow with Shazbo, a…Vegas, November 2009♠ 1 hand
27 NOV 2009 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - Big Blind SpecialWandered down to the poker room at 8am this morning but there was no cash game going so had to enter the $60 tournament. I was…Vegas, November 2009♠ 1 hand
26 NOV 2009 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - Running Hot on MoonshineFound myself plonked next to a couple of guys from Oklahoma last night. I was being educated in the production of moonshine, and how adding apple…Vegas, November 2009♠ 2 hands
25 NOV 2009 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - Cash BouncePlayed a 4 hour cash session waiting for Shazbo's flight to arrive and had a mini recovery. After a pep talk from the guys I went…Vegas, November 2009
24 NOV 2009 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas - Nit-rolledJust got nit-rolled so badly. It was so ridiculous it was amusing rather than annoying. I resisted the urge to go to sleep early and entered…Vegas, November 2009♠ 1 hand
24 NOV 2009 · MusingsVegas - Let's Get BusyJust woke up at 5:30am, but feel fit and ready to go after ten hours sleep. I finally feel prepared to play some poker after 36…Vegas, November 2009
24 NOV 2009 · Caesars Palace, Las VegasVegas - Caesars midday $80 tournamentThis tournament plays a lot deeper than its 9am brother. It is exactly the same 20 minute levels which still sky rocket, but you get 7.5k…Vegas, November 2009♠ 9 hands
24 NOV 2009 · Caesars Palace, Las VegasVegas - Caesars $70 9am tournamentAfter waking at 5:30am I decided to give this event a bash. You only get a 3k starting stack, but the opening 20 minute levels are…Vegas, November 2009♠ 2 hands
24 NOV 2009 · Caesars Palace, Las VegasVegas - 3pm $70 tournamentAfter busting from the midday event I jumped straight into this one. Same structure as the 9am affair, plus I joined in level 2 so had…Vegas, November 2009
23 NOV 2009 · Harrah's, Las VegasVegas - JetlaggedDecided not to play the Venetian today - I felt really tired and don't think I could have given such a deep stack event its due…Vegas, November 2009
22 NOV 2009 · MusingsVegas - Judge DreddArrived in Vegas, after a long 11 hour flight due to the headwinds this time of year. I’m staying in Planet Hollywood this time for a…Vegas, November 2009£ ledger
19 NOV 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonBankroll BoosterI put in a very strong performance at the LC during my last outing, both in the tournament and the cash game. The tournament saw a…♠ 4 hands
13 NOV 2009 · Home games, LondonOssie's LightbulbIn the summer of 1994 Ossie Ardiles sat glumly after Spurs disappointing 15th place finish in the Premier League, and wondered what he could do to…▣ 1 photos♠ 2 hands
11 NOV 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonGood Intentions5:45pm I am going to go out and enjoy an evening with Nemo and The Baron, totally devoid of poker. I know we can do it.…▣ 1 photos
06 NOV 2009 · MusingsVegas LoomsAn impromptu visit to Vegas now looks fairly likely to happen later in the month. My trip will take in the Venetian deep stack main event,…Vegas, November 2009
05 NOV 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonSplashI played a couple of hours of last night's cash game at Loose Cannon in my underpants. At about 11 o'clock, I unfortunately spazzed out and…♠ 6 hands
03 NOV 2009 · MusingsGoal NetsMy first memories of football were bizarrely the goal nets at the different grounds, and the fact that in the 80s you could tell instantaneously which…
29 OCT 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonLeaving The BarracksIt was a nice gentle Sit and Go night last night down at LC, and I fared well placing 3rd and 2nd to win about £100…
27 OCT 2009 · OnlineToyundai HQMr Sugiyama stared distantly out of his window in Tokyo, stoked his chin and pondered. Thirty five years I’ve spent dedicating myself to the Toyundai cause,…♠ 1 hand
26 OCT 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonStop the Roundabout!Quick blog post on the cash game from Thursday night as promised. I have had a creeping suspicion for some time that my regular cash game…
23 OCT 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonMementoI have this.............condition. I can't make new memories...........memories can change the shape of a room, it can change the suit of a card. Memories can be…♠ 8 hands
12 OCT 2009 · OnlineJust ran terribly onlineJust played FT $1/$2 Round of Each and disastrously lost $1k. Nothing went right, and got in some bad spots as well as getting unlucky (which…
12 OCT 2009 · OnlineDarlo SainsburysI'm up just outside Newcastle this week, staying with Shazbo at her parents' house. We ventured into Darlington yesterday to buy some bits and bobs for…
02 OCT 2009 · The International, LondonInternational ROE tournamentOn Wednesday I made my first visit to the International for some time to play in the £30+£30 round of each tournament. Hand1 Play Qh9h on…♠ 4 hands
01 OCT 2009 · The International, LondonOooooffff!Whilst in Hamleys two years ago at Christmas time, my son, who was 2 at the time, was marvelling at the Scalextric display that was going…♠ 1 hand
25 SEPT 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonChef PantsI suffered my second trouser split of the year on Tuesday, as I sat down at work. As a result, I have finally resigned myself to…
21 SEPT 2009 · OnlineComedy Online ChatI played a 4 hour online cash Omaha session on Sunday, dropping down a level to 0.5/$1 and ground out a $200ish profit. I played pretty…♠ 1 hand
17 SEPT 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonGood Value BetThis week’s cash game was another success down at the Loose Cannon, as I registered a £300 win. I won a whole series of small pots…♠ 1 hand
14 SEPT 2009 · MusingsAdventures of the Zoid Pilot (Part 2)So back to the Zoid story…………… Back in the final year of university I woke up and immediately knew something was amiss. My comrade in arms,…Adventures of the Zoid Pilot
07 SEPT 2009 · OnlineOnline Weekend 2 - WCOOP - $215 OmahaI decided to play this tournament on Friday, as I hadn't had any poker action in the week, and was pleasantly surprised to find a really…Online Weekend 2009
07 SEPT 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonAdventures of the Zoid Pilot (Part 1)The last time I got this drunk, things ended very badly, as I woke up with both metallic gold hair and 3rd degree burns, and resembled…Adventures of the Zoid Pilot♠ 4 hands
04 SEPT 2009 · OnlineOnline Weekend 1 - Invasion of the retardsI plan on playing a lot of online tournaments this weekend. I opted to play super solid and this what happened. Will blog WCOOP Omaha separately…Online Weekend 2009
01 SEPT 2009 · OnlineI should sleep on SundaysAnother bank holiday, another crack at the Sunday majors, another hole in the bankroll :( I played a few Sunday tournaments on the spur of the…
26 AUG 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonGone in a FlashI played in a £20 rebuy round of each private tournament at the Loose Cannon on Tuesday night, and things were going along nicely until I…♠ 3 hands
24 AUG 2009 · OnlineBetter Spots?I had the luxury of some spare time on Saturday, so fired up a couple of those Full Tilt $75 45 man SNGs to pass the…
21 AUG 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonCarbon CopyI went to the Loose Cannon last night for our private £100 tournament followed by cash, and it was an exact replica of last week. I…♠ 5 hands
19 AUG 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonStoppage time equaliserI still remember vividly my first sighting of Jose Mourinho. It wasn't the ludicrously self-indulgent press conference when unveiled as manager of Chelsea, but was during…♠ 1 hand
17 AUG 2009 · OnlineSunday Morning RollercoasterI had a couple of hours to kill on Sunday morning, as I waiting for Shazbo's flight to get in from Vancouver, so I decided to…♠ 6 hands
14 AUG 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonPravdaI stand prepared in the centre of the ring, my yellow hammer and sickle emblazoned on my red shorts giving me a source of extra mental…♠ 1 hand
12 AUG 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Dogs of WarIn early 1994, it was fair to say Everton had completed their fall from grace. The halcyon days of the mid 80’s seemed a long time…
10 AUG 2009 · OnlineTurgid WeekendI played online tournaments on Saturday night, with fairly disappointing results. Despite cashing three times I was left with a moderate loss for proceedings, and as…
06 AUG 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Shackles of ZionDuring my school days I was in a number of classes with a Pakistani chap called Kashif. He was very highly strung, and had some fairly…
29 JUL 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonDusty BinIt is the dizzy summer of 1987 and myself and Den have hit the pinnacle. We are in the final round of 3-2-1 and now have…♠ 4 hands
28 JUL 2009 · OnlineMor--a---lee !In my opinion, the worst player ever to take his place in the Watford forward line was Jamie Moralee, and believe me there is quite heavy…
24 JUL 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonMore WoeI popped into the LC last night following some leaving drinks, to play a few hours of £1/£2 with some of the new guys Luke/Tom have…♠ 1 hand
22 JUL 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonSplashing AroundLast night saw the first LC cash game since Vegas, and we had a full table with drinks and banter in full flow. I played disappointingly,…
21 JUL 2009 · OnlineSunday RoundupMy latest foray into the Sunday tournaments brought the usual big hole in the P&L, with two min cashes not enough to save the day. I…♠ 1 hand
17 JUL 2009 · MusingsInfernoPrologue I am……………………it seems……………………dead. The void is cold and oppressive. I stare through my translucent hands at the unending emptiness beyond. A figure. Hazy, blue, features…
16 JUL 2009 · The Empire, LondonEmpire DebutA number of people have recommended I give the Empire cash game a spin, so I finally made it down there last night with the Baron…♠ 3 hands
13 JUL 2009 · OnlineOnline MarathonI played a long session of online tournaments for 12 hours on Saturday night, before retiring with exhaustion. The session went pretty well - involving 8…♠ 2 hands
11 JUL 2009 · MusingsBig Man Busto from Main EventSkrypec succumbed in the Main Event just before the end of Day 3 :( He placed about 800th, just short of the money. On his return…
09 JUL 2009 · MusingsMain Event UpdateAnyone who has read this blog for a long time, may recall that there was a freeroll to the 2008 Main Event held at the Loose…
04 JUL 2009 · OnlineAttempted New LeafI played a mini session of tournaments online tonight, and in line with my last post decided to try and play with enjoyment in mind. This…
01 JUL 2009 · MusingsLouie's MotorIt's one of the great mysteries of Formula One. May 2008, Lewis Hamilton takes the chequered flag in Monaco after a relatively easy drive. As he…
26 JUN 2009 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas P&LSo the dust settles on a fun, if unprofitable trip to the gambling capital of the world. The disappointing aspect was that I never got going…Vegas, June 2009
21 JUN 2009 · Planet Hollywood, Las VegasVegas Day 9 - Time to LeaveI didn't manage to play any real poker yesterday - I was exhausted after stumbling back at 6:30am from Planet Hollywood with The Don who had…Vegas, June 2009
20 JUN 2009 · Las Vegas (other), Las VegasVegas Day 8 - Running Good Against the BaronWhat can I say, but I run good against the ginger guy........ Made about $400 in cash games today, the majority caused/saved by: Hand1 Myself and…Vegas, June 2009♠ 3 hands
18 JUN 2009 · Treasure Island, Las VegasVegas Day 7 - An Afternoon in Treasure IslandWe had a great day today - not from a profit point of view necessarily, but our cash table was great at TI. We discovered the…Vegas, June 2009
16 JUN 2009 · Treasure Island, Las VegasVegas Day 6 - Blue Man Group EmbarrassmentWent to Blue Man Group last night - clearly I was very tired and hungover, with the squits, after an all night session with the guys…Vegas, June 2009
16 JUN 2009 · WSOP at the Rio, Las VegasVegas Day 5 - WSOP $1500Another bad day at the office unfortunately, and a bustout half way through level 3\. "Refreshed", after an all night drinking/poker session with the Baron and…Vegas, June 2009♠ 2 hands
15 JUN 2009 · The Venetian, Las VegasVegas Day 4 - Venetian $340This will be a quick one. I made a conscious decision to play more hands today in the early levels, as I've been playing too tight…Vegas, June 2009
14 JUN 2009 · Caesars Palace, Las VegasVegas Day 3 - Caesars $340Unfortunately I only just received Ian's post on the last entry, so we arrived a Caesars to discover they had scrapped their old poker festival, and…Vegas, June 2009♠ 5 hands
13 JUN 2009 · WSOP at the Rio, Las VegasVegas Day 2 - WSOP $1500I really felt stuck in the mud in this tournament - nothing got going and I busted shortly before the end of level 3. The table…Vegas, June 2009♠ 6 hands
13 JUN 2009 · MGM Grand, Las VegasVegas Day 2 - Cash Game WoeAfter my early WSOP bustout, I went to join the guys at the MGM playing a cash game. The Nit wanted to be on his own…Vegas, June 2009♠ 3 hands
12 JUN 2009 · The Venetian, Las VegasVegas Day 1 - Venetian $500Well I'm out about half way through the field of 660 - I played pretty well apart from one disastrous hand, so I'm quite happy. I…Vegas, June 2009♠ 5 hands
11 JUN 2009 · The Venetian, Las VegasVegas - Middle of the NightJetlag has kicked in, and I am sitting here at 6am after eight hours sleep waiting for the midday Venetian tournament. Shazbo has been dispatched for…Vegas, June 2009♠ 1 hand
11 JUN 2009 · MusingsVegas Day ZeroGatwick airport 9am - location is the overpriced seafood bar. I am just about to tuck into my seafood platter, when I notice Dan, formally from…Vegas, June 2009
10 JUN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonAn Algerian in BurnleyPeople from Burnley are deeply amusing. Many moons ago, when Watford and Burnley were both in League Two, I remember coming across a bunch of Burnley…
04 JUN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonLC Cash Game Invitational - Episode IVTonight sees the latest installment of the all stars cash game at Loose Cannon. Similar to high stakes poker, the player pool has been revolved this…
04 JUN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonBad Play RewardedI played poorly in the cash game last night, but still ran good and won £80ish when I probably should have been in the hole for…♠ 2 hands
02 JUN 2009 · MusingsVegas ScheduleNearly that time of the year again, so I have put together a provisional schedule of the tournaments I will be playing in Vegas. In addition…Vegas, June 2009
01 JUN 2009 · OnlineHost SelectionFollowing my tournament success on random sites on Saturday, I had a significant amount of money tied up all over the place, due to the idiotic…£ ledger
31 MAY 2009 · OnlineMini Boom !It had to happen. As soon as I made my last post about now attempting to be a cash game specialist, I promptly embarked on my…♠ 1 hand
29 MAY 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonWho am I?I always considered myself to be a tournament specialist up to the beginning of this year, but I may need to re-assess this now. My tournament…
28 MAY 2009 · The International, LondonPot Control..........sighI played the International £200 tournament last night alongside Professor Jalfont, whilst watching the Champions League final in the background. The club had kindly laid on…♠ 12 hands
22 MAY 2009 · The International, LondonLibrary PokerI popped down to the International with David and Big Mark to play the £50 tournament on Thursday evening. I had been trying to organise a…♠ 9 hands
20 MAY 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonMy Little Black DressWhilst on the throne, I am a big fan of reading the National Enquirer. Not only does this keep me abreast of the latest developments in…
19 MAY 2009 · The International, LondonTears on BroadwayI ventured down to the International on Monday night with Devski and Dave Evermy to play the Round of Each £30 + £30 tournament. I made…♠ 7 hands
14 MAY 2009 · The International, LondonInternational £200 FreezeoutI made my first trip to the International for ages last night, to play their new £200 weekly freezeout. My main concern for the event, which…♠ 5 hands
13 MAY 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonWhere to from here?Confidence is now at an all time low, after I suffered my biggest ever live cash loss of £1,300 last night. The single bright point of…♠ 1 hand
12 MAY 2009 · MusingsWeekend LazinessAs usual, my resolve to play the International £100 tournament on Saturday night crumbled to dust. Once I was out of London, I simply couldn't summon…
08 MAY 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonDrawing ThinLast night I played a cash hand rather poorly. I raised 6s9d in early position to £4, and was re-raised by Devski from the Big Blind.…♠ 8 hands
04 MAY 2009 · OnlineLive and LearnWell, my drunken adventures in the big buy in Sunday tournaments predictably ended badly, as I took a big hit to the P&L after only cashing…
03 MAY 2009 · OnlineLive ReportingI made a slight tactical error ahead of the Sunday tournaments by drinking all afternoon following a barbeque. I am currently playing some of the $500…
01 MAY 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonBBQ FootprintAbout half way through the £50 tournament at the LC last night, I heard a dull thud on the radiator, noticing a chicken wing had mysteriously…♠ 5 hands
29 APR 2009 · MusingsBack from ToyTownI haven't looked at a card for nearly two weeks now, having been out of London for a week to get some fresh air and have…£ ledger
17 APR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonNon-plussedLoose Cannon on a Thursday night saw me put in an unremarkable tournament performance followed by a solid cash performance. I desperately need the week coming…♠ 4 hands
15 APR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonYou've been hero'dSeeing as I won't be playing next week, I popped into the Loose Cannon to play a bit of heads up Omaha with the Baron. However,…♠ 1 hand
14 APR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonEight, Nine, Seventeen SituationMark Bright writes one of the most insipid football columns I have ever read in the daily London Metro. Today he ventures that Newcastle "might" go…♠ 5 hands
09 APR 2009 · OnlinePersonality DeficientWork finished early today, so I thought I'd continue my hate/hate relationship with online tournaments and promptly lost $600 without ever coming close to the money.…
08 APR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Doppler EffectThe Doppler effect was discovered by an Austrian boffin in the 19th Century, explaining the relationship between sound wave frequency and relative movement of source and…♠ 3 hands
07 APR 2009 · Home games, LondonDrawing Dead to the Combine HarvestersThere was a lull during the home game last week, between the Omaha and the Holdem, during which some of the players took some fresh air,…
06 APR 2009 · Home games, LondonBob The Builder HomegameIt sure is nice to get out of Bobsville once in a while. I love my job as the Mayor, but it's great to get out…♠ 5 hands
03 APR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonNational PowerPeople in advertising have always really hacked me off (apologies Wilkinson). Whilst I was at Arthur Andersen busying myself in the Enron scandal, I lived in…
01 APR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonMinority ReportThe future can be seen. The system is perfect. It's never wrong. Tuesday 31 March. 19:00 DASH AND ARTHUR: "The cash game at the Loose Cannon…
31 MAR 2009 · OnlineFull Tilt TripMaster Computer Lederer: "You shouldn't have come back Jimbo" Jimbo launches sixty four MTT tournaments Lederer: "That isn't going to do you any good, Jimbo" Lederer:…♠ 2 hands
27 MAR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonMildbeat CubedNothing went right for me last night. I suffered a series of mild bad beats which, whilst unremarkable in their own right, when combined made it…♠ 5 hands
26 MAR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonPac-Man"Dot, Dot, Dot, Dot, Dot" thought Pac-man. "......oooo.....fruit" as he glided through the cherry. "Hmmm - that blue ghost Inky is getting a bit close" "Dot,…♠ 1 hand
23 MAR 2009 · MusingsVolcano - The Movie!I saw on a poker forum that someone had used extranormal.com to construct a scene where one player is complaining to another about a bad beat…
19 MAR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonChucking it awayI played the live short handed round of each cash game at Loose Cannon last night, and twice I threw away highly promising positions to end…
16 MAR 2009 · OnlineAnother Sunday Majors FlopAs I had Monday off work, I decided to give the major Sunday online tournaments a spin, and unfortunately didn't play well at all. I think…
13 MAR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonA New Personal BestIt's always a credit to yourself when you beat a previous lifetime best, so last night I was delighted to break my longest urination record, behind…♠ 2 hands
12 MAR 2009 · MusingsThe Politics ShowI was reading the Metro newspaper on the way into work today, and noticed a 60 second interview with Roy "The Boy" Brindley. Presumably the main…
11 MAR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonFour on the BounceLast night I registered my fourth consecutive live cash game win, to further repair my ailing start to 2009. I have been playing very disciplined live…
06 MAR 2009 · OnlineSigh........Just remembered why online tournaments are one of the most frustrating inventions in history. I was flying in the Pokerstars $50 rebuy, being chip leader from…
05 MAR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonSporting Index Invitational42 runners assembled at Loose Cannon for the Sporting Index invitational, which had an odd format. We were split into teams of 6, and 40% of…♠ 1 hand
04 MAR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonHoodoo BrokenFinally. After spending the whole year so far, following up a winning session with a huge spewy vomit of cash onto the table, last night I…
02 MAR 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonSet Up CityI arrived too late to play in the London Pub Open at the Loose Cannon on Saturday afternoon, so instead settled in for a 10 your…♠ 2 hands
27 FEB 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonThursday Tournie/Cash Game NutterThe £50 tournament at the LC on Thursday drew a healthy field of 22 this week. With only 2 free tables we had alternates - a…£ ledger
26 FEB 2009 · OnlineVirtual Home GameLast night saw a 7 hour cash Omaha session on Full Tilt, after sufficient numbers failed to materialise for a live game at Loose Cannon. Amusingly,…♠ 2 hands
23 FEB 2009 · OnlineDecent Omaha SessionI put in a solid 5 hours at the Omaha tables on Sunday afternoon, resulting in a welcome $850 profit. I three tabled the $1/£2, and…
20 FEB 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Iconic 10sWhen I was growing up, long before the days of squad numbers, the star player in a football team generally wore the number 10 on his…
18 FEB 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonTurning Point?Finally some good news to report on the poker front. Followers of this blog will know it's been a wretched start to the year for me,…♠ 1 hand
17 FEB 2009 · The International, LondonTrying to make doI went to the International for a change last night, but the change of venue didn't help my poor recent form. I played the ROE £60…♠ 7 hands
13 FEB 2009 · MusingsSteam RoomI was just sitting in the steam room at lunch time at the gym, half asleep, when I picked up on a random conversation. An extremely…
10 FEB 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonStuck in NeutralAs so often this year, a patch of encouraging play is followed by a below par showing. I played a £1/£2 round of each cash game…♠ 1 hand
10 FEB 2009 · Dusk till Dawn, NottinghamDTD £75 - Double Edged SwordThe final tournament of the Nottingham trip, was the £75 Sunday evening tournament with 5k in starting chips, 30 minute clock, but a slightly faster structure…♠ 1 hand
05 FEB 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonThousand big blind cash potWe have started a new Tuesday night cash game down at the Loose Cannon, with 25p/50p blinds and a £100 max sit down. The core participants…♠ 1 hand
05 FEB 2009 · Dusk till Dawn, NottinghamDTD £300 - Fistpump Bust OutMyself, The Baron, Dev, Fluke, Jalfont and Volcano all made our way up to Nottingham this weekend, to play the Dusk Till Dawn monthly festival. After…♠ 1 hand
05 FEB 2009 · Dusk till Dawn, NottinghamDTD £150 - Walk of ShameTook my seat in the £150 at Dusk till Dawn on Sunday, one day after busting from the £300. 5k starting stack, 30 min clock, about…♠ 1 hand
03 FEB 2009 · OnlineYou are The RefIn my childhood days I was an avid reader of "Shoot" magazine, a weekly publication which captured the magic of UK football, long before the game…♠ 1 hand
02 FEB 2009 · OnlineThe Deep Pocket Game?On Friday, I received an invite to the Sporting Index poker invitational to be held at the Loose Cannon in early March. I asked if I…
30 JAN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Long Way HomeI managed to make it to the Loose Cannon last night, despite illness, for the £50 tournament and a spot of Omaha/Holdem cash. After leaving at…
29 JAN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonTAGO!I was introduced to a new game at Loose Cannon on Tuesday night - Tago - a new card game fresh in from Italy. As you'd…
26 JAN 2009 · Home games, LondonTonight Matthew I'm going to be..........Rafael NadalSaturday saw Sir Mike's home game in Kew. We had 12 runners for two tournaments - a £60 round of each, followed by an £80 deep…♠ 2 hands
23 JAN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonA day of positivesAfter getting some positive news on the job front, my mind was free to concentrate on the poker last night, and it showed with strong performances…
22 JAN 2009 · MusingsMemories - Live and Let DieIt's 3am on a Thursday night, late in 2006. Myself and two work colleagues have just stumbled out of Stringfellows following my boss's stag do, and…Memories
21 JAN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonGreen ShootsShazbo being called off at late notice to go on a shoot, meant that I was free for an impromptu visit to the Loose Cannon last…♠ 2 hands
19 JAN 2009 · OnlineThe Missing LinkI played the online Sunday majors yesterday with fairly dire results, resulting in another heavy loss. Something isn't working at the moment for me in all…
17 JAN 2009 · OnlineBad sessionJust came off a very poor Omaha session on the $0.5/1 tables registering a £450 loss. A combination of factors resulted in this loss - in…£ ledger
16 JAN 2009 · OnlineEurodonkI put in a marathon 12 hour session online yesterday, electing to play the evening tournaments instead of going to the Loose Cannon for a live…
12 JAN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonBurning MoneyIn 5 of my last 6 cash sessions the format has been the same - make steady profit for the first few hours when sober, before…
09 JAN 2009 · Loose Cannon, LondonFirst half good, second half not so goodSven Goran Eriksson regularly delivered the line "first half good, second half not so good" after friendlies, while he was in charge of the English national…
08 JAN 2009 · MusingsProfessor Jalfont @ EPT PCA 2009 (Bahamas)Just heard from Loose Cannon regular Geoffroy Buffetrille (aka Professor Jalfont) who was in the Bahamas playing the $10k PCA 2009 EPT event. He busted the…
07 JAN 2009 · OnlineThe Joy of Omaha FreerollIt's very rare to get someone in "drawing dead" in Omaha, a phenomenon which occurs from time to time in Holdem, but the next best thing…♠ 1 hand
06 JAN 2009 · The International, LondonInternational Round of Each - In Harry We Trust......"Eez like putting a round peg in a square hole!" exclaimed my Turkish taxi driver on the way back to Brixton last night. The source of…♠ 11 hands
02 JAN 2009 · MusingsRelax..........the poker is comingI haven't played live or online since December 20th, which is the longest break I've had for about two years. Hopefully the break will have done…
30 DEC 2008 · Musings2009 PreviewI had intended 2009 to be a real make or break year on the poker front, in that I'd play in a number of EPT and…£ ledger
29 DEC 2008 · MusingsQuarterly Review - hmphA pretty dire quarter comes to a close, with me registering my first losing 3 month period in over a year. $5,300 was the damage, and…Quarterly Reviews
23 DEC 2008 · Irish Open, DublinMemories - Irish Open Side Event 2007Since it's been a pretty quiet month on the poker front as expected, I thought I'd dig out a tournament report from the memory banks. It…Memories♠ 1 hand
22 DEC 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonJekyll and HydeThere is an awful duality to my cash game play these days, which needs to stamped out. On the one hand, when there are strangers on…£ ledger
17 DEC 2008 · Home games, LondonLondon's early morning mistYou know things have probably gone wrong when it's Wednesday morning, you've had about 50 minutes sleep, Jason is in the shower and The Baron is…
16 DEC 2008 · The International, LondonFirst Visit To The InternationalI ventured over to Old Street last night to try out the new International Club. For those not familiar with London poker, it's basically just the…
10 DEC 2008 · MusingsPoker Commentators.........Where do they get them from and where can we play them? I was just checking on the mighty hornets result in moving 5 points clear…
09 DEC 2008 · Home games, LondonHome Game - £80 Holdem - Baron spews on the RockeryLet's start with some definitions: Rock: A very tight player, who doesn't create much action without premium cards Rockery: A retaining structure of stacked rocks, who…
08 DEC 2008 · Home games, LondonHome Game - £30 Holdem/£10 Omaha rebuyThe afternoon tournaments saw fields of 8/9 players, and some surprisingly long heads up action at the end of each one. It looked like my day…
06 DEC 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonNearly a good storyThursday night saw a £50 tournament at the Loose Cannon - with four players remaining myself and Sonny were the short stacks. Sonny shoves on the…
06 DEC 2008 · Home games, LondonHome Game - Santa at the cash tableOn Saturday night during the home game, I did my best impression of Santa and gave most participants festive gifts. I managed to lose £1k in…
28 NOV 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonDecember SlumberThe Christmas season is traditionally a slow time for live poker, and this was evidenced at Loose Cannon last night. Only 6 hardy souls made the…
25 NOV 2008 · OnlineBack in the Winners' EnclosureAfter the disappointment of missing out on playing the UKPT £300 event at the Vic, I decided to play online for the first time in a…
24 NOV 2008 · MusingsSigh..........The £300 at the Vic is already sold out for tonight............150 runners + 18 alternates waiting already. I was really pumped up for this one.....no evidence…
19 NOV 2008 · MusingsYear End Fast ApproachingDecember is never the best for poker, as players have other family commitments to worry about, so I guess I am entering the last 4 weeks…
19 NOV 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonKings Woe, Sick Bed and Steven SeagalTime for an update - I've been laid low for the last five days with a nasty ear infection which spread to my glands resulting in…
12 NOV 2008 · OnlineBiggest Downswing So FarWow. I'm now on my biggest downswing of my poker career, after losing $1200 in PLO over the last 2 evenings. I've decided to blog now…
09 NOV 2008 · OnlineHorrendous Online SaturdaySaturday was a complete mess on the online tournament front - I cashed once, played the FTOPs Omaha for $500, rebought seven times in the FTOPS…
07 NOV 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonShort StackingA very brief update as I'm feeling a bit uninspired today. I seemed to spend the entire tournament short stacked at LC's £50 League night yesterday,…
06 NOV 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonA Different Kind of BluffI tried something a bit out of the box last night, which didn't work, but I hit a 4 outer on the river to save the…
05 NOV 2008 · Home games, LondonGet Cool, Be Cool, Stay Cool!I'm not one for poker lingo, but at The Baron's impromptu home cash game last night, I lost £330 in two consecutive hands - first when…♠ 2 hands£ ledger
04 NOV 2008 · MusingsNice Score Professor JalfontProfessor Jalfont won a seat at the PCA EPT event this weekend, to be held in the Bahamas in January, so huge congratulations to him. He…
01 NOV 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonDidn't Trouble the ScorersThe Pakistani cricket team has suffered from a frustrating recurring issue over the last 15 years, namely that there is about a 70% chance that both…♠ 1 hand
27 OCT 2008 · OnlineAn Uninspiring SundaySunday's tournaments didn't work out well - I played 6 and only cashed in 1 for an $800 dollar loss on the evening. The lowlights: PokerStars…♠ 1 hand£ ledger
26 OCT 2008 · OnlineTime For A Sunday RunHad an unproductive online session on Friday night, losing about $500 worth of buy ins. Nothing much to report - didn't run particularly well, but didn't…
23 OCT 2008 · OnlineNo Follow UpAfter online success last week, this midweek session produced very little of note. I played my standard batch of 5 tournaments, and busted from all of…
20 OCT 2008 · Home games, LondonHome Game + FTOPSMy home game was a smaller affair than usual, but a great evening nonetheless. 7 runners attended - myself, Shazbo, Jody, Debs, Professor Jalfont, The Doctor…♠ 1 hand
16 OCT 2008 · OnlineThe chips go from me to youPoor old Pete Best. Talk about missing the gravy train - one minute he's happily playing the Hamburg club circuit in a young band known as…
13 OCT 2008 · OnlineMeltdown in the 75k GuaranteedMeltdown noun 1) (in a nuclear reactor) the melting of the fuel rods, escape radioactivity 2) a sudden disastrous failure Utter frustration. After playing pretty well…
09 OCT 2008 · OnlineA Quick Night's WorkI played 4 tournaments last night and then decided to stop for the evening, when I was eliminated from all of them in short order. I…£ ledger
08 OCT 2008 · OnlineEverest BanditsBefore I review last night's online action, a word on Everest Poker. I signed up for this supposedly reputable European site on Monday night, with the…♠ 1 hand
03 OCT 2008 · OnlineDipping a toe back into the online watersI played four tournaments last night - my first foray into online tournaments for months. I cashed in one event, but lost overall. I feel I…£ ledger
02 OCT 2008 · MusingsA Month In ElbaWe all need a rest from time to time. After a rather over ambitious jaunt across Russia, Napolean spent a brief period exiled on the Tuscan…
30 SEPT 2008 · MusingsQuarterly Review - RudderlessI've floated along for the last three months since Vegas, with no real aims except to enjoy myself. The results have been predictably uninspired - I've…Quarterly Reviews£ ledger
29 SEPT 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonVirgin Festival Main Event220 runners gathered at the Loose Cannon for the Main Event of the Virgin Festival. It was well run, efficient and friendly. With a 10k starting…♠ 7 hands
23 SEPT 2008 · MusingsSir Mike @ WSOPE 1.5k EventAs you know, I wasn't able to play this event due to other commitments, but I had a small investment in Mike from the Loose Cannon,…
22 SEPT 2008 · OnlineI've had better weeks.......After the chaos in the financial markets over the last week, it was pretty predictable that my weekend would bring more woe. Firstly, on a non…
19 SEPT 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonWinning run overA slight setback last night - I rocked into Loose Cannon after works drinks to play the cash game and was pretty abysmal, losing £340. However,…
18 SEPT 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonPoker CreationismDay 1 - Light & Darkness Day 2 - Water & Land Day 3 - Sun & Moon Day 4 - Birds & Sundry Sea Creatures…♠ 3 hands
16 SEPT 2008 · Jody's home game, Cheltenham, CheltenhamJody's Home GameSaturday night saw a trip to Cheltenham for Jody's home game. Seven runners pitched up - myself, Shazbo, Jody, Debs, Sir Mike, The Baron and Fluke.…♠ 1 hand
12 SEPT 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonLosing your way in QueretaroNowadays, Queretaro is an economic powerhouse by Latin American standards. Conveniently placed on Highway 57 and 45, it is a portal to both USA to the…♠ 1 hand
05 SEPT 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonPlugging The LeakWell the cash game was a big success last night. I got rid of a ton of bad habits, including my big leak, and ended up…♠ 3 hands
04 SEPT 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonSo-SoBah - a mixed bag of poker last night. Just a quick update today: The positives: - Won £120 in the cash game - Secured a…
02 SEPT 2008 · MusingsBaron Luckbox's £10 Investment PlanIf you're from the UK you will be familiar with the adverts.......... Carol Smillie is beaming at you waving wads of £50 notes, promising you riches…
01 SEPT 2008 · Gutshot, LondonThe Other King High HandI hardly played a single hand of poker last week, due to a combination of illness and feeling pretty burned out, but I did remember a…
22 AUG 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonUp and DownA brief update on last night - I was out of the Loose Cannon league event at the halfway stage. I shoved on the turn with…
22 AUG 2008 · Gutshot, LondonGSOP Main Event - Split Personality Poker - Part 2LEVEL 3 - Stack 16k - blinds 200/400 - Loose/Aggressive I am in a much bigger percentage of pots now, trying to pick up the more…♠ 2 hands
22 AUG 2008 · Gutshot, LondonGSOP Main Event - Split Personality Poker - Part 1Saturday saw me compete in the £500 Gutshot Series Of Poker Main Event in Clerkenwell. The structure was superb - 20k starting stack with 90 minute…
21 AUG 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonFord Escort JJ3i (mk 3)It's 1992 and my new car looked the nuts. £1420 well spent I reckon: £300 Racing Green Ford Escort 1.3 £400 Alloy wheels (x4) £100 Spoiler…♠ 3 hands
17 AUG 2008 · OnlineOnline Omaha SessionsI played a couple of interesting Omaha 1/2 sessions 6 handed over the weekend, on Friday night and Sunday morning, ending up $380 across the pair…
15 AUG 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Butterfly EffectButterfly Effect definitions: 1) Phenomenon whereby a small change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere. (Chaos Theory) 2) Hartnett, Josh. Wooden. It's the…♠ 5 hands
11 AUG 2008 · Home games, LondonHome Game - Jet LaggedI feel totally spaced out after the mammoth home game I hosted this weekend, which has completely messed up my body clock. The tournaments started at…
08 AUG 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonHome Game PreviewIt's the next instalment of my home game on Saturday, and things are being run a little different from before. This time we have a festival…
05 AUG 2008 · Gutshot, LondonJapanese RoadworksMy Japanese friend used to often confess his amazement at how the UK road system was constantly riddled with roadworks in the rush hour, bringing the…♠ 10 hands
28 JUL 2008 · OnlineGetting DistractedUsing my basic knowledge of military history, together with the historical documentaries that were the Indiana Jones films, it seems that key Nazi goals during the…£ ledger
25 JUL 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Cost of Being too ActiveThe £50 league game at Loose Cannon took place last night, and unfortunately my run of 5 straight cashes came to and end. After the break,…♠ 3 hands
23 JUL 2008 · Gutshot, London8, 21, 31, 32, 46, 47 - Gutshot OmahaEl Lotto. I've been playing it since 1994 now - one line a week. £1028 spent to date, and I think I have won £10 three…♠ 2 hands
21 JUL 2008 · Musings10,000th Visitor PromotionLooks like we are fast approaching 10,000 hits for the Magical Mystery Tour. At the moment I get about 350 visitors a week, so I imagine…
20 JUL 2008 · OnlineA Sunday Omaha StrollI haven't been playing much online recently, as I've started to find it a little boring without the social aspect of the live games. However, I…
18 JUL 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Rise and Fall of Julius' ChipstackIf my cash game is currently shambolic, I appear to be on a bit of a heater in tournaments at the moment. My last 5 entries…♠ 10 hands
17 JUL 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonRikki B @ City100I read a lot of poker blogs when I have the time, mostly to see how different styles of player approach different situations. The aspect I…City 100
16 JUL 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonGood Goran, Bad Goran1994 Wimbledon Final - Set 1 Goran Ivanisevic and Pete Sampras gingerly feel one another out. No one even comes close to breaking serve as both…♠ 1 hand
13 JUL 2008 · Home games, LondonLimoncelloLimoncello is a lemon liquor produced in Southern Italy, mainly in the region around the Gulf of Naples and the Sorretine Peninsula. It is made from…
11 JUL 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonEchoes of The 'DamI was totally knackered ahead of the Loose Cannon £50 freezeout last night. After a 3am cash session there on Wednesday night (in the books as…♠ 1 hand
09 JUL 2008 · London Pub Poker League, LondonThe Grassroots of PokerLast night was a new poker experience for me. I hadn't seen the Volcano or the Doctor since Vegas, and since they are keen supporters of…♠ 9 hands
07 JUL 2008 · MusingsBits and PiecesThe Main Event is underway at the Rio, the 4th opening day having just been completed. From my brief review of the action, it seems that…
04 JUL 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonPickin' StrawberriesThe strawberry pickers have it tough - stooped for up to 10 hours a day in the heat for an average of $8 an hour. This…
02 JUL 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonIn From The Cold"Go on Tony, it was only a small oversight" "Peter - the interest on that loan you didn't declare was £2,200 a month - I'm not…♠ 10 hands
30 JUN 2008 · MusingsQuarterly ReviewI was bitten by a donkey on Sunday. This being a poker blog, I imagine you think I am talking about a poker analogy, but no,…Quarterly Reviews£ ledger
25 JUN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonNo WSOP Main EventI missed out on the WSOP freeroll final, placing 10th in the end (only one seat up for grabs). I guess this is pretty below par…♠ 2 hands
21 JUN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonOdds Aren't Always EverythingI think I made a decision which was technically correct, but strategically woeful, during the LC League match on Thursday night. The situation was as follows:…
19 JUN 2008 · MusingsUSA v Europe - Playing MentalitiesAfter playing tens of hours of poker in Vegas over the last 2 weeks, I've come to the conclusion that there are marked differences in playing…
15 JUN 2008 · Caesars Palace, Las VegasVegas Day 9 - That's all folksIt's been a long 10 days at the tables. I just busted out of the Caesar's $500 deepstack on level 8. I made a good start…Vegas, June 2008
14 JUN 2008 · MusingsVegas Day 8 - Pokered OutI am knackered from playing too much poker now. I was scheduled to play Binnions short handed, but I taking the day off and going to…Vegas, June 2008
12 JUN 2008 · The Venetian, Las VegasVegas Day 7 - Venetian $2.5k - El River BlufferinoI played the Venetian 2.5k today, but played poorly after a drunken late night (morning?) cash session with Volcano, Deven, Fluke and Jalfont. 20k starting stack,…Vegas, June 2008♠ 1 hand
12 JUN 2008 · WSOP at the Rio, Las VegasVegas Day 6 - Made The CashI busted today in 42nd place, good for nearly $13k. I'm off out now so I'll blog the hands tomorrow, although most of it consisted of…Vegas, June 2008
12 JUN 2008 · WSOP at the Rio, Las VegasVegas Day 6 - $5k NLHE - Hands120 players left, 72 of us get paid. I have a couple of big stacks on my table, so I decide if I don't get cards…Vegas, June 2008♠ 8 hands£ ledger
11 JUN 2008 · WSOP at the Rio, Las VegasVegas Day 6 - Preview - $5k Day 2Just checked my table draw - perhaps I am not in as bad a position as I thought, and the tournament average has been distorted by…Vegas, June 2008
11 JUN 2008 · MusingsVegas Day 5 - PreviewI just had 12 hours sleep, and 36 hours of detox. For once, I am in sound mind for the tournament today - it's a big…Vegas, June 2008
11 JUN 2008 · WSOP at the Rio, Las VegasVegas Day 5 - $5k WSOP NLHEQuick update - will blog all the hands tomorrow. I made it through to day 2 of the event with just under 40k in chips (starting…Vegas, June 2008♠ 1 hand
11 JUN 2008 · WSOP at the Rio, Las VegasVegas Day 5 - $5k WSOP Day 1Made it through to day 2 with 39k in chips, average is 59k. 120 players left, 72 get paid so I lot of work to do…Vegas, June 2008♠ 9 hands
10 JUN 2008 · The Venetian, Las VegasVegas Day 4 - Venetian $500Another frustrating tournament. I just busted after 5 hours of play - I had literally NO starting hands - I think pocket tens was the best,…Vegas, June 2008£ ledger
09 JUN 2008 · The Venetian, Las VegasVegas Day 3 - Jimbo's Happy HourSo it's time to be star attraction. I set up Jimbo's Happy Hour in The Venetian. This involves me going all in blind for $500 pre…Vegas, June 2008
09 JUN 2008 · Binion's, Las VegasVegas Day 3 - Binnions $500Downtown Vegas is amazing - it's the first time I've been there. It's like a place stuck in time - the feel of the architecture and…Vegas, June 2008
08 JUN 2008 · Treasure Island, Las VegasVegas Day 2 - MiscellaneousA few things to blog which are unrelated to the Caesar's tournie: 1) Shazbo busted out of WSOP ladies' event after 2 hours. She ran a…Vegas, June 2008
08 JUN 2008 · Caesars Palace, Las VegasVegas Day 2 - Caesars $550 - DeepstackingThe opening levels of a deepstack tournament such as this one, (15k starting stack, 280 runners, 50 minute blinds) have a strange dynamic. The value of…Vegas, June 2008♠ 9 hands£ ledger
08 JUN 2008 · Harrah's, Las VegasVegas Day 1 - Harrah's TournieIt's 7am here and I can't sleep due to jet lag. I may as well stay awake till the Caesar's tournie at midday now I think.…Vegas, June 2008
07 JUN 2008 · MusingsVegas Day 1 - Tilt before seeing a cardFor the last 15 minutes I have waging a war with the electronic curtains in the Venetian. They appear to operate via remote control but I…Vegas, June 2008
05 JUN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonDonkey SocialismTax the rich, and give it the poor. It's never really been my motto, but since I was team captain at the Loose Cannon team event…♠ 4 hands
01 JUN 2008 · Home games, LondonReturning to form at just the right timeI was nervous about my form going into Vegas - I wasn't worried about my play, just the fact that I couldn't hit a flop, and…▣ 21 photos♠ 1 hand£ ledger
28 MAY 2008 · MusingsFinal Vegas ScheduleI've tinkered with my WSOP schedule endlessly over the last few weeks, but I think I've now hit on the final line up. I've decided I'm…▣ 21 photos
23 MAY 2008 · MusingsMy Nightmare WSOP 6-PackDisclaimer: All comments in this article are of the blog writer's sole opinion and it is left to the reader to form their own views on…
19 MAY 2008 · OnlineSetting up the playSo when I left you I had just won 3k on FT. After that I played a beauty on Stars in the midnight $100. The BB…
19 MAY 2008 · Loose Cannon, London3 Card IrishWelcome to 3 card Irish, debuted at Loose Cannon last night. I've played this game before in a cash game, but never before in a tournament.…
16 MAY 2008 · OnlineWhat is it about flush draws online?Well - good news and bad news....... Good news I placed 6th in the FT 40k guaranteed for 3.1k. Bad news is no internet player is…
16 MAY 2008 · OnlineFTOPS OmahaJust busted out of the FTOPs Omaha tournament in about 400th. A couple of interesting hands for the Omaha specialists out there to digest: I have…♠ 1 hand
16 MAY 2008 · UKPT Newcastle, NewcastleFrustrating Day - Newcastle UKPT Main EventYesterday was an extremely frustrating tournament in Newcastle, involving a tough table and tough laydowns. My table included two former UKPT winners (Jerome Bradpiece and Jeff…♠ 9 hands
13 MAY 2008 · OnlineNewcastle PreviewSome towns produce an inspiring list of famous people, bands and institutions over the years........take Seattle for example: Jimi Hendrix, Bill Gates, Nirvana, Microsoft and The…
09 MAY 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonGetting Information Too LateSometimes you find out about the extent of a situation just a little bit too late. This happened to me last night in a very interesting…♠ 1 hand
08 MAY 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Lab Rats Died Again"Day one thousand and one. Blood tests confirm that I remain immune to both airbourne and contact strains. Vaccine trials continue. I'm still unable to transfer…♠ 2 hands
07 MAY 2008 · MusingsLooking for CluesIt's been a pretty ropey 6 weeks since the Irish Open. I looked back and it seems to be three cashes (albeit one win) in 12…
05 MAY 2008 · Home games, LondonHome Game IVThe latest installment of the home game provided the usual mix of alcohol, a deep stacked tournament and a hyper aggressive short handed holdem/omaha/irish cash game.…♠ 4 hands
05 MAY 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonGood Idea - Terminal OutcomeThomas Cromwell was a genius. Methodical, detached, calculating - he was the thought tank behind much of Henry VIII's reign, and revolutionised government in England. Already…♠ 1 hand
02 MAY 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonLosing Key PotsA disappointing couple of the nights down at the Loose Cannon. I played in two tournaments, and felt like I was playing well in both, building…
30 APR 2008 · MusingsProvisional Vegas ScheduleVegas looks like it's going to be brilliant this year. I'd love to be able to stay for the full 6 weeks of WSOP, but will…£ ledger
24 APR 2008 · OnlineOnline Weekend + Upcoming Live EventsPlayed a number of tournaments on Friday night, and it didn't go too well. I think I cashed once quite deep in the PokerStars 25k guaranteed,…
24 APR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonMusings on Receding HairlinesHave you noticed that, since about 1995, any man under the age of 50 with a receding hairline has opted for the grade 1 or 2…♠ 2 hands
22 APR 2008 · MusingsPlaying monsters when short stackedFrom time to time, I like to go over previous entries in my blog and see if I am playing any situations in a way that…
17 APR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonBus PassI had my first live tournament win since the Irish Open last night. Only a £30 tournament, so £190 for first, but it was nice to…♠ 5 hands
15 APR 2008 · MusingsRefusing to do a "Moya"Whilst having my tooth extracted on Saturday, I was mulling over the content of Fluke's recent blog post, where he talks about the striking difference between…
14 APR 2008 · Jody's home game, Cheltenham, CheltenhamThe Mistresses of The RiverSometimes, people get on runs of form where they always seem to hit their draws. On Saturday night, at Jody's home game in Cheltenham, it was…♠ 3 hands
11 APR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonCheating DucksI remember the first time a girl cheated on me. I was 7 years old and had been sitting next to a girl in class for…♠ 2 hands
10 APR 2008 · Loose Cannon, London0-3? Are you serious?I got really drunk last night - I had toothache and decided to go for the white wine for medicinal purposes. Clearly this was a disaster…
09 APR 2008 · MusingsFTOPS Time AgainI notice that Full Tilt has announced another installment of their excellent FTOP series, to take place in May. These tournaments cater for all the games,…
07 APR 2008 · OnlineScissor, Paper, StoneIt's been a great performance. I have gone deep in the Scissor, Paper, Stone 110k USD guaranteed tournament, sponsored by MansionPoker.com. There are 23 gladiators left,…♠ 1 hand
07 APR 2008 · OnlineFollowing Ebbo's WisdomIt's a new week, and I'm about to go and sign up for the gym. Hopefully I can make it there 3 times a week, either…
03 APR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonGetting a kicking from AQOne of my drinking buddies from my youth was a guy known as "Hard Man Dennis". An interesting night was normally in store, in and around…♠ 8 hands
01 APR 2008 · MusingsQuarterly ReviewWell, I guess to keep on top of your game you need to consistently evaluate how you've done, and set yourself goals for the future, so…Quarterly Reviews
30 MAR 2008 · MusingsVisiting The Inner TempleHave spent the weekend working out what is going on in my head poker-wise......feel a bit refreshed. After all, if you'd given me this position at…£ ledger
25 MAR 2008 · Irish Open, DublinIrish Open Omaha - Devilfish and Micky Wernick's Bacon RollI expected to struggle badly in the Omaha - it was a highly competitive field of only about 120 players. It was rebuy format - 400…Irish Open 2008
25 MAR 2008 · Irish Open, DublinIrish Open Holdem Side EventsI played both the 1500 Euro freezeout and the 300 Euro scalp side tournaments while I was in Dublin. I shouldn't have played in the 1500…Irish Open 2008
24 MAR 2008 · Irish Open, DublinIrish Open Main Event Day 2 - Chip BurningDay 2 of the Main Event was a total disaster. Truth be told, I was pretty exhausted after my marathon session on Day1b and was pretty…Irish Open 2008♠ 1 hand
23 MAR 2008 · Irish Open, DublinIrish Open Main Event Day 1 - Pocket Rockets, Slowrolls and ScalpsDay 1 of the Main Event was a great success. I finished the day with 60k in chips, in 5th position for day 1B and in…Irish Open 2008♠ 10 hands
20 MAR 2008 · DublinRoll up for poker roulette!A last minute change of plan led to us going to play in the Fitzwilliam in central Dublin, instead of playing the main event qualifier. The…
18 MAR 2008 · Irish Open, DublinArrived in DublinWell, we've arrived at the CityWest outside of Dublin. It's a huge mansion out in the hills and is a great venue, a big improvement on…♠ 9 hands
14 MAR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonCash Game AnticlimaxI had pencilled in the Thursday cash game at Loose Cannon for a few weeks as my big cash session of the month. Unfortunately, it was…♠ 10 hands
10 MAR 2008 · The Empire, LondonDeclining Standards Of The EmpireAdmiral Ozzel had just taking his Stardestroyer out of hyperspace just above the ice planet of Hoth. The mighty Empire have tracked the rebels down to…
09 MAR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonTAGing with the LAGsIn poker, it is imperative to alter your playing style according to various factors in the particular game you are playing. In tournaments these are the…
07 MAR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonMarathon on the MezzaninePlease leave me alone "Everytime I get home from being out, the wife has been knocking back the vodka - what's that about?" "I'm not sure"…♠ 16 hands
06 MAR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Hand of ApologySebastian Grosjean looks vexed. It's the Monte Carlo Masters 2006 and he's serving at 4-5 in the deciding set, and is match point down. He has…♠ 1 hand£ ledger
05 MAR 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonPlaying With RookiesHow do you cope with a field populated largely with players who have rarely played before? It's a tricky one - and your game needs huge…
03 MAR 2008 · Gutshot, LondonMugabe's Home Game Bashed Down To Third Spot50-100 level….4 limpers round to me on the button. I have QQ and raise to 600. SB calls and UTG limper pushes for 2,500. Folded back…
01 MAR 2008 · OnlineDisappointing Night OnlineA quick update for the record. Played 8pm till 3am so far tonight, registered for $1,200 worth of tournies and still alive in 2 of them.…
28 FEB 2008 · MusingsDublin Warm UpNot long till the Dublin trip now, so I've put together a schedule to get as much live tournament practice as possible before then: Monday 3rd:…
27 FEB 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonOne of My Favourite TellsI'm not in this hand, but it's the final table of the weekly LC league tournament. Tony raises in middle position and is called by Briony…
24 FEB 2008 · OnlineGetting away with itOn Friday night I made a basic poker blunder - I played a cash game significantly above my bankroll. I had intended to have a week…♠ 1 hand
20 FEB 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonTick, TockCape Town, February 2003. It's the opening game of the cricket world cup - hosts South Africa are chasing a West Indies target of 287 and…♠ 1 hand
18 FEB 2008 · Gutshot, LondonThe Perils Of Not Playing ABCThis won't take long - Gutshot Monday £100 freezeout. First level, blinds 25-50, starting stack 5000 UTG raises to 250. I flat call with AA. 2…♠ 1 hand
17 FEB 2008 · OnlineFire versus IceIf you have to play like God to go deep in a large 10 seater MTT, then you need to play like the Devil to do…♠ 9 hands
15 FEB 2008 · MusingsHow Many Real "Pros" Are There?How big a bankroll do you need to go pro? A huge amount in my opinion. I think there are lots of young guys who set…
14 FEB 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonTyre Degradation in MelbourneReaders you will be shocked to learn that a couple of years back I once lost a 5-figure sum in 36 hours on a Formula One…
12 FEB 2008 · Gutshot, LondonA New Favourite HandI think I played my new favourite poker hand ever last night. It's Hand 3 below. It was my second trip to the Gutshot for the…♠ 1 hand
08 FEB 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonThe Magic Final HandNormally, during the last few cash game hands of the night people play hands they shouldn't, hoping for a last shot of adrenaline before home time.…♠ 1 hand
07 FEB 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonCity 100, Episode 4Another London blogger once wrote that he would "never go out of a tournament holding 7 2". Well folks, I clocked up my third career 7…City 100♠ 6 hands
05 FEB 2008 · MusingsThe ‘Real’ World Poker TourThe WPT is not the World Poker Tour. The Americans just got in there first, splattered some events round the states that would allow them to…
01 FEB 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonCash Game ImprovementNot much to report.................the tournament was a non-event for me. I grinded along short stacked for most of it, with few interesting hands to report. Eventually…£ ledger
31 JAN 2008 · MusingsDiscussion Hand 2 - "Multi-Million Dollar Laydown" Arieh v Murphy 2004Background We have 16 players remaining in the WSOP 2004 Main Event. On the feature table John Murphy is about to put Josh Arieh to a…Discussion Hands
30 JAN 2008 · MusingsDiscussion Hand 1 - "Pricing Yourself In" - Zilem v Pham 2005Ok, first in a new series of posts where I will talk through eventful hands from previous years, and give my views of the hand from…Discussion Hands
29 JAN 2008 · Gutshot, LondonARAG Merchants - Gutshot MondayI decided to expand my horizons and take in the £100 40-man tournament at the Gutshot on Monday. A generous 5,000 in chips and 25 minute…
28 JAN 2008 · London Pub Poker League, LondonBig Field & Jumbo BlindsOn Saturday I guested at the London Poker Meetup monthly £30 tournament. The day was enjoyable - most of the players were a pleasure to play…
25 JAN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonEI-EI-EI-0..........Up the Poker League we go......An eventful evening...........2nd place, 22 points, £430, a big suckout and an unbelievable cash hand to report. Tournament first - 24 runners for the 3rd installment…♠ 2 hands
22 JAN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonAmusing Cash HandSo................Volcano raises to £3 in a 50p/£1 cash game as he has been doing most of the night. He has about £250 behind after running nicely…♠ 1 hand
16 JAN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonLoose Cannon Sit and Go NightOnly 8 runners for a couple of SnGs at LC on Tuesday night. Regulars were myself, Shazbo, Rhys (the Welsh rock), Professor Geoff and the two…♠ 4 hands
16 JAN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonCliches and Honest DaveThe LC dealer "Honest Dave" detests poker cliches. I imagine this is because he has heard them so many times over the last 3 years, but…
14 JAN 2008 · OnlineOnline WeekendHad a very successful weekend online, to get the year off to a winning start. Decided to brave the Omaha cash tables for the first time…
11 JAN 2008 · WSOP at the Rio, Las VegasMemories - 2007 WSOP Event 47 - $2000 NLHEI shut the blog down half way through last year, so I thought I'd blog 2 major events I played in the second half of the…Memories♠ 3 hands
11 JAN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonMemories - 2007 NPL Open Main Event, LondonI'd won enough online over the previous 2 months to justify the hefty £3,400 buy in for this one. There were disappointingly ony about 35 runners,…Memories♠ 1 hand
11 JAN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonLoose Cannon Poker League + ArniePoker league finally off and running. I think if it hadn't started last night it would never have happened, but we got a field of 16…♠ 1 hand
10 JAN 2008 · Loose Cannon, LondonCity 100, Loose CannonAnother City 100 tournament at the Loose Cannon. Both the tournaments prior to this one have been big successes with 60+ fields and a good solid…City 100
10 JAN 2008 · Musings2008 off and runningBlog is back folks. 2008 should be a promising year as a few of my non poker related issues should be resolved in the next month.…
14 JUN 2007 · Irish Open, DublinIrish Open Dublin - Main EventI arrived in Dublin on a hot streak, after having a lot of £300/£400 winning weeks on the bounce (almost enough to pay for the Warsaw…Irish Open 2007♠ 1 hand
13 JUN 2007 · EPT Warsaw (Hyatt), WarsawEPT WARSAW - REPORT (Part 2)Returned from a frankly disappointing dinner (some Polish cold meat affair) and hit the whiskies. Figured things weren't going well so I might as well reduce…EPT Warsaw 2007♠ 2 hands
13 JUN 2007 · EPT Warsaw (Hyatt), WarsawEPT WARSAW - REPORT (Part 1)Arrived in Warsaw on the Wednesday night before day 1 of the main event a little nervous ahead of my first big tournament. Was determined to…EPT Warsaw 2007
13 JUN 2007 · EPT Warsaw (Hyatt), WarsawEPT WARSAW - APOCALYPSEThen it all got out of hand. I hit the bar for more whisky before heading to the cash tables. My memory is a bit fuzzy…EPT Warsaw 2007

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