A poker history: Jimbo's tournament reports, Vegas trips, Loose Cannon cash games and home games from 2007 onwards — 350+ posts and 465 hands you can replay. https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/ en-gb https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2026/10/wsop-malta-mini-main-event/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2026/10/wsop-malta-mini-main-event/ “Pandas roam on the flat plains of the Mini Main” First tournament report from Malta – the mini main event. 300 euro buy in. 30k stack with 30 minute blinds. The first observation (and this applies to all Malta WSOP tournaments) is from level one there is a big blind ante. I think this is commonplace now introduced during my… Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2026/10/oh-my-god-were-back-again/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2026/10/oh-my-god-were-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 to his left and noticed Backstreet 2 having completely let himself go and was struggling with the latest costume change, before checking to his right and making sure somewhat emaciated Backstreet 3 was still… Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/12/end-of-year/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/12/end-of-year/ Well, 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 been for a good visit to Vegas, but basically there were far too many alcohol fueled late night cash sessions, which damaged the bankroll. One positive was that I registered a second place in… Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/12/smidgen-of-points/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/12/smidgen-of-points/ Registered 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 to my usual 10. I'm still lurking in lower mid table though and need to try and score heavily in the six double points games in the new year. A few hands I remember:… Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/11/monkey-drums/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/11/monkey-drums/ I 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 our chip box and the chips had gone everywhere. It took me about 15 minutes to get it back it, during which time I suffered three splinters and two cuts from loose nails. Naturally… Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/11/poor-night-at-league/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/11/poor-night-at-league/ I was eliminated from the League tournament in short order as is the standard. I played the hand badly - I decided to limp AQ UTG and then when it was raised and called in a few spots opted to flat call again. I think I should have just shoved here as it looks so much like AA/KK. Anyway, flop… Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/suited-gappers/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/suited-gappers/ I 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 was the first premium pair I had seen since my second last Luxor session in Vegas - that's quite a barren run! However, in this pot limit deep cash game, big pairs are almost… Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/moderator/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/moderator/ The 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 game results were registered solely on paper and no money exchanges hands on the night itself. Nemo and the Baron were the usual opponents, alhough Jody and Ioannis also arrived later. I enforced the… Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/back-to-punch/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/back-to-punch/ So, 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 of my opponents tonight is the Baron of Rungood it would seem doubtful......... Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-two-final-shorties/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-two-final-shorties/ 1) 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 shut, before turning round to lock the door. Then realised it was a single seater and there was a gentleman sitting on the toilet who had forgotten to lock the door. He looked genuinely… Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-time-to-leave/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-time-to-leave/ The 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 the Hollywood 2pm tournie, and busted in 7th after losing AJ v 77 and then QQ v AK. In a tournie structured this fast you obviously can't afford to lose these races. One amusing… Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-more-luxor-fun/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-more-luxor-fun/ I 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 cheaply, but I took it a bit far this time. I 4 bet some guy to $150 with 2h4h when we were playing effective stacks of $220 (wasn't paying attention) and he shoved on… Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-spa/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-spa/ Jimbo 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 your arse it wouldn't" FFS Shazbo :( Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-good-day/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-good-day/ Yesterday 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 had about 3 big blinds. Not much to write home about though as I had to buy into the tournament 3 times before getting anything going! Myself, Shazbo, Shaun and Niel sat down in… Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-quad-run/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-quad-run/ No 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 poker" on the tables and had some good fortune. First Shazbo was dealt JJJ and then the dealer completed the 6 card bonus with his hand with another J. That was good for $900… Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-luxor-cash-game-fun/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-luxor-cash-game-fun/ I 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 a $1100 stack from a $200 buy in). The best way to approach this game seems to be play very loose, make some crazy re-raises from time to time (and show), and then bet… Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/roulette-slowroll/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/roulette-slowroll/ Myself, 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, but Neil had about $150. It was time to go, so instead of betting his usual spread of $20, he put the entire $150 down, about $30 on number 6. I was close to… Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-treasure-island/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-treasure-island/ There 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 table. Oh boy. Proper "Old Gold" She loves my accent. As far as she is concerned I sound like Roger Moore circa Octopussy. The tournament is bizarre. I lose 70% of my stack with… Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-funny-hannds/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-funny-hannds/ Hand 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 cards. Flop is A77. I can't remembe whether my "x" is a 7 or an 8 but decide to bet 1800 again and check later. SB folds KK. BB proudly shows he folded AK… Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-binnions/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-binnions/ I 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 on fire and spent today with his mate Neil playing cash in Binnions. They are from Carlisle and traditional Northern buggers. Binnions cash game is very nitty, full of old grinders. But then there… Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-ballys/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-ballys/ So - $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 a lemon. That's right - blind structure was (20 min levels): 100-200 200-400 400-800 Great - after 20 mins everyone had 10BBs! It being a complete luckfest obviously I won :) but what a… Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-luxorexcaliburmgm/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-luxorexcaliburmgm/ Didn'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 the top of the strip. The cash game at Luxor was MENTAL. 70% of table were wasted including me. $400 pre-flop shoves were commonplace in the dark (I did not partake). I had a… Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-first-impressions/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/vegas-first-impressions/ Wow……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 running at the 20% mark. All tournies have faster structures than 12 months ago, and the difference in punter volume is noticable compared to my trip a year ago. The casinos are trying to… Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/money-never-sleeps/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/money-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 patch on the original, but I should be able to see it either on the plane to Vegas or in the hotel, and I can't help looking forward to it. No James Spader this… Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/day-at-fox/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/10/day-at-fox/ Last 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 nice - it is upstairs so, unlike nearly every other cardroom I have played in, has windows where you can see the London life passing by as you play. I think this makes a… Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/change-of-scenery/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/change-of-scenery/ I'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 play the last week or so and it's really helped. However, there is only one place to go to get the poker love back............Vegas. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/urghhh/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/urghhh/ Cash 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 extra couple of buy ins have left the bankroll bruised and battered. Consequently will have to switch to tournament mode for the next few months as my bankroll will be eroded to zero if… Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/decepticon-politics/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/decepticon-politics/ Whilst 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 perhaps based upon the evil segment of this robot population, otherwise known as the Decepticons. Please note, we are talking Generation One Transformers here, not the shiny new rubbish that populate the recent Hollywood… Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/poker-month-day-1/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/poker-month-day-1/ I'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 session online. The online Omaha started pretty disastrously, but I managed to claw back to level after controlling tilt for a change. I also signed up for a raft of tournaments in the afternoon,… Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/neverending-weekend/ https://magicalmysterypokertour.com/2010/09/neverending-weekend/ I’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 events, but having seen how miserable playing all weekend made me I’ve sharply aborted that plan. Instead I plan to play what I want, when I want, but definitely with an angle on online… Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT