Ruminations of a Beard

Changes

2010-07-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Firstly, greetings to those who have found this blog during a web search of my name or to those coming back to see what old beardy has been up to.

To be honest, time became an issue, committing time with Harmony and other online stuff meant something had to give, hence no bloggage from me.

Several exciting opportunities have arisen in the mean time and my "Official" blog is now at -

www.pokerbeard.com

Although I am tempted to keep this as my "Unofficial" blog.

Cashing in

2009-09-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday saw us rushing to DTD after a last minute decision to play in their regular tournament, we arrived 4mins before kick-off.

The turnout surprised me as when I took first in the same comp two weeks ago the field was about 40% bigger, tonight was not to be mine though and I exited in the 100/200 level.

Harmony faired better than I till a well timed shove ran into pocket Aces.

Table 45 and a £0.50/£1.00 cash game welcomed me to it's bosom and I walked away with around £220 profit in my pockets, mostly from seat 4 & seat 9, bless you.

By chilling and watching the game you should learn the tendencies of your opponents, seat 4 was a prime example of somewhat loose player who always came in for a raise in any position and paid of another players obvious straight with nothing but top pair. It took 2 hands for me to stack him.

Seat 9 was a new player to cash who I believe may have played a home game or two, but he had got lucky with 2 gutshots and so was ripe for the picking on.

Seat 3 did donate his remaining £14 stack in quite some style by reraising the £4 bet allin for the aforementioned amount and tossing his cards into the muck, where upon seat 2 announced he still had cards.

Not sure who was more dumbstruck, seat 3 or 2!!

Nice one

2009-09-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to say one of my students cashed on the final table at "Blonde Bash", Brett did a superb job of getting there after recovering from a shortened stack.

Well done my friend.

Harmony won and cashed in two of the infamous "Tightend" (Dealers choice) STTs.

Luck of the non-Irish

2009-09-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

Twas over a year ago I won first place, my seat to the Irish championship and a Gold medal at DTD in the APAT regional final.

I was just going to sell the ticket but fate and Helen changed my mind and off to Dublin we flew.

Delighted that we went as we spent a fantastic time with our friends before the tournament. However, despite a good start were I was playing well and providing a first class display of "Speechplay" according to the APAT live updates, this comp did not have my name on it.

The hand that did the most damage showed exactly how much luck plays apart in our favourite past time -

Blinds 400/800

I am in the SB with K-J and a mid position player places a 5000 chip with out stating "Raise", the dealer rightly announces it's a call and tells him to place the correct number of chips in the pot. Whether this was attempt at "Angle Shooting" I do not know but the player says he will bet that chip on the flop. I decide to limp and the BB checks, 3 players see a flop -

9-10-Q

Nice, casually checking I say that he hasn't the balls to chuck in that 5000, the BB checks along and mid guy throws in the 5K with a smug look. My choice is ridiculously easy - allin.

BB folds but mid calls with his lesser stack and tables Q-10.

Needless to say a Q pops up on the river and a shove later with a dominated hand means I am out.

Sigh.

I decided to chillout on the Sunday by playing the Fitzwilliam's regular comp and took 3rd for a nice payout, much fun was had on the way to the final table and new friends made.

Jacks Back

2009-09-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I honoured "Jack" in my first posting I thought it would be good to share how is doing now.

"Jack's" real name is Mark and he has really taken to the APAT and playing poker away from the chaos and nonsense that is pub poker. Pleased to say that some of my guidance obviously helped as he went on to make the final table in the Irish championship, something that you could feel was special to him.

Good variance to him in future events.

Blonde Bashing

2009-09-08T10:47:00.001-07:00

Tis merely days till "Blonde Bash 8", a gathering for members of the UK's most popular poker forum, which is to be held at the ALEA in Leeds.

I am actually looking forward to this one as the last one we attended was tinged by much sadness, our greatest friend in poker died just before and we were meant to meet him there. However, there was some joy as Helen made it to the final table which when taking into account the field contained pros, festival event winners and the odd poker journo, was no small feat.

Due to one reason or another, several "Blondes" have apparently fallen out with me but it has to be noted that these individuals are all of the type to dish out verbal & sarcasm but dislike it when it is served back.

Mostly in a much wittier way, even if I do say so myself.

In fact, news of my recent win at the fabulous "Dusk Till Dawn" incited not one comment of congratulations.

As the Fonz said -

"When you're this cool, they're out to get you"

I do so hope I get to face some of my "Ex" associates across the felt and I will provide a report of the event.

Tempus fugit indeed

2009-09-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

Sweet Mary Poppins, it would seem it has been well over a year since I posted.

Not like me not to say anything for so long.

Believe it has been a combination of factors -

1) Your perception of time changes as you get olde, a month will pass by in the blink of an eye.

2) Life happens, events and things crop up and they simply have to be dealt with.

3) The usual "Will of the Gods" intervening.

Still pokering away, still talking straight and providing my own brand of sarcasm and still enjoying my way through life with Helen at my side.

Good variance...

2008-05-28T09:27:00.001-07:00

So, friend and fellow Beard in poker, Jon Young is on Sky poker's "The
Open" tonight. Jon did quite well last time he was on, a tad better
than my 102nd place when I played in the studio. I wish him good
variance for tonight, although I have to admit to a nagging feeling
that fate has other ideas. Around 9.36pm tonight we will find out for
sure.....

--
"Nothing personal, it's just business...."

Helping others to help yourself

2008-05-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

I was playing in the APAt regional qualifier at DTD the other day and in a break I was discussing with Harmony that I had been giving some advice to one of the players, who I saw make an "Interesting" call of another players allin on a Jack high flop for most of his chips.

Players had just limped pre and the board comes Jack high with Two Clubs, the chap in question bets out and another player comes over the top by going allin, I fold and he is called by our "Hero" who has a bare Jack giving him top pair and no draws. The allin guy did indeed shove with the nut flush draw, which failed to connect.

I found out the "Jack High Guy" had not really played a lot, so I suggested that the allin play by his oppo was an indication he was on a draw and I would have been hard pressed to make the call with just top pair for nearly all my chips with 2 cards to come. So, after giving him some tips, thoughts and ideas we carried on with the comp.

Harmony did wonder why I would give away such advice and possibly give away my mindset to an opponent in the tournament I was playing, but to my mind, I was actually helping myself in a small way -

1, Chatting to this player gave me further insight into his ability and his apirations regarding the tournament and I could portray a certain image to him of my capabilities.

2, Newish players can be a nightmare to face, they do not always do as you expect or behave like players you face on a day to day basis and they do not always understand your betting and what it may represent.

So by speaking to him and giving him some guidance I am applying some control to his actions in the tournament and have a better idea what his plays may mean.

Indeed, it proved beneficial as this was the player I was to face heads up and ultimately beat to place first and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed our HU battle and he played well.

So, after getting my seat to the APAt Irish championships it is off to sunny Dublin for Harmony and I.

I do hope "Jack" is on my table again.....