Vegas!!!

Just returned from one of the best trips ever. I bloody love Las Vegas. Definitely gonna go for longer next year, maybe even the whole series. I just love the whole life there. Amazing tournaments every day - you bust early, you get to enjoy the awesome heat by the pool, or shop in the huge great value malls. You bust late, you go to an world class restaurant, you go out to a sick club. You don't bust - you win loads of money! It's so good. Everyone is there. Friends from the online world, friends from the EPT circuit, UK circuit, the biggest names in poker, the biggest stages, the biggest prizes. Numerous opportunities to win huge sums of money, and even more opportunities to spunk it all!

My trip involved lots of deep runs in tournaments! Yay! No big result alas, but got 5 cashes out of 10 decent events ($1100-$2500 buyins), all finishing in the top 2-5% of the field, which doesn't pay much, and I had nasty busts in most of them, but made it a winning trip on a personal level. However my big "score" came from swapping 10% with Deadman who won the Hollywood Poker Open. Thank you Simon!

I think this montage sums up the trip far better than any words could.



Some highlights then...

Best Day

Deadman wins the HPO. I also made the final day of this, but bust in 21st or something, very early on. I then spent a lovely day by the pool in the gorgeous M Resort, while Deadman navigated his way to the final. By this time there was a squad gathered on the rail and we all had dinner together and then got to the rail and the drinks were flowing thick and fast. Group morale when someone wins something is just always absolutely incredible - it's what we live for, and having a financial sweat just makes it even more sweeter. Awesome day.

Best Night

I really can't decide between Calvin Harris at Hakassan or Deadman's celebration night at Drais. For the latter, I had a day two the next day so wasn't drinking, and went home at 230, so the fact it's even close is a testament to how good that night was. Calvin Harris was predictably incredible, and I love Hakkasan - I have amazing memories from that night last year with Laidback Luke which will probably never be topped. Nights out in Vegas this year were all really sick.

Awkward moment

Crippling stato getting the AJ vs AQ in the money of a Venentian comp with $180k ftw! It was horrible! He had 7 antes left then had to go on break, and then he sat there and stalled for a $300 payjump by tank folding the next 4 hands, then I finished the job with AJ again > 52! He didn't even make the payjump! Ouch...

Funny moment

Did a big river bluff on day two of the HPO. Whilst tanking the guy got out a $100 bill and said "I'll literally pay you $100 if you can show me a bluff" He folded, I showed, scooped the pot and the $100!

Sickest spot  

Getting raised from 3k to 11k in the main event, having lead into 2 players, holding the Ace of hearts on a Q95J all heart board. Who bluffs there? But who folds there?!

Worst moments

Missing EDC which I flew out for especially, because of Tonsillitis and general fever etc.

Taken from our Palms Place suite after a nightout

I'm gutted it's all over, it was so so so good. Can't wait for next year. 

Back in England for a week, my Mum is getting married in 5 days! I'm playing the organ for a hymn in the service! And singing in the choir for an item too! Then I'm off to Tuscany for a week with Victoria and my Dad & brothers. Always an awesome holiday, such a beautiful part of the world. 

Until next time, see ya...

Marrakech & Marbella Madness

As amazing as the summer in Nottingham has been last month, I couldn't turn down a couple of little trips before Vegas.

Both I would classify as "half & half" poker and holiday - The events weren't huge, and I wasn't grinding sides or cash much so probs slightly -EV long term given all the expenses and partying etc but it's all about Life EV and I always make up for these things by putting in the hours afterwards.

Marrakesh

Winamax hosted an Electro Music + Poker festival for 5 days at the end of May which seemed to me such a cool combo and I went out there to just play the main and spend the rest of the time by the pool and going to the electro festival. I just went there with Fred, who unfortunately needed plenty of sleep and early nights and I didn't bust the main till late on day two so we didn't do much partying at all. That was limited to the tournament breaks, where I'd step outside for some fresh air and find this scene!

The main event was one of the most fun live tournaments I've played for ages - 6max (see picture of the 6max tables below) and Winamax just seems to attract so many players that just love the game and actually HAVE FUN playing it. There's almost no tanking at all, so it's very quick, and everyone is just really friendly and enjoys it. I got 21st/670 so a nice little run which got me a niche flag, 5figure score (in Moroccon Dinham!) covered expenses for the trip and a few rounds of poolside cocktails so no complaints here  :) 

Free straw hats and sunglasses #standard

 Marbella

This was one of the best trips I've been on in ages. It's my third consecutive trip there and it's always a blast there. It's got everything- the weather, the nightlife, the beach, the food, the people, even some Poker. Add the World Cup to that and you can't really go wrong.

Not many of the usual crowd I go abroad with were there this time but it was cool to mingle with some new people.

Me, Leo, Rich, Victoria, Dan

Victoria, Matt, Fred, #UKPOKERCHAMPION Alex Spencer, Me

Me, Grafton, Middy, Victoria, Keith

Poker didn't go well, I busted the main in level 5 in pretty absurd fashion, then played the hiroller which was sick value, but busted 5 off the money on day two :( 

Another thing that didn't go well was the service! In all but one restaurant we received absolutely shocking service. Not just service without a smile, but the most rude, most incompetent service I've ever come across! We all got so tilted, on so many occasions, especially me who I'm ashamed to admit may have slightly blown about an incident involving butter... Buttergate shall not be blogged about however, it's all in the past...

World Cup Party on the beach!

Pokerstars hosted their party on the beach on the evening of the England game, with a huge screen, open bar, and many many heroes everywhere. Even though we lost, I really enjoyed the game (I usually find watching us so depressing) and think we will still get out of the groups with 6 points having watched Uruguay's dismal performance before. 

We went to a sick club, Aqua, afterwards and had the best night out I've had in ages. Absolutely loving life the whole night and didn't get back till 930am!

VEGAS

I'm back in England now for 3 days, then off to Vegas for the last 3 weeks of the WSOP. Planning to play mainly tournaments, a bit of cash, but also a bit of Open Face Chinese if the games are good! Can't wait to get out there and make some deep runs and big cashes! Will blog with all the gory details when I'm back!

Good luck everyone out there and everyone back home too! 

RunGood - things heating up!

Hello everyone!



Sorry it's been a while since the last blog, it's been an absolutely hectic period, but I'm alive and well, and still loving the game of course!



During March and April I put in more volume than I ever have before, entirely live cash, playing almost 400 hours of live cash in that period with almost no days off at all. I took a break from online poker, and that has continued well into May, missing SCOOP entirely, something I haven't done for 2/3 years.



I returned to life in Nottingham for the UKIPT two weeks ago and played a lot then too, and since then been pretty much on holiday. The weather has been amazing, and this past week or so has been some of the best times I've ever had in England.



On Saturday I had the absolute perfect day in the Peak District, the hottest day of the year so far, and the scenery around there is just spectacular.

We did some walking for a couple of hours, through some hugely varied landscapes, had a picnic, chilled with the sheep, played games - it was so perfect.



In the evening I met  up with some of the boys for a night out in Derby!



Last week I'd been in Cambridge with my Mum for a lovely dinner with her and her fiance (getting married in July!) then went to Oxford for my cousins 21st, and had a huge dinner / night out with all the Nottingham Crew.

Just every day has been so so good, I've loved being back in England.



Now, alas all this stuff hasn't exactly been paying for itself on the felt, I've been running bad for the past 4/5 weeks, but some heat during March has made up for that, and all the stuff above really takes the sting off a downswing so I've been very happy.



Speaking of Run Good, I met a lovely guy recently who's built what I think is a really sick app for tracking Live poker results. I think the ones on the market are so so poor in comparison and this guy felt the same and built his own app, calling it "RunGood".

I'd thoroughly recommend it if you play a lot of live poker, cash or tournaments. It's just on iphone/ipad at the moment, but will be on android soon I'm told. You can try it for free here http://itunes.apple.com/app/rungood/id625738400 or pay £6.99 for the full version here http://itunes.apple.com/app/rungood/id556317356



Tomorrow I'm off to Morocco for some hilarious poker festival plus electro music festival for a 4/5 day holiday / business trip! Pretty random but can't wait! Then my plans are pretty up in the air, but Vegas is all booked for 19th June! This Summer is gonna be awesome!

Let's keep passion in fashion!

Nothing like a cheesy lame title to draw in readers eh?

A recent channel 4 EPT episode contained a hand between Timothy Adams and Eric Seidel in a super hiroller where they get it all in preflop with KK and AA respectively. A cooler in any situation, and especially nasty in a tournament with €100,000 buyin. The board bricks until the river which is a King. 
 

A hand that makes for great TV, or it should have done. Without the commentary, it would've been barely possible to notice who was involved in the hand, let alone who won and lost! 

Not a hint of a reaction from either player when the cards were revealed, nor as the board was dealt out. 

Whilst I admire their coolness and professionalism under the circumstances, and this is absolutely not a rant about how players should "entertain" on these TV shows - I want to see more emotion in the game! 

Bring back the fistpumps, the cries, the cheers! We all do it in our homes whilst playing online and everyone feels the highs and the lows inside, so why is everybody so concerned with bottling it all up now!?  

I understand why it's not the done thing to celebrate in front of people, and of course it's "cool" to not care about a suckout - but I'd much rather that people were allowed to ENJOY winning off me and didn't feel pressured by current etiquette guidelines. I genuinely enjoy seeing someone be made happy by winning at cards, even if it is at my expense. Because if people are made to feel bad for enjoying their good fortunes, they're not going to stick around too long. 

This is what I'm talking about! You have to at least crack a smile at this, even as the loser.

And believe it or not, I really don't mind if it makes my opponent happy to slowroll me on the river (unless the pot is really big!). I play so much live poker that I'm more or less immune now. I've been slow rolled countless times, and 95% of them have not been in the slightest bit malicious. Mainly in places like Spain France or Italy - they love it - it's just part of the game to them, they have fun revealing their cards how they want. They play the game with passion and emotion at every corner, and showdowns are no different. In most cases they aren't trying to piss you off at all. It's not even an issue there, just part of the game.  

So if you're happy that you've rivered me in a big hand, I really won't mind you showing that emotion however you wish. We want our opponents to enjoy playing the game don't we? So let's stop being so sensitive and self conscious and have a bit of fun ourselves.  

The TV shows are for the most part useless at attracting people into the game. They sure make poker look boring to someone channel flicking. Imagine if Adams and Seidel were replaced with Teddy KGB and Havad Khan? Or Rastafish and Phil Hellmuth? Then it would look fun! "Wow what a sick hand, look how happy that guy is and how pissed the other guy is! This looks fun".  

Instead it's like "who won? Oh the young guy, well he doesn't look very happy about it". That's what my mum would say!  

Joe Stapleton (who is a cut above the rest by a million miles in terms of appealing to the masses and making the best out of some pretty lame material) hit the nail on the head with his commentary. 

"Seidel, would it kill you to berate the guy?". Tongue in cheek, but got me and my good friend and first class DTD Dealer George thinking. 

The fro got me thinking

Hence this blog in fact.

Pros are never going to act differently towards each other, I understand that. But let the recreational players have their fun at the table. Get befuddled by an Ian Gascoigne check raise and enjoy his "boom shackalaka" celebration. Get rivered by Rastafish and enjoy the moment with him as he sings and shouts about it! 

Pokers a horrible game sometimes but can be made that little bit easier if you ease up, relax, enjoy your wins and even enjoy your opponents joy at your losses. 

Goodbye Nottingham!

This week marks my last few days as a resident in Nottingham. I moved here in 2008 to attend University and have lived here ever since, but it's time for a change so come Friday, I'll be officially homeless and just living out of a suitcase for the next 6 months! My rough plans for the next 6 months are Macau, Vegas, Barcelona, with various stoppages elsewhere depending on what I fancy. Where I live after that depends on how things go...

It seems right that my last few days have been spent hanging out with my friends and playing live cash games. It's been so much fun. The guys in Gala/ Alea really feel like my Nottingham family. I love going down there and catching up with all of them - they've been there since the start for me and I've shared some great times in cash games there over the past 5/6 years. Probably my favourite guy from there is Ali Ayub, he cracks me up no end and on Monday I had one of the funniest nights of poker I've ever had, getting drunk in a 50/1 cash game with a load of heroes, including Ali who had me in stitches all night.

Living in Nottingham has been a blast. I guess I don't really love it as a city, I'm not particularly attracted to any house / street / restaurant or anything like that. But I love the community in DTD, Gala and Alea that I feel part of and I've met all my closest friends here. I've lived with Stato, Thigh, PJ, Fred travelled all over the world with people I've met here and will certainly continue to do so and this isn't goodbye to any of them.

Last night Keith had us all round for pancakes and then watched / coached as we all grinded online. He decided to play himself and obviously got the lot and was the only winner! I went to Alea and made a bit playing DC. Unfortunately lost chunks tonight at DTD but I feel a good one is on the way in tonight's game...

It's just been a really fun time playing cash games these last couple of weeks, the games have picked up again and I'm definitely leaving hoping to be back soon, rather than leaving happily, which is a really nice feeling.

Not much else has been happening since the UKPC but I felt it'd be remiss of me to not blog about me leaving the country! So it's short and sweet today, I'll leave you with this one meme which just keeps making me chuckle.