Barcelona - the adventure begins!

So I've moved to Barcelona! I've finally done it. Been homeless since March, so had 4 months of living out of a suitcase going from hotel to hotel, apartment to apartment and now I've finally "settled" somewhere.

I chose Barcelona because it made sense from almost every angle. I love the city. I love the language and always wanted to be fluent. I love the weather. I love the food. And crucially, Victoria loves all those things about it too. It has very good access to everywhere major, especially to England and there is a decent enough live poker scene. 

It's not without it's downsides of course. No major online poker sites can be played there, the Catalunians make it difficult for foreigners to settle, and the language barrier is a short-term obstacle to getting involved fully, making friends etc. 

But when cash games in England are as dead as they are, and I had such a strong desire to make a change, Barcelona just ticked every box. 

A group of us spent 2 weeks there for the Estrella/EPT week.It was an absolutely mental festival, with every event breaking attendence records and the place buzzing every day. Poker went fairly disastrously until the most unlikely get-out occurred and turned into my 2nd biggest ever score! the 5k main went terrible, as did various 2k and 1k sides. And then it came down to a 1k re-entry. It started terribly, I lost half my stack and then blinded out for a few hours, shoved a bowl with A5 and got called by AJ. I got there, made day 2 with 16bbs and my some status on fb about what a sorry state of affairs it was that given all the sick tournaments I'd played that trip and all my hopes were resting on 16bbs in this! And then just ran like absolute god and came 2nd for €80k! What a silly game this is. 

The rail that didn't get kicked out

2013 was such a terrible year for tournaments I don't think I even cashed a £1k+ buyin comp! Whereas this year I've had tons of deep runs, cashes, 10-30th place finishes in huge field £1k+ comps so I feel like I've been knocking on the door of something like this. It felt amazing and I was just so lucky that day, I can't grumble about my luck for a while after that! 

We had a pretty sick night in Opium, Sebastian Ingrosso was playing and there was a good group of us all out till the small hours. Several people misses their flights home as a result! Victoria and I didn't even have a flight home, we just stayed out here! 

We have an apartment 60 seconds walk from the beach in a lovely authentic Catalan street in the Barceloneta region. 

My walk to "work" is a lovely 10-15minute stroll along the beach, with the beach on the right and some of Barca's coolest clubs, bars and restaurants on the left. It's hard to feel bad about life with that commute. 

I'm playing live cash most nights, a mixture of €3/6 holdem and €5/5 PLO! Ive never played much PLO before but decided that most of the money in live cash games is in PLO these days rather than Holdem and I'd like a new challenge. I'm definitely at that stage where we all were once with Holdem - just starting out and running like god so we think we're amazing but we're definitely really shit! Yeh that's me. I'm basically trying to play really tight whilst learning, but applying holdem principles and being aggressive when ranges are capped etc. Also by playing hands that make nut flushes, or nut straights you end up being on the right end of "coolers" much more often that those playing looser pre. That's the idea anyway, and I'm getting some tips from some seasoned plo pros which is very useful indeed. Really enjoying it anyway! 

Coming up: 

I'm currently in the Dordogne, in France on a family holiday, then there's a big night out in Nottingham to celebrate everyones recent success (so many people who've been due binks / heaters have got there lately, esp shout out to Jack and Thigh, both were "due" for so long!) so that'll be awesome to celebrate. Then I'm staying in England for a week because a) can grind WCOOP in England not in Spain, and b) Mitch is getting married! Then back to Barcelona for a few weeks until I guess EPT London. 

Goals:

I rarely make poker goals, but I have some fitness goals at the moment. One is the 100 pressup challenge - where you have 6 weeks to build up and by week 7 the idea is that you can do 100 pressups. October 1st is the date I aim to do the 100!

Good luck everyone!

Summertime

The last two weeks have been filled with so many happy times I could write for hours.

My girlfriend Victoria flew in from Latvia on the 17th, and we were kept busy with preparations for my Mum's wedding blessing on the 19th. I had a one key responsibility, to play the ORGAN for one of the hymns! I used to do loads of this kind of thing when I was 14-18ish, but haven't played for years, and although I still play the piano a lot, the organ is a completely different instrument really. So I was pretty nervous and made sure I prepared thoroughly and thankfully it went well.

The day was just so magical. The weather had been forecast for thunder during the whole day, which was obviously pretty disastrous, but miraculously it was beaming sunshine all day. Bobby did a very moving performance of Let It Be, drawing plenty of tears! And his a capella group from Oxford "Out Of The Blue" did a set during the reception.

It was just one of those perfect days where everything goes so well and everyone was so happy throughout. Many Congratulations guys! 

Two days later Victoria, Mark, Bobby and I flew to Italy to join my Dad and his partner in Tuscany, in a villa we've rented for 2 weeks every year for the last 6 years. 

We always have a great time there, it's so peaceful and relaxing. Time is just spent by the pool, enjoying the amazing Italian food, playing family games, table tennis, perudo, cards etc. Never an argument, never a stress. Bliss. 

We spent 5 days there and then Victoria and I travelled up north to Lake Como, somewhere I've wanted to go for ages. It involved 3 trains, 3 car journeys and a bus, but we got there, and had a car hired to travel about there. 

We only had one full day there, so the weather being good was crucial. The weather had been very on/off all week, there had been a thunderstorm the day before, and just like the wedding day - thunder was forecast. And just like the wedding day, against the forecast, the weather was absolutely perfect. 

At the risk of repeating myself, and running out of superlatives, we had the most incredible day there. It's probably the most beautiful place in the world I've ever been. My words can't do it justice, I'll post a few of the hundreds of pictures we took! 

Italy is such an awesome country, could be my number 1 actually...

Anyway, back in England now for a week or so, Probably should play some form of poker soon! 

One last bit of news, the aforementioned a capella group, which Bobby is musical director of, have released a video of their song "Hips Don't Lie" (Bobby's arrangement of three Shakira songs) which has been tweeted by Shakira herself, got in the Guardian, Times, and numerous big papers, and online news pages - and in 7 days, received 1.4 million views on youtube! Here's the link.

See you all at the UKPC at DTD I hope! 

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!