Change of plan…

Plasterer cancelled so I made it to the home game.

 Won the first few pots, I hit the flops and bet.  Even 1st hand I said move me all in if I wasn’t at the table in time.  I flopped the straight anywayz with 62offsuit!  Bingo flopped the straight also with 62 offsuit.  We both split Ross’s all in bet.

It was going to be one of those nights….

With the river to come, James was all in with flush draw and top pair, Gary all in with trip 8s, Shugster all in with trip 7s.  Bob had the small flush already made.  River was….a 7!!!  Shugster took down a 4-all in pot with a 7 river to make quads, unreal, we were going crazy.

Was about 3000 chips going into the freezeout.  Was on the ropes then I got AKo….moved all in, got 2 callers.  Ace hit on the river, I was happy.  That was definitely the turning point.

Next hand I got AKo again!  But decided to slow play it.  And it was wise, I missed the flop entirely and got away from it.

I made some very touch and go calls with my top pair against Ross who I couldn’t figure if he had made a straight….instead he showed a gutshot straight draw and a flush draw…he missed.  I also made some other big calls.  And got away from hands like when Gary had paired queens and I had paired jacks…this is where the skill comes in.

Finally it was clash of the titans, me versus Shugster. Even in chips.  I had A9o, I raised 2000, he called.  The flop came 9/4/5.  Shugster moved all in, I thought very carefully – he might’ve flopped trips or more like had 45suited which he would call a bet with but not re-raise.  I decided that top pair with Ace kicker heads up was as good as I was going to get.  I called and he turned J/10 off suit.  A total bluff!!!  I couldn’t believe it.

 He didn’t hit a Jack or 10 and I took the crown….$40 entry and $360 payout.  Nice!

So far I’ve cashed 14 out of 21 home games and come 1st 7 out of 21.  That’s just crazy stats.  But of course I have had some nice runs but know what to do with the cards when I get them.  If I win the next 3 visits, I will in fact level my live poker losses from when I started….that includes my donkey playing when I knew nothing and my Bellagio cash game losses.

 Last night definitely cheered me up!

5th place last week at Monday nite game

Didn’t feel lucky….didn’t get lucky!  Had AA and KK but couldn’t get paid.  Did take 3 hands in a row with the donks folding but that was it.

 5th was OK I guess.  James won which was good, about time the kid won something.  Lucky D in the final again, we couldn’t have him win again!

Good laff.

Sadly won’t be going today (Monday).  Got building works going on…but will make the next 2 weeks.  My new Lexus SUV is great and makes the 130 mile round trip much more enjoyable.

Have decided to enter WSOP 2008 – my folks have given me early inheritance of $10,000 co-incidentally…I would propose to split it 3-ways with them.  Sadly though I have already booked in a photography job for 12th July 2008, so I am hoping that it isn’t then.  The WSOP main event was at that time 2005 and 2007.

I could play the Irish open as alternative, but it isn’t really life changing money…you must finish 1st to get $1M which is OK but not retirement or Pro-poker money.  That would not last me very long!

 Played the Bodog $5K on Friday…162 runners…I had the nut-flush draw and top pair (aces) with 1 card to go.  2 players moved all in.  I knew if I hit the flush I would be win.  And if either didn’t have the flush, I would win also prob.with my top pair (Aces paired on 4th st, so I knew the main bettor prob didn’t have an Ace).  Missed and was out 160th!  Disgraceful, but I was getting 3 to 1 odds and I had chips already in the pot.

Played the 17500 guaranteed at FT.  Myself and Shugster ha da $20 side-bet to see who could last the longest.  I won that, but was cold carded and kicked out about 1/2 way.  But it only cost me $4 after my side bet so I was OK about that.

Right now my strat is this – buy into 1 big event directly for 2008.  Maybe play some sattelites just in case I get lucky.  And that’s it.

I’m depositing the odd dollars for a SNG, then if I win or cash I go straight to the cash tables….did work up $30 free bonus to $507 but then back down to zero…lost it all in 2 hands…last hand I lost I was 75% to win…oh well that’s poker.