GukPT Satellite 4th November 2009

Its 3.45am I have just got home from playing in the final satellite for AWOP members for one of four seats in the forthcoming GukPT Main Event in Blackpool. Eighteen players started the final with it being streamed live via The Nutz tv. The structure of the game was 10,000 chips with the blinds starting at 50/100 and a 25 minute clock. The players who qualified, or bought directly in were:

Brian ‘weebrick’ Clarke
Mick ‘schoolbully’ Tetlow
Linton Holling
Carl Pickles
John ‘The Viper’ Prescott
Ky Hutchinson
John Hare
Will McMurray
Tim France
Paul Murphy
Paul ‘swampy’ Gardner
Joe Egerton
John ‘riverasusual’ Millar
Dave Jackson
Mick Fletcher
Chris Michael
Pete Mason
Rob Bright

The game started slowly for me and I lost a succession of hands early on and I found my chip stack had dwindled to about 5,000 when I picked up 10,10 in position. I raised it up and picked up one caller. The flop came 7,J,7 and I put a 2,400 chip bet in as I felt my pocket pair was good. Rob, the other player involved in the hand, re-raised me putting me all in and I knew that a wrong decision was me out of the door. I considered the hand and the pre-flop action and made the call. Rob showed Q,9 and my hand held. This was the turning point in the first session for me and I settled into my usual game. By the break I had 17,000 chips and was comfortable in the middle of the field and my confidence was high.

After the break the field thinned as the blinds increased however I managed to maintain my chip stack on or about average until the final table was formed (10 players). The final table saw me draw seat 1, which is my least favourite seat as I struggle to see seats 10 and 9. The first period of play on the final table was uneventful for me until I picked up pocket nine’s. I got it heads up against one player and the flop came low (I’m sorry I can’t remember the exact flop). The other player bet the flop and I re-raised strongly. The action moved again when he pushed ‘All-In’, a count of my chips revealed that if I made the call I would only be left with 800 chips out of my stack of 19,000 ish. I spend a minute or two considering the hand, the pre flop betting, the action that had occurred post flop and also the player who I was in the hand with. Once I had done this I called and the cards were turned over, I was right with the other player showing A rag. My nines held and I took down a 40,000 chip pot. This hand put me in second position and in a very strong position to achieve my objective which was to win a seat for the Main Event.

The field thinned to 5, the bubble, whilst there was a cash prize of £160 for 5th place every player at the table wanted the seat not the cash.

The final five players were Dave Jackson, Paul Murphy, Chris Michael, John Millar and me. The bubbled lasted for nearly 90 minutes and as the blinds increased it became push and fold poker for the short stacks. I just locked up as I knew that I could afford to play strong hands in position and maintain my stack, when I did enter a pot against one of the short stacks I ensured that my pre flop raise was strong enough that the short stack was playing for their tournament should they call. Eventually John Millar ended up as the unlucky player taking the 5th place.

I achieved my objective of winning a seat in the main event of the GukPT and the chance to play with some of the best players in the UK. During the evening I played the best poker of my life and have also demonstrated to myself that I can make big calls based on information and not ‘hero to zero’ calls.

In closing I want to say a hugh thank you to Alistair ‘The Fox’’ Findlay and all the other AWOP staff for putting this event on and I can now look forward to and plan my festival week.

4 November 2009

Ok so it’s a few days since I wrote a blog so I thought I’d try and update. I played on Sunday afternoon at the ‘G’, well I should say I attended rather than played. I don’t think I did anything wrong it was a case of being totally card dead and / or running into monster hands.

Monday evening I played in a regular home game with a group of friends, 2 x £6 tournaments. I really enjoy Monday evenings as it is a chance to relax, chat and play poker. Two of the girls are heading out to Las Vegas on Saturday so good luck Lisa and Lorraine!

Last night I played at the ‘G’ in Blackpool in the £30 double chance, 2 x 4000 chips. There were 49 players and my first 4000 chips went up and down like a bride’s nightie! I reached the break with 9,200 (including my second stack). I didn’t really pick up many big hands and after the break I struggled to build on my stack.

I managed to final table mainly due to checking my BB when down to 4,000 (blinds 800/1600) when I was holding 8,6 off suit against 2 limpers. The flop came 8,8,6 – giving me the top house. The other players missed the flop and the turn however I managed to pick up a call on the river when I pushed ‘All –In’ from Chris who was the chip leader by some margin who put me on the steal. This in effect more than doubled me through due to the third player’s limp and saw me to the final table of 10.

On the final table I was amongst the short stacks so initially set myself the goal of cashing (top 7). This I achieved eventually coming 6th however I did fold a pair of 8’s pre-flop as two other player’s were All In and the chip leader had called. Yes I know the value purists will say it was a poor fold as the pot value was there to make the call especially with a ‘made hand’. Remember I had set myself the goal of cashing and this fold allowed me to ladder up, as it turned out I would have been sent crashing out in 7th had I played. This could be important in the forth coming GukPT if I do manage to hit the cash payouts.

Tonight Wednesday 4th November I am one of 18 players taking part in the Final Satellite for one of 4 main event seats, I will update my blog on how I got on.

Entries: 49
Prize Pool: £1470
Position Name Prize
1 Christopher Michael £520
2 Robert Bright £340
3 Liam Dennehy £240
4 Anon £170
5 Anon £100
6 John David Hare £60
7 Paul Worsley £40

31 October 2009

After good nights sleep I decided to go the Blackpool G for the £100 buy in deep stack end of month tournament as I am not that experienced with large field tournaments that use running antes. As usual this tournament was well supported attracting a strong field of 173 players generating a prize fund of £17,300. The game went well for me in the early stages and whilst I did not have any major clashes I maintained my stack and was tracking the average well despite not really picking up and big hands. Obviously I wanted to get chips as best as I could however I was also aware that being a deep stack I needed to not ‘donk off’ chips as this would be very damaging in the later stages. The table was a mix of players from a total calling station to very experienced strong players. As with previous recent games I went prepared to play strongly in position with good starting hands but also looked for opportunities to take blinds where possible, this I did successfully and reached the break bang on average chips without any drama.

After the break the running antes started and through the next 3 levels I continued to play strong poker making some very good reads on other players and maintained my stack on or about the chip average. A new player joined the table following the unsurprising exit of the earlier mentioned calling station. I know this player from previous tournaments, a younger player who has more moves than a chess champion, who continually steals blinds raising with marginal hands. Over the next 4 orbits he raised my BB every hand but I was never holding anything I fancied making a stand with. By the next orbit the blinds were 600 / 1200 with a 75 chip running ante. As usual he went for his chips and looked at me, the obligatory 3,600 raise followed into an unopened pot. The rest of the table folded and I had already made my mind up that no matter what my hole cards were I was going to make a stand. The rest of the table folded and I looked down and saw J, 4 off suit. I called his bet having decided no matter what the flop came I was going to get in first and bet it strongly as I was confident he was raising with garbage (I do have a read on this player and this confirmed he was on ‘the steal’). The flop came a delicious Jack high and I raised it to 7,200 with him nearly burning the cloth as he quickly mucked his cards. Point made!, thank you for your donation of 3,600 chips.

Two orbits later I was on the button when I found 8,8. I raised it strongly and picked up a quick call from the small blind, having observed him for the last 5 hours of play I was confident that he was holding a big Ace but not a pair as he re-raised before the flop with pairs. The flop came 4,4,3, two hearts and he checked. I fired a strong bet at the pot, 7,200 and he re-raised putting me all in. I called immediately as I knew my pair was good and the cards went on their backs, I was spot on he showed A,Q suited in hearts. He was clearly surprised to see my 8,8, holding however as in many of these situations he had the last laugh when he hit runner, runner hearts to knock me out! (24% shot approx).

Ok so I was out but not down, my exit hand was the first I lost in 6 hours of poker, when I got my chips in I was a big favourite. Of course I was disappointed however the original field of 173 was down to 60+ and I had played very good poker throughout.

30 October 2009

Tonight I played at The Castle in Blackpool in the £30 5k +5k No Limit Texas Hold'em Double Chance Freezeout. Not a lot to say really except I played like a total donkey and crashed out 30 minutes before the break having never hit a hand all night. Well as the saying goes ‘that’s poker’.

Left the tournament and joined what can be described as a fairly ‘active’ cash table, cash is something I’ve got more into over the last 6 months and I do enjoy the game. It a great way of helping you make those ‘value’ calls. During the evening we were joined by three fairly ‘deep stacked’ cash players Alistair ‘The Fox’ Findlay, John ‘Backspinner’ Wood and an unknown called Paul. I stuck to my principle of only pulling up £40 and early on was rewarded when I doubled through twice in consecutive hands when I flopped trip Kings ( A,K hand holding) and then flopping the nuts house (4,3,3, board) when holding 4,4. After this great start the hands dried up a little until late on when I turned the nut house and then I picked up 3,3 on the button and due to my position I played it to a large pre flop raise. After the flop the board read A,6,3, both players bet into in and I decided it was time to push ‘All-In’ so stuck in £100 (pot already £100), both players called and my hand held, the other players holding A,Q and A,6. This put a nice glow on a poor night’s poker, plus a nice wad in the ‘back pocket!’

I am undecided what to play in tomorrow, there is the end of month £100 at the G which would give me great practice for the GukPT however after a heavy week I fancy a relaxing game at the Castle (£20 10,000 chips). I’ll decide when I wake up!

29 October 2009

Thursday evening and I’m playing at the G Blackpool. This game is now the game of the week as far as many, including myself are concerned, £40 No Limit Texas Holdem Triple Chance Freezeout(10,500 Chips). As with most weeks the game is well supported with 80+ players turning up, on looking round the room all the ‘usual suspects’ are in attendance, a real who’s who of local poker. There is a real buzz about the room tonight and everywhere people are discussing the GukPT which starts on 7 Nov.

I draw Table 5 Seat 3, I wander over to the table and sit down. The dealer’s seat is empty and the chip tray sat there denotes it’s a self deal table. The tournament starts, or should I say it starts on all the other tables, yup no offers to deal so as usual I end up in the dealer’s chair. The table contains many players I know and respect, Linton (Bean Flicker) Holling, Bill (you’ve got none of that) Eadie, Mick (Schoolbully) Tetlow, Enid Musson and after a few hands Nick Slade.

The first hand I win having flopped a set, taking it down on the turn, then the hands are uneventful apart from for Nick who looses a series of hands early on and takes both of his chances in quick succession. I manage to maintain my chips without really building on them, I do find it difficult to focus on playing when dealing however for other players I am putting real action boards out.

ACTION HAND

I’m not in this hand but three others are, Keith (seat 1), Bill (seat 5) and Nick (seat 8) – sorry I can’t remember where the button was however there has been pre-flop betting action with raise and call. The flop comes 9,9,10 and it ends up with Nick All in. Keith re-raises and Bill re-re-raises, Keith considers for a fair amount of time and eventually folds. Cards on their backs and Nick shows A,A and Bill shows quad 9’s, yup he’s flopped quads! Turn card no Ace – start the car, taxi for one front door! As a cautionary note to all that read this – I have dealt quads 3 times whilst in the chair, all of them on TABLE 5!

The break arrives and I have 9,600 chips, I’ve been fairly static to say the least but at least I’m still in and have enough chips to play. Following the break I deal for a short period of time and then thankfully as my chips dwindling (7,400) I am replaced by a house dealer. During the period after the break before being replaced as dealer I only pick up a couple of playable hands, one of which is 7,7, in early position. I raise it up and get re-raised by Linton, the rest of the table folds and after considering it I lay them down as I know Linton is unlikely to re-pop a pot I have raised without a monster hand.

The blinds are 400 / 800 and I’m now in seat 10, UTG I pick up A,A and raise it to 2000, hoping to get action from one player. The players fold to Enid who is in the BB, the chips all go in and cards on their backs, Enid shows 7,7, and my Aces hold. Shortly after I move to table 1 as our table is broken, my chip count is now 11,000 however the average is now in excess of 23,000 so I need a double up.

I pick up Q,Q in early position and put a strong raise in 1600 with 4800 (blinds 800/1600) and am immediately re-raised and re-re-raised by the next two players. I’ve committed more than 60% of my chips so make the call ‘All In’. Cards on their backs, with re-raiser showing A,Q and the re-re-raises showing 9,9. On seeing this I am happy, only 5 cards to dodge, the rest of the pack belongs to me! Out come the cards and out I go, for the second time tonight I see quad 9’s!

In summary a night where I did not do anything wrong but did not get many playable hands or got marginal hands in the wrong position, as I am trying to prepare for the GukPT I am not playing these marginal hands out of position as the type of player I am likely to face in the GukPT will make mincemeat of me, a sure way of donking off loads of chips!

28 October 2009

Tonight was my second and final attempt to play for a seat into the final for a chance to win a seat in the GukPT Main Event via the AWOP Satellite event. The format was the same as last week (£25 buy-in with add-on’s of £20).

As with last week the room was full with 20 players, most of whom I know from the Blackpool circuit. I lost my first set of chips (2000) when I pushed with 5,5 and got called by two over cards. From my experiences last week I knew I needed to win the 50-50 races early to build a decent chip stack during the buy-in period. Following this I lost again with another medium pair (8-8). At least this week I was picking up playable hands and it would be a matter of time before a couple held up. As with my recent play I was folding pre-flop rag Aces and other hands that have been getting me in trouble. During level 2 (30 minute clock) I picked up A,A and pushed All-In for the third time, this time I picked up two callers and my Aces held. This hand gave me a decent chip stack of over 10,000 and during the rest of the re-buy period I focused on low risk stack building. At the end of the buy-in period I had 16,000 chips and was well chipped up compared to most of the other players on my table.

During the short break in play I re-evaluated my play and using the knowledge gained from last weeks event I decided to once more only play premium hands in position as the short stacks would be looking to double through.

When play resumed, as I predicted, the short stacks had to resort to ‘All-in’ poker, I lost one race when I had 10,10 beaten by K,Q but I also won a couple of smaller pots to maintain my stack. I maintained my chip stack without really building on it and kept out of trouble until 10 players remained. The final table was fairly uneventful apart from the ‘bubble hand’ (6 seats available, 7 players left). This saw 3 players All-in with K,7 diamonds, against a medium A against A,A. The two players holding the A chopped the pot when the wheel showed and Mick exited in 7th with a cash saver.

Following this there was an interesting discussion about folding A,A pre-flop in this situation. Whilst the A,A could not be knocked out in this hand, loosing would have left the player short stacked in the event of the other two players chopping the pot. As usual when this topic is discussed opinions vary. Would I fold pre-flop? The answer is simple – it depends what is at stake in the circumstances and I would make my decision then and only then.

The final is to be played on 4th November at AWOP HQ with 12 players having qualified by right plus two more buying directly in.

Brian weebrick Clarke
Mick schoolbully Tetlow
Linton Holling
Carl Pickles
John The Viper Prescott
Gez Hilton
John Hare
Will McMurray
Tim France
Paul Murphy
Ste Haley
Joe Egerton

Direct buy-ins so far:-

John "riverasusual" Millar
Mick Ash

**UPDATE 30/10/09**

4 More players have bought directly in making a total of 18. This means there will be 4 Main Event seats to play for.

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Played at the ‘G’ Blackpool this evening in the £30 double chance freeze out. It started poorly when after 25 minutes of play I ‘donked off’ the last 2100 of my first 4000 chips with a poor call when holding the nut flush on a paired board with Danny, the other player, having hit the full house. This call annoyed me because I was aware that a house was possible on the paired board but still made the call.

I reloaded with the second 4000 chips and got my head down to go back to the poker that I had played during the weekend. By the break I had managed to get my stack back to 7,300, the average being 9,300, not a bad effort after such a poor start. The positive about the poor call being that it did not push me on tilt and that I managed to ‘get over it’ fairly quickly.

The field quickly thinned from the 42 that started and a table move found me on a table with a real mixture of different playing styles from loose to tight. I managed to increase my stack to 16,700 in part due to flopping trip Aces on my BB then checking it allowing a loose aggressive player fire into me and then he called my all in bet. Over the next 45 minutes I was disciplined and focused on playing hands in position, during this period of play I folded a series of small pairs pre flop and also numerous medium suited Aces as having to call a re-raise would have put me all in.

The blind increases dwindled my stake to slightly less than 10,000 (blinds 600 / 1200) when I found A,J diamonds in late position. I pushed with this ‘All In’ only to run into Q,Q. End of the night’s tournament when I failed to find the required Ace however I finished in 16th place.

The positive I took from tonight being my recovery from the early set back of a very poor call. It also allowed me to focus on good hands in position that will be required during the forthcoming GukPT. Hands I would normally limp with to see flops were mucked rather than called, as I am expecting limping to be punished during the GukPT so I am trying not to limp too much especially as the blinds increase.

Following my exit from the tournament I played a bit of cash poker and managed to ensure the evening was self financing finishing £50 up in cash.

Tomorrow evening I am involved in a 2 table £20 re-buy in an attempt to win a seat in a Super Satellite for the chance of a seat in the main event at the GukPT. Lets see what tomorrow brings!