Born 30 something years ago into a card-playing clan in the North of England: the low-roller's poker odyssey has taken him from the school common-room via down-trodden Midlands' casinos, smoky Cotswolds pubs, celebrity Soho drinking spots and of course the ubiquitous world of cyberspace to the home of poker itself, Las Vegas. Join his search for juicy take-downs, great pot odds and the occasional back-door straight as he goes for glory.
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Sunday, July 08, 2007
Made it to Day 2
It is half four in the morning - play ended at 3.30. Average chip stack was $51,500 - I finished with $41,500. When I restart after my two-day break, the blinds will be $500-$1000 with a $100 ante, so it will cost me $2500 per round. This gives me about 16 rounds, which is not much room to manoeuvre, and then after two hours the next level is $600-$1200 with a $200 ante which means it will cost me $3800 per round, giving me 11 rounds, so I need to double up early or I will be forced to gamble. In short I need cards and action. I have played OK - my increases have come from some pocket pairs, although only once did I double up. I was down to $20,000 where average was just over $30,000 and the guy to my right raises to $1800, where the blinds are $300-$600 and the ante $75, so I am looking at two red aces - the thrill of it is quite something, as you will know, but when you need it and someone has raised in front of you, you know that if you play your cards right you can double up and pull yourself back to above average. Well the good news, Brucie, was I did play my cards right. I was one off the button, in the cut-off and elected to call, hoping to get heads-up with Rodney from Arlington, DC, which is what happened. The flop is suitably tame 8-4-3 with two clubs and Rodders fires 3K at it, which again I flat-call like I might be on a flush draw. The Turn is another 8 and Trotter goes for $6,000 more, at which point I fire in the rest, another 8K or so and considering himself committed he calls. He has a truly crap hand King-Four of hearts and I dodge the two remaining fours on the River, and sighs of relief all round. It has been quite a fraught day, as I have nearly always been slipping below average. Every move I have made - and I haven't tried many - I've walked into monsters and got back below average to play the waiting game again. I got moved from my first table which was good news as I was perpetually unable to defend my blinds but arrived at a new table where virtually everyone was well above average. There is an emotional barometer which dips as soon as I am below average and soars as soon as I creep above. During the last level a beautiful and slightly tearful blonde from London arrived, short-stacked at our table, and played some great poker to edge a little upwards....Victoria Coren, whose voice I know better than her face. Her speed of analysis is impressive. We will all be reassigned to new tables and she is in much the same position as me, perhaps a little worse off. Anyway that's it for now - I have a hot bath, a big (alas empty) bed and a lie-in ready and waiting. I will definitely play the $300 Wynn tournament the day after tomorrow, and then I'm back in play on Tuesday. Wednesday will be another day-off and then on Thursday I should be in the money around early evening. I need cards, I need luck and I need great timing. I can also no longer afford any mistakes. Can I do it? I still think I can.
12:25 PM | Permalink
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