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.
« Home | 07-07-07: The Big One »
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
FAIT ACCOMPLI - My Accomplice Fate
So the deed is done. Today I put together my $10,000, converted it into two $5,000 chips and exchanged them for three pieces of paper. One is my most generous $10 food voucher, enabling me to eat some reasonably unpleasant food courtesy of Harrah's, who own the Rio casino, where the World Series is taking place. The other two are identical and tell me that I will be seated at table 104, seat number two. Table 104 is a good number in that it is twice 52 (52 being 13 x 4 which is my birthday, April 13th) There have been other significant numbers too - the final table takes place on the 17th: I left Gatwick through gate 17 and arrived to find myself in Room 1713 in Circus Circus. Anyway there have been a few good omens, but I seem to remember the same was true of last year......
Up until a month ago, I had resigned myself to the fact that I would not be coming to play in the Main Event of the WSOP. I had made a couple of attempts online to qualify, but had not even come close. In fact my Texas Hold'em was distinctly ropey, and the whole idea of gambling $10,000 was verging on the absurd, but then came an incredible month on the Omaha, and suddenly there was $11,000 sitting in my account. So I booked the flight, withdrew $8,000 for my buy-in, leaving me a little over $3,000 to play with. Then I made the rather strange decision to fly to India (one rather unlucky night in Delhi saw my remaining $3,000 slip to $2,000) and then I took the family to Ibiza, thus reducing the funds somewhat further. Then I blew all bar $200 of the remaining bank-roll and suddenly I was dipping into the savings. But now there was no turning back with the flight paid for at a cost of over $1,000. Losing most of my bank-roll playing Omaha gave me a somewhat strange satisfaction, as it put paid to my Omaha for now and forced me to concentrate on improving my Holdem. So off I went and with just under $300 in my online account I made swift work of it on my first night, ensconced in Circus Circus (or as the Japanese call it Suckus Suckus - I did in fact overhear this and jumped to entirely the wrong conclusion). So today, left with $3.85 in my account, I determined to claw it back and so I did, doubling it up to just over $8 (I did try to deposit more but my sanctimonious bank has decided to disallow any further deposits).... and half an hour later the $8 was gone forever and here endeth my online poker at least for now, which frankly is a great result. It will not tempt me away from writing to you whoever you are and it has forced me to play live. So after ensuring my entry for 07/07/07, I decided to go to The Palms to undo a wrong done last year (I lost my $200 buy-in in a cash-game last year in next-to-no-time due to some weak play). So the only available seat was in the $2-$5 game, minimum buy-in $200, maximum a grand. So I emptied most of the remainder of my wallet (retail therapy has been ruthless and relentless) and sat down with $220. I won't bore you with the details, but my high-point was just over $1,100 dollars and my low-point just over $100, but crucially the key-figure, my exit-point when I left the table.... was a healthy $862. Not a huge amount, but I played well (I even managed to throw away a pair of queens before the flop) and confidence is restored.
Tomorrow is Independence day (today in fact as it is half-two in the morning and I'm beginning to flag) and I have a strong desire to break free and my take my hire-car into Arizona to the delights and vortices of Sedona. I am looking at the possibility of livening the whole thing up with some photos on the blog (we could include the back of the bus advertising Menopause: The Musical) so how about it Dees - tell me what needs to happen. Dees is the man responsible for my website and virtually the only person I know who is definitely reading this as he has got the RSS feed. Click the RSS button and you too can be notified of the next thrilling installment in the Mystery of the Ten Grand......
9:38 AM | Permalink
Good luck tomorrow, in the ME.
Have you ever come across this guy - http://www.worldbridge.org/people/person.asp?qryid=6688 - he's a bit of a brdge player also. I played with him for an hour or two at the end of day 1 of Event 38 ($1500 NLHE)... I cashed in 212th, while he went on to finish 4th!!!
Cheers,
Alan Lake
How you doing mate?
Sounds like a merry band of worldwide poker nuts you're hanging /playing poker with...very
Vegas!
Sorry to read about the Big one, in fact quite gutted...really felt for you.
The 6 were gathered on the white island, and we raised more than a few glasses to you, whilst all wishing you were with us. My last week of 39 has to go down as one of the best in my life to date...7/7/7 was quite possibly one of the greatest parties of my life, and certainly an ecstatic way to turn 40...your were definitely missed my friend.
I am in Bristol having just put the kids to bed with my lovely Millie. I have decided to move out of Earls Court and spend more time here when we get back from Bali. You are welcome anytime, and really look forward to seeing you sometime in September.
Very proud of you for following your dream, and keep pushing for that publishing deal my man...we may still see you in Bali...
Adios Amigo,
Lots of Love from Millie and Myself.
Stu.
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Instructions on image posting to follow in an email. Look out for it, and hopefully its received before you hit the road.
Happy 4th July