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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Friday, July 06, 2007
Third Time Lucky? Into The Vortex
I am back in my hotel room, having played in the noon tournament at the Wynn. Today they had upped the buy-in to $500 with $40 juice - as opposed to two days ago when it was $300. On Wednesday with 90 runners I played well but got knocked out 20th where the top nine got paid. I reraised all-in with Ace-Queen of spades and got Kimble, a dangerous oriental, to fold but Spruce Lee, the mild-mannered janitor, decided his Ace-Jack of clubs was good enough and I guess he was right, as up popped a Jack to send me heading to Arizona. The upside was I made it to Sedona at half-two in the morning with the comfort of knowing that I'd done the right thing. Arriving, for the third time, at the base of my favourite place in America, Cathedral Rock, I discovered my head-torch had turned itself on, leaving me out of batteries. Luckily the moon, half of her at any rate, was risen and half an hour later so was I. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Sedona has the greatest electromagnetic field on the planet. There are many such places and some are benign, like Sedona, others, like the Bermuda Triangle, not so benign. Sedona has four vortices, which emit energy that spiral up from the earth. They are quite subtle - all I felt was a great sense of calm and a great reduction in thought. So I slept the night up there for the second time - previously on 11.11.99 and spent the day touring the other three vortices. The romantically named Airport Vortex nearly killed me, as like a mad-dog Englishman I set out, shortly after noon in 100 degree heat (20 cooler than Vegas though) with no shirt, no water, and yes apparently no brain, after quite a big brunch. I did have a hat however - a sailor's cap no less, but alas not a drop to drink with desert desert everywhere. So I guess you could say I got my just desserts. Luckily the walk proved to be only three miles with no shade - I thought it was just a loop trail around the hill, as opposed to round three hills and an airport. After one mile and one hill I elected to remove my shorts, leaving me in just my Calvin Kleins, but enabling me to use the shorts to protect my shoulders which were piping. Luckily no-one else was mad enough to leave their air-con havens and I made it back unspotted by the pervert police, to my ridiculous red rental car. I headed straight for the creek where I wallowed for a while and cleansed my new purchases from The Crystal Castle. Suitably refreshed I checked out the next two vortices, had a wrong meal in an over-air-conned restaurant with an overly enthusiastic waitress with over-sized.... portions and promptly returned to my car for the burn back to Vegas where I proceeded to fall asleep at the wheel. Luckily I had pulled over at the time.
A quick visit from the black doctor (Mr. Bull is not a doctor although he is currently and luckily in Africa - more of him anon). I refer of course to our mutual friend Captain Coca-Cola, who did just the trick and I went on my way feeling the benefits of Coke and Vortices, to return to the bright lights at three a.m.
So back to now. Why am I in my hotel room, writing to you, instead of playing eleven hours of poker at The Wynn to take down the 10K first prize. Well it's down to those Quacks again. I refer to Queens and Jacks. rather than black doctors. My Ace-Queen was looking in great shape against the pocket Jacks as the Queen appeared only to be dashed by the Jack of Hearts on the river. Disappointed? No not really. Pretty much the only person who can disappoint me is myself, but that was last year. This year we are new and improved Bold, whiter than white, (actually red in fact). I made my move on both occasions in situations with positive equity, given the pot-odds and fate kicked me in the nuts. So here I am ready for my third time lucky. It is my third attempt at the Big One. Two years ago I arrived with the cash but couldn't register in time (just as well as Jet-lag Jimmy was not going to be a contender). Last year I qualified through an internet site that shall remain nameless and played poorly and this year.... well I've played two tournaments and am ready for the third, now only 22 hours and 22 minutes away. I am left with very few dollars in my wallet - not enough for a poker game, unless I take on the cleaners here at Circus Circus. I also have one credit card that is heating up by the minute, two that are maxed out, and an ATM card which thanks to those Barclays people is completely non-functioning. My only account which actually has a four-figure number in the plus column and they won't let me use it. Seven billion in profit last year they were and my contribution ends as soon as I get home when I will remove every last penny from your greedy coffers and I urge you all to do the same.
The upside is I am back on The Blog and my intention is to head to the hills to let off some steam at the cooler climes of 8,000 feet. Exercise is pretty vital to the stamina, so a bit off jungle jogging might help. I am in quite good shape, off the fags (for any American readers - is anyone out there? - we are not talking rent-boys). I am also staying off the booze (again since Monday - you try having dinner with Tom Hanlon and staying sober). My diet is distinctly un-American and thus quite healthy. So all that is needed is a bit of exercise and perhaps a bit more retail therapy. I will be back with you tonight.
10:26 PM | Permalink
Good luck tomorrow.