GUKPT Newcastle

Well having decided to give the main event of this a miss, I decided to play the £200 NLH and the £250 PLO side events. Here's how it went.

As far as the Hold Em event went. I get sat immediately next to a local that I know really well. Unfortunately every time I put in a raise, he reraises me massive each time showing a better hand to me when i folded, AQ-QQ, KQ-AK, AK-AA, JJ-QQ just 4 examples, sigh. Then I turn 2 pair only to run into a flopped set by Paul Wilson. I manage to limp through a couple of more levels, but never really recover.

The 2nd bite of the cherry, the omaha, was last night. With 7k starting chips and 30 minute levels, it was clear chips would be required early on. Got sat on same table as Steve Jelinek, Andrew Feldman, Jeff Kimber, Paul Wilson and a couple of locals, including Dr Zaffa. Looks like an action table.

Anyway, good read me, not much action first 2 levels, lol, apart from a hand where on a KQ9 rainbow board Paul Wilson manages to get a fish to get all his chips in on the flop vs his TJA8 with the bare K9 2 pair. Unfortunately the fish turns K to hit his house and Paul hits the rail, but you could see everyone at the table making a mental note that this guy was the one who could double us all up. This was to turn out crucial in the hand which turned out to be my last. The table fish limps in, so I raise from cutoff with Ad9d22, fish is the only caller. Flop Q 8 2 rainbow, now I am not a great lover of bottom set in omaha, but I know this guy is raising preflop with any big pair after seeing a lot of his hands at showdown, so immediately discount trip Q's, and whilst he might have a set of 8's, I was convinced he had top 2pr Q 8 again. Seeing how he couldnt put them down on the flop against Paul earlier, I decide to take the pot on the turn if a non scary card comes. Turn is 4, that aint scaring me for sure. He bets again I push and he calls with, yep you guessed it Q 8 2pr, no redraws, only for the river to come a cruel 8.

Aaaagggghhhh, I hate hold em players when they play omaha, not. :-)

Interesting Cash Hand Live in Newcastle

Had interesting cash hand after the 1st event of the GUKPT in Newcastle on Monday. Here are the details.

Playing 1-1 NLH, one guy is acting a real asshole on the table and has made himself the table target, I honestly dont think this was a tactic I think he really was an asshole. Anyway I limp early with KJ, someone calls, asshole then raises on button to £5, SB calls, BB calls, I call and cutoff calls. Flop comes a very sweet J J J. check check check, cutoff bets £10, call call call, I call. Turn K, check check check, cutoff bets £20, asshole calls, fold fold, I call. I am trying to decide whether to value bet or shove the river, when the dealer turns the river card to show another K!!!! At the sight of this card the asshole shouts out, "Ha, ha, ha, I can't be beat.", which quickly makes my mind up that a shove was in order. I push all in, cutoff folds and asshole says "Well I cant be beat I call!!!". I keep my cards face down and say to him, "Which card would you like to see the one where you split the pot, or the one that beats you?". At this point his chin fell on the table and as the rest of the table burst into laughter, I honestly thought he was going to cry and, for a fraction of a second I nearly felt sorry for him, but as I raked in the pot this sentiment soon passed, lol.

Moneybookers

I have found recently that a good way to move funds around, between poker sites is to use moneybookers.com

Once you have deposited on moneybookers, it is free to deposit and withdraw to your moneybookers account from most poker sites, it is also much quicker than using debit or credit cards.

Click on the link below to see what its all about.




https://www.moneybookers.com/app/?rid=8856954

Bankroll Builder Experiment Update

Currently $50 now up to $493.73:

Buyins $2554.17
Total Profit $443.73
Games 758 (includes cash sessions)
ITM 259
ROI 17%

Got my roll up to $575 then went on a really sick bad run and dropped to nearly $400, but on way back up. I dont think moving to $10 level at $715 is the way to go, so adding an extra level into mine of $7 sit and goes at $715 and not moving to $10 til hit $1k (This might change but after a $175 swing at this level, which has fecked my ROI, I think it is prudent).

Bankroll Builder Experiment

Ok I have been running this for 6 weeks now.

Rather than start at zero I decided to start with $50.

I have the following rules, which I have stolen bits from Mr Ferguson and others.

To start with only allowed to play freerolls or $1+10c sit and goes, try to play on site with rakeback deal, and account for rakeback as additional income added to bankroll.

Not allowed to move up levels until next level threshold broken and not allowed to fall below 50% between levels. i.e. to move to $2.25 level, must have at least $157.50, and once moved up level bankroll cannot fall below $103.75, if it does move back down level.

Set levels as follows:

Level Bankroll

$1+10c------------ $50+

$2+25c ------------ $157.50

$5+50 ------------ $357.50

$10+$1 ----------- $715.00

Also if playing cash games, not allowed to buy in for more than 5% of bankroll and must leave table if the amount at table is between 10-15% of bankroll i.e. once you have double up, leave table and rebuy back in elsewhere at 5% or less of bankroll.

I started off very well and my ROI was through the roof, but it has settled down to a bit of a grind and my original $50 now stands at the following after 6 weeks.

Bankroll $425.53

Profit $375.53

Games/Sessions played: 583

ROI: 24%

To give you an example of how important the rakeback was to this exercise, at the end of 4 weeks my bankroll stood at $187 and I was paid $29 in rakback from that months play, increasing my bankroll by a further 15%. Obviously as I move up levels the rakeback should increase exponentially.

I wonder if I can do a "Ferguson" and get it up to $10,000? Only time will tell. I'll keep you updated.

GUKPT Manchester Main Event report

Ok the big day had arrived, and I made my way to Manchester for the GUKPT Leg 4 Main Event. It promised to be a reasonable pot and with 123 runners on day 1a, which historically has less runners than Day 1b, the prize pool was already sitting in excess of $350k, and was expected to approach $500k, with many registrations still to be taken for Day 1b.

I sat at my table and surveyed the scene. Seat 1 Unknown, Seat 2 Tony Caygill, a player from up my way, solid enough player, Seat 3 Caroline Cove, a lovely girl but she can talk for England, note to self to use i-pod should the talking get too much, Seat 4 Jeff Kimber, winner of World Heads up champs in 2007 and Tournament earnings in excess of $1m, beware, Seat 5 Simon Wolf Unknown, Seat 6 Chris Brammer Unkown, Seat 7 George McDonald fellow Scot and solid player, Seat 8 Maurice McCarthy Unkown, Seat 9 Me. Not too bad a table and fairly happy with it. Early on Brammer and McDonald emerge as the table aggressors and I am just looking to catch them with a big hand. I get a few small pairs but each time flop comes AKQ so have to let them go. Wolf knocks out McCarthy early on after seeing a 7 4 2 flop Wolf with 777 and McCarthy with underset 222, sicko.

Still early I get AQ in early pos and decide to limp in, folds to Jeff Kimber in BB who raises up to 150 (Blinds 25/50) both Wolf and Brammer call, so i decide to see a flop. The flop comes 2sQh4s, wolf checks, brammer raises to 300, this could be the hand i was looking for to get some chips, but with such a draw dangerous board i decide to see a turn card and call, Kimber calls, I know i am ahead of them both, then Wolf bangs in a reraise to 1400. Now I dont have a clue where I am and decide to let it go. Next level I get 10 10 and put in a raise Caroline calls from button. Flop comes an uninviting 2JQ, i bet she flats, I have her on J, Turn A. I decide she doesnt like this and look to check raise, but she checks behind, river is J. I put out a stopper bet which she quickly reraises, confirming my J theory, I let it go.

Table gets split and i get moved briefly onto another table, only hand of note, guy raises, I get JJ on button and reraise, he reluctantly folds showing AQ.

This table gets split and i get moved again. New table players of note Seat 3 James browning, many cashes and Poker broadcasting groundbreaker having hosted PNL in UK, Seat 5 Me, Seat 6 Andreas Hoivold, Former EPT winner and $1.5m+ in tournament winnings, Seat 8 Tim Flanders, $300k+ tournament winnings, Seat 9 Lynne Beaumont, one of leading UK Women players with $100k+ winnings. This table has a much better feel to it, and there are some big pots being played out. Hoivold knocks out an opponent after getting it in preflop with AK vs KK, Andreas hits A on river to knock out opponent, maybe thats how you win EPT titles?! No major hands of note until nearly end of level 3, when I get KK, I put in a raise to 525 and get 2 callers, Tim Flanders on button and the BB. First card out is Ac, and having put Tim on an A decide i am finished with hand, except the next 2 cards are 9c 5c and I have Kc. Anyway I check, Tim bets i call, we both check blank on turn, and river comes another A, maybe I was wrong and he didnt have A after all, so I bet and he flat calls with AK. 3 cards in deck and he hits 2 of them, sigh. This leaves me pretty short and I limp my way to the dinner break with only 1875 in chips. With blinds 150/300, I know i need to pick up a hand pretty quick after the break. I let one set of blinds pass me and next round it folds to me in SB, I look at first card which is an A and push, Hoivold in BB, says I dont need to look and calls. I tell him i only saw A so he turns over his first card to show Ad and 2nd card 9d, jeez i think, but my 2nd card is K!!! To the flop which comes a very scary 10d8s7d, but the turn and river are blank and i double up. I steal a couple of blinds and manage to get a push through with 77 and get my stack back up to above 4k. I know one double up and I am back in the race. Unfortunately it was not to be, as I find JJ in the cutoff, I put in a big raise only for the BB to wake up with KK, and with no help from the board I hit the rail.

So many thanks to my backers, I know i didnt manage a return on this occasion, but with a bit better luck, i.e. KK holding against AK, things could have been so so different, but then thats poker.

Shares Selling Fast

24 shares left, so get your skates on if you want a piece of the action.

Own a Share of GiMac in the GUKPT

Hi all

Ok it's here, a chance to own a share of me in the UK's leading poker tour the GUKPT (www.grosvenorukpokertour.com)

The Event: GUKPT Main Event
Date: 23-26th April 2009
Venue: Grosvenor Casino Manchester, UK
Prize Fund: $500k Estimated
1st Prize: $175,000 Estimated

Shares available: 72 x $25 shares
Profit Distribution: 50% to Shareholders (Example: If I win outright and get estimated $175k, each $25 share would be paid approx $1215)

Please note that any profit distribution will take into account any final table deals.

How to buy: Go to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58351905825# join the group and post how many shares you would like. Payment details will be posted once sold out, but will be via Poker Stars, Full Tilt or moneybookers.com

Any questions please feel free to ask.

Ezekiel 25:17 (Abridged version).

Ezekiel 25:17 (Abridged version).

"The path of the righteous poker player is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil donkeys. Blessed is he who, in the name of made hands and continuation bets, bets out at the weak through the turn and the river, for he is truly Sklansky's keeper and the finder of bust flush draws. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to cheat and outdraw my brothers. And you will know my name is GiMac when I lay the stone cold nuts upon you."

Amen.

WBCOOP Round 1

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

Won a seat to the final of WBCOOP, whch is next Sunday.

Come on!!! :-)

WBCOOP

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

The WBCOOP is an online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers.

Registration code: 037534

Variance vs Luck

Ok so we all hear about variance, and how better players will come out ahead "in the long run".

So just exactly how long does it take? Some say 1000 MTT's, or some say 2 million hands.

Unfortunately, imho, they are all wrong!!!!

Statistically, for variance to even itself out, it takes INFINITY or as long as two things keep happening. One, your heart beats and two, your bankroll doesn't go bust.

So next time someone says "I'd rather be the better player." just tell them to shove it.

Me?

I'd rather be lucky than good.

Hi all.

Its been a while since my last post and firstly I want to apologise. Its been pretty hectic setting up my new business, especially in the current economic climate, but there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

Due to work I havent played much live poker but I did go to Brighton to play for Scotland in the European Team Poker Champs, so will post a report on that very soon, and had a few new online activities which I will divulge shortly.

So once again sorry for the delay but from now on you should get some more regular news.

Be lucky cos, as I always say, I'd rather be lucky than good.

Good day on PKR but got robbed.

Being running well again on PKR and today managed 3 x top 4 finishes for a net of $420.

But every silver lining has a cloud and in the $2k gtd short handed tournie managed to get my short stack to 3 handed and scraped my way up to just about equal chips with the other 2 players. Then this happens.

SB vs BB

SB raises, I call in BB with 78

Flop a beautiful 7 8 8

He bets, I call

Turn 10

He bets, I raise, he calls

River 10

He bets which he has done with A on double paired board a few times, so i push all in and he calls with K 10

runner runner 1.68% bad beat.

OUCH!!!!

Bankroll Management Update

End of week 2.

Ok haven't managed to play too much this week cos of work, again, but here's an update. Betfair was going well and had roll up to $180, but went on a bad run and ended up marginally up on week, so switched to Mansion and rolled that up to $140. No play Grandslam.

Mansion

$2.82 up to $140

Betfair

$3.99 up to $135

Grandslam

$2 up to $25

Onwards and upwards!!!

3rd win in 4 days

Now officially on a roll. Just took down the $25 Omaha MTT on PKR. :-)

Wins are just like Buses!!!!

Went to Newcastle to play in the Poker Player Magazine Player Champs with the promise of a GUKPT seat as added value. Whilst I was happy with the way I played, I wasn't impressed with the structure which was hyper aggresive meaning I became a victim of it in 20th place of 100. To show you how aggresive the structure was they managed to get through a field of 100 players within 10 hours of play with a 5000 starting stack and 25 minute clock. Savage, and I will not be attending any of these events again.

However, on the bright side, I stayed behind to socialise with the guys from The Newcastle Poker Forum and they talked me into staying and playing the £10+£10+£10 game that was on that evening in the Grosvenor Newcastle. How glad I was that they did. I managed to reach the final, and eventhough I was short stacked, I had a good run of cards and managed to take it down for $800. Sweet.

Bankroll Management Update

End of week 1.

Ok haven't managed to play too much this week cos of work, but here's an update.

Mansion

$2.82 up to $98

Betfair

$3.99 up to $130

Grandslam

$2 up to $25


So far so good.

GiMac Wins the $2k gtd on PKR

Friday night managed to finish 1st in the $2k gtd beating 138 to win 1k. :-)

Reminder

Don't forget, if you join PKR through the above banner link you will get a 100% match bonus of up to $2000 not only that but it's one of the easiest deposit bonuses to achieve ever!!!