May 8th - £100+£10 NL Hold'Em (Western)

Getting good cards in poker does not equate to getting a stack load of chips a lot of the time!

The problem with getting good cards, of course, is that you have to play them and when the odds go the other way, as in a couple of hands tonight, then it can be devastating to your stack.

Nice & easy did it for the first couple of levels in tonights £110 NL Hold'Em game at the Western. First drama came when holding the Qh-Jh in MP with blinds at 100-200. Four callers and a flop of 9-10-3 meant I was always going to be involved so when it was checked to me I immediately bet out to 1200. The player, immediately to my left, came over the top for another 1700 and it was passed back to me. I duly called.

He flipped A-10 for TPTK but when a Jack appeared on the turn followed by another Jack on the river I'd scooped a nice pot and was nicely stacked. It didn't last long!

I get Q-Q in EP and raise to 800. Two callers. Flop is 8c-6c-3d. Could have been worse!! I bet out 2500 in order to grab the pot there and then. One player folded the other moved all-in and I insta-called. He flipped 9c-10c. The 4d fell on the turn but the Jc fell on the river. I was back down to 4k.

A short while later I made an all-in move with Q-Q on a board of A-8-4-K having made an initial raise and got one caller. My opponent HAD bet the flop but not strongly enough to warrent an Ace in his hand so I moved in on the turn (K) and he folded!

Ok...so I was back upto 8k. The hand before the 1st break and I get Ad-Kh and raise to 600. I get one caller. Flop is 9s-7s-4s. I bet out 800. My opponent raises to 2000. I took him for a spade draw with one spade in his hand so duly called. The 9c came off on the turn. Again I checked and again my opponent bets out...this time 3k. I'm still not convinced. I call.

The river brings a 4th spade. I check and my opponent goes all-in. I pass!

My chip stack is decimated!

After the break I'm looking to move in and double up or die. I find the Ac-3c and launch all-in. Unfortunately a guy with K-K is right behind me! Dohhhhhhhh!!

Entries -> 41 - Place -> 27th - Loss -> £110 Profit/Loss for 2007 -> -£1052

(As from 20th April 2007 rate of exchange is calculated at £1 = $2.00)