If you're gonna get busted, you might as well get busted by the best

Bluff magazine held another Gaming Industry 'Notworkers' (see what they did there?) poker social last night, again back at Mint Casino.
It would have been rude not to go, of course, even if I was a bit tired and not on tip top form, so I took our new IT consultants (and incidentally rather good poker players) under my wing and, with a brief pit-stop at KFC Gloucester Road, which was just what the doctor ordered, we swiped ourselves in, grabbed a Riesling and some Guinness and went to mingle.

It was a little disappointing that the room wasn't filled, as it was last time, with less than 30 showing up and a disproportionate number (nearly a third) of them being recruitment consultants.... Bluff and IGaming business had a few people there and the rest were seemingly stragglers and randoms - including an accountant(!), but a very friendly and chatty room nonetheless.

There were 2 ladies in the tournament, both sat at table 1, one in seat 4 and one in 6 (myself the latter); Who should be 'drawn' in seat 5? Michael Caselli....; Great chat and hyper as always, so great value and I'd never begrudge being sat next to him - especially when I could have drawn the accountant - but man, how I wished he had been to my left, he's so bloody wild.

Thankfully in the 2nd level, he hit his ragged Ace and got called on both flop and turn when my 2nd and 3 Jacks hit (with King kicker). The potentially flush-filling spade on the river killed even his action, but I was happy to take the 1500 or so in the pot. Might not sound like a lot, but when you only start with 2k, it really helps.

It also feels pretty good to take a half decent pot in front of the industry guys, but morevover when a pro is sat in seat 9; John Tabatabai had came down with Caselli.

I have never known such a lovely, polite, funny, intelligent and charming poker player (not that I know that many, in fairness). I couldn't believe that half the guys didn't seem to know who he was (one of my colleagues included, who got busted by him around halfway, when his AJ got done by Tabatabai's Aces, which were min raised on the button and shoved over the top of by the AJ. Ooops).

He just introduced himself as 'John', was playing up a little bit, suggesting it was only his 2nd time playing, 'string' betting his calls almost apologetically and nervously. He forgot himself once in a while, though, when he mucked, picking his cards up and doing that cool, effortless, flicky thing back to the dealer (I will sooo be practising that this weekend, as I can't 'ripple' chips for the life of me, not with my nails, so I could do with a trick).

I can't imagine what he must have thought of us with our crap-shooty 30 quid buy in tournament. I guess it was a nice warm up for him before he went off to 'work' after midnight (online, I assumed). He was immaculately presented, he is very 'pretty' if you'll forgive the expression, lovely features and eyelashes, he happily engaged me in conversation, rescuing me from Caselli's barrage of banter at times and was just genuinely a lovely human being.

I was fortunate enough to be sat in seat 2 next to him at the final table, that I had sneaked on to, very short (but longest-laster in my company, so now the proud owner of office bragging rights for the forseeable future). I had got away with an all-in over the top of the other girl, who had raised from late position trying to bully the short blinds, around the FT bubble, but I had picked up 10s. Good and right move, of course, by her, but she must have been doing it with genuinely nothing, as my all in was probably only a min raise back - if that - and she folded, when she must have been priced in to an extent? Either my maths is terrible (very possible) or she's a really wus-y girl. She cashed, in fairness, so maybe I should be quiet, but she did get veerrry lucky in couple of multi-way all ins on the 2nd last table....

I was desperate to stick around as long as possible on the Final Table, watch John play and enjoy having the opportunity chat to him; we covered religion, fasting, The Devilfish, heads up play, toungue rings and probably a couple of other topics over what must have only been 20 minutes or so before I was out; he was quite fascinating, what a life he must have.

I ended up having him raise into me when I had found pocket 5s in the big blind. Plenty good enough for me with my probably 4 chips total (one of which was a '1000', mind) and over the line they went. He thought for about 5 seconds (which must have been him just being gentlemanly and courteous, especially with the fortress and turrets he had built in front of him), before calling and showing Q-10 off.

I was stood up, I think more in hope and expectation; I must have done it subconsciously to get the best possible view of the board. I looked down at him and offered my hand before the flop came down and said, 'Good luck'. Ridiculous, I know. And I certainly didn't mean it, I'd have loved to have gone home with my 'I got doubled up by a pro' story, let alone stay in the tournament a while longer.

Sadly, he spiked a 10 on the river but I have no problems losing to a player and a man like him - especially as he went on to wipe the floor with the other rec cons, publishers and woman and take the tournament down. So proof it is a game of skill.

A very jolly night. I left my colleagues playing cash (and avoiding the verbal assaults and aggressive finger wagging that was going on one table in particular) until the wee hours, while I grabbed a cab home and treated myself to a 1am toastie.

My love for poker is most definitely back. Which is impeccable timing, as PokerStars launched their satellites for London EPT this week; there's two Ladies events this year, it seems - and they're taking place on a weekend. 'Whoo-hoo!' all round to that! Going to investigate their new Women's Poker League too; if I read it right, there was a $50 tournament last Sunday with 25 players in it and the winner got over $1k. That has to be worth a proper look - I'll be retiring from recruitment before long, if I'm not careful (only kidding, Mum, don't worry...)