It could be the biggest opportunity of my life. I could, however, be taking 10 crisp 10 pound notes (+ one other) and flushing them down the proverbial toilet/pi$$ing them up the proverbial wall.
The Betfred Ladies Poker Tour comes to Maidenhead this weekend (I can't make the London leg sadly, as, because of a most unusual blip in my forward planning, I have double booked myself with the England-New Zealand autumn rugby International). Looking at the legs that have happened so far, there's been on average 60-80 entrants, with the nice people at Betfred topping up the prize pool by another 1500 quid each time, so some of the winners have not only got themselves a seat to the grand final (the winner of which getting a 20k sponsorship deal with Fred) but also up to a tidy 3k too. And they pay the first 10 places, regardless of entry numbers.
I am now stuck. I am playing like a total arse and am really down on the game at the moment. However, if I don't go and try, I will no doubt forever be wondering 'what if'.
For a girl who stands by the 'only regret stuff you haven't done' mantra, I think I know which way I am going to go. I just need my poker fairy Godmother right now to tell me I'm doing the right thing.
Monday, 2 August 2010
Friday, 30 July 2010
Marriage Guidance
If there were an organisation like Relate for poker players, I'd be booking me and the game a session now; We seem to be in a routine, the spark has most definitely gone and I am approaching it with a painfully pesimistic half-heartedness.
Put simply, I am playing like a middle-aged woman.
I had the (mis-)fortune to be dealt AK suited 1st hand and when my half pot bet into a paired board of Jacks and semi-connectors was massively re-raised on the river, I kinda had to fold. But having seen him play after, hindsight suggests I may just have been ahead.
I saw no pocket pairs all night (well the 2 hours I lasted for), not even sure I hit a flop - and, in fairness, only one hand I had would have won at showdown (5-9 diamonds which I folded pre flop but flushed on the river).
I gambled with value from blinds or late position with pretty marginal jacks and queens but got nowhere and, with a huge stack to my left and another live one a couple of seats further down, I couldn't really get busy, certainly not when the picture cards totally dried up.
The blinds seemed disproportionately painful for the early hour and I hit the break only marginally above half my starting stack, not having been given shove-able cards in the buy-back period.
I resolved a change of chip protector, letting my ponytail down and switching from water to my habitual chardonnay was in order. I had to try something. But one double up and the tournament would have a significantly different complexion.
Upon our return, I folded A-6 and A-5 off, multi-handed or against a raise of half my stack from early position. Yes, probably wus-y girlie folds where the pros would have been all-in in a heartbeat, but I just didn't feel it. Maybe this is part of the problem?
Then, not long after, again following a raise of 1100 under the gun with blinds still only 200-400, I saw KQ spades. Fully expecting (and hoping for) a call, I shove. I am up against K-J off. I should have been delighted but my heart sank. Never under-estimate women's intuition. We are very infrequently wrong.
I have my now traditional plea with the dealer to 'be nice', cos I feel like I should use all my remaining 'armour'.
Blanks on the flop; Rainbow. No spades, of course.
Jack, of course, on the turn.
Blank 2 on the river.
A polite 'good game' from my left, a sheepish look from the man with the Jack. A handshake and a 'good luck, everyone' from me.
What is a middle-aged woman to do? Not go play cash, that's for sure.
Put simply, I am playing like a middle-aged woman.
I had the (mis-)fortune to be dealt AK suited 1st hand and when my half pot bet into a paired board of Jacks and semi-connectors was massively re-raised on the river, I kinda had to fold. But having seen him play after, hindsight suggests I may just have been ahead.
I saw no pocket pairs all night (well the 2 hours I lasted for), not even sure I hit a flop - and, in fairness, only one hand I had would have won at showdown (5-9 diamonds which I folded pre flop but flushed on the river).
I gambled with value from blinds or late position with pretty marginal jacks and queens but got nowhere and, with a huge stack to my left and another live one a couple of seats further down, I couldn't really get busy, certainly not when the picture cards totally dried up.
The blinds seemed disproportionately painful for the early hour and I hit the break only marginally above half my starting stack, not having been given shove-able cards in the buy-back period.
I resolved a change of chip protector, letting my ponytail down and switching from water to my habitual chardonnay was in order. I had to try something. But one double up and the tournament would have a significantly different complexion.
Upon our return, I folded A-6 and A-5 off, multi-handed or against a raise of half my stack from early position. Yes, probably wus-y girlie folds where the pros would have been all-in in a heartbeat, but I just didn't feel it. Maybe this is part of the problem?
Then, not long after, again following a raise of 1100 under the gun with blinds still only 200-400, I saw KQ spades. Fully expecting (and hoping for) a call, I shove. I am up against K-J off. I should have been delighted but my heart sank. Never under-estimate women's intuition. We are very infrequently wrong.
I have my now traditional plea with the dealer to 'be nice', cos I feel like I should use all my remaining 'armour'.
Blanks on the flop; Rainbow. No spades, of course.
Jack, of course, on the turn.
Blank 2 on the river.
A polite 'good game' from my left, a sheepish look from the man with the Jack. A handshake and a 'good luck, everyone' from me.
What is a middle-aged woman to do? Not go play cash, that's for sure.
Comeback
After a good few weeks' absence, I am returning to the live tables tonight at LPC, with an online SNG cash and bubble to my name from Tuesday night of this week when there really genuinely wasn't anything better for me to do.
Can't say yet that I'm excited about it, sadly, but kinda needs to be done, otherwise I may lose my mojo indefinitely. Just craving a half decent run of cards to give me something to get creative with; I have my 'power' bra on, my hair was painstakingly straightened this morning (not that the cards will care about that, of course) and I have resolved to come out fighting as much as possible and see where we get to.
Everything crossed...
Can't say yet that I'm excited about it, sadly, but kinda needs to be done, otherwise I may lose my mojo indefinitely. Just craving a half decent run of cards to give me something to get creative with; I have my 'power' bra on, my hair was painstakingly straightened this morning (not that the cards will care about that, of course) and I have resolved to come out fighting as much as possible and see where we get to.
Everything crossed...
Monday, 19 July 2010
Getting Better
Lovely evening with the 888 chaps, Shane Warne and invited VIPs, guests and media last night and I think it's fair to say poker and I are falling back in love again.
Gorgeous place The Red Room, part of Les Ambassadeurs club, Hyde Park Corner; elegant furnishings, lots of space, friendly people, not up its own ar$e at all as I totally expected it to be. The nice man in all black who was stood near the bar when I arrived - I guess he was some kind of host, although I thought he was security for a bit - came straight over and offered to give me a guided tour of the club; it was like a stately home indoors and a luxurious, holiday, adult playground outside - it was just missing a huge hot tub as far as I could see. The beautiful, exotic slender women in their sexy but classy after-dark-air-hostess-like attire brought round endless trays with tons of mini cheeseburgers, kebabs, prawns, scallops and other nibbles on. Schoolgirl error to have eaten just before coming out.
Roland de Wolfe strode in at about 8.15pm. As you do. He went over and patted Warne on the back and manly hand-shaking and banter ensued briefly, before he disappeared again like a genie ducking back into his lamp.
I think the majority of the players will admit the poker was, for the most part, loose and aggressive; one of the pros, 'fresh' from Vegas went out pretty early, closely followed by Warne who got them in way ahead but was sucked out. Then somehow 2 went together in a huge 3-way all in not long after.
There looked to be only realistically 1, maybe 2 winners, one of which was the big boss of 888 Poker, who I guess couldn't really win the 5k prize; well, I figure he wouldn't really call all ins for half his stack with 3-4 normally...
The whole tourny was over in around 2 hours, won by one of the 888 VIPs who isnt even playing that much at the moment and didn't go to WSOP because he couldn't be bothered(!) After the interviews, last photos etc, most people (the core drinkers/organisers) stayed around for a couple of hours more - there was only around 10 of us left by 11pm, hoovering up the last of the bar tab, but it was great, if a touch surreal, to just sit there, all in a circle, some pros, some journos, some marketeers, and just talk poker, life (and a bit of nonsense), but certainly like we'd known each other longer than 4 hours.
After a unanimous show of hands to gague interest in the group, we tried in vain to allow them to give us a set of cards, chips and the run of the vacated felt for a turbo SNG, but alas it was only added to the marketing notebook as an idea for 'next time'.
Still, good to see cards in the air and feel the excitement, even if only stood 2 metres away and without influence or consequence. Going to find an appropriate time and place to get back into it. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay mad at the game for long.
Gorgeous place The Red Room, part of Les Ambassadeurs club, Hyde Park Corner; elegant furnishings, lots of space, friendly people, not up its own ar$e at all as I totally expected it to be. The nice man in all black who was stood near the bar when I arrived - I guess he was some kind of host, although I thought he was security for a bit - came straight over and offered to give me a guided tour of the club; it was like a stately home indoors and a luxurious, holiday, adult playground outside - it was just missing a huge hot tub as far as I could see. The beautiful, exotic slender women in their sexy but classy after-dark-air-hostess-like attire brought round endless trays with tons of mini cheeseburgers, kebabs, prawns, scallops and other nibbles on. Schoolgirl error to have eaten just before coming out.
Roland de Wolfe strode in at about 8.15pm. As you do. He went over and patted Warne on the back and manly hand-shaking and banter ensued briefly, before he disappeared again like a genie ducking back into his lamp.
I think the majority of the players will admit the poker was, for the most part, loose and aggressive; one of the pros, 'fresh' from Vegas went out pretty early, closely followed by Warne who got them in way ahead but was sucked out. Then somehow 2 went together in a huge 3-way all in not long after.
There looked to be only realistically 1, maybe 2 winners, one of which was the big boss of 888 Poker, who I guess couldn't really win the 5k prize; well, I figure he wouldn't really call all ins for half his stack with 3-4 normally...
The whole tourny was over in around 2 hours, won by one of the 888 VIPs who isnt even playing that much at the moment and didn't go to WSOP because he couldn't be bothered(!) After the interviews, last photos etc, most people (the core drinkers/organisers) stayed around for a couple of hours more - there was only around 10 of us left by 11pm, hoovering up the last of the bar tab, but it was great, if a touch surreal, to just sit there, all in a circle, some pros, some journos, some marketeers, and just talk poker, life (and a bit of nonsense), but certainly like we'd known each other longer than 4 hours.
After a unanimous show of hands to gague interest in the group, we tried in vain to allow them to give us a set of cards, chips and the run of the vacated felt for a turbo SNG, but alas it was only added to the marketing notebook as an idea for 'next time'.
Still, good to see cards in the air and feel the excitement, even if only stood 2 metres away and without influence or consequence. Going to find an appropriate time and place to get back into it. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay mad at the game for long.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Medicine
I have never woken up with such excitement and bounded out of bed on a work day (with a slightly fuzzy head) as I did this morning.
My favourite placed candidate and industry sister, currently in Vegas with 888, had sent me an email overnight, which I read on blackberry, kindly inviting me to an exclusive soirée watching Shane Warne play in a cash game at Les Ambassadeurs club in Mayfair.
I can feel some curled hair, possibly even fake lashes, The Vegas Dress and orange heels coming on and, with any luck, this little experience will rid me of my current misgivings and frustrations about all things cards and chips and we can all be friends again soon.
My favourite placed candidate and industry sister, currently in Vegas with 888, had sent me an email overnight, which I read on blackberry, kindly inviting me to an exclusive soirée watching Shane Warne play in a cash game at Les Ambassadeurs club in Mayfair.
I can feel some curled hair, possibly even fake lashes, The Vegas Dress and orange heels coming on and, with any luck, this little experience will rid me of my current misgivings and frustrations about all things cards and chips and we can all be friends again soon.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Me and Poker are 'on a break'
Ok, really bored, now I am at my aggressive best, of numpties making ridiculous calls and sucking me out on the river. I know it happens. I know I have BEEN that ridiculous numpty on occasion in the past, but this is beyond a joke now, it's happening EVERY time.
Good job this is not the WSOP main event and is just 24-seat SNGs in my nightie. But I am now starting to realise why Phil Helmuth is such a foul-mouthed little so n' so. If I'm not careful, I am going to become one of those sad cases that goes around telling everyone online poker is fixed. After the last few days, I am starting to half believe it. (Excuse me a moment while I go and wash my mouth out with soap and water).
I have resolved that I am going to take a break for a bit. I would like to stress that while poker and I are currently separated, we continue to work on our differences, in the best interests of my bank account. There no other card games involved and we would appreciate it if the media would respect our privacy at this difficult time.
I think possibly I will focus more on offline poker in the next couple of weeks - or play bigger stakes on PokerStars for a bit; technically that's the site where I've had the most monetary success per tournament (albeit mostly playing against other women). If only there wasn't so many tournaments to choose from, it's a bloody minefield that lobby - to the untrained eye, at least. Anyway, EPT qualifiers will hopefully start in the next month or so, so I will have an objective and some focus again.
Good job this is not the WSOP main event and is just 24-seat SNGs in my nightie. But I am now starting to realise why Phil Helmuth is such a foul-mouthed little so n' so. If I'm not careful, I am going to become one of those sad cases that goes around telling everyone online poker is fixed. After the last few days, I am starting to half believe it. (Excuse me a moment while I go and wash my mouth out with soap and water).
I have resolved that I am going to take a break for a bit. I would like to stress that while poker and I are currently separated, we continue to work on our differences, in the best interests of my bank account. There no other card games involved and we would appreciate it if the media would respect our privacy at this difficult time.
I think possibly I will focus more on offline poker in the next couple of weeks - or play bigger stakes on PokerStars for a bit; technically that's the site where I've had the most monetary success per tournament (albeit mostly playing against other women). If only there wasn't so many tournaments to choose from, it's a bloody minefield that lobby - to the untrained eye, at least. Anyway, EPT qualifiers will hopefully start in the next month or so, so I will have an objective and some focus again.
Monday, 12 July 2010
Stuck in a rut
Had a very uppidy-downy few days of casual online sit n go's; been playing (I think) some really decent, intuitive and aggressive and brave stuff, but can't seem to buy a break to get into the money. I know it goes like this sometimes but am just not sure what to do to get out of it and get my mojo back. The only thing inspiring me at the moment is Poker Heroine number 2 Jennifer Tilly and her win at the Bellagio Cup in Las Vegas. Go on girl.
I am thinking possibly of some serious (hopefully) 2-day live action at LPC over the weekend; huge starting stack, teeny tiny blinds eeking up very slowly and a chance to play some proper poker. Never played in anything like that before, so would be an experience, for sure - will have to have a read up in advance though of strategies for such tournaments (other than banning red wine and having plenty of coffee and Starfruit-OpalBursts)
Ultimately, though, will depend what the weather's like and whether my sister and her husband, aka new Mummy and Daddy and their simply gorgeous daughter Penny want company. Otherwise the shades and strappy top will be on and I will be off to Buckinghamshire to coo like a trooper.
I am thinking possibly of some serious (hopefully) 2-day live action at LPC over the weekend; huge starting stack, teeny tiny blinds eeking up very slowly and a chance to play some proper poker. Never played in anything like that before, so would be an experience, for sure - will have to have a read up in advance though of strategies for such tournaments (other than banning red wine and having plenty of coffee and Starfruit-OpalBursts)
Ultimately, though, will depend what the weather's like and whether my sister and her husband, aka new Mummy and Daddy and their simply gorgeous daughter Penny want company. Otherwise the shades and strappy top will be on and I will be off to Buckinghamshire to coo like a trooper.
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