Vegas......One month in

<------Me playin in one of the $1500s

I lost interest in updating my blog as I didn't really think anyone read it much, but a few people have asked me to update it so here goes....

Arrived in Vegas one month ago today and have played alot both live and online since being here. Ran deep in my first WSOP which was fun, busted Ivan Demidov and David Williams within an hour. Ended up finishing 192/6000, shoving AJs with 20bbs over a 3x from mid pos, probably a semi spazzy shove as 1) I had just arrived at the table and 2) the guy was older than 50 (thus he should be a nit), but mehhhh, it can't have been that bad. Think I cashed for a mere $3400, sigh........

Next relevent thing to happen was 3-4 days later where I final tabled the ECOOP $100r. With $63k ftw I was feeling good coming in 3/10. But the structure got fast and I lost a massive pot blind v blind with my 77 vs KJo :( I win that pot im in great shape to take it down, I ended up busting 8th for $6000, another dissapointment in my opinion. Its horrific how many more bad than good days your have in pokers, but oh well.

Next on the list was the $2.5k 6max event....Ummmm that went well, or the total opposite. Must have drawn the most horrific table of all time. All young internet players. Some cardrunners dude direct to my left, to his left some guy who plays 50/100 online, to his left a russian kid who won a WPT and then two other randoms who played good. Sigh, never got going at all, I 3 bet twice in the first two levels and was insta 4 bet both times. I grinded for a while, made a few absurd river shove bluffs , which looking back at were far from good even if they did get through and finall busted at 100/200 25 ante. Utg makes it 500, russian kid calls, button calls, I see TT in the SB and cram 4800, utg has KK, gg Nick, wp.

Took a few days off from the live scene untill the next $1500 WSOP event, crusied through day one with 55k, where the average was 40k. Came back for day two in the money and things started great, Wretchy shoved 18k at 800/1600 ante from Mp1, im next to act and re-shove with QQ, he had KdJd and I hold and cuise towards the 75k mark. Blinded down to about 70k when the bustout happend. folds to me on the btn at 800/1600 and I make it 4200 with two red tens, the bb (only one who had me covered) gives it some chat that I raised the button last time and pretty instatly makes it 15, 500? So I think over my options and decid to 4 bet to commit, I make 39,500 and he tanks and then sets me in, I sigh and call as he flips JJ, board bricks. 150k pot when the average was 50........arghhhhhhhhhh. Cashed for $3300 I think?

Played a few venetians and Bellagio 1ks the next wk which all went pretty horrendus. They just aren't the same was the WSOP's and I found it hard to complete focus on them, sounds ridic but thats they way it is. Sunday came around and good things finally happend, shipped another Main event package worth $12k, which was nice:) Nothing too interesting happend during it, just built a stack and then folded into the money. Im pretty happy with my WSOP sat records, played 2, won 2. Ha

A few days after the WSOP seat ship I played another WSOP 1500 event. Again had no trouble building a stack early on, then got moved to a tricky table which I didn't like the look of one bit. It had Eric Lieu, Ramsey Ajram, James Mackey and some other live pro I should remember but can't. As table draws go, this one was pretty awful. Why? Because usually in these $1500s you get alot of awful players on each table and you are unlucky if you even have one recognisable player at your table. Anyway, things went well for me at this table and I enjoyed playing with Eric, he is a fun guy and I am sooo happy I was too his left and he opens extememly wide. I managed to time my 3 bets bets vs him will and win one nice pot with AQ on Q77Kx board where he bet every street and I called. Got moved table during the last level of the day with about 40 players to go to the money. My stack was 50k when the averag was 28k. And then this happend, utg (Something Baldwin ,basebaldy online I think , who fucking one this event) makes it 2k at 400/800, im two to his left and call with 88. He has 60k stack and no one at the table overs us. Flop comes down J82 rainbow. WEEEEEEEEEE. He bets 2700 I call. Turn another 2. He fires again, this tim 4800. I again just call. River is 4 and he tanks for aggggges before betting 10,500. I pretty quickly cram and he snaps with JJ, serioulsy fuck my life, what a sick cooler. Averge stack was 28k and there I am gettin in the 100k pot, ughhhhhh. Not gonna lie I was pretty crushed after that as I think I was playing my best I had so far.

Alot more has happend so will update more in the next few days

Overdue Update

Been a while since iv posted, mainly been really lazy and just been putting it off. Well im home from Brazil a month now and I guess its been a pretty interesting/eventfull month.

Irish Open

Had a pretty soft starting table, bar Juha Helppi two to my left and a young american kid one to his left who seemed decent. So it wasn't too hard to accumulate a stack. Few hands of interest from Day one: 75/150 15k effective stacks. I open Jd8d to 400 from MP2 (I have been opening alot of pots and not done to showdown often) The button, a terribe Italien player flats, which he has done several times thus far, SB folds and the young american thinks a while before making it 1550. I think he had been looking to get in a pot with me/try outplay with me, it was also such a perfect spot to squeeze as the btn's range is any two cards almost. So I elected to 4bizzle him. I make it 3950, btn folds as does the young kid after some time.
Then got involved with Helppi for the first time. Stacks: me 17k Helppi 15k. I open KQs from the hi-jack to 525 at 100/200. He flats on the button. Flop Qd 7h 2h. I fire 825, he quickly calls. The turn is 2c. It goes check check (semi pot control/dont think he calls the turn with worse hands) river 3s, I bet 1700 and he calls after a small pause. I flip KQ and he mucks, he later said he had 1010.
Then got on the right side of a sick cooler which was nice. Three limpers at 150/300 and its on me in the SB, I peek down at AA and make it 1500. The in the BB is an old american man and he is your stereotypical old player, a massive NIT, he has about 10k. He thinks for an eternity and just calls. His call obv scared the table as all the limpers folded. Flop comes an enjoyable Ah Ks 8h. I bet 2400 and he calls without much thought. the turn is the 4s and I decide to just set him in (which in hindsight probably wasnt great as he was such a nit) and he literally took his whole timebank before calling and revealing......take a guess? AK, so sick, he said he nearly folded also.
This got me up to about 30k, hovered around 28-32k untill the last level of the night. Stacks me~31k...Helppi ~40k.....spewy BB~25k. I open J9o from the cut-off to at 300/600 to 1500, Helppi calls as does the BB. We see a flop of 7d9d10s. Helppi donks 2200, the BB quickly calls. I elected to raise to 8400 for a couple of reason: Helppi had donked two hands that went to showdown before, once turning up with top pair and the other showing up with a flopped flush draw. The BB was a complete Spaz and is call is almost always a draw/weak hand and finally from their point of view, me raising two players on such a drawy board and to show massive strength, I also had decent equity if either of them flatted. Anyway, my plan went horribley wrong as Helppi shoved on me and ofc I had to fold. In hindsight I should have just flatted the flop also, or just fold as the hand is gonna be tough to play on later streets multi-way. It seems super weak to just fold so I think flatting has to be the best option. This meant I finished the day on 21k, which I was a little dissapointed with but still meant I would be in fine shape to make run at it for day 2.
Never got anything going on day 2 and the structure really caught up with me. I had a few raises snapped off and also lost a 11k pot Bvb where I shoved on an 8bb stack with K5 from the SB, he had AQ and the board bricked. I then folded for what seemed like an enternity, as I had no hands and a 10-14bb stack. I finally found a spot to get me chips in at 500/1k, folded to me in Mp2 with 11,500 and 99. I shoved and somehow ran into QQ and AA, no 9 and that was that.
Overall I think I played well but perhaps fell victim to fancy play syndrome and times which cost me in the long run. But a fun experience and good to see/meet up with some people from online.

After the Irish Open played very little online but still managed some decent results. Winning two tounries for $12k total , thus prob 4-5k profit since returning home. Its nothing major but nice to be winning. Also managed to win a WSOP main event package on Ipoker which is sweet. Really nice to do it at first time of trying. I pretty much cruised it to be honest, had like 1/2 the chips in play with 12 left and 4 seats so I basically just kept the pressure on without doing anything crazy.

Will report on Manchester GUKPT soon, as it was unsucessfull it may be a while...
Nick

Update (Pretty cool tilte isnt it?)

Soooo, quite a bit to report on. Last week went very well, I had a bit of a sick day on Thursday.......I managed 2nd in the stars $100r for just shy of $11k. Was a bit gutted not to win but to get a result in such a tough tounry was nice (as the stars 100r is re-knowned for being one of the toughest mtts online). I defo ran super hot but also felt I played very well throughout. Then later in the evening I managed to win an Irish Open package which im really excited about. The bubble was horrible, there were two massive stacks, me and this other dude and we were both short and battling it out (obv with 3 packages available). It was pretty tense and we were 4 handed for ages, untill finally this hand went down. 500/1000 level, UTG (one of the big stacks) opens to his standard 3k, the shorty thinks a while and shoves his final 13k in from the button, th SB folds and I see KK, I ship in for 22k, UTG folds and the shorty reveals 22. What a great situation, im a 80/20 favourite for an Irish Open package........We then saw the horror flop of 2 4 5. I felt physically ill as the 8 of spades hit the turn. Two outs one time????? Oneeeeeeeeee timeeeeeeeee, the most beautiful K of diamonds hit the river. It felt great, but what a rollercoaster of a hand to finish.

I just booked my flight back to Dublin today and leave here on the 7th of April. The IO starts on the 10th, so I should have a day or two to relax before it kicks off. Should be a fun wknd as I know alot of people coming to play in it. It would also be really nice to get a result in my countries biggest tounrnament. I just have this image of me final tabling and having all my friends on the rail going mad........would be fun!

2 months into Brazil and Im really looking forward to getting home for a bit. Dont get me wrong Brazil was been amazing and I would defo think about coming back out here again, its a perfect spot to grind: good weather, cheap, amazing living conditions and the guys im living with have been great fun and a very positive influence on my poker ect ect. It will be nice to get home and hang out with some normals though (non poker ppl again).

As far as plans for when I get home and the future..........Will most likely move in with my Mum or Dad when I get back for 5-6 weeks before Vegas and just chill, put in some decent volume and hang out with friends ect (doing something about being FAT should also be on the agenda). I think I will try to arrive in Vegas around the 28th/29th of May, in time for event one basically. The house we are renting is sooo sick, 9 bedroom mansion 5 mins from the strip. Should be unreal. Id imagaine il spend about 4-5 weeks in Vegas, depending on how things go and probably play 4-5 events, again it depends on how nitty I am feeling. There is also a small chance I may be staked into some of the bigger WSOP events. That would be great if it happends but im not holding my breath. After I win a Bracelet this summer :) I think I and a few of the lads are gonna hit up Thailand for 3-4 weeks and basically get drunk every night and hit the beach everyday, sounds pretty perfect to me and take a complete break from poker. Need to get organising all this tbh, im really bad when it comes to stuff like this. Im really excited for the next few month.

I really do consider myself very lucky. I would have never thought a year and a half ago that I would be able to live the life I do now. And its all down to poker. I know im still very early in my career as a poker player but I feel proud of what I have achieved in a short period. Of course there is alot more to achieve and tbh it excites me just thinking about it. I crave getting to the next level and being competitive, this is why I think I have had sucess at this game.

Nick

Soooo closeeeeeee

Yooooooo. Came 24th in the $2.5 million on ipoker last night for $14.5k, there was 500k for the win, so im pretty crushed to be honest. Alot of people would read that and ask, how could you been dissapointed with winning $14,500? Well, because I play to win and really thought I had a great shot at it. The structure in the event was fantastic with a 30 min clock and I really enjoyed it. I think I busted about 10 hours in 3bet/committing by 22bb stack to a hi-jack (Nscuthome....good ipoker reg) raise with 99, he had AA, so gg me. Im never folding in that spot vs him, why couldnt he have 22 one timeee? haha, ah well not to be! At least I know I can compete in these bigger buy events. The big win will come!

As for the rest of the week it went pretty well also, I think I only played on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Tuesday I managed to final table the 50k $100r on ipoker but busted in 4th for $4k running AK into KK, fun cooler when there was 13.5k ftw. Also final tabled the 12.5k, but got in one ridic hand that I never came back from. I was 3/10 I think, mp1 limps (with 20bbsish) I look at AKs in the cut-off and make it 4x (30bb stack) the sb jams for 15bbs and the limper thinks and then re shoves. Hmmmmm, 3-1 and a chance for a gazilllion chips? Yes please sir! I also hold the nuts an ACE and a KING of the same sooooooot. Sb had KK and the Limper had AA. Haha, good times yo. Think I finished 8th or 9th after that slice of fun.

Wednesday........Final tabled the Micro $100 freezeout and busted in 3rd for $650ish, nothing to interesting happend. Also final tabled the 50k $50r on ipoker, came to the final table 2/10 and then the horror show began. Cue horror show......Hand two fo the final table I open AKo utg+1 (with 190kish) at 4k/8k to 19k........folds to the chip leader in he BB who decides to peel a flop. Flop come As7s7d, he checks I fire 24k he smooth calls. The turn is Kc he checks again, I wap out 46k and he shoves on me, I called, ughhhhhhhhh...........can he really have a 7 here? Of course he had K7, FML. 10th place for $875. Also final tabled the 12.5k on ipoker again and busted in 6th for $800ish, was really short and got discoed on he final table and had to leave it, prob worked out for the best as I was on monster tilt from the 50k bustout. All in all a decent couple of days but could have been so much better (story of my life????)

Should really update about non poker stuff going on but Im tired and it feels as if I have been typing for ages. Will save that for the next time.

Untill then
Nick

Weeeeeeeeeeeee......I win monies

Well finally managed to ship a tounry this Sunday. It wasn't quite the sunday million but it will do! Manged to win the stars 20k 20r for $5k and change. Man it feels good to win again.

I started the final table as chip leader with about 480k. The average was about 250k. The start of the final table went awful, no one got knocked out and I continued to double up the shorter stacks. I lost 77 to AQ, AK to 66 and then finally 99 to 88(the guy spiking and 8 on the river, arghhhhhh). I dipped as low as 200k after this series of unfortunate flipaments, but although I felt hard done by I battled on and picked good spots to raise and 3 bet. Then players started to drop, me knocking one out with AJ to his A9 aipf. And before I knew it we were 3 handed. I was without a doubt the most aggressive player left as we got 3 handed and felt it was mine to lose. I got it in blind vs blind with 44 vs A7 and managed to hold and got HU with a slight chip deficit. I quickly turned it around with some aggression and a nice rush or cards. The money finally went in pre flop with me holding A10o and him K9. I made the flush and shipped the win. It is probably the win I am most proud of tbh. I am proud of the fact that after some really rough days I kept at it and remained confident. Sure the $5k is nice but its not the $ that I concerns me to much, its winning and playing to the best of my ability, and I feel like I did this here.

As for the other sunday mtts. I managed a cash for about $400 in the Warmup, I busted check raising all in with air on a dry board and our friend just had a set. gg. Played the Ipoker 250k also and im still unsure about the bustout hand. We were about 2 1/2 hours in, blinds at 150/300 and a 25 ante and this dude shoves for 3300 utg +1 (important note : he had been shoving close to every hand as he had lost a big stack and showed down 93o one of these hands) then Pokergirl1 in the hikack shoves for 8k, i peek down at 1010 and think things through (my stack is 9k btw). Pokergirl is a highstakes cash game player and is very competent. He knows out pal from utg+1 is shoving wide, therefore he must re shove wide. I eventually decided to call but managed to run into Pokergirls AA. Ah well, I knew it was close. Utg+1 had 78o btw! And finally I played the Micro 150k and didn't make it out of the rebuy period because our internet was fucking up. I played a reduced Sunday schedule because of this.

In other news, we moved into our new house in Brazil and its class. Big pool, BBQ outside, maid, chef (who makes me scrambled eggs on toast for brekky), massive tv so I can own the other mugs here at PES. In general its just a pretty sweet cribnest.

Plans for the next week or so? Mmmmmm, will probably play some online, which will include trying to sat into some of stars SCOOP tounrneys, some of them look so ill. Be nice to run good one time in one of these babys. www.pokerstars.com/scoop

Apart from that not much goin on here, missing alot of my friends and family at home. But when you have your own chef and the sun shines everyday its hard to think about going back to Ireland

Later

Nick

22 Years old.............downswing continues

Well, poker is still not going my way despite still being pleased with how i am playing. It hard to not to get down about it tbh. This sunday went pretty standardly, in that I continued to run poor. I really dont want the poker aspect of my blog to turn into me complaining about bad beats all the time, as I rarely do complain, but at the moment, it is taking the piss slightly.

Sundays report

Sunday Warmup

Lost half my stack early blind v blind flopping top pair and calling down, should have folded the turn in hindsight. Not to worry, managed to rebuild and get it with 1010 vs 88 and double. Got my stack to about 17k at 400/800, when an aggressive player opened from the cut-off, i found AQs in the sb and shoved, pretty standard that the aggro player has AA there. gg and a fantastic start to a day of pokers.

Ipoker 250k

50/100 level, iv not really played a hand, have about 4.5k. Mp1 opens for 300, Mp2 calls, as does the button, im in the sb with Qc10c and also make the call. Flop comes down a fantastic

3s 9c Jc. Just an open ended straight flush draw. I check, as does the original raiser and then Mp2 fires out 3/4 pot, I have no option here but to shove, I do , he has AA, i brick, gg.

Ipoker 30k

Meh, this is really becoming a list of bad beats about how i bad i run, blah blah. 8k stack 300/600 level, get it aipf with QQ vs 88, you know the rest.

Ipoker 20k

400/800. I have been really cardead. Only have 9.5k and we are nearing the money. The table is very aggressive and there are quite a few short stack to act behind me, so I elect to limp utg+1 with QQ, i would rarely do this. Mp1 insta ships it in for 8.5kish and it seems my crafty plan has worked. I call and he shows KJs. Flop come a nice Q 9 3, tuns a 4, rivers a 10 and i nearly smashed the chair I was sitting on. Ugh

Sunday Millllllllllllllion

Not totally sure if i have the details fom this one right, but its close. I had a biggish stack and lost a flip with JJ vs AK. Was still fine tho. Nitted it up for a long period as my stack size didnt allow me to do alot. Then at 400/800 (some ante), I find AKo utg+1 with a stack of 12.5kish. I make it 2k to go, folds to the Bb who raises to 6400, im obv never folding here, I move in, he calls with 1010 and I miss. Youd swear I was making shit up.

Micro 150k

Managed a deep run in this and really enjoyed it up untill the bust out of course. With 1400 runners I would need alot of luck to win it I ran well throughout the tounry. Flipping well and also beating KK with JJ aipf. With about 30 left I was short, abou 8bbs and shoved utg with AQs, I ran into 1010 and managed to win to put me in good shape. I was feeling super confident. I went super cardead and again, my stack wasnt one in which I could freely raise alot of hands and play the style I play the best. I ended up busting in 19th, it folded to me in cut-off, i found Ah4h with just under 10bbs and jammed. The bb was very short (therefore I like this play more). The sb looked me up with A10 and that was that. Cant complain too much abut this one, not alot I could do. 40k for the win would have been nice though!

I also played the stars 125k but have no idea how I busted:)

Enough of that boring poker crap..............Friday was my 22nd birthday, thats ollllllllld. Anyway, had a steak for lunch on the beach along with a few colds ones. Then chilled at home for a bit, spoke to my parents sisters ect on Skype which waas cool. Then the night began! We headed to this restaurant called Lo, which is michelin star (or equivelent). It was class, even if I and CJ were under dressed. I had grilled paprika prawns for a starter which were awesome and rack of lamb with some sort of ravioli for a main. It was extremely flavoursome and rich in taste but I throughly enjoyed. I washed it all down with many a beer and the always refreshing mojhito.

After dinner we headed to a local bar. It was festival time so it was packed, all locals also. Brazilian tunes banging and everyone dancing. It was pretty cool, managed to meet few very friendly ppl and get a guys phone number who was gonna hook us up for an underground poker club in Fortaleza, sweeeet. Obviously I would have preffered to get a girls number on a night out:)

After a couple hours in the bar we hit the big club we had been to the previous week. The music was awesome and we managed to meet a nice group of girls and have a fun time. When the club closed it was bright.......what to do now? Have a morning swim of course, so we all headed to the beach for a dip, was fairly locked still loved it. Think we decided about 7am it was time to head back to Cumbuco. We jumped in a taxi and were home safe by 7.45. Really fun night.

Today is Wednesday and we move into our new house tommrrow which should be cool, Gavin also arrives tommmrrow. As far as poker I just have to keep at it and not get too down. It`l turn around, I know it will!

A final note.............Managed to find a bar which shows English football..........weeeeeeeee. Great win for the pool tonight!

Laters

Weekend away and fuck off pokerrrrrrrrrrrrrr

After a few rough days at the office myself and the lads decided to take a little holiday. We headed to the nearest city, Fortaleza for the weekend. James (captain organiser) booked us a nice 4 star hotel on the beach front.

Friday night and we headed out for a night on the lash. Well, it was a night like no other I tells ya. We ended up in this mad area with about 5-6 bars with more hookers than iv ever seen in my life. For example, one of the bars, Cafe Del Mar, had perhaps 300 odd hookers, and some of them were the most amazing looking women/girls I had ever seen. Not many guys about either (few fat and bald scando's, but we were defo the youngest). We had a few drinks in a few of these bars, but that was all we did, paying for sex wasn't, or never will be on my agenda. It was a sureal place its gotta be said.

We then headed off to a nightclub, qued for 20 mins only to be told we couldnt wear flip-flops, fml. Back to the hotel for a quick footwear change and we were in business. It was a really cool club with so many different areas. We had a few drinks in the courtyard area and then met a couple of Brazilains girls (one of whom spoke english) and hit the dance part of the club for some leg shaking (dancing you mugs). Music was pretty cool, mix of trance and electro. Pity the girls Craig and I were dancing with couldnt speak English........severaly hinders ones pulling power. Still all in all good clean fun. Headed back to the hotel about 6am and decided it was time for a dip in the sea. The sun had just come up and it was awesome. Swam/chilled on the beach for a while (pretty ballbagged it must be said) and then hit hotel breakfast at 7am. I have no doubt we made a scene at breakfast, im pretty sure I overused the word 'Fuck' for what should have been family breakfast time, ah well, they prob didnt speak English:)

We chilled out the night after as we were all in bits (but mainly Craig because he cant hack the pace). A 30 min taxi ride home , which included bribing the police as we had no passports on us, this country is so corrupt its sick. I can only imgaine what would happen if I tried to bribe the police at home. lol. Anyway, we got home about 2.30pm on a sunday and I had big hopes for pokers, mainly the FTOPS main event.

I pretty much airballed everything. I started the day off by playing well, in the Warm up and the first of the FTOPS, got it in with KK vs AA in the wamup, flop 455, turn K (weeeeeeeee) river A(fml). Obv never folding only had like 18bbs, would have been nice to double in that spot though. Onto the FTOPS $120 K.O. Built my stack up nicely from 5k to about 22k within the first 3 1/2 hours. With about 1900 left from 9000 I got into a stickyish spot. I opened at 250/500 50ante, to 1250 from the cut-off with A10s. I had been super aggro but hadnt shown down any bad hands. The sb, who had 3-bet me previouly and I folded 77 decided to 3-bet me again, to 3850. He was a competent player and obv realised I was opening light, so he would defo be 3-betting light. I mulled things over and decided it was a pretty good spot to 4-bet (committing myself). I made it 13,800 with the intention of not folding. He used all his timebank and eventually moved in for 19k total (ugh).......I ofc called and he flipped AQo and I bricked, gg sir. Reviewing the hand, I don't think I would play it differently, I cant let myself be run over (as he had 3 bet me before) and I thought given the action he would need a pretty big hand to call. His call versus my range here isn't fantastic, I had no intention of gettin 40bbs in pre with A10, ha, but I did.

Next was my first spin at the laddies 150k 60r. I played well for the first two hours and managed to get my stack to about 9k. RedShark (very good, but insanely aggro scando) Opended from mid position at 150/300 to 750. I saw 88 on the button and elected to just call , I mean perhaps I should 3 bet here, but I felt with 30bbs I didnt need to be getting it in with just two 8s. Moving to the flop and it came a nice 8JQ. He bet out for 1200. I raised to 3400, he sets me in and I call, he shows JJ, gg. Not alot I can do there imo.

The Ipoker 250k. Meh played this very badly. Made a bad/stooopid bluff early on and my stack went from 5k to 3200 when my bustout hand came. 75/150, dude opens utg+1 to 450(no reads), Tomgus456 (very good player)with 6k, flats in mp1. Im on the button with JJ and elect to shove. I have Tomgus range crushed here, and there is alot of $ in the pot. Anyway the opener had AA, so gg me. I dunno, I dont think I can fold JJ here with my stack size and I am not deep enough to flat as my hand will not play to well 3-ways. But tbh, I was a little annoyed at myself about this, as the dude who raised from utg+1 had been tight and was always gonna have a tight range from that position this early. Still unsure as to what I should have done as I hate being results orientated.

Sunday Millionnnnnnnnnn. Again managed to build a nice stack in this. 13,000 runers ha. Cant remember the exact details but, I think there was about 3000 ppl left, i had 35k i believe and raised from mid-pos with 33. The sb flats and we saw a 732 flop, he check called my flop bet, turn J, he check raised all in, I cant call fast enough and he has 77, coolered or what? gg

Ftops main event. Was sooo tilted from the other mtts by the time I got to this. Don't think I won a pot, blinded away until i squeezzed wtih 88 or some crap and lost a race to AQ. Rounded out a pretty awful Sunday, as even all the smaller mtts I played went awful.

Since Sunday I have played for the last two days and man its gone awful. Im not gonna bore you or myself with the bad beat stories, but seriously, I cant run worse. And im defo playing well as I have critiqued many of my hands with good players (as when things dont go well for me I feel the need to do this as I 2nd guess myself). I dunno what to do tbh, it is really tilting me as I as soooo competitive and hate to lose. It really affects me in life also. It gets me down bigtime. And people will wonder how I can feel down when im in Brazil living the life people dream about? I dunno, not winning at poker is alien to me. I'v have downswings and bad runs, of course I have, but never when I am playing as well as I am now. I guess il take a few days off, hit the beach and chill out, might even not play till Sunday, who knows.

Run better

Nick

Ummmmmmmmm

Couldn't think of a blog title, perhaps because it is 4am, ah well, i feel like writing so i will! Last few days been very frustrating poker wise. Got deep in several big tounries but couldnt deliver the big score.......why? Well its a combination of getting ul a few times and then making spewy/bad shoves preflop at times. Iv had some time to think/talk about my play with others and come to the conclusion that I am shoving and re stealing too wide ,its fine to do it versus aggro opponents in late position, as it will show profit but I have been doin it vs villians who have been nitty/tight at times. Im glad iv realised this now, because it could have went on alot longer and I was getting extremely frustrated with coming so close and blowing it.

Here are some of my results from the last week

12.5k Ipoker = 1st for 3.4k
Laddies 15k 50r = 4th and 8th I believe coming to about 2.5k
Stars 12k $55 6max = 1st for 2.4k
Tilt 75k $109 = 31st $400
Stars $50r = 11th $550 (FML)
Ipoker $50r = 11th $609 (FML)
Ipoker 12.5k = 11th $150......see a pattern?
Stars 70k $55 = 95th? $150
Ipoker 150k $109r = 80th for $375

Thats all I can think of from the time being, there were a few more but its 4am. Played a load of the FTOPS also, they are going horrif, ran pretty poorly in the 4/6 iv played and then played/shoved badly in the other two. In general though, I just cant seem to win on FTP, im sure itl happen soon though as I am now beating stars easily enough. Feel a big win is around the corner to be honest, just needed to tighten a few screws here and there. Dont get me wrong im still gonna play loose aggressive, but just tone it down a bit and pay more attention to other players.

Also trying to sort out house for Vegas for the summer. Found one thats pretty sweet, 9 bed, lol. Be sweet tho. Really excited for Vegas it has to be said, playing live almost every day will be saaaweeeeeeeeeeeet. Run deep in the main event one time please!

As far as life in Brazil goes, its still pretty sweet. Weather is flawless, food is a bit hit and miss at times though. Went for a burger today and it looked like a dead rat in the bun, I obv ate it but it was totally in bits. Talking to Paul-1 here on msn, the sicko is up at 7am playing a 20r! Top lad tho, learnt alot from him and love talking poker strategy with him. Im really rambling here, should probs get some sleep. Wonder should I play tommrrow or take a day off????

Nick

Shipping live and life in Brazilllllllll

Long time no post. Mainly because im the laziest man in the world. Ugh anway. The last month has been fantastic, il start with a short trip report of the GUKPT Brighton.

Thats the view from our poool. WEEEEEEEEE

GUKPT

Well things started off great when I missed my flight over (wp sir) and had to shell out 200 yo's for a new one. Arrived at the Queens hotel in Brighton after many a tube and train from london about 4pm on monday. Met up with James666 and his mate Craig(Kickoff) and checked into our room. Decided to get involved in the action right away and play the 200 pound freezeout that night. I played very well and ran my 7k stack up to about 35k nearing the end of the night. There was about 28 left with 18 paid when my bustout hand came up. At 600/1200 (some ante also) the table donkey (and i mean total donkey, he was awfullllll in every way possible) opened to 3600 in the cut-off, i looked down at KK on the button and 3 bet to 9800. He called after some thought and we saw a pretty minging Ad Qd 7s flop. The monkey deliberated for ages (and announced out loud that I could have 1010 or JJ and might fold if he bets) anyway, he ended up shoving for 40k, lol. It really confused me and I defo thought he was bad enough to do this with a rando Q or a flush draw. I made the hero call and he tabled A10o. gg.

Came back rearing to go the next day and played the 300 pound event. Again played really solid and managed to finish day1 on about 60k with about 20 odd left. There is only one hand i remember that was pretty fun. 10k stack 100/200, i open utg+1 with Kc9c TO 550 (my image is super lag also, but the table is super nitty) and this old dude with about 7k flats. We see a flop of 2 2 8. I fire 750, the old dude looks uncomfortable and raises to 2300. I think he is making a play against me here alot and if I shove it looks super strong on such a board, so i jammed and he folded 99 faceup, obv i flipped the K9 cause im a dick:)

Cruised to the final table about 2nd or 3rd in chips. Played super lag and was really enjoying it. I cant really remember the details, but about 20 hands into the final table the chip leader utg announces all in (lol, for about 40 bbs) im in mp1 and peek down at KK and cram sooo fast. He tables JJ and I hold to scoop a rediculous pot. His shove is sooo bad. James666 finaltabled also but busted in 6th because he overvalues ace high:) 4 handed I won a flip with my 88 vs AJ to get us three handed. I was soon HU and finally got all the money in when i 4bet all in with K8( I had been running him over and he was 3 betting super wide, so I dont mind this play at all) he said 'lets gamble', I was like fuck I only have k8 lol, but he flipped 108 and I managed to hold FTW. 14k Great British Pounds and change yoooooo. And the Gukpt tounry of champions at the end of the year. Was really happy with the win and how I played. Obv went out that night and got smashed. My main event didnt go well at all but I had 10% of James666 who came 2nd. Ship the 4.3k to meeeeee, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

In Brazil at the mo and loving it. In a great house, great weather and living it up. Playing great online also, up about 10k in my 1st week here which is nice.

The Year that is gone and looking forward

Right now I'm in a jam packed doctors surgery in le gets, France. I feel awful , very fluey. And could there be a worse time to be ill? I'm not sure, it's new years eve and I am on a skiing holiday with some of my family and geoff. It's got me thinking about the way I live my life.......I treat my body like shit everyday and this needs to stop soon or it could amount to some serious health problems in the future. My diet is shit, I don't excercise enough and I drink too much.

So as I do everyear I'm going to write some life goals/aims for the future and do the same for poker.

Life goals/aims for 2009

1) lose 2 and a half stone........very easy to say it, so how will I achieve this? I'm going to get a personal trainer, tell him my goals and get him to make me an excercise and diet plan. It's going to take alot of determination to do this as I have failed plenty of times before, but I want it more than ever this time. Being a fat prick is the thing I think about most next to sex and poker:)

2) learn to cook.......I got 3 cool cookbooks for Xmas (hint) , and let's be honest, it's about time I learnt how to make more than a toastie! I may take a cooking class also, who knows

3) invest some of my $. Perhaps into property? Bonds perhaps? Although most ppl are saying it's not the time for investment, however I believe when the property market hits rock bottom it will be (obvious statement I know). I invision ppl not being able to give places away......and that's where I come In:)))

4) travel to places in the world I have never been. Thailand , brazil, Argentina?the world is my oyster

5) continue to keep in touch with friends from abroad . Make the effort

Poker goals for 2009

1) Play alot more live events..........I have had mixed sucess live in the past and at times find it boring as you only play a couple of hands per hour. However when things are going well when you are playing in a live event its a hard feeling to beat. I want to play in a few GUKPT's (I am already booked in for Brighton in a couple of weeks) try play an EPT, the Irish open and of course the WSOP. Now, just playing in these isn't going to be enough for me, obviously, being competitive as I am. So what is a good goal to set, results wise? I guess final tabling an event from one of the above would be awesome. I agree it is a lofty goal, but fuck it, you gotta aim high.

2) Win a Sunday major...........eg Sunday warmup/million. I think this is defo achievable. My game is good enough it just requires running insanely well and playing insanely well. Not alot to ask really! But winning one of these tounries is what I need to strive for.

3) Work harder at trying to improve. Read more HH's, talk to better players more, read more on 2+2, critique and question your play more and more. I think in getting to the next level I know what I have to do, fold more big hands. The top class players can fold a big hand when they know they are beat, this is soemthing I need to improve at.

4) Well my goal this time last year was to earn $100k for the year. I have easily surpassed that this year, so thats nice to know. So for this year I would like to earn $300k+. Again, its aiming high, but I can do it. Ppl doubting me only makes me want it more.

5) Enjoy the game...........Try to play only when you feel like it, obviously this can be hard at times because it is my job and when I am not playing I feel like I should be. But my best results have come when I have been in a good state of mind. So don't play when you don't feel up to it you muppet.



Flew home from skiing early because I was so ill. Not ideal. Played online the last two nights, went awful. That is all for now.

Nick

Landan and being a degen

So went to London for the weekend and had an awesome time. I am really feeling the affects of so many nights out now tho!

Anyway Geoff and I flew out on Friday afternoon, had to get a taxi to the airport because all my mates are benders! Grabbed a quick Maccy D's and we were on our way. Got to Geoff's cribnest about 7, chilled for a while and then decided we should eat again. We hit up Wagamama's, fucking love the place, food is fantastic, the service is great and there always seems to be a good buzz about the place. Then after a few beers at dinner we headed to the Vic to meet up with James666. But Geoff the ballbag forgot his I.D, so I headed in alone as he hit the mingin tube back to Islington to grab his I.D. I'd say I was in the Vic 45 mins and had 3 triple jager redbulls, was well oiled to say the least when Geoff arrived. We then left cause James couldnt handle the aggro scando's at his cash table:) We had a few drinks in this salsa place which was pretty cool (passion fruit mojito's, yum yum) We stayed there for a while and then decided it was time for some degening. Empire casino was our hole of choice and James and I got a private table and played series of HU games. We played every type of poker imaginable , it was awesome. We ended up even in the end, but I owned his soul, he ran like god in PLO. I think we left Empire about 3am and decided it was time for bed. We left James and headed back to Geoff's house. He hit the bed and I decided to play online ( fantastic idea ofc). I jumped in a 1/2 6 max game and managed to find some mugs who were somehow more hammered than I was. One hand for an example of the dismal play, I make it $8 on the button with Q10s ($200 effective stacks). The small and big blind both defend. We see a flop a rainbow flop of QJ10, it's checked to me so I fire $18, the sb quicky calls and the turn rolls out another 10. He checks again and I decide betting is best as he is a fishay and he wont fold any of his draws/top pair hands. I throw out $40 and he snaps me. The river comes a deuce and he again checks to me, I overbet jam (not by a huge amount) and he tanks down, uses his full timebank, and looks me up with Q6 yipeee! I won about $1200 over the course of a couple of hours, which was good considering I was deranged. I hit the scratcher about 6am absolutely wrecked.

Then next couple of days in London were very cool. We went to two Premiership games, Villa vs West Ham (Upton Park and its surroundings are in absolute bits by the way) and Arsenal vs L'pool. Keano got off the mark which was good news but I felt we should have got more from the game. We also ate some great food and drank out fair share of beers. We got back to Dublin late Sunday night and I got a text 'you home? coming out tonight?'. I was feeling ill and sooooo tired so obv I replied with 'yeaahhhhhhhhhh'. A mad night in Coppers in which we downed every drink we had , geeeeeeed ideas. Then the casino was visited at 4am, again not a fantastic idea, I bluffed away 400 euro in the last hand to leave a 150 euro loser, ah well it was good fun.

An entry of my chrimbus goings on will be posted soon............As for online poker, I played the $250 one day on laddies and managed to scoop the win for $2175. That is all:)

Happy Festive Period
Nick

Ummmmmmm

As I write this I am insanely hungover, properly in bits. So if it makes little or no sense you know why. What have I been doing the last week or so? Went on the piss, thurs, fri and sat..............good banter was had as per usual, but really feeling the affects of treating my body so poorly. And with Christmas just around the corner i'm guessing I won't be getting much of a break from it! Oh well, i'l just have to soldier on and suck it up. Tough life I have!

Pokers....................hmmmmmmm...................................Played a few tounries sat afternoon and managed to scoop 2nd in the $250 on laddies for 1.8k. I played like a toolbox HU. I have been playing a lot of HU since then, making a serious effort to improve, hopefully it will pay off:) Then played a huge slate on Sunday and had some great stacks in some big wans but the poker gods decided it was time to slap me in the face, really hard.

-15 left in the Irish Open sat with 4 packages, I have an average stack which is 12bb (Ipoker = jokes) My AA is no match for 89s. GG
-115 left in the 250k on ipoker I lose a massive pot with AKs to AQ, standard, it cripples me and I bust in 103rd with 100 paid. GG
-200 left in the Brawl on FTP I have a top 20 stack I get it in with A8s on and 822 board vs AQ.........turn the standard Q. I then run JJ into AA blind v blind, like come on, FUCK MY LIFE!

In better news I managed to have some sucess staking. I staked Snow-Men into the $300 daddy on laddies and he managed 5th for $3k and change. Great effort for a mug! I'm off to London tommorow for the weekend to watch the might pool beat the Arsenal scum, should be banter.

Take it ham and
Nick

Losing Live winning Onlizzle

Been a while since my last post. Mainly because I played a few live tounries, they went muck and I couldn't be shizzzed to talk about them.

Anways, I played the 1k event int Fitzwillam and was out by level 3. It had a great structure and I really don't think you will find a softer 1k event anywhere in the world. Honestly it was mad, like 7 people to every flop, people limping and then calling re raises, it was gas. I had to fold KK on 8 9 6 2 board when i guy shoved on me, wasn't the ideal board, but my plan was to bet/fold the turn given its drawy nature, oh well! I ended up busting flopping top two blind v blind, he bet i the flop i raised, he called, the turn completed a gutter and he led (made no sense) so I jammed trying to get value from worse two pairs ect, he obv turned the nuts with 64 o. GG. Was very annoyed to bust so early as the field was so weak.

Onto Cavan............Drove up friday night and met up with Snow-Men and Ballybaykid. Had some dinner and a pint and it was time to play. I played like a monkey for the first few levels, basically spewing chips left right and centre, again the standard was horrif! Tbh I found it hard to adapt to playing live from playing online so often. Its something I need to work on because my patience was no where to be seen. Ended up busting in level 8 I think, limped pot I had QJs in the sb, flop 7 9 10. I check shoved on the button who bet like 3k I had like 14k. He made a great hero call with 78o and even after turning a flush draw I couldnt get there, sigh! Live poker can blow my nuggets. Was fun to hang out with Snow-Men and Ballybay even if they are mugs!

As for online, it had been going very well.

2nd in the 15k on ipoker for $2.5k
3rd in the 4k on laddies for $900
4th in the Ipoker 25k for $2k
3rd in the laddies 15k $1.8k

So been a pretty decent 10 days......really haven't put in much volume but when I have played I have been winning. Little dissapointed I didn't win any of the above tounries, but in all honesty it just came down to not running well enough shorthanded!

In other news.........been goin out on the sauce alot:) My mates and I are such pissheads , lol! But na, really been enjoying myself! Also been managing to go the gym every 2nd day which is good for a fatboy like me! And finally booked a ski holiday for new year, so am really excited for that.

Over and out

Nick

Live poker

= BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Fun times.............update to follow when i can be shizzzzzzzed

Ship IT

Been back in Dublin since Thursday. Been great to be home even if the weather hasn't been the kanye. Had a party in our house on Saturday night for Chris who is moving away for Australia for 2 years. Was a great party and went on till about 5am, good to see all the lads again!

Then played online on sunday. Was insanely hungover but things managed to go well for me. I managed to win the ladbrokes $100 rebuy for $20k! I ran sooooo hot, got it in bad 3 or 4 times and won each time. But then when I hit the final table i played extremely well and pretty much bossed it. Wasn't an easy final table either, alot of really tough aggro scando's! Got HU and basically ownded him. Made one or two v nice bluffs and finally all the money went in pre with my 66 to his A9, a 6 on the flop and I was dancing around the room! Was sweet to finally win and not come 2-5th in a big one. Was well chuffed:) Also cashed in the stars 100k and the F tilt 150k, for $175 and $380, nothing major but gonna win something big on there soon.

Viewing a few appartments tommorrow and also test driving a new car, Porsche Boxter S. So should be fun:)

Later

Big weekend in D-Town

Had an awesome weekend. Friday night a large group of us went to bar downtown called Mantis. When we got there it was pretty emty, but wow did that place get crazy. It was alot of fun and great to catch up with a few of the guys I hadn't seen in 3 years. I got extremely drunk and think I hit the hay about 3am!

I awoke on saturday and informed Kyle that I wanted to eat breakfast at Hooters (as you do). The food wasn't the kanye west but the girls were smokin, so I was happy:) Later than day my buddy Chris picked me up and told me we were all going to a charity event called the Margarita Ball. He picked me up at 5.45pm and the ball started at 7pm. So in that hour or so, I had to find a suit that fitted, a shirt to go with the suit and a tie to round it all off. It was a mad rush but we managed to get the suit and get to the ball in time. It was an amazing night at a great venue. Sooooo many hotties + free margarita's + alot of you best friends = the time of your life!

Stayed in Chris house last night and got home earlyish this morning, I was feeling ridic tired but thought it would be stupid not to play a slate of sunday mtt's. Great idea Nick you mug. Played the Warm up on stars, the $120 FTOPS event, the 80k on laddies and the 125k on stars. Completely overplayed 88 in the warmup vs a tricky opponent who owned me with his AA. Laddies kept discoing (no surprises there) so I hardly played a hand in the rebuy period, and then missed the add-on, was really short and shoved 7bbs from the button with a7o into 44 and couldnt win the race. GG. Then 125k a lost a standard flip with my QQ losing to the nuggets that is AK. Had an ok run in the FTOPS event before squeezing with A6s, and got looked up by A9o, we both missed the flop, i turned the magical 6d but the smashing 9c hit the river. GG. So al in all a terrible day poker wise, but I had such a fun weekend I dont even care (well of course I do, but i'm trying to not be bothered by it)

I'm thinking about heading back to Dublin soon, maybe this week, iv been away 6 weeks now, have had a great time, but feel the need to get home for a while and then perhaps move on again.

May we all flip well in the future

Nick

Blahhhhhhhhhh........

Well, played alot of poker the last two days and it has gonna pretty terrible. Managed a few small cashes but nothing of any interest. Though things were going to turn around last night in the 80k on stars, but lost a crucial flip with about 200 left my JJ losing to AQ, this left me with about 15 bbs, folded for an orbit or two and then shoved 10bbs with Ah 7h from the cut-off, the button snapped me off and then the bb re shippped it. They had KK and AQ....gg 170 something place. Had a fun bustout in the laddies 35k. It was the last hand of the rebuy period, UTG limps for 50 the cut-off makes it 200 the button flats. I am in the SB with AhKh, i make it 1300 to go. UTG and the orig raiser fold but the button flats. Flop comes down a pretty terrible 7 8 10, but I deceided to try rep a large pair and shoved my last 2500, the guy tanked and called with 22....LOL. Seriously , what goes through these guys heads. Not that my play was fantastic, but 22 come on!

Had a few nights out the last few days. Went to this place called the Glass Cactus that was pretty cool. Full of older peeps but still a good laugh.......Untill, we get talkin to these two girls who are ok looking but nothing special, they were defo worth a spin but nothing to get excited about. Anyway, one of my friends ended up dancing with one, so I end up sitting there talking to her friend. After some small talk she asks me what I do? I tell her that I play poker for a living. Jokes asside, she responds with ' So wait, you sit around all day LOSING your PARENTS money on your laptop' haha, I laughed so hard. I mean, where she got this from I have no idea, anyway, I thought it was comical. Needless to say I didnt stay talking to her for very long.

Heading out tonight with a some friends I used to know from college in New Orleans. Should be a mad one me thinks! Won't be playing any poker till Sunday, where I reckon il hit the MTT's pretty hard.

Take it easy

Some $$$ and Sunny Dallas

Played a bit the last two days but nothing major as have played during the day.
Played the $30 Graveyard on ladbrokes, basically owned the tounry , running really well and playing hyper lag until I found myself HU with a 6-1 chip lead. ACE-ATTACK was my opponent who is a good player, but I still didn't think winning would be too hard given the stack sizes. Ne way, he had about 13bbs, I had KJo on the button, I shoved on him, he had A9s and he won the race, all pretty standard. Then I lost a few small pots basically being very cardead and then this hand comes up : I open the button to 2777 at 500/1k, he 3 bets me to 8100 (he has about 23k behind after this raise).....I decide to flat call (which I think is a mistake, I should be shoving or folding with these stack sizes HU.....and I def prefer shoving because he had 3 bet a few times).....the flop comes 4d 7d 8s giving me two overs and the a flush draw, he checks to me, i shove (jst over the pot size) and he snaps and i mean snaps me off with 33, haha. I thought it was bizzare, why would he check the flop if he was gonna call my shove with such a weak hand. Ne way, finished 2nd which was good for $360....massive!

I also played the FTOPS $200 turbo with 500k gtd.......busted in about 800th when I found 77 utg with 4.5bbs and ran into JJ, oh well, 100k for 1st would have been nice! Also played the 70k and 10k on stars, busted early in the 70k and finished 60th of 1700 in the 10k, was a funny hand tbh : Cut off opens to min raises to 8k, the button flats, I'm in the bb with 44k, and i raise to 34k with A9o (committing myslef, attempting to look stronger than I am), the orig raiser flats my 3 bet, flop 5s 2h 3h, I move in and he calls and has 5h 4h, lol. And cashed for a massive $70 or something. GG

Also played golf today and the weather was fantastic, only played 9 holes, hit two balls O.B and stil managed to be +1, was enjoyable to play some semi-decent golf.

I'm still going to the Gym and eating healthier which is good. I'm finding the running easier so I may have to step it up a bit though.

Think we are heading out tonight somewhere locally for a few beers, should be fun.

Nick

Bubbleaments.......11th November 08

Played a whole lot online today as the weather was shity in Dallas. Played the 25k $100 rebuy on laddies, was going well and thenlost a really important flip with my 99 vs a guy's AQo, I win that I am in superb shape to contend for the win. Instead I grindedmy short stack and hovered around 8-12bbs. With 22 left and 20 paid, Ateyo(he is kinda spewy so he can have alot of hands here)limped the button for 1k, the sb folded, I am bb with 11k and Jh3h, ne way the flop was qh kh 4d, i checked he fired 2.7k, I shovehe had AA and I cant get there, oh well, like ofc I can fold, but considering I have 36% chance of improving vs a one pair handand there is always the possibilty he will fold, shoving must be somewhat +Ev?!

Also played the daily $50 80k on stars, got deep and with 110 of 1700 left I lost a massive pot with my AhKh to A10o.....fun fun.I then hung around for a while longer and shoved 9bbs with KQs, was called by 55 and couldnt get there. Played the 70k $10 rebuyon stars also and busted a about 3 hours in close to the money. Feel like I am playing well and another big win is defo on thecards, will prob play a few of the FTOPS this week, but considering the weather is gonna be good I will prob play alotta golf. Should prob get some sleep.

Laters

NH BRA.......11th November 08

So airballed the $500 shorthanded and the $1k main event, built a very nice stack in the $500 and with about 80 left this hand happend. I open 44 utg at 100/200 to 500, the bb with a huge stack flats, flop j43 rainbow, goes check check. The turn is 10, hebets 700, I make it 2k, he makes it 4k. Like, i could just flat here, but I have a set, it is six max and it is agaisnt a scando:). So I shove for 7k more and he snaps and flips up JJ! gg

As for the main event, busted about 5 hours in, don't feel like talking about the hand, but I stand by my play. I played 3 or 4 other sunday mtts and did no good im any, oh well!
Other than poker it was a great weekend, had two nights out in Dallas with some olds friends. Also went to an american football game, SMU vs Memphis, which was fun. Enjoying myself more
Nick