November News

First of all, congrats to Barny Boatman on his runner up finish at the Midland Masters. The Hendon Mob League Final is tomorrow night and one of 10 lucky forum readers will be off to Las Vegas with the Mob to the Bellagio WPT.

Below is a table by Steve Brecher from Full Tilt Poker's Lessons from the Pros #37. The figures carry some assumptions for simplification but the table is self explanatory.


DaMatrix's online player of the week award goes to "Ozzy 87" from Houston. I've been very impressed with their poker to say the least. He's won a 2 tournaments in a week at Pokerstars at the same time as owning the NL $25/$50 and $50/$100 tables at Ultimate Bet.

Here are Ozzy 87's cashes from PokerStars in a little over a week from 24 NL tournaments for a total profit of $27,959 ($30,719-$2760 buyins):

1. 1/105@$100 = $10,440
2. 2/220@$100 = $3,850
3. 1/178@$300 = $16,020
4. 12/102@$100 = $383
5. 17/107@$100 = $409.

Last night I also saw him spin $10k at NL $50/100 into $66k in a couple of hours getting paid off when he had the nuts on the flop or the river in $20k+ pots. Whenever he reraised he had very strong hands but still kept getting paid off! To have won 2/18 tourneys with $100+ buyin is extraordinary also.

Today, I was playing with Antonio Esfandiari in a NL ring table at Ultimate Bet. He was telling everyone how a burger cost $60 in Monte Carlo. Soon, I was involved in a pot with the magician. I flopped a set of 4s on a two diamond board and I was check-called by Antonio. Turn was an ace and again I bet big enough to make calling with a flush draw a mistake but was check-called again. River was another diamond and the pot was $60. Antonio instantly led out with a pot bet and I folded swiftly showing my pocket 4s. He was amazed that I folded and promised me he had the flush - hey, that's why I folded! He can stick his next Monte Carlo burger..... lol

Finally, made another cash in a Blonde Forum tourney at Virgin Poker. It was the first Blonde Poker League tournament and I finished in the top 10 out of 107 other blondites.

Maxim KOP 2006 Begins

Qualification for the Maxim King of Poker 2006 began today. Hopefully I'll be there to defend my title. I recommend you too try to qualify as last year's event was great!

Full details: Maxim KOP 2006.

Don't turn your back.

Congratulations are also in order for Paul "ActionJack" Jackson who won $600k yesterday by finishing second to Phil Ivey at the Monte Carlo Millions. I've met Paul at the WHUPC 2005 in Barcelona and the VC Poker Cup 2005 and he's a sound bloke!

November Poker Babe

November Poker Babe

This month's poker babe is Vida Guerra. Wallpaper courtesy of FHM US. Touch her lucky bum before you play to increase your chance of winning at poker! ;)

Hendon Mob League: Game 12

The Hendon Mob Poker League's Game 12 started at 8pm with 60 players.

My aim of finishing in the top 10 were exstinguished when my KK got busted by JJ. I limped UTG+1 with KK. (don't usually (almost never) limp in early position with KK, but fealt sure someone would raise and I could take down a decent pot without showdown preflop with a re-raise or otherwise I'd have my whole stack in with a massive advantage. Either was good for me. The conditions for limping in with KK were right since there was a great chance to double-up by trapping someone with a lower pair/AK/AQ raising me since they might not (intended) put me on KK. I estimated someone would raise before the flop at 90% and the outside chance of being able to win (more than just the blinds) in two different ways was desirable.

My plan seemed to have backfired when the whole table folded to the BB. The big blind thought for a while before going all-in (with JJ). I called in a nanosecond but my opponent, FlippetyFlop, hit a straight. He then even had the cheek to suggest my play was bad! lol I didn't even complain about the beat - and why would I? If I won that pot I would have been on course for that top 10 final finish. I know how it feels to play like a bounty is on your head.....

I didn't expect to qualify anyway, since the point system of doubling and trebling the points for the last 2 games turned the whole league into a crapshoot. Not complaining, except that with the double and, especially tonight's treble points, the incentive for dishonest players to cheat was high. I am very sure about at least one player - this player is the only one were my notes on him just say muppet. There's a small chance that I am just being paranoid - but any suspicious feeling that I get is enough proof for me aside from other indicators...

For some time I have been thinking about writing a speech a-la Travis Bickle style from Taxi Driver about the people that play poker...

In Travis Bickle’s words: whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, and junkies.

The final league top 10 table after Game 12:


League Final Top 10
Congrats to p3rcy for winning the League and good luck to the ten finalists in the play-off for the Bellagio trip.

See the Hendon Mob League Top 10 Players.

PrimaPoker: A - Z

The A-Z of Who's Who on PrimaPoker:

_judas_ - Henric S.
10-J-Q-K-A - Mike J.
14UTOPAY - Jonah E.

A-F - Andre F.
AAlimper - Thomas J.
AceJay - Jatinder S.
aceonwrists - Thomas B.
Agren - Daniel A.
ajhcmaj - Adam M.
Amarok - Ben J.
Anos - Tanya H.

baconburgare - Anders H.
BallenaGris - Michael Y.
banton - Sami P.
Basil_Rex - Jeffrey B.
beaver_like - Peter D.
beethoven - Fredrik E.
Benelli - Kenneth A.
bigdevil - Danut A.
biggtime - David G.
Bingoent - Anders K.
bluntwrap - Andreas L.
Boogman - Randy B.
Brittpopper - Sascha F.
Bruno2 - Baard H.
bsanna - Bjørn S.
bullitpete - Peter H.

calson - Peter C.
Cisco - John A.

darkboss - Edmund B.
dellis - Kenneth W.
diegom7 - Diego M.
dingdingding - Raymi T.
dino321 - Gard A.
dodgerskaua - Brian C.
drexthetex - Dustin D.
Drunkelb1 - Steven D.
dukyboys - Eugene R.
Dunkelb1 - Steven D.

emil__ - Emil A.
ericsind - Eric S.

Fanthomet - Orjan K.
Farquad - Gene B.
FeralBoy - Richard M.
Ferrai - Tony L.
Ferrari360 - Arshad H.
fishnutz - James K.
fourfinger - Haavard S.
froggybumbum - Stefano B.

Geobe - Edgardo B.
Groy - Glen M.

Handsolow - Rob M.
Hedman75 - Jimmy H.
Hegger8 - Henric N.
Helena_ - Helena N.
HighHeat - Phil M.
Hitmedegen - Carl G.
hoahoa99 - Johan L.
hoe - Robert I.
Honest Lad - John K.
hookemtide - Eric B.

Iquist - Barry C.
itsdabanger - Adam B.

JabbaTheHut - Thor L.
jdrengsgaard - Jacob D.
Jimmyuk - Mick W.
Joern76 - Jorn M.
Johjo - Johan J.
jonnybearr - Justin M.
Joopy - Cheryl C.
joseph123 - Sargon R.

KARSTENSHEA - Ryan S.
kastell84 - Thomas D.
Kempe - Micke J.
kgbman - Dennis O.
KingHigh2004 - Mark C.
KMTboy - Steven C.
Kunta - Deniz O.

Laaur2 - Jarle K.
laughingwolf - Jason R.
legolas4 - Marcos R.
Lels - Ariel B.
Lundan - Anton L.

Mabbe - Kristian E.
mademen33 - Brian B.
Madmarty - Martin C.
maffian - Peter H.
matlessinger - Mat L.
mavericka - Mark G.
Maxgammon - Wayne M.
MissSweden - Rose S.
money2spend - Larry J.
moratto - Louis M.
Mr_Hoppy - Rumit S.
MrLoose - Nils J.

n1stunnor - Jason G.
Nathan - Stale E.
nbliss16 - Nathan B.
nedomansky - Ulf H.
nordlight - Niclas L.

OhioRounder - Noah C.
Olis2 - Ole O.
Oska - Paul O.
Otis - Neil H.

paddydog - Joseph R.
Pan_Hanson - Peter H.
pappapoker - Dan B.
pounce - Adrian C.

Quintrix - Patrik K.

Rickmotor - Rick C.
Ricko - Rickard A.
Roberto1 - Robert W.
rosebud17 - Rose R.
Rudder1 - Jacob B.
rur - Runar R.

ScottA - Scott A.
ShaDan - Zhi L.
Shawdofax - David J.
ShockAndAww - John V.
Silverback - Mattias N.
Sinine - Imre L.
Sirdogstar - Darren K.
skivrmt - Mark A.
SNPoker - Steve N.
sparv - Fredrik D.
Spycatcher - Dean S.
Strakov - Samuel L.
suhleafs - James S.
Sylta - Frode S.

tdp12212012 - Paul L.
thatspoker - Michael F.
Themenace - Dennis J.
This_is_war - Paul D.
timmy420 - Tim L.
Tony-Soprano - Christian T.
trader518 - Edward B.
Traveller2 - Björn I.
TUFFONE - James C.
TY-MUPPET - Paul J.

UMCorona - Bryan C.
utpetson - Tomas P.

Veron22 - Martin H.

wackywilly - William M.
WikiWild - Clint R.

XO - Mats B.

zimbardo - Erik L.
Zlatte - Anders P.

ReBirth

Work in progress: Rabid River

Been getting to grips with Propellerhead's ReBirth RB-338 software recently. Watch out for some poker related electronic music. 'Rabid River' - dark drum n bass or funky french house?

This month I have also been mostly playing The Movies on PC and Pro Evolution Soccer 5 on PS2.

Hendon Mob League: Game 11

The penultimate Hendon Mob Poker League game started at 8pm with 56 players. The tournament payed DOUBLE ranking points hence a good performance was vital. My goal for this game was to remain in the top 10.

As usual, Stan James added $500 prize money to the $25+$2.50 NLH event and there were $100 bountys (and this week 10 bonus points instead of 5) for any Mobster that you knocked out.

Started off on Joe Beevers' table. The first half hour I made a lot of mistakes and lost 20% of my stack. It didn't help that 10 minutes b4 the start of this tournament I had bubbled somewhere else. Was being a little too passive and wasn't catching any flops with some speculative hands I was playing. My bad luck/bad play combo continued for the next 15 minutes and lost a further 20%. So I was down to 1,500 chips from 2,500. Rocked up for the next 15 minutes to try and get to the break with at least half the starting stack. Like to make things harder for myself! lol

At the break, 44 remaining: 1st Almunia24 7875, 2nd p3rcy 6120 and 3rd Wellboy 5785 - 43rd DaMatrix 1234.

Things went from bad to worse. Was doing my best to hang on and try and get into the points but lost my one and only attempt, after 90 minutes of playing, to double up with JJ in the SB against clear overcards/smaller pair. Unfortunately I was up against the DaMatrix - QK, and just like in the WHUPC, my opponent caught a queen on the river. I finished 37/56 but hopefully other results will go my way and I'll still be in the top 10 after this game - that's really all I was hoping for at the start of the game anyway.

So, overall Game 11 was a shambles. Not the time to put in my worst performance of the League season so far!

It was inevitable that today's game would be bad though. Last night something good happened... my protégé, Gattopardo, qualified for The Sun Online Poker Championship live final to be held at the Palm Beach Casino in December! He came 1/180 in the Weekly Final held at The Sun Poker.

Final League Game 11 results:

Mob League: Game 11 Results

With the final game next week being TREBLE points, remaining in the top 10 for a chance to play in the play-off will be hard to achieve with everybody gunning for a top finish. Anything worse than final table and it's bye bye Bellagio.

Top 40 (click to enlarge)

Above is the Top 40 going into the last game where the points up for grabs will probably (if less than 100 players) be: 1st 63, 2nd 60, 3rd 57, 4th 54, 5th 51, 6th 48, 7th 45, 8th 42, 9th 39, 10th 36, 11th 33, 12th 30, 13th 27, 14th 24, 15th 21, 16th 18, 17th 15, 18th 12, 19th 9, 20th 6 points and everyone outside top 20 get just 3 points. There will also be 1 to 4 bountys at 15 points each.

See the Hendon Mob League Top 10 Players.

Bonfire of the Blinds

Wall of Fame: 1st

Finally achieved my goal of winning the Wall of Fame tourney at BugsyClub beating captainNdiet heads-up.

The signs were good today after I won one of the first tournaments I played with 100+ runners. I also placed in two other tournaments with big fields (top 50/1000+ and top 20/250+). The only disappointment was Prima Poker's Tournament of Champions.

The T.O.C. started with just 61 players, winner take all. There were a few away players on my table - one to my left. So I was happy to take their BB whenever it was folded to me in the SB.

After a few rounds of this, I pick up QQ in the SB and it's folded to me once again. I make an automatic min-raise to steal the BB from the away player. Suddenly, the BB reraises me - so sensing that they think I have been stealing I go all-in - the chance that they have KK/AA is too small and I have to go for 1st place - of course, they turn over AA! I embarrasingly finish 57/61 lol Oldest trick in the book - after you time out, pretend you are away by putting it on auto-fold, then wait to pick up a monster to make your move!

Bit of a shame since I had been looking forward to that for over a week -if I had to estimate the chance that I'd get caught out by that trick in the T.O.C. I'd say it was a million to 1 (one of the advantages of playing live is that you can see if your opponent is really asleep or not lol). Congrats to Dunkelb1 who beat short stacked Stackbasher heads-up and grabbed a package to the Monte Carlo Millions!

Winning one of the two tournaments that I wanted to win today isn't bad though (if I had won both that would have been incredible).

I am now an official member of BugsysClub's Wall of Fame!!

TOC & WOF

This Saturday at 8pm I will be playing in the Prima Poker Tournament of Champions (T.O.C.) having qualified for the WHUPC back in May via Stan's Poker, a Prima Poker operator.

-- The Prima Network, the world’s largest online poker network, unveiled plans to send its best poker player to Monte Carlo Millions, the world’s most exclusive poker tournament. Every player who has won a seat to a land-based tournament from Prima in 2004 or 2005 is eligible to play in the Tournament of Champions, a freeroll event whose final table will be televised on Poker Zone’s “Poker Night Live,” channel 226 on SKY TV in the United Kingdom.

On Saturday, November 5th at 21:00 GMT, the strongest players on the network will compete for a chance to win a $30,000 prize package to represent their card room in Monte-Carlo with the pros.

The Champion of Champions will join 120 of the world’s best poker players in Monte-Carlo, where he or she will be treated to luxurious five-star accommodations at one of the world’s top hotels, $500 spending money (or equivalent in Euros), the $25,000 buy-in to the Monte Carlo Millions and a shot at the largest prize pool in European history: $3 million. Once there, if the Network Champion plays the cards right, a seat at the world-famous Monte-Carlo Casino’s final table and a chance to win the $1 million first prize awaits.

“Our players come from around the world to play at the World Series of Poker, the Bellagio, Borgata, WPT and EPT events. They are the best the Web has to offer,” said Prima Network CEO Roger Raatgever. “We want to reward our top players and to see who is truly the Champion of Champions. Never before has online poker strategy and sheer determination been so great, for such a coveted prize. I wish all the network players the best of luck.” --

Also next Saturday at 8pm, I am in the BugsysClub Wall of Fame (W.O.F.) tournament after winning Al's Smash 'n' Grab League with a new record of 44,555 points. This will be my 5th attempt at becoming a member of the Wall of Fame, and it marks the one year anniversay since my first attempt. Previous winners of this tournament include Derek "OldKingCole" Rowland, Mattias "Pokermats" Andersson and Matt "SamENole" Smith.

Fingers crossed for some Saturday Love!!!