Guest diary writer: Barry
Game 1 (1st Sharon, 2nd Barry, 8 players)
Apologies from Mark the Grinder (Other side of the world) and JJ (Gastroentiritis). Delayed start due to no one turning up on time. Dave out early - not really any big hands, just a couple of outkickered top pairs. 4 AA appeared in the first game, all but one won (see below). Jude very unlucky to lose all her chips in 2 hands - both to Barry. First was to a straight, second she had AA and called after Barry went all in after the turn card, only to lose to another straight (Barry already had - river card irrelevant). Barry chip leader, everyone else slowly went out. Sharon had a lucky hand against Dan, knocking him out in 3rd place (fluked a straight). She then had an AJ vs Barry's A8 only for the board to show two further 8's and had few chips left. But she fought back and eventually got to heads up with Barry. After Sharon gained some chips and levelled it, Barry went all in with 33, Sharon called with AJ again, but Jack appeared on flop and Sharon took the first game.
Game 2 (1st Dave, 2nd Ilan, 7 players)
Very dull game. Decided to put blinds up quickly (£1 a time), but this had the effect of no one really playing as blinds became big so quickly. Dean fell early to Barry (Top pair, A kicker - Dean claimed to have flush draw but had 3 hearts after the flop !). Vic fell next with 10,10 went all in against Barry's KK and King's held up). Remaining 5 took long time to whittle down and eventually Dave knocked Barry out in 3rd with a lucky straight, and immediately, in the first hand of heads up, beat Ilan with another lucky straight.
Conversation topics
Big Brother was on in the background and general consensus was that George Galloway is a ****. Luckily, and quite correctly, he was booed out of the BB house after being evicted. Dennis Rodman soon followed as well. Dave spent £49 (inc £10 tip) on a haircut - wouldn't normally spend that much, but was desperate and had to go to the nearest place to work. Looked nice anyway! Jude was a little confused with the situation when the board consisted of a straight (6, 7, 8, 9, 10), and Barry bet a large amount. It was explained to her that if she thought Barry had the J or JQ, she should fold, but if she thought I was bluffing, then she should bet in order to split the pot. She folded , as it would have left her very short stacked, and wasn't prepared to gamble/risk it. Bit of a discussion about Barry's career options, and the potential to get a job in Borehamwood. Dave's work had completed on 2 properties in Woodford Green (??) and finally Dean gave us the latest on his tenants from hell (he has sent them an email, telling them that they WILL let him in with prospective new tenants or he will take out the cost of taxis/trains from Leicester to London from their deposit). Shockingly, and to Dean's horror, Pesach in Israel price has gone up for the 2nd week running to £949.
18 January (S&L’s house) £20 loss
Game 1 (1st Lewis, 2nd Dave, 10 players)
It was a night for AA (6+ occasions plus all the ones Mark never shows), but sadly not for me. Got into a good position winning a sizeable amount of chips from Vic (again) only to run into a monster hand from Dave – raised an original sounding bet of £12.75 when I hit the gut-shot straight on the turn only for the Diamond to give Dave the nut flush. Won’t be trying that move again in a hurry. Barry kept up his record of losing to trips 3 games in a row. 666 on the flop versus QQ. Evil Scott hit a lucky Q on the river. Heads up Dave lost a shed-load of chips to Lewis’s top pair of Kings and then in a wonderful finale we had 62 (Lewis) v’s 34 (Dave). Lewis hit the 6 – recording the first win for one-armed bandits.
Game 2 (1st Evil Scott, 2nd Dave, 10 players)
Got into an even better chip position through some unusually tight play only to be screwed by Dave (and an emotional Mark). AK (JJ), KQ (Dave) and 77 (Mark). Mark tripled up to keep the dream alive and Dave hit a lucky Q in the side-pot. Left in about 6th place at 2am. Makes it all seem worthwhile. Heads-up evil Scott triumphed at the unearthly hour of 2.25am – at which point Dean no doubt started work.
Conversation topics
With the group feeling lost without LOST and with emotions running high due to Mark’s last game, the conversation was a little subdued. Pre-game email banter focused on our complicated and changeable entry rules. It was to be a night where the irregular players came good – maybe we should have banned them after all. The Jayson au pair’s smoking lies were exposed to all – but is it really lying to deny smoking when you stink like an ashtray. Scott’s job, indeed all people in recruitment were agreed to be irrelevant. Dean/Lee discussed an exciting tenancy agreement and another high-quality presentation was created by Dean at the table. The ins and outs (bum bum) of a trade association for prostitutes were raised by Ilan – how exactly does it work? Finally, in an incredible twist, market forces have actually increased the cost of Pesach in Tel Aviv to £909. Will the next move be up or down? The world waits.
BJ rating
2
It was a night for AA (6+ occasions plus all the ones Mark never shows), but sadly not for me. Got into a good position winning a sizeable amount of chips from Vic (again) only to run into a monster hand from Dave – raised an original sounding bet of £12.75 when I hit the gut-shot straight on the turn only for the Diamond to give Dave the nut flush. Won’t be trying that move again in a hurry. Barry kept up his record of losing to trips 3 games in a row. 666 on the flop versus QQ. Evil Scott hit a lucky Q on the river. Heads up Dave lost a shed-load of chips to Lewis’s top pair of Kings and then in a wonderful finale we had 62 (Lewis) v’s 34 (Dave). Lewis hit the 6 – recording the first win for one-armed bandits.
Game 2 (1st Evil Scott, 2nd Dave, 10 players)
Got into an even better chip position through some unusually tight play only to be screwed by Dave (and an emotional Mark). AK (JJ), KQ (Dave) and 77 (Mark). Mark tripled up to keep the dream alive and Dave hit a lucky Q in the side-pot. Left in about 6th place at 2am. Makes it all seem worthwhile. Heads-up evil Scott triumphed at the unearthly hour of 2.25am – at which point Dean no doubt started work.
Conversation topics
With the group feeling lost without LOST and with emotions running high due to Mark’s last game, the conversation was a little subdued. Pre-game email banter focused on our complicated and changeable entry rules. It was to be a night where the irregular players came good – maybe we should have banned them after all. The Jayson au pair’s smoking lies were exposed to all – but is it really lying to deny smoking when you stink like an ashtray. Scott’s job, indeed all people in recruitment were agreed to be irrelevant. Dean/Lee discussed an exciting tenancy agreement and another high-quality presentation was created by Dean at the table. The ins and outs (bum bum) of a trade association for prostitutes were raised by Ilan – how exactly does it work? Finally, in an incredible twist, market forces have actually increased the cost of Pesach in Tel Aviv to £909. Will the next move be up or down? The world waits.
BJ rating
2
Posted by
CK1
11 January (J&D’s house) £50 profit
Game 1 (1st Lee, 2nd Ilan, 9 players)
Started this game like a dream but fizzled out disappointingly. In the first two rounds I had AA, KK twice and JJ and won with each hand, but only decent money with the AA (didn’t even get to show either KK) – memorably knocking Vic out with AAA99 versus 999. Should have continued aggressive play as would have hit two consecutive straights and been a massive favourite. Barry was very unlucky to lose with trip 7s (on the flop) versus a miracle diamond flush from Scott (runner runner to win). My chips were whittled by getting a series of low pocket pairs and calling each time only to run into trouble on the flop. Lee won two weeks in a row with AA – this time against JJ and Q2 knocking out both Scott and Mark to set himself up nicely for the win. Ilan – who’d thrown away a decent chip lead early on was catapulted from 4th to 2nd and put up a good fight heads-up before losing with a straight flush draw.
Game 2 (1st JJ, 2nd Mark, 9 players)
Kept my good run going with another win. Knocked Vic out early (twice on the night!) and built up a decent early chip lead. Had AJ and flopped top pair but walked into trip 7s from Mark to lose a large amount of chips – daft all-in by me. With a straight flush draw, called an all-in from Barry (trips again!) and hit a spade to hit the nut flush. Barry not pleased. A run of reasonable cards took me to heads-up with Mark. Patiently waited for a decent hand as you can’t rush Mark and Mark went all in with KJ. I called with A8 and hit an A to win. Incredibly I have won 4 out of my last 6 games. Home at 2am. Still awake at 2.41am.
Conversation topics
It’s Mark’s penultimate week – would he show a card? (no chance). Dave called off sick as he’d been puking all night and had called an ambulance out (discussion around whether we’d call out our parents at 2am). Respect for photo on the web. Lots of discussion around extensions as Lee’s loft conversion has kicked off, Dan is getting architect’s plans drawn up and Dean was over-excited to show off his plans for his 8 bedroom student house in Leicester. Shame on Scott for showing interest. Sky disappeared for Lee on the eve of the final episodes of Lost, but thankfully service was resumed just in time by moving the dish. Discussions moved onto why cheese / cheesy puffs aren’t kosher, the merits of Chalav Yisroel and what to do if the au pair mixes up meat / milk. Pesach in Israel price still at £899.
BJ rating
7
Started this game like a dream but fizzled out disappointingly. In the first two rounds I had AA, KK twice and JJ and won with each hand, but only decent money with the AA (didn’t even get to show either KK) – memorably knocking Vic out with AAA99 versus 999. Should have continued aggressive play as would have hit two consecutive straights and been a massive favourite. Barry was very unlucky to lose with trip 7s (on the flop) versus a miracle diamond flush from Scott (runner runner to win). My chips were whittled by getting a series of low pocket pairs and calling each time only to run into trouble on the flop. Lee won two weeks in a row with AA – this time against JJ and Q2 knocking out both Scott and Mark to set himself up nicely for the win. Ilan – who’d thrown away a decent chip lead early on was catapulted from 4th to 2nd and put up a good fight heads-up before losing with a straight flush draw.
Game 2 (1st JJ, 2nd Mark, 9 players)
Kept my good run going with another win. Knocked Vic out early (twice on the night!) and built up a decent early chip lead. Had AJ and flopped top pair but walked into trip 7s from Mark to lose a large amount of chips – daft all-in by me. With a straight flush draw, called an all-in from Barry (trips again!) and hit a spade to hit the nut flush. Barry not pleased. A run of reasonable cards took me to heads-up with Mark. Patiently waited for a decent hand as you can’t rush Mark and Mark went all in with KJ. I called with A8 and hit an A to win. Incredibly I have won 4 out of my last 6 games. Home at 2am. Still awake at 2.41am.
Conversation topics
It’s Mark’s penultimate week – would he show a card? (no chance). Dave called off sick as he’d been puking all night and had called an ambulance out (discussion around whether we’d call out our parents at 2am). Respect for photo on the web. Lots of discussion around extensions as Lee’s loft conversion has kicked off, Dan is getting architect’s plans drawn up and Dean was over-excited to show off his plans for his 8 bedroom student house in Leicester. Shame on Scott for showing interest. Sky disappeared for Lee on the eve of the final episodes of Lost, but thankfully service was resumed just in time by moving the dish. Discussions moved onto why cheese / cheesy puffs aren’t kosher, the merits of Chalav Yisroel and what to do if the au pair mixes up meat / milk. Pesach in Israel price still at £899.
BJ rating
7
Posted by
CK1
4 January (S&L’s house) £40 profit
Game 1 (1st Barry, 2nd Ilan, 10 players)
Lost about half of my chips in the first hand to David with top pair (before the river). David went all in and I sensibly folded for once as he had hit a flush on the turn. Hit little else and lost most of the rest of my chips to Sharon. Lost remaining chips attempting to quadruple up with KJ spades.
Game 2 (1st JJ, 2nd Dan, 8 players)
Nice start with A7 hitting two pairs and taking lots of chips from Mark. Got away with a few outrageous bluffs to steal blinds and first call. Memorably 62 and 74 against Mark. Took the chip lead with a few reasonable hands and then walked into a classic. 77 (Dave), AA (Lee), KK (JJ), KK (Mark) – Aces held up, although Mark and I split Dave’s remaining chips. Getting short-stacked and bored and decided to go all-in (A4 diamonds) which was called by Barry with 77. Hit 3 runners (last 3 cards) to double up. With three players (Lee, Dan, JJ), received a run of awful cards. Eventually decided to try and all-in with 57. Not in good shape as Lee turned over A7, but hit a 5 on the turn to double up and then knocked out Lee a minute later. Heads up against Dan, the cards came. Hit a flush on the river and collected a large amount of chips. Next hand Dan tried an all-in with 98 and I called with KQ. Hit a K. Lovely – but completely knackered.
Conversation topics
Conversation revolved around the Elite rules for entry into the game and descended quickly into a general discussion about whether rules have to be enforceable. Also, debate on when LOST is on and whether Jude will appreciate Dean postponing the charity poker evening to take her to Cape Town. Pesach in Israel price still at £899.
BJ rating
10
Lost about half of my chips in the first hand to David with top pair (before the river). David went all in and I sensibly folded for once as he had hit a flush on the turn. Hit little else and lost most of the rest of my chips to Sharon. Lost remaining chips attempting to quadruple up with KJ spades.
Game 2 (1st JJ, 2nd Dan, 8 players)
Nice start with A7 hitting two pairs and taking lots of chips from Mark. Got away with a few outrageous bluffs to steal blinds and first call. Memorably 62 and 74 against Mark. Took the chip lead with a few reasonable hands and then walked into a classic. 77 (Dave), AA (Lee), KK (JJ), KK (Mark) – Aces held up, although Mark and I split Dave’s remaining chips. Getting short-stacked and bored and decided to go all-in (A4 diamonds) which was called by Barry with 77. Hit 3 runners (last 3 cards) to double up. With three players (Lee, Dan, JJ), received a run of awful cards. Eventually decided to try and all-in with 57. Not in good shape as Lee turned over A7, but hit a 5 on the turn to double up and then knocked out Lee a minute later. Heads up against Dan, the cards came. Hit a flush on the river and collected a large amount of chips. Next hand Dan tried an all-in with 98 and I called with KQ. Hit a K. Lovely – but completely knackered.
Conversation topics
Conversation revolved around the Elite rules for entry into the game and descended quickly into a general discussion about whether rules have to be enforceable. Also, debate on when LOST is on and whether Jude will appreciate Dean postponing the charity poker evening to take her to Cape Town. Pesach in Israel price still at £899.
BJ rating
10
Posted by
Barry
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