Scott got very lucky to split a pot with the Grinder in an early exchange that could have proved fatal. Mark flopped AAA 10 10 (flop AA10). Only a further 10 on the turn saved Scott.
Lee was out first with QQ falling to Dan who hit a pair with AK.
Jude doubled up against me with JJ versus my A 10 with a nut flush draw.
In a huge pot for Sharon, the flop came J 3 10 (2 spades) and Scott and Mark both re-raised Sharon’s bet. The turn brought another 3. Scott and Sharon were all-in and the cards were turned over. Mark had top two pair and Scott had an irrelevant flush draw because Sharon had cleaned up with a full house 333 J J.
I took some chips from Dan with trip 8s and then KO’s the grinder with AQ versus Q8.
I then lost loads of chips to Charlie who annoyingly hit a flush on the river that I never paid to see (after my £5 raise led Charlie to go all-in).
Barry was unlucky to be KO’d by Jude with AJ versus QJ.
In a key hand (had I played it) I would have hit a flush. Sadly I didn’t call and Charlie took chips from Sharon with AA versus top pair Qs.
I was then KO’d by Dan with K9 versus A10.
Dan moved through the gears and started hitting a few cards. He trapped Jude beautifully with the nut straight to KO Jude into 4th place.
Sharon quickly KO’d Jude with a higher kicker with KJ versus J9.
Heads-up Dan hit another full house before pocket cowboys saw off Sharon in the final hand.
Game 2 (1st Lee, 2nd Barry, 8 players)
Scott got the game going by smashing a glass everywhere and IJ turned up for what was to be a brief visit.
Barry got lucky to win a big pot versus Charlie with a flush on the river. That said Charlie was hopelessly optimistic as he called a string of £4 bets with sweet FA.
Mark had out a decent win with higher two pair versus Lee’s two pair and settled in for more serious grinding.
Scott KO’d Charlie with trip 4s and then KO’d IJ with two pairs (KK99) versus Ilan’s pair of 10s.
Basra won a nice pot against the grinder with 23 diamonds. Sweet.
I lost chips to Lee with top pair versus trip 10s and 4 hearts on the board.
My final hand saw A 10 lose to Barry’s AK.
Barry continues…
Mark KO'd Dan (top pair) with the nut flush.
Lee doubled up against Scott (top pair) with 4 cards on the board giving him a straight. Scott very unhappy. He was even more unhappy a few hands later, whilst still on tilt, when Lee's pocket 5's held up against Scott's J 10, sending Scott home, still swearing quite loudly.
Barry doubled up against Mark (top pair) with a flush, and a few hands later Barry knocked Mark out with a higher pair.
Barry & Lee heads up. Barry big chip leader, but a couple of big swing hands go to Lee and finally, Lee takes the game with a flush vs Barry's top pair. Lee tops the table for 2006 with an impressive top-of-the-table run since March 8th, and saves Barry's marriage - Barry no need to make a 4 hour round trip in the middle of his family holiday, to turn up for the last game of the year. Wishing you all a happy healthy year ahead.
Video of the week
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/333602/arab_running_the_treadmill/
Text twist game (highly addictive)
http://www.shockwave.com/sw/content/texttwist
Conversation topics
We welcomed back the Aussie Grinder and he had a victory of sorts – winning both ‘cuts’ in some style.
Lee proudly showed off his ebay ‘find’ – a boxing video in HD quality (Note that HD stands for huge drivel) for £4. I’ve got a couple of matchsticks for sale if you fancy bidding. The quality is excellent.
Most dismal law firm websites (very funny)
Need convincing? Simply turn your sound up, log on to the http://www.fletcherlewis.com/ website and click on the face of each lawyer. Selecting Matthew Brennan's face results in an electric keyboard version of C'est Chic's Chic (by C'est Chic). Jason Lewis embraces girl power with a burst from a Bontempi organ of the Bangles' classic hit Walk Like an Egyptian. And Jeffrey Fletcher advertises his services with a contortion of Michael Jackson's Billy Jean. Close your eyes and you could be in the foyer of a dodgy hotel in Magaluf in 1983. Some carefully selected typos and spelling mistakes complete the impression of a professional modern law firm.
Turner Parkinson meanwhile (http://www.tp.co.uk/) has chosen an entirely random fish theme for its site. The firm's latest news is illustrated, naturally enough, by a picture of some fish and chips, and a summary of the firm has a picture of a shark's fin. In addition to the obligatory mug-shot, each lawyer also has an end of pier caricature on their personal page.
Of course, neither holds a candle to the greatest law site ever. Buglear Bate (http://www.rollonfriday.com/) we continue to salute you. Particularly recommended is the Senior Partner's 1999 Address to the Woking Business Community.
Admire the office dog and find out how she will become the first ever border collie to qualify as a solicitor.
Understand in detail how Legal Aid works. Which Buglear-Bate don't actually offer. Curse the freemasons. Well of course. And learn how to get on with your solicitor.
There's so much good advice. For example, on corresponding with a solicitor: "Pace your correspondence. Try to allow at least 3 months before chasing. Law is an ancient profession and, even today, many solicitors still work to the natural rhythm of the seasons."
Website of the week (from Charlie)
Go Penguin Go. http://www.n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf
Quotes of the week
Jude: “As I live on my own I need a big house”.
Scott on breaking an indestructible glass: “Can anyone see any glass?”
Mark: “Walk barefoot Scott”
Mazel tovs
Mazel tov to Lee on topping the league table for 2006. Commiserations to Vic and well done to everyone else in between.
Story of the week
Marmart: http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,91059-1238608,00.html
Brainteaser
Congratulations to Barry on the first and only correct answer to last week’s brainteaser. The answer Barry came up with was:
See below for this week’s brainteaser.
By nature I am simple and have no wisdom in any way,
but now every wise man will follow my tracks;
now I dwell on earth, erewhile I roamed on high through the heavens;I am white in appearance, though I leave black traces.
