2 May 2007 (The Poker Suite) - "Repos dans la paix, grand-maman"

I'm in Paris, and no guest bloggers. Shame on you

Game 1 – 8 players - (1st Charlie, 2nd Sharon, 3rd Lee):
Game 2 – 6 players - (1st Lee, 2nd JJ, 3rd Dave):

Poker Rankings table for this week:




Condolences:

To me (Barry) and my family on the passing away of my (maternal) Grandma Lily, on Shabbat, aged 93. Wishing a long life to my Grandpa Harry (Hymie), who at 96 years old has lost his wife of over 70 years. My thoughts are with him and my Mum. Thus no blog this week.


And on that somber note, that's all for this week. Rest assured all the fun and frolics will be back next week, as will I be, back from Paris - throwing away big chip leads, hitting straight flushes when playing 34 off suite, and generally getting lucky against Lee. Bring it on !!!

B.

18 April 2007 (The Poker Suite) - "Ilan CLOCKS up 4 pocket Rockets"

Game 1 – 10 players - (1st Ilan, 2nd Dan, 3rd Vic):

Vic won his first hand in the suite with runner runner for flush

Ilan doubles up with pair of Jacks to Dave's straight flush draw

Jude with AA and I (JJ) hit Jack on flop so all in. Jude calls. No A came. Jude short stacked.

Not long after, Jude (the pregnant one, the one I keep forgetting (twice)), was present, and was sent home

Lee doubles up with AA vs Charlie's KK

I had AK, JJ all in with A3, Scott calls with KQ, I call. Nothing hits, JJ and Scott out

Charlie tripled up with 2 Pair

Dave (JJ) Ilan (AK) and me (AJ) all in. 2 kings hit, Dave out, me short stacked.

Lee doubles up with trip 5's vs Ilan's AA

Lee (AJ) put me all in (v short stacked). I call with 10 8. Flop comes 8 10 10. Then KK - me full house. madness. Lee steaming (air rifle almost out of cupboard)

Vic (AQ) takes out Lee (Q8) and Charlie (AJ) hitting a Q on flop (Ace kicker)

I have KK. Dan calls my all in with AQ diamonds. 3 diamonds on board and the arse-loving-c*nt knocks me out

Ilan hit his 3rd AA of the night.

Vic out with AK vs Ilan's 10 10

heads up - Ilan Vs Dan

Ilan hit his 4th AA of the night.

Ilan winner.


Game 2 – players - (1st Charlie, 2nd Dan, 3rd Bazza):

I won big first hand with flush vs Charlie's Straight

I won big 2nd hand with nut flush vs Ilan

Next hand me and Ilan both have AQ - end up splitting the blinds (25p each and 25p into pot for next hand)

me and Dan then split next pot with pocket JJ each

Dave out first with top pair to JJ's two pairs

Ilan out next (fast and loose !)

Lee out next to Charlie's nut flush

Me and JJ split pot with Q6 and a board of

Vic out next, followed by Scott and JJ and me

Heads up Dan huge chip leader, Charlie fought back in a few hands to win with top pair. Well done.



Poker Rankings table for this week:




Conversation Topics:

Dan talked about amps. New poker suite clock was discussed (see below) - a bargain from Watford Market, as was sex (again) and the shootings in Virginia





Story of the Week:

As I walked down the busy footpath, knowing I was late for an important meeting, my eye fell upon one of those unfortunate, homeless vagabonds that are found in every city these days. Wearing what can only be described as rags, carrying every worldly possesion in two plastic bags, my heart was touched by this person' s condition. Some people turned to stare. Others quickly looked away as if the sight would somehow contaminate them. Recalling some long ago Sunday Cheder admonition to "care for the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked," I was moved by some powerful inner urge to reach out to this unfortunate person. Yes, where some people saw only rags, I saw a hidden beauty. A small voice inside my head called out, "Reach out, reach out!" So I did..........
(click to see)



My court case has been set for the end of the month.



Joke of the Week:




Stupid News Item of the week:

(you couldn't make this stuff up !!)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_4740000/newsid_4748200/4748292.stm


Tragic Story of the week:

Obviously the shooting at Virginia Tech has dominated the news this week. However, I wanted to specifically mention the bravery of 76 year old Israeli Professor Liviu Librescu, who blocked the doorway of his classroom with his body (allowing his students to escape through the windows) and was shot dead by the crazy gunman. Professor Librescu survived the holocaust. He refused to swear allegiance to the post war communist regime in Romania, and thus ruined his career there. He was only allowed to leave Romania in 1978 after a personal intervention by the then Israeli Prime Minister, Menachem Begin. He survived the Holocaust but was killed saving the lives of his students, in a classroom in Virginia, ironically on Holocaust Remembrance Day, 2007.

Most of the stuff in this blog is total shite, but occasionally, things happen in the world, that make you take a step back and realise what is truly important. Professor Librescu definately deserves a mention in this, my year of writing the blog, as his heroic actions really touched me, and his death saddened me, this week.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91194-1261009,00.html



SPECIAL ONE OFF FEATURE:- JJ's First Theorum on proof of the existence of G-d

"Last week's discussions were dominated by Dan's dastardly deeds. My proof of G-d's existence is that if you take every poker player to have played in our game, only two (Dan and Ilan) have the letters ANAL in their full name. So there you have it, G-d does exist as such a coincidence requires an all-seeing eye and He has a sense of humour. "

And on that note, after a short blog this week due to baby feeding duties/lack of sleep (gonna be like this for a while !), that's all for this week.

B.

11 April 2007 (J&D's & The Poker Suite) - "Straight Flushed into 2nd Place"

Game 1 – 8 players - (1st Dan, 2nd Dean, 3rd Lee):

Dean knocked JJ out with AQ (2 pair) vs top pair (A5)

I had big split pot with Lewis - both with A10

Dan goes all in with QJ - I call with Q5 after QQK on flop. next out 9 and 7 - J plays. Me out

Lewis out next to Dan

Jude probably out next !!!!

Dave crippled by Dean, but doubles up twice in a row.

but shortly after Dave knocked out by Dean (aka "C*nt face" - Dave)

Lee out next in 3rd to Dan - Dan asked for 9 diamonds and it actually came on river. nice.

Heads up Dan vs Dean. To-ing and fro-ing until winner = Dan

Game 2 – 6 players - (1st Dean, 2nd Bazza, 3rd Lee) :

Change of venue to The Poker Suite. Relocation.

I raised £2 - Dean reraised £7.50, I went all in. Dean folded. I had AA, Dean QQ

Next hand I held AA again, and hit an A on flop. Dave had hit 2 pair (A8) and called my all in. Another 8 hit giving Dave full house (888AA) but me higher full house (AAA88) sending Dave home and ending his run of points every week he's played.

Then in a monster hand, with 2 3 5 6 diamonds on board, me and JJ were battling it out and re raising each other. He had Ace high flush but I had 4 of diamonds - straight flush (see pic below). First one in the suite, and I think first of the year. JJ v short stacked.



Next, I knocked Dan out with AJ vs his 10 10 - A on turn and J on river.

JJ left soon after with trip 8's losing to my K high flush (runner, runner, runner, runner on board)

I lose shed loads of chips with crap cards and Dean chip leader. I go all in with JJ - Dean calls with A9 clubs. No help for Dean, and I double up.

Lee out in 3rd after being whittled down.

Heads up with Dean, I hit a lucky 6 on the river to give me trips, but Dean soon gets the chips back holding a 6 when 3 more 6's came on the board. 4 of a kind - NICE !

Soon after, Dean gets a straight, and it's all over. Dean wins


Poker Rankings table for this week:






Conversation Topics:

Dean likes the following boys names if Jude has a boy - 1. Stanley (Stan) 2. Reggie (Reg) 3. Bernie. Jude likes none of these. Watch this space.

Lewis had a dead rat under his lounge floor, beautifully crisp after leaning against a hot water pipe. Took 4 weeks for the smell to go !!

2nd game - very odd. Talk about Penis's, erections, masturbating and the religious point of view - also deep conversation about beliefs by Dan and Dean and Lee. Also talk about shagging non-Jewish girls. One person at the table has done very rude things...........


Quotes of the Night:

Glass block walls - Jude: "why would you have that - they're completely poncy"
Barry: "JJ has one in his house" (he actually does !)


Congratulations:

Sue and Lewis are expecting their 3rd child (and 4th Poker Elite baby expected in 2007 !!)


Celebrity House of the Week:

John Travolta's house had a fair bit of press coverage last week. He has 5 planes and 3 pilots on standby to fly as copilot with him whenever he gets an urge to fly:

http://www.geocities.com/cfidarren/ifratrip26b.jpg
http://blogs.sify.com/get_image.php?user_id=mkbiyer&fname=pic18467.jpg&direc=


Videos of the Week:

How to cut Matzah in half. Japanese style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj_HzQSWKBQ

This guy is famous for miming Natalie Imbruglia's Torn. But look who joined him on stage. Loved it when she joined in at the end. Excellent !
http://www.killsometime.com/video/video.asp?ID=894

News Stories of the Week:

In a week that saw Chelsea beat Spurs, Liverpool win and Arsenal lose, and Man Utd beat by Portsmouth (HA HA) in the league, let's not forget the smaller teams out there. Congratulations to Dagenham and Redbridge on reaching the Football League (league 2) - not bad for a team who have only been in existance for 15 years. Also, Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool thru to Champions League Semi finals. Guaranteed English team in the final. Hopefully Liverpool !!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dagenham_and_redbridge/6532833.stm

Last Year's Blog:

This time last year was Pesach, so no Poker for 2 weeks. Last Year's blog returns in 2 weeks.

However a year ago today, I had my eyes lasered. Lovely.

SPECIAL ONE OFF FEATURE : - Celebrity Homes.

Following on from John Travolta earlier... (click to view larger picture)





And on that note, that's all for this week.

B.

4 April 2007 (The Poker Suite) - "Could you Passover Pocket Kings ?"

Game 1 – 8 players - (1st Lewis, 2nd Dean, 3rd Sharon):

Guest Bloggers: Lee/Dave (Thanks!)

A welcome back to Sharon and a rare visit from Andy during the Pesach game this Year.

Memorable hands included Dave getting Andy all in before flop with (Dave) KK and him AK and him getting 4 spades to hit flush with his K spades. Very next hand Dave had KK again but only won blind (was big anyway) then very next hand again Sharon and Andy both had pockets kings AGAIN but both lost to Jude's all in with 2 pair. And finally VERY next hand again, Jude made a great lay down with (you guessed it) KK when flop came 367 and Dean showed what a good player his wife is by showing his AA. In case you have lost count that was 5 pair of pocket kings in four consecutive hands! Andy went out unluckily to Dean when he had A3 vs Deans Q10 and flopped A 3 only for 2 queens to come.

Game 2 – 4 players - (1st Dave , 2nd Dan, 3rd Paul):

Guest Bloggers: Dave/Lee (Thanks!)

Not many memorable hands but it finished (appropriately) with Dave winning with pocket kings.

Poker Rankings table for this week:



Conversation Topics:

Andy was on call with a new private medical call-out service which meant he disappeared for about half an hour during the 1st game to confirm someone's tonsilitis. Dean is going to the premier of DieHard 4 (even though Jude may give birth during it).

It now appears that Dean has joined the Ladies in the One Game Only Club. Mazeltov. Does Elite membership depend on playing both games most weeks? If so, does this now mean we have a place available in the Elite...................... ??????????????? To be discussed................

Congratulations:

To me and the rest of the I clan on the birth of 'Ruby' on 31st March. 7lbs 15oz. Beautiful.
Mother and daughter both doing very well. Second baby of 2007 for the Elite.


Videos of the Week:

when you are tired of skiing on snow, Dave, how about this ??
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6500000/newsid_6502600/6502653.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm

(Wo)Man's best friend ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6503991.stm



News Stories of the Week:

Northerners ! Typical....
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1003/1003492_bus_ordeal_for_disabled_man.html


Last Year's Blog:

Barry arrived with the taste of the policeman’s helmet in his mouth – anything to avoid 3 points on his license for speeding in his new car.

There was a strong musical theme throughout the night. Barry drove ‘like a bat out of hell’. Lou revealed how Sue had bumped into Fergal Sharkey’s car. He should have let her off too as there was hardly a mark on the car, but as we know ‘a good heart is hard to find’. Gene Pitney died – end of (literally). Vic belted out ‘my old man’s a dustman’ – like father like son. Dean fell asleep at the table and was woken by the Geoff Show playing ‘cheer up sleepy Dean’.

News of the week last year: One armed bandit Lou showed off his erotic chat; Arsenal made it through to the semi-finals for the first time ever. JJ's job under threat (how will they ever replace him ?). Ilan 'lured‘ to GE Money as its first (and probably last) UK Head of Government Relations. The poker suite is ready. The opening ceremony will be in 3 weeks time (give or take 45 weeks!!)


SPECIAL ONE OFF FEATURE : - Tattoo anyone ?? Not for the faint hearted!!

More of a gouging than a tattoo !!

And on that note, that's all for this week - see you next week.

B.