Play started at 20:40 with a discussion about whether Sharon's Chinese dentist joke was racist. Her argument that it couldn't be because it comes from her childhood didn't convince many people...
Sharon then failed to convince Jude that she had a hand, and Jude called her £4 raise, despite only holding deuces. When Sharon turned over nothing but Ace high Jude declared she knew Sharon was bluffing because "It was Sharon."
Lewis went all in after Dan re-raised him £6. Lew couldn't get away from his 2 pair, which was unfortunate for him as Dan had hit the straight on the river, devastating Lew's chip stack.
Shaz went out (9th) after hitting trip 7s in the same hand that JJ hit trip Jacks. The screams could be heard throughout East Finchley.
Lew exited next in a monster hand. IJ bet £3 with pocket 6s. Lew raised all in with A2, which Marky and JJ called. The flop came A2 which gave Lew 2 pair but he wasn't ahead for long as IJ hit a 6 on the river and knocked Lew out (8th).
Jude raised £3.50 only to be re-raised all in by Marky. She thought about it for a long time until eventually calling with a pair of tens, only to be out kickered by Mark's K. Mark, perhaps with a vision that tonight would be his night, was all smiles and congratulated Jude on calling. She gave him one of her looks (you know the one) and threatened to push him off the top of the Jayson building site and bury him in the wet concrete. So if Mark disappears you know who to direct police enquiries to...
Baz suggested burying Mark alive, but then he is obsessed by burying and bodies.
Mark was not put off his stride, taking a large pile of chips off JJ after they both hit trip Js, but his turned into a full house. Sharon was pleased that trip Js punished JJ this time, 'justice' for her defeat to them earlier.
Jude's AQ hit 2 pair on the turn and she raised the pot. Psychic Dan called with top pair and doubled her up, despite declaring that he knew that she had over cards to his.
Dan then doubled up, after calling IJ's raise. His A10 hit a 10, when IJ's AJ did nothing for him.
In the turning point of the night, Baz spent about 20 minutes considering whether to call Mark's re-raise all in. Eventually he laid it down, gifting Mark (who clearly had nothing and was totally bluffing) the game. Even worse: he then spent the rest of the game asking Mark what he had and regretting his decision. Mark seemed to be particularly enjoying goading him.
IJ was out (7th) after Dan called his all in, and Dan's 8s held up against IJ's A7.
I then went to play Super Mario Karts on the Wii but am reliably informed that the rest of the results are as follows:
JJ - 6th
Baz - 5th (stupid lay down)
Lee - 4th
Jude - 3rd
Dan - 2nd
Mark - 1st.
In the last hand, Dan held pocket Aces but slow played them until Mark hit 2 pair and romped home.
So well done Marky on your first poker win and first pay packet of any kind all year.
Game 2– 7 players - (1st Baz, 2nd IJ, 3rd Mark)
In one of the best hands all year, Lew hit a diamond straight flush, but unfortunately got so over excited that he over played it and went all in, scaring Mark off. His face was such a puddle of emotion that it was obvious he had something good, but not this good:
As his cards could not get any better, Lewis decided to call it a night and called Barry's all in. Baz had hit 2 pair which beat Lewis (out 7th). He seemed to be still raging after he'd been bluffed off QQ by JJ, who had represented a straight in an earlier hand.
Dan doubled up after hitting trip 7s, which beat Mark's top pair.
Lee was out (6th) after his pocket Js ran into IJ's pocket Aces.
Dan went all in, comfortably holding an over pair (10s) to the board. Dan explained, demonstrating his perpetual wisdom, that he was not worried about the 9 or the 3 on the table. Wise though he is, he had completely overlooked the flush which JJ was sneakily holding.
Mark then finished Dan off with 2 5 suited, which hit a 2. Dan out (5th)
This may be a good time to report Dan's hopes for a late summer surge, to take him out of 4th place. He helpfully reminded us all that last year he had a fantastic summer winning spell, which followed a long period without success. Much as we would all like history to repeat itself for Dan, we do remember only to well how his lucky spell last summer only came after he had spent 3 months whinging about his bad luck, tantalising us all with the promise to no longer play, storming out on one occasion and generally being very dull. Lord give us strength if we have to endure that again.
Anyway, back to the game, IJ went all in with KQ and knocked JJ out after his K hit. JJ out (4th)
Barry was an enormous chip leader (which he'd built up early and kept) and knocked Mark out (3rd) with a compulsory call which got lucky.
Heads up started at 12:46 and lasted only 10 minutes until IJ got optimistic with a flush draw which came to nothing.
Well done Baz!
Conversation topics:
The Borehamwood Charity poker tournament: according to our Borehamwood residents, the problem with charity poker tournaments is that if the prizes are all cash then you are under a moral/social obligation to donate them to the charity. If the prizes are gifts (like our very own tournament) then at least you can keep them.
JJ pointed out that although the prize he won at a recent tournament was an ipod that was so rubbish he hasn't opened it, at least he could keep it. If it had been cash he would have had to give it back to the charity. Much better for him to keep an unopened ipod than for the charity to get extra money....
Shock of the Week:
Went to Asher Jayson, who came downstairs late at night excitedly thinking his Dad was home, only to find 3 strange men in his kitchen, Daddy no where to be seen & Mum in the bedroom....
