We were still without the Youngs or Dan, who were all in Portugal, but a guest appearance from Aron this week and a rare re-appearance of Dean, back from re-programming in Chicago, ensured respectable numbers. We were also joined by Bea, who provided plenty of entertainment in her first, of what we hope will be many, poker games.
Kick off was at 20:43 and Mark, 3 days into his first paid employment since 2007, was in no mood to hang around. He dominated all the early action, with a series of aggressive hands, culminating in a showdown with Aron. With 4 hearts on the table, Aron moved all in and Mark thought for a long time, but eventually folded.
Minutes later, the roles were reversed with Mark re-raising Aron all in. Aron called, showing AQ, which held up against Mark's KQ and Mark went home (8th) to his new flat for an early night.
Dave spent much of the night following Bea around, trying to encourage her to shit in the garden, whilst she scampered around the room. When Bea finally emptied her bowells, Dave carried the results through the house in a plastic bag. We also discovered 2 key Bea facts:
1) She absolutely loves IJ's trainers, at one point making off into the garden with one.
2) JJ is scared of her.
Every time she came anywhere near the corner where he was sitting, he jumped out of his seat, and fluffed up his hand. It didn't matter that she was more interested in IJ's shoes than any part of JJ, he still couldn't find his poker rhythm with her bouncing around him.
Dave went all in with 710, 2nd pair. Baz called with AQ, pair of aces and knocked Dave out (7th). JJ swore frenziedly in the corner, as he would have hit a straight, perhaps if Bea hadn't have been stalking him.
Jude pointed out that it was totally pointless to record the hand that JJ would have had, but let's face it, this blog is fairly pointless in its entirety.....
With KK in her hand, Jude was happy to go all in after JJ raised £3.50, and was even happier when JJ called, turning over 810. Ridiculously, JJ hit a full house, knocking Jude out (6th) and demonstrating that Bea may have upset his play, but she hadn't affected his luck.
The whiff of dogshit hanging heavy in the air, Dave collected Bea from under the table where she was happily licking her arse, and took her home. Baz & IJ maintained that she should stay & slobber all over JJ as punishment for his total jamminess.
Dean was on unusually lively and sociable form, and tried out some of his newly acquired schmoozing skills. He took time to ask how other people were, what they were up to, and how was work, all part of his Accenture training for partners in 'how to win business by being nice.' After a while, the effort proved too great and he resumed his usual repertoire of chuntering on about what should go where in his new house. However, despite the quick return of normal service, we were all grateful to the Chicago training team for providing at least a few moments of respite.
With 35QQ on the board, Dean went all in, holding A6, straight drawer. Baz called with Js, and hit a full house when a Q came on the river. Dean out (5th)
IJ went all in with Qs. Aron considered it for a long time, saying "I want to know how it will affect me."
JJ tried to help, asking him "Do you want to see a psychiatrist?"
Aron decided to call (without any medical assistance) but his A3 didn't get lucky and he took a bad hit.
JJ went all in with 8s, a surprisingly good hand. Baz called with AQ hearts and hit a Q, to knock JJ out (4th).
Aron went all in after his 108 hit an 8, second pair. Baz called with K10, his K having hit and knocked Aron out (3rd).
Heads up was uneventful. Baz was a massive leader (in weight & chips) and when IJ went recklessly all in with J9, he called with A9 and hit a straight.
Well done Barry, who won the only game of the night, the dearth of 2nd game players, meant we left at a very respectable 23:38.
2008 Poker Rankings Table:
This week's solitary game produced no movement whatsoever in our table.Barry's impressive 14th win of the year helps him consolidate his command of the top spot, capitalising on Lee's absence to move 10 points clear.
Dan has Bea to thank for JJ's inability to make the most of the Graham family vacation, and with only 4 points separating them, a good result for Dan upon his return could see the third spot change hands.
IJ's 2nd sneaks him ever closer to Dan, and further from Dave, who remains comfortably ahead of Mark, who stays in 7th.
Conversation topics of the week:
Think most of these have been covered, bar a brief discussion of whether Dean should put all his DVDs onto pc and how can he do that while avoiding the inevitable loss of quality???
Perhaps more interestingly, Dean did contribute some interesting trivia about how much various pubic figures charge to speak at corporate events. It turns out that in conversation with one of the event organisers in Chicago (an early use of his new partner social skills) he learnt that Chris Patten charges $70k, Colin Powel $75k, Gorbie $150k, but Tony Blair topped the lot with $250k.
In case you were wondering, the Accenture event organiser now also knows all about what rooms will go where in Jude & Dean's basement, equally interesting....
Congratulations of the week:
To IJ, on his 35th birthday on Monday.
To Bea on her first poker game.
News story of the week:
Thanks to JJ for news of this unusual pet :
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Sheep-Kept-As-Pet-By-David-Palmer-In-Cardiff-Nick-Boing-Raids-Biscuit-Barrell-And-Watches-TV/Article/200807215034188?lpos=UK%2BNews_1&lid=ARTICLE_15034188_Sheep%2BKept%2BAs%2BPet%2BBy%2BDavid%2BPalmer%2BIn%2BCardiff%253A%2BNick%2BBoing%2BRaids%2BBiscuit%2BBarrell%2BAnd%2BWatches%2BTV
that's all folks!
ij
