We were down to a mere 7 players for this weeks game due to the Jaysons finally moving into their new house. IJ didn't waste anytime losing chips, raising big when he was dealt pocket Ks in the first hand. Turned out he didn't bet big enough to scare off Baz, who had top pair (Qs) and ended up hitting 2 pair to take down a very juicy pot.
The first controversy of the evening strangely coincided with Dan's late arrival. He noticed a card on the floor and implied that it was IJ's doing. However, since Dan had been for a few drinks and was being more lively than usual, his claims weren't taken very seriously (are they ever?)
This incident however did provoke discussion about why Dan is always late? Is it a poker strategy to ensure that he has some chips left or a laziness strategy to ensure he never has to lift a finger to help set up? He defended himself saying he was in the pub, consuming aforementioned drinks, and then popped round to see how the Jaysons were getting on. This all begged the question: "Don't we play poker on Wednesday nights?" and if we do "why is Dan making all sorts of social calls instead?" I should also mention that there were some present who were convinced that he was waiting around outside for the last hour, as he does every week...
Mark got paid nicely with Aces, betting just the right amount (£6) to get a call out of JJ, who was feeling generous after his double win last week.
Sharon went all in (£10.75) with 5s, which IJ excitedly called with Aces. Baz called but then folded after IJ raised post flop. The same flop soon wiped the smile of IJ's face once the cards were shown: jammy Shaz had hit 1 of only two remaining 5s to make trips and double up. Sharon was rather pleased with herself and all players consoled IJ with the knowledge that had he gone all in pre-flop, Barry would have folded, saving £10.75. Every cloud...
If Barry was upset, he wasn't showing it. He hummed & whistled the new Girls Aloud tune all evening, at one point playing the original on his gay-phone.
A few hands after losing with Aces to Sharon, IJ received Aces again. JJ had gone all in and IJ again gleefully called. JJ turned over pocket 10s, once again needing to hit 1 of 2 cards, which he did, tripping up to knock IJ out (7th).
Losing twice with Aces to trips in one game may seem to be about as unlucky as it gets, but in our game, where nothing is taken as read without being extensively debated and argued, this fact was never going to be universally accepted.
The dispute came shortly after when Lee went all in with £7.25, which Dan & Mark called. They both professionally checked it down until the river, when Mark made a bet, which Dan folded. Lee had deuces, but the two pairs on the board gave Mark the pot and knocked him out (6th). What followed was a protracted argument between Lee (pissed off after being knocked out allegedly unluckily) and Dan (pissed after a couple of shandies in the pub). The gist of it was that Lee claimed he was unlucky to lose with 2s, while Dan said "He fucking wasn't." Dan was clearly inciting a sore Lee, under the influence, but even sober JJ agreed. Eventually, they agreed on "It was unlucky the way you lost" NOT "It was unlucky that you lost."
Spot the difference? No one else could but we were universally delighted that they'd shut up. Besides, does anyone think that Lee's defeat, unlucky or otherwise, was anywhere near as painful as IJ losing twice with pocket Aces??
JJ finally sent Dan, worn out from arguing, out of the game. JJ's 7s held up against Dan's K3, knocking Dan out (5th).
JJ then called Presty's bluff, re-raising all in after Mark raised a pile of each. Mark slouched off the pot.
All of a sudden J looked like a very strong contender for a third consecutive win, putting him in with a serious shot at retaining the title. Baz was looking wary, eager for a chance to knock his newest threat out of the race.
Sharon provided the opportunity, going all in, which both JJ & Baz called. After 6 8 J 2 7 came on the board, no one bet and Sharon won the pot with A5, tripling up at the Borehamwood cashpoint.
JJ edged ahead, knocking Mark out (4th), after he went all in with J5. JJ's AQ held up and turned him into a chip monster, sending shivers down Barry's spine.
Grabbing his last chance to recapture the initiative, Baz went all in with A10. Sharon called with KJ, as did JJ with A8. 10 2 K on the flop brought an all in from Shaz, who had top pair, which JJ sensibly folded. Sharon knocked Barry out (3rd) leaving him with no points, and only the hope that Shaz would be strong enough to extinguish JJ's newly discovered form.
Heads up started at 22:50 and was over in 17 minutes.
The last hand saw Shaz's Q10 turn into a glorious heart flush, to beat JJ's J6, which had hit a J.
Well done Sharon - your win has left JJ grasping a point but no third victory. But it also gave Barry breathing space for now...
Game 2 – 5 players - (1st JJ, 2nd Lee, 3rd Barry)
Barry demonstrated his skillful reading of Dan & JJ in the first hand of the second game, which started at 23:15. Dan had K9 "ever so slightly better than" JJ's K8, taking the hand, but Baz read them as if they were his favourite Dan Brown.
The 2 of them went at it again, this time Dan with A9 and J with 5s. JJ hit a full house to beat Dan's trips and double up, but Baz would have hit a straight and been mullered. If only we were playing hindsight poker.
There then followed a tea spillage incident, which placed a stain on the cloth, the blog notes and the chair, as well as on IJ's reputation. For all the inconvenience caused: a heartfelt apology.
Q J 3 5 A on the board brought an instant all in from Barry, perhaps pre-meditated. JJ was convinced that Baz had nothing but just couldn't call. Baz told us later that he had trip 3s. JJ claimed he was ahead pre-flop, so he probably had his usual shitty pocket pair.
Dan went all in with QK, which Lee called with 5s. Dan had given up on the hand and the game, but hit a K on the river to double up and battle on.
IJ put an end to his optimism, knocking Dan out (5th), 910 holding up against 5 7.
Lee doubled up at Barry's expense, a rare occurrence of AK holding up.
AK soon returned to its old form, enticing an all in from IJ. JJ called with 2 3 & hit 2 pair. IJ out (4th) Fucking AK.
The top 3 spots in the table battled it out for a while, Lee & JJ eager to gain some ground on Baz, who was desperate to hold on to his lead. JJ was fat with chips, while Baz was just fat, but he did manage to swiftly beat Lee down to an irrelevant pile.
Lee dug deep into his legendary reserves, doubling up with 8s against JJ's K6, but it was JJ who made the decisive move. He knocked Barry out (3rd) with A9 against A7, securing a heads up between 2nd & 3rd in the table.
It began at 23:40, with J's 2nd in the first game putting them on equal points (99), meaning a narrowing of Baz's lead to 8 points was the only guaranteed outcome.
They went for it in the first hand, JJ with K6 and Lee with 5 2. JJ won at 23:41, giving him his
third win in 4 games. JJ observed that it would have been 4 out of 4 if Sharon hadn't have hit that lucky heart to give her a flush in the first game.
Well done JJ - an awesome result, which puts you within 8 points of our revered table leader, who gets no burger and no points from his 2 thirds.
2008 Poker Rankings Table:
Barry's once mighty lead at the top of our table has been reduced to an imminently catchable 8 points, after 2 weeks of enviable results from last year's champion.JJ has stormed ahead of Lee, who makes it into 3 figures, and has his Borehamwood buddy firmly in his sights.
December promises to be a nervous month for Barry.
Meanwhile, Sharon's first game success sees her gaining ground on Dave, who may need to put in some appearances before the end of the year if he is to remain ahead of her.
Conversation topics of the week:
Discussion topics covered Laura White's exit from the X Factor and the contestants in this year's I'm a Celebrity.
Think everything else of note has been covered...
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