With Barry only 4 points ahead of our 2007 Champion JJ, who was only 2 points ahead of 2006 Champion Lee, the atmosphere was tense as 10 players sat down to play poker.
The maximum turnout was a surprise, given that both Jude and Mark didn't receive the usual confirmation email from Lee. Dave was less subtle telling them both to "Get the fucking hint."
Early conversation centred on what possible prizes players could provide for the MDA Charity Poker night. Barry offered his pussy clothes, Betty & Wilma, which Jude politely declined. Mark continued the theme, offering a Phillip's Intimate Massager. There was much more enthusiasm for this suggestion from Jude, although not for the poker tournament. Who can blame her, Dean is away a lot?
The 2 of them clashed with A7J on the flop, leading Jude to go all in. Mark thought for a long while until calling with AQ. Jude's A8 was outgunned, even more so when a Q on the turn gave Mark 2 pair to knock her out (10th). Jude went home to dream about her intimate massage, although she will have to wait for Mark to deliver it.
Barry celebrated when Scott knocked one of his challengers out. J93Q on the board led to an all in from JJ, who had J8. Scott had him sewn up, having slow played his straight (K10), knocking J out (9th). Once again it seemed that Bea jinxed JJ, who has yet to win a game in her presence.
IJ went all in with A10, but experienced only fear when Scott called and turned over A4. True to his recent bad luck, Scott hit a 4 and knocked IJ out (8th).
In a monster hand, Shaz went all in, a total of £6.75. Holding Aces, she was delighted when she got 3 calls: Baz, Mark & Dave. Mark bet a fiver when 4K5 came on the flop, which scared Dave & Baz off. Mark had KQ, giving him top pair, but Shaz's Aces were good, quadrupling her up. What a time to get rockets.
Having turned up almost 3 hours late, Dan (frostbitten from the long wait in the car) played his only hand blind. He had Q3 which was no match for Dave's JJ, which tripped up to knock Dan out (7th). Dan mused at how his brief appearance may have given Barry (who had a lot of chips at this stage) an extra point, as he made it a 10 person game. Everyone agreed that it would have been better if he'd stayed in the car.
With JJ out of the running, Lee put himself in a terrific position to take the top spot, tripling up at Sharon & Mark's expense. Sharon's A4 was not enough to beat Lee's K5 which tripped up, and knocked Sharon out (6th).
Scott followed, his A2 falling behind to Dave's J9, which hit a 9. Scott out (5th).
Dave took another scalp, when Mark went all in with Q8. Dave called with AK which held up, knocking Mark out (4th).
Lee made it interesting, knocking Barry out (3rd) when he hit a straight. Barry's 3rd place gave him a point, which would put him on equal points should Lee win...
Heads up began at 22:59, with speculation that Dave might throw it away just to topple Barry. Dave reassured Baz that he didn't like Lee or hate Baz enough to do that.
Within 6 minutes we had a winner: Dave went in ahead with Q8, but Lee's Q7 hit 2 pair to claim victory and equal points with Barry, who clung on to the top, having won more games.
Well done Lee!
Game 2 – 7 players - (1st JJ, 2nd IJ, 3rd Lee)
The second game was a swift and serious affair, getting started at 23:21, everyone keen to see which of our top 3 would end the night ahead.
Dave was the first casualty, going all in with K7, which Dan called with AJ. Dave had hit a 7 on the flop, but Dan was ahead having hit an Ace. A king on the turn gave Dave 2 pair but he knew this would not be enough and had his coat on already. Sure enough, an Ace on the river gave Dan trips and sent Dave home (7th).
Baz followed Dave in putting his coat on after going all in. But the night was not over for our champion and not just because he was driving JJ home. He hit the nut flush and tripled up, relieved that he wouldn't have to sit and wait for JJ to potentially top the table and then chauffeur him home.
JJ increased his stack, knocking Scott out (6th) when his AK held up against Scott's K9.
IJ opened the door for Lee or JJ to knock Barry off the top of the table, his Aces beating Baz's AK to knock Barry out (5th). There were cheers all round, but Barry insisted he didn't mind giving his chips to IJ as long as he won.
Slowly the realisation sunk in to our table leader and he admitted he was pretty certain that he would not be top by the time he went to bed.
IJ's run of phenomenal cards continued, his AJ turning into trip Aces on the flop, to destroy Dan's Ks. With Dan out (4th) Barry had to watch JJ & Lee battle it out to take his much coveted position.
JJ ensured that it couldn't be Lee, his AJ holding up against Lee's J9. Lee went out (3rd) without a point to take him ahead of Baz.
Heads up started at 1:00 and was over in 10 minutes. IJ got Aces again, but foolishly slow played them, allowing JJ to hit a straight and claim victory.
JJ collected 5 points for his win, setting up a table closer than we could have dreamed of...
At the end of the most exciting poker night all year, we have a new table leader. Having spent longer at the top for more months than any of us care to remember, Barry's reign came to an end in our first game of December.Lee's win in the 1st game & JJ's in the 2nd, puts them both on level points with Barry, but JJ has crept ahead, having won a single extra game.
With all 3 of them sure not to miss a single one of the remaining 8 games, the scene has been set for a nailbiting climax to the poker year.
Will we crown a new champion on 30th December, the final game of 2008, or will last year's champion retain his title?
It truly is all to play for...
Conversation topics of the week:
JJ told us all about taking Judah for his first trip to the pub, to watch an Arsenal game. This raised the question of whether it was bad to make Judah were a kippah (yarmulkey for the Manc boys) to the pub? Mark was worried that Judah night get beaten up & what about JJ? Don't worry, JJ reassured us, "I can outrun Judah."
There was some nostalgic chat about Doylies - whatever happened to them?
Jude re-established the Jayson Fish curse: she had brought around some lovely new fish for the Youngs' tank. We think this was to say thanks for looking after the Jayson fish, which had spent their stay Chez Youngs' fishtank wiping out all of the local population. Sadly, Lee had left his fishtank heater on and fried the new arrivals, leaving hideous dead fish debris all over the tank. Someone observed, "You think fish are easy pets, but they are not."
Continuing the pet theme, in answer to the question "Have you acted?" Baz replied"No, I'm dogging." At least I hope that is on the pet theme...
