Live and kicking (myself!)

Live play is something that I’ve only dabbled with over the past year or so, I quite enjoy the live cash games at the festivals as they tend to be really loose and full of action. When it comes to live tournaments I’ve only played a couple of the smaller buy in events at one or two festivals and the £25 weekly buy in down the local pub.

The Mrs always groans when I go to play live because she thinks I’m going to lose. But thinking about it my live record is not too bad considering the number of event I’ve played. I won a £20 rebuy Super Sat at the Luton fest last year for £500 (and took the money), apart from that I’ve only played in a £50 and a £100 at Blackpool last year and Duffs (from betfair) £100 home game.

With Estonia looming I thought it would be a good idea to get a bit more live experience under my belt. The £100 rebuy and the £300 at the Broadway Heart of England Festival looked like good candidates. They were both 2 days events with hour clocks and room for plenty of play.

The £100 on Tuesday was a bit of a none starter as far as I was concerned. In the first 4 hours the best hands I picked up were 99 (twice) and AKos. I managed to pick up a few pots here and there but eventually had to get my dwindling stack in with AT on a QQT flop… a big stack obliged with JK and a 9 on the turn sent me packing a little frustrated at not being able to get going.


I was in two minds about returning on the Thursday for the £300. The 5am finish to the day before didn’t leave me feeling on top form. It would be the biggest tournament buy-in I’ve paid in direct (both live and online) but having said that it's no big deal when you consider the level of cash games I play in everyday. I finally decided to drag myself over to Brum to see if I could improve on the previous days outing. I’m glad I did.


The field was rich and varied. There were a few people who had never played a game before and then a load of seasoned pros arriving for the bigger comps later in the week. When I went to take my seat I had Steve Jelinek to my left and Bambos Xanthos to my right. I’d recently seen both of these on the William Hill Grand Prix that is being screened on Sky Sports at the moment (on every Tuesday and one of the best poker shows I’ve seen in a long time!) and so I had half an idea on how they played.

The guy to Jelineks left was knocking down the pints and had never played in a comp before. He devoured Jelineks chips almost as quickly as his lager with a Khigh over flush. I had a fairly patient start and managed to accumulate about 8K (6k starting) by the end of the 2nd level.

As the night progressed I gradually started to settle down and become more comfortable. I don’t think I take to the live game naturally like some players. In the past I’ve found myself making decisions that I would not make online and playing hands less subtly than is normally the case. The same was true in this game to a certain extent. Every now and again I’d find myself making silly bets or calls and 3 seconds later thinking… WHY DID I JUST DO THAT?!!?

Myself and Bambos both got moved to the same table and I was nursing a 10-15k stack for some time as more and more players were making an exit. I made a conscious decision to step up a gear and really started to enjoy my self. I re-raised Bambos three times preflop and he was starting to get the hump, the only time we saw a flop he walked his AQ into my AK.. which was nice. On the 4th time he layed down he said …

“Next time I call you!!” … he showed AJ and I declined to show my AK.

10mins later he was packing his bags so we never got to lock horns again.

The chap 2 to my left was a decent player (he was Welsh and a mate of Ewan Jones, I may be wrong but I think he was called Nick). I’d played a few hands and had not lost many but was still stuggling to push past the 15k barrier. I finally found a spot on the BB after ‘Welsh Chap’ had min raised it to 1600 from an early position. He picks up 3 callers and I look down to see AQ, I don’t have to think about it too hard… No one is showing much strength (except maybe the early position min raise) and with 7600 in the pot I push allin looking to pick it up.

Everyone folds apart from a short stack who has about another 4k left. He flips Q8s and I’m VERY happy. That is until the flop comes 456, the turn is a killer 8… and the river a very welcome 7 for a split pot!!

Shortly after that I pick up a 15k pot from the table rock with a total bluff into a scary looking flop and turn of Td Jd Ks Kd. I’d re-raised him preflop with 6d6s and he obviously gave me credit as I pumped a couple more strong bets in.

I’d raised the Welsh guys BB a number of times (including the occasional ham fisted raise) and he’d passed a few and called a few but was generally coming out with the worst of it and was starting to get the hump.

I picked up QhJs on the button and everyone passes to me. I raise to 4k (about 3 x the BB) and my Welsh friend calls with a hint of irritation. Flop comes rags with 2 spades and we both check. Turn brings a third spade and he checks. I chuck in 3k and he flat calls.

The river comes Qs. He reaches for his greens and launches 7k into the pot. Now, I thought at the time he was a bit too confident in the way he did it, I just had the feeling that he is simply betting out on the scare card, what more I know he's capable of the move- or maybe I’m just a calling station!? I flat call and pick a decent pot when he flips Kh rag.

By this time it is pushing 4:30am with play due to complete for the day at 5:15am I’m sat on a very healthy 50k stack, there are about 22 runners left with 720000chips in play and the blinds at 800/1600. I actually think to myself..


“Bit tired, nothing silly , come back tomorrow fresh and ready for action”

Unfortunately, it was not to be! After the QJ incident my Welsh mate is passing quite a few comments and appears to be a bit unhappy with my assault on his BB… we tangle again when I raise his BB with KQ. He is lucky to catch one of his rags on the flop but we both check down and he picks up the minimum.

With about 15mins of play left it’s my SB and again I’m in a pot with my mate. He raises to 2.8k from an early position and everyone folds to me, I wake up with AK and make it another 5K to play… saying “It’s nothing personal” as I chuck them in.

He snaps back “No..neither is this…ALL IN!!”

The situation is about 18k in the pot, and he pushed for another 30K. I’ve got just shy of 45K left in front of me and a decision to make.

Up pops the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other…..

Angel: Jim, you’d pass this normally.
Devil: Fuck that! There’s 18K in the pot your getting about better than 3/2 on your money.
Angel: Yes, but look you’ve got 45k left…. That’s a big stack!!
Devil: But look at the prize money … only £700 for 10th… 15k for 1st!!!! Play to WIN, get this pot and you will be chip leader. There’s only 19 players left.
Angel: But he must have a pair. It’s a race for most of your chips.
Devil: Don’t be a pussy, he’s really got the hump with you messing with his BB… I bet hes got TT or JJ at best. CALL!
Angel: Oh fuck it CALL!

And so I call… I know I’m behind. I normally would not have a problem passing this… Perhaps the fact it was 5am and I’d been playing for 9hrs came into it somewhere. The ‘play to win’ element is also something I’ve been trying to work into my tournament game and may have also skewed my judgement a little.

He flips KK and it’s 70%/30%

I pick up a gutshot draw on the flop with a Q and a T. I then pick up a flush draw on the turn… 14outs on the river … but it was not to be!

I know it’s a poor call. File it under lessons learnt… Please feel free to comment on it.


A blind goes through me and I’m down to about 10k, there’s 5 mins of play left in the day, and I look down to see AcKc. I make it 5 to go and everyone folds to the BB who puts me all in. I call and he flips…KK again!!!!

No help again and I’m out in 18th (120 runners). The only silver lining is that I don’t have to return today to play a micostack.

I shake hands with my Welsh friend and confirm that there are no hard feelings. I wonder what he thought of me? Probably, that I’m a bit rash and inexperienced, and I guess he’d be right. There is one way to fix that though ,isn’t there?

Despite the manner of the exit, I really, really enjoyed myself. Once I’d picked up a few hands I got into the swing of things I surprised myself with how much confidence and lack of fear I played with. It was a quality field and I was happy to go so deep. Although a little foolish and unlucky not to cash, it’s given me something to think about and now I can’t wait until the next one…roll on Estonia.


Good luck,

Jim