GUKPT Festival week in Brighton

BRIGHTON GUKPT

What to do?
Monday the festival starts but I have my normal game locally on a Monday.
I decided to play locally on Monday then drive up on Monday night to Brighton.
The game was good I was winning in the afternoon session and moved over to the lively dealers Choice game.
This was also going ok and I was about to leave which is probably what I should have done.
I don’t like to leave a game like this early but I had a whole week of poker coming up.
I stayed and got involved in a few key hands and lost some sick pots.
Before I knew it I was not in profit anymore and the game was slowing down.
I was not in a good mood and new I should have left.
02:00 the game ends due to their license. I was down 500 and pissed off. I decided to get some sleep and then drive to Brighton.
Tuesday night was a 300 double chance with 3500 chips to start and a further 3500 when needed.
I had decided to play the side events in Brighton as I didn’t want to gamble while I was there or get too involved in the cash games. I wanted to pay for everything through the cash and try to get a result in a tourney.
I started well in this event and had a pretty good table draw. The field seemed week and my table was generally easy to read. I think my image was more loose than tight but every time my chips went in the middle and I was called I had the best of it.
I managed to build up to about 22K while the average was only 12K and had my table pretty much sused.
There was a woman at out table who also was playing ok but was running good, she had big hands at the right time and was gifted with chips. She had me covered as we played a big pot.
I was in the BB and there were 5 limpers, Normally I would raise now to win the 1500 in the middle but thought I would see a flop since I only had 6 9 os. The flop was A78 all different suits. I checked as did 3 of the others. The woman bet out 1200 so I flat called. All the rest folded and we were heads up. I was looking at her trying to work out what she could have since she only called in late position. The turn was perfect, 5. I now decided to check again since she would have to bet as she could not put me on 69. I did check and she bet 3500, I then counted my stack and raised 7,000 more, before I had even looked back at her she had moved all in and of course I called. She turned over A8. Right there I had a bad feeling and the river paired the 8. I felt sick but I played 100% correct and there was nothing I could do. The pot was over 55K not a bad spot to be in while the average was only 12K.
That was my tourney done and I was of to the cash game. I won a bit in the plo game but was happy enough to take it easy and drink at the bar.



Wednesday was the fun day 100 PLO rebuy event. I arrived early to play a bit of cash after waking up and going for a run on the beach. Sounds crazy but the sun was shining and it was a pleasant day. I set of about 11:00. I like to make life difficult so I was running on the pebbles as I used to run in the sand. This makes it a little harder. Problem was when the bigger waves came in I got soaked with FREEZING COLD water……..
I thought I was going to die………..I don’t even think I had done 1 mile, I was f***ed. Now I remember why I don’t run so much.
I loved the sea air and the sound of the waves but it was time to slow down and do some breathing exercises with some yoga and head home for a shower.
By the time I got to the casino I was on top of the world. Though I thought I was going to die I felt good and glad I did the run.
Trying to get a cash game in the afternoon!
Near on impossible. The reason is says the card room manager no dealers! I had to ask him as I was curious. How can you hold a festival and no that there will be over 50 poker players in early and not have enough dealers especially as you bring other dealers in from all over the uk? No answer.
I then find out that the TIPS given to the dealers are only split between the local Brighton dealers. When in other cities the same rule applies.
I was a little puzzled then. So they will get all the tips and still there is not 1 dealer who wants to come in and deal??????????? I did not tip a thing, shear principle. I even asked if we could self deal to get the game going and was told we had to wait for a dealer.
Finally the game started and I managed to get a few hundred in front before the tourney started.
I won’t bore you with hands but I was doing ok. I built up my stack and never really put myself into a position where I was gambling and needed a rebuy. The noise though in the room like people had never played a plo rebuy event. It was loud and there were a few donators in the room between them having nearly 50 rebuys.
I was moved table as the game was breaking and there was a player who must have had 25% of all the chips in play at this stage. I looked at my pal and said I will bet he does not make the final. Unfortunately he didn’t take my bet. Don’t get me wrong this guy was very polite and nice and I am sure he knew how to play just he liked to play a bit to much I think. I wanted to be careful as I knew his chips were up for grabs but I wanted to get them with as little risk as possible.
Then this hand happened The big chip leader limped and I think we all limped until the SB raised the pot. From there they all proceeded to call and when it came to me I could not resist. This was the perfect gambling time. There were too many chips in the pot and I knew if I raised here I would get protection from the raiser. I did just that as did he and somehow we were heads up for a 50K pot which I think I only put like 14K into. (Beautiful). My hand 3c4c5s7c his hand KK?? Can’t remember, nothing special though. We did manage to get a player who was last to act to put down 89TJdouble suited not sure how he passes this hand put glad he did. Of course I am golden and I flop 2 pair and turn a straight and now I am back in the game with a real chance. I carry on playing well and get down to the last 2 tables. The game is slowing up and the big stakes seem to be getting bigger. 12 handed it then seems like all the short stakes were doubling up and staying alive and then a hand comes when we are 11 handed playing hand for hand with a friend of mine Peter who is very drunk but still a good PLO player. He raised pre flop and I called with AJJ2 1 suit the flop came down 2h 2c 6h. He bet out the pot at which point I decided to only call hoping he would continue betting again on the turn! This was probably a mistake as the pot was big enough to win right there. The turn was Td and he checked I checked behind him to try to get a bet on the river. River card was 7H bringing a flush and he bet out 20K into like 40K. I was sure he did not have a flush so I called him. He showed me TT LOL. Nothing I could do there I guess.
A few hands later I was out and 11th place was 1 off the money…. I wanted to win this as my record in PLO tourneys is ok and I really want to get into the champion of champions free roll at the end of the year and I was not planning on playing that many events.
I ended the day up a few more hundred and went home for a sleep before the Main event on the Thursday.


Thursday 14:00 The 1,000 Main event.
I managed to get a good sleep the night before and woke up at 14:15. This was ok as the tourney never starts on time and I would only miss the first level. I jumped into the shower had something to eat and headed down to the casino to play. When I got there the car park was full and even though I gave the geezer a tener the night before they would not let me in. I’m guessing he forgot to tell his co worker that I tip well. His loss not mine. I drove back to the flat and ordered a cab probably better for me as I would surly be drinking later.
As I arrived I found my seat and found myself at a decent table. 1 problem Sam Trickett was there and he had position on me and he was already building a nice stack and playing a lot of pots aggressively.
I played my first hand aggressively with KQ and managed to get paid on the river from Sam who did not want to stay out of my way and got all my missing chips back.
The rest of the day was no so good. I lost a lot of my chips in a pot that thinking about it maybe I should have folded. I raise in late position with AK and Sam called from the button. The flop was K52 and I check raised. The turn paired the 5 and I check called and the river was also a blank I checked and he moved all in for 4100. This left me with only 3000 if I called and lost and did I really need to call this???? What could his hand be? I know he is also capable of moving all in with crap but he must know I have something. I thought he could have 22 and could have flopped a set. I decided to call and he turned over AA. This was a bad call but I was now a short stack which is not the worst thing to be. I made sure people knew if they wanted to raise my blind that they would have to put the rest in as I was not giving in that easy. It took them a few rounds to find out but I slowly managed to get back up to 10K. I was in the BB and called a small raise with 5c6c. the flop came down Ah4c7c perfect. I decided to check in order to check raise but the player who bet looked like I could not get him off the hand and I was sure I was going to double up if I hit. After consideration I decided to call his bet on the flop and see the turn as it was still early days and I did not feel I needed to gamble my chips away as I was good enough to work with them and build up my stack. The turn was a 6 and I checked waiting for a bet. He also checked and the river was 9c. I made my flush and checked to let him hang himself. He bet a weird amount like 5250 leaving me with 1500 if I called. I decided for 1500 there was not to much point re-raising and I called he turned over KQ clubs for a bigger flush. Not good.
At this point I was 30 minutes into my massage and back to a short stack dinner break was about to start and I looked down at AdQd UTG and raised, Sam moved all in on me and I had a feeling I was in trouble but could not pass. He had AK and the flop was Q high. I was lucky and got myself back up to about 5K and went for dinner.
After dinner I managed to survive 90 minutes before I made my exit. There was a player all in for 600 and a second player raised to 1200 I only had 1800 and had 33. Probably a bad call but I wanted to call and bet out the flop incase he could fold. The flop was AK2 and I went all in for 600 He instant called with 99 and won the pot. I should have folded the threes but there was good value in case I was racing. I went off to the bar and had a few drinks and meet a few new people.
I had to drive back to London on Friday for a meeting and decided that I would drive back to Brighton for the weekend.
Saturday night at 11:00 I got into my car in the pissing rain and headed to the M25 for the 90 min journey. I got there and sat in the 100 2 2 plo game. My pal Paul Parker was there and we all started drinking. I was playing tight, happy to kill time and win a few hundred as per my new year’s resolution. Martin Bader was at the table and I am his bock, so he says. Well I just think he is easy money so I am happy to play with him whenever and wherever I can. I have played with him for 12 years and it seems he can not beat me. I win a few pots from him and others when he announces he is moving to the bigger game. He had won a few quid and wanted to spin it up I guess. Not sure why as there was still a lot of value at our table. He was sitting on my right and everyone called up to me. 2 2 5 straddle. I raised the pot with QcQcJc8s 4 callers and he announced if this wasn’t my last hand I would re-raise you!....... I looked at him and said what are you talking about what should it matter if it is your last hand or not, you are moving to another game not even going home, you should want to raise to get heads up with me?¿? Anyway all the players called and the flop fell 883 they all checked to me and I bet the pot. They all folded and he flat calls. Now I go for the needle. So you don’t want to raise pre but you want to check call off all your chips to me? I know he must have AA or KK in there and he will have to call me. The turn was a blank and he now bets out. I decided to stick a load of 25 chips in to raise the pot and give him the rub down at the same time. He thought for a while and folded. I showed him my QQ and said I was ahead all the time right? Waiting for his reaction which took like not even 3 seconds. He showed his AA and said that I was a fish and I could only ever beat him if I came from behind I did show him my 8 then and he challenged me to a heads up game for everything I had in front of me. I of course accepted and picked up my stack which was about 600 and walked over to a new table. He was shouting and giving it some serious speech and then decided he wanted to play for 3,000. I explained that I did not have this money with me and I asked if anyone wanted to buy a share or lend me some money. I was offered over 5K in less than 2 seconds which felt good and I sat at the table waiting…….He was not coming over and now I started the chat, Finally he came over and took a seat but not ready to play, he said we need a dealer. OK I said who wants to deal I will pay 200. There was a queue of players waiting to deal. Then he said NO has to be a pro dealer which he knew there were none available to deal. Then he wanted to change the game. I suggested we could play any game he wanted and could change the game whenever he wanted but to just sit down. What anyone would want to play their bock heads up is beyond me but I was getting frustrated. I had stood up from a good game to take this challenge and now he did not want to play. What an idiot. Tried to give it the big and hoping I would not want to play and in the end looked like a complete twat. I went back into the PLO game and we all had a good laugh at his expense.
In the meantime Flushy sat down and wanted a heads up match which in fairness we have been talking about since I am 2-0 up on him heads up and only fair to give him 1 more chance. This will have to wait for another day though.
I was winning a bit and got involved in a pot with Paul I raised pre flop and he re-raised. I re-raised and the flop came 7d Td 4c He looked again and bet the pot I got it all in with a gut shot and flush draw as well as the over pair. He had 6677 for a set and I managed to hit the flush on the river for a nice pot. I ended the day over 1,000 up and went out for some drinks.

Sunday. The £100 comp with £25 bounties

This was going to be fun. Hoping a lot of the players went to the Rendezvous for a tourney or had headed home I wanted a shot at getting into the 100K free roll I mentioned before.
The 100K free roll is for all the players who win either a GUKPT or a side event through the year. If you win a Main Event you get 10,000 chips and 5,000 chips for a side event.
I started this comp well and a player to my left who is from Hove was getting all the chips. Paul Parker was then moved in between us and they were friends. We got talking and started drinking red wine, champagne and vodka. It was clear 1 of us was going to have a lot of chips and it was even clearer to me that it would be me. (Nothing like self confidence)
We all had good stacks. Paul Parker decided to make a big raise in early position, the BB called and so did I after limping with 6d7. I asked him if he had KK which was my read he told me better. The flop was 3 4 5 and I checked. Paul bet 1800 and the BB called. I moved all in and did all I could to look week. I wrapped my legs around my chair, I held my breath while staring at the flop, I took a few gulps and scratched my nose when he was watching. I knew he would get his chips in if he did have AA or KK and finally he called. The BB folded and he asked me if I had a pair and a straight draw I said no just the straight. He turned over AA and with no help I took all his chips and another 25 pounds for a bounty.
I went from strength to strength collecting bounties and chips. I had about 40k while the average was 15K and I knew that this is when I should have gone for dinner but I was having to much fun.
I lost a few chips in silly pots trying to knock the smaller stacks out and then I tightened up. We were 10 players left playing hand for hand and I was quite drunk even though I knew what I was doing. My chips were a mess and I was just grabbing a handful knowing really what roughly was in my hand and raising. I had AK I was re-raised all in by a solid player and I told him I should lay this down. I had already laid it down twice that night pre flop and I asked him does he really have KK. He said nothing I decided I had him covered and if I won this pot I was in my mind the winner of the event as the pot was probably a third of all the chips in play. HE had KK and the first card out was a K. I lost the pot and managed to go out a few hands later to the same player. 10th bubble boy again but I was not playing for the money since I had collected 8 bounties 200 pounds already but I wanted to win to get into the free roll.
I went straight into a NLH cash game and proceeded to cause havoc.
It seemed there were 3 couples in the game but I was having fun and the drink was flowing.
I may have spoilt the game for some people but for others I was sure they were glad to have me there since I was drunk and happy to play big pots.
Good thing was that I knew what I was doing and most of the players only had a few hundred in front of them. I sat down with about 3,500 and was raising a lot ready to set a trap. Finally the pot came. I made a very small raise in early position and the guy on the button who I had been playing for about 5 hours with in the tourney re-raised me. I put him on AJ and asked him if he had AJ before I did the drunk shake of the hands and declared ALL IN. His response after thinking for a while was since its you I have to call. Music to my ears……The flop bought no help and he turned over AJ. I showed him my AQ and was very happy.
I did ok in this game and the champagne was flowing ready for my next trick. I reached into my pocket to get something placing the contents of my pockets on the table. There were some scratch cards on view and Jemma shouted from across the table. I love scratch cards can I have one. What can I say, so I passed it down and said but we have to go halves in case you win. Ok she agreed and the game continued. Next thing we all hear is a loud scream followed by we’ve won, we’ve won……Of course our game stops to ask more as well as the oables around in the casino. 25 GRAND she shouts. I stood up and ordered more champagne announced that I was all in blind but there were no cards in play yet which I clocked before I said anything and played the part well. The word had spread and more people were looking and coming over to see. She was still screaming and jumping up And down, Impressed she hadn’t just pocketed it wanting to keep all the money herself but hard to do if you think you have just won 25 grand.
Finally someone told her she should look to see how she claims the money and it hit her like a ton of bricks. It was a sick practical joke and she was not seeing the funny side. Well I am apologizing to her again on my blog as I did several times to her face, she has forgiven me but it was priceless the look on her face. I since have promised to show her how to make $35,000 a year tax free playing poker.
All in all it was a good night, the drink carried on flowing and I was ahead in the cash games. The week was fun and I was glad I went.
If you are also interested to earn extra income with little risk and using little amounts of time, email me and I will invite you to the first meeting. marbellakid@hotmail.com



Next up the Party Poker open VI which my heat is being filmed 7th Feb.
Also on Sky Sports 2 on a Monday and a Wednesday are the heats from the 888 World Open V. 16 March I recommend you get a bet on me winning!