KEVIN O'LEARY POKER Poker Player Kevin O'Leary
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The cult of kato

31/1/2018

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OK, what the bloody hell does that mean?

I try to stay fairly active. One happy side effect of spending time in poker rooms is that however bad a shape you think you're in, if you take a look around a card table, normally you'll conclude that things aren't actually that bad once you see some of the competition. Whilst of course some people clearly make an effort with themselves, an awful lot more just don't care. From wearing the same clothes for three days, right through to eating as much processed food as they can stuff in until their heart finally gives out one fateful day, poker can sometimes be the ultimate vessel for showing the world how little you care about it, and yourself. Which is quite sad. Still, everyone's different.

Before I started training and running in the UK with a pal, my weight was (for me) a tape-busting 184 lbs, or 13.1 stone. Now, I'm fully aware that for some people, 184 lbs might be a dream weight, however, we're of course all different in frame and lifestyle. I'm 5' 10", and have never been "fat" fat, but if you have a bad diet and never move unless it's from the card table to the dinner table, and then to bed, then everything clogs up, and you become a blob of slow moving body fat with a limited lifespan and a sluggish demeanour. Clearly whatever you do in life, this isn't great.

Anyhoo, maybe to fill a void, maybe to prove I could, or just maybe because I'm weird and thought it might be a good idea, I started some regular exercise, was more careful about what I ate, and tried to shift the excess baggage around my midfriff. This ended up with me running sometimes, doing the occasional half marathon, getting into golf a bit more seriously, and perhaps most importantly, looking a bit more into my diet. For over a year now, I've been on and off with a lifestyle (don't worry, I cringed too as I typed that word) called Ketogenic, or "Keto", or as a pal who has a wry sense of humour and remembers Burk Kwouk for the Pink Panther movies calls it... "the Kato diet". Kato it is.

I'll drop in a few links below, but in a nutshell (some nuts are allowed) the Keto diet is basically as follows. Your body normally gets it's energy from the carbs you consume in food every day, however, on the Keto diet, you eat virtually (20-30g per day only)  no carbs, which puts your body into a state called Ketosis. In this state, instead of getting energy from the carbs (which you're now not eating), your body instead now uses it's own fat reserves for fuel, which leads to weight loss as the stored fat gets burned. There's a lot of science behind it, and some people are sceptical, but a lot of this is because for years, fat has been demonised, and carb heavy foods have just become a way of life and everyone simply eats them without question. It turns out in fact, that not all fats are bad for you, and not all carbs are good for you, but you need to dig around a bit for the info. On the Keto diet, you eat a lot of fat and a moderate amount of protein, but virtually no carbs. The first few days are rough as you get headaches and basically feel like crap (known as the Keto flu) as your body adjusts to not getting any carbs coming in, but this soon passes, and after that, as long as you stay in the Ketogenic state, you soon find you get hungry far less often, as the sugars and carbs eaten are normally what promote hunger, and the weight comes off pretty rapidly. Things like fried bacon, butter, eggs, steak, chicken, full fat cream, and cheeses are in, stuff like bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, beans, sodas and fruit juices, most cakes, sweets and biscuits are out. You have to look at which veggies you can still eat, and you must be careful which fats and oils to use, as if you don't know and make a mistake, you can get kicked out of Ketosis, and have to start all over again.

Anyway, it worked for me, and I'm now at 146 lbs/10.5 stone, which whilst maybe not rocking anyone else's world, makes me happy and shows at least I am capable of finding the discipline to do something right in life. I don't need to go any lower in weight for sure, but I feel a lot better for having shed all the unwanted bulk.

I don't stay in Keto all the time. I do it for a month or two, then go back to regular eating. Why? Simple answer is I like bread, pasta, potatoes and biscuits, and always will, and won't do without them for the rest of my life, simple as that. But adapting my diet for a time doesn't kill me, and I have to say the results clearly prove that the science behind it is very sound. Also, I like to cook, and there are a ton of Keto recipes and resources online which are a lifesaver. My favourite I think is Headbangerskitchen.com, this guy is great, and the recipes are amazing.

Anyways, that's that. It's not a religious cult of a Ponzi scheme, but if you're a blob and you want to maybe stop being so much of one, do some reading.


https://www.ruled.me/guide-keto-diet/


blog.kettleandfire.com/starting-a-ketogenic-diet/

On an unrelated poker note, my first Venetian event, the MSPT $1100 NLH begins tomorrow!


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WYNN SIGNATURE WEEKEND $250k GTD DAY 1C

27/1/2018

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A leisurely morning spent hitting a few golf balls at Wild Horse, and back in my seat for today's day 1C. I manage somehow to play two rounds of the table sitting at table 32 seat 10 instead of seat one, until finally we notice, and have a good giggle about it.

I just lost a huge pot with AK on an A K 10 board, when QJ had stood the 4 bet preflop 3-way, and managed to flop the universe against my top 2. I checked, player 2 bet 1200, player 3 called, and I made it 3600. The original bettor folded, and player 3 now jams all-in for 12500. My 20K just hit an 8K low, which I could do without.

Hindsight is always a wonderful thing, and in my experience of players here, some people could certainly get the lot in there with A10, AJ  or AQ, however, this player in this spot was absolutely never doing that even though we've only been playing for an hour or so. It was a set (hard to have AA or KK given the contents of my hand so maybe 10 10) or the already made straight, and painful as it was, I should have just folded the top two. I realised that the second I called, before he even tabled his hand. Some people reading will disagree, but they're wrong. Plain and simple fact is, I made a mistake. I should have folded, and even though I was drawing thin, my own experience tells me that I know better.

​Ho hum. Shrug it off, keep going.

That was a kick in the nuts I could have done without, but c'est las vie. I win a small pot shortly after with 99, and I now have to lock down and play ABC. As if to rub it in my face, shortly after a player goes broke, shoving with one pair on the flop versus another player's set. Funny how I realised people don't always play that badly, and then someone does exactly that just to make me second guess myself again. All I can do is smile to myself.

Level up, and I'm largely letting it happen around me. Losing so many chips so early is unfortunate, but coming back is not impossible.

A couple of bustouts at the table, I'm still nursing the shorter stack, but am being patient. I likely have to find a spot, which at this early stage I'd rather not be doing, but we are where we are. I win another with A9 on a 9 high flop, then raise with AQ and decide to fold when I get moved in preflop. I could take the chance, but I'd rather get the money in first myself and give myself two ways to win.

I finally found my chance, at the giddy heights of level three, where I called a raise multi way with 76, and the flop comes 568. With my stack this is plenty good enough, but I go for a check-raise to get a bit more in the pot first. Player one obliges by making it 1300, and player two also calls. I make it 6k all-in, and the first player who I put on an overpair (that's fine, it's what I want him to have) then shoves for around 13K. The second player dwells up, and finally also calls. OK...over we go.

Flop 568

Me: 76
Villain 1: JJ
Villain 2: 77

OK. Not ideal with the 77 calling off as well, but I'm not in the worst shape. Fingers crossed.

Turn 10, no good. River...also a 10. That's that.

I make a hasty exit and just put it behind me. I honestly think that poker wise (life is another matter) I make a truly bad decision maybe one time in twenty at the crucial time in tournaments. Today was one of those times, and I won't beat myself up about it, but I can acknowledge it for what it was, a bad call on my part. I now have a break of a few days now until the Venetian DSE kicks off and my Spring campaign begins proper. I'll use the time to chill and prepare for what's to come.



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IT'S A NEW DAWN, IT'S A NEW DAY, IT'S A NEW LIFE FOR ME...

26/1/2018

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And I'm feeling good.

​That's it Nina, you tell em.

Personally, I like to think of myself more in the vein of the late great Bill Hicks, who once said:

“It's great to be here. I thank you. Ah, I've been on the road for ten years now, so bear with me while I plaster on a fake smile and plough through this shit one more time.”

Chortle.

Joking (!) aside, I'm extremely glad to be back here in Las vegas. After returning to England following a moderately successful poker trip in Oct/Nov, truth be told I was a bit of a zombie in the UK on the run up to Christmas. I wasn't really too motivated to get much done, even though I still got out and made some money regularly. I HATE the cold weather in Winter in England, and my sense of alienation toward the UK and virtually everything and everyone in it has done little but grow over the past few years. Family aside, there's actually very little to keep me there any more, and I still feel pretty certain that one day I'll fly the coop. Not sure if it'll be to Las Vegas, but it's certainly a strong contender as I've always felt far more at home here than anywhere else.

My shares are all sold, a tentative trip schedule is posted and I'm ready to go. As always the events played may be subject to change. How I'm feeling, what value they represent, how the bankroll for the trip is etc. Those who are familiar with my trips already know the drill. The initial tournament is the Wynn/Encore $600 with 3 day one's and a $250K guarantee, day 1B being today. My layout for the trip has a fair bit of down time (non playing days) at present, as a lot of my events are bigger buy ins, but as always we'll just see how it unfolds. The plan is to play today and not need another shell tomorrow, but we'll see how the day goes. More to come.
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Off we go with today's $600 day 1B. The wi-fi at Encore is misbehaving very badly, which is less than ideal when I'm trying to post updates and the last 5 minutes of my typing just vanished forever. However, we shall press on regardless.

I am seated to the immediate left of an old geezer whom I've seen around a lot but with whom I've never actually played. In the past I've seen him be quite aggressive, and his tables normally look quite fun. He reminds me a little of my dear old buddy Tony Korfman in a way (and this is a compliment), let's see what happens.

My 20K start is quickly up to 22K. I'm dipping around in pots, early days. The Encore have adopted a new "big blind pays the antes" system, whereby we start immediately with a 100 ante, which the big blind pays, effectively for the whole table (so it's 100/100/100) and we have no 25 chips at all. Apparently it's quite popular for speeding up the game. We'll see how good it is. 

My senior neighbour just got an instant double up with Qh Jh on an 8h 9s 2h 10d board for the stone cold nuts with a flush redraw. His opponent had K 10 for top pair with NO hearts and no draw and paid him off anyway when he shoved the turn with the nuts and a killer redraw. Good grief.

I lost a chunk when my JJ had to fold to a huge turn bet on a 10 10 6 8 board. I maybe should be like others and just piss it away, but I'd rather get it in when I know I'm ahead. back to 16K again as we his level 3 and 100/200/200. No-one at the table is getting super out of line save for just one guy, so for now it's back to nuts and bolts again. Get a big pair or flop a set and  get paid. Something like that anyway.

AK and AQ both bear no fruit for me when I raise, miss, and get pushed off. Time for grinding practice I guess.

​First break, and an unspectacular 11K, with plenty of play left. No sweat.

On we go and it's now 100/300/300, which of course is now expensive when you're the big blind! I can see why they like this, but it does take a little adjustment.

​Currently 145/175 players remain today.

Level 5 and still plugging with no developments. One of the reasons I love poker in the U.S so much is some of the things you see. I've had one guy bet out the idiot end of a straight on the river with four straightening cards on the board, get called...and be good. Then I've seen a guy with bottom set bet virtually all-in on the river (which happens to be a King) with his 444,  and get called by a guy who stayed the whole way with AK (nothing at all) and then made one pair, which of course was never going to be any good. The funny thing was that in the aftermath and head shaking, at least two guys empathised with the AK telling him there was nothing he could do once the King hit. Are you kidding me??? I hope to God they were being ironic.

A player for whom I've never cared (let's just say based on previous experience I regard him as a complete tosser and leave it at that) just joined the table short stacked, and then immediately jammed with QJ on a 224 flop. The guy with 44 decided to give him a spin and duly sent him packing. Good stuff. Always nice when the bad eggs get what they deserve.

My elderly neighbour on the right just busted, when he flopped the nut flush draw with Ah8h, versus KhQh and they got it all in. The Kc on the turn then ruined his day having done nothing wrong. Shame. He was fun to have at the table.

Back to a happier 14K when I shove Ac 10c on a ten high flop and pick up the pot, then win again with JJ on an A 6 3 5 6 board. Still plodding.

Rebuilding steadily, now back up to 17K. At least half of the original players on my table have now busted out. They all had far bigger stacks than me when they went. Funny, that.

​147/201 remain.

OK, I just had a disaster. Blinds 200/500/500. I raised UTG to 1300 with 55, and it folds all around to a non believer in the BB who calls. Flop comes with an Ace, and I bet 1800 to represent it. He calls. Turn is a Queen and he checks, I check. River is a Seven and again he checks. I won't win this at showdown even though I'm 99% sure he doesn't have an Ace, so I bet 3K to take it down. He says "OK, you got me, good hand", and then CALLS, and flips over Q8 for a pair of Queens!. Well played Sir. I'm back to 9K again. Never try to bluff a mug, as the old adage goes, my mistake I guess. He managed to spanner off double that amount to someone else two hands later. Grit teeth and tough it out.

My 55 opponent is now out. He called an all-in on the river with K2 when he made a 3456 idiot end straight. The nut flush scooped the pot. He's already rebought and is at another table. God bless the poker economy.

Level 7, and re-entries for today are finally closed. Blinds/antes are 300/600/600, so now's the time to start swinging and get lucky with my 7K. 124/234 remain.

Midway through the level, and the fun of tournament poker never gets old, especially when you're right, and you know you're right. I have A8 offsuit in the big blind which is 600, and about 6K behind. It folds round to an unsmiling young woman who has all the bling, headphones, fancy nails, mirrored shades...a full poker kit. She makes it 1500, and I immediately dump the whole lot in, telling her she probably wishes she hadn't done that now. She looks dejected and asks 3 times how much more it is, then reluctantly calls for about 1/3 of her stack, and tables....64. Great.

Flop comes out 5 7 2, so now I can't hit my 8 as it makes her a straight.

6 on the turn, brick on the river, and that's that. Grr.

I wish everyone good luck and depart with about 110 players remaining in the field. My table wasn't bad and in my exit I knew precisely where I was at and just needed the hand to hold. It didn't and that's sometimes how it is. Because of the $250K guarantee in this, and a break before I start the Venetian campaign, I may take a swing at day 1C here tomorrow. For now, get me out of here. No major upsets, just variance, which is what happens in these things.
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