KEVIN O'LEARY POKER Poker Player Kevin O'Leary
  • Home
  • ABOUT THIS SITE
    • ABOUT ME
    • MY RESULTS & HISTORY
    • LIVE OR ONLINE POKER?
    • MINDSET, GOALS, THE FUTURE
  • GET INVOLVED
    • SHARE PRICES & INFO
    • UNDERSTANDING STAKING
    • TOURNAMENT COACHING
    • THE LEGAL STUFF
  • TOURNAMENT UPDATES
    • UPDATES
    • ARCHIVE UPDATES
    • FAQ's
    • GALLERY
  • CONTACT

fall 2017 epilogue/wrapping up

13/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Following my final event in Las Vegas for the trip, I got my ducks in a line and spent a few days catching up with various people in town, cooking, golfing, packing up, shopping, etc etc. Now I'm wrapping up the fall series of updates with a post from back in the bloody freezing UK. I have a dog sleeping soundly on my feet whilst typing in bed, so it's not all bad.
Picture
The package
​

Everyone with shares has now been emailed with a breakdown (a financial breakdown, not one of the nervous variety). Whilst no one's going to be retiring to the Bahamas quite yet on the returns, we've had a stab at a bunch of events, had a few cashes, a lot of deep runs, and everyone got back a sizeable chunk of their original outlay. Whilst some armchair critics out there will likely have a scoff at this (welcome to the world of the Interweb), the reality of poker, and particularly tournaments, is that once the money is invested in a buy-in, it's effectively considered already gone, and any return on that investment is always a good thing. That's pragmatically the only way to view it, however talented you might be, or think you are at the game. When the planets line up, you ping something big, and that hopefully springboards up to bigger and far better things. A few events this time could have gone better, or I might just as easily have busted earlier, but from a consistency viewpoint, I was happy with my overall game, I was tuned in, not afraid to take chances, and kept a good balance on and off the table to avoid any burnout.  I'm easily my own strongest critic, and those who know me better than the casual reader know that I take what I do very seriously, even if my table manner and style of writing sometimes portrays the polar opposite. I extended the trip twice this time, and honestly would have loved to stay out here even longer, but I have a few UK commitments, and need to come back, so it's regroup and prep for what's next to come. More on that in a bit.
Picture
Away from the table
​

This is where the updates swerve away from hand histories and chip counts, but at the risk of sounding like a two bit article writer, the feedback I get regarding non-poker stuff I write generally suggests that it's well received  so until I get an overwhelming vote to the contrary, I'll continue.
Picture
Golf
​

This was a big part of the trip for me this time. From the outset I'll say I'm not a great golfer, which is to say I birdie occasionally, and generally point the club in the right direction. I had a bit of a late start in life with the game, but have found I enjoy it a lot, it's good for the mind and body, and I'm lucky enough to have patient and chilled friends, one of whom is also a PGA pro who's slowly helped me to improve and learn technique. In Las Vegas in particular (outside of the Summer months when the desert heat just makes playing simply unbearable) there are some amazing value golf deals to be had, and over forty (yes FORTY) golf courses set around Nevada, with stunning views and varying challenges. I wish I'd known all this sooner, but in future trips this will most certainly be part of my routine. As the saying I've now learned goes "a bad day of golf is still better than a good day at work". I can certainly attest to this. I'm improving over time, and hope to play more when both time and good weather permit.
Picture
Getting away from the strip
​

Time spent with friends was of great importance. I'm blessed to have some great friends in Las Vegas. My good pal Gary and the dogs Rocky and Trixie rank right up there. We had a lot of laughs, and any time spent with dogs is never time wasted in my opinion. Dios Mio man.
Picture
Picture
A lot of my pals here work in the industry or are players obviously, so we kind of had to grab time to meet and socialise when it was possible with our respective schedules. Generally we made it happen, and it's great that despite the poker connection, for the most part we rarely talked about poker, and instead just ate, drank, laughed and did silly stuff. It made me very happy to see you guys. You know who you are.
I also escaped once or twice out to hike and see stuff. As I have said, the U.S, and especially Nevada, is a beautiful place. If ever you visit, get out and see stuff away from the strip. Don't just drink and gamble. You'll thank me for it.
Picture
The future
​

As a few of you know, I quit my job prior to leaving for this trip. After two years it had simply ran it's course, and I needed new challenges, new ways to earn and also more freedom to do the things I want. I am by no means afraid of hard work, but the 9-5 soon became a 7-7, and I was constantly exhausted and never got to go out any more as I was always too tired, plus my earnings, though regular, were significantly lower than they had been through poker. So here we are. No regrets, and it was overall a great experience, but I needed to be my own boss once more, whatever I come to be doing.
Picture
My poker plans in 2018 include likely the Venetian DSE and possibly the Wynn in February for the whole month, but most importantly of all, I now have the freedom in my calendar to play the WHOLE duration of the WSOP in the Summer, and not just three weeks or so, which greatly curtailed my freedom with scheduling for the last two years. I'm very happy and excited about this, and I hope to be playing in a much bigger schedule of Summer events, this time once again including the WSOP $10K main. Early days, but that's my plan. There is also a chance I may be travelling to play some cash and occasional tournaments  some locations overseas, possibly Macau. In amongst all this I have a few business projects I am also hoping to get started on, so I'm certainly going to be busy.  It's not going to be a full on poker year, as I left full time poker for a reason, but I'll certainly be playing more now that I'm able to again.
I'd like to end with a line to the people who show support, either by investing, or with messages, or even just by saying the right thing at the right time. Some are friends, some investors, some I've never even met before. I mess about at the table, but away from that I'm a little more complex as my close friends know. Let's call it "special" and just leave it at that. I'm very guarded about who crosses the line between acquaintance and close friend, having made some really horrible choices over the years (haven't we all?), but I do know some really good people, and for the sensible words of support, encouragement and understanding you give, as always, I thank you.
0 Comments

wynn signature $600 NLh $250 gtd day 1c

2/12/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
One "Brit" as the Septics like to call it at the table besides me this morning. Pretty aggro with his button, hopefully I can show him I have no real love for the motherland by sending him skint later today.

Tiptoeing along currently. No need to get super out of line, and I'm not re-entering, so let's see if someone can gift me a double up. Level 2 and I'm still on around starting stack of 15K. 230 players so far, hopefully in for a long day.

Weird moment just arose on what is generally a friendly table. A guy flopped a straight earlier and won a hand, and has just played another pot. The flop comes KQ8, and I say to him when he bets "well, I know you don't have a straight".

The guy on my right now pipes up and says "you're not allowed to talk about the hand, unless you're heads up".

Actually there are a few things about that statement that aren't right, I won't even get into it, but...really? You're going to be that guy? Never mind. I let it go.

​Approaching level 3 and still on 15K. Gently does it.

The other Englishman at the table busted. He was unable to come off the gas, and this isn't the table on which to be going full throttle. I actually like this table a lot. I'm on 16K at first break, but it's a nice combination of old rocks, and guys who will overvalue two pair with a straight on the board. Not time to open up just yet, for now just nick the odd pot and keep on the curve.

Talking does reap benefits sometimes....

Back from the break, and I get into a three way pot with Qs 10s. Flop comes 6s 8s 9d...great for me. One guy bets out and I raise him on the come. The other guy folds, and the original better calls. Now I know that my opponent overplays his hands, so at the risk of sounding like a poor man's Matt Damon, now I hope a spade falls and I can take him to value town.

Well, that's kind of what Matt said I think. My memory comes and goes.

Turn is the As. A fantastic card for me. He checks to me and I bet 1900. He now raises to 5K, and I ship with my flush for 7K more. He looks like he has a decision, and good naturedly, I cajole him for a few minutes, whilst being careful not to overstep the line. After a few minutes, he calls, and turns over.... A 10 offsuit for one pair.

It's very rare (again) for people to be drawing dead against me, but I rake the pot, and say little in victory. Obviously I talk and mess around in general play, but not when I win or lose a pot. There are times to talk, and also times to belt up. He looks dumbstruck, and after the hand essentially says I talked him into calling. Happy days. Up to 27K.

I lose a little with AK a while later but am still going just fine. Shortly after I make 2 pair, and get it back again.

24K at level 5, 50/150/300. So far 252/334 remain.

I'm still liking this table a lot. It's a slow burn, but there's no real danger. Most players are pretty open and easy to read, so I'm just gradually increasing and avoiding the land-mines along the way.

Obviously I just hit a huge land mine, after doing everything right. Well done our kid.

A girl who I've played with before, who is capable enough, but is fairly ABC just raised and I call on the button with Qs 7s. I know she's doing it with a big holding but these are the spots where you can occasionally outplay and bust someone who can't see past their own hand. We see a three way flop when someone else also calls.

The flop comes 6d 7h Js, and she C-bets for 1800, I dwell and call taking off a card, and the other player gets out.

Turn is the Qh. Perfect for two pair for me. Unless she has QQQ I'm 99% certain I have her totally locked up. She bets 2800, and I raise it to 6000. She then snap shoves for the rest of her chips, so now I know in my mind it's either Aces or Kings. Either way I'm winning and I call in what is probably the biggest pot on the table all day so far. She tables AA as advertised. I love it in those occasional moments in life when I'm right about stuff. They happen more often in poker for me than anywhere else! :)

The river unfortunately, is now a Jack, counterfeiting me and unhappily giving her the pot as she has just made Aces and Jacks to beat my Queens and Sevens. I say nothing as it all gets pushed the other way, but I know I played it well, and just got the shaft for my efforts. Welcome to the luck element. I'm sure others won't see it quite like that, but I guess that's where we are going to differ. Don't be afraid to gamble, know just where you are in the hand, and try to get someone to get all their money in badly against you. That's about all I can do. If you look past the actual hands, that's exactly what just happened, however there was one card to come, and I got unlucky.

So, I'm now on an ugly 7K when it would have now been around 60K or so had the Jack not just paired the board. Eight outs on the turn and she got there. Never mind. If you get upset by stuff like that, then don't play poker.

​Approaching level 6 with 243/347 players left.

Apologies for the delay, my laptop died and I didn't have a power lead. Surface Pro's are nice machines, but the battery leaves a lot to be desired.

Level 7, and I bust in maybe one of the weirdest exit hands I've ever seen. As you may know, I don't do the hand histories/poker stories stuff, save for this website, and were it not for shareholders, I'd maybe not even do that. People who know me personally will attest that I just don't do poker stories. They're boring, mainly only explained for the benefit of the person telling them, and no-one really cares, which is maybe why I embellish the blog with a healthy dose of sarcasm as filler. I always feel that the paying public deserve a little something for their faith, and I try to be painfully honest when it comes to tournament updates. The non-paying readers get the bonus of being in on things for free also, since making the website private always seemed kind of silly. I'm here alone, so can obviously make up all sorts of fairy stories should I wish. However it's not me, and since I play from my gut, sometimes things will look a bit...odd. There are legions of people out there who read books, and watch training videos, and are sure that poker is "solvable" by using a formulaic strategy, which is everything I disagree with, and why I don't play online (which is all of these things). Here's the exit, and I await emails and comments from people who disagree and think my play was a massive error. Or maybe a few who "get it". Either way, it's fine. The one caveat is, please only write to criticise if you have more than me in live cashes. Otherwise, your argument might lack some weight. Here we go...

Of course, all good poker stories start with "well I called a raise with 23..." right?

Level 7, at 75/250/500. I have survived after the killer hand where I was counterfeited, but am on around 6K, now. Most people nowadays just ship and hope, but I'd rather do things a different way and give myself a better chance. 

I'm in the big blind, with 2d 3d. There's a raise from the guy on my left, who said (and I'm pretty certain it's not far wrong) that this is his first tournament. It's 1100 to play, and all fold to the small blind who completes. 

Now, before anyone goes off on a rant. Yes. I know I have 23. That's not the point. I win more pots with speculative hands like these, than with the textbook big starting hands. That's because one of my strong suits, and something you don't find in the books, is knowing where you are in situations. It's a good price to take a flop and hopefully double up to get back in contention, so I call also, leaving myself about 5K. Off we go, three way.

Flop comes 4d 6h 9d.

So I have a gutter, a flush draw, and two undercards (the last bit is a joke, but bear with me). First to speak with around 4K+ already in the middle. Ship it! At least I have another way to win if they both fold, right? I move all-in, and hope no one has any of this board, or that I get there if they have.

Of course not. They both call. In fact, the guy on my left shoves, and the guy on my right calls the shove. I must be in huge trouble here right?

The original raiser tables....AK.  Yes AK. No flush draw, no pair, nothing. Ace high.

The second guy, who has called an all in and then also a reshove all in turns over...Qd Jd, for a bigger flush draw. Yes he's beating me but it's still an ugly call given the action. He could be in terrible shape, and the first two player's money is already in the pot so we're not folding. Anyhoo.

My two undercards are actually live! Sadly the flush isn't. Now you see why I said it looks weird?

The board runs out with two massive bricks, and everyone misses everything. My Wynn main event is over, and I lose to...Ace high, and Queen high! Good game everyone.

I won't labour the point. Some will understand the call preflop and the shove on the flop into two players. Some will think it stinks. Either is fine. I still sleep pretty well at night, and am very aware of the dynamic that it takes more strength to call a raise than to make a raise. I'm out, but in the same spot I'd likely do the same thing again. As I say, I can invent a story, but the truth is probably in this case more entertaining. Or not, depending on if you're me.

That, as they say is that. Everyone who had shares is getting a return on the trip, and I'll be in touch with all shareholders individually soon. The staking part of the trip is over, though I'm here a few days more so I may still play something small on my own dime. I'll write a final epilogue once I've got my head around it and thought of something mildly entertaining to say. As always thanks to the good people for support, messages and sarcasm. You all know who you are xxx.
2 Comments

wynn signature $600 main event $250k gtd day 1B

1/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Updates from noon.
Picture
Fun times at I find myself seated next to the always smiling and lovely Tammy Wing. She smiles even more when I make two pair vs her turned straight and give her about 900 of my 15K stack. Welcome to Encore!

I start chatting immediately on what looks like a pretty fun table. I know a few of the players. Pots seem quite big for level 1, and shortly after I lose to Tammy I find AK in the big blind with about 5 limpers and decide to tax everyone by making it 700 more at 50/100. 2 players call and on a 9 J K flop I bet 1100 and get one caller. A King on the turn is a welcome sight, and I fire again for around 5K which is his stack. He shrugs and calls tabling AJ. Rare for someone to be drawing dead against me but I'll take it. I bust him and go up to 23K.

In today's flight there are currently 116/129 players but plenty of levels to enter or re-enter. There is also flight 1C tomorrow, so of course the plan is to run it up today and rest tomorrow.

At least I know the radar is working well. In a three way pot on a Q J Q 9 K board with 4 clubs out there, I bet 1125 on the river when it's checked to me. My neighbour makes it 3500, and I muck, telling him he has either Kings full or he flopped quads. He shows QQ and we all have a good laugh about it.

Tammy just busted when she 3-bet preflop with KK, and was called by QQ. Flop comes Queen high and it all goes in. Poker sucks like that sometimes, especially tournaments.

22K. Average is 18K. early days.

First break. Stretching of legs, etc.


Return from the break and drop back to 16K when my 77 is no good on a 9 10 J J  K board vs AQ. Back to nuts and bolts again.

Hit a block during the next level where every hand is unplayable. It's fine. Simply adjusted and screwed right down for now. As said another bullet is an option, but of course getting through day 1 on a single shell is a lot better, so for now I'll just wait it out.

Well, I waited it out, and then flopped a set of 7's on a 7 J 3 board. I fire again and get called. The headphones guy out of position gets there with 10 8 offsuit when his gutshot 9 hits the turn to make him a straight. I reluctantly pay off a river bet as the hand is so concealed (OK, by concealed, I mean ugly). Down to 8K and not loving life at 50/200/400.

75/250/500 and I'm grinding with no real joy. The times I've raised I'm getting called by the same one or two guys, and don't really have the stack to get creative, so I'm only popping it up with decent hands. Sadly these hands are not improving and I can't do anything with the resulting flops. 6500 in chips as we near the end of the level. 

The poker room are having issues with their clock and tournament I.T system, meaning the time keeps vanishing from the screens. In fact, I know from speaking with the TD's that this problem is actually affecting the whole casino, and not just poker. They are of course, on top of it, and still know how the levels are going and what the blinds are etc, and are keeping us updated via the PA system. However, listening to the players, you'd think it was the end of the world. Some guys are such babies, any excuse to complain!

The only girl at the table gets crippled when on a 5 5 10 Q A board, she calls a huge all-in river bet in an already big pot, and is shown 95 for trips with a horrible kicker. I have no idea what she had, but trips wins.

It gets worse for me when I raise with AQ, and get raised and reraised, so I fold. They play the pot out and I get shown AJ and 99. The AJ wins.

​We hit level 8, and I decide it's time to make a stand with JJ when there's a raise at 75/300/600. I have around 5K, and get it in. The guy on my left asks the standard dipshit question "how much is it?" He's sitting NEXT to me. Anyway, he calls. Everyone fold, and he then turns over QQ. I'm irked for about a second but still manage to ask him how much over 5K did it need to be for him to be folding QQ heads up?

Anyway, I actually hit a Jack, but the board runs out four diamonds, and he wins with a flush. That's my lot.

Not an ideal day. Was a good start, but after the first hour or so it all went steadily bad. Sometimes it's just like that.

I will fire again in 1C tomorrow, making up the shortfall from my own roll. Everyone who has shares is still involved for the same percentage. 

0 Comments

    Archives

    August 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014

    RSS Feed

    DSE FALL 2016

    Trials and Tribulations

Proudly powered by Weebly