BB King > KK UTG

The New Circus league kicked off this week, and Wednesday was my night of choice. Deciding i didn’t take all this league stuff seriously enough last time around i chose to play tighter than Hazel’s perm and nit away like Xenocode. No real hands of note early on until Newcastle’s own John Juanda re-pops me from the blinds after i’ve opened the pot with Queens in early-ish position. Not one week ago he did the very same, and i pushed my Queens into his Kings, so i elect to call and see a flop. The dream that is a Q 8 3 flop sees him check-raise me all-in, which i snap call quicker than Rosco can destroy a 4-1 chip lead. Luckily i find myself with enough chips to survive doubling up my new nemesis when i call his push with Kings after i raise UTG (against his AJ, yawn.. more on that later). Final table rolls around with top 7 paid but with my priority being more on points than prizes i try to get my stack up nice and early and find myself out on the bubble. Points is points though, even if it was only three, i’m off the mark.

Thursday morning and i’m at work more dead than a 2p freezeout and a cheeky friday off is much needed. Knowing i’m off work the next day, poker is forever an option and once again i find myself at tables. Aspers this time, and having managed to destroy an 8k starting stack in no less than an hour and ten minutes i’m at circus just in time to see the last 15 minutes before the break. Seemingly never playing a hand i find myself on the final table at a some what early time of 11:30pm. Eventually check/pushing my bottom pair on a 7 high flop into Rosco’s flopped straight i crash out in 4th for £110. Playing sensibly for a change seems to have it’s benefits.

After a day/night off on Friday, The G gets a visit for the £20/£20 and i work my stack up to a healthy 30k with the average still at 16k. My new nemesis buys in late and joins our table, happy days are here again. He gets himself up to about 38k one way or another and once again i find myself with Kings UTG and raise from 600 to 1900.. when one of the short stacks in mid-position (’Boris’) pushes for 6k, one-move-maestro shoves for his entire 38k stack over the top from the button. There’s no way on god’s earth i’m passing to someone who plays like he’s learnt the game in an asylum and i call to see him table Ace-Ten suited (Boris showing 67 suited). So, the situation is virtually the same as wednesday night, same player, same shit cards, only this time the pot is worthy of final table chips, 70,000. Only 3 cards to dodge.. the window card shows a jack and i’m trying to stay positive, i stand up to see the mother of all cards revealed underneath and i hit the rail somewhat fuming asking him “why do you continue to shove against me with that shit?!”. Needless to say i could have handled the situation a little better, but i wasn’t in the mood for niceties. He had the decency to come find me and apologise, but in the end, i was happy with the situation, he’s just an utter luckbox. Cash was possibly the worst idea in the world so when the Sensation suggested Dealer’s Choice for 5p blinds i jumped at the chance, needing cheered up. A few sick hands and one 2-minute monster slow roll vs Gibson later and i’m happy as larry again.. one hand away from another FT.

Sunday and it’s off to Aspers again to see if i can finally end the run i’ve been having in there and i play what seems to be a nice 4hrs with the Check/Fold button ticked. Having nursed my 5k starting stack up to.. uhh 5k with blinds at 500/1000 i decide any two pictures are good enough, if i can ever actually get some. The guy who has been dealing me shite all tourny asks if ill deal while he drains the main vein and one Ridla-Shuffle later i’ve doubled up to 10k. I’m moved table as we’re now down to 18 but i’m also back down to 7k having sat through the blinds and i shove the first hand i see (A4). I’m called pretty quickly by someone who thinks he’s behind with AJ (Ha! i wish). One 10 10 4 flop later and i’m up to 14k, but with blinds at 700/1400 now, still not enough. Littlewood (Mr) takes over dealing whilst the missus nurses her short stack and he deals me K 10 suited in my big blind. One limp was enough for me to shove and after flopping two pair (against AQ) i house up on the turn.. well played John. The final table started with the average stack having 6 big blinds, and the shove-fest began. My pocket 7s eventually getting cracked by A8 and another £90 pops into the wallet for 6th place.

Knowing a few lads (including the skipper) had gone to Circus i head down with the intent to play a little cash before heading home (work in the morning, aka Blog Shift). For the first time in quite a while i found myself favourite to win a hand despite being behind. I raise to £3 pre with KQ of spades and see a Jd 10s 4s flop heads up. He fires out £4 and i assume he has a jack, standard. Knowing anyone who runs with any semblance of normality cannot lose this hand in my position i raise to £15, which he calls reluctantly. 8d on the turn brings a check from him, prompting me to shove for the rest of my stack (about £20), which again he calls showing J 9, which eliminates a few of my outs, but im happy with the situation as an ace smashes down on the river to destroy his hopes and dreams.

In short, 3 final tables out of 4, 2 cashes, nice little cash session.. and pocket kings no FUCKING good apparantly. Crack on lads.