Riddles vs Tiddles

This weekend saw the annual NPF Championships roll around once again. Captain Walker had organised the new team shirts just in time for this event, and per now usual fashion, he didn't let us down. Despite chants of "Kwik-Fit Fitters" from Kirton we all agreed they looked awesome, so well played to Skipper once again.

The 2-day event was ran to the now effortless high standards by s2c, teamdobbs and CGK and im sure i speak for everyone when i say the weekend was a huge success, and a great experience for all NPF members, new and old.

The table draw was horrendous. With 10 tables and 8 team members taking part, it was inevitable that some of us would be sharing a table, but when i take my seat between The Sensation and SamJ i couldn't help but shake my head, more because Gibson does my nut in from point blank range than anything else. Not only this, but Buzz finds he is sat on our table also, which put 50% of The Crisps all on one table.. brilliant.

I started slowly, just wanting to see how people were going to approach this Deepstack/Long Clock tournament. The Crisps obviously looking to keep out of each others way sees us play relatively reserved for the first level until Stevie decides to re-raise me pre with A J off-suit, which he showed after i check/fold the jack high flop. Not amused.

Thinking back i can't really remember having any genuine hands so quite how i got my stack up to a peak of 60k i'm not entirely sure. Major hand came after i move tables, sat next to JuniorBomber (3rd!) i call a 3x raise from Texas Trev with A 10 suited (hearts). The flop comes jack high with two hearts, and assuming Trev can only call with one of 4 hands i slide all in for a massive over bet of 18k. Obviously he snap calls with pocket aces and i'm left in a world of hurt, (s)hit or bust time. The heart on the turn (and river for good measure) sees Trev hit the rail, flipping me the bird on his way.

After about 30minutes, Trev's chair is filled by none other than local mouse-clicking and acronym spouting wizard Tom 'Tiddles' Middleton, whose approach to the game becomes quite clear as soon as he arrives. Seemingly sitting down with the '3-bet/get pissed' button on perma-check he begins to run over of the table, literally opening every pot he could if folded around. Knowing this opportunity doesn't come along everyday, i made a point of getting involved. I sat relatively quiet, hoping to generate a tight image (assuming Tom was actually paying attention) and eventually after about an hour decide i've waiting long enough. After a now standard raise from Tom i call on the button with 79 suited with the intention of raising any bet on the flop, knowing his raising range was slowly growing to ATC. The flop comes a tasty 3 6 8 which makes raising the machine alot easier. Middy bets out as expected and i raise, hoping my quiet image does me some favours. He tank folds showing a 6 for middle pair and i take my first pot from the pro.

Not long after this i limp UTG with AK, which Tom obviously disapproved of asking me "have you limped Ridla.. that's not allowed like" and promptly raised to to 2522 or some other random figure he plucked from the sky. Folded around to me i re-raised to 9k and to my disappointment Tom snap-folds, sigh.. Ridla 2 - Middy 0

As the drinks flow, the table gets a bit louder, and Tom gets a bit looser (if that was even possible). With blinds at 400-800 sat on about 40k i call yet another raise from Middleton (to 2777, lmao), this time out of position with pocket 2s. The flop comes down 8 high if memory serves, and at this point im trying to win this pot as cheaply as possible. I had a suspicion Tom raises regardless, so decided betting out would be silly, and make any re-raise impossible without sliding all-in, so i check with the intention of raising. With approx 5500 in the pot Tom bets, about 3k i think.. i take my time giving him the opportunity to try and talk me out of anything but a fold "Ridla's thinking about calling me with QJ.." after a little time passes listening to him rabbit on, i raise to nearly 8k, which he called (eventually). The Queen on the turn brings a laugh to the table and knowing i can't win this pot without firing, i bet 8500 (into 21k) hoping Middy assumes i'm screaming for a call. He obviously hit his head on the now famous Circus Tank as he didn't surface for approximately 5 minutes, making me sweat for what felt like an eternity. Telling me he wants to shove against me, he eventually looks at his cards once again to find he didn't have the cards he thought he did. At which point i thought he was going to snap shove, but luckily it was a bad mis-read rather than a good one. He folds and i rake in the 21k pot mucking my twos "Corona please!!" Ridla 3 - Middy 0

It wouldnt be long before he got a point on the board though as after taking a substancial hit to his stack (running into Aces) he begins to open shove every hand. I find pocket 10s on the button and after a few uncalled shoves Tom's found his stack up to 19k now. As i deliberate Tom again obviously chirps up, goading me into it "Ridla's obviously going to call with the worst hand"..I laugh and unable to find the fold button, i call knowing he'll have at least one over.. Tom shows A 6 and with shouts of "Ace in your FACE!" we go to the flop. As the cards are turned over, my face was indeed shown an ace.. FML. The window card was all he needed to get a nice double up... Our little battle was to end there (Ridla 3 - Middy 1) as it wasn't long before he hit the dust. It was interesting to play against someone who can put you to such massive decisions with such marginal holdings, knowing you could be ahead with cards you're likely to be behind with against anyone else in the cardroom. Hopefully he gets himself out his bedroom more often.

I come back for day 2 relatively short with only 35k and knowing i need to accumulate i look to shove against any raise with any two decent cards on the back of some advice from SamJ. My stack wasn't huge, but was enough to cause some hefty damage to the bigger stacks at the table. So after Stumpy nicks my big blind (standard) i shove with KJ off after a raise in early-ish position which gets through. Not long after, i open shove with sixes and get called by jacks, and after missing the flop, the words "good game" gather on the tip of my tongue.. that was until a 6 smashes down on the turn, leaving Graham with yet another bad beat.

Unfortunately for me it wasn't long after this it folds around to me in the SB, and looking down at 45 suited i simply can't resist shoving, knowing there is so much in the pot with the antes in play. To my horror i'm snap called by A J off and its goodnight from me. 15th, with nowt to show for it.

All in all, brilliant weekend, ran superbly by Circus and the NPF boys. Roll on next year, and congrats to teamdobbs for taking it down. Well played to JuniorBomber also who scooped 3rd, never really putting a foot wrong all weekend long. Well done lads.