Poker: UKIPT High Roller

I’ve wanted to play an EPT event for several years now, and have had a few attempts in previous years to satellite into various events. 

Following on from my UKIPT success in 2011 I tried for the London EPT and the PCA   Even back in August 2012 I had my eye on this years EPT events, but later in the year when we started to think about what we wanted to do for our 50th Birthday's this year, it was clear that playing an EPT would be the idea treat for me

Although Monaco EPT would be the ideal choice, as it falls on my actual birthday (and would likely be nice and Sunny) I decided on the EPT London event in March due to it being easier travelling arrangements and meant I could go on my own.   I booked the week off work and although intended to direct buy-in, was trying to satellite in anyway.   After spending $645 in the attempt, a few weeks before the event it became clear  I would not be able to play Day 2 (should I get through Day 1) so was no longer an option.    Luckily the UKIPT High Roller event was an acceptable alternative and was only a two day event, making it ideal in many ways.

Preperation

Two weeks before the event, I got really bad Flu which knocked me out for a week.   I was OK the weekend before, but still had some doubts about my fitness, even the Thursday before when I actually bought in.    My confidence was quite high as I had been on a bit of a heater online, and won the Home Game on the Thursday night, so seemed to be running hot !

On the day

I woke up around 6:30am rather than at the planned 9am relaxed/rested start to the day, so not best start…. but at least the sleepiness took the edge off my nervousness.   My brain was excited, but my tummy was telling me I was a bit nervous…. could have been worse I suppose

I checked the train times, contents of my pockets and wallet at least three times before I left the house but finally my journey started and the trains were running fine

I was very pleased to see the Vic dead on time at 11:15am (90 mins door to door!)

Despite warnings of being busy, I got the mandatory PS Live card and registration within a few minutes and found the seat with half hour to spare.

I had planned to have an early lunch but really didn’t feel like eating !

The stats

In the end, there were a total of 219 entries and 32 get paid.   32nd gets £3.4k, first gets £102k

The chip stacks started at 20k with 45 min levels.  

And they’re off!

For some reason we started 15 mins late at 12:15, which gave me time to go to the toilet another couple of times (too much information ? )

I recognised Max Silver on my table which was a bit scary but also a bit disappointing in some ways, as I’d a small hope to have Liv Boree on my left and Vicky Coren on my right

I was still feeling on edge when the cards were dealt.  Despite being on the button I was hoping to be able to fold the first few hands to settle down, but to my horror I looked down at A-Q and thought to myself “shit, I need to raise!” which I duly did.  Four of us saw the flop which was something like A-7-4 and it checked to me.  Despite imagining everyone else with two pair or trips, I though “shit, I’ll have to cBet” which I duly did and was relieved when everyone folded !   Hey, I’ve won a hand

In fact in the first level I got dealt some decent cards and was quite active, so although my stack was up and down a bit, felt settled after half hour and the nerves had gone at last.

In all honesty, being a £2000 buy-in had thought  I would be singled out as the table fish and have everyone pounding my blinds and re-raising all over the place.    This certainly wasn’t happening in the early levels and was feeling surprisingly comfortable and relaxed.   I was playing my normal live style being a bit passive, although did 3 bet occasionally and make some big bluffs.

The standard of play was probably the same as BBP Live events I’ve previously played (Feb 2011 at the Vic,  April 2012 at Aspen,  Aug 2012 at DTD )   Having said that, as players dropped out and new players came to the table, we got some more aggressive players join.  As the ante’s kicked in, there was a bit more raising pre-flop and big bets post flop with not necessarily a decent hand.      Even in this phase I felt I knew what was going on, even if I couldn’t do anything much about it.

So where did it all go wrong

At the first break after 3 levels, I was a little above average with 24.5k in chips.  2nd break after level 5 I had 25k but end level 7 I was down to 14.5k and was out in level 9 just before the dinner break in about 134th place

I had a bad beat (of course ) against a short stack, in L5 else I would have been more like 40k the end of that level.   

There were also a couple of hands where I should have been more aggressive to likely take the pot down, i.e. wasn’t playing my table image as much as I could have

Otherwise was pretty happy with my play and can’t think of other cases were I would play the hand differently

In L9 I had about 17 blinds left and although wasn’t panicking, had been card dead so my pocket 5’s in early position looked more like J’s    I was tempted to shove, but with an young German player with a hoodie to my left, and another LAG player in the button decided to min raise and shove to a raise.   Unfortunately it folded to the table short stack in late position who did shove for 14 bb in total.   I felt it was a flip so called and sure enough he had Ks-Qs but the all spades flop saw me drawing dead, leaving me 3bb and in the big blind

The young German player min raised and got two callers, with the small blind folding.   I looked down at my 7-6o and thought about folding, but was getting 9:1 to call.   Calling wasn’t a sensible option, so decided to shove for a min re-raise, thinking at least I had a chance the German would re-raise and get heads up (even against A-A  have 20% chance).   Well, he did re-raise but got called by another LAG player.   The A-5-4 (two spades) flop looked surprisingly promising for me, especially after there was a bet and call.   The 7 turn wasn’t going to be any good for me, but the 3 of spades on the river gave me the straight.  Sadly, the action on the river gave away that the LAG player made his nut flush and I’m out

Was it all worth it

Although I went in thinking I had a chance of cashing (despite my fears and nerves pre match) it was really more about having a once in a lifetime experience to make my 50th year feel special.     

On this level, the event was a success as the game did feel special, as were lots of faces from the telly I spotted playing on various tables and/or milling around in the breaks. 

It was a good boost for my Poker confidence, as (after half hour) felt at home and didn’t ever really feel “pwned” in the hands I played.   I surprised myself in some ways, particularly by having a plan for the hands I was involved in (most of the time) and having the confidence to believe my reads and stick in the big river bluff knowing my opponent could fold (although didn’t manage to do this every time when I should have)

I didn’t think about the entry fee at all and treated it like a normal tournament, which was also quite surprising.

Just need to work a little more to get my live game more like my online game… by getting a little more fearless in good spots to accumulate chips.

OK, so what about the celebrity gossip ?

I spotted Liv Boree in the bar and was surprised she looked more petite in real life (and actually even hotter) than she seems on TV.  Later on she was sat on the table next to mine, but didn’t see how she played

Vicky Coren was also a surprise but because she seemed larger in life than on TV !   She was also having a Diva strop about getting to her seat on the table next to mine as it was a little cramped.  Rather than just trying to get to her seat by saying “excuse me” she got the floor staff to clear chairs, tables, etc out the way and escort her to her seat.   She also bashed me with her bag on the way through without any acknowledgement and generally seemed really stroppy in her tone and attitude.   Real eye opener compared to my previous impression of her I’m afraid…….

They say you should never meet your hero’s… well it’s 50:50 for these two hero’s of mine

Conclusion

For me, my (modified) Poker dream came true and is certainly an event I will remember for a long time.    It gives me encouragement to pursue additional Poker dreams in the future.

I firmly recommend everyone to have a dream and then reach for it, you never know…….