Friday, September 22, 2006

Nice run!

Ok since moving up to the $10 sngs at bodog so far ive won 2 placed second in two and 4th in the last. I cant help but think I may be on the start of a good run at the moment but im not complaining! Its good timing for me as im nearing the end of my bonus chase at bodog. I now have 330 points, need another 20 to clear the bonus, so fingers crossed ill finish it this weekend.
This little run has boosted my bodog bankroll to $325 :) including my ladbrokes account this takes me up to, off the top of my head a few $ off $600(excuse my inaccuracy, im typing this at work at 8.35 am friday morning. Brain isnt fully functional yet!!).

Apparently im gonna need to overplay the bonus otherwise bodog get pissed off, poeple abusing the bonus etc. Theyve got a cheek though, they still aint fixed my software problem - im just a minority according to them!
So plan is to get a few more points over 350 then withdraw. My next decision is where to go next, ill probably withdraw from Ladbrokes also and go for another bonus chase elsewhere.

Bye for now!

Monday, September 18, 2006

Upping the stakes - $10 sngs

Ok well so much for me waiting until I reach $500 before trying out the $10 tourneys.
Ive seen such bad play at the $5 and $6 sngs, ive decided to see if $10 is the same.

To be honest ive seen no difference whatsover, I bubbled my first three but I won last night. A cool $50 wohoo!
I know its not much but I really thought I had no chance in this one, at one point I had an M of 6 versus 4 other players with Ms over 15. But I used harringtons low m strategy and somehow managed to break the bubble. Two chipleaders went all in against eachother on the bubble aq vs ak preflop and put me in the money! Unbeleiveable considering I only had a few bbs left at this point

I was happy to be in 3rd at this point and assumed thats the way it would stay, I had about 700 chips. Other 2 have a few grand! BB is 300 at this point, I was very selective in moving all in with practically no fold equity. And they folded every time! I moved up to second place and knocked out the third.

So its heads up, chip leader has a 7-1 chip lead on me no word of a lie!
Blnids up to 500 so im all in with a wide range of hands - thinking this is it im resigned to second, my chipleader again folds to my all in every time!!!
I flopped a full house at one point, slow played and took the chiplead. He finally calls my all in with 52o, versus my 55. They hold up and I win!!! Couple more like that and im laughing :)

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Almost there!

Well nearly anyway! Im up to 302 points on bodog, I rejoiced thinking I can now withdraw my inital deposit and bonus but ive just been informed that the 50 points they start you with doesnt count towards the bonus!
Oh well another 48 points to go.
Ive moved up to the $10 tourneys now, ive lost the last 3.
The last hand I busted out with was 88 in the bb. 1 limper utg folded round to me, I push with 720 (blinds 100 and 50). UTG calls w j10(2000 chips)
I thought it was a poor call personally but thats the way it goes
2 jacks and an 8 appear on the flop, the turn brings another jack JUST TO RUB IT IN!!!

I really am suffering some terrible beats lately, just wanna clear the bonus and get out.

BTW If anyone is actually reading this do you have any tips on what to do with my bankroll once ive cleared the bonus? My bankroll including money from ladbrokes will be around $550.
Im hoping theres some juicy bonus out there that will help boost my bankroll a bit!

I know pokerstars isoffering a deposit bonus at the mo, they dont do it often so think I will deposit some there. Ive heard good things about pokerstars.

Anyways best be off.
Oh yeah ive got a rematch with the same fella I fought last week in 3 weeks time. THis will be my first away fight - just as I relax and start pigging out again, its back to the hard work! Wish me luck
Good luck all at the tables :)

Monday, September 11, 2006

My kickboxing bout

Firstly im gonna apologise for being slow in updating this, ive been busy over the last few weeks training for a full contact kickboxing fight last saturday. I realise I am most likely talking to myself, but i like to pretend someone might actually be reading this..and it keeps me sane!

Saturday was the big day for me, this was my 3rd kickboxing fight(So far ive won one and lost the other). A lot of people think that having fought before in the ring then it would mean you would be less nervous for the next one.....For me it is the complete opposite, I think because I already know what it feels like to fight in the ring in front of hundreds of people it makes me even more nervous. It is a very nervewracking experience! The nerves hit me the week before the fight actually, I found myself constantly thinking about it, couldnt get hardly any work done - I still played some poker, it was actually quite good for me. helped me take my mind off it!

The night before the fight I was feeling quite down, I think I was just very tired - I was training 6 days a week and had only slowed down in the last week so I think my body had started to complain. I was in bed by 9.30 friday night and woke up feeling on top of the world, wide awake and feeling very hyper.
I basically stayed that way for the rest of the day - I went to a bbq at a mates for his 25th birthday, sipped squash and somehow stayed away from the burgers all day while everyone else got pissed :( (I hadnt had a drink for 5 weeks!). I was due to weigh in at 5.30. 4.00 came along and I was still at the bbq - the food hadnt been served yet so I started to panic! 4.15 panic over, steaks chicken and lamb kebabs galore :) Had a humungous potatoe and a bowl of pasta, and felt carbed up to the max!

Got to the coal exchange in Cardiff bay for about 5.45(Theres no point in turning up on time for these things, it always takes hours to get things sorted). To my amazement, all the fighters had been matched up - all we had to do was weigh in. They even had a list on the wall showing whose fighting who and what time etc, this is a first!
I weighed in at just over 85kg, about 3kgs heavier than my opponent.
I watched the first few fights and must admit I still felt pretty good, I necked a can of red bull - the effects soon kicked in and I felt even more hyper than before.

About an hour before the fight(about 9.30) I started to feel tired, i was sweating already and had a heavy feeling in my head. this wasnt good...Did some warming up on the pads, and felt v slow compared to my usual standard in training. I just felt as if my energy was lacking for some reason..at this point I was thinking all sorts of things. ...'Please dont let this happen again, not like last time'. The same happened to me last time just before the fight, lacking energy and feeling slightly dehydrated
'You have to win this, everyones come to see you they think your going to win. You cant let these people down' I kept telling myself not to think negative, to just go in and do the business. But my body was telling me something else, just didnt feel right..

'In the red corner........' My name was called and I make my way to to the ring, followed by my corner guys. Walking through the crowd I dont see or hear anyone, Im looking straight at the ring nowhere else.
I get in the ring, the ref calls us to the middle..I have no idea what he said to me, I think I just nodded! I looked at my opponent he wouldnt look back at me, he looked a little bit scared.

Bell went, first round. Took a jab straight away, cut my eye instantly! I think I must be one of these people with stupidly soft skin as I seem to cut v easily.
I was pissed off at having taken a punch already so tried to counter, I got quite a few punches in on him but just wasnt on form. I felt quite weak and lacking in energy, I basically decided to let him to do the work - to not use up too much energy and counter attack when I get the chance.
1st round over, instructor tells me ive got the first round. I wasnt confident though - why am I so slow? Im mcuh quicker than this in training?
He tells me I have to win, i can win this. This is my fight! I need to throw more kicks, somehow id forgotten to kick. This is a kickboxing fight after all!

Round 2 - I charge straight in with a jab followed by a right roundhouse to the ribs then a left roundhouse to the ribs. We clinch quite a few times and trade punches toe to toe for a while, when he backs away and looks to the ground. The ref steps in and calls timeout, he is crouched over in his corner. I think hes winded - ref puts my hand up..OMG ive won! How the hell did I do that!!!!
I have some pics which ill try put up, my face is a picture. So releived!

That night I celebrated with a few pints and a curry at 3 in the morning. How I stayed awake that long I dont know...