Friday, July 10, 2009

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan


So, here I am in sunny Bishkek. The flight took forever, changing planes at Istanbul.

The casino is designed in the 'art deco' style with 9 tables on the first floor, a restaurant on the 2nd floor, VIP tables on the 3rd floor, and private apartments for VIP players on the 4th floor.

 

It really does feel like Chicago in the thirties here. Some of the VIP players come with guns, and things can get a little out of hand at times. One of my shift managers has already been beaten up twice, even though he did nothing wrong. 

I haven't had any time to play poker, and the internet connection is terribly slow, so probably no poker for me in the nearest future. There is the ocassional 'live' game in town, so maybe I'll give the locals a lesson in TX NL lol.

Okay, I'd better go and dodge some bullets.

Be lucky.....

 

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Welcome to the Pleasure Dome

I haven't played any cash games for while, preferring to play mainly SnGs and a few MTTs. Today I decided to play some cash, and boy, was I hammered on, like a tent peg.





These hands are standard, but don't do your confidence much good when you're getting back into cash games.

Well, the WSOP has been very exciting so far this year. Jeff Lisandro is on course to win his 3rd bracelet in Razz. Vitaly Lunkin won the 40th anniversary event and nearly took down the $10k PLO. It's particularly exciting for me, because I used to play poker with these guys in Moscow....

My mate, rabbit143 has now won two satellites to the 'Main' Event. I read an article about Stevie444 that he won 101 packages last year. Now that's talent.


It looks like I'm off to Kyrgyzstan for a few months to do some work. I hope that they've got a decent internet connection....
You have to look on the bright side though, a bad connection might actually save me a few quid lol.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

40th Anniversary of WSOP

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

I Wondered Where I Was Going Wrong...

Tom McEvoy Takes One Down For The Old School

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Merry Month of May

So, the WSOP has officially started with the first event well under way. Unfortunately, I didn't win a satellite to the 'Main Event' this year (unlike my mate rabbit143), so I'm giving it a miss.

I've been playing mostly MTTs, SnGs, and a little PLO cash, but nothing to write home about. My tournament game has definitely improved, but the variance, especially in the smaller buy-in events, is atrocious. It's like walking through a minefield - blindfolded...

Recently, I went to play some live poker in the local casino, with rabbit143. The tournaments are self dealt, and you meet so many different characters. One guy was the spitting image of Ricky Tomlinson from the 'Royle Family' soap. We didn't make the money; bombing out in the last two tables.

I played in a 'home game' for the first time in ages the other day. There was only 4 of us, so instead of playing an SnG, we played TX NL with 10p/20p blinds. The beer was free flowing as was the colourful banter. I was winning until a huge hand, just before the end of the session. I raised preflop with JJ, and get 2 callers. The flop comes 3 rags and I cbet. Matey calls with pockets 8s. An 8 comes on the turn and we get it all in. The host won the pot, so that paid for the beer and food lol.

In the last two weeks, I've been offered two jobs abroad. One friend is opening a new casino in Kiev, Ukraine, and another friend is the Director of a new casino in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Kiev job is doubtful though, because the Government is planning new legislation that will ban casinos from most cities, except for a small area specifically for gambling ala Las Vegas. This same legislation has already been passed by Russia, Tatarstan, and Kazakhstan. Bishkek has become a very popular place for gamblers, especially from Kazakhstan, as it's only a couple of hundred kilometres away.  I'll keep you posted.


There is a show on British tv called 'Britain's Got Talent', and I've been glued to the box. I'ts the most entertaining show on tv atm. Check it out on youtube.

Be lucky........


2009 WSOP - Shuffle Up & Deal !

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Now this game looks like fun....

Friday, May 08, 2009

What a great advertisement...

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Kudos to Annie Duke

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