Bigger Deal

Al Alvarez talks at some length in his first posting about the fact that poker is a game of skill, not of luck.

But Al, like all of us from time to time, must have experienced a period of constant outdraws. This is an incredibly frustrating time for a poker-player, and as we all know can seriously affect the way we play if it persists.

I have never claimed to be a good poker player; I do not have the necessary attributes. I have no patience or discipline, am terrible at reading other players’ hands, and have still not grasped the more subtle moves that top players make. Lately, however, I have been watching quite a lot of TV poker and it would appear from the players’ comments that I am not alone in this. I am talking about world-class players here - who, when someone makes a bet that is not called, make comments ref his purported hand. Not once have they been right; we, as the audience, can see all the hole-cards.

When in the right frame of mind I can play good solid poker, the trouble is that does not happen very often, so like thousands of others I play when not really focused on the game. Like most online players I eventually lose all the money I have deposited, but until this year always had a good run for my money, with the ups and downs we all suffer. I wont bore you all with bad beats, but they have been too numerous to mention, and of course when you are in this run these bad beats do not act in reverse. This year I have lost quite a bit of money, in respect to my bankroll.

Therefore when asked recently to play as a guest on Sky Poker I must admit I was very nervous. Any monies I won would go to my nominated charity.

I became even more nervous when the poker expert who would analyse my play was a player whom I knew well. My game at this point had been shot to pieces because of what had been happening to me. The only good thing so far was that the other guest was a stunning girl (screen name Crazy Dazy) and a lovely person to boot.

I apprehensively took my seat next to this lovely lady and was briefly interviewed before the start of the event. You play in the Sky Open - an online event which that evening had 543 players - then from time to time during the play you are asked how you are doing and other questions in relation to your table. You also have a bounty on your headÉ oh no, everyone will be gunning for me.

I anxiously stare at my screen and play ultra-tight poker, but then find in a short space of time my stack is being dwindled down by the blinds, which are increasing quite quickly. I suddenly find a pair of tens in the hole when on the button. No player has raised when it is my turn to act. I put in a substantial raise as really do not want any callers. Imagine my alarm when the big blind now sets me all-in. I have 15 seconds to make my decision, look at the small amount of chips left in front of me and decide to call. There are no other callers, so - cards are on their backs. To my huge relief, my opponent shows pair of 7’s, and I think this is a nice little pot for me. Now comes the flop 3-9-7 rag rag, I exit the comp in about 473rd place. They have not really had a chance to interview me in any great detail, and already I am out of the event.

I duly inform Johnny, the compere, that I am out; and they then bring up my hand to analyse my play on screen. To my relief, Tom the poker expert finds nothing wrong with my play, given the chip position I was in. Ah well, I have not mugged myself when told that to date no celebrity has won any money.

I now discover that celebrities are put into a consolation on-line tournament; so, as my Open chances have evaporated, I again view my screen and await the start. It transpires that it was just as well I went out early as the Open starts at 9p.m. and the other event at 9.45p.m. If I was still involved in the main event at 9.45 I would have had no chance of entering the Ultraturbo.

The screen goes live, and I discover there are 345 players in this. Will I make it below the 300 mark? Given my form, that is what I am hoping for.

The blinds increase every 4 minutes, so you have to make moves quickly. What’s happening? I am suddenly getting hands that improve on the flop; better still, they are holding up the rest of the hand. I am very quickly in a good chip position. From time to time Johnny asks how I am doing.

I check the stats and inform him that I am 56th chip leader - whoopee! The blinds keep increasing and so does my hand quality. I am now in 34th position and players are getting knocked out wholesale. Suddenly I am filled with confidence, making outrageous bluffs from time to time and getting no callers. My table image is good, and the other players have respect for me Ð something I have not experienced for some months.

Crazy Dazy is willing me on, as she also had been knocked out of the Open. She now becomes my lucky mascot. I can do no wrong.

Again Johnny asks: How are you doing, Roy? Casually I mention I am 5th chip leader, with about 130 players left. There is now a certain tension in the studio. Am I going to be the first celebrity to win money? I push this thought out of my mind and concentrate on the game. Just zone in there, boy !

Now there are 80 players left and I am 3rd chip leader. How long can it last before I get busted? No, it is not going to happen. My confidence is Sky-high (pardon the pun). With 42 players left - Eureka ! - I am chip leader. All the Sky staff are rooting for me, and Crazy Dazy is hugging and kissing me with every hand I win. Have I died and gone to Heaven?

With 35 players left. and me still chip leader, this is a testing time. If I make a silly move here, and Tom analyses my hand, I will feel very foolish.

Twenty players left, and I have dropped to 2nd chip leader after someone has won a huge hand with a cruel outdraw. ‘If I finish second, that is some result,’ I say to Crazy Dazy. ‘You are going to win this - no doubt’ she replies, and that galvanizes me. Well, I did say she was stunningly beautiful. How can I let her down?

At the final table I am still 2nd chip leader. Am now in a daze but totally focused. Everyone in the studio is anxiously waiting to see how I finish.

Heads up, and the chips are going to and fro. I am going to win this event, the competitive spirit in me is so strong.

Final hand : I can’t even now remember the flop, but I win it, and have won the event. Big cheer in the studio, I am walking on air, and have won £431 for my nominated charity. Not a huge amount as it was only a £5 entry; but that’s not the point I have played great poker and defeated 344 other players.

Now that the pendulum has swung the other way I can now believe that things do even out if you stick to your guns and a play your ‘A’ game. More satisfying is the money, all of it now in the hands of the Macmillan Cancer Support people who improve the lives of people affected by cancer.