Last chance saloon

We both cruised to the last 6 above average with a few weak players left. Then BAM, the usual story unfolds. I take 2 beats and Dave goes from being chip leader with 5 left, to bubble after a series of beats and coolers.

So we turned our attentions to online and were up about $30k online - finally it felt like we were getting somewhere. Got nearly 50% of our losses back in 24 hours! Another 24hrs like that and we would be back at break-even or so I thought. Two hours later the account was empty and we'd lost 18 x $2k buy-ins in 10/20! FMFL.

I played the $1k Venetian, again with no luck. We got another $3k online and busted that today. The idea of sharing a bankroll is that it evens out variance, no use when we're both running like death.

Despite this depressing blog I am feeling quite good, going to the gym everyday and just generally happy with life. Actually, I feel like I'm playing really well, reads are spot on etc. It's kind of sick, you put them on a hand, get the money in and then you get dogged.

I'm going to take four days off from poker and enjoy Vegas and then we're putting a chunk online. If this busts, then we're going to end this trip prematurely. I may be home this time next week but that's life you never know.

I've got to give a big shout out to my good friend Kevin McLaughlin. Last year his rugby career wasn't looking too good, as the media have well documented. He was looking at other careers, (I'm not thinking of quitting poker). He got a break with Leinster and took it. From there he has kicked on and will win his first international cap for Ireland this Saturday, in the Six Nations game against Italy.

Last summer, myself and Kev watched the Lions' match in the Crown and Anchor (Las Vegas pub). Little did I know that six months later I'd be seeing him make his debut for Ireland or that I'd be still in the Crown and Anchor. Hopefully I can come out of last chance saloon as well as him.

This brings me nicely onto this weekend. I'm going to Vanessa Rousso's party in Toa. A friend of mine is friends with her and we were out with her for dinner the other night. I didn't do anything too inappropriate, so got on the guest list for tomorrow. From there I'll head onto the Crown and Anchor to watch the 6 Nations, which kicks off at 6 am here, which is perfect timing.

Then the Super Bowl on Sunday, which is pretty big in Vegas. After that it's recovery on Monday and might even do some of that quad racing in the desert. Tuesday will be back to the grind. If this bust spins, I'll be mixing it on Harcourt Street next weekend.