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Maybe they watch too much poker on ESPN but those Ennis boys and girls are going mad for their prop bets lately. Not satisfied with the thrill of taking part in a poker tournament they look to enrich the experience by adding a proposition bet. Only two weeks ago a player turned up to the Ennis 100 game dressed as Napoleon...on a Sunday. Is nothing sacred anymore?
When I enquired on a certain Irish poker forum the odds of me making the final table of the Boylepoker Ennis tournament I was met with a mixed response. One punter offered me evens of being drunk by level 4. This wiley bookmaker must have been studying my form for a while - but it was a fair price.
Another poster, Clareman, made apologies for his absence as he was attending a wedding that night in the same hotel. When I offered that he sneak out of the function to play a few cheeky hands he assured me that if caught, his fiancé would surely leave him there and then. I guess they're making thumbs bigger nowadays.
So off to the West Country we headed where Stephen McLean, Lisa and Ciaran were busy setting up for the most talked about event in Ennis this year. A surprise visit from my family put the prop bet on rocky ground as we destroyed a few bottles of wine over dinner. I had to keep a level head if I wanted a result so quickly switched to Ballygowan.
We quickly regged and were seated just in time to hear those famous words "Shuffle Up and Deal" by none other than the Bride from the adjoining function. I noticed Clareman standing in the sidelines with a smug look on his face. I guess he's wearing the trousers after all.
After about 40 mins it became clear that because of the standard of play mixed with copious amounts of alcohol, I would have to race when I thought I was good. A few traps were set and I managed to triple up by the break.
After a while Clareman was moved to the table and told us that he had 20 mins to play while the speeches were being made next door. To cut a long story short he was knocked out after playing his second hand. Not a great experience for €25 per hand.
I managed another double up honking it in with a straight against a flush draw and before long we were down to three tables. Players started dropping like flies and I flat called with AK suited from early position. Two all-ins and I don't know where I am. The other players had beer in front of them so I called. Turns out I'm up against 10,10 and A7!
A King on the turn seals the deal and I'm sitting pretty with enough chips to fold my way to the final table...Nice
The lads had to return to work so I told them I'd text them when I busted. "No man text me when you win" insisted Statto. I could have killed him for hexing me like that.
After tightening up I got involved in a hand with a guy called Declan. He had lots of chips and I didn't want to lock horns with him but I couldn't resist min raising his BB with A,10 suited. He called and the flop came 10,10,4. I checked, he bet and I re-raised making him fold AK face up.
Then it was a bit of a blur until we reached the final table.
My nemesis John Kelly was on my right for once with Declan to his right. There were 2 token drunks as well as an old school Merrion cash player and a few students. After going all in six times in a row one of the crazier students found a caller and was eliminated when his 5,10 didn't hit. A decent sized crowd had gathered on the rail as we punished the small stacks.
The drunks were hilarious as they taunted one another. They didn't even know what the blinds were and had to be reminded by the dealers.
Then 8 became 7 then 6 then 5 before I decided to make a stand from the cutoff with A,J suited. I got looked up by Q,Q and hit an Ace on the turn to eliminate the poor guy. "Wrong move at the right time Kid" offered John. Little did he know he was next! I can't remember the hand but I knew it wasn't nice.
And then there were three. Myself, Merrion Man and token drunk A.K.A "The Midnight Straddler". He had a big following that became very vocal whenever he won a pot. The guy was bloody hilarious as he poured a pint over himself while looking at his cards. He really was drunk. Nobody in their right mind would do that unless completely wasted.
Then out of nowhere he managed to knock Merrion man out when his draw hit. The crowd went wild and one of his supporters stumbled forward to spill his drink over the dealer. At least she saw the funny side of it and we continued to play on. We were then treated to a brief magic show by one of the dealers and began to play heads up.
I can honestly say with hand on heart that this was the funniest heads up match I've ever played. At one stage our tipsy friend had to take a toilet break and when he returned began to rail the game. He then had to be reminded that he was still in and happily took his seat. I tried my best to trap him but was completely card dead and couldn't follow through. The crowd of revellers had to be told to move back to give us space and I nearly fell off my seat laughing when our friend started to apologetically move his seat backwards.
Then it happened. It was like looking at a car crash, horrific yet mildly entertaining!
He flat called from the small blind and I checked with 8,4 os. Flop was 8 high so I honked it and he called with A,8. I didn't improve and "The Midnight Straddler" became the BoylePoker Ennis Champion.
"I'm gonna sleep with this woman tonight" he told the crowd pointing to the dealer. Had I known Boyles were going to add such value I might not have overplayed my top pair but what can you do? He'll be back, as will the rest of us.
Great show guys that was one legendary tourney.
Gutshot Kid
Comments (8)
Super,its a very good
:)