Queens, Jacks and t-t-t-timing

On the poker side I thought I played reasonably well on the first 1st day, to end up on just under 17k in chips. I thought I was short stacked yet, when I look at those below me now, they include a few who ended up at the final table - including Paul Marrow.

I have a history of exiting a lot of tournaments with KK - either against AA or sometimes AK (Jennifer Tilly - don't ask). Now it seems that JJ and QQ are pivotal hands for me. JJ won me the BOSP II in effect, but was my downfall here.

Day 1

Anyway, the start of Day 1 and I was determined not go out with KK - it was like a mantra in my head.

The very first hand of the day I am the Big Blind and everyone folds to the Small Blind who limps - I look down at !! This was to be my best starting hand in the whole tournament. The flop comes Jack high rainbow, the SB checks, I bet and he folds. Hey - chip leader at my table and I have survived KK!!

Late on in I am on the button - everyone folds and I look down at - I raise it two and a half times the BB and the Big Blind re-raises five times my bet. The BB is a young nervous player who hasn't re-raised in the previous six hours of the tournament. The first words I had heard him speak were an hour in when he said "Is this a rebuy tournament?"

I put him in on Aces or Kings. I fold my Queens face up and he shows - DOH!! He says he just got fed up with me raising him. I don't remember raising him that much, so I guess I should learn to be more aware of my perceived image and take account of it. When I told a good friend (and good player) about this hand, he asked why I didn't just call in position? I said I put him on in Aces or Kings so I am calling to hit a two outer?

Day 2

Early on Day 2 and I am up to 19k after re-raising Marty Smyth with and making him fold an Ace (so that's how to play QQ - and against a world champion;)

The blinds are 300-600 with 50 ante, but about to go up to 400-800 with 100 ante. As such, when they go up there is 2,100 in the pot before any action and my M is below 10. I feel like I need to make a move soon.

I look down in early position at , so I make it 1,500 to go. The SB re-raises to 6,500. He has raised more than his fair share but when I think about it now the only time he has seen me raise and show cards is with . I have only raised once before when I min raised under the gun, everyone folded and I didn't show. So he knows I probably have a hand - what is beating? He must have AQ (doubtful) or AK (feasible) or have me beat (probable). Anyway, at the time, I am probably still thinking about being re-raised off QQ on Day One and I feel like with a relatively short stack, JJ is good enough to try and double up with and I push.

The SB asks for a chip count, which gives me a bit of confidence - soon shattered when he calls with . I could have and should have got away from the JJ. When I spoke to Nicky Power about the hand afterwards he said I shouldn't beat myself up about it as it wasn't that bad. He was probably being kind!!

It was great to see Padraig Parkinson in full flow and I railed him for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon. I watched the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and X Factor final in my room and then returned just in time to see Padraig make the final table.

When I told Padraig that Ryan Giggs had just landed a massive gamble to win the Sports Personality I joked that Padraig could win it next year the way he was playing. The 9/2 odds offered by someone on the rail were a bit "prohibitive". Padraig's suggestion that he could also win the X Factor and we should put the double on now was taking it a little far but it showed how confident he was feeling!

The IPC was a great experience though and I have definitely learned from it. It was a bit lonely being away from my family and my mates but my next few tournaments are near my home and hopefully some of my mates will qualify for the Irish Open and/or I will bring over my family for it.

Next stop Bolton GUKPT, then Manchester UKIPT Leg 2 where hopefully someone can make it two out of two for the lucky logo - well done Padraig!!

P.S. Happy Christmas everyone and good luck to Barrow at Sunderland on Jan 2nd ;)