Sunday 15 July 2012

Where's Jerry?

Yesterday was Day 5 of the WSOP Main Event. For those that don't know, it costs ten thousand dollars to buyin.

Jerry Yang, a 24 year old poker player from Texas had managed to battle through the first four days, and was one of the lucky 666 players guaranteed to win some cash. At the start of day 5, Jerry was nowhere to be seen. His stack sat at the table, slowly blinding out, until he was elimated in 171st place, cashing for $44,655. Not a bad cash, but first place pays over $8 million dollars, an amount of money that would set most people up for life.

So where was Jerry? He was sat in his hotel room observing the Sabbath. His new Jewish wife (Jerry isn't Jewish himself) had asked him to observe the Sabbath and not to play poker. He had half a million chips, which was plenty, and was in with a shot to make a whole lot more, but chose to respect his wife of 12 months and sit in a hotel room with her all day, knowing his WSOP Main Event would be over. The chance to win millions of dollars gone.

Surely God would forgive you for tossing a few chips into a pot just this once. Is it really in the Hebrew Bible that says you can't three bet light in position on the Sabbath?

Not sure I would do the same if I was in the same position.

But anyway, 'One man's woe, is another man's dream.' The players at his table had a ball.


Tuesday 10 July 2012

The Beginning - 3 Reasons to not start this Blog

Reason No. One - It's just before 9pm and my 21 month old daughter is still not asleep. She's been crying out 'DADDY! DADDY' from her cot. Even though it's very stressful hearing her crying, part of me loves that she calls me and not mummy :0) Anyway, she's downstairs now sat on her mummy's knee, I wouldn't be that heartless to write a blog as she lay there crying. Anyway, Poker, finding the time to play when you're a parent can be very difficult, well it is for me anyway. Parenthood is tough, so I try to play as and when I can.

Reason No. Two - I've had a drink, only a few glasses of wine, but a drink all the same. I needed it after the evening I've had. I'm actually playing poker as we speak, I normally never play after a drink but I'm making an exception tonight, so far it's not been the best decision i've ever made as I've been rivered twice by the same player after getting it all in good on the turn, and even though drink hasn't played a part, maybe he wouldn't have got there if I hadn't have had 3 glasses of Rioja.(still surviving though)


Reason No. Three - Had a bit of a 'tiff' with the missus tonight, nothing major, in fact nothing at all really, just the general stresses that having a young daughter brings. (I do understand that anyone who isn't a parent has no interest whatsoever in hearing about parent things, so i'll keep it short) I'm trying my hardest not to just waffle on, I can just get caught in the moment when writing and just splurt out all my thoughts without thinking, like a diary, but I'm going to try and keep this blog somewhat normal and not the 'Diary Of A Madman' (maybe)