Poker by Numbers

[mporter123]

  I thought I would have a go at writing a blog based around my poker exploits for one main reason. In the last 6 months I have caught the poker bug. I have got really poker passionate really quickly and am striving to improve my game and will welcome all feedback from the high levels of experienced players within this community. I hope to document my experiences playing live and online and perhaps entertain a few people along the way. Also I think keeping a blog may just about continue to keep me sane while helping me remember my ups and downs.

  I am sure I will be fairly unfamiliar to the APAT community so to introduce myself, I am Mark Porter, 23 years old, born and raised in Sunny seaside town Bognor Regis although I actually grew up for 10 years living on the Island of Guernsey in the Channel Island. I have recently graduated from the University of Portsmouth and managed to get on a graduate scheme working for RM in their purchasing department. This has meant a rather scary move to Abingdon just south of Oxford.

  On the poker side of things I have been playing on and off for a couple of years losing 20$ here and there and not really taking the game seriously. I found APAT’s website in August and since then have been playing daily online, reading the exploits of the APAT members, becoming more inspired and starting to think carefully about my game. However I am still very much a low stakes novice but hope that changes over the upcoming year. My playing style is naturally quite tight and I am most comfortable in full ring games and full table MTT’s. My best result to date is last month online, a second place in the Betfair Community Tournament for $175. I love watching poker on TV and there seems to have been loads about in the last couple of months. My favourite players are Neil Channing because he is such a funny but clever guy to listen to talk about poker. I also really like Luke Schwartz for his aggressive style and ability to get so many experienced ‘old time’ pro’s on tilt due to his arrogance.

APAT for me has galvinised my interest in poker. Unlike what seems to be the majority of players I also really enjoy playing on the Betfair software under the unimaginative moniker Mark_Porter. I will make my first real blog post with a summary of my experiences playing my first APAT event recently in Coventry. I hope whoever reads this will enjoy it as much as I will undoubtedly enjoy writing it.

[Chipaccrual]

Great Stuff Mark.

Good luck with this.


Leigh

[technolog]

Nice post Mark. I think you ought to introduce yourself properly in Spain.

[Paulie_D]

Nice post Mark. I think you ought to introduce yourself properly in Spain by buying us drinks all night

FYP

[mporter123]

When I win my first APAT event the drinks will definitely be on me although i'm not sure what the drink of choice will be in 2050.

APAT Coventry (Part 1)

   Pulling up to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry for the latest APAT event, it was safe to say that I felt nervous. Really nervous. I had never spent more than £30 on a poker tournament before, my experiences playing proper poker were limited and I had only stepped inside a casino once in my life. I also knew that although this may have been labelled as an amateur tournament, there were going to be a lot of experienced players who would be more than happy to send me packing before the snow had contemplated thawing.

   Walking into the casino I was really impressed with the whole set up. It had that Vegas feel about it (not that I know what Vegas feels like). Walking towards the card room, seeing the APAT t-shirts on show and the camera being set up in preparation for the live feed actually sent a shiver down my spine. The most surreal thing about the hour preceding the call of ‘shuffle up and deal’ was seeing so many people that I recognised through the forum. It is a strange feeling not knowing anyone at all but feeling like you know a lot of peoples stories, the community feel around the place was really evident.

   After a wolfed down chip butty I obtained my seat draw – Table 5, Seat 5. Upon sitting down I realised that ours was to be the ‘live feed’ table which didn’t exactly ease my nerves. I then looked up to realise that sitting opposite me was the rather imposing and unmistakeable face/head of Steve Redfern. I was also sat next to a guy that had flown in from Europe just for this event (need a name check here!). Safe to say that my table was unlikely to be ‘soft’. The first couple of hours passed by in a bit of a blur. It actually took me about 3 hours for my hands to stop shaking! This may sound a little sad I know, its not exactly the WSOP, but I seem to get pumped and nervous even in a £5 pub rebuy!

   There were a few hands which stand out, the first showed up my inexperience. 3 or 4 levels in, I had around 8K chips and was dealt pocket under the gun and made a standard 3x raise. It was folded round to the button, a lady that re-raised. I then asked for a count as she had what looked like not too many chips. I didn’t hear her response clearly and, not wanting to ask again, assumed she had what looked like 4Kish back so decided to shove over the top hoping she would fold. I then realised that due to the strangely similar colours of the chips in the casino she actually had around my stack size, rookie mistake number 1. I think if I had known that I would have probably called and seen a flop. Infact she called and showed Ace King and I won my first race of the day.

To be continued...

[SirPercival]

   After a wolfed down chip butty I obtained my seat draw – Table 5, Seat 5. Upon sitting down I realised that ours was to be the ‘live feed’ table which didn’t exactly ease my nerves. I then looked up to realise that sitting opposite me was the rather imposing and unmistakeable face/head of Steve Redfern. I was also sat next to a guy that had flown in from Europe just for this event (need a name check here!). Safe to say that my table was unlikely to be ‘soft’. The first couple of hours passed by in a bit of a blur. It actually took me about 3 hours for my hands to stop shaking! This may sound a little sad I know, its not exactly the WSOP, but I seem to get pumped and nervous even in a £5 pub rebuy!

   

probably Ivar Garvik


Good luck with the blog Mark and a belated welcome to APAT

Cheers

Stuart

[Chipaccrual]

   After a wolfed down chip butty I obtained my seat draw – Table 5, Seat 5. Upon sitting down I realised that ours was to be the ‘live feed’ table which didn’t exactly ease my nerves. I then looked up to realise that sitting opposite me was the rather imposing and unmistakeable face/head of Steve Redfern. I was also sat next to a guy that had flown in from Europe just for this event (need a name check here!). Safe to say that my table was unlikely to be ‘soft’. The first couple of hours passed by in a bit of a blur. It actually took me about 3 hours for my hands to stop shaking! This may sound a little sad I know, its not exactly the WSOP, but I seem to get pumped and nervous even in a £5 pub rebuy!

  

probably Ivar Garvik


Good luck with the blog Mark and a belated welcome to APAT

Cheers

Stuart

I think it was Achim G on that starting table.  It was the AA v KK v AK table ?

[mal666]

   After a wolfed down chip butty I obtained my seat draw – Table 5, Seat 5. Upon sitting down I realised that ours was to be the ‘live feed’ table which didn’t exactly ease my nerves. I then looked up to realise that sitting opposite me was the rather imposing and unmistakeable face/head of Steve Redfern. I was also sat next to a guy that had flown in from Europe just for this event (need a name check here!). Safe to say that my table was unlikely to be ‘soft’. The first couple of hours passed by in a bit of a blur. It actually took me about 3 hours for my hands to stop shaking! This may sound a little sad I know, its not exactly the WSOP, but I seem to get pumped and nervous even in a £5 pub rebuy!

   

probably Ivar Garvik


Good luck with the blog Mark and a belated welcome to APAT

Cheers

Stuart

I think it was Achim G on that starting table.  It was the AA v KK v AK table ?

Live poker is rigged.

[mporter123]

Yea it was Achim, that hand was pretty sick. Kings weren't much good on our table.

[Santino67]

Welcome to APAT Mark, Don't recall you from that table but i moved there from table 16, if I recall just before dinner break. Despite playing my first APATs in 2008 I've also just started my first blog, http://www.apat.com/forum/index.php?topic=7664.msg126480#msg126480 so will keep track of yours and hopefully we can help each other along the way.

Cheers
Grant

[mporter123]

APAT Coventry (Part 2)

   The second hand of note I held King King on the button and made a standard raise, the small blind called and brought along the big blind (I think this was Grant Speirs..?) The board came something along the lines of 10, 4, 4. I believe it went check, check, I bet and the big blind raised, I re-raised and he shoved. At the time this was a call for the majority of my stack and I called but hated it saying before that ‘ I know you have a four’. Of course he was holding 3, 4 and I was reduced to only 3-4K chips. In hindsight I hate my play here calling his shove. I think its too easy sometimes for hands to be labelled as a cooler. I don’t think there is any other hand he is holding that doesn’t have a four in it when he makes this play and I could have made a good fold there. I think this is probably a pretty good example of a rookie mistake of not wanting to lay down big hands even when the flop or betting patterns tell you that you are most likely going to be behind.

   A final hand of note as we headed into the evening – I was holding AK suited and it was folded round to me when I made my standard 2.5x raise. The small blind called and then Darren Shallis shoved over the top in the big blind. This left me with a decision for my tournament life and I didn’t  know what to do. I had about 25 big blinds if I remember correctly and after a bit of thinking I folded. Looking back now I really hate this play. I think it was a classic squeeze spot for Darren and I should have recognised that my AK was way ahead of his range in this spot.

   In the end I finished in around 35th position at 1am after playing poker for the best part of 11 hours. I was gutted to go out, calling a shove with around 7 big blinds remaining holding 7, 7. I was up against the 10, 7 suited of a player known as ‘Foggy’ and thought I was in a great spot. The ten on the river really killed me.. I had a couple of big blinds left and departed 5 minutes later. Looking back on the tournament, I was actually really pleased with how I played overall. I didn’t let nerves get on top of me and found some good spots to make moves and exploit perceived weaknesses. I took a lot from this tournament and it feels good to think I can hold my own with some really great players.

   I cannot wait to continue on my APAT journey and am really going to throw myself into as much as possible of the live and online scene next season. I look forward to seeing you all at the tables.

[Santino67]

APAT Coventry (Part 2)

   The second hand of note I held King King on the button and made a standard raise, the small blind called and brought along the big blind (I think this was Grant Speirs..?) The board came something along the lines of 10, 4, 4. I believe it went check, check, I bet and the big blind raised, I re-raised and he shoved. At the time this was a call for the majority of my stack and I called but hated it saying before that ‘ I know you have a four’. Of course he was holding 3, 4 and I was reduced to only 3-4K chips. In hindsight I hate my play here calling his shove. I think its too easy sometimes for hands to be labelled as a cooler. I don’t think there is any other hand he is holding that doesn’t have a four in it when he makes this play and I could have made a good fold there. I think this is probably a pretty good example of a rookie mistake of not wanting to lay down big hands even when the flop or betting patterns tell you that you are most likely going to be behind.

   A final hand of note as we headed into the evening – I was holding AK suited and it was folded round to me when I made my standard 2.5x raise. The small blind called and then Darren Shallis shoved over the top in the big blind. This left me with a decision for my tournament life and I didn’t  know what to do. I had about 25 big blinds if I remember correctly and after a bit of thinking I folded. Looking back now I really hate this play. I think it was a classic squeeze spot for Darren and I should have recognised that my AK was way ahead of his range in this spot.

   In the end I finished in around 35th position at 1am after playing poker for the best part of 11 hours. I was gutted to go out, calling a shove with around 7 big blinds remaining holding 7, 7. I was up against the 10, 7 suited of a player known as ‘Foggy’ and thought I was in a great spot. The ten on the river really killed me.. I had a couple of big blinds left and departed 5 minutes later. Looking back on the tournament, I was actually really pleased with how I played overall. I didn’t let nerves get on top of me and found some good spots to make moves and exploit perceived weaknesses. I took a lot from this tournament and it feels good to think I can hold my own with some really great players.

   I cannot wait to continue on my APAT journey and am really going to throw myself into as much as possible of the live and online scene next season. I look forward to seeing you all at the tables.

Oh yeah mate, that was me with the 3/4. Sorry i didn't recognise you the photo's so small. Was a sick flop for me but tough for you to lay down. I could've been doing that with A/10 to be honest depending on the situation.

[Fatcatstu]

Welcome to APAT mate.

Get to know people here, its a fantastic place and full of great folk

As mentioned.

Come to spain.

Buy me beer.

Stu x

[Santino67]

APAT Coventry (Part 2)

   The second hand of note I held King King on the button and made a standard raise, the small blind called and brought along the big blind (I think this was Grant Speirs..?) The board came something along the lines of 10, 4, 4. I believe it went check, check, I bet and the big blind raised, I re-raised and he shoved. At the time this was a call for the majority of my stack and I called but hated it saying before that ‘ I know you have a four’. Of course he was holding 3, 4 and I was reduced to only 3-4K chips. In hindsight I hate my play here calling his shove. I think its too easy sometimes for hands to be labelled as a cooler. I don’t think there is any other hand he is holding that doesn’t have a four in it when he makes this play and I could have made a good fold there. I think this is probably a pretty good example of a rookie mistake of not wanting to lay down big hands even when the flop or betting patterns tell you that you are most likely going to be behind.

   A final hand of note as we headed into the evening – I was holding AK suited and it was folded round to me when I made my standard 2.5x raise. The small blind called and then Darren Shallis shoved over the top in the big blind. This left me with a decision for my tournament life and I didn’t  know what to do. I had about 25 big blinds if I remember correctly and after a bit of thinking I folded. Looking back now I really hate this play. I think it was a classic squeeze spot for Darren and I should have recognised that my AK was way ahead of his range in this spot.

   In the end I finished in around 35th position at 1am after playing poker for the best part of 11 hours. I was gutted to go out, calling a shove with around 7 big blinds remaining holding 7, 7. I was up against the 10, 7 suited of a player known as ‘Foggy’ and thought I was in a great spot. The ten on the river really killed me.. I had a couple of big blinds left and departed 5 minutes later. Looking back on the tournament, I was actually really pleased with how I played overall. I didn’t let nerves get on top of me and found some good spots to make moves and exploit perceived weaknesses. I took a lot from this tournament and it feels good to think I can hold my own with some really great players.

   I cannot wait to continue on my APAT journey and am really going to throw myself into as much as possible of the live and online scene next season. I look forward to seeing you all at the tables.

Oh yeah mate, that was me with the 3/4. Sorry i didn't recognise you the photo's so small. Was a sick flop for me but tough for you to lay down. I could've been doing that with A/10 to be honest depending on the situation.

in addition Mark, I have to commend you for holding your own at such a tough table. My recollection is that you had Achim to your right, Rupinder Bedi, Darren Shallis, myself and Chris Filus (Foggy) to your left. Tough going for you in your first big event so very well done getting to late on saturday night 

[Foggy]

I think there must be something wrong with this blog

As one of the tightest players in APAT, I would never push with 10-7