Live poker time...

Last night I went to the local G casino in Manchester for their £15 7k stack f/out. An astonishing 112 players turned up, which meant for the lucky ones, it was going to be a long night.

I played my usual game early, see a few cheap flops and see what happens.

Early on, called a min raise on my bb with 10 2 os with 3 others still in, and was rewarded with a 10 10 5 flop ( 2 spades), slow played it, and the 3rd spade came on the river. Obviously, original raiser had 64s. Lost the abs minimum tho.

Got involved in a pot with a chap at the far end of the table. No raises pre, and I'm holding AJ, a hand I dislike at the best of times. flop comes AKx, he pot bets, the rest fold and I call. turn is another low card, check/check.. I put him on a similar hand to me, river is a very dangerous K. I check, and he bets just under the pot ( 1500).. I call, he shows A 10.... its at this point I recognise the bloke as Darren Fletcher... so double bonus...

reach the 1st break with 8.5k, nothing special, but in no danger.

My 1st BB after the break I'm dealt JJ. Short stack limps, and young Darren raises. I push all in, both call, short shows A7s, Darren 99.. J on the flop and its all over :)

Then I move table for the one and only time. Get a table with some mega stacks, so decide to take a risk or 2 at the right moment...

at 1k/2k I have approx 28k, and am dealt QQ in my BB. Short stack goes all in for 8k, and mega stack flats. Leaves me with a decision.. I think he's committed himself so push all in.. he berates himself for bad play, then calls... he tables A3???? short stack has 10s which trip up, but I win the side pot, which slightly increases my stack.. mega stack tilts his chips off 2 hands later..

My big play comes on my next BB.. 63c.. the other mega stack limps, no one else calls. flop comes down all low, with 2 clubs, giving me a straight and flush draws, and I check.. he then makes ( in my eyes) a daft bet of 12k.. I tank, and push all in.. he folds a J hi flush draw, and obviously is over the moon when I flip mine ;) Tilts him up too!! Esp as on his bb, I push all in...

We get down to 10, and with blinds already a joke ( 4k/8k) with ave on our table being about 7bbs, I make an auto call on my BB with 10 4s to a shorts all in, she has 77 which houses up on the flop.

Eventually, I make the final table.. but have dropped to 30k ( at this point playing 6k/12k)..

The other 2 short stacks double up, leaving me needing miracles.. my bb is 74d, and I auto call a push from the button, who's pushed with 10 9os, flop gives me a flush, game on. Next hand in SB I have 44, emo bloke down the other end of the table pushes all in, have him on Arag so call, he has AJ and I hold, so over 125k.

We drop to 5, and emo guy is going all in on my BB every time.. I get 33 and again call to his push, he has A6, again I hold and am over 275k. He goes very shortly, and there's 4 of us left.

sitting 2nd in chips at this point, where someone proposes a 4 way deal, £330 each. 2nd place is £360, 4th is £120. As blinds are stupidly high, I agree to it, as we all do. Officially get 2nd place.

Happy days :)