Names and faces

It can be fun going back and reading pre-tournament predictions, after the event. Dave Colclough suggested that the huge field for this year’s WSOP championship event would mean the winner would be young and fit. Greg Raymer didn’t really fit the bill, did he? Colclough writes some really enjoyable stuff when talking about his own experiences, rather than the contractually-obliged basic strategy material. If you can find any of his old ‘Inside Le Cerveau’ columns on pokerineurope.com you should find that they raise a smile or two. Actually, here’s a link: (coming soon!)

Something or other in something he wrote recently made me think back upon the occasions when I have played poker with ‘names’. I promised in my first ever post to write about playing against a former world champion, so we’ll start with that one.

Who was it? Why, none other than Steve Davis, former world snooker champion (five or six times). He plays regularly at a site I frequent, and I have had a few chats with him at the PLO tables while he folds hand after hand and drinks red wine. I got a couple of snooker tips off him, which was nice.

Online that’s about it, although I did take a decent Omaha pot from high-in-the-European rankings, WSOP event runner-up (this year) Gary Bush some time back. I called his all-in bet on the river, with nothing but unimproved Aces – I had a huge stack at the time and his bet screamed ‘don’t call me please’. Not sure what he was doing playing 50c/$1 blinds, but then you do hear how broke a lot of these tournament specialists are – even the ‘successful’ ones. I think he has sponsorship now.

‘Live’, I have played briefly with Barny Boatman and Joe Beevers of the Hendon mob, in charity tournaments, as well as the multiple wig/sunglasses-wearing Jac Arama of ‘Late Night Poker’ notoriety. It was interesting playing with Barny, because there were a number of ways in which he was doing things that went beyond playing the actual cards; an education to me at that time as to how good some players really are. Having said which, I outlasted him that day, heh heh…

So that’s ‘me and the stars’ dealt with. Have you noticed I stopped calling the girl I am seeing ‘The Girl I am Seeing’ and started calling her ‘my girlfriend’? I realised all this cool, detached stuff isn’t really me, and as long as she knows that I’m not going to move in with her (or anyone) at any point then ‘girlfriend’ is fine. I’m experiencing some not-entirely-admirable pleasure at the moment from the fact that at least two guys she works with fancy her in a big way, but she’s with me, me, me. Sad I know, woman as trophy, but I never claimed to be perfect. Or even particularly good.

I have next Friday and the following Monday off. Lovely. Lots of late rising and poker. If any of my friends or family were reading this (heaven forbid) I would say ‘Your Christmas present could depend on those two days’.

Finally, I am contemplating giving up alcohol. I did it for two years, a long time ago, and never really missed it. Of course, I ought to give up cigarettes too. But not gambling.