Poker players?

[kevkojak]

I'm just wondering how many active poker players we have these days, specifically in the North West of England?

I used to play loads, both live and online, but these days I get less and less action at the tables as almost all tournaments are played in casinos, and I simply don't trust myself to spend long periods in a casino.
Last night a mate of mine dragged me over to Bootle for a game and it was one of the best nights out I've had in years. Sensible tournament buy in (£35), great structure and a good turn-out, I think we had 70 entries. I took third place, but regardless of the prize money it was a brilliant evening out. If anyone else is in the general vicinity and likes to peel cards then drop me a line, it's a nice little hidden gem.


Related, I actually set up a "TZUK Home Game" on Pokerstars years back, weekly game with a five quid entry.
Would anyone be up for igniting that again? There were between 10 and 20 of us last time but it fizzled out when we dropped into single numbers.

[Kirk280]

Hi Kev mate, I like a bit of poker so would be up for an occasional Pokerstars game. I already play every Tuesday evening (although numbers are dwindling) so perhaps not every week; every fortnight?

We have our vGTGs every other Thursday - could alternate? Or I could join just as and when I’m able to.

Edit: if you came 3rd out of 70 I might as well just transfer my money into your account now! 🙃

[markbannister]

I used to play a lot but haven’t done for donkeys years.

[kevkojak]

Hi Kev mate, I like a bit of poker so would be up for an occasional Pokerstars game. I already play every Tuesday evening (although numbers are dwindling) so perhaps not every week; every fortnight?

We have our vGTGs every other Thursday - could alternate? Or I could join just as and when I’m able to.

Edit: if you came 3rd out of 70 I might as well just transfer my money into your account now! 

If numbers are dwindling, is it worth combining? There might be half a dozen from here to boost your numbers rather than kick off a fresh one.



P.s. second hand of the night QQ, raised with 3 callers and they stayed along on a Q33 board... almost tripled my stack. Few hands later my 66 made quads. Paid. Not long after that 99 made a set on an Ace high board. Paid again. When you run like that it's an easy night!! Haha

[Kirk280]

If numbers are dwindling, is it worth combining? There might be half a dozen from here to boost your numbers rather than kick off a fresh one.

Happy to ask (we also play $5) but it’s the local football playing guys’ group that I joined....albeit I’ve not joined them playing football yet!

Might be nice to have a TZ group though (if we get enough numbers)....but you chaps sound like serious players!

[kevkojak]

Happy to ask (we also play $5) but it’s the local football playing guys’ group that I joined....albeit I’ve not joined them playing football yet!

Might be nice to have a TZ group though (if we get enough numbers)....but you chaps sound like serious players!

No worries, its weird diluting the field I suppose. I'm certainly no serious player... I used to be, but only because I chucked obscene numbers in. I was profitable at ladbrokes and did well on Full Tilt once I'd secured a rake back deal with them, but I landed at pokerstars (highest volume site) and honestly my graph looks like a ski slope now - lost my focus and hopped into turbos and spin tourneys. Could barely class myself as a player these days

[CardShark]

...second hand of the night QQ, raised with 3 callers and they stayed along on a Q33 board... almost tripled my stack. Few hands later my 66 made quads. Paid. Not long after that 99 made a set on an Ace high board. Paid again. When you run like that it's an easy night!! Haha

I've had a few games like that, I've also been on the receiving end a number of times

It's a great feeling when a monster hand pays out, the best single hand I've had was maybe 2 years ago playing with 5 poker mates, we play £20 unlimited re-buys (rather than play to place as our way keeps everyone playing all night and gets more £ on the table) and no limit bets. I was dealt 7D 7C, 3 others in the pot after the BB was tripled, flop comes up 4,5 and 6D. One player flopped a straight, another a Q high flush, the chap to my right a gut shot straight flush with a pocket 2D and there was me with my open ended SF. Straight makes a reasonable bet, flush calls as does the SF draw, I figure I've got top pair plus the OESF so I call as well, then the turn's a 3D! Straight checks (he doesn't have a pocket D and is wary of the fact that 3 players are behind him), Q flush checks (as a trap trying to draw out a bet), chap to my right bets, I raise all in (not much more on top), straight folds, Q flush correctly works out that he's beaten and folds, and the other SF calls. The river didn't matter.

Bingo! I was up over £250 with the kind of hand you see on YT videos, we still talk about it now. The next time we played a combination of bad luck and poor play saw me finish the evening £180 down...

[IanK]

I'm in. Used to play a fair amount online until about 2007 and fatherhood arrived. Still have a pokerstars account for the once every 3 years regression.

[Arcam]

I would like to learn/play.

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[CardShark]

I was one of those Pokerstars players from yonks back, I'd happily sit around a virtual table again if we could get the numbers. Work is a PITA for me, I don't exactly work 9-5 so doubt I'd be free for every game organised however I'll play when I can.

Congrats on your 3rd place, that's a strong finish!

[Mr_Mac]

I’ve played a little online over the years, would be up for joining a game sometime though my work hours do vary a little.

[kevkojak]

I was one of those Pokerstars players from yonks back, I'd happily sit around a virtual table again if we could get the numbers. Work is a PITA for me, I don't exactly work 9-5 so doubt I'd be free for every game organised however I'll play when I can.

Congrats on your 3rd place, that's a strong finish!

Cheers bud. First live tourney in a good 12 months so I was pretty keen to perform well. We actually broke the final 3 as the game had overrun. I started the FT as chip leader and stayed that way most of the way through. Blasted a few stupid hands and ended up at 3.5 million chips while chip leader had just shy of 6m.
Third paid 300 quid so I took 350 quite happily... by that time blinds were 200k/400k so ten bigs deep to 15 bigs deep was the total range. Coin flip territory...

[woodacre1983]

Used to play loads. Played a lot in the Nuts poker leagues etc. Loved them. Was also prone to an evening in the casino if there was a decent tournament on. Was never a fan of rebuy tournaments though.
I did used to enough to Sunday tourney on pokerstars now which I can’t remember the name.


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[kevkojak]

Used to play loads. Played a lot in the Nuts poker leagues etc. Loved them. Was also prone to an evening in the casino if there was a decent tournament on. Was never a fan of rebuy tournaments though.
I did used to enough to Sunday tourney on pokerstars now which I can’t remember the name.


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Paul they have had tons!!! The sunday million and the double chance were the biggest but they played the "splash " ($11 entry) which swapped between saturday and sunday. I've played loads but I struggle to part with big entry fees online myself, I'd much rather play live

[woodacre1983]

Paul they have had tons!!! The sunday million and the double chance were the biggest but they played the "splash " ($11 entry) which swapped between saturday and sunday. I've played loads but I struggle to part with big entry fees online myself, I'd much rather play live

Paul?
Sure it was the Sunday millions now you mention it. Given a choice I’m live all day long. Online was more a convenience


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[AndyMilts]

I used to play on PKR but only for fun!! Worried could be out of my depth but it worth a go for a fiver.

[chaplad]

I used to play quite a lot,both online and live. I also played in the TZ Pokerstars games that Kev organized - Id be up for a game I think.

[chris2982]

Never really played but definitely up for a game.

Chris.

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[Devonian]

I once played on the next table from Doyle Brunson in the Bellagio - never rubbed off though as I’m still not very good.

[misterzero]

Back in the day it was easy to make money at online poker with so many fish and poker being hip and popular ,now things have changed with people realising how difficult it is to win and black Friday affecting usa players.Most of the total fish have gone and there is far more information available to players now.Either play for microstakes which is depressing or try and beat good players at decent stakes which is incredibly difficult even the top live pros would find it incredibly difficult to dominate online

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[GMC41]

I'm just wondering how many active poker players we have these days, specifically in the North West of England?

I used to play loads, both live and online, but these days I get less and less action at the tables as almost all tournaments are played in casinos, and I simply don't trust myself to spend long periods in a casino.
Last night a mate of mine dragged me over to Bootle for a game and it was one of the best nights out I've had in years. Sensible tournament buy in (£35), great structure and a good turn-out, I think we had 70 entries. I took third place, but regardless of the prize money it was a brilliant evening out. If anyone else is in the general vicinity and likes to peel cards then drop me a line, it's a nice little hidden gem.


Related, I actually set up a "TZUK Home Game" on Pokerstars years back, weekly game with a five quid entry.
Would anyone be up for igniting that again? There were between 10 and 20 of us last time but it fizzled out when we dropped into single numbers.

Mel Inn?


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[kevkojak]

Just a mini moan... if anyone plays on Pokerstars you'll know they have just run a huge 15 year anniversary event with a 12.5 million dollar prize pool.

It started on Sunday (6 hours), continued on Monday (8 hours) and will finish up today. Sadly I had commitments on Sunday so I couldn't enter, but my mate who I often swap 25% with if we both play a tournament offered to let me partially stake him and share any winnings. I declined. He's just messaged me to say he finished 23rd out of 70,000 entrants. 15 hours play, $23,000/£16000. Nice result for him but I'm kicking myself now.

At some stage this year I'll get back to regular tournament play. If there are still interested parties I might start up the 'stars "Home Game" again which is where you can set up a private game using their server. They take a rake from any entry fee, but it's pennies.

[Kirk280]

Unlucky Kev!

I’ve been playing Pokerstars on and off for a year now, small stake Home Games mainly. I find the site to be frustrating - it seems to constantly throw up flushes / straights on the river.

And no I’m not moaning as I lose, the last couple of times I’ve played I’ve won the mini-tournament (and benefited from some of those lucky plays!). I’d hate to gamble big money on there.

[Qatar-wol]

I'm locked out of Pokerstars at the moment - they worked out that I was paying from Qatar! But when I'm back in the UYk in the summer I think I'd be up for a little game. It's been a long time since I played in a casino, but I've been keeping my eye in with a monthly game with friends here.

[Montello]

Unlucky Kev!

I’ve been playing Pokerstars on and off for a year now, small stake Home Games mainly. I find the site to be frustrating - it seems to constantly throw up flushes / straights on the river.

And no I’m not moaning as I lose, the last couple of times I’ve played I’ve won the mini-tournament (and benefited from some of those lucky plays!). I’d hate to gamble big money on there.

We use that too, I often wonder how random the cards are as some outrageous luck seems to happen on the river.

[Velvetsnow]

Ouch! 23rd is a fantastic result but he must be feeling a bit gutted at the moment.
I had 10% of a friend who played and managed to make the min cash. Like you I couldn't commit to the schedule, maybe next year.

[zanderpants]

I am probably the worlds greatest poker player so would be interested in a game!!


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[Crazytrain]

A mate of mine was in that same tourney and ended up with a bit over a grand I think.

He saw some 'interesting' hands that further my suspicions about Pokerstars.

In one evening on his table there were six sets of quads, three straight flushes and a royal flush. The royal flush coming runner runner to beat his full house!

We've been playing a home game on Mondays with the regular 20 or so from our usual pub League and I keep seeing crazy River cards landing. Way more than I've ever seen playing face to face.

I know random means anything can happen, but the frequency that they happen on pokerstars is tainting it for me at the minute. Even though I've won with it's help a few times, the last couple of weeks I've lost so many hands where I was only being beaten by one or maybe two cards in a deck...

[Montello]

I know random means anything can happen, but the frequency that they happen on pokerstars is tainting it for me at the minute. Even though I've won with it's help a few times, the last couple of weeks I've lost so many hands where I was only being beaten by one or maybe two cards in a deck...

I have had my suspicions about this as it does provide quite some entertainment to see people win hands against the odds and it does mix it up a bit ... but if their algorithm was anything but random and it was discovered their platform would be ruined so based on that I am assuming I am just observing randomness... it is frustrating though when you seem to be on the receiving end of a number of bad beats ...

[kevkojak]

I have had my suspicions about this as it does provide quite some entertainment to see people win hands against the odds and it does mix it up a bit ... but if their algorithm was anything but random and it was discovered their platform would be ruined so based on that I am assuming I am just observing randomness... it is frustrating though when you seem to be on the receiving end of a number of bad beats ...

There was a very very detailed thread on the CardsChat forum about their algorithm. The conclusion was that you only see so many crazy results because you see so many hands. In a live game you might get 100 hands in a night, whereas online with auto shuffle, auto deal and a timeout clock you might see 1000 in a similar time frame.
The one strange thing I took from it is that the deck isn't held after a shuffle - any remaining cards left in when a hand has been dealt are constantly shuffled (randomised) which means a split second pause will result in you getting a different card dealt out.

You want to talk annoying results though, after 15 hours solid play the two hands that put him out were AA and QQ. His Aces ran into 99 which made a set on the turn and left him short stacked, then a couple of hands later his QQ went all in, snap called by aces and lost. He is absolutely gutted (final table made three millionaires) but that's life I suppose. I've got the vid he sent me of his aces vs 9s, it's a nasty beat.
Another 25 minutes and he'd have laddered up almost ten grand.

[Montello]

There was a very very detailed thread on the CardsChat forum about their algorithm. The conclusion was that you only see so many crazy results because you see so many hands. In a live game you might get 100 hands in a night, whereas online with auto shuffle, auto deal and a timeout clock you might see 1000 in a similar time frame.
The one strange thing I took from it is that the deck isn't held after a shuffle - any remaining cards left in when a hand has been dealt are constantly shuffled (randomised) which means a split second pause will result in you getting a different card dealt out.

You want to talk annoying results though, after 15 hours solid play the two hands that put him out were AA and QQ. His Aces ran into 99 which made a set on the turn and left him short stacked, then a couple of hands later his QQ went all in, snap called by aces and lost. He is absolutely gutted (final table made three millionaires) but that's life I suppose. I've got the vid he sent me of his aces vs 9s, it's a nasty beat.
Another 25 minutes and he'd have laddered up almost ten grand.

Probably a fair analysis ... we have noted we get many more hands played.

Funny how often pocket aces ends up costing you money ....

[CardShark]

There was a very very detailed thread on the CardsChat forum about their algorithm. The conclusion was that you only see so many crazy results because you see so many hands. In a live game you might get 100 hands in a night, whereas online with auto shuffle, auto deal and a timeout clock you might see 1000 in a similar time frame.
The one strange thing I took from it is that the deck isn't held after a shuffle - any remaining cards left in when a hand has been dealt are constantly shuffled (randomised) which means a split second pause will result in you getting a different card dealt out.

You want to talk annoying results though, after 15 hours solid play the two hands that put him out were AA and QQ. His Aces ran into 99 which made a set on the turn and left him short stacked, then a couple of hands later his QQ went all in, snap called by aces and lost. He is absolutely gutted (final table made three millionaires) but that's life I suppose. I've got the vid he sent me of his aces vs 9s, it's a nasty beat.
Another 25 minutes and he'd have laddered up almost ten grand.

The 'crazy results' theory rings true to me - that you see so many online compared to live simply due to time restrictions resulting in more hands dealt. As for annoying results, I think we all have tails of 'bad beats' and lucky escapes, I know I have a few! I think I'd rather lose my seat due to a bad beat - as in genuinely unlucky - than to someone making a poor call against me and lucking out, that's bloody frustrating

Over the last 6 months or so a small group of casual playing friends and I have been using pokernow.club for the occasional game. It's dead easy to use, is configurable, you can have both audio and visual links (camera shot appears where an avatar would normally be) and works seamlessly. It's internet based so you don't need to download any software and no money changes hands via the site, basically you play with 'play' money and bank transfer funds to whoever after based upon the stakes that you play - we go for £10 buy-in with a £10 rebuy if you bust within the first hour. Not exactly high stakes however I won last Friday and was £80 up, we treat is as a social event as much as we do a game.

[J3w3ll3r]

The winner of that tournament Vanessa Kade has had an interesting few weeks that for sure


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[tixntox]

I lost a good friend to poker and gambling. He lost his friends, wife, family, house and car. Each to his or her own but you need to ask yourself "Why?" (Please don't shoot the messenger folks. It's just my honest opinion and experience).

[optix]

I play weekly on pokerstars.
The boys are a bit peeved of how many full houses I've had in the past 2months.

That said we played at work recently and I had quad aces soo random luck seems to have extend across both live and online


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[CardShark]

I play weekly on pokerstars.
The boys are a bit peeved of how many full houses I've had in the past 2months.

That said we played at work recently and I had quad aces soo random luck seems to have extend across both live and online


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Many years back I had 2 straight flushes playing live in one evening, the bugger thing was that neither really won anything as no-one, on either occasion, had anything to bet into me with!

[BenJenkin]

poker, as always, is one of the best entertainment

[kevkojak]

Thread resurrection folks.
I've been approached to see if anyone might be up for this again, although last time was a nightmare due to everyone having different schedules.

I'd happily run a monthly poker night, or fortnightly if there was enough interest.

It would be hosted by me and run through Pokerstars "home games" as that's the only site I currently play on. Details to be decided but I suspect either a £5 or £10 entry fee and either a standard tournament structure or a 50/50 knockout (half the entry fee to the prize pool, half as a bounty on your head if someone knocks you out of the game).

We'd need at least a dozen regulars to make it worth doing I'd say.

[SCH74]

Sounds interesting. I’ll keep a look out for more on this. Good luck.


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[CardShark]

I'm still up for it, work rota dependant.

[bomberman]

Potentially interested subject to when.

Thanks

[dkpw]

Hi Ken,

As you know I would be up for a game.
Many thanks!

David

[J3w3ll3r]

I would potentially play, also
Make sure you get Bomberman In <;(((((><


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[bomberman]

I would potentially play, also
Make sure you get Bomberman In <;(((((><


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It’s been a little while J3w3ll3r :-)

[Chalet]

I would be interested!

[CaptainRockNRoll]

I’d be interested! Haven’t played on PS in years, but have been looking for an excuse to for a while. Does anybody here play on a tablet? If so, what’s the software like? My laptop died a few years back, and I never bothered to replace it.

[kevkojak]

I’d be interested! Haven’t played on PS in years, but have been looking for an excuse to for a while. Does anybody here play on a tablet? If so, what’s the software like? My laptop died a few years back, and I never bothered to replace it.

I just play on my phone, or on the tablet if there are two tournaments overlapping and I need both screens open. Runs perfectly.

[J3w3ll3r]

I’d be interested! Haven’t played on PS in years, but have been looking for an excuse to for a while. Does anybody here play on a tablet? If so, what’s the software like? My laptop died a few years back, and I never bothered to replace it.

Tablet or phone both work perfectly


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