#236 - London Journal #3 - Bucked Off the HORSE

The part of these adventures in which I PLAY poker is being replaced by the part in which I WRITE about poker. I’d like to say that’s because of the press of fascinating things to write - that’s actually technically true - but it’s REALLY because I just busted out of the one WSOP-E event in which I allowed myself entry, £2,500 HORSE.

I’m a little stunned.

I was pleased with how I played. I just lost a lot of close hands. In fact, there was really just one hand that, thinking more carefully about what I wanted to do, I’d have played different. I just assumed that if I was pleased with my play against such a quality field, I’d have lasted longer, done better.

I suppose that’s a good thing. There were just 105 entries in this event and I think at least a quarter of them played the $50,000 HORSE at the WSOP. It was a tough, tough field, but I think I was competitive. I just got on the wrong side of every close hand: J-T v. K-T in hold ‘em when I check-raised the 7-high flop and we both hit the ten on the turn. A similar play with A-Q v. A-K where neither of us had a pair. Making a full house in Omaha EOB and losing to a higher full house and losing my crummy consolation low to the other guy’s crummy consoluation low. TWICE in Stud EOB making two low pair on fourth street and picking up straight draws, flush draw, and low draws, only to have none of them come in and lose to a guy playing a high-only hand (a pair) and making a higher two-pair on me.

But that’s all past. There were some cool, interesting things I want to tell you about the tournament, what Harrah’s and LCI Clubs is trying to do with WSOP-E and what the events really FEEL like. In addition, London casinos and poker rooms are worlds apart from what we’re used to in the U.S. I want to tell you about that too. I also started a post about my impressions of London, a city of great wonder.

I have to do that tomorrow. I’m tired and numb from the experience of competing and coming up short. I’ll get going on all that on Friday (it’s nearly 1 AM here now), and I’ll be checking out the action on Day 2 of the HORSE. A lot of big names were still in action when I left, and a lot of good friends.