UK Sharks Poker Forum

What a fantastic weekend,just a pity we couldnt have run two teams with a few more of our regulars able to make it.They missed out big time.Maybe next time.
Firstly I want to thank the Star City Casino and their staff for making things perfect for us.Superb venue and they paid attention to the little details which make an event run smoothly.
Andy from Poker Players Place,the organiser should pride himself on a job very well done.I know he was nervous about it all coming together but his organisation could not be faulted,he delivered in every aspect.I for one hope we get an invite for any event he runs in the future.Well done mate.
As for the weekend,I picked up our leader(I use that term loosely) Stu at Belper after wrestling Christine into the car early doors Sat am and we arrived at the hotel 11.30 after getting lost on spagetti junction somewhere.Met up with whippit,chewwy,crumble and his lovely wife Pam and went to circus casino where we met the rest of the team plus mrwhizz who had come to rail.Game started 2pm I think.I was on table 9 in 10th seat next to dealer with my view of players 1 and 2 totally blocked.First hand was dealt KK and I thought here we go out first hand,do I fold or what?Anyway it came round to me and I stuck a 200 raise in and everybody folded.First major hurdle overcome.I was dealt KK again about 35 mins in and raised to 600,got one caller.Flop came ace rag rag.I think I'm beat this time with my record for KK so decide I'm folding if he puts any raise in.We check it down to the river me thinking he's trapping and he shoves a 600 bet in on the river(god I'm so paranoid on KK).I decide its worth a call and he shows queen high so a nice little pot.I was getting regular updates from mrwhizz,perhaps he would give us a rundown of his day,so I knew we were holding our own as a team.Apparently Christine was terrifying the boys on her table(took several out),so much so that when the dealer from her table took over on ours he told us about this woman in a sharks shirt totally dominating her table and putting the fear of god in them.
About one hour into the tourny I folded a hand thats been haunting me ever since.I would like your opinions please.I think the blinds were 50-100,I was in big blind and was dealt 10-10.The guy to my left raised to 550 next player raised to 2000 it folded to me.We started with 10k chips and I was on about 11500,the first raiser was chippo,the next was short stack on about 5500.I thought about it and folded.My reasoning was that there very possibly was one or two very strong hands there with a very real chance of a big overpair and two overcards.I also figured that if I didnt improve on the flop I would be folding as I was reasonably sure short stack's next move would be all-in.I folded,flop came 10 10 7,first guy goes all-in,second guy calls.They show AA and QQ respectively.No improvement on turn or river.Would have been quad 10's and chippo in tourny and totally changed my days play.Was I correct in folding or should I have sacrificed 2k chips to take a look?I know if it had been Christine it would have been an instant call but I'm not as brave or cavalier as her.
After that it was uneventful for the rest of the day,I shoved the chips in about 6-7 times when we were in the later stages and I had been put on whipits table.Had no big scary moments and felt quite comfortable and felt I was playing reasonably well.Made final day.
I think there was only me,whippit and chewwy left sober at the end of the day with our children,redwinelady and Stu totally out of it.Very funny to watch lol.
Final day was again great,whippit unlucky to get downed and we were into the points.Again I felt really comfortable and confident.Was up to about 38k chips and looking forward to the final table.Blinds were 3k and I had been a bit card dead and down to about 30k after two dead circuits.I was in big blind and dealt AK.I decided to push and got one caller who turned over pocket 8's.No improvement for either of us and out I went.Dont see how I could have played it any different,I was always going in with those cards.Just crumble left now and he made it into 9th and final table.
He played really well and deserved better,but there is always next time.
By the way,crumbles better half is a great player and just about paid for their weekend with her winnings.Pam is also a really nice lady,was a pleasure to meet her.
Thats about it from me apart from well done to all the team,I think we put up a good showing and we will only get better with experience.

Invitational Team Challenge 06th/07th February 2010 Star City