WVCardClub@googlemail.com

First Monday of the month £40 freeze-out - 4,000 chips - 3 x 30 minute levels then 20 min. clock. Food night so total buy-in will be £50.

February's game are listed on the side bar. Good day to you.

In lieu of any actual new players, Monday's tournament was played vicariously through the minds of the beginner players who didn't show up. Some awesomely donkish moves were made consistently through the game including a beauty by myself which was good enough to see the Salmon fished from the tournament and viciously cursing me and my extended family from the 2 seat of the cash table within seconds. Hee hee happy days!

Also, there will be a backgammon tournament held on Friday February 6th. More details to follow.

Next week's game will be a £25 freeze-out with one optional £25 re-buy or add-on, with 2,500 starting chips. This re-buy/add-on (for another 2,500 chips) will be available at any time during the re-buy period (2x40 minute levels) regardless of stack size or can be taken at the end of the second level before the break.

January 19th - £20 re-buy - 2,000 starting chips. 2,000 per re-buy. Re-buy period will be 2x40 minute levels then 20 minute clock after.

January 26th - £25 freeze-out beginners night - 4,000 starting chips, 3x30 minute levels, then 20 minute clock for remainder of tournament.

All games will be Texas hold 'em and begin at 8.05pm

The first tournament of the new year was a roaring success with unprecedented numbers having something better to do and not showing up, leaving just 13 runners to contest the £40 freeze-out.

A car crash hand after only a few minutes reduced the field by a quarter. With blinds at 25/50 yours truly came in for a raise making it 175 to go with the Ace-10 of diamonds. Called by Paul of Peros, Twiz of Porter and someone else, I forget who...Joe of Azipuru I think.

We saw a flop of 3d-4s-5d. Checked to me and I therefore make it 350 and why not as I have the nut flush draw and gut-shot straight with two overs. But wait though, wait….Paul of Peros announces re-raise!!! Fuck my life I says. He makes it another 1,000 to go. Twiz of Porter calls the 1,350!! Gasp!

I decide cause I’m having problems with my patience just these last few decades of my life, that I’m shoving my remain stack in and it’s another 3,500-ish to go if they like it, I know Paul has a set, but I feel like I'm due an out-draw. Call that if you don't like money suckers!! Called in both spots.

D'oh!

Although there’s a wee bit of betting on the side between Paul and Twiz, it all goes in on the turn which was the 5 of cock-sucking diamonds. It completes my Ace-high flush, but it also fills Paul of Peros up as he’s holding pocket 4's. Twiz of Porter also had a flush draw (8-6 diamonds) and that was all she wrote for the two of us.
Paul of Peros then went on to manoeuvre his way through the rest of the field to take first prize in what was in his words, "the greatest moment of my life," which he insisted we capture on camera so he can show his mam.

Paul told us afterwards, “I’ve never felt so alive. I know it’s only the first week of January, but this has made my year. It’s always been a dream of mine to win a poker tournament so what a wonderful beginning to the year. I’m quite emotional really, sorry..I just can’t believe it..no but seriously, thanks to everyone at the Winrush Valley Card Club...yes..but no I mean…so yes, fucking brilliant.”

Next week’s game is a £50 freeze-out. It could happen to you too. Why not come along? Bring your friends, bring your Mam too if she’s free and you too could also feel like Paul, fucking brilliant.

I haven't heard noffin from the powers that be, but I'm assuming next Monday will be the standard £40 freeze-out plus £10 for food as it's the first Monday of the month, so a £50 total buy-in.

I usually get messages by carrier pigeon but this time around someone's obviously intercepted it and eaten it in these times of hardship and woe.