Jon Kalmar says...

Irish Poker Festival report 3

Saturday 3 Oct 2009

The set-up in the hotel was fantastic. Between Ladbrokes and Big Slick they had certainly organised things well. As well as the poker Ladbrokes had organised a Bookmakers within the hotel.

With the dog tip, which seemed apparent most of the room was on, they must have taking a small bashing I turned up to collect mine and Julian’s winnings.

We had taken a price at 6/4 but the bookie tried to pay me only 5/4, stating a none-runner in the race. He told me the prices revert to SP. I argued that there is no rule 4 (rule 4 is a betting rule for a horse racing when a horse is pulled out just before the off) on the dogs and my price stands. He agreed to pay me 6/4 to shut me up, but assured me I was wrong.

I enquired with Kate what she thought the rule was and she thought I was right, but checked back with Ladbrokes head office. Turns out the rules do state that prices revert to SP in the case of a non-runner and me and Julian owed the bookie 50euros each. I was about to suggest we return the money when Julian informed me he’d done his “Conkers” in. Oh, well! Guess they got it anyway, the bookies always do.

Bolton were playing Spurs on the telly and at 10/11 Spurs really did look like the bet of the day. Before I had even put the slip in my pocket, Bolton scored. DOH!

The poker was slow. I picked up no cards to mention and slowly wiffled away. Apart from taking out “Hamsterboy” with AQ vs his 66 (spiking my ace on the river) I won no significant pots (And he was shortstacked the useless............)

My mate Steve “Slim-Gifted” Trafford joined my table (sorry always makes me giggle when I write his alias, oh the irony). Pushing under the gun for around 20k with 5s5d, he started a huge pot. A guy behind re-pushed for 60k, holding ak of diamonds. The small blind dwelled for an age before passing Jacks and the big blind called with jacks. The flop came 4d 6s 7d. The turn was the 8 of diamonds, giving Slim the straight but also giving the AK the flush. He still had one out though, the 6 of diamonds would give him the straight flush. The river gets turned and would you believe it, the 2 of clubs. He was out, but a fine effort none the less.

My tournament finally came to an end when my 67 got cracked.

To be fair an aggressive kid had come to the table and not failed to raise from the cut off or button. With the blinds at 1000/2000 and a running ante of 200 he raised from the button on my big blind. I had decided to push my last 20 odd thousand in regardless, knowing the vast majority of hands he would be raising with he would fold, unfortunately AQ of clubs wasn’t one of them. At least I had 2 live cards but when the flop came A Q 2, I knew I was in bad shape. When the turn was neither a 6 or 7 time it was time to retire to best place in the hotel. The bar!

Traff and the boys were already there watching the end of Sunderland and Jam United. United, obviously scoring in the dying seconds of stoppage time for a change.

We were joined by Jonas, Kevin, Julian and Kila and were planning a trip into town for a meal. The Scandinavian contingent where there and invited us to join them for Dinner at the 5 Seasons restaurant. We accepted and after finishing our drink we set off to find them in a taxi.

The taxi driver had never heard of the place and eventually said here’s a good place just go there. Ok, and got out at the 5th season restaurant. Hmmmm sounds familiar. Indeed they were in there, however they were taking up all the room and couldn’t get a table for an hour. No biggy, theres a pub next door.

Several Guinness’ later there was room for us in the restaurant as the Scandie crew had finished. They had moved onto a club but had paid on a few bottles of wine for us, which was very nice.

After the meal most people made their way back to the hotel. Jonas had agreed to meet the rest of the Scandies in a club so Kila, Dopey and me agreed to join him for a couple.

Jonas was on the phone to Andreas asking where they were.

“The Sky Bar”

No one had heard of the place.

He got further directions.

“McGyvors, or McSpiders, Drivers, Gadivors.......”

The problem was having to translate Scandie to English and then English to Irish while I asked directions. Don’t ask me how but we found them in the end.

Make no mistake, although Killarney sounds like a sleepy south Irish town, (And looks like one) it is anything but. Crammed with bars and clubs all of which bouncing you can’t fail to have a good night out.