UKIPT day 2

After settling in at my first table and chipping up to 46k I was promptly moved to another. On the second hand I played I raised the button with K7o and was flatted by the SB. On a flop of Axx rainbow the SB donk lead into me for around 3/4 pot, which in my experience is usually weakness trying to prevent a c-bet. So I raise and he promptly sets me all-in... sigh insta-muck.

A couple of rounds after the blinds are up to 500/1000/100 and I have 28k. I pick up AKs in ep and raise to 2.3x, a young player who seems pretty aggro pre 3-bets me from MP. It folds to me and he has about 18bbs behind so I realise he isn't folding and know it's going in - I shove and he calls off with TT, no help. My last 3bbs goes in with KQo vs A3o and again no help, so I'm sent to the rail within 2hrs of day 2.

Thanks to all my backers and well played to all those who made the money from the NPF.

UKIPT day 1

Got a mention on the Pokerstars UKIPT blog:

"A special mention should go out to William Poulsen who made our call of the day with queen-high on a A♦3♣4♣4♥4♦ board after Alan Corrigan tried to bluff the river. Poulsen made Day 2 and will be a player that we'll be keeping an eye on."



"William Poulsen, the bluff catcher"



Finished day 1 with 33.3k (about average for day 1a). Day 2 starts in 3 hours, blinds at 400/800/100 and 1 hour levels all the way through, so plenty to work with :)

Bet your all wondering if your gunna get nit-rolled here? Will 'dapperdan' Poulsen playin a £550 LIVE event?? Have they stopped holdin $26f's on tilt??

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Official nit-roll:



To cut a long story short I've been thinking for some time about takin a live shot and what better oppurtunity than the UKIPT comin right to my doorstep?

So I've decided to prepare by playin as much live poker as possible b4 Thursday 16th June when I'll be playing day 1a. The things I want to focus on over the next cupl of weeks are mainly learning to judge peoples stack sizes without having to ask! As well as remembering what has gone into the pot before the action is back on me so I don't have to try and count it.

If I can get a handle on that and generally get a bit more comfortable in a live setting, I will feel ready to take on this 4 day marathon, the biggest BI trny I've ever played.

Watch this space for an update on how the prep is going and then twitter (see right >>) for live updates from 16th June 2pm. GL :)

Weeeeeeeeeeee!!! $6k GTD shipped :D

1st 4 figure score in what feels like ages and to top it off it was a 1st :D GET IINNNNN!!!

All Change

Hi all,

In the world of Pokerz:

• Online poker banned in USA - Although I feel sympathetic to the large amount of grinders out there who’ve had their livelihoods taken from them, a part of me is pleased to see those regs leave my tables. Selfish I know, but poker never was the most altruistic game.

There’s a lot of debate about whether this will make the games softer or not, but I don’t read too much into the speculation personally. As far as I’m concerned the key is to analyze the differences at the tables, not on the forums. That said, my feeling so far is the games are softer if you can adjust to the wilder European style. Regs also seem easier to identify (in MTT’s) because there’s a smaller pool of them now so you can remember who they are easier (not easy while playing low volume at low-mid stakes MTT’s where fields are large).

• NPF is no more – My local poker forum (Newcastle Poker Forum) recently closed it’s doors. I’ve been a member there for about 2 years now I think and have come to know many of the regular posters both online and in person. I also recently received their ‘online player of the year award’ something I was very proud to be presented with. I don’t understand the reasons behind it personally as I’m not one to keep up with internal politics but either way it’s a shame.

On the bright side a new forum has sprung up almost immeadiately called North East Poker Forum - www.nepoker.co.uk

Despite all this I’ve been playing a bit more recently as I settle into the routine at work, I’m able to have a few late nights here and there playing mainly turbo MTT’s. No binks since I started the job over a month ago but a few near misses. I’m also completing a stake from a few players on the NPF to play 3 multi-entry MiniFTOPS events on consecutive Sundays. The stake amounted to $520 and allows me to play events: #1, #24 and the Main Event. So far I’ve played Event #1 and didn’t cash, in part thanks to losing a big pot with AK vs AQ AIPF near the bubble.

Will keep y’all updated with my MiniFTOPS results etc, GL!

Where's my head at?

I'm now 1 month into my new job and tbh I'm not sure whether it's workin out 4 me yet. Working as a 'consultant engineer' is very different to any job I've done b4 with the main difference being the level of professionalism required. Rockin up half cut or tired from a night spent online chasing 5 figure scores is just not acceptable and sumthin I just can't pull off.

It's got 2 major things goin for it tho that I wouldn't get in any other job and that's a decent salary (low varience 2) and it's the start of a career path. However these 2 things aren't necessarily what I'm after just now. Because last year I made a similar amount playing mtt's at fairly low volume compared to most pros. Secondly I'm really not sure if I'm ready for this career path thing. But that's another issue.

Other than that life's ok, I've been cycling to work and in general the structure is doing me good, as is having a garunteed amount of money in my account each month tbh.

What about poker though??? Well, I don't think I'm playing my best just now. I was reflecting last night on this after busting a 250 man $55f in 18th when I called a reg's 1.5x pot overshove on the turn with 2nd pair, 3rd kicker - he had top 2 btw. I came to the conclusion I'm suffering from self inflicted burn out. It's not so much that I've been playing daft amounts of volume or even running bad, it's basically because I've been neglecting other things and as such I'm blaming poker rather than myself.

I forsee this continuing for awhile and my play being affected too, so I need some kind of damage limitation measures in place:

1. Be aware of this attitude and it's causes.
2. Make time for the things I've neglected e.g. fitness + enjoyin the nice weather.
3. Set a monthly stop loss limit for poker from wages. To prevent any tilt snowball effects.
4. Consider giving online a break and playing solely live in preperation for UKIPT Newcastle.

In terms of number 2 I'm seeing a personal trainer on Thursday for an introductory session. If that goes well I will make the +ev investment of employing him for 6 weeks to kick start me getting back into the gym & eating right etc.

As for 3 & 4 I'm seriously considering setting a £200 stop loss per week for playing live cash games and giving online a rest. The idea would be to play £50NL a few nights a week, more on whether I decide to do this later.

Anyways I think I've made your ears bleed enuf for now if u've got this far!!! Thanks for listening and as ever your opinions are appreciated. see you on the tables soon! GL :)

Yesterday was the the NPF 3rd Anniversary trny and awards. It was a very proud moment for me as I received the award for 'online player of the year' :)

As I discussed with 'Apokerlypse' after he received his award for 'live player of the year' recognition becomes more important in poker the more you detach yourself from the money. Peronally I almost take greater satisfaction from 'bragging' about my wins to a couple of trusted mates and the online poker community than the cash itself. Which is represented by numbers on a screen that never tell the full story as they're constantly changing.

Today I also played 17 mtt's staked by 'Stumpy' on the NPF. It was decent session lasting 8 hrs but despite cashing four times I didn't manage to break even, such is poker though :)

That's all for now, will post up when I have more to say. GL.