England kick off their last 16 match against Germany in just under 8 hours and I can’t wait to see how it pans out. I feel that England may have been partially discounted or at least haven’t had the chance to flourish against the lesser teams.

Coral are offerring evens on the Germans winning if it goes to penalities. Regardless of how much England have ‘trained’ for penalties I can;t see them winning a shootout that often. Its not like Lampard doesn’t practice at Chelsea so I’m not sure how much of a difference this extra world cup penalty training has made. Anyway that’s the one place where I’m quite sure of value.

Looking back on the last year I’m chuffed I’ve managed to save a bit, got a nice car and in general a business with some value. Hopefully things can diversify and become more robust over the next 12 months. Although I’m doing well financially I’ve let myself down in almost every other area or at least not achieved certain things I would have liked to. My body clock is shit and I need to play a sport or work out more. Especially if I begin to do this full time, I need to begin to take it more seriously, work proper hours and a sport would really help me keep it broken up.

Anyway I hope by the next time I post here to update I’ve gotten myself back into Squash or something. Its a shame and I feel like I owe it to myself. From the ages of 11 – 17 I played / trained at least 5 times a week and went to tournements all over the country. I was good and ranked within the top 5 for my age group in Scotland however, it sort of got packed in for a number of reasons. I guess socialising took a front seat, exams at school, parents wanting a life of their own at the weekend instead of driving me to tournements and the fact I most probably wasn;t going to become a pro.

So now I’m 20 and have the freedom to train as much as I like, with the need to get fit. Hopefully, I actually do this.

Peace

England game is about to start. Got my strip today which I’m quite happy with, opted for the red one but, England should really be sponsored by Adidas or Nike. I know Umbro are an English company but they don’t make the strips like the big 2 imo.

I had a policy not to bet on this world cup and that went down the shitter on the 1st day. Was at a friends and had some commission left online. About £500 and I noticed France were 2.3 before the match to win. It seemed pretty good so it all went on and as we know Govou made a horrific miss and France can’t finish their dinner.

I’m not gna lie it felt bad. Real low.

Its not like I was going to feel on top the world after winning but, I feel like a real degenerate losing so much money especially in context.

Other news: iPoker software still hasn’t changed although things keep getting better for iPokerVIP.

I’m looking into affiliating in other industries and setting up a site like: comparethepizza.com and allowing customers to compare the best pizza deals at the big 3 (accross the UK) ; Pizza Hut, Dominos and Papa Johns.

That’;s something I’ll be looking into next week although I’ve got the affiliate agreement worked out with most of them – then its just the site and marketing.

Go On England !

On my last night I went over into Spain into a town/city ? called La Linea. Got a taxi to the border, get out and flash your passport and your in Spain (if its British they’re only interested in the cover – even when you go to airports it seems British passports are pretty much golden and don’t get scrutinized at all. I’m not complaining ofcourse – just saying.)

I went up the rock a few days before I left with a good friend who lives in one of the nicest apartments I’ve ever seen ! Anyway apart from taking a stupid route and not taking any water I really enjoyed the views. From the top you could see Morocco, all of Gib and Spain. It was pretty amazing when thinking of how geographically close these 3 places are but, how culturally different they are. I mean Gib is just sunny Britain (nothing wrong with that!).

I stayed a little longer in Gib hoping to meet Korn from PokerStrategy. I met a community manager in a bar one night and Korn seemed to have a big problem with me talking to him. I was accused of  soliciting him on 2+2 which is so LOL and I’d welcome any legal action. Its just complete unsubstantiated shit. I thought he was a great guy when talking to him and will admit to being on the hustle and trying to get him a VIP deal through iPokerVIP even although he was wearing a PS hoody but, unfortnatley the main thing that came accross in the conversation was how keen I was to meet Korn and learn in depth about him as a person and their business model.

Ofcourse it never happend and anyone wanting to discuss Korn’s warped view of the industry has to get their hands dirty in the threads which ultimatley resolves very little. People end up getting flamed and more entrenched in their original views. A face to face meeting would have been far more constructive.

Anyway it was the fact I was accused on 2+2 of doing a ton of illegal things and being dodgy which is just rubbish. I wire thousands to players every week and I’ve never heard anyone complain concerning the service I offer them.

Overall Gib was awesome and I was really pleased to meet people from Victor Chandler who are top guys. An affiliate or a player couldn’t ask for anymore.  I urge everyone to try and qualify for the beat victor challenge – you’ll have a great time.

As for iPoker – the network is still recovering and the software is being fixed. I really hope things turn around – I’d hate for the market to become even more top heavy. Although if it did and Stars and FTP got a slap on the wrist things would change so fast I could maybe establish myself as one of the big dogs. Playtech are a big company and I doubt they’ll let a market like this slip away.

Anyway that’s me for now

VC put me up in a really nice appartment which I obviously really appreciate and its nice to meet the people I deal with on a day to day basis.

Anyways that’s that I guess.

Finished my exams a week ago and the last one didn’t go so well. I had been up all night and was sat at the top floor which had some sort of sun magnifying dome right above my seat. It was just beaming down on me so strongly and to those who haven’t had the pleasure of staying up all night I’ll tell you a bright sun is the most disgusting thing ever.  Throughout the exams I guess I’ve been hedging my bets with the questions and it backfired in my last exam when the only question I could answer I just didn’t understand: “stratified reproduction curtails reproductive agency”. Pretty gay.

Since then I’ve been to London – donked off money which completley sucked. I ran fairly bad and actually felt I played pretty well. The sickest pot was a KcTs2c board where I got it in with KJ which is defo pretty light for 200bb + stacks at a 8 handed table but, I gave some chat which made myself look ridiculously weak (not deliberatley) so got myself in a spot where I could shove or fold. Anyways the guy, who I thought was fairly solid – tank called with 88 and obv the turn was an 8. Pot was just shy of £1k . So that kinda sucked.
I’m probably going to roll on down to London in the summer and give grinding the 2/5 game a shot for a month or something just to prove to myself I can beat it + I love the city it makes Edinburgh feel pretty small and mundane.

Next week I’m heading over to Gibraltar which should be decent. VC are putting me up in a really nice looking apartment which I’m obviously really grateful for. It should be good to get some nice weather, although the last week has been pretty awesome here.

After Gib I’m going to hang out in London for a bit and meet some people to discuss future affiliate related business ventures. Hopefully, I can make something really big happen this summer !

I’m also going to ‘hire’ my 1st employee this weekend. Sounds a bit more formal than it is but, I’m going to pay a friend a weekly wage to do some stuff. He’s easily capable of this stuff just the potential hazard with mates is they try and freeroll off you a bit but, its just going to be a rolling thing so if that happens  it won’t be a big deal. He will be liasing with new rooms, paying sub-affiliates and PMing on 2+2 mainly. Maybe doing other things like content for newsletters but, we’ll see how it goes. I’ll still be in contact with all the players as usual so he’s just really going to allow me to cast a wider net and hopefully, can help get iPokerVIP established on some other networks.

Anyway I guess that’s everything

The election has been pretty interesting. I felt really bad for the Lib Dem candidate in my constituency who really worked 10* harder than any other. Anywhere in Scotland is going to be tough to crack for anyone on Labour’s right I guess. It turned out the Lib Dem candidate lost by under 1k votes and you’ve got to think if he can’t upset Labour now there won’t be many other opportunities. The Labour MP was caught up in the expenses scandal and generally just seemed to be coasting on the fact he was a Labour MP. It was enough anyways.

I actually didn’t vote. Firstly, because I couldn’t make up my mind. I disagree with traditional Labour values, don’t think Gordon Brown is a good face for the UK however, I do believe is probably a fairly moral guy and despite what economist’s claim he is best qualified for the financial situation. Conservative or independent’s are completley wasted up here, SNP just seem to be further left than Labour and play on Scottish people’s patriotism and Lib Dems want to introduce a mansion tax which is unfair, wind down trident and a vote for them just encourages a hung parliament which means even less will get done than usual !

Aside from the decision itself being impossible I don’t really believe in politics. Government itself is incredibly inefficient. Civil servants retain their jobs regardless of the government and are the fuel that the political car needs to move. They’re notoriously bureaucratic and obviously have their own vested interests.

Secondly and most importantly in my opinion, is the amount of money in politics. Who do the government care more about appeasing: The voter or the company who pumped millions into their campaign who were actually responsible for the success ?

This is probably why manifesto’s are ridiculously vague. The intention isn’t to give the people what they want (or not in full anyway). Its to consolidate wealth and maintain power. There is no other way to explain the lack of change throughout the West. Anything that happens in reality seems to be politician’s playing with numbers or superficial. With the big decisions not being put to a referendum and quietly sprung into action. I guess people would tell me this is the concept of efficient democracy. Instead of having a vote on individual issues the MP’s will take your decision for you. An MP that’s part of a mainstream party will rarely vote in the commons based on their own opinion. They will vote where the whip tells them to and in return they’re part of the party, more likely to get a seat and enjoy a kushty salary + benefits. This is exactly what the majority of backbenchers are doing. What is the point in having an MP ?

Labour MP’s were filmed recently offerring to ‘fix’ things for people i.e. Laws, white paper’s passing etc for a daily fee. Usually £5k a day. I doubt they were thinking of their constituency then.

I could go on for a while with various examples but, I’ve got to confess it kinda frustrates me how people become so socially invested in politics. Labour, Conservative or Hung Parliament things will be extremely similar regardless. Big Brother, Iraq and ridiculous taxes. People tell me the Lib Dems were against Iraq – it just seems to me it was the only viable move for them at the time. They know they will never be in the posistion to act on it and even if they were its not like Obama is doing much regarding his pledge concerning the war. The conservative’s couldn’t slate it too much because they would have done the same and it was because of money. Not necessarilly oil but, a certain opportunity to consolidate wealth.

I’m not knowledgeable enough to have a decent discussion with someone who is heavily involved in politics about this stuff but, based on these facts and so many more its hard to see how voting is doing that much.

Maybe I should have exercised my right to vote regardless and feel kinda bad telling people I didn’t vote because in many ways its a rare opportunity even to influence the face on the country a little.

The ads are up, along with the thread and its good to see things going fairly smoothly. I’m going to put Winner Poker & maybe a few other more competitive offers up tommorow and change the text on the home page a little (my bounce rate is alarmingly high) and hopefully that should kick things up a bit.

iPokerVIP was based on 2 premises;
1. Under the table deals are harder to come by – the market is moving.
2. iPokerVIP showcases the best legal deals.

I’d say I’ve got 2 bang on but, for all the time people have speant scrutinising my site 90% of the under the table affiliates could have been cleared out. Its pretty ridiculous and demonstrates that the iPoker network probably don’t care much for the rules themselves – just that people aren’t seen breaking them and the status quo remains intact, at least superficially.

The irony is that there are people in Birmingham who work for playtech whose job it is to catch these affiliates. If 90% of players can find these deals how can’t these spies who work on it everyday ?

I think the main problem is that iPoker doesn’t have a clear vision of what kind of network it wants to be. Its like one week they want uber-aggro deals so they can compete for Euro players on Stars and Tilt and the next week they’re banishing these deals wanting a fishy network and claiming that’s the way forward.

Tough spot. For a company worth over $1bn you’d think they might at least come close to getting it right.

I’ve been seeing a few friends from school who are back from uni and that kinda thing which has been nice although describing stuff to them kinda makes me empathise with poker player’s whose fiends aren’t into it. That’s a healthy thng though for sure.

These ads on 2+2 are driving me around the bend just thinking about them. Sure it was easter and then things slowed down but… actually just had to delete my 2+2 rant in case anyone from the forum sees it or it got posted on my support thread or sth. But, I’m very much advertising there because there are no other competitve options. Not because I like the mods. A lot of the people heavily involved in it don’t seem like they would be capable of functioning with normal human beings. Probably couldn’t walk down a corridor either becuase their heads are too big.

Anyway, I can’t wait until the ads are up. I’m chuffed with the site, the banner ads are looking beautiful and everything is paid for so there is hopefully going to be a lottt of saving going on in the next few months which would be amazing.

I’d love to get away somewhere. Somethign ideal would be Amsterdam but, its probably not warm enough there yet. I was thinking San Remo for the EPT but, it would kinda take the buzz away unless I cashed. All my friends are doing exams (They’re unfortunatley also in the back of my mind) / kinda broke .

Hopefully I’ll go to Thailand meet some people after mine and maybe Argentina or something too. Who knows. But, I really want to go / live somewhere warm for a few months. Don’t really know why I bought the car then…

Til next time.

The whole world is slowed down or cannot work as optimally because of a Christian holiday. I’ve got nothing against Christians but, it is forcing Christianity on you in a way. This post isn’t meant in a disrespectful way but, religion is not about imposing your beliefs on other people. Well I don’t think it should be anyway I’m sure there are some crazy interpretations out there.

Aside from the fact not everyone is Christian and those who are Muslim or Sikh or whatever are forced to stop while this holiday goes on . Who thought not working and a complete decline in productivity (In the UK anwyays) is a great way to worship God ? Its the most retarded way to worship someone ever. When does gratefulness / worship ever manifest itself through inactivity ?

The on top of all of this you’ve got the real Christians who actually care about wht Easter stands for having their holiday hijacked by corporations. I’m not really sure of the financial incentive for banks, if a Bank stayed open the same hours as a supermarket I’m sure the benefits would outweigh the cost (Although why have they not done it yet ? ) I’d definitely sign up the day it opened. I mean the easy answer is to say the banks keep money for longer but, they also don’t receive money so if everyone changed to being open at decent times whats the difference ? Salaries I guess but, it is honestly just ridiculous.

Anyway, the reason I’m particularly anti-bank at the moment is that my ad money can’t get out to 2+2 until Tuesday and obviously its an international transfer so who knows when its getting there.

Its really my fault for not planning ahead and reminding myself banks are a law unto themselves and greedy twats. Its a huge industry and I guess because its turned into a cartel in a way when it comes to opening hours. Its not like there is a better option.

Christianity isn’t even a religion that has anything against banking, charging interest or even gambling so I don’t see why the banks shutting in particular is a mark of respect.

End Rant /

The full way there and back there were average speed check zones of 50mph that went on for miles and miles and miles. Its pretty fresh on my mind since I’ve just come off the drive back now. Its not like there are roadworks or anything wrong with the roads. Just one lane is coned off (which looks fine) and everyone is forced to drive at 50. I’m pretty convinced its just a way to milk more money in fines out of people or make other forms of transport more appealing. Ofcourse there were sometimes when it was justified but, for the majority I’m pretty sure there was 0 wrong with the road. Signs said stuff like ‘close for safety reasons’. Just sounds like an ambigous excuse to close off a lane. The thing that is unsafe is all those cones in high winds one went under my car. So this was all tilting enough..

On Friday arrived in the Vic at 2am and jumped on the 1/3. The table had 2 big fish and the rest were different varities of nit. I was stuck £500 at a stage but, when it went downt o 3 handed I managed to get up to £500 profit with 2 calls on reflection that were pretty high variance. The last hand of the night the fish although I guess he wasn’t a classic fish just an aggro fish :p shoved his last £400 into a pot of £1k and I opted to call him with 2nd pair. I was good and won’t bore you with the HH but, it was defo a high variance call even although the price was good. If he wasn’t stuck a lot or if it wasn’t the last hand of the night and just tons of little factors like that I probably would’ve folded. I tanked for a few mins and live I’d say 3/4 of the time you see someone tank like that they call and they’re crushed. So I guess you should always be cautious and if its such a toss up in your head as to whether you’re good just wait another day.

This calling light trend continued into the next day when I played 2/5. When I first sat down I didn’t even know why I was there. Maybe 2 fish at anytime at the table and the rest were rocks or a few people waiting for higher games. I had to ask where my edge was and even with 3 or 4 players at the table who I was confident against I didn’t feel like the better players were going to keep the pots smaller against me.

There was one pot where I triple barrelled with air in a 3bet pot and one of the good player’s called down for a split or worse effectivley. The board (there was a flush there too) was AQTTx and he called with A6 or something. A £150 bet into £200 or so on the river. He did the obligatory call and it kinda sucked. Live people don’t think about it I think – I mean how often is he actually good there ? He’s pretty much never winning the pot against a triple barrell. Well I dont think. But, it was one of these kind of calls I guess people feel they’re obliged to make even although the villian’s range crushes them.

As the night went on the game got better and better and I was up £1.5k at one stage , well for 4 hours or so. My friend who I had lent money came over and played 4 handed and its something I really regret in terms of what good can come from it ? We never got in a pot vs one another but, it seems to effect me if I’m playing against my own money. Its just a silly idea from my point of view and probably from his considering it was lent money and a fairly big game.

Anyway I basically was in a rush to build pots to take down against the table mega fish whereas I had all the time in the world just to wait. I couldn’t assign a range to him which came to bite me in this hand.

4 Handed
I’m the BTN with AhKd. CO (MegaFish) raises to £25. I 3bet to £75 , SB & BB fold , Megafish obv flats.
Board comes 5cAc2h with a flush draw. Megafish bets out £25 (I’m getting freaked out, I’ve been playing with him on one table or another for 7 hours + now. Honestly cannot remember him betting out or raising ever before. I doubt he hit a set he’s not raising pf with 55′s or 22′s that’s limping territory for him, AA unlikely ? And I’d just taken a big pot off him and he was a bit tilted. So I make it £200 and he flats.
Turn is a 6d and he makes it £25 again. I obv saw 34 got there but, what are the odds there is still so much stuff to get value from. So I make it £250. River comes a non-club 9 and he makes it £25 again. I decided to make it £300 and then he shoves for £500 more. I was completley perplexed. I figure if he’s making it £25 on all streets its not like his hand has improved and it looked like up until then he was desperatley trying to pot control or somehting. He could have a monsted I guess but, what monster on the flop beats me ? AA ? Well I figured that’s just a cooler. The fact I’d just burnt him for a £2k pot too and he’s never effectivley check raising without pretty much the nuts (well it doesn’t make sense to do it with a random 2 pair or something) or air made me call.

He flips 65 for 2 pair. Basically no part of that hand made sense to me.

So I mean I don’t know how horrificly I played that and I guess if a fish does that alarm bells should go off.

I don’t really know why I went down – I got a good thing going on and there is no need to change a winning team . I met a few players to sign up and stuff so there’s a positive spin.

Including hotel which was pretty nice, petrol , food and losses it was best part of a £1.5k 48 hours but, that’s just variance. What hurt was a £3k + swing not the money lost per se. That’s poker I guess. Wish they had RB for live games.

It feels pretty shit but, I’m just going to end up working all the hours this week to make up for it !