I am returning to playing Live Poker seriously!

[Garth Kay]

Hi All,

As many of you may, or may not, be aware; my poker career has been put on hiatus for almost 18 months now. The last time I was taking poker very seriously was in 2008 when I was playing on Titan and crushing there and this was also the year I played five live tournaments @ Crown for cashes totaling almost $40,000.

Over the last year an a half; everything 888PL and work projects has tied up a lot of my time and focus and therefore Poker was pushed even further from the fore front of my mind.

But over the last two month's that burning sensation in the middle of my chest has begun to blossom once more and I once again have the desire, ambition, time and focus to return to live poker. So as of May10th I will be playing in the Melbourne Champs series.

I will be playing, in total, over 7 events in this week and looking to once again grind out a few major cashes or at least ingratiate myself back into the fold and gain the rhythm of live poker as well as get back to the skill levels of my previous peak performance.

I have played a lot of online tournaments on 888 for one week and experienced a massive downswing that almost turned me off poker for good but it was one Saturday where I hit my stride and played 12 tourneys for 4 cashes and 5 wins that made me realise that a return to the live world was what I was really aiming for.

So the next day I went down to Crown to play there $100 buy in (10K start and 25 minute levels). This was a pretty stupid idea as I had played online till 2am and was up again at 5am to play an 888 major, so I was pretty tired by the time I hit the poker room. Within two levels of play I had felted three players and eliminated two. I ran like god for the most part with set over set and a flopped straight against two overpairs, but I was also pulling off some very sick reads and I remeber triple barreliing a double paired and flushing board with A high against a guy I read as QJ for a busted straight draw. And sure enough, busted straight it was and I won and still managed to gain value on the river.

Anyways I was crippled when same calling station doubled up and then proceeded to call off his stack with the flopped straight to my top top, no pairing of the board or A for me and I was left with 5BB's and ran AJsutied into Ak off from the blinds.

Looking back on the defining hand of my demise I honestly think I could have (and should have), quite easily, laid down to his four bet on that flop and I even said J9 is squarely in your range and let's just hope your drawing when I made that ridiculous call.

SO anyways, if I am well rested and haven't been up partying the night before I expect I am in for a solid showing over this week and I will be posting updates and hands in this thread so you all can share some of the action and hopefully pick up a bit of information and learning along the way as well.

P.S: I have several people who have invested in me for this week, altogether it will be about $2,000 worth of buy ins and my bankroll is nowhere near strong enough for this. So I have sold off a chunk of my action to private investors who are looking to clean up as well.

I think having backers will motivate me even further in playing these games, remaining disciplined and looking for some major prize moneys.

[Swanky]

Good luck with this mate, I wish you all the best for this and look forward to reading about your successes.
Can't wait for the reports, go get 'em tiger.

[muzzington]

I believe in you.

[Garth Kay]

Thanks Muzz - you just made this thread EPIC!

[wabbit999]

Cya at the final table... (better be a smaller chip stack than mine)

[Garth Kay]

You playing in the champs Mike?

What events?

[wabbit999]

More a figure of speech than actuall (unless 888 wants to give dreamteam sponsorship)

Phil Gordon - Little Green Book
"Cya at the final Table - I'm all in"

[AceLosesKing]

Good luck with this mate, I wish you all the best for this and look forward to reading about your successes.
Can't wait for the reports, go get 'em tiger.

This and

I believe in you.

This.

[JMACK007]

Good luck Garth mate, get that "Run Like God" going and hang onto it for dear life!!

[Sinitster]

Good Luck , i look forward to reading of your success ! !