Chasing Fame, the swings of online poker and where's my $58k, Mr. Hassan?

Well the Goa money still hasn't arrived, but ho-hum, I am assured it'll be there tomorrow. Sometimes people take such liberties of our good nature, or maybe it's just the fact they know we are lazy and try and screw every last day of interest they can get on our cash. Someone's going to walk the plank courtesy of JPK if it isn't in my account tomorrow!

Here are a few pictures I've come across of me in Goa.. but they've come out in the wrong order, so work from the bottom up:

Probably taken after the bad beats, how else can I look so disgusting?

The final crushing blow is dealt, muff number 3 and another runner runner, I am sent to the rail in 5th place.

And promptly muff number 2, and flipout number 2 occurs, again in front of the cameras.

Pranath contemplates moving all-in on my big blind, obviously with fresh air

Scandie player donks off

Caught red-handed taking a peek down Anna's top

Sans bandana, the pirate association would be most displeased

Moving all-in before muffing number 1, and flipout number 1

Car crash stuff, I hope my next tournament is more successful, and less spectacular, I'm still trying to get over the swings of it all.

Anyway, I'm back on the live scene soon as I head off for the Irish Open in Dublin on April 5th. With a 2 million euro guaranteed prize pool, with 550k for 1st it's going to be a battle to the death & despite my finish in Goa I am due a bit of luck, so we'll just see. I was interested to read that Mel Judah, someone I spent a lot of time at the tables with in India, is favourite for the tournament at 80-1. He is a very good player, however I feel I am more than a match for him and it gives me a bit of self-belief that I can hang with such reputations.

I am selling maybe 20% of myself in the tournament just to cover hotels, flights etc as I've decided to tighten the purse strings on non-poker activities (some will say that has always been the case). Entry is 3500 euro, so I'll be selling 10% for 400 euro. E-mail jfarrer69 at aol dot com if you know me and are interested.

I'm going to cool it with the live trips in general as I need to get on the march online. The UKPT in Manchester is on the list, then it's off to Thailand for a month (why not?) then straight off to Vegas for the WSOP main event. I will probably only stay in Vegas for 2 weeks, I don't get the whole "I'm going for 6 weeks and caning everything I've got" attitude that many of my friends have but it's horses for courses. I might drop in on my mate in Florida for some summer sun in Tampa Bay, such is my current adoration for life in England. So, 3 tournaments planned until the end of WSOP. I did say a while back on here that I'm not chasing fame and glory and that this year would be consolidatory, obviously the cash in Goa have skewed things a little bit but I'll save the Monte Carlo's and Los Angeles and Australia's for next year, methinks. I won't be able to resist the Caribbean, though, and there's a tournament in the Bahamas at the Atlantis in the near future that looks tempting, as well as a cruise in Mexico. If it goes well in Dublin... :D

Online has been "steady" profit-wise, but there's been days where I could really have run wild if it weren't for multiple outdraws. However, I am happy with my play again and it's nice to turn things around online, albeit slowly. The fact I am making money in MTTs, Sixpaks & cash collectively pleases me; my cash game is really beginning to develop and I am beginning to find some discipline. I had a situation the other night on Betfair where I was $4000 to the good within 30 mins, however I lost two big pots by being outdrawn, and down to $1500 profit. A few months ago that would've spun down to zilch and probably a loss, but I decided just to come off. I've finally realised there's no shame in that, and you can't always finish as high as a kite.

Regards,

JPK

Reality

One of the hardest things I find now that I've got myself onto the poker travelling scene, is going to all these different places, having a great time and (occasionally) making nice money; then having to come back home to sunny Longridge, Preston and readjust to the daily grind.

I'm bored, in all honesty. Not with poker, but regular life as I know it. I'm now no longer satisfied living in a council house (albeit owned, not rented) in Lancashire and need to do something about it. I have been presented with an opportunity that some can only dream of: I can thereotically live anywhere in the world and still work. It's a tough dilemma, but I'm sure the likes of Rob Sherwood who cottoned onto this about a year ago, would tell me to go for it.

What's provoked this is my stay in Thailand after my cash in Goa. Rather than come home on the pathetic Thomson Fly I opted to meet my friends for a 2 week break as they'd gone to Bangkok to watch a concert (so they reckon). Granted it was a holiday, but I decided to treat myself by staying in the Metropole in Pattaya, a very nice hotel with good ADSL connection in the room. To stay in this 5 star hotel with first class amenities including food, gym, pool, laundry, cleaners et al costs around £100 a week for a stay of a month, cheaper if 2 months upwards. lest us not forget the far cheaper standard of living, the beaches, sun and general cheap entertainment as well as the ability to travel all around Asia and it's great islands for pennies, it's almost too good to be true. I don't have any responsibilities here and I'm struggling to come up with reasons to stick around.

I also have the option of being able to fly out to Tampa Bay in Florida at the drop of a hat to stay with my friend. I'm thinking after WSOP, I may split my time between Florida, Thailand and the odd short stay in the UK as well as my periodical travels on the world poker scene. In 2 years, I may not have the chance to do this, so I need to take advantage whilst I can. Of course, I have to be careful that I upkeep and maintain the same table hours I do when living in Preston which is no easy task with all the distractions of living in a more tropical climate, but that's a risk I'm willing to take.

As for poker, it's on the rise here. MTTs aside, I've had a pretty shocking 2007. Some of it self-inflicted, most through bad.. *shudder*.. variance. Yesterday I had a good 'un though on the sixpaks raking in about $3k, and the cash tables seem to be grinding out a small, worthwhile profit too. The cash is more of a learning curve, especially since I'm throwing myself in at the deep end of $10/20, so I'm happy to take whatever positives I can. To be honest, the standard isn't anything to fear, the biggest threat is myself and lack of patience, but that's coming along nicely.

Anyway, just thought I'd use this entry to think aloud, and if you have any similar tales, feel free to get in touch!

Regards,
JPK

Back Home

A bit jaded after my 3 weeks of mayhem. Still haven't been paid from Goa which is perturbing but whatever. All my messages and such have sortof been lost in the mix, I've had a few requests to swop links etc. with other blogs so please resend requests to jfarrer69 at aol.com.

Thanks everyone for all your well wishes and I'll be back in the loop again soon, and good luck to anyone attending the UKPT in Cardiff (I can geniunely say that as I'm not playing!)

Regards,
JPK

Quick Goa Update

I finished 5th for $58k, though I will no doubt be remembered on TV for the horrific run of bad beats I endured, and my subsequent outburts and torrents of abuse. The camera guys assured me I don't come across that bad and it made good TV, however my two biggest "Flip Out Farrer" moments came at the expense of two Indian players. Being that the event will be broadcast on Z Sports here (the equivalent of ESPN in USA) I will probably have visa troubles next time I try to come over ;-). I tried to save myself by saying nice things in the TV interview afterwards so perhaps I will be redeemed.

Cards aside, the cash was really nice. 2007 has been so up and down it's nice to pocket an eventual $54k or so (tips, small swops etc). The press have been all over me since, but one big result doesn't mean anything and hopefully I can back this up with a win sometime soon. Plenty on the horizon and lots of opportunities.

Fantastic event and had an amazing time here and can't wait to come back. The pressure has been lifted off my shoulders now, so I can relax and see how things pan out.

I'll have a full report soon.

Best,
JPK