It's IPO time again

I'm playing the IPO in the Regency Hotel this week and I'm really looking forward to it. I had a nice deep run in the Summer Deepstack but the IPO is a different story with up to 1000 players.
The IPO is great , it gives the pub player that chance to play a big tournament for a buy in of €230 .

The game in the Manor Inn is going well and the dealers are a great improvement and the no limit cash game is played in great sprit and the rake of 5% capped at €5 is the best around . It's a bit disappointing that the numbers have not improved to what I would like but we will keep plugging away.
One reason the numbers are not growing is the amount of poker that can be played in the Swords area , there is poker in the Orchard bluff card club the penthouse casino and in the Westbury in Malahide, the great thing is that there is a wide choice for the players in Swords.

Now onto the Poker and the standard of play !!! OMG & LMFAO ( as my 13 year old says)
I'm so good I can get players to put there chips in the middle & calling me down with NOTHING!!.
Two recent hands come to mind , I was in the big blind of 400 when I call a min raise from the hijack , knowing this guy like his Ace with anything that's what I put him on so when the flop is 10 2 6 rainbow I'm holding 8♦️ 10♦️ I feel I'm way ahead of his range.
He bets out 1000 and I re-raise  to 3000 he calls the turn brings the Ace he checks I check the river brings another A he checks and I turn over my hand and he turns over A 7 os and asks why I didn't bet after the re-raise that he thought he would trap me??? He couldn't understand why I got thick asking how he could call the re-raise after the flop with nothing and the gets lucky and thinks he made a great play on the flop !!!
The best is still to come, after dumping a couple of premium hands after the flop I decided to punish the limpers with the blinds at 100/200 and 5 limpers I have A♥️9♥️ In the big blind so I raise to 1000 to take the blinds with what I feel is the best hand out there  but I get two callers the flop is 9♣️5♣️7♦️ The small blind leads out 2000 so I think he has a flush draw or he hit top pair and he has me on a big Ace so I decide the worst case is he has a draw so I shove all in ( not the best play but I feel I'm ahead) to put maximum pressure to call all his chips on a flush draw, he thinks a little and the says to the dealer " call give me a 6 " HE HAS 8♥️4♣️ , OMG!!! He doesn't get his 6 no, he hits ♣️♣️ For a flush 🙀 . That's the worst call I have ever seen in all the years I have played poker.
"But all you had was a 9 he says ! " but you called 90% of you stack with a 8 high gut shot DONKEY. Forgetting he called the original 1000 raise with his 8 4 os, another DONKEY play gets rewarded . Ok rant over I'm off to the Orchard tonight to win the cash to pay for my IPO ticket and hopefully we will see a few more players in the Manor inn on Wednesday.

The Summer turns good

Poker this summer hasn't been great for me , it's been a bit of a flatline but things can change so quick in this sick game that we all hate and love at the same time .
The last week has turned it all around , the first game back in the Manor Inn since it reopened was a great night .
The new Dealers were a great hit and the €1/€1 no limit cash game went down very well and was great fun.
The structure of the game was perfect for a pub game and the result was even better , YES the best player in Swords took it down (that's me ).
Karl O Shea had a great run after the break after busting in the first half he played very well to make the final table and got lucky when he needed to , when three handed Karl was all in v Jana his 10 10 v QQ of Jana.
The flop brought a 10 to double up Karl and cripple Jana who went out to Karl soon after.
Golly on the other hand ha a big stack on the final table but went out in two quick hands, first he pushed all in with a big Ace and got a donkey call from*#@&$ with J 9 , he hits his A but the board runs out with 4 spades for our friend to hit the flush with his 9. (ouch).
The hes all in and amo calls with AQ v is 9 10 ,the flop gives Golly his 10 to take the lead , but no not again its runner runner club club and Damo has the nut flush. Its a cruel game.
Karl was a  big chip leader going into heads up against Damo there was no talk of a deal. Damo went on the attack and had just taken a slight chip lead when Karl called Damo's all in with A 5 v K 10 of Karl , an Ace on the turn and its all over.

Karl O Shea 2nd

Jana in 3rd place

On Saturday there was a great show from the Swords faithful in the Carlton hotel for The Summer Deepstack  run by Larry Santos. There was a great turnout of 231 entries creating a prise pool of €23,000 with 25 making it into the money.

9c2c Suited me B*l****x

Mark " Gibbo " Gibson just about getting in there in 25th and Damo " The Best Player in Swords " aka Damien Mc Dermott ( that's me ) making the Final table finishing in 7th place.
I was disappointed how the final table played out as I was hit by a cold deck with the blinds growing.
When I did get it all in against the chip leaders opening raise he was priced in to call with any two cards , so when he said " sorry about this " I asked " you have Aces ? " he turns over 9c 2c , and you know when you feel it in the pit of your stomach " oh oh please NO " .
The flop 10 2 2  xx on the board and I'm out.
Looking back I had a great time , I played really well making good decisions all day and met some great people.

So the last couple of results have turned around the summer for myself turning August what was going to be the first month of the year at a lost into another winning month.
Don't forget be in the Manor Inn on Wednesday for the first hand bonus at 8:00pm for the €25 game with 1 rebuy or top up for €25.
There are lots of people looking at the blog but there are not many comments , let me know what you think good and bad all suggestions are welcomed.
If your playing this Wednesday put up a comment and ill give you a 500 chip bonus.

The Boys are back in town

Its great to see the Manor Inn back open and even better news that Swords Poker are BACK!
We will be playing every Wednesday at 8pm.
The game will be changing a little , we are going back to our roots with the game that Started over 6 years ago that was very popular,
€25 for 5000 chips with 1 re buy 5000 chips or 1 top up at the break 7000 chips
There will be a bonus 1000 chip but you must be in your seat for the first hand dealt.
If you are there for the 2nd hand sorry but you miss out.
The whole idea is to have the game starting at 8pm sharp as there will be a lot of chips in play and the game must end for 12:30am , so we WILL start at 8pm with dead stacks out until the break.
The biggest change is we are going to provide dealers in the Manor for the first time which we hope will attract some new players .
We feel the €25/€25 game is probably the best value game that offers a cheap buy in with a starting stack of 6000chips (if you are seated for the first hand) giving the player plenty of play to build their stack and go on with a chance of cashing without  having to re buy or top up and on the other hand you have that option to get back in the game if you bust out or top up if your short and get back in the game.
Is it fair to the player who just wants to invest €25 only ????? OF COURSE it is he is getting the pot built up with a chance of winning a nice juicy prise pool where the re buys and top up have to pay double for that same prise pool.
We will also have a dealer controled €1/€1 NLHM cash game from the break onwards
Guys let me know what you think or reply with any ideas to help improve the game.
I cant wait to get going on Wednesday and I hope to see everyone so come out and support us and remember you have the chance to play with "THE BEST POKER PLAYER IN SWORDS"
See you in the Manor at 8pm sharp.
Damo.
PS post a reply here and ill give you a 500 chip
Follow us on Twitter @SwordsPoker

The Manor inn has fallen victim to the recession and the doors have closed.
Firstly I would like to thank all of the staff and management for their hospitality over the last 6 or more years that we have been running our poker game.
Hopefully there will be a buyer soon and we can get things going again.
But Swords poker moves on and on Thursday 21st of February we will be running a game in Colm Cilles Gaa club starting at 8:00pm sharp , €30 + €5 , 8000 chips + 1000 bonus if you are in your seat for the first hand.

Heads up carnage



Eddie Kelly



Last Thursay it was Eddie Kelly v Pat Monaghan heads up , Eddie had a 3 to 1 lead so there was no deal on the table.

 With only a couple of hans played Eddie limps in trying to trap Pat into shoving all in , ( Eddie has QQ ) but like the old fox he is Pat checks it to see a flop.

The flop is 5s 3s 2d Eddie puts in a small bet and Pat moves all in , Eddie snap calls .

WOW Pat has 6 4 he had flopped a straight!!!!

Eddie has the ladies QQ with no spade so no back door flush.

Looks like we will get the spilt deal as this would even things up , but we still have two cards to come , the turn comes another lady Qd so Pat ha a sweat to win.

OMG !!!!!! the board pairs with a 2 on the river to give Eddie the runner runner to win , well he did have the best hand pre flop.

the hand went from Eddie at 83% to Pats 17% pre flop

after the flop it flipped to Eddie just 3% to Pats 97%

the Q on the turn still left Eddie a 23% to dog the hand but thats poker folks , it 's not just the internet that trows up crazy hands.

New Year , same old story

First game back of the new year and BooooooooooooooooooM the best player in Swords takes it down.

I always offer a chop when it goes heads up and Marie (my fold button is broke ) Lynch shook hands and we chopped it up.

Eddie Kelly

Well done to Pecker who won the Swords open , Pecker had his coat on three times when he was all in and behind but the jammy bas#*rd
won every flip.
Eddie Kelly was second and unlucky not to go all the way , Eddie played great poker all day getting a big stack early on and using it very well as he built it up with each level.
The best player in Swords ,AKA Damo , AKA me   !!!!!took third to cash again.
Over all it was a fantastic day with 24 players making the pot just over €1500 making Swords Poker in the Manor Inn every Thursday at 8pm. (plug plug) the best value pub game in the city.

Hands of the week

Two big hands  that made my game last Thursday , on the cut off I limped 600 with K 2 suited when Eddie made it 1800 , I decided I would see a flop that came K 3 10 rainbow , Eddie bets out 3000 and I call , another 3 hits the board and Eddie pushes all in , after I tank and with just 4000 left and a bike still available to rebuy I decided to call and if I am out kicked well that's poker.

On their backs and Eddie is pissed when he sees my K 2 , he has QQ (ouch) 

Sorry Eddie '' BUT THEY WERE SUITED ''

The next hand was a game winner , four handed I'm on the button and I look down to see A K of spades but before I look up Young Mark in the cut off pushes all in for a decent stack of 35,000 I have 39,000 he looks strong and I am trying my best trash talk to try and get a read , I go into the tank thinking I can fold this not get involved if he has any pair I have to flip and still catch.

But Ahaa Fuck it I'm in the money its four handed he might just have an Ace rag , I would do the same four handed with any Ace.........................I call . FUCK he has KK , nice hand pal.

the flop comes down 3 8 4 no Ace , but wait there's two spades on the flop , and Booooooooooom its the Q  of spades on the turn and the best and luckiest player in Swords has half of the chips in play three handed .What can I say to Young Mark only Sorry mate.......................................................................

                      BUT THEY WERE SUITED!!!!!! . lmfao.

Damo Lucky and Good

Happy New Year to all Swords Poker Players
from Damo Kevin & Ger