[F6]Ares
Legacy Member
(cross post van m'n blog, foto's staan daar)
Right outside of Leuven starts the part of Belgium where people speak french, called "La Wallonie". Wallonie is in many aspects different of Flanders (the dutch speaking part), and poker is one of them.
For one, poker is much more advanced and also a lot more popular. That's why you can find events there, like the Salon de Poker, in the village of Gembloux.
In short, people could pay the entry fee of 7 euro's to:
* Buy stuff at one of the almost 10 shop stands, offering everything poker related, from tshirts, to chipcases, to custom made pokertables
* Attend the seminars, with subjects such as poker tells and gambling addiction
* Participate in one of the freeroll tournaments, where you had the chance to face off against famous players
Because of legal issues, no "real" prizes could be awarded for the freerolls, just the fun to play against "star" french speaking players. Nevertheless, I guess around 400 people showed up today. With around 20 poker tables, 200 players could play simultaneously.
Together with the other administrators, I was responsible for the stand of the Belgian Poker Federation, where we talked to people about the goals of the organisation (positive promotion of poker - representation of players and clubs - providing legal information and advice about poker - ...). We also had a questionnare going on, to find out what people would like to see on the federation's website. It was fun, and reactions of the visitors were very positive.
When the salon was almost over, I had the chance to participate in a sit and go tournament, featuring some french heavy weight players. Two seats on my right was François Montmirel, who doesn't only had his share of tournament cashes, but also wrote several books on poker. He's also the one who translated Harrington on Hold'em in french. The seat on my right was occupied by Guillaume "Johnny001" De La Gorce. Although Michel Abecassis, was not playing himself, he was giving advice to his girlfriend, who sat in the seat on my left.
With 9 players, 30.000 in chips, 15 minute blind levels, and blinds starting at 500-1000, this was a sit 'n go that should be finished in an hour and a half max.
In the second or third hand, I pick up 88 from the big blind, and Montmirel decides to raise it up to 4000, after all the rest folded. Guillaume folds as well and I call. Flop comes ATx, and despite the overcards, I decide to bet 4000 to see where I'm at, and for a part because I tought he was trying to steal the blinds before the flop. He folds and says "nice play" when I accidently trip over my hand.
A key hand arrives later, when I'm on the button, holding pocket fives, with blind levels at 1500-3000. Only one caller in the middle (Olivier "deepstaroli" Close, a fellow administrator from the federation), makes me decide to raise it to 9000 (I had about 35000 chips at that time, so it's almost 25% of my stack). Juliette (Abecassis's girfriend) decides to call after which olivier decides to raise another 9000. So the pot is now 39.000 and I have around 27.000 left, of which I have to put in 30% to make the call. I would also be pot comitted. I'm almost surely against overcards, possibly a higher pair, so I fold, losing 25% of my stack.
Juliette calls, and the flop comes KK8. Olivier raises, Juliette goes all in ... after some thinking, Olivier calls with the message "you don't have it". But it appears she did have it, showing off AK. Olivier had AJ.
After getting shorter stacked, I needed a few miracles to stay alive, and was happy to get them. From the button, and only 4BB left, I had to push with any two cards, resulting in my Q7 going to the flop against the QJ from Olivier. Runner runner straight for me, and I doubled up.
A few hands later, Guillaume basically puts me all-in, but I have 55 and decide to call. He shows 53, and I'm a huge favorite, especially when the 4th five hits the flop.
We were already an hour past the intended closing time of the salon, when we were three handed, so had to stop the game. Me, Olivier and Juliette, were still in.
Although these hands make it clear that I never really "outplayed" anyone, it was a fun experience to play with these players.
The salon still runs tomorrow, definately recommended if you're not out there hunting for easter eggs.
Right outside of Leuven starts the part of Belgium where people speak french, called "La Wallonie". Wallonie is in many aspects different of Flanders (the dutch speaking part), and poker is one of them.
For one, poker is much more advanced and also a lot more popular. That's why you can find events there, like the Salon de Poker, in the village of Gembloux.
In short, people could pay the entry fee of 7 euro's to:
* Buy stuff at one of the almost 10 shop stands, offering everything poker related, from tshirts, to chipcases, to custom made pokertables
* Attend the seminars, with subjects such as poker tells and gambling addiction
* Participate in one of the freeroll tournaments, where you had the chance to face off against famous players
Because of legal issues, no "real" prizes could be awarded for the freerolls, just the fun to play against "star" french speaking players. Nevertheless, I guess around 400 people showed up today. With around 20 poker tables, 200 players could play simultaneously.
Together with the other administrators, I was responsible for the stand of the Belgian Poker Federation, where we talked to people about the goals of the organisation (positive promotion of poker - representation of players and clubs - providing legal information and advice about poker - ...). We also had a questionnare going on, to find out what people would like to see on the federation's website. It was fun, and reactions of the visitors were very positive.
When the salon was almost over, I had the chance to participate in a sit and go tournament, featuring some french heavy weight players. Two seats on my right was François Montmirel, who doesn't only had his share of tournament cashes, but also wrote several books on poker. He's also the one who translated Harrington on Hold'em in french. The seat on my right was occupied by Guillaume "Johnny001" De La Gorce. Although Michel Abecassis, was not playing himself, he was giving advice to his girlfriend, who sat in the seat on my left.
With 9 players, 30.000 in chips, 15 minute blind levels, and blinds starting at 500-1000, this was a sit 'n go that should be finished in an hour and a half max.
In the second or third hand, I pick up 88 from the big blind, and Montmirel decides to raise it up to 4000, after all the rest folded. Guillaume folds as well and I call. Flop comes ATx, and despite the overcards, I decide to bet 4000 to see where I'm at, and for a part because I tought he was trying to steal the blinds before the flop. He folds and says "nice play" when I accidently trip over my hand.
A key hand arrives later, when I'm on the button, holding pocket fives, with blind levels at 1500-3000. Only one caller in the middle (Olivier "deepstaroli" Close, a fellow administrator from the federation), makes me decide to raise it to 9000 (I had about 35000 chips at that time, so it's almost 25% of my stack). Juliette (Abecassis's girfriend) decides to call after which olivier decides to raise another 9000. So the pot is now 39.000 and I have around 27.000 left, of which I have to put in 30% to make the call. I would also be pot comitted. I'm almost surely against overcards, possibly a higher pair, so I fold, losing 25% of my stack.
Juliette calls, and the flop comes KK8. Olivier raises, Juliette goes all in ... after some thinking, Olivier calls with the message "you don't have it". But it appears she did have it, showing off AK. Olivier had AJ.
After getting shorter stacked, I needed a few miracles to stay alive, and was happy to get them. From the button, and only 4BB left, I had to push with any two cards, resulting in my Q7 going to the flop against the QJ from Olivier. Runner runner straight for me, and I doubled up.
A few hands later, Guillaume basically puts me all-in, but I have 55 and decide to call. He shows 53, and I'm a huge favorite, especially when the 4th five hits the flop.
We were already an hour past the intended closing time of the salon, when we were three handed, so had to stop the game. Me, Olivier and Juliette, were still in.
Although these hands make it clear that I never really "outplayed" anyone, it was a fun experience to play with these players.
The salon still runs tomorrow, definately recommended if you're not out there hunting for easter eggs.
kost een arm en een been om daar wat stock in te nemen.