The Beginning of It All

“What do you mean three?!”

“You heard, I open for three.”

It was just so unprecedented. Three. My brother had just opened for three and we hadn’t even drawn any cards yet. Three whole match sticks. It was a turning point in the history of poker. At least poker from my perspective. Of course we all called. I mean, how could we not? We still had cards to draw, anything could happen. Mum, soother of temper tantrums, draws four. I draw one since I’m holding two pair, and Dad, teacher and in many ways the Godfather of Cramlington poker as we know it, draws one. AC (brother, bully, best friend) draws none. Well we had learned enough about the game by now to know what that meant. Straight or better. A force to be reckoned with certainly.

But here’s the thing. I fill up. Big time. That magical third ace gets into my hand and turns my two pair into a full boat. Beautiful except for one thing.

I bet and everyone insta-folds. And I mean insta’. With a smile. I didn’t think too much of it, and scooped the matchsticks into my pile. But soon another strange hand happens. And another. And another.

Mum, Dad and AC can’t take it anymore. Tears are practically rolling down their faces and poor me can’t figure out why. Then it hits me. The mirror. For hours I had been playing five-card draw poker, at the beloved caravan site, with a mirror behind me. Cue temper tantrum. I was only five after all.

From this, one of my favourite (if slightly infuriating) childhood memories, I’ve managed to secure a bankroll (and I mean a real one, six figures) and on top of that €50,000 worth of buy ins courtesy of Paddy Power’s Sole Survivor package all of which I won after being the last PaddyPowerPoker.com qualifier and finishing fourth in the Paddy Power Poker Irish Open for €107,500.

It’s my dream come true. A year to play professional poker, across the world, against the best in the world and it all came about after qualifying online after three or four attempts at the €200 Sunday satellites at the site. The 2012 Irish Open was only the third major tournament I’ve ever played in, the first two ending rather unspectacularly. I’d like to think I’m good (although many would disagree).

I’m very studious and have studied many of the best poker books around, as well as having played thousands of online games and thousands of home games, and thrown in there are many trips to the local casino as well as some trips to the famous Dusk Till Dawn Poker club in Nottingham and a $50 tournament win in the Flamingo Casino in Vegas.

I’m looking forward to writing a lot more articles for Card Player over the next year as I grow as a poker player. I can’t wait to start using the €50,000 worth of buy ins from my Sole Survivor deal with Paddy Power. Poker Here’s to good varience. ♠

Science teacher Ian Simpson came fourth in the Irish Open 2012 for €107,500 and, as the last paddypowerpoker.com online qualifier standing in the main event, won the Sole Survivor contest netting himself another €100,000 = €50,000 in cash, €50,000 in tournament buy ins.