Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness

When I was told MPN were guaranteeing 250 k for a 500 buyin in Dublin my first thought, like just about everyone else, was wtf are they? My second was how are they going to make that? I’m still not sure exactly who they are but they made the guarantee in a photo finish by qualifying players from a list of countries that would make the Olympics proud and aggressively guaranteeing multiple seats at live satellites all over Ireland. The mix of players worked brilliantly and in no time our visitors were enjoying Irish poker at its unique best.

Day 1 provided a tasty treat. One of Ireland’s finest had gone through his buyin and two re-entrys in an impressive time. Apparently, he was the only one in the room or maybe even the country that didn’t know he’d maxed out. He argued at length with the TD and anyone else who’d listen (and some who wouldn’t), claiming a dealer had possibly (?) misled him when he asked how much he was allowed to spunk away in the event. He said his four bullet strategy was way different from his three bullet strategy. He didn’t get to demonstrate it though I for one would have loved to check it out for educational purposes. And for the laugh. The funny thing is he’d probably have been the bookmakers favourite to win if it was a freezeout. Only in Ireland!

Wandering through the lobby of the hotel, I stopped to pay my respects to Nicky Power and Peter The Multiplier Murphy. Nicky was in the middle of telling Peter that an Irish professional gambler had had an extra large bet on Newcastle in a soccer match (God help him!). He was watching the game for fifteen minutes with Nicky before asking which team was Newcastle. I said that could only be Marty Smyth. It was. The Multiplier disagreed saying The Gun Man (fearless Irish sports punter and pro poker player John O’Shea) would be quite capable of doing likewise. That’s the Irish for you.
Back in the poker room, I was having a few pints and playing cash. A nice kid from God knows where was bemoaning his bad luck so I told him how to solve that problem. I told him that fifty per cent of players went to the bathroom, took a leak, washed their hands and went back to the game while the rest just took a leak and passed on the washing bit. I said that to change your luck you should go to the bathroom, not take a leak at all but just wash your hands before returning to the game and a guaranteed lucky streak. He asked if I was serious and I assured him it always works for me. I can be a proper bastard after a few pints.