The after war period was a difficult time for the Punters Lounge.
The blitz had caused a lot of damage to the Lounge, and rebuilding took quite some time - with the club not re-opening until 1948. Another significant factor was rationing - when the supply of playing cards became scarce, but luckily insider links within the Lounge kept a constant supply coming.
1952 saw a major crisis within the Punters Lounge, that led onto the PL becoming infamous on a national level - and eventually on an international level.
The "Hungarian" crisis began when the Lounge hosted an International event, for the cream of the World's poker players. The event was intended to be a showcase for poker, and because of the popularity got moved to Wembley. The Queen opened the event with the now famous line - "Gentlemen - deal your cards", and off they went.
The event was going swimmingly until an incident on day four when a reporter (Nicholas Cloud from the Times) picked up on a story about supposed collusion between two Hungarian players, and this was backed up by eye witness statements from various players.
"There were signals going across the table" - said Lord Teaulc.
"One thing I can't abide is cheating" - said the Mayoress of Avon.
"Cheats I tell you, cheats" - said Sir Gareth Blades.
"Looks like Ghoulash is off the menu then" - LargeBoyLarge Esq said.
The whole event was stopped while an inquiry was held in the House of Commons, and the threat of sanctions against UK from Hungary was narrowly diverted after a top level meeting between the Hungarian Ambassador and Sir Winston Churchill.
So the fifties came to an end under a bit of a cloud, but the swinging sixties would bring the PL once again to the fore.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Sunday, December 17, 2006
PL Poker - The History Part One (1900 - 1939)
The Gentlemans Club, known as the "Punters Lounge" was formed as a man only gaming club, in the year of our lord 1900. The local baron, Mister Ross, had an idea that a drinking establishment should be set up, in which sporting discussion could take place, and various gambling activities could be partaken in.
The club was built and the membership was taken up immediately.
The first ever competition, the 1901 PL Domino Championship was won by young Master Valiant, after three days of nailbiting competition, and the cigars were on him that afternoon. That very same afternoon, the first ever card game took place. A game of "Poker" - an American import. This was met by several loud objections - "It will never take on" said Andy of the Large, "Blasted Americans" said Sir Have-a-fancy and "Surely it is a game of luck" said Lord Michael of the Slick.
Over the coming weeks these objections died down, as more and more members became involved, and Poker took off.
The Club continued to grow until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, where the club was temporarily closed, but in 1918 the club re-opened with notable new members Sir Gareth 271, Lord Morls of Newcastle and his Honourable Michael Saban.
1925 saw the first vote to have women entered into the club, after some vociferous banner waving by Lady Pockets and Penelopeys, but despite the vote taking place every year, the first woman wasn't admitted until 1937, although the smoking room was still deemed out of bounds until the early 1970's.
The period between the wars was a boomtime for the Punters Lounge. Some amazing betting coups came off - including correctly predicting the "Bodyline" Ashes series, after Douglas Jardine had frequented the club just before making the trip to Australia - and MP David Hill having a nice speculative wager on Helen Wills Moody to win the Wimbledon singles title on eight seperate occasions - although more controversially, some Lounge members were quickly ejected after the infamous 1919 World series fix, when the price on WagerFair for the Cincinatti Reds was pushed right down after various conversations in the aforementioned smoking room.
Although perhaps the biggest bounds make by the Punters Lounge was in the field of Poker.
Aside from America, this was where Poker took off in Europe. The first great player of the era, Baron Staff would take on allcomers, and had some amazing battles with the likes of General Guess from the west, Sir Percival Jaded and the Spanish intruder El Croco.
Many guineas changed hands in this time, and World domination was likely to follow, until the outbreak of World War II in 1939 - where the club was indefinitely suspended again.
To be continued
The club was built and the membership was taken up immediately.
The first ever competition, the 1901 PL Domino Championship was won by young Master Valiant, after three days of nailbiting competition, and the cigars were on him that afternoon. That very same afternoon, the first ever card game took place. A game of "Poker" - an American import. This was met by several loud objections - "It will never take on" said Andy of the Large, "Blasted Americans" said Sir Have-a-fancy and "Surely it is a game of luck" said Lord Michael of the Slick.
Over the coming weeks these objections died down, as more and more members became involved, and Poker took off.
The Club continued to grow until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, where the club was temporarily closed, but in 1918 the club re-opened with notable new members Sir Gareth 271, Lord Morls of Newcastle and his Honourable Michael Saban.
1925 saw the first vote to have women entered into the club, after some vociferous banner waving by Lady Pockets and Penelopeys, but despite the vote taking place every year, the first woman wasn't admitted until 1937, although the smoking room was still deemed out of bounds until the early 1970's.
The period between the wars was a boomtime for the Punters Lounge. Some amazing betting coups came off - including correctly predicting the "Bodyline" Ashes series, after Douglas Jardine had frequented the club just before making the trip to Australia - and MP David Hill having a nice speculative wager on Helen Wills Moody to win the Wimbledon singles title on eight seperate occasions - although more controversially, some Lounge members were quickly ejected after the infamous 1919 World series fix, when the price on WagerFair for the Cincinatti Reds was pushed right down after various conversations in the aforementioned smoking room.
Although perhaps the biggest bounds make by the Punters Lounge was in the field of Poker.
Aside from America, this was where Poker took off in Europe. The first great player of the era, Baron Staff would take on allcomers, and had some amazing battles with the likes of General Guess from the west, Sir Percival Jaded and the Spanish intruder El Croco.
Many guineas changed hands in this time, and World domination was likely to follow, until the outbreak of World War II in 1939 - where the club was indefinitely suspended again.
To be continued
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Freeroll seat 6 - Top Blogging
Seat six is now up for grabs - and this one will go to the top blogger.
On thursday at 8pm, the Punters Lounge Bloggers tournament is taking place, and the winner will gain the seat in the freeroll.
(I know I, the Cloud am playing, and it's going to be hard for everyone else to beat me - but hey, we all start with the same number of chips - so you do all stand a chance - just a little one though)
On thursday at 8pm, the Punters Lounge Bloggers tournament is taking place, and the winner will gain the seat in the freeroll.
(I know I, the Cloud am playing, and it's going to be hard for everyone else to beat me - but hey, we all start with the same number of chips - so you do all stand a chance - just a little one though)
Saturday, December 09, 2006
The Players - Episode 6 : Robilaruk
Your best moment in Poker?
Discovering that you could play online about 2 years ago
Your worst moment in Poker?
Discovering that you could play online about 2 years ago......
What is your main goal in Poker?
Apart from a WSOP bracelet? to consistently win enough that the missus does not have to go back to work and can bring up our daughter at home
A one line word of advice you’d give to a new player?
READ READ READ READ READ ALOT about poker, you will get better
Your favourite hand?? (If you want to reveal it!!)
Thats dead easy its AA - and anyone who says anything else is a womble - why go into the flop when you are NOT the favourite?
Favourite poker site?
Pornpoker.com, errrr I mean paradise/sporting odds
You enter the Big Brother house – who would be your three ideal housemates??
Girls aloud (as a group so thats one choice) Sugarbabes (as a group so thats one choice) and Hugh Fearnley Wittingstall (so I didn't have to do all the cooking for a change..... )
Which TV/Film actor would play you in a movie?
Brad Pitt (as he looks like me)
One thing you are scared of ?
Not providing for my family
Something you’ve never done – but would like to?
Poker: play at the WSOP (obviously); Non Poker: Give Blood
Worst record you have ever bought?
I only buy class however, I have no doubt that for Christmas 2008 I will be buying some shite for my daughter
You’ve just won the lottery. What’s the first thing you buy for yourself ??
An Aston Martin
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Freeroll Seat 5 - It's A Lottery
Fancy a place in the freeroll.
Simple.
Grab yourself a place in the top 49 of the PL poker rankings at the end of Friday 8th December, and you have a chance.
Then watch the National Lottery (UK) on saturday - and if the Bonus ball corresponds to your ranking - the seat is yours.
If the number is already taken by a player who has already qualified - Cloud will take the seat!!!
Simple.
Grab yourself a place in the top 49 of the PL poker rankings at the end of Friday 8th December, and you have a chance.
Then watch the National Lottery (UK) on saturday - and if the Bonus ball corresponds to your ranking - the seat is yours.
If the number is already taken by a player who has already qualified - Cloud will take the seat!!!
November Caption Competition
1st PlaceGladys says to Ethel - i can't remember the last time I held 'the nuts'
2damnhype
2nd place
Anyone else got a flush?No dear - i passed the menopause a while ago.
Pocket Lady
3rd Place
'I'll see your 2 valium and raise you 4 tamazepam'
PaulMO3
Around the Lounge
Well the Cloud is back to regular updates - after a bout of paternity leave.
Fatherhood is great, but tough.
Changing nappies is fine.
I can handle the sleepless nights.
But have you ever tried to teach a 3 week old poker hand rankings????
She just can't grasp that a flush beats a straight - seems far too worried about insignificant things like feeding, pooing and being sick.
The Quiet Man leads the Punters Lounge rankings again (nothing changes eh?), although Dave 488 and the croc have both had recent spells at the top. Paul Ross and Penelopeys currently both sit in the top ten - with Penelopeys just above Paul. Apparently, Paul Ross enjoys it that way.
FatboyFat won the Mansion series and the cool $500 bonus prize after a solid 2nd place finish in the final event. Teazz and Gazblades took the other podium positions.
The Croc swooped to win the Sporting Odds November league, by winning the final event. Morlspin and Washman finished second and third, with Morlspin just missing out on the overall title (a bit like Newcastle in 1996 eh Morls?)
Wurzel133 leads the Titan league after four events, with Penelopeys close in second. With an overall added prize fund of $1000 there is all to play for with two events left.
On December 14th there is the 2nd freeroll for all PL Bloggers. You might even see a fella called the Cloud in that one. Watch out, he is a bit special!!!
The PL Blog freeroll now has four seats filled, with Milou taking seat four, after googling me!
Seat 5 qualification will be up tomorrow.
Fatherhood is great, but tough.
Changing nappies is fine.
I can handle the sleepless nights.
But have you ever tried to teach a 3 week old poker hand rankings????
She just can't grasp that a flush beats a straight - seems far too worried about insignificant things like feeding, pooing and being sick.
The Quiet Man leads the Punters Lounge rankings again (nothing changes eh?), although Dave 488 and the croc have both had recent spells at the top. Paul Ross and Penelopeys currently both sit in the top ten - with Penelopeys just above Paul. Apparently, Paul Ross enjoys it that way.
FatboyFat won the Mansion series and the cool $500 bonus prize after a solid 2nd place finish in the final event. Teazz and Gazblades took the other podium positions.
The Croc swooped to win the Sporting Odds November league, by winning the final event. Morlspin and Washman finished second and third, with Morlspin just missing out on the overall title (a bit like Newcastle in 1996 eh Morls?)
Wurzel133 leads the Titan league after four events, with Penelopeys close in second. With an overall added prize fund of $1000 there is all to play for with two events left.
On December 14th there is the 2nd freeroll for all PL Bloggers. You might even see a fella called the Cloud in that one. Watch out, he is a bit special!!!
The PL Blog freeroll now has four seats filled, with Milou taking seat four, after googling me!
Seat 5 qualification will be up tomorrow.
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