PL Poker - The History (1960-1970)

The swinging sixties saw a renaissance period for the Punters Lounge.
The club relocated to the Kings Road, and various celebrities were seen on regular occasions going in and out. Poker became cool again, and it was played amidst the sixties culture of flower power and free love.
Although it is common knowledge that Elvis Presley never visited the UK, this is not strictly true - as only the people in the upper echelons know only too well. In 1963 Presley did a private gig in the Lounge, and apparently proved to be "one mean poker player".

One famous night in the sixties there was "the game that spawned a song".
The table consisted of George Best, the British spy Anthony Blunt, Heniek, Kevsul, Twiggy, Terence Stamp, RedFear, Paul McCartney and John Lennon. There was one huge pot - where Anthony Blunt tried to bluff the pot from Heniek with 4 and 6 of diamonds - unfortunately for him Heniek was holding KK - and took it down.
Lennon said to McCartney - "Loose play by the spy with Diamonds*" - to which McCartney replied "That sounds like a good title for a song".

The rest of the 60's were a boomtime for the PL, but unfortunately the 70's were not to be so good.

To be continued...


*The official lyrics were later changed to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" after a complaint by Anthony Blunt - but if you listen to the song it will confirm the original lyrics.

The Players - Episode 7 : Avon Girl

Your best moment in Poker?

My first (and so far only) MTT win last August, especially since it was a PL tournament, the $1 challenge on Sporting Odds. This gave me a place in the following month’s 50 up freeroll where I came 2nd for my biggest money win. I’d been playing about 8 months then. This will only be surpassed when I finally become BPP later this month.

Your worst moment in Poker?

For me personally, nothing too horrendous yet: When I’d only been playing a few weeks I remember thinking I couldn’t lose a hand because I had a flush and the A was out on the board. I didn’t realise the next highest card counted. Lesson learned. And the first time my lovely AA lost to some rubbish I was so mad I couldn’t speak for about an hour. Now I just put it down to odds, luck, or betting it badly. As a poker-playing household: Thinking that after about 4 months of twice-a-day tournaments we’d just missed out on Runadrum qualifying for the Maxim live final.

What is your main goal in Poker?

Unlike many on PL, it’s not to go to WSOP. I’ve had no success in the very few live games I’ve played and don’t enjoy it as much as on-line. I’m not a natural gambler and I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable playing with even a 3 figure buy-in. I’m told (by someone lower down the BPP table than me) that I lack the killer instinct to win. True, I am rather a ‘safe’ player (although I probably bluff more than you think I do) so my goal is to become more aggressive whilst remaining a profitable player. Oh, and to finish reading Harrington 1.

A one line word of advice you’d give to a new player?

Set yourself a daily spending limit (especially if you’re losing on STTs), and join Punter’s Lounge.

Your favourite hand?? (If you want to reveal it!!)

I’m a bit too fond of A 10 suited. No good reason. Can’t even use the excuse of having got a royal holding it. (I’ve had a red one and a blue one with AQ and KQ ;-)) I’m trying to wean myself off it and making myself fold….if I’m out of position or there’s a big raise before me!

Favourite poker site?

Should really be Sporting Odds, where I’ve won most money, but I’m not liking the Paradise software as much as the old Boss version. I’ve been doing well on Virgin recently – 2 ipods and enough Vmiles to get me somewhere over the Atlantic, one way.

You enter the Big Brother house – who would be your three ideal housemates??

My best mate Judith, because I don’t spend anywhere near enough time with her these days; the doctor – all 10 of them will only count as 1 – with the tardis of course, so the current timelord and I could nip away for some “adventures” and come back at the same moment in time so no-one missed us; and Tommy Cooper to make me laugh (we’ve gone back in time of course before he died).

Which TV/Film actor would play you in a movie?

Runadrum votes for Mary Steenbergen, but I thought Demi Moore, or maybe Dawn French when I’ve eaten all my Xmas toblerones. Probably should be Gaynor Faye for the accent though.

One thing you’re scared of ??

Being found out. I’m good at pretending I’m good at things when really I’m just a lazy beggar.

What is your pornstar name? (Name of first pet followed by mothers maiden name)

Sunny Dawson. Hm, that’s a good way of finding out someone’s security question answer, so that’s my grandma’s maiden name instead! (The real one isn’t any more interesting by the way.)

Worst record you have ever bought?

Too many bad ones with the benefit of hindsight. I’ll plump for Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood of Man.

You’ve just won the lottery. What’s the first thing you buy for yourself ??

Next door’s house, so we can knock through and get some storage space, followed by a house in the country where we’d actually live along with our equine family.

Freeroll Seat 7 - Lucky 7's

So here is the qualification for seat 7 - in the first week of 2007 - Lucky 7's (a lot of 7's going on there!).
At the end of the 7th January, the player ranked 7th in the PL rankings will gain seat 7.
If the player ranked 7 has already qualified for the freeroll - the player ranked 77 will gain qualification (if by a miracle both these placings have already qualified - then Cloud will take the seat!!!).