Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Dec 31, 2011, 12:19 pm
Wishing everyone a very special New Year.“May the poker gods always look down upon you favourably”
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Dec 24, 2011, 3:24 pm
'Twas thenight before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...  How to live in a world that's politically correct?  His workers no longer would answer to"Elves",  "Vertically Challenged" they werecalling themselves.  And work conditions at the North Pole,  Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.�...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Nov 29, 2011, 11:37 am
MONACO GRAND PRIX 24TH-27TH MAY 2012 2012 MONACO GRAND PRIX. 24th – 27th May 2012Tickets now available for one of the world's most exclusive races.Enjoy the full Monaco Grand Prix experience from the luxury of our 33m yacht.  Watch all the practice and qualifying days and the Grand Prix from clos...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jul 14, 2011, 7:28 am
I think it’s fair to say that last nights cancellation was caused by the ineptitude of the staff at Ipoker – at least the swiftness in which it was cancelled by G.Casino/Blue Sq staff ensured that the game was cancelled there and then rather than the three hour debacle that happened last time. I...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jul 9, 2011, 6:13 am
Having bust out of last nights £165 side event that attracted a whopping 49 runners I decided to play the cash tables as their seemed to be some loose players on there with a whole heap of chips going begging. Having been bashed up by lady luck the night before when twice getting it in – in good ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jul 8, 2011, 7:04 am
I find myself in rainy Southampton for this week’s leg of the GUKPT summer series tour. There is also a festival-taking place at Sheffield simultaneously with the same buy-ins although on the face of it - it looks like we are getting better numbers down here. I played the Sat on Wednesday night m...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jun 25, 2011, 4:54 am
£10,000 Guaranteed at Walsall today 5pm start time £110 buy in £3500 to the winner approx (based on 100 runners) Road report from Bolton coming very soon....
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jun 16, 2011, 7:11 am
Rumour has it that Mr “hasbeen” “Bluenose” McLeish is about to be given the reins to the Midlands premier team. This job will be too big for this proven failure as not only will he have a shoestring to work with – he will have NO fan base to spur him on. Randy Lerner obv still has a lot to...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jun 9, 2011, 1:29 pm
GUKPT Summer Series Bolton leg starts today with a £220 freeze out… Lets hope that they get better numbers than the last series down in Brighton. Fingers crossed.
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - May 12, 2011, 12:30 pm
Some time since my last post so a need to catch up somewhat.. I didn’t do to well in the “live” events at the Walsall leg of the GUKPT but did manage to bag the 10% on-line game which bagged me a seat into the champion of champions on line final on the Wednesday night. I was late starting on t...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Apr 27, 2011, 4:16 am
Sometimes you have to admit to yourself that you’ve just played a particular hand like a total fucking donkey, and sometimes that particular hand can cost you your tournament, which is exactly what happened last night in the first level of play. I’m in mid position with AQ suited when there’s ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Apr 26, 2011, 1:35 pm
No good last night. I was up and down like some tarts knickers and finally found some momentum around level 3. I got moved right at the end of level three at the break and had no information on any of my table mates. First hand after the break and close to 12k in front of me I’m holding TJ on a TJ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Apr 25, 2011, 4:00 am
Today sees the starts of this years GUKPT Walsall Festival. With a £110 freeze out starting at 7.30pm I played the 10 seats guaranteed last night, £30 rebuy, 2k in chips, double add on – outlay £125 – finished 24th after cruising along quite nicely then running AK into AA for 75% of my stack ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Apr 21, 2011, 1:49 am
Been so busy of late trying to get the house back into shape - but now there's light at the end of the tunnel. Bagged another seat for the DTD deepstacks last night - racking them up - thats 4 now I think, Well done to Pete Wigglesworth who also bagged one. If your in Liverpool area and fany a gam...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Apr 18, 2011, 4:34 am
Still got a load of work to do on the house but finished most of the inside now, carpet fitters coming tomorrow.. Still knackered from the weekend at DTD and the disappointment in 24th spot but hey ho you cant win them all.. Vegas team game tonight and I'm lying 2nd in the league so I'm coming after...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Apr 2, 2011, 5:24 am
DTD £300 Deepstack and I reckon that there will be at least a £10k overlay due to the fact that Blackbelt Poker Live is on in London with over 400 runners attending and the Stoke £100 F/O is on tomorrow at Circus Stoke so I estimate a field of around 233 runners will pitch up for the two-dayer in...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 29, 2011, 3:04 am
Booked a great days weather with the weather gods and find myself up in the Cheshire countryside retreat that is the Carden Hotel: one of Devere’s premier locations. The Nicholas course awaits and will be a good test of golf I am reliably informed by some old boy that’s been a member up here for...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 27, 2011, 4:45 am
Perfect golf weather and I got a shit load of painting to do - ;-(
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 20, 2011, 9:00 am
Having gained an extra day off due to my early exit in the main event GUKPT I got to spend another day with my daughter and do the sightseeing stuff around London….The weather was a bonus and we decided on the South Bank and the Tate Modern, everyone else obv had the same idea as the place was abs...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 18, 2011, 5:28 am
GUKPT MAIN EVENT DAY 1B (FRIDAY) 3 day event, 15k chips, 60 minute clock. Had a great couple of days away from the felt. So much going on today.. RED NOSE DAY (hopefully – the deeper I get the more of this I get to miss) GOLD CUP DAY (must get my selections on – not really a tipster so got nothi...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 16, 2011, 1:09 pm
VIK 09 (Tuesday) £250 SHORT HANDED FREEZE OUT 2 day event, 10k chips, 40 minute clock. 93 runners. Went back for day 2 with just below the ave. New table and I’m on the table with this twat I was sat with for a short while yesterday. First hand and I’m utg+1 and find two black tens, I raise to ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 16, 2011, 7:43 am
VIK 09 (Tuesday) £250 SHORT HANDED FREEZE OUT (update) 2 day event, 10k chips, 40 minute clock. 93 runners. My first table was quite uneventful to say the least. Got moved to a new table (10 seat 1) after about 1½ hour’s when our table got bust. Didn’t know anyone on my new table although ther...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 15, 2011, 6:38 am
VIK 08 (Monday) £200 re-entry: update. 2 day event. 7500k chips with a 40 minute clock. I suffer a very early dent to my stack on the first orbit when this chap (button) who has played every hand of the 9 played so far raises it to 525 (25/50) with 7 limpers in the pot – I’ve got JdTd so figur...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 14, 2011, 6:23 am
VIK 06 (Sunday) £250 FREEZE OUT update 4pm start, 10000 chips and a 25 minute clock I got off to a bad start when holding pocket kings and raising to 425 first level with 3 other limpers who all call to see the flop of Ad9d9h checks round to me so I bet out for 2100 into a pot of 1700, 1 caller (Mr...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 13, 2011, 9:22 am
VIK 05 (Saturday) £150 TURBO FREEZE OUT update 7500 chips and a 15 minute clock I knew I would have to get busy early on in this Turbo event but lady luck just wasn’t with me as twice I got it in good shape only to get outdrawn. I had KK v 77 all in pre halfway through level 3 for a 7 to hit on t...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 12, 2011, 5:22 am
VIK 03 (Friday) £300 PL Omaha update: 10k chips, 1-day event, 25-minute clock throughout. I get through the first 3 levels on table 1 with the likes of Jim Reid, Willy Tan and Dave Johnson. Very few spots to have a go at with the table being hyper aggressive it soon became apparent that it didn’t...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 11, 2011, 5:55 am
VIK 02 (Thurs) £300 F/O NLH update; 10k starting stack and a 40-minute clock throughout 122 runners in the field with a pot of £36600 and just over 10 dimes for the winner. My starting table was a little nippy to say the least. Stealing pot opportunities were few and far between by the end of the ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Mar 10, 2011, 10:54 am
Having dropped off the face of the world since my last post due to doing some hard labour - I thought I would do an update… I had a tenant do a moonlight and absolutely trashed the property she was living there with her 5 kids and 2 dogs but the damage done looked like she had been housing 15 kids...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Feb 20, 2011, 4:14 pm
Marcus Bebb Jones. Finally he is back on American soil.. Landed on Friday (18th) and finds himself in court on Tuesday (22nd) which I anticipate will be the first of many appearances. He has a lot to do to prove to the american authorities that he is innocent. Good luck buddy…..your going to need ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Feb 10, 2011, 4:45 pm
So the Pokerstars UKIPT tour is in town, well Nottingham anyway. I’m scheduled to play the side event on the Friday evening £100+£10 Main event on the Saturday, Day two Sunday and Final table hopefully. I’ve been chilling out the last couple of days doing some work around the house and managed...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Feb 8, 2011, 8:51 am
1st Feb After being hopeful that Villa could at least bag a point up at Old Trafford – my hopes are dashed when that fat potato head Rooney slotted one home after just 50 seconds. United go 2 up before half time and the game looked over. Bent, our new £24m signing looked stationary for long perio...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Feb 1, 2011, 6:49 am
Thanks to Mad Marty I’ve managed to bag two tickets down on the halfway line at Old Trafford for tonight’s game. Villa take on the Premier League Leaders in the theatre of dreams and I’ll be dreaming of 3 points heading Villa’s way and a continuation of our current form of 4 wins and a draw ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 29, 2011, 8:02 am
Heading back to G Casino Manchester for day 2 of this years first leg of the GUKPT 2011 tour. The last three hours of yesterdays session seemed to last twice as long as the first 6 hours, I eventually bagged up a total of 33400 with the ave around 45k. Updates will be on twitter, facebook and “Th...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 28, 2011, 4:49 am
GUKPT Manchester is the first stop on this years 2011 biggest UK tour at the £1k buy in stakes. I am playing today, Day 1B and it kicks off at mid-day so will have to get the magic carpet out that I just brought from Marrakech and fly there to get there for this stupid start time – I’m also inf...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 24, 2011, 7:24 am
16th Jan – Sunday Villa were playing Blues in a mid day kick off that meant it was going to be difficult for the Mad Turk to pick me up at 11.30am as pre arranged from Birmingham New Street – so I caught the 8am train south from Telford finally arriving at the Turks station for 11am. Our chauffe...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 17, 2011, 6:01 am
Ever thought of having a coaching session? Got a leak – need to fix Whatever your requirement we have a solution Check out our new site… www.thefirmpoker.com Free coaching sessions available also: http://thefirmpoker.com/services/coaching/
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 16, 2011, 1:13 am
Marrakech, Morocco. Lets hope that the locals are friendlier than the Tunisians. Finally got rid of my cold that has been with me for ages. Fingers crossed for a Villa victory in our mid-day kick off against the shitty. Update on my diet to follow…. Soon.
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 13, 2011, 6:19 am
Houllier’s revolution at Aston Villa Before his reign had even officially began, Houllier speaking in his first press conference since his appointment was announced, informed the media that his ongoing commitments to the French F.A. prevented him from signing his contract at Villa Park and was u...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 11, 2011, 7:03 am
So many things to do before I go to Marrakech later this week. Housework Gardening Ironing Gym Shopping Was hoping to get a game of golf in as well Today though I’m just chilling out and keeping warm.
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 10, 2011, 6:37 am
No point in crying over spilt milk!!! – that’s what they say aint it Twice yesterday I got unlucky after getting my chips in the middle in a favourable position – twice I got desperately unlucky, twice it was considered to be fairly deep in the competition and twice the lucky fuckers went on t...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 9, 2011, 6:20 am
No updates after the first break from me mainly because I exited around the end of level 4 being eliminated 235th/306 (meaning an overlay of around £8,000 I’m on the small blind holding two black eights when there is a raise to 475 in the cut off +1, cut off calls as does the button, I hump it up...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 8, 2011, 5:38 am
Over 100,000 visitors to my blog since I started and it’s all down to you lot out there, so thank you for reading and please keep coming back. Villa travel over to Sheffield today to take on the mighty Sheffield Utd in the FA Cup Currently 21st in the champions division this should on paper be an ...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 7, 2011, 5:33 am
Another Christmas scene as I pull my bedroom curtains back and see all the fresh snow. Today I make my way over to Nottingham’s DTD for the weekends £300 Deepstack with £100k guaranteed and a first prize of around £30k. I’m expecting in excess of 300 runners and not much of an overlay, if any...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 6, 2011, 6:59 am
UK’s Fattest Bastard – not quite -but…. This is the result of playing poker for the last three years…. 3 stone gained from sitting at the felt or the virtual felt, eating far too much and doing far too little exercise. My goal is to get down to 12’6 by April 30th and then maintain that wei...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 3, 2011, 8:34 pm
Dave Smith R.I.P Dave, diagnosed with Mesothelioma back in December 2008, was given 9 months at the time by his doctors –has finally lost his fight against this illness. I've never sat with a more genuine, good-natured, well-mannered gentleman at the felt – his presence will be missed by so man...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 3, 2011, 6:45 am
"Chelsea were that bad that even Heskey (donkey on two legs) got on the score sheet." Villa bag an injury time goal that was good enough to share the spoils against a Chelsea side that on the day were lucky to get anything out of the game – Villa should have and could have took all three points i...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 2, 2011, 4:54 am
So my New year has started and I find myself willing the Baggies (West Brom) on against Man Utd but realized that this is fruitless when Peter Odemwingie missed a penalty to take the lead – not long after the Manc’s had made it 2-1 in their favour. Man U had taken the lead from a header from Roo...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Jan 1, 2011, 8:54 am
Happy New Year Hope it's as lucky for you as I'd like it to be for me... happy fishing > . . .
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Dec 13, 2010, 9:25 am
After making final table in the Brighton Marina Christmas Cracker main event I am gutted as I have James (Flushy) Dempsey immediately to my left hand side and he has a mountain of chips compared to my 60k. I knew that picking my spots was going to be tough with James to my left – mountain of chips...
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Stephen Holden posted an article on Steve Holden's Poker Blog - Dec 11, 2010, 11:20 pm
After having had a good weekend at Coventry I decided to make the trip down to the Brighton Rendezvous Casino down at the Brighton marina for the Christmas Cracker festival. So after a good chill out on Monday and Tuesday on Wednesday I make the 4 half hour trek down the M40/M25/M23 and check in at ...
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