Paul Makepeace

by Paul Makepeace
(Dublin, Ireland)

I'd like to be wearing this expression more, on average

My first exposure to Holdem was at a friend's home game in London April 2007 where I was fleeced out of 90 pounds (200+ US pesos). My immediate reaction was "This is the game for me."

I celebrated my Dad's birthday, July 15, by playing for real money online. I had some ups & downs but none to compare with somehow getting caught up in a monster bluff with wired sevens and blowing $140. Nice. (I've since somewhat redeemed myself with a record $136 win in one hand.)

Since then however I've read a ton and now play everyday, $11 SNGs and occasional cash games. I'm about breaking even. My best wins recently have been a 3rd in a 180MTT ($10+$1) and 1st in a 180MTT (freeroll). Both these I came back from <500 chips at one point.

Reducing my tendency to think "F*ck it" and toss those last chips away I learnt from this site! Praise be to Father Ashley.

My style tends to be fairly aggressive and I can manipulate some opponents with betting sequences. My favorite part of the game is late stage in a tournament: I tend to do well here with sheer aggression and table image.

Leaks: I get carried away and sometimes don't let go of hands; hours of work blown in a couple of poor moves. I pay penance by doing freerolls. Other than that, I need a lot more experience.

I have a stretch goal of qualifying through satellites to next year's WSOP (& Europe!). In the shorter term I'd like to feel confident my game is solid and consistently winning: cashing in tournaments 2 out of 3 times.

Bluff hand: 57o

Father Ashley's analysis

Paul's comment about "This is the game for me" made me laugh out loud! It was exactly how I felt when I first began playing (and losing at) poker.

Paul and I have had a chat. I think his biggest problem is lack of focus. Mucking around with MTTs here, SNGs there, cash when he feels like it is a lot of fun, but it's not professional.

If Paul wants to be wearing that expression more often, then he needs to focus. So I will be scheduling a session with him shortly and my number one priority will be to find 'his game' and get him on the fast track to Holdem success.

If Paul's ambition of playing at higher levels as soon as possible is to be realised, he needs to build his bankroll and most likely that will be done through regular, hopefully daily "face time" in cash games.

I'll write more when I've seen Paul at the table for an hour.