18th June 2007

Hello there and welcome to Hold or Fold - The UK's only Poker E-Letter dedicated to helping YOU become a better player!

In this week's E-Letter -

       *Your Move Monsieur Bond and
       *Colder than a Polar Bears' Freezer Revisited

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Hi - have you had a good week? I'm exhausted today - I stayed up last night playing the WSOP Qualifier - 231 places out of nearly 7,000 players to win a $12,000 package for the World Series Main Event in Las Vegas and I busted out at 2.15am THIS morning in 1045th :-(

Not best pleased I tell you - Even more so because I feel I played some great poker - I played a good solid game and lasted 4 1/2 hours - but that's poker - you have to take the rough with the smooth and look at all playing as experience !

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James Bond in Casino Royale

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When Casino Royale came out in December last year - I didn't manage to get to see the film in the cinema - so last week - I had a girly night with some mates and we sat down to watch it.

So this week - I thought I would highlight the final hand - I know it's made up and not real - but it's still great fun and a stunner to watch.

James Bond is our hero - (well played by Daniel Craig) and Le Chiffre, (played by Mads Mikkelsen) is our baddy - There is some history between them in the game and Bond is on his final chance to make amends for a big loss in an earlier hand.

We join the action after the flop has come down: AH, 8S, 6S.
   

The Turn is 4S and there is $24,000,000 in the pot already.


Bond Checks - Extra #1 checks, as does Extra #2 and Le Chiffre.

The River is AS.


Bond Checks again.

Extra #1 goes All-in for $6,000,000.

Extra #2 also goes All-in for $5,000,000.

Action is now on Le Chiffre. He picks up a ton of chips and raises to $12,000,000.

Action now returns to James Bond who does a lovely little shuffle in his chair as he contemplates the bet.

Lots of eye-balling between the two.

Worried looks by the on-lookers - especially as there is more money on the table than the GDP of a small country !!

More eye-balling between the two players and finally James goes $40,500,000 All-In !!

Le Chiffre look at Bond and then looks at the cards on the table.

Le Chiffre checks his hole cards again - he has AC and 6H
 

giving him a full house of Aces over Sixes - a formidable hand !

It's funny to watch this hand without some commentary - I'd love to hear Jesse May or Colin Murray contemplate the action on this hand. "OH MY WORDDDD - Le Chiffre is going to call - He thinks he has the Nuts but James has him covered - WHAT A HAND !!!!!!!"

Le Chiffre gives a little laugh and says: "Well - I think I will call you on that pot" and shoves all his chips in.

That's it - ALL the chips are on the table - $115,000,000 !!!

The Croupier says: "Gentlemen - Showdown Please".

Extra #1 shows KS and QS giving him the Nut Flush.
 

Extra #2 shows 8C and 8H giving him a Full House, Eights over Aces.
 

Le Chiffre shows his hand - A Full House with Aces over Sixes.
 

He's smirking as he feels he has the best hand but of course this is James Bond - who can get one over on him??

Bond turns over 7S and 5S giving him a Straight Flush !!!!!!!!!!
 

Gasps from the crowd - music crescendos and dies menacingly. Le Chiffre looks like he's going to throw up on the spot, gets up and leaves the table.

I know this is not a real hand but I thought I'd share it with you as it's good fun - The odds of this happening in real life are astronomical - but watch this space - if anything like it DOES happen - you'll be the first to hear about it in my e-letters.

You can view this hand at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF43RVaQD7o&NR=1

Grab some popcorn and Enjoy !

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Colder than a Polar Bears' Freezer Revisited

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By the way - I don't know if you remember a hand I highlighted in April - a most amazing hand and almost as incredible as the James Bond Hand - I called it "Colder than a Polar Bear's Freezer" - well someone has been kind enough to put it on YouTube -

If you didn't read all about it - it's a hand that has to be seen to be believed - absolutely incredible - It gets better and better as it unfolds - Watching it again - and even knowing the outcome - it is still amazing to see -

You can read my e-letter all about it at: 070423.htm

and you can see it for yourself at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNz-Duyx3Lc


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Anyways - I've put last night's disappointment behind me - It's a new week, I feel I'm getting
better all the time and I KNOW I am going to report a big win to you guys soon.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's e-letter - I'll be back again next week with another highlighted hand and any news or tips that I pick up. In the meantime - may the cards be with you and let
me know if you have any good stories to tell.

All the best

Meg Arana