I’ve been playing some online poker during this Swedish summer that once again rained away.
Online poker is like pizza without cheese. It looks like pizza, it might even smell like pizza, but it’s not pizza.
I have an itch for some of the real stuff and want to play a live tournament or two.
But please don’t judge me as a degen; I’ve only played one or two tournaments this year.
Everybody says the value is great in the online qualifying events. I will try my luck and see which part of Europe I end up in.
Last Year I Met Martin Jacobson
EPT Barcelona is around the corner. It's a favorite tournament stop on European soil, but it’s not mine. I was there last year and the wait for a seat in a cash game was 5-6 hours. The games weren't even great.
Perhaps that’s what happens when everybody wants to go to the party city in Northern Spain. This year they'll run 24/7 cash games so the games could be brilliant at 7am when people come back from the nightclubs.
If they survive the thieves, robbers, drug dealers and hookers that prowl around the casino, that is. You'll see criminals in every corner looking for victims if you walk around outside the casino sober at midnight.
It’s a scary sight indeed. Ask around among poker friends and everybody will have a horror story to tell. I believe it's one of the more dangerous parts of Europe at night and I've heard they lie about the crime rate to show more tourist-friendly stats.
The series runs August 18-30 and I might pop by for a couple of days for the cash games if my scouts have good reports. Barcelona is also a great bet if you’re a fan of poker because most stars will be there.
Last year I met the champ Martin Jacobson there. He wasn't actually the Champ then and I really didn’t meet him, either. I just passed him in the stairway and we said hi. But still.
I've Heard Good Things About Nottingham
I like Irish people and have always enjoyed my trips to Dublin. There are some interesting tournaments there this fall.
The Winamax Poker Open September 23-27 sounds really good. What could be better than a bunch of spirited Irish at the table? If you add two hundred French players, of course.
Then you have EPT Malta October 10-31. It’s probably a good bet but I’ve been to Malta so many times already I’m saving myself for something different.
WPT Nottingham November 4-8 at Dusk Till Dawn is an interesting alternative. I’ve only heard good things about the club that changed English poker history.
I’ve heard good things about the city and everybody speaks highly about Simon Trumper who runs the show there. So do I; he’s a good and funny guy.
The Unibet Open has a couple of tournaments on their “tour” and there will be many friends of mine on those stops. I just wish that the buy in was a bit more than €550.
I want a final-table finish to take care of the costs of the trip.
Unparalleled Value for Someone Who Can Play the Games
The Master Classics of Poker in Amsterdam is real tempting. It’s a wonderful city and November 13-21 looks good, too. The last time I played it was 1998 so it’s about time I go there again.
EPT Prague from December 5-16 is another popular option. There are other tournaments there at the same time so there will be plenty of action.
It’s a beautiful city, but cold as the arctic pole in December. I also prefer to go to a place where not everybody tries to rip you off - taxi drivers, waiters, bartenders, shop clerks. It really wears me down. No thank you for me.
I’ve always wanted to go to Berlin. This year the WSOP Europe is there and I will go unless a few wild horses make me rethink. The series runs October 8-24.
I like the schedule but not the rake. They take 10% on top of the buy-in which actually is “only” 9.09%. But then they take another 3% “for tournament staff." A rake of 11.82% is insane unless you compare it to the EPT.
Therefore I think I will play only one tournament. The 8-Game Mixed Event will have unparalleled value for someone who actually can play the games - like me.
It will be tempting to insult all the young online poker pros for all the boneheaded plays they'll inevitably make. And call them a bunch of degrading names and laugh in their faces. But of course I will not. I don’t tap the tank.
Over a Thousand Italians Agree
The best tournament of the year is still to come.
The 2015 Battle of Malta will take place November 4-9. Over a thousand Italians agree.
The Battle of Malta main event had 1,447 entries last year and was named “tournament of the year (under $2K)” at the European Poker Awards.
Not even wild boars could make me miss that one.
About Ken Lennaárd:
Sweden's most controversial poker blogger Ken Lennaárd has been around the professional poker circuit for almost 20 years. Among his numerous accomplishments are Swedish Championships both live and online, three WSOP final tables and over $1.5m in live earnings. He's now bringing his singular poker voice to the English world via PokerListings.com. Look for new posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Note: Opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not represent the views of PokerListings.com.
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