Ok so we arrive in Monte Carlo at around 5.30pm on Saturday after an uneventful flight from East midlands airport on a jet called Pudsey Bear which amused the wife.
Decided to take a taxi to our hotel The Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort, I think the driver was practicing for the forthcoming Grand Prix as the journey took about twenty mins, so he pulled into the hotel drive and extracted 90 euro's out of me.
The hotel looked at first glance like something out of a travel guide classy and spectacular, as we were checking in a guy came up to the receptionist next to mine and started to check in, he was the first star we saw, Umberto Brenes (scruff)
So off we go to our room on the seventh floor, into the lift we go and the first thing I noticed that there was a padded seating area in the lift, (how strange)
Well the room was again splendid with a cushioned chaise lounge on the large balcony, and a side view to the sea.
After a quick shower and change it was down to the evening reception party for the poker camp winners and partners, met at the door by one of the friendliest guys you could hope to meet called Sam Hellman who was the event manager, off to the free bar and to meet some of the other participants, there were 29 other qualifiers for the camp nine of them from the French one that was cancelled.
The evening was also attended by the rest of the poker stars team who were going to be running the lectures all of them were Americans and included Alex Outhred who finished 54th in the wsop main event last year, not knowing who he was I noticed he had a crowd of onlookers hanging of he's every word as he was going through he's poker achievements. There I was thinking what a Nob, (just shows how wrong you can be about someone on first impressions as this guy was one of the best tutors I came across on the trip).
So after several introductions and free drinks later it was decided that it was time to end the party and get an early night in preparation for the first day, (lightweights)
So Jan and I were just getting warmed up so off we go to the bar for a quick half of lager. Spoke the the nice friendly bartender and ordered drinks while talking to the wife, gave him a twenty euro note and received six back, of course the Yorkshireman in me then pipes up "scuse me, this right? Two glasses of lager fourteen Euros?"
Yes sir the reply, OMG close to Fourteen Quid for two drinks I was so glad that we bought a bottle of Bacardi at the airport to bring out with us.
Well woke up on Sunday morning with the standard hangover at around seven am.
While drinking is not something I do a lot of, when the mood takes me I tend to just go with the flow and just enjoy myself. Something I do know is that like most people I say things that you tend to forget the next morning, until all of a sudden you think did I really ask that?
I had one of those moments while showering when you think did I say that, and did they say yes?
What I am talking about is I asked the organiser if Jan could also attend the camp, and the lectures, and was told normally this would not happen, but yes why not.
So woke Jan and it seemed she was in a worse state than me and was going to stay in bed, so off down to a breakfast where several of my new buddies were also slightly hung-over, there I was reminded that it is ok for Jan to join us, and explained she might join us at lunch. Back to the room for ten mins before the first lesson and was surprised to see Jan showered and ready to go.
So day one first module was online v live play looking at the key differences between the two. I am not going to go into much detail about this as most of it is common sense, while this was going on listening to the guy who has played over two million hands on poker stars; the door opened and in walked Mr Greg Raymer to say I was gobsmacked would be an understatement.
Listening to this man speak on he's strategy of early tournament play was even more fascinating , especially he's game plan on the WSOP trying to win two years running, one of the clearest messages he said was how most player when getting to the championships set the goal to reach day two , and how he exploits these players. Basically your goal should be to win the tournament not reach certain stages like day one or reaching the final table, you might as well bust out in the first session as bust out on the bubble...
So lunch time arrived and after going outside with Jan for some fresh air we walked into the dining room where three large tables were set for lunch, we sat down and were joined by the big man himself, wow just feckin wow here I am in one of the fanciest hotels in Monte Carlo being served an al a carte lunch and making small talk with Greg Raymer, don't wake me up.
After lunch it was time for middle stage strategy, how to handle the bubble and to position yourself for the final table, not just to slip into the money.
Followed by live hand analysis with the instructors dealing to the students and then discussing your plays, of course to have the man dealing was again surreal, I was unfortunate not to be involved with many hands, but to hear the opinions of these guys on the way the hands were being played was again fascinating.
Day two
First session a recap on day one and then on to final table strategy again with Greg Raymer.
After the first session of the morning while having a coffee break, down the hall strides this man with an electric toothbrush in he's hand , walks straight up to me as I was the nearest and announces "Hi I'm Daniel pleased to meet you. OMFG what a strange introduction, after introducing himself to several others of my fellow campers it was back in to the room for the next module.
"Small ball poker by Daniel Negreanu"
This was Daniels forte and the most profitable part of he's game, explaining how he plays loads of pots in the early stage of a tournament and how as part of he's game he is so friendly to the rest of the table and how he makes people think that if there going to loose chips to anyone on the table, they would prefer to loose to him and still smile about it.
This session took us to lunch break, where again we were joined by the two pros
After a superb lunch I took some fresh air with Jan (ciggi time) then back to the classroom.
Walked in and there was one of the poker stars staff playing Chinese poker with this other guy sat at our table, taking no notice I sat in my seat and started looking at the workbook we had been using. Then Jan whispers in my ear who the other guy was, Chris Feckin Moneymaker I couldn't believe how friendly these poker stars players were, the afternoon was spent having these guys dealing to us and discussing our play
