TOM BOYLE

Weblog: Playing his cards right . . . some of the time

Night fever: 24 hour poker challenge

Part 3 of  Tom Boyle's attempt to spend all night in London's Victoria Casino, which recently opened 24 hours a day

It's midnight and still mild out on the Edgware Road. I pop into Somerfield for an energy drink just as staff are preparing to close its doors. I hand over my cash again, but at least this time there is a sense of satisfaction that I'm guaranteed to get something back in return.

Back at the Vic, the mid-evening hubbub has died down and it's easier to get a seat again. A player to my left has just had some sandwiches delivered to him. It strikes me it would be very easy not to leave the building at all. I play what seems like a few hands before I realise that the tournament I'd entered earlier is reaching a conclusion.

I stroll over to watch Londoner Tom Meltzer turn his short stack into a winning pile of chips. It's 1.20am and Meltzer is swiftly out of the door once he's collected his £875 prize.

Inspired, I return to my table. I'm down to £40 in chips now, but am pleased with my tight gameplay. Live poker demands extra patience. You cannot run half a dozen games at the same time. And if you don't like the pace of the table, it's not as easy to move to another as it might be online.

It is a lack of concentration that ends my session. New players and dealers come and go and I fall into a comfortable routine. I feel like a motorist on a long motorway journey who is startled when he realises he is approaching his destination but cannot quite remember how he gets there.

With the time approaching 2am, I got the top two pair on the flop. I'd hoped my positive move would intimidate my opponents, and all bar one folded. Without much thought, I went all-in with £35 of chips. I was foiled by a set of jacks. Weary, I thanked the table, picked up my jacket and headed out into the night.