Poker Interviews

Interview With TJ Cloutier
By PokerPages

Where and when were you born?

10/13/39, Albany CA

What is your occupation and where do you live now?

Pro-poker player. Now live in Richardson, Texas.

What attracted you to playing Poker?

The competition.

When and Where did you start to Play Poker and how has the poker world changed since?

I started at Artichoke Joe's in San Bruno, CA. It's out of the back rooms and now played in legal cardrooms.

Poker Achievements?

• Won 51 major tournaments - $500 buy-in or more
• Won many $100 to $500 tournaments
• Leading all-time money winner at World Series of Poker ($2,650,000)
• Four times in the top 5 at $10,000 NLH at WSOP (two 2nds, one 3rd, one 5th)
• Four WSOP bracelets
• Four Hall of Fame watches
• Won $10,000 No Limit Holdem Tournament at the Diamond Jim Brady (Bicycle Club) three years straight (1990, 1991, 1992)
• Have won at least one title in all the following venues:
  • No Limit Holdem (24 wins)
  • Pot Limit Holdem (4 wins)
  • Limit Holdem (7 wins)
  • Seven Card Stud (2 wins)
  • Seven Stud Eight or Better (1 win)
  • Omaha Pot Limit (3 wins)
  • Omaha Limit High (2 wins)
  • Omaha Eight or Better (4 wins)
  • Duece to Seven No Limit Lowball (1 win)
  • Ace to Five Limit Lowball (1 win)
  • Chinese Poker (2 wins)
• Co-author of three poker books:
  • Championship No Limit and Pot Limit Holdem
  • Championship Omaha Pot Limit, Limit, 8 or Better
  • Championship Holdem - Limit

What advice for somebody starting to play?

Read all the books you can and study all the good players' moves.

Poker Players you most respect?

Ben Roberts, Surindar Sunar & Eric Seidel.

What would you do to improve the poker industry?

Make all rules at all tournaments standardized.

If you could implement one new rule for Poker - what would it be?

Go back to 50% for tournament winner, pay one table only.

Do you like to travel overseas to take part in Tournaments>

Yes.

What is the difference in Tournaments oversea in comparison to the USA?

They are very competitive but generally smaller.

Your Ambition?

To win the big one and to enter the poker hall of fame.

Favorite Poker Game?

No limit anything.

Hobbies?

Golf, travel.

All time Favorite Movie?

Manchurian Candidate.

What Music do you like to listen to?

All kinds.

Do you have any good luck charms?

My wife.

Do you play Poker on the Internet?

Sometimes.

Do you think that Poker on the internet will take over from the Old fashioned Card Rooms?

No. Too many ways to cheat.

The future of Poker, where do you see it going?

To corporate sponsorship in tournaments.

How are you feeling leading up to the WSOP and what are you doing to prepare for this major event?

Feel great, just getting mind straight.

Did you have a good year in 2000 and what start have you had in 2001?

Great 2000. Just getting started in 2001.

Would you like to relay to us you all time favorite poker experience?

Too many to describe!