Poker Interviews

Randy Holland Interview
By Randy Glover

His peers rank him the 6th best razz tournament player in the world; the 6th best 7-card stud high-low tournament player; and the 2nd best 7-card stud tournament player.

He's won $198,159 at final tables year to date, 6th in the world. He is 11th so far in Player of the Year points as ranked by Card Player Magazine. And Randy won the Limit Hold 'em event at the L.A. Poker classic, netting $165,945 and outlasting 624 other players.

Nolan Dalla in a recent issue of Poker Digest said, "He's got both the talent and discipline to last five days. One of the most underrated players in the world today."

Dalla ranks him a 180 to 1 shot to win the WSOP. Before you think those are long odds, TJ Cloutier and Eric Seidel are the co-favorites at 125 to 1. Last year's champ, Carlos Mortensen, is at 170 to 1.

Some of his highlights for past WSOP events: He was 12th in the 1999 $10,000 buy-in championship event. He won his second bracelet in the 2000 seven-card stud high-low event. His first bracelet was for the 1996 seven-card Razz event.

So let's talk to this former lawyer turned poker professional:

Randy Glover: Wow, quite a year so far. Are you doing anything different or do you feel that everything is just coming together for you now?

Randy Holland: I have had a great start this year because of the results in two big tournaments. Part of the luck factor in tournament poker is in which tournaments the cards break right for you. So I am attempting to continue a strategy of running bad in smaller tournaments, but getting lucky in big money events.

RG: How would you describe your basic playing style?

RH: I try to play a patient, but aggressive style. When the cards are not running well I have to control my tendency to try to make something out of nothing.

RG: Your colleagues selected you as one of the best 7-card stud, 7-stud high low, and razz tournament players in the world. How do you feel about that?

RH: Everyone in every profession, whether they will admit it or not, wants the respect of their peers; so such rankings are gratifying.

RG: Are those your favorite games? Is that why you feel you do so well in them?

RH: I feel I am quite steady in most games; I do not have a favorite game for tournaments, but limit hold 'em is my least favorite. I almost never play stud or razz in cash games but often play in limit hold 'em ring games.

RG: What set of skills do you feel you possess that causes your competitors to rate you so highly in those particular games? Are you able to quickly memorize the cards out there? If so, do you feel like that gives you a significant edge?

RH: I do not feel I have particular skills (such as a great memory) for non-flop games, but the information provided by up-cards may allow for use of what I will vaguely call tournament skills. In cash games my preference is for mixed games since I am not a specialist in any one game; it is somewhat ironic and frustrating that I have been a dismal failure in mixed game tournaments. One of the difficulties in tournament poker is distinguishing between playing well and getting lucky, short-term results rarely paint a definitive picture.

RG: You got married 4 years ago. Do you find it harder to balance your life than before?

RH: It is my marriage to Laurene that gives my life balance. There are two key factors for us that help harmonize poker and marriage: first, Laurene understands that for me poker is a business; second, she now enjoys playing poker and she is part of the poker world. She plays without the pressure to win, travels without expense, and gets to tell bad beat stories without having to listen to them; not bad.

RG: Could you give our readers a little more information about your progression from small-stakes player to big-time tournament player? Are there any players that significantly shaped your game?

RH: In 1993 when I decided to take a one-year sabbatical to play poker, I was playing 20/40 and 40/80 limit hold 'em. At that point I was quite one-dimensional; a ring game limit hold 'em player. Variety is the spice of life, so I started playing every small tournament on the Mississippi coast. My first 'major' win was at the Gold Coast in 1994, but I started to think of myself as a tournament player after Foxwoods in December of 1994 where I chopped the $500 razz, $500 no-limit, and $2500 stud events, winning the trophy in the latter event.

I watched all the successful tournament players, but early on the aggressive style of Jack Keller and particularly John Bonetti was very influential. From T.J. Cloutier I have tried to emulate a patient start that does not put chips needlessly at risk early in a tournament.

RG: Do you still play ring games or do you focus solely on tournaments now?

RH: Poker is not rocket science, it can become monotonous, so for variety I play both tournaments and cash games. In ring games I might play pot-limit, stud hi-lo, but most often if there is a mix game, that will be my preference. For a change of pace I sometimes stay home and play online.

RG: What are your hobbies and interests outside of poker?

RH: I have always enjoyed traveling, and poker has afforded the opportunity to visit other places as more than just a tourist. We have taken many trips to Europe, gone on many cruises, loved Costa Rica, not to mention all the locations we have visited here in the USA. I am big movie buff, and enjoy going to the theatre and to concerts. One of the drawbacks to becoming a full-time poker player is that you lose one of your favorite hobbies.

RG: You have said in the past that you are a little more selective about events that you play at the WSOP. Which events are you entering in this year's WSOP?

RH: I will play the first six or seven events, then become more selective somewhat depending on how I am running. A factor this year is that because I have started the year so well it is likely that I will have a 40% partnership with the IRS. The Big One is definitely on my agenda.

RG: Any special preparations for the WSOP?

RH: To prepare I have tried to get rested both mentally and physically. I believe that going to the gym and trying to eat right do affect poker results. So I will concentrate on going in refreshed rather than doing any poker related reading or studying.

RG: Thanks Randy Holland, and we look forward to watching you play at this years WSOP.