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NewJane Interviews IRONSIDE, Top PSO Finisher at the British open £200 PLHE tourney at the VIC in London

NewJane: First, let me congratulate you on your fine finish at the British open £200 PLHE tourney at the VIC in London. You will be advancing to the PSO Live Tour Final tourney in January. Tell us a little about yourself. Where you live, etc. Any interesting facts about your life would be appreciated

IRONSIDE: I live in Scotland. I am retired from active work, but had been in the army till I broke my back in a motorbike accident. I have also broken my neck when I was dropped (in my wheelchair) as people tried to carry me downstairs at my brothers wedding. Apart from that, and nearly getting blown up twice by terrorist, my life has been uneventful.

NewJane: Share with us some of your poker background, such as how long you have played, games of choice, limits you like when you play live, other tourney successes. Also, we would love to hear anything else about your poker background that you want to share.

IRONSIDE: I started playing poker when, after watching late night poker on TV, I found that Yahoo offered Hold'em and played a little there when I wanted a break from the chat server I did some admin work for. I then found another online site that had both real money and play money and started playing there looking for a game that was closer to real money than Yahoo without risking any of my own money.

I then went from there to another site and from there to a site that was in beta testing which many players at PSO play at now. Then, I heard about pokerpages.com and started playing the freeroll beta testing. On one of my few good finishes then (I was a 28% player in those days) I was on a final table with Mark and listened to him talking about what he was going to do with PSO. Later, I got in touch with Mark and discussed sending him a cheque for membership as I don't have a credit card and I thought if I was going to spend time playing poker, I better learn what I am doing. The ISP I was doing the admin work for was bought out and the new owners didn't want a chat server, so I needed something to do.)

I had been in a casino less than ten times when I took home £800 from a £20 rebuy event. I have made a few trips back for the same event but no luck since. I have also made trips down to London for the £750 freezeout last year (where I met Mark and Tina) and this year for the £200 PLHE rebuy event. I finally got to play in Dundee last week where I played in the £500 double chance freezeout NLHE where I used up both my chances with big pocket pairs, losing each time to a set.

I haven't played cash live games yet, but have built a nice bankroll online from a small freeroll win.

NewJane: How long have you been a member of PSO?

IRONSIDE: I have been member since day 1, this year changing my nick to 12ordcoy. After the promo at Bugsy's is completed at the end of May, I plan on going back to IRONSIDE.

NewJane: Where is your favorite place to play poker, both live and tourney action?

IRONSIDE: That has to be online. No need to travel and choice of what you want to play and when. But I do like the Vic in London. It's just that the travel and hotel expenses bump the cost up and I am Scottish and we are known for being tight.

NewJane: What were some hands you remember from the tourney, both won and lost?

IRONSIDE: During the rebuy period, I was on the right of Barney Boatman who raised with AJ. I had KK and went all in, he called and I survived. I went all in preflop with 88 v AQs, and won with quad 8's. (This was during rebuy, and NOT a move I recommend during freezeout part.) Nothing much more happened until I got to my last table (about 6 tables left when I got there.) The guy on my left was a little drunk but making a lot of preflop raises. He raised from the button when I had about average stack and K9h. I went all in he folded. He then made the same raise from 3 UTG. I again went all in with 99 and again he folded.

This gave me a nice stack and I was able to move it around, taking out 3 small stacks. I then found myself with a large stack and all was looking well until the guy in the 3 seat (whom I couldn't see due to the drunk on my right and having to sit 3 feet from the table due to it being to low for my chair) made a raise. I had AKs, and twice his stack. I re-raised. It was enough to put him all in, and he called with QQ and I took a big blow after that. I didn't get a hand and didn't want to make a move as Tony was the only other PSO player left and had less than 1 complete round left in his stack.

After Tony busted, the first hand I had was K4 in SB with no one in the pot. I tried to steal off Lucy Rokash in the big blind. She had K6o and flopped trips, and that was it for me.

NewJane: What did you feel was your strength / weakness in the tournament?

IRONSIDE: My strength was my aggression and the fact every time I was called, I had a good hand. I also showed a few hands that were uncontested to increase this image. My weakness was not knowing the stats, i.e. the average stacks, how many were left and how many chips people had in front of them. If I had those facts, I think I could have folded the AK that caused me so much trouble.

NewJane: If you could play one hand over, which one would it be and why?

IRONSIDE: I might have played the AK v QQ again, but the way I was running at the time I think I played it right. Calling and folding on the rag flop might have also been a choice but I still haven't fully analyzed the hand due to not knowing how many chips were in the event and how many players were left in the event

NewJane: What are your feelings about what is going on with poker now, the incredible growth? Do you see it as a positive thing?

IRONSIDE: I love the increase in players playing online. It's good for building a bankroll. I don't know what offline was like, so I have nothing to compare it with.

NewJane: What new poker game are you anxious to learn?

IRONSIDE: I love any PL game. I am learning all formats of PL poker and NLHE. None are new to me, but I am still very raw in my learning state.

NewJane: What poker books might I find in your home library?

IRONSIDE: What's a book? What's a library ? I hope your not swearing!!!! Seriously, I don't own any poker books and if I did own one, I would probably only get a chance to read when I am on a plane traveling.

NewJane: If there is anything I didn't ask that you want to say, now is the time!!

IRONSIDE: Waist: 36 inches. LEGS: Long. Height: 6ft 3in (or 4ft 0in if your looking for me in a crowded room!)

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