PokerSchoolOnline Live Tour

NewJane Interviews Retireat45, Top PSO Finisher at the ORLEANS OPEN

NewJane: First, let me congratulate you on your fine finish at the ORLEANS OPEN PSO LIVE TOUR event. Tell us a little about the qualifying tourney.

Retireat45: I finished 3rd out of 460 entries in the $230 buy-in NLHE at the Orleans on July 13, 2004.

NewJane: Tell us a little about yourself. Where you live, etc. Any interesting facts about your life would be appreciated!

Retireat45: I live just outside of Dallas, Texas, with my wife, 3 beautiful sons, and dog. I have a strenuous job working in a "body shop" and have little time to devote to many things other than my job, wife, and kids.

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. Please include anything else about your poker background that you want to share.

Retireat45: I've played poker since my teenage years in dealer's choice games. I started playing no limit hold'em about a year ago.

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

Retireat45: I have been a member of PSO since June.

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

Retireat45: With my 3rd place finish at the Orleans this year, that would be my favorite place.

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

Retireat45: My most memorable hand was when I was on the big blind and limped in with A2o. The flop came K84. I checked and the player on the button raised 3 times the big blind (blinds were 300/600). I came over the top of him with a check raise for 3 times the big blind and he called. The turn came with a 6 and we both checked. The river came a 4. There was about $10,000 in the pot and I bet $6000 into him. At that time there were about 50 people left out of 460 people and I started the hand with $25,000 and he had about the same. He folded after about 4 minutes of thinking and showed KJ to the table. I turned over my A2o and he felt the pain. The player to my left looked at my Poker School hat and said, "He didn't learn that play at any school, that was one helluva play". I lost three hands in a row where I had a 70%, 70%, and 55% advantage after the flop. Those hands brought my stack down from $40,000 to $18,000.

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

Retireat45: My strength was maximizing my return on my quality hands. My weakness was betting too much early in the tournament.

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

Retireat45: I would have folded my AQs to the very tight player that had AK. He didn't play a hand for over 45 minutes. Not worth the risk.

NewJane: What are some of the differences you see live and online play?

Retireat45: Live is the real deal. Players are watching every move, analyzing their cards and any movements by any players. Online is too far removed from an actual game. My kids help me play half the time and my time restraints make it difficult to play for the time needed to compete in a full tournament.

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

Retireat45: Poker has arrived!!!! I look forward to playing in a few tournaments a year for many more years to come.

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

Retireat45: I plan to continue to concentrate on NLH. I have much more to learn

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

Retireat45: I have about 4 books on limit and no limit holdem-Sklansky, Malmuth, T.J.

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

Retireat45: I want to thank PSO for giving all the PSO'ers the chance to compete live and online. I look forward to Tunica in January.

NewJane: Good luck to you at the playoffs; we will be keeping our eyes on you!!

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