NewJane: Congratulations on your excellent finish at the Live Tour event! Tell us about the event that qualified you for the Live Tour Final tourney next year.
Poker_Fan99: That would be the $200 +30 NLHE event during the Orleans Open on July 17th. I almost decided not to play in this event. I had played in Saturday's $100 +25 Limit game, and the dealers were really bad. I hate to get on the dealers, but there were too many mistakes being made.
I finally made up my mind to play. After all, I hadn't come all the way to Las Vegas just to sit at my hotel and play video poker.
During the first hour of the event, I was actually down to about $125 in chips after getting drawn out on by flushes twice. By the end of the first break, I was back up to my original $1000 and breathing again. I'll admit I had a lot of luck on my side as there was two hands right before we reached the money that I was a big underdog in and got "blind stinking lucky."
NewJane: Tell us some interesting facts about your life, such as place of employment, family matters, hobbies, or educational background.
Poker_Fan99: I work for ProLogic Inc., a NASA contractor based out of Fairmont, WV. Yes there is a NASA facility in West "by-god" Virginia! :
I'm married to my high school sweetheart. We were married 2 years ago at Red Rock Canyon, and have now made it a tradition of returning every year for our anniversary in November.
Poker has become my hobby filling the void left by golf. I injured my back several years ago that prevents me from being able to play very much golf. I needed to find something that I could focus on and forget about work for a while.
As for education background, I have a BS degree in electrical engineering from West Virginia Tech. I have two MS degrees from West Virginia University. One is in electrical engineering, and the other is software engineering.
NewJane: Give us a little glimpse into your poker background. How long have you played? Do you prefer online play or live? Where is your favorite place to play live? Do you like tournaments or ring games? What is your game of choice?
Poker_Fan99: I've been playing poker since the summer of '03. I was hooked, like so many others, by the WSOP and WPT telecasts. I decided to run out and grab a book to learn the game. Unfortunately for me I grabbed Phil H's "Play Poker Like the Pros." I'm still trying to undo the damage done by that one! :
This event was my first major B&M tournament. I've mostly played online. I have my TV hooked up to a PC so that I can sit in my recliner with a wireless mouse and play. I'd have to say I enjoy playing online due to the comfort factor.
As for my favorite place to play B&M, I really enjoy the poker room at Foxwoods. I've made many evening trips over to play 2/4 Limit while I was learning to play the game.
I find NLHE SNG's and MTT tourneys to be my favorite. They keep my mind stimulated and divert my attention for a few hours from my normal daily grind.
NewJane: How long have you been a member of PSO?
Poker_Fan99: I have been a member of PSO for coming up on 2 years now. I originally joined to give me someplace to play when I burned up my monthly allotment of cash in online sites. Luckily I realized there was so much more to the site than just the games. The forums and lessons are a wealth of information that I only wish I had taken more advantage of earlier.
NewJane: What do you think was your greatest strength in the tourney? Your biggest weakness?
Poker_Fan99: My greatest strength in the tourney had to be my patience with respect to picking and choosing my battles well. I've been playing some really good poker the past few weeks. I told my wife on the flight out that I've been really patient with my playing lately and I felt good about my chances to at least place in the money.
My biggest weakness has to be that I let the big mouths get to me sometimes. I started to let some of the folks at the final two tables get under my skin.
NewJane: Do you remember any key hands you want to tell us about? Positive or Negative outcomes...
Poker_Fan99: Well negative hands early on...I was just about knocked out when I flop top two pair twice and get drawn out on by a flush both times.
There were several lucky hands that I won that kept me afloat throughout the tourney.
- I'm in the BB with Ac3c. The chip leader raises it 5x the big blind. The next highest chip count has been making some really weird plays the whole tourney and he flat calls. At this point in the tourney, I'm right outside the money. I figure this is a good opportunity to pick up some chips if I can get lucky, so I come over the top and push all-in. The chip leader calls, and number two folds. I show my Ac3c. Chip leader shows .....A...A. DOH! I get real lucky and the flop comes 245. This was a huge pick up for me that kept me alive for a while.
- I'm in the small blind with AcTc. It's folded around. I put in a 4xBB raise and get called by the BB. Flop comes A85. I check BB pushes I call. I have him covered, but it would hurt if I lose this hand. BB shows AK. Turn comes a T.
NewJane: What are some of the differences you notice in online play as opposed to live play?
Poker_Fan99: As mentioned earlier, being able to read reactions, facial expressions, mannerisms, etc. is a huge plus. I've been reading Harrington's book lately and he is a big proponent of watching player's hands when they bet. I actually had the opportunity to put this advice to use on a couple of occasions and avoided big trouble.
NewJane: If you could have dinner with any current poker tourney pro, who would it be and what would be the question you would ask first?
Poker_Fan99: I would love to sit down and have dinner with Hoyt Corkins. Hoyt seems like a very down to earth person that's not full of themselves like many of the pros. I think my first question would have to be where he purchases his awesome cowboy hats that he's always wearing on TV. :
NewJane: What poker books have helped your game?
Poker_Fan99:
- Harrington on Holdem
- Sklansky's Tournament Poker "gap theory" rules!
- Sklansky's Theory of Poker
NewJane: What new poker games are you interested in learning?
Poker_Fan99: I normally play the mixed game tourney in the evenings. This has helped me learn a lot of patience, as I am not a very good Omaha or 7-stud player. I know enough to know what the solid starting hands are, so I do a lot of folding and not much pushing of edges in these rounds. I'd have to say I'd like to improve my Omaha hi-lo game the most.
NewJane: Here is your chance to address anything I neglected to ask that you are dying to share.
Poker_Fan99: I want to thank all those at PSO for their support and advice throughout the event. And take this chance to apologize to Al once more for calling him sometime between 1am and 2 am to tell him the results! Note to self: Look at clock before dialing phone after long poker tourney! Doh! Sorry Al and thanks again for all the encouragement and advice.
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