NewJane: First, let me congratulate you on your fine finish at the Big One Final table tourney! Your accomplishment has guaranteed you a seat in the PSO LIVE TOUR Final event in Tunica in January. Tell us a little about yourself. Where you live, etc. Any interesting facts about your life would be appreciated!

Hitman: I currently live in Joliet, Illinois. I grew up in the Chicago area. In 1998 I moved to Las Vegas due to a work transfer, and have lived there for the past 6 years. It was after this move to Las Vegas that I decided to really study the game of poker. For family reasons, my wife and I have recently moved back to Chicago. We're both animal lovers, and we have 2 dogs and 4 cats. We also have a son, Donald, who's been a joy beyond imagination in my life. He'll be 3 in February, and I've already taught him to say "I raise".

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

Hitman: I first learned the rules of the game when I was a kid, watching my parents and grandparent's play. I started playing for money in college with my friends. I didn't know anything about strategy then, but had very good card sense, and that was enough to take down the money more often than not. I played off and on after college in home games, but nothing really serious. In 1998 I accepted a job transfer to Las Vegas. After playing some low limit hold'em, I could tell I had a lot to learn. This is when I made a decision to study the game, become a true student of the game. I couldn't afford to build a poker library then, so I check some books out of the library, and found RGP on the internet. I read, studied, discussed, thought, and practiced. Eventually I started to win consistently, and built up a bankroll to move up in limits. I've played limits from 3-6 to 30-60 extensively. I originally joined PSO to learn how to correctly play big bet poker. The first time I played a NL tournament, I felt almost "naked" at the table. I was already a successful mid limit player, but really didn't understand how to play big bet poker at all, and could tell something was missing. Since improving my big bet play 1000 fold from PSO, I've cashed in numerous small buy in tournaments, won a few and had several top 3 finishes. I've also had very good success in single table tournaments online, in addition to multi table events.

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

Hitman: Pretty much since the beginning. I found them before PSO existed, when they were pokerpages and in beta testing mode, during my internet search for a place to practice NL hold'em for free. Once they "opened the doors" to PSO, I joined shortly there after.

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

Hitman: In B&M rooms, my favorite place to play live is the Mirage. Nice room, great atmosphere, good staff (in general), great games, and usually not a long wait list like you often find at the Bellagio. I like their tournaments, but played the most tournaments at the Orleans. The buy ins are more reasonable, and the fields are large with a lot of dead money. Both are non-smoking, which is a very nice touch. I wish they would all go non-smoking like in LA.

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

Hitman: I remember a few hands, but the one that I remember the most was the "final" hand, the one I busted the 5th place finisher out on. The blinds were 300-600 with 100 antes, and I was the chip leader with 33K. The UTG player was the 2nd stack with 22K, and he made a minimum 1xBB raise to 1200. I called in the next position with 77, and the BB also called with about 18K. The flop was 77Q. We all checked the flop, and the turn came another Q. The BB led out ½ pot, UTG mucked, and I just called. The river was an 8 and the BB checked to me. I bet 5K, and he raised all in for 15K. He had KQ for the full house.

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

Hitman: I didn't really feel like I had a weakness in this event. I just played my game, adjusted for the structure. My strength was my patience and understanding of the nature of the event, i.e. how to best adjust to the slow, deep money structure. I let the game come to me, and was the chip leader from about the middle of the 2nd hour on. I felt very confident throughout.

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

Hitman: Nope, I was happy with them all.

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

Hitman: People tend to complain more online. They bitch about all the bad beats they get, and the site must be rigged, etc. They complain they never see this many bad beats live (of course they don't mention that they see so many more hands online, that's not even a factor to them). Along that same line, people are a lot ruder online. They'll insult play and get out of line a lot faster when it's anonymous over a keyboard. Other than that, I see good play, bad play, bad beats, all that same stuff in both venues.

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

Hitman: Absolutely. This is a very exciting time for poker, and I couldn't be happier about it.

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

Hitman: Well, I'm not sure. I already play stud, stud high low, razz, omaha, and omaha hi low, in addition to hold'em. Maybe 2-7 triple draw low ball, although I'm not likely to have any practical application for it any time soon. And I'd really like to learn how to win at any game with the words "no peek" in the name... those games really kick my $#*!

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

Hitman: Most of the big ones. I've got quite an extensive library now.

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

NewJane: Thanks, Hitman, and Good luck to you at the playoffs, and I look forward to seeing you in January!