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!

Erik_jr: Real name: Paul. Age: 36. I live in Scotland near Glasgow. I am an IT consultant whose main job is to install and support Microsoft based networks. Chess has been my main hobby for 20 years.

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 would be great!

Erik_jr: I got interested in poker via a UK TV program called "Late Night Poker". Looked around a few free online sites then found PSO. I played on the free side for a month or two before joining. I have never played live so Tunica will be most interesting!

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

Erik_jr: I joined in March, 2004

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

Erik_jr: I have never played live or at a tourney. (I do not even own a deck of cards!).

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

Erik_jr: I guess I will start with the Big One Final. I had KK in mid position and first to play. I put in a decent sized pre-flop raise and the person immediately to the left who had slightly less chips raised me. Alarm bells went off- could he really have AA? My gut said yes but my brain overruled. I went all-in and he called with ACES...argh! I got very lucky and caught a K on the flop. After that I managed to build my stack to chip leader with two virtually identical pots. Twice I had QQ in late position and raised & got limpers to call. Both times the flop gave me the nuts with Q and rags. Before I could act my opponents went all-in with low pairs.

Later I called a small raise with 47. The flop was 429. Again my opponent went all-in. After some thought, I called. He had AK and got no help on turn or river. At the final table with 6 players remaining I had 1,200,000 in chips. ShinA was next biggest stack with 700,000 and was sitting immediately to my left. I caught KK for the second time (great!). I put in a decent sized pre-flop raise. ShinA went all-in. Deja vu! What are the odds of catching KK twice and the person immediately to the left having AA? My gut told me again he had aces. My brain said he might well have aces as he had been playing cautiously and was clearly a good/solid player. But I had the chips, it was 3.30am and I was beginning to wilt. I called. He had aces and this time I did not catch.

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

Erik_jr: Gee! That's a difficult question. I am too much of a novice to be aware of most of my weaknesses. As for strengths, I guess I am fairly relaxed about playing poker, which helps.

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

Erik_jr: I should not have called ShinA's all-in. My gut & my brain told me I was beat.

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

Erik_jr: I will soon find out!

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

Erik_jr: The combination of the Internet and Sat/Cable TV has revolutionized poker. In terms of numbers playing I would say that "we ain't seen nothing yet!".

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

Erik_jr: Only just started playing NLH so it may be a little while before I expand my horizons.

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

Erik_jr: I only have one book. Sklansky's Theory of Poker.

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

Erik_jr: Going to Tunica is a real shock! I was under the impression when playing the BIG ONE play-off that the next round was online and I only found out that it was a live event in the US after I had qualified :-)

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