PokerSchoolOnline Live Tour

NewJane Interviews xxpiratexx, Top PSO Finisher at the Legends of Poker event at Paris/Ballys in Las Vegas

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.

xxPiratexx: It was the $300 buy-in NL Event at the WSOP Circuit held at the Paris/Bally's in Las Vegas. There were 476 entrants and I came in 48th. 45 got paid.

NewJane: Tell us some interesting facts about your life, such as place of employment, family matters, hobbies, or educational background.

xxPiratexx: I work doing payroll and receivables at our Nursing Registry, have to keep me locked away in the back to discourage interaction with the public. Lol. I'm married to Joybell's daughter, Stephanie. We have 3 children, 6,4, and 2. Jason, Alex, and Maddie, respectively.

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?

xxPiratexx: The last couple of years I have been trying to get into these WPT, WSOP Events cheaply and then try to cash. I came 59th in 2004 in my first one for 3K, but then finished 14th in the 2005 Party Poker Million Cruise for 52K and placed 97th for 6K in Aruba in September. Had a poor showing at the WSOP Main Event, but it was my bad play that got me knocked out. No reason not to cash next year, if I can get in.

My game of choice is Limit Hold em. I'm stepping up to 40/80 - 100/200 Levels. I can't see any brilliance there that can't be overcome. The 40 game at the Commerce is LOOSE. Amazingly bad players. But they'll put some beats on you, so strap in and go for the ride, but I just can't get out enough with the kids and all. I've been playing for, well…..seriously for 3 years. It was more just for fun before that. Played terribly previously. My favorite live casino is The Commerce in LA . I don't know how it could be better anywhere else.

Online play -live play- Doesn't matter. I wish I could play more live play though.

Ring /Tourneys - I don't really care, I just love poker. Depends on what I'm in the mood for.

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

xxPiratexx: This is my 2nd year. I think January of 2004 was my first time on.

NewJane: What do you think was your greatest strength in the tourney? Your biggest weakness?

xxPiratexx: Strength - patience, patience, patience. I haven't won anything yet (Well, some seats and some money, but only 1 Multi -table tourney win on-line), but I'm working on it. It's amazing how you just look up and the Tourney has just dwindled away to the $$$ spots.

Weakness - Too much patience some times - I don't let myself get too short, but it seems like I never hit the important hand to propel me higher. Whether it be the draw I pushed with or the need of hold em cards so the other guys misses (for once). I've been losing to a lot of miracles lately - I think I need a break.

NewJane: Do you remember any key hands you want to tell us about? Positive or Negative outcomes...

xxPiratexx: Yes, the key hand was when I got knocked out. I have 3900, Blinds are 4/800 with a 100 ante. All fold to me, I'm on the button. The Small Blind is away from the table and getting blinded off, the BB is a rock, he'll only call with premium holdings. I move in, he calls, because he woke up to QQ of course. Now the flop comes J56, at least I have a gut shot. Turn is an 8 - Now I have 9 outs. And miss, of course. River is a K. I'm out. Good spot, perfect spot, and get unlucky that the BB has a hand and then don't get lucky on the suck out.

Also, at my first table I had Mike "The Grinder" Mirachi - He was playing elevator with his stack. Up to 4K - down to 2 - back to 5 etc….. He makes it 1000 to go with a 3K stack - blinds are 1/200. The SB blind pushes in. He thinks and thinks - says I'll gamble and calls with 44. He gets knocked out. But why call? Why 1000? I don't know. He only has 6 final tables this year. I have to find out how he does it. More and more I think Tourney play sucks. I've been using Poker Tracker for a little while now and I notice that my big pairs are about 10% less winner in Tourneys than Ring games. That's because when you get to see all 5 cards after all your chips are in, miracles happen.

NewJane: What are some of the differences you notice in online play as opposed to live play?

xxPiratexx: 3 times as many suck outs because you see 3 times as many hands.

Also, how can you not love on-line tourneys - you can play a 3500 player tourney in 10 hours and in a live casino it would take 4 days - lol.

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?

xxPiratexx: honestly have no idea. Maybe Erick Lindgren because I did get to play with him in March and I cornered him for a couple of minutes after the tourney and the fact that he didn't try to escape gave me a great impression of him (Is that considered a rambling sentence?).

I'd probably ask him about aggressive moves on soft reads - I have trouble pulling the trigger in these spots so something about that maybe.

NewJane: What poker books have helped your game?

xxPiratexx: The Harrington books are the best. I better start rereading them all though. I've probably read everything but Helmuth - he's such a jackass.

NewJane: What new poker games are you interested in learning?

xxPiratexx: None - I can't even play this one well enough yet

NewJane: Here is your chance to address anything I neglected to ask that you are dying to share.

xxPiratexx: I have no idea - I want more people to respond to my posts when I write those books of mine. I'd like some feedback so I can get some fresh ideas and other perspectives. We have to interact to improve, and I sure know I have loads to improve.

NewJane: Thanks for taking time to answer the questions! Good luck in the Live Tour Finale!

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