blonde poker forum

Welcome to the new "In the Well" feature where blondes ask successful players their burning questions!

Each blonde can ask a maximum of 5 questions of the player...poker or non-poker related,which the player will answer. We hope!

Each player's time in the well will last ten days, at which point another player steps up

Please keep this thread for questions and answers only

discussion of the idea, and all feedback about ways to develop and imporve the feature should be posted on this linked thread  http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=30634.msg643274#new

Thank you

So we kick off,questions to run until Friday 22nd February, with


Julian Thew, EPT Champion, double GUKPT Champion, William Hill sponsored professional player

It has to be done;

What is your favourite pie filling?


now to think of some poker ones.

How do you maintain your health with all the hours you need to work through the night? I'm interested particularly in your diet and any exercise you might do and how poker affects your family/social life?

Can you still remember the nervousness/excitement of your first ever poker game ?  And are there times now that make you feel the same ?

this is too easy....rhubarb of course

How has top-level tournament poker changed in recent years and what adjustments to your game have you felt you've had to make?

How do you run so good? Seriously, is it some voodoo thing or witchcraft?

nice!


OK...Now a hypothetical scenario for you.

Say you are a recreational poker player who would definetly not mind giving being a pro a whack. But you have no bankroll to speak off and reckon you'd want 100k$ before you turn pro.

Say you win 20k$ by winning 2 WSOP ME packages on stars (so you get the cash)

Would you;

A; Play the Main Event with half of your winnings?

B; Play a smaller tourney (1500$ PLO) just for fun, and because you think you have an edge in that game, and go over to Vegas to take advantage of the cash action there during the WSOP? (assume you are a half decent cash player who'd expect to make a profit out of doing that)

C; Use your bankroll management skills and use the 20k to build it up online where you won't have the expenses that going to Vegas would bring with it and maybe just play a GUKPT touney if you wanted to play one.

that's a very pertinent question; i've been seeing a sports psychologists this year & the first thing he asked me was, 'are you fit & healthy?'
my honest answer had to be, 'no not really'.
i used to be, but the hours i sometimes keep now & my general lethargy when it comes to all things healthy have been my weakness.
so yes, i aim to sort it out, it just may take some time & lots of prodding.
family-wise, they are all very supportive of what i do, it wasn't an overnight thing, but i'm sensible & they know the house keys won't ever end up in a pot lol

oh yes, that buzz will never be forgotten.
i don't suffer too much from nerves now but the big competitions are still very exciting - having said that i'm drooling at the prospect of the 300 at walsall this evening, it's a local competition, the crack'll be good & making any final table is always special

as someone who appreciates beauty in both the sexes, yeah sure, you'll be fine, give it a go

I only play poker when I am in the mood, and it might seem strange but when I want to really win.

What do you do if your not in the mood to play poker? or your mind is not 100% right to play your best?

Also if your sponsor wants you to play in an event and you really are not in the mood to play poker? (Yes I know its your job)

hi Julie...............have you ever been tempted to follow in the footsteps of Paddy Ashdown and Sir Ranulph Fiennes and compete in The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon ?

Edit : Kind of related to Acidmouse's post

How much of your life is poker - do you live, eat, sleep, drink it? Or do you treat like a job (do the job, then do other things to relax/for fun).

 rotflmfao..post of the week already.

Geo

the numbers & the prizepools have both swelled & the predominant style of choice tends to be aggressive.
i used to be play a very aggressive game, any two, any position, but i suspect 'tight-aggressive-calling station' is a more apt label these days.

running good - yeah i think i have run good the past 5 months or so, but i do have a vast sample size & haven't had top worry about going busto thanks to my sponsors william hill.
no witchcraft or voodoo yet, but the subject or topic of luck is (i think) an unexplored field - i do believe some are luckier than others & i would put myself into that category

I believe you have used some of the training sites resources.

What sites do you use and what benefits have they given to your game?

Thanks in advance 

i'm not sure what your situation is boldie, but i didn't rush into going full time & even when i got the william hill deal i carried on part time at work for another year.
up until i was sponsored i never had a big bankroll, 15k max i'd say, but the live scene 3 or 4 years ago was very different to how it is now & there wasn't that pressure to qualify for ept's & all the tv crapshoots etc etc.
c) is probably the most sensible choice.
but i'd prob keep the job & take a shot in vegas, book 3 weeks off, cash in the 2nd seat & use half in the cash games, the other half at the ventetian where they run a deepstack festival during the wsop & def. play the wsop main event because the field is so weak & if it's your day you really could have a life changing run.

Hi Julian thanks for doing this.

I think it is fair to say you are a popular amongst your colleagues on the UK and European circuit. Do you think your personality helps you at the poker table? For example do people in sub conscious way not mind losing a hand to you or not play back you as much etc..

can you ask williamhill why they have killed the super seies games! they were the best value games on the net , noone else i can think of added money to a prizepool , now they have more than halfed the added cash and the numbers playing have halfed also, shouldnt really complain about added money i suppose but still!lol

barring vegas, i tend not to overplay myself theses days & am usually fired up for it when i sit down.
william hill are very good, it's pretty much up to me where & when i play

Hi Julian - If you were a new player entering the world of poker (knowing what you know now) would you concentrate on holdem or omaha (cash or tourney) as the best way of making a profit?

Thanks.

Hey Julian,

A few questions for you....

Who would u say is the toughest player u have come up against at the tables?

Is there any big name pro that u played against and thought he was overrated?

Do u try to grind out a weekly wage in the cash games online or live(stakes) when ure at home?

Cheers

What annoys/upsets you most in poker?

booger,
no, the thought of 125 miles of flatwater paddling has about as much appeal as a homecooked dinner invitation from tikay....myself & andy black toyed with the idea of the liffey descent in an open canadian, i was drinking, he wasn't...watch this space lol

What is the biggest animal you could kill with your bare hands?

and

What is the biggest animal you could kill with a plank of wood with a nail through it?

Did you, at any point this weekend, steal my big blind with filth?  /:-|

Also, do you play much of any of the non-Hold'em games?

Unexpected answer and given me something to think about.

Thanks :)

Remember one thing though boldie when thinking about his answer.  He can play poker.

Hi Julian,

Is it dark down there?

How much water is there?

Is there a bucket?

Do you "gamble" in general ?

Oh yeah..that does kind off bugger things up, no?

How did you get into poker?

i'm still really into the whole poker pro lifestyle & wouldn't want to change it at the moment.
i do treat it as a job, the best i've had funnily enough & i reckon i've got the balance just about right & that's probably down to the fact that i have a family life.
i'm not as fanatical as i used to be & outside of festivals, if i'm at home for the week it would just be the case of going down to dtd for a night or two.
that being said, it's rare that i'd play a whole festival week, for me, it's just too much & i wouldn't be feeling fresh & sharp by the time the main event rolled around.

i've only used cardrunners & it really was a revelation - the commentary really gets you thinking avbbout your game & i can honestly say that 8 years in, i finally got to understand the importance of position.
right, afraid the housework beckons, i'll be back on in the morning

mmm, this shouldn't take long,
memory is hazy but, most likely, yes
&
no

Would you ever consider cosmetic surgery to improve your looks?

FFS only five questions  ;carlocitrone;

If you could be another poker player for the day, who would you be and why? and if you could keep one of their poker skills/qualities, what would it be and why?

How big of an edge do you feel you have in GUKPT/EPT events and despite being a sponsored playing and having a bigger sample size than most, does it worry you that it'll take a lot of years and a lot of tournaments to get a big enough sample size to reflect any edge you may have?

Can you reccomend me a good bottle of red or two <£10?

Be honest there are too many big buy-in poker tournaments these days aren't there, which are causing dwindling attendances at the non festival ones. And what do you think of the EPTs decision to raise the buy-in to their events?

Players swop a lot of %s in tournaments, have you ever a) taken down a nice payday through this or b) missed out on a big payday through say missing an event where a regular swapper went deep?

Thanks for taking the time to do this Julian.
 

Thats like 10 questions with 5 question marks dude.

Julian thanks for doing this,

I understand you hired a poker coach last year, who was it and how did he/she help your game the most?

Can you tell us some more about how watching CR vids has helped your game. Do you watch tournament or cash vids, which vids helped you the most etc?

Apart from the importance of position can you tell us about any other lightbulb moments you have had in the past year or so?

Why don't you or any other famous players post strat on the PHA forum?

Who is the better tournament player iyo, Roland de Wolfe or Barny Boatman?

Hey Julian,

Hard luck at the weekend. Kind of an awkward spot on the final hand.

- Regarding the weekend, what was your ultimate opinion on the 50k starting stack / all the levels / 1hr clock structure? Do you feel that your edge is greater with a deeper structure or does the length of time that they take make them a fundamentally unprofitable excercise for a pro player? Would you say that you played the event because you believed it to be plus EV or because it would be an enjoyable experience?

- How did you feel the standard of play matched up to the EPT circuit or the GUKPT environment? Are there fundamental differences in the play of "random Irishman" that makes them particularly difficult / easy to play against?

- Can you ever forsee yourself returning to your pre - poker profession fulltime? Or would the prospect of full time employment scare you at this point?

- I am continously surprised at the quality of play in 1k+ buyin events. It amazes me when clueless players can justify the expense in terms of money and time depsite the fact that they are massively out of their depth and would require a bundle of luck to cash deep - particularly with the deep structures standard in Ireland. On top of this, you do see lads doing their balls playing live cash on weekly basis in Dublin cardrooms. Does the hustler / newbie shark / fish element of the game ever get to you? Would you ever be inclined to tell someone in a cashgame to take their hand out of their wallet and walk away?

- Do you drink much / ever? Would you ever play with drink on?

- In your opinion, following on from UIGEA (which looks less likely to be repealed) and the recent anti internet gaming laws passed in Germany can you forsee a bright future from the game? Do you ever feel fortunate to have gotten in before the landslide?


I know there are a lot of question marks, but that is roughly five!

As an aside, I can say that I have found you to be very friendly and unassuming on the couple of occassions we have met. The dealers and staff in Drogheda were very happy to have you at their tables / in their club and no - one had a bad thing to say about your play and table behaviour. Class act imo. Best of luck in the future and thank you for doing this.

Do you ever bet for information?

lol @ people asking rhetorical Questions.
blondepokers well, where 2+2 =5 :D

win something soon Alex, and we can all ask you some rhetorical questions ;)

Julian. When you first started playing what was your motivation? Were you playing just for fun or were you definitely on a journey with a specific destination in mind? If you did have specific goals how did you set about achieving them? And did you "know" something was going to happen for you in poker?

You're the stupidest person alive.  2+2= 4.     haha cant believe you got it wrong....What a dumb human you are sir :P

3 quickies for you Mr Thew.



Who is the best female player you have played against in your opinion?

You always seem very placid and genial but have you ever thrown a hissy fit after a bad beat?

Have you ever had a potential transvestite at your table and did you check to make sure?

Do you need a PA to answer these questions for you ?

If so, where do i apply ?

Assuming you do have a tilt mode.. How does it manifest it's self in your play?

What's the worst/funniest tell you've ever seen?

Which do you find hardest to read, people who make the same raise whatever hand or people who constantly change the size of the raise?

What are next weeks lottery numbers?











ok so the last one was a bit hopeful!!

Is it true you won't be playing the GUKPT this week?

Is it because i have qualified for it and you see 2nd place in a GUKPT as failure? ;D

Vinny

Julian what sort of buz was it winning an ept ,what i mean is you've won plenty of tourneys ,how long did it take to sink in .
and then go on and win another gukpt ,thats some achievement .
whats the difference in you game ,how is you game so differant to how it was in the early days of your carear.

it's up to the individual but for sure, i think your personality can be a valuable part of the package.
for me there's no act, i'm just myself, that works for some, whereas others might feel the need to put on a game face.
i met someone at the end of last year who felt i could make adjustments to my table presence/personality - some interesting ideas, but for me, it was out of my comfort zone.
i think if people get on with you then yeah, their not going to mind losing a pot to you compared to a table banger with a loud mouth - although i can see how that personna works for some folks.

hey tracey,
tourney-wise outside of nl holdem there isn't much variety of choice in europe, so i'd def. stick with that - it's where both the money & the glory are.
cash game-wise, i'm strictly a holdem player, but most of the seasoned pro's appear to opt for plo or a mixed game.
to be proficient at them all would be the best.
these days tournaments can rip through a bankroll in no time at all; to someone setting out i'd recommend cash games to build the roll, with a percentage aportioned for shot-taking in the comps.

i haven't played with many of the named american players but by toughest i'll go for those that apply the most pressure - on a good day ram, roland & patrik can appear unstoppable & both exude an air of invincibilty.
everyone has bad days, days when you're not focused on the game, other stuff going on, so yeah i've seen many a big name appear very average, but i'd never write them off.
when i'm at home i'll play a local comp, bust early & then jump into a cash game & hope to hit a few drawing hands, cough

yes, the super series was very popular but it just ran its course - there'll be something new along soon!

they left you in that pub in drogheda right?

no,
just the odd last longer bet

i think i'd just drop everything & run in the opposite direction

bad losers & players who roar

hit 30, sporting life over, existence lacked a competitive element,
rounded up some mates for a couple of home games, then i moved back to dublin for a while & joined the brothers saturday night game.
got hooked & 6 months later i ventured into the jackpot card room & was unable to extract myself...

mmm, hadn't thought of that...how much does it cost & to whom & where should i send the cheque?

Not even a mouse? You could stamp on a mouse easily.

Serious question, have you ever lost your rag at the table?

1. one of the online hotshots - moorman perhaps? i've not met him but i'd be intrigued to spend a day in the life of someone who excels in that field.
2. i used to worry that i'd never win one, either due to ability or sample size, but obv. those doubts are gone now.
i do have an edge in these, but quite often that edge isn't allowed out of the bag as i fail to make day 2.
there is plenty of value in all these big events, but there are also some very talented players - on a good day the bad ones can give you a very handy leg up.
3. bonterra merlot/cab sav, ravenswood zinfandel
4. way to many big buy-in comps - you def. need some sponsorship, deep pockets, or the ability to be able to satellite your way in to get a chance to compete.
i suspect that the majority of 8k buy-ins might drop back to 5k for season 5.
5. i used to swap 15-20% in 3's & 5's but came to realise 'what's the point'.
barring a big saver from ian oldershaw who got 2nd in the masterclassics a few years back it tends to just be 2 or 300 quid exchanging hands.
i don't swap anymore

tyty for anwsering the q's.  cabsav ftw.

I have heard several players comment on how they divide a 3 day tourney into 3 one day tourneys. Or atleast into two 1; get into the cash, 2 get it won. Do you do the same or do you go for the win from the start?

Hey Julian we all have players we dont like to be on the same table as  for there style of play name yours please.

1. no i didn't hire a coach last year although, as many players do, i bounced some ideas & hands of one or two guys - ariston was a big help & is imo, very capable of nurturing a handful of players to some big final tables.
i've always felt poker lags behind the majority of other competetive pursuits, especially when you look at the money that is regularly up for grabs.
so yes, i'm a big believer that one day, coaches/mentors/sports psychologists will be a big part of the game - poker is still relatively new & with time, it will catch up.
i've been seeing one of the latter this year & whilst it's still very early days i feel this will be the single biggest improvement i could make to my future tournament performances.
2. nothing specific i'm afraid, i've prob watched a little bit of everything by everyone.
i'm guilty of not yet logging on this year - one of my goals/resolutions was to watch 2 a week
3. patience & the ability to just grind it out.
4. don't know really.
i wouldn't consider myself a 'maths' guy or a 'technically correct' player, it's more about feel & instinct for me - perhaps i'll have a look sometime & try not to embarrass myself on there.
5. results talk - roland

hehe,
no losing of rag, i just go very red & sweat alot - very sexy yeah

Would you rather be a badger or a giraffe?

black & white that one, badger obviously (they can get themselves out of a hole)

hey lloyd,
was nice playing with you - man, you sure know how to yoyo lol
1. a 50k starting stack with that structure was great & yes i def. think it played to my advantage (even if said advantage wasn't realised).
my reason for playing it was twofold, i enjoyed it there last year & i'll be playing the 25k at the bellagio in april which also had a 50k  stack - the experience was very worthwhile.
2. as in the majority of these vents the field a mixed bag - traditionally the irish have a rep. for gambling it up & but i think that now lies more with those from northern ireland lol - so no, nothing fundamentally different.
you should def. try & play some ukpt's or ept's, as you should by now have proved to yourself that you can run deep at that level.
3. i can't see myself returning to an office environment.
i don't see me being a full time pro for ever either, but hopefully some useful work within the poker world might present itself at some point in the future.
4. getting my paws on someones chips never bothers me in a comp, as it's a level playing field & we're all taking our chances.
cash games are different though & whilst money is my motivator, yes i'm never too happy or comfortable taking it off my friends & i'd def. have a quiet word with someone if i felt they were ruining themselves.
5. yeah, i drink more now than i used to; i'm 40 now though, so i think it's ok to have the odd vice or two at my age & let me tell you, with 2 kids running over the house, come 6 oclock, who wouldn't be getting the corkscrew out.
i never used to drink during a game but i'll often have a becks or 2 now - it just takes the edges off & helps me relax into the game.
6. i def. think the game will grow & yes i'm very thankful that i found it before the curve went vertical - i got my william hill contract two months into the first ept season late in 2004; it would be so much harder to land that deal now.
tx for the kind words

Would you agree that the players who get big results over and over tend to be just natural talents rather than technically proficient players. A player who has read every book and knows every move may get the odd result but the consistant winners (yourself, roland in europe then going to the likes of DN etc in the states) all seem to have something that you cant learn- timing.

if you do agree, where can I buy some timing?

Now you are financially secure after your recent wins have you started to look at tiltes more than cash. If you final in a wsop event would you be more interested in the bracelet than how much dough you are gonna collect and would this effect any decision on deals you may make at finals.




oh and cheers mate I am sat in the village bar at walsall and blushed ;)

hi mate,

Do you think fatherhood helps you to remain focused and composed at the poker table or gives you any other skills that have helped you develop your game?

Who would you nominate as your 5 for the future in poker?

You looked very emotional at the end of the EPT final, did the achievement hit you str8 away or did you have a moment of clarity a few days later?

Do you think there is a danger that some young players are gonna go broke chasing the dream given the high price buy ins that are available to play almost weekly. In your early years did you ever get close to going broke or did you have a clear strategy for taking shots at the bigger comps?

Who is the sexiest Quayle you know?

cheers

Thanks for the interesting answers. *Boggle at you being 40.

Hi Julian, hope I see you at Walsall on Friday.

You say your roll was mostly around 15k when you first started. Did you ever feel added pressure when your bankroll dipped because you have a family to look after (although I understand your children are very young so this was probably before you had children)?

Hi Mr Thew,

Some questions:

Do you keep notes of players (live tournaments) if so how detailed?

What are your current ipod favs & embarrassments?

Any further poker ambitions?

Thanks & continued success

i guess all bets are information, so yeah....having said that, i do like a bit calling from time to time & the main problem with that tact is that you don't get much info until it's on there backs.

my initial motivation was a non-psychical competitive pursuit - once i started hitting the clubs, that probably shifted to having an opportunity of topping up my wages.
i was far from a natural talent in those early days & never dreamt that i might end up as a pro one day.

hey rod,
lucy rokach,
no hissy fits, just miserable with a real urgent need to get outta there real quick,
yes lol, that cat-eye person in dortmund, & i'm still waiting to hear some tales of derring-do with regard to what you found out  /:-|

how do you look in a skirt?

a year or two ago it woulda been raise, raise, raise...these days, i think i've virtually erradicated it & now it's just plod, plod, plod

Julian, these replies are just wonderful, you've got the blonde mood perfectly, thanks chap, you'll be a tough act to follow for whoever's next.

I just have one question for you.

You are playing Online, & a pop-up box appears, "YOU HAVE WON $10,000 IN OUR FREE DRAW, HAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD READY".

What do you do now? After the wife has told you it's a scam, like?

Thewy,

How many times a month do people try and nip you ?

and how do you deal with the nippers ?

yes, word of your entry had reached me...

hey big man,
a great buzz, the best & yeah it prob took a day or 2 before i stopped grinning.
play-wise, i calmed down a bit, learnt not to fret about falling behind the average chip count, just try & get thru to the next day.
very sensible eh

simon nowab - fish
rob yong - big fish
ariston - so i wouldn't be the first one out
tikay - superb value at any game
chili - eye candy #1
bad girl - eye candy #2
el blondie - a legend
woodley - someone to pick on
phil quayle - cos he'd absolutely love it
me - fish

oh what fun we'd all have

i used to go for the win in level 1 at one point lol but experience teaches you that you need to get thru each day, make the final, get short-handed, then heads-up.
it sounds obvious but you've just got to find a way thru each part.

hey jim,
pressuring players with position - having a roland or a ram type character on your left will normally mean that you are in for a hard day at the office

er, giraffe

hey russ,
yeah i think a good players natural instincts are their best assets.
& yes, money was always my motivator but now, i do find myslef hankering after more titles, it's an ego thing i guess but once you get one or two in the bag you do get an appetite for more.
i'm always happy to talk business, 2 or 3 handed but yes, my main focus now at that point of a game would be on the win & the title.
x

fave - dtd - staff enthusiasm, games, food, venue, location
the pits - stanleys, derby - long time ago now, but every deck was marked

How come we never share the same table?

Orite julian. My question wat happened to you in walsall 300 last time i say u you had plenty chips next thing you was gone? I was sitting next 2 you the one with the beard. Second question how do u think i played and any tips of how i could improve?

Thaks a bunch for answering these questions Julian, very kind of you.

Have you ever suffered long-term downswings or "ran bad" for long stretches of time? If so, how do you combat this and refocus your efforts on winning again?

They're called final tables.

hey boss,
1. having kids def. helps me keep things in perspective - no matter how bad a trip has gone, getting home to see them is always a thrill.
playing style-wise tho, i wouldn't say that it was them that saw me move from LAG to TAG.
2. sam trickett, pete linton & ben vinson
3. yeah, welling up like that caught me by surprise - the moment just hits you & i guess that was my release.
you're definately on cloud9 for a few days & there was just a burning desire to get home asap & be with amanda & the boys.
4. i think it would very easy to over stretch yourself these days & i'm sure many do.
when i started out the buy-ins were a fraction of what they are now & given the fact that i was working there was never a risk of going broke (i also ran pretty good).
5. lois, everytime

hey dan,
not really, there just weren't the amount of events around then that could really damage you (& kids only arrived 4 years back).
if my sponsorship ended tomorrow there's no way i'd be pulling up for ept's & the like - ukpt's would be the ceiling.

Hi Julian - I think this got lost in the mass of questions about giraffes..... :D

no, i've never kept live player notes as i think it's rare i'd ever forget someone making an interesting play.
many years back i kept extensive notes on every comp i played, a diary of sorts & that was invaluable as i would review bits & pieces every couple of months.
ipod faves at the moment are 'tilt' by scott walker & 'caroline no', a beach boys covers record - many would consider them embarassing i'm sure - there is a 'charlie brown christmas' winging its way from amazon as we speak - i urge you to sample!
ambitions are to maintain my sponsorship & to try & bag another ept & more ukpt's

tut, tut, young lady
x

this is, very old hat indeed...obviously i tell the wife to shut it until someone phones up & tells me i've put my foot in it, again.

er, of late about 1 a month...
i squirm alot & in most cases think up some random excuse

i've no idea mate but i truly look forward to watching you in full swing sometime,
i hear you can be very generous...

Julian, got another one for you:

First level of a deep-stack tournament with a decent blind structure.

You have KK.

You don't know any of your opponents, and you have no idea how any of them play.

Someone raises to 200 (4xBB), you make a standard re-raise - they shove all-in making it 10,000 total.

Call or fold?

hjey singhee,
i'm glad you reminded me of that lol,
i called of 20k at 200/400 in 2 hands;
1st hand at new table i raised w aq, maz rr from sb, i called obv. all rags he bet 4k on turn, i called, check, check river, lose to ak.
5 mins. later limp w 99, call a raise & check called my stack off on the 3 streets, 8 high board - actually 10 hit river, he had 10-10.
now that might look a wee bit fishy if you haven't been around the block a time or 2, but i can assure you, calls like that border on world class ok.
btw i thought you played pretty solid & pretty good - i hope you won it!
how can you improve? just play more, watch the players you think are good & learn.

np alex,
it's been both fun & thought provoking.
i've always ran pretty good & the worst spell was a 5 month patch last year...but because i'm sponsored i was able to just ride it thru - william hill have always been very good in that they never once put any performance pressure on me or on steve & xuyen when they were on the team.
pressure built at home during that time & the inevitable self doubts did creep in but the self belief & persaverance was there & that got me thru in the end.

Hi Julian

1/ you have taken stick for your man bag.  what do you keep in it and why?

2/ are you still playing online cash?

3/ what is it that tells you this is the perfect time to resteal with no hand?

4/ what do you do after playing a tourny  do you review your play in anyway?

5/ you are in a restaurant, someone else is paying the bill, the waiter hands you the wine list, where do you start?

Thanks in advance  jim

Hi,
Just a few random questions.

Whats your favourite Holiday destination, with the family not poker related?

Do you like Indian food, is so whats your favourite curry?

I know you have been a consistant winner on the live circuit but how do your online results stand in comparision (Cash & Tourney)

Thanks.

Thanks for the nice reply. It was a pleasure playing with you. When i got moved table i made a few of the "world class calls" as well and went down to 12k but then after playin like a donkey for 15mins i managed to up my game and get paid from a couple of hands. Came back on the 2nd day with 38k but didnt pick up many hand sneeked into the money and then  my 10 10 was no good against A Q all in pre-flop. Got £540 keeps the bankroll goin hopefully c u at the GUkPT london.

Hi Julian,

Just got back from a week of snowboarding with my son (yesterday), in time to bubble in the £300 FO at Walsall last night.

Having spent a happy hour reading this blog I thought I might try and glean some info from you.

Having had some success (in 21 months) and loving the game more with profit at the end of the month, what way or ways would you advise a prodominantly live (well read, 25+ books) tournament player might try to improve?

Cheers,

Marcus

the book says fold i'm sure - prob 50/50 for me, depends on the opponent & my feel for the situation

Julian, I'm reading this thread backwards :) so apologies if this has been asked already...do you think it is possible in the UK to be a tourny pro without a sponsorship deal?

Now Im off to read the thread all the way through :)

OK, thanks.

So with no read, and no knowledge of the players (say it's the first hand of the tourney and you don't know anyone at the table), you call or fold?

LOL give the man a break Daniel. He cant say yes or no for the reasons he stated. If the guy is munching an Oreo cookie, its a call for sure!!!!!!

LOL, I usually call and tell Matt how I got busted with kings against Aces. Or suckout.

Yo Julian

You are at an important stage in a big tournament. Two tables of six players left and first prize is $1 million. You are in the BB and everyone folds to the SB. He raises it up and you call with QK suited. By chance when you glance over at him you see his hole cards are 82 off. The flop comes 297 and he now bets about 15% of his stack and you have him covered. What do you do? (you also know this guy from playing on the circuit and often have a few drinks at the bar with him)

hey jim,
1. the handbag is an essential part of leaving the house...baby wipes, rusks, ipod & headphones...it's all the rage hangin with the mums at the park you know.
2. i haven't played much online at all this year, cash or otherwise, i'm sure i'll give it a bash again at some point tho, so hang around yeah...
3. blind faith & enough chips to gamble with.
4. as i mentioned on another thread, i used to keep copious notes a few years back - nowadays tho, depending on the embarrassment levels involved i'll either mull it over or pretend it never happened.
5. my dream scenario; offer it back to the host, if they motion it's up to me i won't dissappoint.

hey tractor,
1. pre-kids we used to rent a little cottage for a couple of summer weeks in provence...beautiful.
2. i'm afriad it's a starter+double main combo, prawn purree + lamb madras/chicken tikka masala, peshwari nan, pilau rice...mmmm.
3. not consistant i'm afraid...i struggle when i mix live & online & my predominant focus now is the live game.
i've won the who's the daddy on laddies & the sunday 40k on william hill & pre-sponsorship i won a poker million & an aussie millions package.
i was break even at best until last year when i dropped 11k.

hey marcus...sounds like fun,
the best way to improve is to either rail & watch, or play with better players...that prob means spreading your wings a bit; maybe try & pick one or two festivals abroad - your'e bound to see some stuff that you like or get some ideas, take it home with you, digest & incorporate.

hey red,
long time no see, hope ur well.
def, yes.

these days, a long sigh, then call

ffs,
i don't hear from you for like 12 months & then you come up with this?
this sure sounds like a trick a trick question.....but you're telling me i can get my chips in first with overcards??
a clear push & 'suckout if called' situation.
xx
ps, u in copenhagen?

julian- have you ever had any lucky chips/card protectors/underpants or anything. I am considering any option to get a hand to hold up so if you have an old trinket for me at the vic next month (that still has a bit of luck left in it) I would be happy to give you a % in return if it works ;)




ps hoping its not lucky underpants as they may be a little constrictive

nah, afraid not chief....but i guess i am a little superstious in that if day 1 went well, i'll try & prepare exactly the same on day 2...tends to mean eating alot of curry...not good for those in the immediate vicinity  ;whistle;

I have one very important question.

Whats your favourite curry house in Nottingham?

I don't feel like i have been to enough and i love Indian food.

not specifically dealing with ariston here, but I was lucky enough to witness ariston totally destroy someone in a live game just through banter. ( what made that bloody funny is that it was a 2/3 quid rebuy)

how would u deal with it?

laguna, just around the corner from maid marian way is great & siam thani in hockley is my fave thai....drool

hehe, get the chablis in & watch him disintergrate

haha thats pretty similar to what I did...as well as have a laugh with ariston about it. That, and the shame that he was seen playing a 2/3 quid rebuy ;)

If you remember I did have a reason for playing the £3 rebuy as I had a student I was teaching to play on the other table. I was hardly gonna put her in a big comp was I? No shame in the small comps anyway they can be great fun.

As a lead on from that- do you find you cant concentrate as much on the smaller competitions now you have tasted big wins. Do you still see a grand or 2 at dtd as worth winning or do you find you only really try to focus in the big events and treat the smaller comps like socials.

why dont you update your blog?

one wonders at the extent of 'her' coaching...
a grand or two still means alot & making any final table will always be special, so yeah i do take the local comps fairly seriously but my record in them off late is pretty crappy...no dtd final tables yet

hey mr,
er, good question...i think i just ran out of steam altho it is always on my list of things to get around to doing

Hi Julian, long time no speak . I hope you and your family are well. I am so very pleased  for you about your recent results. I have been wrapped up in stuff so not found the time to chat or congratulate you. May have time today if you dont mind me phoning you.Let me know . kindest regards  Slowmo.

hey simon,
that's very kind, ty.
i'm in kobenhavn, i mean copenhagen at the mo, but a catch up would be great

ok mate.   good luck in Copenhagen. Will watch your progress with great interest.Thought it was strange that you were up and posting early, but figured the kids would have influenced this   My mistake for thinking you could possibly be in Nottingham now you are International Star, Poker God and Jetsetter. Please accept my humblest apologies for being so out of touch . LOL . Btw , its prob warmer where you are !!!!!

Oh i remember mate..all in good fun :)


rofl.. yeah I was wondering that at the time too ;)

hehe i'm the big 30 in a few days so am off skiing so i couldn't make Copenhagen! Will see you at the Irish Open or an EPT soon no doubt. GL

Having played in a top buy in of 100 quid for a local tourney what would you say would be my strategy for a 500 quid tourney?

Im bricking it already......should i get a refund right away before i sit down..lol?

I always have trouble with tipping and tipping different amounts depending on outcomes so i'd like to know how much you tip (if at all) in each of these circumstances, assume the standard of dealing is typical of a live event:
- You win a £1k tournament for £100k
- You win a £10 tournament for £1k
- You cash in a £1k tournament for £2k
- You don't cash in a £1k tournament
- You win a £2k pot at 5/10
- You win a £200 pot at 5/10
- You go an hour without winning a pot at 5/10
Any additional rationale would be appreciated as well!

Thanks!

the 500 structure should allow you alot time & chips which means you won't be under as much pressure to accumalate chips early.
give yourself a level or 2 to settle in, enjoy the experience, play wih confidence & believe that you can make that final table.

Right all, 10 days since we started this so Julian's well is now closed for new questions (though I am sure if you ask nicely he might do a few more over time!)

New player along soon I hope (when he answers his email!)

Thanks very much to Julian, great informative answers and to all those who asked questions

 its probably easier to PM Ironside .

I didn't ask any questions, but I thought it was a fantastic thread. A wonderful insight into the mind if one of the world's greatest poker players.

So you've had the reputation of the nicest man in poker. Thus far it's been completely justified.

However today you completely blew up on the dtd update thread and we saw a different thewy - what caused this?

Will you be a bad boy of poker from now on? I heard you, Andy Brashaw, Adebayo and Tony G were forming a crew. True?

So you've had the reputation of the nicest man in poker. Thus far it's been completely justified.

However today you completely blew up on the dtd update thread and we saw a different thewy - what caused this.

LOL. Mate you are funny.

Regards

M

   

oioi he nicked my joke from the update thread. Im the funny one.

He just polices the net stealing peoples jokes

What was I saying about timely bumped threads?

wp sir

LOL So are you  ;booder;

    

i had a pm convo with alex about learning from people in poker. i put julian forward as someone who is regarded as the nicest guy in poker, how he handles the game and balances poker with everyday life. turns out yoyo has a nasty streak too....fancy calling someone "world class".