Vegas, but no Aftermath - Diary

[DaveShoelace]

GL Keith, subscribed

[The Camel]

As an hors· d'oeuvre Keith would you mind if I posted those two pieces you once wrote for me on here?

I don't remember them!

So sure, go ahead, I'll be interested to read them!

[leethefish]

GL Keith, subscribed

[mondatoo]

GL Keith, subscribed

[bobby1]

My Poker Life  -  By Keith 'The Camel' Hawkins

My first bet was 10p each way on Snow Knight in the 1974 Derby. The beast won at 50/1. Winning over six quid when I was 6 years old pretty much hooked me on gambling for life.

I started playing poker at school when I was about 15. We played 5 card draw with deuces, fours and one eyed Jacks wild and I remember winning about 3 months pocket money when my five aces beat two hands containing five Kings and five Jacks. Happy days.

After our head of year discovered we were playing poker and promptly banned the activity - we were then driven to playing in each others houses.

This travelling school wasn't the easiest in the world to beat. Two of the six other regular players have become professional gamblers and one is now on the other side of the fence, working as an odds compiler for a major bookmaker.

We started by playing five or seven card stud, but one day Neil "Bad Beat" Channing introduced Texas Hold'em (this was pretty much unheard of in the UK in the early 1980s) to our game. It was love at first sight for me. I was fascinated by the intricacies of the variant of poker and had an insatiable thirst to learn this new game and become good at it.

I discovered poker tournaments when visiting Grosvenor Casino, Reading to play blackjack one night when I was about 23. I hadn't heard of them before but was curious to see what was happening as about 40 players turned up to play poker, but not a cash game! It was only a £10 tournament, but gave you the opportunity to win £500 or more. Looking back, I could probably have picked an easier place to learn my trade. Regular punters in this school included several excellent players and major championship winners such as Ken Cutler, Bob Coombes, Simon Trumper, Graham Pound, Shaun Hayes, "Pacey" Griffith, Simon "Clint" Eastwood and Nour Deen Nouri.

Throughout my twenties, I played Hold'Em as much as I could. I had various jobs after graduating from college but poker in general and Hold'Em in particular proved a great draw. I gradually improved and became a winner.

The first key moment in my poker career was the day after winning a £3,000 tournament at Luton. I was planning on returning that night for another event, but was told by my boss as a colleague had called in sick I "had" to work overtime that evening. I quit on the spot. After all £3,000 represented about 3 months wages! Please don't follow my lead, it was a reckless and probably foolish thing to do and I consider myself very lucky to have been able to make a good fist at being a professional poker player at that time.

I mostly played at a pretty low level (£10-£100 tournaments) with a few shots at bigger events and although I had great fun it was a real struggle to make a decent living.

I played on the small tournament circuit for about 4 years. I was getting a bit jaded and losing my passion for the game when I was offered a dream job for many gamblers, a sports odds compiler for an online bookmaker. Watching sport all day? Yum yum!

[bobby1]

Form about 7 years ago I think so some might be dated now but you didn't make a bad job of your tip for the top  

Twenty Questions - By Keith 'The Camel' Hawkins
We asked professional player Keith 'The Camel' Hawkins a few quickfire questions about his poker experiences... here's what he had to
say.
Place of birth?
Isleworth, London

Age?
36

Occupation?
Professional poker player/gambler.

Fav game?
No Limit Texas Hold'em

Record pints in one session?
I lose count after a while, but when I made the final of Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main event in 2002 I was ordering 2
bottles of Bud at a time because I play a little better when inebriated, and you can drink as much American beer as you like and never
get pissed!

Best poker buddy?
Especially when you're young and can easily go on tilt it is very important to travel with someone and share your highs and lows, and
have a laugh with too. Paul Spillane and I travelled together a lot in my early years and we had a great craic. He is a great bloke and
was wonderful at lifting my spirits after a depressing beat. I hope I helped himtoo and whether or not I stay in poker for years to come,
Paul will be a good mate forever.

Most satisying win?
It has to be winning the £750 No Limit Hold'emevent during the Poker Classics at the Victoria Casino in 2003. The Vic is the home of
European Poker and has the toughest fields in the World outside the WSOP in my opinion. Winning there made me feel I had really made
it as a poker player.

Last proper job?

I stayed at Blue Square in my "dreamjob" for about 3 years. But, poker started calling again. You cannot beat being your own boss,
working when you want to, travelling to marvellous places and meeting fascinating people. Poker offers all this plus the chance to win
huge amounts of money. Playing poker for a living is an amazing way of life and when things are running bad I always remember this.

Fav poker venue?
Holland Casino, Amsterdam. Their tournament week is the one event I would never miss. The atmosphere and craic in amsterdamis
amazing. It is the one event where you aren't absolutely gutted to be knocked out. Go figure why!

Tip for the top?
The explosion of internet poker means young players can learn in months what it took me years to understand. I amconstantly amazed
how many players who I have never seen before on the circuit can play excellent poker. If I have to name one player who can go all the
way to the top if he puts his mind to it, I would say Julian Thew who really has unlimited potential and impresses me greatly every time I
see him play.

Legs or breast?
I don't really like chicken, but I would pick drumsticks.

Why are you nicknamed The Camel?
When Paul Spillane suggested I was drinking too much, I stated with complete certainty that I could go a week without a drink. He
replied "You must be a camel then!". That week I made my first ever big final and when the MC introduced me, he said "in seat 3 from
Reading, Keith "the Camel" Hawkins". It made me laugh and certainly relaxed me. The nickname stuck.

Toughest opponent?
You can never relax when Devilfish is on the table. He is constantly attacking and if you let your guard down he will whisk your stack
away very quickly. Undoubtedly he is a great tournament player.

Fav holiday destination?
It can only be Las Vegas.

Fav film?
I'man old softy at heart and Films like "Truly, Madly, Deeply", "A Beautiful Mind" and "The Crying Game" are among my favourites.

Biggest influence on your career?
Asher Derei, a terrific player fromIsrael has helped me immensely. We met in a tiny limit hold'emgame at Amsterdamand the next day
he won the main event! He has helped me with all aspects of my game over the years and I can never repay himfor all he has given me.
He is a tremendous guy
.
Fav football team?
Queens Park Rangers of course. Are there any others?

What is the funniest 'Devilfish' line you know?
The Devil was playing a huge pot limit omaha game with poker legend Doyle Brunson. David held AAKQ double suited. On a flop of A94
David held top trips and a nut flush draw. He and Doyle got all their money in.
Brunsons hand was 9874, for two pair and a smaller flush draw. It was a huge pot and Doyle was drawing almost dead. The last two
cards gave Brunson a miracle straight and the pot.
As he got up to leave Devilfish said "Doyle, can you do me a favour? next time you republish Super-Systemcan you make it with a soft
cover so it doesn't hurt when I wipe my arse with it". Even Brunson had to laugh...

If you won the WSOP what would you buy first?
A very large round of drinks.

[The Camel]

The next interview like this I did, about 2 years later.. I was asked for another tip for the top.

I picked JP Kelly when he was just a boy playing £20 tournies at Luton.

I might be a crap player. But I'm a good judge

[bobby1]

Lol, diff class foresight IMO

[Karabiner]

Looking forward to Ruminator2.

[pokerfan]

Vbol Keith.

How many events are you planning on playing ?

Thanks.

This is my schedule:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=57686.0

Although not set in stone, might well tweak it a little.

What price couldn't you turn down for the main ?

[The Camel]

Vbol Keith.

How many events are you planning on playing ?

Thanks.

This is my schedule:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=57686.0

Although not set in stone, might well tweak it a little.

What price couldn't you turn down for the main ?

2 would be very tempting...

[tonytats]

Good luck in Vegas Keith , how long are u there for ?

[The Camel]

Good luck in Vegas Keith , how long are u there for ?

Thanks

2 weeks on the first trip. Not missing Royal Ascot for a pesky poker tournament.

Not booked to go back yet.

[tonytats]

I'm out on the 20 th stayin at nugget this time ,never stayed downtown yet

[The Camel]

I'm out on the 20 th stayin at nugget this time ,never stayed downtown yet

Not a bad hotel, best downtown by miles.

But still, I'd rather have a bit of luxury thanks!