INTERVIEW
WITH PLAYER X
By
Glen Peterson (Copyright
2001)
Who is Player X? Player X is a unique player.
In actuality, there are many Player Xs in the world. They are a group comprised of
hundreds, perhaps even thousands of poker professionals.
He, or she, can be found anywhere, wherever
the game of poker is played. They are the elite, the top 1 % of the games best players.
Yet they choose to remain in the shadows.
Whereas, some of the worlds greats such
as Phil Helmuth, Men The Master Nguyen, Doyle Brunson and so many more, become infamous
tournament players or high stakes big guns, and choose to spend their careers in the
limelight, the Player Xs of the world choose and need to be anonymous. It is a huge
part of the reason that they are successful. Almost every poker player in the world
has played against a Player X. More over, almost every player in the world has donated
money to the coffers of a Player X.
If we were to look for comparative persons
in other careers they might be similar to those rare types of individuals that end
up becoming a hitman in the Mafia, a Navy Seal in the armed forces or an undercover
operative in the CIA. They are often loners, or like you to believe that they are.
Just as in these other professions, this
trait makes them less noticeable.
Again, these are the games best players.
They can be found in all games, at any level. They all have unique abilities but most
posses a few common traits: They are quiet, sometimes even totally silent, yet cheerful
when engaged in conversation. They often seem disinterested in whats going on, but
in truth, are fully aware of everything taking place in their surroundings.
They rarely if ever have a bad thing to
say about anyone. They never complain about bad players or bad beats. They almost
never show a card except when they have won. They simply and quietly take most of
the money out of the games they play on a daily basis.
Seldom do their opponents know that they
are so talented or successful.
The only people who can spot them are the
games other top 1%. Those players recognize the signs of Player Xs abilities. If you
ask one of the games best to name the players who are the hardest to beat, they will
name these un-named heroes of the game. Yet if you ask the next level down about a
Player X, chances are they would rate Player Xs game lower than it truly is.
Player Xs have a unique ability to disguise
their games and their success.
So why dont we see them or know who they
are? Because they have spent years making sure you dont recognize them for who they
are. It is their very anonymity that makes them successful. They pose no visible threat
to the average player. They lure a weak player into making aggressive moves
and then they pounce. They are the camouflaged, chameleons of the game. They are,
in fact, deadly predators who feed on the bankrolls of lesser players.
The following is an interview with one of
these fine players. For reasons of anonymity, all names, places and dates have been
changed to protect the player. But dont think for a moment that this person is not
real. He is one of the most successful players on the East Coast. Perhaps even in
this country. This Player X was kind enough to allow this reporter to interview him
so that we, the average and above average players can learn insight into some of the
skills and techniques that make up a truly great player. I had the truly wonderful
pleasure of having lunch with this player and he gratiously allowed me to tape our
conversation. Here are excerpts from that once in a lifetime meal. I want to thank
this player, here in print, for his generous time and frank answers to my questions.
Glen Peterson: I know we promised to
keep specific details out, but for the benefit of our readers can you give us some
information about how you got into this life?
Player X: I grew up in the Midwest, my father
was in the army. When I was a teenager he relocated us to a California base. During
college I developed a knack for the game in the dorms on the weekends. From there
it was a quick move to the clubs in Southern California.
GP: So you were an Army Brat, huh? How
do your folks feel about your choice of professions?
Player X: It was a long time before my Dad
and I told my mother. Hes fine with it. She was raised a Southern Baptist and to this
day doesnt feel good about it. My father knew pretty early on. He and I had played
poker with my uncles and cousins in the kitchen during the holidays. He knew I loved
the game.
GP: What did you do before becoming a
full time poker player?
Player X: Well, during college I played
more and more, every weekend in the clubs. I barely squeaked by and got my degree
in Business. I made a few attempts at finding a more reputable career but I always
ended up making more at the tables so it slowly took over.
GP: But, for our readers, what else are
you qualified for?
Player X: (Laughs heartily) I was everything
from a car rental agent to a valet at a Vegas casino.
GP: You worked in Las Vegas?
Player X: I still do! (laughs) But, yes,
it was when I first went out there. I went broke during a particularly long session
of Omaha and had to get a job for a few weeks. It was a great way to make money and
meet some of the big wheels of the town. But soon after, I built up the bankroll and
gave that up. Ive never held a normal job since.
GP: So we have you in S. California and
Las Vegas, is one of those your home base?
Player X: I primarily live on the East Coast
and play in Atlantic City and Connecticut. I dont care for big cities. I make frequent
trips to both of those areas, and to Vegas and CA. I like to keep moving from game
to game, keeps it fresh.
GP: And I assume keeps you unknown to
others?
Player X: Thats a big part of it. I mean,
players know me, they know my name, the regulars anyway, but Im seldom viewed as a
regular. Many of them think Im in business and am on business trips. I do have a couple
of ventures on the side so it gives me a excuse to keep moving.
GP: Alright, lets talk about your game.
What do you like to play, levels and such?
Player X: Youll usually find me in the $40-$80
range but Ill play anywhere the moneys is. Ive played as high as $500-$1000, pot limit
and no-limit and as low as $4-8 in the last year. But the $15-$30 to $40-$80 can be
very lucrative.
GP: What game do you prefer... holdem,
omaha?
Player X: I play them all, you have to if
you want to really make this your life. But I lean towards 7 Card Stud Hi Lo.
GP: Really, that surprises me! I was
sure youd say holdem, thats where I usually spot you. Why Hi Lo?
Player X: A lot of reasons really, its a
game that offers a lot of variables, ah, creativity if you will. It keeps me fresh.
A lot of times holdem can get monotonous, mundane. the Hi Lo keeps my mind working.
Plus it can be very profitable.
GP: Hows that?
Player X: Well in most games a good player
is looking to pick up a bet to a bet and a half an hour. Because of the scoop ability
in Hi Lo, that can rise to 2 or even 3 bets an hour depending on the game. Also, I
think most medium and high stake players dont really know how to play the game well,
especially when its part of a mix.
GP: A mix, what do you mean by that?
Player X: A rotation game like H.O.E. or
S.H.O.E. where you play a 1/2 an hour or hour of each game, Stud, Holdem, Omaha and
Eight or Better. This is more true at the higher levels. In a typical $75 -$150 S.H.O.E.
game youll have holdem specialists and stud specialists, but few who can play all
the games well.
GP: Is it true that theres a big difference
between poker in the East vs. poker in the West?
Player X: Yes, its very true. Um, I mean
on the East coast, especially here in CT, stud is a big game whereas in S. CA. holdem
is the more likely game of choice. Also, holdem is played very differently between
the two locales. California holdem is a more aggressive, wide open affair.
GP: Give our readers your thoughts on
stud vs. holdem, aside from the obvious differences in the way the game is dealt,
what are the major variables?
Player X: Were all told how holdem is a
game of position, and thats very true. It has a fixed position throughout the hand.
But position in stud is also important, you just have to know where its going to be.
Also, holdem is more multi-way, stud is often heads up, so you have to adjust accordingly.
GP: Can you go into more detail about
position? How can you know where the position will be on each street in a stud game?
Player X: Lets look at it this way... all
the books tell us that in holdem there are hands that we might fold in early position,
call with in middle position yet raise with in late position. The same is applicable
to stud. You just have to predict where the action is likely to originate from.
GP: Go on.
Player X: O.K. Against a tight players early
raise in stud, I might fold an otherwise strong beginning hand. Yet against a weaker
player, I may play hands that traditionally might have a low EV but against a weaker
player, acting first, pick up value. In addition to that, if a player raises on an
ace doorcard, the likelihood is very strong that hell remain first to act through
5th street as well. So position becomes a huge factor and somewhat predictable, just
as in holdem.
GP: You mentioned books, whos have you
read?
Player X: Ive read them all. I continue
to read them all. Anyone who wants to do well in this game must keep learning.
GP: What books do you suggest for our
readers?
Player X: Id rather not give un-paid endorsements,
thank you! (laughs) But all of David Sklanskys and Mason Malmuths are must reading
for the serious player. David is by far, the most intellectually gifted player on
the planet
GP: Lets talk about what makes you so
successful. First, how much do you make?
Player X: This is anonymous right? (again,
laughs heartily) Lets just say I do very well. More than a Senator, less than the
President.
GP: What do you do that others dont?
What sets you apart?
Player X: First and foremost, I never tilt.
Its critical in this game to keep the boat upright. Emotion and poker dont mix.
GP: You never steam?
Player X: I used to. Everyone does at some
point, I guess, in their career. But I made it a part of my game not to let things
bother me. I mean, what gets us on tilt, bad beats? There are no bad beats. There
are players making poor decisions against us that work, but Ill take that any day.
Itll only work for a while, then I have them. When I a player gets out on me, I say
Nice Hand comfortable in the knowledge that he will play bad again.
GP: What else makes up a great player?
Player X: Paying attention. Plain and simple,
if youre talking, youre missing something. If youre eating, youre missing something.
If you came to play poker, then play!
GP: Anything else?
Player X: I think the unknown factor is
huge. Very few games Im in are with a lot of players I know. I look for games with
strangers, tourists. Even if theyre solid players, the fact that they dont know me
gives me an edge.
GP: What is the average player missing?
Player X: Everything! For instance, next
time youre playing holdem and your not in the hand, watch the players in the hand.
Now, I dont put huge stock it tells, many can be misread or faked. But if you
watch carefully, many times you can tell if someone made his draw or missed, simply
by his reaction. His shoulders sag, he says Crap. (laughs) It happens more than anyone
knows.
GP: Its funny you mentioned that. Just
the other day I watched a guy, who raised preflop, I watched his eyes go down the
line of the cards on the flop. He kept going back to an ace that flopped. I put him
on an ace for sure, and folded. He had 2 of them in the pocket. I had never noticed
exactly where anyones eyes were looking before.
Player X: Exactly, by paying attention you
saw the eyes move from one to the next and to the third. But you can tell which one
he keeps returning to if youre paying attention.
GP: On that note, I notice you wear sunglasses.
Is that so others cant see what your eyes are doing?
Player X: Partly yes, but for me its a way
to focus. When the glasses are down my game is on. I let nothing else in.
GP: I also noticed once that for more
than an hour you never looked away from the table. How do you maintain that level
of concentration?
Player X: Like I said, you have to focus,
pay attention. I want to play error free. The only way to do that is to give my all,
every hand, every session.
GP: Even so, how can you do it, all the
time?
Player X: I play shorter sessions than I
used to. As my skill developed, my win rate increased and I was able to cut back on
the number of hours I play.
GP: How many hours a week do you play?
Player X: It varies. During trips to CA
and Vegas, Ill play more...maybe 7-8 hours a day, 4-5 days a week. Close to home its
more like 20 hours a week. I play a lot of golf these days.
GP: I hear youre pretty good. Do you
gamble on golf?
Player X: I play nothing for money except
poker. Ill play an occasional Nassau to be sociable, but I dont have the edge in golf
that I do in poker.
GP: What about table games?
Player X: Never! The quickest way to cripple
a bankroll is to gamble against a house with a guaranteed edge. Ive seen so many great
players do this. They play great poker for days and post huge wins, only to lose it
all in an hour of craps.
G.P: Why dont you play tournaments?
Player X: I tried a few but they were not
as lucrative for me. I dont want to be famous. Theres a whole new set of problems
that follow you down that road!
GP: What is the biggest error the average
player makes?
Player X: Id have to say choosing the wrong
game. I see good players grinding away in a tight games with players of the same caliber
because there are less swings. But with the rake and all, theyll likely not to pull
out a win.
G.P: Anything else they do wrong?
Player X: Yes, most never improve. Seriously,
look around, most bad players stay bad. I read once that if you play golf, you always
have the swing you were born with. You can tweek it, fine tune it...but it remains
basically the same. Its also true in poker. Most people develop bad habits that they
never change. So if you want to be good at this game, find your weakness, and
improve.
GP: What piece of advice would you give
to someone who wants to play for a living?
Player X: Be prepared, its not what you
might think. First, you need a big bankroll, I recommend 6 months worth of living
expenses if you break even only. Second, develop discipline and do it fast. Temperamental
players or emotional players will go broke, I guarantee it. Last, be prepared
to live a quiet lonely life. I dont mean you cant be married or whatever, but the
truly great players, who dont turn to tournament play, cant have too many friends...
you lose your edge if you let too many people get to know you.
GP: You have no friends?
Player X: (laughs) No, I have friends, but
not many who play poker. My opponents are just that, opponents, not friends. I want
their money, not their friendship.
GP: Do you have a memorable poker story
for our readers?
Player X: Yeah, you warned me about this
question. I dont want to upset anyone or give too much info but heres one... I was
once given a huge pot. I mean, given, no questions asked.
GP: Go ahead.
Player X: I was playing $150-$300 holdem
in a CA club. I was having a good session, especially chewing up one guy in particular.
I had him on real tilt. He was pouring money into the pots. Well, I get pocket 6s
in early position and raised, a bit aggressive for me but everything was working against
this field. One middle player raises, 1 calls and he 3 bets us from the button.
Im sure he has a pocket pair, tens or jacks...maybe bigger. Anyway, I flop a set,
bottom set. But there are 2 clubs there too, queen high. So I check, looking to check
raise the flop. We all check to him. He bets, I raise...we get both players to call
in the middle and he 3 bets me again! So now Im thinking a bigger pair, aces or kings.
I cap it trying to lose the middle guys and we do manage to lose one. The turn is
a blank and I lead out. The stubborn, middle player calls, the steamer raises and
I reraise once again. Finally, we lose the straggler, and I m pretty sure I have the
best hand, but to my surprise, I get raised again. Now, Im beginning to worry that
we flopped set over set and Im dead. The river is the 3rd club, but it doesnt pair
the board. I feel I have no choice but to bet out and hope he gives up. The second
I bet he leaps out of his chair and begins screaming about how I played a flush draw
and got there. I didnt make a move, I just watched in awe as this man disintegrated
before us. The floor comes over, settles him down and he proceeds to call my bet.
And in the same motion, he shows me 2 queens, and says see how far behind you were!
Then he mucks them, face down, across the dealers right hand into the muck. The dealer
looks confused but begins pushing me the chips, as I slowly push my cards, face down
into the muck. The guy never asks to see the hand, no one did. It was amazing! He
got so wrapped up in the whole scene that he never once thought that he might have
me beat. Only one player at the table had a clue. A regular in the game, who knows
me a bit, winked at me after the steamer racked his remaining chips and left. What
a gift. I went out and bought a large screen TV the next day with the proceeds. Every
time I watch an NFL game, I thank the man for the free TV. (laughs)
GP: I see what you mean about keeping
you emotions in check. Well, I want to thank you for all you time and honest
answers. Its been a pleasure. Any parting thoughts?
Player X: O.K. Heres some words to live
by: If youre going to do anything in this life, do it right, give it your all! Anything
less is only cheating yourself.
Copyright © 2001 CheeseyPoker.co.uk
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