DeVore in the well

5starpool

Ok,

A new victim for the well, with DeVore taking over, so thanks for that.

The usual no flaming or abuse rules apply. I'll start with a few questions.

1. How much poker do you actually get to play nowadays and would it be a reliable part of your income or more recreational?
2. When you do play, what is your game and stakes?
3. If you were asked by someone, "what do you do for a living" what would your reply be?
4. If you had to choose one of Boards, AntesUp or GJP to be involved in, and only one, which would it be? Same question if you did not have to worry about money considerations?
5. Any more business ventures you want to exclusively preview here?
6. What is worse, returning banned users to boards to troll at times (several times over) or spammers? What is your attitude to each of them?

nicnicnic

why cant you stop yourself three and four betting me when I'm sitting to your left and and you know I am not capable of folding

Killme00

Whats the best piece of advice you have ever received..Poker and otherwise?

Whats the worst piece of advice you have ever received..Poker and otherwise?

If you could have an evening with any five people alive or dead who would they be?

Do you get any ladyboy action on your recent vist to Thailand?

What is your view on the current US legislation regarding online poker? Are we all just in training until the legislation is changed?

Goodluck2me

Why dont you and Reggie get along?

Who`s idea was Green Joker Poker (the online skin)?

If you had to change one part of your poker repotoire what would it be?

If you had to play one tournament every week live what would it be?

If you didnt live in Ireland where would you go?

What is your biggest disappointment been in Poker?

If you had a choice between Final-tabling and coming 9th in the WSOP or one of your friends winning it, and knowing that you could never tell them that you were the reason they won it, which would you choose?

If you had a choice between stacking Phil Ivey at the World series or Successfully bluffing and showing Mike out of a huge pot at the WSOP which would it be?

Which poster annoys you on boards the most?

Knowing that you have the power to do so why isnt there a "Devore" forum?

Who is the worst boardsie that you have played with?


Thanks Tom, hope these give you a break from strictly poker Q`s.

smurph

What do you think of the evolution of the Poker Forum in Boards over the last 2 - 3 years.

Would you consider yourself a better cash or Tournament player?

Why do you think there is a decline in numbers for the GJP Monthly game (personally I think it's a great tournament)

Jaden

1. Complete this sentence : "Angle Shooters should be....."
2. Which is more important in Live MTTs, Deep stacks or good craic?
3. When's the last time you min-raised?
4. DM4 or DM3?

Scummyscousers

Do you think having a favourite hand (non primary) is -EV
One of your positive attributes appears to be your charitable nature, so with this in mind which charity is your favourite and why? (I'll give 20 quid to the one of your choice if you answer is good, my word = my bond)

Ok Poker! Have you improved this year at all or are you stagnate (like so many on this site)

Do you think poker is helping create a lot of, soon to be middle aged overweight resentful batchelors in this country?

Music.
Can you sing , dance , play an instrument spearately or at the same time?

Bragging?
Do youy have any sporting achievements you'd like to take this opportunity to brag about.

OMAHA.
Do you see a momentum gathering on this game in the last year?

Who is boards biggest rival for general online jibberjabber?

Which forum possess the owners of the biggest egos? (no brainer)

Do you have any plans to tie the knot in the next few years? (that bio clock is ticking, ticking)


Do you perform marriage ceremonies between MODS?

Do you think actual retarded people get offended when boards people call bad play as retarded. Why is this type of comment tolerated?
The feedback forum, it appears to be the lounge for Mods and mod wannabes to hang out and back slap each other for feline artistry, what is it really for?

I see you don't drive a car, If you did drive a car who would be your top 5 people you'd like to mow down?

What in all that is unholy in Liverpool does Devore mean?

Mellor

1.How come I run so bad on GJP, why did you flip my doomswitch?
2.If you could only play one type of poker for the rest of your life which would it be and why?
3. You were to stake one and only boardie into a tourney (in return for wearing GJP gear) who would you pick to waer the elusive green baseball cap?

David Michael

You play, from my limited experience, a very, very aggressive game. Why adopt that over another type of play. Very general... but I am sure you can run with it. It pays better? Other types bore you or don't give you that "rush"?


You mentioned on another thread reference your AIB credit card that you bought a domain... anything interesting?


You are going to write a book and be published. What is it going to be about?
That is just a very good future seeing hunch by the way. I have money on you and Joe Brolly doing the book thing....not together...obviously....

nicnicnic

1. best person and biggest bollix re "names" you have encountered through your reporting

2. most/least favorite thing about Vegas

3. would you ever buy into the wsop main event if your bankroll was under $50,000

4.Whats the strangest thing you have ever seen on your travels involving poker ( I loved that brass band video from Copenhagen i think that was definitely off the wall )

5. Did antesup just give up on this years reporting when Sly was knocked because of perceived lack of interest from here or because the powers that be made your job impossible.

6. something that surprised you when covering an event ( this year at wsop I saw antonious throw a sissy fit after a beat and being surrounded by security which surprised me because of his super cool persona ) anything encountered along these lines.

7. Do you believe in taking shots or are you a bankroll nit

The Al Lad

Who would win a fight ???

You or 5Starpool or lafortezza ???

Which mod is the strongest ???

What biscuits do you prefer ??? Jaffa Cakes or Hob Nobs ???

bops

Hi tom

Did you play in the IPO?

If so, please detail your exit hand (unless you won it)

Do you honestly think you are good at poker?

If yes, why

What's your best poker achievement?

What's your best poker memory?

When you see me at your table, do you think:
A) can I have a refund
meh i might get lucky
c) fix it with your poker buddies to move you

gl in the well, i hope they rip you appart

Mellor

The Al Lad wrote:

What biscuits do you prefer ??? Jaffa Cakes or Hob Nobs ???

I think before you make assumptions you should first find out if he even considers Jaffa CAke a biscuit.

So Dev, Jaffa Cake, Cake or Biscuit?

phantom_lord

aren't they just called cakes to avoid vat or something?

Mr.Plough

would you shag les battersby for 2 million?

brianmc

Mr.Plough wrote:

would you shag les battersby for 2 million?

Same question substituting Les with Bob.

The Al Lad

Mr.Plough wrote:

would you shag les battersby for 2 million?

Same question substituting Les and Bob for a Pikey

David Michael

phantom_lord wrote:

aren't they just called cakes to avoid vat or something?

True. Choc covered biscuts were deemed luxuary items and subject to VAT. Cake and normal biscuts were exempt. Went to court in the UK at the time...

Biscuts go soft when stale... cakes hard... that clinched it.

Strange but true...

kincsem

You are famous / infamous for your forthright opinions, especially on right /wrong.

I really like your comments on poker players who act the goat. Picture a poker table where you are the dealer. So for my entertainment please fill seats 1 to 9 with the biggest arseholes you have come across on the poker circuit (Humberto Brenes might get a seat).

I see nicnicnic got in before me. Obviously a hot topic, then.

DeVore

1. How much poker do you actually get to play nowadays and would it be a reliable part of your income or more recreational?

It varys a great deal from month to month, some months I have loads of time and plenty of committment to play and so I play lots. Other months I lack one or other of those and I play a lot less. When I'm playing a reasonable amount (say 4 nights a week solid), it makes up about half- three quarters of my monthly monetary requirements. I could probably live on it if I wasnt doing the other things in my life.


2. When you do play, what is your game and stakes?

I play in the evening, I play .50/1 or 1/2 and I mostly play NLH, though I have taken to playing a little omaha lately simply for a change of game.


3. If you were asked by someone, "what do you do for a living" what would your reply be?

It depends on the person and how much I want to talk to them. I might explain quite a bit of my odd lifestyle or I might tell them I'm an accountant.

4. If you had to choose one of Boards, AntesUp or GJP to be involved in, and only one, which would it be? Same question if you did not have to worry about money considerations?

GJP if I have to live off it, Boards makes almost no cash for the admins, Antesup has always lost money (how would it make any??)...

I'd chose Boards if I had no monetary concerns. Its fair more revolutionary and different then a poker skin. I mean, GJP is the best poker skin there is in my opinion but Boards has the potential to change irish society, in some ways it has already. Who wouldnt want to be involved in that?



5. Any more business ventures you want to exclusively preview here?
No, but I have definite plans for something that is very interesting for 2ns quarter next year. Can't discuss it, would have to shoot you etc.


6. What is worse, returning banned users to boards to troll at times (several times over) or spammers? What is your attitude to each of them?

Spammers. I hate spammers. Spamming is the ultimately selfish act of making your discussion area unuseable simply to shift another carton of viagra or stocks.

At least one of our SMods was banned 28 times when they first came here. I think they still own the records in fact. When we finally got it through to them that we we're the "good guys" they became very supportive and years later is an SMod. So people change and I like to believe the best of people in general.

DeV.

DeVore

why cant you stop yourself three and four betting me when I'm sitting to your left and and you know I am not capable of folding

I hate you so much.

AND you still didnt make the money even when I dumped chips to you.

DeV.

DeVore

Whats the best piece of advice you have ever received..Poker and otherwise?

Poker its probably "dont play drunk".

In life I dont know, I couldnt say. I'm not sure I've ever taken advice on life from anyone for the important things. Their advice would only make sense for their life. If I was forced to answer it would probably be "dont put that in your mouth"


Whats the worst piece of advice you have ever received..Poker and otherwise?

Poker... "move up levels"

Life... "Buy collectible cards, they're going to be worth a fortune!"


If you could have an evening with any five people alive or dead who would they be?

Einstein, Dawkins, Darwin, Ghandhi and Michael Collins. That would be some evening...


Do you get any ladyboy action on your recent vist to Thailand?

Oddly, yes. Chiang Mai is covered with them and they are very friendly and laugh a lot. When we were going into the stadium (think: National Arena meets The Thunderdome), all the fighters from a club walk in together and the ladyboys like to joke and flirt with the fighters. Its all very "Carry On" style humour and nothing serious.


What is your view on the current US legislation regarding online poker? Are we all just in training until the legislation is changed?

It will be rescinded but considering they have instigated laws to have your reading material (libraries) and search terms (online search engines) collected and cross referenced by the government, they have a lot of things to straighten out once Bush is gone. It just might take a while.

When they DO legistlate it, it will be taxed in some way. Not sure how but it will. Plus it will be tied to some form of bricks-and-mortar casino license.

DeV.

DeVore

Why dont you and Reggie get along?

Reggie and I get along fine. I put a huge amount of importance on being civil with people. Reggie seems to give it almost no thought. In those respects we will always be at odds.

Who`s idea was Green Joker Poker (the online skin)?
The three people who still own it. Mike, Brian and I. We were talking about doing a skin for Antesup (Mike and I), while Green Joker Poker (Mike and Brian)
were also looking for a way to expand. We merged the two companies and created one online skin.

If you had to change one part of your poker repotoire what would it be?

Overcalling with QJo. Its euwwwwwwwwwwwww.

If you had to play one tournament every week live what would it be?
CHL's 100 or Fitz 100+100.


If you didnt live in Ireland where would you go?

Amsterdam, Malta or Thailand.


What is your biggest disappointment been in Poker?

Probably losing heads up to Len for the spot on the 6 Nations team. I really wanted to play that.


If you had a choice between Final-tabling and coming 9th in the WSOP or one of your friends winning it, and knowing that you could never tell them that you were the reason they won it, which would you choose?

Thats a hard one to answer truthfully. There are very few poker players I would do that for. All the same, if some genie is going to wave his hands and have me come 9th... it wouldnt be my achievement would it?
I dont know, i'd like to think I'd give it to my friend but then again the money is a lot for 9th



If you had a choice between stacking Phil Ivey at the World series or Successfully bluffing and showing Mike out of a huge pot at the WSOP which would it be?

Stacking Phil Ivey. I can bluff/stack Mike any day of the week.

Which poster annoys you on boards the most?

I'm not going to name names but the ones who never lift a finger to contribute to a community but who criticism and complain about the way others do, they really hack me off. Whingers who contribute nothing basically.
(not referring to the poker forum here btw).

Snide sniping people who ask caustic questions rather then come out and put their opinion on the line and stand over it.

People who see Boards as a place they can take take take from and never give anything back.

Thankfully there are few of them about and very few on the poker forum.


Knowing that you have the power to do so why isnt there a "Devore" forum?

What would we put in it? Sounds horribly egotistical and also a recipe for a completely empty forum


Who is the worst boardsie that you have played with?

I hate putting names to stuff like this.
The one thing I will say is that the average player on boards is a lot better then the average player.


DeV.

Goodluck2me

DeVore wrote:

[DeV.

Thanks for you replies, shame you didnt Name names though, but it snot your style i guess, Good luck with the well.

DeVore

What do you think of the evolution of the Poker Forum in Boards over the last 2 - 3 years.

It has followed the text book lines of all forums believe it or not. There are the frontiersmen (the people who set the place up and established it), the settlers (the people who arrive shortly afterwards and start using the area) and the colonisers (the large numbers of people who arrive and want things done a different way).

A group called Suited Aces were largely responsible for a number of changes in poker in Dublin. One was getting this place set up (Musician & Hysepher and others), another was showing that there was a brand of player who wanted a well structured deepstacked freeze-out with our freeze-outs in the Merrion. Then arrived all the Fitz people and the Boardsie who were here already and played poker. Then arrived the masses of SE, Student, country-based players etc etc.
When that happens the first group gets swamped by the second and ultimately the third. Everone either adapts and survives or the first (and maybe second) groups move on complaining about how its "not like the old days".

Would you consider yourself a better cash or Tournament player?

Oh God, tournament every time


Why do you think there is a decline in numbers for the GJP Monthly game (personally I think it's a great tournament)

There are too many options for the players in Dublin. Too many well structured games around that buyin.

DeV.

DeVore

1. Complete this sentence : "Angle Shooters should be....."

Shot.


2. Which is more important in Live MTTs, Deep stacks or good craic?

Depends on the buyin. 20€ I want to have a bit of fun. 200€ I want deep stacks.

3. When's the last time you min-raised?

I hate min raising, I am pretty sure the last time I deliberately did it was in the Limerick Cup when I made a horrible min raise to 3000, over a button who had made it 1500 after everyone limped on the 100 blind around to him. I had AA he had KK. Horrible move and now I would simply move in.


4. DM4 or DM3?
Either, I'd still kick your ass.
DM3 I guess, to save your the embarrasment of a negative score


DeV.

Lafortezza

Name names and say something controversial and personal about posters on the poker forum, thanks.

opr

If you had never discovered poker and the internet didn't exsist what do you feel you might have ended up doing ?

Favourite film and why ? Few of your Favourite Albums ? Favourite Drink ?

How did you first get into poker?

In general from being involved heavily in poker do you think it has a positive or negative impact on most peoples lives ?

Do you agree with alot of people on this board that if you can make money playing poker you should be able to make lots more money doing other things in life ?

Thanks
Opr

DeVore

Do you think having a favourite hand (non primary) is -EV

Having a favourite anything in your head cant be -EV. Only actions have consequences.
But I think there is a game-theory argument to be made for saying "whenever I get dealt, Q3o I'm going to play it like I have AA". Thats more about metagaming and game-theory then what you are asking.
I try not to fall into love with any hand.


One of your positive attributes appears to be your charitable nature, so with this in mind which charity is your favourite and why? (I'll give 20 quid to the one of your choice if you answer is good, my word = my bond)

I like Barretstown because they are focused not only on the kid but also his siblings and friends. They make the quality of life better for them. There is no point in saving kids lives if those lives are full of nothing but treatment and pain.

Mr Pudding introduced me to the Butterfly Kids one year during SSF. I looked into them and they have a terrible ailment which has very specific problems it raises. Helping them was a lot of fun, the people behind the charity were absolutely gobsmacked and couldnt have been nicer.


Ok Poker! Have you improved this year at all or are you stagnate (like so many on this site)

I dont know if I've improved. I think I have but everyone else is getting pretty good too so I think relatively I have gone backwards. Which doesnt feel nice.

Do you think poker is helping create a lot of, soon to be middle aged overweight resentful batchelors in this country?

No. They have been there for generations in Ireland.


Music.
Can you sing , dance , play an instrument spearately or at the same time?

I can sing. I'm told I have a good voice but curiously since I can address any sized audience without preparation and talk on many subjects without breaking a sweat, I baulk at singing in front of so much as another human being. Its very personal to me, dont ask me why!

Bragging?
Do youy have any sporting achievements you'd like to take this opportunity to brag about.

I have a silver junior All Ireland medal for 100M sprint clocking 11.0 seconds on the day, which was my life time best. Unfortunately I also ripped both tendons on my hips that same race, had to sit out the off season and never returned to training as I went to college soon after. 11s flat is the qualifying time for the Olympics and I would dearly have loved to represent the country at the 100M sprints at the game.

Other then that, I have walked accross the country and cycled accross the continent.


OMAHA.
Do you see a momentum gathering on this game in the last year?

Yes, though its always been the game for the "Big Game". I think its a case that more people are stepping up to play at those levels and hence the game is growing. Very few people play 1k/2k NLH.



Who is boards biggest rival for general online jibberjabber?

I dont know of many Irish ones (Thumped etc). I guess internationally it would be MySpace/Facebook or something like 2+2 or SomethingAwful.
None of those are really competitors to us, its very hard to compete with Boards.


Which forum possess the owners of the biggest egos? (no brainer)

Probably us (Boards) or do you mean forum on Boards? In which case, who are its owners? I'm confused


Do you have any plans to tie the knot in the next few years? (that bio clock is ticking, ticking)

Absolutely no plans. Who the hell would put up with my lifestyle??


Do you perform marriage ceremonies between MODS?

No, thats Vexorg's job. I do get droit de signeur though!


Do you think actual retarded people get offended when boards people call bad play as retarded. Why is this type of comment tolerated?

I hope not. Its like gamers calling someone "ghey". I have a pretty good sense for when someone is being offensive and when something is just PC gone mad.


The feedback forum, it appears to be the lounge for Mods and mod wannabes to hang out and back slap each other for feline artistry, what is it really for?

Feedback. Believe it or not, genuine feedback gets read, noticed and acted upon. Most of the threads there are NOT feedback, they are "waaaaaaaaaah something bad happened to me and I dont like it".


I see you don't drive a car, If you did drive a car who would be your top 5 people you'd like to mow down?

Can I hit Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley at the same time?
George Bush.
The current pope.
Osama Bin Laden.


What in all that is unholy in Liverpool does Devore mean?
When I was chair of the SciFi in Trinity we invited a little known author over to speak. He had just published a book called "Chung Kuo". Its an absolutely brilliant book by the way.

I identified strongly with one of the lead characters in the first book who's name was Devore. Subsequently he goes on to become a psychotic killer and rapist amongst other things, so the similarities end at the first book, I hope!

When I first joined Usenet (waaaay back in 1990 ). I took the name as my nom de plume and wrote a lot of activist stuff under it (which landed me in the CIA's database... on the plus side, they send me christmas cards. Jesus that sounds nuts when I write it down but its all true, lol!). So the name stuck and I now respond to "Dev" as a nickname.


DeV.

DeVore

1.How come I run so bad on GJP, why did you flip my doomswitch?

If I only had a dollar for everyone who asks me that. On my mobile. At 3am.
I am running awful at the moment myself.

2.If you could only play one type of poker for the rest of your life which would it be and why?

If it was that or die, NLH.


3. You were to stake one and only boardie into a tourney (in return for wearing GJP gear) who would you pick to waer the elusive green baseball cap?

Probably Daithio (his golden balls would go well with the green), still one of the best tournament players in the business. At Omaha it would have to be halibut2 and also quite possibly at Holdem, lol! Or Dave Masters, because while he might not have as high a success rate as the other two, he has INIFINITELY more chance of being on telly for doing something loopers.

DeV.

DeVore

You play, from my limited experience, a very, very aggressive game. Why adopt that over another type of play. Very general... but I am sure you can run with it. It pays better? Other types bore you or don't give you that "rush"?

My GO instructor (a little japanese Mr Miagi style character who is a 9th Dan at the game) told me once that I was the "Donald Rumfield" of GO because I play it so aggressively. I didnt think I played Poker that aggro, but lately people have said that more and more to me.
Aggro style is a winning style for very simple reasons. You have two ways of winning the pot.

One thing I realised (like getting hit on the head with a hammer) is that poker isnt a game. Its two games. The first is a game of chicken. When/If thats a tie, there is a second more complicated game of chance with cards which breaks the tie.


You mentioned on another thread reference your AIB credit card that you bought a domain... anything interesting?

Yes.

You are going to write a book and be published. What is it going to be about?

Actually I'm considering writing a book on the history of poker in Irelad and the Irish in Poker.
There are other books I have considered writing and would like to write at some point in my life. Fiction and non-fiction.


DeV.

DeVore

1. best person and biggest bollix re "names" you have encountered through your reporting

Best people: Joe Hachem, Daniel Negreanu, Chris Fergusson (in fact, most of the Full Tilt guys... who could dislike John Juanda?)

Worst: Phil Helmuth, Humberto Brenes, Tony G

The vast majority of the "names" are dead sound in fact, I could give you ten more "good guys" while struggling to find a fourth for the "bollixes".


2. most/least favorite thing about Vegas

Most: How nuts it all is. The constant poker action.

Least: The constant gambling (non-poker) and feelings of excess particularly when it comes to food.


3. would you ever buy into the wsop main event if your bankroll was under $50,000

No. I might try a 1k satelite though.

4.Whats the strangest thing you have ever seen on your travels involving poker ( I loved that brass band video from Copenhagen i think that was definitely off the wall )

The brass band was certainly weird. If you watch that just remember that the Copenhagen EPT is happening juuust to the left. It was surreal watching them wave to the Poker Papparazzi thinking we were there for them, with myself Snoopy and Jen waving back that them!

The Dunk-A-Stripper in the lifestyle show of the WSOP this year was pretty weird. Then Harrahs told them to take it away because it lacked class. Which is like Freddy Kruger telling you your nails need filing.



5. Did antesup just give up on this years reporting when Sly was knocked because of perceived lack of interest from here or because the powers that be made your job impossible.

A little from column A, a little from column B. After the first year when Mike and I quit reporting in (drunken) disgust at Andy being knocked out, its something of a tradition now with the poker press that we bugger off when the last Irish is out. They couldnt believe that with 4 to go, after 8700 runner we were leaving. Mike and I were both drunk and dissappointed and both had had enough of reporting so we left, giving them all the drunken fingers.

6. something that surprised you when covering an event ( this year at wsop I saw antonious throw a sissy fit after a beat and being surrounded by security which surprised me because of his super cool persona ) anything encountered along these lines.

I saw a HUGE HUGE bloke, really tall and enormous, take a terrible beat early on and he just stood there, frozen. He did nothing when he was addressed by the dealer nor anyone else. Then, with a look of murder, he started to softly but firmly thump his knuckles into the table, about once a second, progressively getting harder and harder. Everyone was totally quiet and the atmosphere was electric because this guy could wreck several tables before anyone would be able to get to him, let alone stop him.

Slowly about 20 security guys forumed a loose circle around him and the table and said nothing. Guy is still thumping the table. Noone says anything to him and finally he slowly turns and leaves with the circle of 20 guards moving with him and keeping his distance.
The atmosphere was absolutely electric...


7. Do you believe in taking shots or are you a bankroll nit

I'm a bit of a nit I think. I grind out money and never really look to move up.
I should but I am not intending on playing poker for every, certainly not as a semi-pro.


DeV.

DeVore

Who would win a fight ???
You or 5Starpool or lafortezza ???

I've done a few years of martial arts and lots of people have taken a swing at me in my life for one reason or another
I'd keep my eye on that 5starpool fella, he's got a mean head on him. Lafortezza is a big gurly man.


Which mod is the strongest ???

I dont know if I've met Ste05 in real life. 5starpool is certainly stronger then Mr Gurly Arms.


What biscuits do you prefer ??? Jaffa Cakes or Hob Nobs ???

Jaffa Cakes are cakes. The clue is in the name.

I prefer them over hob nobs, though possibly not over chocolate hob nobs.

MrPillowTalk

DeVore wrote:

I see you don't drive a car, If you did drive a car who would be your top 5 people you'd like to mow down?

Can I hit Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley at the same time?
George Bush.
The current pope.
Osama Bin Laden.

This is interesting, personally I think the achievements of Adams are quite remarkable and deserving of much praise.

Why was your poker skin set up under GJP when you had a ready made brand in AntesUp that was allready very visible, do you have future plans for another skin for antes, or is antes on the backburner these days?

Where do you stand on the is poker gambling argument? my personal opinion is that the skill argument is fundamentally flawed in so much that for the majority of players there is little difference between playing poker and playing roulette/bj etc and in fact in many cases their ev from house games would be significantly higher than from playing poker against reasonably competent players.

Since you entered the poker world have you managed to sustain a relationship? If not are you one of the many poker players who believe this to be totally unrelated to your chosen pasttime?

You mention on the thread that you dont make any cash from Boards, most people in my social circle frequent boards regularly, why dont you cash in? It seems a terrible wasted opportunity to me, I know the place is what it is because its not littered with ads or forced subscription however sound as it is to have the place like that, principals dont pay the rent and it strikes me as an awful lot of work for no bannanas.

Good luck with the well and continued success with the businesses.

DeVore

Did you play in the IPO?

Yes I did.

If so, please detail your exit hand (unless you won it)

Did he put you up to this?! Bunch of Deise fnckboxes the lot of ye

Nicky Power and I were chip leaders on our table by a long shot. It was folded to me in the SB, Nicky is BB. I raised, he reraise I shoved and he eventually made a great call with A8 and has the added advantage of finding me with K8. In all honesty, the way it played out, I would do it again.

Do you honestly think you are good at poker?

If yes, why

Yes. Too many final tables and deep moneys for it to be coincidence over this length of time. Good, however , is a relative term.

What's your best poker achievement?
Probably splitting it in Limerick at the Limerick Cup. Also I seem to have a record in the Big Slick events in that I have yet to finish not in the final chop when I have played their events


What's your best poker memory?

Not sure I could pick one but almost all of them didnt happen on a table. Stuff like hanging out in Barcelona with mates around the EPT. Going out into the night in Vegas looking for adventure etc.

In terms of memories from the table either winning my first big tournie or something like, seeing Doyle Brunson win his tenth and the respect and applause he got in the WSOP room when it happened.


When you see me at your table, do you think:
A) can I have a refund
meh i might get lucky
c) fix it with your poker buddies to move you


D) Yum yum!!


DeV.

DeVore

You are famous / infamous for your forthright opinions, especially on right /wrong.

I am?? Um, I call things as I see them often but I didnt think I was "famous/infamous" for it. I have a strong sense of fair play and it annoys me when people are getting the short end of the stick. I dont have a boss or anyone to report to so I can and often do, say what I feel like.

I really like your comments on poker players who act the goat. Picture a poker table where you are the dealer. So for my entertainment please fill seats 1 to 9 with the biggest arseholes you have come across on the poker circuit (Humberto Brenes might get a seat).

Brenes would certainly be there. So would Helmuth and Tony G.

More interesting might be who WOULDNT. Mike Matusow wouldnt as he's really not a bad guy. Phil Laak wouldnt because he's like that all the time, he's not putting it on or being annoying on purpose!

People who are bad mannered (both on and off the poker table) p1ss me off because its unnecessary and frankly, rude. I like to get in their faces.


DeV.

nicnicnic

DeVore wrote:

why cant you stop yourself three and four betting me when I'm sitting to your left and and you know I am not capable of folding

I hate you so much.

AND you still didnt make the money even when I dumped chips to you.

DeV.

at about 11 with my super team all gone i asked myself what i wanted to achieve in the tournament and came to the conclusion that knocking you out was my main goal having not let the team down. Consequently I donked my chips and drove home as gratified as if i had won the event:p

DeVore wrote:

The Dunk-A-Stripper in the lifestyle show of the WSOP this year was pretty weird. Then Harrahs told them to take it away because it lacked class. Which is like Freddy Kruger telling you your nails need filing.



DeV.

I found this a bit disturbing myself but great analogy

DeVore wrote:

Did you play in the IPO?

Yes I did.

If so, please detail your exit hand (unless you won it)

Did he put you up to this?! Bunch of Deise fnckboxes the lot of ye

Nicky Power and I were chip leaders on our table by a long shot. It was folded to me in the SB, Nicky is BB. I raised, he reraise I shoved and he eventually made a great call with A8 and has the added advantage of finding me with K8. In all honesty, the way it played out, I would do it again.



DeV.

I honestly didn't put him up to this but why would you play the the hand the same way surely you mean against a much less talented opponent;)




great read so far

DeVore

yeah. I shouldnt bluff the station. :rolleyes:

DeV.

DeVore

If you had never discovered poker and the internet didn't exsist what do you feel you might have ended up doing ?

I am 37, I have done a lot of other things in my life. I am, for example, a trained cobbler and key smith.

I used to variously, run my own company, employ 12 people, earn 1k a day and shift boxes for a living. Not all at the same time admittedly.

Favourite film and why ? Few of your Favourite Albums ? Favourite Drink ?

I dont have a favourite film, it depends on my mood. In my top list would be titles as varied as:
Blues Brothers
Truely Madly Deeply
Alien series (I liked all 4 films, prefering the first two)
Clerks
The Holy Grail
Fight Club
Serenity
Reservoir Dogs / Pulp Fiction.

There's another 2 dozen films I could name.

Favourite Albums would also be vary varied. I listen to tons of different stuff.
Massive Attack, Jameraqui (?), Rage against the machine, Greenday, Korn, Orbital, Jazzmatazz, Eminem along with pseudo classical stuff (like Requiem for a Dream) and classical stuff like Beethoven. It depends on my mood and what I want to change that mood to sometimes. I think about the only types of music I wont listen to would be heavy opera and experimental (freerange) jazz.

I drink Guinness by preference, and love a high quality single malt whiskey. Scotch or Irish doesnt really matter but Scotland has a wider range to choose from.
I like White or Black Russians and Mudslides! mmmmmmmmmm


How did you first get into poker?

This is something I wrote which I'm still working on as a blog entry.

I'm sitting in a dark room watching the final table of the world series on the television, the difference between me and 50 million other people is that the game is happening right now, 10 feet away. There are 5 players left, my countryman Andy Black has half the chips on the table and I'm crouched over my laptop in a worn and faded Rage Against The Machine t-shirt, hammering out updates on each hand as it happens. This is the biggest poker game on earth, ever.In what alcoholics refer to as a "Moment of Clarity' I stop typing and consider how the hell I got there.
But this is not the start of my story, this is the end of it.

Skimming backwards, I had a life before this. I was in business. Yes, I used to be a respectable businessman. The managing director of an award-winning company. I *employed* people for christ's sake. Was that me? I wore 400 euro 3-piece suits and was a paper millionaire. It seems like someone else. It *was* someone else. A different life, a different person. Computers, I made a killing from computers during the boom. I negotiated deals for millions of dollars and took a slice off the top for my help.

Then the downturn hit and we tried to ride it out, put the entire company on the bet that the market would turn before we went under. Millions of euros worth of intellectual property, contracts, equipment not to mention 12 peoples jobs went on the line.

Ironically it wasnt until later that people would call me a gambler.

Let me explain the path that led me to being a professional poker player, that made me a member of a vibrant and long standing subculture.

The week we liquidated my company, my father had a catastrophic quadruple heart-bypass that nearly killed him. Not the best week of my life. But I had no end of people offering to snap up my services and so I put on the suit again, slapped on a fake plastic smile and went back to doing what I did. I'd been the boss for so long and tasted freedom away from a desk that I couldnt stand being reinserted into the Matrix but I didnt have choice. I had to work. I owed a fortune to the banks and I was broke but I hated it and my clients complained and my boss couldnt figure out what had happened to his star hire.

I took the last 2,000 euro from my bank account before the creditors came looking for it. I owed them half a million so 2,000 euros wasnt going to help either way but I needed a holiday and so I decided for my 34th year on this earth, to treat myself to my dream trip and went snowboarding in Canada. On the second day I took a jump wrong, smashed into a tree, snapped my thigh bone clean in half and fell 6 feet into snow like a rag doll. When I woke up in hospital, high as a kite on morpheine, they had drilled a hole in my shin, put a metal bar through it and I was in full traction. Happy ****ing birthday.

My mates had grabbed everything they thought I might appreciate for an extended stay in hospital including Sklansky's Theory of Poker. The bible of No Limit Holdem. As I recuperated I read it from cover to cover over and over and over again. The docs drilled, pinned and screwed my leg into some semblance of normality and told me I had a long recovery ahead. As soon as I had relearned to walk I hobbled to the souvenir shop and bought one of those tiny packs of playing cards they sell. The kind gnomes might play with. I whiled away the hours, days and weeks dealing hand after hand, playing them all and studying my one and only book. I used my pills as chips and the container as the dealer button.

The complex odds and probabilities didnt bother me much but as I studied I realised how much of this game I had missed just watching Late Night Poker. I got absorbed, addicted and compelled by the beauty of this deceptively simple game.

Returning to Dublin I couldnt go back to my flat. It wasnt that I didnt have the rent for the landlord (I didn't), my flat was on the fourth floor with no lift and frankly I needed some tender loving care so I did what any good Irishman does when he's sick. I headed home to the mammy.

With 100 pounds left in my bank account the rent wasnt going to go away, I didn't have the heart to burden my poor mother further with my financial problems and truth be told, my pride baulked at the idea. She had enough to worry about between a convalescing husband and a bashed up son on crutches. There was only one thing for it, I told her I was going to meet some friends in town, took the last 100 euros I had in the world and went to play the 20 euro game in the Fitz. Crutches and all. The tournament was played on Sundays and Wednesdays and I won it three times in a row netting 2000 euros. 2000 untraceable, untaxable, much needed euros. Even if I had wanted to I couldnt even get to the bank because of my leg so I stuffed the filthy lucre in my jeans and hobbled home.

Mammy's are great. They are always there when you need them. And sometimes when you dont. Food is produced from magic cauldrons, pixies make the bed and clean the rooms and clothes are whisked away to be washed. But first they are checked for valuables in the pockets. So when my mother came into my room, sat on the bed with *that* look on her face and put my nascent bankroll between us, I knew this was one game I'd lost.

"So, I can only presume you're dealing drugs".


In general from being involved heavily in poker do you think it has a positive or negative impact on most peoples lives ?

I've seen it have both to be honest. Often it exposes stresses that are there anyway, especially in a relationship. I dont think the game has a positive or negative impact but I do think there are people who shouldnt play it.

Do you agree with alot of people on this board that if you can make money playing poker you should be able to make lots more money doing other things in life ?

Yes, thats probably true though not universally true. If it wasnt for poker, I dont know that Helmuth wouldnt be getting fired from burger flipping job after burger flipping job.

Poker for me, is a great game but its not my life. I am enjoying mucking about with the poker industry at the moment. I took a recent diversion into the medical industry and had a ball learning about that and setting up a new company. Next month it could be something else. Who knows....


DeV.

DeVore

Last reply for a while; lets finish with a doozie...

Name names and say something controversial and personal about posters on the poker forum, thanks.

Hector isnt as good as everyone thinks he is. He is, ironically, as good as he thinks he is.

LuckyLloyd needs to agree with people less and believe in his own opinion more, oh and decide on a nickname permanently.

Dave Murray hates my guts with avengance. I havent really worked out why yet. It bothers me less now then it used to.

M@ms (who posted this) posted it from the Fitz IP. And isnt Paul Byrne. The second post on this thread is the only other thing he has ever posted here.

It was the pirat who dropped cacks and went for a dive with the Bodog gurls.

Reggie doesnt look as wealthy as his burgeoning talent should lead him to be.

Mike snores, really loudly.

Marq is too beardy for his own good. By far.

Nicky O'D probably shouldnt have gone pro even though I think he's a reasonable player. I think he's smart enough to have worked that out without my help.

Oscar is a big gossip.

Doc Farrell has gone from "mildly excentric" to "dont leave him alone with the kids" in the last 10 months. Your guess is as good as mine.

Lafortezza is a big gurl, with pigtails and Dom hasnt realised that shaving stops at the locks. And no one has told him yet.

There, happy now?

Lets leave it at that for today, kinda like the end of a series finale...

DeV.

RoundTower

Hi Tom,
good work doing this well

you occasionally say things like "boards doesn't really make any money for the admins". However your profile here gives you an easy way to hawk sites like Antes Up and GJP, or to get involved in other profitable business endeavours. Do you feel that if you didn't own boards, you would have had a harder time turning a profit from these businesses?

I rarely see you criticise someone's play on a hand of poker. Do you think that there is usually no right way to play a hand, and it's all about your individual style?

You seem to think I hate your guts with a vengeance. This is obviously silly. What genuine criticisms do you think I have of you?

Wisesmurf

1q: How sweaty was that Elvis impersonator who was swooning the hooker in the Cleopatra bar in Caesars Palace?

Scummyscousers

JAYSUS! :eek: Ok on reading your little story (including the broken leg) I'll be cheering on some positive varience for you.

Fair play, not a trace of bitterness in your writings. (those young fellas should take note)


Good luck....I mean that

LuckyLloyd

This post has been deleted.

Drakar

DeVore wrote:

How did you first get into poker?
......

I want to buy your book!

Fatboydim

Ah Tom... That's a bit unfair on the Doc now. I'd leave him with my kids any time.

Do you think that Poker has already had it's golden age? Whilst the regulations in the US certainly had an impact on numbers in this years WSOP - It also seemed a far more lacklustre affair. I also feel that there is less buzz around major tournaments now. So is it a case of we're all settling down - or have we seen the best of it?

Has the skill element gone out of the game or is it just different now?

You raise with AK preflop in mid position and get called by the cut off. A flop comes 5 9 2 rainbow. Do you make a continuation bet?

Would you consider going into politics? As I think you'd make a great TD. And it would certainly liven those stiffs up.

RasTa

I remember sitting in your apartment one night after one of the first boards beers and having a chat with bubbles on how he ordered a russian bride to clean his house. I always wondered was that true?

pok3rplaya

DeVore wrote:

Dawkins,

Richard?

Jesus Wept

LuckyLloyd wrote:

2) What age are you?

I believe he said 37 years old.

RiggeR

LuckyLloyd

This post has been deleted.

connie147

Hi Tom, Good luck in your "well"

Couple of questions

What level of tourney buy-ins do you prefer playing?

Because there are now so many quality card rooms in Dublin offering players good value for their money,what kinda tourneys will us folk outside the pale have to put on to attract the "Dublin card player".Its ok for us cause we travel a bit and mix with the better/more experienced players.But as in snooker, I think its very important for my club players to see the standard they need to aspire to.

Do you think the EPT entry fees are gone too high?

Do you think entry fees in Ireland seem to be creeping up all the time? For instance,Jan 2006 IPC--€1,000. Jan 2007--IPC--€1500 Jan 2008-IPC-€2000.
Is this good or bad for the long term future of the game here?

Did you ever play a madder cash game than the one with Maggie"flopitis" and John the farmer?If so, where?

Continued good luck in the future.And if you go into politics,you can have my vote.