1 00:00:07.745 --> 00:00:08.165 Thrill. 2 00:00:16.845 --> 00:00:19.125 I am excited today because we are here with Will Fale. 3 00:00:19.125 --> 00:00:20.445 He is a poker legend. 4 00:00:20.715 --> 00:00:22.445 Will, thank you so much for being here. 5 00:00:22.545 --> 00:00:23.765 I'm excited to talk to you today 6 00:00:23.765 --> 00:00:25.685 because we're gonna talk about the business 7 00:00:25.685 --> 00:00:26.805 and we're also gonna talk poker. 8 00:00:27.145 --> 00:00:29.205 So for those watching that don't know you, 9 00:00:29.635 --> 00:00:32.885 what exactly has made you a poker legend? 10 00:00:33.955 --> 00:00:35.645 Well, it started many, many years ago. 11 00:00:35.725 --> 00:00:37.165 I was probably in my early twenties. 12 00:00:37.565 --> 00:00:40.125 I started playing underground poker in New York 13 00:00:40.665 --> 00:00:44.165 and um, I just got the bug really fast. 14 00:00:44.285 --> 00:00:46.245 I mean, I was a gambler when I was at a younger age 15 00:00:46.865 --> 00:00:49.725 and once I started playing poker, I didn't need to go 16 00:00:49.725 --> 00:00:51.605 to casinos that were three hours away anymore. 17 00:00:52.045 --> 00:00:54.245 I could play locally, I could play underground. 18 00:00:54.905 --> 00:00:57.565 And just like the scene, like, just like the movie round is, 19 00:00:57.675 --> 00:00:59.845 it's a very, very real situation. 20 00:01:00.225 --> 00:01:02.485 You know, when you're, you're in a state that doesn't, uh, 21 00:01:02.855 --> 00:01:04.685 allow poker, people are gonna do it anyway. 22 00:01:05.265 --> 00:01:08.525 So, um, I earned my stripes playing, uh, cash games. 23 00:01:09.025 --> 00:01:11.885 And then, uh, after being very successful in the cash games, 24 00:01:12.105 --> 00:01:16.405 uh, someone said to me in around 2006, they said to me, 25 00:01:16.405 --> 00:01:18.605 why don't you go play the World Series of Poker Tournament? 26 00:01:19.205 --> 00:01:21.005 I didn't really know what tournament poker was then. 27 00:01:21.085 --> 00:01:22.245 I just knew what a cash game was 28 00:01:22.785 --> 00:01:25.165 and I knew that entry fee was like $10,000. 29 00:01:25.845 --> 00:01:29.045 I went out to Las Vegas, I took a shot, uh, 30 00:01:29.085 --> 00:01:31.005 I think there was like six or 7,000 players. 31 00:01:31.365 --> 00:01:33.645 I finished, uh, like 250th, 32 00:01:34.135 --> 00:01:37.125 which was like a great run I have for my 10,000 investment. 33 00:01:37.245 --> 00:01:40.445 I got back like 60 or $70,000 if I remember correctly. 34 00:01:40.755 --> 00:01:42.605 From there I got the poker bug. 35 00:01:42.725 --> 00:01:44.125 I went to Foxwoods right after that, 36 00:01:44.125 --> 00:01:47.125 or maybe two, three weeks later, I uh, went. 37 00:01:47.575 --> 00:01:50.965 There was uh, a, they do like what we call these open series 38 00:01:50.965 --> 00:01:52.965 where they go for like two weeks of tournaments. 39 00:01:53.265 --> 00:01:57.085 And I went back to back to back four in a row, final tables 40 00:01:57.395 --> 00:02:00.045 with all, uh, minimum field of uh, 600 players. 41 00:02:00.045 --> 00:02:02.325 Maximum field I think was like 2000 players. 42 00:02:03.145 --> 00:02:05.925 And uh, after that I got the poker bug. 43 00:02:06.125 --> 00:02:08.805 I, uh, 2000 I won. 44 00:02:09.125 --> 00:02:14.085 I won maybe two, two or 23 titles I have of tournament wins. 45 00:02:14.545 --> 00:02:17.485 But the big win that I won was my first major when I won. 46 00:02:17.545 --> 00:02:21.005 Um, in 2011 I won the Legend of Poker in, 47 00:02:21.025 --> 00:02:22.645 in LA at the bicycle casino. 48 00:02:23.265 --> 00:02:25.765 And uh, that was my first World World Poker tour win. 49 00:02:26.145 --> 00:02:30.165 And after that, you know, like that was like a pinnacle 50 00:02:30.835 --> 00:02:32.685 placement in my, uh, poker career 51 00:02:32.685 --> 00:02:34.725 where it felt like I validated finally 52 00:02:34.945 --> 00:02:37.965 and uh, you know, people started noticing me for real then 53 00:02:37.965 --> 00:02:41.125 and it felt really good, you know, so, uh, that's, uh, 54 00:02:41.305 --> 00:02:43.645 that's pretty much how I ended up, that's how my career has, 55 00:02:43.665 --> 00:02:45.725 uh, been in the poker community. So 56 00:02:45.915 --> 00:02:47.005 Will be frank with me. 57 00:02:47.625 --> 00:02:50.285 How much money have you made in the poker world? 58 00:02:50.915 --> 00:02:52.085 Well, so that's, 59 00:02:52.085 --> 00:02:54.485 there's like two different entities in the poker world. 60 00:02:54.485 --> 00:02:56.165 There's the tournament poker world, 61 00:02:56.375 --> 00:02:57.765 which I made somewhere in the range 62 00:02:57.765 --> 00:03:00.560 of about $7 million over the course of 15 years. 63 00:03:01.185 --> 00:03:05.125 And in the cash game world, um, I won't give you 64 00:03:05.125 --> 00:03:06.565 that exact number, but I would think 65 00:03:06.565 --> 00:03:07.805 it's some somewhere similar. 66 00:03:08.915 --> 00:03:11.405 Yeah. So, you know, it's been a good career. 67 00:03:11.645 --> 00:03:13.445 I can't complain. And um, yeah, 68 00:03:13.445 --> 00:03:16.005 they're like two totally people at play poker and no poker. 69 00:03:16.005 --> 00:03:17.885 They know that tournament world is very 70 00:03:17.885 --> 00:03:19.005 different than the cash game. 71 00:03:19.505 --> 00:03:21.445 And um, you know, it's been, uh, 72 00:03:22.045 --> 00:03:23.165 a good career to say the least. 73 00:03:23.735 --> 00:03:24.845 Let's talk a little bit about 74 00:03:24.945 --> 00:03:26.685 how you got started in this space. 75 00:03:27.545 --> 00:03:30.045 So I got recruited into this space from, um, 76 00:03:30.045 --> 00:03:31.685 other MCA guys down in Florida. 77 00:03:31.785 --> 00:03:33.045 And, and, uh, a friend 78 00:03:33.045 --> 00:03:35.525 of mine named Paul Snead and Mike Newman. 79 00:03:35.795 --> 00:03:39.205 Mike Newman is like the Michael Jordan of closings in, 80 00:03:39.225 --> 00:03:40.605 uh, in this business. 81 00:03:40.705 --> 00:03:42.045 And, uh, he recruited me 82 00:03:42.045 --> 00:03:43.485 and he, you know, these, these are all friends 83 00:03:43.485 --> 00:03:44.605 of mine through the poker world. 84 00:03:45.185 --> 00:03:47.365 And they said with my resources, 85 00:03:47.465 --> 00:03:48.645 I'd be fabulous in this world. 86 00:03:48.705 --> 00:03:50.005 And they, uh, reached out to me 87 00:03:50.185 --> 00:03:53.725 and I thought of my son graduating at that time from Hofstra 88 00:03:54.265 --> 00:03:56.765 and I thought it'd be a perfect mix 'cause he was a business 89 00:03:56.765 --> 00:04:00.605 and finance major and um, you know, 90 00:04:00.965 --> 00:04:02.645 I I don't do a lot when you play poker 91 00:04:02.645 --> 00:04:03.765 during the day, you know what I mean? 92 00:04:03.825 --> 00:04:07.125 So I said, uh, Tori, my son Tori, 93 00:04:07.125 --> 00:04:08.285 I asked him if he thought it was a 94 00:04:08.285 --> 00:04:09.365 great idea and he said yes. 95 00:04:09.585 --> 00:04:11.645 And uh, he said, why don't we do, 96 00:04:12.025 --> 00:04:14.365 why don't we go into the credit card processing first 97 00:04:14.585 --> 00:04:15.645 of, of this business. 98 00:04:16.105 --> 00:04:18.485 Now we're getting our merchants involved in the credit card 99 00:04:18.485 --> 00:04:20.245 processing everybody that we're giving loans to. 100 00:04:20.305 --> 00:04:23.405 And it's been a, a perfect, uh, marriage so far. 101 00:04:23.755 --> 00:04:27.005 Alright, so will talk to me, where are we right now? 102 00:04:27.625 --> 00:04:29.845 So we're in, uh, central Long Island at my office. 103 00:04:30.175 --> 00:04:33.565 We're uh, set up here. I mean, we got a lot going on here. 104 00:04:33.565 --> 00:04:34.685 We even set up a poker table 105 00:04:34.685 --> 00:04:36.685 because I mean, being a legend, 106 00:04:36.685 --> 00:04:38.765 you a legend being a legend in the business, I guess. 107 00:04:38.905 --> 00:04:41.925 Um, you know, you need to, you need to establish who you are 108 00:04:41.945 --> 00:04:44.405 and this is my life and this is where I earned my stripes 109 00:04:44.405 --> 00:04:45.765 and this is where I earned my keep. 110 00:04:45.825 --> 00:04:47.325 And I guess people look up to 111 00:04:47.325 --> 00:04:48.405 that a little in the poker world 112 00:04:48.545 --> 00:04:52.525 and uh, we needed to set up a poker table to uh, give 113 00:04:52.525 --> 00:04:53.845 that aura to it. 114 00:04:54.475 --> 00:04:56.125 Talk to me. It's competitive. 115 00:04:56.285 --> 00:04:58.485 I mean it's, especially here in the northeast, 116 00:04:58.485 --> 00:04:59.485 it's very competitive. 117 00:04:59.865 --> 00:05:03.125 So talk to me about how you're maneuvering the competition. 118 00:05:03.785 --> 00:05:06.245 So one thing I've learned right outta the gate is one 119 00:05:06.245 --> 00:05:07.925 of the biggest secret sauce in this game 120 00:05:07.925 --> 00:05:09.205 is your lead source. 121 00:05:09.555 --> 00:05:10.565 Without good leads, 122 00:05:10.905 --> 00:05:12.525 you're never gonna make it in this business. 123 00:05:12.815 --> 00:05:15.485 We've gotten very dynamic in generating our lead source 124 00:05:15.745 --> 00:05:18.125 and uh, it's really going in the right direction. 125 00:05:18.175 --> 00:05:20.205 We're very, very excited on where we're going right now. 126 00:05:20.205 --> 00:05:22.005 We're growing the company nicely 127 00:05:22.565 --> 00:05:23.725 controllably we're scaling it. 128 00:05:23.825 --> 00:05:26.925 But, you know, um, it's, it's been a, a, a, 129 00:05:27.325 --> 00:05:28.805 a challenging path still. 130 00:05:28.965 --> 00:05:31.085 I don't wanna say it was, it was no lay down. 131 00:05:31.155 --> 00:05:33.085 It's no lay down, but it's going in the right direction. 132 00:05:33.085 --> 00:05:34.325 So we're very excited right now. 133 00:05:34.635 --> 00:05:36.285 What are merchants telling your guys? 134 00:05:36.485 --> 00:05:38.645 I mean, the guys that they're talking to every day, day in 135 00:05:38.645 --> 00:05:40.165 and day out, what are merchants telling you guys? 136 00:05:41.105 --> 00:05:43.525 So, um, you know, you get that pushback 137 00:05:43.525 --> 00:05:45.525 where they hate you, they didn't want nothing to do 138 00:05:45.525 --> 00:05:46.605 with you and they hang up on you. 139 00:05:46.605 --> 00:05:47.645 And my guys deal with that. 140 00:05:47.925 --> 00:05:50.365 'cause you have to be, if you don't have a tough skin in 141 00:05:50.365 --> 00:05:51.845 this business and you're a cold caller 142 00:05:51.845 --> 00:05:53.405 or you're got incoming calls 143 00:05:53.425 --> 00:05:54.605 or whatever you have in this business 144 00:05:54.605 --> 00:05:55.605 and you don't have a tough skin, 145 00:05:55.905 --> 00:05:57.285 you're not gonna be able to be a salesman. 146 00:05:57.915 --> 00:05:59.085 It's just, it's rough. 147 00:05:59.585 --> 00:06:02.165 But, uh, merchant wise, they tell us, uh, you know, 148 00:06:02.505 --> 00:06:05.205 nobody wants to pay MCA numbers, nobody, 149 00:06:05.555 --> 00:06:06.685 everybody's calling up. 150 00:06:06.685 --> 00:06:08.085 They want, you know, lines of credit. 151 00:06:08.305 --> 00:06:09.805 You know, you try to get 'em into that lane. 152 00:06:10.315 --> 00:06:11.365 It's not probably reality, 153 00:06:11.785 --> 00:06:12.805 but you know, if they're perfect 154 00:06:13.225 --> 00:06:14.365 we can get 'em really, really good deals. 155 00:06:14.425 --> 00:06:16.205 We had some deals that I, 156 00:06:16.405 --> 00:06:17.765 I still can't believe the deals we did. 157 00:06:17.765 --> 00:06:20.205 The, did the $200,000 loan, they got it, 158 00:06:20.225 --> 00:06:23.125 it was a 10 month deal and we funded it. 159 00:06:23.385 --> 00:06:27.445 So, you know, like, you know, you try to adapt. 160 00:06:27.465 --> 00:06:29.565 You gotta be almost like a chameleon to these merchants 161 00:06:29.565 --> 00:06:31.805 because you need to cater to them, 162 00:06:31.805 --> 00:06:33.965 but you don't wanna bury them and put 'em to sleep either 163 00:06:34.245 --> 00:06:35.925 'cause it's not gonna be good for your future. 164 00:06:36.265 --> 00:06:38.245 You know, the renewals are a big part of this business. 165 00:06:38.305 --> 00:06:39.685 So if, if you can renew them 166 00:06:39.685 --> 00:06:41.165 and keep 'em customers, you can get 'em, 167 00:06:41.305 --> 00:06:43.565 you know, churning a few times. It means a lot. 168 00:06:43.745 --> 00:06:45.565 Is there anything specific or any specific pattern 169 00:06:45.565 --> 00:06:47.205 that you're seeing with merchants nowadays? 170 00:06:47.795 --> 00:06:48.965 They're a lot savvier. 171 00:06:49.035 --> 00:06:51.565 They don't want to be, they're called 50 times a day. 172 00:06:51.625 --> 00:06:54.125 You know, once, once everybody finds out they're in the 173 00:06:54.125 --> 00:06:57.325 world for looking for money, um, you know, they get, 174 00:06:57.395 --> 00:06:58.485 they get turned off to it. 175 00:06:58.485 --> 00:07:00.565 They hang up on you. You know, that's the usual, 176 00:07:00.785 --> 00:07:02.765 uh, situation in that world. 177 00:07:02.825 --> 00:07:06.405 But, um, uh, we are learning ways to get through it. 178 00:07:06.585 --> 00:07:08.525 You know, we're getting the, we're taking 179 00:07:08.525 --> 00:07:10.205 that gatekeeper feeling away from them 180 00:07:10.265 --> 00:07:11.965 and letting their guard down 181 00:07:11.985 --> 00:07:15.125 and talking to them like human beings and it's been working. 182 00:07:15.865 --> 00:07:19.085 So let's talk about trying to maneuver that, trying 183 00:07:19.085 --> 00:07:20.805 to maneuver being new in this industry. 184 00:07:21.385 --> 00:07:25.205 Do you think it's a good time to be in this industry? That's 185 00:07:25.205 --> 00:07:26.205 A very good question. 186 00:07:26.305 --> 00:07:29.325 Um, I think in the next six months it's gonna mean a lot 187 00:07:29.325 --> 00:07:30.805 with the change of a presidency. 188 00:07:30.805 --> 00:07:32.205 If we get a change, uh, you know, 189 00:07:32.335 --> 00:07:33.845 where we get a Republican in there, 190 00:07:33.845 --> 00:07:35.365 maybe it'll help business a little better. 191 00:07:35.505 --> 00:07:37.685 But, um, I think there's gonna be a, 192 00:07:38.045 --> 00:07:40.525 a big correction in the real estate market in the next year. 193 00:07:41.145 --> 00:07:43.045 And I think money might be a little tighter. 194 00:07:43.665 --> 00:07:45.005 Um, I think there's gonna be 195 00:07:45.005 --> 00:07:46.045 a correction in the stock market. 196 00:07:46.065 --> 00:07:47.565 The stock market's at all time high. 197 00:07:48.065 --> 00:07:51.445 So with all those parameters, I think, uh, 198 00:07:51.885 --> 00:07:53.605 businesses are gonna need a lot more money. So 199 00:07:53.605 --> 00:07:55.045 How do you know if someone's bluffing in this sense? 200 00:07:55.045 --> 00:07:56.125 Like there's a lot of 201 00:07:56.125 --> 00:07:58.045 that when you're making phone calls and you're cold calling, 202 00:07:58.065 --> 00:07:59.065 So, right. Well the merchant, one 203 00:07:59.065 --> 00:08:00.485 of the things I teach my guys is 204 00:08:01.305 --> 00:08:02.525 the buyer is a liar. 205 00:08:03.105 --> 00:08:04.445 So they're gonna lie to you. Buyers 206 00:08:04.445 --> 00:08:05.445 Are liars. Buyers 207 00:08:05.445 --> 00:08:07.045 are liars. That's, that's definitely a, 208 00:08:07.205 --> 00:08:09.485 a term used across in real estate. 209 00:08:09.535 --> 00:08:11.365 Sales. In sales, yeah. Sales, sales. 210 00:08:11.425 --> 00:08:12.805 The buyer is a liar. So why, 211 00:08:12.805 --> 00:08:15.125 like if you're gonna go into a, an electronic store 212 00:08:15.125 --> 00:08:17.645 and you're gonna buy a new TV and you just came from a guy 213 00:08:17.645 --> 00:08:19.565 that said to you it's gonna be $500, 214 00:08:19.745 --> 00:08:21.725 now you go into the next store and you're not gonna tell 215 00:08:21.725 --> 00:08:22.765 the guy you got it for $500. 216 00:08:22.765 --> 00:08:24.165 You're gonna tell the guy you got it for $400 217 00:08:24.165 --> 00:08:25.365 because you want a bet deal. 218 00:08:25.555 --> 00:08:27.565 It's just common sense. It's the human nature. 219 00:08:27.625 --> 00:08:30.445 You just want to prove to him, the guy knows you're lying. 220 00:08:30.705 --> 00:08:32.845 But that guy's gotta decide if there's enough profit at 221 00:08:32.845 --> 00:08:34.885 $400 that we can make a deal. 222 00:08:35.345 --> 00:08:37.005 If there's not, he say, well maybe we can 223 00:08:37.005 --> 00:08:38.045 make a deal at 4 25. 224 00:08:38.365 --> 00:08:40.005 'cause that's reality. When they look you in the iron, 225 00:08:40.005 --> 00:08:42.085 they're telling you, we know you're lying, 226 00:08:42.105 --> 00:08:43.845 but we can make the deal at 4 25. 227 00:08:44.305 --> 00:08:46.925 So that at that point the, the merchant has 228 00:08:46.925 --> 00:08:49.925 to decide whether, you know, it's a situation he wants 229 00:08:49.925 --> 00:08:51.165 to deal with us and you know, 230 00:08:51.165 --> 00:08:52.605 usually we, we get them closed. 231 00:08:53.145 --> 00:08:54.965 So talk to me about the similarities 232 00:08:55.105 --> 00:08:57.205 and the parallels between the poker world 233 00:08:57.425 --> 00:08:58.485 and in this industry. 234 00:08:58.635 --> 00:09:03.085 Well, like I said, the competition was extremely tough, 235 00:09:03.085 --> 00:09:06.125 especially as years have gone on, people had gotten savvy 236 00:09:06.185 --> 00:09:07.205 to the poker community 237 00:09:07.205 --> 00:09:08.605 where they've gotten a lot better in poker. 238 00:09:08.945 --> 00:09:11.885 And you know, like when you used to get a one four or five 239 00:09:12.025 --> 00:09:16.205 or a one five, oh today you got competition 5, 5, 10 people 240 00:09:16.275 --> 00:09:18.245 bidding all at the same time for the same merchant. 241 00:09:18.245 --> 00:09:21.125 You gotta be in the one threes 1, 3 5, 1 3 8. 242 00:09:21.625 --> 00:09:25.325 And um, so the competition has become fierce in both 243 00:09:25.325 --> 00:09:27.605 of those industries and uh, it's uh, 244 00:09:27.955 --> 00:09:29.805 it's bled together in my world. 245 00:09:29.825 --> 00:09:32.045 So I'm kind of used to it from Poco 246 00:09:32.665 --> 00:09:33.665 Off camera. We 247 00:09:33.665 --> 00:09:36.365 talked about some tips that you can give our viewers 248 00:09:36.365 --> 00:09:39.565 because we have a big event going on in Las Vegas this fall. 249 00:09:39.705 --> 00:09:42.445 So those tips are gonna be very helpful for those 250 00:09:42.445 --> 00:09:44.285 that are gonna be hitting the tables. 251 00:09:44.665 --> 00:09:46.485 So one of the tips I always give to people 252 00:09:46.485 --> 00:09:47.885 that I teach the game to is, you know, 253 00:09:47.885 --> 00:09:50.965 when you're starting out in the beginning, play tight. 254 00:09:51.555 --> 00:09:53.885 Just play tight, play premium cards. 255 00:09:54.345 --> 00:09:57.485 It makes the game a lot easier when you play premium cards. 256 00:09:57.735 --> 00:09:58.925 These guys love to play. 257 00:09:58.945 --> 00:10:00.365 The six do suited 258 00:10:00.505 --> 00:10:03.525 and the the big thing now is the dirty diaper. 259 00:10:03.665 --> 00:10:05.565 That's the nickname for uh, one of these hands, 260 00:10:05.585 --> 00:10:06.645 the two three suited. 261 00:10:06.835 --> 00:10:08.525 Okay, or maybe two, three offshoot. 262 00:10:08.525 --> 00:10:10.045 I don't even know 'cause I don't even play the hand. 263 00:10:10.145 --> 00:10:13.165 But there's guys that love playing these hands right now 264 00:10:13.165 --> 00:10:14.365 because they're nicknamed. 265 00:10:14.925 --> 00:10:16.045 I don't play nicknamed hands, 266 00:10:16.355 --> 00:10:19.765 Jack five is Jackson five, I don't play jack five. 267 00:10:19.985 --> 00:10:21.805 You know, these are the hands you get caught up in this 268 00:10:21.865 --> 00:10:23.525 quirky BS in the poker world. 269 00:10:24.155 --> 00:10:27.525 Play quality cards, play the real stuff when you, 270 00:10:27.525 --> 00:10:28.605 when you raise with Ace King 271 00:10:28.605 --> 00:10:31.125 and the flop is King High, you know you got a real hand when 272 00:10:31.125 --> 00:10:34.365 you raise with six dues and the flop is jack six three. 273 00:10:35.025 --> 00:10:36.885 You think you got the best hand, but you really don't know. 274 00:10:37.235 --> 00:10:38.925 Make the game simpler on you in the beginning 275 00:10:39.065 --> 00:10:41.045 before it gets to that dynamic level 276 00:10:41.465 --> 00:10:43.925 and you take out a lot of the guessing of the game 277 00:10:43.985 --> 00:10:46.605 and you could become a lot more successful at the game. 278 00:10:46.605 --> 00:10:48.005 Alright, so give us another tip 279 00:10:48.005 --> 00:10:49.205 when it comes to playing poker. 280 00:10:49.865 --> 00:10:51.285 So one of the, like I said 281 00:10:51.285 --> 00:10:52.405 before, one of the, the, 282 00:10:52.505 --> 00:10:54.765 the best best things I could teach anybody in the game 283 00:10:54.765 --> 00:10:55.925 is play tight in the beginning. 284 00:10:56.585 --> 00:10:59.805 Get away from the idiosyncrasies of the, the hand like this, 285 00:10:59.805 --> 00:11:01.125 this is considered a dirty diaper. 286 00:11:01.135 --> 00:11:02.165 These are nickname hands. 287 00:11:02.305 --> 00:11:05.805 All these guys love jacks and five dirty diaper, two, three. 288 00:11:06.345 --> 00:11:08.205 Um, I don't play nickname hands. 289 00:11:08.545 --> 00:11:10.285 That's been a big part of my career. 290 00:11:10.445 --> 00:11:11.885 I don't have to worry about hitting the hand. 291 00:11:11.965 --> 00:11:13.485 I don't worry about guessing in a hand 292 00:11:13.485 --> 00:11:15.965 where if you call a raise with deuce three right here 293 00:11:15.965 --> 00:11:18.445 and you have a three and you might have the best hand, 294 00:11:19.065 --> 00:11:22.605 but this guy bets into you anyway and you have to call 295 00:11:22.845 --> 00:11:26.045 'cause you think you're good and then, then the turn comes 296 00:11:26.105 --> 00:11:29.445 and you know, like the turn could be a, a queen or a king 297 00:11:29.445 --> 00:11:30.845 and now he has the best hand. 298 00:11:32.105 --> 00:11:35.365 So when you play these rags, I call 'em, you know, 299 00:11:35.385 --> 00:11:37.565 you never know where you stand a lot of times, you know, 300 00:11:37.785 --> 00:11:38.925 and one 301 00:11:38.925 --> 00:11:41.845 of the toughest things in this game is understanding you 302 00:11:41.845 --> 00:11:45.245 where you stand in the hand and guys that are novices 303 00:11:45.245 --> 00:11:46.845 and beginners are not gonna be able to pick up on that 304 00:11:46.845 --> 00:11:49.445 after years and years and years of tuition. 305 00:11:49.565 --> 00:11:51.245 I call it that I paid to the game. 306 00:11:51.505 --> 00:11:54.645 And if you're gonna play the game successful at, at the, 307 00:11:54.745 --> 00:11:57.405 at the tournament that the bank is running in Vegas, um, 308 00:11:57.825 --> 00:11:59.245 the best thing you could do is play tight 309 00:11:59.245 --> 00:12:01.245 and play quality hands and you'll do a lot better off 310 00:12:01.595 --> 00:12:02.925 When it comes to your poker face. 311 00:12:03.395 --> 00:12:07.165 What are your tips on that? Nothing. 312 00:12:08.465 --> 00:12:13.125 Not even a smile. Not even a, hey I'm successful. 313 00:12:14.395 --> 00:12:18.565 Nothing. That's good. 314 00:12:19.235 --> 00:12:23.565 It's a good poker face. All right. So that's pretty intense. 315 00:12:25.275 --> 00:12:27.165 Walk me through your thought process mentally. 316 00:12:27.675 --> 00:12:29.205 Well, you know, one of the things I used 317 00:12:29.205 --> 00:12:31.285 to work on in my game in the beginning is one of the things 318 00:12:31.285 --> 00:12:33.565 that, that every poker player is fearful 319 00:12:33.705 --> 00:12:36.765 of is giving off a read or a tell. So, 320 00:12:37.025 --> 00:12:38.165 And, and let me, let me stop you. 321 00:12:38.165 --> 00:12:40.085 So that could mean anything like from like 322 00:12:40.085 --> 00:12:41.245 blinking your eyes to 323 00:12:41.245 --> 00:12:43.765 Like blink a quiver of your lip, a conversation. 324 00:12:43.925 --> 00:12:45.845 'cause one of the things I was really good at is if I talk 325 00:12:45.845 --> 00:12:48.245 to you in a hand, I can get the information 326 00:12:48.245 --> 00:12:49.285 outta you that I need. 327 00:12:49.945 --> 00:12:52.765 If you respond to me, a lot of guys are petrified to talk 328 00:12:52.765 --> 00:12:55.565 to me 'cause they know I'm like a homing pigeon 329 00:12:55.585 --> 00:12:58.045 and I'm zooming in on whatever they say 330 00:12:58.065 --> 00:12:59.285 and I'm watching on whatever 331 00:12:59.285 --> 00:13:00.965 they, whatever they speak. And, 332 00:13:01.105 --> 00:13:02.885 And but what, what are the key things you're looking at 333 00:13:02.885 --> 00:13:04.405 like when you're askings? 334 00:13:04.405 --> 00:13:06.845 Confidence. Confidence. Confidence. 335 00:13:07.255 --> 00:13:09.565 Confidence is a big thing when I'm talking to them, 336 00:13:09.965 --> 00:13:11.925 I wanna see if they're nervous, if they're talking to me. 337 00:13:12.385 --> 00:13:14.765 If they're nervous they usually don't have it. 338 00:13:15.425 --> 00:13:18.205 But if they're confident and their conversation is smooth 339 00:13:18.265 --> 00:13:19.885 and this conversation is calm 340 00:13:19.945 --> 00:13:22.525 and collective, I'm usually in trouble in the hand 341 00:13:22.525 --> 00:13:23.565 and that's what I'm trying to figure out. 342 00:13:23.565 --> 00:13:25.165 Usually if I'm doing this I have a real hand, 343 00:13:25.545 --> 00:13:28.045 I'm not doing it with just bs, you know what I mean? 344 00:13:28.145 --> 00:13:30.645 So I'm gonna feel it through, I'm gonna work it through. 345 00:13:30.645 --> 00:13:32.245 If I talk to them and I get them to talk 346 00:13:32.245 --> 00:13:33.925 to me, they're in big trouble. 347 00:13:34.445 --> 00:13:35.565 I can usually get them to tell 348 00:13:35.565 --> 00:13:36.725 me exactly what I need to know. 349 00:13:37.205 --> 00:13:39.965 I can usually get them to fold if I need them to fold 350 00:13:40.265 --> 00:13:42.685 and I can usually get them to call if I need them to call. 351 00:13:42.745 --> 00:13:44.605 And that's, you know, that's helped my game a lot. 352 00:13:44.865 --> 00:13:45.885 So when you want someone 353 00:13:45.985 --> 00:13:48.245 to fold, how do you make them fold? 354 00:13:48.995 --> 00:13:50.245 I'll talk to 'em in situations. 355 00:13:50.245 --> 00:13:53.445 I'll say things like, you know, I'll read their hand. 356 00:13:53.685 --> 00:13:55.205 I can literally tell them their two cards 357 00:13:55.445 --> 00:13:57.005 'cause I could tell the way the batting pattern's going. 358 00:13:57.125 --> 00:13:59.005 I know pretty much where they stand. 359 00:13:59.035 --> 00:14:00.685 Like you know, on a hand like this, 360 00:14:00.685 --> 00:14:02.405 they probably have king queen a lot of times 361 00:14:02.625 --> 00:14:04.605 and they're on a draw and I'll say, listen, 362 00:14:04.605 --> 00:14:08.365 your king queen's no good or, or Queen jack is no good here. 363 00:14:08.405 --> 00:14:09.445 I have you beat every time. 364 00:14:09.585 --> 00:14:12.045 But if you don't like money, say call. 365 00:14:13.305 --> 00:14:14.565 And if they put their money in, 366 00:14:15.195 --> 00:14:17.485 they usually find out whether I'm right or wrong, you know, 367 00:14:17.485 --> 00:14:18.925 and that's, that's their decision at that point. 368 00:14:20.825 --> 00:14:24.045 So would you say the number one thing to be 369 00:14:24.505 --> 00:14:25.845 to become a legend and 370 00:14:25.905 --> 00:14:28.485 to take home some money is to be confident. 371 00:14:29.105 --> 00:14:30.525 You need to be confident, you need 372 00:14:30.525 --> 00:14:32.325 to have control over your game, you need 373 00:14:32.325 --> 00:14:36.125 to play quality hands and luck is involved in this game. 374 00:14:36.125 --> 00:14:38.885 This ain't golf, this ain't football, this ain't baseball. 375 00:14:39.135 --> 00:14:41.325 There is some luck involved, there is some luck involved. 376 00:14:41.325 --> 00:14:43.805 Depending on how lucky you are, that's gonna depend 377 00:14:43.805 --> 00:14:44.965 how much luck you need. 378 00:14:45.545 --> 00:14:47.125 So, um, those are the things 379 00:14:47.125 --> 00:14:48.565 that have a lot to do with winning poker. 380 00:14:49.075 --> 00:14:51.685 Alright, so will, let's say we're in a scenario 381 00:14:51.735 --> 00:14:53.685 where your hand isn't good, 382 00:14:54.555 --> 00:14:56.565 what do you do? How do you get outta this? 383 00:14:57.065 --> 00:14:59.805 So there's a lot of ways to um, 384 00:14:59.945 --> 00:15:01.605 attack this type of position. 385 00:15:01.905 --> 00:15:04.125 Um, you have to know who you're in the hand 386 00:15:04.125 --> 00:15:06.285 with if it's a tighter player, a lot of times 387 00:15:06.905 --> 00:15:09.245 if you have a chance to bluff 'em off a hand, 388 00:15:09.785 --> 00:15:11.645 but if you got a guy we call sticky player, 389 00:15:11.645 --> 00:15:12.885 that's very tough to bluff. 390 00:15:13.785 --> 00:15:15.965 I'm not putting a chip in the middle, I just surrender. 391 00:15:16.625 --> 00:15:18.325 You know, there's times in this life you gotta know 392 00:15:18.325 --> 00:15:19.925 where you stand, whether it's at poker table, 393 00:15:19.925 --> 00:15:22.165 whether it's in a fight, whether it's in business. 394 00:15:22.545 --> 00:15:24.245 You just gotta know when to surrender sometimes 395 00:15:24.245 --> 00:15:26.005 and know that you have to take a different path 396 00:15:26.005 --> 00:15:28.885 or a different lane because you're not gonna win that hand. 397 00:15:29.145 --> 00:15:30.165 You can't win every hand. 398 00:15:30.435 --> 00:15:32.245 There's no poker player on the planet 399 00:15:32.625 --> 00:15:34.125 that's ever won every hand. 400 00:15:34.555 --> 00:15:38.205 It's impossible. So if you can take those losses 401 00:15:38.865 --> 00:15:41.605 and make them smaller, but make your wins much bigger, 402 00:15:42.065 --> 00:15:44.085 you'll be successful at almost everything you do. 403 00:15:44.705 --> 00:15:47.725 So if you make a mistake in this game 404 00:15:48.725 --> 00:15:50.445 mentally, how do you recover? 405 00:15:50.645 --> 00:15:51.845 I mean like it's the type of game 406 00:15:51.845 --> 00:15:54.045 where you know it, you move fast. 407 00:15:54.105 --> 00:15:56.205 So like how do you, how do you recover? 408 00:15:57.195 --> 00:15:58.365 That is one of the hardest things 409 00:15:58.365 --> 00:15:59.805 to do in the poker worlds, you know? 410 00:15:59.805 --> 00:16:02.445 Um, and that's one of the negatives to like chasing 411 00:16:02.655 --> 00:16:05.005 after you lose a big can you try to get your chips back. 412 00:16:05.145 --> 00:16:08.525 Um, it's tough to control the emotions. 413 00:16:08.545 --> 00:16:10.965 The emotions in a hand are very, very tough. 414 00:16:11.585 --> 00:16:15.845 And um, you know, one of the things I I find, um, is 415 00:16:15.845 --> 00:16:18.285 that you shouldn't chase when you chase 'em, a lot 416 00:16:18.285 --> 00:16:19.925 of times you end up giving more chips away, hence 417 00:16:19.925 --> 00:16:21.845 to like the hand the king, queen hand I just told you about. 418 00:16:22.345 --> 00:16:25.805 Um, so a lot of times you gotta, you know, go back 419 00:16:25.805 --> 00:16:27.405 to the quality stuff, let it come to you, 420 00:16:27.405 --> 00:16:28.645 make sure you got a quality hand. 421 00:16:28.725 --> 00:16:29.885 I could have, I could have checked the river, 422 00:16:30.245 --> 00:16:31.565 I could have checked the river on that guy. 423 00:16:31.645 --> 00:16:33.525 I didn't 'cause I wanted to play it like a man. 424 00:16:33.525 --> 00:16:34.645 I thought I'd be able to get him off. 425 00:16:34.685 --> 00:16:35.925 I knew he had a weak hand, 426 00:16:36.665 --> 00:16:38.805 but I also should have known the opponent I was in the hand 427 00:16:38.805 --> 00:16:41.085 with and you know, he was uh, 428 00:16:41.185 --> 00:16:42.885 not folding, he was not folding. 429 00:16:42.925 --> 00:16:44.765 I was gonna show him a better hand or that was it. 430 00:16:45.305 --> 00:16:46.885 He was not folding and I thought 431 00:16:46.885 --> 00:16:48.445 I'd get him to fold and he didn't. So 432 00:16:48.925 --> 00:16:49.925 I will. That was great. 433 00:16:49.925 --> 00:16:51.845 But let's talk a little bit more about your 434 00:16:51.875 --> 00:16:53.965 betting strategies. What does that look like? 435 00:16:54.475 --> 00:16:57.125 Okay, so if the blinds are 50 and a hundred 436 00:16:57.505 --> 00:17:00.045 and you are first to act with ace queen, you know, 437 00:17:00.045 --> 00:17:02.885 you wanna do like triple the bet, throw out 300 in ships, 438 00:17:03.425 --> 00:17:04.805 you know, that'll be triple the blind. 439 00:17:05.385 --> 00:17:08.645 And if someone calls someone will, someone will put in 300, 440 00:17:08.645 --> 00:17:11.365 someone else will put in 300, let's call it. 441 00:17:11.365 --> 00:17:12.725 Uh, then you pull apart in the middle. 442 00:17:12.745 --> 00:17:15.845 So we got 3, 6, 9 and this is a thousand. 443 00:17:15.845 --> 00:17:17.285 You got 1,050 in the middle 444 00:17:18.265 --> 00:17:21.365 and then the flop would come out like so. 445 00:17:22.425 --> 00:17:25.365 And then so you got roughly a thousand dollars in the middle 446 00:17:25.825 --> 00:17:27.005 and you have ace queen 447 00:17:27.005 --> 00:17:29.325 and you want a lead, I'd bet half the pot roughly. 448 00:17:29.985 --> 00:17:32.045 So pot's a thousand, I bet 500. 449 00:17:33.035 --> 00:17:35.285 Then if someone calls, let's say you call 450 00:17:35.405 --> 00:17:37.325 'cause you got a three, you call 500. 451 00:17:37.325 --> 00:17:38.485 They pull the money in the middle. 452 00:17:38.865 --> 00:17:40.725 Now we got another, now it's 2000 in the middle, 453 00:17:40.835 --> 00:17:42.805 roughly 2050 to be exact. 454 00:17:43.345 --> 00:17:48.325 So the turn comes is a nine, uh, an eight I should say. 455 00:17:49.545 --> 00:17:51.685 And this 2000 middle, you wanna know what kind 456 00:17:51.685 --> 00:17:53.045 of betting pattern you should have. 457 00:17:53.405 --> 00:17:55.285 I bet like 60% of the pot here. 458 00:17:55.285 --> 00:17:58.365 So I'd probably bet like, you know, 1200, 1100 here. 459 00:17:58.745 --> 00:18:00.205 So I put out the 1200, 460 00:18:05.935 --> 00:18:06.935 Right? If you 461 00:18:06.935 --> 00:18:09.245 called you'd have to put out another 1200. 462 00:18:09.905 --> 00:18:13.525 Now we put that in the middle. 20 402,000 is 463 00:18:13.525 --> 00:18:14.725 roughly about 4,400. 464 00:18:15.545 --> 00:18:20.525 And, and the river card comes Is a deuce. 465 00:18:21.125 --> 00:18:23.965 I have air now if I decide I, 466 00:18:24.205 --> 00:18:25.645 I know there's 4,400 in the middle. 467 00:18:25.885 --> 00:18:27.845 If I decide I think I'm gonna win the hand 468 00:18:28.185 --> 00:18:29.405 and I want to get you off the hand, 469 00:18:29.445 --> 00:18:31.845 I might do something like this and move all in on you. 470 00:18:32.225 --> 00:18:34.285 And now you gotta make a decision, you know, 471 00:18:34.285 --> 00:18:35.565 whether if your hand is good or not. 472 00:18:36.505 --> 00:18:38.685 And then you have to make the decision if you wanna call. 473 00:18:39.325 --> 00:18:40.725 A lot of times it's for your tournament life. 474 00:18:40.825 --> 00:18:43.485 So, um, maybe you don't wanna lose your tournament life, 475 00:18:43.505 --> 00:18:45.605 but maybe you think you're good. 476 00:18:45.985 --> 00:18:48.805 That's the difference between being a good poker player 477 00:18:48.865 --> 00:18:49.965 and a bad poker player. 478 00:18:50.625 --> 00:18:53.685 So let me ask you this, A lot of people that are gonna go 479 00:18:53.825 --> 00:18:56.645 to the event, they are gonna wanna play 480 00:18:57.865 --> 00:18:58.885 and they make mistakes. 481 00:18:59.155 --> 00:19:01.685 Yeah, you're a champ. You're a legend. Yeah. 482 00:19:02.275 --> 00:19:04.845 What common mistakes do people do often 483 00:19:04.995 --> 00:19:07.325 that pretty much loses? 484 00:19:07.355 --> 00:19:09.805 Like, it, it it makes them fail. 485 00:19:10.275 --> 00:19:12.245 Well one of the natures of a gambler, 486 00:19:12.585 --> 00:19:13.965 so poker is a form of gambling. 487 00:19:14.185 --> 00:19:16.085 Yes. So one of the natures 488 00:19:16.085 --> 00:19:18.205 of a gambler is they wanna play hands, they want 489 00:19:18.205 --> 00:19:19.565 to get excited, they want to get involved. 490 00:19:19.565 --> 00:19:20.965 They don't wanna sit back and just wait. 491 00:19:21.745 --> 00:19:24.245 So the call raises with the dirty diaper, the two three 492 00:19:24.505 --> 00:19:27.205 and you know, they hit flops like this 493 00:19:27.205 --> 00:19:28.405 and they get in a little bit of trouble. 494 00:19:28.985 --> 00:19:31.405 So, you know, these are the hands. 495 00:19:31.505 --> 00:19:33.125 I'm trying to tell people that, you know, 496 00:19:33.125 --> 00:19:35.165 when you keep calling with bottom pair, a lot 497 00:19:35.165 --> 00:19:36.325 of times you're gonna lose a lot of chips, 498 00:19:36.325 --> 00:19:37.925 especially for guys betting into you. 499 00:19:38.545 --> 00:19:40.645 So those are the things that, one of the mistakes that a lot 500 00:19:40.645 --> 00:19:42.645 of people I see the beginners and stuff like that make. 501 00:19:43.025 --> 00:19:45.765 So when you, when you avoid calling hands pre flop, 502 00:19:45.785 --> 00:19:47.965 the biggest mistakes in this game is made pre flop 503 00:19:47.965 --> 00:19:49.565 with the cards you call or raise with. 504 00:19:50.185 --> 00:19:51.845 That's, that's one of the biggest secrets. 505 00:19:52.025 --> 00:19:54.485 So another big, big thing to this big, 506 00:19:54.905 --> 00:19:56.405 big thing you should learn about this game is 507 00:19:56.455 --> 00:19:58.525 where position you land on the table. 508 00:19:59.345 --> 00:20:02.045 So if, if a guy raises an early position, 509 00:20:02.045 --> 00:20:03.525 it usually means it's a stronger hand 510 00:20:03.805 --> 00:20:05.965 'cause he knows he's got all these people to act behind him 511 00:20:05.985 --> 00:20:08.565 and someone can wake up with a bigger hand and re-raise him 512 00:20:09.025 --> 00:20:10.285 and you gotta decide what, 513 00:20:10.425 --> 00:20:12.205 how strong your hand is, whether you wanna play or not. 514 00:20:12.545 --> 00:20:15.725 So a lot of times you want position in the hand, which is 515 00:20:15.725 --> 00:20:17.645 where the button is, which we don't have a button. 516 00:20:17.645 --> 00:20:19.205 Oh yeah, here's the button. But we leave 517 00:20:19.205 --> 00:20:20.645 to say the button here and I have the button 518 00:20:21.465 --> 00:20:25.525 and I'm, that means I'm last to act on the flop, 519 00:20:25.935 --> 00:20:28.885 which means I have position, which you could do a lot 520 00:20:28.945 --> 00:20:30.005 of things with position, 521 00:20:30.385 --> 00:20:31.485 you could see if the guy checks 522 00:20:31.485 --> 00:20:32.645 the flop, if he checks the flop. 523 00:20:32.645 --> 00:20:33.725 And you bet a lot 524 00:20:33.725 --> 00:20:36.005 of times they fold doesn't matter you two cards 525 00:20:36.705 --> 00:20:38.285 you win just 'cause you bet. 526 00:20:38.625 --> 00:20:40.245 And they think you have a pair and they missed. 527 00:20:40.745 --> 00:20:42.205 So you can get to win the pot that way. 528 00:20:42.225 --> 00:20:43.925 So position in this game means a lot. 529 00:20:44.305 --> 00:20:45.725 You could take it away on the turn, 530 00:20:46.145 --> 00:20:47.485 you could take it away on the river. 531 00:20:47.755 --> 00:20:49.365 Just representing certain things 532 00:20:49.825 --> 00:20:51.325 and position when you're last 533 00:20:51.325 --> 00:20:53.365 to act means a lot in this game. 534 00:20:53.365 --> 00:20:54.885 Alright, well thank you so much 535 00:20:54.885 --> 00:20:56.245 for these tips because you're a pro. 536 00:20:56.325 --> 00:20:58.365 I mean these are legitimate tips from a pro. 537 00:20:58.465 --> 00:21:00.885 So if anyone wins any type of money in Vegas, 538 00:21:00.995 --> 00:21:02.365 they have to give you a percentage of it. 539 00:21:03.675 --> 00:21:04.565 That would be nice to them. 540 00:21:04.585 --> 00:21:05.645 No, they don't have to do that. 541 00:21:05.725 --> 00:21:07.885 I enjoy helping people but uh, you know, 542 00:21:08.025 --> 00:21:10.205 the one thing I want to tell people again is just play 543 00:21:10.205 --> 00:21:12.805 quality hands and it'll be a lot easier game. 544 00:21:12.865 --> 00:21:14.165 The game could be a lot of fun. 545 00:21:14.345 --> 00:21:15.725 You're gonna need a little bit of luck 546 00:21:15.725 --> 00:21:17.085 to win a tournament, that's for sure. 547 00:21:17.465 --> 00:21:18.645 Um, you're gonna have to suck out. 548 00:21:18.645 --> 00:21:20.205 You're gonna have to get it in with the worst of it and, 549 00:21:20.585 --> 00:21:23.245 and get lucky and um, you know, 550 00:21:23.255 --> 00:21:25.045 maybe you can win some dollars playing this game. 551 00:21:25.045 --> 00:21:26.525 It's a lot of fun when you win. Awesome. 552 00:21:26.525 --> 00:21:28.645 Well best of luck to you in, in this space too. 553 00:21:28.825 --> 00:21:31.565 So definitely hope to see you succeed more and more and grow 554 00:21:31.565 --> 00:21:32.565 Out. Thank you Johnny. I 555 00:21:32.565 --> 00:21:33.205 appreciate a lot. 556 00:21:33.205 --> 00:21:34.885 We could always use a little luck across the board.