Cardschat Presents: An Hour with Chris Moneymaker

[Fanch]

Hi Chris! Ty for the inspiration, and everything you have done for poker!
As an aspiring player with a few years experience, who would like to one day play the wsop Circuits professionally, with a modest bankroll, what is your advice on the best thing to play to build it quickest, while still being disciplined?
( Mtts, Sngs, Rings) And is Non Hold'em softer online in your opinion? Thank You!

 

[JohnBoyWWFC]

Since poker is widely recognised to have become exponentially tougher since the Moneymaker effect, do you ever think that your achievement could have been a bad thing in a long-term non results oriented world?

Following on from that, do you do well against the young kids these days who win all the money at the higher 40/80 stakes online? Or do you just want to test yourself against the best because you have the bankroll to do it?

 

[Suited Frenzy]

I've seen you make many good reads against players @ the tables since 03.

Is this coming from your instinct or have you studied & learned throughout the years about tells? If so, who have you learned from?

 

[Danilo]

Hello Chris, in your personal opinion what can be considered a successful player in the poker world?

 

[micalupagoo]

hi Chris, congrats on all your wins

our league games here are said by some to be played at a 1k+ buyin level
and a win means more on these than a decent cash on bigger buyin games to many
my question...will you play in the league next season???

gl in your future

 

[kidkvno1]

Chris, how do you deal with LAG players, esp the ones you can't get a good read on?

 

[woohoo sue]

Boxers or briefs?

 

[MasterOfDisaster]

Did you never think about building your bankroll by playing Cardschat private added games?

 

[XXPXXP]

one more question:

hello chris,

do u think that "the first one or two level of the deep stack tournament, like WSOP main even, is not worth playing at all?"

and what is ur opinion on staring stacks become deeper an deeper during the tournament nowadays?

thank you.

 

[Debi]

Chris got the date for this mixed up - he has been in touch and we are working on re-scheduling asap.

 

[Blobweird123]

Hey Chris! One easy question for you...

When you started out in poker and decided to take it seriously, did you read any strategy books and if so, what were a few of your favorites that were most helpful to your game?

 

[RamdeeBen]

Hi Chris; welcome to cardschat!

What is your favorite poker game? I see you playing a fair bit of Omaha/mix cash games as opposed to hold'em cash games. In fact, I don't think I can recall you playing hold'em cash at all.

Any particular reason why you play ohama/8game cash and avoid the hold'em ones?

 

[JusSumguy]

Pre bracelet, who was your favorite player? And why?

Who was your most helpful poker coach, post bracelet? And why?

-

 

[masondub]

Hey Chris, thanks for taking the time to answer some of our questions for you here at Cardschat.

I have a few questions about this weird hand I saw of you VS Pellegrino on YouTube. We did not get to see how the hand played out, but when the video starts you appear to be frustrated from waiting so long. You called the clock on him and he claims to have went all in, and nobody, even the dealer, appears to have heard him do so. Here is the video.

Do you think he was trying to pull some kind of weird bluff on you by lying and saying that he went all in after you reached your breaking point, or do you think he really did go all in? He seemed pretty nervous when he started talking. I do not see any advantage to lying about going all in, if anything I see it making someone definitely call if they have anything decent.

Were you sure that your AT was good before this happened? Like I said we did not get to see how the hand played out. Do you think you may have folded if you heard him say all in?

 

[LCDaBoss]

Another question as a spin off of the video masondub posted, have you ever been pushed to your boiling point at a poker table, and how?

 

[Daniel72]

Hi Chris, welcome to the Cardchat forum !
Was pokerstars your first online poker room ?
Did you win the WSOP ticket in one satellite with $40 or were there some steps ?

I am a big fan of you, watched the WSOP 2003 espn dvd so many times in the past and also another dvd with some tips from you !

 

[credsfan03]

Do you still play online poker? Do you prefer online or live poker? I used to watch you play the 5k sng heads up games on pokerstars and you used to tear those up. I have also read your book a few times and want to thank you for all you have done to contribute to the growth of poker.

 

[Debi]

I am in communication with Chris and we are trying to work out that he will come in soon to answer the questions. We will not schedule a specific time for it - we will let him do it at his convenience.

 

[Poker Orifice]

Chris do you still play online occassionally? Have you ever relocated out of the US to play online?

As has already been mentioned by micalupagoo earlier in this thread, would you be interested in joining us for a tournament some time? (Cardschat members play a number of tournaments online, including HomeGames on Stars)

 

[Chris Moneymaker]

hello chris

you are now a top famous poker player!

After years of play as a professional player,
in 2003, there obviously a lot of things that make u create a miracle!

So as for now,

what do u think the most important reason/key factor to make 2003 year of yourself to create that success?
and
what is your favorite poker action -- eg preflop 3bet/ check raise flop, something like that?

thank you.

Well the game was different back then. Most everyone played a very straight forward style and had a lot of bet sizing tells. I used a gameplan to exploit those tells and used position.

my favorite move is to 4 bet, I open a lot of pots and therefore get 3bet with a wide range so I had to open up my 4 betting

 

[Chris Moneymaker]

Hi Chris,

Thanks so much for coming to CardsChat!!

How would you describe the emotions you were feeling the moment you won the Main Event?
More tired than anything else. Was a long grueling 7 days. Was in a daze by the time we finished
What is the biggest way your life has changed because of winning the main event?
Quit my job and get to travel the world doing my hobby for money
Who do you consider to be the best 3 poker players alive today (using the current state of their game)?
Phil Ivey, Jason Mercier, Ike Haxton
Thanks again for your time!!

thanks

 

[Chris Moneymaker]

Chris, where did you move to such that you can play at Stars? Or am I wrong to assume that a Pokerstars Team Pro has to actually play at stars?

Can you define the Moneymaker Effect?

I moved to Oakville in canada but I just did it this Jan. I was a Team Pro who couldn't play for almost 2 years.

The Moneymaker effect in synopsis.
Fat kid everyone relates to beats pokers best so now everyone thinks they can do it too.

 

[Chris Moneymaker]

How many MTTS a week do you play online? Do you play more live than you do online?

When I am traveling I play a lot, probably 100 a week. I play more live cash games than anything else.

 

[Chris Moneymaker]

Hey Chris

any advice for my first ever EPT?

play tight early, you get tons of chips. Pick your spots and get comfortable, before long you will be fine and wont be anything other than just playing like always

 

[XXPXXP]

hello Chirst,

thanks for sharing some time and experience here!

playing online tournaments, at middle or late stage of the game,
when making decisions, do u more rely on HUD or your notes?

as I watched pokerschool of your video, u kept a very good notes for player, u ever played with.

and

best luck for the coming WSOP.