Graduating with a degree in Business Administration, J.C. Tran chose not to join the ranks of the corporate world. Instead he embarked on a career in professional poker. His shift and unpredictable play has landed him in four WSOP final tables and seven WPT final tables, including a second place finish at the 2007 L.A. Poker Classic, earning around 1.2 million in the process.
He hasn’t won any events this year but has already played in three final tables. He hopes to be respected as a player and plans to donate some of his prize money to charities.
In sit-n-go heads up play, just like in any other, position is utmost important. If you’re the dealer, you have to raise on any decent hand you have. If on the flop the big blind checks, raise him as the check is the sign of a weak hand. If you are the big blind, check on every decent hand except when dealt with a strong hand. When the big blind raises in heads up, it means that he has a good hand.
Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond earned his first World Series of Poker bracelet when he won at the $5k Pot Limit Omaha with rebuys event last June. He faced Hourani for the final hand of the tournament. Hourani called on Galfond’s bet making him all in. The flop at that time was A-Q-8 and Hourani is on top with his A-K-J-10 against Galfond’s A-7-6-5. The turn had a 6 giving Galfond a pair. The river didn’t improve Hourani, making him settle for second place. The win merited Galfond $817,781 in prize money.
Poker players should avoid tight/aggressive types at all times but this is at times impossible to do. Tight/aggressive players tend to make lesser mistakes than looser or more passive players. These players tend to bluff against players that they think are timid. So it is best that you can play against other good players.
Though these players look tough, they do have weaknesses. You just need to identify these holes in their game and exploit them. This can be done by observing them while playing. Then you can dominate over them.
Nam and Tuan Le might be the best poker playing brothers in the world. They both started around 2004. Tuan drew first blood that year by winning a WPT event and earning around 1.5 million. He also won the WPT Season 3 Championship and the WPT Battle of Champions III. These wins made him the all time money winner in the WPT.
Just like Tuan, Nam is making waves as a professional poker player. He won the 2006 Bay 101 main event. He was also won a place at 2 WSOP final tables.
Consistency is the key for Michael Mizrachi. That’s how he got the nickname The Grinder. He likes to grind at his opponents’ stacks until he gets all their chips. That’s his strategy for winning. He began his poker career as a card dealer. Then he saw the success his fraternal twin as a professional poker player. This made him decided to be a player.
He then dropped out of college and has been one of professional poker’s rising stars. To date he has won the 2005 L.A. Poker Classic and the 2006 Borgata Winter Open.
David Pham, better known as Dragon, is walking in clouds these days as he is one of the top ranked poker players in the world. Originally from Vietnam, he now calls Bell Gardens, California his home. He learned poker from this cousin, Men “The Master” Nguyen but in recent tournaments the master is overtaken by his student. The Dragon has already amassed around 3 million in tournament prize money and is a proud owner of two WSOP bracelets. He won these bracelets at the 2001 S.H.O.E. event and at the 2006 No Limit Hold’em Shootout.
Al had pocket nines at hand. Flop was 9-9-J. Al checked and the other player checked as well. On the turn was a four. Both checked again. Then the river has a Jack. Al went all in. The other player thinks for a while and then called. He opened his hand and showed his pocket Jacks.