E-WSOP

One on One With Chris Moneymaker

Chris Moneymaker was one of the first Internet qualifiers to win the World Series of Poker main event and it prompted millions of people to try their hands at poker.

The largest of a number of important factors that have led to a wave of poker popularity among the general public has been the prize money being won by many amateur players. An exclusive interview with Moneymaker where he shares his experience to win his seat to clasping a bracelet on his wrist.

Question: How do you evaluate your chances before you start a game, in case?

Chris: I thought if you do not play good hands, you may sneak money. But it was only a hope and prayer, I think. My chances of winning will be about 0.1 percent.

Question: Compared to last year, the final table is absolutely stacked with professionals. Sam Farha, Dan Haringtan, Jason Lester, Amir Vahedi, Pak Yong, David Gray, David Singer and Tomer Benvenisti other finalists. How can you score your chances?

Chris: At the time, I had 2 million chips, and I really appreciated me and thought I had a very good chance of winning. My plan was just to fold throughout the tournament – just fold up the ladder.

I told my father the night before, I will go head to win greater conflict between Amir Vahedi and Sam Farha. “I knew it would take more effort for all their chips just because of the way they played on the last day and half. I knew it would be difficult to play the two.

Question: the atmosphere of the poker world is very different from what it was when you won. What changes have you noticed?

Chris: Well, actually the whole game has changed. If you win the World Series my whole approach is that if someone had raised and the position I would call. If they then checked on the flop, I bet, and they want to reverse. If the effort was to raise, I will flip.

If they had decent game it will increase and they would want to reverse. Shelters are highly respected, in case people folded. It’s actually not difficult, that if someone finds something proliferation, the bass, and if not, who want to control.

It’s actually quite easy to understand. But now you have a concern of re-floating and steal. Re-raising 4-7 or Q-5, you’ll see a lot now but it was unheard of in 2003. It seems that this is a common practice today.

Question: Finally, any suggestions for the thousands of players who will try to come in 2009?

Chris: Keep trying. I never thought I could do. Try to make it as cheap as possible, keep your money if you’re on the road, take a seat. If you do not gamble, take money and put it on something more useful. If I had the opportunity, I would not have a back seat during the day. But if there are funds for a seat, take it.