Street3: How long have you been playing poker?
Cuzzinlaw: Like real poker or online poker…or trying to play serious poker? Who’s asking the questions here anyway? Let’s be specific, Bob. LOL.
Street3: I am damn it! Let’s start with real poker, then online, then serious?
Cuzzinlaw: I started playing some variety of poker back in my late teens with friends…nothing too serious…took up playing online about 4 years ago and been progressing since then and trying to make some money. I guess it’s been about 3 years ago since I thought if I work on this I can do this all the time.
Street3: So you don’t have a “real” job, you just grind it out live and online?
Cuzzinlaw: Pretty much. When my daughter was born 3 years ago, it was more convenient for me to reduce my work schedule and basically become a stay at home dad. I still have a place of employment but because of the type of work I only go to the office 1 day a month except in March and August where I have to spend about 2 or 3 weeks in the office. Other than that I play poker mostly online but do have a couple of weekly games I attend regular. Poker is my main source of income these days. Sometimes it’s good and well sometimes it’s a struggle.

(editors note: That’s weird, in Oklahoma you file unemployment once a week, not once a month.)
Street3: You live in Texas, and well, this is what
I know about Texas…
Cuzzinlaw: I always wondered why I had horns.
Street3: Nice comeback. (finger) Do you have a favorite starting hand?
Cuzzinlaw: Not really. Of course there are always those hands that for some reason you like to play when you know you shouldn’t. I was kidding with some guys about it at the live game other night when I played K9. I have the shirt from Full Tilt that says I play K9 with the doberman avatar on it. It’s not a favorite but I’ve had some luck with it. I use to claim 92 as my favorite because when I first started playing online and would have it in the BB and see free flops it would come in. Like 3 times in one night I get that hand and the flop would be 992 or 229. I’ve gotten away from that trash now.
Street3: Yeah, 92 is gay. (mental note: STOP PLAYING 92)
Cuzzinlaw: Even if suited?
Street3: Of course not, always play all suited cards!!
Cuzzinlaw: I got beat out of grand in a pot Sunday night in a live game when a guy plays 93 suited against me. Flop 993. I asked him, “wtf wrong with you calling preflop raise with 93.” He says, “but it was suited.”
Street3: “But it was suited” is one of the hero cries of a born donkey. Agree?
Cuzzinlaw: It’s always the reason. Suited cards unbeatable on Hee Haw’s backstage game.
Street3: I just folded 74suited…back to the questions. What made you decide to add a $5 KO bounty on everyone in last nights twitter poker tour?
Cuzzinlaw: I’ve been having some good luck this past month at the tables. I’ve had a lot of support from my fellow TPT players. I think it has helped me play better having them around and showing support during my games. I like to help those who help me and thought it was a good way of giving back something. It’s nice to have someone cheer for you instead of cussing you and telling you how stupid your play was.
Street3: And because of this success you’ve established a challenge for yourself, tell us about that.
Cuzzinlaw: 2 years ago I had a pretty good year and took in about $130k for the year in winnings. Not profit but amount won. Then last year I hit a slump and didn’t do much and didn’t play near as much because of hard times. About September of this year I started trying to be serious again and playing more tourneys and trying to build myself back up. It started with some $2 and $3 tourneys. I won a few and did well and built up a little and decided to try a few of the mini FTOPS. When I made the 4th place finish in an event and picked up nearly $24k, I knew things were about to get good. I had some money to make a run and started out jokingly with a friend that I would win $100k by Christmas. So, then I decided that was a good goal to shoot for and marked September 1 until January 1 as my time frame to make $100k in tourney winnings. Goals are good to keep you on target and focused. I’m currently at $40,506 of that goal with a few months to go. That is my goal for multi table tourneys only, not sng or cash. Of course that won’t be all profit either but it’ll still be nice to do.
Street3: Damn you are obviously a great player, are you self taught or do you use any training sites or books?

BTW, just folded 92, Board runs AJKQQ. THANKS BRO!

Wait, would have split pot…winners were 98,48 and 62. You just cost me chips. I hate you.

(finger) for that last bit of advice.

Cuzzinlaw: I mainly play on my own instincts and have learned as I go. I still see cards sometimes and jump in pots before I realize how wrong it was. Not big on figuring percentages but I have a good idea if I’m getting the right price but sometimes even if not I just go with the gut. I really haven’t read any books. A friend loaned me Harrington on Hold em Part II when I was heading to the WSOP this year. I read about half of it. Lot of good info in there but I would probably have to read it a few times to soak it up. That guy is deep in thought on the game for sure.
Street3: Yeah man, last book I read was The Pokey Little Puppy, not much poker info there. Oh well. So what event did you play in the WSOP and how did you do?
Cuzzinlaw: I went out this year for event #4. I have never played poker in a casino before. My only live experiences have been in my weekly home games. I decided if possible I was going to try at least one event and see what happens. So, off I went for my first live tourney and at the WSOP. It was an awesome experience being around so many great players and walking down the halls with Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Chris Ferguson, Dan Harrington, etc. I started out real well and was surprisingly calmer than expected. There were 6012 entries and I finished in the money at 566th place. It may have been a bit disappointing for a payday but I was very excited to cash in my first live tourney and the fact it was at the WSOP. I’m ready and making plans for the next one and hoping to play a few more events this time around.
Street3: What was Event 4?
Cuzzinlaw: It was an 1K buyin NL Hold em event.
Street3: That’s cool. Are you going to try the Main Event next year, I mean if you make 100K this year, then 2.5 mil by July of next year…right?
Cuzzinlaw: Of course I’d love to play the Main Event. I’ll be firing at some satellites online to get there. If I have some luck in other events and bring in the money to do it, then by all means I’m going to play it. Then I’ll see you all in November 2010 for the final table!
Street3: Will do like Dennis Phillips did last year and fly all us railbirds in? I mean they do pay each final table the 1.xx million they get, then the final table plays for the rest…
Cuzzinlaw: If I play the Main Event and go deep, you can pack your bags cause you are coming to Vegas. Gotta have my numero uno railbird there.
Street3: Nice! You are a good man! Will you also splurge for a hooker or two for me?

Female hooker that is.
Cuzzinlaw: Dude I may rent the whole joint for the night just for you alone.
Street3: Hells yeah! Well I think we have enough info for this interview, any final thoughts? Shout outs?
Cuzzinlaw: I can’t think of anything much else to say. I appreciate all those who have shown me some support and the compliments over the past month. Hopefully this ride keeps on rolling and it just keeps getting better. It’s a hard road and I just have to stay focused and not let the gambler out as much as the poker player. I can blow up with the best of them at times and run through a bankroll in a hurry. See ya all around the tables!
Street3: Right on man, thank you for your time!

Was this your first TPT event? How did you find the TPT?
Yes, I found it on Twitter!

You survived a massive field of x players, any memorable (aka DONKEY) calls you made to chip up?
A couple but had the cards most the time!

How long have you been playing poker?
About 6 years!

What’s your favorite poker game? NLHE?
You know I like a lot of them Horse, Razz, Omaha, Hold em!

What do you do in your spare time when not at the tables?
LOL, I am retired so on computer a lot!

I noticed from your pic that your neighbor let you pose with his Escalade. I also, pose with Escalades (my own). As Escalade picture takers with, do you feel you and I are by far the coolest TPT players around?
No way and it was my wifes Escalade she let me get it washed and put gas in it!

What does the V stand for in Vmax_1? Vagina? Viagra? Wait, what’s the max stand for? Wait, what’s the _1 stand for?
Well, WTF your name stand for? (Editors Note: My name? Steve? Google says it’s an English word meaning “crown, garland” Wait…I’m the interviewer here, no more questions!) A Vmax is a Yamaha motorcycle very fast I just chose it because I had one at the time!

I notice also that you are trying to hock some teeth whitening shit…are you surviving off this income from the tooth fairy’s?
I haven’t got one thin dime yet but it would be nice!

Is this the best interview you’ve ever been part of?
LOL, this is the only one ever! I am famous for nothing!

Would you nominate me for a Pulitzer Prize?
I don’t know you any better then you know me!

Do you like turtles?
Well not really. I like my dogs…all seven of them!

Dream job, poker player, Governor of Texas or Wal-Mart Greeter? And why?
I enjoy poker that’s ok but the others forget it! I am retired!

Will you be playing more Twitter Poker Tour events? Do you feel you are the best poker player nobody has heard of, or cares to hear about?
LOL, they seem like very good players to me!

Do you play live poker? Poke her..poker..poke…poke.
No there are no casinos in Texas. Never live!

Quick question, if you were playing Uno and dealt a Draw 4, two red Skips, a Green 3, a Blue Draw two and you were UTG (Under The Gun) with a green card on board, would you cheat and throw the Draw 4 down?
I would. I don’t know a lot about poker!

(Editor’s note: That was in fact an UNO question.)

Last questions. Wasn’t that “quick”?
Faster then a speeding bullet!

Another Escalade question: Mine is black, yours is white, and does that mean we are enemies? Wait, are black/white natural enemies? Wait, are we racist now?
Not me are you?

(Editor’s note: No, I hate all races, especially my own, wait, wut? DAMN IT, I SAID NO MORE QUESTIONS, THIS INTERVIEW IS OVER….Well, almost over.)

What is your favorite poker hand and why? Mine is Q9d. Wanna know why? TOO EFFIN BAD!!!!!! No, seriously, what’s yours and why?
TOO EFFIN BAD!!!!!!! AA works for me!

It’s hard to think of 20 questions to ask, isn’t it?
If you have a IQ of 50 I suppose!

(Editor’s Note: I think he just suggested my IQ is 50. Damn it, just drooled on my retard helmet).

W00T, final question. You’re stranded on an island ala Tom Hanks in that gay ass stupid ass movie he was in, what would you name your volleyball? Gump named his Wilson.
What the hilllll!! BALL!

(PokerPlasm’s Note: I need to find a better interviewer…)

Street3 is PokerPlasm’s beat poker writer and interviewer to the poker stars.

First of all, congrats on the Season 4 victory. You are a god among men. I bow to you.

Is this the first Season you have played the Twitter Poker Tour? If not, how many seasons have you played?
Yes, first season.

How long have you been playing NLHE? Online/live? Which do you prefer?
Been playing poker for many years. Started probably around 14 years ago while going to College. Used to play at the Trump Taj in AC many days a week. NLHE wasn’t as big then, so my game was 7 Stud. Since then I’ve been playing both online and live. I definitely prefer live play so that when I get beat by some donk I can throat punch them afterwards.

Favorite hand?
Hmm, tough question. I rarely see a hand I don’t like. 57s is a nice hand…

Who is your favorite pro and why?
Don’t have a favorite “Pro” per se. I think most “Pros” are over rated and just backed by the right people/corps and have the money to get in the right games and make names for themselves.

Would you make a career of poker, is that something you want?
I’ve actually been pondering this for a while. I think I could actually make a good living doing this. Time would be my biggest downfall to achieving this.

Outside of poker, what do you do?
Ummmm, I’m a “Manager” of a Waste Management Company in Jersey….. Seriously though if I told ya I’d have to kill ya. Hehe.

How do you handle tilt?
Horrible, worst part of my game. I tilt so hard it’s not even funny. Partly because I’ve been playing low stakes online against the biggest donks I’ve ever seen. When I lose a big hand I play every hand until I either go broke or double, triple etc

Do you like turtles?
YESSS!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0XXmVts1y0

Any memorable hands from this Season?
Memorable, hmmmm, what were we talking about again? Seriously though, the one hand that I remember is the first hand of week 10 where I got knocked out when I flopped a set against an over set.

Who it the toughest TPT opponent?
If by toughest you mean biggest donkey, then that prize would have to goto KingSteve7 who had no regard for pot control and had no problem going AI at any given time LOL. Had to fold the best hand many times to him. Also, Broker91 made it a close run at the end and made me play my A game the last two weeks.

Anyone you don’t like playing a pot with?
Yeah, anyone who re-raises a pot out of position with T5o…

Um, do you like the Soprano’s?
It was the best show on TV. Would love to see The Soprano’s: The Younger Years. Who wouldn’t want to see a spin off series about a younger Uncle Jr., Paulie Walnuts and Tony Soprano Sr.???? JohnnyFilmmaker let’s pitch this to someone!!!

I don’t have proof, but based on the way you started and finished the Season, I am investigating the possibility that you use software that allows you to see the table’s hole cards. Any comment?
Well to be honest I did, but I had to stop using it because it must have been broken because all I saw were hands like T5o, 27, 58 etc being played. Also to confirm that it must have been broken I regularly would see coolwhipflea openly fold QQ.

Do all your bases belong to us?
No, but all your monies belong to me muahahhaha.

Do you take advantage of the training sites offered by the TPT to the winners? Are you learning anything? Forgetting stuff?
Won a free month to DeucesCracked.com but honestly never used it when I took first in week 2. Now that I’ve won a 6 month sub to DeucesCracked.com I will definitely take advantage this time.

Anything else you want to say? Shoutout someone? Curse someone?
Just happy I found the #tpt. Great way to have fun, play cards and improve my game. Much respect to cprpoker, pokerplasm and whoever else runs/regulates the#tpt. Looking forward to the upcoming Season and ready to TID!!!!!

Street3 is PokerPlasm’s beat poker writer and interviewer to the poker stars.