David Williams' Blog

Wow, 2 posts in one day! This one is going to be a response to the comments left so far. I'll respond to the sensible ones about once a week.

Waffles2003 said...

David, thanks for this blog. If you have time one day, can you tell us how you met Noah Boeken and how he became one of your best friend?

I met Noah while playing on the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour back in 1997. Magic has a professional circuit with tournaments all over the world. The atmosphere is very similar to a poker tournament. If you go to them all you end up seeing the same people every time. Noah and me got along great and played with and against each other often. We kept in touch over the computer and would see each other in different countries every few months. He started playing poker after I did, and I noticed he had a natural talent for the game. We discussed hands and other tournament strategies and helped each other improve. During the 2004 WSOP we shared a room at my friend's house, and he was with me every night when I came home from the long days. He helped me to stay calm and not get nervous for the next day. Also, the day before the 2004 WSOP began, I asked Noah to trade 10% with me. He replied "NO! 4%". I said "why 4%? make it 5% so it's even." He responded "NO, YOU SUCK." We all know how that worked out for him. 6% of 3,500,000. :-)

rentrab said...

Thanks for the blog. Have you been playing in the side games? What kind of limits do you play when you do? Good luck with the rest of the series.

I do not usually play side games. They are so different from tournaments which are what I like to focus on. If I do play a side game, it's usually $200/400 mixed games.

rentrab said...

How do you alter your limit hold em strategy when you’re playing in a tourney rather than live? Play more speculative hands like small pairs and suited connectors?

Although I don't normally play live, I would not change my strategy either way. I would play my best either way and try and win the most chips while risking the least.

Anonymous said...

How does your strategy compare to Layne Flack?

I am not sure; I do not know Layne Flack's strategy.

Anonymous said...

ive watched u play b4 and noticed u play incredibly fast and usually make ur decisions quickly also...how/why did u start doing this?? and what advantages do you think it gives u?

Playing quickly is not something I decided to do. It is just how I play. I am a fast thinker at all things, and it becomes hard for me to do things slowly. I don't think it gives me an advantage, and I have been trying to slow down and think things through longer. (Although I usually come up with the same first though I had.)

Liquid Swords said...

Granted, you only lost $150 by being absent the first level, but you don't feel that the information you would have gained watching your opponents in that first level, plus the $150, outweighed the little bit of extra sleep you got? Just curious.

I feel being rested and mentally ready for a long day is the most important thing you can do in a tournament. I spoke we Chris Ferguson about this and he agreed. If that hour of sleep will help you play better it is invaluable. I was also able to figure out how the other players played fairly quickly, and it was what I thought while lying in bed that morning, awful. :-)

I will ask my webmaster about an RSS feed. Hopefully that will be ready soon. I appreciate everyone's questions and input. Keep posting and I'll try to respond once a week.