mookie99

Congratulations to Mike_Maloney on fading a field of 60 players to win his first Mookie title. Here is his profile…

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Champion: Mike_Maloney

Blog: SecondCitySaint.com

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Q: What is the story behind your ID, Mike_Maloney?

MM: It’s the name of the man I killed in a crime of passion several years ago. Actually, it’s more likely that it’s my real name.

Q: How did you get into poker?

MM: I wish I had a better answer than ‘Chris Moneymaker’, but I don’t. My poker experience before that had been limited to a few random games of five card draw, but that’s about it. I remember seeing the WSOP on ESPN and thinking what a stupid idea it was to have people playing cards on TV, then within a few weeks I was hooked.

Q: Do you have any poker related goals and if so what are they?

MM: Well, I’m still a pretty low bankroll guy, one of my goals for the year was to get my bankroll up to 4 figures, which I did. I guess long term it would be neat to play in a WSOP event. Outside of that, just to be profitable and to improve my game.

Q: What are key improvements that you’ve seen in your game over the last six months, and what is one priority you have for improving? (Submitted by CC)

MM: I think my late game skills have improved a lot in 2007. I was never really able to run deep in an MTT before this year, because I really didn’t know how to. I still have a long way to go, but I really feel a lot more comfortable in those situations than I used to. As far as priority for improving, I think it would be reading weakness in a player and being able to take down a hand even if my cards are crap. There are certain instances where it’s pretty obvious to me when I can take a hand down with a bet, but more often than not, I have trouble getting a good read, and I think that’s something that’s really lacking in my game and leaving a lot of money on the table at my cash games.

Q: How would you describe your poker style?

MM: In a word, tight. Not quite Blinders tight, but I definitely don’t venture out into too much aggro-craziness. I do have the ability to be more aggressive at a weak table, or if I want to play big stack poker, but my default style is to play tight.

Q: What would be your first piece of advice for someone wanting to learn to play poker? (Submitted by Maudie)

MM: Keep some realistic expectations about your ability and your bankroll, and take in as much information as you can, be it from books, blogs, etc. My younger brother is getting into poker, and he sees me win money, but he doesn’t fully understand the work it took to get my game to where it is today. I played bad poker for a long while, and it was only after I learned a LOT about the game that I saw results in my play. In fact, I just gave him my first Harrington on Hold ‘em book the other day to start reading.

Q: What level of static do you get over your poker habit? (Submitted by Drewspop)

MM: Depends on how well I’m playing In all seriousness, my fiancée is pretty cool with it for the most part. If I were to sit down and play for hours every night, there would probably be some issues, but right now I play Mondays & Wednesdays, and limited time outside of that, so she’s fine with it.

Q: What was the first poker blog you read?

MM: Does Wil’s count? If not, then Cardsquad, where Wil also wrote. That led me to The Hoy, and after that I got sucked into the poker blogosphere.

Q: Who would be at your 6-handed SNG?

MM: Myself, Dan Harrington, Greg Raymer, Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, and Allen Cunningham

Q: Between Nihilism and Masochism, which do you think better describes why you play poker? (Submitted by Iakaris)

MM: Masochism without even thinking about it. I enjoy playing Razz, for christ’s sake.

Q: What’s the last book you have read?

MM: East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Q: Tell us a little known fact about yourself.

MM: Despite having spent most of my life in the Chicago area, I was actually born in the Los Angeles area (Culver City).

Q: If you had the chance for one other poker player (can be anybody: pro, blogger, celeb, a friend, etc.) to look over your shoulder and give you advice on all the hands you play for a day, who would it be and why? (Submitted by crazdgamer)

MM: I almost picked Greg Raymer, but I think my choice would have to be Allen Cunningham. I just think he’s such a good, smart poker player, I would love to know his thought process on hands, how to play them, things to look out for, what sorts of reads he picks up in certain situation. I just think he plays really smart poker, and it would be tremendous to learn about that kind of poker

Mike_Maloney’s question for next week’s champ…

Q: What is your favorite poker book? Least favorite? Most likely to recommend to a friend?

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Congrats again to Mike_Maloney and thanks for participating in this profile.

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