** BIRD FEED #100 !! Michael Craig **

ISSUE 100 !!!!!!! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT RAILBIRDS !!!!!!!

Michael Craig
Years Playing Poker: 16
Fav. game: whatever they're dealing
Fav hand: in hold 'em, with a deep stack, 5-5

#1. After being a Lawyer for 15 years , what made you decide to start
playing poker ?

I read THE BIGGEST GAME IN TOWN by A. Alvarez and was fascinated by the strange world of big-time poker and the incredible skills of the best players.

#2 With your Back round being a Lawyer , do you have any part in the PPA
(Poker Player Alliance)?

I'm a member and a supporter.

#3 How did you do in this years WSOP ?

3 cashes, 2 final tables ($1,500 Mixed Hold 'Em and $1,000 SHOE)

#4 Now that the WSOP is over with , what is the next big event you will be
going to ?

I may or may not be involved in the Legends of Poker. I will be involved in WSOP-Europe.

#5 What do you think about this year's WSOP ME winner, Jerry Yang and do you
think he has a chance next year ?

He has as good a chance next year as he had this year.

#6 What are your strengths as a player and what areas do you need to improve
on?

I am very good at "the long haul," understanding the importance I playing just the hand in front of you and not thinking about the rest of the tournament, what happened before, or what might happen next. I need to work on how to play with a big stack, because I'm pretty good at GETTING chips but not so good at HOLDING them.

#7 Have you had any embarrassing moment's in a live trny ?

My most embarrassing moment was in a cash game and I'll tell you about that. I was playing Andy Beal in Dallas right before the World Series. We were playing $25-$50 NLHE, PLO, and PLOEOB. This was my third time in this game (over 1 1/2 years), which was originally $1-$2 PLO. There was another pro in the game and a local "friend" of the pro who I think knew his way around the game too. I was just "hanging out" in this game so I set myself a loss limit of $4,000. For me, it wouldn't be fun to lose more than that.

I lost that on the first hand. Playing NLHE 4-handed, I raised on the button with As-8h. Andy reraised in the small blind. I called. The flop came Qs-Qd-8s. Andy bet and I called. He plays like a wild man in these games, so I didn't think he had a queen. The turn was the three of spades. He made a big bet and I called. I still thought my eight was good but I now had the nut flush draw. The river was the five of spades, making me the ace-high flush. He bet out. I raised, and Beal quickly said "all in." Now I wanted him to have a queen. I had the nut flush and I didn't think he'd have Q-8, Q-3 or Q-5. I insta-called.

"Quads," Andy said, flipping over pocket queens. For sympathy, I timidly flipped over my flush and for the first time noticed that I DIDN'T have the ace of spades. I had the ace of clubs.

#8 Do you have any books or videos that you have made for the poker
community?

The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King.

The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide - Tournament Edition.

The Full Tilt Poker Blog by Michael Craig. www.fulltiltpoker.com/poker-blog

#9 What other pro would you like to face Heads up and why ?

I want to play BAD players heads-up, not pros.

#10. Have you won any trny's at Full tilt Poker.com ?

Many.

#11 What would you say is the best online or live game you are skilled at ?

Whatever they're dealing.

#12 How do you play differently in tournaments vs. cash games?

I don't play many cash games. In fact, the last cash game I played was the one I described in #7. Incidentally, I recouped my losses that day.

#13 What goals do you have as a poker player?

Play the next hand the best way I can.

#14What advice do you have for somebody starting to play online poker?

Follow Chris Ferguson's rules of bankroll management. Otherwise, you have no chance.

#15 Is there anything else you would like people to know about yourself thatis poker-related or even non-poker related?

I own the world's eighth-largest diamond. Or at least I live like I do.

Et tu Tilte?
The Full Tilt Poker Blog by Michael Craig
http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/poker-blog

Also a special thanks to The Wall for his help on this issue !