PRO CHAT TRANSCRIPT - November 14th 2010
QUESTION FROM Bodahir: hi mike how are you
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: great
QUESTION FROM bigdave1989: mike how was breakfast :)
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: good
QUESTION FROM Bodahir: how u became a pro mike
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: did really well in live tournaments in europe as well as online and making videos on cardrunners.com
QUESTION FROM KingKovacs: How much are you up (winnings wise) with your poker career?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: my live wiinnings are like 2.7m, bad record keeping for online, but prob like 1.5
QUESTION FROM Bodahir: how did you start build your bankroll
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: mall stakes limit holdem cash games
QUESTION FROM KingKovacs: Does your poker career affect your personal life in any negative ways?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: I would say in some ways it used to since as a pro poker player when you log lots of hours you spend a decent amount of your time on your own, but the last few years I havent played huge volume so its been pretty much all positive
QUESTION FROM SEMYON84: hi how are you?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: great
QUESTION FROM THDUBB3D: Mike, What steps did you take in becoming a professional?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: started out playing small stakes, and as I did better and better moved up, and once I felt comfortable, I became a professional
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: is it better to be aggressive at the lower blind levels early in a tournament to build your chip level or play conservatively to win with card strategy
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: mostly conservative since most people don't like folding
QUESTION FROM durrrJrrr: what advice do you have for people who have went busto a couple of time
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: don't do it again
QUESTION FROM KingKovacs: What cash tables can we find you at nowadays (online) and what live poker and online poker events do you usually attend?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: when I play cash its usually 1/2 and 2/4 rush but I haven't played much lately. Live agenda for the next year includes fallsview poker classic, EPT championship, WPT championship and WSOP\
QUESTION FROM brentnmissi: What is the best small hand to play?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: 54s
QUESTION FROM JuNiOr_StOnE: spanish?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: no
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: my friend who live in Las Vegas thinks he plays well but doen't play as well as I do. Should I risk a friendship by offering advice? He doesn't take crtiticism well
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: ya, the most important thing is making sure your friends are aware of their abilities, you can't let them get too confident
QUESTION FROM x AA eveytime x: mike r u a poker pro? or a friend of full tilt or something? caues with all do respect ive never heard of u
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: pro, through cardrunners
QUESTION FROM Marc Karam: Are you going to win your own event? Oh and please stay off my Rush tables :)
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: yes, and for now yes. once school slows down i might get back to it
QUESTION FROM KingKovacs: How often do you play poker? How many hours per week, etc.
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: lately like 5 since I'm back in school. when I'm playing full time like 20
QUESTION FROM brentnmissi: Your thoughts on duhamel winning?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: I didn't pay attention at all after the 2 people I had %'s of lost in like 50th and 30th. Having a canadian win is sweet though
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: I thought 67 was the best small hand to play since you can top the wheel that way
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: alright, 76 is good too
QUESTION FROM x AA eveytime x: tell marc he hit a 1 outer on me and took 300 dolalrs form me in a 1/2 rush table
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: .
QUESTION FROM ted8100: Mike I'm a big fan of CardRunners and I keep hearing that Verneer is writing a book, any word on when it will be out?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: first I've heard, but that should be really good. If you like my tourney videos, you should enjoy the next couple months content
QUESTION FROM KingKovacs: How important do you feel a HUD is online?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: very
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: do you play Full Tilt under your name or an avatar name
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: what you mean???
QUESTION FROM Duzirr: are u playing cash game or only tournament
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: at the moment, just a tournament
QUESTION FROM KingKovacs: How old are you?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: 21
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: What I meant was my real name is Robert but I play as Las Vegas Texan, When you're on FullTilt does it say Mike McDonald?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: ya
QUESTION FROM brentnmissi: how much $ have you won?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: enough
QUESTION FROM ted8100: I 've read that you are seeking a degree in Math, is that only for the purpose of hellping your poker career or do you have other plans for it?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: actually doing a business degree and it has nothing to do with my poker career
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: favorite poker movie ? Cincinatti Kid or Rounders ? Please don't say Lucky You LOL
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: Shade and its not even close
QUESTION FROM Duzirr: good luck at ur tournament!
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: ty
QUESTION FROM John Howitzer: do your fellow students know you're a poker pro? reactions?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: some do but most don't. when I tell people they're usually pretty impressed
QUESTION FROM ReebblausReebbl: my englisch it bad
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: yup
QUESTION FROM ted8100: On CardRunners it looks like you haven't made a video since 12-25-09, Have you made videos under other names? When will your next video ( or series ) coming out?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: ya, got a few in the next couple months, making them with mement_mori and they're gonna be sick
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: what university do you rock?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: Wilfrid Laurier in Waterloo
QUESTION FROM SlipKorn23: hi mike
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: hi korn
QUESTION FROM ted8100: What is the next big live tournament you're gonna play in?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: fallsview poker classic if that counts, if not probably EPT championships\
QUESTION FROM Holguin01: What up mike? question. With what kind of hole cards would you call an all in bet pre flop? Im always on top pre flop but somehow I seem to lose every single time, thanks.
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: thats unfortunate
QUESTION FROM Mr Peppoo: what is youre biggest cash ever?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: 1.3m in EPT Dortmund in 2008
QUESTION FROM Lukem1990uk: haha holguin lol How do you stay motivated to play poker?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: I'm very competitive
QUESTION FROM jon123303: How do you usually know someone is bluffing?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: practice
QUESTION FROM ted8100: Thanks for talking to us Mike. Good luck in the future and tell your fellow CardRunners thanks also!
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: thanks, nice talking to you
QUESTION FROM Lukem1990uk: who is isildur1?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: probably blom
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: i consider brick and mortar poker rooms more honest since most poker dealers work hard for a living and aren't subject to electronic card shuffling algorithms,..is this an accurate statement ?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: it is a statement about your opinion, so I can't really judge
QUESTION FROM noodlearms: who was the better businessman henri ford or donald trump? gotta be the fordster for me?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: henri ford
QUESTION FROM dmales3611: yo
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: yoyoyo
QUESTION FROM Lukem1990uk: won any donkaments recently? lol
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: have barely played any the last few months, ask me again in 12 hours
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: tell younger players to get in the habit of tipping relative to pot size in real poker rooms, it annoys me how many younger players stiff the dealers
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: k
QUESTION FROM Lukem1990uk: haha cheeres for answering questions and good luck in your tourney.. Adois Amigo
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: ty
QUESTION FROM AllinMAV: What is the best way to become a more consistent winningpokerplayer???
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: play better
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: gl and hope to play you heads up at the WSOP final table some year soon
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: lets do it up
QUESTION FROM TomyKac: Mike McDonald rulez ;)
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: tyty
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: who is the best author on NL holdem, Brunson, Harrington, or someone else?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: cts
QUESTION FROM Ptownz Fynest: heyy how are you today mike
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: great
QUESTION FROM Fatstacks53: Hello. Do you ever play low stakes private games?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: never
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: sorry, who is cts?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: cole south
QUESTION FROM TomyKac: Mike, what would you rather prefer 1000 NL HU or 1000 buy in HU sng with aggresive player?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: cash, less rake
QUESTION FROM ANAKONDA24: Timex win that turney. wish ya all da best....greatings from Slovenia
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: thanks man
QUESTION FROM Ptownz Fynest: so my question is how to build a bankroll in the best way and what limits are good to play
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: small stakes multi table sit n goes are often very good
QUESTION FROM ReebblausReebbl: ICH WERDE DEN CHAT JETZT VERLASSEN ; WEIL ICH KEINE AUSKUNFT AUF DEUTSCH BEKOMME
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: i dont speak any languages other than english
QUESTION FROM Ptownz Fynest: ???
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: !!!
QUESTION FROM TomyKac: explain in few words: what "tilt" means to you
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: when your emotions get in the way of your better judgement and hurt your play
QUESTION FROM Ptownz Fynest: i asked if you play small stake sngs and would u play a small stake sng like at 11+1
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: I don't any more, and I'm kinda busy so I'd rather not at the moment
QUESTION FROM havensbiz: hi?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: hi
QUESTION FROM Stevee_GS: HI! You know maybe haw long comes paycheck in US ?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: no clue, I'm canadian
QUESTION FROM TomyKac: share your thoughts about Tom's Dwain's playing style
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: good at poker
QUESTION FROM TomyKac: then, who is best today?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: jungleman12
QUESTION FROM Stevee_GS: I saw you good play at EPT events! How much you earn at those EPT tournaments total?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: think like 2-2.5m depending whether you count side events or just mains
QUESTION FROM havensbiz: i thought we talk about in general is it only about that event?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: can talk about whatever you want, but I'm ending this chat in a couple minutes, might be back later though
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: What's the best place for a first time visit to Canada,? Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver or somewhere else?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: any of those 3, I also really liked calgary when I was there
QUESTION FROM TomyKac: does now pokers is just job to you?
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: ?
QUESTION FROM Stevee_GS: Good Luck Mike!!!
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: thanks
QUESTION FROM Las Vegas Texan: what he meant was do you consider poker just a job now and perhaps not as enjoyable as the hobby it started as
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: its still enjoyable but for different reasons. I enjoy the competition a lot, but I don't enjoy playing poker with friends who don't play seriously\ nearly as much as when I first started
QUESTION FROM cold_smile: hey mike, what is your favourite hand to gamble? except AA! i mean if u really want to gamble :)
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: KK
ANSWER FROM Mike McDonald: but kings never gamble