PRO CHAT TRANSCRIPT - December 19th 2010
QUESTION FROM quaker08: hi james u snowed in playin poker what is your bigest achievement so far
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Lol! Yes I am, I can barely get out of my house! Gonna stay in all night and try and win an online MTT!
QUESTION FROM AdkJr2000: So how many events in the WSOP 2011 have you already reserved / buyin for ??????
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Um, havent yet reserved any seats, it's a bit early for that but I am planning on playing between 25-30 events which is quite a lot. Not sure when the schedule comes out..
QUESTION FROM ndapink: what are the best hands to call, ive been calling j 8 and k 8 and always get crap
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I'm not too sure why you would pick those hands to play preflop. I would recommend you to stick to pairs and high cards like AK/AQ. See how that goes..
QUESTION FROM quaker08: u playin the miniftops me event like and what was it like watchin gus and patrick live in person in the poker million final
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: The Poker Million was very fun this year, a lot of good players and the final was no exception. Great to watch..
QUESTION FROM AdkJr2000: So did you start by reading books or was it a game to game learning for you and if you did start by reading poker books what was the one and what is the best you found ????
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: After I had played a few times I had a great desire to improve my game. I bought a ton of books and played as much as I could. I would say he best book I read was Harrington on Hold-em, there are 3 volumes and are all as good as each other
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I think playing tight early on is the best stratagy to take. However, occasionally you'll come across a table where playing aggressively from the start seems like the best stratagy 2 take and you should adopt that. This is very rare though. TIGHT IS RIGHT
QUESTION FROM scottyheth: would you recommend playing more aggressively in the early levels to take advantage of some of the passive play early on and mistakes might not cost you as many chips? Or is it a better time just to sit back and wait for the big hands to chip up
QUESTION FROM ndapink: thanks for the advice, sometimes ill have like 3 5 and fold and the flop will come out ou 3 3 5. isnt very tempting to call these small cards because you never really know whats coming on the flop?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Take no notice of flops that you would of hit with passed cards, just remain concentrated on your game.
QUESTION FROM noodlearms: james id say ur the top uk hold em player at mo? who would u say is top 3?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I think Praz Bansi a nd Sam Trickett are 2 of the UKs top live MTT players.
QUESTION FROM Hero_Value: any tips on how to run good?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Ask Toby Lewis
QUESTION FROM iloveemma: you get my Q jim?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Nope, which Q sry?
QUESTION FROM D-TOUR23: wud you rather be a top level pro golfer or pro footballer ?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: LOL
QUESTION FROM Hammer967: any tips on bankroll management?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Never play with more than 5% of your BR and record all your results. This will make it easier to monitor your progress and the money you are winning/losing.
QUESTION FROM iloveemma: er well basically im a sucessful winning sng player, but its a real grind at times, i cant seem to get any sucess in mtts can you give me your top tips on them and how to make the transfer
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Ah. Well, when playing SNGs you have a very structured stratagy. There are a lot more considerations to take into account playing MTTs. A lot more variables. Make sure you devote 100% of your concentration on monitoring your opponents..
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: as they will come and go on a regular basis
QUESTION FROM scottyheth: do enjoy playing heads up moreso than ring games? Who would you say your toughest heads up opponent has been to date?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I havent come 2nd in a ton of tournaments or won many tourneys where I beat some1 great HU. I do rememebr my HU match against Grant Hinkle HU for my 1st bracelet in 2008, I'll never forget that one!
QUESTION FROM quaker08: james i get deep in2 a mtt but when it comes 2 the crunch or big cash i always fall short should i channge my playin style once u cash or stick 2 your own game
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Just stick to your game and it wikl come, theres no substiute for experience
QUESTION FROM stevees121: james have you ever won a ftops series event they seem really hard
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: They are tough as they attract a lot of players. I did manage to final the rush PLO r/b event in the last ftops series and ended up coming 4th. It was good fun.
QUESTION FROM HighRoller3553: what is the tax % on a big win?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Not 100% sure for the US but in the UK we dont get taxed.
QUESTION FROM burkeyoa: what tips can you give me for succeessful bankroll management? thanks
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: If you go up ^ I answered this Q already :)
QUESTION FROM Hero_Value: Hah the funny thing is I went to school with Toby Lewis, but no tips from him yet on it yet.
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: LOL
QUESTION FROM D-TOUR23: if i have a 10k roll can i take a shot at an ept if im feeling lucky?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Er, no.
QUESTION FROM HighRoller3553: so when you do get those big wins, what is the tax % is it really possible to make poker a living and your only job?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I'm not too sure on this subject, I think it is a lot tougher in the US
QUESTION FROM stevees121: how long did it take u to turn pro?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I was playing along side my job for around 2 years before deciding I was good enough to make a living out of it.
QUESTION FROM stevees121: what variant of poker do you most enjoy and why?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I love live MTT's, I love the buzz that comes with them, especiallty when you go deep
QUESTION FROM HighRoller3553: so, obv everyone has there own oppion about how to deal with tilt, whats your personal way to deal with it, exspecially when in a MTT where you cant just leave for a few min.
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I have just learned from experince to let it go immedietely and get on with the nx hand. If you want to think more about the hand wait for the break or after the tournament
QUESTION FROM ANewYorkThing: Hey what's the starting stack in the main event? Planning on playing just wondering what it is.
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: hmm good Q...
QUESTION FROM stevees121: 5k
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: ty stevees121, its 5k
QUESTION FROM HighRoller3553: how good (like how many wins) does it take for someone like Fulltilt to sponser you, along with you giving the red pro chat, and giving pro advice?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: You don't necessarily have to have won anything, if they think you are good, they might sign you just on that..
QUESTION FROM quaker08: nh james with the kings so what is your next big live mtt u playin the aussie millions
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Yes, now it is the Aussie Millions. Rly looking forward to getting out there!
QUESTION FROM DJDelboy: apart from yourself obv, who is the best player not to have won a bracelet?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Sam Trickett
QUESTION FROM HighRoller3553: how do you ask them to sign you? I am really trying hard to make poker my full time job, and I could use all the help I can get to be right along side ya
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: You can't ask. I'm affraid you just need to get spotted. Gl with everything.
QUESTION FROM Hero_Value: How did you get spotted by FT?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I was recommended by the players they already had signed from the UK
QUESTION FROM stevees121: what stake did you start off on, or did you only play tournis when starting out?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: I played live tournies, mostly in London. From £5 r/b to £100 f/o
QUESTION FROM HighRoller3553: does FT sponser you for everything you do? or do you still have to put up your own cash a lot?
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Sorry, I'm not allowed to discuss my deal with anyone.
ANSWER FROM James Akenhead: Ty everyone for all your questions I think I managed to answer all of them. I must go now as I am playing multiple screens! Gl to all, play well.