Posted by The Captain | Filed under The Pros Speak
It’s time for another round of The Pros Speak. This week we have Rafe Furst, one of the true characters of the game. While his antics with the Tilt Boys – like taking fifth place in a “Ladies Only” tournament dressed in drag – get a lot of attention and laughs, he’s up to a lot more than you might think. Check out his comments on poker, life, and having fun:
People talk about the “poker lifestyle” – what does this mean to you?
Generally speaking it means always being in action somehow, being a high-roller with your cash, having few responsibilities to anyone but yourself, and remaining care-free as long as possible. For some people, this is the only way they can be happy, and I say more power to them. For others, it becomes an impediment to personal growth, maturity, and happiness. Even though I’ve been playing poker avidly since I was a teenager, I’ve always had a broad range of interests that I actively pursued. I was never a “pro” until the poker boom caused an explosion of opportunity. While I have been accused of being a “Peter Pan” by my non-poker friends, I think it’s because I take the positive aspects of the poker lifestyle and integrate them into the vision I have for myself. I am very mindful of cultivating just the right amount of normalcy to keep me an active and productive member of society.
What’s an "average" day consist of for you?
First of all, I’m not your “average” poker pro in the sense that I do not play full time, nor is poker the majority of my income in some years (that depends on how much and how well I play). I play online, usually at night and on weekends when I can, and I only go to select tournaments. For tournaments, I concentrate on the WSOP and a few other major events chosen for convenience or location – like the Aussie Millions.
An average day when I’m home starts with getting up around 8 a.m., logging in to email, returning phone calls, and taking care of non-poker business. This doesn’t really change that much during tournaments, as I tend to do better and feel more relaxed when I know my outside interests aren’t blowing up.
When I’m home, I’ll try to do something outside during the day like play sand volleyball, go for a run or walk, bike ride, skateboard, play golf, or any number of activities. Right now I’m learning how to surf and also to SCUBA dive.
Do you ever play poker “just for fun?”
For me there is no other way to play poker. I never want to consider it a job or have it feel like a grind. By keeping my outside business interests alive, I can take as long a break as I want from poker and not have it impact my finances or lifestyle significantly. If I’m not having fun, I’m not playing.
Who’s the poker player you admire most?
Chris Ferguson. Not only is he clearly one of the best tournament poker players of all time, he is incredibly humble and a stand-up guy. I also really admire his disciplined approach to the game, including bankroll management. His “zero to $10K” feats are incredible achievements, not for the skill they require (which they do of course) but rather for the discipline they require. I challenge anyone who thinks they are a great poker player to do it in fewer hands than Chris has.
What’s the best line you’ve ever heard at the table?
Phil Gordon to Dave “Diceboy” Lambert – who was needling a fish at the table – many years ago: “Hey, Dave, Please don’t tap on the aquarium.”
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