Will (Shake) - Player Profile

Will Shake Things Up

Name: Will
Nickname (how'd you get it): Will Shake, which was given to me by the First Lady because my hands shake like Barney Fife in a hostage situation.  Because I drink so much coffee I'm like one of those nervous dogs.  Slim suggested that if I host, my apartment should be called the Fault Line, which is going to sound less funny if it collapses during an earthquake.
Age: 31
Location: Hollywood, or depending on who you ask West Hollywood.  Right over by CBS, The Grove and Farmers Market, whatever that area is called.

Favorite hand to play:
I'm a sucker for flushes so if I have anything suited in my hand I'll play it, usually until I dump too much money in and then have to pull some desperate all in move to try and sell the idea that I'm holding some monster hole cards. 

Favorite pro player: 
I don't have one, not because I don't respect many of them but because I just don't follow the pro games because it's like crack to me.  At heart, I am a degenerate gambler and I want to bet on everything.  My reaction to watching poker on TV or reading about it is to immediately go seek a game and bet recklessly, so in order to save my finances and sanity I skip it although I love hearing about the original Texas Rounders.

How did you learn about the 4SPT:
The short version of the story is that The First Lady's mom called her and told her that she should be nice to me so they extended a pity invitation.  The long version is just like the short one but with scandalous photos and threats of blackmail.  A third version involves Jenn and I reading one another's blogs and then meeting through a mutual friend but I'll stick with the other story.

When did you join the 4SPT:
I started playing in the Fall 05 season and have been making semi regular appearances since.

Best thing about winning the 4SPT:
I don't have to break into the other players cars looking for loose change like I normally do.  I get to blog about winning for a change although  my blog is not one of the fancy poker blogs that the big boys have.  Mine is mostly about robots, monkeys and sex although not usually about sex between robots and monkeys as that would just be weird.

Most exciting/best hand you've had on the 4SPT:
Being dealt pocket kings and then having a pair of kings come out on the flop was pretty exciting.  The amazing thing is that the hand was predicted the night before by my occasional arch nemesis, First Sister Kristen.  Going head to head with Richie and having my two pair hold up was very exciting and when I say exciting I mean terrifying because I thought for sure he had me beat.  Besides those, there are only the many great plays I only make in my head on the drive over that somehow never seem to make it to the table --- oh, and every hand on 4th Street Robot Night, but that one also only exists in my head.

4SPT player you don't want sitting next to you (why):
So many better players than me to choose from and I haven't been around long enough to sit with everyone but since I have to pick I'll go with Elliot, aka El Bear, Elboop etc... He's not only good, he's completely unpredictable.  Sometimes he's holding the nuts, sometimes he's got off suit connectors that don't finish and I can't tell which. I think I recall him going all in on me once and his hole cards were the extra card that shows hand values and a drink coaster, he ended up with a full house.   He's amazing.

Also, I never call Jenn when she goes all in.

Where/how did you learn to play poker:
I learned how to play poker?

I had played occasionally as a kid but I didn't really learn to appreciate the game until a few years ago. In 1999-2000 I worked for one of the many ridiculous Dot-Com's that were all over Santa Monica, and a bunch of guys and I started a home game that served as a poker learning lab that continued long after we were all out of work.  In fact while we were unemployed we played nightly, the game was usually friendly but the competition got the better of us and sometimes things escalated to physical violence.  Eventually some of the guys moved, we got different jobs and the game unfortunately dissolved.  I think I've learned more in a few months on the tour than I ever did before though.

Any other interesting stories or whatever else you want people to know:
Just the usual….I can't eat if there's a midget in the room.  I think 4th Street is the best home game I've ever seen, both in play and the respect that the players have for the game and the other players.  I'm hoping to parlay my involvement in the game to an invitation to spend holidays with the First Lady's family because they seem like good people and unlike my actual family or my "family" at the Olive Garden they won't serve crappy food or press charges.

Comments

[First Lady]

The First Family extends a big congratulations! Keep playing your cards right (meaning, call the First Lady when she has it and don't call when she doesn't) and that holiday invitation will be in the mail.

[The First Sister]

In the meantime, you should start your training regimen:
1) Lounging on couches for long periods of time (think 6+ hours) while being served cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate, and assorted brie cheeses. Bathroom breaks are at your own discretion.
2) Holding hands across the dinner table for grace.
3) Sitting very quietly when a stranger dares to knock on the door, until he leaves.

[First Lady]

PS - it's BYOC (bring your own couch)

[Richie Rich]

"Just the usual….I can't eat if there's a midget in the room."

Phew. I was worried I was the only one. But if there are two, they equal a whole person. At that point I can eat again. Even numbers is the key.

[Slim]

Nice win Tom! I'm sorry I was unable to be there to witness your first win.

[First Mom]

Congratulations Will! As your agent who got you into this game, what's my cut?
What are your plans for Easter?

[will]

Thanks first mom, your 20% is on it's way.

[Leah]

Hey, remember that time I trashed you at poker? Yeah, that was awesome...

[will]

For the record, she got lucky on one hand. As my winning proves, it can happen to anyone.