Today on the 3-Bet we bring you an exclusive audio clip with Roberto Romanello in Prague, a tip of the hat to British professional Sam Grafton plus the secret to true happiness according to Welsh poker pro John Tabatabai,
Any suggestions for a future 3-Bet can be left in the comments.
1) Romanello Talks Crazy Czech Poker and Gambling
When people come into the wonderful world of poker, they create a new set of friends. Remember the old adage: You are the sum of the parts of the five people with whom you spend the most time?
So obviously it makes sense to hang around the bar with Galfond, Blom, Cates, Ivey and… Bellande?
But it wasn’t always like this. There used to be a time when professional poker players had real friends. They used to be able to separate the fake fur from the stuff that activists like to coat in red-paint.
Some of the more humble that walk among us retain those real friendships. But what exactly do those friends get up to when the professional poker player has to go to work? Well in Roberto Romanello’s case he brings them with him. Romanello turned up at the Prague Poker Festival with five of his favourite friends in tow. This is what they got up to.
Click here to listen to the audio interview.
2) Grafton Harnessing Universal Rungood
If you are unfamiliar with the name Sammy Grafton then you can find him getting thrown out of a WSOP Rail near you. He’s the one telling jokes that are too complicated – and British - who looks like a cross between Kriss Kross and Elton John.
Sam Grafton might as well be called Sam Grafter. The man is a workhorse, who until recently had not had his due rewards. Grafton is about as English as you can get. I reckon he used to give the universe some shit hence his lack of top bona fide successes.
But recently the man nicknamed The Squid can do no wrong.
This is how it works: You win something, you start to feel good, you stop complaining, Mother Nature listens and gives you some more run good. Grafton has just added the GUKPT Main Event title to his recent SCOOP success, to make 2012 the best year of his poker life.
The universe is treating him well, and I don’t think we have seen the last of it.
3) Tabatabai on True Happiness
With the Prague Poker & Mind Sports Festival in full effect, you would expect a young chess wizard like John Tabatabai to be in town. When it comes to the use of the mind, Tabatabai is amongst the best of British Beef.
The man is never going to win an arm wrestling competition, but he will sacrifice pawns without batting an eyelid. The man is ruthless.
So where is he if not Prague? He’s is in Colombia of course. “Columbia!” we hear you cry… what on earth is he doing in a scary country when it’s all kicking off over here?
Tabatabai is bored with poker. Actually let’s niche this down a bit. Tabatabia is bored with No-Limit Texas Hold’em, the game that has made him over $1.4 million in live tournament earnings.
The young Welshman was lying on a beach in the Dominican Republic when he was struck by a life-changing moment. Each day, a local man would sell him a mixture of coconut and rum, the nicest drink he had ever tasted. I guess he has never tasted Vimto?
“All he’s concerned about is earning the minimum wage to take home to his wife. He’s not worried about the FTSE market? How the latest investments are doing? If he is going to get scammed? Or if he is going to get three-outed on the river and run so bad. No, his only concern is to feed his wife and not get killed.” Remembers Tabatabai fondly.
The man proved to be an inspiration. Tabatabai looked within. What would make him happy? He had always wanted to learn to speak Spanish and so he jetted off to Colombia, settled down in a town where nobody speaks English and started a University course.
“True happiness for most people is doing something right now,” said Tabatabai.
Lee Davy is a writer from Ogmore Vale in South Wales. You can follow his views and opinions through his blog at www.needyhelper.com or on Twitter @Chingster23.
Visit www.pokerlistings.com