Bill Chen is a Poker Junkie
Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Bill Chen talks about his life as a poker junkie.
So, we're here to find out if you are a poker junkie or not.
I'm sure I am, he he.
What's the longest session you have ever played? 36 hours. It was a 6-12 stud game. This was at the Oaks and the game was really good. I was up around $1,000 and it was just so good I couldn't leave. I felt terrible afterwards. I couldn't keep my eyes open towards the end so I figured it was time to leave. But I was happy about the win, because it was a significant win for my bankroll back then. |  |
I've lost about $120,000 playing 300/600 heads-up limit poker online. It wasn't all my money, but it felt really bad.
What's the most you have won in a single session?
Obviously not counting tournaments, I've won about $160,000. That felt good.
When was the last time you had a totally poker-free week?
I don't think I ever go a week without talking about poker. Without playing? Let me think. Oh, strangely enough it was at the Bahamas PCA this year. I busted out on the second day, and then we had to be there for a week for PokerStars, so I just took the week off. It felt good. It didn't influence my game since I hung around with poker players the whole time.
Have you ever chosen poker over a girlfriend?
Yeah. I've definitely had potential girlfriends who didn't like me playing poker. That didn't really work out...
What percentage of your friends are poker players?
60-70 percent. I'm happy with that because most of them are pretty balanced and have other things going on in their lives. I also worked for a financial trading firm that's pretty heavy in poker players.
What's the most valuable thing you have destroyed after a bad beat?
I don't do that.
What's the craziest side bet you have made?
I once bet a guy $5,000 he couldn't run a marathon. He did, so I lost. It wasn't worth it to see him run. I felt really bad because he had to go to the hospital the next day for dehydration.
Do you ever have nightmares about poker?
I have dreams about poker where the cards change, but no really scary stuff I think.
Who do you think is the biggest poker junkie in the world today?
Biggest junkie? I don't really know. Most of the people I know are really balanced and have other things going on in their lives.
We think, however, that Bill himself definitely qualifies as a poker junkie. Congratulations Bill!
Bill Chen's biggest poker achievements:
2006 WSOP, $3,000 Limit Hold'em - 1st - $343,618
2006 WSOP, $2,500 Short Handed No Limit Hold'em - 1st - $442,511
Total career prize money: $981,835 (July 3, 2008)
