Entretien avec Liz Lieu

Liz Lieu est un des visages les plus connus du monde du poker. Joueuse de cash game de talent, elle a aussi réussi quelques belles performances en tournois qui ont permis de la faire connaître à travers le monde. Souvent présenté comme la 2ème meilleur joueuse du monde derrière Jennifer Harman, Liz Lieu nous accorde aujourd'hui un entretien en exclusivité.

Interview de Liz Lieu

L'entretien s'est bien entendu déroulé en Anglais, la langue de Liz Lieu. Mais si vous êtes allergique à la langue de Shakespeare, vous pouvez retrouver l'interview de Liz Lieu en français.

First Part : Liz Lieu's history in poker

How did you start to play poker?

I started playing cards from the age of 13 years old. When I was 18 a friend of mine was organizing card games in Colorado where I was living and I started out by running my own home games. That's when I learned much more of the strategies involved, and after running the game for awhile, I knew that I had a talent for cards. I started moving up quickly in cash games and started making a good living at it.

When did you decide that it will be your career?

I decided when I was 21 and after three years of experience with running, playing, and dealing poker. I built up a decent bankroll  from here and I started trips to Vegas and soon increased it by playing in gradually higher stakes. – pretty much the same story as many of the top pros today, starting small and working to the high stakes.

You are mainly a fierce cash game player, can you tell us more about a normal day of cash game in Las Vegas or in Los Angeles.

When I was younger I used to play for 2 day straight. My longest session ever was 3 days in a row. I didn’t know how to walk away from the game. I play much shorter sessions now. I chat to other cash game players frequently. We'd update each other about where the action's at and who is playing. I usually talk to a couple people first before I show up to make sure a good game is going at the limit I want to play at. I don’t want to walk into a game that is going to break up in an hour.

As you are very famous and known as a very good cash game player , Isn't hard for you sometimes to find a juicy game?

There really aren’t many juicy games at the limits I play in. Most of the players are pretty solid and most of us play with each other a lot but even good players aren’t always playing their best at certain times. I try to look out for when a player might not be playing their "A" game because of internal or external reasons and really push the action and try to get the most out of it.

What types of player are your favourite?

I don’t really have a preference. I just adjust my game to whoever I am playing against. Most of the players at my limits are good aggressive players. At the lower limits you might find players that are a little more predictable and don’t change gears as easily. Of course I would like to see a couple more of those players in my game.

What do you think of this paradox : the most known players are mainly tournament players when most of the professionnal players are living because of cash game and when all the real big games are in cash game?

I think the really good cash game players have respect from there peers and that’s really all they want. Of course some of the top tournament players are also really good cash game players too. Phil Ivey and JC Tran are great cash game players and they are both very excellent tournament players as well. Overall there is more money in cash games but the endorsement deals are there for the tournament players.

Second Part : Liz Lieu Nowadays

Since september 2007, you are the embassador of Chilipoker. Why did you choose to represent this online poker site?

My partnership with ChiliPoker is really a partnership with Alex Dreyfus, Chilipoker’s founder and CEO.  I was looking for a place where I could be more than just a face in advertising or an image on a website.  I wanted to find a site where I could be a part of the team, and my first year with them has exceeded my expectations.  ChiliPoker is wonderful, and Alex is a true partner, a man of real vision and integrity. It’s great to be part of a fast-growing site, but really I wouldn’t be part of it if I didn’t believe in Alex.

You have played less tournaments recently although you have done many good results. Why did you choose to go back more on the cash games?

I am a specialist high limit hold’em player so I have always preferred cash games. They are always the most rewarding to play. The tournaments take a lot out of players with all the travelling and there are so many players that it  takes several days to reach the money. Time spent at cash games is what I prefer the most. – the higher the limits the better! For the time being it's just a change of scenery and atmosphere, something we all need from time to time to refresh our minds.

What are the next tournaments that you are going to enter? 

I am playing in the Bellagio Five Diamond Main Event at the Bellagio and than I fly out to Manila to play in an APT event in January and back to L.A. to play in the L.A. Poker Classic in February.

Can you describe a normal day for Liz Lieu?

When I am working I typically play at the Commerce or at the Bellagio. Or I spend some time playing online if I cannot find a game or don’t want to leave the house. The other aspects of my life are pretty normal. I visit my favorite boutiques quite often. I go out to dinner with my friends twice or three times a week. On weekends, I usually go to nightclubs and chill with friends. And on weekdays I usually play online and get work done from home. I work on my various websites a lot and I have a couple of different poker blogs I contribute to. I am a pretty busy girl.

Can you tell us a little more about your charity work?

Charity is the most important aspect of my life and I have always been happiest when I am able to give back to others less fortunate. I always wanted to be in a position to be able to donate to charities, and when I started winning tournaments, I decided to give a percentage of all of my winnings to charities that meant something to me.

I go back to Vietnam about three times a year. I sustain a close connection with a charity organization I work with back in Vietnam, who gives me updates on where the most poverty is or where a town has been struck by some natural disaster like a hurricane and I buy a staples of supplies, rice, clothing, candy and go self deliver them to each area. During my charity journeys I'd visit the elder orphanage, the older people who were abandoned or lost there family and usually deliver them six months of food supplies as well as donate some funds to help out with their medicare and I also visit the cancer hospitals for kids where I would select 25-30 most terminal kids and grant them their last wishes.

Third Part: The future

What are your personal objectives for 2009?

In 2009, I just want to live a positive lifestyle. I have had to put some personal setbacks behind me. I just look forward to moving on and playing my best poker. I would like to do well in a few of big tournaments, maybe win a really big event. Outside of that I just want to surround myself with as many good and positive people as I can and have a really enjoyable year.

Do you still find some challenges in the game?

The game is definitely still challenging. I still learn something new all of the time. There are a lot of really talented players out there and everyone is always evolving so it’s always a challenge to stay one step ahead.

If you were not a poker player, what would you be?

I never really thought about it actually. I chose my path in life right and this is where I am today!

Thanks a lot for all these answers Liz and All the best for 2009!

Comments

[Rédigé par : SoLiCe]

Allez hop hop, la traduction, même si on préfère les photos ! :)

[Rédigé par : makkleod]

Tu as pas le début toi ;).
http//www.le-meilleur-du-poker.com/interview-liz-lieu.php