Russ Bansen, Up Close and Very Personal
Russ Bansen the strategic genius behind the ground breaking poker strategy book ‘Every Hand is Revealed’ which UKPOKERINFO where fortunate enough to serialise (here, here and here) has kindly agreed to make time for a quick chat shortly after his elimination late on day two of the WSOPE main event.
As a poker journalist you get used to meeting the stars of the game, sometimes you find yourself disappointed with the person behind the hype and some times not, it’s just something you become accustomed too. So this complacency when in the presence of the great and the good of the game might explain my genuine surprise at the discovery I had nervous butterflies whilst I was waiting to be introduced to Russ at his UK base, a luxurious suite at the Lambeth Travel Lodge.
Eventually I’m ushered in to the lounge by one of Russ’s army of pretty young personal assistants and finally get to meet the great man. I find Russ relaxing upon an ornate chaise lounge dressed in a cherry red, silk kimono whilst eating a toffee apple. Nervously I begin;
UKPI: Russ, thank you so very much for taking the time to meet with us today, I know you’re a busy man.
RUSS: That’s fine; I like to make time for the little people, show’s the sponsors I’m still connected to the grass roots, although of course I’m now much better than all of you.
UKPI: How are you finding England?
RUSS: England’s shit, well the whole of the UK is really, but I love being here and thank all the people who have made me feel so welcome, I do feel though that my presence and also the likes of Phil and Doyle’s kind of upgrades the UK to being almost an acceptable place to be, our very presence is like a gift to the people of your country.
UKPI: Well on behalf of all the people of the UK, I thank you. So how did you get on at the EPO last week?
RUSS: I refused to play it, I’m a God fearing man and I shan’t ever be visiting anywhere named Dusk Till Dawn, Good Christians where killed by vampires in that place and I think it’s a sacrilege they use the name.
UKPI: Ummm, wasn’t that just a film?
RUSS: Well yeah, they made it into a film later, but it happened in real life, you really should have prepared better for this interview, you need to know the facts.
UKPI: Yeah, ummm, sorry, so what did you do instead? Did you play any poker?
RUSS: No, I took some time out and visited the sites of London.
UKPI: Good Idea, what did you see?
RUSS: I went to visit Buckingham palace, what a shit hole, no pool, no tennis courts, no games room! Call that a palace! You fucking Brits kill me and the London eye, what the fuck! Man it’s a just a big wheel!
UKPI: Did you visit the west end to see a show?
RUSS: Yeah I did, I wanted to see something typically British so was recommend a show called ‘The Bill – The Musical’ by Daniel Negreanu who had seen it the night before and loved it, and well Danny’s a big fan of musical theatre, all though he strenuously denies it! Danny made a great choice, it was very entertaining, have you seen it?
UKPI: Ummm, not yet
RUSS: Oh you just have too, its about a British female cop called June Ackland and her struggle to be accepted by the male dominated Sun Hill PD, Ackland was played by Kathleen Turner and Michal Crawford played the villain of the piece, a corrupt chauvinist cop named Reg Hollis, he was excellent, a real baddie.
UKPI: Sounds great, tell us about your WSOPE you seemed to accumulate chips from the start, how did it go?
RUSS: Oh yeah, people have read the book and obviously assumed I would be playing only premium hands, pocket twos or better you know. So I loosened right up.
UKPI: You seemed to be heading for the final table with a big stack and then the wheels came off; can you tell us about your exit, I understand there was some controversy?
RUSS: Yes, I got a terrible ruling from the TD and then just went on tilt.
UKPI: So what happened?
RUSS: Well Vicky Coren had just been moved to my table, well she’s a women so I’m gonna raise her blind every time. So I raised from under the gun and she called, flop came seven high and we both check, the turn brings an ace, she bets and I re-raise, she then starts talking and asks if I would be prepared to show her one of my cards, I say yeah if she show’s me one of her boobs, she looks shocked but then starts to giggle, I flash her the 3 of diamonds, she moves all in and I fold. I ask to see her tittie but she refuses, I summon the TD and then Jack Eifel but they both rule in her favour. Disgraceful decisions and as I said from then on I was just on total tilt.
UKPI: So what happened next?
RUSS: Well I was in the big blind with 100K behind at 1/2K so I was desperately short. Under the gun raised, got called by plus one and plus two, a guy in mid position min re-raised and the cut-off shoved his 130K stack and the button called and then so does the small blind, and fuck my luck! I only wake up in the big blind with ace ten suited, how can I pass here!
UKPI: Wow, just wow.
RUSS: Yeah and wouldn’t you know it one of them had aces!
UKPI: What are the odds!
RUSS: Exactly! I am sorry though for shouting at the little girl who knocked me out, I didn’t mean to make her cry.
UKPI: I thought it was Dario Mineri the male Italian pro that knocked you out?
RUSS: That little chick with the scarf was actually a boy! I patted his bottom on the way out!
UKPI: I have to ask the big question that everyone in poker is waiting eagerly for the answer too, are there any more books on the way?
RUSS: Well, I don’t want to give away too much but yes I can confirm there will be a new book published soon.
UKPI: Fantastic news, can you tell me the subject.
RUSS: No you’ll just have to wait, but I will serialise on UKPOKERINFO first as I like all you guy’s.
UKPI: Thank you Russ for your time, it’s been a real honour.
RUSS: Yes, I’m sure it has.
I can tell you after meeting the man I was not disappointed, there’s a real weight of intellect behind the public persona and his a real gent to boot who looks cool in a Kimono.
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