Q: Josh Brikis, thanks for your time and this interview, can you tell
something about your self, where you live and if you are married and have
children??
A: No Problem. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and currently live
here with my wife and we don't have any kids just yet.
What did you do for work before coming a pro poker player?
I used to work at a bank when we moved to Delaware after graduating PSU.
Was there a point where you decided that you'd make a run at going pro?
I made 2 runs...the first being rather unsuccessful because of money
management and to be honest I just wasn't good enough then. The second time
around I really focused and wanted to make it happen, so I did....and its been
great!
What poker books you have red??
O boy...It has been years since I read any poker books, but definitely
Super System 2, Harrington on Hold em and a few others.
How many hours a week do you spend at a table now? And Online?
Alot! When I am on the road thats all I do, is play tourney after tourney,
then grind online. When I am home, I tend to get 2 full days/nights in a week
and some other hours here and there. But if I am on the road it can easily be
over 80hrs a week!
Where do you play online? what's your nickname online?
I am a Pro for a new site on the Cake Poker Network called PPN which is
Poker Pros Network and my name on there is Josh Brikis. However, I mainly
grind Mtts on Pokerstars under Brikdog24 and I used to play alot more volume on
Full Tilt Poker but not as much now, same name on there brikdog24.
When you play poker, do you play more tournament or more cash games?
I rarely get cash games in, just not my favorite thing, I do it
occasionally but if I have time, I much rather play tourneys
Who are your favourite or most admired player?
Its different these days, back when I started I had the same favorites as
everyone else, but thats because those are the only guys you see on tv. Nowadays
I have alot of respect for my friends that I know work hard everyday. Too many
names to mention here though. But anyone out there grindin and tryin to make a
name for themselves and taking the career seriously and doing what it takes to
be successful.
What's your favourite start hand?
I used to always say 66...I seem to flop alot of sets with that hand...I
dont really know, whatever works!
What's the highest price money you have ever won?
When I got 2nd at the WSOP in 2009 for the $5k NL 6max I cashed for $619k
Did you ever played a tournament in Holland?
No.
Is there a particular tournament you really wanna play and win?
Obviously the WSOP Main...Made a really deep run this year and got 55th,
cant wait to play it in 2011
Have you ever stood up and flipped over a poker table because you were so
furious?
Ha no. although I sure have felt like it many times
Whats the craziest thing you have seen at the poker table?
Just last week I saw a pretty epic hand where on the river after action
the whole way the board read TT774 and a guy that doesnt play very often called
a bet with 33...the other guy had 24 so it was a chop but crazy because the guy
didnt read his hand correctly.
What advice would you give to the people who are watching poker on TV and
playing online, hoping to go pro?
Be able to handle mass amounts of stress, manage your $ good and just
always be on top of your game and keep practicing and learning everyday.
Keep following Josh
Brikis on his site
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