Tournament Trail Q and A: Ralph PerryRalph Perry Talks About the Real Cadillac of Poker |
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Ralph Perry had a strong summer of poker in Las Vegas. Whether it was at the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour Bellagio Cup IV, or in cash games at Bellagio in Bobby's Room, Perry had consistent results. He finished in 20th place in the $2,500 deuce-to-seven draw lowball event, made a final-table appearance at the $2,000 Omaha eight-or-better event, where he finished in sixth place, and he just missed the final table in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E world championship, busting out as the final-table bubble boy in ninth place. When all was said and done for Perry after he busted out of the Bellagio Cup IV in fourth place to end the summer, he had won $520,271 playing tournament poker in Las Vegas during June and July. Card Player caught up with Perry at Bellagio, and he talked about his experience.
Ryan Lucchesi: You went really deep in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. world championship this summer at the World Series of Poker, but unfortunately you just missed the final table. What mix of emotions did you feel after that performance?
Ralph Perry: I was devastated. That event meant so much to me because Chip [Reese] was one of my idols, my friend; I thought about him every day. I played good poker, but the cards didn’t click when I played big. I took four or five bad beats at the highest levels. I’m glad I cashed. That event was my best event, because those are the games I’ve been playing over the years. When the limits get so high, you only have one hand you can lose before you’re in trouble, though.
RL: Did you play your best poker this summer?
RP: Right now, yes; at the WSOP, no, because it was kind of boring for me. In Bobby’s Room we were playing some really good poker games. Like Doyle [Brunson] said, he missed some good games, and I feel the same way.
RL: Which games and with what kind of limits were you playing in Bobby’s Room?
RP: We played big pot-limit Omaha games, and I played in a H.O.R.S.E. game, also. We played $300-$600 blinds in pot-limit Omaha, which is really big. We had a dozen half-million-dollar pots in Omaha. We played $2,000-$4,000, $3,000-$6,000, and $4,000-$8,000 a couple of times in the mixed games.
RL: Do you think the H.O.R.S.E. event has become the player’s championship, as opposed to the no-limit hold’em world championship main event?
RP: Yeah, it should be, because poker is a wonderful game, and poker is a range of a lot of games. Some people play only one form of poker, but poker is so interesting because every game has its own character. How can you compare poker and food; you can survive on just bread and water, but you enjoy the food more, and your life becomes more full when you eat all of the different kinds of food. Some people hate razz, but I think razz is a wonderful game, stud is a good game, Omaha is a good game, hold’em, deuce-to-seven, all are good games. When I first started, playing seven-card stud was how I learned, so it was all I knew for a long time. Then someone introduced me to hold’em, and I finally gave it a try. Once I played it, I wished I would have done it sooner, and each time I introduced a new game to my poker repertoire. Now I’m so blessed, because I can play all of the games. Each time I come to the poker room, I can always find a game to play. I prefer the mixed games because you change games so often; it’s always a new thing, so time goes by so fast. It’s more enjoyable.
RL: Do you feel that an understanding of each game grows the overall knowledge and understanding of your poker strategy?
RP: Yes, you apply the hold’em strategy with exposed cards on the flop to seven-card stud and which cards are exposed on the board in each player's hand. Omaha eight-or-better is like seven-card stud eight-or-better. Deuce-to-five is like deuce-to-seven, you have those similarities. I think the Cadillac of poker is the mixed games. I think you can call it the Rolls Royce of poker.
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