Todd Brunson: His Own Successful Path

"The path to do the right thing is in front of everyone, and each knows how to walk it. The path is clear, yet some choose not to take it. This applies to life as well as poker. Not every path I've taken has been glamorous, but I did the right thing and it got me where I am today." – Todd Brunson


There is much more to Todd Brunson than just being Doyle Brunson's son. Over the past 20 years, the 35-year-old poker professional has proven he can hold his own at any table, even against his father. Year in, year out, he's the most consistent high-limit cash-game winner in the world. It was Todd Brunson who took down the billionaire Andy Beal in the legendary Bellagio heads-up freezeout matches. Although he claims not to be a tournament player, he's managed to win 12 events. In 1992, during his first year of professional play, Brunson was the champion at The Bicycle Casino in California, which, back then, was the second-largest poker event in the world. In 2005, he crushed the competition in the World Series of Poker $2,500 buy-in Omaha eight-or-better event.



Brunson doesn't believe he has anything more to prove. And if you ask his father, he'll tell you, "My son is probably the next-best player in the world, with the finest self-developed skills, a head for numbers, and a keen intuition."



Lisa Wheeler: What was it like to grow up as Todd Brunson?



Todd Brunson: I can say life was normal. I had two sisters, played around a lot in school, and my parents made it clear I was going to college. We moved around some. When I was 4, we left Texas and came to Las Vegas; at 10, we moved to California; summers were spent vacationing in Hawaii; but by the time I was 15, we were back in El Paso. High school was great. El Paso is right next to Mexico, so we kids would skip off to Juarez. By the time I turned 16, my dad was just fed up with kids. He'd raised three of them, and like any other parent, he just didn't know what to do with teenagers. We had a lot of freedom and I wasn't a bad kid. It's just that no one could tell me what to do. When I turned 18 and my parents went back to Vegas, I stayed behind and went to college. I was a terrible student, and one of those people who didn't have to hit the books. I went to only half of my classes, so my GPA was nothing to brag about, but I was passing.



LW: Describe your emergence into the poker world.



TB: After three years of college, I left for California to play poker. I decided I wasn't going back. I could have switched my major. I could have done a lot of things, but I'm happy with the decisions I've made. After I won the Bike tournament, I told my mom I wanted to become a professional poker player. She was the one who told my dad. He never said much about it. You know, it's funny – I used to think he was so ADD while I was growing up. I understand it now that I'm married. He probably developed it by listening to his wife.



LW: You are often compared to your father. What qualities do you possess that differentiate Todd Brunson from Doyle Brunson?



TB: I'm the perfect combination of my parents. My mom is the cheapest, most frugal human being on earth. My dad is extravagant. Mom wouldn't spend more than 4 cents on a roll of toilet paper. In comparison, my dad might tip a cocktail waitress $1,000 for water. When it comes to bankroll management decisions, he's made a few that cost him millions. Don't get me wrong, he's comfortable financially and a good provider, but I think I'm more like my mom and careful to manage money and my affairs. When it's appropriate, I'll take chances, but I don't bet sports and I don't screw around in casinos. My dad didn't influence me to play poker. I didn't start playing until I was 18. In fact, my parents didn't know I played professionally until I'd already won my first tournament. I don't want to be depicted as Doyle Brunson's son. That was OK years ago during the start of my career, but I have a ton of my own achievements.



LW: You had the best results against Andy Beal in the heads-up freezeout limit hold'em games at Bellagio. Tell us about that challenge.

At DoylesRoom.com, you can play against the likes of Todd and Doyle Brunson, and Mike Caro.

TB: Well, there were lots of matches. It was one long game over three years. I was the final player at our most successful session, and on that trip, Beal had tapped out his bankroll. We started the blinds at $20,000-$40,000, but eventually kicked them up to $30,000-$60,000. I had just discovered Red Bull and had downed a dozen the day before. I was sure I'd burned a hole in my stomach. The first day, we played for about 12 hours; the second, about 13. At one point I had to get up from the table. My stomach was empty, but that didn't stop it from taking on a life of its own.



LW: Most players agree that you have an ability to read people. What was your read on Andy Beal?



TB: He's extremely aggressive and focused. That's why he's a successful businessman. He doesn't miss a thing. My advantage was the ability to wear him down. It was a marathon with bad beats taken both ways. They didn't affect me, but I could tell he was on the ropes. He would shake, and then I saw him sweat. That's when I knew I had him. He just broke down toward the end. Then my stomach decided it was time to take a break. But that's another story.



LW: Can you elaborate on that story?



TB: When I left the table, Lyle Berman couldn't resist the opportunity to step in. I had no idea he was going to play while I was gone. Berman lost a couple of pots, which wasn't the problem. I could have lost the same two pots, but Beal had experienced a rebound, and when I got back, he was a new man. To Lyle, it was fun and games, but for us, it was the question of buying a new house or not. Playing with someone else's money is nerve-racking. Even when I take a big loss with my own money, I can still go home and sleep. The next day I might wake up disgusted, but it passes. There were a dozen of us who staked that match.



LW: The Andy Beal game was a recurring one. How much money do you believe was won for your team over the course of time?



TB: I figure we won about $40 million over three years.



LW: Tell us about the "Big Game" at Bellagio?



TB: The Big Game is a mix of high-low and split variations of poker. Most people don't like those games, and they certainly don't like to play at our level, because the blinds are anywhere from $2,000-$4,000 to $4,000-$8,000. The "usual suspects" are Chip Reese, my dad, Jennifer Harman, Eli Elezra, David Benyamine, Minh Ly, Gus Hansen, and Chau Giang. If I have a big win, I'll take a day off. If I lose, it could be a week before I return. I try to get in at least four days a week. I'd play every day if I could, but lately I've been busy with DoylesRoom.com.



LW: You are a prominent representative for DoylesRoom.com. What is your responsibility as ambassador?



TB: I spend a lot of time on DoylesRoom.com. And yes, it's really me! We have a bounty tournament I play in weekly that costs only $25 to enter. A new member gets a free shot at it just for signing up. My dad, Mike Caro, and I have bounties on our heads. If a player knocks out a bounty, he wins $250. If he gets two, it's $10,000. Take out all three and he gets $25,000. It's very competitive and there's a lot of action. Also, if a bounty player wins, all registrants get their money back. I can typically last longer than those two (chuckling), so some stick around to root me on. At the beginning, everyone wants a piece of me, but if I can last, they quickly change their tune. People say some hilarious things on our chat.



LW: What makes DoylesRoom.com different from other online poker websites?



TB: We're the fastest growing online poker room on the net, at a rate of 20 percent a month. We have excellent 24-hour customer support and a caller never hears a recording. We're also adding more bounty players for more chances to win cash. We have Badugi, which is exclusive to DoylesRoom and is gaining in popularity. Badugi is a triple-draw four-card-low-hand-wins game. The best low hand has four cards, with none the same suit or rank. It's one of my favorites and requires a lot of strategy. Soon, we'll be offering a chance to attend the Super/System Poker Camp in Montana.



LW: What is the Super/System Poker Camp?

Todd Brunson at the WSOP Circuit Championship at the Grand Casino in Tunica, Mississippi

TB: It's a camp in Montana where players can learn how to develop their strategies, but it will be different because registrants can bring their families. There will be kayaking, fishing and boating, inner-tubing, and sightseeing tours. After a week of seminars, we'll hold a televised tournament that will include my dad, Mike Caro, Jennifer Harman, Daniel Negreanu, players who qualified, and myself.



LW: What do you think of the impact television has had on poker?



TB: Poker has been around forever, and televising it has been a long time coming. I remember sitting at the poker table late one night and ESPN was airing Canadian Lumberjack Women. I thought, "Would America rather watch this or the high-stakes poker game I'm in?" A player had just scooped a $300,000 pot with 3-2 offsuit. Our poker game was entertaining and borderline ridiculous, yet America was watching women chop down trees.



LW: How would you compare yourself to other professional players?



TB: Until recently, I was one of the youngest players on the circuit. Back when I used to play $1-$2 hold'em, I would sit at a table with guys who are probably dead today. Twenty years ago there was no Phil Ivey or Gus Hansen. The exception might be John Hennigan, and we've become middle-aged overnight.



LW: What do you think of women in poker?



TB: (Long pause and a sigh) I'm trying to word this carefully. Women have a harder time becoming successful in poker because they don't have the killer instinct. A man's nature is to hunt and kill. A woman's is to protect and preserve. One time I was playing with a woman and I had a broken right hand. I was in pain. It was difficult to manage my chips and view my cards, so she felt sorry for me. I'd made a queen-high flush and checked, knowing my hand could be beat. Although it was a big pot, she checked it down with the nuts. I don't think a man would have done that. Women are more emotional and think with their hearts. They're nicer people.



LW: Tell us about your trademark ponytail.



TB: I've had it 15 years and haven't cut it since Bob Stupak offered me $10,000 to date his daughter. Seven years ago I turned down a $20,000 offer from my dad and Chip Reese. I'm waiting for Phil Ivey. We're working on a bet where, if he wins, I have to cut it off, but if I win, he has to carve my name into his head before a major televised event. He loves the idea, but we still haven't come to terms with the basis of the bet.



LW: What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?



TB: I like to play darts and go to Montana on vacation. I'm writing a chapter for Daniel Negreanu's new book. I'm also writing a book that's due out before the World Series starts. No-Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament for Beginners Through Intermediate Players is the working title, but my publisher thinks we should shorten it.



LW: You don't consider yourself a tournament player. Why is that?



TB: I enjoy cash games and they're how I make a living. I can finance my way into a major tournament with my winnings from a single session, but if I get knocked out, I walk away with nothing. I prefer live to online tournaments, because at home it's hard for me to focus. I've got the TV on, the dog is barking, and my wife is yelling.



LW: If you were to consider sponsorship, with whom would it be?



TB: Belvedere Vodka! I was upset when they didn't choose me to represent their company. I'd take that deal for free if they'd drop a case off at my door every now and then.



LW: The World Series of Poker has a new commissioner in Jeffrey Pollack, along with a six-member board of directors. Do you have any thoughts on this?



TB: I think it's great. It's time our voices were heard.



LW: Why are you not a member of the board?



TB: I'm the "Rodney Dangerfield" of poker. I get no respect.



LW: Do you have any advice for them on how to improve the event?



TB: The 2005 World Series was the best tournament yet. The rounds advanced slowly, allowing maximum play. If you analyze the players who won in 2005, as compared to 2004, you'll discover that more of the pros were able to reach final tables and win events in 2005. I think all organizers should follow their lead.



They also might want to improve the security around the tables. Did you hear the story about the chips that mysteriously disappeared from a player's stack during a break?



LW: No. Can you describe what happened?



TB: Yes. They were mine. When I returned from break, I noticed $20,000 in chips missing from my stack. The tournament was delayed so that officials could consult with Honeywell surveillance. Meanwhile, everyone was anxious to start again. Two hours passed and they returned with the verdict: "The exact value of missing chips could not be determined." I suggested that everyone cough up $20,000 to even the playing field. I think they thought I was being unreasonable. It didn't matter, because 10 minutes later I got knocked out. I guess you could say that event didn't go well, but overall I was impressed with the staff and the structure.

Todd Brunson won his first WSOP bracelet (Omaha eightor- better) in 2005. Besides the bracelet, he pocketed $255,945 for outlasting 359 players in the $2,500 event.

LW: The World Series has just announced the addition of a $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event. Will you be playing?



TB: Yes. H.O.R.S.E. is my game.

Ten years ago at the World Series, I was organizing a side game. Then the tournament director announced, "The $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event is about to begin. With only 15 players, you could win a bracelet!" I knew then that I was the best H.O.R.S.E. player in the world, so I stopped for a moment. Then it hit me: "What do I care about a bracelet?"



We (high-limit cash-game players) would tease Phil Hellmuth, in the early days, for trying so hard to win every World Series event. While we were earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, he was paying to play for a silly bracelet. One day he won, and we thought, "So what!"



Well, maybe Phil Hellmuth was smarter than we thought, because no one imagined a bracelet would become such a big deal.