A First for Me, and a First in TV Poker

After winning the 888.com UK Poker Open and following it up by winning the PartyPoker European Open while amassing $625,000 in prize money in the process, Ian Fraser became the first player to win two televised poker events. Judging by his play, this easily could become more over the next few years. This is some achievement. As some big names will testify, winning just a single televised heat can prove elusive. After participating myself in the Late Night Poker series and now becoming more involved with the production of televised poker, I realize that there must be a certain strategy to adopt, as Liam Flood proved by finishing second in the European Open last April to Lee Nelson, and in doing so won a quarter of a million dollars.



So, when a chance arose for me to gain more knowledge under the guise of an interview, a first for me, I met up with Ian, carrying a notepad, tape recorder, and camera. After all, I'm always advising those new to the game that they will never stop learning and they should always be prepared to listen to any information or advice given. So, bearing this in mind, I was surprised to learn that Ian, a businessman from Surrey, has been playing live poker for only 18 months. His poker career began online when his friend Dave Stanbridge introduced him via Dave's website, http://www.bigslickpokerdevils.com/. Within his first six months, Ian not only had won entry into World Series of Poker events and the Dublin EPT, but was around $80,000 ahead in tournament play. Interestingly, he doesn't play cash games online. This all gave Ian an introduction into live poker, and this is where I wanted to acquire some information, specifically about shorthanded games.



These are all pointers that poker players know but still need to apply to every hand of every game. Ian particularly likes a shorthanded game, where you are afforded the opportunity to get a read on your opponents in a short space of time, as they are forced to play so many hands. Even when he's not in a pot, he is always studying the players and remembering how they play certain hands against each other. And after listening to him for two more hours, this still seemed to be the basis of his game. Ian is constantly gaining a sense of how strong his opponents are, so while sometimes his play may come across as very aggressive, there is a thought process behind every raise and reraise. And he's also prepared to lay a hand down, even if it means leaving himself short-stacked. In his latest victory at the PartyPoker.com European Open, he came up against Dave "El Blondie" Colclough in the semifinal. But, the two never clashed against each other until they were threehanded at the final table, when Ian triumphed and then went on to win the tournament. It was a hand that featured a bluff, a rebluff, and another rebluff. Ian recalled that he and Dave both knew that each other had nothing, but it was about who was prepared to follow it through to the end. It wasn't like Ian was glory-hunting El Blondie, but he had studied Dave closely so that he'd be prepared for when they did have to play a hand together. Information seems to be the key to Ian Fraser's game.



He is particularly pleased that in his next event, the PartyPoker.com Football and Poker Legends Cup, he will play for England on a team with the Devilfish. Ian admires the Devilfish's play, because of his ability to make people show their hands even when the Devil has passed or raised, and he gains knowledge about their play. Alongside these two will be a member of England's winning World Cup team, Alan Ball.



Following a trend I've outlined in previous columns, Ian is a gambler who enjoys life. Whilst most people have a love of life, gamblers have a lust for it, and they are often most enjoyable company. Ian's social life very much revolves around gambling for pleasure. Indeed, his weekly home game could almost be a script for Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels II. Around the table are Ian's friends Trigger, Johnny the Fish, Billy the Greek, Dick C, and Stevie. Ian has a friend, Andy the fireman, who has introduced poker to his watch. And proving how big Ian has become, Andy's nickname at work has now become "Fraser."