Interview With Alan Goehring,<br> <i>World Poker Tour</i> Champion<br>By Linda Johnson

In the championship event of the World Poker Tour, Alan Goehring bested a field of 111 of the world's best poker players, taking home $1,011,886 for his feat. Alan was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is retired at the age of 40. I would like to thank him for this interview, which was conducted via e-mail recently.

Linda Johnson: What is your education and work background?

Alan Goehring: I have a master's degree in finance (undergrad, accounting). After graduate school, I moved to New York City and worked in the Paine Webber corporate bond department. From 1994 to 2001, I worked on the corporate bond desk of Credit Suisse First Boston, primarily doing analysis of distressed debt securities.

LJ: How does your experience in stock and bond trading help you at the poker table?

AG: My work experience has helped me in poker because in the final analysis, both are about taking advantage of favorable risk-reward opportunities. The distressed debt markets are much more analogous to poker, in my opinion, than the equity markets, due to a time frame and return potential that are both finite (that is, well-defined and not open-ended, as is the case with stocks). I originally was hoping that poker would sharpen my work skills, not vice versa.

LJ: You are an extremely aggressive player. Do you think you use that style because you play to win perhaps more than you play for the money?

AG: Absolutely. I don't care at all about making the money, only about winning, or at the very least finishing in the top three. Out of about 80 tournaments in my life, I have made seven final tables. I rarely finish 10th through 18th. My philosophy is to get lots of chips early or go home and not waste my time. As a result, I have to admit that I am a terrible short-stack player.

LJ: Who are some of the players you admire most and why?

AG: There are many excellent players, but I would say I most admire Carlos Mortensen and T.J. Cloutier, but for different reasons. Carlos, because I think his play is the most creative (and similar to my own play), and T.J., because of his great discipline and success over an extended period of time.

LJ: Was the championship event the only World Poker Tour tournament you entered all year?

AG: No. I actually played in the WPT $10,000 events at Bellagio, Foxwoods, and Commerce. These days, I seldom leave Las Vegas to play in a poker tournament, except for two or three $10,000 events each year.

LJ: How does it feel to play on such a large Hollywood-type set with so many lights and cameras?

AG: All the lights and cameras perhaps make playing a little more fun. However, I don't have a great desire to be famous. Phil Hellmuth can be my press agent (laughing). I didn't feel any added pressure, except when we got heads up and I lost my chip lead, and then only because things haven't gone well for me when heads up in the past.

LJ: Why do you wear sunglasses when you play?

AG: The sunglasses originally started after my LASIK eye surgery in 1999. The WPT championship event was the first time that I wore my "lucky glasses" in two years. My view on the glasses is "chicken soup" … they can't hurt. And, for a $25,000 event, why should I take any chances? For me, the glasses may have a psychological impact, perhaps giving me more confidence or more discipline.

LJ: Was it uncomfortable to have to show your cards to the camera?

AG: I had no problem showing my cards to the camera, since I constantly change the way I play the same hand.

LJ: What are your thoughts on the WPT and the potential it brings for the awareness of poker to the average American?

AG: I think the WPT is great! My only suggestion would be to try to improve the graphics so that everyone watching at home clearly understands the pot odds that are applicable when decisions are being made. I know what's going on; I just hope the average person who happens to tune in understands everything, because I think more people will play the game when they understand how truly interesting no-limit Texas hold'em is.

LJ: What can we do to make the poker world better?

AG: I would like to see all tournaments start on time. Regarding the WPT $25,000 championship event, I would like to see the levels go from two hours to either two and a half or three hours; the ante levels absolutely should not change. This would result in more hours of play per day. I think this unique event has the potential to really grow over the next several years.

LJ: What do you see for the future of the WPT and televised poker?

AG: I obviously hope televised poker explodes in popularity, but I really don't have a forecast. The number of high buy-in no-limit hold'em events has increased dramatically in recent years, as has the number of players in each event. I expect these trends will continue.

LJ: What impact has winning the WPT championship had on your life?

AG: Winning the WPT championship has brought some fame and a lot of congratulations. However, poker will just continue to be a hobby for me. I don't see poker becoming the focus of my life; I expect to continue to play 20-40 days per year, including live games, which I don't play too often.

LJ: Well, Alan, thanks for answering my questions. I am sure that we will be seeing you at many WPT final tables in the future.