Part Time Poker Q&A with Greg Raymer
In WSOP 2004 Greg Raymer came out ahead of a field of 2,576 players and became the World Champion. This made the former lawyer a star overnight, and since then he has traveled the world competing in big events and promoting poker as an ambassador for Poker Stars
The official Poker Stars biography of Raymer has this to say about that champ: “Greg “Fossilman” Raymer is married with one daughter. Raymer got his nickname from the fossils he uses for card protectors while sitting at the poker table. He actually sold them for awhile to pad his bankroll in the early stages of his poker career. Raymer is easily identified at the poker table by his trademark sunglasses he wore at the 2004 WSOP. The holographic lizard eyes began as more of a joke during a big hand in the 2002 World Series of Poker, but it seemed have a desirable effect on his opponent. From then on, Raymer has worn the glasses in all the major poker tournaments he’s played.”
“Proving Greg Raymer’s 2004 win was no fluke, Fossilman set out to take on the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event. Raymer cruised through the field again and was finally stoped short, placing 25th out of 5,619. Raymer earned a lot of well-deserved respect from his poker peers after his storybook run in 2005. Joe Hachem eventually went on to win the 2005 World Series of Poker, but Raymer took home $304,680 for his effort. For more on Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, visit www.fossilmanpoker.com. Greg Raymer plays on PokerStars as Fossilman.”
PTP: How was it to take the leap from a job as a lawyer to become a professional poker player?
Raymer: I love to play poker, and I like to travel and give interviews. It is a very exciting life and you meet a lot of interesting new people. Compared to my days working as a lawyer, most of my days are stimulating and fun. My job as a lawyer wasn’t particularly interesting and I didn’t care about the result. The main reason I did it was to make money. There are very few jobs out there that people truly enjoy. For me poker is one of those jobs, so I feel very fortunate.
PTP: Is it hard to play poker professionally?
Raymer: Most poker players have to make all their money at the table, but most of my incomes come from other things. I don’t have the pressure to win every time I play, which gives me a chance to truly enjoy the game. But there is also a downside to it. I am traveling 80 percent of the year and I don’t have the time to see my wife Cheryl and our daughter Sophie as much as before. But I try to bring them along when I can.
PTP: What are your goals as a poker player?
Raymer: I don’t like to have goals, because poker is not like a sport. If I was a professional golfer my goal could be to win a major, a million dollars or whatever, and I could achieve this solely based on my own ability. But you can’t win a poker tournament like the World Series of Poker, just because it is your goal. Because of the luck factor it’s not possible. My only goal is to make smart decisions when I play.
PTP: How did you learn to play poker?
Raymer: When I was a student I made extra money counting cards playing Black Jack. I moved to Chicago when I got a job as a lawyer. There I couldn’t find any good Black Jack tables, but I stumbled over a bunch of guys who played poker regularly. I knew the basics because I had played for fun in college. But I decided that I had to study the game thoroughly if I should continue to play poker. I bought some books and taught myself how to play.
PTP: What books did you read?
Raymer: I was real lucky and found “The Theory of Poker” by David Sklansky in a secondhand bookstore. In my opinion it is still the best poker book ever written.
PTP: Do you think that the growing popularity of poker has changed people’s attitudes toward poker players?
Raymer: When I started out playing poker thirteen years ago it wasn’t something that you told your colleagues at work about. There was a big risk that they would look at you as a degenerated gambler. And it was definitely not something you put in your resume as a hobby when you applied for a job. But today people seem to have a great respect for poker players, which makes it much easier to be open about it. Most people find it exciting and want to learn how to play. From being someone that was looked upon with suspicion, the guy that plays poker has become the most popular guy at work.
PTP: Thank you for your time Greg, and good luck in the future.
Raymer: Any time, nice talking to you.
