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Location:
Edinburgh, Scotland
Total Winnings:
$1,471,869
Titles:
EPT London 2010, UKIPT 2010
David Vamplew has been noted for playing poker since 2005 But only turned pro after graduating from Edinburgh University in 2009 with a maths degree. The Scottish player only started playing live tournaments this year and has only cashed once before ($6k for a 106th place finish in the World Series of Poker $2,500 event this summer). This is his second EPT after Tallinn and it was always his plan to play as many EPTs this season so he has totally smashed his own target!
What made you start playing poker?
A few weeks after I started university in 2005, one of my friends asked if I wanted to play in a game of poker. I had no idea of the rules, or really anything about it but once I got started I soon became more and more interested. I found the university poker society, played a lot of home games with friends and at some point started playing online and things went from there.
You have only been a pro player for about a year, what have been the highs and lows?
Well, one obvious “high” immediately comes to mind from the past week or so! Apart from London, it was pretty cool winning a main event seat in an online satellite while in our house in Vegas this summer with my friends sweating the seat bubble. I have had a couple of pretty large downswings in the last year or so, one of them all within a week last year when I was grinding out a lot of hands for a promotion. That wasn’t much fun, but as a professional player you can’t allow these things affect you too much, they are a part of the game.
You have a maths degree from Edinburgh, how supportive are your friends and family of your career choice? (What sacrifices have you had to make that you wouldn’t have to make if you had a regular job)
A lot of my friends play poker and a few of them are poker pros themselves, so they are definitely cool with it. As far as my parents go, they may have been a little apprehensive at first, but they have always supported me in doing what I want to do. After spending some time explaining the game and how things like bankroll management and variance work to them, I think they are coming round to it. My result in London certainly can’t have hurt!
Have you ever had a regular job? (What did they involve and if you had not been a poker player what would you have done?)
I had a paper round and later worked as a lifeguard in high school. For part of the time while I was at uni I worked in a supermarket, but eventually I was making more from poker than from my job. One of the things that pushed me towards playing poker professionally was that I really didn’t know what sort of thing I wanted to do after I had graduated. I really enjoy playing poker so I decided to give it a shot.
Does playing poker feel like work or do you still enjoy the buzz?
Playing poker has always been enjoyable for me. I think that if it ever feels like work/a grind, then you are likely not in the right frame of mind to be playing your best so you would probably be better off having a day off and refocusing so you can play your best game.
What is your favourite poker variation?( NLTHE, Omaha for example) and why?
NLHE is my favourite poker variation, simply because I am best at it! The fact that I have spent more time studying NLHE and become quite good at it means that I can successfully play in games where a higher level of thinking is involved which makes the game more interesting to play in and to study. Having said that, 6-card Omaha with 2 discarded after the flop is a favourite of mine in home games.
Do you feel most comfortable in cash games, SNGs or MTTs?
I feel most comfortable in cash games, having played the vast majority of my hands in that form of poker. I think this has definitely helped me to be successful in MTTs, especially in deep stacked tournaments.
What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about making the move to playing poker full time?
Poker as a job isn’t for everyone. There are a lot of benefits to having an office job that you miss out on playing poker and you need to be aware of these. I think to make poker a viable option you have to be earning a significant amount more from it than you could in a regular job. Also, a big part of being a pro poker player is dealing with the inevitable swings. If you can’t have a bad day at the tables and be able to forget about it and relax and enjoy yourself afterwards, then I don’t think poker is for you.
How much time do you spend analysing hand histories and potential leaks in your game?
The amount of time I spend studying varies, much like the amount of time I spend playing does, but I try to always review whatever interesting or difficult spots I encounter when playing afterwards.
What are the main differences and challenges of playing live poker vs. online poker?
I don’t think there is as big a difference between live and online poker as most people make out. It is still the same game when it comes down to it, and if you are successful at online poker you are unlikely to find any major difficulties becoming successful in live games. I like playing live since even more information about your opponents is available to you. Even just watching how your opponent acts at the table for a few minutes can tell you something about their tendencies and this adds another level of intrigue to the game.
Do you use poker training websites? (If so which ones)
I tend not to watch a lot of training videos any more, although I did in the past. I think that they tend to get less useful the more you move up in stakes. Recently I found Vanessa Selbst’s series Tournamentality on DeucesCracked to be very good.
How do you train for a major live tournament?
Play a lot of poker! I think having a lot of experience in cash games has definitely helped me be successful in deep stacked live tournaments since a lot of tournament players aren’t too comfortable playing 60+ big blinds deep. I also think that playing turbo and super turbo tournaments online has helped me a lot with playing with 0-25bbs. Stack sizes are so important in tournaments and being comfortable with different stacks will really give you a good chance.
What tips can you offer to players regarding bankroll management?
Have at least 20 buy ins for cash or 100 for tournaments and make sure you stick to that. Don’t be afraid to have a shot at the next stake once you feel ready, though.
How did you first here about Rakeback and how important has it been for you?
I think it must have been twoplustwo forums that educated me about rakeback. When playing low stakes where rakeback can represent a good portion of your winrate it is definitely great to have the steady income stream each month.
How does it feel to be listed at the top of the Scotland All Time Money List after your EPT win?
I didn’t have much competition but it’s always good to be number one! It was also pointed out to me that I am one spot ahead of Phil Ivey in this year’s top earnings list which is pretty cool, so hopefully I can keep that form up and extend my lead in Scotland’s all time list too.
What will you spend your £900,000 EPT, UKIPT winnings on?
I am looking into buying a flat in Edinburgh and of course travelling to a lot more big live tournaments.
Who are your poker role models?
I think that Phil Galfond is a great role model to have in poker. Not only is he one of the top players in the world, but he is great at stuff like bankroll management, game selection, avoiding tilt and keeping a level head at all times which are a really important part of the game.
Who would you love to beat heads up?
Beating Juanda was pretty fun! I guess the answer has to be Ivey, although to be honest I’d rather avoid ever having to play someone as sick as him.
Are there any up and coming players who you think will be big names within the next couple of years?
David Vamplew! I’m hoping anyway. Some of my friends have been travelling to tourneys with me and have had some success too; Andrew Ferguson, Nick Abou Risk and Max Silver.
What title would you most like to win and why?
A WSOP title is what everyone is after. It doesn’t have to be the main event, I’m not picky! To win a bracelet would be fantastic, though.
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