Final Table Interview: Woody Deck
Woody Deck made his first World Series of Poker final table back in 2007. Now he's back for his second shot at a bracelet in Event #54: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low.
But it isn't WSOP gold he's after. It's the money and the chance to play his favorite brand of poker.
PokerNews spoke with Deck at the break about why he loves Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low so much and just what his plan is going forward in the latest Final Table Interview.
PokerNews: This is your second WSOP final table. Is it any more exciting this time around?
I have more chips than last time, but I was chip leader nine handed and came eighth, so this is more fun. It's a good time, crazy table, but I don't know. It's just like any other tournament. I don't feel any different between playing this and $20 online.
PokerNews: Playing for a WSOP bracelet must make it somewhat exciting?
I need the money, the bracelet is maybe six or seven hundred dollars worth of gold. I'm playing the for the money, but I also enjoy the game. I really enjoy playing Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo.
PokerNews: It's noticeable on your resume as of late. There are a lot of cashes in Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo tournaments.
It's probably the only thing I play and I cash in maybe half of them. I play PLO cash, but Hold'em tournaments, only heads-up and it's hard to find heads-up tournaments with reasonable buy ins.
PokerNews: So you'll travel specifically to a tournament series with a Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo tournament on the schedule?
I'll come if they have Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, but if it's just Hold'em I won't go.
I can remember going to London for a $200 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo tournament. I went to Paris from London, about a four hour journey on the Eurostar, just to play a 400 Euro Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo tournament. It wasn't about the profit, it was just about how much I enjoy playing this game.
PokerNews: Why Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo?
It's what I grew up playing online. It's very well suited to online. Not so much live. The games used to be very good and I did quite well in them.
I really want to win the tournament. I don't care about the bracelet, but my friend won it in 2007. I was the first out and he won the tournament. We were rooming together, so hopefully it works out differently this time.
PokerNews: So what is your plan going forward?
Wait for the free money and then gamble it up. There's not that much skill when you're short stacked. The most aggressive person usually wins if they run good and that's what I've done. I'm the only one who has pulled off a bluff at the table. Florian [Langmann] keeps raising it up with junk and doubling people up.