NAME: Andrew Teng
AGE: 24
ONLINE ALIAS: “golfpro699”
PLAYS: PKR
MAJOR LIVE CASHES: 2008 WSOP $10,000 Main Event – 126th $41,816
2008 GUKPT Thanet – 1st £68,380
The 24-year old Londoner is a successful high stakes pro with big time tournament experience. A hugely strategic thinker, Andrew is a renowned member of the 2+2 poker community. Equally comfortable at the live felt, Andrew notched up 4 cashes at this year’s WSOP and also went deep in last year’s Main Event, finishing 126th, before returning to Blighty and taking down the Thanet leg of the GUKPT.
What are you playing mostly online these days?
I'm mostly playing NLHE cash and MTTs right now. I'm also learning other games. I tend to just play whatever I feel like.
You’ve had success at the felt, notably the GUKPT win, and you’ve had a fair few cashes in Vegas this summer. What do you enjoy about the live buzz and how different is it to grinding online?
I guess I like the tense moments in tournaments as the levels increase and the atmosphere in the room gets more serious. Grinding online I could be playing anywhere and I wouldn’t get the same emotion involved. I really enjoy both, and enjoy switching between the two options. I totally detest live cash, however, just because the game moves too slowly.
How does a typical MTT in Vegas compare to, say, the GUKPT at home?
Most of my Vegas MTT experience has been at the WSOP, and they've been really well run, as have all the GUKPTs that I've played. The main difference is probably the players themselves - British and American players in general play different styles.
You’re a big presence on the forums and tutorial sites. What advice would you give a novice thinking of investing in some instructional videos?
I'd say, go for it! There are tons of videos catering specifically to virtually every game type and buy-in size. Training sites like www.bluefire.com can help all levels of player. I still try to watch some whenever I can, and I'm learning new things all the time.
Where does the nickname come from? Are you a bit sharp on the courses?
I’ve never hit a golf ball in my life. It’s a bit of a random screen name; I picked it because back in the day on PartyPoker, anyone who had 'golf', 'pro', or '69' in their names would be instantly labelled a fish. There were a few other words I could have chosen, but I just rolled with this.
We’re doing a review of the best laptops on offer this issue. What would you recommend for online play and what set-up do you have at home?
All that's really needed for poker is something that can run all the programmes that you need to run at the same time. Back in the day a 1600x1200 resolution was a must for overlap reasons, but these days it’s not so important because many sites offer resizable tables.
At home I have a customised desktop and 30" monitor, although I really need to get a second one. Screen space is vital when grinding MTTs.
What’s it like being sponsored by one of the non-traditional poker sites?
I've really enjoyed being sponsored by PKR. They've given me a lot of support, and it’s been a great opportunity. Involvement in the community is the most unique thing about being with PKR. They have a very active forum and have run some great live events specifically for their players.
What’s your PKR custom favourite? Some sharp aviators or the full-body dragon tattoo?
I rock the white-on-white shades just like in real life, but I've had them for a while, so it might be time for a change.
How many of the chip tricks on PKR can you actually perform in real life?
Ha, I can do a chip riffle, a chip twirl, and that's about it. I’m still a live fish I guess. |
