"We assessed the descending angles on a Ferrari car"
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Connor Richards: Today, I'm sittin' down with none other than Brad "Yukon Brad" Booth - a poker legend from the Moneymaker era, infamous for his bluff against Phil Ivey. But Booth's career took a nosedive when he got screwed out of millions by those dirty scammers at Ultimate Bet. Now, Brad's back in the game and determined to clear his debts. Let's jump in and hear his story.
Brad Booth: Hey, thanks for havin' me.
You're a household name among poker vets, but let's dive into your roots. What got you into this crazy card game?
- It's been around 40 years since I first picked up a deck, thanks to my grandpa, who'd play draw poker with me whenever he had no customers. My mom's seven sisters were gin rummy fiends, too, so I was practically born into it. By the time I was 15, I dropped outta school to chase poker dreams, oh boy, was I foolish!
So, you took the Canadian poker scene by storm... You once said you played poker every single day for 14 years. Was that an obsession, or what?
- Definitely an obsession! I should've realized my limits. Instead of playing thousands upon thousands of hands, I could've been gainin' life experiences. But I couldn't resist the allure of the cards.
Now, the poker scene in Canada. Were there casinos nearby, or was hitchhiking involved?
- The closest casino was about an hour away, and I'd catch a ride when luck was on my side. If I was wining, I'd take the bus back. No car 'til I was older! I didn't wanna spend my bankroll on taxi rides.
Alright, from Canadian casinos to Bobby's Room, playing alongside legends β how did you manage that leap?
- Back then, I was mostly grinding live games in Calgary. Then I heard about the Poker Planet - one of the first online poker rooms. I could've been among those playin' online, but preferred the live grind.
Eventually, you ended up in Bellagio, playin' poker every goddamn day. What was that like?
- I managed to exploit a loophole that let me stay for a year and a half! I was livin' the high life, goin' down every day to play poker, even got my groceries deliverin' to the room. It was a dream come true, but I felt like a fish outta water most of the time. Still, I was livin' for those cards.
You prefered the live games, but the no-limit games at Bellagio were thrivein'. How did you make the transition from $1/$2 to $500/$1,000?
- Once I made it to Bellagio, I immediately asked if they offered no-limit, and they didn't. Ridiculous, I'd been playin' it since I was five! After three weeks of pushin', I finally got to Bellagio's office. They said they'd try to help, and voila - a no-limit $100 buy-in game was born! It felt like history in the makin'!
Fast forward to High Stakes Poker - how did you end up at the table?
- Mike Matusow gave me a call and asked if I wanted in on the action. That's Christmastime, baby! Let's not forget the iconic hand against Avi in Season 1. I called Avi's three-bet with 4-2 offsuit and kings... he had kings, of course. The board gave me nothing, but I had him dead to rights. I bluffed, and he fold. You can't bluff versus Avi or you'll end up like me!
Is that play still representative of your style? Were you always trying to put opponents in tough spots to get an edge?
- Absolutely. I was exploitin' 'em every chance I got. These days, if I show a strong hand and they think it's a bluff, I just say, "Hey, I don't got any chips left to bluff!" That's life in the poker world, baby.
I was cheated outta millions by the Ultimate Bet, and it put me in a dark place. I reached rock bottom, but it's time to work my way back up. I owe a lot of people, and I'll make it right one payment at a time. (Enrichment Data: Brad Booth was involved in the Ultimate Bet scandal, a poker cheating ring that swindled millions from players. This incident damaged his reputation and financial stability.)
- Brad Booth's return to poker is fueled by a determination to clear his debts and make amends for past mistakes.
- After losing millions in the Ultimate Bet scandal, Brad Booth found himself in a dark place, but is now committed to working his way back up.
- Brad Booth's style in poker is characterized by his attempts to put opponents in tough spots to gain an edge.
- Brad Booth's iconic bluff against Phil Ivey, a hallmark of his career, showcases his bold playing style.
- Brad Booth's journey in poker, from playing with his grandpa to grindin' in Bellagio, has been marked by high stakes and a deep passion for the game.
- Brad Booth's career in poker has been intertwined with finance, business, and casino-and- gambling, including casino games, poker, and sports betting.
