Willie Beamin
Summer Season ’10 Points Leader
Willie Beamin was number one in Summer Season ’10 in overall points, and will also go down in APC history as having the most wins in one season – 12! His total wins are 27 to date.
Willie moved to Atlanta in 2002 from Savannah and has been playing Texas Hold’em since 2005. He loves Hold’em because of the risk. What does Willie consider a risk? “You can go broke in one hand!”
We interviewed Willie to get his point of view on the game and also any tips he has for the rest of us that might want to take our game to the next level – a feat he has already accomplished.
Playing with the APC since Season 9, how has your game improved?
“Reads. The ability to read people. And I also mix cash and tournament play. You have to gauge your opponents shove range. I used to fold to a shove, but now, I put you on a hand and may call with A, 8, or K, Q, or even 7, 2.”
Are you strong on playing position?
“Yes.”
Did you learn playing position in casino play or tournament play?
“Casino play. Wasn’t good at tournaments until good at cash games.”
What do you consider the difference in cash play and tournament play?
“Playing all sorts of hands or variety of hands especially in position.”
What is the difference as you see it between free bar tournament poker and casino tournament poker?
“Before players do anything in casino play they think about what the other player has. In tournament poker they only think about their own hands.”
Do you play in Tunica and Biloxi?
“Yes, and the Beau Rivage is my favorite casino and hosts the Gulf Coast Poker Championship from August 26th through the main event starting September 7th. I am definitely going to play.”
What was the first big casino tournament that you played in?
“World Poker Open at the Gold Strike in Tunica in 2008. This offered something like a $1 million prize pool. There were about 1,000 players and I finished 83rd and that was my first major tournament. They paid 73 places.”
A lot of players feel they should show every hand to their opponents when everyone has folded. Do you believe in showing your cards?
“No. Just in case I have a tell I don’t want to give anything away. Occasionally I will show a bluff but not always. And I don’t always show the best hand as I had quads twice within a week and didn’t have to show the hand and didn’t. That way, I don’t give information so other players can put me on a hand.”
What are new players main mistakes?
“They don’t know all the rules, and they say ‘they’re suited’ as an excuse for calling when they are beat. And really, number one is they don’t put players on hands before they call. They stick their money in without knowing where they are.”
Willie believes that 92% of the APC will call a raise with K, 10 out of position because they don’t take the time to put their opponent on a hand.
Willie tournament directs and will work with new players. He will coach the new players that want to learn the rules and after a game he goes over what he has seen in their play, and he always asks if they had a clue where they were. Did they put players on a hand before calling? He won’t coach until he gets them to say that they are willing to learn and really want to be good at poker.
Willie had 12 wins in one season and the previous record was 8. We asked Willie what brought him that many wins?
“I think it was determination. I have a photographic memory and always remember how each player plays. A lot of my play was putting each player on a hand, observing their range of hands, and knowing the math. You have to know when to shove…when to start getting it in there. I sit down at the table to win. I won’t get blinded out.”
What did you learn about yourself in Summer Season ’10?
“That as a player I had to have consistency and determination. But I had to risk losing combined with the drive to win.”
What is the next thing that you want to accomplish?
“Want to win a bracelet. Play in the main event next year…2011…go to Vegas during the WSOP. I’ve never been to Vegas but will.”
Willie is a huge fan of the HORSE games. He likes Stud Hi/LO the best. There is a HORSE tournament in Tunica at Harrah’s in January that is a WSOP circuit event that he hopes to play in.
Willie wants to congratulate Karen Brooks and Sonya Miller on two great back to back seasons. Willie looks forward to helping young players and new players to the APC.
Willie has some great insights and helpful guidance and we feel he was a student of the game, and now a great teacher. We have all heard Willie say, “Outplayed again, sir.” But in Summer Season ’10, no one outplayed Willie! Willie Beamin is in the APC Hall of Fame!
