Online Poker Name?
Ansky.
Where do you live now?
New York.
Highest level of education?
3 semesters short of a bachelors degree (dropped out indefinitely).
High school is famous for cliques. Where did you fit in (jock, brainiac, popular, offbeat, other)?
My high school was fairly nerdy itself, there weren’t really any jocks. I was captain of the soccer team, and played baseball as well, but I definitely didn’t fall into a jock clique. For the most part I kept the same group of friends from my freshman year, and I am still great friends with them today.
Imagine the WSOP was one giant high school? Which clique would you be in?
If you’ve watched any of 2m2mm, I think you’d know that we are the quirky weirdos who have too much free time and money.
Favorite bricks-and-mortar casino?
Bellagio.
Favorite Las Vegas Hotel?
Encore.
Least-favorite Las Vegas Hotel?
Planet Hollywood. Terrible service, poor layout, rude staff, hate PH.
Favorite club/bar in Vegas?
XS.
Favorite city in America?
New York!
Favorite city in the world?
Tel Aviv.
What year did you begin your poker career?
Started playing about 5 years ago, in between high school and university.
How did you learn the game?
High school friends taught me, mostly playing for nickels and dimes.
Who made you so amazing?
Darryl Strawberry.
Tournaments or cash games?
Cash money.
Hold´em or another type of poker?
In order of favorite games: NLHE, PLO, LHE, Stud 8/b, O8, Stud hi, Razz, 2-7 TD.
Favorite tournament? And why?
WSOP 40k NL. Because I crushed it?
Style of play?
My style is trying to make the most correct decisions I can possibly make. Whatever comes after that, I suppose you could call it style.
Do you model your game after anyone specific?
Modeling your poker game after another player doesn’t make much sense. Modeling yourself after another player implies you can only get to the point where you are as good as them, and not better. Nothing is stopping anyone out there from being the best poker player in the world.
What was your first major win?
When I had 100 dollars to my name, I won a 20 dollar tournament for 3400, when I was 17. Haven’t looked back since.
What´s the first thing you bought after a big win?
My first ever big poker purchase was my car. Shes a 2005 Audi S4. She is wonderful.
What did your parents say when you first told them you´re making poker your career?
“Really? Oh well, at least we have another son.”
Just kidding of course, they sort of saw it coming and were happy for me. Looking back it seems absurd to think I’d ever be anything else BUT a poker player.
Besides poker, what other card games do you like?
Gin. That’s it really, I’m quite poor at your average card game.
Do you own a vacation home/cottage/beach house/etc?
In time…
If you don´t, do you want one (and if so, where)?
A beach house is pretty much my dream. Somewhere secluded.
What kind of car(s) do you drive?
See above.
If you had a vanity license plate, what would it say? We´ll give you 8 characters to play with, including spaces.
I <3 DylsRm.
What´s your dream car?
Porsche 911 Turbo.
Favorite vacation spot?
Israel. I have lots of family there and love going during the summer.
Are you single? Married? Engaged? Dating someone special? Dating the world? Playing it solo?
Single.
Describe the perfect woman?
Hate to sound cliché but… no such thing?
Celebrity that you´d love to shag?
Emmanuelle Chriqui.
Celebrity (non-poker) that you´d love to hang out with for a day?
Kaka.
Poker player (besides Doyle Brunson) that you´d love to hang out with for a day?
Phil Ivey.
Poker player that you´d love to shag?
Huh?
Favorite genre of movie?
I’ll watch anything.
Favorite genre of music?
Classic Rock is my fav, but I also listen to Rap and Techno and some pop.
Top five TV shows?
The Wire, The Sopranos, Mad Men, Seinfeld, Two Months Two Million.
Top seven movies?
Life is Beautiful, Cinema Paradiso, Into The Wild, Shawshank, Godfather I, Godfather II, Rudy.
Besides poker, are you a sports fan?
I am a fanatical soccer and football (American) fan.
Favorite sport to watch?
Soccer.
Favorite sport to play?
Soccer.
If you weren´t playing poker, what would you be doing?
Don’t give me nightmares.
When you hit the DoylesRoom tables at home, what´s your setup like? Desktop with multiple screens? Laptop while on the couch? Other?
I have 1 monster sized monitor that I play on. I cannot play unless I am sitting in a chair. Playing lying down bothers me.
Mac or PC?
PC only because I am used to it. I accept that Macs are superior.
What´s on your nightstand at home?
Nothing worth mentioning.
Who do you fear more? The dentist or the doctor?
The dentist. Being a doctor is a great profession. When I meet a dentist I always wonder to myself “What is wrong with this man?”
Do you subscribe to any magazines? If yes, which ones?
The Economist, New York Times.
What type of mobile phone are your rocking? Blackberry? iPhone? Windows Mobile Phone? Palm Pre? Old school phone-only phone?
iPhone. To be honest it has tons of problems but the texting and maps feature won me over.
Coffee or Tea?
Coffee.
Beer or wine?
Depends obviously. Wine in general has a higher potential, but I don’t really go out for a round of wine with my buddies at home.
Fast food or healthy choices?
Healthy.
Favorite restaurant?
Naked Fish in Las Vegas.
If you were a television network, which one would you be? Why?
I would be G4. Because I am on it.
What celebrity do you most identify with?
I pray that I will never attempt to identify with a celebrity. They are just people, right?
Favorite book?
Stranger in a Strange Land.
Biggest accomplishment outside of poker?
Still waiting for it.
If your house burned down, and assuming all pets and people escaped without harm, what would you miss the most?
The pictures on my wall. Some of them are my grandfather’s paintings, and others are just pieces I found somewhere along the way.
If you took six months off from playing poker (no land-based, no online) how would you spend your time?
I’d probably go to a tropical island and do nothing but relax, read, contemplate life, and have sex with strange exotic women.