10 Questions with Amir Marmar

Amir Marmar grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and recently moved to vegas to be closer to the action.

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1) How'd you get into poker?

Amir Marmar:A friend of mine invited me once to a hold'em tournament which I knew nothing about at the time. All I had played was 5 card draw as a little kid with friends and that was about 2.5 years ago. After that the intensity to compete drew me to poker and it started growing on me.

2) What do you prefer, live poker, online, cash games, or tournaments?

Amir Marmar:That first tournament set the tone for live play. I started going down to Atlantic City and was strictly a cash game player for almost 2 years. I have become much more of a tournament player. I feel like my game is much better in tournament stages. I played in a lot of New York underground clubs and regular poker clubs also.

3) Why do you think that you have been so successful?

Amir Marmar:Dedication. Learning. I'm very eager to learn so I always like to ask a lot of questions. I like asking people what they had in hands. I watched other tournaments and watched other people play and I've read books and I guess that the experience is the key in poker. And the hands on experience of playing a lot of tournaments. Choosing to become a profession and quitting my job and seeing a lot of hands has made me a far better player. amir-marmar

4) Who would you least like to see at a major final table with you?

Amir Marmar: Kathy Leibert. We played in the 2005 United States Poker Championship together. At that USPC we really did not get along. I usually don't start anything, I just defend myself. I really took it to an extreme level when defending myself and I really just don't have any respect for her. But, when I play her I will not change my game.

5)What's the worst thing that you've said at the table?

Amir Marmar: I can be downright nasty sometimes. I'm not going to lie. I've gone to the extremes. Sometimes I'm kinda like Mike Matusow at the tables, where I tell you to go F yourself.

6) What's the funniest thing that you've said or done while playing poker?

Amir Marmar:At a local tournament house game that goes every Wednesday I had A7o and I raised and my friend called. Then I flopped a boat and checked the flop and bet the turn and got him to call. Then when I bet more on the river he thought about it for awhile and then he called and I said good call! So he started raking in the chips and I flipped over my boat and said not good call for you, good call for me. I slowrolled him. And since that he has bashed me a bit. Like I said I'm an interesting person at the table. I can be anything from downright funny to downright nasty depending on whom I am playing against.

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7) What do you like to do away from the poker table?

Amir Marmar: Enjoy myself. I just recently moved to Vegas from Brooklyn. I like exercising or going to the pool. Anything but poker. When you do this you need a little bit of a break. I like to hang out with my friends, like Ryan Gentry who is also a poker player and quite an interesting character. I'll watch a movie here and there. Read a little books, nothing too crazy.

8) What is the craziest bet that you've ever made outside of poker?

Amir Marmar:Here's a stupid one. Maybe 9 years ago it was my brother's 30th birthday party. I was a lightweight then as I am now. I probably weighed about 145 pounds. My cousin was a big boy back then, probably about 300 pounds. And I bet that I could out-drink him and we were drinking straight vodka. It was a funny wager. I drank about 16 glasses, not shots, but glasses of vodka. Straight. It was almost a bottle. And I won the bet, but the problem was when I went to the bathroom I passed out and started throwing up all over the place. All I remember is the rubber gloves of the bathroom attendant. I woke up and my brother and cousin were carrying me by my arms. I fell asleep again in the car, but woke up when they threw me in the bed. So I won the bet proudly but I kinda lost because I made a fool of myself and got thrown into bed. But I play to win so any bet I take seriously and try to win at all costs.

9) What advice do you have for people thinking about becoming pro poker players?

Amir Marmar: They have to know that it is not easy. It can be very stressful at times. There are good times too, but you have to be very strong willed to be a poker player. You have to know how to deal with things first off. Before poker I had a good steady job. I was an accountant for 8 years, but poker was what made me happy so I quit. So if poker is something that makes you happy, who am I to tell someone not go for it because I went for it. So if you really do feel it you should go for it, and if you do you have to go all out. You have to study the game. Study the players and take it seriously. Those are the keys to succeed. If you are in it be in it to win it. Make a lot of friends in the poker community. Then you can talk about hands or tournaments or whatever. You will become a better poker player.

10) What goals do you have for yourself?

Amir Marmar: I want to be a successful poker player like these guys that we see on TV. A lot of people that Ive met on the circuit believe that I am up and coming. That's what they tell me, without me telling them. It's not necessarily about the money for me, but the money is a factor because we are all a little bit money hungry. But for me, I just want to succeed, win, and make a name for myself.

10 Questions with Amir Marmar

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