Shirley participates very much at poker tournaments, especially at the big ones like World Series of Poker and she is a rising poker star. Currently she plays at the Bicycle Casino where she is also a commentator for "Live at the Bike", their nightly web cast.
HoldemRoom: I would like to thank you for according me this interview. You are considered the Marlin Monroe of the poker, what's your opinion about that?
SR: I'm flattered but I don't consider myself that way.
HR: How did you start playing poker?
SR: I met Steve Badger while I was a cocktail waitress and he thought me the basic points of the game. Then as I participated in my first tournament and I managed to place, as a matter of fact from the first 10 tournaments I managed to place in six of them which was pretty great.
HR: Do you consider Steve Badger as your mentor?
SR: Yes I do, even now he helps me with my poker game, and he points out my flaws and tells me which parts of the game I could improve.
HR: Have you (the student) ever beaten Steve (the teacher)?
SR: Well 95% of the last tournaments I have outlasted him and he gets a hard time because of it.
HR: What were your career plans before becoming a professional poker player?
SR: First I wanted to be a teacher but then the cocktail waitress job opened my eyes as it was a much better paid job than the teacher one. And form there I managed to become to become a poker player.
HR: Are there people that come to the Bicycle to play against you, to test themselves?
SR: Most of the times I think they come because I am a familiar face thanks to all the exposure.
HR: Do you thing that all the televised poker tournaments have ruined the game in some ways?
SR: Yes because the game is seen in a different way. People react in certain ways just because they are televised and want to draw the attention and that influences the younger players to do the same.
HR: What advices would you give to a beginner?
SR: Poker is about patience. Wait and play to make money, don't expect to win everything with one hand.
HR: How can I beat you at Omaha Poker?
SR: You can't [laugh]. I understand most aspects of the game that many players don't and I am still improving my game. The only way you could win is by exploiting my focus, that's my biggest problem; I can't stay focused during a game.
HR: How can someone become a prop player?
SR: You need to have a bankroll and some basic knowledge about the game, and that's about it.
HR: Which tell is the most obvious from all the players you have met?
SR: I don't know how to spot visual tell only betting ones, so I don't know.
HR: Against what player is the most difficult to handle a loss?
SR: Against Raymond Davis because of his table behavior and against Paramjit Gil, one player you might not know.
HR: How is poker-babes.com, your site doing?
SR: I'm getting more and more visitors each day, so its doing great.
HR: Please tell us about "Live at the Bike" webcast.
SR: I am one of the commentators and it airs every night from 6 to nine, Pacific Time. Is a live action game and now it is broad casted in UK too as the LA Poker Scene on the Poker Channel.
HR: We thank you for this interview and we can't wait of seeing you in future tournaments.
