Friday, 29th March 2024 05:34
Home / Uncategorized / This or That with Team PokerStars Pro Victor Ramdin

Victor Ramdin wears many hats. Not only is he a Team PokerStars Pro, he is a business owner, philanthropist and a family man. While he’s been around the poker world for a while, it wasn’t until 2006 that Ramdin made a name for himself by taking down the World Poker Tour Foxwoods Poker Classic for $1,331,889.

More recently, Ramdin won a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em side event at the 2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $49,790 and claimed victory in March of that same year in The Big Event $5,000 Main Event at the Bicycle Casino for $500,000.

Clearly Ramdin is an accomplished poker player, and as previously mentioned his charitable endeavors and business pursuits are well documented. How does one man manage to juggle all that successfully? We decided to find that out and more in this edition of This or That, which takes a look at both the serious and unserious sides of various poker pros.

Chad Holloway: I understand you were just at an auction for your business. Find anything good?

Ramdin: Yes, I did. I found some good and some not so good. I bought 180 pallets for $15,000. This was merchandise from Hurricane Sandy. It will take me approximately two weeks to sort though the junk and the garbage, and keep the good stuff to put in my stores. The not so good stuff, re-auction it all back.

We understand you’re at the airport right now on your way to the EPT Berlin. Which airline to your prefer to fly and why?

I travel only with Delta Airlines. For international, they have the best. I also like the hospitality of the crew, and I really enjoy them.

Where’s you favorite place to travel for a poker tournament?

One place, by far, not even close , is going to be the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas. I just love that destination. A little bit of everything. Oftentimes when I leave the USA, it’ll be cold, and there I’m going to a nice tropical country. Most of the time the weather is gorgeous and I just love everything about the Bahamas.

Is it true Phil Ivey mentored you?

I want to clarify that. I had the honor of hanging out with Phil Ivey for approximately eight days during one of my charitable missions. I think the year was 2005. During that eight days, I put myself in a position where I was able to ask him several hundred questions relating to poker. I was able to put the answers to most of those questions to good use and to win poker tournaments. That extra little something.

As far as him directly teaching me, no, but I was able to gain a lot of stuff because I put myself in a position during the charity mission that he had to see my damn face for 8-9 hours a day, and I made sure that he couldn’t run away from me. Of course he forced me to play him in Chinese Poker heads up, and he beat me up. But it’s ok because (what I learne)] was worth more than what I paid him.

What would you rather have, another WPT title or a WSOP bracelet?

Miles and miles of differences. I would definitely want to have a World Series of Poker bracelet. As far as moneywise, let me clarify that part, if the WSOP bracelet means a million dollars and the WPT title means $1.2 million, I do not want the bracelet, I want the money, because the money can do miracles for my charity. If it’s a difference of $10,000-$20,000, guess what, I’m going to go for the bracelet. It comes down to money at the end of the day.

What’s your favorite thing to do in a casino other than play poker?

Thirty minutes before I go to bed, in almost any casino that I go to, I have a leak. It’s called a $300 leak. That’s because once or twice during a tournament I will take $300 and go to either a blackjack table or craps. If I double my money I quit, and if I lose the money I quit. I either win $300 or I lose $300 and then I quit. I don’t play for long, maximum 30-45 minutes.

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Now for some offbeat and fun questions. What kind of trucks do you drive when you go to these auctions?

I love to drive Penske trucks.

Do you have any pets?

I do. I have a turtle. I bought him of the street of one of these Chinese guys, and I bought it for $1.00. I’ve had him for the past ten years.

What’s your favorite kind of food?

My favorite kind of food would be Indian food.

Pocket jacks or suited connectors?

I don’t know. I just think suited connectors are overrated. I would definitely take pocket jacks.

Do you prefer to play tournament or cash games on PokerStars?

Tournaments by far. I love tournaments. I love MTTS. I play $2.00 all the way up to as high as they play.

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