The Poker Diva: Liz Lieu Is a Breath of Fresh Air

A walk through your typical tournament poker room can turn into a nightmarish dream sequence of three-day-old beards and accompanying body smells, half-chewed food resting unnoticed on T-shirt-covered potbellies, and scowls and stares from men whose poker faces still hint at troubled and checkered pasts.

In the middle of this scene, out of the corner of your perception, you catch a glimpse of white. You look closer and discover it is one of the most dazzling smiles you've ever seen. As you focus on this image, the bigger picture emerges. You see perfectly manicured nails, streaks of color flowing through carefully styled hair, and a rock the size of Jupiter on her (non-wedding ring) finger. Her petite body, covered with Dolce & Gabbana, Cavalli, and Louis Vuitton exudes sophistication that is matched only by her class, and she's absolutely destroying the unlucky souls who are unfortunate enough to be seated at her table.

Liz Lieu has come to save the poker world from itself, and it's about time. Born in Vietnam on Aug. 2, 1974, Liz made the trek to America with her family when she was a year old. Although she attended and graduated from high school, she knew from an early age that cards would be her path to success, and they certainly have been. I recently sat down with Liz, donned my sunglasses to avoid bling-blindness, and found out what makes this diamond in the rough shine.

Rich Belsky: Liz, you are one of the most noticeable rising stars in poker today. Your recent string of successes and your unmistakable style have everyone's head turning. Tell us first how your poker journey started.

Liz Lieu: I started playing poker when I was 18. As soon as I got out of high school, I dedicated myself to poker. I was never really into school all that much, but I had always been into cards. I started off by playing Chinese poker, and did really well. After high school, I started going to the casinos and watching people play hold'em. After a couple of weeks of watching, I sat down in a $5-$5 limit game, and that's how I started playing hold'em.

RB: What else contributed to your poker growth?

LL: After I started playing hold'em, I began dating a guy who wanted to start a home game. We did, and I began running the game and dealing. I watched how everyone played, and by being around the action all the time, I learned a ton. This is also where I started making money in poker, and I built a very nice bankroll.

RB: So, you had all the prerequisites for turning pro. You dealt, played, ran a game, and had a nice-size bankroll. What happened next?

LL: Well, for about four years, I flew to Vegas once a month to play $80-$160 for a week at a time. I was winning very consistently and continued to build my bankroll. Then, I moved to Vegas full time and played the $80-$160 game.

RB: What was it like being a Vegas pro, grinding it out every day against some of the toughest players in the world?

LL: Fun at first, very exciting and new. Then, it was tiring. After six months, you see yourself sitting at a table every day, sometimes for 20, 30, or 40 hours at a time, and it's like, what am I doing? Back then, I really had no discipline. I would not get up from the table. If I was losing, I'd sit there until I got even. If I was winning, I'd want to win more, and I wouldn't stop, either. When you're running hot, you shouldn't stop playing. When you're running cold, you're supposed to stop and take your loss. I just couldn't do that.

RB: You obviously were a winning player, because you now play much higher, in the $200-$400, $300-$600, and $400-$800 games. How did you decide to step up?

LL: In order to make more money, you have to become a better player. In order to become a better player, you have to play with better players, so it only made sense to move up. I first stepped up to the $200-$400 game, and noticed a world of difference. The players are much better, much more aggressive, and much more aware of what you're doing. You have to be able to change gears, because these players will adapt to your style quickly. I really learned a lot from playing at that level, and being a winning player enabled me to step up to the levels I'm playing now.

RB: You just recently entered the world of tournament poker, and in a big way. Since June of 2005, you have finished in the top 20 in seven out of eight events with a $1,500 or higher buy-in, including a fifth-place finish in the first $1,500 buy-in World Series event this year. Not a bad start!

LL: Well, I played one or two tournaments in 2003 and 2004, but I hated them. I'm such an aggressive player that I didn't care about getting my buy-ins back; I wanted to go for the win. I really didn't understand tournament strategy then, so I would always bubble. I hated playing for 13 or 14 hours and getting nothing.

RB: So, what changes did you make prior to your performance at this year's World Series?

LL: I had a really good run this year, particularly at the Commerce [Casino]. I played $400-$800 every day and just had a really great 2005, and really improved my overall poker skills. Before the World Series, my best friend, John Phan, told me I should play. He said, "You have the skill, you have the ability, you have the aggressiveness, and that's all it takes to be a good tournament player." So, I said, "OK," and played in the World Series.

RB: You had a great World Series, winning just under $200,000, but how satisfying was your performance compared to having a huge month playing cash games?

LL: Well, I was really nervous at my World Series final table. It was my first televised final table, there were five bracelet winners there, and I was lowest in chips; it was such a hard table. I was still very inexperienced, but managed to make it to second in chips at one point, and then came in fifth. I was very happy with what I did in that event from an accomplishment perspective, and the payday was better than a good month playing $400-$800.

RB: With your recent success in tournament play, do you see yourself making a switch from the cash-game world to the tournament circuit?

LL: Since the World Series, I've learned a lot. I've made four final tables and cashed in seven or eight events, but I'll always play cash games. I'm just going to split my time now between the two.

RB: Well, be it cash or tournament play, you always seem to have a ton of money. You are probably the most stylish and expensively adorned player in the world. That rock on your finger is worth three lifetimes of salary for me, and you support your mom and dad entirely. What is your philosophy when it comes to earning and spending money?

LL: You know what they say: The more you make, the more you spend. The way I enjoy my money is by spending it on myself, my family, and my friends. I'm practically addicted to buying clothes, shoes, and purses. My favorite designers are Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Louis Vuitton. Everyone has a different way of thinking about money. Some like to invest - which I do, as well - but I like to enjoy my money, and I want something to show for it.

RB: You also play to support your family, right?

LL: I do. My parents divorced eight months ago. My mom lives in L.A.; my dad lives in Vietnam. I support both of them 100 percent. Right now, I just want them to enjoy their lives. They're getting old, so whatever they need, I give. They are my number one priority.

RB: How about nightlife? Do you like to party?

LL: Not as much as some people. I usually go out like twice a week, on the weekends. My favorite club is Light at Bellagio. I go out with poker players mostly - John Phan, Quinn Do, JC Tran, and a bunch of others. There is definitely a place for partying in the poker lifestyle. It's such a stressful life, you need some time to get away and relax; you need that balance in your life.

The Lieu Crew: Liz, Quinn Do and John Phan

RB: One other aspect of life that helps most people with that balance is having a significant other. Are you currently involved with anyone special?

LL: Not at the moment. I've had some pretty bad relationships in the past. When you have a big heart, people are more likely to take advantage of you, and I've been a victim of a big heart too many times.

RB: Care to elaborate?

LL: My first relationship in Vegas was like that. I met a guy from Montreal, fell in love, and we lived together for six months. He was an amateur poker player and wanted to play in the big games. I pamper my boyfriends, so I loaned him the money to play; he lost a lot, and then disappeared. And this was one week after he asked me to marry him. He just left, and hasn't been back to Vegas since.

RB: Wow. That must have been unbearable. Did your poker game suffer?

LL: Oh, yeah. It suffered tremendously. I lost about $500,000 playing the $300-$600 and $400-$800 games. I wasn't focused and really didn't care. All I thought about was why that happened. Relationships can really get to you, and poker is all about keeping your mind stable and being focused. When you're not stable and focused and you're at the poker table, you'll lose your chips.

RB: What did you do to get yourself back on track?

LL: Luckily, I had my best friend, John Phan, there to help me through it. When I was at rock bottom, John gave me every penny he had, not knowing whether I'd ever be able to pay him back or not. He just wanted me to get my confidence back. He believed in me and wanted me to get back on my feet. He told me, "Take all the pain and sorrow and turn it into strength," and that's exactly what I did. From that day on, John and I have been best friends and partners. I don't have a brother, but he is as close as it gets.

RB: Another very close friend of yours is new World Series bracelet winner Quinn Do. How did you get to know Quinn and how have you helped him?

LL: When I first met Q, he was an amateur. I played in a game with him a couple of times and thought he was a good player, but he limped too much. I taught him some things, gave him some pointers, and apparently he listened well. He was a very fast learner, and it has served him well. The instruction I gave him not only helped his cash-game play, but also helped make him a great tournament player, as well. He won a World Series bracelet and the $3,000 no-limit event at the Bellagio Five-Diamond World Poker Classic.

RB: Do you have other students?

LL: Nope. I taught Q because I knew that even if he became good, he'd never sit across the table and use my own skills against me to win my money. People will turn on you, and that's why I don't really want to teach them.

RB: You've been through quite a bit in your career as a poker player. You've had your own success and failure, you've helped create success for others, and you have made many friends along the way. What do you want next out of life?

LL: The tournament circuit has really started to wear me down. Eventually, I want to slow down, find a good guy, and have a good relationship. I want to have good companionship and just go from there. That's really the only thing missing from my life right now.

RB: Of course, there will still be some poker in your future, right?

LL: I will always play poker; it's the one thing that I'm best at. Even if I'm married with kids, although family comes first, I will still find time to play.

RB: Besides playing poker, what other poker projects do you have going on?

LL: I just launched my website, http://www.lizlieu.net, and I really want to work on maintaining contact with fans. I'm also in the process of writing a book.

RB: Why don't you leave us with some sage words of wisdom for those who are considering a career as a poker player.

LL: Playing poker professionally is a very stressful life, so be mentally prepared. There are lots of ups and downs, and lots of bad people out there. There aren't a lot of people you can trust, so get a close core group of friends. Always play when your mind is free and focused, and try not to play when you're tired or burned out, because your opponents will have an advantage over you. There will always be another game the next day.