With all of the mania down at the World Series of Poker, it's easy to forgot about all of the wonderful things that players do to give back.
Card Player sat down with Beth Shak to discuss her recent win at the Budding Ivey charity poker tournament at the Golden Nugget and her own philanthropic endeavors.
Ryan Cadrette: Can you tell us a little bit about this "All-In for Kids" Poker Tournament you're organizing?
Beth Shak: Dan and I are hosting an event at the mandarin oriental in November. It's a $5,000 buy-in, but we already have corporate sponsors, so we're looking for a lot more than a typical event would make. It's all going to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which is the number one hospital in the country. It's going to the pallative care program, which is like hospice care for terminally ill children. It's a really, really good cause. So they're here representing us, and trying to make everyone aware about this tournament. They came out here for Dan and I.
RC: Dan also just recently went really deep in the Ante Up for Africa tournament, right?
BS: He did. He came in third, and gave 60% of his winnings back, and he's actually giving the other 40% to Children's Hospital. Last year [when he won], we both decided to give 100%. This year, we thought we had to give something to our own charity.
RC: How do you feel that the poker phenomenon helped more generally, by becoming so popular and allowing these sorts of events to take place and gain support?
BS: It's really nice, because it at least gives poker players the ability to do something they like and be charitable at the same time.
RC: Are you excited to play in the main event?
BS: Of course I'm excited! I mean, look at all this! How can you not be excited?
RC: What day are you scheduled to start?
BS: I'm playing Day 4 with every other pro. It seems like everyone is playing Day 4. I feel like last year, I played Day 1 and I felt like I got every person that just had a dream of a World Series of Poker bracelet. And my belief is that by playing Day 4, maybe some of them will be weeded out, and I'll have a little bit of a stronger field. I might be wrong, but I'm giving it a try this year.
RC: Do you think that's going to be more of an advantage that you're going to have a stronger field?
BS: For me, I would prefer it. Every pro has a different philosophy. Some people look at tables and see dead money. I see suckouts, and I would rather know my table and know my advantages. I'd rather have solid players any day of the week. I'm different than other people.
RC: How has your experience playing in the main event changed in the past few years?
BS: It keeps getting larger and larger. It's almost like when I play in a $1,500 no limit event, you know, like it's a luck fest. I almost feel like it's getting to be like there's so much luck it's amazing.
RC: But part of the reason that the $1,500 events are such luck fests is their structure - the blinds move up pretty quickly relative to the starting stack. Here, everyone is going to be starting with 20,000 in chips.
BS: It's better, but again that's why I want better players around me. At least I feel like I have better control over my stack. And, by the way, I won Phil Ivey's charity event too.
RC: The Shaks are taking the charity poker world by storm!
BS: I got this insane trophy, which my manager hasn't seen yet. I took it down. I thought I was winning a World Series of Poker seat PHIL! But instead I got this insanely beautiful crystal trophy that I have to ship home somehow. I mean, Dan and I are like the king and queen of charity events. And I had a crazy table! I was sitting with Phil Ivey, Mike Matusow, Daniel Negreanu, and David Oppenheim. I was heads up with Nenad Medic. And I won! I was like, "Where's my bracelet?"
RC: These charity events also have really fast structures. What advice would you give someone looking to take down one of these tournaments so they can donate their winnings to the Children's Hospital?
BS: I think it's the same concept that I use when I play in a smaller event. I think you've got to chip up in the beginning. If I chip up in the beginning, then I have the ability to play poker, and that's usually my goal.
RC: And to get those chips at the beginning, are you going to try to see cheap flops and wait to hit something or are you playing mostly push-fold poker?
BS: A lot of times I'll try to see if I hit any part of it, and then go from there. Or you can push, but it depends if it's a rebuy or not. If it's a rebuy, then fine. Go for it. But if it's not a rebuy, you have to take that into consideration.
RC: Is there anything else you want to say about your charity?
BS: I know everyone has their charities that they believe in. I just want to say why I think my charity is better. No one wants to give money to a charity like this. No one wants to discuss children that are not getting better, and no one wants to help. Dan and I are here to try to really make a difference and help children like this and their families. We're here to help sick kids here in the United States, and we're committed to that, and that's why we think our charity is really important.
The "All in" for Kids Poker Tournament will be held Wednesday, November 12 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York.
For more information about the event and the Childen's Hospital of Philadelphia, please visit giftofchildhood.com
CardPlayer's Live Player Database - Beth Shak
Beth Shak plays online at FullTilt poker.
