Adam Levy Biography
If you walked onto the Main Event floor at the 2008 World Series Poker, there's a good chance you heard yelling. A lot of yelling. From one man. And had you followed that voice across the room of restless Texas Hold'em players relentlessly pursuing a dead-sexy bracelet and several million in pocket change, there's a good chance it would have led to 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth.
You see, as the world's best poker pro, Phil Hellmuth has a lot to say about the herd of donkeys that dishonor the game through horrible acts of Texas Hold'em play in the world's most prestigious poker tournament.
A big target of Hellmuth's criticism at this year's World Series? Adam "Roothlus" Levy, one of online poker's most respected players and a member of UltimateBet's Star Players team.
We're not sure why Hellmuth chose to berate Levy for a good five minutes. After all, donkeys don't cash 6 times at the World Series of Poker. And donkeys don't win $135,100 in the Main Event. To discover why Hellmuth really should have unleashed his tantrum on a far less impressive player, read on.
What is your online player name?
Roothlus
How old are you?
26
Where were you born?
Flushing, NY (Home of the New York Mets)
Where do you live now?
Orlando, FL
What did you do before you became a professional poker player?
I was a student and I waited tables
How did you become a professional poker pro?
My friends, who I played Magic the Gathering with for years, started playing poker and I decided to get into it as well. So instead of playing Magic everyday we focused on poker.
Did you struggle a lot at the beginning or were you a success right away?
Tons. I was the fish of the game. I wanted to create my own strategy before I learned the basics of the game first. I wanted to play with 10-2o because Doyle did it. I played K-10 more than I should because it was my favorite hand. I was just bad, lol.
How do you relax generally, as well as before and after a poker game?
I generally get up an hour or two before I start playing poker. I try to not roll out of bed and jump on the computer. It's just a bad habit. If I don't shower, have breakfast, etc. in the morning I just don't feel totally at 100%. During a poker session I always listen to techno music. It just gets me in the zone. While I like being around other people during my poker sessions, I play so much better when alone and in my own room. After a long poker session I like to play FIFA on Xbox360. It's a soccer video game and it totally relaxes me and gets me over the day I had.
What style of play do you use at the table?
While I wouldn't say I'm 100% one specific style, I tend to default to being tight and aggressive. I definitely can switch gears but generally I'm TAG.
Are you a better cash game player or tournament player?
Definitely tournaments although I don't think I am bad at cash games. I just find them to be way less interesting than tournaments so I have never put the time into getting as good at cash games as I am at tournaments.
If you had to play poker against five famous opponents (dead and alive) who would they be and why?
Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Patrik Antonius, Stu Ungar. They are just the best in the world and I would love to see how I match up against them.
Which of your poker skills do you rate as the most important?
My ability to stay open-minded and never stop learning. A must to be a great poker player.
What top three tips would you give to amateur poker players hoping to make it as a poker professional?
Patience really is crucial. Try to talk to as many different people about poker. Bankroll management is so important as well.
What routine do you follow before a big poker game?
I always try to be alert and not groggy or sleepy. What wakes me up in the morning is a nice shower along with wearing nice clothes so I can feel good about myself. If I don't feel confident in myself, it's hard to have confidence at the poker table.
Where and when did you make your first significant cash win? And how much was it for?
When I won my first tourney for $6,000 online 6 months after learning the game. Maybe I ran super hot but I knew it wasn't a fluke.
What's your favorite poker game and WHY?
No Limit Holdem. There is nothing more exciting or gut wrenching than No Limit Holdem. You can be dead to rights in the hand and someone hit a miracle card to stay alive.
What's your favorite tournament and why?
The $25,000 buy-in at the Bellagio in April is my favorite. It's the World Poker Tour Championship and has all the best players from around the world playing in it.
Do you model your game after any other pros - past or present?
I bought Phil Hellmuth's book and read Super System but I don't try to model my game after anyone. I just play my own.
What do you consider the most significant differences are between online and brick and mortar play from a strategic point of view?
You clearly can't see the person. You have to just play your cards sometimes. There are tells but it is more about how quick a person acts. If they take along time they might not have a hand, as opposed to someone giving off a physical tell because there are none of those. The play is a little bit shorter stacked so online play can be faster and it's just faster in general because there are way more hands per hour.
What's your favourite book and why?
The Game by Neil Strauss. It's a real story about how he went from being a writer and totally inept with girls to becoming the greatest pick-up artist in the world. He is an amazingly good writer.
What's your favourite film and music album?
Boondock Saints. Just a phenomenal movie. I have a lot of albums that I like. None really that I would say is definitively my favorite album. Lil Wayne - The Carter 3, Kanye West - Graduation, O.A.R. All Sides are 3 of the ones I constantly listen to lately.
What's your favourite holiday destination/idea of a great holiday?
A ski resort somewhere in Colorado. I've only been to a few in my life when I was younger but I remember them being an amazing time.
What car do you drive / would you love to own?
Infiniti G35 4 door. I love that I own that car. Would love to own a Lamborghini Murcilago at some point but that's a pipe dream.
What's the funniest thing you have ever witnessed at a poker table?
Phil Hellmuth berating me for 5 minutes at the feature table of the 2008 WSOP Main Event.