Earlier this week, I caught up with a certain Luton player, often referred to (and justifiably so) as JP 'Wonderkid' Kelly. Looking to brush over all those tedious 'How did you get into poker' type questions, I decided that I was going to throw a few more challenging teasers his way. This is how he responded...
snoopy: Right, no messing around... What pisses you off in poker and why?
JP: The guys who are only friendly with you because they are after money. Also, paying too many people in a tournament. I'd like first to be more top heavy as well.
snoopy: What does your family think of your current poker habits? How did they react when you first got into the game?
JP: Now they don't mind it, I let them know how I'm doing and they take an interest and, although in their own words they would 'rather I was doing something else', they are still pleased for me. At first, though, they hated me playing and I think they just thought it was a phase that I would grow out of eventually.
snoopy: At this year's SpringFest in Luton, why did you find it so hard to play Luke Patten heads up, and why did you strike a deal?
JP: It was hard because he was difficult to bluff but also he was bluffing me constantly and the only way to play successfully against this kind of player is to sit back and wait for a hand, which requires a high level of patience... especially heads up.
I did a deal (It is not the same as some of the deals as there was still £7,500 to play for) because I was extremely tired and also I could feel the momentum changing in Luke's favour. At the time, I thought it was the right thing to do and have no regrets.
snoopy: You and Larence Gosney always seem to cross swords... with explosive conseuqences. What are your likes and dislikes about playing Lawrence at tournament poker?
We first played against each other in Sheffield and I knew who he was but he had no clue about me. We both had a lot of chips and I was raising a lot of hands and he kind of took a back seat until a hand came up where he limped early and I raised with AJ. The action folded round to him and he decided to reraise me. He was second in chips and I was first in chips so I went back over the top all in convinced he had a small pair and he sat for literally ten minutes before deciding to call with 88. I lost the hand but I was very pleased with my play.
He is tough to play and has a wide range of starting hands so this makes it difficult to know where you are with him, but I enjoy playing the better players as it improves my game.
snoopy: Are you literally biting your nails off in preparation for your 21st birthday and a trip to Vegas, or are you not overly fussed?
JP: To be honest, I am happy playing in Europe for now. I can wait another year for Vegas, but I am looking forward to my 21st birthday!
snoopy: Why do you think you are yet to be sponsored? How keen are you land a sponsorship deal?
JP: I haven't played on TV yet so potential companies have not seen me. However, I am currently in talks with someone so we'll see how that goes. I would like a deal that enables me to play the bigger buy-in tournaments as they add up!
snoopy: How did you get into playing Limit poker? Does it affect your No Limit play positively or negatively?
JP: Limit has improved my NL game tremendously. It helps with playing through the streets and value betting. Bets saved and won are key and help with knowing where you're at in a hand. It can be frustrating though so I must say I prefer NL.
snoopy: Rumour has it that although you are a calm and collected live player, you have a tendancy to tilt online. Is there any truth in this and why do you think such a difference in tempremant exists?
JP: I do not tilt online. I am more vocal and try to tilt others which may or may not be 'the right thing to do'. As i can't see people I try to gain as much info as possible so i try to encourage conversation out of them. Often I just write random stuff in the chat box just for fun, other times I remain silent.
snoopy: Have you always adopted an agressive tournament style? You clearly have a policy of acruing and accumulating chips as quickly as possible, with a reluctancy to play a big stack with a vice-like grip. When and how did you develop this strategy?
JP: I think it developed watching Mike Matusow playing on TV. He has a very in your face style and is always putting people to decisions for all their chips., It's a style I respected and I could see that it worked well. I also try to take out as many short stacks as I can normally tending to have the worst hand. This stops people making moves on me as they will view me as a calling station who won't put down a hand.
snoopy: When you won 1st prize at the Luton Springfest, did you roll around naked in the money when you returned home?
JP: No comment.