I've a love-hate relationship with hip-shooters. On the one hand, I admire their honesty, their cocky brashness and willingness to confront the truth rather than hide behind a comforting lie – for many, it’s the reason they can improve their game so effectively. However, there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and people who justify rudeness with the cliché ‘call a spade a spade’ annoy me immensely. Fortunately, Annette falls into the former. “Fuck, I don’t care about anything online anymore,” she’ll say, using language one wouldn’t expect from someone otherwise so gentle. “Fuck the rankings, I’ve proved myself online. I don’t think I have to prove myself anymore. No one’s ever really said anything negative about my game.” As a young, Internet whiz with oodles of spunk, she falls into a familiar pigeonhole, brimming with newcomers that the old guard clearly despise. But Annette is different, she’s possesses a certain charm, and no matter had direct she is, there’s always a slight glint in her eye that makes her somewhat endearing.
These days, the online prodigy has transformed into a live prodigy having successfully completed a transition that so many struggle with. Not only did she beat the toughest pound for pound field to date to take home a million pounds in the inaugural WSOPE $10,000 Main Event, but she followed it up with a second place finish in the Dublin EPT for €297,800. With over $2.7 million in live tournament winnings, and more online MTTs wins than I’ve had hot dinners, she’s proved herself on both forms of the baize. With the WSOP Main Event fast approaching approaching, I spotted Annette wandering aimlessly around the Amazon Room. But why was she there? She’s only 20 - surely this is a type of self-torture that would make Jigsaw jealous? Is she not chomping at the bit? I decided to find out. I knew I’d get an honest response.
Snoopy: So, you’re still only 20, what are you doing in Vegas?
Annette Obrestad: Basically because I love Vegas. I’ve come here the last two years, I always have a great time and also the fact that this is the last time coming to Vegas and not being able to play. I want to finish doing all the touristy stuff, going to shows that I won’t have time to see next year.
Snoopy: Isn’t it infuriating having to watch from the sidelines?
Yeah, I’m definitely itching to play. I was railing the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha and was like, “Gah, what a soft field.” I really wanted to play that tournament because I love Pot Limit Omaha and I’ve been playing a lot lately. I’ve actually played more online since I got to Vegas than I probably have the whole year.
Snoopy: So you’re not playing much online then…
AO: I play a lot more live now. It’s difficult though because there aren’t many casinos back home. We do have some places to play, but the buy-ins are small and I don’t really like the people that hang out there, they’re not really my type of guys to have fun with. If I do go, it’s for the money, but the money isn’t quite big enough for it to be worthwhile. I travel a ton, and just try to get in as many live hands when I do.
Snoopy: Does this mean bracelets are more important to you now than money?
AO: It’s tough, but I’m still focused on the money at the moment because I already have a bracelet, but there’s a lot of glory in winning a bracelet. If I didn’t have that sponsorship deal that everyone wants then I’d really be focusing on the bracelet rather than money because you get sponsorship with it. Right now, though, I don’t think too much would change if I won a bracelet.
Snoopy: How important is sponsorship to you?
AO: It’s super important. It makes me much more comfortable, and allows me to take a lot more risks that I wouldn’t have taken and I know that if I play a tournament and bust out, there’s always another tournament because I don’t have to worry about the money and bankroll management. If I bust, I don’t lose 10,000 and don’t have to grind it back somehow. It makes life a lot easier.
Snoopy: How about fame and ‘celebrity’?
AO: I really like being recognised now rather than just being famous as an unknown online entity. It’s great when people stop me in the corridor and want a photograph or something.
Snoopy: What do you reckon your weakness is as a live player?
AO: I’m probably not as good at reading people as certain other live pros like Phil Hellmuth, who’s a genius when it comes to that. I was watching Joey Navarro at the World Series of Poker academy at Caesar’s Palace a few weeks ago, he’s a genius, I’ve never seen anything like it. When you walk out of that class, you’re such a better player.
Snoopy: If you could steal the skill of one player, what would that skill be and which player would you choose?
AO: Very good question. I’d probably want to be willing to take more risks later on in tournaments. I can’t really name specific players, all I know is that, for me, there are times when I don’t necessarily feel like sticking my tournament life on the line. If I’m deep in a tournament with, say 40 or 50 blinds, and someone three-bets me, I might think they don’t have shit, but still do nothing about it. I’ll keep folding instead, thinking I’ll eventually get a hand and people are going to make a mistake against me where I’ll three-bet, they’ll four-bet wide and I’ll snap-call, or whatever. I always see that there’s another possibility of getting chips that is better than the one I’m offered right now. I don’t like to take those risks unless I have to, but in a way I know I should because people are often three-betting light. It’s hard, but it's something I want to get rid of. I think I should be gambling a little more in these situations.
Snoopy: I get the feeling that online pros don’t think much of live players – a superiority complex maybe. Is it justified?
AO: I agree that the online players play the game more efficiently and know the fundamentals better. They have a better understanding of the basics and the maths behind everything, they always have a plan for what they do whilst the live players might not have. On the other hand, a player like Phil [Hellmuth] can get away with raise-folding jacks, something an online player will never do. Both types of players have their own strengths. There’s nothing wrong with the way they’re playing the game. I can see both point of views, it’s all about what type of game you’re comfortable playing. You see your strength and take advantage.
If you’re not good at reading people then don’t bother, because you’re just going to confuse yourself. I’ve looked at someone and they’ve done something different than they have done before but I thought that it meant something specific, so I called thinking they were bluffing and they showed me the nuts. I was like, “Fuck, you didn’t do that last time you had the nuts.” Then I think, “Meh, maybe he did that just because he felt like it.” It doesn’t always mean something. I try not to go by that stuff too much, but I do make an effort to observe when I’m not in hands just to see if I’m correct or not.
Snoopy: Do players with an online background actually have the patience to pay attention when they’re not in a hand?
AO: Sure they do. When you’re playing live, there’s not much to do so you don’t have a lot of choice. Live poker is boring if you’re just folding. I personally never get particularly bored because I watch the players and pick up on things. It’s great being able to see everything they do. You always notice the bet size, what’s in the pot, etc. You see the action on every hand, where as if you’re playing 20 tables online, you miss all this stuff that you should have paid attention to.
Snoopy: Does your gender ever assist you in at the table?
AO: Not anymore, it used to, when people didn’t know who I was. People would say, “Ah, she’s a girl, she has to have the nuts every time,” but eventually they figured out that that wasn’t true. And now they’re more inclined to say, “Ah, she’s always full of it, she never has anything,” so that’s changed quite drastically.
Snoopy: What do you think of female only events?
AO: I have nothing against them at all. I’ve played in them, and will continue to do so. It’s a different type of tournament and I like the challenge. I have a hard time playing against female players when there are so many of them because they’re tough to read and they do really weird stuff. Why wouldn’t I enter a women’s event? If it improves my game for next time, then of course I’ll play.
Snoopy: How come you’ve got an American accent?
AO: I don’t know, school maybe. I grew up in Norway, but I guess I watched a lot of American TV shows. English was always a big thing at school too.
Snoopy: Is it worth you leaving Norway to avoid paying tax?
AO: Well, I guess I could move to London, but I’d still be taxed for the first four years. We have to pay 29 percent on our winnings here, so the sooner I move to London the better, but I actually don’t particularly want to leave if I can’t get away from paying taxes straight away.
Snoopy: What other games have you been playing apart from Hold’em?
AO: I play a lot of Pot Limit Omaha, that’s what I’ve been doing for the last year. It’s such a fun game, I like flipping and gambling, I like the adrenalin rush. I also want to focus on one game at a time, and right now I feel like my No Limit Hold’em game is good enough that I can concentrate on Pot Limit Omaha.
Snoopy: How about Stud?
AO: Maybe I’ll try Stud games after Omaha, but they really don’t interest me. I’ve tried Stud tournaments just to get the feel of it, but it’s just so boring. I’d rather do something else rather than have to concentrate on what everyone’s folding. I don’t see myself putting in too much time or effort on those games.
Snoopy: What would you do if you weren’t a professional?
AO: I’d probably be doing something I’d hate. I’d have real trouble doing a 9-5, but I guess I’d do it if I had to.
Snoopy: Do you have any regrets about what you’ve done in poker so far?
AO: I haven’t done anything for the last year in terms of results. I’ve gone deep in a few tournaments, but no final tables. Yeah, I’ve won a couple of tournaments online, but it doesn’t mean anything. I haven’t done anything that has made people go wow, and that’s what I want to do. I want to impress people. I believe I’ve established myself as a player, but I’m scared about long spells without a win. I know eventually it’s going to come though, I just haven’t played enough volume wise. Next year, I’ll go crazy at WSOP, I’ll be multi-tabling, I’ll be running back and forth if I have to. If there are two tournaments I want to play on the same day, I’ll play them.
Snoopy: What’s your least favourite question people ask? Personally, I’d choose the one I’m currently asking, it always bugs me.
AO: Ha, I’d say when people ask me about the tournament I played blind. Everyone asks me about that, and I’m pretty tired of talking about it now.
Snoopy: Hey, I didn’t ask that one. Success.
Annette will be attending this year’s Betfair.com WSOPE and participating in the Caesar’s Cup.