Despite poker’s constant evolution, there’s one factor that remains consistent: it’s a game that anyone can play, whatever your background, whatever your ‘roll, whatever your goals. In essence, this is the “magic” of poker, the one binding factor that holds the game together and makes it such an attractive proposition. Poker is accessible to everyone.
Naturally, accessibility is accompanied by eclecticism – one only need look at the 6,494 WSOP field as evidence – and a social spectrum boasting epic breadth. Thus, whilst I continue to plug away at the mid-stakes online from the isolation of my own bedroom, a group of poker fanatics will gather in Maxims Casino just a few miles away to play for stakes that would make most men weep, posting blinds bigger than the pot I’ve been fist-pumping on arrival. These men will be businessmen, celebrities, royalty even, and will form the upper echelon of not only poker, but society. One of them will be Sammy George.
Falling squarely into the “businessman” category, Sammy is one of the country’s biggest cash game players, yet unlike Channing, Devilfish, DeWolfe and the like, he’s only renowned within specific circles: London cash game players and armchair TV enthusiasts. But despite this limited notoriety, Sammy has travelled beyond his Cockney boundaries, playing monster stakes in places like Paris, Monaco, and now Vegas, which is his first visit to the City of Sin. “I actually began playing £0.50/1 in the Vic and started learning the game from there,” he explains as I interview him at tableside. “A few of the boys started calling me ‘Any Two' because I was playing any two cards. As my game improved, I kept the name because it was easier to get paid off. I then moved up the stakes and now I play the biggest cash games in Europe. I still play at the Vic though, because that’s where my roots are.”
For many keyboard warriors, Sammy is just a rich businessman trying his hand at poker, but this negates what is a genuine passion for the game and a willingness to improve at every opportunity. His affluence means he can learn from the best, at the highest possible stakes, but he’s keen to keep tweaking his game: “My game’s improved considerably recently. I’ve been learning a lot about position and making sure I make the right moves on the right players. My tournament game’s improved too. I’ve taken a lot of advice from Roland De Wolfe; he’s a good friend and has helped me correct my game a little. I learn as I play, the same as Roland does. That's the game. You’ll never know the correct way to play every hand though because there are so many variations.”
Although he plays in the shadows - away from the circuit and in cash games that are witnessed by a select few - the poker world could only restrain Sammy for so long. With his umpteen TV appearances and increased presence in live tournaments, he is quickly reaching a wider audience. The principal reason for this progression, however, is his character more than anything else. He is a larger than life personality, and one that would be wasted hiding out in casino back rooms. Whatever people think of his abilities, there’s no denying that he’s a personality, and, in an industry brimming with stoic, deadpan Internet whiz kids, one that is desperately required. Poker is as much about characters than anything else, and Sammy fits the bill perfectly. In fact, it’s his character that makes him such a charming entity: he’s kind, fun, and bubbly - poker with a smile, and a mischievous one of that.
I’d arranged to meet Sammy in the secondary jungle that is the Brasilia Room, but without specifying a table, I wasn’t relishing my mission. I needn’t have worried though as Sammy is the type of person who could be spotted in Wembley Stadium, his big, booming voice bellowing across the room as he banters with one of the masseuses, someone who I expect he has never met, but endeared himself to nonetheless. Most noticeably, however, was that Sammy was alongside one of the many celebrities that he rubs shoulders with, on this occasion, rap star Nelly, who he has recently become good friends with. Nelly isn’t the only fellow poker enthusiast he’s become acquainted with. In fact, Sammy is a friend of the stars, many of whom share his status in the upper echelon and thus meet at the same high stakes tables. “I’ve played with a lot of famous people,” he reveals. “A lot of them are actors, such as Michael Greco. He’s a very good player. I come across a lot of footballers too.”
One footballer who Sammy frequently plays is former England international Teddy Sheringham. “Me and Teddy are very good friends,” he reveals. “We play all the time, mostly at Maxims. Teddy’s a good player. He’s very patient and can take hours before playing a hand, so when you come up against him, you know you have to have the goods, you don't want to be playing versus a made hand. I recently played a big hand with him. There was $45,000 in the middle and I made a pot-sized bluff. I only had a pair but there were draws out there. Anyhow, he pondered for a long time but eventually made the call with kings, which was good. It took him about 15 minutes to make the call, but it turned out to be the right decision in the end meaning he won a $100,000 pot. Luckily I won a load back on the next hand. I was tilting a bit and called $4,000 blind preflop with 6-4 of clubs. The flop worked for me though because I flopped two pair and got paid off by aces. I later played Teddy heads-up for $70,000 a piece, and won, so it worked out well in the end.”
The mere sight of a $100,000 pot might make your eyes water, but this was still relatively small on the fry scale for Sammy: “Patrick Bruel and I set up a massive Pot Limit game in France. Guy Laliberte and others guys like him were there. It was a €200,000 sit-down, and the English boys came out winners.” But to depict Sammy’s company as one confined to celebrity and fame, would be slightly inaccurate, as many of the players he takes on are some of the best players the game has to offer. But he consumes the challenge. “I play Neil [Channing] quite a bit. And he can fucking hear this.” Sammy leans into the Dictophone with a cheeky grin. “He’s a very good guy, I love him to bits. I love you Neil.” “You’ve also got Johnny D [Dwyer],” he continues. “He’s a fantastic player. I told him he’s been getting tips off Neil so his tournament play has improved, but in cash, I actually think John is a much better player. It’s still Neil for tournaments though.”
But whilst Sammy exudes a rather childlike, playful manner to poker and having fun with his friends, when it comes to certain aspects of his life, he can be deadly serious. Perhaps it is this ability to switch mentalities that has made him such a successful entrepreneur. His Full Tilt sponsorship, for example, meant a lot to him, not simply because of the endorsements, but also because of the opportunities it provides to continue his commendable charity work. “I was very happy when Full Tilt came along,” he rejoices. “It showed they had faith in me and liked what they saw. To me, it's not so much the sponsorship. I love playing on TV and it’s fun and everything, but I also like to give a certain percentage to charity and kids who need the money more than me. I make sure I donate to all sorts of courses. Actually, when we get back, we're setting up a charity event in the UK where the money will go to cancer research. I mainly focus on poor kids in the third world and the Middle East and that's what's going to happen. We're going to bring all the big names down, we'll have auctions and so on. It's going to be good.”
Like anyone, Sammy endures turbulent times, both on and off the table. Regardless of his finances, life deals out more highs and lows than the cards themselves. “I had a tough year last year,” he starts. “My business was going well, but I had some family issues. Sometimes when you're on the poker table, you can put that behind you, and it strengthens you as a player. It changed my life a little bit, and all for the good. My current form in London is very good, but I was stuck in a rut for about three months. Thankfully, I managed to find my form and get out of it. When you're playing such high stakes, though, and you take a knock, your confidence can really go. I was getting in with the best hand every time and not winning against the two-outers. It knocks you down, but you get back up again. That's what makes poker so special. Poker’s really important to me, because it allows me to escape my every day life.”
Sadly, my encounter with Sammy was brought to a close when another player at the table complained to the tournament director – not directly to Sammy and I, might I add – of my presence, and I was asked to return to the rail shortly after. “Ah, you’re no fun,” said a disgruntled Sammy, having enjoyed his time in the spotlight. “Shall we carry it on elsewhere, Snoops?” he offered, but I’d heard enough. In fact, everything I’d heard and seen had been little more than an affirmation of what people had told me about him beforehand. The general consensus is that he’s a generous, honest, fun-loving kind of guy who brings to life any game he play in. This, I couldn’t disagree with, and it makes him a real asset to the game. If Full Tilt don’t think they have a player of the Ivey ilk, they at least have a character who will make some noise.
Sammy may not have taken the WSOP by storm this year – although he did arrive late in the Series – but he continues to become an increasingly prevalent presence in the game, even confirming to me that he’ll be putting up $500,000 of his own money and taking on the Durrrr Million Dollar Challenge in London this September. Many might bawl at his boldness, but one thing’s for sure, Sammy’s no mug, his game continues to improve and he could surprise a few people. He will if they underestimate him.
Snoopy is a columinist for bluffeurope.com