Want to learn more about Greg Vail? Learn more about his poker history here:
1. Where is your original hometown, and where do you call home now?
Originally from Minnesota, but Denver is home now
2. Where specifically are we most likely to see you playing cards these days?
In home games in Colorado and at the Ameristar in Blackhawk
3. When and how did you start playing poker?
In 2003 when I was in college at Arizona State, then turned professional in 2005
4. When and how did you decide to play poker professionally/seriously?
In 2005 when I discovered I was making 3x my salary at work playing poker, so I quit to play for a living.
5. What do you consider your proudest poker achievements?
Only having 3 losing months in 12 years of playing professionally.
6. When and how did you start coaching others (please include a specific year)?
In 2015 when I was getting out of the Army I began helping my holdem playing friends play Omaha better since they were getting killed. They turned it around and became winning players very quickly and I began writing my book to help others.
7. What is your coaching specialty? Do you consider yourself a ‘specialist’ in any games, and if so, please say which games and why.
Big O, Omaha HL, and all split pot games. The edge in Big O is so massive that it is so difficult to lose once you understand the game and how to exploit it.
8. What is your goal in providing coaching through Red Chip Poker? What do you hope to achieve for our members?
I hope to provide a unique approach to coaching through my expertise in Big O and all split pot games. I hope that I can bring new people into the game and grow the non-holdem playing base.
9. Please share a coaching success story with us:
One of my very first students was a massive losing player when he first approached me for help in my regular 2-5 Omaha HL game here in Colorado. I gave him my manuscript for my book and helped him along for a couple of months and now he beats the game for more than $35/hr. Hopefully, I can get that win rate up a little bit for him to my current level of >$50/hr.
10. Do you have a professional career / background outside of poker? If so, please describe in brief.
Not really, I’m a medically discharged Army Vet
11. What are your favorite hobbies and pursuits outside of poker?
Playing golf and semi-pro baseball in Denver
12. If you have authored any books/eBooks, please provide a link to each book below:
Coming soon! Scoop!: Winning Big O and High Low concepts for Holdem players
Rapid Fire Fun Questions
Favorite color:
A giant pile of multicolored chips accompanied by some complaining from the previous owner
Favorite starting hand:
………yes
Favorite poker room:
Ameristar Blackhawk
Last song you listened to:
Foo Fighters: The Pretender
Waffles or pancakes:
Bacon
Favorite drink:
Red wine
Favorite thing to cook:
Italian
Do you have a lucky object?:
Negative.
Favorite board game:
Whatever follows my daughter asking, “Daddy! Can we play (insert game here).”