Johnny Chan

This issue, we’ve tracked down and interrogated the poker world’s most iconic figure. The
Orient Express reveals what we really want to know: the secret of the oranges (Sunkist),
whether Matt Damon can really play, and what keeps him awake at night.

Johnny, what has been the greatest moment of your long and glittering career?

Winning the 1987 World Series. It was the first time I won. It’s every poker player’s dream to win the Big One – to prove you’re the best and get the reputation as the World Champion. I won it the next year too you know (laughs).

And you almost made it three in 1989…

Yeh. I hate to lose to Phil [Hellmuth]. But, unfortunately, I did. I didn’t play my best. I shouldn’t have put all my money in there with A-7. I was tired. We’d played for three and a half days straight. We had to start early on the fourth day, because the TV people wanted the tournament over by 6pm so it would make the evening news. I didn’t get enough rest. I was burned out.

Do you wake up in a cold sweat thinking about that hand?

Absolutely. I over-played that hand and it cost me my third championship in a row. I’m the only person ever who had that opportunity – no one in history has ever come that close, and I don’t think anyone ever will. There’s too many people in the running now. I blew it, but what can you do?

You’ve still got nine WSOP bracelets, though. Have you ever worn all nine at once?

No, no, no, no. They’re too big – too heavy! I’ll wear two, maybe, if I’m playing the Devilfish. You seen those big old rings on his fingers (laughs)?

You’re very intimidating at the table just because you’re Johnny Chan. Is it fun to scare people?

Na! I’m the nice, friendly guy at the table. I’m fun in a poker game. If I scare people too much they won’t give me any action.

You don’t play too many tournaments anymore. How come?

They take too long. I like to play sidegames, where you can come and go as you please. I only play the big tournaments now. I still enjoy them, but there’s so many of them. You can’t play them all.

How are you preparing for this year’s World Series?

It’s gonna be a big one. It will take a lot of concentration. I’ll get plenty of exercise, plenty of rest, and I’ll just try to focus. There’ll be so many new players with whom I’ve never played a hand of poker before – so it’s gonna be tough.

Inevitable question #1: Johnny, tell us about the oranges…

Oranges are like an air-freshener. In the old days, poker tournaments were very smoky and the orange would give me fresh air and clear out my mind and help me play a little better.

Our research pinpoints three major orange growing regions in the world: the Southern US, Spain and Israel. Where are the best oranges from?

I like Sunkist oranges, which, I think, are from California.

Inevitable question #2: Johnny, tell us about Rounders…

Rounders put poker on the map. People went to see the movie and suddenly they wanted to be like Johnny Chan and win the World Series in Las Vegas. I got recognized a lot more after Rounders, and it helped poker a great deal.

How has becoming a ‘mainstream’ celebrity affected your life?

It’s really helped me. It means I can sell merchandise. My new book Play Poker Like Johnny Chan is doing great. It helps a lot.

Could Matt Damon and Ed Norton really play poker?

Yeh, they could play. Ed played better than Matt at the time.

Did you play them for money on the set?

No, we’re friends! Just for matches. Just pennies and nickels (laughs).

What’s the greatest bluff you ever made?

(Laughs) There was $850,000 in the pot and four spades out there. This guy had a king high flush and I had nothing. I just knew he didn’t he have the A?, so I put all my chips in the pot and he had to lay it down.

Who is Johnny Chan’s greatest hero?

Chip Reese. He’s like a mentor to me. He’s got everything. He’s cool, he’s the best all-round player there is, he takes care of himself… Everything he does is just the right thing to do (laughs). That’s all I want to do in life – do the right thing every time.

Tell us about the big games you play with Larry Flynt.

Sometimes we play $2000/$4000, sometimes $4000/$8000 Stud. He’s a nice man. He loves to play us and he loves to play Stud. (Laughs) I think we’re like his toys.

Tell us about your life before you were a poker superstar.

I was helping my parents run their restaurant business. In the early seventies there was always a poker game behind the restaurant, behind the pool hall, behind the gas station.

What did they think about your choice of career?

They hated it at the time, but now they love it.

You used to play chess for money. Can you make a lot of money playing chess?

No, this was when I was young – we’d play $5 or $10 a game. There’s no money in chess. It’s like pool: once they find out how good you are no one will play you for money.

You were a talented bowler too…

I used to play every Tuesday and Saturday for big money when I was 16, 17. Like poker, it’s about concentration and focus. You have to have the killer instinct if you to want be a winner.

Who first dubbed you The Orient Express?

Bob Stupak gave me that name. I like it. Just like that express train in Europe – 200mph!

You’re a master of the tell. Give us a tell that most people don’t recognize.

Betting motion is very important. Some players, when they have good hands, they bet very slow, counting their chips, taking their time. When they’re bluffing, they just shove it in real quick. Those are the things to think about in a poker game.

Do you still play in Macau?

When I go there, sure.

You’ve said that a lot of the games were run by the mob there.

Sometimes you had to just back out with those guys. If you were smart you’d just walk away from the money. It’s different now. Since Red China took over in 1999, it’s the most peaceful place you can visit. The Vegas casinos are moving in and it’s gonna be great for the economy. Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson from The Venetian are spending billions. It’s going to be the Vegas of the East.

We hear you like to warm up for poker with a Japanese massage.

Relaxation always helps you. I haven’t found a place that does Japanese massage in Vegas, yet – only in L.A.

Is it true you drive a car with the license plate JJ333?

Yeh. I won a lot of money with that full house.

Did it buy the car?

It helped. It’s a Mercedes convertible, bright red – just like a rose.

So if you had to name a hand after yourself, would that be the hand?

That’s one of them. There are a lot of hands that have won me a lot of money, but we haven’t got time to go through all of them.

You’re just about to enter a tournament at the Bellagio. Your prediction for the match?

I’m gonna win it!

If you know what’s good for you, we suggest you go directly to www.amazon.com and purchase Johnny’s new book: Play Poker Like Johnny Chan.