Tournament Trail Q A: Jason Alexander

NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. It was not the first time he had appeared on the poker scene he first played on Bravo s Celebrity Poker Showdown, and won $500,000 for his charity, the United Way of the greater New Orleans area, during season eight. Alexander also played for Team PokerStars at the 2007 World Series of Poker, where he made it to the second day of the main event, and finished in 10th place in the Ante Up for Africa charity event. Alexander drew Huck Seed

NBC Heads-Up event and lost the match, but he made his presence felt during that time with the comedy that has made him and his characters famous. Card Player caught up with Alexander shortly after the tournament and asked him about his start in the game of poker, his personality at the table, and his experience at the NBC Heads-Up event:


Ryan Lucchesi: How did you start playing poker?

Jason Alexander: Like every actor I know, I learned from the backstage crew guys in my early years in the theater. It works well backstage, because you can play for an hour or for a few hands. And, of course, the stagehands love taking money from the actors. But clearly, the game I learned then is not the game I am trying to understand now. We learned all of the form, none of the content; there was no talk about pot odds, position, etc. It was, I got an ace high, you got a queen, F you I win.

My entry into the true game of poker began when Bravo started producing Celebrity Poker. Somehow, my publicist landed me a tutoring session with Phil Hellmuth

I suddenly realized that there was a lot more to this game. I have been reading, asking, studying, and losing ever since. Actually, I do OK among the celebs. My real schooling still comes when I m foolish enough to sit down with the pros.

RL: How important do you think personality is at a poker table?

JA: It all depends upon the circumstances. PokerStars has been good enough to sponsor me on several occasions in tournaments, as well as the WSOP. When I appear for them, I do so with the understanding that I am not the best poker player in their pool. So, I try to reciprocate for their generosity by wearing their logos and getting as much screen time as I can without disrupting the real play. I do so by pumping up the persona and the comedy. I am far more boisterous when the cameras are around and I m playing for them. I try to mitigate that by being respectful to the pros around me and finding a level that doesn t interfere with their play. That said, I don t like playing at a table where everyone is dour and silent. Poker is a social game. You meet people. You talk. I don t have to be the life of the party, but I think it should be as much fun as possible. That does not mean eating the room as they say in my biz. It means saying hello, congratulating good play, consoling bad breaks, chatting with the dealer, small talk, etc.

I enjoy the pro players like Humberto Brenes

It makes for lively play and much better television. However, some players have so much personality that they become a pain in the ass. They are deliberately trying to break a player s focus and make the table an unpleasant place to be to literally drive away the competition. I hate these guys. I think they are covering for a lack of skill, or they are just boors. So, in general, I think card players are really wonderful, colorful, entertaining people, and I enjoy interacting and playing with them. But in poker, as in life, an asshole is an asshole is an asshole.

RL: How did you feel when you drew Huck Seed in the first round, after he had cashed in the three previous years of the show? What was your strategy against Seed?

JA: Listen, there were only about four people in the tournament who I wouldn t have felt outclassed by just going in. Huck ain t one of the four. I knew walking into the room that I was probably the guy with the least skills. But I also knew that made me somewhat dangerous. None of them knew how I play and few of them would be able to read me. I have the advantage of acting for my livelihood, and I m OK at it. I don t believe Huck ever knew what I had for certain in any hand. I think he was very respectful of the fact that I could have taken him. And God knows I was respectful of the fact that it was not likely.

I told him the night before the match that I would probably be pretty animated during the game, but that if I was annoying him in any way that he should just tell me and I would back it down. He was very kind and very generous to me. I enjoyed meeting him. There was no particular prep for him other than that I know he is historically a more conservative player. It came very much into play on the hand that I lost with. I had pocket sevens. He called my big blind with 400-800 blinds. I raised to 2,800. He reraised to about 9,500. I knew that he didn t have a pair at that time; if he did, he would have reraised all in. Knowing he is conservative and figuring him with A -X, I pushed him hard and went all in. He thought about it for a long time and called with a suited A-J. I was the favorite all the way till he caught the jack on the turn or the river. I read him right, I think i played him right, and ... well, that s poker.

RL: I noticed you were very animated during your match. If you and Mike The Mouth Matusow had been paired up together, who do you think would have done the most talking?

JA: Me ... Mike doesn t have anywhere near my wealth of material. And I would need to keep yakking to try to take him off his game. Now, ask me who would win. Who would win, Jason? Him.

RL: Why do you think that celebrities and athletes are drawn to the game of poker?

JA: We are in competitive fields. We get our opportunities by beating out everyone else. and neither experience or knowledge or seniority guarantee anything. That is identical to poker. On the right day, I will beat Doyle Brunson

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For map / China Photo Gallery ? Chemical Ali , when, where and arrest

? Chemical Ali Why is a dead to dead

? Iraqis why the poor response

Local time on August 21 U.S. Central Command issued a statement saying that the Kurdish heard of Shengwei, known as Chemical Ali Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as U.S. forces in Iraq have been captured. Majid is Saddam Hussein s cousin, served as the adviser to Saddam Hussein, Iraq s former Revolutionary Command Council commander of the southern region, in the U.S. military s most-wanted ranked fifth. Because the United States has not announced Majid arrested more details, including his photos and other evidence, it triggered a lot of people s queries.

A doubt: Chemical Ali , when, where and how he was arrested?

Judging from the current situation of the media release, the arrest of Chemical Ali , the specific process is still uncertain. On the 22nd, The Times reported that the U.S. Central Command only in the 21st simply made a statement that Majid had has been captured and detained. However, the statement did not disclose more detailed content. American Cable News Network (CNN) also reported that Majid is also unclear where captured.

But on August 22 the Washington Post exclusive disclosure

Iraq after the war, former Iraqi intelligence agency in charge of Wafeikesamalai analysis, Margibi Germany should be in Baghdad, Samarra, 70 miles north of the suburbs were captured. Washington a senior Defense Department official confirmed that the U.S. military in a raid operation in northern Iraq will be captured Majid, also netted 5-6 alleged bodyguards officials.

The official also said that the captured Majid time is August 17, should be delayed a few days because a public announcement of this news, because one to confirm the identity of Majid need time, the worry is to arouse his suspicions, Let other people have poker preparedness.

Second question: Chemical Ali , is dead several times?

According to the Times on the 22nd, the war in Iraq from the beginning, the US-British coalition forces on at all costs to get rid of Majid. First Day -------- in the war on March 20 launched the decapitation operation , although the U.S. military did not disclose that one of the objectives is to combat Majid, but commanders have secretly hope that the missiles could be killed Majid.

April 2, the coalition intelligence officers in the north of the city of Basra in Amarah Majid discovered the whereabouts of two F/A-18 Hornet fighters were then sent to the Housing Authority for the bombing on the target. U.S. military commanders in the bombing that Majid is dead, an officer proudly said: I think he will not be a breath of fresh air. But soon, they discovered their mistake, Majid still alive . A week later, coalition forces received information that he in a small town north of Nasiriyah there. Coalition forces launched a raid there, but the results of the empty flutter.

April 5 morning, the US-British commanders received information: Majid has secretly returned to Basra, in the city on the bank of a building. Coalition commanders act decisively, sent two F-16 fighter jets to the target fired six laser-guided bombs, the destruction of buildings was videotaped. British officers believe that Majid had to perish in ruins, the people of Basra that can be fully confident that he (Majid) was there and was dead.

But after a few days, Baghdad suddenly a nurse said she saw Majid was being a hospital and subordinates joke, and then escaped out! From then on, Chemical Ali Is hygiene is dead became a major puzzle, get rid of Ali s action has become the laughing stock of the coalition forces, in Baghdad and in many cities in Iraq, many people also believe that he is still alive. An American military officers jokingly said: The current two days they said Majid was killed has reached 99% of the possibility, I know the remaining one percent is really.

Until May U.S. Central Command issued most-wanted , in the 55 wanted former Iraqi regime in the top echelon, Majid impressively in fifth place, which clearly shows that the U.S. military has finally accepted Majid the fact still alive. August 21, a U.S. military spokesman recognizes for the first time, Chemical Ali dead has never been a confirmed.

Third question: Why Iraqis Chemical Ali news of the arrest of the poor response?

On the 21st, the United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said, Saddam Hussein will not be back. Indeed, in the few days before the August 19, the U.S. military announced the former Iraqi Vice President Ramadan had also been arrested, including such Chemical Ali , poker wanted 55 Iraqi officials have been 42 people were arrested, even if Saddam Hussein wanted to make a comeback, I am afraid, is Huitianfashu.

This is the good news, but when the Arabic news station broadcast the first news of the arrest of Majid, Baghdad citizens has been unusually quiet, and even some indifference. This surprising Majid previously Sang Sang hover few times, he is bound to have news of the arrest of the United States held skepticism. A Baghdad citizens Mohamaide said that he is from Taiwan BBC to hear this news, he said: Many people think this is a false news, unless the U.S. military on the television broadcast scenes were arrested Majid, otherwise We will not believe.

In fact, not only is this, every time the U.S. military announced previously, the most-wanted, the senior officials were arrested or killed, many will be questioned. Uday and Qusay by example, even when the U.S. military on the television broadcast of the two remains, some Baghdad still confident that they are still alive. To dispel such doubts, the United States designated by the Governing Council of Iraq to the U.S. military officials had previously been requested, as soon as possible to urge them on the television broadcast photographs of prisoner other senior officials.

But no matter how, Majid was arrested after all breathed a sigh of relief to many people have the impression that because he has always been regarded as a more cruel than Saddam s people. Meguid, the death penalty alone is not enough, 25-year-old workers Rice said he hopes to conduct a public trial of Majid, and then executed. I hope that I can personally tortured him with a pistol bullet in his radio from the legs, has been strikes into the head, so that he has to understand that he was killed by the suffering of those innocent people.

A link

He was known as Chemical Ali

Who looks like Saddam

Chemical Ali Ali Hassan al-Majid was born in 1941 in Tikrit, Saddam s cousin. From the appearance perspective, Majid and Saddam is very similar, white hair combed to the back of their minds, reveal high forehead, and, like Saddam had left neat to be the word square face big ears, eyes Jiongjiongweishen, Shixiaofeixiao expression in

If not carefully identified, it is easy to him as Saddam.

Majid, the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council member of the leadership. With the Committee s No. 2 man, Iraqi Vice President Ibrahim and Ramadan, who compared Meguid risen to power and position in a bit late. Before the 1980s, Majid has been unknown. Until 1983, Saddam Hussein Majid to supervise the handling of the assassination of one of the cases, only blockbuster Majid, Saddam Since then won the trust of Guanyunhengtong. 1987, Majid as Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council member in charge of the Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.

The incarnation of terror

1988, Majid personally ordered Kurdish rebellion in northern Iraq repression. In the next few months, he aims to launch a large-scale repression of the Kurdish Fall (Al-Anfal, which means spoils of war ) operations. Throughout the operation, a total of 2,000 Kurdish villages have been destroyed, 100,000 Kurds died or disappeared.

March 1988, the Anfal campaign in the most tragic scene took place. Majid ordered his troops to use mustard gas against Iraq s northern border town of Halabu attack, the town of nearly 5,000 people died. In a May 26, 1988 tape recording, Majid had threatened in the chair: I want to 15 consecutive days using chemical weapons to attack them! Then, I will announce, Jiaqiang do not kill, if not He Qiang, they will be faced with a newer and more horrible chemical weapons attack. Since then, Majid is known as Chemical Ali.

1990, Majid meritorious result of the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam appointed as Kuwait provincial governor. In August 1990 to February 1991 Majid as governor , he led his burning and looting of the local population, some people in bed wire bundles were shipped back to the domestic Iraqi army. As long as one has filed Majid Kuwaitis will Hende gnash their teeth, calling him a devil and war criminals.

After the 1991 Gulf War, Majid also dispatched aircraft and artillery, severe repression of the Shiite Muslims in southern Iraq insurgency.

1996, the defection of Saddam s son-in-law in Jordan - the former Iraqi defense industry minister Kamal and his brother, Saddam promised amnesty after they returned to Baghdad. Arrived in Baghdad in the evening, Majid brought people to their homes are still sketchy, the brothers killed.

Egypt was shut out

Because of his bad record , Majid has long been a number of countries declared persona non grata and rarely visits abroad. United States and other Western countries, as well as a number of international human rights organizations Majid is accused of war criminals , guilty of crimes massacre and demanded that in accordance with the relevant international conventions, the Majid trial.

December last year and mid-January this year, the threat of war in Iraq faces a critical moment, Majid as Saddam sent his special envoy, has visited Libya, Syria and Lebanon and other countries, explain to these countries the position of Iraq, seek the support of Arab countries. He was also wish to visit Egypt, but Egypt was shut out. In fact, Majid visited Syria, Lebanon and other countries, such as Kuwait from the Gulf countries have strongly protested, Egypt has also done Majid, Saddam s envoys were very angry and finally not the time because unlimited Majid, the postponement of the visit.

South worked hard line charge

2003 During the Iraq war, Saddam appointed Majid is the theater one of the four southern Iraq theater commander guarding Basra. Since the outbreak of the Iraq war, the Iraqi army in the southern region of Basra, Nasiriyah, Najaf, Karbala and other places a strong resistance. Majid led to Saddam guerrillas, the backbone of the Arab Socialist Baath Party militia continually ambush, harassment tactics, the US-British coalition forces to delay the direction of Baghdad, the speed, set HEHE exploits.

The links

Ali repression of the Iraqi

Kurdish historical background

Kurdish ESCWA is the most ancient peoples of the Middle East region is second only to Arab, Turkic and Persian nation s fourth largest nation, with a total population of about 30 million. They Muslims, are mostly Sunni, Kurdish speakers. Writing in Kurdish Iraq and Iran in the Arabic alphabet, in Turkey and Syria with the Latin alphabet.

Historically, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Kurds are mainly distributed in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which in Iraq for the Kurds, who one-fifth of the total population of Iraq, the Iraqi population is the largest minority .

Iraq s Kurds live in Iraq, including the northern region of Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah and Erbil Province, as well as Kirkuk, Mosul and Diyala Province, an area of about 80,000 square kilometers and a population of about 4000000. Kurds living mainly in agriculture and animal husbandry, with the rise of the oil industry, have become part of Kurdish oil workers.

Kurds have a strong desire for national independence. In 1958 after the establishment of the Republic of Iraq, Kurds and the Iraqi government has conducted many rounds of negotiations. March 1970, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Iraqi government to sign a peace agreement that granted autonomy within four years, but that the Iraqi Kurdish government in four years only give them limited autonomy. March 1975, Kurds and the Iraqi government have reached an agreement, including the establishment of three autonomous province of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq, the autonomous region.

Mainly Kurdish region in northern Iraq Kurdistan Democratic Party ( the Democratic Party ) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan ( the UPC ) two military organization, they struggle for the control of the region for more than 20 years. In 1991 after the Gulf War ended, at the instigation of foreign forces, launched a large-scale anti-government armed activities, a time to win a major oil-producing cities of Kirkuk. After the repression by government forces, a large number of Kurds fled to Iran and Turkey.

For the protection of Kurdish security, in April 1991, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 688, a resolution condemning the Iraqi authorities against the Kurds, the suppression action. Since then, the United States, Britain, their troops quickly arrived in the region, in Iraq north of latitude 36 degrees set up a security zone from the three countries comprising the coalition forces responsible for the implementation of air patrol mission.

July 5, 2003, in the Iraqi capital, 300 kilometers northwest of Baghdad found a mass grave, buried inside about more than 300 bodies. It was learned that these victims were Kurds, they were killed in the Chemical Ali mustard gas. Photograph shows a still keep a little hair remains of the skull. Tu Lung Dexixi