Geoff Manning
Geoff Manning is an IT Director with more than 10 years of experience in IT management and administration, web design, web development and web marketing. This self-described avid sports fan hails from the Boston-area where he has a growing family and a burgeoning involvement with poker. Geoff is a driving force behind Complete Poker Rules website which is dedicated to providing players with strategy discussions, hand analysis, poker room reviews and much more.
Geoff is also an instrumental force in the Twitter Poker Tour, a weekly online home game and can be found frequently on Twitter sharing his poker-playing experiences as @cprpoker. Now, without any further ado, let’s get to the interview.
Tourneyblog: Thanks, Geoff, for taking the time to do this interview. I know how busy you are. My readers would are really interested to know more about the Complete Poker Rules website. How did you get involved with it?
Geoff Manning: I set out to create a strategy website for beginning poker players. "Poker Rules" appeared to be the type of search new players would be using to find out about the game of poker. So the site is geared towards educating players on the rules of poker as well as on strategy.
TB: What kinds of information will people find at Complete Poker Rules?
GM: Complete Poker Rules has rules for all types of poker games from Texas Hold'em to Razz, and cash and tournament rules. On top of that, there are great articles for Poker Resources, Hand Analysis and Poker Strategy discussions
TB: How did you get involved in poker? What role does the game play in your life? For example, how often do you play? Have you been to the World Series, etc.?
GM: I started playing in 2005 with a $50 deposit on PokerStars and, like most other players, I realized I had no clue what I was doing. I had played poker for years before that, but I hadn't really thought about strategy beyond "what beats what". So I started my poker life at that point by joining several poker forums, reading strategy articles, poker books, etc. It took on a life of its own!
I play 3 or 4 times a week when I can. Since I am a cash gamer I can find games when I have time to play. For now, poker is still a hobby and I have to fit it in after my other obligations!
TB: Tell me a bit about the Twitter Poker Tour. How did you get involved in that and how can my readers get in on the action?
GM: A group of poker players on Twitter (@Grundy in particular) thought it would be great to start a weekly online game modeled after the typical home-game. A loose atmosphere, good competition, no complaining about suckouts, or at least no "in your face" complaining! This is poker after all and, if we can't complain about suckouts, what would there be to talk about? (wink,wink)
We had come up with several names before @PokerPlasm came up with the "Twitter Poker Tour" (or #tpt). I registered the domain name and setup the blog at twitterpokertour.com and @PokerPlasm and I contribute to it regularly.
If your readers would like to get in on the action they can visit the Twitter Poker Tour website for more information.
They can sign up for Twitter at twitter.com. To kickstart their Twitter friend list we have a great post on the Twitter Poker Tour website where the players have listed their Twitter handles in the comments section.
Feel free to stop by and introduce yourself!
TB: Okay, we'll take a bit of break for the Tourneyblog 'lightning round'. This is where I ask you some quick questions. I'd like you to answer with the first word or thought that comes to mind, okay?
Do you prefer…
Tournaments or ring games?
GM: Ring games
TB: Live action or online poker?
GM: Online
TB: Hold'em or Stud?
GM: Hold'em
TB: Limit or no-limit?
GM: No-limit
TB: Texas or Omaha Hold'em?
GM: Texas
TB: Low or high-stakes games?
GM: Low
TB: Tight or loose games?
GM: Loose
TB: Aggressive or passive play?
GM: Passive
TB: Tilted or unemotional action?
GM: I enjoy playing against tilting players! Who wouldn't?
TB: Who is your favorite poker player – live or online – and why?
GM: My favorite player is Phil Ivey. He is just an amazingly versatile player with unbelievable reading ability.
TB: What are your poker playing goals?
GM: My short term goal in poker is to continue to move up in stakes while a longer term goal is to play semi-professionally. I love the game of poker, why not make some money while I am here?
TB: Is there anything else you'd like to discuss that we may have missed?
GM: I would encourage your readers to come out and play in the Twitter Poker Tour. It is a challenging yet fun field of players. There is no shortage of skill or laughs with this group!
TB: As a former champion of the Twitter Poker Tour – Turkey Day tourney – I couldn’t agree more. Thanks again for taking the time to chat with Tourneyblog.