Dig Magazine

Issue date: 5/5/10 Section: Cover Story

20 year-old Simon Jenvey dropped out of college to pursue his dreams as a professional poker player

I'm playing poker with Simon Jenvey-a 20-year-old from Great Britain who makes his living playing the game--and I'm winning. By more than $1,000. Maybe I'm the one who should have dropped out of college to bet my future on the world's most unforgiving card game. Maybe Jenvey's starting to reconsider his decision to do so.

This is the 70th hand of our matchup, a game of pot-limit Omaha (Jenvey's favorite poker variant) that we're playing online---on a relatively new poker website called Gr88.com (pronounced "Great 8") that sponsors Jenvey. Our game was set up for its publicity value, as a way to promote Gr88.com. But this couldn't have been the kind of publicity they were looking for. And I've just been dealt four more pretty strong cards.

That's how many cards you're dealt in pot-limit Omaha, which is otherwise pretty similar to Texas Hold 'Em, in which you're dealt two. Omaha players can only use two of the four cards they're dealt (plus three of the five on the board that are available to all players to make the best, five-card hand). But I've just been dealt an Ace and the King of spades, as well as a five and six.

I open with a minimal raise of $100. Jenvey quickly calls.

***

Simon Jenvey was attending Brockenhurst College, focusing on learning a trade---he took classes in construction and computers---when he was bitten by the poker bug. He'd always been fascinated by the game, but had never learned to play, figuring it was too complex. But that's the thing about a college education-not all the learning happens in the classroom.

"I saw my mates playing a friendly game of poker, I sat down and watched and they asked me join in, so I did," says Jenvey. "From then I was hooked."

Jenvey became obsessed with poker. He read as many books as he could find, and cruised the online 2 + 2 forums for discussion about poker philosophy and different hand strategies.

Long days of classes would morph into even longer nights of poker-and a growing bankroll. Jenvey realized he was paying for almost everything he need through his poker winnings.

"The time came when I had to decide if I wanted to do another two years at college or play poker," he says. "I chose poker. It was the easiest choice I've made in my life."

Continued...

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