Understanding Johnny Chan

In my unique position as a poker writer and player, I have the opportunity to interact with the professionals much more than any casual fan. In order to help me finish off an article on Ultimate Bet, for instance, I called Phil Hellmuth and spoke to him on his cell phone. It is just a normal occurrence in my life. Thus, I don't get too excited or awe-struck when interacting with poker's elite. There have been two exceptions to this rule, as I feel giddy like a star-struck fan when I get the chance to interact with Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan.

Johnny Chan is one of the most interesting and genuine individuals in poker. His love of poker is only surpassed by the love of his 6 kids. He came to the US in the late '60's from Hong Kong and soon found poker. A true living legend, he has a record-tying 10 WSOP bracelets (tied with Doyle Brunson) with back-to-back titles in the main event in '87 and '88. After those consecutive wins, he placed 2nd in '89 to a cocky young kid named Phil Hellmuth Jr. Two firsts and a 2nd in 3 years at the main event is not a bad run, eh? From the later stages of the 1980's and into the 1990's, there is no doubt that Johnny was the best player in the world (especially in No Limit HE). His role of himself in the wildly famous poker-movie Rounders has only propelled his legendary status. Matt Damon's character replays the '88 pivotal hand where Chan traps Eric Seidel after catching a straight. The admiration that Damon's character holds for Johnny is the same than many real-life poker aficionados have today.

Johnny Chan's nickname as the "Oriental Express" has seemed to have faded in the past few years. Instead, it seems that he's best known by fans and admirers as simply "Johnny". His wide grin and infectious chuckle are unmistakable in the poker room. He loves to laugh and joke away from the table, and even between hands at times. When the cards are in the air, though, he becomes intense and intimidating.

He's known as on of the best post-flop players to have ever lived. He's able to make great reads on his opposition, allowing him to make lay-downs that few in the world could manage. Likewise, he has an uncanny ability to suck extra chips from opposition with seemingly perfect bet amounts when he is in the lead.

He has several unique habits and superstitions. The most noticeable and famous may be the orange that he carries for luck. Don't be fooled into thinking he spends all of his extra income on bags of the fruit, though. He breaks out an orange on some occasions, but I've seen him play plenty of games without an orange as a side kick. Another television-induced belief is that Johnny is always donned in wild shirts. While he does have a unique choice in shirt patterns, he's also often seen wearing boring single-colored polo shirts as well. Johnny is indeed very superstitious, though. If he takes a beat or two in a short amount of time, he almost always asks for a change in the deck of cards. He thinks those cards may be unlucky. If he loses yet again, he might even ask the floor manager to send over a new dealer, hoping that might change the tide!

Despite the superstitions, Johnny Chan is calm, relaxed, and confident at any poker venue. He's a regular at all of the biggest games available, and is still a visible participant at the big tournaments. He is usually in control of his emotions at the felt. He is usually watching the action like a hawk, as well.

Johnny Chan: Play Profile & Prediction

PLAY PROFILE: It is assumed by most poker observers that Johnny's best game is No Limit Hold 'Em. This might be a great assumption, but I am not certain that it is accurate. Johnny's record shows that he is one of the very best at all spreads of levels and games, with WSOP bracelets and major tournament wins in Omaha, 2 to 7 lowball, Stud, and Limit Hold 'Em. In other words, Johnny is skilled and dangerous at all games. Popular perception leads us to believe that he is very aggressive and bluffs often. Again, I think that his reputation is a bit off from reality. Johnny does not bluff as often as some might think, and he is relatively selective with his starting hands. Instead, he plays measured poker and bluffs only when he feels his opposition is exhibiting weakness. He is usually very in control of his emotion, and tilts extremely rarely. His lists of strengths is long (patience, reading ability, control, focus, confidence, etc.), while his weaknesses are few.

PREDICTIONS: Johnny Chan was placed in the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002, but the induction is not an indication that his career is slowing down. He continues to roll in the tournament setting, and hopes to continue to fill his arm with gold WSOP bracelets. In '05, he secured his 10th bracelet in a $2500 buy-in Pot Limit Hold 'Em event (netting him a $300,000+ paycheck). He continues to pull regular sizable profits in side games, as the set-up (most often mixed games) allow his overall skill to shine. With his unmatched skill in all games, I expect him to surpass Doyle in the total bracelet race by picking up another win or two at the non-main events. One of the biggest stars in the game, his stock will continue to rise with advertisers in poker and poker-related businesses. Johnny is a savvy businessman, so I am certain that he'll maximize his self-marketing potential and find a way to make significant amounts of money away from the table.

More Poker Player Profiles

♣ Andy Bloch ♣ Annie Duke ♣ Antonio Esfandiari ♣ Chris Ferguson ♣ Dan Harrington ♣ Daniel Negreanu ♣ Doyle Brunson ♣ Greg Raymer ♣ Gus Hansen ♣ Howard Lederer ♣ James Woods

♣ Jennifer Harman ♣ Johnny Chan ♣ Mark Seif ♣ Mike Matusow ♣ Phil Gordon ♣ Phil Hellmuth ♣ Phil Ivey ♣ Phil Laak ♣ Poker Hotties ♣ Sam Farha ♣ TJ Cloutier

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