Is Your Car a Tell?

We’ve been bothering our favorite poker players with impertinent questions about their flashy vehicles. Here’s what we discovered about their rides and their personalities…

Doyle Brunson
We know for a fact that Texas Dolly loves his Lincoln almost as much as he loves ice-cream Sundaes, and has refused to drive anything else for several decades.

Like Doyle, it’s big, fast and as smooth as silk - a powerful ride for the man who brought power poker to the masses, and an elegant and stately king of the road for an elegantly and stately old road gambler.

Tell: Old school patience will hurt you; power play will finish you off.

Phil Laak
Phil’s beloved 1968 (Convertible) Cadillac Coupe DeVille is currently broken down in the Bellagio car park. “It needs to go to the car doctor, big time,” he told us ruefully. “It kinda got sick and stopped working there on my last visit. How pure is that?”

Should the Cadillac’s illness prove terminal, Phil covets an ‘old but good condition’ black ext/int Lincoln. “…With suicide doors,” he explains. “Like the one they drove around in The Matrix.” So what does the Unanbomber’s car tell us about the man? Kinda crazy looking, ramshackle, but cool. Spends too much time at the casino. Like Phil, it has a removable hood. Unlike Phil, however, it is currently a non-runner runner.

Tell: Wild play. Will put you on Tilt faster than your mother-in-law.

Josh Arieh
“Always wanted a sports car,” confides Josh of his 2005 Corvette.
Why the 2005 Corvette? It’s fast.
Yeh, but why that particular car? ‘Cause it’s fast.
What do you like most about it? It’s fast.
Ok, I give up.

Josh is a man who knows how to change gears at the table, but is happiest going into overdrive. Flashy, razor-sharp, domineering and ...er…fast, this suits our man Josh all round.

Tell: Aggressive. He’s going to hit the table at 100mph

Annie Duke
Annie drives a hybrid Toyota Prius. Naturally less macho than the boy’s cars, like Annie, it looks fantastic, is kind to the environment and always delivers an impeccable performance. It doesn’t look mean, but a Prius recently broke the hybrid land-speed record. Annie through
and through.

Tell: Beware. Packs a hidden punch

Samy Farha
“I picked this car because it’s as fast as my play,” barks Samy of his Mercedes SL500/2004 convertible. “And I’ve never been late to a poker game.” It’s clear this maverick high-stakes Omaha master appreciates the finer things in life and just can’t resist some super-fast action.

Tell: Solid and fast; playing for the money.

Antonio Esfandiari
The Lexus SUV is a tough, aggressive machine – not unlike Antonio at the table. It’s intimidating when it’s standing still, and of course the ladies love it. Antonio has his loaded with all the toys, bells and whistles, and, if we know the Magician, this particular SUV has tricks up its tailpipe that other SUV’s haven’t even thought of yet!

Tell: Aggressive expect to be put all-in.

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