Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I am originally from Madison, Wis. I 'found' a poker game while I was a student at the University of Wisconsin. I guess that I never stopped playing poker after that! In 1989, I was the youngest player ever to win the World Series of Poker at age 24. In 1993, I won three events at the WSOP and had a second place finish as well. Today, most poker players consider me the #1 poker tournament player in the world. I have won more money than anyone else has in poker tournaments in the last ten years. I still love to play poker, but not as often as when I was in my twenties. My web site (www.philhellmuth.com) keeps me busy for a couple of hours a week writing "Hand of the Week" and "High Limit Results." Andy Glazer (also in your Hall of Fame) and I are working on my autobiography called "Poker Brat."

Can you describe your feelings when you became the World Series of Poker champion in `89 as a 24-year old?

Winning the World Series of Poker was a dream come true for me. At the tender age of 24, it was my #1 dream. My father insisted on attending the WSOP in 1989. So I made a deal with my dad that if I won the championship, I would buy him a new car. It was the first poker tournament he ever attended, and it was also his first Mercedes-Benz! I'll never forget the dealer turning up that last card; my arms shot up into the air in ecstasy-Yes! I was the World Champion of Poker! In an instant, I looked around the room for my father. There he was running up to embrace me. What a moment for me--having my father there when I achieved my dream. Luckily, I have the whole scene on video.

In a Newsweek interview, you where quoted as saying, "Poker players are the best people in the world at determining when someone's lying." Does this mind-reading skill work only at the poker table, or does it come in handy in other life situations?

It is not a 'mind-reading skill.' The ability to determine whether someone is lying or not is a combination of reading their body language, facial expressions and verbal responses. Another factor is understanding what they want to accomplish (or hide) and why they want to accomplish it. In poker, what they want to accomplish is obvious. Therefore, the important part is close observation of their face, voice and movements. The reason that I believe poker players are the best people at determining whether or not someone is lying is that poker players try to determine this 20 plus times a day when they are playing poker. The ability to determine whether someone is lying or not (as well as their level of sincerity), is quite useful away from the poker tables. I use this skill every day in both my personal and business relationships.

What does it take to be a good poker player?

Good question. Some of the best psychologists are bad poker players because they pay too much attention to people. Some of the best game theorists are bad poker players because they pay too much attention too strategy. A "good" poker player can do both--play good strategy and read people well. "Great" poker players are masters of what I like to call "situational analysis." In other words, a "great" poker player can make quick judgments as to when to make good moves (strategy) based on what has already occurred. For example, I may decide to bet $10,000 in order to bluff out my opponent because I see weakness in him based on the way he is acting or looking.

In blackjack, sticking to your strategy is considered very important. Does this apply in poker as well?

Absolutely not! "Situational analysis" dictates that you act differently in each situation. However, patience is considered an important part of most winning strategies.

Coming versions of online casino software will enable Internet players in different locations to play poker against each other. Do you think this concept will work (considering you can't actually see your opponent face-to-face)?

People have, for over a year, played poker for money against each other on the Net. Soon you will be able to play poker for fun at www.philhellmuth.com. Soon after that, we will offer poker for money at www.clubpoker.com. It is fun to play poker on the Net, especially considering you can do it from the home or office for just 30 minutes or an hour. You definitely lose the skill factor of "reading people." So online poker is more pure game strategy-oriented.

What is your opinion of the Internet gaming industry?

I would love to see government regulation, not prohibition. My European friends laugh at the USA and say; "Didn't your young country already try to prohibit alcohol? Haven't you learned prohibition doesn't work yet?" I think that they are right about prohibition not working. Politics makes strange bedfellows. In the call for prohibition of online gambling, we see casino owners and the religious right pushing through the Kyl bill.

Do you play at Internet casinos?

I own Internet casinos as well.

What's your favorite place to play?

I guess that I have to shamelessly promote my own sites. Again, they are www.philhellmuth.com for no-stakes poker and www.clubpoker.com for money. Our poker software really is the best out there right now.

Our latest Hall of Fame guest, gambling author Gayle Mitchell, was invited to pose a question to you. Gayle wonders: "How do you do it? The grind, the lows and highs, bankroll fluctuations?"

Playing professional poker is not a life for everyone. The highs are great and easy, but the lows are what make you grow. I hate the lows, but I recognize that they are necessary if you want to be all that you can be. No one became great at anything without bad times. What you realize (learn) about yourself and life in general during the lows determines how high you will go during the highs. For every low I have had, I have learned a new thing or two about how to handle myself and the next high.

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