i ran a grocery store in Vegas around 2004-08 and Gus shopped a few times a week. He was a great guy and my entire staff loved him for his generosity. Always throwing $100 bills at my team for helping him and they never expected it, Great dude
Our monthly Poker League in Omaha still has a framed photo of Gus and myself from the 2008 WSOP. He was always gracious to give people the chance to meet him. I hope his comeback sees him at the top again.
@@EasyPoker Do you even follow poker lol Gus plays the highest stakes in the world and is a regular at 3K/6K at Bobbys room during WSOP. Follow his instagram. Before saying someone has "Fallen" maybe do your homework. Just because a player doesn't play tournaments, doesn't mean he has fallen. Be better
One of the most influential poker players of his time, for sure. His success pretty much singlehandedly changed the way people played. Unfortunately, his inability to adapt and continue having success removes him from the list of potential greatest players of all time.
I agree. He was very popular when I was 14-15 and I liked him because he was different. He just seemed like he was one of the best in the game. Then on full tilt he was fun to watch
I'm always highly skeptical of players like Gus losing online. I never trusted online play. I casually played online and would lose or get called in the most obscene of circumstances. To think that there isn't some engineer or programmer that figured out a way to find a back door to cheat online is putting a lot of faith in humanity. People are willing to cheat on the table...and if there's money involved you can believe there's someone out there willing to cheat.
Totally agree Danny. Used to play online when the boom happened. And I would lose on the most obscure bullshit and I couldn’t help but think it was all rigged
if...you play on a site run by the government...a state run gambling site..you are fine...but totally agree that no one should think people arent out there figuring out how to cheat
You have to be a brain dead moron not to know online poker is rigged for action Anyone who plays live knows this You can sit for 2 hours live and not see a hand. Every 3rd hand online is a straight or higher Ive been playing live poker 1-2 times a week for 15 years Ive seen quads once in 15 years. Ive seen quads 5 times alone today online and see them every single day without fail
He lost because he played games and opponents who were better than him at different games at the highest stakes. I don´t think RTA was available when he was playing but its obviously a much bigger issue now.
Great video! I worked in poker during Gus's heyday. He was always a fascinating person to watch, and I really enjoyed this look at what he did after I stopped following the game. Really cool stuff, thanks!
He invested in bitcoin in 2010 - 2012 when its $0.1. Later when he lost his winnings and working as an accountant, Bitcoin rose up and made him millions if not hundreds of millions. So he quit the job cause he is lucky... Accountant job didn't support his lifestyle. Thus the move to Monaco to evade taxes.
@@ASTROLOGICWORLD you must have a lot of money to live in Monaco..yes you dont pay tax but think for a 2-bedroom condo you must pay 10-12 k euro per month rent. To buy the condo must pay 15-20 millions
Gus played ahead of his time. He played how everyone is playing now back in 2000s. Back then mostly everyone was tight. If someone raised pre-flop, they had a premium hand, not the case now.
I'd agree. But there's no denying that he had a very bad run towards the end. I guess you need to evolve or die. Being too early is often the same as being wrong. I would love to see a new player like Gus, but on today's scene
He’s a legend, like most of these dudes who broke out into mainstream in “Poker After Dark”. God, I miss those days in which they would sit around like a bunch of gentlemen, and let their hands do the talking without all the theatrics and cheap gimmicks that plagues the game today.
@@EasyPoker Old school, I’d vouch to say Patrik Antonious is probably the closest to Gus? Practically unreadable, with icy cold veins to go in for the kill when needed. I’m not too familiar with the “new school” poker players, so I can’t really compare? Cheers!
I remember Gus did a really random TV segment interview during one of the many poker TV shows during the boom (they were always looking for content and it was usually awful) and they were discussing poker players working out. Gus had his segment and talked about how he thought it was important that a poker player worked out then gave some convoluted reason that didnt make any sense. Of course sitting next to him were workout Warriors like Hellmuth and Matasow. 😂
It's controversial but a lot of people feel this way (including myself). Gus claims that pushing digital buttons is very different than live poker, so I don't think he feels the same way tho.
Oh, the english gentleman. I've been looking for an awesome poker player to test this format as a 'short' - might use him :) Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! ☺
He was a showman if nothing else. Definitely also my favorit player to watch. Do you think he would be able to stand his ground at the current live tournament scene?
That's what struck me too. I figured he must have won at least $10m to warrant that type of investment. The buy in had to have been a small fraction of the $400k mentioned here.
8 entrants. $400K buy in. $3.2M prize pool. Gus Hansen $1M Johnny Chan $750K Phil Ivey $400K TJ Cloutier $300K David Reese $250K Howard Lederer $250K Doyle Brunson $150K Barry Greenstein $100K
Nah , he entered a sit n go, its just those dumb poker media people that have to call it a tournament, was 8 ppl playing all bought in for 400k. 2 won money, 1 broke even, rest took some losses.
@@antarcticorb9197 absolute poker was the big cheating scandal. Full tilt was where they didn't have the money to cover withdrawals, as the higher ups had taken it. Like if you went to the bank and couldn't take out money at the ATM because the bank president was shopping with it.
I have only read a few poker books, but the best one I've read was "Every Hand Revealed" that Gus released in 2008. There Gus noted every hand (his own cards and the board, as well as the betting) during a tournament which he won. As great as the book is, it almost certainly hurt him when he played against others who had read his book (much like the famous though somewhat inaccurate quip in the great film "Patton", regarding Rommel). Although this video indicates that Hansen's poker decline started in 2012, I think his 2008 book must have been a big factor. Doyle Brunson also felt that his own book helped his opponents too much. Of course perhaps Hansen's opponents may have figured out Hansen's game even without the book, much as Tom Dwan's aggressive game was figured out at one point - which led to a slump. Hansen seems like a good guy, in a game where not everyone is a gentleman at all times. It's a shame he lost so much money and didn't stop once he'd gotten down to $2-3 million or so. Then again, sometimes you have to hit bottom to learn important lessons in life. I wish him well with his new family.
Sure, that makes sense. Of course it's gonna hurt you to write a book about your strategy. Do you think that was a calculated risk? He's a smart guy - maybe he taught her could use it to his advantage? 🤔
I read the book, too. And I remember that I was thinking: “How can you win like that?” He got very lucky in several hands in that Aussie Millions…I didn’t find an impressive strategy…no?
There are always new and better players in poker with different and better strategies. I never thought of Gus as a good poker player, just reckless and lucky. The way he played was never going to be profitable in the long run. Much respect to Kid Poker and Ivey.
This is no surprise. I played a lot for quite a while. I would see player burn out all the time. Especially if they had an appetite for sports betting or other table games. Also if they called loose and/or played online regularly. I got a “refund” twice by Poker stars when someone got caught cheating. I stopped playing online. You see this all the time, several “big name” players have gone broke, no different than in other high paid careers. Look at broke football players, bowlers, actors, etc. they think it’s going to be there forever. You have to stay grounded and adapt to keep you income.
Loved Hansen back in the day. Bottom lines is everyone is the same in the end. Everyone wins and loses. There are no wealthy poker players who made it from poker. It’s a lottery. The more players in the tourney, the more donks who will get lucky. Every time someone slow places A’s they act like they invented it.
A legend for me and his book learned me so much.I was looking him playing at night highstacks on fulltilt with ivey d wan brunson antonius ....That was crazy!!!!!!!
He was ahead of its time,but wasn't crazy as evreyone seems to believed.In this book he explained every hand he played and nothing was leave to chance.Before him you had brunson's book wich was crazy to but strategy wasn't so far that was tight mode, Hansen understood more far ranges of his opponent and why that was ev+to call sometimes backdoor drap or bluff,he was exploitant but because of him guys began to understand to and New poker arrived. He lost à lot agains't "nozebleed" Alexandre luneau because he was bluffing too much.To answer you, yes he could still à great player imo Just have to addapt of the New field of today knowing now everyone think in terms of ranges in each situation to take ev+ décision so can't exploite as many as he did.sorry for m'y english, i'm a froogy🤣
@@outofmatrice5269 Haha, I understand! It's interesting. I hope we'll see him back at the major tables again one day! If he can adapt, I think he did something really good for the game of poker. He definetely evolved the game and created a style and persona that what entertaining to watch and brought a lot of new fans to poker. One of the greatest ever!
@@EasyPoker Ho yes he was in Nash mode before anyone and he's why Nash ranges have been calculate.People who say he was Just lucky are jalous or can't face réality.Hope he ll come back.I thank him for making me earn money and shared what he understood before anyone
Best documentary! So did you meet Gus Hansen at backgammon meetings?! That’s great! Are you still close to him? Hopefully you bring him to the channel for an interview
Thanks! Glad you like it! I actually haven't met Gus yet, no. But would love to have him on the channel! It's actually something I've been trying to do for some time :)
This is why I don't let my ego get the best of me. I go to the casino play small $2 $3 no limit and i tend to win a decent amount of money 4 out of 5 times. My best night i sat with $300 and played for 17 hours winning $8,500 and i didn't play again for another 6 weeks and won a couple thousand more. I only ever gamble money I'm prepared to lose. You have to know when to walk away!
In 2013 he lost well over 14 million at full tilt Poker he was playing the very best who had solved his betting tendencies. They had progressed and were playing at a lot higher level than Gus who was still stuck playing his same strategies. Such a shame really nice guy met him on a few occasions in casinos.
I've read all comments on this video - and this point really struck me. I guess at that level you need to constantly evolve your play and strategy to keep them guessing. Especially when playing as bullish as Gus. How do you think he might have evolved his game, while still maintaining his 'Gus-ness'?
@@EasyPoker he could have had coaching from other top pros, think his big mistake was the fame and the glory thinking he was the best with no need to study. There is a video on here called Nosebleeds about 2 French players who between them spent 24 Hrs a day waiting for Gus to sit at a table online, these 2 are the players who took most of his millions. Give it a watch it's really interesting called Nosebleed
Great video, but it would have been a nice touch to mention how the site he played at had players on the big tables that used programs that enabled you to see the opponents cards. I do wonder how much of the money he lost is due to some some highrollers cheating.
Definitely a great point. As a fellow Dane (hejsa) I tried to find interviewers where Gus talked about this, but couldn't find much. Do you think Gus could be a top player online, if no one cheated?
@@EasyPoker The easy answer is yes. He is hyper intelligent, very aggressive and random, he is a beast at the table. But his aggressive tendencies also makes him a huge target for people that cheat, as his playstyle due mean that he takes weird losses. He never stopped playing backgammon for money, which he still does. And there is stories about him ditching tournaments when he didn't have a good position because there was big money backgammon games that was more fun. Lastly it should be said, that I have met him twice due to my parents. They are both playing bridge. He is in a lack of better words, a killer. Especially if there is betting to be made.
@@NielsMulvad That’s definitely true. It’s a real shame, because Gus was (and I guess is) one of the absolute goats of poker. Intelligent, daring, charismatic and just an overall cool and likable guy. Really hope to see him back on top one day. Although a guy like that could probably dominate all kinds of games. Maybe we should make an “EasyBridge” app so we can get to meet him too 😉
I remember watching those online games where he lost all that money. Absolute car-crash, it was like he was on permanent tilt and couldn't stop himself forcing it and playing over his head until he'd lost the lot.
I was playing in the Aviation Club in Paris playing the WPT Paris and Gus was at the bar playing $100k a game heads up Rummy 500 against Phil Ivey . I was so out of my League 😂
@@gunguru7020 Right, and he got big paychecks from full tilt, and lost 20 million$ online. Last I checked, he was the 2nd highest losing player in online poker history.
@@garygwinn4256 that may be absolutely true but it can also be true that he played against great players and did well. Saying he was only lucky and only ran good against beginners is hyperbolic. The video talks of Hansen's "new" strategy when he first started. The game reacted and evolved, he did not. Daniel Negreanu has had to evolve his game due to the new style of play and internet poker. He talks of it constantly.
You obviously don't understand what you are criticising. He didn't get beaten by good players online, he got beaten by the best players online, as he took on the very best, and consistently got beaten by them as they were better than him, and he refused to acknowledge this until he had lost $20M and finally realised his game selection of taking on the best players in the world was wrong. If it was as simple as you say, lots of other players would have successfully played a maniac style against beginners at the WPT. As he focussed on cash games he didnt enter many WSOP events, so it isnt surprising he didnt win WSOP events.
@@johnnyhartley4330 No Jonny, I do understand. I was a good poker player before the poker boom. Gus ran extremely well in some WPT events, and especially well in Poker Superstars invitational. He was playing hands like 9-2 offsuit into hands like KK and putting in huge bets and sucking out. He Sun-Ran his way into frauding himself as a great player. Now everyone knows he is a Mark in any game he is in
He may have bottomed out, but he experienced it all and he certainly had a lot of fun while he did it. Us ordinary people can't say that and that's why I envy Gus Hansen.
6:50 wait...a buy in of $400,000 but winning it all only nets you $1,000,000 ? How was the total prize money distributed? Did last place still get $100k? Seems getting only 2.5x your money back isn't a good bet.
You're right, that does seem like a bad bet. I just did some research and found this: "However, Phil Ivey has said, on Full Tilt, that he walked away with about $400,000, and, therefore, broke even.". So it seems correct. Still odd tho.
I was probably a SitNGo format, probably only like 5-6 players in the game. Thats the only solution i can see but it still doesnt make sense in payouts.
Regarding Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament - How does entering a tournament with an entry fee of $400'000 USD each (8 entrants) and a first prize of $1M USD make any sense at all for any player !? Phil broke even coming second.. I just don't get it.. Even if you were playing with 'backer money' they would surely want the reward would their contestant win..
In June 2008, I stumbled upon a Full Tilt commercial being filmed on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. It was Midnight, and so surreal. Three ladies who appeared to be 'peddling their wares' asked Gus Hansen if he needed a massage. "Nah, he's good. I already asked him that!", I interjected before Gus could answer. Working girl: "But you're a guy!" Me: "Yeah, that's right." Gus laughed. He was EXACTLY like he was on tv--I felt like I already knew him. All 14 of the poker pros did their best to accommodate their fans during this 5-hour session, but Gus Hansen was the standout...a class guy!
@@EasyPoker Gus was the only FT pro who went outside the roped off area between takes. He posed for pics and signed playing cards (6 of hearts for me) for fans til the sun came up. After this trip, my online poker name became "Unshaven Stag", an anagram of Gustav Hansen. Thank you, Gus!
The story at 6:50 about him entering a poker tournament for $400k and coming first and winning $1m doesn’t seem right. Why would first prize only be 2.5 the buy in?
I found it odd too, but apparently it checks out: 8 entrants. $400K buy in. $3.2M prize pool. Gus Hansen $1M Johnny Chan $750K Phil Ivey $400K TJ Cloutier $300K David Reese $250K Howard Lederer $250K Doyle Brunson $150K Barry Greenstein $100K
I don’t understand why ppl still trust online poker…A computer will never duplicate a real game 🤦🏻♂️ like He said, you can even see your opponent’s face 😅
Damn bow do you lose 20 MILLION to online gambling? I would've got the hint after a couple of MIL that they shits s scam. Might as well play slot machines.
It baffles me how pro poker players can gamble away all their money. Surely they had some kind of discipline to get there? Was it just a huge amount of luck that got them there and they couldn't handle it when they became unlucky? I guess the aggressive style of Gus was his downfall. It sounds like he is still quite wealthy if he can travel the world playing poker. I am sure he has enough investments to keep him going next time.
Yeah, I'm sure he's doing just fine and probably had some sort of cash to fall back on. People like Gus just attract that kind of thing. As to how he lost his money in the first place, there are multiple theories - some are downright conspiracy theories. Just another reason this man is so interesting to talk about! 🐐
I think Poker Documentary, I love the show, by the way, should do a show on Collingwood, Ontario, Canada's -- Dave "David" Brown. He is also a tennis coach and ex pro tennis player as well as, most notably, a Poker + sports gambling legend. Peace and thanks!!!!!!!
Losing tens of millions was clearly a psychological meltdown. A rational person would have set aside at least half of the $25 million he had won, and kept it in a trust managed by reputable professionals. He would never touch it, and let it grow. Running his bankroll down to nothing must have been due to deep psycho problems. Or drugs may have been a factor.
@@EasyPoker Thanks lads. Just discovered easy poker today. look forward to more vids. All the best from dublin ireland- gus, by the way is a legend 🇮🇪☘️
@@junglebhoy7 Awesome! Glad to have you following our videos - I'll keep more coming. Thinking of doing a video on isildur (Viktor Blom). And, if you like poker, I hope you'll check out our app. It's free, easy, social and tracks your poker stats. Slán a chara! 🇮🇪☘🎩
If he would have actually thought about the hand he was playing instead of playing with his chips for 10 minutes every time a camera was pointed at him he might have made better decisions
Good point. The loose playing style he practice is a risk - but wouldn't you also agree it's served him very well at the live tables? Can't imagine Gus not being loose aggressive. He's a showman.
Best poker advice I've ever been given was to slow down on decisions that aren't obvious folds or calling with the nuts, and to consider all angles. My wins went up immediately. Not saying take 10 minutes. But take an extra 15 to 30 seconds, and on bigger decisions, a minute. It's a thinking game, not a reaction game.
He lived the high roller lifestyle it seems.. Had he lived an ordinary live n invested his winnings in stocks, he would hv done ok (+20 mill).. Maybe he was not mature enough, hopefully by having a family he would be a better person..
Gus was great at building huge pots and making big bluffs because he was unpredictable, his problem was he never knew when to slow down. that's bound to catch up with you. Everybody runs bad and you can't bluff or high roll your way out of it.
You might be right. But I still find it odd, that his luck ran out exactly when switching to online poker? I think there might be more to this than just a lucky streak running out.
@@EasyPoker that's just part of the story, you can find information about how much he was in debt to Doyle and crew from live action as well. He hit a cold wave cards or people figured out his style. Either way when you push like Gus and things aren't going your way it doesn't take long to go through a lot of cash. I love watching him play and hope he gets back to where he was.
I see. But Doyle was rather loose aggressive in his playing style as well, right? Or am I mistaking? I like watching the the LAGs play, and I also think a lot of players get further with that playing style. Although I know TAG is where most pros like to be these days.
@@EasyPoker Gus was one of the first to think of poker in terms of ranges instead of hands. I think the times may have caught up with him a bit (ie players were adapting to this style) and with a run of bad cards, you can be out if you aren't bankroll savvy enough. Could happen to anyone really...we all sometimes press when we know we shouldn't.
@Mr. Batters That´s not true mate. There are many successful tournament players who don´t go near cash. With good reason, the average tourney pro is much worse than the average cash pro.
@@Romans8-9 in cash games*. The same goes for cash game players in tourneys. It's just different. Most cash game pros have little to no experience playing short stacks. In cash games you can just reload, which is basically a crutch and can favor those with especially deep bankrolls. In tourneys, it doesn't matter how much is in your bank account, everyone starts off equal. There's never a time you would fold AA preflop in a cash game, but there are times when it makes sense in tournaments. Two completely different animals and if you're a winning player, no one is gonna give a shit if you got it from tournaments or cash games.
Rumors have circulated for years about software that exists which allows a third party to view your hole cards while you're playing online poker. Now, it's been confirmed by top computer security experts that malware of this nature exists and that it's targeting accounts of players at Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars
i ran a grocery store in Vegas around 2004-08 and Gus shopped a few times a week. He was a great guy and my entire staff loved him for his generosity. Always throwing $100 bills at my team for helping him and they never expected it, Great dude
Gotta love The Great Dane 🤩👏🏼
Thank you skid for highlighting some positive about him
Such a legend. Not just at the table, but in every way.
Looks like he isn’t all that smart with money though
@@BudFuddlacker i don't think that makes him a bad person though, but thanks for sharing your opinion
He is the reason i got into poker in 2002. What a legend, nice to hear he has won the biggest prize in life- beeing a father.
I feel the same way! Imagine what a cool dad Gus must be 🙈 Do you think he'll ever return to the scene of top poker?
Our monthly Poker League in Omaha still has a framed photo of Gus and myself from the 2008 WSOP. He was always gracious to give people the chance to meet him. I hope his comeback sees him at the top again.
An absolute legend, human and entertainer - and someone who belongs on the poker scene.
Hope to see him back in the spotlight soon!
@@EasyPoker Do you even follow poker lol Gus plays the highest stakes in the world and is a regular at 3K/6K at Bobbys room during WSOP. Follow his instagram. Before saying someone has "Fallen" maybe do your homework. Just because a player doesn't play tournaments, doesn't mean he has fallen. Be better
One of the most influential poker players of his time, for sure. His success pretty much singlehandedly changed the way people played. Unfortunately, his inability to adapt and continue having success removes him from the list of potential greatest players of all time.
Stfu lol what credentials do you have to judge anyone? lmao
I agree. He was very popular when I was 14-15 and I liked him because he was different. He just seemed like he was one of the best in the game. Then on full tilt he was fun to watch
Gus was one of my most favourite poker players from a young age. Sad to see his fall but happy to see he's still playing poker.
Mine too! Such an entertainer and seemed like a nice guy too! :)
Payrick Antonio is good too no?
Yes, a lot of people are mentioning him. Maybe I should consider doing a video on him 🤔
@@powerstuffup Antonio is another of my favourites, a lot of the "old school players" I really enjoyed watching. Tom Dwan is another one!
What about Isildur1? Viktor Blom
If he's living in Monaco he's not broke
Underrated comment
Facts!
I gotta imagine he owes a lot of people money.
At what point does it say he's broke?
@@jonathansmith3208 it Doesnt lol
I'm always highly skeptical of players like Gus losing online. I never trusted online play. I casually played online and would lose or get called in the most obscene of circumstances. To think that there isn't some engineer or programmer that figured out a way to find a back door to cheat online is putting a lot of faith in humanity. People are willing to cheat on the table...and if there's money involved you can believe there's someone out there willing to cheat.
Totally agree Danny. Used to play online when the boom happened. And I would lose on the most obscure bullshit and I couldn’t help but think it was all rigged
if...you play on a site run by the government...a state run gambling site..you are fine...but totally agree that no one should think people arent out there figuring out how to cheat
@@jadezee6316 yes clearly the government can always be trusted 😄 🤣
You have to be a brain dead moron not to know online poker is rigged for action
Anyone who plays live knows this
You can sit for 2 hours live and not see a hand. Every 3rd hand online is a straight or higher
Ive been playing live poker 1-2 times a week for 15 years
Ive seen quads once in 15 years.
Ive seen quads 5 times alone today online and see them every single day without fail
He lost because he played games and opponents who were better than him at different games at the highest stakes. I don´t think RTA was available when he was playing but its obviously a much bigger issue now.
Yes, Gus Hansen is a pleasure to watch play poker! I hope he can come back. The sport is better with him in there.
It sure was.
But do you think he would fit into 'todays' kind of poker as well?
how can you even call poker a sport?
"come back". I lost in poker. I never play again. Maybe 1% can win in long run.
@Political Viewer If u can receive a massage while playing it, it IS NOT a sport! Lol. It's a game, not a sport.
@@Metafux Right? If u can receive a massage while playing it, it IS NOT a sport! Lol. It's a game, not a sport.
Great video! I worked in poker during Gus's heyday. He was always a fascinating person to watch, and I really enjoyed this look at what he did after I stopped following the game. Really cool stuff, thanks!
Love to hear it! Thanks my man 👏🏼🎃
"..well ya know, for me, the action IS the juice!..I'm in! - Michael Cherrito/Heat
Accountant is a pretty good job and he could easily become THE accountant for all poker players
He invested in bitcoin in 2010 - 2012 when its $0.1. Later when he lost his winnings and working as an accountant, Bitcoin rose up and made him millions if not hundreds of millions. So he quit the job cause he is lucky... Accountant job didn't support his lifestyle. Thus the move to Monaco to evade taxes.
Great point
@@ASTROLOGICWORLD you must have a lot of money to live in Monaco..yes you dont pay tax but think for a 2-bedroom condo you must pay 10-12 k euro per month rent. To buy the condo must pay 15-20 millions
You make money, you lose money. Gus will always have that sharp mind though and put it to use. Wish him well
Gus played ahead of his time. He played how everyone is playing now back in 2000s. Back then mostly everyone was tight. If someone raised pre-flop, they had a premium hand, not the case now.
I'd agree. But there's no denying that he had a very bad run towards the end. I guess you need to evolve or die. Being too early is often the same as being wrong. I would love to see a new player like Gus, but on today's scene
He’s a legend, like most of these dudes who broke out into mainstream in “Poker After Dark”. God, I miss those days in which they would sit around like a bunch of gentlemen, and let their hands do the talking without all the theatrics and cheap gimmicks that plagues the game today.
Agreed. Felt like a golden age of poker and poker personalities. Do you think there's any Gus-like personas in poker today?
@@EasyPoker Old school, I’d vouch to say Patrik Antonious is probably the closest to Gus? Practically unreadable, with icy cold veins to go in for the kill when needed. I’m not too familiar with the “new school” poker players, so I can’t really compare? Cheers!
I think that's probably as close as it gets, yeah. Maybe he should be the subject of a future video.
Thanks for the input!
As someone mentioned...sure he lost tons of money but he seems to be doing fine financially if he has been and still is living in monaco.
I remember Gus did a really random TV segment interview during one of the many poker TV shows during the boom (they were always looking for content and it was usually awful) and they were discussing poker players working out. Gus had his segment and talked about how he thought it was important that a poker player worked out then gave some convoluted reason that didnt make any sense. Of course sitting next to him were workout Warriors like Hellmuth and Matasow. 😂
I've been saying for years that online poker is rigged and I think Gus's story proves that.
It's controversial but a lot of people feel this way (including myself). Gus claims that pushing digital buttons is very different than live poker, so I don't think he feels the same way tho.
Live poker is how the game was meant to be played simple as that. The digital version is nice for convenience but it’s not the same.
Not even EasyPoker? A digital version of your physical poker set, for poker with friends ;)
Frankly, I think he got cheated playing online. Easy to do and get away with.
Full tilt poker says it all
Please do a video on Chino Rheem. I've heard some very scandalous things about him and I think you would get a lot of views.
Like what? I always thought he was a good tournament player
Great video. I read Gus's fascinating book and always wondered what happened to him.
He's a fascinating guy!
Lost $21 million on online poker? Damn! I won’t feel that bad next time the Lakers cost me $100 bucks.
Haha, or maybe stick to using EasyPoker - we don't use gambling 😉
One of my favorite guys from the boom era of poker
Who else is on that list? 😉
loved watching Gus back in the day one of my favorite players
Still my favorite player ever. But I'm also danish, so might be biased 😉
Holy shite, I’ve played at that Ocean View card room. Their chips had lead content…lmao…I had no idea the Dane came to Santa Cruz…so cool..
Haha that's awesome! Imagine sitting down at their table one day and meeting Gus 😄
What do you mean their chips had lead content? What does that mean?
Gus Hansen vs David ChIu is one of my favorite heads up battles in televised poker history .
To Rise and Fall and Rise Again, The Story we all want
Great video. 👍
I would love to see you do a video on another poker legend from the same era - Dave Ulliott AKA ‘The Devil Fish’ 👌
Oh, the english gentleman.
I've been looking for an awesome poker player to test this format as a 'short' - might use him :)
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! ☺
I wondered what happened to Gus. Loved watching him play. He'd play anything, totally unpredictable.
He was a showman if nothing else.
Definitely also my favorit player to watch.
Do you think he would be able to stand his ground at the current live tournament scene?
wait so he entered a tournament with a $400,000 buy in and the grand prize was 1 million?
That's what struck me too. I figured he must have won at least $10m to warrant that type of investment. The buy in had to have been a small fraction of the $400k mentioned here.
8 entrants.
$400K buy in.
$3.2M prize pool.
Gus Hansen $1M
Johnny Chan $750K
Phil Ivey $400K
TJ Cloutier $300K
David Reese $250K
Howard Lederer $250K
Doyle Brunson $150K
Barry Greenstein $100K
Nah , he entered a sit n go, its just those dumb poker media people that have to call it a tournament, was 8 ppl playing all bought in for 400k. 2 won money, 1 broke even, rest took some losses.
This man is the reason I have won a lot of money with 10 8 suited…
Always enjoyed watching him play
Given revelations of cheating in online poker (in those days), I wonder whether cheating played a part in his huge losses.
Probably
Wasn't Full Tilt the epicenter for cheating?
@@antarcticorb9197 absolute poker was the big cheating scandal. Full tilt was where they didn't have the money to cover withdrawals, as the higher ups had taken it. Like if you went to the bank and couldn't take out money at the ATM because the bank president was shopping with it.
I have only read a few poker books, but the best one I've read was "Every Hand Revealed" that Gus released in 2008. There Gus noted every hand (his own cards and the board, as well as the betting) during a tournament which he won. As great as the book is, it almost certainly hurt him when he played against others who had read his book (much like the famous though somewhat inaccurate quip in the great film "Patton", regarding Rommel).
Although this video indicates that Hansen's poker decline started in 2012, I think his 2008 book must have been a big factor. Doyle Brunson also felt that his own book helped his opponents too much. Of course perhaps Hansen's opponents may have figured out Hansen's game even without the book, much as Tom Dwan's aggressive game was figured out at one point - which led to a slump.
Hansen seems like a good guy, in a game where not everyone is a gentleman at all times. It's a shame he lost so much money and didn't stop once he'd gotten down to $2-3 million or so. Then again, sometimes you have to hit bottom to learn important lessons in life. I wish him well with his new family.
Sure, that makes sense. Of course it's gonna hurt you to write a book about your strategy. Do you think that was a calculated risk? He's a smart guy - maybe he taught her could use it to his advantage? 🤔
It's one of my favourite poker books too and I've read a lot of them. If you are an aggressive tourney player I'd highly recommend Hanson's book.
Do you think the strategies and thoughts in that book is still relevant today?
I read the book, too. And I remember that I was thinking: “How can you win like that?” He got very lucky in several hands in that Aussie Millions…I didn’t find an impressive strategy…no?
@@terencehill3972 Well, fortune favors the bold. I think, at the time, a bullish aggressive approach threw a lot of players off their game 🤷♂
There are always new and better players in poker with different and better strategies. I never thought of Gus as a good poker player, just reckless and lucky. The way he played was never going to be profitable in the long run. Much respect to Kid Poker and Ivey.
I see your point. And I guess history proves you right.
But do you think the Gus approach would work best at the physical or online tables today?
The charming donator. What a guy
Haha. True.
But what an inspiring player to watch. Always entertaining.
This is no surprise. I played a lot for quite a while. I would see player burn out all the time. Especially if they had an appetite for sports betting or other table games. Also if they called loose and/or played online regularly.
I got a “refund” twice by Poker stars when someone got caught cheating. I stopped playing online.
You see this all the time, several “big name” players have gone broke, no different than in other high paid careers. Look at broke football players, bowlers, actors, etc. they think it’s going to be there forever.
You have to stay grounded and adapt to keep you income.
Poker is 2 games. The actual card game of poker. And money management. Many poker legends are good at only half the game.
Wise words.
Gus' book is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting poker books ever written.
Gus is a great player he just couldn’t hang with the top echelon in the mixed games, it was clear he was who the games ran around
Do you think the game has evolved passed the point where bullish players like Gus could dominate? Would Gus be able to climb the ranks today? 🤔
Dang. I always wondered what happened to him. I hope he makes it back to the big leagues once again.
Same! Such a legend. One of the greatest, in your opinion? ☺️
@@EasyPoker oh yeah, definitely up there
@@jaypeters5224 I really think so, yeah :)
Loved Hansen back in the day. Bottom lines is everyone is the same in the end. Everyone wins and loses. There are no wealthy poker players who made it from poker. It’s a lottery. The more players in the tourney, the more donks who will get lucky. Every time someone slow places A’s they act like they invented it.
good luck Gus. I love to watch him play.
He is one of the greatest showmen of the game, that's for sure.
A legend for me and his book learned me so much.I was looking him playing at night highstacks on fulltilt with ivey d wan brunson antonius ....That was crazy!!!!!!!
I need to read the book soon! Do you think Gus' playing style would fly at the live tables today?
Or does it belong to a time passed? 🤔
He was ahead of its time,but wasn't crazy as evreyone seems to believed.In this book he explained every hand he played and nothing was leave to chance.Before him you had brunson's book wich was crazy to but strategy wasn't so far that was tight mode, Hansen understood more far ranges of his opponent and why that was ev+to call sometimes backdoor drap or bluff,he was exploitant but because of him guys began to understand to and New poker arrived. He lost à lot agains't "nozebleed" Alexandre luneau because he was bluffing too much.To answer you, yes he could still à great player imo Just have to addapt of the New field of today knowing now everyone think in terms of ranges in each situation to take ev+ décision so can't exploite as many as he did.sorry for m'y english, i'm a froogy🤣
@@outofmatrice5269 Haha, I understand!
It's interesting. I hope we'll see him back at the major tables again one day! If he can adapt, I think he did something really good for the game of poker. He definetely evolved the game and created a style and persona that what entertaining to watch and brought a lot of new fans to poker.
One of the greatest ever!
@@EasyPoker Ho yes he was in Nash mode before anyone and he's why Nash ranges have been calculate.People who say he was Just lucky are jalous or can't face réality.Hope he ll come back.I thank him for making me earn money and shared what he understood before anyone
Have you ever done a Phil Laak video? Great vid btw!
Thanks! Hmm, no, we haven't.
But perhaps we should!
I really liked watching him play, thx for this video
You're welcome :)
Best documentary! So did you meet Gus Hansen at backgammon meetings?! That’s great! Are you still close to him? Hopefully you bring him to the channel for an interview
Thanks! Glad you like it! I actually haven't met Gus yet, no. But would love to have him on the channel! It's actually something I've been trying to do for some time :)
@@EasyPokermaybe Lars Von Trier too
This is why I don't let my ego get the best of me. I go to the casino play small $2 $3 no limit and i tend to win a decent amount of money 4 out of 5 times. My best night i sat with $300 and played for 17 hours winning $8,500 and i didn't play again for another 6 weeks and won a couple thousand more. I only ever gamble money I'm prepared to lose. You have to know when to walk away!
The irony of losing everything and becoming an accountant
Yeah haha. I think he's doing alright tho
Thanks for the video
Well thank you for watching 😉
In 2013 he lost well over 14 million at full tilt Poker he was playing the very best who had solved his betting tendencies. They had progressed and were playing at a lot higher level than Gus who was still stuck playing his same strategies. Such a shame really nice guy met him on a few occasions in casinos.
I've read all comments on this video - and this point really struck me. I guess at that level you need to constantly evolve your play and strategy to keep them guessing. Especially when playing as bullish as Gus. How do you think he might have evolved his game, while still maintaining his 'Gus-ness'?
@@EasyPoker he could have had coaching from other top pros, think his big mistake was the fame and the glory thinking he was the best with no need to study. There is a video on here called Nosebleeds about 2 French players who between them spent 24 Hrs a day waiting for Gus to sit at a table online, these 2 are the players who took most of his millions. Give it a watch it's really interesting called Nosebleed
@@4blocks113 Oh damn. That really interesting. I'll go find it straight away!
Thanks
Great video, but it would have been a nice touch to mention how the site he played at had players on the big tables that used programs that enabled you to see the opponents cards. I do wonder how much of the money he lost is due to some some highrollers cheating.
Definitely a great point.
As a fellow Dane (hejsa) I tried to find interviewers where Gus talked about this, but couldn't find much.
Do you think Gus could be a top player online, if no one cheated?
@@EasyPoker The easy answer is yes. He is hyper intelligent, very aggressive and random, he is a beast at the table. But his aggressive tendencies also makes him a huge target for people that cheat, as his playstyle due mean that he takes weird losses.
He never stopped playing backgammon for money, which he still does. And there is stories about him ditching tournaments when he didn't have a good position because there was big money backgammon games that was more fun.
Lastly it should be said, that I have met him twice due to my parents. They are both playing bridge. He is in a lack of better words, a killer. Especially if there is betting to be made.
@@NielsMulvad That’s definitely true. It’s a real shame, because Gus was (and I guess is) one of the absolute goats of poker. Intelligent, daring, charismatic and just an overall cool and likable guy. Really hope to see him back on top one day.
Although a guy like that could probably dominate all kinds of games.
Maybe we should make an “EasyBridge” app so we can get to meet him too 😉
Is this true? Did Full Tilt have this kind of cheaters?
@@EddieMush there are certainly rumours 👀
I remember watching those online games where he lost all that money. Absolute car-crash, it was like he was on permanent tilt and couldn't stop himself forcing it and playing over his head until he'd lost the lot.
a full tilt? ;)
That was fun to watch. Nice job. 👍
Thanks man! Much appreciated 🙏🏼☺️
Antonius King of Cash Game
Good idea. He's on the list and there are new videos in the works :)
Well done! I have subscribed.
Love to hear it 🙏🏼
Failure to adjust for the times. Place him at Poker table with Poker legends, and Gus would still do well.
I see in the background a pic of a top of the world picture Ironworkers
It’s funny that people that he lose it to like dwan and ivy went brook too
I was playing in the Aviation Club in Paris playing the WPT Paris and Gus was at the bar playing $100k a game heads up Rummy 500 against Phil Ivey . I was so out of my League 😂
Those guys are mad :D
He was a lucky maniac who ran good against beginners on the WPT. He couldnt win in the WSOP, and got destroyed playing good players online.
Hater. Played against many of the greatest of the generation and represented himself very well.
@@gunguru7020 Right, and he got big paychecks from full tilt, and lost 20 million$ online. Last I checked, he was the 2nd highest losing player in online poker history.
@@garygwinn4256 that may be absolutely true but it can also be true that he played against great players and did well. Saying he was only lucky and only ran good against beginners is hyperbolic.
The video talks of Hansen's "new" strategy when he first started. The game reacted and evolved, he did not.
Daniel Negreanu has had to evolve his game due to the new style of play and internet poker. He talks of it constantly.
You obviously don't understand what you are criticising. He didn't get beaten by good players online, he got beaten by the best players online, as he took on the very best, and consistently got beaten by them as they were better than him, and he refused to acknowledge this until he had lost $20M and finally realised his game selection of taking on the best players in the world was wrong. If it was as simple as you say, lots of other players would have successfully played a maniac style against beginners at the WPT. As he focussed on cash games he didnt enter many WSOP events, so it isnt surprising he didnt win WSOP events.
@@johnnyhartley4330 No Jonny, I do understand. I was a good poker player before the poker boom. Gus ran extremely well in some WPT events, and especially well in Poker Superstars invitational. He was playing hands like 9-2 offsuit into hands like KK and putting in huge bets and sucking out. He Sun-Ran his way into frauding himself as a great player. Now everyone knows he is a Mark in any game he is in
He may have bottomed out, but he experienced it all and he certainly had a lot of fun while he did it. Us ordinary people can't say that and that's why I envy Gus Hansen.
He really did make a lasting impression.
Perhaps our favorit player ever (but we may be biast🇩🇰)
😅@@EasyPoker
"It's going to be a great summer!" G.H.
Hope it still applies this year 🤠
Always thought gus was a gentleman.
They don't make em like that anymore
The star that shines twice as bright…shines half as long
Well put. So I take it you're a fellow fan of Gus? :)
6:50 wait...a buy in of $400,000 but winning it all only nets you $1,000,000 ? How was the total prize money distributed? Did last place still get $100k? Seems getting only 2.5x your money back isn't a good bet.
You're right, that does seem like a bad bet. I just did some research and found this: "However, Phil Ivey has said, on Full Tilt, that he walked away with about $400,000, and, therefore, broke even.". So it seems correct. Still odd tho.
I was probably a SitNGo format, probably only like 5-6 players in the game. Thats the only solution i can see but it still doesnt make sense in payouts.
In fact he only won $600k for a $400k buy in, so he only received odds of 6-4 for winning the whole thing. It doesn't make any sense at all.
@@EasyPoker Could of broke even if there were re buys. Depends on the format.
Better off playing a cash game with a 400k buy-in
Regarding Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament - How does entering a tournament with an entry fee of $400'000 USD each (8 entrants) and a first prize of $1M USD make any sense at all for any player !?
Phil broke even coming second.. I just don't get it..
Even if you were playing with 'backer money' they would surely want the reward would their contestant win..
You're not the first to point out this math.
But it checks out - I've given an explanation in an earlier comment thread :)
If you could research either Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer and/or Joseph Hachem, that would be cool. Awesome video! :)
Thanks man! Appreciate it!
I'll add them to our just of future videos ☺️
We want to see Tony G. 🙂
Tony! Not a bad idea.
It's been noted ;)
In June 2008, I stumbled upon a Full Tilt commercial being filmed on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. It was Midnight, and so surreal. Three ladies who appeared to be 'peddling their wares' asked Gus Hansen if he needed a massage. "Nah, he's good. I already asked him that!", I interjected before Gus could answer. Working girl: "But you're a guy!" Me: "Yeah, that's right." Gus laughed. He was EXACTLY like he was on tv--I felt like I already knew him. All 14 of the poker pros did their best to accommodate their fans during this 5-hour session, but Gus Hansen was the standout...a class guy!
What a great story :) Classic Gus. Such a legend!
@@EasyPoker Gus was the only FT pro who went outside the roped off area between takes. He posed for pics and signed playing cards (6 of hearts for me) for fans til the sun came up. After this trip, my online poker name became "Unshaven Stag", an anagram of Gustav Hansen. Thank you, Gus!
Haha, Unshaven Stag, I love it!
Do meet your heros 😉
The story at 6:50 about him entering a poker tournament for $400k and coming first and winning $1m doesn’t seem right. Why would first prize only be 2.5 the buy in?
I found it odd too, but apparently it checks out:
8 entrants.
$400K buy in.
$3.2M prize pool.
Gus Hansen $1M
Johnny Chan $750K
Phil Ivey $400K
TJ Cloutier $300K
David Reese $250K
Howard Lederer $250K
Doyle Brunson $150K
Barry Greenstein $100K
@@EasyPoker Wow! Thanks for sharing the info.
Pra mim o Gus é o mago do poker....
Eu concordo
I don’t understand why ppl still trust online poker…A computer will never duplicate a real game 🤦🏻♂️ like He said, you can even see your opponent’s face 😅
I love the guy!! And have his book too
Would you recommend the book? :)
Yes.
Damn bow do you lose 20 MILLION to online gambling? I would've got the hint after a couple of MIL that they shits s scam. Might as well play slot machines.
@Bryan Smith *bots
Aww, thanks Nathaniel! Glad you like it! 🤠
@Bryan Smith He lost before GTO was even a thing though. Solvers only started being used in 2015. HIs last year online was 2014.
It baffles me how pro poker players can gamble away all their money. Surely they had some kind of discipline to get there? Was it just a huge amount of luck that got them there and they couldn't handle it when they became unlucky? I guess the aggressive style of Gus was his downfall. It sounds like he is still quite wealthy if he can travel the world playing poker. I am sure he has enough investments to keep him going next time.
Yeah, I'm sure he's doing just fine and probably had some sort of cash to fall back on. People like Gus just attract that kind of thing.
As to how he lost his money in the first place, there are multiple theories - some are downright conspiracy theories.
Just another reason this man is so interesting to talk about! 🐐
I think Poker Documentary, I love the show, by the way, should do a show on Collingwood, Ontario, Canada's -- Dave "David" Brown. He is also a tennis coach and ex pro tennis player as well as, most notably, a Poker + sports gambling legend. Peace and thanks!!!!!!!
Damn, i have more in common with him than the birthday and backgammon skills
Losing tens of millions was clearly a psychological meltdown. A rational person would have set aside at least half of the $25 million he had won, and kept it in a trust managed by reputable professionals. He would never touch it, and let it grow. Running his bankroll down to nothing must have been due to deep psycho problems. Or drugs may have been a factor.
danish movies are the best. homeland of von trier :) dansk javlarxd luv u guys
think I’d be uncomfortable having a professional gambler as my accountant
Accountant not financial advisor
Yeah it’s the accountants who run off with the money though
@@willdavies6197Depends what type of accountant. A tax accountant for example has zero control of your money.
great video
great work
What's the song at 0:39 called?
Hi Roger,
I'm not sure, it's a piece of stock music from Upbeat :) I don't have the project file anymore, I'm afraid :)
Very interesting.
Love to see a video- story on Doyle Brunson
Well look no further
th-cam.com/video/TRTddoqV-yQ/w-d-xo.html
@@EasyPoker Thanks lads. Just discovered easy poker today. look forward to more vids. All the best from dublin ireland- gus, by the way is a legend 🇮🇪☘️
@@junglebhoy7 Awesome!
Glad to have you following our videos - I'll keep more coming. Thinking of doing a video on isildur (Viktor Blom).
And, if you like poker, I hope you'll check out our app. It's free, easy, social and tracks your poker stats. Slán a chara! 🇮🇪☘🎩
If he would have actually thought about the hand he was playing instead of playing with his chips for 10 minutes every time a camera was pointed at him he might have made better decisions
Good point. The loose playing style he practice is a risk - but wouldn't you also agree it's served him very well at the live tables? Can't imagine Gus not being loose aggressive. He's a showman.
Best poker advice I've ever been given was to slow down on decisions that aren't obvious folds or calling with the nuts, and to consider all angles. My wins went up immediately. Not saying take 10 minutes. But take an extra 15 to 30 seconds, and on bigger decisions, a minute. It's a thinking game, not a reaction game.
I love how he says poker 55 and pocket sixes are great hands
Haha, would you agree with Gus on that one? 😉
@@EasyPoker lost so much set chasing before I learnt how to play them
If you play poker long enough you’ll have very long losing streaks. The trick is to downsize your bankroll when losing or get a backer.
Love watching him play!!!
He lived the high roller lifestyle it seems.. Had he lived an ordinary live n invested his winnings in stocks, he would hv done ok (+20 mill)..
Maybe he was not mature enough, hopefully by having a family he would be a better person..
Gus was great at building huge pots and making big bluffs because he was unpredictable, his problem was he never knew when to slow down. that's bound to catch up with you.
Everybody runs bad and you can't bluff or high roll your way out of it.
You might be right. But I still find it odd, that his luck ran out exactly when switching to online poker? I think there might be more to this than just a lucky streak running out.
@@EasyPoker that's just part of the story, you can find information about how much he was in debt to Doyle and crew from live action as well. He hit a cold wave cards or people figured out his style. Either way when you push like Gus and things aren't going your way it doesn't take long to go through a lot of cash. I love watching him play and hope he gets back to where he was.
I see. But Doyle was rather loose aggressive in his playing style as well, right? Or am I mistaking? I like watching the the LAGs play, and I also think a lot of players get further with that playing style. Although I know TAG is where most pros like to be these days.
@@EasyPoker Gus was one of the first to think of poker in terms of ranges instead of hands. I think the times may have caught up with him a bit (ie players were adapting to this style) and with a run of bad cards, you can be out if you aren't bankroll savvy enough. Could happen to anyone really...we all sometimes press when we know we shouldn't.
@@Nytemaster Agreed.
Tilting comes for us all if we're not careful and smart with our bank roll.
Maybe that's even harder when playing online 🤷♂
The Legendary Dane 👊 👍😉
The one and only! 🤩
💪😉
Great story
That's what I like to hear! Thank you for watching and for taking the time to leave this message :)
hes a cool dude
He sure is. But is there a place for a player like Gus in modern poker? 🤔
the biggest mistake what a successful tournament player can make is playing cash games :)
Where you can’t rely on luck. Or pure aggression
@Mr. Batters the keyword is successful. If you are a successful tournament player, you dont have to play cash games for living..
@Mr. Batters That´s not true mate. There are many successful tournament players who don´t go near cash. With good reason, the average tourney pro is much worse than the average cash pro.
@@Romans8-9 in cash games*. The same goes for cash game players in tourneys. It's just different. Most cash game pros have little to no experience playing short stacks. In cash games you can just reload, which is basically a crutch and can favor those with especially deep bankrolls. In tourneys, it doesn't matter how much is in your bank account, everyone starts off equal. There's never a time you would fold AA preflop in a cash game, but there are times when it makes sense in tournaments. Two completely different animals and if you're a winning player, no one is gonna give a shit if you got it from tournaments or cash games.
@@KKSuited The average cash game pro is much better at tourneys than the average tourney player is at cash was my point. And that is a fact mate.
I don't get it buyin for 1 of tourny u said was 400k and he won 1st place for a million something off there
My poker idol 👍
Same! Such a showman.
He made poker extra awesome to watch!
Interesting bio
Can you do the Jesus looking guy next
Haha, the Jesus looking guy? Who might that be - may I have another clue? :)
@@EasyPoker dressed in black, cowboy hat , I think he got caught up in cheating too
Doesn't sound like Jesus 😄 But I'll look into it!
$20 million and he didn't invest in property or business . I wouldn't want him as my account.. he was fun to watch at times ...
Fair pointe :)
Rumors have circulated for years about software that exists which allows a third party to view your hole cards while you're playing online poker. Now, it's been confirmed by top computer security experts that malware of this nature exists and that it's targeting accounts of players at Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars
It's amazing to see how these smart people fail so hard at saving/investing money
Right? I don't get it, you make millions, why don't you invest it, buy real estate, stocks, etc? Kinda weird.