Hi everyone,

I am Jason Mercier, a 27 year old poker player with 10 million in live earnings. I debuted as the #1 poker player in the world according to the global poker index (GPI) and held the ranking for the majority of 2 years. When I'm not living in south Florida, I'm romping around the world, chasing titles, money, and poker glory. I also just bought a pretty sweet boat.

My Proof: https://twitter.com/JasonMercier/status/426802976465117184

Thanks for all the questions guys! Had a lot of fun... keep posting if you want, I may come back later. Or for constant fun, follow me on twitter @JasonMercier

More boat pics... (Instagram) @realJasonMercier

Peace

Comments: 361 • Responses: 55  • Date: 

thelongdickofthelaw33 karma

Jason, its your favorite retired poker dealer. Remember that one time at the Palms afterparty when those girls came up to us and were like " hey can we get a picture with you?" And I reached out to take their camera and they were like "no with YOU" and you took the picture of them with me. I still have no idea who they thought I was, but that was hilarious.

My question: what city/tournament has the most fun nightlife?

Also: what is your favorite Quiznos sandwich these days?

JasonMercier19 karma

I remember lol

Probably Barcelona!

Chicken carbanara

Nblvbl22 karma

What portion of the cash that you play with is actually yours?

JasonMercier22 karma

It's almost always all mine. I sell action to the 100k+ tournaments thought

whitesnake8717 karma

Hi Jason, thanks for doing this AMA. Your fearlessness and sharp mind are qualities that I've enjoyed watching. I have two questions:

1) How long were you playing poker before you decided: "I'm going to do this for a living"? What would you consider the turning point (in terms of poker ability, a significant cash, etc) that pushed you toward doing this professionally?

2) What is the best advice that you can give about succeeding in large field tournaments that helped you 'turn the corner' and start to see great results?

Thanks man! Best of luck in your future endeavours.

JasonMercier13 karma

  1. I was playing for about 2 and a half years while going to school and working part time jobs, before I realized I was going to make a living solely from poker. The turning point was when I decided to go for supernova elite on Pokerstars in 2007.

  2. Watch everything happening around you. Make adjustments.

TubelessBrian15 karma

Do you think that online poker will come back to the States entirely?

JasonMercier15 karma

eventually yes... I hope

carancib14 karma

Jason how do i win flips?

JasonMercier24 karma

focus really hard, I mean really really really hard lol

Iama91412 karma

What has been the luckiest moment in your career? Thanks!

JasonMercier41 karma

With 90 players left in EPT San Remo in 2008, I got JJ in against Roland De Wolfe's QQ... on a T 7 3 flop. I hit a jack on the river and went on to win the tournament for 1.4 million $

twojaguars11 karma

Are there any well-known poker pros out there who have obvious tells they aren't aware of?

JasonMercier19 karma

yes, and I'm not going to name names obv :)

GandalfGuru10 karma

Why do you mostly play tournaments instead of cash? Isn't the variance terrible?

JasonMercier14 karma

I play both, you just don't hear about the cash games all the time. The variance is insane for both.

Cnathan9310 karma

What is the biggest cash pot you have won?

JasonMercier17 karma

660k

PlopDropper10 karma

Just one question Jason. When will it end?

edit- Im guessing the people down voting dont follow Jason on twitter.

JasonMercier11 karma

never

Serdadu8 karma

Hi, Jason, big fan here

When Vanessa Selbst did an AMA, she went into some detail on a hand she played on High Stakes where she stacked off to an amateur's set with her queens, her point being that the hand was one that she looked back on and cringed about, knowing that it was broadcast on tv.

So, is there any tv hand (ept, big game, high stakes) that you feel that you truly misplayed and can't bear to look back on?

JasonMercier10 karma

Actually there's a hand against Justin Bonomo that I played on the big game in which I had AxJd and check shoved the river as a bluff. Makes me cringe a little- although, I'm not sure it was such a bad play :)

adkzander8 karma

what would you say the single most important piece of advice you could give poker players just starting to really learn the game?

JasonMercier8 karma

you can only get better but playing, and through experience. there's only so much studying you can do, you have to play.

Nutzillaa8 karma

How much of a financial hit did you take with your bracelet bets this past WSOP?

JasonMercier11 karma

6 figures. don't want to say

19B19B7 karma

Hi -I am very curious about what a typical week looks like for a poker pro (in terms of hours)? For example 60 hours spent playing poker, 40 hours spent analyzing, xx spent sleeping, xx recreation

JasonMercier9 karma

depends on the player. I spend weeks playing 0 hours and other weeks playing 100.

radio_dead7 karma

I tend to blush at the drop of a hat..as a pro poker player how do you generally read someone whose face turns red?

JasonMercier6 karma

lol ummm if there face is turning red a lot, I probably will be able to tell what kind of hand they have. :P

steinbiggity6 karma

Do you treat poker like a job all the time now or do you still have the occasional beer and pretzel game with your buddies?

JasonMercier8 karma

I had to stop doing that a long time ago. I spend so much of my time playing poker at the highest level that when I'm not doing so, I want to do something other than poker.

Hive116 karma

[deleted]

JasonMercier17 karma

if they are a good player than yes, but I can't imagine why a good player would only have 2k

twojaguars6 karma

What is the most bat-shit insane play you've ever seen made at a poker table?

JasonMercier7 karma

wish I could remember one specific one... I've seen so many lol

WuSwearengenTang5 karma

IS LIV SHAVED? HAVE YOU EVER HAD MORE THAN 4% OF YOURSELF IN A SHR?

JasonMercier7 karma

Do u want me to say yes? because I've obviously had more than 4% of myself

berry_picker5 karma

Hi Jason!

What's the best comp you've ever received from a casino?

Thanks and GL!

JasonMercier12 karma

Lotta buffet tickets :)

honestly, I can't recall the best

Nutzillaa5 karma

What do the Dolphins need to do in order to become a contender in the AFC East again?

JasonMercier9 karma

They started the offseason off pretty right with a few firings!

LupulForMayor5 karma

what is the worst bad beat of your career?

JasonMercier26 karma

KK into Antonio's AA with 19 left in the One Drop where first place was 18 million dollars. I was third in chips he was second. #showers

OMGbirdman5 karma

Hi, Jason! I've always been a fan of your seemingly relaxed demeanor both at and away from the table.

What player do you respect the most?

Is there a moment in your career that stands out as the biggest poker mistake you've ever made?

Thanks!

JasonMercier11 karma

I have a lot of respect for Daniel Negreanu, he's consistently winning on the tour for so long, and is a great ambassador for the game.

I can't think of a huge mistake that I regret, I try to focus on the positive aspects of my career!

notontilt4 karma

After our brief pineapple session at PCA, Vlad said your ofc bumhunting wouldn't stand in Moscow. Was he referring to himself or me?

JasonMercier3 karma

lol I'm not sure bud... I think he meant hit and running

language barrier

carancib4 karma

How many hours did you dedicate to poker when you started?

JasonMercier29 karma

my life

brunub4 karma

Hello Jason, welcome to reddit!

Do you have any thoughts on string cheese as a snack food?

JasonMercier8 karma

Thanks! Not a fan of string cheese, stopped eating it when I was 11.

sydney6013 karma

What tilts you the most?

JasonMercier10 karma

traffic

kajunkennyg3 karma

Can you share some pics/vids of your boat?

What are your thoughts on Phil Helmuth?

JasonMercier6 karma

Follow me on Instagram for boat pics : realJasonMercier

Phil Hellmuth is a great guy

Subwaycookienipples3 karma

Is your last name pronounced Mer-Sear or Mercy-A? Every commentator says it differently.

JasonMercier9 karma

Mer See Ur

remer883 karma

So, do you play golf ? And if yes, what's your handicap ? And if it's low, are you better then Ivey ?

cheers from iceland

JasonMercier2 karma

Only played a few times, I'm awful

soulistic2 karma

Will the Knicks make the playoffs?

JasonMercier3 karma

nope

Saafine2 karma

Is that true that poker players get a lot of ladies?

JasonMercier4 karma

depends on the player...

if they are a fat slob, then they probably aren't getting a lot of ladies

... I do okay

Ad4mH2 karma

Has there been any professional poker player that you just have not been able to read? Who has been the most difficult?

Do you feel your perception ability extends past poker?

Thanks

JasonMercier2 karma

There are a lot of pros that are difficult or unable to read.

My perception ability definitely flows over into all aspects of life.

GrizzlyDrake_2 karma

Do you watch hockey? If so whose your favorite team?

JasonMercier1 karma

nope

carancib2 karma

What are the perks of being a pokerstars pro?

JasonMercier13 karma

I get my face as my avatar :)

Simbojimbo2 karma

If you could give one tip to people aspiring to emulate your poker success, what would it be?

JasonMercier5 karma

win lots...

illusionisnecessary2 karma

When was the definitive moment when you decided you wanted to go Pro and what impact did it have on your life (besides the obvious)and the impact of the life of others around you?

JasonMercier6 karma

A few months into 2007 I was well on pace to achieving Supernova Elite status on Pokerstars, which meant I would make a nice chunk of money throughout the year.

At that point, it didn't impact much, I was playing online basically working a desk job. Once I started travelling a lot for poker though, my life changed dramatically.

Etni3s2 karma

You can't just drop that you bought a sweet boat and not tell us what you named it. It's corny though, isn't it? :)

JasonMercier3 karma

it's going to be either "deuces" or "deuce to seven"

has to do something with the price :)

jaun_don1 karma

Hi jason, i remember reading a blog post you posted a while back about you're all or nothing lifestyle and wanting to take a break from poker for two months or so before the PCA, how did you feel this affected your game when you went to play in the PCA events? Have you been able to make more balance in your lifestyle? sorry if this is already in a blog post somewhere, thanks for doing this AMA!

EDIT words

JasonMercier4 karma

It was refreshing coming back to poker after 2 months off, balance is an ongoing struggle for me and something that can never be perfected. Consistently working on it is something I plan on doing for the rest of my life. Exercise, diet, and sleep :)

tbdeawh1 karma

whats your net worth give or take $1m? also what kind of boat do you own?

JasonMercier2 karma

I don't tell people my net worth. Its a formula something. 35 footer

2Due4U1 karma

Just how much harder has the game gotten from when you first started out to current day?

JasonMercier3 karma

There are a lot more elite players nowadays.

JoeDiego1 karma

Hi Jason,

Who is the player you least enjoy playing against purely from a personality/body odour/all-round douchebag point of view?

JasonMercier13 karma

I don't exactly call out my enemies on public forums

santanabandana1 karma

How much money would you personally have to have in order to play $100,000 buy-in tournaments without swapping/selling action?

JasonMercier3 karma

many more millions :)

armidilo011 karma

Hi Jason, In your opinion, is Ole Schemion or Vanessa Selbst a more formidable opponent?

JasonMercier2 karma

They are both very tough and very good

JohnnyGpoker1 karma

Who are the four people you spend the most time with?

JasonMercier6 karma

do u want me to name my friends?

Do u know Dirty Dave?

Dan Obrien when I'm on the road

why 4?

lmnopeee1 karma

How did you select your horses? Will you ever recruit more? What cut do you get from their winnings?

JasonMercier2 karma

I'm strayed away from backing in the last few years. Most players in the past that I backed we did a standard 50/50 with makeup deal

ppredd1 karma

Are you planning on playing any Irish events this year? Irish open, IPO?

JasonMercier1 karma

no, never been to Ireland either ;/

MattDaBeast1 karma

Is the no-drinking bet going to actually happen? What's your motivation for proposing it?

glglgl tho

JasonMercier2 karma

It might, but it hasn't happened yet. I was not feeling well after a night of drinking... so I fired off on twitter looking for action.

i-am_god0 karma

Who's your inspiration?

JasonMercier4 karma

my dad

[deleted]0 karma

[deleted]

JasonMercier1 karma

businessmen keep 100%

poker players sell action... just depends on the player

heydanpowers0 karma

It’s often a misconception that gambling is a sin but according to the bible it’s never said that gambling is a sin rather the lust of money is where we sin. I was curious since the time you posted your blog about your beliefs as a Christian how has that affected the relationships around you and has it changed your approach in live games? also, on my next visit to Miami can I drive your new boat? @heydanpowers

JasonMercier2 karma

gonna pass on the boat driving, no offense

My beliefs as a Christian haven't really affected my relationships or my approach to live games except in that I'm trying to not put in such long sessions anymore playing cash. That is more of a health thing though.