The Bernard Lee Poker Show 11-08: Mo Nuwwarah, Drew Amato

October 24, 2018

Bernard Lee Contributor

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In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the PokerNews Podcast Network, Bernard Lee interviews two key members of the poker media. First, Bernard interviews Mo Nuwwarah, editor for PokerNews, who just captured his first World Series of Poker Circuit ring at Horseshoe Hammond in the $600 H.O.R.S.E. event.

Additionally, Bernard interviews Drew Amato, who is a professional poker photographer. Throughout the year, Drew works for the WSOP, WPT and Poker Central. Drew discusses his role in poker and also a recent Beyond The Rail episode on PokerGO in which he was featured.

Show Time Stamps

0:00	Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as the show will interview recent WSOP Circuit ring winner Mo Nuwwarah and poker photographer Drew Amato.
1:11	Before beginning his interview with Mo Nuwwarah, Bernard Lee discusses the poker news. WSOP Circuit wrapped up at Horseshoe Hammond, just outside of Chicago and Zachary Schneider outlasted a field of 1094 entries to win the WSOP Circuit main event for $302,492.
2:04	Bernard reviews the results of the preliminary events at WSOP Europe held at King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.
4:46	RunGood Gear Ad
5:30	Bernard introduces recent WSOP Circuit ring winner and Pokernews editor, Mo Nuwwarah.
6:11	Mo Nuwwarah joins the show.
6:41	Mo describes how special it is to win a WSOP Circuit ring as he covers them regularly for PokerNews. “(It’s) definitely super special…(It’s) definitely good to win one and show them (professional poker players) that we (poker reporters) can play a little bit.”
7:33	Mo grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and mentions that Horseshoe Council Bluffs is his home casino.
7:44	Bernard asks Mo how he got started in poker. “The boom was happening when I was in college and end of my high school. That’s when I started playing in home games and.. also played online. I loved the game right away,” recalled Mo. “I played for a living while I was in college. I didn't have a job. I played on PokerStars mostly and FullTilt to pay for my college education and put myself through school.”
10:20	Mo discusses how he got into poker media including PokerNews. Although he thought he was going to be in sports journalism, Mo combined his degree in journalism with his love of poker.
12:09	Mo describes how he became interested with mixed games, as he won his WSOP Circuit ring in $600 H.O.R.S.E. “When I was learning about poker, I obviously learned about hold’em. But I quickly came to understand that there were many more games to play. I was super thirsty for poker knowledge. So, I was basically buying all the books I could get my hands on and some of the ones by Sklansky and Malmuth would always have discussions in those books about stud and these other games. So, I definitely wanted to play and I was excited to learn all the games.”
13:56	Mo explains why he covers very few no-limit hold’em tournament and many mixed game events during the WSOP. “During the summers since I know all the games…they have me cover almost all mixed (tournaments). I rarely cover no-limit during the summer.”
14:22	Mo describes how covering high level mixed game tournaments has helped his own mixed game. “They are so good. It’s awesome to watch them play these limit games and just learn. Just watch them and soak in what they're doing.”
16:19	Mo describes his favorite and least favorite games in the 8-game mix.
17:40	Mo gives advice on certain mixed games, such as PLO, razz, 2-7 triple draw and stud.
23:03	Mo explains how his job reporting has helped him while playing. “Watching the best (players) in the world and seeing how the best players are changing their games makes me aware the stratification and how the different player pools play poker.”
25:52	Bernard asks Mo about his playing schedule and if he will try to earn a seat into the 2019 Global Casino Championship. “I would very much like to…but I definitely have a pretty full work schedule so it probably won’t happen until the spring.”
27:05	Mo describes his dream poker tournament win. “One of my dreams in poker has always been to win either the big reentry or the main event at (Horseshoe) Council Bluffs…Winning one of those events in my backyard would be awesome."
30:22	Share My Pair Ad
30:54	Cabot Cheese/Creamery Ad
31:25	Bernard introduces professional poker photographer, Drew Amato.
32:16	Drew Amato joins the show.
32:54	Drew recalls the couple of photos that are his personal favorites. “That’s tough. Every year, there are a ton of great stories coming out of the WSOP. For me this year, it was definitely Doyle, playing in his last tournament. I shot a photo of him on his scooter pulling down the hallway into the Amazon Room for his last time. That one came full circle. I remember when I was 21 years old, I was going to Vegas for my first World Series (of Poker). And right in that hallway, the first night I got into Vegas, I almost got run over by Doyle.”
34:58	Drew describes how he tries to get the perfect picture by remaining stealth during the tournament. “For me, it’s all about not being seen. I kind of like to stand in the back and creep around because when they don’t realize you are there and something happens, you tend to more of a natural reaction.”
35:55	Drew recalls how he got started in the world of poker photography with WPT DeepStacks and WSOP.
39:26	Drew describes the experience of being filmed for his feature on PokerGO’s Beyond The Rail. “It was definitely a change a pace for me. I tend to like to be on the other side of the camera. I don't necessarily love being on camera. But it was great…(But) It was a little difficult because I like to be stealth when I’m out in the field shooting. I don’t like being seen. Then you have a team of five guys with cameras following you around. All of a sudden, (you are) not so discreet.”
41:12	Drew explains how excited his father becomes about his opportunities in poker and being seen on television.
42:53	Drew describes how he would like players to act and react when he is taking pictures of them. “Just be yourself. It’s my job to capture you in your element. And when people put on these fake personas, it doesn’t play off on the camera great.”
45:40	Drew talks about joining the RunGoodPoker pros as a guest at the next stop at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma (November 13-18, 2018) as a player.
47:28	Drew recalls his hectic summer as the only photographer for PokerGO.
48:58	Drew discusses his WSOP schedule and explains how much of a grind it is during the WSOP. “The WSOP schedule is very taxing. The days are long and it’s non-stop. We are there from the morning til…well…late again in the morning.”

Let us know what you think of the show - tweet about the podcast using #BernardLeePokerShow, and be sure to follow @BernardLeePoker on Twitter or Instagram. You can follow Mo Nuwwarah on Twitter @monuwwarah and Drew Amato on Twitter @drew_amato.

The Bernard Lee Poker Show is now available on iTunes.

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_{Photo courtesy of WSOP}

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