The Bernard Lee Poker Show 11-23: Eli Elezra & Robbie Strazynski

February 14, 2019

Bernard Lee Contributor

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In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the PokerNews Podcast Network, Bernard Lee interviews three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, Eli Elezra.

During the first half of the interview, Eli recounts how he started playing poker including his first trips to Las Vegas and other memorable stories. During the second half of the interview, Eli discusses his autobiography, "Pulling The Trigger," which was recently translated from Hebrew to English. Cardplayer Lifestyle founder, Robbie Strazynski, who performed the translation, also joins the interview and discusses his experience with this task.

The Bernard Lee Poker Show will be giving away two copies of Eli Elezra’s autobiography during this week. Follow Bernard (@BernardLeePoker) on Twitter to be eligible to win one of these prizes.

Show Time Stamps

0:00	Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as this week’s guest will be three-time WSOP bracelet winner, Eli Elezra.
0:09	Nicholas Burris outlasted a field of 399 entries at the RunGoodPoker Series Main Event at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, just outside of Omaha, Nebraska for $44,767.
1:36	Michael Hudson captures the WSOP Circuit Potawatomi Main Event for $207,159 over a field of 667 entries, creating a prize pool of just over $1 million.
2:19	The Reichard family had a memorable week at WSOP Potawatomi as father (Brett) and son (and former show guest, Josh) both won WSOP Circuit rings. It was Brett’s second ring, while it was Josh’s 11th, tying him for 2nd on the all-time list.
3:13	Bernard announces guest of the week, Eli Elezra, discussing his autobiography, "Pulling The Trigger," which was recently translated from Hebrew to English[/B]. Also, Bernard states that during the second half of the interview, Robbie Strazynski, who translated Eli’s autobiography from Hebrew to English, will also join the show.
4:22	RunGood Gear Ad
5:05	Bernard welcomes Eli Elezra to the show.
5:44	Eli joins the show.
6:42	Eli describes how he got started in the world of poker. “The real poker began in Alaska, right after the Lebanon War, I left and went to Alaska and right there 30 miles above the Arctic Circle, I played some of the poker games that I didn’t know about before which is stud, Omaha, stud eight-or-better. I got introduced to those games over there and then spending four or five years in Alaska, I made about two trips a year to Vegas and I donate my money to the local economy at the Stardust Hotel every time. That’s is where my real poker began. This was in 1987.”
8:29	Eli reminisces about old school Las Vegas including Stardust Hotel and The Mirage.
12:20	Eli recalls how the high stakes games moved to The Bellagio. “I go to the Bellagio and I immediately I met (the late) Chip Reese and Doyle Brunson and then I start playing $1,000/$2,000 and I don’t even know how the things from here to there developed for me to start playing (in) the biggest games in the world.”
14:53	Eli remembers the late Chip Reese and Doyle Brunson. “When I met Chip, he was so inviting, so nice...I swear I learned so much from him.” Eli also stated, “It took me a lot of hours to learn and a lot of money, but I picked up a lot…Looking at Chip and Doyle…and being around them, definitely made my career better and make my game better because I learned from the best.”
18:27	Eli discusses playing with Doyle Brunson, including recently in Dolly’s Game on PokerGo.
21:48	Eli mentions additional players, such as Barry Greenstein, Gus Hansen and Phil Ivey, that he feels helped the development of his poker game. “Everyone got his own style, but everyone is such a legend on his own.”
22:19	Eli recalls when Chip Reese dubbed Phil Ivey the next greatest player. “Chip whispered in my ear, ‘This is the next thing in poker. Watch him. He’s really good.’ And look him, he (Chip) picked up on him so fast.”
22:37	Eli states the only two players that intimidated him at the poker table: The late, great Stu Ungar and Phil Ivey. “The only people that I feel like uncomfortable sitting in a no-limit hold’em game: Stu Ungar and Phil Ivey. He is definitely the one who intimidates you at the table. I can appreciate it.”
24:16	Eli reveals his confidence in his mixed game ability. “I look at any poker player game in the face and I’m willing to play with you the mixed (games). I like to play between eight and 14 games…That is the edge that I have.” Eli also states, “I don’t like my own pot-limit Omaha game when I’m playing deep.”
28:24	Eli confirms that winning the $50,000 WSOP Poker Players Championship would be his ultimate dream bracelet.
30:19	Share My Pair Ad
30:51	Cabot Cheese/Creamery Ad
31:22	Bernard continues his interview with three-time WSOP bracelet winner, Eli Elezra and welcomes Robbie Strazynski to the show.
31:59	Eli discusses how the idea to write his autobiography, "Pulling The Trigger," came up and the process of writing it. “If you want to see what happened to me, when I was born in Jerusalem, going to the Israeli Army time in the Army, spending four years being an officer, going to Alaska and going from Alaska to Vegas, I think you’ll find it very, very intriguing and very enjoyable.”
35:20	Robbie describes how he became involved with performing the translation from Hebrew to English. “It was a fortunate circumstance of being in the right place at the right time.”
36:45	Robbie recalls the time-consuming process of translating the book and finding an English translation publisher, TwoPlusTwo Publishing.
38:48	Eli describes an interesting section of his book, including the four years in the Army, his time in the Lebanon War and almost being killed twice. “To come from this point to the poker table, people will understand that I’m already freerolling.”
41:07	Robbie discusses the process of translating the book, including translating specific poker words.
43:47	Bernard reveals that he will be giving away two signed copies of Eli Elezra’s book," Pulling The Trigger," during the week. You must FOLLOW AND RETWEET Bernard’s tweets during the week to have a chance to win a copy of Eli’s book. Follow Bernard (@BernardLeePoker) on Twitter to be eligible to win one of these prizes.
45:00	Eli discusses recent debt allegations that appeared on a TwoPlusTwo forum, including an account that has been recently deemed to be false and shut down by the forum.

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 Eli Elezra on Twitter @elielezra1.

You can follow Robbie Strazynski on Twitter @cardplayerlife.

The Bernard Lee Poker Show is now available on iTunes.

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