"Upside down sunglasses and a $5 hat while wearing a $1000 suit defines this guy...." Yeah, Marcel Luske aka The Flying Dutchman likes epatage. He is considered one of the most entertaining poker players in the world. “The European version of Scotty Nguyen,” as he was once called. But Luske is not only an entertainer but a very skillful and aggressive player.
Singing At The Poker Table Marcel Luske is probably the best-known European poker player. He lives in Amsterdam with his two children from a former marriage. He has been voted Europe’s “Player of the Year “without even a single vote from anybody in Holland.” He is a very aggressive player but a very nice and amusing guy. “When I'm having a good time, I like to entertain,” he admits. You may see him singing at a poker table or cracking jokes. But he always remains polite “I want to enjoy the poker atmosphere and always try to respect my opponents. However, if my opponents don't respect me back or if they try to belittle me, I will nail them- either verbally or by taking their money.” But he is good not only at joking. “I think my main strengths are: putting my opponent on a hand, money management, having a feel for the game and for my opponents' strengths and weaknesses, and my deadly knockout- I strike when my opponents least expect it,” says Luske. You’ve forgotten to name modesty, Marcel. "Your Kings Are Good" However these are not just words. His ability to read his opponents’ hands is a byword. Almost everyone knows the story when at WSOP 2004 he folded preflop. After he laid the cards down he looked at his opponent and said: "Your kings are good". "You mean my Ace-King?" asked the player trying to hide the fact that he had been read so easily. "No, your pocket kings," Luske answered coolly. A Coach For Himself Marcel believes that the only way to understand the game is to play it. He doesn’t think that books on poker strategy are very useful: “In the big-bet games I play most books are not very useful, as playing the players, situational adjustments and a lot of "intangible" factors are much more important than odds, percentages and basic strategy. I believe in creating the right atmosphere at the table, and in getting involved with the right opponents, the players who came to play and who will keep on playing whether they win or lose. Creating a good gambling atmosphere will do more to your results than a bunch of books, if you ask me.”
