| Chino Rheem |
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| Poker Articles - July 2009 | |
| Written by Michael Vu | |
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Risky Business: Poker Pays Off Big for Chino Rheem November Niner Has Been on Fire, and Has Sights Set on a Bracelet  Playing it safe has never been David Rheem’s game. Widely known by his nickname “Chino,” the Korean may be young, but he is already a seasoned pro.Rheem’s high-risk style finally paid off late last year when he earned millions of dollars in just two major tournaments. Chino admits that having an amazing year is no easy feat especially when you play like he does. “I’ve always played and shot for the moon,” said Chino. “My style, what I’m known for, is an aggressive player who is never really afraid to take risks.” To this day Chino acknowledges that the most challenging thing for him is managing his money. Chino’s never been afraid of taking a risk at the table and he’s used to buying in to tournaments without any regard to his bankroll. Throughout his career David has always played as high as he could and since he’s landed on the moon, now it’s time for him to reach for the stars. “When you win and you have money, it’s a lot easier to improve on everything that you want to improve on.” After earning his spot in the WSOP’s November Nine last July, Chino burst onto the poker scene in a big way. All the media attention surrounding the World Series of Poker’s first delayed final table made Chino a recognizable personality overnight. He was the player at the final table with the most experience, but he was also the wild card because of his style. “When it came down to the final table, I guess the whole world expected me to play that way, but that wasn’t the case. I already knew how I was going to play. I knew what the goal at hand was and I just tried to accomplish that goal as best as I could.” Redemption at Bellagio Even though busting in seventh place from the WSOP Main Event made him $1.8 million richer, it was not what Chino had in mind. The knockout was delivered by eventual champion Peter Eastgate with a bad beat of A-Q against David’s A-K. He was understandably upset and showed it in interviews immediately following the final table. David was looking for the win and only a month later he would redeem himself with a World Poker Tour victory at Bellagio. “It just made me feel really good, especially coming off the final table of the World Series. The first WPT main event I played, I won – and that was definitely a lot of redemption for me personally.” Chino entered the $15,000 buy-in WPT Doyle Brunson Poker Classic in December and successfully outlasted 497 players to earn $1.5 million and the title. The tournament field was stacked with tables full of professional players looking for a big payday from the last major prize pool of the year.  “I went into this WPT and for the most part made all the right decisions. I just did a lot of things that I’m normally not used to doing. I did a lot of things to change my game and make me a better player and a better person overall – I definitely needed to change.”On the third day of the tournament David said he kept running into hands and lost a lot of chips. By maintaining his composure and focus Chino was able to rebound by the end of the day. From there he says it was pretty much smooth sailing. “I just started stacking chips every day; I got some nice gifts, I had some big hands and got paid off and things just went my way.” It is necessary to be lucky in a tournament to win and Chino acknowledges that luck was actually on his side at this final table. But you have to have the skills and Chino proved this fact by making good calls. “I did play one hand where I called most of my chips off with ace-high. People have said that was like the big hand of the tournament. On the final table when we were six-handed, I was all-in a couple of times on the flip where I was dominated but I did get lucky and win those hands.” When it got down to heads-up, Justin Young would prove to be a difficult opponent. The chip lead swung back and forth over more than a hundred hands but eventually Chino would come out on top to win his first WPT title (and $1.5 million). “Actually, winning the tournament and taking down the WPT, that’s my biggest accomplishment so far. Hopefully it won’t be my biggest accomplishment ever and hopefully I can accomplish something bigger. As of right now, that’s like my baby.” Newfound Glory “I consider myself an all-around poker player. I don’t just play no-limit, I don’t play just tournaments, I play everything. I play mixed games and just poker in general.” On his home turf in the Los Angeles area, Chino proved this poker prowess at the L.A. Poker Classic by finishing runner-up in the first-ever $10k buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event at Commerce Casino. Before heads-up play the players reached an agreement where Scotty Nguyen was crowned the champion and they would chop the prize money, so David added $181,227 to his bankroll. Chino knows where his strength lies. “I would say that I’m a better tournament player than I am a cash player. Obviously, my results in tournaments have been pretty good. I definitely say I play tournaments better than I play cash games.” Chino has a bravado that is unmatched. Even before he was victorious at the Bellagio, he was confident in his game. “Confidence helps a lot,” he says. “Before the final table of the World Series I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to go in there and do my best. Once the World Series was all said and done, I just had a newfound confidence and a new look at life.” Getting in Behind Like many Asian players, David’s introduction to poker came from his family. He remembers staying up late just to spy on his father’s home games. “When I was supposed to be sleeping so I could wake up and go to school, I’d hide and watch them play cards.” After David turned 18 he was old enough to enter a casino in Florida, and that’s when he started playing poker. His first stomping ground was an old Seminole casino in South Florida (Hollywood) where he mostly played $100 sit-n-gos. “The thrill of making fast money instead of working a 9-to-5 got me hooked.” The most challenging part of poker for Chino was learning to play better. Looking back, he admits that when he first started out, he didn’t have a clue. “I would chase a gutterball to the river like it was no problem, and I just really had no idea what I was doing. I just knew what beat what and if I had A-2 offsuit I thought I had a good hand or if I had had K-4 I’d say: ‘Oh well, I could make three kings.’ I really had no idea how to play poker.” Who Needs Enemies? David is a good friend of Michael and Robert Mizrachi – fellow South Florida players – and Robert told him early on that he was a natural at the game. Chino realized that they might be on to something and that’s when he made the decision to go pro. “Once I met the Mizrachi brothers we started going to certain home games and cash games in Florida before we were traveling on tour and actually started taking it serious.” In just over a decade, Chino has accumulated more than $4.1 million in tournament earnings. David says all of his success – and the person he is today – he owes to his friends. “If it wasn’t for them to help mold and shape me mentally to be the person that I am today, I don’t think I ever would have made it. I’ve gotten great support from everyone.” Like a Rock Star “Being a professional poker player doesn’t just mean you’re good at the game of poker,” says David. “You’re good at the entire lifestyle of a poker player.” “When you’re a professional poker player you sometimes live a good lifestyle somewhat like a rock star. You travel to a lot of nice countries to play big buy-in tournaments and the money’s good.” In order to be successful in this game, Chino says you just need to be smart. Thinking things through, making good decisions and being strong mentally is what got him where he is today. “Once you become a winning tournament player and you’ve had some great success – if you taste it then the sky’s the limit on what you want to do and how you want to improve your life and your game. Anything is possible.” The Future “I do play poker for the money, but certain tournaments there’s prestige in winning them. As far as me personally, money’s not going to change me. I’m still going to be the same person just with nicer things or more of the freedom to do things that I want to.” David’s life is clearly on the upswing now, but it wasn’t always that way. When Chino made the November Nine, reports surfaced detailing a criminal past and an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Chino admits to making mistakes in his youth but also that poker got him back on track and turned things around. “That’s why I love poker so much – it’s like the American Dream for me. If I wasn’t playing poker today, to be honest with you, I might be in jail or six feet under. The path that my life was taking before I found poker…it really wasn’t good and it’s nothing that I’m proud of. I’m really happy to walk away from it all and make something good of my life.” Golden Opportunities In life and in poker there is always room for improvement. Though his resume is already pretty impressive, David is just getting started. “To make the final table of the Main Event is pretty strong, but when you look ten years down the road, nobody’s gonna remember the person who came in seventh place in 2008. They’re going to remember the winner.” The Main Event final table was David’s third at the WSOP and he definitely doesn’t think it will be his last. After coming so close to winning the gold that many times you can bet that Chino does not want to fall short again. “Just because of the opportunities I’ve had to win a WSOP bracelet, I definitely know how I’m going to play the next final table I make at the World Series.” When you play to win, you can’t always play it safe. Chino is a perfect example of how great the gains can be when you’re willing to take a risk. “It’s just a tremendous feeling – when I look back right now at how far I’ve come, it’s just truly amazing. I really did come from nothing.” Michael Vu is a freelance journalist, professional photographer, blogger and part-time poker player. His portfolio can be found at www.imgmav.com. You can contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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