Erick Lindgren

Name: Erick Lindgren
Nickname: E-dog
Residence: Summerlin, Las Vegas
Born: 11 August 1976 (Burney,Kalifornien)
Hobbies: Basketball, Golf
Favorite Music: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog
Tournament Winnings: ca. $ 5,500,000
WPT Titles: 2

Erick Lindgren belongs to a new generation of poker players. They are called "young guns", who have gained their experience through online poker. This generation has made a different kind of poker.

Lindgren was born in the mountain town of 3000 inhabitants, Burney, California, on 11 August 1976. His last name reflects his Swedish roots. His father owned a tire store. Lindgren has two brothers, just as athletic as himself, and so from his childhood has known competition.

Erick played typical US-American sports: basketball, football, and baseball. He dreamed of a pro career in the NFL or NBA. He won the MVP award in basketball at his high school as well as all-league honors as the quarterback of his football team.

The turning point came when he enrolled at Butte Junior College. Not far from the college is the Colusa Indian Casino. Lindgren had played poker with friends before. But the 19 year old got a job as a blackjack dealer in this casino. He learned to play poker professionally on the side. His natural aggressiveness and intellect showed in his game. It was almost logical that he would spend more time at the casino than in college. It seems that poker was so lucrative that he secretly dropped out and turned entirely to poker.

At 21, he worked as a proposition player in a casino in San Pablo, California. His job was to get others to play, to get their money in the pot.

Then came online poker. Lindgren was living in a small, stuffy apartment with just a mattress and no furniture.

He bought himself a computer for 200 dollars and played around the clock, sometimes for as many as 30 hours at once. After he had won 2000 dollars, he bought himself a new computer. He was hooked. The next bet, the next blind, the next raise, reraise. He would go for days without opening the door. In this way, Lindgren amassed a considerable sum due to his loose-aggressive style. It is estimated at multiple millions, though Lindgren himself will not say how much it is.

As an internet junkie, he still plays up to 20 hours per week. He plays on two computers at once, often up to 8 games simultaneously.

During this time, Lindgren got his nickname. When he beat another player in a casino, the player said: "You got me this time, you dog!"

His first big success was in 2002 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. He won 230,000 dollars in the Bellagio Five Diamond Poker Classic Main Event.

In 2003 he won 500,000 dollars in the World Poker Tour Ultimate Poker Classic in Aruba.

He won the 2004 World Poker Tour PartyPoker Million III Tournament, earning him $1 million and the title World Poker Tour "Player of the Year".

In the year 2005 he came in second in a WSOP Circuit Event in Atlantic City and won over 400,000 dollars. He came in 5^th for $200,000 World Poker Tour LA Poker Classic. His second WPT title followed a week later on 25 February 2005 in the Commerce Casino in LA at the Professional Poker Tour No Limit Hold'em $500,000 freeroll. Another $200,000 landed in his pocket.

He enjoyed similar success in 2006. In January, Lindgren came in third at the Borgata Winter Open of the World Poker Tour. In April he won the Five Star World Poker Classic of the World Poker Tour for more than 260,000 dollars.

As a member of the online platform Full Tilt Poker, Lindgren won the Full Tilt Poker.net Poker Pro Showdown Event in June 2006. His premium there was $600,000. Other participants included Mike Matusow, Clonie Gowen, Erik Seidel, John Juanda, Chris Ferguson, and Phil Ivey.

Lindgren won on the first hand in heads-up. He had A K, Matusow A J. The board showed 6 6 9 A 3. Clonie Gowen came in third for $120,000, Mike Matusow $280,000. The buy-in was 120,000. Fox Sports Network (FSN) broadcast this event live. Howard Lederer (also a Full Tilt player), the co-commentator of this event, described Lindgren's style as beautiful. Furthermore, he said that Lindgren was a worthy winner. Daniel Negreanu described Lindgren and his mathematical approach as a robot. Lindgren retorted that Daniel was "hot shit".

Full Tilt Poker is represented by a select group of poker pros. In addition to those mentioned above, there are: Andy Bloch, Phil Gordon, Jennifer Harman, the Hendon Mob (Barny and Ross Boatman, Joe Beevers, Ram Vasvani), Huck Seed, Gus Hanson. They all play with their real names. (there is an internet rumor that Lindgren uses a nickname on this platform.)

But Lindgren plays online too, on Full Tilt Poker. For example, in a Full Tilt $200+16 tournament with a 200,000 prize pool. At the final table, Lindgren showed his only goal: to become chipleader. But his opponents were not afraid of his name. Lindgren raised, his opponent called from the blind and beat Lindgren with two pair vs. king high. The same opponent took first place and 46,395 dollars. Lindgren took 8^th place.

Lindgren was also active in 2007. In January he won the Crown Aussie Millions Championship in Melbourne, making over $700,000. In May he was 5^th in the Mirage Poker Showdown on the World Poker Tour. The 12,000 dollar prize is chump-change for him, though.

Lindgren has also written a book, "World Poker Tour: Making the Final Table". It emphasizes strategy in tournaments.

Every player has his own rituals for dealing with his nerves during a tournament. Even before he's had breakfast, he drinks a 60 year old cognac, Hardy Diamond Noces de Diamant . He takes in two gulps. His commentary: "Tastes terrible, but the stuff works". In comparison to Negreanu's method: seltzer, a banana, nuts, and box of "Clear Edge" adrenaline blocker.

But Erick Lindgren is also active outside of poker. He won a 350,000 dollar bet on golf in June of 2007. It began between Lindgren and Gavin Smith. 100,000 dollars were in the pot. Phil Ivey joined in and doubled the bets. Others, including Chris Bell, joined in. Bear's Best is a tough place and desert heat of Las Vegas was present as usual. The goal was to shoot under 100 in each of four rounds. Lindgren had to carry his own equipment. Despite the danger of heat stroke, he won the bet but lost about 12 pounds.

Lindgren has some advice for online players: "Poker is a different game today than it was 10 years ago. The competition is harder. Academics and former chess pros are playing. They practice on the internet. You can learn in a year there what would have taken 7, otherwise. If you underestimate them, they will take you down."

Online players are like machines when it comes to efficiency. They are very analytic. "On the internet, you don't see your opponent. There are no gestures to tell you anything, which makes game theory extremely important."

Probability is a poker player's best friend. An online player must include the impossible in his considerations. When can he bluff? When not? Can he stay in the hand after another player bets? What could his hand be?

It is especially important to never be greedy, to remain calm and play with discipline. It is also important to never feel pressured.