- Steven Dannenmann is a professional poker player Steven Dannenmann Tournament Results from The Hendon Mob.
- DANNENMANN (AGENT) POKER ENTERPRISES, INC. MARYLAND DOMESTIC CORPORATION: WRITE REVIEW: Address: Ste 317 7310 Ritchie Hwy Glen Burnie, MD 21061: Registered Agent: Steven P. Dannenmann: Filing Date: October 04, 2005: File Number: D10902211: View People Named Steven Dannenmann in Maryland: Contact Us About The Company Profile For Poker.
Steven Dannenmann, CPA 7310 Ritchie Hwy Suite 317 Glen Burnie, MD, 21061 Phone: (410)761-1313 [email protected].
Ok, so our first impression of Steve Dannenmann was way off base. Wicked Chops will man up and admit that. Not only is he a fun, honest guy, but he’s also got wicked poker chops.
Dannenmann is the subject of our latest Heads-Up. If you liked him while watching the WSOP Main Event, you’ll really enjoy his candor (yes, candor) when answering our questions. He covers it all, from his poker background, to how the WSOP barely cracks his personal top 10 list of things he’s most proud of, to that infamous Lederer-bluff-phone-call. No holding back.
Here you go…
![Dannenmann Dannenmann](/uploads/1/3/7/0/137085113/894291192.jpg)
WCP:First off, some softball background questions. How long have you been playing poker? Who got you started playing? And what made you decide to enter the WSOP ME this year?
SD: I‚Äôve been playing for almost 2 years. I first saw it on TV and signed up on Party Poker‚Ķbut I lost my ass and stopped playing online and started reading books and having a live tournament style game with my friends. I entered the WSOP on a whim…figured I would try it once to experience what it was like and bring that experience home to my buddies.
WCP:Was the WSOP ME your first live casino tournament? With the crowds and media focus, did you find it overwhelming at first?
SD: I played in a $300 tournament about one year ago in Atlantic City, and the $1000 re-buy tournament at the WSOP this year. I did not do well, and a week later I entered the $1000 Bellagio tournament the day before the WSOP ME. I did well (although did not cash), but it was the first time I actually played really tight and went far. So I figured if I did well in this tournament than I could do well in the Main Event.
WCP:So did you have any goals going in?
SD: My first goal was to make it to the second day‚Ķsecond goal was to get on TV‚Ķ.and my third goal was to cash. The goal I had for final table was don’t bust out first and when you do go out go out with big hand…AK or AQ or a big pair.
WCP:A lot was made early on about your Lederer-phone-call-incident…who’d you call? Did you have any idea that phone call was going to make broadcast, or were you watching coverage and thought something to the effect of, 'Holy shit. That sucks!!!'
SD: I called my buddy Mark at the end of each level to give him an update for all my friends at home…not much time between levels to call everyone so he was the ‚Äúrelay person‚Äù at home. He was also the strategist that kept me calm and thinking clearly. Remember, I was probably the only person playing in the WSOP that had a game plan written down that I reviewed every hour so I wouldn‚Äôt make a mistake. I also called Mark at home to let him know what I had since I did not disrespect Howard by showing him the bluff. Since everyone at home was following the live blogging on Card Player, I wanted them to know what I had, especially since [8-6] is my favorite hand. As far as ESPN is concerned, that was the hand that made me famous…after the phone call all of the ESPN camera guys are staring at me when I look up and start laughing…that‚Äôs when they started following me around the poker tournament. If you pay attention to the broadcast and piece it out…ESPN is showing a regular guy from a home game playing against one of his favorite players, check raising him or bluffing him…and letting the audience know that an everyday guy can enter the event and do well.
They also show when Howard doubles up against me with his aces. I don’t think ESPN was making me look bad, they were just setting me up for future broadcasts. They produce this after the tournament is over not during the tournament. Quite frankly many people have approached me and said I was a lot of fun to watch on TV…that I was an inspiration to them. Not once did you see me cheer because someone got knocked out or that I knocked out or when I won a pot. I did not jump up, shout ‚Äúyes!!!‚Äù or say, ‚Äúpass the sugar!‚Äù I was a good sport when I won and lost and that’s what people and newcomers need to see on TV, not people acting unsportsmanlike.
And the other thing TV doesn‚Äôt show is when Joe [Hachem] and I went heads-up…before the first hand I walked over and shook his hand and said, ‚ÄúI hope you win, you are the better player, and you’ll respect the title more than I will.‚Äù Also said that we‚Äôre going to get this over in 5 hands….well I was wrong, it was 6 hands before it was over! In fact, when I saw Joe the next time he remembered what I said word for word.
Editor’s Note:For the full story behind the bluff incident, check this out.
WCP:As we learned from our readers and some other sites, you became the fan fave by the time ESPN’s WSOP coverage wrapped. Everyone applauded your attitude and style of play. Are you pretty much recognized everywhere you go now?
SD: I am starting to get recognized. I was at Macy’s the other day shopping and an older woman of say 50 said, 'Are you that poker guy?' I said, ‚Äúyes,‚Äù and she said she never saw me on TV, but read about me in the paper and that I had said something inspirational in the article that she clipped out and put it in her scrap book. That‚Äôs the person that I am…very motivated and self-confident.
WCP:I’m sure after splitting your $4.25M, a LOT of relatives you never knew you had have come out of the woodworks…what’s the most unusual request for cash you’ve received?
SD: Not really, in fact no relatives….but had some strangers keep sending me letters for help. I basically said to them if you can dial a phone then there are jobs out their for you and go get one. No on gave me anything in life and I won‚Äôt give them anything. However, I do give a lot to charities that help disabled people and people who can‚Äôt help themselves, but lazy people get no pity from me.
WCP:It’s been widely reported that you won’t be quitting your day job. In fact, you’ve been very successful for awhile. Tell us about Financial Ace…
SD: I worked hard for 16 years to build my business…some people would say that coming in second in the WSOP or first would be their top achievement in life. It falls in the top 10 for me, 8-10 probably. Remember, it was just a poker tournament. I didn‚Äôt save a life, save a town from burning down, or give life to a child. I came in second in a poker tournament. Someone had to win, place and come in third regardless of how many people there were.
My top achievements in life probably are starting my business, getting a college degree, staying out of trouble, getting my CPA certificate, treating people with respect, making my parents proud of me, being a good friend to friends and being a great CPA and financial advisor to my clients. Those are achievements in life…don‚Äôt get me wrong what I did was an incredible feat but there are things more important to me. If I busted out of the tournament on that hand with Lederer, I would not be disappointed. I had the opportunity to play in the tournament unlike most people who spent $10k on food, schooling, or rent or other necessities in life. I am very fortunate in life that I can play in a tournament at that cost.
Financial Ace is just a name that my agent and I gave myself. I love my job and what I do and get great satisfaction out of helping people with their finances, which helps keep couples together and families working, because as you know, the number one reason people divorce is because of money. So helping people with their finances helps kids from having step-dads and step-moms. Also, I approached the WSOP like a business venture. I started with a certain amount of chips, played only hands that made money and did not gamble the farm away if I did not have the nuts.
Anyway, so Financial Ace…the name maybe catchy or maybe queer, who knows….
WCP:How many major events do you plan on playing next year?
SD: I hope to get an Internet sponsorship or a big company sponsorship to help me out. I‚Äôm not going to blow through my money on tournaments. I can get just as much satisfaction out of playing poker in a $300 tournament instead of $10,000…$10k is still $10k and you still have to work hard to make $10k. I may invest some of the earnings from the winnings to play in three-to-four tournaments…maybe win a seat through some satellite tournaments.
WCP:Any of your home gamers planning on making the leap into some tournaments
with you next year?
with you next year?
SD: Yes, everyone is excited…they all have the talent to go as far as I did. In fact, I am not the 4th best player in my home game any more…probably more like 6th or 7th out of 15 players.
WCP:Many amateur WSOP ME finalists get a bad wrap, as viewers (jealous viewers) think mostly luck was involved (for example, Aaron Kanter and Tiffany Williamsen this year being the two that most stand out). With that in mind, did you feel somewhat vindicated or even more credible as a poker player by finishing 5th in the TOC in a field of truly top pros?
![Wsop Wsop](/uploads/1/3/7/0/137085113/164478131.jpg)
SD: Yes…it was important to make the final table at the TOC. I did not think I had a chance having to go through 114 professionals. It was a tough field. My goal was to make it to the 2nd day. I did get lucky at the TOC once with an AQ vs. AK. I caught a flush on the river to win. I felt my accomplishment at the TOC was better than the WSOP for that same reason though, thinking that maybe at the WSOP I was a fluke. But now I believe my style of play can keep up with the big boys. But I also know my game needs a lot of work and I am very excited about working on it. At the WSOP I never came from behind except at the final table twice. I always played big hands and tried not to confront the large stacks.
By the way, I think Aaron Kanter is a good player. We see what TV portrays, not other moves he made. In fact, I never got involved in a hand with Aaron because I thought he was really good….but what do I know…
*Photo at right from Card Squad.
Steve Dannenmann Poker
WCP:When you’re not playing poker or working, what are some of your favorite things to do?
SD: I like to fish, go crabbing (big thing in Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay), go to concerts and theatres, travel to Europe and the islands, watch educational TV shows, garden, build things or work on things around the house (electrical, plumbing, homeowner things). Last summer I put patio pavers around my new pool…42,000 pounds of bricks. Yes, 42,000 lbs of bricks! Most of them had to be cut with a concrete saw. Tough job but makes a man out of you and saves you money. I like to throw parties a lot, drink micro beers, love to barbeque and cook, like to get into woodworking (probably this summer, fixing up the garage as a workshop).
WCP:Who would you want to play you in the 'Steve Dannenmann' life story movie?
SD: Me! I’ve always wanted to act and thought I would be a good actor but never took the time to try…but if I had to choose, maybe Ben Affleck.
WCP:What are your thoughts on poker legalization in the US? Should it be legalized? Do you think it will?
SD: Should probably be legal so they could tax it or get some kind of cut…hell they tax everything else. Should allow home poker games as long as there‚Äôs no cut….Maryland has horrible legislation.
WCP:You got any nicknames?
SD: No nicknames. (Editor’s Note to WCP Readers: Let‚Äôs come up with a new one for him)
WCP:Finally…give us your dream six-person table to play with…can be living, dead, or fictitious.
SD:Daniel Negreanu, my buddy Mark Schaech (the guy I was on phone with entire time), Mike Matusow, Phil Hellmuth, the guy from Everybody Loves Raymond (Brad Garrett), and Josh Arieh. All I would do is trash talk and stir up shit the entire time. I love to talk trash talk at the table and bust on people that can take it and dish it out. It would be really cool….maybe someday it will happen. I did not do it at the WSOP because of the cameras and disrespecting people. Some people just can‚Äôt take it.
WCP: Thanks a ton Steve for taking the time to talk with us. WCP readers, check out Steve‚Äôs Web site, http://www.financialace.com/. Steve will be updating it over the next month or so with more content that will describe how to help new players do well in tournaments–and how to live a balanced life. And of course, if you need financial consulting, you now know who to call. It’s pretty clear the guy knows how to build a big stack…
A closer look at some of the intriguing, inspiring and imaginative folks who are the heart of the AICPA.
BY CHERYL ROSENSteven Dannenmann Poker Tournaments
Steven Dannenmann Poker Games
Steve Dannenmann, CPA
Glen Burnie, Md.
Runner-up, World Series of Poker, 2005
Glen Burnie, Md.
Runner-up, World Series of Poker, 2005
I PLAY POKER EVERY WEEK with a group of close friends; sometimes I invite clients, too. It’s a great bonding experience. But I played in only one tournament, in Atlantic City, before I entered the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. I had this dream to just play in the World Series once before I die. The entrance fee of $10,000 was pretty steep, so I split it with my friend Jerry. I won $4.25 million—and split that 50-50 with him, too. After the World Series I entered the Tournament of Champions with the top 114 professional poker players in the world. I finished fifth and won $100,000.
A SUCCESSFUL TAX SEASON IS BASED ON organization and preparation, and I approached the tournament in much the same way. I read Dan Harrington’s new book on poker strategy the week before, took lots of notes, reduced those notes to several goals and points on two small pieces of paper and reviewed them every two hours during the play. My strategy involved three goals: to make it through the first day of the seven-day tournament, to get on television and to make money.
I HAVE NO REAL PLANS FOR THE MONEY. I’ve had a very successful tax, accounting, financial advising and mortgage business for 16 years and have always been able to buy whatever I wanted. Most people who come into a financial windfall just blow it away, but that won’t happen to me. I’m going to follow the advice I give my clients: recognize that this is a very rare opportunity and just hold onto the money. I did stop taking Saturday appointments during tax season—so for the first time in many years, I am actually sleeping in a little on weekends in March! I also hope to play more poker tournaments and to semi-retire before age 50.
I DON’T REALLY HAVE ANY SPECIAL TAX STRATEGIES for the winnings, other than using them to offset my gambling losses and investing in some tax-free instruments. I have opened a 401(k) and maxed out my contribution for 2005, of course.
I’VE TRIED TO DEVELOP MY POKER GAME PLAN in much the same way I built my CPA business. I started my career at a very small firm and six months later branched out into my own business with no clients whatsoever. But I invested in marketing and advertising and found a niche to specialize in, mortgage consulting. Eventually I built a list of more than 1,200 clients. You have to be a marketing guru and also be open to new ideas. You can be the best CPA out there, but if no one knows you, you starve.
MORTGAGE CONSULTING IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY for CPAs. You can help your clients consolidate their debt and plan for their retirement by refinancing, get them a great rate and make good money. Who can recommend a mortgage better than the person who knows all about your financial situation and your spending habits, and who is bound by a code of ethics to work in your best interest?
BEING A CPA CERTAINLY HELPED ME in the World Series because I focused on the odds of winning each hand, and played conservatively to just get through the first day of play. Playing poker is also a lot like dealing with clients because you have to read people at the poker table just as you do across your desk. You have to be able to switch gears with different clients and situations. The amazing thing about poker is that anyone can enter the World Series with just $10,000 and become a celebrity overnight, be recognized all over the place and have people come up and compliment you. Maybe the world will look at CPAs a little differently now, and see how entertaining, smart and competitive we can be.