For many players, poker is everything. It defines their personality, influences their thinking, and measures their success. However, Joe McKeehen does not fit this mold. In an extensive interview for 888Ride, the 2015 Main Event champion discusses poker as a profession — a field he deeply respects but refuses to romanticize.
Joe has achieved what most players chase for a lifetime: a Main Event title, multiple gold bracelets, and over $20 million in live tournament winnings. Yet when discussing motivation, legacy, or love for the game, his answers are more pragmatic than poetic. For McKeehen, poker isn't a life's mission — it's a job.
Why He Still Thrives in Big Field Tournaments
Joe is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous players in large field tournaments. He lightly jokes about this reputation, attributing a significant portion of his success to variance and perfect timing. However, he emphasizes a skill he believes is crucial in these tournaments — survival.
He avoids unnecessary risks when possible. Observing opponents closely, he adapts quickly after seeing just one or two hands. In enormous fields, staying alive long enough cannot rely on a passive approach. According to McKeehen, many players underestimate the role self-control plays in deep tournament runs.
Why the Winners Get All the Credit
One of the most candid parts of the interview involves coin flips. McKeehen bluntly states — tournament poker is full of them, especially when stacks are low. Win a few in a row, and you look like a genius. Lose them, and the same decisions suddenly seem foolish.
Fans remember the winners. They forget the player who lost a coin flip that would have propelled them to chiplead. Joe finds this more amusing than frustrating. He humorously notes that if everyone perfectly understood how poker works, there would be far less money in the game.
Remembering November Nine
Entering the November Nine in 2015 as the clear chipleader, his mindset was simple — he had to win. The four-month break before the final table didn’t intimidate him. On the contrary, he thinks it helped his opponents more than him, as it gave them time to study the game and prepare better.
The tournament structure, payout jumps, and table setup worked in his favor. Other players avoided unnecessary conflicts because it made economic sense. When the game narrowed to three, that’s when Joe felt his edge could fully assert itself. With fewer players, there was no room for retreat — important decisions had to be made.
Money, Motivation, and Reality
Despite all his achievements, Joe is refreshingly honest about why he still plays. He wants to earn more money. He has responsibilities — family, a mortgage. Poker is a means to provide for his loved ones, not a source of personal affirmation.
He admits that large tournaments with massive fields feel more like a duty than fun in the early stages. Endless hours, deep stacks, and thousands of players chasing the same dream. Yet he returns every summer, because that's what his job requires.
When asked if he loves the game, Joe responded cautiously. He likes poker. He enjoys certain formats, especially mixed games not played everywhere. But he doesn’t use the word love lightly. Poker has given him freedom but also cost him time, energy, and mental capacity. It seems this balance is intentional. By not tying his entire identity to poker, he shields himself from its swings. Wins don’t define him, and losses don’t destroy him. The game remains what it has always been in his eyes — a way to make a living.
This candid interview portrays a champion who doesn’t chase legacy, glamorize suffering, or pretend poker is more than it is. In a world where many players burn out trying to love the game unequivocally, Joe McKeehen offers a different model. Respect poker. Take it seriously. Do your job as best you can. And when the cards are put away, remember that the game doesn’t have to dictate your entire life.
More from 888 Ride:
Jonathan Tamayo on 888Ride: “Winning the Main Event Doesn't Mean You've 'Solved' Poker”
Ryan Riess in 888Ride: “Confidence is the Weapon You Can't Play Poker Without”
Maria Ho in 888Ride: “Failure Is Nothing to Be Afraid of”
Will Jaffe on 888Ride: Heated Debates, PLO Grind, and the WSOP That Changed His Life
Josh Arieh on 888Ride: Seven Bracelets, a Bruised Ego, and a Comeback That Isn't Over
Joe Cada in 888Ride: People said I was just lucky. But I knew I could play
Matt Berkey: High roller players may be twenty times better than me – but I still earn more
Daniel Negreanu: The more haters I have, the more I realize that I'm somebody
Shaun Deeb: I love calling out cheats and fraudsters; the poker industry needs cleaning up
Sources – PodBean, WSOP, TheHendonMob, 888Ride, CardPlayer, PokerNews
