HollywoodPoker Calendar Girl Loves the Game

By John 'Johnny Quads' Wenzel

Courtesy of the Publisher - Online Poker Pro Scandinavia (May)

IF YOU'RE EVER COMPETING on HollywoodPoker.com and comes across someone with the screen name Amandagrub at your virtual table, don't think that you are playing against, well, a grub. Just look at the photos on these pages. Amanda Felicia is one of the most beautiful women you will ever be fortunate enough to share the cyber felt with.

And while she's no grub, she's also no pushover. While the model's stunning looks may be a big reason she was voted in as one of the 2008 HollywoodPoker Calendar Girls, she also knows a thing or two about poker. In fact, she plays "as often as I can" and often spends her Saturdays and Sundays playing on the HP website.

"I am born into it," she says of her affection for the game. "And I'm very competitive. Then there's - what else -winning money!"

Not an unexpected statement from someone coming from a Vegas family.

"My family is originally from Vegas, and I've been playing at family parties as long as I can remember. Every time there are four or more people, we play poker all night long. Of course, I also play when I am in Vegas. Of course, these days, I play online at hollywoodpoker.com as much as I can, and like 95 percent of everyone out there, I like Texas hold'em best."

A pal originally told her about HollywoodPoker, "where the stars come to play" (about 200 of them).

"I have a really close friend who plays on HP and he told me all about the Calendar Girl contest, and he swore if I joined I would love it. He was right!" Amanda's poker isn't limited to the online variety.

"VEGAS! VEGAS!! VEGAS!!! I am always there," she enthuses. She's also played tournaments in the Bahamas.

This girl is too good to be true!

When you ask about her big moments in poker, she first thinks of a time she helped someone win a tourney, then goes to the 'pleasure moment'. "I was in Vegas, playing in a tournament. I just happened to be the only girl in the room playing. So this guy decided to try to harass me like crazy. But little did he know that it takes a lot to bust down my walls! Basically, after about an hour or so (with little response from me except a couple 'flirty' looks), he was already out of the tournament.

"And then there was the most satisfying sound ever - about half the place cheered loudly that he was finally leaving, AND I WAS STAYING!

"Damn, that was a good feeling!" Fortunately, Amanda doesn't think all poker players are like the boor who tried to harass her out of her chips. When you mention 'poker player' to her, she mentions qualities such as secretive, serious and sly.

"Would I ever date a poker player? Of course, I love a good challenge!"

And while you have secretive, serious and sly on the one hand, on the other you have some qualities on the positive side of the ledger, at least according to this beautiful woman who loves Vegas as much as we do.

"Poker players are competitive like me and they probably have the ability to stay calm in most situations when most people would be squirming or freaking out."

And poker qualities are more important to her than looks.

"A good-looking man with no personality or who is rude? NO WAY - that only lasts so long before they get kicked to the curb."

The Calendar Girl doesn't mind a little strip poker now and then, but she says the real turn-on is being a woman in the game.

"The majority of players are still men, and so for me it is fun because you have to keep your 'poker' face on. Well, I kind of like to make sexy looks across the room -think distraction - but that can backfire sometimes and just turn me on!"

That distraction strategy might not work as well online, unless you recognise her Amandagrub screen name.

You can usually find her playing in the first Celebrity Classic event of the month, Sundays at 2pm.

"Knock out the celebs and win money!" she says. "Come check it out and play with me!"

Will do, Amanda. Will do.

Head on over to see Amanda 'Felicia' Grubiak, at our HollywoodPoker Girls page.