Meet Cash Game Festival Online Streamer Daniel “DanShot89” Rapley

Daniel “DanShot89” Rapley is a British poker grinder who has been enjoying the game for almost a decade. Rapley will be streaming low stakes cash games during the Cash Game Festival Online, which is just around the corner taking place from Oct. 24-30.
Daniel “DanShot89” Rapley shared a bit about how he got into poker along with a bit about himself.
When did you get into poker and how did you get into it?
I got my first taste of poker when I was in my second year of college and started playing a few live games in a poker room where my friend’s dad was a dealer. So I have been playing for about nine years, although some of those years I played more than others.
Do you prefer live or online poker and why?
Although I play the majority of my poker these days online, the social aspect of playing poker at a friendly live table is definitely way more of an enjoyable experience for me.
I would love the opportunity to play live more often though from an EV point of view, however, from an expenses point of view it often makes more sense for me to stay at home and play with the flexibility of choosing times that suit me the best.
Do you prefer cash games or tournaments?
I now focus most of my time on tournaments as these are probably the most enjoyable and I think most players would agree that nothing in poker quite compares to the feelings of a big final table or shipping a tournament.
Cash games are fun from time to time but I often find it is harder for me to decide when it is a good time to end my session as there is no ‘end-game’ like there is in tournaments. This applies more online than live.
Would you like to attend a land based Cash Game Festival, if so where would be your dream location?
I would love the opportunity to attend a live Cash Game Festival in any city that I’ve not visited before. What better way to enjoy life than to visit new places and play a fun game?
I feel my ultimate dream location would probably be in the Maldives with a view out of the ocean from the table sweeping in big pots.
What do you do for fun outside of poker?
Outside of poker I enjoy many sports, although I am not as active as I once was. Most of enjoy of sports is now in a spectator capacity with my favorite sports being football, MMA and basketball. Since the latter two are primarily based in the USA this has caused many a late night where I end up going into work with less than optimal sleep.
So I try keep these down to the big events. I also enjoy travelling and one of my goals for next year is the start visiting more and more places starting in Europe and gradually as funds permit to venture.
What is one of your funniest moments in poker?
This is a tough question but one of the moments that stands out from my first poker memories was playing during a live £5 rebuy.  I bet and snap-called a shove on the turn without double-checking my cards thinking that I had turned the straight for the nuts. However, it turned out I just had a gutshot and was drawing to a chop as my opponent had in fact turned the straight himself.
This was not so funny at the time as an 18-year old newbie player, but it taught me to always double-check my cards. So in hindsight, I now find it quite amusing.
As for online every time I bluff and get called by a worse hand that I find amusing no matter how many times it happens.
What do you like about Staking101?
A special shout out to Staking101! I feel the site  helped get my poker game to a more focused level. Though stakes on this site I managed to get myself a backing deal which included coaching allows me to focus on playing my “A” game instead of worrying about my bankroll. Even before had a full backing contract the stakes I played for investors and BAP’s I sold with the support of a strong community helped move my game on.
 
 
“DanShot89”
“DanShot89”