About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

my name is Dong Kyu Kim and spend most of my time in the pacific north west where I’ve spent a few years in high school and college.

@dongerkim

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

donger kim on pokerstars
donger274 on ftp

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker game(s) do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

my main game I play is heads up no limit online. I am familiar with other big bet games with slight variations such as HU PLO/6max cash/tournaments etc

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

It use to be the traveling but now I’ve gotta say I’m going back to the freedom it gives me. also in a very strange way, financial security.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

in my personal opinion, much of the top HUNL players are American. I would say Doug Polk, Dan Cates and Isaac Haxton are.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

I respect Doug Polks game the most. It is common knowledge that Doug and I are very good friends and without him, I would not be the HU player I am today.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

First off, I never thought I was an underrated player. I was just not as well known in the general poker world. To answer your question, the most underrated player I think is premium whey. he is somewhat new in high stakes heads up world, but a fierce contender. I’d imagine we will be hearing a lot from him in the coming months

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

i started play poker just like many college kids, as a hobby. I don’t play poker for the same reasons but I still do get just as much enjoyment from the game as when I started. although this wasn’t always the case.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

relativity is an important aspect of this question l. the best month/a big turning point in my poker career was definitely the nick frame challenge. things couldn’t have gone better that month after a crushing January of high stakes live tournament poker at PCA/Aussie millions.

the worst month was a long time ago, when I lost a third of my bankroll at a 10-20 game. at this time The highest stakes I’ve ever played was 1-2. I vividly remember how devastating that was.

3. Are you satisfied with your 2014 poker year?

I’d like to think so yes. I’ve successfully went from a long time 5-10 player to an establish high stakes player for the first time. took me a few years of moving up and down stakes.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Black Friday impacted me in a big way. I was forced to sell the little money I had on the twoplustwo market place to continue pursuing poker. I packed up my bags and moved out the very next month and drove to vegas to play live cash. I started off at the 1-3 games and managed to get back on my feet.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

being creative. poker is an ever evolving game. the moment a player is too stubborn to acknowledge a different point of view will have trouble growing as a player. about a few years ago, I went through this stubborn phase and failed to adjust. I quickly saw the games passing me.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

I wish I was more aggressive with my bankroll. I was such a nit. I was playing small stakes professional ally with over 500+ buy ins. poker is not as popular as it was once before, and in the past decade, it is clear that the games today will be better than games tomorrow. I make sure that I give it lots of thought and have a calculated plan while taking big risks.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I actually take a very passive approach in preparation for a big important day ahead. I generally try to go over everything a few days before and take the whole day off the nigh/day before.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Mark Cuban

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Martin Jacobson, Pratyush B. and Mike McDonald

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

watching a movie. it’s hard to think about anything else during a movie

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

I’ve had bad experiences on euro sites. I don’t particularly trust them.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

sounds cliche, but persistence and hardworking. I’m not afraid to say it but ultimately running good when you’re playing your highest stakes is a huge factor.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach for 2015?

Being flexible with different game types. personally starting all over from scratch sounds very inefficient so I’ll be looking for a game that I enjoy but also has great potential.

Future

1. What are your poker goals for 2015?

to win a poker tournament, is that so much to ask?

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

I am confident because I come from a game type with that is incredibly competitive. My living has come from other pro’s that play one on one poker for a living.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

i see myself playing poker in 30 years, although not as a primary source of income. since I’ve googled “rules of Texas holdem” there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by without thinking about poker

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I consider myself a player, not a teacher.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

the same dream every poker player has, to win the WSOP ME

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

it’ll be tough. I’d imagine those who game select the hardest will be the first to go. a lot of sites are changing their lobby’s by rewarding players who start tables/ the better players. unfortunately there isn’t as much room for professionals as 10 years ago

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

I personally take the passive approach to investing. A mixture of low beta ETFs and bonds. for all the money that I win and lose on a daily basis, when the market is down 5%, it gives too too much anxiety. I just don’t like getting involved in something I don’t fully understand. if I lose a ton in poker, at least I have a good idea what happened.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

I’m actually quite the homebody. I enjoy quiet nights.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

to play as much poker as you can and try to move up in stakes. I got into poker on 2009, and I’ve heard all these great stories of the “golden age”. 2009 was the golden age

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Do some international traveling where you live for a long period of time. preferably not the country next door. especially for you Americans that never leave the U.S. Americans just don’t travel enough

skydiving. I’ve never felt more alive. this should count as two things

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I’m more of a YouTube guy

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I would cap the number of tables the HU lobby accordingly to the traffic. i know this very well since I am a HU player myself. players need more of an incentive to to play, that way, the game will continue to evolve, the lobby will look lively.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

i personally enjoy food in Hawaii the most. I don’t enjoy “Hawaiian” food but the fusion asian food there.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

TCfromUB, because he recently did a challenge himself

Stephen “Adiprene1″ McDonald has been contributing on Nutblocker in the past, check out his interesting article series with Gavin “Gavz101″ Cochrane

 A Leveling War: Maximizing This One Hand by Stephen McDonald (Adiprene1)

 Leveling Wars: Facing a Strange Line with History, by Gavin ‘Gavz101′ Cochrane

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Stephen, 26, Dublin. no twitter, instagram, or any of that bollocks.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

adiprene1 (stars), 1stugetdmoney ( ftp).

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play?  Are you learning any new games?

Define myself as wreckless, unprofessional, underachieving, genius of some kind.
6m plo is what I’ve always played except when I get bored then it’s hu til I remember how much I fucking hate hu.
I was sorta tryna learn 8game but gave up pretty quickly.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

That I don’t get fired for being unproductive and unreliable and missing entire weeks of work for no good reason.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

Valorian, Flounder, Cheap cheap. and John o Shea if he still plays on some account.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

Noone in particular, just all those guys playing 5/10-25/50 in any line up all day. Especially the guys playing 10/20 deep ante w/o fish.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Noone’s really underrated so much as under the radar. I think a couple of the faggy scripting hunters get no respect despite being pretty ok. Only a couple of them though.
Also someone like deldar who seems to get zero respect on 2+2, but has been a successful high stakes player for a long time. He’s defo underrated.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker?  Do you still play for the same reasons?

Grew up in pubs playing pool, darts, and fruit machines so poker was probably always gonna be something I played at least sometimes. Got into it in college and I just liked the allure of it all. I guess when I started I liked that I could turn a small tournament buy in into w/e 1st place money was.
Now I just play to earn a living.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

My best month was December of (I think) 2011, had something like 45k to my name at the start of the month and was playing davin hu at 25/50 ante tables. Think I did some hit n runs vs him and then went on a rampage killing everyone hu and 6m. Won 300k and made a bbv post on 2+2 about it.

I think I had 2 almost equally bad losing month…
The first was may 2011 where I got fucked up by rui cao hu and then lost to everyone I played after losing to him aswell as losing in 6m. I was chasing losing, playing long hours, going after tough players etc and just spiralled out of control. iirc, I lost 400k in 3 weeks. made a bbv post about it.
The other was jan ’12 immediately after my +300k month. I lost 250k In the first 5 days of the month playing berndsen, Isildur, rui cao, and maybe cts hu 50/100. made a bbv post about that too. Then I emptied my balance over the rest of the month. i haven’t had a +/- 50k month since then iirc

3. Are you satisfied with your 2014 poker year?

Fuck no. I’ve underachieved every year of my career.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Well the first few weeks were great, so many of the best players had been taken away from the games and more of the 5/10-10/20 regs were taking shots in the 25/50 6m games. I think at that time I was one of the strongest 6m regs. I was the biggest 6m winner in the first 4 weeks after black friday. I was feeling pretty untouchable especially at deep ante games ( but then had my biggest losing month ever as outlined above).

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

Thinking im good enough to play people better than me. Thus becoming good enough to beat mediocre players.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

lol where do I even start. HU. Playing HU ever. BRM. Doing things for the sake of bbv. Not cashing out enough. Not playing more than 100 hrs/month for the last 3 years. Not taking care of my health problems sooner. Not having a proper office chair until 3 months ago. Consistently running crazily below ev at HU and continuing to play it. I think lack of brm has to be #1, though.

7. What’s your biggest prob bet?

Haven’t made many big bets tbh.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

Sometimes I’m in a great routinue of going swimming or running every morning before I start my day. Other times I eat my breakfast while watching netflix, then just start playing. There’s a noticeable difference in my focus and endurance.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

I have to go poker related here so I’ll say ben86.

Best answer I ever saw here was Lex saying sticthes. Bitch I got extendos.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

For Team Online rather than team pro? Guess they don’t need too much marketability then so I’ll say Lautie, Oddsen, Supernova9 (that the right name? I mean Ansky anyway).

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Drinking. always been drinking. Other things that are good are pizza, shooting people in video games, swimming. Getting laid works well too, but that’s not always an option ;p

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

More than none but it’s tough to get a seat because of scripters. When a site has no wait lists and table is full, it’s impossible to get the seat when someone leaves. I prefer Stars and FTP anyway. Or I used to like FTP but now they’ve no deep tables and I hate shallow.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

I’m not playing high cuz I’m adhering to a stricter BRM now. I’ll be shot taking some at 10/20 soon enough I hope but I’ll be game selecting a lot.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach for 2015?

Being healthier. both in terms of diet, exercise, and drinking habits.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Be playing 10/20 regularly without having to move down.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

Meh, I should do. If I can sort out a regular sleep schedule, be productive and play a lot, and not dick around too much in other games/ formats.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

Probably. Don’t really see what else I’m gonna do for a living.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

Don’t think I could/ should.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Reversing time to 2007 with what I know today and retiring by now.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

Just getting worse and worse same as it has in the last 5 years.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

Zero. I used to have some money in a couple of investments but when I busted my roll in jan ’12, I ended up cashing in each of them over the following months for living expenses and further poker losses.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

Football, swimming, pool/snooker, netflix, nights out, ‘the last of us’ on ps3, cycling.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Just grind 6m plo with proper brm. Oh wait I’d tell myself I have coeliac disease and to go gluten free immediately

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

1. have a crazy drug fuelled binge that you’ll vaguely remember for the rest of your life.
2. travel to several places very different from where you grew up and experience different cultures.
3. bang someone way hotter than you.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

Naw

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I’m the only reg allowed at every table? Really though I’d have there be no hu tables, just 6m with no table selecting, no zoom, but not anonymous. All deep ante tables.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Best place was proly NYC.
Best restaurant idk. no one in particular stands out, there’s tons of great ones.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

All the guys who have been posting on 2+2 HSPLO forever, but we don’t know much about.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Laszlo Bujtas, 22, in Hungary. I don’t have twitter, just facebook and instagram.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

omaha4rollz on PS, I rarely play other sites

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

Overaggro, and spazzy . I play mainly PLO500-2k at the moment, shooting 5k sometimes when there’s good action. I also play the bigger sunday MTTs, and series.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

Freedom for sure, competiton. Also, it’s good to be a baller sometimes in a ‘cheap’ country where wages are short.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

Danfiu, Zsipali, Nlzkm9

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

Basically anyone who are crushing high stakes

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

-

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

I started at 15, my classmates showed me poker. One of them won some dollars , and I’m a compepetive person, so I wanted to win more. Also it was fun, and I liked money a lot.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

Last year I got 2nd in a scoop for $110k, also this march i won over $100k. The worst is coming right after, this month

3. Are you satisfied with your 2014 poker year?

I could do better for sure, but I’m satisfied. I’ve achieved SNE for the first time, had to grind 14 hours all november and december, with success. That was my aim.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

I just cashed out from my fulltillt account, so I was lucky. I was playing some small stakes NLHE back then.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

2,5 years ago I joined a staking group. I got some coaching, and I started to develop mentally as well. Since then I’m looking at poker from a different perspective

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

-Definitely bankroll management. During my career I went busto-robusto many times.
-I should’ve hired a coach much earlier.
-I didn’t participate in any poker communities before I was 18, because I was afraid it’s ‘illegal’. Now I know many ppl started like me
-Most of the time I preferrel quantity over quality, which is still one of my problems. I used to play many tables playing my C game.

7. What?s your biggest prob bet?

none

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I usually watch videos, but I can play whenever or wherever I want. I sometimes play sessions of 15 minutes, I can quit anytime, thanks to zoom.
As for sports I’m trying to live healthy, I train with a personal trainer 5 times a week, I also have food prepped for me

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

I can tell 2 : Anthony Robbins – he’s an idol, shows so much positiveness whenever I read his books, or watch interviews.
The other is RSD Tyler – such a baller, banging hot girls, and with really much confidence

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

probirs and birs320 (Hungarian MTTers) and Supernova9

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Drinking, Partying, or working out

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

only PS

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?
mental development, hard work, and some rungood.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

Im working much more on my game this year than before

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Making 1,5x or 2x SNE (got 600k atm), playing 5k regularly with more comfort. I’d like to ship a live event , I will go to most of the EPT’s, and maybe to Vegas .

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

I will be working on my leaks, and learn much, so hopefully yes

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

I think i will play until I’m earning money with it, or I find something more profitable.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

Im not a coach type, I rather just play.

5. What?s the poker dream for you?

Being the best at poker, while enjoying it, with good personal life.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I think I can adapt whatever it’s going to be. I hope USA players will come back one day.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

Im just reading some books, but not much besides that. Planning to put some more volume in.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

working out in gym, partying, and I’m a car fan.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Hire a coach and stick to brm

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Travel the world, get hot girls, and drive supercars

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I follow Yoey’s podcasts, and Verve’s twitch

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

Decrease rake. Implement a shot-clock, because live poker feels boring when ppl are tanking in obvious spots.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

I’d say lake Balaton in my home country, the girls are hot there, and the parties are great.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

Berri Sweet please

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Phil Ward, 28, London. Don’t use an active twitter.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

Infestus176 on PokerStars. I play occasionally on Ipoker as ThumblessG.

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play?  Are you learning any new games?

I only play PLO. In general I’m a maniac. I primarily play high stakes live PLO for a living, occasionally I play on PokerStars zoom/5card too. I want to start learning mix games a bit because we have a good big mixed in London.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

I guess given I’ve lived/stayed in a few countries I’d have to say travel. Being able to go on holiday with friends at the drop of a hat and not have to work around a set schedule is nice.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

In the live game there aren’t many good English players, at least in London. My friend Andy Moseley plays live PLO very similar to me, online Flong has excellent results. JP Kelly plays very good too.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

In live games I respect anyone who can just sit and print and not blow up at all really. It’s a much harder skill than it seems. There is a Canadian in our London games who does this excellently and unsurprisingly he has the best results. Best regs I’ve played a bunch with would be aussies, either my friend Jun, or Joel Feldman (ShipItFMA on 2p2), both supremely tough opponents.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Haha, I’m certainly overrated not underrated. I was grinding out SNE at the start of last year for a while and Shuller_Alt (Apo5tol on 2p2) was always super tough, he has a challenge going right now that makes him better known so maybe he’s not so underrated now. ActionFreak on stars has always come across as extremely solid too.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker?  Do you still play for the same reasons?

I guess I started playing properly when I moved to Florida in 2010 and had to use poker as my only source of income. I considered myself a professional when I moved to Macau in 2012 though. I play poker for money and to not have to work a normal job, that was the same back then and remains the same now.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

My best and worst month’s happened within a few months of each other in 2013. I was killing it around April/May in Macau, I remember winning huge in a 2k/5kHKD game and my friends had a bunch of action so we were all very excited. After that I went to Vegas for over 5 weeks and lost 6 figures in terrible Bellagio games pretty fast, whilst having kind of a miserable time on the whole and was left feeling exhausted, that wasn’t so fun.

3. Are you satisfied with your 2014 poker year?

2014 was a transitional year for me. I left Macau on the back of 6 months of really bad results at the start of the year and then decided to take a break from live poker and I started grinding 1/2 and 2/5zoom on Stars for a few months. I proceeded to be ill disciplined and remember losing a bunch money battling oddsen and isildroon whilst I was drunk one night in the summer, that capped off what had been half an ill disciplined year. However, that gave me the kick up the arse needed to get back into live PLO and I travelled to Sydney for the 2nd half of the year and won a bunch so overall I ended up reasonably satisfied with the year.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Black Friday affected me in a strange way. I didn’t have much $s on Full Tilt but I was living in the States at the time so in order to continue grinding my Euro Sites games I had to start using a VPN and the whole situation of my living and playing out there started to feel much more sketchy.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

By far it was moving to Macau and talking hands regularly with top British players like Andy Moseley, Jon Godfrey and Tom Macdonald. These guys essentially made me good at poker, taught me to think properly about the game and also taught me what it meant to be a professional etc.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

Be a poor professional on too many occasions. Playing in high stakes -ev online games way too often. Battling the best regs HU on Ipoker because I’ve been bored. Played in some really big live games when I’ve been tired, or in a bad mood. All these things have cost me countless amounts of money.

7. What’s your biggest prob bet?

I haven’t really done many big prop bets. I have had a lot of silly small ones though. Currently I’m in a bet where I’m not allowed to do anything degenerate for 8 weeks, given my personality it is basically my Everest.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I probably don’t prepare enough, the truth is in the London live games nothing out of the ordinary happens ever so that leads to me being a little slack on some stuff. If I wake up early enough I like to go to the gym before I grind.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Realistically it would be someone creative, either a great musician or a cool writer. These guy are going to have the most interesting stuff going through their minds. ChicagoJoey seems like a pretty interesting guy too, would be fun to chat to him about some of his experiences or a few hours.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

I couldn’t care less, none of them seem to make a difference. Maybe Shuller_Alt as an online pro after he’s taken time to do this micro stakes challenge and put it on Twitch etc.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Drinking or recreational drugs. If I’m running really bad I like to order horrendously unhealthy food and listen to music that should make anyone with a heart cry.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

This year kinda a bunch given it’s the only platform online where I make money and continue to have an edge. I don’t play much online though as live games are so time consuming.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

The most important factors have probably been luck, pride and a little bit of skill. I’ve fallen into some good situations, i.e going from playing .5/1 and 1/2 online to being put into the biggest live PLO games on the planet in 2012 definitely helped my progress to high stakes. I think once you’re playing high stakes, the games are so much more fun that going back to lower stakes games that it makes you proud to still be in there battling in them.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach for 2015?

Just trying to focus on turning up and grinding many more live hours. Even though I essentially hate live poker and it bores the hell out of me, it is the platform in which i’m still profitable in poker so putting in high hours there is definitely the most positive thing I can do.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

To increase my volume in live games in London. I don’t have any monetary goals because the variance live is so ridiculous. I would like to get to averaging 30 hours per week.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

I’m semi confident, however I’m no way near 30 hours a week right now and summer is coming. Apparently summer is awesome in London so that’ll make it difficult. I’ll try my best though.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

I think I’ll play poker on and off until the day I die now. I like the banter in poker, chatting with all kinds of characters at the table and stuff. If/when I get a family though I don’t want poker to be my source of income if I’m honest.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

Not really, I like talking poker with great players but I’m probably not good enough to coach or teach anybody.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

To quit poker with enough money so that I can be sure I’ll never have to wear a suit or call somebody boss.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I think this question is probably the most answered in poker so I won’t be adding anything eye opening. Live games will get worse and online games will die. It’s not looking good for the future of poker unfortunately.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

I’m not smart enough to invest my money. I just hope that I can throw some at my friend Andy and he’ll be kind enough to invest it as he’s the best person on the planet at making money.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

My favourite time away from poker is chilling and partying with friends. I’m still young, relatively, so going out and chasing girls etc is still a lot of fun. Now that summer is coming I’ll try and get back into tennis and gym. I used to play the drums, that’s a hobby i’d like to reignite.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Listen seriously and carefully to every piece of advice my friends Jon and Andy have given me. They’re arguably the richest and most successful players in the UK, they fly under the radar and they crush. If I’d taken everything on board that they’d taught me I’d be a lot richer right now but more importantly my life would be much better balanced also.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Travel, see the world and experience new countries, its definitely the best outlet we have as human beings. On top of that taking MDMA and going to an unbelievably good gig should be two things everyone should try and sample.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I listen to Joey’s podcast a bunch when I’m grinding and stuff. I haven’t ever seen anything on twitch though.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

With online poker, I’d make it easier so that fish like me don’t just log on and constantly lose money . Live poker I could list stuff seriously for hours. Minimum buy in’s should be increased is the major one to stop short stacks ruining great games relentlessly. It’d be nice to have a shot clock too so we could reach the heights of maybe getting a whole 25 hands an hour in, that’d be a dream.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Best place might be Sydney, to have such a great city that has awesome weather all the time but also has a beach super close or when you’re feeling run down is pretty awesome. Best restaurant is tough, I ate at loads of amazing places in Macau, my friend CS took me have a local dish, pork ball noodles, that was delicious. England and London is awful for quality of food fwiw.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

I don’t know if he’d do it and I’ve mentioned him a lot but my friend Andy Moseley would be awesome, he’s probably the most successful poker player in the past 5 years and not many people know about him.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Robin Lindqvist, 24 yo and living in bondi beach outside of sydney right now. @Rliindqvist at twitter.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

Betrob7 at Pokerstars, Rlindqvist at Svenska spel, TimoCruzSir at iPoker, Batigol10 at micro.

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play?  Are you learning any new games?

Almost exclusively plo, some tourneys here and there. Made the transition from 6max to hu a couple of months back though, and been enjoying ita lot so far so im sure its going to be an interesting year.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

The freedom, without a doubt. To be able to take the day as it comes means a lot to me.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

I would easily say Viktor Blom is the best Heads up plo player when he is focused and playing his a-game for sure, except for him it seems like Berri Sweet is crushing the hsplo games so Im sure he is a very sharp player also. Then I dont really know, I think we have a lot of good plo players from sweden and its hard to say who is better when I dont play these games myself but I think fjutekk is supposed to be good.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

Since I mostly play hu nowadays I dont battle too many regs, but when I played a lot of 6max at stars I think there was some good players but no one that stands out significantly.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Hmm I dont know really, probably some of the midstakes grinders.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker?  Do you still play for the same reasons?

I quit my job around 4 years ago, I had a lot of help from one of my closest childhood friends who staked me all the time in the beginning and I have him to thank for a lot. Basically I liked the freedom the most about back then also, even if much have changed since back then I guess in a way I can say I still play for the same reasons.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

I think the best month was may 2012, I made a pretty decent run in a scoop tourney which definitly was significant for my financial situation at that time, and I remember being in sweden and summer was just around the corner so it was really good times.

Worst month I think was november 2013 where I lost like 100buy ins at plo100 in a couple of weeks and didnt have many cents left to my name so I sold my tv and got like 600bucks together which I spread on 2 eurosites and started over grinding plo25 for a while to get back on my feets.

3. Are you satisfied with your 2014 poker year?

Yes. Im happy with my results for sure, but I think 2015 will be a lot more interesting since I have much new found motivation after the transition to heads up and ive already worked more on my game then I did in the entire last year I think.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Not at all except for feeling bad for those who had much money stuck, I didnt have any money at all on there at that time.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

Theres so many different factors really, but if I have to pick one I have to go with when I learned better to aknowledging my own leaks, because once youre able to put youre own game in perspective and look at hands youve been playing from a objective point of view I think youre able to improve a lot.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

Probably that I havnt been working on my game much at all until recently.

7. What’s your biggest prob bet?

Hmm dont think ive done any interesting prob bets to be honest, not any big ones at least, but had a huge freeroll once a couple of years ago if I was able to eat all seven desserts at a restaurant after have eaten this giant truffle pasta, I ate 5,5 out of 7 so missed out though and felt sick all day haha.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I been improving my preparation a lot over the last 8 months, and I work out 6 days a week, eat really healthy food and this have helped me a lot. I have so much more energy nowadays and its so much easier to keep a straight mind while playing.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Sir Alex Ferguson, recently read his book and I think it seems like he has a good point of view on so many things in life so Im sure I could have learned a lot of things from him.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

It would be fun if they signed some swedish plo players since theres plenty of good ones to choose from.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Hang out with friends and just dont talk or think about poker for a while.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Since 3 out of 4 of my sites atm is eurosites I would say much.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

I think thats mainly because ive been pretty happy with my situation over the years ive been playing fulltime and not really felt that motivated to improve my game and be able to climb in stakes until recently, but im really looking forward to work really hard for a while now and hopefully I can make it to high/midstakes eventually.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

2 things, I take care of myself now in a completely different way that I did before and this have improved my life overall so incredibly much. But also all this new found motivation since I made the transition to heads up.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

To keep working hard on my game and see how far I can go, but also keep up the healthy lifestyle.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

Yes, right now I feel more motivated in many areas than ive done in a long time so im positive this is going to be a good year.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

No.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I coach and I make videos for runitonce.com, I think its fun to do this and its good for me also since I have to think more about my own game as well.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Live on a beach in some nice place with my friends and play high enough to have all the freedom I want.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

Since there is so much good knowledge to get hold of out there in the forums and the training sites I think the games obv are gonna get tougher and tougher, But at the same time most recreational players play for fun and dont think too much about improving so im convinced there will still be good value in poker 5 years from now.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

No none at all. Ive been traveling a lot though, which I think is a great investment in myself and my life quality.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

Yep I used to play a lot of football so Im still very into that mainly the premier league but its kind of hard to follow now when im living in australia because of the time difference. Except for that I spend most of my time at the gym and with friends.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Pokerwise it would be to work on my game a lot more instead of just playing a bunch of hours. Lifewise Im not sure really, Im happy about my last 5 years they have been very eventful and I wouldnt want to change anything to be honest.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Hmm, I really enjoy traveling so I would recommend going to Bahamas, barcelona and sydney for sure I think these are my favorite places in the world.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

Listening to Joe Ingrams podcast sometimes I think its really good but nothing else.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

Im not a huge fan of all the hud use, I think its getting too hard for the recreational players sometimes when youre able to identify their weaknesses so fast.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

I really like japanese food and been spending much time in London over the years so gonna go with Nobu, always enjoying myself there!

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

Would have liked to see a snapshot with Meatballspls at stars, good friend of mine and fellow plo player.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Jason Koon, 29, Vancouver BC. @JasonKoon

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

jakoon1985 on stars NovaSky on FTP

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

I specialize in High Stakes MTT but have been playing a lot of HS cash for the last 2-3 years. I’ve been learning plo for the last 1.5 years.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

I enjoy almost never having to set an alarm clock.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

Ike Haxton, Scott Seiver and Ben Tollerene are the world’s premier players. Ben doesn’t play a lot of tourneys though.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

I respect Moorman1 for grinding MTT like a mad man, no way I could do what he does.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

I’m not sure if he’s underrated, but I played a good deal with Trueteller in Macau, and he’s fantastic.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

I started playing in 2005 after a hip injury I suffered in college track. I started playing because I needed an competitive outlet. I still love the competition, but play for other reasons like freedom and money too.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

After Black Friday was very hard. I had just broken up with a long term girlfriend and was moving out of the country to play online. That fall was a very difficult time.

3. Are you satisfied with your 2014 poker year?

2014 wasn’t my best year results wise. I did learn a ton and progressed as a player, so sure I’m happy with it.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

I moved to Canada. As stated previously, I ended up splitting with my girl. On the upside, living in Canada helped me really connect with one of my best friends, Ben Tollerene.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

I would say in the beginning, Phil Galfond’s training videos and early coaching from Nick “purecash25” Rampone. Now I would say I’ve developed the most from my current coaches who I don’t want to disclose the names of, and playing high stakes against brilliant opponents.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

I spent too much time and money pretending to be something I wasn’t. I’m a simple person, outside of food, there isn’t a ton I need to spend money on.

7. What’s your biggest prob bet?

I’m currently in a bet that involves my friend not cheating on his wife. I bet $100,000 to win $1,000,000 in 7 years.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I do a light cardio workout, stretch, take a cold shower and do a short meditation. This is followed by a small meal and coffee.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Stephen Hawking

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Ben86 (the world’s best player). Trueteller. Dan Smith has been playing a ton online lately, he’s an incredible player.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Do heavy squats and have my beautiful girlfriend rub my head and shoulders.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Hardly any unless they are having a big tournament.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

Great coaching. Logging the hands. Strong poker aptitude.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

Don’t feel committed to playing unless I’m excited and well rested.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Continue to learn. Get better and PLO and mixed games.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

Yes. Because I’m fascinated and in love with poker.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

Yes, but only for recreation.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I do coach. I really enjoy it.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Having the freedom to do what I please.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

Unless online finds a way back into the United States, it will continue to dry up. Poker is getting harder and harder, but there is still a lot of money to be won.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

I go through phases of learning. I invest in a little bit of everything. Crypto currency, Mutual funds, Stocks, other poker players, etc.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

I love being outside. I grew up in the country so I try to get back to my roots. I do a good bit of hiking and fishing when I can. I also enjoying training in the gym.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

I was pretty insecure. I would tell myself to focus more on being happy from within and less on worrying about the way other people perceive me.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Snorkel around coral reef. Spend time in Vancouver, BC in the spring and/or summer. See a good Broadway play.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I watch Chicago Joey when I can. I listen to Ben Greenfield on fitness.I’ve seen a few Jason Sommerville shows and one DNegs show. I really enjoyed them both.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I would be the obvious one of letting us play all sites from the USA. I enjoy live poker, I think it’s in a good place right now. There are some politics in live cash games I could go without.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Best place is Vancouver, BC. Best restaurant is probably Le Cinq in Paris.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

I don’t like challenging people to things, but a great guest would be Phil Galfond.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Matthew Ashton, 26 for two more weeks, Cumbria when I’m in England, I’ll be in Vegas from tomorrow, I never stay in the same place for more than a couple of months though. twitter = @mmashton

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

MUSTAFABET, 8+ years ago Thin Tony.

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker game(s) do you normally play?  Are you learning any new games?

I’d describe myself as a mixed games player who prefers playing heads up, I mostly play 8 game and if I’m playing one game straight I prefer the split pot games(Omaha 8 and Stud 8) more than the others but I’ve played and thought about every variant available online at least a little. I’d intended putting more time into learning superstud, razzdugi and some of the other uncommon games played live in Vegas before arriving but got occupied with some games online so once I’m there I’ll have to learn as I go!

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

The freedom and flexibility it gives to the rest of my life. I feel very lucky being able to choose where and what I do every single day. It might sound strange at first to some but I also like how in control of your results you are, even though there is huge variance in poker I feel how well you do in the long term is determined more by your ability compared to a lot of jobs where getting a promotion or job position can be mostly based on who you know or other people’s opinion of you.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

With so many players moving to UK for tax reasons or otherwise it’s hard to know who is actually from the UK! I think Crazy Elior is a solid all round player and battles more players than most and deserves credit for that. I would say the same for Luke Schwartz and he’s improved quite a bit over the last couple of years. I’m struggling to think of anyone else from the UK who plays high-stake mixed games with any regularity.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

I think you have to respect the players who are willing to play anyone at least some of the time and start games even when it’s likely neither of them have much of an edge.
Michael Thuritz fits that bill pretty well and might be the player I’d least like to see in a mixed game.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Hard for me to tell how highly rated different players are but I can see people underrating someone with very bad public results like Isildur. He has put in millions of hands against specialists and I’m pretty confident any other player in the world who tried to do the same would have fared much worse.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker?  Do you still play for the same reasons?

I started playing play money online when I was 15, a friend in school told me about it and it sounded like my kind of thing. I enjoyed it and set up a real money account shortly after and started building my bankroll from the freerolls available. I still really enjoy playing now even if the buzz from winning isn’t the same. I’m pretty sure I will play poker forever although the financial incentive is what keeps me putting in as many hours for the time being.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

I’ve had a lot of low 6 figure swings in a day but I think only one 6 figure losing month in 2010. It followed my best month ever online and I’d just stopped running good at 400/800+. I think the swings I’ve had in my career to this point are at least as mild as any other player who’s played nosebleeds, I’d put it down to having larger edges in the HU games I play and being smart(or too nitty!) with game selection in ring games as well as some good fortune.

The best month financially came from the tournament final tables at the 2013 WSOP. The best months for me as a player were in June/July 2010, I busted every WSOP tournament I played on day 1 but online I went from having a bankroll I wouldn’t play higher than 100/200 limit to one I’d be willing to play virtually anything online and managed to keep it that way since.

3. Are you satisfied with your 2015 poker year?

The whole year I haven’t been sure where to place my focus between live games, online ring games or online HU. Part of me felt with the slow decline in action online that getting myself better prepared for some big lives games in Vegas would be my best opportunity for a big score this year. I went to Melbourne for the Aussie millions and got some good practice and results in the cash games there and considered continuing to pay more attention to live poker. However HU is what I find more interesting and had my best results in and I got drawn back to that. A new wave of HU action for me came up the last month and having good results in that has left me feeling satisfied with the decision.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Most of all I miss having the red full tilt pro’s in the games! I’d been frantically trying to cash out the few weeks following Black Friday having left way too much money on there. The majority of the funds I’d cashed out from there appeared in my bank 2 days before the whole site went down which left my mind more at ease. I went backpacking for 8 months shortly after so I hadn’t intended playing much in the following months anyway and so it was almost a good thing I wasn’t missing out on as many games.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

I’m not sure really, I got a lot out of Cardrunners videos and forums earlier on which brought my understanding of poker forward a lot at the time. I’ve had some smart friends I could turn to for questions along the way too although I feel like I’ve made less use of that than most high stake players and spent a little too much energy trying to figure out things by myself. The mathematics of poker book made my poker theory a lot stronger and more confident to apply the ideas to different games. Propokertools is the software I’ve used more than any other and learnt the most from in the limit games and I’ve had the most success in those so that could well be the biggest factor.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

I played drunk when I was 18 and lost a good chunk of my bankroll, it was a good lesson to learn early and I haven’t played online drunk since. Walking out of a Casino alone in Birkenhead straight after busting some guys in the cash game may have been a bigger one though!

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

I don’t have an interesting answer to this, I guess it’s a 4 figure credit card roulette after a meal. I like to bet on lots of things but keep it small on things outside of poker.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

If it’s a final table or a nosebleed HU match I like to write/type some thoughts down and really drill into my head some ideas I think will work well against them as well as how I think they perceive me and my play. Aside from that, I feel I play best if I’ve got everything else I’d like to achieve that day out of the way, having anything in the back of my mind that I know I’d need to quit for distracts me.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

If I could guarantee some honest answers, i’d probably want to pick the brain of whoever had access to the most secret/sensitive government information. Not into conspiracy theories like some but sure i’d discover a lot more about whats actually going on in the world.
A more realistic answer might be Layne Norton so I could be more certain of my nutrition and weight training plans in future.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Me! I guess anyone who could bring in the most action to the site.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Hanging out with my cats or exercising always helps in the short term. Keeping everything in perspective and being aware I’m running 7 figures above expectation in tournaments makes it hard for me to ever feel stressed by a short period of results or that I’m actually running bad though.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

None at all.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

Treating poker like a career on one long learning curve always trying to improve, not just a job putting in hours. Always questioning and keeping my mind open to the possibility of playing a hand differently, not just thinking one hand should always be played one way or seeing something I think is wrong and assuming it’s a mistake or makes someone a bad player if they do it. Putting in a lot of hours studying.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach for 2014?

I increased the amount of hours I was putting in and decreased the amount of hours travelling. The consistency of being in one place with a routine has really helped.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

I’m looking to put in a lot of hours in the cash games in Vegas over the next couple of months as well as learning some new games. My goal is to play in some of the biggest games and feel like I’m getting my money in good. After that unless there feels like an opportunity online that is too good to miss I’m intending doing a ton of solo travelling to everywhere I want to go that I haven’t been yet! Probably covering most continents and Japan is the place I’d like to go to the most. I don’t envisage playing online much over the next 12 months.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

I am feeling confident! Perhaps more so than I should because of recent results but I feel like I’ll have a good mindset and routine in Vegas this year.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

I do although probably not professionally or at least as often. Too much fun to stop playing completely!

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I do think teaching is something that would feel rewarding to me, I do get satisfaction from answering friends questions and get plenty out of it myself even in more simple spots. At the same time it’s simply bad for business to teach other people in your player pool and it also would have to be for a price worth my time compared to other poker playing or studying I could be doing instead. I imagine these two factors pretty much rule everyone out who might be interested.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Win the Main event and give all the money to charity.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I see the biggest games available online being played at smaller and smaller stakes, I think the increasing presence of AI’s ability in poker will make people unwilling to play poker for such large amounts as well as edges getting smaller all the time. I think this will result in the best games available being live and the poker pro population/demographic might become smaller and older again.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

After my WSOP results in 2013 I put a decent amount of time into improving my financial awareness and trying to get my money distributed how I wanted. I learned a bit from a couple of friends and research online, my aim is just to have things reasonably diversified and keep up with the market so I’ve kept things simple and not looked toward more time-consuming options or things I’d need to pay attention to.

I do think there will come a point, if my only concern was making money, when my hourly from poker will decrease to the point my time is spent better learning more about finance but I also won’t enjoy it nearly as much if at all and minimizing time spent doing things I don’t enjoy is the main reason for me trying to make money.

To this point I’ve bought one property and put the majority of the rest in different mutual funds.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

Recently I’ve been taking lifting more seriously and been doing a consistent powerlifting routine, if I do go traveling after the summer I may go back to running because its easier to keep up on the move and try to improve my half marathon time and then run a couple of full marathons.

My favorite way to spend my spare time is either catching up with friends or traveling to a new place see a different landscape or culture.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Put in more volume while the games were softer! Every hour I could of spent on poker then is probably worth 5-10 hours now.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Safari, Scuba diving, Spearmint Rhino. I’m all about the animals

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

Not really at the minute, I listened to the 2+2 pokercast a good amount in the past. I’ll watch Daniel Negreanu if he’s streaming the mix game I’m in!

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

Some way of being certain you’re always playing against the person you think you are and definitely not a bot would be great for online. There’s more important things but I’d like it if sunglasses were banned from live poker, there is the possibility of cheating using them and I think they’re negative for the atmosphere between players.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant you have ever visited?

Halong bay in Vietnam might be the best place, felt like I’d gone back in time.
Northern Sole, Sheffield.
7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

Ben Sulsky, think he’d have some interesting views.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Zachary Freeman, 35, Los Angeles CA. @ZachPoker

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

zachucsb

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

I’m not amazing or close to the best at any aspect of poker but I am very good at most aspects. I guess that means I’d say I’m well rounded. I have good fundamentals, and strong theory understanding in a variety of games. I have good discipline, tilt control, and bankroll management. My strongest aspect would probably be understanding the psychology of people at the table and my deductive reasoning skills. That got me by when my fundamentals and poker theory weren’t as strong.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

I enjoy the poker! I enjoy learning poker, talking poker and playing poker. I quit a career as a Aerospace Engineer because I was much happier playing poker. Surely, secondarily I also like that I only need to play 3x week or so, and I enjoy the relationships I’ve made with people of similar interests.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

There are players that I admire aspects of their games but I can’t think of anyone in the games I play that I consider to have the full package. That is mostly a reflection of the quality of games I play in more than my ability to give praise. I admire my friend Matt’s non emotional and consistently tight and solid play. I admire Corp Mike’s good card sense and extreme self confidence and lack of inhibition to make plays. I admire Bryce Yockey’s love for poker, and his understanding of many games. I admire Abe aka Limon for his off the felt poker smartness. He is extraordinarily smart as a gambler. He just doesn’t take the worst of any bet ever while still never coming off as a nit. I have learned a lot from him and whatever I have won off him in poker I have probably given more back in golf. I especially admire those who are really high intensity players. The ones that are always putting you in difficult spots. Those guys at the end of the day don’t win the most because it’s a rare trait to have ability for full throttle aggression while also having appropriate discretion. My goal is to always makes as many plays as i can without overdoing it. I usually wish I went for it a little more.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

I respect and envy aspects of many players, but there isn’t one reg that I would swap my game for his.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Michael Basic. He is underrated unless you ask him to rate himself! Well it’s just that he is an anomaly. He is an elite poekr player that only plays small stakes $5/$5 Live NLHE. He could and has beat stakes much higher but he just prefers to play small. It seems illogical but he just loves that game and doesn’t rely heavily on the money he earns from poker. Those who know him know he is great. He so rarely plays tournaments and doesn’t even have a cash on Hendon Mob. He loves the banter with recreational players, he loves the opportunity to exploit players beyond what is normally possible. His game and mind are perfectly built to produce a winrate over a very large sample in that game that you would think impossible. He combines a theory understanding on par with high stakes online winners with a photographic memory and insane hand recall. You know when you tell your friends hands and they usually don’t really listen that well? Well often I will tell Mike a hand, I played from years ago and as long as I told him the hand in the past, even years prior, or if he was at the table he will correct me on the suits of the flop or the turn bet sizing. It’s insane. That all combines to produce a win rate of considerably over $100/hr in a capped slow live $5/$5 game. To put that in online terms its the equivalent of 80BB/100 hands over a large sample.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

I moved to Redondo Beach for an engineering internship. I didn’t know many people down here so after work I would play $1/$2NLHE at Hustler Casino. I still have all my notes and records from that time and built up my poker roll at those stakes. I loved the fact that I could win or lose just based on how well I out performed my opponents in a battle of logic, discipline, psychology and knowledge. I still play for the very same reasons.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

I have had several bad swings just as any pro does. 2013 I believe, 6 months into the year I was dead even, my son was 6 months old, and I had a mortgage payment that was too large. My increased expenses made my downswing very stressful. Fortunately, I had a very strong next few months and I was finally successful in refinancing my mortgage which dropped my expenses a lot.

The best months would be when I was approached by an aquatance that I played 5/5NL and 5/10NL with at Hustler Casino. He told me he was partnering in a private game of 50/100NL and 25/50PLO. He offered to put me in 100% 50/50 split no makeup! I was naive and inexperienced to the scene.

I ran very well right away. I soon learned that my backer was unstable (manic) and was blowing money in many other ways and staking many other worse palyeres with equally bad deals for him. I told him to stop staking so many people and I told him to charge me makeup. I wanted the situation to last. It was too late, he was in over his head. Before my last session under him he told me, “Zach you always get me out of a jam and I am in a jam, Go get em!” Well, First orbit I play a 4bet pot with AAxx and I am drawing to 1 out when I get allin on a AKK flop. Later that night I found out my backer borowed my buyin at 5%/week from a loan shark. It was all downhill from there for him. That all said those few months allowed me to put together enough money for a downpayment on my house and introduced me to the scene of high stakes poker.

3. Are you satisfied with your 2015 poker year?

Yes. very much so. My results have been medium good but moreso I think I am in a great place in regards to game access/selection. I also have made some really good relationships and connections in the poker world.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Black Friday did not affect me too badly. I was grinding 30% online 70% live at the time. I was in the midst of learning all the mixed games and perhaps was starting to be profitable at them. Then black Friday hit but it might have been a good thing because my son was 4mo. old and I played terribly any time he was crying in the background. Black Friday may have saved me money!

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

I started with books and read a lot of them. I then did a lot of posting and reading on 2p2 which helped a ton. I subsribed to Cardrunners which helped me learn better fundamentals. Just repeatedly watching Taylor Caby or Brian Townsend fold hands that I was playing helped a lot. Then I dove into Bluefire and watched pretty much only Phil’s videos and Giggy’s. Those were great. I have learned more from Phil Galfond on how to play PLO and how to think in poker than anybody else. I currently watch his and a few others’ videos on Run it Once but I have a hard time finding time with a family of 4 and my obligations of making my own videos. That said I think its important to never be complacent or satisified in a field. We don’t want to become Blockbuster and not see Netflix coming.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

Loaning money! Just dont do it to anybody who actually needs it.

Not quiting a poker game when my intuition and clues told me that I was getting cheated. I kept playing until it was abundantly clear it was happening but I was just too inexperienced and naive to realize earlier.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

In a private game I played a prob bet where if a 2,3,or 4 comes on the flop I win; otherwise he wins. I had a big edge and ran hot and won a high 5 figure amount. In reflection this may have been the bait. Because the game paid me in cash that night which is non standard. That guaranteed I would be coming back for more. This ended up being the game that cheated me later on.
I also made a large bet on Obama winning the presidential election. My wife trusts my poker and gambling judgment. When I her I made the bet on Obama she said, “What! Why would you make a bet on Obama, you don’t know anything about politics” She was unhappy. I replied, “Correct, I know almost nothing about politics but Abe (Limon) does and more importantly he is betting a lot more than me and he doesn’t make bad bets ever”.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I study in my off time to always get better. But in pure preparation for a session, sleep is the one best thing I can do to prepare. Being rested is huge for me.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

I don’t know! I like these hypothetical fantasy questions but this one has never intrigued me. There are plenty of people I would be interested to talk with but none I am dying to.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

No clue. I play mostly live, I am in the US and I am old. aka I am out of touch

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

When I come home from a stressful poker session I smell my sleeping kids and my wife and it just cuts right through it all.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

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6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

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7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

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Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Stay in access to good and big games and to play my best. Nothing surprising.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

I am confident that I will do what it takes to give me a good chance. There is too much uncertainty in the results of poker to be confident something will happen.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

Yes. That said my long term goal is to rely on poker for income less and less each year. I want to continue to add to my investments to provide non poker income long term.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I like coaching but its time consuming and if I charge enough to make it worthwhile, the price is usually to high for the student.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Dream. Well as lame as it sounds. Winning the F*&^# Main Event. Actually I would be totally happy placing 3rd or something. My dream would be to make life changing money. I could happily retire tomorrow playing poker as I felt like it and just do hobbies and hang with family and friends.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I am not sure. I hope its gotten close to as bad as it will get. Its still quite good in some ways but its a lot worse than it was. To keep good winrates you have to just become really good.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

When I have money to invest I spend a lot of time. I mostly study real estate and I took about 3 months off of poker when I was purchasing an investment property.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

I took up golf 2 years ago and I am hooked. I play and practice a lot. I still suck, but am getting better. My first goal was to break 100, then 90, and now my goal is to consistently shoot in the 80s. I play with poker friends every week in the AM and it is just the nuts when you add in gambling. I used to play a lot of basketball and it sounds cliche’ but it feels like a little piece of me died now that I don’t play regularly. It has been my passion for most of my life. My free time is in the late mornings and normal people aren’t around then and poker players arent big into bball.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Nothing really. I made plenty of mistakes and I will continue to but none were so devastating that the pain out weighed the lesson. I like making mistakes and learning from them. I just like the process of bettering myself.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Have fun and feel accomplished or successful at something.
Be nice and have intimacy in your life both platonic and romantic.
Those aren’t really bucket list items but bucket list activities are just so person specific. The ones I listed are what I find most important in life.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

No.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I would just change how much dead money is in there. I would increase it.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Driving through the little towns of Tuscany with my wife was one of my best vacations. We went to some amazing restaurants there. One in Florence we will always remember.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

I would like to see the poker player snapshot from a losing player. I would like to see how they view things. It would be informative and refreshing to hear a different perspective. It would also be hard to implement.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

My name is Dylan Linde. I am 34 years old. I split my time between living in Spokane, Wa, USA with my girlfriend and Playa Del Carmen, Mexico to play online. @DylanLinde is my twitter

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

ImaLucSac on Pokerstars and InvisibleEnigma on Full Tilt

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play?  Are you learning any new games?

I just love gaming in general, so my approach to poker has been to learn all the games and try to compete. Probably I am best known for being a high stakes online MTT player, but I also play a lot of high stakes 8game and other variance limit games. I am constantly trying to improve at all of the games and currently am trying to get more experience playing some of the variants that are not available online such as Super Stud and Badeucey

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

I love that poker is an endeavor where I have more or less infinite ability to improve and compete. I’ve never been much of an athlete but have always tried to play some sort of competitive game throughout my life.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

Well in MTTs as far as US players go I would say that Brynn Kenney, Elio Fox and Scott Seiver are 3 players that I respect greatly. In the realm of mix games, I dont really get to play vs US players very often. I have a ton of respect for ChaoRen180, Joiso and Enon for players whom I have played with online.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

I have a huge amount of respect for Elio Fox. He is one of the few players I know who had a huge amount of success and made a lot of money early in his career and then used that as a reason to work even harder to improve and become the top player at whatever format he chooses to tackle. Typically it is the opposite.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Tough question. Most of my friends I wouldnt say are underrated, but there is this guy I play with in MTTs and cash online called CMOOSEPOWER. Think he plays fantastic across the games but I have no idea who he is.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker?  Do you still play for the same reasons?

I started playing poker while I was in college. I was playing Magic the Gathering very seriously at the time and saw all of the Party Poker ads on TV during the Moneymaker era. They offered 100% deposit bonus. I didnt know how to play at all, but I knew I could fold and get free money. Eventually my competitive ego outweighed my risk aversion and I started to learn how to play instead of just exploiting the bonus. The more I played the more I fell in love with the depth of thought it takes to become a good player and the boundless possibilities for improvement. Certainly I still play for those reasons, making money is good too.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

Well just recently I final tabled the PCA main event. Was my biggest final table and 1st place was well over $1m. The worst moment was losing a flip to finish in 8th. So both were kind of tied together. My hopes were soaring and then came crashing down around my ears. Im sure there have been other moments that were similar in emotional trauma or excitement in my poker history but I dont really like to dwell on them.

3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

Absolutely, this has been one of the best years of poker I have had. I am happy to say that I feel like I improve greatly every year and this year has been no exception. I have started taking shots at some of the biggest mix games successfully and have had great mtt results.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Black Friday was devestating. I had quite a bit of money wrapped up with Full Tilt(whcih I still have only recieved 20% of) and had been planning to move to Portland, OR before it happened. I was somewhat lucky during the aftermath as I had already been playing abroad quite a bit, so I was quite comfortable in relocating outside the USA.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

My biggest factor was definitely having my best friend Kevin MacPhee also be avidly interested in the game. Having another brilliant mind to bounce your ideas off of is invaluable in your growth as a player.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

My biggest mistake is probably not padding variance enough and selling to some higher variance events. If I feel like Im a winner sometimes I choose to gamble a bit too much on one buyin.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

Im not much of a prop bettor. The funniest one I can remember wasnt really a bet, but was someone offering me money to jump in the ocean naked when a group of us were in a club in Barcelona in the winter.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I like be up a bit before I play and either go for a walk or read a bit. I think that either jump starting my mind or my body is key to winning. Would rather feel fully awake and ready to play when I begin than just jump right in.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Warren Buffet would be pretty interesting to talk to.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Stephen Chidwick, Max Silver, and Dominik Nitsche

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Either video games or cooking. If I cant win at poker I want to beat people at something! So I have played a good amount of compettive online games such as DOTA2 and Hearthstone. I also love to cook, if I wasnt a poker player I would try to be a restaurant or bakery owner.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Not really that much. I had gotten involved with this wallet MuchosPoker a while back that ended up scamming people so a few of my accounts on various Eurosites were blocked and I have been a little lazy about reopening them. I do put a good amount of volume in on PartyPoker.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

In my various fields I frequent close to the highest stakes. As to how I started playing them I attribute it to a few things. First is volume, there is hardly anything more valueable than just seeing all the situations you can and analyzing them. Second was doing off the table calculations, taking time outside of playing to work out how to react to given scenarios or to figure out perfect ICM play is critical to performing well at higher stakes. Lastly I would say that becoming an instructor for Run it Once really catapulted me to the top. Having a reason to look at my play under a microscope and have to actually articulate my thought processes outloud was very beneficial.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

I have completely changed the way I feel about losing sessions. I no longer spend so much time lamenting the what ifs and take more solace from the concept of playing well and letting the rest take care of itself.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

I am trying to find a good place where my girlfriend and I can live together and still play online on Pokerstars. My biggest goal is to win a big live MTT title, has eluded me for a long time.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

My confidence has never been higher. I feel like I am the best version of myself that has ever played poker.
 
3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

I doubt I will ever not play poker. Certainly I wont always been playing as much as I am now and in 10 years I doubt I will be a full time professional, but I plan on playing the WSOP Main every year until I cant move.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I do actually, I am an Elite Pro for Run it Once.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

The dream for me would be to make enough money where I can open a small bakery or restaurant that at least breaks even and play poker on the side to supplement.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I think we will see a large resurgence in poker as daily fantasy sports takes off in the USA. I doubt that daily fantasy can legally exist in the USA too long without the gambling/skill game comparisons being drawn between it and poker. Given how powerful the current companies who are investing in DFS are I see this happening soon.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

Not much time at the moment. My first priority will be to buy a house. Right now I invest everything into myself and poker.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

I have always been a huge gamer and enjoy playing some still in my freetime. Travel is my secondary passion and love to see and experience new things.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Cashout from Full Tilt the day before black friday. On a serious note, I would tell myself not to take things so hard and to believe in myself. I spent a long period of my career in self doubt and depression when things were going poorly.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Bungie jumping, travel somewhere alone and immerse yourself in the local culture, and to defy at least one of your biggest fears.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

Not particularly, I follow Negreanu on twitch and occasional watch Jason Sommerville.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I wish that there was more competition for the online poker market. I feel like it would be better for all of us if there was another titan of the industry out there to compete with Pokerstars. I really dont have any issues with live poker at the moment besides specific things about specific venues or different rule sets for different tours, maybe having all the tours follow the same rules.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Two extremely difficult questions. I have done a lot of traveling in my life and my biggest vice while traveling is food. I would say that Australia was one of my favorite places to visit, my first trip to Sydney really sparked my love for wandering the world. I am terrible at remembering names of restaurants, but Tamarind in London (a 2 michellin star Indian place) is definitely up there.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

I’d like to see Ben Tollerene do one. Ive never met him but he is a gamer like myself and would like to see a bit more inside of his head as I greatly respect his game.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Jack Mitchell, 22, Liverpool UK. My Twitter is @JackMitchell14, I barely ever use it though.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

Fresher65 on Full Tilt, JackTheLaddd on Stars.

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play?  Are you learning any new games?

I’ve played almost exclusively PLO online for the last two years. Within PLO I like pretty much any shorthanded/hu format. Anything except full ring. As well as 100bb and shallows that still run, I used to enjoy the CAP and deep ante games but Full Tilt scrapped those recently which sucks. I often go through phases of liking a particular game type and so focus on that a lot before switching over to something else. So that usually results in me being rusty in one area or the other but means I have to keep working on my game and keeps things fresh.

I’ve been playing some PLO6 lately, that is a naughty game! I also occasionally flick in some MTTs for fun, only turbos though as I’m not very patient and really dislike Hold Em these days.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

I still really enjoy playing the game; whenever I’m online it’s because I want to play. If I’m not in the mood I just do something else; I can do things on my own schedule and never feel obligated to do anything I don’t want to.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

I honestly don’t know too much about what is going on in the PLO world other than the specific players that are in my games. I think Isildur is living in the UK now, does that count? Got to have respect for him, he’s always fighting the good fight.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

Feliceko and MadSickoHead are two names that spring to mind given I’ve probably played the most hands with them. Both are willing to play pretty much anyone. Feliceko does some interesting short stack stuff. MadSickoHead plays lots of tables but still adjusts to individual table dynamics rather than just playing ABC which is an impressive skill. He also runs so, so pure!

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

As I said I don’t really know too much about what is going on in the PLO world…Probably somebody I don’t know about that I should be paying attention too.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker?  Do you still play for the same reasons?

Before me and my friends were old enough to go to bars and clubs we’d get some drinks in and play at someones house. When I was 18 I stumbled across High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark, set up a Stars account and went from there. I still really like the social aspect of poker when I’m playing casual games with friends. When I’m playing online the stakes tend to be significantly higher so the focus there is more on the financial aspect.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

Last summer I had a solid few months which peaked in like a 3/4 day period where I made like $35k. Given that I was playing predominantly midstakes shallow games it was a pretty sick heater in terms of buy ins.
After that, I spent a lot of money and had a stretch of break even and losing months. To go from making a few k a day to struggling to break even hurt, especially given that I thought I was a genius and would be printing money like that forever! Although I was struggling it really motivated me to improve. That’s when I started studying up, watching videos and taking things more seriously. Looking back now I was lucky to make any money in that period, I was far too inexperienced to be playing the games I was in.

3. Are you satisfied with your 2015 poker year?

This year so far has been great for me in poker. Due to other stuff I had going on I didn’t really put in much volume until around March but since I’ve jumped back into the action I’ve played a lot of hands and it has been very profitable.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

I started playing online about 4/5 months after Black Friday so it didn’t have any impact on me directly.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

Talking to other people and talking onboard different points of view has helped me develop a lot.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

My game selection and bankroll management has always been pretty terrible. Poker can obviously get pretty consuming and I’ve been bad at balancing my time with other more important things. I regret that a lot. The days of going out drinking and then punting 25/50 hu are also behind me!

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

I don’t really tend to bet on too much. A good friend once bet me £50 (laying 1:1!) that I couldn’t go without playing online for a week. It was completely pointless; it wasn’t going to happen and I wasn’t going to gain anything from it, I think I was just trying to prove a point. He let me buy out on the first night for £40. I then went online and lost $3k (about £1900ish) playing midstakes shallows in less than 3 hours. Paying him the 40 stung so much more than the loss though!

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I’d like to say I have a really good fitness regime, I’m a big advocate of healthy body healthy mind, but recently my lifestyle has been really unhealthy. Food and water is essential for me. If I’m hungry or dehydrated my concentration is just shot and I get frustrated very easily. So food before and water during sessions.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

I guess poker-wise it’s pretty obvious so I won’t go that route. Probably Jason Derulo, what is he thinking…

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

I don’t really know about specifics, just someone marketable and good for the game! I think their recent signing of Jason Somerville and taking onboard the whole Twitch thing was very well played by them.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Doing something completely unrelated to poker helps take my mind off things and de-stress. A good curry makes any situation better. Rum to take the edge off on really bad days…

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Currently none. It is something I’ve thought about doing a bunch of times, especially for heads up action given how fickle the games can be on the bigger sites. I get kind of put off by the horror stories I hear and read though, I’m not sure how much I trust them. Bad software also really tilts me. The general consensus is that the games are soft though so I’d never say never.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

I’ve currently settled in the mistakes games and I’m happy with the way things are going at the moment. Although my bankroll management has always been pretty questionable, I think having that disregard has allowed me to take some guilt-free shots. Likewise I never really practiced game selection, but getting owned, paying my tuition, considering what was working and what wasn’t, then rebuilding gained me a lot of experience. That also ties in with just putting in a ton of volume, I guess the more spots you get yourself into the easier they become to navigate.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

Definitely having a more professional approach. I used to try and not take it too seriously as I’ve had hobbies in the past that I got pretty into and then kind of burnt out. Poker seems to have stuck more though. The more work I put in the better my results tend to be which equals more enjoyment. I’ve also been working on mental game stuff; I’m still a million miles away from being zen but I feel more focused and my fuse isn’t as short as it used to be!

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Within poker I just want to keep putting in good volume and working on my game. Outside of poker, I need to improve my general lifestyle and fitness, eating and sleeping better, as well as just having better structure and balance in the things I’m doing. I also want to finish university and get my degree, I’ve been here long enough now! I just need to put the extra effort in and focus, my education has really taken a backseat in the last year or so which isn’t good.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

Yeah, I think my work ethic is really good when I’m doing this I find interesting and enjoy. On the flipside, when I feel forced into doing something my brain tends to switch off (hence the prolonged stint at uni!).

 3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

As long as I’m enjoying the game I’ll be playing it one way or the other.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I currently make videos for runitonce.com. That has been a really cool experience so far; the community is really intelligent and constructive, and I’ve received positive feedback from my content so far. I’ve been asked by various people about 1-1 coaching; due to other stuff I have going on at the moment I don’t think I’d be able to take it on and give it 100% of my attention. I wouldn’t be happy doing that if I felt like I wasn’t providing good value for the money… potentially in the future though.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

To earn enough to always be my own boss and have the freedom to do and see interesting things. It would be cool to do something entrepreneurial and/or charitable with a decent chunk that would make a big difference as well. Perhaps investing in start-ups and try to build something from the ground up would be a decent challenge. To be able to sit in a 500/1k PLO game with 100% of myself and a couple of bullets would be quite a rush also!

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I guess there will be a pretty big shift, it certainly won’t get any easier to make money. The games of choice might change; it seems trends seem to follow the higher stakes so to see a bunch of mistakes 2-7, 8game and various mixes running would be interesting. America coming back online would obviously be huge as well.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

Currently none. I’ve spoken to people briefly about things like property but it’s not anything I’ve seriously considered at this point. I consider poker as an investment in myself; given I’m at a stage where I’m comfortably rolled for the games I’m playing I don’t want to funnel a load of that money into something else. I also don’t know too much about business, it’d be like learning a new game from scratch. I would definitely have to consult in other people and I know people/have heard stories about various deals that have gone wrong and been far more trouble than they were worth. As I said though I would like to eventually do things besides poker so I’m sure the grown up stuff will happen when I’m ready. For now though I’m still having fun in my virtual poker world.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

All the usual stuff really; I spend a spend a lot of time with my girlfriend. Likewise with friends. A good film, decent meal out, a few drinks, things like that are always fun. Pretty soon I’m hoping to do a decent amount of travelling. I used to play lots of sports but not so much anymore, I need to get back into something active like that…

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Try and get 8 hours of sleep a night, it will do you good!

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

I guess everyone is into different things. For me personally I have a thing about going to space, seeing the Earth from a few 100 miles up would be ridiculous! In the same vein as that, experiencing 0 gravity would be cool. Anyone I know who has ever skydived says it is amazing so that’s my cliche one. I’m not sure about a third…Thinking about bucket list stuff makes me realise how little I’ve done up to this point, I need to get out more and stop playing so much online poker!

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I really Joe Ingram and the things he’s doing, he’s a very funny guy. Given that a lot of the focus is on PLO I find it entertaining, especially his ‘Poker Life’ podcasts where he chats to highstakes guys; they’re very interesting people to listen to, and not just about things poker-related things. I occasionally watch some poker Twitch streams, but it tends just to be on in the background while I’m playing a session or something.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

Obviously bumhunting and the general predatory environment is killing the game online somewhat, but there are people way smarter and who have more first-hand experience with it that are trying to come up with solutions, I wouldn’t know what to suggest. There is such a fine line sometimes between the rules and then the degrees of what people consider to be fine from an etiquette and moral standpoint. Some people do some things that really tilt me!. The game definitely brings out a selfish side in a lot of people, me included sometimes. Having some kind of optional straddle button in online cash would definitely spice up some games abit!
I actually have very little live experience; I’m not a massive fan if the game isn’t friendly given how slow paced it all is and how much interaction you have to have with the people sat around. Where I’m living at the moment there isn’t a PLO game that runs; I don’t think I’ve played a live hand of PLO in a casino which is pretty crazy given how many hands I’ve played online lifetime. I could travel to some but when I have the option of doing that or playing online, there are a ton more pros to playing online. So for me personally some kind of saucy local PLO/PLO6 mix would be amazing. If I was to make a change to live poker in general, it would probably be something to do with the way it is policed. I don’t think anyone should feel uncomfortable or intimidated when sitting down to play. Just because people might not be aware they are being angled or something scummy is going on, doesn’t mean it should still be allowed to happen. Likewise I think belittling someone for making a ‘bad’ play, call etc. should just get people snap banned! Nothing worse than having to listen to someone trying to give lessons at the table.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

I really like Italy; Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast, they are amazingly nice places. I’ve been away recently to some of the Greek islands, they’re a cool place to go and get away from it all. I’m not really well travelled though, there’s still loads of places I want to visit and that will probably be happening fairly soon. Vegas is high up on that list! Best restaurant is too tough, totally depends on my mood.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

Feliceko or MadSickoHead.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Sascha Alexas/ 32/ Germany / Twitter: __xaxa__ but I rarely tweet…

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

I guess the only one people might recognize is xaxa which i had at UB

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

I am half German half Greek so there is a thin line between a genius and a total psych^ I guess that describes my behavior at a Poker table pretty well.
I switched from NLHE to PLO couple years ago and never ever went back. So PLO Cashgame is my main game. Unfortunately I had to drop in limits.
no I love PLO too much!

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

I do have a fulltime job / poker is just a hobby for some extra money. If I were a poker player, I’de enjoy the freedom the most.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

Tough one… there are so many MTT beasts (Reinkemeier, Gruissem, Ruthenberg, Holz (CrownUpGuy), . “George Danzer” is the best allrounder imo. But obv I have to go with M.O.P.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

I recently switched to Stars so not too much history with the regs there.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Dave Burn instead of SNE chaseing he crushed all the European sites in the past (midsatkes & highstakes). I was super excited railing him (at PLO10k and PLO20K) back when they had those stakes.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

I guess i was victim of the Moneymaker boom. Started playing SnG back than with friends at home for 5 or 10€.
I played at PartyPoker for playmoney. One day I won a MTT with >50k entrants. I was like, damn If I ever could bink a real money MTT. So that’s when I decided to deposit.
Today I still play for the fun & challenge.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

September 2010. I made $8,5k from PLO200 adding the bonus the total was ~$11,5k
I don’t think I ever had a month where I lost more than $3k.

3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

Not really but I like how I improved the last 3 months.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Black Friday was the beat of my life. I had 90% of my Bankroll at UB/AP (Cereus Network) I was about to play Poker as a fulltime job. I never came back to rebuild a roll to play PLO Midstakes comfortable.
For those who don’t know players from UB/AP still haven’t seen a single $ since black Friday (basically because there is none or just 10% of it but the case gets handled differently as FTP)

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

Plomaha.com
It was a site where i met guys like Dave, Gavz101, GodlikeRoy. I got really good advice there. There was absolute no trolling in the forum. The owner of the site scammed Gavin though and the site fell apart.
Also the site DeucedCracked had some nice PLO content.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

OBV playing at UB/AP instead of FTP / Stars / Euro Sites

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

Never done any or took part

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

definetly only play when i feel like it. Usually take a break after ~2 hours. Work out (TRX training).
When i am done for the day i go through some hands and make notes.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

hmm ben sulsky maybe and run up my roll?!

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Joey Ingram, Magnus Carlsen, Max Kruse (german football pro) whos fav game is PLO.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Cash out… (joke) usually just tell myself it’s only money.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Like 95% till april. iPoker changed there rakeback and i got sick of all these bots anyways… (good thing I moved to Stars lol)

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

I am working on it due live expenses (wedding) I cashed out my roll at Ipoker and going to rebuild at Stars.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

Decided to quit being a rakeback whore, studied a lot, analyzed and worked on my game.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Building a roll to play comortable PLO100 & PLO200

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

I hope so I am going to put more volume in studying and improveing. Also maybe cash out less…
3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

As a hobby sure.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

If I am broke maybe… no srsly I don’t think that I would be good in coaching, also i hate cutting my winrate.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

That Phil Hellmuth pays back all players who have/had money on UB.
Other than that binking a Scoop PLO Event would be nice.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

It will be still around. People will still cry that the games got so tough but there will still be lots of money out there.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

I started about 2 years ago. My dad is my preferred source because he has shitloads of experience. There are so much information out there, I guess you need to filter all those.
I am going to invest in a house.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

Sports: Football & TRX. I just love spending time with my future wife, friends. BBQ & drinking good german beer!

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Get your ass up and grind. Just avoid UB

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Eat sleep plo?!
1. Travel as much as you can
2. learn a foreign language
3. be open minded for new things

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I watched Shuller_A1t playing the micros and one or two of GodlikeRoy’s vids
I like Joey Podcast obv

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

Online: No scams/bots/MA/Colluding etc…
Live: 4 colour deck!

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Places:
Ask me again after the honeymoon.
I have been to California with my GF in 2012. We made a roadtrip and saw lots of cool places. As a half Greek I can recommend Greece! So many beautiful islands.
Restaurants: Tough one.. there are so many good restaurants. I loved the Tommy Bahamas in Naples, FL but I guess eating the same steak at home would not have tasted that good.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

Dave Burn aka mrbiond / super inspiring

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Tyler Forrester, 31, Bozeman MT, twitterless

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

Gogol’s Nose (Pokerstars)

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

I’m a Texas Hold’em NL midstakes cash game player, playing anywhere from 2/4NL to 5/10NL. I’ve been learning to play Omaha. However having 4 cards in my hand is so much more challenging than having 2.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

The intellectual challenge of learning to play really well.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

1. King10clubs – year in and year out grinds out a large volume at a high winrate. Super impressive work ethic.
2. Nanonoko – master multitabler: no one plays as many tables as Nanonoko or wins as much money.
3. Nagoya2005- very tough opponent with a unique style.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

King10clubs – His work ethic is exceptional and his skill as a poker player unrivaled.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Nagoya2005 – He’s been crushing souls for years now, but I don’t hear much about him in the poker press.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

I starting playing poker at the age of 7 with my father. He had run a card table in his youth so he knew how to play Texas Hold’em. I began to play more seriously in college in 2004. I enjoyed the competitive nature of the game. I’ve always been good at math, so it was a great fit. I still play for competitive reasons. Though having to pay the bills with my poker money changed my perspective on what games I was willing to play.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

The best month of my poker career was in April 2007 when I won 125K in Cash Games. The worst month of my poker career was April 2011, losing to the ability to play from my home wasn’t ideal.

3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

Yes, it’s been surprising how much my games have changed in 12 months, but that’s poker. It always an adventure.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

As I referenced above, since I could not play from Montana anymore, I hit the road. I spent the rest of 2011 in Canada, 2012 in Costa Rica, 2013 in Canada, 2014 in Mexico and Canada. This June was the first time I’ve had a house in the U.S. since Black Friday.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

Reading Mathematics of Poker in 2007: It revolutionized the way I played the game. It was the first book that viewed a poker range as a number line. That’s a huge advantage – understanding mathematically why you should value bet a certain hand or bluff another.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

Not taking enough risk. I played Mid Stakes with a very high winrate for many years. Players with similar winrates to mine at Mid Stakes did very well play High Stakes. I should have moved up more aggressively.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

As you can imagine by the previous answer – not very large. I lost a fifty dollar bet on Matt Damon’s age. He apparently wasn’t 40 in 2007.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I usually spend lots of time thinking about poker, in particular trying to figure out if I actually made a mistake in a spot. This usually involves me trying to model this situation using CREV or excel.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Pope Francis – He has some very interesting views on morality and western society. I’d be fascinated to sit down with someone who has spent his whole life thinking about what it means to be human.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

I don’t feel qualified to answer the question. We really want Pokerstars Pros to appeal to recreational players and I am about the furthest one can be from a recreational player.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Going for a long run clears my mind.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Hardly any. As an American it is hard to move money in between sites.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

Obsession – you have to love what you do and you have to spend many hours doing it.

Stubbornness – I lost my first several deposits to online poker sites, but I knew if I kept playing I could beat it.

Deliberate Practice – I always ask “Why did I lose?” , then I ask “How can I fix it?”

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

The most positive change I’ve made is realizing that the poker game is played over years. It takes many hands to play a full game of poker. This means day to day results aren’t relevant to success.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

My current goal is to settle down in the U.S. with my wife and keep a regular job. It’s the time in my life to settle down and raise a family.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

Yes, because we signed lease and I got job offer.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

Yes, but recreationally.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I’m currently produce videos for RunItOnce and coach a small but growing group of students.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

My poker dream was being able to travel the world and having a lot of freedom to do the things I wanted to do at a young age. I’ve been very fortunate to be a poker player the last 10 years. Its provided an amazing amount of freedom.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

We’re going to see much more sophisticated regulars. The advancements in computer poker and statistical data available to the player while playing is going to make the average regular a much stronger regular than we’ve seen in the past.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

I see poker playing as short-term investing. I spend the majority of my time thinking about how to maximize my profits whether as poker player or an investor. I appreciated the Coursera: Intro Finance class for basic money theory. Most of good investing is understanding returns as EV. Most of my investments are in rental properties. My father owned a rental management company for many years, so it was a natural fit.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

I enjoy traveling and hiking around the mountains in my home state of Montana.

I play a lot of chess, I find it intellectually and competitively challenging. It has a lot of the same attributes as poker and it keeps me sharp.

I have always been an avid reader, I like to read about behavioral economics, psychology and current affairs – understanding how people see the world fascinates me. If I have some time after that I like to indulge in fantasy books. My two favorite series are Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time and George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones.

I like to run, especially after a long session to clear out my head. I’ve also recently taken up cooking as a way to spend more time with my wife.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

I think 20-year-old Tyler made good decisions. I’m very happy with my life.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

1. Fall in Love
2. Raise Children
3. Be part of something bigger than yourself

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I really enjoy watching Nanonoko play on Twitch and of course any player I regularly play. For podcasts, I tend to follow guests rather than interviewers. Some guests that interest me include Ben Sulsky, Jungleman, Ben86, and Phil Galfond. It’s exciting to hear people who have spent hours and hours playing and thinking about poker talk about their experiences.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I’d legalize online poker in America. I can play gin rummy for money. Why can’t I play Texas Hold’em? For live poker, I’d make it easier to play more hands per hour. I love meeting people playing live poker, but I can’t justify playing it from a business perspective.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

The best place I’ve ever visited was Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica, there are beautiful beaches and an amazing sloth sanctuary. We watched a gorgeous sunrise there over the Atlantic Ocean and then drove back to Jaco, Costa Rica (where we were living at the time) and got the chance to watch a breathtaking sunset over the Pacific that night.

One of my favorite parts of being a successful poker player is having enough money to eat sushi regularly, so I’d have to say the best restaurant I’ve visited was a hole-in-the wall sushi restaurant in the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. It had the most amazing tasting blowfish, eel, and tuna!

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

Daniel Cates (Jungleman). I’m super fascinated to hear from the best players in the game. And he’s been at the top for a very long time.

Bálint “Nlzkm9” Sebestyén was kind enough to accept our invitation for an interview on the aftermath of his WCOOP bracelet win at WCOOP-15 for $57k. He is one of PLO’s rising stars.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Hi! My name is Bálint Sebestyén, and I’m from Hungary. I don’t use twitter.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

Nlzkm9

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

I play only PLO for about 6 years, and this year I play 5card PLO also, when there is a good action.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

Freedom is very important for me. In this job I am my own boss, and I like my boss:)
Poker players can travel the whole world, while they don’t need to give up any workdays really.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

danfiu, omaha4rollz, probirs

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

Cobus83, Actionfreak. They can play an unbelievable amount of hands, while having a terrific win rate. A lot can be learned from them

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

I think there no such a thing as an underrated poker player, since the results tell everything. Either you are a winner or not.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

During the University, I lived with my brother when I saw him playing a few freeroll tours. I thought to give it a try, and I started learning on PokerStrategy. I started to build up my bankroll, which was really useful during school, and later I choose to stay with poker.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

The worst months were at the end of 2013, when I found some really good rake races. I had to play a horrible amount of hands to be in the top. This resulted in leaving out game development and learning, and I felt burned out because of the lot of working hours. Next to this I played losing poker, and I even finished lower in the rakerace than I expected. I won some money at the end, but overall it had a really negative effect on my game.

My best month was June, this year. I played really well, and it was a record month for me in winnings.

3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

Absolutely. I started to prepare myself for this year in last June, to be an SNE this year. I’m a little behind schedule, but I’m confident that I’ll do it.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

It didn’t have an effect on me at all.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

After the unsuccessful rakerace, I started a mental and professional self development, read a lot of books, which really help me to get back on track.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

To play rake races, and chasing rakeback, (however this lead to the before mentioned self development), and that it resulted in leaving out the learning.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

Haven’t done any.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

It changes month by month. Sometimes I read about mental things to get ready in my head, other times, like now, I just analyzing hands in Holdem Manager.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Hmm, maybe Stephen Curry. I would like to see what is the world like with his eyes.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Dan Bilzerian(lol), Korda György, Stephen Curry.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

I’m never running bad(just kidding). I go to the gym, or run, or i go to the party whit my friends.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

I am playing only on PokerStars.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

I’m playing mid/high stakes. The most important: learing from others. Besides game selection, and trying to always get better.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

I see through much better some given siuations, and I’ve learned a lot of new things from my opponents.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

First to reach my goals in 2015. The WCOOP bracelet in the pocket, but I want to reach the SNE status on PokerStars. For next year I’ll set my goals in January.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

Of course! I reach my goals every time.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

It’s a hard question. This is a career, like other sportcareers, and one time it will be over, now I dont know when. It’s a very difficult mental job, in which you have to redefine yourself day by day, week by week, and it’s hard to keep up your motivation continuously. I will play for the next 1-2-3 years for sure, after that, we will see.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I am a hand analyzer on PokerStrategy, but that’s all. I’m not doing any coaching. Probably I won’t do it in the future either.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Win a SCOOP and WSOP event. Fortunately I’ve managed to win TCOOP+WCOOP already

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I don’t really bother with this topic. I believe the best will be successful in all environment.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

For now, I’m focusing on my poker career. When I will have some free time next to it, I’ll spend some time studying the investment opportunities.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

I love basketball, and I spend my time with my friends.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Improve your poker/mental game every day! Move from your comfort zone every time!

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

To get together with a beautiful woman, start a successful business, live a happy life.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

Nope

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I’d make online poker a bit more social somehow.
I’d put a ‘reset’ button on the short-tempered players, who cant handle their losses without agression, and when they are about to blow up you could reset their mind with this button to the ‘pre-lose’ status.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

There were many many good ones, I can’t pick one. Come to Hungary.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

ActionFreak or Cobus, because they are the best.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Hi , my name is Pablo Panetta, I’m 22 years old and I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I dont have twitter.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

NeverfoldYou, I have a page on Facebook.

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

I think I’m a good reg now at 2015, I play 95% PLO and 5 card PLO and 5% MTTS. I want to improve my PLO before learning a new game.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

I love everything about this, I can live very good making good money and also I have lot of freedom.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

Maybe Nacho Barbero, but he is not playing PLO at pokerstars now , there are no more argentinians at this stakes.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

I respect a lot “Lautie”, why ? cause he always beats me lol.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

I dont think thats important playing this stakes. Nevermind I dont know who can be.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

I started playing at 18 years old just for fun, of course no, this is my job now and I love it.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

Last year at March I had a big downswing, but I could win more finishing the year.

3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

Yes , I think I’m improving a lot.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

I was too young it didnt affect me.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

My cold mind, 100% sure. Playing focus everyday.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

Play out of bankroll, but I don’t do that anymore.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

Be one of the best, and help my family with my job.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I just live day by day, sometimes I play , sometimes I take holidays and sometimes I watch other players or review hands.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Cristiano Ronaldo, I want too see how does it feel being him lol.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Isildur, Ben86, Sauce123

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

I play basketball, go to gym. Enjoy time with family and friends.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

I only play Pokerstars and Fulltilt.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

I’m playing mid and high, the 3 things, bankroll management, game selection and dont fall in tilt.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

I learned a lot of the best players at pokerstars, improving my game a lot.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Supernova Elite and win an Scoop or Wcoop.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

I’m not sure, but I will do my best everyday.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

Hmmm, yes. why not.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

No. I think it’s a waste of time.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Be a Pokerstars pro and play highstakes with the best players.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I think it wont change a lot.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

I take some time to that, but first I have to be a better player. I will have time to think that.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

Play basketball, do sports, watch movies, enjoy time with family and friends.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

–

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

First family, health and be a good person.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

Not really, randomly.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

For both would be good that pokersites and casinos persuade more players to make grow the ecosystem.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

City Center Rosario Restaurant.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

A kind guy called napsus =).

Henri “I_Mr_U_Bean” Koivisto is a Finnish High Stakes PLO professional. He won the “Breakthough player of the year” at the Finnish Poker Awards this year and proceeded to bink the WCOOP #52 event ($530 PLO, 3-Stack) bracelet.

Enjoy his interview with us!

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Henri Koivisto, 25, Nokia/Finland. Twitter: @imtyrant

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

Pokerstars: I_Mr_U_Bean, FTP: Im Tyrant

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

I’ve been playing cash games last 6 years or so, my main games are PLO 10/20 and 25/50, sometimes I mix in some 50/100 shots if games are good enough and my game is on the right track. From time to time I also play some 2.5/5 or 5/10 if I need to get some VPP’s or there isn’t that much action higher. I don’t really have time to work other areas than PLO but at least I try to play most of the WCOOP, SCOOP and TCOOP PLO’s.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

Competition and freedom, though it is a bit contradictory to say those things in the same sentence. I mean if you want to battle against the best regulars with positive winrate day in and day out, you can’t be offline too much.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

WRUUUUM, Jeans89 and LrsLzk. No explanations needed in my opinion

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

This one goes also for WRUUUUM, he is putting in tremendous amount of hours, isn’t afraid to battle versus the best in the nosebleeds and he is really thinking the game outside of the box. Overall super smart guy!

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

I don’t really know that many players from other countries but I think harskikkels (in Joe Ingram’s dictionary ‘harsickless’), bustoville, IMS DURNK and EEE27 from Finland are very talented players! You should contact them for the future snapshots

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

After one schoolday in 2006 we went to my friend’s house and right after we were there he realized he had promised to go homegame poker night, so accidentally I also decided to go there to try my luck. I managed to bust both tournaments within 15 minutes or so. The game seemed interesting to me tho and I didn’t want to be sucker so I started to play some freerolls online and ordered bunch of pokerbooks. After some time I won my first ever freeroll for 150usd and started to build my bankroll, I am still on the same path

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

In 2009 I lost almost my whole bankroll after one fatal party night. At that time I didn’t really care whether I was drunk or not when playing. In the following days I decided to keep the same rules on the tables than with the car the rest of my life, you can either take one or two beers and play or take more and stay off the tables. So that is my biggest losing month, but hey, you never lose, you either win or learn! That night I clearly learned

The best month so far is march 2014 when i run really hot in 5/10 and 10/20 games winning 160k.
3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

Yes, last year was huge and this year is going pretty good as well.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Not that much. Before bf I was playing on the eurosites.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

After grinding couple of years ludicrous rakerace challenges I started to realize that it is not the amount of hours but the quality of your game what matters. I started to focus more when playing and avoid autopilot, watch training videos regularly (big thanks to mr. Phil Galfond), work with my mental game (thanks to Jared Tendler) and mess around with holdem manager. Also having a big group of friends who doesn’t play poker helps me a lot to get my thought’s somewhere else from time to time.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

Grinding rakeraces and sticking with the brm rules when I’ve seen some opportunities to take shots.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

We recently made a bet with harskikkels and IMS DURNK that everytime one of us plays casino games or slots you need to transfer 2,5k euros two other guys. None of us have failed so far!

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

It depends how I feel. When my game is upturn, I am almost always ready to play right away when I wake up (if I don’t have any other things to do). If my game is derailing then I probably work with HEM for couple of hours before starting sessions to find if I’ve been playing bad or just running bad.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Elon Musk, so impressive guy with brilliant innovations to help humankind live more environmentally friendly. Maybe big part of my choice is also his will and fervour to do things he enjoys and sees value.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Probably not the greatest idea to sign pokerpros except Phil Galfond might the one and only. I think taking some conspicuous guys from the sports world (like C.Ronaldo and Neymar) is better way to go.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Take some time off the tables and come back rested and fresh minded. Maybe taking shorter sessions when running bad works for me as well.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Not that much because Supernova Elite keeps me busy enough on stars

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

Planning the perfect route FOR YOU to get there and then excecuting it and making minor changes every day along the way. It is also important that you don’t give too much respect to guys who are rumoured to be pokergods in the higher stakes when you start to play in those line-ups. Otherwise you are too afraid to play against them and end up losing. They all make mistakes. However the other side of the coin is that of course you should absorb as much information as possible from them to get new weapons to your arsenal. After all I would say that the most important thing is that all the effort in the world won’t matter if you are not inspired and ready to work heck of a lot to get there.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

Haven’t changed too much because last year was super. Maybe I’ve been talking little bit more hh’s with some other great poker minds and doing some interesting researches with HEM2.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Hmm, I don’t really like to make money based goals for obvious reasons so I should say keeping the same volume than last year and this year.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

Yep, it isn’t that hard to spend 100-160hrs in a month around the thing you like to do. Most of the people are spending the same time in the jobs they hate.
3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

If I still have the same passion to play than I’ve had last 9 years then it is possible. But hard to say, there are so many things in life you start to value more when you grow up that even my dreammachine can’t calculate the exact solution what is going to happen

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I’ve been doing some columns for Pokeritieto.com how to use HEM/HUD effectively. Those reads are available only in Finnish at the moment tho.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Hmm, at the moment I don’t have any real poker dreams. Of course it would be cool to win more dollars with higher winrate and play the nosebleeds every day but you have to be realistic and go there with the small steps. Getting there requires a lot of work, sweat, determination and effort but maybe you can categorice that as some kind of goal instead of dream. Now I remember that back in the days I dreamed about playing 2.5/5+ games professionally and buy own house with the poker winnings. I have made both of those things so maybe I am now living the life that once was my dream

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

I don’t really want to speculate too much on this topic.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

At the moment not that much, because it is hard to master two field at the same time. Maybe in the future I’ll be more interested in that line of business, at least it has some similarities to poker. I have invested some of my winnings but I rather keep those things on my own

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

I play ice-hockey on winter time and on the summer nothing is more relaxing than fishing on a lake. I try to spend as much time as possible with my friends and family as well. It is also important to have time on your own, then grabbing guitar or good book is all what you need!

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Umm, tough question, overall I’ve been pretty happy with all the decisions I’ve made in the last 5 years.
3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Hard to anwer this one because everyone is unique and people have different preferences. In general I would say do more what makes you happy and let go of the things that weigh you down

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I’ve been watching some of Joe Ingram’s pods.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

Online I would remove normal tables and make it zoom only. Maybe there could be Poker Olympics in every four years also heh. Live I am waiting for Elon Musk to make Live HUD possible one way or other

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Selanne Steak Tavern on Laguna Beach, CA.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

Would be nice to hear some thoughts from EEE27 or bustoville about their success in 2015. Those guys have progressed a lot this year!

Anssi “Baadger” Mustonen is a fresh SuperNova Elite on PokerStars who plays PLO $2,5/$5 ZOOM as his main game. He recently visited Joey Ingram podcast, check out the link at the end of the Snapshot.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Anssi Mustonen, 25, Helsinki Finland. I don’t use twitter yet.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

baadger on pokerstars

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play?  Are you learning any new games?

I’m an online PLO 6-max grinder, playing stakes from 1-2 to 10-20, but mainly 500zoom on stars where I’m reaching supernova elite this year for the first time. I’m not learning any new games, sometimes I try to luckbox Sunday donkaments.

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

Freedom and being your own boss, self-employed, and money of course. It’s really nice to work in your own livingroom.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

EEE27, bustoville, I_MR_U_BEAN, although their main game is 5-10+

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

Jeans89, he has all the qualities of successful poker player, works hard and also knows how to enjoy life.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

duubadaaba

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker?  Do you still play for the same reasons?

I think I started 7 years ago with 5e sitngo’s with my friends after seeing the WPT broadcasts on tv. I wanted to be the guy on TV that binks 1 million score. Then it was money and fame, now mainly for the money.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

My best month was when I was 7th in an anniversary Sunday Million 2012 and we made a deal in the ft. which got me 239 000$. From cash games I have couple months +50-100k, and some -20-30k. Nothing special on those, just heaters / doomswitches.

3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

I decided to go for supernova elite on stars this year. It’s been a tough grind and harder than I thought, I miss the freedom of not having to grind. I’m not satisfied with the level of play I brought to the tables, way too much autopilot and B-game. That and not studying probably why I didn’t quite make my monetary goals.

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

I had couple thousand stuck there, but got them back later. Didn’t affect me much.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

It’s been a steady improvement, figuring out things as I play. I used to only think spots in a vacuum, but now I also think how playing certain spots affect my overall gameplan and ranges.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

Not grinding and studying the game hard enough 5 years ago.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

I bet 2k on the yaarny prop bet, have not done any big prop bets myself. Some sport bets against friends.

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I wake up, drink coffee and water, go through my bookmarks in my browser, put some good music or podcast on and start grinding.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Ben86 and use it as free coaching

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

Ilari_FIN, Isildur1 and Dan Bilzerian

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Hanging with my girlfriend, sports, watching good tv, travelling.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

All my volume was on eurosites 2010-2013, 2014-2015 almost all my volume has been on Pokerstars. 2016 I’m probably gonna play around half of my volume on eurosites.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

You have to be extremely talented or hardworking or both to get to high stakes, and I’m neither.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

Grinding attitude, being able to put high volume even on bad months.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Poker wise I still want to be a winner next year, less volume but better quality of play. Other goals are to travel and to finish my University of Applied sciences degree, where I’m only short of thesis and couple courses.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

Yes I’m confident, you need to have confidence in yourself in everything you are doing.

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

As a professional no. Probably playing live poker couple times a year.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

Only if I’m in need for money, which probably doesn’t make me a good coach then. So no. I did like 20 hours of coaching couple years ago and it went ok, though.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

I WANT MILLION. Seriously though, getting my own apartment and money to travel is enough for me.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

Online gets tougher every year, but I think 1-2 and smaller will be decently beatable games, as long as the bots don’t take over and the rake doesn’t get higher. It’s too small for the crushers to drop down to. Live poker will be soft always.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings? 

I’m not putting any time to it currently, I have money invested in my apartment.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

I go to crossfit, floorball and other sports like badminton. I also like to watch good tv-series, football and Dota 2.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Study and grind hard now to make a lot of money when it’s still easy. Don’t play so much computer games.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Travel around the world, watch breaking bad/wire/game of thrones, do a bungee jump/sky diving etc.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

Joeingram1, jnandez87

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I was thinking about a system for a 6max table, lets say there is one person sitting, and then a (fun) player joins the table. Then there would be a 30second timespan for everyone else who clicked to join that table would be added to a playerpool, and after 30seconds site would randomly pick 4 next players to the table. Live poker maybe chess clock or something to make it go faster.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

I really enjoyed Las Vegas, also La Grave in the Alpes was really nice. Farang in Finland is the best restaurant I have been.

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

eee27, he’s such a beast grinder, and not many people outside Finland know much about him.

Anssi as Joey’s guest:

Dennis “Tiltkorv” Holst is a midstakes grinder on PokerStars. You may not have heard of him yet, but he’s on his way to the top!

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Dennis Holst, 30 years old, Stockholm Sweden, not active on Twitter.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

My online screen name is “Tiltkorv” on Pokerstars, don’t really play any other sites right now. I sometimes play on a swedish site, screnname is “Tiltkorv” there as well. “Tiltkorv” means “Tilt sausage in Swedish”.

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

Been living as a professional poker player for 11 years now, my main game has been PLO cash games for the last 6 years maybe.
A usual day for me, I play 4 tables of zoom500 PLO on Pokerstars and mix in some 5card / 4card – PLO at stakes 1-2$ to 10-20$

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

That I am able to do whatever I want everyday 365 days / year and always free to travel if someone asks me.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

I am the worst remembering screen names, but there is alot of great players from Sweden as you guys already know
BERRI SWEET, Fjutek and Johan5390 are all insane IMO but usually dont play my stakes.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

I_Mr_U_Bean as you had as a previous Snapshot player. I would say he is a very LAG player who is not afraid to valuebet thin or bluff big.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Johan5390 (Swedish crusher) I am a big fan of him

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

It all started when I used to play a 7$ SNG weekly at my cousins house. I studied hard everyday to beat the game.
After a while I thought I was better then all the other players there so I took a shot and put $50 or something online and that was all the money I had for that time.
My reasons why I played poker was to win money and I think I still have the same reasons now 11 years later.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

I think my best month I had playing are around $100 000. Playing 10/20 PLO but that was some years ago.
I also had one more 100k month when I binked two MTTs in two days for around 50k each.
My worst month? Never had one… At least thats what all whiners online say No but seriously I dont really know exactly in $$$ but my guess is around 70k maybe.
Have had 100 buyin (ore more) downswings many times but I usually play lower stakes when I notice that I run bad.

3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

I am satisfied with my BB/100 last year but I dont think that I have put down enough time playing or poker studies.
This year I have played allmost half as much as I have done earlier years, but atleast my golf game has improved

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Before Black Friday I only played on eurosites so it had no impact on me. I didn’t adapt at all I just kept playing same eurosite.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

I have to say watching alot of coaching videos and try to use it playing alot of hands online. Another big factor was that I stopped taking shots 4 years ago.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

I think I have taken to many shots in my earlier years when I was not good enough to play in those games.
I use to play alot of 25-50 games when I had only 150k bankroll against better players, my shots wasn’t even against funplayers.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

Actually I have never been involved in a prop bet. Only thing that comes to my mind was that I made a bet with a friend that if I played any holdem MTTs for a whole year,
I had to match the buyin of the tournemant and give him that money. (I am a loosing holdem-mtt player)

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I make coffee and listen to relaxing sounds with headphones so that I never tilt.

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

Eiichiro Oda – He as a writer of the manga series One Piece.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

I dont know, whoever likes to blog I guess (Dont read any blogs so…)

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

Playing golf or watch One Piece (it is the best tv show I have ever seen)

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Like 30 hours / year last 4 years.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

1. Coaching videos. 2. Bankroll management. 3. Stopped taking shots against top regs at higher stakes.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

That I played less poker this year have made me feel happier when playing, I have not felt like a robot =)

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

If Pokerstars would still have Supernova Elite I guess I would go for that, right now I dont know.
I think I have more goals in real life, to work out more, I have alot of issues with my back that I like to work with.
Also I would like to improve my golfing game alot, golf is my biggest hobby right now thanks to my girlfriend. (I am a funplayer at golf)

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

My goals with my hurting back… I am not sure but I really hope so ofcourse. I think that I will need more then 12 months to get free from back issues and tennis elbow/ mouse arm.
Golfing game, sure yeah this is my year;)

3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

Maybe not as my main profession, but I will probably play poker for the rest of my life if games are still around.
Reason why not as my profession is that poker is not as fun anymore.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I already coach my girlfriend so be affraid

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

Already living it

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

People said for years that poker is dying but I think it will be the same, but who knows.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

Like 100% less then I probably should I have started small with stock exchange but I am still a fun player there.
I invest most of my winnings in happiness like travelling around the globe and eat nice food.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

As said before golf takes up alot of my spare time.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

What stocks to buy ofcourse No seriously I would say to work out more so your body feels good, if your body feels good your mind feels good.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

Take scuba diving cert, see at least 700 episodes of One Piece, jump out of an airplane.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I look in to Joe Ingrams podcast from time to time.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

Less rake obv, sites are making gazzillions from it.
Ban players from casinos who tanks everyhand and folds.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Best place I can’t say, there is so many places in the world that I love.
For poker players of course Las Vegas is always nice. South africa, Mexico, Bahamas.
Best restaurant I been to was in a small village at the island Corsica (France).
I ordered a 8 course meal at a michelin star restaurant with like 8 different wines to go with it.
Unfortunally I dont recall the name of the place

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

Isildur if he has not allready been on it?

Miikka Anttonen is an MTT pro who has had a rather colorful poker career despite of his young age. He has written a book called “Once a gambler”, which will be released very soon. Miikka is known as a Cardrunners coach but also for his writing skills. Miikka was nice enough to grant Nutblocker a Snapshot interview and he really took the time to give great answers, so let’s dig in and let Miikka talk.

About You

1. What is your name, age and where are you located? What is your personal twitter account?

Miikka Anttonen, 29, location varies greatly. I’m originally from Finland, but I don’t like to spend a lot of time here when it’s not summer, so I’m anywhere else but my home country most of the time. By chance I’m actually here in the cold north at the moment, but by the time the article gets released I’ll probably be in either Toronto or Havana already. I just came to visit friends and family after spending the latter half of last year in Malta, but a month of this winter is more than enough for me so it’s time to move forward. My twitter is @chuckbasspoker.

2. What are Your online poker Screen names?

I keep most of my screen names a secret, as most of my volume is on euro sites and I don’t like to attract too much attention to my poker-playing these days. I used to be “cannotletgo” on Stars, but I’ve stopped playing there entirely because of all the recent bullshit, so I guess the most prominent one I have left is BoysDontCRAI that I either use or have used in most networks at some point. In general, most know me as “Chuck Bass”, which is the name I use when posting on the forums etc.

3. How would you define yourself as a poker player? / What poker games do you normally play? Are you learning any new games?

I play MTTs, mostly mid-stakes these days. I used to love the spotlight some years ago, but nowadays I’m the unknown grinder in the shadows that no one even notices, and I like it that way. I’m pretty decent at mixed games and especially split pot games too, but now that I don’t play on Stars anymore those games are hard to find elsewhere. Generally I really enjoy the thrill of learning a new games and getting better at the ones I already know, but due to the current climate 99% of the games I play are just NLHE MTTs. Boring, I know, but boring makes you money!

4. What do you most enjoy about your job?

I know this sounds kind of silly, but after eight years of playing poker I still really love just getting on the grind and firing 20 tables of random donkaments and clicking away. Most players go for the prestige and enjoy big events like SCOOPs and WCOOPs and whatever. I’ve stopped caring about any of that stuff, because it just brings me stress, and I hate stress. I’ve found that I’m at my happiest when I just fire games that I’m overrolled for and where my opponents typically aren’t world class, sit back in my chair and print money. The kinds of games that no one else wants to even play, the odd 50-player field freezeouts on some obscure euro site that most regs don’t want to play on, I live for that stuff. I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of it and I think it’s just really fun, but whenever you add stress to it the game becomes much less fun.

5. Who are the top 3 players in your main game from your home country in your personal opinion?

This is kind of tough, because as we all know MTTs are the last soft thing left when it comes to online poker, but none of the best poker players really play them for a living. So the ones who could be the best, like Jeans or whoever, don’t really play MTTs but I have no doubt they’d be the best if they wanted to. But if I’m thinking strictly about the guys who play online MTTs for a living, there really aren’t that many of us anymore. I think the first two are pretty easy, €urop€an and emeriaa, they both just crush in the toughest tournaments in the world day after day. The third, hmm – LarsLuzak would be there but I don’t count him since I think he only bothers to print his annual $500k from donkaments during SCOOP/WCOOP time. I’m gonna go with salaliitto as my third choice.

6. What reg in your game do you respect most? Can you briefly describe why?

It’s hard to pick one guy, I really respect everyone who beats the games these days. The first name that comes to mind is James Obst. His training videos on RunItOnce are the best I’ve ever seen and he just seems like not only a phenomenal poker player, but a really great, smart dude. Someone like apestyles would be a great answer too, you know, all these really oldschool regs who’ve managed to develop their games again and again over the years and remain the best in the business year after year.

7. Besides yourself who do you think the most underrated poker player is?

Haha, if anything I’d say I’m probably overrated. When it comes to underrated, in MTTs it’s basically all those smart guys who you never notice but who are making all the money. Look at someone like emeriaa, he’s the kind of guy you never even notice at your table, because he just plays a very, very solid game. He’s not one of those ego warriors who 7bet shoves A3o into you, you may have never read a single interview of his, but when you dig him up on sharkscope he’s up like 1,5 million without a glimpse of variance. It’s these guys who have all the money. When you look at the pocketfives top 100, half the guys are dead broke and deep in makeup. Since the ultimate goal in poker is to make money above everything else, it’s these guys who don’t enjoy the spotlight but who have all the money that are the truly underrated ones.

Past

1. Why and when did you start playing poker? Do you still play for the same reasons?

I found poker when I was 20, so that would have been in 2007, but I’ve been gambling ever since I was about ten years old. What drove me to poker originally was just because I love gambling, and I got addicted to it because finally there was a game that had all the gambling elements my degen soul loves but where it’s possible to be a winner in the long run. And yeah, I guess that’s still the main reason I play, I just really love it and enjoy every day on the felt regardless of if I win or lose.

2. What were the best and worst months of your poker career? What happened?

From a financial perspective, I think I’ve had two separate months where I made about $100k or close to it. The other was when I won the Sunday Brawl, chopped a TCOOP HU tournament and won some 3rd largeish thing I’ve forgotten about within a couple of weeks. I had struggled before that month and I worked really hard, I remember it was a January and I spent even the previous Christmas holidays having a lockdown and number-crunching, so getting those results after all that was very satisfying. The other was just one score when I won the biggest live tournament in my home country for exactly $100k, it was at my home casino and it was really emotional for a bunch of reasons, so I guess I would rank that as the best even that it really was just a stupid live donkament I ran good at. The worst month was a few years ago when I was sort of breaking up from my live-in girlfriend, we were extremely miserable together and I put all my focus into grinding when my mind wasn’t there because I didn’t want to deal with all the break-up stuff. I can’t remember how much exactly I lost but maybe about $60k? Oh and I bricked a full month of WSOPs a few summers ago as well, including near-bubbling the main event, I think that was overall for a similar loss.

3. Are you satisfied with the last 12 months of your poker play?

The past year was actually the first year since 2007 when I did work on something else than poker primarily (although 100% of my income still came from poker). I was writing my first book (it’s called Once A Gambler, out any day now), and it took so much time and effort I don’t have words to describe. I think I played about 100 days last year and worked on the book for the rest. This was a conscious decision, I was always supposed to be a writer but then poker accidentally happened and whoops, it’s been 8 years now. So when the opportunity arose to write my memoir I wanted to go for it and was fortunate enough to have poker on the side to pay the bills. To answer the actual question, I’m pretty happy with my results in terms of winrate, bb/100 and whatever, obviously the sheer amount of money I made wasn’t very huge due to the lack of volume. I definitely didn’t play my best poker last year, because all my focus was on the book project and it was really hard to play my best game when I had to take so many breaks and was always sort of mentally multi-tasking – I’d get ideas for the book in the middle of a session and so on. But I was smart and played in smaller, virtually variance free games and printed a pretty decent amount of money, so I can’t complain!

4. How did Black Friday impact you? How did you adapt after Black Friday?

Not that much, I had some money on FTP that got in there for a couple of years, but that was about it. Maybe the most interesting thing about Black Friday to me personally was that we almost launched a training/affiliate site combination with a bunch of high stakes-playing friends back then. We smelled the opportunity – all of a sudden all the American grinders who’d played their lives entirely on Stars and FTP would move out of the country and seek euro sites to play on, and there would be a lot money to be made if we could get their future rake under our site. We were going to be called EuroGrinders and we had a really great roster for training videos, lots of high stakes players you would have heard of (but who I won’t name), as well as some really solid business ideas. We negotiated with a bunch of sites and had really solid deals us well. We eventually never launched for multiple reasons, the main one being the stupid Finnish legislation that would’ve basically made us criminals for promoting gambling. I really think it could’ve ended up quite a success.

5. What was the biggest factor in your development as a player?

There have been a few big moments. I originally learned to play no limit from Cardrunners videos back in the day when they were considered revolutionary. I remember watching their heads-up videos and my mind was blown when I saw how they played almost every hand in the videos. When I switched to MTTs from cash around 2009/10, for a long time I tried to be like everyone else and just play a mechanical, mistake-free style. Then at some point I just sort of snapped and realized that you can get away with so much shit that people don’t do, because everyone plays that same style, and I started crushing the games (this was around 2011). Nowadays everyone’s tough and no one plays mechanical anymore, and it’s honestly hard work to keep up with the times. I’ve always had a pretty good work ethic when it comes to studying, so I guess the biggest thing that allows me to still play poker for a living in 2016, even if I’m making much less than I used to, is having the willingness to put in the hours both playing and studying. I’d like to think I work pretty hard and I always have, I’m not talented at all at this game but you can get away with a lot of bad personality traits if you’re willing to work hard.

6. What was the biggest mistake(s) you have done as a poker player?

Haha, this list is too long to even get started in this interview… I wrote a whole book basically about this subject and it’s my definitive statement on all the stupid shit I’ve done starting from 5k roulette flips that landed me sleeping on park benches. So if you’re interested in the various ways I have fucked up in the past, I’d recommend picking up the book.

7. What’s your biggest prop bet?

This is kind of lame, because based on my book and blogs everyone thinks I’m this huge degen gambler, but I haven’t done any really massive prop bets money-wise. I don’t enjoy prop betting that much, because it’s against some friend, and I don’t like the negative tension that stuff can bring into friendships. Money-wise the biggest I’ve done is 5k I think (I’ve both won and lost one, both were sports related). But we’ve done a couple of fun non-monetary ones with my friends. One I lost was that I had to visit Africa by the end of the year, and it was like November or something at that point. After a strange chain of events I ended up on board of a muslim cargo ship and eventually got to Tangier that way. I also once lost a prop bet where I had to listen to this on repeat for a month whenever I played poker, that was pretty intense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyfc10qDcR4

Present

1. How do you prepare for your poker activities?

I don’t really prepare, I have pretty much zero routine, sleeping cycle or anything of that nature. I just play when I feel like it!

2. If you could pick the brain of anyone in the world for 3 hours, who would he/she be?

I know I’m supposed to answer this with some great philosopher or whatever, or maybe a writer given how that’s the only career besides poker I’m interested in. But honestly, I’ve always been really interested in the creative processes behind all kinds of artists. Like, how does a painter come up with exactly the kind of surrealist painting he paints? Where does David Lynch get ideas for his movies? Etc. I think Lynch would be pretty high on my list here, but I think I’d still pick a musician, just because I’m very talentless when it comes to music and I can’t wrap my head around how these musicians come up with their stuff. I can get writing great lyrics and coming up with a catchy bass hook or whatever, but it’s always baffled me how they see all those pieces of the puzzle come together and create multi-layered songs that use all kinds of instruments and computers. So as ridiculous as this sounds, I think I would pick either Kanye West (it’d without a doubt also be pretty fun just to hang out with him since he’s a pretty absurd human being in the first place) or Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, who’s probably the best multi-instrumentalist of this era. Had you asked me a month ago I’d have picked Bowie, but it’s too late for that now sadly.

3. What 3 poker pros should PokerStars sign to their team online roster?

I’d forget about the pros for a while and start by hiring someone who has a clue about running a poker room and establishing a trust between the company and its clients. The lengths they’ve gone to scamming their customers recently is absurd and they could clearly really use some fresh blood in the management.

4. What is your favorite way to relieve stress when running bad?

I took up climbing a couple of years ago and it’s done wonders. I love looking down from the heights, I find it very relaxing and generally calming. For short-term stress release I just go on walks, it always calms my nerves. Generally I don’t really stress about running bad though, because donkaments are pretty easy and the games I play in don’t really have a lot of variance involved. I think I’ve had one losing week in the last 1,5 years.

5. How much volume are you playing on Eurosites?

Virtually all of it. I think I’ve played about three days on Stars in the last 1,5 years, and I intend to keep it that way.

6. Why are you not playing mid/high stakes already? If you are, what are the 3 most important things that got you there?

To me it’s more like backwards, I played high stakes for about 4-5 years there, and I’ve recently dropped down quite a bit. This is quite simply because I don’t think there’s that much money to be made at the highest stakes anymore, and there’s a shit ton of stress/variance free money to be made a bit lower. Most idiot regs have too much ego and pride to step down, and I went through a phase like that myself too. But nowadays I feel no shame saying that hey, I might simply not be good enough for high stakes anymore. That’s ok, I’m really happy where I am. Originally what got me to high stakes – hard work, willingness to grind a LOT, ambition. I have a lot of personality traits that are really bad and unoptimal for a poker player, but one of the few good things about how my mind works is that I don’t give up easily. I always keep pushing until I get to where I want and it was that drive that originally had me reach my potential. Nowadays I simply don’t think my potential is very high in comparison to how tough poker has become, but I’m doing my best every day to play my best in the games I play in.

7. What is the most important positive change you’ve made to your poker approach this year?

Well it’s only January, but something I’ve tried this month has been waking up earlier and playing in the morning games. They are smaller, but you get to see more sunlight (here in Finland we only have what, a few hours of sunlight per day in January?), which has been good for my psyche.

Future

1. What are your poker and other goals for the next 12 months?

Now that I’m done with the book I intend to play full time in 2016, but I think my focus is still always partially in writing – I’m working on a couple of writing projects on the side already (one is a screenplay, and another is a novel). I’d expect to play a full 40 hours a week or so on maybe 40 weeks total. If I could make $100k this year solely from poker, I’d be happy. But I don’t really do goal-setting anymore, I’ll just do my best and see what happens. Goals just bring unwanted stress to my life.

2. Are you confident that you will meet those goals? Why?

If I can maintain last year’s winrate but double the volume it won’t be even hard to reach six figures, and I’m pretty positive that I can actually attain a better winrate now that I’ll have more time to focus on playing and studying. So I don’t see why I wouldn’t get there, but we’ll see.
3. Do you see yourself still playing poker in 10 years?

I honestly won’t be surprised if I won’t play at all. I do love the game and maybe I’ll play it recreationally, but I kinda doubt it. I generally always focus all my energy and effort towards just a couple of things in life, and don’t care much for the rest. Poker has got the vast majority of my focus for nearly a decade now, and will for as long as it remains my job. But if/when I eventually quit playing for a living, I think I’m just going to want to focus all that energy on whatever else I’ll be doing. I don’t know if I’d enjoy poker if I couldn’t give it my everything, so I think it’s entirely possible I won’t be playing at all. I’m 95% sure I at least won’t be playing for a living.

4. Do you have any ambition to coach/teach other players?

I made videos for CardRunners for four years, and before that for PokerStrategy as well. I’ve coached 30-40 people over the years, but that too is one of those things that I either want to do well or not do at all – I’ve turned down a bunch of coaching requests lately just because I don’t think I could be of much help. I don’t think that I currently have much to give when it comes to coaching, most of my money just comes from good choices, game selection and routine, I don’t really have any magic tricks in my sleeve these days. I used to be ahead of the curve a lot a few years ago, but everyone’s caught up and now I’m just one of the hundreds of guys making a living playing. I don’t really feel motivated about coaching these days, so I don’t think I’m going to do it at least in the near future.

5. What’s the poker dream for you?

I remember in 2008 when I was starting from SNGs I had this huge dream of having a four-figure winning month. Then I had that, and the next dream was a five-figure month, and whatever I achieved it was always replaced by a new dream. I wanted to become a CardRunners coach ever since I watched their videos back in the day, and then I was made one. I wanted to get noticed by the poker media, and next thing I know I was in the cover of CardPlayer magazine. When I started MTTs, I dreamed of having a five-figure online score, and when I got it I wanted to win a Sunday major. Then I won a major and a shitload of other majors, but it didn’t help because now I wanted to win a big live tournament. Then I won a big live tournament, and even a world championship title, but none of that gave me satisfaction because there was always a new dream. Only recently I’ve realized that dreaming in relation to poker is pretty dumb. I’m already living my dream. In a way, I haven’t worked a day since I was 21. I can wake up and go to sleep whenever I want, I love every minute of my job, I can travel wherever I want whenever I want, I’m accountable to no one. That’s the dream right there. Sure, if the poker gods decide I’ll be the next WSOP Main Event champion, I don’t exactly object it, but I can’t say I really dream about it either. Things are really well the way they are right now.

6. How do you see the poker landscape changing in the next five years?

Amaya will screw everything up and goes bankrupt. PokerStars gets bought back by its old owners for a fraction of the selling price, and the old management along with some new poker player-turned CEOs put it on the right track. Americans return to the global poker player pool and sites such as Unibet grow to challenge Pokerstars’ reign. That’s the dream scenario, realistically I won’t be surprised if it all goes to shits and none of us play for a living anymore in 2021.

7. How much time are you putting into studying financial issues like investing. What are your preferred sources for this? What investments are you making with your poker winnings?

Pretty much zero. Like I said before, I only like to do things if I know I can do well in them, and learning investing from scratch would take too much time. I’m more a happiness-oriented guy than one who goes after money, and investing doesn’t really interest me that much. If I won a boatload of money from something so that I’d actually have to invest it, I’d probably just hire some guy to take care of everything for me. If I ever end up actually investing in something, it’d be a start-up company that I could get hands-on with.

Other

1. Do you have any regular non-poker hobbies? Whats your favorite way to spend your spare time?

The climbing I mentioned before takes a lot of time, as does the writing. It’s pretty cool that I can call both of my professions, poker and writing, my hobbies as really when I do either I enjoy them so much. Besides that, I like all sports in general, I hit the gym a fair bit and this summer I’m going to get back on the tennis grind.

2. If you could give you from five years ago (make it ten if over 30) one major piece of advice, what would it be?

Don’t chase pseudo glory and dreams that don’t really exist. Don’t get backed just so you could play in the biggest tournaments in the world, focus on what you’re alredy good at and print all the money.

3. What are the 3 things everyone should have on their bucket list?

-Seeing the world, stepping out of your comfort zone and immersing in other cultures. It’ll do wonders for you, trust me.
-Finding a job that makes you happy, we spend 1/3 of our lives working, it’s not worth it to spend all that time being unhappy in a job you hate.
-Reading the great novels from the last 200 years. We spend all this time browsing internet forums and almost none reading all the important literature out there, it makes me sad.

4. Do you follow any poker podcasts or poker players on Twitch?

I’m pretty strongly against Twitch. I hate the idea of whoring yourself out for a tiny compensation to show all the recreationals how online poker in 2016 really is numbers and HUDs and calculators and whatnot, I think many of those streams can be really bad for the game. I recently looked at some guy’s Twitch who’s apparently really popular and I couldn’t watch for longer than twenty seconds because he tilted me so hard. It’s really sad to me that this is what poker has come to – to get a sponsorship you’re not measured by your skills but by to what lengths you’re willing to go to get visibility. I did watch the Aussie Millions stream Somerville made though, I think for live poker Twitch can be a great thing and Jason did a great job making it entertaining for both casual players and professionals.

5. If you could change one thing with online poker, what would that be? What if you could change one thing with live poker?

I would somehow end the Pokerstars monopoly and resume the competition, and if possible I’d have Americans return to the global player pool. For live poker I’d install shot clocks for live tournaments.

6. What is the best place and the best restaurant your have ever visited?

Hah, that’s a tough one. I’ve been to 65 countries and I’ve lived in so many places by now that it’s hard to pick one. I guess I’d say that I enjoyed living in Sydney the most out of all places, but if I had to choose the absolute best city in the world, I’d still say New York. I’m a big city guy, small places drive me nuts pretty fast. Best restaurant is tough too, I’m not really a food snob in the sense that I don’t really go to high-class places ever. I think I’ll have to pass that question actually, I literally can’t think of anything specific. Sorry!

7. Who do you challenge to do the Poker Player Snapshot next and why?

I’m definitely going to pass the baton to James Obst, I guess everyone generally suggests their friends here and I don’t even know James, but I just think he’d have really great answers.