The Well: iMsoLucky0 (2.6.07)

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Early on I read "Ken Warren's Winners Guide to Texas Holdem."

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LOL. This is funny, because this is the same book that first taught me poker. Interesting how it had different results for us [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[iMsoLucky0]

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Jordan--

Which players have had the biggest influence on your game?

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Gigabet's brother (not imcastleman the other one) was instrumental in me destroying SNGS. Then, gigabet himself showed me some of the more advanced techniques required to close out and WIN MTTs. After that, discussions with sheets, sirio11, shaniac, and many other very good players have made me what I am today.

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What's your stance/opinions on staking, both giving and receiving?

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I think that it is a necessary evil in the poker world. I think receiving staking can be either a very good or very bad thing depending on the exact situation. I think giving backing is a very dangerous activity that requires a ton of hard work and dedication. Backing should be left to the people that know they can handle it properly, imo.

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If poker didn't exist, how would you be spending your days?

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I probably would have graduated undergrad with an honors degree in physics and would now be in graduate school working my ass of in some specialized division of physics.

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You always seem super level-headed and in control of your emotions at the table. Deep down, are you ever steaming? If not, how do you have such good control?

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Thanks, but there are definitely some times that I still steam. The hand you posted the other day was a mini-steam of sorts by me. I find myself sometimes getting angry at the other guy for the way he's played the hand and that is totally irrational but I think I can control it pretty well.

I think the reason I'm able to control myself so well is just because of my temperament. I've always been very laid back and haven't let things bother me and that has carried over to poker very well.

[adanthar]

you sound a lot like me, gj man.

still tournaments, or have you switched to cash?

[iMsoLucky0]

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What are the some of the common mistakes you see players make, seemingly all time?

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One of the biggest things I notice is people not changing gears or mixing up their play at all. Lots of people know how to play tight, or know how to be aggressive, or know how to be loose, but not many can switch from one to the other at the right times.

Also, most players don't understand the concepts of pot control and showdown value of hands. There are many times in a tournament where you are very sure your hand is good, but you should only call instead of raise a bet. It is very rare to see someone who knows how to take their hands to showdown at the right time and when not to.

[iMsoLucky0]

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Top 3 biggest online wins?

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80,000, 77,000, and like 5 wins in the 45-55k range.

[iMsoLucky0]

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you sound a lot like me, gj man.

still tournaments, or have you switched to cash?

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Still tournaments, but now only big live ones mainly. I don't play online a ton anymore. I've wanted to move to cash for a while but I am very lazy and it takes me a while to move from the 'want to' to the 'do' stage in most things. I'm to the 'do' stage now though I think.

[JP OSU]

You're from Oklahoma right?... do you still live here?... Do you play any around here?

[iMsoLucky0]

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Describe three entertaining/educational/high pressure poker hands u have played in detail.

Also, explain in detail how u maintain your youthful glow.

HO

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Hand 1) At the Doyle Brunson 10k tournament at Bellagio, Oct, 05. Blinds are 1k/2k/300a, I'm chipleader at the table with like 180k and limp UTG with 66, the CO who was a tight ABC player makes it 9k, I call.

Flop is something like 952r and I check, he bets 11k, and at this point I'm very sure he has two jacks. It was a very specific read but I was almost 100% sure that's what he had. I could feel he liked his hand but was also afraid, and I knew he had been watching me play and was capable of making a laydown. He had about 45k left after his bet, and I made it 26k knowing he was looking for an excuse to fold. He thought for 2 minutes and folded JJ face-up.

Hand 2) USPC, 06, day 3, blinds 800/1600/200a (I think) still a bunch of players left, I'm one of the chipleaders with like 230-250k. UTG shortstack wth like 40k limps, I limp next with 45dd, the button who is another big stack and v overaggressive makes it 6000ish, we both call. Flop is 443 two hearts, 1st limper leads 15k, I just call knowing button is raising, and the button makes it 50k straight. First limper thinks forever before calling and at this point I'm pretty sure the button has a huge hand he isn't getting away from. I move allin which was kind of an overbet, and he calls instantly and shows two aces. The first guy had 99, and gg those guys.

Hand 3) USPC, 06, 19 left, 18th gets 9kish more than 19th and I am chipleader with about 900k to second places 600k. Guy with 600k is sitting directly to my left and we have played together this tournament quite a bit. He was the kind of guy to play fairly tight (as in plays AT+, pairs, facecards etc), but was very aggressive once he decided to play a hand. He had reraised me several times throughout the tourney and all had done was either fold or call/fold to his c-bet on the flop. He also had made the final table of this tournament the previous year and I knew his goal of the tournament was really only to final table again.

Anyways, blinds 2500/5000/500a and I open to 15k on the button with KTo. He makes it 40k from the SB as he's done several times and I decide this is the time and make it 120k. He gets nervous and fiddles a little bit before finally calling the bet. Flop comes KQ4 (rainbow or two tone I forget), and he bets 200k. I read him for exactly AK because of his betsize/demeanor and know he will fold to a push because of the level he was on. He was definitely going to read me for a set or AA, so I pushed. He thought for at least 5 minutes before finally folding AK faceup. This one is gonna be fun to watch on TV.

As for the youthful glow, I've always been told I have a babyface and probably always will. But aside from that, it's probably by surrounding myself by older rough looking guys like Shane [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img].

[iMsoLucky0]

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You're from Oklahoma right?... do you still live here?... Do you play any around here?

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I still live in Norman, yes. The only live poker I play around here are the bigger tourneys they have at the Cherokee Casino in Tulsa. I'll be out there Sunday for the 3k State Championship.

[iMsoLucky0]

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Do you have notes on me (actual or mental) and, if so, what do they say?

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No actual notes and my only mental note on you is 'good 2+2er'. Surprisingly I don't really keep notes on anyone and rely on my memory and feel to make most of my reads.

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Have you been playing a lot of MTTs lately and, if so, do you agree with me that they have gotten a bit harder since the Neteller thing? I feel like I am constantly at tables with 5 or more 2p2ers or P5ers.

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I have barely played online MTTs the last 6 months, but I do agree that the games have gotten harder recently. Even before the neteller thing, it has seemed as though there are more and more people that are at least competent all the time in the bigger online MTTs.

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A few more questions (you and Colson were way up on my list of who I wanted to see do a Well):

Give me three keys that you think distinguish your game from your run-of-the-mill good/winning MTTer (distinguish between live and online if necessary).

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Thanks, and I look forward to Carl's well too. The number 1 key to my game is changing gears and mixing it up at the right time. This is more important live than online but I think I'm able to do it to a certain extent online. Second, I am very good at always being aware of the exact tournament situation of myself as well as all the other people on the table. Live, I am constantly counting everyone's chips and online I'm paying attention to know when someone is getting ready to make a move or getting frustrated. Last, I think my tilt control is far superior to most good players. Regardless of what happens to me, I am usually able to regain my focus quickly and not let one mistake turn into 6.

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You are an excellent "restealer," but what weapons do you have in your arsenal for dealing with (or even trapping) oher restealers?

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As I just said, I think I am very good at recognizing when someone is ready to make a move or when they are satisfied with their stack and just trying to inch their way up the tournament. As far as specific weapons go, I'd say the number 1 weapon is being able to not put myself in a position to be restolen from easy. I think I'm good at making my steals look like hands and my hands look like steals, especially live. I also steal from some unusual spots that people would never suspect me to steal/resteal from. Another of my favorite tactics is to open limp the CO/button when I feel I will be restolen from. Lots of people know how to jam their stack in the middle, but they'll be thrown off by a limp. I am very confident in my postflop tournament play and can extract even more chips in these situations by playing the pot in position than just stealing pre.


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How do you rate yourself on dealing with those inevitable downswings and bad beats? What sort of mental approaches do you take?

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It's weird, but back when I was playing regularly online I was the best at not letting beats bother me. I just NEVER got bothered by a beat or anything that may have happened to me. I think it came from my roots in SNGs where you get used to seeing some of the sickest, most retarded beats like every other hand of the bubble it seems.

Since I've had more success and have become even more confident in my play I find myself letting these things bother me more for some reason. I guess I am to the point where I expect to win and that's no good, but it's still not nearly as bad as what I see from other people.