Generation Next -- David Cairns

David Cairns didn't garner much success in online tournaments initially, going through a bundle of deposits on PartyPoker. Then, a small win of $2,400 transformed the McGill University political science major into a self-confessed poker degenerate. Every dime that came his way - school money from Dad, loans from friends, loose change - all went toward mastering poker. Yet, he continued to lose. Then, he took down a $10,000 buy-in package to a World Poker Tour event and $20,000 in online tournament cashes during one semester. Almost overnight, the self-anointed poker god was ready to take on everyone from Doyle Brunson to Phil Ivey.

"I thought I was God's gift to poker after I won that package. I thought I was so good. How I ever thought that, I don't know. I got a reality check when I played in the WPT event and sat between Michael Binger and Annette Obrestad. I was knocked out in four hours, playing pretty bad. I was heartbroken."

That humbling experience was a turning point for Cairns, as he learned to keep his ego in check and simply focus on the situations that arise during each tournament. Success slowly came his way with a few five-figure scores on PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. His patience and newfound attitude paid off big time recently when he won the Full Tilt Online Poker Series event No. 1 for $216,513, outlasting 6,274 opponents.

Cairns sat down with Card Player soon after that win to share some insightful strategy on how to go deep in large-field events, and how to wait for the chips to come to you.

Craig Tapscott: So, what was it like playing with Michael Binger?

David Cairns: Binger humbled me, as he was very quiet and completely respectful of everyone at the table. I was just this yappy kid. Watching him win every single pot he entered blew my mind. Then I realized that the cliché is true: Egos will break you, the cards will make you. I realized then that I had to check my ego at the door and work on my game to get better.

CT: What did you learn?

DC: He was playing in position every time. Now, I learn something new about position every day. I mean, the chance of hitting a flop is 1-in-3, and hitting it hard enough to proceed all the way to the river is not likely. That was what I learned most.

CT: So, what happens when you come across an experienced player and he recognizes what you are doing from position?

DC: It's kind of a weird area. I prefer playing against these guys, as I have a lot more tools in my arsenal that I can use. I now know how to adapt along the way based on what my opponent is doing. Within higher-echelon players, there are better and worse. I approach the situation by figuring out what level of thinking a player is at. Then, what he is thinking about me, and essentially what level he thinks that I am at, and so on. It's way more important that I get a picture of how I think he perceives me, and based on that perception, I use whatever the situation dictates as I let things come to me. Then, I take it one step further.

CT: Explain.

DC: My general philosophy is to try to play pots with the weaker players at the table, as that's where I'm going to win chips. The guys who are better are going to put me in tougher spots more often, and I don't want to be put in tough spots. My game is all about putting other players into tough spots.

CT: What's your game plan in these events with huge fields?

DC: You have to treat every tournament like it's your only shot, the only tournament you are ever going to play. Every decision that I make has to be made in hope of getting to that final table and winning. I never for one second take my eye off the prize, and it's not the money. That's my one major fundamental. You have to have that fire to win.