Generation Next: Steve Barshak

Lady luck often finds herself a convenient scapegoat. She unselfishly bears the burden of blame when a one-outer river card draws out on your beautiful pair of aces. Yet, she takes all of the unfounded blame in stride, knowing that just around the corner, she will be worshipped once again when the cards tumble in your favor. Sure, she can be fickle, but is she to blame? Does she deserve an ounce of credit? No, not really.

The true responsibility lies with you and your decisions; the rest … well, the rest just happens. Accept it. This can be sage wisdom for players who can’t stop whining about bad beats or running bad. But they first have to listen, let it sink in, and allow it to foster awareness.

Last year, University of Illinois student Steve Barshak learned not to place blame outside of himself. To him, luck became an attitude, not a crutch. Brimming with a newfound outlook and understanding, he captured his first five-figure score last December with an $18,700 win in a PokerStars $50,000-guaranteed event. Then, a few weeks later, he took down the prestigious PokerStars Sunday 500 for $88,000. To date, Barshak has cashed for more than $400,000 in online events.

“I learned not to blame things on luck,” said Barshak. “I’m always looking for aspects of my game that can be improved. You have to talk to good players, listen, and utilize their knowledge. Learn to stay calm at the table and not let bad beats affect you. You have to accept the variance, and always be improving your game.”

After graduation this May, Barshak plans to live the dream. He will backpack across Europe, play some live EPT [European Poker Tour] events, and contemplate future business ventures. In the meantime, he will pursue his next goal, a six-figure score online. He knows that it’s just a matter of time and variance. It will happen. And lady luck will have nothing to do with it.

Craig Tapscott: What advice do you have for a medium-stakes grinder who’s coming up the ranks?

Steve Barshak: I think the toughest adjustment is that when you run into the top-ranked players, you want to call them down, mainly because you think they are capable of bluffing you in spots that are so obviously not bluffs. You tend to over-think and talk yourself into calling. At the PCA [PokerStars Caribbean Adventure], I had Isaac Baron sitting to my right and I made a horrible call against him with pocket eights on a K-J-X board. It made no sense that I did that.

CT: What else?

SB: Another big thing is that you have to learn to identify when an opponent is being overaggressive — will four-bet you light anytime you three-bet him You have to know who is doing that to you light and who is not. That is one of the toughest things to decipher against the high-stakes regulars.

CT: What’s the best way to accomplish that?

SB: I use detailed notes to identify how tight or loose a player is. If it’s a random player three-betting me, I usually give him credit, unless I see him doing it multiple times. “Moorman1” three-bets and four-bets me like it’s his mission in life, because I once showed up with a light four-bet when he called my shove. Ever since then, he has not cut me any slack. Guys like that use pressure when they realize that you’re capable of making a play. You have to adjust and have the guts to make calculated moves. You can’t be afraid to pull the trigger if you have a good read on a player who you think is four-betting you light. Then, five-bet shoving light is not a bad move, but it’s dependent on a strong read. The key is to pay attention to those opportunities late in tourneys.

CT: You certainly appear to have your head on straight. What else has helped you improve your game away from the tables?

SB: I’ve learned to live a balanced lifestyle. You can’t sit around all day. I’m in school and about to graduate with a dual major in international business and marketing. It’s important for me to have a regular workout regimen, play basketball, hang with my family, and enjoy my success at the tables. I make sure that I go out a few times each week and enjoy life. As far as poker is concerned, always be excited to play. Take each day as a new day, and do whatever you can to improve.