Capture the Flag: ‘IHateJuice’

Despite German poker pro “IHateJuice’s” real name being unknown to nearly all of the poker community, he still has managed to secure a reputation as one of the best young hold’em players on the planet.
The 21-year-old, who wants his identity to be withheld, has garnered respect from Team Full Tilt’s Patrik Antonius and Phil Ivey. Ivey recently told the German in the chat box: I think we both know you are better than me at [limit hold’em].
IHateJuice was one of the biggest winners in 2010, earning about $2.5 million in limit hold’em, and his success gave him the confidence to ask for higher stakes in early December. It took only a few days before Full Tilt was responsive to the request of the German limit hold’em specialist, creating a $3,000-$6,000 table for the young online sensation.
“It was a blast playing the nosebleed stakes in 2010,” IHateJuice said. “In a way, everything went better than I expected when I started taking poker more seriously about one-and-a-half years ago. However, I think there is still room for improvement.”
Card Player caught up with the limit hold’em whiz kid for an exclusive interview — to talk about Ivey’s comment, the new tables at Full Tilt, and the state of limit hold’em today.
Brian Pempus: Ivey had kind words for your skill set in limit hold’em. Do you think you are better than him in that discipline? Have you ever considered playing against him live?
IHateJuice: I don’t consider it that surprising that he told me I was better. I think Ivey is the best overall player in the world, but even he can’t be perfect at every single game. However, even if I was, it wouldn’t mean anything. Poker is a fast-moving business, and a few months’ results will be forgotten in the long run. Unlike me, Ivey has been on top of the game for years now. His aggressive style is hard to handle, because he won’t let you win any pot unless you have either a pair or a decent amount of experience against his kind. Playing live against Ivey would be quite the challenge.
BP: Why did you ask for higher stakes on the Full Tilt client? What goes through your mind during the swings at these stakes?
IHJ: The higher I play, the bigger the thrill I get. Most of the fun I had playing poker came from moving up the limits. If I can’t move up, I will stop playing. I can’t imagine any stakes that I wouldn’t consider playing. I wasn’t sure at the beginning if Full Tilt was going to give me what I asked for, but after Ivey showed his interest, it was clear that I would get what I wanted. However, when they created one single ring table for me, they just gave me a reserved seat. That was actually a disadvantage, because I could neither choose my position nor play two tables at the same time. So, I asked them to change it and create more $3,000-$6,000 tables. I consider my bankroll to be my gaming capital, and it has no impact on my personal life. Temporary swings are to be expected, and don’t affect me much as long as I don’t need to move down in stakes.
BP: Can you talk about your marathon matches with Patrik Antonius? Has he been your toughest opponent? Have marathon matches been the norm for your poker career so far?
IHJ: Playing against Patrik is really exhausting, but I love it. It’s like a roller-coaster ride. One week, I lost a million dollars, and then won it back the week after. You never know what will happen next. The swings can be enormous in limit hold’em, especially when the edges are small. Against players of a similar skill level, the cards will completely dictate the outcome of the match. Knowing this is crucial, because especially in limit hold’em, the variance is very high and it’s hard to remain completely unaffected. But that applies to every high-stakes game. Antonius has been by far my toughest opponent, mainly because he is running too well! I started my poker career by playing ring games, and had moderate success. When I moved to heads up, I was able to grind my way up step by step. Most of my winnings were earned in huge marathon sessions, sometimes lasting several days. Normal sessions often turn out to last long when both players have a reason to play on, either having a decent edge, being stuck, or just being in the mood for the gamble. I am no different. In sessions lasting more than six hours, you will nearly always see one player go on tilt, and sometimes both. You just have to make sure that you go on tilt less than your opponent.
BP: What does it take to be a good limit hold’em player? What makes you so successful? Do you have a grinding schedule?
IHJ: Mental stability is very important, because in limit hold’em you can’t have a big edge over your opponent. Normally, the cards will decide the winner. It’s all about winning the extra bet in the long run. That can be pretty exhausting at times. My advice for up-and-coming players is that in limit hold’em, it’s hardly ever right to fold a pair, because the odds are very good. So, relative hand strength changes a lot compared to big-bet games. I don’t excel at anything, but I have good fundamentals. That makes up for quite a bit. As long as I see room for improvement, which at this point I do, I don’t consider myself the best. I know at least a few players I can still learn from in the future. I also don’t have a poker schedule, or anything like that; I completely fail at scheduling. So, I have to take things as they come.
BP: Can you describe the current state of the online limit hold’em game? Also, do you see yourself branching off from the virtual felt and playing in World Series of Poker limit hold’em events in the future?
IHJ: When I move down to the lower limits, the game seems surprisingly lively. All I want is for players to be less greedy and care more about the health of the game. Things like sitting out in an instant once the fish does can make him feel uncomfortable. The same goes for angle-shooting and bum-hunting. Most recreational players are more inclined to join a game that’s already running. It’s all about creating the right atmosphere. It’s also funny that people always say they have to leave in 30 minutes, but then continue to play another 12 hours! I will definitely be around during the WSOP, mainly to meet other players and have a good time with my friends. Eventually, I will play a few events, too, but I don’t have much experience live, and it’s not much fun for me, either. I hate waiting for cards; I always need something going on. Even online, I find myself browsing the forums or watching something during play. ♠

Card Player would like to thank PokerStrategy.com for their help with IHateJuice’s contact information.