Mina Greco: 'Never Lose Focus At The Poker Table'

Houston-based poker player Mina Greco is coming off a final table at the World Poker Tour main event at Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. The $175,673 score for fifth place is the largest to date for 38-year-old long-time poker player.

The $3,500 buy-in drew 1,175 players.

She had entered the final table as the short stack, and the July tournament was eventually won by Jason Brin. Thanks to her finish, Greco plans on playing more events along the circuit.

Card Player had the chance to speak to Greco about her poker life and the deep run in Oklahoma.

Brian Pempus: Can you talk about the experience making that final table?

Mina Greco: It was a last-minute decision. A week prior to that I played a WPT monster stack and ran pretty deep. I felt pretty confident about going back. The decision came down to being able to get a room. I didn’t have anywhere to stay. It was my first WPT main event, but it felt like just another poker tournament. I don’t think it has really hit me yet. I am getting a lot of people congratulating me. I fell short [of winning], but I was happy with my progress.

BP: How did you find poker in the first place?

MG: I used to play cards with my family growing up. Cards were the way for me to gamble. I’m not a dice girl. That’s how it all started. And then, when the whole Moneymaker thing happened in the early 2000s, that got me more intrigued. Shortly after I got married, the man who I married was involved in poker and we both ran a casino rental company in Houston for awhile, and that kind of catapulted me into wanting to play and learn more. So, here I am. It’s the love of the game.

BP: In addition to tournaments, do you play cash games?

MG: Rarely, I do like tournaments a lot more. I do like cash games, though. They are fun. When I travel to play poker it’s for tournaments. When I’m around town [in Houston] it’s cash games and tournaments. Louisiana is not far, so sometimes I head out that direction, but it’s mainly a lot of home games. I have been involved with it for so long that I know the ins and outs.

BP: How would you describe your style of play?

MG: I’d say conservative, but aggressive when I need to be. Definitely not afraid to shove, even ace-high or king-high if I have to. That’s pretty much it. I can play along with the rest of them, adapt to the table, the personalities and so on. You can pick up on things if you pay attention and focus. Never lose focus at the poker table.

BP: How do you feel people view you at the table? Do people first see you as someone to go after but then they realize you can’t be bullied?

MG: Yes, that’s exactly it. They probably see me as this girl playing poker, but the ones who play with me often realize I just play along with them. I definitely don’t give off an image that I am afraid, so I hold myself pretty well at the table. But I could be card dead for hours, and no one is going to notice that. Holding your composure is very important, and I think once people see that they realize that I mean business. I don’t want to give away too much about my play (laughs). I am not afraid to change up my game. [Tournament] poker is a gambling game too; you have to gamble every now and then.

BP: What do you think the poker world needs to do in order to attract more women to the game?

MG: I just think it’s within the women themselves. They have to be confident enough to feel prepared and ready. Walking into a poker room full of men, it doesn’t matter if you are walking into a main event or a [home game], men are men. You have to be confident with yourself. Women should look at it like they have the power. It should empower them. I really wish and hope I can be an example.

BP: What are your future plans for poker?

MG: I want to play more tournaments. I have a 12-year-old lab, and it’s based around how long I can be away from her. I am going to play more of the WSOP Circuit and the Heartland Poker Tour. I won’t be able to travel as much as professionals travel, but I want to be able to get there in time.

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