SpadeClub Poker Winner: David 'HotPauko' Paukovitz

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SpadeClub winner David “HotPauko” Paukovitz is SpadeClub’s most recent $5,000 weekly event winner. Paukovitz is a proud member of the “unofficial” SpadeClub forum, and he wants to thank his forum buddies for cheering him on. He recommends SpadeClub to all new players to gain experience by watching tournaments, playing, and continuing to learn, study, and analyze to become a great player. Paukovitz has not only just won the $5,000 weekly tournament, but has recently started a new business and just had a new baby boy. Paukovitz spoke with Card Player just before his new arrival about his recent win on SpadeClub.


Card Player: Tell me a little about yourself.

David “HotPauko” Paukovitz: I was born and raised in PA [Pennsylvania], but I now live in Fort Mill, South Carolina, just below Charlotte. My wife, Cathy, 4-year-old Lindsay, and 3-year-old Benjamin are expecting a new boy as I go through this interview process. I’ve also just started a new business, so it’s been hectic, lately. Playing poker online has become one of our recreational activities.

CP: How did you hear about SpadeClub?

DP: I subscribe to Card Player and read about it. I received my initial subscription right after I first started playing online by winning them in Bodog’s new players’ tournament, and I have subscribed since.

CP: Do you have a story behind you screen name?

DP: Pauko is my nickname from my last name. I think it was my wife [pooky11] who suggested “hot.” Well, I hope it was her. By the way, I have to add that my wife has won a $500 tournament on SpadeClub, so she is a good player, too!

CP: How long have you been playing poker?

DP: About four years, on and off, only low-stakes and freerolls.

CP: How did you get started playing poker?

DP: My wife actually started online before me, and I ended up following her. I have to admit that I think she is better than me!

CP: Do you consider yourself a recreational player, amateur, or professional poker player?

DP: Both my wife and I are only recreational, although I think if we applied ourselves, we could do well online.

CP: Do you think SpadeClub is a good learning ground for people who are looking to start playing?

DP: Absolutely. There is access to freerolls, and the low monthly cost gains you access to some good tournaments with very good players. The forum that we created, independent of SpadeClub, has some excellent players, and we strongly support each other, as evidenced in the chats when each of us goes deep in a tournament. At my final table, the chatbox was like rapid-fire with forum members. I want to thank all of my forum friends for their support.

CP: What’s the most money you’ve ever won in a poker tournament?

DP: This would be it. I’ve won a couple small-entry-fees tournaments with smaller [fields] for a couple hundred dollars, and I’ve won the Full Tilt 2,400-person freeroll twice.

CP: Do you have any plans for the money you just won?

DP: By the time we get done with this interview, I may have already received the check! I am waiting on a new baby any day now. I have also started a new business in the Charlotte area, called Fibrenew, which handles the repair and restoration of leather, vinyl, and plastic.

CP: Was there a particularly key hand that you played in the tournament that helped lead you to victory?

DP: A few major hands stand out. Early on, about one-third of the way into the tourney, I put most of chips in post-flop with A-K, [which gave me] a flush draw, gut-shot straight draw, and an ace draw, and I hit my ace on the river. From that point until heads up, I never got my chips in bad. Heads-up with XXBJL, an amazingly aggressive player who had a great tournament, we put on quite a show. My style is more tight and trapping, but I had to loosen up against him. In one hand I made a call of his post-flop all in with only a low pair of fives with a 7 kicker that still would have left me a good amount of chips, and he showed the same 5-7. He also called a preflop all in against my pocket queens with A-x, which doubled me up. On the last major hand, which I’ve written about in our forum, on a K-x-x all-hearts flop, after my raise, he went all in. I held K-9 [9 hearts]. I have thought about this hand a lot since. At the time, I figured I was way ahead versus an aggressive bluff [like those] I had witnessed, or, at worst, I facing a small flush and my 9-high flush draw still had a chance to win. I called. He held 7-4 hearts, but a four-flush hit the board for my win.

CP: What event do you look forward to most?

DP: No doubt the weekly $5Ks and the monthly [$40K], but it’s great to play in the nightly $500s and watch my friends play, too.

CP: What advice can you give to other SpadeClub members looking to go deep in these tournaments?

DP: Use all methods to continue to learn more. Read magazines, books, online articles, et cetera. But [also do] one thing that most never do: Watch a couple tournaments and follow the top players! You can probably learn more closely watching the actions of a good player than playing in that tournament. On SpadeClub, check out LQQKin, Emilysmom, Masterdan, Alpenglow, Davito648, and DoubleD, amongst others who I apologize for missing. By the way, SpadeClub has many good women players.

CP: Have you met anyone interesting at the tables that you’ve chatted with a lot during the games?

DP: I have some great online friendships now through SpadeClub that I hope continue a long time.

CP: Do you have any general advice to share with our readers about succeeding at SpadeClub?

DP: Play good cards, and watch showdown cards. Don't be afraid to be aggressive and make reads of players’ actions.

CP: What do you think sets great players apart from merely good players?

DP: Great players study, analyze, and plan before, during, and after a tournament.

CP: Anything else you would like to add?

DP: I have to thank my in-laws for being here this weekend for the arrival of the baby. It allowed me to just sit and play poker and do nothing else. Most of the time when I play online, I am multitasking between kids, work, and household tasks. Looks like I owe them a dinner!

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