SpadeClub Poker Winner: Stan 'GoblinGamer' PasukinisSpadeClub Adds Another Member to the Bellagio Championship Series Monthly Qualifier List of Winners |
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Exclusive member, Stan “GoblinGamer” Pasukinis took out the competition on Saturday, Oct. 26 to take home his $2,500 satellite seat for entry in the 2009 Five-Star World Poker Classic at Bellagio, and to reserve his seat in the Bellagio Championship Series Final, which will award one $25,000 seat to the 2009 WPT Championship event.
Pasukinis considers poker his primary hobby right now and is excited to go to Las Vegas to play in the event at Bellagio. He is hoping to come back a millionaire, although believes the experience alone will be pretty cool. Pasukinis enjoys playing on SpadeClub, and when Card Player asked if it was a great learning ground, he responded, “Absolutely! If you take it seriously, you can really learn a lot about the basics of tournament poker and work on your strategy in different situations. It's also fun for the recreational player who wants to enjoy poker risk-free.”
Card Player got the opportunity to ask Pasukinis a few questions about his poker strategy and how he is preparing for the 2009 Five-Star World Poker Classic.
Card Player: First off, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Stan “GoblinGamer” Pasukinis: I am a 29-year-old independent contractor from Huffs Church, Pennsylvania. Poker is my primary hobby right now. I'd love to play professionally one day, I just need to put together a safe bankroll so that I can give it a shot!
CP: Do you play live or just online? If so where?
SP: I play live in various casinos in Atlantic City, mostly $1-$2 and $2-$5 no-limit hold'em cash games. Online, I usually play small-stakes tourneys or cash games other than hold'em (seven-card stud, seven-card stud eight-or-better, H.O.R.S.E.), because online hold'em cash games are much tougher than the games in Atlantic City! Most of my success has come in the casino cash games; I play much better live than online, and the games are much softer. I think game selection is the most important weapon in a poker player's arsenal, if you're playing to win money.
CP: What was your first poker experience like?
SP: I deposited 50 bucks on an online site, thought I knew what I was doing from watching TV, and promptly lost it in a half-hour!
CP: What is your general strategy going into a tournament?
SP: I usually play super-tight early on and try not to get my chips in without a premium hand. As the tournament goes on, I open up my starting-hand requirements and play much more aggressively.
CP: What was the most important thing that you did to get your game to where it is today?
SP: When I first started, I blamed my poor results on luck. I eventually learned to swallow my pride and admit to myself I was just a bad player. I resolved to learn more about the game than just a couple books could teach me, play as often as possible, and work to get better.
CP: What is the one thing that you wish you knew about earlier in your poker career?
SP: The importance of bankroll management. When I first started, as soon as I would win any money playing online or live, I would step up to a higher-stakes game. Not long after that, I was reaching back into my wallet!
CP: What do you think is the key to success when a tournament gets down to heads-up poker?
SP: I'm still pretty bad in short-handed situations; it's the weakest part of my game. Relentless aggression is the key, though, always keeping the pressure on your opponent and picking up as many free pots as possible.
CP: What are some of your other poker accomplishments?
SP: I've won some other small-stakes online tournaments, but this is my biggest win in a satellite tournament.
CP: What do you think sets great players apart from merely good players?
SP: The ability not to tilt when things go bad, divorce yourself from emotion, and make cold, rational decisions at all times. This used to be my biggest challenge, but I'm finally getting the hang of it.
CP: What is your next goal on SpadeClub? How do you plan to accomplish it?
SP: I don't really set specific goals for myself, except to keep working on my game and try to play my best poker at all times. I wouldn't mind winning the $40K Mega Monthly, though ...
CP: Do you have any general advice to share with our readers about succeeding at SpadeClub?
SP: Absorb as much information about poker strategy as you can, from books, DVDs, Internet forums, and, of course, Card Player magazine! There's a gold mine of advice out there in the poker community!
CP: Are you excited to be playing in the 2009 Five-Star World Poker Classic at Bellagio in Las Vegas?
SP: Yes, it'll only be my second trip to Las Vegas and my first poker tournament there.
CP: What will be your strategy going into the Bellagio Championship Series Final in 2009 on SpadeClub?
SP: I'll probably mix up my game a little more, because the field will be tougher than usual, but I don't want to give away anything specific!
CP: Anything else you would like to add?
SP: Go Phillies!
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