SpadeClub Poker Winner: Mike 'fugetaboutit' Pontorno

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Mike “fugetaboutit” Pontorno of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is SpadeClub’s most recent $5,000 weekly event winner. Pontorno is no stranger to SpadeClub’s spotlight, as he won a seat to the World Series main event less than one year ago.

Card Player sat down with Pontorno to discuss his recent win and his advice for succeeding in SpadeClub’s major events.

Card Player: Congratulations on your recent win, the last time you won a major event on SpadeClub it took you all the way to the World Series, what have you been up to since then?

Mike “fugetaboutit” Pontorno: I have just been enjoying time with my family down in Florida.

CP: Do you have any plans for attending the World Series again this year?

MP: I do plan on being there this year again. If I can’t win my seat I have someone who is willing to sponsor me, but I’d rather get there on my own.

CP: You have a few daily tournament wins, a second-place finish in a Mega Monthly, and now a $5,000 weekly event win under your belt. Do you have any advice for SpadeClub’s members on succeeding in these major events?

MP: Yes, but first I’d like to clear something up, although I placed second in the monthly, I was the big chip leader going into heads-up play. Since first and second both paid the same, we didn't play it out, just went all in every hand. I am proud of the fact that I am the first player on SpadeClub member to win all the major tournaments, a monthly, weekly and daily. As far as advice to the other players on succeeding in these tournaments, remember it is a marathon and not a sprint, be patient and pick your spots.

CP: How did the early stages of the $5,000 weekly event go?

MP: Surprisingly well. I was in the top 20 the entire tournament and in the top five for most of it. I had A-A at least seven times, and they held up every time.

CP: Who was your toughest opponent in the event and why? What aspects of their games made them tough to play against?

MP: I have to say my toughest opponent was BubbRubb. We have played together in the past and he is always a threat to go all the way. If he had more chips towards the end he would have been a factor.

CP: In the $5,000 weekly event, was there a key hand that led you to victory?

MP: When we got down to three players, I had about 600,000 in chips, LuckyLady777 had a little bit more around 625,000, and the chip leader, murdak77, had a little over 2,000,000. He was raising every pot, and I picked up pocket twos. I called, and so did LuckyLady777. I was hoping to flop a set and double up through him, since he was calling everything. Sure enough, the flop comes 3-2-2 for flopped quads. I was in first position and made a small bet, and LuckyLady777, who was behind me, called, but to my surprise murdak77, the chip leader, folded. The turn brought a 4, which put three hearts on the board. I checked, hoping she was looking for a heart and would commit, but she checked also. The turn brought the best possible card for me, a 5. I made a small value-bet so I could get a little more chips from her, I had a feeling she was holding an ace when she called the pre-flop raise, as she had been playing pretty tight, but she held even better, A-6, which gave her the 6-high straight. She pushed all in and I called with my quads and crippled her and put myself up to about 1.5 million in chips, so now I could play back at the chip leader, murdak77.

CP: Can you explain what happened when play got down to heads up in that event?

MP: You know what? I wish I could. I have an idea of what I think happened. The first hand of heads up I was raised and I called with K-Q. I had about 1.6 million in chips to his 2.3 million. K-Q is a pretty strong starting in heads-up play, but I wanted to see a flop before I committed. The flop came queen high with two small cards. I went all in and he called, turning over A-J for no pair or draw. I won the hand and had a huge chip lead and then he sat out. I think he may have thought I busted him with my K-Q and just shut off the computer.

CP: What is your next goal on SpadeClub, and how do you plan on accomplishing that goal?

MP: I would have to say winning the Bellagio tournament coming up. If I can do that, I'm going to have to insist on a special badge from SCKenny.

CP: Anything else you would like to add?

MP: Thanks to all the people that were on the rail cheering me on and a special thanks to DrCheckRaise and his members.

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