Poker Tournament Trail -- Sebastian RuthenbergRuthenberg Discusses Defending His Status and Starting-Day Strategies |
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What could be better than winning a PokerStars European Poker Tour event in Barcelona, with the sun splitting the trees, and more than $1.9 million dollars added to your bank account. Perhaps winning the same event one year later? There’s nothing more any poker player or enthusiast dreams of than successfully defending a title and reaffirming his/her champion status. Last year’s Barcelona champ Sebastian Ruthenberg is, however, a realist, but with a positive attitude.
For the moment, he is the current king of the Gran Casino, but he knows what it takes to go deep in a big event, and he also knows the amount of luck involved. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this talented rising star hit it big again in the near future, but just how near is the question.
Card Player caught up with the Team PokerStars pro during a break on day 1A.
Rebecca McAdam: How are you doing today?
Sebastian Ruthenberg: Yeah, it’s OK. In the beginning I made a really bad call, and I fell down to 19,000 but now I’m up to 40,000, so I’m really happy about that.
RM: Are you happy with your table?
SR: Oh yes, I am. On my right side there is one more German, and on my left side there is another one named Ramin Henke, and last year in Vegas we had a house together, so it’s a lot of fun.
RM: Do you feel like this event is extra special because you are defending your title?
SR: Actually, not really. It’s just a normal multi-table tournament, and you need a lot of luck to win it, and to win it again you need even more luck.
RM: Do you feel any pressure?
SR: No, absolutely not. I’m relaxed.
RM: As the champion, do you think you’re a target?
SR: Hopefully not, but I don’t know. I’ve no clue.
RM: How do you find the new structure?
SR: I like the new one very much, there are more levels, more chips, and you have more possibilities to make a move.
RM: For the starting days, what is your strategy?
SR: Usually I’m really super tight, and I don’t really make moves. On the first day, I just try to play really small pots and make a lot of value-bets with marginal hands just to get paid off.
RM: What do you think of the field?
SR: I think last year it was a little bit harder. I see a lot of people I’ve never seen before.
RM: What events are you looking forward to the most?
SR: I’m looking forward to the PCA PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, the Aussie Millions, and Las Vegas next year.
RM: What are you looking for next?
SR: Back-to-back titles would be really nice, but I think that’s really far away.
RM: Do you play more hold’em than Omaha or other games?
SR: Actually I play a lot of limit H.O.R.S.E., and my main game is hi-lo stud.
RM: You came in 10th in the Omaha eight-or-better at the World Series; do you find that your Omaha game is improving?
SR: No, actually, it’s not (laughs). It’s not my game — I will never learn it, I think.
RM: Well, if that’s not your game and you came in 10th in the World Series, then you could do even better.
SR: That’s true, but I need to run really good then.
RM: So, are you feeling lucky?
SR: Yeah, yeah. Like always! My nickname is “Luckbox,” so I should be all right.
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