Team PokerStrategy.com Interviewed - Today With trader

Published on 28 May 09 13:00 by awishformore

For the first time, four PokerStrategists will compete in the WSOP under the flag of PokerStrategy.com - a quest for fame, titles and the big cash begins. Of course, the chosen Four have to live through a little question-and-answer game first. Today, we present trader to you.



The interview was conducted by metaphysiker

Today, we introduce the fourth and final Team PokerStrategy.com member to you: Moritz ' trader' Schmejkal from Kassel.

Occasional gambler, BlackMember, highroller and now member of Team PokerStrategy.com. trader did it. In merely two to three years, the 23 years old student of marketing and international management made his way from the low limit SNGs to the high stakes.

He will represent Team PokerStrategy.com in the Main Event, some Omaha events, the NLH 6-max Event and the Heads-up Championship.

We talked to trader about Team PokerStrategy.com, his goals  for the WSOP, the Black Member status, how to play heads-up on eight tables, when he starts dreaming about poker and more.

Team PokerStrategy Interviewed - Today With Trader

PokerStrategy: Hi Trader! Thank you for finding the time to answer our questions.

trader: Always a pleasure.

PokerStrategy: Meanwhile, you've become member of the select circle of Black Members. Can you tell us how long it took you to get the highest status on PokerStrategy.com? Were there any special key moments on your way?

trader: Well, I'm already registered at PokerStrategy.com for over three years, but I only earned points effectively for about two years. There haven't been any particular key moments on my way to Black Member, though - it just happened along the way.

PokerStrategy: You just became Black Member along the way? Which limits can you be found on, then?

trader: I played FR SNGs for a long time - everything from $100 upwards. About half a year ago, I switched over to heads-up SNGs completely, where I play all tournaments starting at $500 and higher. The $5,000 only happen rarely, though, when I'm stuck or tilted. However, rake and points can be collected quite fast this way.

PokerStrategy: And how much do you play per week?

trader: That varies a lot. I would say I play about one and a half hours per day on average. But this consists of pauses, where I don't play at all, and phases where I'm very motivated to play.

PokerStrategy: So you're kind of an occasional player then?

trader: Exactly. I wish there were more motivated phases, but there are so many other beautiful things in life - and unfortunately, I'm a lazy bum, too. ;)

PokerStrategy: Were there moments during your rapid rise through the limits where you thought: "Oh man, there is loads of money on the table?"

trader: When I'm playing Omaha, this happens often. But in contrast to cash games, you don't really have the worth of the money right in front of your eyes when you're playing SNGs, it's basically only about the winning in itself. I would also dare to say that I've become professional enough in the meantime to build up a certain emotional distance towards the game and that I only play on limits where I feel completely at ease with my bankroll. Even though I ran quite well in the $5,000 so far, I still have the feeling that my game is negatively influenced by the height of the buy-in. Other than that, I don't really think about the money, though.

TraderPokerStrategy: How did you manage to build up this distance towards the money, or to abstract the amounts of money respectively?

trader: I would call it shock therapy! ^^ Back in the days, when I didn't have the BR, nor the skills at all, I was donking around like crazy on the Omaha tables. I lost more money in that short period than I lost in my worst down I ever had on SNG tables. This hardens you and it also makes you think about your relationship with the game. A lot depends on experience, of course, and the related attitude.

PokerStrategy: There are hundreds of PokerStrategists signing up to our community every day. How did you first get in touch with PokerStrategy?

trader: Back in the days, when there was poker on DSF, PokerStrategy.com had advertisements running, and some friends pointed them out to me. Once I signed up, I never got away from the site.

PokerStrategy: What was it about PokerStrategy.com that captivated you?

trader: Like most, I was one of these people who had no idea that poker could be a really deep strategy-based game when they played it for the first time. It was like a small adventure to slowly approach this unknown world with the SHC and the first strategy recommendations.

PokerStrategy: Since that time, you've grown to be a poker expert. What do you think distinguishes you as a player on the table?

trader: Oh thank you, that's a nice way of putting it. :) I think my strength lies in my discipline and my concentration, which allow me to quickly recognize my opponents' thinking patterns. And that I adjust my game accordingly.

PokerStrategy: How do you manage to identify your opponents' thinking patterns online?

trader: It's very important, especially in heads-up, to correctly assess your opponent. With a little bit of experience, you can quickly put players into categories. Thinking about how the opponent sees his own hand helps with that. Does he make thin value bets because it allows him to asses my hand range better? Does he prefer to value bet big or small? How does he react to certain betting sequences with a certain board development? I could go on and on with this list. I put together every small detail that I realize in order to assess the opponent as well as possible.

PokerStrategy: With such an intensive game observation, it must be hard to multi-table. How many tables to you still play in parallel?

trader: That's certainly true. While I used to play eight tables in heads-up in order to generate as much rake as possible, I prefer to only play two to three tables at a time now. You simply play more consciously and you don't run the risk of dulling and losing the fun with the game.

PokerStrategy: Eight heads-up tables at the same time? That must have hurt!

trader: Yes, I just delivered an aggressive game not depending on the opponent. With time, you get used to anything, but now that I play higher limits where the opponents are usually better, it's not just more profitably for your mind to play less tables.

PokerStrategy: I easily believe that. Didn't you already dream about poker with such a workload?

trader: When I played too much, it did indeed happen that I dreamed about poker. The following day, I would feel so nerdy that I would turn it down a notch and play less. ;)

PokerStrategy: What do you do as compensation for that kind of session?

trader: The standard answer is sports now, I guess, but only some times. I also like to play FIFA with friends, to go out, to get drunk, to chat or to spend my money in order to know why I'm putting all this stress on myself.

PokerStrategy: What have you afforded with your poker money already, then?

trader: Can we skip that question? I don't really like to show off with valuables. I think it's really unnecessary, too.

PokerStrategy: Of course. Let's talk about live poker. You could cash, amongst others, at the Asia Poker Tour and the Grosvenor Poker Tour in England. How did your entry to the world of live poker go?

trader: The tournament series in England was my first big live tournament and I'll say it went quite okay. There were, if I remember right, five tournaments with 100+ players, and I reached two final tables, where luck wasn't by my side, however.

I don't really like to recall the APT anymore. I had left a huge chunk of the field behind me only to lose the chip lead at 13 left in a pre-flop all-in with Kings vs 99. A nine came up on the river and a few hands later, it was over. But I saved the big successes for Vegas, anyway. ;)

Las VegasPokerStrategy: You mention Vegas. This year, you represent PokerStrategy.com in the first pro team of our community at the WSOP. What does this feel like?

trader: It's of course a great feeling to have a whole community behind you, as well as their operators who have such a confidence in my poker skills that they are willing to invest money in me! At the same time you naturally also want to perform very well in that light, but unfortunately, the cards also have a say in that matter.

PokerStrategy: Even though the cards also have a say, what are your goals for the WSOP?

trader: I have to admit that I don't really know how many people participate in the various events. But I think one final table would already be a big success!

PokerStrategy: In which tournaments can we expect to see you, then?

trader: In the biggest ones. :) The Heads-up-Event, which is my favourite to start out with, the Omaha Events, the 6-max tourney, and - last but not least - the Main Event. I will possibly squeeze in some more smaller events.

PokerStrategy: What's the special appeal of the Heads-up Event to you?

trader: As I mostly play heads-up online, the answer is quite obvious. At the same time, it's also the tournament I enter with the highest expectations, though. While the final table could be a little bit harder to reach.

PokerStrategy: Let's assume you reach the final of the Heads-up Event. Which player would you like to meet there?

trader: The biggest fish who plays the event, preferably. :D If it wasn't about the money, I would definitely go for Tom Dwan.

PokerStrategy: For a lot of players, Tow Dwan currently is the best NLH player of the world. What do you think about the current superstar of online poker?

trader: I have to admit that I occasionally rail on Full Tilt, because I think that's a way to improve your own game, too. He was particularly impressive in the current season of High Stakes Poker. He's one of the few players who inspire me to new thoughts about the game.

PokerStrategy: Where else do you get inspiration for your game?

trader: This is a good opportunity to very personally greet Franni aka Bandelfanie, who is the only German I know who also plays regularly on the heads-up SNGs starting at $500 and higher. It's a whole different question whether you can consider his views as inspiration, though. ;) Other than that, I of course think about the game on my own and try unorthodox moves from time to time. You should simply avoid to fall into an automatic game at some point.

PokerStrategy: How did your surroundings react to the news that you're a real poker pro now?

trader: As I had already made most of them aware and sensible about the topic of poker beforehand, the reactions were almost entirely positive so far.

PokerStrategy: Can you tell us how you got your nickname?

trader: I'm a person who likes things  simple! Back in the days, I had signed up to eBay in order to sell some Magic cards, and I thought trader would be a fitting name. Since then I just kept it everywhere, for simplicity's sake.

PokerStrategy: Anything else you want to add, or do you want to greet someone?

trader: I think I've already added enough, but very warm greetings to my group chat on Skype! I love you all!

PokerStrategy: Thank you for the talk and all the best in Vegas.

trader: I thank you! :)

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