22 Sep 08

TellerMan555: "Hang in there!"

Tellerman555 made it just in time for the BlackMember party. During this interview, our new BlackMember talked about his goals, his participation in the PartyPoker software and his swings.

The interview was conducted by garten309

PokerStrategy: Hello TellerMan555, first of all, congratulations on your BlackMember status! Please tell us a bit more about yourself!

TellerMan555: First of all, thank you! I am 26 years old, and I study primary school lectureship - starting this autumn in Frankfurt, Germany.

PokerStrategy: You have been with PokerStrategy for over two years. How did you clearn about us?

TellerMan555: Just many others probably, poker caught my attention on DSF (Editor's Note: "Deutsches Sport Fernsehen" German sports channel) about two years ago. Primarily, it was the different concepts and playing styles which attracted me from the start. I then looked up more information about poker online and that's when I stumbled upon PokerStrategy.

PokerStrategy: Even a BlackMember has to start from scratch. How did your poker career kick off?

TellerMan555: My beginning went rather well. At first, I intended to start on Fixed Limit, but right from the start it wasn't fast enough for me. Thus I sat down at a NL10 table and relatively quickly won 1.5 stacks. However, I then lost an all-in with AA and switched back to FL. I beat the micro limits on the beginner tables very quickly and so I made it to $0.5/$1 SH FL within only about 4 months.

PokerStrategy: How are your cash games doing currently? On which limits can you be found?

TellerMan555: Last month didn't go very well. I slipped from $95K to $51K, so that my $100/$200 visit is on hold for now. Currently, I'm playing $30/$60 mostly, as I now use a 1,000 BB bankroll instead of the usual 500 BRM's.

PokerStrategy: This sounds rather bad. What were the mains reasons?

TellerMan555: On $100/$200, I played a lot of HU against a fish, but unfortunately the variance was not really on my side. Clearly, I didn't played every hand correctly - in certain spots I played too aggressively, even though I knew he wouldn't fold against my draw. I also let people observe me. There was a lot of bad luck as well - the board development was not always nice to me, even when I realized that my read was correct. However, such things just happen. I simply have to play myself back up.

PokerStrategy: How do you motivate yourself when you don't feel like playing poker at all?

TellerMan555: When this happens, I simply go and walk my dog, "coach" other people, or even drop in at other poker variants.

PokerStrategy: Speaking of other variants: You also tried your luck at tournament play and were able to finish second and first in a $109 and a $44 Speed tournament. Do you currently play tourneys?

TellerMan555: Only on the side. I have never really dealt with the concept of tournaments.

PokerStrategy: What other variants interest you?

TellerMan555: Omaha is very interesting, and I think playing it would also be a lot of fun: The four cards you receive, having to use exactly two of them, the many ways to still make a hand after the flop. However, I still haven't done much with it yet.

PokerStrategy: How much time per week do you still spend with hand analysis and improving your theoretic knowledge in comparison to the beginning of your career?

TellerMan555: I spend about seven to eight hours per week discussing hands with another person, watching him and also discussing new approaches at the same time.

At the start of my career, I was very active in the forum, analyzed several hands every day and also posted my own hands. That took up to about 20 hours per week. In addition, there were the coaching sessions which helped me a lot. Currently, I only check out some coaching sessions in order to learn how some of my opponents explain the hands they played.

PokerStrategy: Does one need more traits besides the will to improve one's skill to become successful at poker in the long term?

TellerMan555: You have to be patient - especially at the beginning of your career or during a downswing. Furthermore, I also think it is very important to come up with your own poker theories, to conceive new lines and try them out.

Then there is always the question of up to which limit you want to play. I don't want to offend anybody now - but the lower the limit, the easier it is to beat that limit. Of course, the opponents also become better, but at least up to a certain limit you should be able to outclass your opponents with regard to improving your own skills, with patience and your own theories.

PokerStrategy: At your first BlackMember party in Berlin, you'll certainly have the opportunity to chat with other top players. Are you already looking forward to it?

TellerMan555: Yes. I only know most of them by name and have only seen a few of them play - however, it'll definitely be great to chat with people who play the highest limits. I am anxious to see how these players think about individual hands.

PokerStrategy: At this party, PartyPoker will also be present and introduce the new PartyPoker software to you BlackMembers. So, you'll have the opportunity to directly help shape the development of this software. Will you also provide some feedback about this?

TellerMan555: As I've only played on PartyPoker up till now, I will provide some feedback for sure. It is a great opportunity, after all, to be able to talk to these people, and everybody who plays on PartyPoker should use it.

PokerStrategy: As a BlackMember you will also receive a custom-tailored suit from PokerStrategy. When will you wear it?

TellerMan555: Only on special occasions. In my leisure time, I prefer to wear jeans with a t-shirt or button-up shirt.

PokerStrategy: What do you do in your free time?

TellerMan555: I meet with friends and also go out with my girlfriend. Once a week, I meet with people for a game evening. Actually, I also want to start playing tennis again. However, I don't really know where, as I'm about to move to Frankfurt.

PokerStrategy: Let's talk about your future. Which goals do you have, privately as well as in regard to poker?

TellerMan555: Privately, I have the goal of finishing my studies and then getting a job. At poker, I have the goal of establishing myself on $100/$200.

PokerStrategy: Do you have a special tip for beginners?

TellerMan555: Have patience and listen to the coaching sessions! Furthermore, hang in there! Everybody makes mistakes, it is only a question of how you deal with these mistakes!

PokerStrategy: Do you want to add anything, or give a shout out to anybody?