Meet our Newest Black Member: smidlo

The English Community has now its second Black Member and he comes from Slovakia. We sat down with him for an interview, so read on to find out more about him. Give it up for smidlo!

Almost a month after we announced that twicet became the first English Black Member, we got the news that another PokerStrategist from our community made it this far.

smidlo is one of the quiet members of our community, but that doesn't mean he's not important. On the contrary, he's one of the greatest.

Why? Well, we would like yo know what you would say about a poker player whose other activities include, but are not limited to, karate and motor biking. We would make a Chuck Norris joke but this isn't 2005 anymore (and besides, he doesn't have a beard to hide his 3rd fist - his chin IS the 3rd fist).

Given the fact that there are few hobbies as impressive as his (shark wrestling, bear riding and lion lifting can fit into that category), we decided to have another talk with this mysterious Slovak. We basically wanted to hang out more with him since the last interview. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you smidlo!

This interview was conducted by vhallee

PokerStrategy.com: Hello Peter, it's nice to join me here again. Congratulations on your Black Member status - how does it feel?

smidlo and his licence to kill

smidlo: Hi Vali, thanks for having me here again. Hard to say how it feels at the moment. I was surprised that I am only 2nd in English community. To be honest, I do not know all the advantages connected with the Black Member status - I know something about the Black Member Party and that's all.

PokerStrategy.com: You should actually feel much more than special. Black Member status means invitation to the hottest poker parties out there, special VIP care (we do your shopping, pick up your kids from school and Customer Support guys will fight to the death for your pleasure) and other things I can't imagine at the moment.

What have you been up to lately? We just know you're one of the Slovaks that quietly sits in the English Top 10 rankings but the female (and some male) fans want to know more about your recent adventures.

smidlo: Ohh, that seems great. Now I feel much better (smiles). I am sure that I will enjoy my BM status in the future. I expect that  first party will open my eyes and I will be glad to be Black Member.

I have to disappoint you regarding my adventures – again, nothing special. My life is just one hard training session at the gym. Sometimes I hang out with my friends at the bowling alley and that's usually on Saturday, the only day without training. That is why I love poker, because I can spend my free time this way.

The quest to reach NL 5,000 in 2010

Did we mention he's a poker playing biker ninja? Because he is

PokerStrategy.com: That still makes you one of the top guys on the PokerStrategy.com Awesometer, especially because you are into karate and motor biking according to your previous interview (being a poker playing ninja biker scores 98/100 on our Awesometer). How was poker for you lately? What limits and formats are you playing nowadays?

smidlo: Nowadays, I am playing mainly NL 400 and 600, 6-max. From time to time I also play NL 1k, if there is a good table, but I have to say that I play less volumes. I am focused on quality instead of quantity as I had promise in my last diamond interview. That means I play usually 4 tables (last year it was 6-10 tables) and I loosened up my game a little bit.

PokerStrategy.com: Quality is better than quantity but a lot of quality (a quantity of quality) is even better. I thought I'd share that monologue with you. Anyway, now that you're part of the elite Black Member group, how do you see your poker career going? Do you have any particular goals in 2010?

smidlo: I agree (smiles), my goal is a quantity of quality. Unfortunately, I am not able to play my A-game on 10 tables. In my opinion that is not such a big problem at the lower stakes, where I am able to be a winner with my B-game (with good table selection of course), but it is not that easy at the higher stakes. 4-tabling is good for improving.

When I'll improve my game to a certain level, I would like to play 6 tables, that's a good compromise. At the beginning of this year, my goal was to reach NL 5k by December. Unfortunately I had a really bad run and also had to cash out something, so it doesn't seem that realistic now. But I am still optimistic and I expect a hot run (smiles).

3 in 1: Phil Ivey, Bruce Lee and Valentino Rossi

Moments after reaching the Black Member status

PokerStrategy.com: Let me tell you one thing that I learned in school: poker playing biker ninjas don't have a destiny - they make one. That little setback is nothing.

Many users will most likely want to know how to become as awesome as you (after all, you are the good combination of Phil Ivey, Bruce Lee and Valentino Rossi) so what should they do to achieve your rank? Besides taking up karate lessons and buying a motor bike…

smidlo: Good question. Be like Valentino Rossi without a motor bike... hmmm. Maybe you can try the bicycle first (smiles). Be like Bruce Lee without karate lessons....

The solution is good "opponent selection" (like table selection). You do not have to be the best fighter, you just need to always fight with weaker one. As for the Phil Ivey part, I don't know. You need a strong mind and persistence.

PokerStrategy.com: That... was beautiful; excuse me while I get a tissue (for my eyes!). As a closing statement, is there anything else you would like to tell our community?

smidlo: I would like to say big thanks to  you, Vali. As I said before, I like your style. Due to your compliments I felt like an extraordinary person during this interview (laughs). Also, I wanna tell our community: I am living proof that everybody can be a Black Member if they want to. I am common person, I am not extra talented. My only qualities are persistence and hardworking.

PokerStrategy.com: And kickassery. Thank you very much for joining me in this interview and I wish you whatever biker ninjas want from life.

smidlo: Thank you!