CoreySteel on his Bankroll challenge success
Slovenian PokerStrategist and PokerStars Team Pro Online member CoreySteel talks us through the completion of his $20 to $1k challenge.
Last week we told you the story of how DREAMC4T mastered his Bankroll Challenge and today we have another winner's story to tell.
CoreySteel recently completed his bankroll challenge when he turned $20 into $1000.
We caught up with the man himself to learn how he did it, who or what helped him on his way and what comes next:
"I've been playing poker for ten years, so I’ve seen basically everything"
Congratulations on finishing your Bankroll challenge. Was it nerve wrecking to come so close several times before bouncing down again? How did you cope with these downswings?
CoreySteel: Thank you. I was close so many times during the challenge that even a monkey would’ve finished at some point. Somehow, I just couldn’t finish it and suffered a few bad sessions right before the finish line. It was definitely nerve wrecking and very frustrating, but I wasn’t frustrated because of the result, but more because of the viewers who were following me and expecting a better result, especially given my phenomenal start to the challenge. If all this was happening to me during my regular play, I wouldn’t even blink my eyes, but it’s different when you do this before a live audience. I really don’t have problems with downswings myself. I’m been playing poker for ten years, so I’ve seen basically everything and was also lucky enough to learn how variance works early on in my career, so I was prepared practically and mentally.
You are playing what is considered an exotic game type. Why should people play Fixed Limit when all the excitement goes to No Limit, MTTs and Jackpot Sit and Gos?
CoreySteel: I think there are several reasons why someone should play Fixed Limit. First of all it’s a basic type of poker and a good starting point for beginners who are jumping into big games too quickly without having a good base. Contrary to popular belief, it’s quite exciting and action packed, even without the all-in button. You play lots of hands, see lots of flops, turns, rivers and showdowns, and that’s something that I have always liked. Breaking monotony is also important. Poker is such a great game and it would be a shame if someone gets fed up with playing just one game all the time. That’s why I’m also jumping into some other Limit games, not just Hold’em. Last but not least, it’s definitely profitable. I’ve played through micro limits and I saw how people play there.
You are a member of the PokerStars Team Online. As such, you have traveled to some exotic places, like the PCA in the Bahamas, but how would your life look today if you had not started playing Poker?
CoreySteel: “Never lucky. So sick” is a kind of a meme that is going around Twitch poker these days, but I definitely think I’m a pretty lucky guy. I almost can’t imagine my life without poker, it has given me so much. I have a degree in Multimedia Production so I’m sure I would be doing something around that, possibly web based or something specific like making mobile games. I also like video and editing quite a lot. All I know is that I would try to be my own boss, because I’m not sure how I would function in a 9-5 job.
"I like streaming a lot, it’s a great way to interact with people"
You have strong support when grinding. Isn't taking advice from Limit Cat cheating and is he normally right in his predictions?
CoreySteel: True story; I was playing poker and Limit Cat was lying on my desk. He was staring at the screen and following the mouse pointer, as he likes to do. I was just in a hand and had to decide what to do on the river. Right before I was about to fold, he swings his tail, smacks my finger and I accidentally press the call button. And you know what, it was good! So far he’s 1 out of 1 in predictions, but don’t tell that to PokerStars please.
You regularly stream on Twitch. Does it help to improve your game and why do you do it?
CoreySteel: I don’t think it helps me improve my game, but there is a reason I do it. I always try to tell viewers in detail why I’m doing something at the tables. So if I give lots of reasons why I should fold or call a hand on the river, then it would be a bit irresponsible from me, if I do the opposite. So Twitch definitely keeps me more disciplined. As to why I do it, that’s pretty simple. I do it to promote Limit Hold’em and PokerStars. Of course I like streaming a lot and it’s a great way to interact with people. If I wasn't playing poker, I’m sure I would stream video games instead. Even now, with poker, I’d like to do that but there just aren’t enough hours in a day.
Normally, I ask guys for their biggest pot ever but as an FL player you are handicapped here so instead, what was your most exciting hand?
CoreySteel: I honestly don’t know. I’m pretty bad at remembering hands and when I play on multiple tables at once, I even forget what I was holding five minutes before. If I were playing tournaments, I’m sure I would remember the hand that gave me a big win, but it’s a bit different in cash games I think, especially Limit Hold’em. I did boom one hand at $15/$30 when I got T9s and caught one outer for a straight flush on the river, so I’ll go with that one.
Do you have any rolemodels, players that you look up to?
CoreySteel: No role models really. I did watch a lot of WSOP, WPT, HSP and PAD episodes back when I was just starting out with poker and I did like a lot of the guys, but I can’t really say I had any role models.
What will be your next challenge?
CoreySteel: My first challenge was to go from $20 to $1000 and next I’m going one step higher from where we left off to $10,000. Let’s hope I won’t need that many hands for this one.
If someone started playing poker these days, what would be your top three do's and don'ts?
CoreySteel: Be disciplined and start from the lowest limits. Study, play more and have fun. Find poker friends and discuss hands with them.
Don’t be rude at the tables, don’t ever tilt and don’t get fed up with poker, try other variants.
Thank you for the interview and good luck at the tables!
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