Win your table

‘Don’t worry about who the chip leader is, or what’s happening on the next table. The only players you have to beat are the people at your table. I only busted about five people out in the whole tournament. I played with about 60 different people, but I didn’t have to bust all those people myself and, ironically, I probably busted the fewest number of people out of anyone on the final table. A lot of times in the past, the winners of the World Series have actually taken plenty of scalps along the way, but not me.’

Adapt your play

‘I have a basic strategy and then I adapt that strategy for the table I’m at. If everyone at the table is passive, I’ll be the aggressive one. If I’m at a table with maniacs, I’ll wait for the right time and let them create the action. Whatever the table does, I’ll do the opposite. Sometimes you can play perfectly, keep your head down, and just get on with it.’

Stewing

‘Stewing over lost tournaments is like grieving – you have to go through the process. You have to prioritise how important a game is to you and react in proportion. Last night I got knocked out of a media tournament but it meant nothing to me – it doesn’t hurt at all. I then played in a shitty little thousand-dollar tournament and busted out with the first hand I played. I moved all my chips in with A-K. If it had been the first hand of the Main Event I would never bust out the first hand unless it was Aces. You learn how to prioritise – how important is this tournament to me? Then I start analysing. Or, to name it more honestly, STEWING!’

Avoid tilt

‘Don’t get angry; it doesn’t help anybody except the other players. I may go on tilt for one hand, say for three minutes. If I realise that I’ve done something absolutely stupid, then I do get angry, but I’ve trained myself to get over it quickly. You have to or else you’re doomed.’

One hand at a time

‘Play each hand as it comes. Try to make the best decision hand-by-hand and don’t try to win the tournament. It sounds simple, but quite a lot can go wrong. That’s the thing with poker – you can do everything perfectly and still go home broke.’