SpadeClub Interview: Lachlin 'nofussin' Hilburn
SpadeClub Member Takes First Place and Wins a Seat in the Festa al Lago
Exclusive member Lachlin “nofussin” Hilburn took out the competition Saturday, Sept. 20 in the Festa al Lago satellite on SpadeClub.com. He was awarded a free seat in the first preliminary event, the SpadeClub-sponsored no-limit hold’em event, in the Festa al Lago poker series at Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hilburn has been playing poker seriously for about eight years and considers himself an amateur, but thinks he is close to breaking through. When asked how it felt to win the seat to the event he said, “It felt great! All of the changes to my game are slowly being validated, and I can't wait to see what happens next. Good or bad, I am learning more and more about how to perfect my game.”
Hilburn was excited to tell Card Player about his win and how he plans to take down the Festa al Lago event at Bellagio.
Card Player: First off, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Lachlin “nofussin” Hilburn: Well, I am 38 years old, originally from
CP: How long have you been playing poker, and how did you get started playing on SpadeClub?
LH: I have been playing poker seriously for almost eight years, and must admit that until I watched Moneymaker win, I had no idea that there was that much money to be made playing poker. But I, like most players, got my start at home playing five-card draw with my father and older brother.
I found SpadeClub one day when I was checking CardPlayer.com for updates on the WSOP, and haven't looked back.
CP: Do you play live or just online? If so where?
LH: I play live, small cash games, usually $5-$150 spread limit or $6-$12 limit, and tournaments at Casino
CP: What was your first poker experience like?
LH: As a kid, it was great! Cards were a big part of our family. Spades, gin, rummy, and, of course poker. But my first experience as an adult was brutal. I blew my bankroll in about an hour and was pissed at how terrible the other people played [laughs]! But after cooling off and stepping back, I realized the game was a lot more complicated than it looked, and I needed to step up my game. Since then, I've been paying my dues and trying to learn how to play my game.
CP: What is going to be your strategy going into the Festa al Lago event?
LH: Remain calm and play my game. Remember that I'm not going to win every hand, but play my best to win the hands that matter. And, of course, get lucky when it counts!
CP: Which poker skills do you still have to work on?
LH: This is my biggest weak point ... emotional control. Realizing that all I can do is play my best and that the cards that fall are way out of my control.
CP: What do you think sets great players apart from merely good players?
LH: Putting all of the skills necessary to play a top level game together, and staying there for 13 or 14 hours at a time, or longer.
CP: Do you think SpadeClub is a good learning ground for people who are looking to start playing?
LH: I do, although most of the players on SpadeClub are really good. So, the "newbies" will most likely be "learning" in a trial by fire.
CP: Do you have any general advice to share with our readers about succeeding at SpadeClub?
LH: Stay calm, relax, and realize that it takes years of playing and refining your game to achieve a high level of success at poker. And watching TV poker does not mean you have paid your dues!
CP: Anything else you would like to add?
LH: See you at the final table!
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