Wednesday Sep 17, 2008 04:10 PM
SpadeClub Interview: Greg 'GMFbowler' McFadden
SpadeClub Awards Another Exclusive Member with A Free Seat to a WPT Boot Camp of Their Choice.
“I want to thank SpadeClub for entering me in the Boot Camp event. I really look forward to this camp so I can learn more about tournament poker and how to put my mathematical skills to better use,” said McFadden. “With the skills I will learn in the camp, I hope to be able to try some of the local poker tournaments in my area (I have only played in two, cashing once) and maybe even try an event at the 2009 World Series of Poker.”
SpadeClub was able to ask McFadden some questions about his poker skills and how he won the WPT Boot Camp Giveaway.
SpadeClub: Tell me a little about your life outside of poker.
Greg “GMFbowler” Mcfadden: I’m an on-site operations coordinator for a major catalog company and have been doing that for about six years. I was formerly a professional bowler (235-240 average) and a single-digit handicap golfer before a back injury, which has required two surgeries, sidelined me. Online poker has let me continue to be competitive at something even when my body wouldn’t allow me to be.
SC: Can you tell me how you won the WPT Boot Camp Giveaway tournament? What kind of strategy prevailed?
GM: I received a notice from SpadeClub the day before the tournament telling me that I had been awarded a freeroll entry into the Boot Camp tournament. With 666 entries and only one prize, I tried to be aggressive when I got a big hand and play pretty tight with marginal hands.
SC: How did the early stages of that event go?
GM: The first table I was at there were six no-shows and two people sitting out. I just raised every hand to steal the blinds, as I was the only one playing. I played 157 hands in the first 30 minutes when the no-shows were eliminated (I love that rule at SpadeClub). I think I was just under 9,000 in chips at this time (we started with 3,000 in chips). When some actual players were at my table, they played pretty aggressively, and I just waited for a big hand to come or tried to use my position to my advantage.
SC: Was there a particularly key hand that you played in the tournament that helped lead you to victory?
GM: The most important hand of the tournament for me was when I was heads up. I had around 220K and my opponent had around 620K. We had been playing heads up for over an hour when I got pocket sevens. I raised preflop, and my opponent re-raised me, and I went all in. Unfortunately for me, my opponent had pocket nines, and I thought I was finished. I got really lucky and hit a 7 on the flop to double up and take over the chip lead for the first time.
SC: What is your method to go about piecing together what kinds of hands your opponents could be holding?
GM: I have been playing online poker for a couple of years, and during that time I have picked up on some things. A lot of times you can watch how players bets, what their position is, and how big their chip stack is to get a good idea of what range of hands they have.
SC: What do you think is the key to success when a tournament gets down to heads-up poker?
GM: This was my first heads-up meeting on SpadeClub. I think my key to success at this point was not to rush myself and let my opponent, who was really aggressive and raising every pot, force the action. We were really deep-stacked when the heads-up match started. He had around 620K and I was around 220K, but the blinds were only 2,000-4,000. Having more than 50 big blinds, I didn’t feel rushed or feel like I had to go all in within the next couple of hands to just survive.
Watching how my opponent was betting (raising all but a couple of pots preflop and betting after every flop), I was able to use my opponent’s aggression against him. I would just let my opponent lead out at pots, and I would call his bet if I got any piece of the flop. On the turn or the river, I would come over the top of my opponent’s bet, and usually my opponent would fold. I’m sure my opponent got a bit frustrated with all of my check-calling. I did get caught one time when I had second pair and was pretty sure my opponent didn’t have top pair. I got all in (I was the chip leader at that point), and my opponent called me with two pair. I was a bit crippled, but I was able to double up about three hands later when I flopped three of a kind and slowed-played it to the river, and my opponent paid me off.
SC: Who was your toughest opponent in the event and why? What aspects of their games made them tough to play against?
GM: There were several players who were tough throughout the tournament. When we were down to five players and we all had between 140K and 180K in chips, you could see how good of a player all these players were. My toughest opponent was the player I was heads up against [Earlspearls]. That heads-up battle lasted at least 90 minutes.
SC: What is a common mistake people make when playing heads up?
GM: I know the mistake I have made in the past was to be too eager or too impatient to go all in to try and double up when I’m trailing. I might flop second pair or a flush draw and just push. It usually didn’t work.
SC: How long have you played poker, and what got you interested in SpadeClub?
GM: I have been playing online poker for about 3-4 years. I have tried several other poker sites (Full Tilt, PokerStars, and so on). While at my local card room (Bay 101 in San Jose, California), I saw a copy of Card Player magazine. While reading the magazine, I came across a page that was talking about SpadeClub. With all of the problems trying to deposit money into poker sites for U.S. players, it is nice to have the option of paying a flat monthly fee to play and still have a chance to win cash and prizes.
I asked around, but I couldn’t find anyone who had tried SpadeClub. Since the magazine had a promotions code in it for a 10-day free trial, I figured I would give it a look. After playing for a week and seeing the way the players played, I decided to become an Exclusive member. I was really afraid this site would be like some of the “free money” type sites where everyone just went all in early in events. That just isn’t any fun for me. I really want to learn more about poker, and this site is giving me that opportunity without having to worry about managing a bankroll.
SC: What advice can you give to other SpadeClub members who are looking to go deep in these tournaments?
GM: Do your best to watch the other players at your table. Try to get an idea of their betting styles to help figure out the range of hands they have. Watch the large chip stacks and see how the try to run the table they are at, so when you have a chip lead at your table, you can use some of the same techniques.
SC: What do you think of the format of the tournaments on SpadeClub? Do you have a favorite tournament?
GM: I have only been with SpadeClub a couple of weeks, so I don’t have a favorite tournament yet (but the Boot Camp event is at the top of the list). I have not had a chance to play in the weekly $5K or the monthly $40K yet, but I am looking forward to those, as I just won my first blue and red tokens. I enjoy playing Omaha, so I like the pot-limit Omaha point-builder event. I think I have made five final tables in that point-builder tournament in my first 10 tries. Unfortunately, living in California and working full time, it is hard to make the 3:15 p.m. PT (6:15 p.m. ET) daily $500 event. I would love to see this event pushed back to 4 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. PT to give the West-Coast players a chance to participate. At least we have a chance to play the second $500 nightly at 6:15 p.m. PT.
SC: Do you have any general advice to share with our readers about succeeding at SpadeClub?
GM: Play as much as you can. Try playing more than one table at a time (I usually try to play two or three at a time). I know we are currently unable to make the screen smaller and the table takes up most of the screen, but the more hands you can play, the more you can learn.
SC: What was the most important thing that you did to get your game to where it is today?
GM: I think it was trying different things. In a casino, I normally play limit hold’em games. I haven’t had the guts to play a no-limit or spread-limit game, yet. Whereas online I play mostly tournaments. Getting to see a variety of different players in different games both live and online can help you see that there are many different ways to be successful.
SC: What is your next goal on SpadeClub? How do you plan to accomplish it?
GM: My next goal is to make a final table in a daily event (I need those badges). I have made around 10 final tables so far, but none of them in badge events. I did win my first red and blue tokens, so now I can try some of the bigger tournaments SpadeClub offers.
