The Well - Reese Newell aka johnnyrocket

In our recent video interview you could get to know Reese a bit, but we are sure you still have many questions. We asked him whether he'd like a "The Well" forum topic, and he gladly said yes. So shoot your questions!

Why did you start, and why do you still playing Limit Holdem?

Are the swings in Limit Holdem smaller?

Do you think you will have trouble to swith to PLO?

Hey!

Can you write about your early poker career?
Was it a long road to get to these stakes you play nowadays?
Favourite poker player/role model?
Best/worst month?
Longest downswing?
Favourite movie/band?

- Who's the best FLHE 6m and HU cg player?

- What do you think about the new FTP rakeback system? (here's a link what's it gonna be if you didn't heard about it till now: Two Plus Two Poker Forums - View Single Post - Official FTP (Pre)Relaunch Thread (OP updated October 8, 2012) )

- Do you love playing poker, or it's more like a job/obligation for you? How you keep yourself motivated?

- Do/did you have/had tilt control problems? If yes, how did you handle that?

- What do you think about hungarian girls compared to american girls (not about their looks, more like their personality stuff)?

Idézet:

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Zoleee eredeti hozzászólása

Why did you start, and why do you still playing Limit Holdem?

I began with no limit in high school with my friends around the age of 16. I played no limit until I was about 21 in college, making a small bankroll from sit n gos. I began playing limit and realized it was my game. This is mainly due to the fact that I was able to quickly do the odds on everything at the table faster than anyone due to my best skill, mathematics. This would later come in to play with calculating rough equities real fast at the table compared to the various odds one can calculate.

Are the swings in Limit Holdem smaller?

I believe the swings are much larger than in no limit for 6max players who take on tough games. Many more hands go to showdown with very marginal spots. For HU though, the swings I've experienced have never been crazy.

Do you think you will have trouble to swith to PLO?

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I have so far. I've had my 2 biggest downswings of my career since starting 2 months ago. The biggest differences I will have to learn:

1) Focus is even more paramount, I've found myself auto piloting even though I am not a winner yet. With limit I can do this because of where I've made it to, in plo this is a massive leak I developed early. I will keep it in check now.

2) Hand values change drastically across all games, w/ the principles of balance and ranges still applying, just the ranges are much different in plo and nl. This will take adjusting. I was misplaying hands off the bat very badly by checking w/ hands that are comparable to hand strengths I would check in limit, and raising in similar spots. However, I was very off on those spots and it was costing me.

Luckily I have a very talented roommate at the game as well as some other friends w/ a great ability for the game. It heavily facilitates the learning curve, hopefully I can help them with something in return.

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bakyka eredeti hozzászólása

Hey!

Can you write about your early poker career?

I wrote it above

Was it a long road to get to these stakes you play nowadays?

But I did not get in to this part. Once I began playing limit I quickly ran it up in stakes from 3/6 to 30/60 in no time. Partly due to real good run hot, partly due to learning the game. I was aggressive and disciplined w/ my bankroll. When I was 22 I had an internship for the summer w/ General Electric. I had made 40k on the year by this point and was dreaming about how if I didn't have to work this job for after I finished school that I could tell if I could make it in poker w/ a full summer to play hard. Well, as fate would have it, I got sick 1 month in and went to the doctor fearing that I had mono (mononucleosis - it zaps the energy out of you and such for about a month or two). I am one of the first people ever that was hoping that was what I had when I went to the doctor. IT WAS! I packed my bags, and drove home from North Carolina to New Jersey, 11 hours on pain medicines and no food since I could not eat. That was not the smartest idea in hind sight. My game took off, and when I graduated college I had made a good deal of money and felt extremely comfortable with playing full time.

Favourite poker player/role model?

A few high stakes limit guys that would rather not be named. I flew to Vegas and met up with about 8 of the top 12 heads up limit players in the world when I was making about 10k/month. I picked there brains and I was instantly making 20k+/month afterwards, thanks guys. As for main stream, I like how Phil Galfond is nice enough to help people learn, while smart enough to keep things out of videos. Also, he is one of the only ones to not get caught doing anything scummy so he is a good role model.

Best/worst month?

Worst month - my first month in Hungary, -$6,000. Previously it had been +700 I believe.

Best Month - ~$82,000


Longest downswing?

This is tough, a friend accidentally deleted my hard drive so I am waiting to recover all of my hands. In BB for limit it was near 400 so I consider myself luck. However, I've always been a great game selector and realistic with edges in 6max games. Coupled with a big winrate HUHU, I've been fortunate.

Favourite movie/band?

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My favorite movie is probably Dumb and Dumber as it was a comedy that paved the way and was one of the first movies to be hysterical through out the whole film. I also highly enjoy movies like the Bourne Trilogy where it's action based, but also with an insanely intelligent premise/main character. I really enjoyed The Departed as well.

Band, I don't think I have one, I do know that I love the music they play at bars in Budapest, it keeps you going and picks you up as opposed to the music in the states. Currently I really like Aviici, Martin Solveig, and Afrojack.

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Holdenper eredeti hozzászólása

- Who's the best FLHE 6m and HU cg player?

TPirahna is hands down the most skilled/disciplined 6max player as far as learning the game and putting in hours. He has a great blog as well for aspiring limit players.

HUHU, this is tough, SallyWoo though, a good friend. He has taken on all and almost all have backed down. He is incredibly talented and helped me get to where I am today in the game.

- What do you think about the new FTP rakeback system? (here's a link what's it gonna be if you didn't heard about it till now: Two Plus Two Poker Forums - View Single Post - Official FTP (Pre)Relaunch Thread (OP updated October 8, 2012) )

I didn't click it yet, but rakeback is not as important at the stakes I play. I will reply to it though when I have more time.

- Do you love playing poker, or it's more like a job/obligation for you? How you keep yourself motivated?

I did love poker, and I do love poker. I was much more motivated in the past, however while I do wish I was not grinding all the time. I see it as much much better than a normal job, and it's allowed me the freedoms to travel which is my true passion. When I want to do something else I take the time off, and that's how life should be lived in my opinion. When I am out of it and need to be motivated, I talk to others or look at bank accounts and think of my future. That gets me on the horse quick, I grind harder than almost anyone I've met.

- Do/did you have/had tilt control problems? If yes, how did you handle that?

As everyone else, I have trouble some time with it. I've definitely lost a bunch of extra playing while in negative mindsets for sure. The last week I've experimented with taking a two hour break and watching a movie or something and I cannot even explain how much it's helped. Certainly leave and come back when you are more up to it. It's much better to be playing your A game and in a good mental mood for life as well.

- What do you think about hungarian girls compared to american girls (not about their looks, more like their personality stuff)?

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Personality wise I feel that I am able to connect much stronger with American women. I believe this is due to the language barrier but that is too hard to tell. They seem to not speak any English, but then when you are friendly and talk to them for awhile, they open up and speak better when they become more comfortable. I really have not been here long enough to go more in depth than that.

I like the rakeback system where points can be used separately and not affect it, it gives me the freedom to go and buy frivilously for unneeded objects which is nice to do from time to time.

Best/worth trip/place you ever visited so far?
Do/did you play live limit games as well?
If you do so, what was the biggest/sickest hand and pot so far?

Hi !

1.How were you able to meet up with 8 of the top 12 guys?
2. Any advice on how to get a good coach / backer and touch base on basic fair deal?
Good luck !

plans if whatever reason online poker is over tomorrow (not losing your br, just cant play anymore)?

Idézet:

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DaDirk eredeti hozzászólása

Best/worth trip/place you ever visited so far?

Malaysia was the worst and it's not close, high prices for night life, second world living, and I had become accustomed to Buddhism from being in Thailand.

Best Place - Phuket, Thailand is beautiful with very friendly people. Budapest is great, centrally located in Europe and nice to be able to travel everywhere so cheaply on flights and such. I love being able to go through such diverse transitions constantly when I want to see another place. Tokyo was incredible, I wish I had more time there.

Do/did you play live limit games as well?

I've played live limit at Commerce for a week once and then sporadic sessions down in Atlantic City which is 2 hours from my hometown if I am back home visiting. I've done well, but it's rather boring to me. I got smashed the last time I played the 100/200 in Vegas, that game has a tough line up of regulars.

If you do so, what was the biggest/sickest hand and pot so far?

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I've played quite a few pots at 100/200 where the pots balloon to $5,000 or so, I don't think I've had any bigger. A friend just erased my back up hard drive too so I can't post any good hands for you guys.

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handsome joey eredeti hozzászólása

Hi !

1.How were you able to meet up with 8 of the top 12 guys?

Through 2+2 we just decided to do a meet up

2. Any advice on how to get a good coach / backer and touch base on basic fair deal?
Good luck !

There are lots of scammers out there. Make sure people have references and don't become another victim. I'd make sure you know their s/n's, look them up, and talk to others about them. 2+2 has some threads where people offer backing and they arrange deals. As for a fair deal, work towards negotiating with multiple people for that. You can do a coaching/staking deal where they get a percentage of winnings extra for coaching you.

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titcar eredeti hozzászólása

plans if whatever reason online poker is over tomorrow (not losing your br, just cant play anymore)?


I want to invest in real estate, and travel some more. I've luckily done well enough to have the luxury of being able to take time off when I want and live comfortably. Other than real estate, I'd try to get better at other things and pursue something I'd be passionate about. It's actually scary to think of the direction I'd head if poker was gone, I'm really not sure to be honest.

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what is the standard reaction in the states if you say you are a poker player?
(here the standard is you are addictive / gambler / in trouble because of it or so & why not find a real job? :D)

Idézet:

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titcar eredeti hozzászólása

what is the standard reaction in the states if you say you are a poker player? (here the standard is you are addictive / gambler / in trouble because of it or so & why not find a real job? :D)

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It goes both ways, at first most people seem to not understand it and are curious and ask questions. Guys seem to really like it as most guys aspired to make money in poker at one point or find it interesting. Once a girl gets to know me and sees how we live then they understand we are successful. Certainly off the bat though people are skeptical and usually have their reservations about it. O well, I make monies :).