Jon-PokerVIP

adrianboss: Hi Martin,

I have watch your amazing feat at 2014 WSOP ME, I'm really impress by your discipline, focus and strong decision making during your final table. You are definitely one of the best WSOP ME Champion.

I have 4 questions

1) Who you think is the best high stakes cash game player?

2) Who you think is the best tourney player?

3) Who you think is the overall best poker player right now?

4) Who is your favourite poker player?

Thank you.

1. I'm really not up to date in the HS cash world so I'm just gonna guess and say Sauce123.

2. That's a tricky one since edges are so tiny at the top and results are highly influenced by volume and variance. You can't argue with the results of Steve O Dwyer lately, the guy just wins about every tournament he enters! I think my buddy Connor Drinan is definitely up there as well.

3. I'd have to pick one of the HS cash guys who also knows how to adapt to tournaments. Someone like Timothy Adams or Daniel Dvoress.

4. I don't really have one to be honest. I'm always rooting for my friends.

Pwll: You've obviously worked very hard to get where you are in your chosen game and congratulations to you for your success, we need winners!

So, it seems common for pros to be brutally honest about their own game, during interviews out in public at least (!), but I'd like to know how hard was to get to that stage for you in particular? Was/is it an ongoing process, or are were you always able to do it?

Obvously we're all different, but down here in the trenches people come up with allsorts of excuses for losing except admit their weaknesses.

Thank you for your time and keep having fun. :)

Thanks!

From my experience, even the top pros have a really hard time admitting their weaknesses. I think it's extremely important to be your own worst critic in order to find holes in your game and discover ways to improve. It's easy to let your ego get in the way though, especially since poker is such a competitive game.

I find that just being aware of your ego and what it's trying to do makes it easier to be honest and stay humble, regardless of results.

A better one now

Obviously you've had succes in poker and that succes has made you money. So, what is/are the best things that that money has allow you to do?

Thanks for taking the time!

Martin Jacobson:

CrazyKeri: Hi

@Martin Jacobson

Thanks for taking some time out for PokerVIP!

I am liking your answers, seems you are very level headed and your success has not changed your way of thinking much. Would you say all of that money has changed you in any way?

Who is the best poker player you have ever played against?

Have any funny/memorable stories from the tables?

Thanks for having me!

I hope not but I think it would be better answered by the people who knew me from before. If anything it has made me further realize that life is not about making the most amount of money. It's about doing what you love and if you give it your all, money shouldn't be a problem. I know it's easy for me to say (now) but money should never reflect your level of happiness. It's just a tool which can be helpful when your trying to reach your goals.

I've played with so many great players over the years so it would be hard to only pick one. I'm yet to play with someone who has 0 flaws and does everything perfectly (probably doesn't exist).

Haha for every great player I've played with there been at least 10 "speculative" players so I've had the pleasure to witness some hilarious stuff. I wish I'd remember it all. Let me get back to you on this.

Ah great answer

@Martin Jacobson thank you! I will look forward to hearing one of your stories!

Who do you think outside yourself has been the most deserved main event champion over the last 7 years?

Hey Martin - great feature!

What, if any, pre-grind preparation/routines do you use, please?

How useful were your pre-wsop FT 'simulations' in the endgame?

Best poker-related funny-story?

What is love? (I 'stole' that one from Lee Davy)

Cheers!

How many times have you watched the 10 for 10 documentary?

How did u prepare/study for November9 ? any special diet,fitness u never try before? I remembered u got a bunch pros/buddies together for a period of time. what part of ur game do u think u improve most ? If u make it final table again this year ,how would u schedule these 3~4 months this time?

Martin Jacobson:

Pwll: You've obviously worked very hard to get where you are in your chosen game and congratulations to you for your success, we need winners!

Thank you very much, you surprised me about the pros, how odd.

Leech urb: A better one now

Obviously you've had succes in poker and that succes has made you money. So, what is/are the best things that that money has allow you to do?

Thanks for taking the time!

It's given me more freedom and less stress when choosing which tournaments I'm going to play.

Jon-PokerVIP: Who do you think outside yourself has been the most deserved main event champion over the last 7 years?

Greg Merson

joncamsell: Hey Martin - great feature!

What, if any, pre-grind preparation/routines do you use, please?

How useful were your pre-wsop FT 'simulations' in the endgame?

Best poker-related funny-story?

What is love? (I 'stole' that one from Lee Davy)

Cheers!

I really value my prep. For me, the most important part is getting outside to get some fresh air and to get my body moving with a light workout (running, yoga etc). I feel like this helps me think better, especially as the session goes on. To clear my mind I also like to do a short 10-15 min meditation right before I start playing.

IMO, The biggest advantage from the simulations came from the comfort level of having been in the situations before and knowing how to adjust well. It really boosted my confidence and I felt max prepared.

I promise I'll post some funny stories at the end of the thread tomorrow. I just need some time in order to remember.

Great song!

Jon-PokerVIP: How many times have you watched the 10 for 10 documentary?

Only once.

How much pressure did you feel when playing headsup?

I remember back in the day on the EPT shows the commentators always mentioned how often you came 2nd.....did you feel it was going to happen again or was it more "now is my time" ?

dumanis26: How did u prepare/study for November9 ? any special diet,fitness u never try before? I remembered u got a bunch pros/buddies together for a period of time. what part of ur game do u think u improve most ? If u make it final table again this year ,how would u schedule these 3~4 months this time?

That is correct. I created a Skype group with 15-20 of my closest poker friends (most had a small % of my action through swaps) and we just started brainstorming on how to prepare. We came up with the idea of a simulation and played while having an open discussion about spots that would come up, ranges etc. It was super helpful to get everyone's opinion and view on all the different scenarios. Apart from that I also picked their brains individually. I would discuss/play vs the HU pros and discuss deep stack and GTO strategy with the HS cash guys. It really took my game to a whole new level.

If I make the final table again I would do something similar. Probably focus more in depth on my opponents and how to exploit their weaknesses.

Jon-PokerVIP: How much pressure did you feel when playing headsup?

I remember back in the day on the EPT shows the commentators always mentioned how often you came 2nd.....did you feel it was going to happen again or was it more "now is my time" ?

Before the final table I was feeling the pressure and almost had nightmares of coming 2nd. As things got closer and I started to feel more prepared I managed to drop the pressure and just adapt a mindset that as long as I played my best it would be enough. It's hard to describe but I've never played with such confidence before, even when I got down to 7 BB I didn't feel the slightest worry at all. I definitely felt like I had a psychological advantage over my opponents and that they could sense my all-time-high level of confidence.

Once I reached the Heads-up after knocking out both Jorryt and Tonking the only thing on my mind was to keep doing what I was doing until I had won all the chips.

What's next for you?

Hey Martin, I've been playing online mtts/cash for a while and I've had some great results. I'm very confident in my game, but when I've started to play live recently (even at stakes that are lower than I would play online) my heart beats out of my chest when ever I play. I obviously give off so many tells despite being comfortable with my strategy and the stakes I'm playing. Any advice on how to not give off tells and pick up on them from other players?
Also where does m.nosbocaj come from? always thought it was an odd name
thanks man

1, I know you are very into fitness and meditation. How would you rate the physical and mental conditions in regards to importance for a successful MTT grinder. Can one be successful without the other?

2. Many years ago, Swedish players had the reputation of being very aggressive players, do you feel this is the same today and do you feel an aggressiv playing style is important in order to be successful in MTTs?

Stort lycka till med poker och livet i övrigt Martin!

SorelMizzi: What's next for you?

The

@SorelMizzi ????

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