The last few months have witnessed exciting and dynamic tournament performances from some rising female stars. We have consulted this new generation of young pros to find out the secrets of their success…
Leo Margets
Biggest cash 27th in the 2009 WSOP Main Event
Tournament earnings $375,264
Rising star The Spanish starlet shone in Las Vegas this summer
Prior to this summer’s World Series of Poker, the name Leo Margets was unknown on poker’s big stage – her previous largest cash being $3,571. A marketing manager for 888.com, Margets played small tournaments in her native Spain but never on the main stage. But by becoming the last women standing in 27th place and cashing for $352,832, the smiley Barcelona native has announced herself as one to watch in the future.
ON CHIP ACCUMULATION IN EARLY STAGES OF TOURNAMENTS:
LEO MARGETS: It is important to keep accumulating chips through small pots – there is no point putting your life at risk while you are still so deep. This is especially true if the tournament has a decent structure – you don’t win a tournament in the first hour! Use the early stages to get to know your opponents and use this information to outplay them later.
ON BEING CARD DEAD:
LM: You will go through phases when you don’t see a single playable hand. This is the time to be creative. Forget about the cards – they are just an accessory in this game! Try to find appropriate situations to make a move and also take advantage of your image (you’ve probably been quiet so people will respect most of your moves now).
ON COPING WITH TILT:
LM: If you feel you’re on tilt just leave the table. Even if you believe you have not been affected by that terrible bad beat it is very difficult to not to let your game be influenced by emotions, so do your bankroll a favour and leave for a few minutes, hours or for the day if necessary.
Kara Scott
Biggest result 2nd place at the 2009 Irish Open
Tournament earnings $557,902
Rising star TV presenter turned poker hot-shot
Kara Scott’s route to poker success has been somewhat unconventional. A presenter and TV host of the EPT, she began playing poker while presenting Poker Night Live and viewers saw her figure out how to play the game from scratch. In an astounding turnaround she has swiftly moved from absolute beginner to true contender with second place at the Irish Open in April and impressive cashes in the last two WSOP main events.
ON ACCUMULATING CHIPS IN THE EARLY STAGES:
KARA SCOTT: I always try to keep an eye open in the early stages for those who are throwing their chips around a bit loosely. There are some people who feel like they need to accumulate quickly or go home and exploiting that can be very profitable.
ON SURVIVING WITH A SHORT STACK:
KS: Don’t be afraid to get your chips in the middle and don’t let yourself get blinded down through inaction. Watch for good spots to steal and figure out who can (and can’t) be bluffed. If you’ve got a rock solid image use it to three-bet aggressive opponents all-in while you have fold equity.
ON EXPLOITING YOUR BIG STACK:
KS: Know who can be bullied at the table. You need to pick your spots wisely. It’s important to use your stack in position to put pressure on your opponents but also be careful not to spew off a big stack by trying to be table captain.
ON COMBATING AN AGGRESSIVE TABLE:
KS: Watch what aggressive opponents are doing when their opening raises are called or re-raised. Some opponents can be very aggressive pre-flop but slow down when faced with opposition. Gauge the strength of their hand and play back at them when in position. Don’t let their actions push you into trying to match them in terms of aggressiveness.
ON COPING WITH TILT:
KS: When I get really tilted I call a friend who reminds me to step away from the table and breathe. Sometimes a five minute walk will save you a lot of chips from potentially disastrously played hands and bad judgement.
Sandra Naujoks
Biggest win Winner of 2009 EPT Dortmund
Tournament earnings $1,494,646
Rising star PokerStars pro and Europe’s leading lady lit up EPT Dortmund
In March, Naujoks triumphed in her hometown of Dortmund to become the second female to win an EPT title, matching Vicky Coren’s London triumph in 2006. Previously a model and graphic designer, Naujoks was named Europe’s Leading Lady at the 2008 European Poker Awards.
ON CHIP ACCUMULATION IN EARLY STAGES OF TOURNAMENTS:
SANDRA NAUJOKS: During the first levels I want to see as many flops as possible and try to win plenty of small pots. When I am in position, I play a high number of hands, because this phase of the game provides a lot of post-flop action. As a result, you can vary your game and make good use of all the opportunities the game offers.
ON SURVIVING WITH A SHORT STACK:
SN: I try to figure out the most effective way to use my stack in order to gain chips. If you find the right timing you can still use your short stack as a weapon against the right opponent.
A general rule is: Do not invest chips with a raise if you have to fold as soon as somebody re-raises you. You have to use your whole stack as a weapon to confront your opponents. With less than ten big blinds there is nothing else to do than to take a deep breath and plunge in!
ON COMBATING AN AGGRESSIVE TABLE:
SN: I temporarily try and play the opposite of the table’s image. As soon as I am identified as tight, I look for a spot to use position. If two players raise they will find it tough when I come back with a bet.
ON SURVIVING WHEN CARD DEAD:
SN: Patience. I will try to find a good spot but generally refrain from being too active. You can benefit from a tight image to steal pots from time to time, even when you do not have a good hand.
HOW TO WIN HEADS-UP:
SN: Analyse your opponent and be aggressive. You should be the instigator and try to force your opponents to make an irreversible mistake.
Liv Boeree
Biggest result Winner of the Ladbrokes European Ladies Championships in 2008
Tournament earnings $213,484
Rising star The UltimateBet pro is one of the UK’s finest female pros
Rock chick, Liv Boeree came to poker after being selected for a reality TV show, Ultimatepoker.com Showdown, that trained five complete beginners to play the game. After the show she studied the game intently, combining poker with TV presenting. She was recently signed up to Team UltimateBet.
ON CHIP ACCUMULATION IN THE EARLY STAGES OF TOURNAMENTS:
LIV BOEREE: Try to take advantage of people’s fear of busting out of an event early, and also play a large number of cheap pots in position to try and flop a monster. I also maximise on scare cards on later streets to push people out of pots.
ON SURVIVING WITH A SHORT STACK:
LB: Don’t let yourself get too short! Twelve-to-eighteen big blinds is a nice shove stack over the top of a standard raise if you suspect the raiser is weak and/or folds easily. If you have 10 big blinds or less you should be looking for spots to open-shove and pick up vital blinds and antes, and you are obviously looking to get it in with any kind of strong Ace or pocket pair.
ON MAKING THE MOST OF A BIG STACK:
LB: Understand and maximise the value of your chips by putting pressure on the small and medium stacks, particularly in the later stages of the tournament where weaker players start playing tight.
ON COMBATING AN AGGRESSIVE TABLE:
LB: Generally, if the aggressive table is playing super-loose, you want to tighten your opening range accordingly. That way you know you are giving yourself the best start in the hand in a situation where you may be put to big, tough decisions.
ON SURVIVING WHEN CARD DEAD:
LB: Steal, steal, steal! Being card dead is a horrible but often frequent part of tournament poker, and you can’t just wait around in the vain hope that you might start seeing cards over a 7 again. You need to keep your stack healthy as the blinds will eat you up in no time.
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