Phil Galfond blogs since opening its site last year do much talking. The latest is no exception to this rule when he talks about the admiration he has for Viktor "Isildur1" Blom, the man he calls myth and legend of online poker!
Here are some excerpts (translated into French) of his blog.
Phil meets Isildur on tables:
"The first time I played against Viktor, the Pot Limit Omaha tables at Full Tilt Poker, it was bad. Not a bad poker player, because he was already then a Hold'em player world class. Simply, it just started to play a completely different variant, which is more to the highest limits.
It overstated the hands of the type "small pair and draw", "two small pairs" and all other hands Hold'em players tend to play poorly when they put in Omaha. As for me, I was able to develop a relatively tight style and optimize my strong hands and my prints.
But even if he committed many mistakes, many clues to its understanding of the game were clear. It is difficult to explain more precisely what I mean, but trust me on this. I could already tell that I faced an incredibly intelligent person.
Then Black Friday occurred. So I spent several months without playing online, and consequently without playing with Viktor.
At the end of last year, Viktor and I had the opportunity to play together again on PokerStars. So I was very surprised at the progress of his PLO game, and on a very short time. Not only had he corrected most leaks that I had identified, but in addition he displayed a style entirely new to me, which also led me to think a lot about my own game
I learned a lot just by playing with him. I still had the feeling of having an edge and that the game was not perfect, but I did not expect that it lasts longer. It later turned out that I was right.
Early 2012, Viktor was not only become very good at PLO, but it was also the toughest opponent against whom I played. Today, it is one of three players I face without knowing if I have a edge or not.
I will not tell you who the other two. Sorry. "
As we know, Isildur is known for its incredible swings. To be ready to quickly earn millions poker, you must also be prepared to lose a lot of money quickly. Take a "shot" to an upper limit with only a few buy-in can save us a lot of money quickly and can "boost" our bankroll, but if suckout are waiting for you, it can be disastrous. For Isildur, money, "it's just money." That is why it is probably capable of losing $ 500,000 more zen than many other poker players!
"If you could hear tell his participation in the $ 50,000 8-Game WSOP. There were six variants that did not master, but he was so excited at the prospect of playing such a big tournament and learn these variations in the heat of the action. He looked like a kid who enters an arcade with $ 500 that his father has given him. I am very envious of the happiness he feels when he plays poker. And I still have some people who love this game more
One of my friends took part this summer in part of PLO 100/200 3-handed with Viktor. He told me an amusing hand. Viktor was facing a big bet on the river in a medium pot and decided to sleep instantly. While the dealer began to move the stack of chips to his opponent, Viktor seemed embarrassed. He took one look at the hand he had to sleep. Just after he blurted out: "I do not know why I do it all the time ..."
He had a full bed without realizing that the boad was paired on the river. Naturally, given the speed at which he plays online, it was not the first time such an error occurred.
One evening at dinner, Viktor told me he liked to take decisions very quickly not to betray his first instinct. Apparently the bedroom nuts from time to time therefore the price.
Most of us would be disgusted after such an error. If you're a pro, it is not possible to accept the swings because they are out of your control. But if you play a very bad hand (eg a sleeping monster), it is disastrous both financially and emotionally. At least for me and most of the players.
But not for Viktor. Why? Because commit such a mistake simply equates to throwing money out the window, and as Viktor said (with much more conviction than the other players). "It's just money" "
To be legend, you have to play against legends. To be the best, you can not be a sitout bumhunter that whenever too good players arrive on the table. Isildur intense desire to play against the best poker players.
"Playing against tough opponents is one of the best ways to improve. I'm sure Viktor learns from each of his opponents. This is also why the speed at which it has grown, especially that it does not use any of the tools used by other pros.
When you think of the amounts involved, it impairs your ability to play your best. People who consider poker as a job only for financial reasons, have great difficulty in becoming the best in their discipline (even if they amass a lot of money).
To become a great player, he must love the game must take pleasure in the table. Viktor has these qualities, as well as a few others. "
His passion for poker is also its greatest weakness. Since it does not care about the money, it does not pay much attention to the choice of tables. I'm not just talking about the players he faces, even if part of the most difficult parts of course increases the variance and the risk of losing everything.
More than that, I think variants. He lost most of his bankroll first 6 million in sitting at the PLO tables without knowing play. This month, he played at the highest limits of Omaha 8 or better and 2-7 Triple Draw, face the greatest specialists. In both cases, it was first tested these variants this summer. It is obvious that he was one of the worse players at the tables, and therefore the favorite to lose money. But he took no doubt a lot of fun.
Viktor also has bread on the board regarding the PLO 6-max. It is very good flop, but his passion for big pots pushed to invest too much money preflop with marginal hands (in my opinion). In part 6-max, it is much more likely that someone holds a good hand and take her style too loose. Most weak hands can certainly be played profitably in pots heads up, but not when the action is multiway.
In addition, the game clearly deteriorates when Viktor has lost large sums. When tilt in 6-max (or even heads up), I think that its results take a hit. It would probably be well advised to implement a strategy of "stop-loss".
If you're wondering why I publish all of this information, which could contribute to help some opponents, know that I've said all this to Viktor. It is also proved that he had knowledge of these defects. I told him I was happy to show me honest with him about what he is doing properly or not. In fact, we both discussed very openly about how we adapt our styles of play in our games heads up. "
In conclusion, Phil made some praise on the legend Isildur:
"Most of my opponents high stakes have spent more time than me to work on their game outside tables (although in this register, I made more than Viktor.) For several reasons, learn poker this way does not interest me much That fact that I am able to compete with them is that I'm lucky to have natural qualities that make the difference Call it what you want.. predispositions, poker IQ But ... whatever the name given, it turns out that I am very fortunate to be able to deal poker more easily than others.
In my view, Viktor Blom yet has much more natural talent.
It impresses me at all levels: his game, but his competitive spirit, his love of poker, it exudes sympathy ... Frankly, I'm a real fan of Viktor Blom. You can only have respect for someone who earns his money at poker, but playing the most difficult parts for fun and with higher stakes.
So what's the future look like Viktor in poker. With his talent, his detachment from financial issues and its fun to play, we are witnessing the beginnings of one of the greatest legends of poker?
Personally, I think Viktor has the ability to become the best in any variant, but it will have to discipline a bit if he wants to meet a success important and lasting time.
This is the key question. Can correct some of its leaks to climb to the top and stay there? Can it prevent parties who are not familiar with him, at least the time to progress at lower limits? Can tighten his game PLO 6-max? Can enforce business rules and not risk his bankroll constantly?
The answer: of course he can ... but it does not look very fun. "
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