Chad Flood, 24, of Fond
du Lac reached the apex of his college poker career last month when he won
the second annual College Poker Championship, a worldwide online Texas
Holdem tournament with more than 25,000 players competing. Flood, an
economics major at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, took home a
$41,000 scholarship, had a $1,000 donation made in his name to the American
Diabetes Association, and earned the title of best college poker player in
the world. After his win, he spoke with the Journal Sentinel's Chase Davis.
Q.How did you get
started playing poker?
A. I started playing all
forms of poker throughout junior high and high school as a fun way to gamble
and hang out with friends. Once all the popularity of Texas Holdem picked up
during my senior year, I started to play that a lot more. I really like the
pressure. When you're "all in" for a lot of money, it can be a bit of a
rush.
Q.You've obviously
played against a lot of opponents. What differences do you see between
recreational players and more serious tournament players?
A. Some recreational
players might play a little too loose; they get carried away on hands. They
aren't the ones who can make big lay-downs. They think a hand is pretty good
so they bet, but then someone re-raises and they don't think that maybe the
other person has a better hand than them. A good poker player knows when
they're beat, knows when to make a good fold and knows when to make a good
call. It's about reading your opponent.
Q.Good poker players use
a mix of math and instincts to gain an advantage. Which do you rely on more?
A. For me, I think
instincts are more dominant. I play more no limit, where people go "all in"
and bluff more. Limit poker is more mathematical. When you're using math in
poker, you have to calculate the odds of you catching the hand and the
amount people are betting. If the pot's small and you don't have good odds
of winning, you usually don't play the hand. After that, you have to trust
your instincts.
Q.What advice do you
have for players looking to break into the tournament scene?
A. Basically, keep your
cool when you're playing. It can be a little intense sometimes. When you get
on a losing streak - that's called being on tilt - maybe you just need a
break from the game. Some people have a hard time doing that. I'd say just
know your limits, and if you're on a bad run you might need a break. Try not
to get too emotional.
Q. Some people call
poker a sport, others say it's not. What do you think?
A. I could really care
less if they call it a sport or whatever. It depends on how you define a
sport. I'm really not sure what to think about it. Whatever they want to
call it, it's fun to me. I don't really care.
