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Player Interview: HEFFERNAN

14 Feb 2007

By James Hipwell

I took it surprisingly well. In fact, one of the tournament directors said that he had never seen anybody taking such a beat so well

German player Hans Martin Vogl leapt to prominence when he Final Tabled both BAPT and the Aussie Millions. He talked to Poker Verdict...

Name/Age/Location/Poker ID and why you chose it?

Hans Martin Vogl , 32, Beratzhausen, Germany. My screen name is HEFFERNAN. I named myself after Doug Heffernan from “King of Queens” who I was watching when signing up to Betfair Poker.

What do you currently play now?

NLH cash, SIXPAKS and MTTs.

When or what started you off in playing poker? How were your early experiences in learning how to play?

I started playing poker while I was injured after a rupture of my cruciate ligament due to soccer. I had to stay at home and so I downloaded a poker site and started playing. That was in July 2004. At the beginning I was a breakeven player at low limits. My game improved a lot after reading books, discussing hands with mates and watching other players.

How did you start off your online bankroll?

I deposited winnings from sportsbetting arbitrage (€5,000) in my betting acocunt and started with that. I was breakeven in the first few months and after that I started winning and haven’t had any losing months since.

So what factors/skills /attributes got you to that level?

Hard work I would say. Reading books, analyzing hand histories, discussing hands with friends. Then of course playing, playing and playing to get into a routine. It is also important to have self-discipline in order to avoid chasing losses or going on tilt.

Which sites do you play on?

Betfair Poker most of the time but also PokerStars, PartyPoker and Classic Poker.

Do you play Sit ‘n’ Gos (SNGs) and, if so, which ones are your favourites?

I started playing STTs at the beginning of my career and played up to 10 tables at the same time. My favorite SNGs are SIXPAKS because I like the action in shorthanded games.

What are your golden rules for MTT play?

Patience in the early levels and avoid getting in trouble early on. With higher levels, of course, loosen up the style and try to keep the average stack size in sight.

Do you play offline, and if so, where/when did you play?

I only play at major tournaments. So far I have only played in four live events in Bregenz in 2005, Amsterdam in 2005, the BAPT in Singapore in Nov 2006 (I came 7th for $58,300) and the Aussie Millions in Melbourne in Jan 2007 (I came 5th for $320,000).

Has there ever been a time when things just weren't going right for you while playing poker? What was your worst run ever and what did you do to get through these times?

Overall, I have had no losing month so far, but some tough months, when everything seemed to work against me. I played in these months more than in other months and tried to grind out of the shit. I just wanted to get the momentum going again and I always believed that the quality of my play would get rewarded and prevail over the bad luck/beats. After tough days I also analysed everything in order to learn from my mistakes and to avoid them in the future. It is also important to take breaks, when you don’t feel 100% in shape. The best poker is played when you have fun playing and it makes no sense to play when you are fed up.

Who is your favorite professional poker player and why?

Gus Hansen. I played against him at the Aussie Millions for two days (he was sat to my left on the Final Table so it could not have been worse) and he plays outstanding poker. It is impossible to read him and he plays a super-aggressive style that makes it even more difficult to get a read on what he has.

Which five adjectives best describe you?

Even-tempered, cool, patient, persistent, fast (regarding my action at the poker tables).

What proportion of poker is luck and what proportion skill?

“Poker is 100% skill and 50% luck” (Phil Hellmuth).

What do you consider is your biggest accomplishment in poker?

Coming 5th in the Aussie Millions for a $320,000 pay-out in only the fourth tourney I had ever played in.

Do you have one memorable hand you would like to share?

In the Aussie Millions I was dealt red Aces and another player was dealt black Aces. The pot was around 220,000 chips when the average stack was just 125,000. It was the last hand before the table was broken. Most players had already put their chips in the racks. We both flipped over our cards and I prayed it would be a rainbow flop! But my prayer was not answered and the flop came club, club, club. The guys on my table got a little bit excited. Then…BOOOOOOOOOOOM…the turn came another club!!! I took it surprisingly well. In fact, one of the tournament directors said that he had never seen anybody taking such a beat so well. BTW the next day I called the same guy’s all-in pre-flop with pocket 10s. He flopped over pocket 7s and of course he rivers a 7.

What are some tips and tricks you can give out to the readers that might improve there games/build a bankroll? What do you suggest is the best ways to improve?

Bankroll management is the basic for successful online poker. Treat poker as a second job (or first) and do proper accounting. Only play when you feel that you are in good shape and don’t play because you think you have to. Stop immediately when you have the feeling that you may tilt or when you recognise that your quality of play is struggling due to fatigue or bad beats. Stick to the limits you feel comfortable with – you don’t have to try and become a millionaire in a day.

Which one poker book/video, if any, revolutionised the way you play poker?

The books of David Sklansky are absolutely worth reading and are a good help for beginners and also experienced players.

Do you want to say ‘Hi’ to anyone?

Thomas “Buzzer” Bihl, Sebastian “Luckbox” Ruthenberg, Michael “Nyff” Nyffenegger, Chuck “UNBAMAN” Resewehr, Jonathan “Pirate from Preston” Farrer and “Darth Neda”. Hi Guys...