Player Interview: JohnnyBelow

By Liv Boeree

15 August 2007

My biggest wins have come on days where I thought it wasn't possible to be more unlucky. But I played more tournaments and ended up winning big

Stian Stabell aka "JohnnyBelow" is a phenomenal player from Norway who is starting to make it big in the high stakes MTTs. Poker Verdict caught up with him...

Hi, what is your name, how old are you and where are you from?

My name is Stian Stabell, I am 23 years old and I am from Kirkenes in Northern Norway

How long have you been playing poker and how did you get started?

I discovered poker when I was 16. A friend of mine taught me the basic elements of the game, and I bought a bunch of poker books and started learning. So I guess you can say I have known about the game for 7 years, but didn’t start playing full-time until this year.

What online nickname(s) do you use and which sites do you play on?

I started up playing at the Primanetwork under the nickname "Scootie". I still play there sometimes, but for the last 6-7 months I have mainly played at PokerStars under the nickname "JohnnyBelow"

More Player Focuses:

Tom Dwan:
durrrr

Dang Brothers:
urindanger & trex313

Ilari Sahamies:
Ziigmund

Steven Jacobs:
stevesbets

Steve Sung:
SteveSung

Is poker a full-time thing for you or do you study/work as well?

I am an engineering student in the morning and a pokerplayer in the evening.

What have been your biggest MTT successes?

I guess that would be my biggest cash so far. It came in a sunday $100r tournament on PokerStars where I lost heads up, but still managed to get $26,000.

Any hands stand out in your memory most clearly as being pivotal plays?

The best example I can give you is I had pocket 10's under the gun. I raised to 2.5 times the big blind. Another player put me all in. I chose to call. They had A-K. The flop was A-J-10. I won the hand with trip 10's and went on to win the tournament. I rarely loose with tens and that is also my favourite hand.

Have you played offline tournaments as well? And if so, have you had any success as yet?

Me and a couple of friends started a poker club in Kirkenes if that counts. We were 4 guys playing 5 card poker every sunday, until we decided to give Texas Holdem a shot. So we called some friends, got a place to play and now there are 60-70 people in the club. We play a couple of times every month, but I would really like to play more.

Outside of tournament poker, do you play cash or SNGs as well? If so what games/levels?

Rarely. I play some Omaha once in a while but that is all. When I play it is usually at the 0.5/1 or 1/2 level

How much have you made from poker so far?

$110,000 in tournaments winnings this year. Unfortunately that is not the profit. My profit this year is about $30k.

On scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is a total donkey and 10 is the perfect poker player, how do you rate your tournament game?

8.0

What factors/skills make you successful?

I am very patient. And I play a short stack very well. I am also pretty good at finding my spots to take a pot down.

Are you still improving your game – If so, what tools do you use?

You can ask me this question when I am 80, and I will still say yes. You need to improve your game as long as you are playing. My favourite tool is www.pokerxfactor.com. They give you an opportunity to learn from the best online players and it was after joining that site that I started winning for real.

What was your worst run ever and what do you do to get through a big downswing?

My worst run ever was when I started playing and played on a level that was way too high for me. I was a donkey and had no chance of winning.

When I get through a big downswing I just play until it changes. My biggest wins have come on days where I thought it wasn’t possible to be more unlucky. But I played more tournaments and ended up winning big.

What other tips and tricks can you give out to the readers that might improve their games/build a bankroll?

Start playing on a level you can afford. Don’t play suited aces. They are not as good as they look. Be patient, but still not afraid to take chances when it is necessary. And get someone who knows the game better than you to teach you. That is crucial in my opinion.

What are your main interests outside of poker?

Soccer. I play soccer, watch soccer, dream soccer, eat soccer etc etc. You get my point.

What are your aims and plans for the next couple of years?

To be able to win enough to make a living out of it. And I want to play more live tournaments.

Which five adjectives best describe you?

Passive, Aggressive, Patient, Analytical, Calm

Any players you particularly admire or anyone you want to give a shout-out to?

Watch out for MrsBelow. I am teaching her at the moment, and I am sure she will win big very soon :)