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Warsaw's 21-Year-Old Poker Ace Reveals How to Hit the Million-Dollar Jackpot
Listen, when it comes to card games, I'm the guy who could school you in a double-deck game of Makao while sipping a cold one by the campfire. There was a time when I was just as hooked on Bishop's Ass as I was on a good game of Canasta. And let me tell you, I still think it's criminal to head out on a camping trip without packing a deck of cards for those chilly nights by the fire or those solo evenings with a game of Solitaire. Cards – they're the budget-friendly way to keep the good times rolling.
But there's this whole other league of folks who've long stopped seeing a deck of cards as just a bit of fun. They’re the poker pros who'd rather stake it out at the green-felt tables than waste away in some corporate cubicle, dissecting hands worth serious cash Find Out More.
Take Sebastian Malec, the young gun who just blitzed his way through the six-day whirlwind that is the European Poker Tour in Barcelona. His performance? Nothing short of legendary. At 21, he's not just dipping his toes – he's diving headfirst into the world of pro players, mapping out his next big plays on the poker circuit.
I caught up with Sebastian to get the scoop on what's so darn addictive about poker and to learn the tricks for outplaying folks who might just be a bit sharper than you.
VICE: A massive congrats on your win! So, how does one embark on the journey to poker stardom?
Sebastian Malec: Chess was my jam from age 6 to 18. I was a fixture at the junior nationals, always hovering around the top ten. And you know, every chess player has a thing for poker. I've been a fanatic since I was 15, always game for watching a match or chewing the fat about the latest plays. My first brush with the European Poker Tour was two years back – I was that guy taking selfies with the pros, totally starstruck. I dived into poker at 18, playing my heart out and always hungry for more.
Is it all about the money for you, or is there more to it?
Most of my buddies are pro poker players; for them, it's a job, a breadwinner. But me? I never saw poker as work since I was crashing with my folks, no strings attached, pocket money in hand. So I bet big – sometimes too big, and took my lumps. Now I'm getting serious about going pro. It's all about playing smart, picking the right tournaments where there's money to be made cbc.
Got a poker addiction?
Just last night, I was up till 4 AM grinding at the online world championships – all above board, of course, since I'm based in the Netherlands. But I'm not shackled to the game. Like any passion, it sucks you in. No one asks Michael Phelps if he's addicted to swimming or Magnus Carlsen if chess has him hooked. They are, and that obsession is key to hitting those high notes – motivation alone doesn't cut it.
What was your first big win that had you craving more?
This year's Barcelona tourney was my fourth major one. Last year, I made it to day four and netted over 15 grand in euros – that was my first taste of live-tournament success. Online? I'd rather not say too much, given the grey area in Poland. But let's just say I've scored five-figure wins more than once. For live events, I'd racked up around 40 grand in cashes over a year and a half, but that's not all profit. You've got to deduct entry fees and such. So, I've basically broken even. Most of the time, you lose. Poker's a tricky beast casino1.it when it comes to ROI. Luck plays its part.
Does every poker player cut their teeth online before hitting the live table?
Yeah, online's where you can play multiple tables and rack up hands fast. Europeans grind it out a lot on the net. Stateside? Not so much. There's even a term for it – online wizards – the youngsters who've been breaking down the system since they were in their teens.
Are you one of those whiz kids?
Not exactly. I'm more of a poker enthusiast turned self-taught pro. Started out with my chess mates, spent over a year touring, rubbed shoulders with the best in the game – learned most of my tricks just talking shop with them bbc.
Does keeping an eye on your opponents help you take them down?
When you're at the table, you're playing maybe 20% of the hands. In between, you watch and learn. Some players have killer instincts right off the bat, but most hone theirs through experience. My first few live tournaments? Let's just say I wasn't setting the world on fire. It took a minute to adjust to the live scene, to settle in. Live games play softer than online, but you've got to stay sharp, be patient, and not tip your hand when you're bored or holding a winner.
How much does your getup matter?
A lot of poker players bundle up in scarves or turtlenecks to hide the ol' neck pulse – a dead giveaway if you're getting jittery. I used to rock a scarf, but lost it. Tournament rooms are chilly from the AC, so a hoodie's standard issue. I like mine, but I don't hide under it. I just drape it to cover my pulse. Trust me, it's saved my bacon more than once when a sharp-eyed opponent might've otherwise called my bluff.
Does your math and stats background give you an edge?
I crunch the numbers you need for live games, quick and accurate, but that's not the winning ticket. Strategy, game theory, hand analysis, and honing your skills – that's where it's at grandiose. I've got gaps since I'm self-taught, but it makes my game unpredictable, flexible. You need a solid base, sure, but you've got to adapt on the fly. My buddies rib me for not playing ""solid"" enough, for bluffing more than I should.
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