Amateur Spotlight
Reka Hallgato
In the last year I have played on three tournament tables with Reka Hallgato; one of them being the final table for the LA Poker Classic It is my opinion that she is one of the best women players out there. She is creative, understands her position, and knows where she is in a hand at all times. She can turn a trash hand into a winner and she can throw away Kings quickly when she knows she is beat. In my play with her I knew I had to be truly cautious and always on guard.
Since January of this year she has made 5 final tables, most notably being her fourth place win in this year’s WSOP Ladies Main Event. With the constant coaching and schooling of her boyfriend Anthony Guadagni, Reka has worked very hard in the last year to achieve some of her poker goals. LPA sat down with Reka to find out her thoughts on this last year of impressive poker.
LPA: Where are you from?
RH: I am originally from Budapest, Hungary.
LPA: How old are you?
RH: I am 27 years old.
LPA: How long have you been playing poker?
RH: I have been playing poker for one year.
LPA: How did you learn?
RH: I learned how to play poker from my boyfriend, Anthony Guadagni, AKA the Big Bad Wolf.
LPA: How often do you play?
RH: I try to play 3 times a week. But sometimes I play only once a week.
LPA: Where do you play most often?
RH: I play at different places. Since I am not a cash game player, I play wherever the tournaments are. Mostly in California or Nevada.
LPA: What game(s) do you play?
RH: I play mostly No Limit Holdem. But I play Omaha Hi-LO as well. If I play cash games I play $200 or $300-$500 No Limit. And I play 6-12 limit Omaha. I am a small roller.
LPA: You have had a fantastic year. Can you detail the highlights? How many final tables have you made in the last year?
RH: The first final table I had was my first big tournament. It was the Hollywood Derby $300 buy-in, January of this year (2006).
I took 7th place. I remember it was 6 a.m. in the morning when we finally agreed to chop it seven ways. I was so happy and just could not believe it. Then I played the WPT Ladies in January where I took 9th.
Then, the Sport of Kings at Hollywood Park in April, where it was a $300 multi re-buy. I believe I re-bought once. It was at this tournament, one of my dearest, that I remember being down to 3 chips with 2 tables to go. I was the only women left. So, the guys decided to cut me in the deal to pay 19 players. I was big blind and I had Q-6 off suite. Of course someone raised my blind. I decided to muck my hand and wait for the last hand to be dealt before I would have to go all-in with the small blind. The next hand I picked up K-10 of diamonds. It was four-way action and I ended up winning the pot with 2 pair. From that point I went on a rush and I came in 3rd place, where my boyfriend finished 6th. So it was a pretty cool experience.
The next final table was at the Caesar Palace WSOP Circuit Ladies Event in April (2006) where I finished 9th. Then in July (2006) WSOP Ladies event I took 4th, and I still cannot believe it.
So these are my final tables so far. But, I have been in some bigger tournaments where I was able to come in 12th or 13th place. I can say I am very proud of that.
LPA: What was it like playing in the Ladies WSOP event?
RH: Playing the WSOP Ladies Event was a dream. I didn’t even want to play because I had been running so bad for like 2 weeks. I couldn’t even win a satellite to get in. So the morning of the tournament, my boyfriend and his best friend talked me into playing. So I ran to the Rio and I signed up at the last minute. They only had 6 seats left.
LPA: What did you think about the other ladies play at the tournament?
RH: Some of the Ladies were so good that I was scared to play against them. I never underestimate anybody.
LPA: What did you think about the other ladies play at the final table?
RH: At the final table the ladies were very serious. I was just trying to observe them as much as I could. Let me tell you, some of them were very creative and aggressive. It was very impressive.
LPA: What did you think about your play at the final table?
RH: I wish I could tell you about my play at the final table. But, I had none. I was so short of chips that it wasn’t even funny. I only had one move - and that was to push all in. And I did it over and over again. Let me tell you. Nourishing my short stack until 4th place was an art.
LPA: What did you think about Mary Jones and her play at the final table?
RH: I think Mary Jones is good reader of the game. She did not let anyone push her. She played good cards. But, when she knew someone was on the move, she played whatever cards she had. At one point she lost her chips on a bad beat. But, she stayed cool and worked herself back in the game to win it.
LPA: Did you play any big hands with her?
RH: I had no chance to play with her at all. I believe she raised once when I had K-J and I had no chips. I would have pushed all in but it was 3-way action so I did not play the hand. She won the pot.
LPA: What adjustments, if any, have you made in your game in the last year that you can attribute to increased cashes?
RH: I try to build chips early the tournament because I am sick and tired of playing short stack all the time. But, for some reason during my tournaments I play my chips away. I have to find the way to stop that and get luckier at the end.
LPA: If you could give just one tip about how to win at No Limit Holdem what would it be?
RH: My tip is put yourself into the situation where you can get lucky!!
LPA: What advice do you have for anyone just starting out?
RH: My advice is play small limit games. Learn your position and the game well. Talk to experienced players and read books. Practice will make the master!!
LPA: What was it like playing in your first ever live tournament?
RH: My first ever live tournament was a $30 buy-in multi re-buy. I actually made a final table with my boyfriend. It was very, very dreamy. I could not believe winning 7th and made like $300. It was so cool! And that was it. I fell in love with tournaments.
LPA: What is the difference in play between the Internet and in a live game/tournament?
RH: I play on the Internet, but not as much. I really enjoy going to the casino and socializing. I can see the players as well and this is what I believe is very, very important to playing good poker.
LPA: What differences do you see between poker on TV and the tournaments you play?
RH: I love to watch poker on TV because it makes me realize how many morons get lucky with stupid plays. Better to be lucky than good! But it also makes me think that if I’m ever going to be as good as those morons that I need to make those gutsy calls and plays. I do not know how I will do this but I hope so.
LPA: What do you think the future of Ladies Poker is?
RH: I really believe that the Ladies Poker future is huge. I think women are more marketable and I think it is a great opening for other business to flow in through advertising. You know it is good to see women in play because I really believe women are as good as men. But they just outnumber us.
LPA: When you play mixed tournaments, not ladies events, what differences are there in play?
RH: I do not know exactly. I think women are harder to play against because they are trickier. If I have a choice I rather play against a man then woman.
LPA: What advantages do you believe women have in the game?
Women’s advantage is, I believe, their look and their sex vs. man.
But, I believe the same reason is our disadvantage. Men think they are smarter and they can push us around. I find it very entertaining. I love to use their ego against them.
LPA: Is there any poker player pro/women/amateur that you admire?
RH: I try not to admire anybody. I appreciate my boyfriend Anthony Guadagni, Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Kathy Liebert. When I think about poker players I think about those names.
LPA: What do you think you will be in 5 years?
RH: In five years? I do not know. I hope I can get a first place one of these days.
LPA: Who has been the biggest influence in your game? Why?
RH: My biggest influence in poker is of course my boyfriend Anthony. He is my teacher and mentor in poker. He is so funny. When I am at a final table he is constantly coaching me in the breaks. He is very strict but a very good teacher.
LPA: Is there anything you would like to tell women poker players out there?
RH: I just want to say to the women: Do not give up and believe in your game. Faith will take us very far.
Men and Women Welcome
