LPA: Tell us about your family.
SAB: I have two cats, two dogs and a horse that I ride every day of the week.
LPA: What do you do for a living?
SAB: I’m in real estate investments. I own my own business and also do consultation for the hospitality industry.
LPA: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
SAB: I grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and I love California. Now I am in Utah. I have been here for 15 years.
LPA: How long have you been playing?
SAB: My boyfriend and mom encouraged me to play. The first time I played in a tournament I was hooked. That was about a year and a half ago.
LPA: How did you learn to play poker?
SAB: Reading and studying. I read Dan Harrington’s series of books and attended a poker academy held by Annie Duke. That was really helpful.
LPA: Tell us a little bit about your poker accomplishments.
SAB: I have minimal poker accomplishments. The WSOP Ladies Event was the first major tournament I played in. It was unbelievable. I’ve played in other smaller tournaments but none of this magnitude.
LPA: Can you describe your “type of play“ for the tournament?
SAB: The blind structure allowed for many plays to be made. I played relatively tight until the final table. There, I was very aggressive and I used my instincts.
LPA: Can you give us some advice as to your strategy for playing in a tournament setting?
SAB: My nature is to be patient, quiet and focused. I don’t talk much because I try to watch the other players. Clearly the academy I attended was very worthwhile. I did my homework, took it seriously, memorized things and took notes.
LPA: Can you tell us what the important elements of your game are?
SAB: There are many things that are important. Tells are up there but the other factors that are more important include position , pot odds, stats, and money management. There are a lot of things to think about.
LPA: What adjustments, if any, have you made in your game that you can attribute to increased cashes?
SAB: I don’t have any adjustments other than perhaps playing a few hands differently. The way I play is perfect for the tournament structure in Las Vegas.
LPA: If you could give just one tip about how to win at No Limit Hold’em what would it be?
SAB: Trust your instincts. Timing is crucial. You have to double up to keep moving up and making the final table. Your move must be made at the right time and you can’t be afraid to go all in. You have to be wiling to gamble.
LPA: How often do you play?
SAB: In the last six months I’ve played a couple of times a month. I am scheduled to play in larger buy-in tournaments.
LPA: Where do you play most often?
SAB: I love the poker room at the Golden Nugget. I also like the caliber of players at the Bellagio but you can also see me at the Venetian and at Caesar’s Palace.
LPA: What games do you play?
SAB: I have played in some cash games but enjoy tournament play more. I will play in small buy-in and daily tournaments.
LPA: What advice do you have for anyone just starting out?
SAB: Read and Study. If you are serious about it then you need to learn everything about it. Math and pot odds are really important. Put some time and effort into it in addition to playing as much live as you can.
LPA: What was it like playing in your first live tournament?
SAB: The WSOP was really my first big live tournament. I wanted to cash and get as far as I could. It was really unbelievable how it all worked out. When I first got there they had fake money to take pictures with. I thought “wouldn’t this be great to win this ?” I was intimidated at first when I sat down because I was right next to the rail and Kathy Leibert was next to me at the table. Jamie Gold was watching and I just tuned it all out, concentrated and focused.
LPA: Do you play on the internet?
SAB: I don’t play much online. I really love the live games. The smaller buy-in tournaments are really fun. The interaction with other players and being able to read other players makes you much more involved in the game.
LPA: What differences do you see between poker on TV and the tournaments you play?
SAB: I have limited experience. TV shows finely groomed professionals. That is not the case in most tournaments. The calliber of play is much higher.
LPA: What do you think the future of ladies poker is?
SAB: It will continue to grow and grow. There are more women playing all the time. I love Kathy Leibert; who she is and her consistency. There are really fine, genuine and classy women playing poker. Jennifer Harman, Kathy Leibert, and Annie Duke to name a few really thrust women’s play forward.
LPA: When you play mixed tournaments, not ladies events, what differences are there in play?
SAB: The WSOP event is the only ladies event I’ve played in. In my limited experience, women are harder to read. It’s related to intuition and a lot of the women play tighter games. I don’t think it’s more intimidating to play against men. I like the mixed game.
LPA: What advantages do you believe women have in the game?
SAB: I think women are more intuitive, project an image of tighter play with no bluffs. They can be more intimidating to men. Men react differently to women. We can use our feminine qualities to our advantage. Some poker magazines feature women who play and put a bikini on. It is offensive. There are very few good women players who would dress so provocatively. You will never see me dressed provocatively. It is inappropriate and unnecessary. There is an advantage over these women because you can see their angle. It is an obvious tell. The best players out there that do consistently well are extremely intelligent and have an innate ability with math.
LPA: What disadvantages do you believe women have in the game?
SAB: I don’t think they do have any other than perhaps obligations such as getting home to kids or the family.
LPA: Is there any poker player pro/women/amateur that you admire?
SAB: Kathy Leibert, Jennifer Harman, and Annie Duke. Kathy is the top on my list. She has a gracious and professional attitude and her consistent ability to do well for many years is inspiring. She is very unpretentious.
LPA: Where do you see yourself in the world of poker in 5 years?
SAB: I hope that I will have had some more success at the WSOP and made it to a couple of more final tables. Of course, I hope to do well in high profile tournaments. I hope to be more competitive, more money, and more excitement!
LPA: Who has been the biggest influence in your game? Why?
SAB: Annie Duke has been the most influential because of the conference I attended. I learned so much from her there and so did the other ladies. The women who attended the academy took it very seriously. There were several of us that made it to the final forty.
LPA: Can you tell us why you became a member of the LPA?
SAB: I like what it stands for. I want to help more women become involved. I think it is positive to encourage more female players and be very involved.
LPA: Is there anything you would like to tell women poker players out there?
SAB: Get involved! Have fun and play as much as you can. Use your natural ability to your advantage. I hope to keep improving and believe you can never learn too much!
Men and Women Welcome
