FULL TILT POKER BLOG

#858 – Steve Zolotow, Part II – The Wit and Wisdom of Steve Z

Posted by Editor | Filed under Uncategorized

Steve Zolotow hosted a mini-FTOPS event several days ago. I monitored his Pro Chat and asked three questions early. I expected him to be smart, witty, and irreverent. I was not disappointed.

He answered questions for several hours, longer than I lasted in the tournament. What follows are my questions and Steve’s answers, along with a sampling of other subjects from the chat.

Question from Michael Craig: You’ve made your living from gambling for a long time. What are the keys to making it for the long haul like that?

Steve Zolotow: Finding good situations. The candy store isn’t always open, but there are times, BJ with early surrender in AC, introduction of games beside draw in CA, start of online poker, etc

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Question from Michael Craig: How do you like the way you were portrayed in Katy Lederer’s book, POKER FACE?

Steve Zolotow: I think I came off better than some of her family members

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Question from Michael Craig: You’ve been the subject of some fanciful rumors. What’s true and what’s not? (1) You have a backgammon champion living on your property; (2) You were an actor; (3) You were in the porno business; (4) You have a giant chess-set in your yard.

Steve Zolotow: 1. Paul Magriel lived in guest house for a while 2. I wanted to be an actor, but couldn’t support myself so I turned to gambling 3. As a kid as actor, occasionally as backer 4. It is in the shed now, but sometimes comes out for parties.

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Question from Wesolowski: As a card player columnist, do you get any kickback if Shulman wins the ME

Steve Zolotow: at least one glass of champagne.

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Question from RAISE U ALL IN1: how do you avoid suckouts

Steve Zolotow: get in with the worst hand, then you can only be the suckee

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Question from ChaseTh3Ace: hi, how long did it take you to make your first 1K and what game did you mostly play?

Steve Zolotow: I have been gambling, at least part time, my whole life, In the 60′s & early 70′s I made money & then tapped out a lot, although I was trying to support myself & some bad habits at the time, for the last 35 yrs or so I’ve avoided disaster.

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Question from Wesolowski: 10% juice on tilt, they won’t even let me receive rake-back! Hook me uptalk to Howard pleeease!

Steve Zolotow: not my area – but I never see %10, 500,000 pots are raked 3, seems like less than 10% to me.

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Question from PlanetxBob: I can’t seem to make it to final table, (or rather close) I always seem to get busted with a decent hand to a big stack that can afford to call with about anything. How do you suggest playing against the big stacks deep in a tourney?

Steve Zolotow: In general it is easier to steal from middle size stacks, big stacks take chances & small stacks are desperate, but tournament survivors are always lucky

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Question from badmike1: can I get 5 bucks Steve?

Steve Zolotow: Howard has forbidden my aiding and abetting online panhandlers, although I used to offer them 5 for the best joke

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Question from Karmacoma: if I am a good tourney player what are some things that I must change to become a good cash game player?

Steve Zolotow: Very different skills – in cash you must be capable of finding good games & staying off tilt. It also helps if you can learn a few opponents very well.

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Question from PlanetxBob: Late in big MTT’s I seem to always get knocked out on a good hand to a big stack that plays catch-up because its no problem for him to call, how do you recommend playing against the big stacks.

Steve Zolotow: you just have to keep getting the money in with the better hand, but perhaps you should take more chances early to try & become one of the late big stacks.

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Question from kruniks2001: do you think Hellmuth is the greatest holdem player ever?

Steve Zolotow: for about 10 years he was probably the best tournament hold’em player around

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Question from GavinSuperstar: do you like eating worms eagle man?

Steve Zolotow: I prefer to dine on fish and pigeons

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Question from CPGJ: Do you think there are any good cash games left online and if so where?

Steve Zolotow: I use tilt’s color coding to identify players (yellow are very bad, green bad, etc.) & when I see a table with a lot of green & yellow, I know it’s a good game

***

Question from GavinSuperstar: will you give me a hug?

Steve Zolotow: are you a sexy blonde?

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Question from Wesolowski: 10 years! I would be arrogant too! I wonder if Ivey will be calling players morons and idiots in ten years?

Steve Zolotow: I think Ivey is way ahead of everyone else, as Doyle was for a long time, & neither of them are insecure enough to feel the need for arrogance

***

Question from rmwtdw: I hold a steady job where I work 4/10s my wife works nights so I play live action at my local establishments but it seems like I put in 10 hour to 12 hour grinds for small profits any suggestions?

Steve Zolotow: keep accurate records – I’d bet that your longest sessions come when you losing (implies bad game or you having an off day) & that you quit too soon when winning.

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Question from ozmosis316: Hey Steve do you have any tips for someone trying to turn pro?

Steve Zolotow: become a doctor or lawyer

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Question from ozmosis316: Regarding cash games, how do you know when it is the right time to leave? I often have a huge stack in front of me but am never sure when is the right time to leave vs. keep building?

Steve Zolotow: there is no correct answer, can you play a big stack well, does money mean too much, are there bad players with a lot of chips, are you playing well etc

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Question from ivantheterbl: Steve why are you such a nit?

Steve Zolotow: don’t like trying to borrow money

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Question from rmwtdw: I live in Florida and State law at the moment make 100.00 the max buy in at a 5/10 table I avoid this table because I never arrive in time to be one of the original players so by the time I get there some players have already built 600.00 to 1K.

Steve Zolotow: Fla may be next poker gold mine, when laws change to allow big games.

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Question from Boogie86: Hey Steve, I have a very bad run at the moment-lost maybe 1000$ in the last 2 days-do you have a tip 4 me? Stop playing for awhile? Thx

Steve Zolotow: take a break, study some poker books, play smaller, & try to select good games.

***

Question from badmike1: Steve I hope you lose all your money

Steve Zolotow: won’t happen gambling, investments however??

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Question from Semibruce: Whats the best way to build a bankroll in low limit? Sngs? Ring games?

Steve Zolotow: ring games, especially by playing super tight in 9 handed games

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Question from Boogie86: What do you think about super turbo tournaments?

Steve Zolotow: I love turbo & super turbo both. In turbo a lot of players are too loose early & too tight late

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Question from 1 Danish Viking: How did Gus then take it the last time he lost millions? In our Danish press he was not taking it well, but I guess it’s all pabarazziess

Steve Zolotow: When he first played backgammon, the Scandinavians slept 8 in a room, now you’d think he’d do more to enjoy his big wins & hold on to them, but he loves the action.

***

Question from wazawanga: what do you think about mans role in the universe?

Steve Zolotow: I don’t think he had one

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Question from 1 Danish Viking: Well I don’t want to ask more as you are a busy person:) and I have to try a game or 2 before I sleep, as my boys come up in the morning, but last question from me are: How do I see the SHARK from the FISH on the ring games? Any tips?

Steve Zolotow: try & watch showdowns, use tilts color coding to make notes

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Question from Sickcroat: Why is full tilt total bullcrap and whenever there is a v=big hand ill lose? Example AA (me) vs. someone else 88 he gets a 45 card flush lol

Steve Zolotow: programmers took years to design software dedicated to making you lose, especially by tough beats

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Question from biggins05: dude who are you your obviously not that good if I haven’t heard of you?

Steve Zolotow: wither that or you╒re not too knowledgeable about poker players or both

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