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Translated by order of the educational portal university.poker
Article author: PokerStars Learn, original source: PokerStars Learn
Sebastian Haber, known in online poker as “peace&love”, is a member of Team PokerStars Pro with many years of experience. In 2022, Sebastian entered the top ten in the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) “Low” leaderboard and also won his first WCOOP title. In 2023, Haber will try to take part in SCOOP in the hope of similar results.
1. Interview with Sebastian Haber
In this interview, Sebastian shares his strategies with other players participating in the SCOOP series tournaments, including giving advice to newcomers and talking about his daily routine during the series.
On the PokerStars Learn portal, we have a lot of new players who will be playing SCOOP for the first time. Do you remember the first time you played SCOOP yourself?
Yeah, sure. I couldn't wait for it to start that day, but I wasn't ready at all. Therefore, I was not able to show my best result and did not won win. After all, it was a good lesson in what's really important during a long run. Ensure your life well in addition to the game, then you can fully focus on a big series of tournaments.
What was the most memorable moment/SCOOP you had in your poker career?
Since I started streaming, every dipran in the SCOOP tournament has become even more special because I could share those moments with my viewers. I don't have any special event in SCOOP, but fortunately I was able to win the WCOOP. It was the best moment during the online championship.
SCOOP 2023 schedule consists of 363 tournaments. How do you plan the whole series and what events are you most looking forward to?
Before starting the series, I want to make sure that I clearly understand my goals. As I play the low/middle leaderboard again, my focus will be on these tournaments. In addition, the main events will be special again, and I hope that this year I will be able to qualify for the tournament for $10K.
What types of tournaments would you recommend to novice players and why?
The most interesting thing about these tournament series is that PokerStars offers a wide selection of games. As a beginner, you have to be careful not to try too many games without knowing the exact rules. On the other hand, if you prepare, for example, for “mixed games” before the start of the SCOOP, you will have a lot of fun and be able to make a decent profit in these games. My advice is to mostly stick to what you know, the games you know how to play!
What key stages of tournaments should beginners pay attention to?
Bubble is, of course, a key stage of the tournament. There you can earn a lot and lose. It's the same with the bubble of the final table, and with the final table itself. At these stages of the tournament, try to find out how people play. Some are passive, others are very aggressive.
In these huge fields, how do you balance the need to build up your stack and the risk of relegation?
In general, in tournaments with small buy-ins and a huge field, I play quite aggressively on pre- and post-flop. If the table is very soft, I can also miss some marginal all-ins on the preflop. With all these tweaks, I'm still careful not to show a game that's too bizarre.
What advice would you give to newcomers who would like to play as many tournaments as possible but have limited bankroll?
Focus on managing your bankroll. Tournaments are enough for any bankroll, and do not rush to play something more. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with trying yourself in a larger tournament or playing a satellite. Just try not to get carried away with it, it's okay to play them from time to time.
Tell us a little bit about your daily routine during the SCOOP.
My daily routine is quite simple and it will be easy to repeat during this series. After I wake up, I have a healthy breakfast, then exercise or at least go outside to get some fresh air and clear my mind. Before I start grinding, I'll make sure I have enough good food for the session. When I finish my session, I try to get away from the PC as soon as possible and try not to use the phone — if possible, breathe fresh air again. And I also try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Sometimes I know it's impossible :D. On top of all this, if I don't feel well on any particular day, I don't mind missing the day to get through the rest of the series in good shape.
How do you stay motivated throughout a long series of tournaments such as SCOOP? What do you do on weekends?
My motivation is related to my goals. Before I start playing SCOOP, I need to know what my goals are. This year again I will try to perform as well as possible in the leaderboard. This will keep me motivated at a high level throughout the series.
Guaranteed prizes of $11 million will be raffled off in the low, middle and high versions of the Main Event No-Limit Hold 'em. Many players dream of winning or even playing in these huge tournaments. What would you recommend to newcomers who want to play in the Main Event, but their bankroll does not allow them?
In general, in addition to the usual schedule, SCOOP offers many satellite games for all tournaments and especially for the main events. Choose satellites with the best structure and the biggest seat guarantees. This will be the best choice for you. The most important thing with satellites is not to overdo it. Make sure the number of satellite games you play is small compared to regular tournaments.
What are the three most important pieces of advice you could give to new players who will take part in this year's SCOOP?
Find out which games are best for you and focus on them. Don't get upset in the first week, you have enough time to make a difference. Don't give up, it's never too late to win a big jackpot. Bankroll management is key! Have fun and enjoy your dipranas.
Finally, how can PokerStars Learn readers keep track of your progress throughout the series?
I will be streaming almost every day on my Twitch channel and posting all the dipranes on my Youtube channel. If you want to see my streaming schedule for the coming weeks, take a look at my twitter or discord. You'll find everything there!
