NewJane Interviews Schwarze, Won a Seat in the PSO Grand Live Tour Final

NewJane: First, let me congratulate you on your fine finish at the Big One Final table tourney! Your accomplishment has guaranteed you a seat in the PSO LIVE TOUR Final event in Tunica in January. Tell us a little about yourself. Where you live, etc. Any interesting facts about your life would be appreciated!

Schwarze: My name is Jeff Schwarze (very creative username, eh?). I was born and raised in Peoria, IL, graduated from University of Illinois in 1987 and now live in Carol Stream, IL (western suburb of Chicago). I am married to a very understanding wife and have two children (Brian 11, Katie 8). I just turned 41 a few days ago, but I still feel like 18. During the day, I work for an Actuarial Software Development company in Chicago. The rest of my free time is spent on a number of activities. These include watching sports, playing fantasy sports, playing basketball, coaching youth basketball, coaching youth soccer, reading poker books and of course playing poker on-line. Did I mention I have a very understanding wife?

NewJane: Share with us some of your poker background, such as how long you have played, games of choice, limits you like when you play live, other tourney successes. And anything else about your poker background that you want to share.

Schwarze:I learned how to play poker in high school and over the course of the next 20 years, played in a number of the typical dealer's choice home games. I was actually more interested in excelling in blackjack. I learned how to count cards and I have won more often than I lost. I really started getting interested in Texas Hold 'em about 18 months ago when I began watching the World Poker Tour. I started a daily lunchtime game with my co-workers (i.e., single-table satellite, no money, just ratings). This ballooned into a number of local home tournaments and eventually into playing on-line. I have had pretty good success at the home tournaments and can hold my own on-line, but I really need more experience at the B&M casinos.

NewJane: How long have you been a member of PSO?

Schwarze: February 2004 and it's well worth the money.

NewJane: Where is your favorite place to play poker, both live and tourney action?

Schwarze: Again, there are not really many options here. There are a few riverboat casinos within 30 minutes of my home and they have some 5/10 and 10/20 games. Playing the limit cash games just doesn't excite me all that much. I definitely prefer the tournament format especially those with lots of starting chips and/or slow blind increases.

NewJane: What were some hands you remember from the tourney, both won and lost ?

Schwarze: The reason I'm even in this position is somewhat of a fluke. Although I have had decent success at PSO, I was not planning on playing in the Big One and Tunica wasn't even on the radar screen. I was sitting down to play in a 10 pm multi-table tournament and noticed that there was this Last Chance event starting at the same time. I figured I'd play in that as well, since it didn't count against my rating and I could mess around a little bit. Very first hand, I get a suited ace and flopped a flush draw. One better who had raised pre-flop, now bet big again post-flop. I called. A blank hit on the turn and the better made another huge bet. Normally, I would fold here, but since this didn't count against my ratings and I knew I needed to accumulate chips to finish high, I went all-in. He called. To my surprise, I had him beat with my ace. He was betting on a straight draw. The flush card hit on the river (also giving him the straight) and I doubled up right away. That chip boost enabled me to play a little looser and see more flops and I eventually finished 5th, which was good enough for the Big One.

During the Big One, I soon realized that it would be very difficult to double-up early since everybody was playing very tight. On a key hand early, I called a pre-flop raise with AQ and the flop hit AQJ. I was able to double-up when the original raiser went all-in with AJ. Accumulating chips early is so important because it allows me to see more flops and I feel like I am an above average player after the flop.

NewJane: What did you feel was your strength / weakness in the tournament?

Schwarze:Patience is definitely one my strengths (isn't that true for any good hold 'em player?) Sometimes, I'm too patient. I don't use position to steal blinds as often as I need to. As a result, I find myself short-stacked more often than most. All the other Live Tour qualifiers are reading this, right? Just remember, when I raise in late position, it's not a blind steal.

NewJane: If you could play one hand over, which one would it be and why?

Schwarze:I honestly can't think of a hand I wished I played differently.

NewJane: What are some of the differences you see live and online play?

Schwarze: With respect to live play, I can only comment on the home tournaments I've played in. It seems more people are willing to bluff on-line than during live games. Since nobody can get a physical tell on-line, that makes sense. If I were to try and bluff in a live game, I'd have a gallon of sweat running down my face. So remember, sweat = bluff… no-sweat = good hand.

NewJane: What are your feelings about what is going on with poker now, the incredible growth? Do you see it as a positive thing?

Schwarze: Of course, my comments are biased since I love playing the game. I really don't think poker is a fad that will go away in a few years. In fact, I would bet that eventually, more states (hopefully Illinois) will legalize poker once somebody with clout figures out how much money is being lost to the offshore on-line sites. Until then, I guess I have to be content with PSO and the home games.

NewJane: What new poker game are you anxious to learn?

Schwarze: 99% of the PSO tournaments I play are No Limit Hold 'em. I like to mess around on the free site playing Omaha H/L and more recently Razz. I'm far from ready in tackling those games against good competition though.

NewJane: What poker books might I find in your home library?

Schwarze: All of them. Seriously. I have a very addictive and competitive personality. When I enjoy something, I become obsessed with it and will do everything in my power to be the best at it. I started with the Hellmuth book (which at the time I thought was good), but have since added Brunson, Sklansky, McEvoy, Cloutier/McEvoy, Caro, Warren, Schoonmaker, McManus, etc.

NewJane: Anything I didn't ask you that you want to say, now is the time!

Schwarze:Special thanks goes to two of my co-workers, Louie (darkknight) and Brett (polyman). These two guys are both solid (i.e., 70%+) players and our friendly rivalry has made me a better player. Without them, I wouldn't be here.

And thanks to PSO for designing a poker site unlike all the others. Although it's not real money, it hurts just as much when I get knocked out on a bad beat. Looking forward to 2005.

NewJane: Good luck to you at the playoffs, and I look forward to meeting you in January!

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