SpadeClub Poker Winner: Chris 'jakeeight' Herder

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Exclusive member Chris “jakeeight” Herder took out 1,158 entrants in the $5,000 weekly event on SpadeClub. Herder has been playing poker since 2003, and SpadeClub member “DrunknMunky” got him interested in SpadeClub.com this March. Herder plans to use his winnings, plus more accumulated over the past year, to take his family and in-laws to Disney World in December. He said, “Say a prayer for me.” Herder enjoys playing on SpadeClub because the community features makes it feel more personal.

“I really like the SpadeClub premise,” said Herder. “It's nice to have something to shoot for at the end of the week. And I really like how SpadeClub listens to the players and their ideas. It's the only site I play on, anymore.”

Card Player got the chance to ask Herder some more questions about his poker play and his family life.

Card Player: Tell me a little about your life outside of poker.

Chris “jakeeight” Herder: There's something outside of poker? My wife and I have six kids and live on a farm on the outskirts of Chicago. We own and operate a moving company right out of the house. On the farm, we have horses that we use locally and nationally in Team Penning competitions. Three of my five daughters compete, along with my father me, and what's nice is you have to have three on a team, so very often we have three generations on the same team, and we even won a World Championship that way. I am also in a swing band [ojbmusic.com] that plays on the weekends for weddings and other functions. I have been in that since 1986.

CP: What was the most important thing that you did to get your game to where it is today?

CH: Play play play. I really believe you can read all of the books you want and watch all of the shows you can stomach, but until you are on the bubble and looking down at pocket Kings after someone else goes all in, putting your whole tournament at risk, you are not prepared.

CP: What is the one thing that you wish you knew about earlier in your poker career?

CH: Be aggressive!

CP: What is your general strategy going into a tournament?

CH: Wow, I thought this was gonna be a puff piece. Um, well, I try to be patient in the beginning, aggressive in the middle, and smart at the end. It all depends on blind structure, for me.

CP: What factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to continuation-bet when you miss the flop?

CH: I try to make a continuation every time. If I miss, I imagine what the caller(s) are playing, and if I think they had to miss the flop, as well, I pound it pretty hard. Unless, of course, they are in a blind, then I might put on the brakes.

CP: What do you think is the key to success when a tournament gets down to heads-up poker?

CH: Patience; usually you have more time than you think.

CP: What is your method to go about piecing together the kinds of hands your opponents could be holding?

CH: That's probably the weakest part of my game. Fortunately, SpadeClub is small enough to get a good read on players because you see them so often, and I have played with the guys at my home games forever. But when I am out or in Vegas, man, I guess I give them respect until I see them show down, or unless they are always pounding the pot.

CP: Who was your toughest opponent in the event and why? What aspects of their games made them tough to play against?

CH: The guy who always raises. We have a few at the home game, and you see them all of the time online. They are tough because they really put the screws to you. With them, all of your somewhat questionable hands are garbage, and you had better flop the joint if you want to call them or come over the top. And I don't care who you are, I hear it from everyone of every ability, sometimes it is just too hard to pull the trigger, especially early.

CP: What advice can you give to other SpadeClub members who are looking to go deep in these tournaments?

CH: Stay away from BubbRubb. The thing about online tourneys is they drop like flies in the early stages. People think they need to double or triple up in order to be competitive, and they bury themselves. I wait for good hands early and make my moves. In the middle, I turn it up a little. And, I confess, I tend to pick on short stacks.

CP: What’s the most money you’ve ever won in a poker tournament?

CH: Last week's $5K [this tournament], I won $1,500. I think I won $1,200-$1,300 one other time and $1,000 a few times.

CP: Have you participated in any of the community features of SpadeClub? If so, what do you think?

CH: Like the Blogs? Yes, I have posted a few and responded to others. I like that part of SpadeClub a lot. It makes the site seem even smaller and more personal.