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SpadeClub member Mike “MIKEG23” Garcia took first place in the July 12 WPT Boot Camp Giveaway, and he has been telling everyone about his exciting win. Garcia has been a SpadeClub member since March 24 and referred a friend to play on SpadeClub to gain entry to the promotional tournament. He has a big family with seven kids and is usually found pampering his younger children while playing poker online.
“I have a five-month-old baby, and I had to hold him while I was playing and change a few diapers during the tournament, too,” he said.
Garcia sat down with Card Player to discuss his dreams of becoming a poker pro and to let us know which WPT Boot Camp he is excited to attend.
Card Player: How did you hear about SpadeClub?
Mike “MIKEG23” Garcia: I subscribe to Card Player magazine and saw an ad in there about SpadeClub and decided to check it out.
CP: Do you have a story behind you screen name?
MG: Well, the cards 2 and 3, they are lucky cards for me. I don’t know why, but they have always been lucky for me, even when I first started playing.
CP: How did you get started playing poker?
MG: My cousin got me into it. He said there was a lot of money in poker, and he wanted to start playing, so I agreed to start palying with him, and I have been addicted ever since.
CP: Do you play live or just online?
MG: I do [play live], but I haven’t been playing lately. I have a big family, with seven kids, and I have also just recently got married. I am going to go this weekend so I can get some practice before I go to the WPT Boot Camp. I have to work really hard for my money, so that is why I have been focusing on poker a lot this year.
CP: What are some of your other poker accomplishments?
MG: I have won a few local poker tournaments, and I usually win at all of the home games we have about once a week. My friends know me as “the one to beat”!
CP: Was there a particularly key hand that you played in the WPT Boot Camp Giveaway tournament that helped lead you to victory?
MG: I would have to say the key hand I played was when I was heads up. I had a pair of fours, and there were all key cards on the board. My opponent was trying to bluff me, so I went all in, and he folded. I was down to 100,000, and he was at $500,000, so this hand basically doubled me up, and I just kept going from there.
CP: What do you think of the playing style on SpadeClub?
MG: I think SpadeClub is for people who already know the game and play it well. It is my favorite poker site to play on because it feels more like a home game. On other poker sites, too many people chase cards and end up getting the flush or the straight they wanted, and it is unrealistic. SpadeClub makes you feel as if you are playing a live tournament, and when people chase, they usually don’t get what they want. I like to play professionally, and I think this site does a great job at making it feel like a live tournament.
CP: Have you participated in any of the community features on SpadeClub? What do you think?
MG: I was surprised to know [that other SpadeClub members] were watching, and after I won, there were a lot of people congratulating me. I do like how you can leave comments and stuff. The runner-up even congratulated me a lot, and he left me a comment on my profile page. I was really surprised and told him he had a lot of class.
CP: Do you have any general advice to share with our readers about succeeding at SpadeClub?
MG: Just play right and don’t chase. I see that on SpadeClub that whenever someone chases they get knocked out, just like in real tournaments. So don’t take risks, don’t chase!
CP: Do you know which WPT Boot Camp you will be attending?
MG: I would love to attend the two-day tournament camp held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in
CP: Anything else you would like to add?
MG: I just want to say that I tell all of my friends about SpadeClub. I tell them it is honestly the best poker site I have ever played on; my wife even likes it, too.
