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SpadeClub member Tate “colsha” McDaniel finished in first place on Sunday, July 6, during the $5,000 weekly event to take home his $1,500 share of the prize pool. McDaniel stays pretty busy with his two kids’ activities but always finds time to play the game he loves, poker. He has been playing for about 20 years but still considers himself to be a recreational player.
McDaniel loves playing on SpadeClub and told Card Player, “I would like to thank SpadeClub for providing a fun, clean atmosphere to play online. On other sites, you have to deal with a lot of things that take away from the enjoyment of the game. On SpadeClub, I think we all like to see our fellow players do well and have success at the tables.”
Tate “colsha” McDaniel recently sat down with Card Player to discuss his win and his love of poker.
Card Player: How did you hear about SpadeClub?
Tate “colsha” McDaniel: Actually, from Card Player magazine.
CP: Do you have a story behind your screen name?
TM: Well, I took the first three letters of my two kid’s names and just combined them.
CP: How long have you been playing poker?
TM: I started playing with some of my friends in college
CP: Do you think SpadeClub is a good learning ground for people who are looking to start playing?
TM: Yes, you get to participate in a lot of tournaments and get a lot of play time for a minimal investment.
CP: What’s the most money you’ve ever won in a poker tournament?
TM: Well, I think it was around $2,000.
CP: When do you plan on cashing out your winnings, and do you have any plans for the money you just won?
TM: I just cashed out and plan on trying my luck in some live tournaments at a local casino.
CP: Was there a particularly key hand that you played in the tournament that helped lead you to victory?
TM: There were two, actually, one with two tables left and one at the final table. Both times I had pocket aces and the second-highest chip stack had pocket kings, and the aces held up both times.
CP: What do you think of the format for the tournaments on SpadeClub?
TM: I think the blind structures are great and allow for a lot of play.
CP: What event do you look forward to most?
TM: Well, the monthly $40K, of course!
CP: Does your playing-style differ when playing a points tournament versus a cash tournament on SpadeClub?
TM: No, I think consistency is key when your playing poker, so I try to play as consistently as possible in all of the games.
CP: What advice can you give to other SpadeClub members looking to go deep in these tournaments?
TM: I would have to say, try to stay patient and don't be afraid to lay down top pair if you think you are beat.
CP: Have you participated in any of the community features on SpadeClub? What do you think?
TM: Yes, I think the community feature is great and allows you to lean a great deal from your fellow players at the site.
CP: Do you have any general advice to share with our readers about succeeding at SpadeClub?
TM: Have fun at the tables and enjoy the tough competition that the Spade Club players offer.
CP: What do you think sets great players apart from merely good players?
TM: The ability to think clearly when their opponents are putting maximum pressure on them throughout a hand.
CP: What was your first poker experience like?
TM: We played a lot of different games when I first started so there was usually tons of action which made playing a lot of fun.
CP: Tell me a little about yourself.
TM: I am married with two kids, so we stay very busy with their activities. My wife and I like to see new places throughout the country when we have the opportunity, though.
