In recent days, the popular poker training site CardRunners signed “Cash Plays” co-host John “Nicolak” Kim to its roster of instructors. Kim’s first video focused on $5/$10 No Limit Hold’em. He sat down with Poker News Daily to discuss becoming an official part of the CardRunners family.
Poker News Daily: Thanks for joining us. For those readers who aren’t familiar with it, talk a little bit about the “Cash Plays” podcast on CardRunners.
John Kim: It’s a podcast where we focus on play in cash games. Most podcasts are centered on poker news or tournament coverage, but we’re bringing a different angle and focusing on cash games. There are a lot of cash game players out there.
PND: Can you talk about what makes you an attractive fit to teach at CardRunners?
John Kim: The main thing I bring is that I have more experience than other pros out there. I’m kind of like the old guy in online poker. I’m in my mid 30s, married, have a kid, and have been playing for 12 years. I was there when online poker started off and have been playing as my primary source of income ever since. I know how to win at the games over the long run and how to adapt as the games have changed.
PND: What does it take to be successful in poker in the long run?
John Kim: It’s always being honest with yourself. A lot of players reach a point where they’re successful and think they don’t have to learn anymore. That’s when the game passes them by. I’ve been very honest with myself. If I feel my results aren’t what they should be, I’ll try to correct myself.
PND: How can players differentiate between running badly and variance?
John Kim: I’m at the point where I can recognize if I’m running badly or if the game has passed me by; I’ve been through that cycle three or four times now. Experience has helped me a lot and, also, when you get to a point where you’re good, you can recognize the mistakes you’re making. If you see the mistakes you’re making, you can work at them.
PND: What cash game stakes do you normally play?
John Kim: I play primarily $2/$4 to $5/$10 six-max online. That’s probably how I spend 90% of my time. In live cash games, I’ll play $5/$10 and $25/$50. Those games seem to be either near or at the top of the peak in terms of the toughness of the game.
PND: Talk about what types of videos you see yourself making for CardRunners down the road.
John Kim: I don’t think I’ll be covering a lot of fundamentals. Because the games are being filled with more regulars, I’ll be focusing on how to play against them. Most of the mistakes in high-stakes games are in how to beat the regulars.
PND: Do high-stakes regulars use programs like PokerTracker and Holdem Manager or do they rely primarily on memory?
John Kim: If you look at players at nosebleed stakes, I don’t think they use any of those programs. It’s more based on experience, feel, and the meta game. At $5/$10 and higher, the games are getting tougher and it’s more about the history that you and your opponents have with each other.
Memory is actually a quality that is overlooked to be successful in poker. If you can remember certain hands against certain players, when that situation comes up again, it allows you to make correct decisions against that person. Sometimes, I totally forget to look at my stats and just check my notes instead.
PND: As you told us, you’re primarily a cash game player. Do you see yourself focusing more on poker tournaments in the future?
John Kim: I’m going to stick with cash games, as they are a steady and stable source of income. Tournaments are more volatile and there is a lot more variance. The most successful tournament players in the world have gone a few years without a big score. With a wife, a kid, and a mortgage, I need stability. Cash games pay the bills, whereas tournaments are more of a luxury for me.
