Sean Nolan has become one of the most dominant MSNL grinders around. Arguably one of the best players, Sean has his "eyes on the prize" when it comes to poker.
LiquidPoker.net: Name, age, and location
Sean : Sean, 22, Boston for the time being
LiquidPoker.net: Hobbies other than poker?
Sean : That's a good one. Lately it's like I have no hobbies but poker. I'm just real focused right now. Eyes on the prize. I take my life as a poker player serious and spend a pretty large portion of my time focusing on getting better. I'm pretty into cycling though. I made a blog post about my new Cannondale bike way back. I've been riding all over New Hampshire and am making plans to do some touring in Quebec on the bike as well. I also am a huge FIFA 08 for PS3 fan. If anyone on LP plays and wants to play some high stakes FIFA action get in touch. It's one of the best skill video games for HU action if you ask me. With two good players the thinking can get complex as far as how to attack etc. Other than those two things, I'm not into much. I would say I'm into travelling but after living out of a suitcase for five months and counting I'm looking forward to settling down.
LiquidPoker.net: How were you introduced to poker, and how did it evolve into a career choice for you?
Sean : I still actually remember my first hand of poker, and I was like 6 or 7 years old. It was a seven card stud game at a Christmas gathering in the city. One of my uncles went to take a piss or something so he had me play his hand for him. I ended up with a boat and won (although the guy next to me who had folded basically told me how to play the hand and why). I felt like the man. My uncle came back and was pretty shocked I won a big pot and gave me something like $1. For some reason that's one of my earliest vivid memories, and probably would still have been even if I didn't get into poker like I am now.
In my neighborhood a lot of my friends and I got quasi-legal under the table jobs when we were like 12-14 at sandwich places and delivering newspapers, things like that. Eventually when we were around 15 (pre-Moneymaker boom by a year or two I believe) one of my friend’s dad who was a total casino/gambling junkie taught us limit hold-em because he thought it would be the easiest game for us to pick up. I think we played .5/1 limit to start. We played every Sunday for a year, and then a few of us started picking up poker books. At this point we discovered we could bet without limits and that this made the game about 75x more fun.
As a side note, I'll mention that when my buddies Dad who introduced us found out we had switched to NL poker he sat us down and told us in a very serious manner that he didn't intend for us to play no-limit, and that it was in our best interest to go back to limit. He told us No-Limit was by nature a cut-throat game and it was not meant to be played amongst friends. I to this day find this warning pretty intriguing, as I always try to listen to old-timers as they generally are right more often than I am (outside of poker, at least!). More on this later.
Anyways, as we got better jobs and hustled a little more the game gradually went from 50nl, to 100nl and then 200nl just before I shipped off to college. I actually waited until I was 18 to play online because unlike most people my age I had respect for rules (I'm probably one of the only people on Earth who actively avoids pirating movies/music). When I turned 18 I made a few $50 deposits and mostly played $10 hu sit and gos. I probably busted like 5-10 deposits before I decided I had enough and put on I believe $300 with the condition that I would not play anything higher than a $10 sit and go. Eventually I started multi-tabling $15 turbos and built up a reasonable ($700) roll from that. At that time I found out about www.pocketfives.com and read a lot about GP and Mahatma and stuff and decided to give cash games a whirl. I immediately went to 12 tabling 25nl full ring. At this time I came across LP and moved on to 100nl six max and beyond. I started using HUD immediately on advice that I had found at p5's. I moved up much slower than the standards of the time and even today, employing a 100bi rule and making sure to play at least 100k hands at a level before moving up. I've been at MSNL for about 1.5 years now, and probably played about 1.5 million hands or so.
I used to work in the lobstering industry before full time poker. It was really rough, as I went to a pretty tough University (The University of New Hampshire), at least by my standards. My typical schedule was to wake up at 2am, head to the warehouse/docks. Work until noon. Drive back to school, take class until 6pm, hit the gym, and hopefully get 6 hours of sleep before repeating. There was a solid two years where I never got more than 6 hours of sleep per day. I worked seven days a week. My scholarship/grant $ was minimal and I was obsessed with graduating college without debt. I usually put in 40-60 hours a week depending on the season + full time school. When I entered MSNL I just did the math and recognized that I would make well over six figures at even a modest expectation. Once I had enough finances to secure all my tuition money I stopped working in seafood and embraced poker full time.
LiquidPoker.net: Do you see yourself bowing out of poker in the near future to pursue other life aspirations?
Sean : It depends on your definition of near future. I don't see poker dying any time soon but I think it takes a lot of resolve to keep at it for years and years. The game changes so quickly in the information age and I don't expect it to slow down. I'm a confident person but I'm realistic in the sense that new kids are coming into the game every day and I got to do a lot to stay on top of them. Poker is survival of the fittest at its finest. If you can't handle the swings and be real with yourself you're going to fail. The amount of denial in this industry is amazing. You got guys who live their whole life on stakes marginally winning wondering why they run so bad. I'm not taking a shot at anyone with that, that's just how it is. There are a lot of big dreamers out there that don't have an accurate self-assessment and place themselves in a world of hurt not leaving themselves other outlets for revenue.
So I guess to put it short, I'm putting my heart into the game right now and giving it everything I got. I'm trying to stack up as much as I can and then see if I can let my degree find me a more family-based stable career. Lately I've been looking into getting into real estate as I have some people in my life that can provide me with some solid advice in that avenue. I definitely don't plan on playing poker full time forever, but for now I gotta get the money while it's out there.
LiquidPoker.net: Do you think this denial that players have is from having a problem with their ego? Also, do you think there are any positive sides to having an ego?
Sean : Well, poker isn't a team sport. It's all about you. You have to use and refine your ego to put yourself in the best situations. I don't think denial comes from a "problem" with their ego, rather they aren't utilizing their ego appropriately and objectively. I think a lot of it has to do with jealousy. You see "Normal" guys around you in the poker community meeting with great and sometimes fast success and think that there's no reason you shouldn't see the same success. I have friends from home to this day who maintain that they are better than me at poker and I'm just lucky. I don't know if they actually believe that but I sure hear it often. In fact, I can list off a bunch of people known in this community and elsewhere who have told me that I'm garbage, and some of them are nowhere to be found today. That's not surprising to me, and I probably could have predicted it. I've always been fairly rational and conservative in regard to my mind state and my bankroll management. I work a 100bi+ rule for any game and it helps me stay focused, sane, and clear when I play.
To answer the second part of that question, I don't think an ego is something that should be looked at from the positive or the negative. Your ego is yours, and it's up to you to maintain and regulate so that you put yourself in the best situations for your play and mind state. The positive side of your ego is that you have one. Without it you would be apathetic to what goes on and would not be productive.
It's like anything else in life really. People want to get to the top easy and with shortcuts. They don't want to put the work in. They want to grind, but don't want to study forums and study the ways their enemies think at the table. In some cases, it's the opposite. You have to put in work or you won't make it in the long run. There's no "naturals" in this game, much like any other form of competition. Sure there are people with skill sets that give them competitive edge, but as the ill rapper canibus put it: "You're taking days off and talking about being the best? You're crazy! Champions take no breaks and train every day of the week." I try to adhere to that mentality.
LiquidPoker.net: In the poker community today, there are countless tools available to the players in the form of software, discussion forums, and training sites. With all of this available to anyone who is willing, it seems as if just studying over your own hand histories isn’t enough. How do you manage to stay ahead of this continuously evolving game?
Sean : It's definitely not enough to just study your own hand histories. I was beyond that from day one. When I first discovered poker forums (LiquidPoker being the first, actually), I remember immediately thinking "Perfect, now I can figure out how all these other guys think!" I wasn't even looking at forums in terms of how to get critiques of my own play, but rather to look at how other people critique others' hands. I felt this gave me some idea of how the people in my games were thinking and thought I could do good to exploit that. Of course I eventually got around to posting some of my own spots, but to this day I mostly use forums to try and figure out different trains of thought that people use when analyzing hands. Some people look at hands totally differently than others. Is he inducing a bluff, or making a small thin value bet? Things like that. I think using this analyzation of your enemies is key in developing your own game. I just try and use everything I can gather about the way others think in conjunction with my own self-analysis of my play to keep my game no point.
LiquidPoker.net: Is there anything you do outside of poker to keep your game sharp?
Sean : I generally have been somewhat health conscious. I end up riding the bike almost every day, as I really despise driving cars. I play a lot of basketball with my friends and brother as well. I like to read a lot of books and test myself in general mentally. I'll play chess on occasion even though I'm sort of rubbish. I think in reality I try to stay "sharp" overall in my life, physically, emotionally, mentally etc. If I feel like I'm dulling in one of those facets I'll usually take time off from poker to correct it. I'm not as much of a party animal as most people my age, I think this benefits me a lot at the tables. I doubt I'll drink alcohol at all in four or five years from now.
LiquidPoker.net: Do you believe that karma exists in any way shape or form?
Sean : Wow, haha. Man that's a funny question because it's got layers of complexity involved. I could go on and on really and talk about random philosophies and the variables of dimensions and parallel universes and all that junk. I read up on that stuff all the time because I struggle to wrap my head around it and it's a big challenge for me. That sounds type nerdy but I guess I just like to push it. I'm not sure how many lives I have to live so I really try to wrap my head around stuff like that.
The short answer is Yes. I think karma is real. I think you are a product of your products and environment. You get what you give type thing. I think it's the basic law of relativity really. Every action has a reaction type of thing. If some dude gets away with an armed robbery and doesn't ever get imprisoned for it, there are a few factors at play. His life is already tormented if he has to resort to that, and he has to possibly live with nagging guilt the rest of his life. On the other side of that one, there are definitely people who seem to be wholly in absence of any kind of emotion, especially guilt, so who knows.
When it comes to competition, I think karma is more so logic than a principle or philosophy. Some people will be more natural than others, but the work you put in will be seen in your results. The lack of work you put in will likewise be evident if that is the case. There's a lot of people who want to think they are working so hard and putting in so many hours and if it "wasn't for my degen habits!" or some other BS that they'd magically be Rekrul. Just makes me want to be like NEWSFLASH: GET A FU**ING CLUE. From a personal perspective I don't think I had great natural talent at all, but I did work. Plain and simple. I've put in so much work, and I'm doing better than I could have hoped for but I'm not even scratching the surface of what it takes to be at the top.
Just today I was having dinner with a childhood friend and we were talking about poker and he was remarking at how fascinating he thought it was that back a few years ago I could force myself to mega-table .10/.25 and just play tight and solid. He wanted to know how I could do that without getting bored. I told him that I could do it because at some point I sat myself down and told myself that was what I was going to do because I wanted to make it to the next step. I had never really actualized those words or recognized that there really was a conscience moment where I took a minute with myself to assure myself that it was time to get serious. I think having this sort of "epiphany" was key in my getting serious with poker, and maybe reflective of my (and other poker players?) personality types as a whole. I'd also like to apologize for writing a novel in response to every question, you've just asked some real complex stuff and I'm struggling to cover all my thoughts on them. Hopefully I'm giving people the right idea however.
LiquidPoker.net: You've been named by many as one of the best MSNL players around. Do you see yourself breaking into the high stakes games, and even some nosebleed games in the near future?
Sean : The short answer is yes. Like I sort of mentioned before, I'm pretty critical and really wanted to prove myself at MSNL. I think its wholly reasonable for someone to run hot for 100k+ hands and I wanted to make sure my skill edge was accurately where I assessed it at. I've been playing a lot of 5/10 and 3/6 heads up in preparation for playing the 10/20 and possibly 25/50 heads up games soon if I can get some more loot onto FTP (anyone known looking for large money swap let me know). I've actually already fish hunted about 5k hands of 10/20 heads up and have done pretty well. I played a lot of 10/25 and 5/10 (200bb bi) at Foxwoods this summer and had a lot of success, which was good for my confidence.
It's really just about stability for me. The fear of the unknown if you will. I don't know how I'll react to a 20k+ downswing in a short time frame and thus like to leave myself a big cushion and strong confidence level before pushing myself into that environment. I think I'm ready now though. It may be interesting to look back on this a year from now, as I'm writing this basically at the start of my journey into 10/20+.
Lately if I've seen good regulars that I know play higher sitting at 5/10 heads up or whatever I'll give them action. I have the roll to handle the swings, and I think the experience I'd gain from it would be invaluable, even if they weren't playing their "A-game" or playing "serious." I hope he doesn't mind me mentioning this, but recently I played a few tables hu with TJ Bentham and as with any solid regular, it was a very educational experience, even though I got thoroughly smoked. I think once you have the roll and the willpower to get better and advance to high stakes, you gotta take some shots at some guys you know may be better than you. There's only one way to get better at the game, and it isn't always congruent with the way to make the most money at the game.
That being said, I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with fish-hunting and making your bread that way if you're content with where you are at. It's wholly possible that I'll decide high stakes isn't for me and revert to just trying to doze the games where I feel my edge is best and stress is minimal.
LiquidPoker.net: A lot of players have been spending lots of time and money learning how to master PLO. Do you think it is necessary to be diverse in terms of being able to play multiple variants of poker?
Sean : It can never hurt to be good at a form of poker a lot of people are playing. Go check out the PLO tables on your site of choice right now. It's immediately clear there are far less regulars than there are at holdem. I've been playing a lot of PLO lately (mostly heads up). I'd say it accounts for as much as 30% of my overall play at this point. I've been at it for about three months and find it immensely profitable. Poker, much like anything else is ever-evolving and doing what you can to stay ahead of the curve is part of your job description if you are going to take yourself seriously as a poker player. In my humble opinion.
LiquidPoker.net: Is there anyone in poker who you consider a role model?
Sean : I look up to a lot of my friends from my home game. I know I wouldn't be here without them giving me the experiences necessary to get it together online. They've also been invaluable in showing me the nuances of gambling and vice industries and how to protect yourself in a world like that. I mentioned earlier how one of our players fathers' was really nervous and apprehensive about us playing NL. This sort of came to life as certain players in the game would go broke and develop borderline addictions. I got to see how some people were not trustworthy with money or their word. This obviously replicates itself daily on the internet.
I really don't think there's one particular person who is my role model, more so that the community as a whole is an educational tool for me. I look up to anyone who is out there trying their best and not making excuses for their shortfalls. I've learned a lot from people in all facets of the game, and generally look up to those who do it without theatrics or motivations that go beyond playing their best.
Poker is a real personal, ego driven game, so in general I find it most beneficial to focus on myself at this point in time.
LiquidPoker.net: What drives you to be successful? Most people say they are just naturally competitive, but it seems like you have something much stronger that drives you to be the best.
Sean : I'd say it's really just about doing it myself, supporting myself, and building on what I've already accomplished. I don't think it's necessarily realistic for me to say I'm going to be the best. It's possible that I could get to the top, but I think it's an unrealistic goal. I just like being my own man, and answering to no one but myself. It's fulfilling for me to have 100% accountability for my financial situation.
I obviously am still competitive, and like being ahead of others, but realistically, I'm already ahead of 99% of the poker playing population, and consider this a tremendous achievement in my life, if not perhaps one of my best personal achievements.
LiquidPoker.net: When most players hit their first major breakeven stretch or downswing, they begin to doubt their ability to play poker professionally. Have you experienced any downswings or stretches that made you doubt your poker ability?
Sean : All the time. The ability to overcome those feelings and persevere is what separates the weak from the herd, if you will.
Since people like hearing numbers, just recently I had -20k or so downswing, and have just managed to pull out of it after about 3 weeks or so. I didn't doubt my ability too much however, and just focused on making sure I was playing my A-game or not playing at all, and things worked out. When you're running hot (as I was before the downswing) it's easy to start playing a B/C/D game and being unaware that it's becoming habitual. When reality catches up to you, you need to respond.
If you can't overcome the swings you won't make it in poker, simple as that. Everyone gets them, and how you deal with them generally categorizes where you'll end up in poker, if you ask me.
LiquidPoker.net: What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?
Sean : I don't really try to predict the future. I'm like a Buddhist man, just focus on the present. I certainly hope I'm not playing poker though.
LiquidPoker.net: Time for some short answer questions! Obama or Mccain?
Sean : Obama.
If I had it my way, the Libertarian party would win. It's a New Hampshire thing I think, but less government is good government. The U.S.A. is getting really scary to me, with the patriot act and all this stuff making me more and more insecure. The Republican party is too tainted and corrupt for me. I know the Dems aren't saints but Obama is younger, and therefore more in touch. It's as simple as that for me. I also cannot stand the Republicans campaign seeming to be based more on bashing the opposition rather than promotin the self.
LiquidPoker.net: Poker Stars or Full Tilt?
Sean : I've spent 98%+ of my "career" at Stars and love the VIP program etc. That being said, I plan on trying to split my roll onto FTP so I can have better game selection. I have faith that FTP will step up to the plate and get back on a similar level as PS in regards to customer service/money movement (for USA players anyways).
I think PS really only has a slight edge, and most exaggerate it. They're both top notch sites if you ask me.
LiquidPoker.net: Laptop or Desktop?
Sean : I despise playing on a laptop. I like to play too many tables, and I HATE cascading. I'll only play on tiled tables, so when I'm on a laptop its heads-up only for me. That's half the reason I got so into heads up play actually; being on the road so much and incapable of cascading I've resorted to just 4-tabling hu on the laptop. I could never see myself having the same comfort zone I do on a big setup using a laptop however.
LiquidPoker.net: Favorite drink?
Sean : I'm kind of addicted to vitamin water lately. It's probably still second place to regular water however. I really really love water and milk. Those two are the best. When it comes to alcohol, I'm kind of a beer snob. When it comes to mainstream stuff my go-to beer is Amstel Light. If it's a microbrew I'm a big fan of Dogfish Head, Stone IPA, and Redhook Longhammer IPA. I like the pale ales.
LiquidPoker.net: Favorite non-rap song?
Sean : I hate to pick just one, but I'll throw a handful that generally fall into rotation as number 1.
Pachelbel - Canon in D Major
Neil Young - Rockin' in the free world
Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
Trentemoller - Moan
Isis - Carry
RHCP - Snow
to name a few.
LiquidPoker.net: Favorite rap song?
Sean : Nas - Halftime
without a doubt.
LiquidPoker.net: Open floor for shoutouts.
Sean : I'd like to give a shoutout to the higher being, anyone who ever set me straight when I was out of line, all my teachers and work supervisors who took time to reach me, everyone who shared thoughts in poker that helped me to rethink my game, Big Bob and everyone in the Vegas house who gave me a place to crash for an extra couple days before I had to jet, my family for keeping a roof over my head, food on the plate, and doing their best to prepare me for the ways of the world, and last but not least LP for allowing me to elevate my game and giving me the opportunity to meet people with similar interests who could lend a helping hand. Hopefully in turn I can provide something positive to all those who took the time to read through all this. Take care.
LiquidPoker.net: Thanks for taking the time for this interview 
Sean : Np
Sean on the left, with two homies from the south side.
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Sweden. Aug 27 2008 04:11. Posts 8192
