Interview: Chip Leader Tom Schneider
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Tom Schneider has a massive chip lead here on Day 4 of Event No. 29: $5,000 H.O.R.S.E. Sitting on the top of the leaderboard, Schneider has an opportunity to win his second H.O.R.S.E. bracelet of the 2013 WSOP — and the fourth overall in his career.
Schneider recently won Event #15: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. for $258,960. In 2007, he earned the WSOP Player of the Year award by winning the $2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud 8-or-Better event and the $1,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo 8-or-Better tournament, and he also finished fourth in the $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event, collecting over $416,000 between the three final tables.
Before the final table resumed on Tuesday, we had an opportunity to talk with Schneider and get his thoughts on adding more mixed-games to the field, how he’s adjusted to a new-age of players, and how he felt going into the final table.
You won the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event just ten days ago. Why do you think you do so well in this event?
I’m lucky. I like a lot of different games and I’ve always played a lot of different games and I think that the more games you learn to play then the better off all your poker skills become. I’ve always thought that it’s best to really learn and get good at all the games because then you can go to the cash games and sit down on any table in the room and be a good player.
Greg Mueller may be equally as successful as you at the WSOP. How do you feel about playing against him in today’s event?
I love being on the final table with Greg; we have a great time. He is a great, great player and tough to beat so one just has to get lucky against him.
With mixed games becoming more popular, have you had to adjust your strategy from years past to now?
Not a whole lot really. I think my strategies years ago were OK and still seem to be working out all right still. I’ve adjusted a little bit for certain players but I always adjust based on the dynamics of the table as opposed to having a fixed strategy.
Have you ever had any kind of coaching or talk hands with other players or are you more of a self-taught player?
I’ve read a lot of books on various games. I do have a group of guys that I talk hands with, not very often but mostly when there’s an interesting hand or two that needs discussion. I try to think a lot about the game myself. I always say you should become your own expert.
What challenges have you faced playing a younger generation of players?
I think they are very aggressive, which is the right style to play. It’s interesting because people give some of the younger players a hard time because some just have attitudes but then again some of the older players have attitudes so it’s a universal act. That’s the only thing I can say about the game today, I don’t like the way some players treat others on the table. I like to have fun and enjoy myself. Younger players now a days, just have a lot more experience in a short amount of time.
How do you feel about the WSOP bringing back the $10K Championships or adding more mixed-game events?
I would certainly love to see that. I think it’s become very no limit Hold’em driven and I think that there’s a movement towards mixed-games. I would simply just like to see games other than no limit Hold’em be featured all the time. I like no limit but I think there are just too many events of just the one game.