Seth Perlman ’14 is a poker enthusiast. Though only 18 years old, he has already won a poker tournament at the Morongo Casino in California and has also participated in a tournament at a casino in Ottawa.
Q When did you start playing poker?
A My great uncle from Texas was very, very interested in poker, and he’s played in a lot of big tournaments. When I was 5 or 6, he taught me to play, and every time we visited him or he visited us I’d play with him. At first it was just something I would do with him. When I was in ninth or 10th grade in high school, my cousin gave me a copy of “Super System,” a poker book, and it’s been by far my biggest hobby since. My parents are very supportive: When I turned 18, my dad took me to a casino in Canada to play in tournaments.
Q What do you like best about poker?
A I like the fact that there is no skill cap — at least no one has ever hit it. You can always improve what you are doing. The things I learn from poker affect the way I deal with problems and uncertainties in real life.
Q What makes poker better than other card games, like blackjack?
A I do like blackjack. The problem with blackjack is that it’s not a game. The computer can play blackjack perfectly every time. It’s not something that’s interesting. I like poker because it’s both unsolved and is the only game where the casino never minds when you always win.
Q Is there any tournament that you remember particularly well?
A I won a tournament in California with 70 people. It finished at 6:00 in the morning. It was enjoyable because it was one of the first tournaments of any size that I had ever played.
Q What do you think is the difference between an amateur player and a professional player?
A I think the main difference between an amateur player and a professional player is that an amateur plays his hand, while a pro plays the other person’s hand. A pro can, no matter what the next card is, make his opponent fold. Once you get to that level, it’s more of a combative game between people, and the game becomes more advanced and interesting.
Q Who is your favorite professional poker player?
A I have two favorite players. One is Barry Greenstein. He gives a massive amount of his tournament money to charities. He’s given away millions and is called the Robin Hood of poker. My other favorite player is Allen Cunningham. He’s not as well known, but he’s about as good as anyone in the world. He is almost never on television. He just goes to work every day, he plays for a massive amount of money, and he’s very good at it.
Interview was conducted, condensed and edited by Sean Wu.
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