With greater than $6.3 million in live tournament winnings, another $1 million online, two World Poker Tour titles and WPT Player of the Year honors, Jonathan Little has easily established himself as probably the most top poker pros at the circuit over the past decade.
The Pensacola, Florida native picked up the sport in college when he was studying psychology and engineering on the University of West Florida. He soon grew a large bankroll online and finally decided to drop out and pursue poker full time.
In January of 2007, he made his first of 4 WPT final tables when he took fifth within the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event for $317,873. Later that year, he won the Mirage Poker Showdown for $1,091,295 after which narrowly missed out on a second title when he finished because the runner-up within the North American Poker Championship for one more $714,905. In 2008, Little headed to Foxwoods, where he won the sector Poker Finals main event for $1,120,310.
Little has also found success on the World Series of Poker, where he has made four final tables, including a third-place finish within the 2013 $5,000 six-max event for $317,873. The 31-year-old Little has won 13 live poker tournaments during his career, including events at stops corresponding to the Festa Al Lago Classic, the Five-Star World Poker Classic, EPT Prague, the Lucky Hearts Poker Open, and The Million Dollar Heater.
But even perhaps more impressive than his long list of poker accolades, is the military of up-and-coming poker players he's forming behind him way to his tireless efforts as a poker educator. Little has written 11 poker strategy books in total, including the Secrets of professional Tournament Poker series, the Jonathan Little on Live No-Limit Cash Games series, the Strategies for Beating Small Stakes Poker series and Positive Poker: A CONTEMPORARY Psychological Option to Mastering Your Mental Game.
His latest release, Jonathan Little’s Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em brings together 18 of the best poker experts, including Phil Hellmuth, Mike Sexton, Olivier Busquet, Ed Miller, Scott Clements, and plenty of more to speak about all aspects of the game.
Card Player caught up with Little between tournament stops to speak about his poker career, how training others helps him keep his own game sharp and the way Card Player readers can improve their game along with his Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em webinar series.
Card Player: You’ve established yourself together with your series of books, webinars, columns for Card Player , Twitch streaming, and so on as probably the most consistent and popular poker educators within the business. What do you enjoy about teaching people to play better poker?
Jonathan Little: I'VE always enjoyed helping individuals who have the will to enhance themselves, whether or not it's at poker or life. I realize that I'D not at all be where I'M today if it was not for the immense kindness and generosity of numerous players who were willing to assist me out after I first started playing 13 years ago. I strive to be as helpful to my students as my mentors were to me.
CP: What have you ever been engaged on lately besides playing poker?
JL: MANY YEARS ago, while playing at a ecu Poker Tour stop, I SPOTTED that I'VE the original opportunity to speak about poker with among the best players within the game. I also realized that the majority amateur players never have that chance. I DETERMINED to determine how to bring the discussions the professionals have on a day-to-day basis to the players who need that information the most, those who find themselves doing everything of their power to improve.
I got down to find world-class players who're experts of their specific niche of poker and asked them to jot down between 20 and 50 pages on their subject of experience. The outcome was Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em, a terrific 500-page book stuffed with wisdom from the very best players and mindset experts on the planet. I couldn’t be happier with it!
CP: How has learning the sport of poker changed since while you started 13 years ago?
JL: Once I first started playing poker in 2003, there have been just a few how you can learn: books, discussion (both live and on forums), rudimentary programs, and experience on the table.
By the time I BEGAN playing for significant money after I was 19 years old, I had read basically every poker book available on the market. Unfortunately, a lot of them were on games which are rarely played or they contained blatantly bad advice. Today, there are lots of excellent books written by world-class players. I strongly suggest every player read a couple of books at the game in their choice by someone who beats those games.
I used to post at the various poker forums, which, on the time, provided an effective way to be informed because most of the people who were savvy enough to search out and post at the forums were highly motivated to be told. Today a few of the forums aren’t a really perfect option because they have got become too mainstream. The majority of people at the larger poker forums wish to tell everyone else how bad they're with the intention to make themselves feel important, making the forums somewhat useless to people who only need to improve their skills.
When I first started playing, I spent countless hours working with the early analytical poker programs, akin to Poker Stove and Sit N’ Go Power Tools. These provided invaluable insights that helped me develop a method that may be difficult to overcome. Today, there are lots of programs that may essentially let you know tips on how to play in an unexploitable way. Should you spend a ton of time tinkering with them, you're going to possess more knowledge than most players.
CP: Why should players take part in unique learning opportunities corresponding to your Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em webinar series?
JL: Today, perhaps essentially the most useful resources to poker players who're seeking to improve their skills are training videos and live webinars. Training videos are great because they help you see exactly how the video producer thinks. Webinars are even better because, along with seeing what the video producer is doing, you get to invite questions in real time. Of course, webinars may also be recorded to allow them to be replayed for those that cannot attend live.
I am currently hosting a chain of 18 free, one-hour webinars along with my new book, Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em.
Card Player readers can join this webinar series by clicking here!
This webinar series provides the viewers a singular opportunity to be told poker within the comfort in their homes from world-class players and mindset experts about their subject of experience totally free. I only wish I had this chance once I first started playing! I'M honored to be within the position to supply this webinar series to players who need to take their games to the following level.
CP: How has your individual poker game improved as your commitment to poker education has expanded?
JL: I constantly strive to enhance my poker skills. I realize that if you're not progressing at a faster rate than your opponents, you might be falling behind. I discuss poker with the very best players on the earth frequently and work flat out to develop sound strategies using various poker training programs.
When IT'S NOT THAT I AM traveling the high-stakes poker tournament circuit, I spend a big section of my time coaching students, writing books, and developing interactive webinars. By constantly serious about and discussing poker with players of assorted skill levels, I'M forced to completely understand every aspect of the game.
CP: Are you able to describe how your corresponding webinar series works and what poker players can expect to be told from these sessions?
JL: Each month, one of the crucial authors from Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em, in conjunction with myself because the moderator, will host a free one-hour webinar. Along with the monthly free webinar, each author may also host a closer four-hour webinar.
I decided to provide my very own webinars first to set the tone and supply an example to the opposite authors of the top quality that my students have come to expect. My free webinar discussed when to price bet and when to pot control. The corresponding four-hour webinar discussed methods to properly take into consideration hand ranges versus various varieties of opponents.
Ed Miller went second. His free webinar discussed live no-limit hold’em cash games as a war of data. His four-hour webinar outlined how you can use the tips you gather out of your opponents in live cash games to get extremely out of line to be able to blatantly exploit their mistakes and maximize profits.
Jared Tendler went third. His free webinar outlined his proven strategy for eliminating tilt, which many viewers found to be incredibly enlightening. His four-hour webinar was actually a workshop where he analyzed numerous tilt profiles that the webinar attendees submitted. This allowed the attendees to get immediate feedback and advice on their specific problems that they are able to immediately put into use.
I am excited to continue hosting these webinars each month. Each free webinar have been viewed by over 2,500 people, with each new one getting more viewers than the last. For those who aren’t taking part, you're missing out.
CP: How and why did you select the players you probably did in your book and webinar series?
JL: When selecting which pros to become involved within the book, I only asked a select group who I respected and desired to work with. Fortunately, enough of them replied and let me know that they'd like to be a part of the project.
For each author’s subject, I allowed them to jot down and teach about whatever topic they were captivated with. I DO KNOW that once I'M keen about something, I are inclined to do first-rate work. I hoped the authors would do the same, they usually didn’t disappoint.
Here are among the many chapters in Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em:
Lower Buy-in Tournament Strategies, by Chris Moneymaker
My Strategy for Success, by Scott Clements
An Overview of Poker Tells, by Zachary Elwood
Range Analysis, by Alex Fitzgerald
Short Stack Strategies: Old-fashioned Versus New School, by Phil Hellmuth and Liv Boeree
Tackling the general Table, by Jonathan Little
Playing Heads-Up, by Olivier Busquet
Mental Toughness: Without equal Psychological Edge, by Dr. Patricia Cardner
As for the webinars, I'VE again given the authors free reign to speak about whatever topic they're hooked in to. I'M excited to look what the longer term brings!
CP: You’ve now spent greater than ten years traveling the high-stakes tournament circuit. What are an important lessons you’ve learned along easy methods to remain a profitable player? And what are one of the biggest mistakes you spot players make which can be holding them back from being winning players?
JL: Consistently staying at the high-stakes tournament circuit for ten years is a minor miracle in itself! I'VE done numerous things right, but additionally many stuff wrong in my time as a certified poker player. Perhaps crucial thing I'VE learned is you need to constantly work for your game if you wish to stay on the top. Many players devote a big period of time to studying after they first start playing but then shift their attention entirely to grinding out profits on the table. A few of these players reach the high-stakes games but inevitably become disgruntled after they are relegated back to the small and middle-stakes games, because the average skill level in their opponents increases. The most productive players on the planet discover a balance such that they're consistently devoting time to both playing and studying. This permits them to continuously improve their skills while also setting up an inexpensive period of time on the table.
When you're playing poker, I suggest you're making poker your only focus. Within the past, I'D spend time on the poker table on my phone, coping with business issues, browsing the internet, and usually not being attentive. I now realize that my loss of focus certainly caused a decrease to my win rate. I'VE squandered a countless amount of equity with this leak. Your focus and effort on the table must be spent entirely on playing your best poker. Everything else can wait until you might be finished along with your session. A PRIMARY easy step within the right direction is to show off your phone.
Another focus-related leak I used to have was passing some amount of my time gambling, either at blackjack or on sports. Although I studied either one of these diligently, I never devoted the time to become world-class at either. This resulted in me spending time and effort making either neutral or –EV bets, that's the complete opposite of what every poker player excited by bankroll management should do. Sports betting was particularly distracting for me because once I wagered on a game, I MIGHT need to watch it or sweat the scores on my phone. Seeing how I WOULD LIKE to concentrate on poker after I am playing poker, betting on sports together was a big blunder.
Another thing I suggest poker players do is keep expenses low. Many players think once they have got a big score, they may be able to start spending money as though they'll win that quantity on a typical or semi-regular basis. This leads them to shop for a pleasing house and fancy car, fly first class, and stay within the most extravagant suites. While living like a rock star is awesome, you'll find that procuring these luxuries will quickly drain your bankroll, especially in case you are an insignificant mortal who doesn’t have a million-dollar score every year.
One final leak I BELIEVE many poker players have, especially on the middle and high stakes, is that they attempt to play a robotic, unexploitable strategy all the time. While playing in an unexploitable manner is perfect versus strong opponents, how you maximize your profits versus weak players is to recover out of line so as to exploit their tendencies. If you happen to study the most efficient players within the world, you will see that that they know the way to play an exceptional strategy that may be difficult to milk versus good players while adjusting severely to their opponents who will make blunders. For those who never get out of line, you'll have a troublesome time winning the utmost (or losing the minimum) versus players who frequently make mistakes.
CP: How do you retain your personal game sharp and what advice are you able to offer Card Player readers to do so?
JL: I currently spend most of my time discussing poker with my friends, coaching quite a lot of students, working with various poker programs, and studying training videos.
I strongly suggest everyone discover a group of poker-playing friends who desperately need to recuperate on the game. Schedule a standard time to speak poker with them each week. If the subject of conversation frequently veers clear of poker, you want to probably discover a new group. You too can post hands and concept questions about poker forums. Because the major forums now are inclined to provide an atmosphere that isn't conducive to learning, I arrange a small forum at my poker training site, FloatTheTurn.com, for humble, dedicated students of the sport who wish to improve their skills.
I also coach a variety of students at PokerCoaching.com. A few of them are beginners while others are world-class experts playing the top stakes. With the intention to explain poker to players of varied skill levels, I NEED TO fully understand what I'M teaching. Once I wrote my first book, Secrets of professional Tournament Poker, I DISCOVERED holes in my general strategy that I needed to work on (namely, I played poorly from the blinds and that i didn't respond well to extreme aggression). After pinpointing these flaws and dealing hard to correct them, these situations are actually a few of my strengths. When you consider each aspect of the game, you'll likely find areas you'll be able to improve. My students’ difficult questions force me to continuously improve.
I strongly suggest everyone spend an important period of time learning from poker training videos, and even better, highly interactive webinars. My webinar series for Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em provides a unprecedented opportunity to be told poker from the very best players within the game in real time free of charge. By learning from the most efficient players within the game, you will find numerous facets of your strategy that may be improved.
You must realize and accept that obtaining good at poker takes numerous exertions and diligent study. In the event you think you'll master the sport by simply showing as much as the casino once a week, you might be in for a rude awakening. It's removed from easy, but that’s an excellent thing because if it were easy, everyone can be great and you’d have a difficult time rising above your opponents. In the event you devote the time and effort that poker demands, you're going to eventually become a winning player for your games.
1. Overplaying Marginal Made Hands.
Almost without fail, on every occasion I play an incredible tournament where a lot of people satellite in, I see an amateur vastly overplay a hand like A-A after the flop. They see a board of J-9-5 and think that in the event that they can get all in at the flop, they have got the nuts. In reality, when 300 big blinds go into the pot after the flop, A-A is sort of always crushed.
2. Reraising Preflop With Only Premium Hands.
Many amateur players are inclined to play in a blatantly face-up manner before the flop. They reraise their best hands, or their best hands plus a couple of decently strong hands, comparable to A-J and K-Q, and contact with everything else. In reality, they need to be reraising with a variety tailored to exploit their opponent’s strategy. Against some players, you want to reraise together with your best hands and your hands that aren't quite adequate to name with, reminiscent of A-4 offsuit and K-7 suited, since you expect them to either four-bet or fold preflop. Against another, you must reraise with a shockingly wide variety to assist be sure to see the flop heads-up in position since you know he'll check-fold more often than not after the flop when he misses.
3. Playing Incorrectly With a brief Stack.
Most amateurs play either way too tight or way too loose with a brief stack. Either one of these problems will also be quickly solved by diligently studying a brief stack push/fold chart. These charts are available online through a snappy internet search. However, watch out of strictly following charts as they assume your opponents play well, which frequently is probably not the case.
4. Failing To check Clear of the Table.
I am constantly asked how I WILL make complex decisions on the poker table within the few moments it's important to act. The answer's I'VE studied most situations clear of the table. You might be fooling yourself when you think you'll be able to get a hold of the right kind decision in every spot with only a few minutes of thought. Poker is a hard game that requires diligent study.
5. Worrying About Short-Term Results
I was told repeatedly by amateur players that they can’t believe how unlucky they're. Usually these players have lost five tournaments in a row and can’t comprehend their “bad luck.” In reality, even though you're a world-class player, you're going to most definitely go 15 or more tournaments in row with out a cashes sooner or later for your career, in case you play enough. The earlier you comprehend the incredible variance that may be inherent to poker, the earlier you'll cope with the things that matter.
Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]
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