Player Presentation:

Name: Sampsa Hytönen – Qualifier to the EPT Deauville through RedKings
Age: 18
Live tournament career: EPT Deauville will be the first tournament
Comments:
Best Poker Player: Patrik Antonius
Favourite food: Proper steak with French fries
Favourite city: Helsinki – Go Finland!

Player Blog:

I started playing poker just by coincidence in the beginning of 2005 or maybe the WPT broadcasts in the Finnish TV that started then had something to do with it. However I got my first interest to the game very early on while playing cards with my grandfather. After that I was hooked!

First I mainly played some freerolls (which were pretty loose back then) through my parents accounts as I was not old enough to play from my old account (I just turned 18 in April). I moved to ring games at the end of and now I multi table mainly nl400 and plo400 shorthanded. I also play some big MTTs and I plan to play live more in the Casinos.

I like to think that my main strength is the ability to know when my hand is strong and when it isn’t, no matter am I holding a King high or the second nuts. I never really read any poker books except the “pokeriopas” by Pyysing that I even still like to browse while I am sitting on the toilet.

To me the best way to learn poker is just by playing, how else? You just need to get a lot of hands under your belt and your game will get better. “Practice makes the champion”, isn’t that with everything?

I have however learned from coaching videos. I like to study them especially when I feel that my own game is not up to standard. One of the main things in poker is to keep playing your A+ game most of the time. Good bankroll management is vital in poker and going tilt is not very good for your bank roll..

I have many idols, but I guess Patrik Antonius is the idol number one, not just because he is Finnish, but the fact that he is a very versatile player. He can play in many forms of the game on an excellent level. His game is not the only thing I admire about him but the fact that he has gotten himself from the bottom to the top and made his career just by playing. He has also managed to keep a level head and not let fame get to him. You also got to respect Phil Ivey because you need to be a f------ good player to win at the Full Tilt high stakes tables each month.

No I prepare for the Deauville EPT and I will be updating my blog prior to that.. stay tuned.