Trying to get interviews with anybody during the holidays is a tough task. Trying to get interviews with a new millionaire during the holidays? Good luck with that.Still, it’s better late than never and Pilipinas Poker (finally) caught up with PP member and representative Nathan Argamosa (or popularly known in the PP forum as nathanjo69er.) for a quick chat about his recent win in the Resorts World Manila (RWM) 6M Poker Fiesta Fast Track.

Pilipinas Poker (PP): Hi Nathan, can you tell us more about yourself outside away from the tables? What’s a regular day for you like?

Nathan Argamosa (NA): Well I was born in Lopez, Quezon my parents are both from Lopez, Quezon but I grew up in BF Homes Paranaque-- where my mother live. Me and my wife moved here in Bacoor, Cavite in 2002 we have a 3-storey building (commercial and residential unit) here in Bacoor that I’m assigned to maintain.

I also have some small business here like a barber shop, an internet shop and a dental clinic as my my wife is a dentist. I’m a graduate of Mapua in 1998 M.E. passed the board then studied again in 2005-2008 B.S. Customs Administration in PMMS Las Pinas also passed the board in 2008.

PP: Wow you do wear a lot of hats, what’s your line of work anyway?

NA: Before, we manufacture handicrafts and export it in US and Australia our family business since 1985 I think but in 2010 our orders dwindled since most of the buyers moved to China and in 2011 we just decided to close the company.

PP: Most PP members know you as the poker player, any other personal non-poker stuff you want to share with your fellow PP members?

NA: Aside from poker I also have a passion for cockfighting my stepfather, who died last October R.I.P., have a medium-sized farm in Quezon about 150-200 heads and I am the one who was in-charge whenever they have a fight here in Manila, Pasay, SanJuan and Araneta Coliseum. I also managed a sabungan in a province for 2 years in 2000.

PP: Now let’s shift our topic to poker… At what age did you learn it, at what age did you start taking it seriously, or probably considered it as more than a game—but a job or a source of income.

NA: Since childhood mahilig na talaga ako maglaro ng baraha pusoy, pusoy dos, tong its, majhong then I watch poker being played on tv madali ko lang syang naintindihan since expose nga ako sa larong pusoy. Last 2009 nung nag set up nga ako ng internet shop dito sa Bacoor nagbakasyon yata yung bantay ko sa shop so ako ang nagbantay the whole day nakita ko me naglalaro ng poker sa facebook (zynga).

Since alam ko naman kung pano laruin I played it since then dumami ng dumami yung play chips ko tapos me nagsabi pa sakin na nabebenta daw yun. Lalo ako nagkainteres paramihin nung naging pera na yung zynga chips ko. I looked for online poker site na real money first sa fulltit then pokerstars nung umpisa kala ko madali lang kagaya ng zynga. (Laughs)

Mahirap pala nagumpisa ako puro deposit then naghanap na ko ng mga poker forums nagbasa then natutunan ko na yung bankroll management simula nun unti unti lang naging winning player na din. My first live game is in MBC in MOA someone told me na me bagong bukas na poker room dun since malapit lang naglaro ako.

I don’t actually consider playing poker a job just a hobby if it brings income then good if it doesn’t it’s ok also at least you enjoyed playing the game.

PP: By the way, what/who influenced you to play the game (and take it to the next level)? Any specific PP friends we know that became a major influence to you playing poker?

NA: I think the whole Pilipinas Poker community influenced me. (Laughs) When I first joined the PP satellite in Poker Royale I got a seat to a 1M tournament in Metro that was my first major tourney I survived Day 1 but busted out on Day 2 almost near the money.

Since then naging suki na ako sa mga PP satellite and proud din kc madalas naman ako makakuha ng seat para sa mga major tourneys kung di man ako makakuha ng seat masaya din kc nakakalaro mo yung mga kaibigan mo mas masaya kc ang kulitan sa PP satellite. (Laughs)

PP: How difficult was the RWM 6M Poker Fiesta tourney? Pretty sure you had some hard decisions to make there, care to elaborate on some of the hands you encountered or probably equally memorable players who made it harder for you to reach the title?

NA: RWM 6M was a very tough tourney considering the number of foreigners and local pros in field. At the start of Day 1, I was running quite good build my stack to around 50k then in the last level of Day 1, I was holding 88 cut-off position I raised pre-flop about 2.5 times the BB blinds at 400-800 got two callers the SB and BB flop shows 10,8,5. They both checked and I bet around 2,500. The SB re-raise me to around 20k and I announced all in he calls and showed JJ. But the turn gave a J! And I was down to around 8k good thing I steal some blinds and double up thru Atty. Jude and survived the day with around 22k in chips.

In the first level of Day 2, I was just lucky when I tripled up when Bernard Chua open shove with 33 I was in the SB when I looked at QQ and I announced all-in. To my surprise the BB who is a Russian I think also announced all-in! Sabi ko patay nakatapak pa yata… The Russian showed AK luckily my QQ held.

Then few after few levels I busted out sir Vic de Guzman with my QQ again vs. AK since then I had about 120k in chips and cruised around just to finish the day just to be in the money. I finished Day 2 with just 86k still short stack.

PP: Which day would you consider to be the key one in your RWM title run? And what point of the final table did your realize that you can actually win it all?

NA: I think day 3 was the key in my title run, I was all-in several times luckily when I got a caller I doubled up, also I was stealing blinds more often to survive because the blinds were moving higher. There’s one crucial coin flip that I remembered in day 3 when I open shoved UTG with 88, blinds were 30k-60k and I have around 340k stack. Someone called with AQ luckily his hand didn’t improve and I double up to around 700k+ in chips since then I just waited for the final table and maintained my stack.

In the early stage of the final table I can’t find any cards to play there’s a couple of times when I made a play holding J8 and QK, I raised it UTG then somebody will re-raise it big and I will throw my hand.

There’s one point in the final table where I’m the shortest stack with 6 players left had about 380k and decided to make a move because I did not want to be blinded out. I made a brave move during my BB, Rommel Angeles on SB min-raise (20k-40k) to 100k he has about 400k behind and I thought I can make him fold his hand I pushed all-in holding QJ. Rommel tanked for a while but to my surprise he hesitantly called showing KJ off-suit, I was dominated but the flop spiked a Q and held!

Few hands later I took a hit when I called a shove of Ed Marcelo’s JJ vs. my AK my hand didn’t improve and I’m back as the shortest stack on the table once again. After few orbits the Korean busted out Ed Marcelo on a sick hand AJ vs KQ on a flop of Axx turn K river Q and I’m the only pinoy left with 4 players--Korean, German, and a Russian.

Again with only about 300k in chips left I decided to shove at UTG with K10 suited got called by KQ (German) flop went Kxx but a miracle 10 landed on the turn! A few hands later and 3 players left got another double up when my 77 held up against A5 of the Korean.

My biggest suckout came when I shove my KJ (button) and called by the Korean with AK (SB) flop gave AQJ and another miracle turn J river x I became the chip leader with 3.5M chips from thereon I realize I can win it all and I also felt that my 2 opponents (Russian and the Korean) are afraid of me not because I’m good but because I’m lucky (Laughs)

I busted out the Russian with my 10-10 vs. his K4 and the heads up was only 1 hand KK vs. 88 all in pre-flop board gave K77xx..

PP: Congratulations on the big win, is this your largest haul yet in a poker game--cash or tourney? How satisfying is this win to you personally?

NA: Yes so far this is my biggest win in poker. This one is memorable because I only got the seat from a freeroll, thanks to Pilipinas Poker without the seat I don’t think I would play this tourney.

PP: Do you think joining a community like Pilipinas Poker specifically helps your poker game? PP is known as Iskul Bukol but with you coming out as champion, maybe this validates that existence of such (satellites and other poker activities) helps the PP member?

NA: Yes definitely, especially during the PPAPAT season. I just hope they will organize another one. PP was branded Iskul Bukol siguro kase nakikita nila maraming kulitan dito sa forum we are just enjoying the game hindi naman kami nagpapagalingan having fun is the bottom line.

I always joined PP satellites but winning is only my second priority mas nageenjoy ako after the game yung tinatawag namin na “final table”-- drinking session with sir Infinite, tiktak, manager raph, myx, benno, pj, whoody, protek, HCH’s coke in can, etc...

PP: Any message to your fellow PP members?

NA: Just believe that you can win a tournament maybe a little courage can open your box of luck!

PP: Thank you, Nathan

Christopher Runas, or “Tofie”, his nickname at Pilipinas Poker (PP) sat down with us for a short talk tackling topics the beginning of his poker experience and lately, his mad dash to the first-place finish in the Metro Poker Festival (MPF) 2012. Being the PP rep in this 10,000 buy-in tournament, his victory was of course, PP’s achievement as well.

Away from the poker tables, Tofie is your regular guy who wears many hats in his line of work: he’s a producer and director of many popular TV shows as well as being part of a creative staff in ABS-CBN’s weekly programs.

He calls his MPF win “destiny”—but after this short talk, everyone would agree that fate alone is not enough to win big tournaments… After all, not everyone can win a measly 800 pesos Pilipinas Poker satellite tournament and then go all the way to the top…

PP: Hi Chris, where are you from?

Tofie: Christopher My parents are from La Union, although we already lived here in Manila since I was an infant. I grew up in Pasig, but I’ve been living in QC for more than 10 years now.

PP: What is you day job? Can you tell us more about yourself outside a poker room?

Tofie: I own a production house where we produce TV programs as blocktimer (we are currently producing shows aired in Studio 23 and TFC, although we have produced programs shown in other stations, as well). I produce and direct said TV programs. We also line-produce shows (where financers/producers ask us to produce their shows) and create corporate videos, as well. I am also part of the Creative Staff of one of ABS-CBN’s top-rating weekly programs.

PP: Any non-poker stuff you want to share with us? What are your other interests/hobbies?

Tofie: I love reading newspapers, as well as books. Although most of the books I read are business/marketing books.

PP: Now, let’s talk poker… At what age did you start playing poker? When did you start to take the game more seriously?

Tofie: I started playing Texas Hold ‘Em Poker in 2008. I was invited by friends to a house game and since I already knew the hand rankings, I only have to learn the betting pattern of Texas Hold ‘Em. A week later, I tried to play a tournament at the Metro (Metro 500), and luckily (with beginner’s luck), I made the final table. That same year, I played small/daily tournaments in poker houses with tourneys during my free time to learn the game. I really can’t tell what influenced me from playing poker; all I can remember is that I enjoyed playing the game from the very start that’s why until now I am still playing the game.

PP: Which one do you prefer, cash games or tournaments?

Tofie: Tournaments. There’s excitement when you play tournaments. It’s like a sport where the players compete with one another and the last player standing wins.

PP: How tough was the Metro Festival field, knowing you're up against some of the best pros in the country.

Tofie: The MPF was very tough. Not only the local pros participated, but a lot of foreign pros joined the tournament as well. Actually, I really didn’t expect to win. I wasn’t even confident of making it to Day 2, much more Day 3 and the Final Table.

PP: Metro is the top poker room in the country; aside from your last win any other major victories in the past in this room? (Or experiences in this room)

Tofie: I don’t play that often, but I have managed to win some daily/small tournaments at this cardroom. I was also able to qualify in two monthly freerolls (one million), and I was able to finish 1^st runner-up in one of them.

PP: What can you say about the Metro tournaments? Are you satisfied with the structure, format, schedule etc…

Tofie: Metro Card Club is doing a fine job of holding tournaments even though it is not income-generating to them. Their tournaments are rake-free, right? And they’re guaranteed. So they’re doing service to the poker players here.

PP: Describe to us the road to the Final Day then Final Table? Any specific hands/plays/situations you remember?

Tofie: What I remember with this tournament is that it is the only tournament where I folded Pocket Queen three times pre-flop, when my early position raise faced re-raise situations and those who re-raised it covered me so I have no choice but to fold.

PP: What part of the tournament would you consider the key to your run?

Tofie: My stack size was somewhat “safe” from Day 1 to the Final Table, except when there were 12 players left (final 2 tables, 6 players each table) and the other PP rep, John King went all-in from the Button. From the Big Blind I peaked at my cards and saw A-K. I read his card as Ace-Something (probably Ace-Jack) so he went all-in with his position and he was already short-stacked as he only had 300,000 chips left, and with only the Small and Big Blinds left to act. I had around 800,000 chips then, so after tanking for a while I decided to call from the Big Blind position. He showed his cards and it was Ace-Deuce suited, and I had him dominated.

However, as it turned out, his three-outers was rivered, as a deuce fell on the river card. I almost tilted after that hand, good thing I recovered and became aggressive before the bubble burst so I was able to bring my stack to more than 800,000 once more and started the Final Table as the 4^th in chips.

Down to four players in the Final Table, and with me gaining the chip lead, I was again crippled by Mr. King when he went all in pre-flop from his Small Blind. Again, I have him covered at the Big Blind and once more, I lost, as my A-K lost to his 5-6 suited, after seeing an Ace and a Six on the flop, then another six fell on the turn.

But then again, composure, or should I say destiny, was behind me, that’s why from being the shortest stacked after losing that hand, I even went on to eliminate who I consider the best player of the tournament Sandro Simon (from Germany who has already won big tournaments in Macau), who really knew what he was doing, with due respect to the very good Final Table line-up that included past APT champion Mike Cua, FPT champion Joshua Rivera, and even Jay Morales who is very consistent in landing Final Table berths in big tournaments, and not to mention the Final Table chip leader, Matthew Reynolds (an American) who was playing very solid and entering the day with more than 2.1 million in chips.

PP: Going into the Final Table, you had around 800K in chips—mid-sized stack. At this point of the tournament was there a conscious effort to change strategy or just continue what worked in the previous days?

Tofie: I didn’t have any specific strategy during the Final Table, I just worked on taking advantage of some “tells” from my observation from the other players and know the right spots when to raise/re-raise even if I really didn’t have the nuts, or even just have a good hand for that matter.

Here are some figures going to the Final Table: Although I was the 4^th in chips before the Final Table started, my chip stack was still below average. Average stack then was around 950,000. If skills were the only basis, I would probably rank myself as only between 7^th-8^th among the Final Table players.

Before the Heads-up began, Raymond was already ahead by more than 600,000 in chips and during the very first hand of the Heads-up, I already lost more than 2 million in chips. I just crawled back once more until lady luck smiled on me in the end, as my dominated Q-3 won against A-Q and during the last hand, after raising big with a King high, he went all-in with an Ace-high, with him spiking his deuce on the flop, and with me getting my three on the turn.

Which only means that aside from poker knowledge and experience, there are other “crucial” factors as well and those factors could spell the difference. And these are composure, luck and prayers. Probably during the whole tournament I had them … that’s why I ran deep, and eventually won this tournament.

PP: Thanks, Chris!

Dex Luna talks about his recent PPT run, Pilipinas Poker  members and how you can turn frustration into something positive-- a special feature interview with PPT 2012 Leg 1 champion.

When Dex joined Pilipinas Poker (PP) last year he did not know what to expect--he was interested in the game and was equally intrigued by the prospect of meeting forum members who share the same pastime as him. One of the very first activities he indulged in at the PP forum was to join The Next PilipinasPoker Pro-- a program sponsored by Pilipinas Poker (PP) designed for poker veterans and newbies alike putting them in a rigorous schedule that emulates that of a poker pro’s daily grind and the first “reality poker online concept” of its kind in the country. Known as AmBisy0s0 in the PP forum, Dex made it to the testing stage but did not qualify to the next level (Top 3 advanced to the The Next PilipinasPoker Pro Training Stage) leaving Dex disappointed yet thirsty for more… Dex realized then that, (he) “felt wasting several hours of hard work for nothing. It was a frustrating experience, but (he) learned a lot from it.”

Fast forward to May 2012 and his final table appearance in the 1st leg of the Philippine Poker Tour— Dex again felt the same frustrations when play was 3-headed in the final day. About ready to give up and give in (and “settle” for a third place finish), the same The Next PilipinasPoker Pro frustrations came back to him making him realize that he wanted more than the 3rd place finish—he wanted to become a champion.

Pilipinas Poker (PP):  From what province are you from?

Dex Luna (DL): The roots of my father are from Batangas and my mom is from Iloilo. I grew up in Iloilo and eventually transferred in Manila.

PP: Can you tell us more about yourself outside a poker room or when not playing poker online?

DL: My schedule is tight. I am a workaholic and I love doing business. I can dwell on any business idea for a whole day. I just love anything that has got to do with making Profit-- with a capital P. (Laughs)

I am the Operations Manager of Logisticus, Inc. It is a relatively new business so I have to focus and make sure that I am on top of things. I was connected before with Department of Health.

PP: At what age did you start playing poker? When did you start to take the game more seriously?

DL: I took it seriously when I did not qualify in The Next PilipinasPoker Pro training last year. I was so close to being qualified, but things did not turn out as I wanted it to be. I felt wasting several hours of hard work for nothing. It was a frustrating experience, but I learned a lot from it.

It all started when my brother and our friends taught me how to play it during an outing last year. I got addicted to it right away because bluffing was fun and exciting! (Laughs) Eventually, I learned a few more tips in poker until I started playing small tournaments. I only played tournaments because I never had the guts to play cash games fearing of losing a lot.

PP: Any non-poker stuff you want to share with us?

DL: For whatever reason, I love solving trivia questions while driving or walking. I am not nerd, but it keeps me preoccupied other than my problems with work.

PP: What influenced you to play poker from the start?

DL:  After learning that poker pros actually make a living out of playing poker, I got intrigued and wanted to learn more. I am hoping that I can someday retire and play poker just like the pros.

PP: Do you play online poker? Where? At what stakes?

DL:  I only learned how to play online poker during The Next PilipinasPoker Pro last year. I only got to play in NL2. As of now, I do not play in any online poker because I do not have time and most importantly, I do not have bankroll! (Laughs)

PP: Which one do you prefer, cash games or tournaments?

DL:  In tournaments, you get to see the skills of different poker players. Not much in cash games.

PP: How tough was the PPT1 field, knowing you're up against some of the best pros in the country

DL: I am a nobody in poker. And when you are just a nobody, you look up to all the veterans and pros. I try to emulate all their playing styles. Of course, I had all sorts of problems trying to figure out each of the veterans’ traps, and had to call Lady Luck every time I had a heads-up encounter with a pro.

PP: The structure of PPT is similar to the big tournaments; did it favor your game or your style?

DL:  I like the structure because it gave me a leeway to bluff… and to recover my losses from bluffing! (Laughs) The only major adjustment I did was to make sure that I had carbo-loading because it was half-a-day of playing. Other than that, everything was just the same.

PP: Describe to us the road to the Final Day then Final Table? Any specific hands/plays/situations you remember?

DL:  I was already happy and contented being on the Final Day. That was just my goal, and for an amateur like me, it was already an achievement! But as the game progressed and we were getting fewer, I realized that I could actually be in the Final Table! I got tighter because I was also getting nervous. I did not want anybody noticing my cold and trembling hands.  All sorts of things came to my head. There was even a point when I was trying to recall the tips I have read on a magazine on what a player should do in the final table. The bad thing was I did not focus on that article because the thought of being in the final table in a major tournament did not even cross my mind!

PP: What part of the tournament would you consider the key to your run?

DL:  I would say that the turning point was when I went all-in with a flush draw when we were down to the last three. I realized after I took the pot that it could have gone the other way and I could actually be out of the tournament already had I not hit my flush. It struck me then that I was that close and I could not afford to lose focus when the crown was within reach.

PP: Going into the Final Table, you had 1.7M in chips--- the chip-leader, what was running through your head at this point and how did it affect your strategy knowing you covered all other 8 people in that Final Table?

DL:  My stack was not that much of an advantage considering the average chip stack of the final table. I was thinking that it was still anybody’s ball game and I have to continue my game strategy. My objectives were to avoid the big stacks and to pound on the smaller stacks.

PP: At one point during the Final Table (with 7 players left) you lost the chip lead. Did you feel any urge to change gear or did you stick to your plan?

DL:  I made a wrong decision during that hand. It was a mental lapse. Had to recover from it right away because I lost a big pot. My game plan was still the same until the final three.

PP: Similarly, with 4 players left, 2 players (Tampepe and Joseph San Diego) you were 3rd in the chip count (still with around 1.7M)— what kept you going and keep your composure despite having the smaller stack?

DL:  Honestly, at this point in time, I was already exhausted physically and mentally. I was already happy winning fourth and wanted to go home and sleep. I have been playing for hours and did not even take anything for dinner. This was a tough battle between my sleepy eyes and my urge to win.

PP: With 3 players left in the tournament you took a huge pot to stack your chips up to around 3.5M—however, you lost the chip lead again somewhere. How did you handle the up-and-down swings at this point of the tournament? (At one point we saw you with just 640K but doubled up with a flush draw—hitting the flush on the river)

DL:  I was getting impatient with the game. None of the other players was playing anymore. They were all waiting for the best hands to come. With a minimum raise, they will fold their hands. I was thinking that it would take us a billion light years to finish the tournament with their styles of play. It was a very, very long agony for me.

I was on the brink of quitting and calling it a day until somebody I idolized approached me and told me to stay focused and to remember the endurance test I have undergone in The Next PilipinasPoker Pro. And for whatever reason, that gave me a wake-up call! All my frustrations flashed back and I told myself that I won’t go home frustrated again and short of making it to my goal. That was my time to prove myself. I was two players away from winning and I had to nail it! It was now or never.

Even with a short stack at that time, I was determined to win it all. I decided to adjust my style and gambled on limping preflop my legit hands so that we would see the flop and eventually hope that I set a good trap on them. That was the only way for me to get chips from them. Eventually, it paid off when I had a flush on the flop and ousted the other player who had two pairs.

When it came to our heads-up battle, I readjusted my style and played loose aggressive. My goal at that time was to make my opponent tilt so that he would play loosely also and he would let go some of his chips.  I was ready to raise all my hands preflop regardless of what hands I had. I knew that he was getting frustrated with my constant raises preflop when he shoved during one of my raises. After that, I continued my preflop raises and hoped for the perfect timing. The rest was history when I got hold of suited A-K and he shoved with his suited J-9. At last, the tournament was over and can now sleep soundly knowing that I did not let go of my dream! =)

PP:  How much overwhelmed are you becoming the first PPT champ this year—considering you are the first guy to have a legit chance to advance to the World Series of Poker (WSOP)?

DL:  Winning the first leg of PPT and getting a crack at a possibility of playing in WSOP have not really sunk in to me yet. Maybe I would get to realize that come March 2013! (Laughs)

PP: The Final Table was covered by a TV crew; did it affect you and your game in any way? How did you handle all those interviews?

DL:  (For) once in my life I got the chance to experience how it was to be in an actual TV shooting. I could have enjoyed it, but the worst part was, I was dead-tired, sleepy and hungry. The three things that entered my thoughts at that time were food, bed and pillows. Those were the only things that mattered. I did not care anymore if I looked good in TV nor did I answer the questions correctly.

PP: Is this your biggest win yet?

DL:  Yes, this is my biggest win. I have not won in any major tournament. I am an amateur. In the past major events, I just lasted until the second day. There was once that I was close to being ITM but I fell short.

PP:  What year did you join PP? Who do you look up to as poker players in that site?

DL:  I joined PilipinasPoker last year upon the invitation of Sir Steer. I was lucky to have been invited and I take it as an honor to be a member of Pilipinas Poker. I would say that most of the PP members, if not all, are very, very good poker players. All of them are my idols and I would always be one of their avid fans. I am still a newbie and I would always ask for tips from them whenever I get the chance. They are the people who literally sleep, eat and work on the poker table. (Laughs)

PP: Over 600K in earnings so what did you plan with the extra cash?

DL:  This may sound patriotic, but I have long planned on creating a charity poker event for the benefit of patients in the public hospitals and for the benefit of elementary students in public schools. I was already planning this even before the tournament. This is my simple way of repaying the Filipino people for the education that I had. I am indebted to my country.

(PPT1 Champ Dex Luna is very serious in “repaying the Filipino people”— starting with Pilipinas Poker members. From June 4 to 16, PP members can get free seats at Donkroom.com to Leg 2 (June 21-25) of the Philippine Poker Tour set later this month courtesy of the champion. For details, go to AmBisy0s0’s Freeroll thread at the PP forums. Interview and Edited by The Narrator; Pictures/hand-specific/chip count related questions courtesy of PP Live Reporters MasterDylan, Tiktak, Voodooguru plus other PP members.)

This coming October The Metro Card Club turns 4 years old!

In celebration of its 4th year anniversary the Metro Card Club is once again holding a major tournament this October 20-25, 211 and guarantees 5 MILLION PESOS for a buy-in of Php10,000.