fundoopoker.com

23/10/2011

 
Rajeev runs a recruitment consultancy called 'Active Consultants' in Mumbai. He is at number 25 in the Card Player India Ranking. Howver he consider himself more of a Poker Businessman rather then a Professional Poker Player.


He is very well known in the poker industry as he organizes poker tournaments under the brand of "Aces Unlimited" along with his partner Jasven Saigal.


Rajeev is a regular cash game player and plays regularly at home games in Mumbai & in live events in Goa. Here is an interview where we get to ask some questions about him and Aces Unlimited Winter Edition.

 

Fundoo Poker : Rajeev, thank you for taking time to talk with us. For readers who do not know you yet tell us how you got into Poker and a little about your lifestlye?

Rajeev : Pleasure is all mine. I have just come back from a 3rd place finish in WGF, and brought a healthy cheque back home, and right now I have just recovered from all the glory that has got me so far:) I am a Business person, operating since I was 17, in the field of HR. We basically are a International Recruitment Agency, helping people find jobs overseas. I started playing Poker around 5 years back, and came to know about the game, while I was on a holiday in Macau. I have been an avid roulette player since a decade now, and have visited Casino's all over the world. Anyway, I say Texas Hold'em happening in one of the Casino's and read the rules, and sat down in a Micro-Stakes poker table, and invested 200 HKD and ofcourse I lost it all, but, then the interest started and started playing a little online, watch Poker on the Internet and TV, and then started playing in some tournaments. Infact, I played in my 1st Live tournament in India, and placed 6th, which then ofcourse got me interested. from, then on, there has been no looking back.

Fundoo Poker : How do you balance between being a tournament organizer and a poker player?

Rajeev : Tournament organizing just came naturally, I look at it more, as a Business venture, and organize the tournaments, while placing myself as a player, and what I would like to witness in tournaments. I implemented all that, and here we are "Aces Unlimited". While, I am organizing a tournament, my importance lies with organizing, I leave aside playing till I know everything is settled. I have been lucky coming in 2nd in both the series of 4 Seasons of Poker so far, hope it continues. Jasven Saigal my partner in Aces Unlimited is the real Poker Player and I leave it to him, to get one of the Bracelets home. Although, he has not been successful so far in the recent Aces Unlimited series, I am sure the time is coming near.

Fundoo Poker : You play quite often in live events, share some important strategies or tips that you think can be useful especially to the players who have just started playing live poker.

Rajeev : I consider myself as a better Cash Player than a tournament player, but, that is changing now. I didn't have a strategy myself, till the last 2-3 tournaments. I have been a slow and gradual learner, and I prefer it that way. My strategy in tournaments is very simple - play the player, not the cards - I don't need to have AK or AA or KK to win pots, I just have to portray I have it, but, only if you have read the opposite player does not actually have it. I don't get into flips early on, in the tournament, I let go of my small or mid pockets, unless i have position, or get a cheap flop. Position play is the most important. UTG I may even fold AJ, but at the same time, I also believe that playing passive is useless, as getting into the final 15 or nearing the bubble with a negligible stack does not make sense, as the target remains to be the TOP 3, where the real molar lies ...

Fundoo Poker : What are things to look forward for, in the Aces unlimited Winter Edition?

Rajeev : Aces Unlimited is known for introducing new formats of Poker to India, and we do not disappoint. This time we have GREED Poker, which is more or less a Freeze-Out tournament with a TWIST. There is no Prize Pool Structure. The Final 10 decide after each elimination thru secret ballots if they are ok with a even split, even if one objects, play continues. This event we will see who got greedy, and lost it all, if at all that happens Wicked, but, it will be great gun ...

Fundoo Poker : What are your expectations in terms of field size and player talent from the Aces Unlimited Winter Edition?

Rajeev : We have grown gradually in numbers, and our last edition saw the best numbers ever put up by us, and we promise, that this time, if not better it will be the same, inspite of the number of events in Goa increased to 3 tournaments a month, within close proximity to each other. Talent in our tournaments is for everyone to see, the POY states the best of the best, and that too from the regular players who come for our tournaments. We get talent from all over India, and we urge players from small towns to come and play, and experience unlimited poker with us.

Fundoo Poker : How different will the Winter Edition be from all the previous tournaments you organized? Any improvement or new introduction made?

Rajeev : Aside from Greed Poker, the POY is the next thing to look out for. The CASH prize of 200K is the biggest on offer, from any other organizer. We do not give seats, sponsorships, only CASH. Improvements in the Blind Structures have been made, and I am sure people will appreciate it. The structure is posted on our website:- www.acesunlimited.net

Fundoo Poker : So what are your plans as a "Poker Player" for the upcoming tournaments?

Rajeev : I intend to attend a few Main Events of popular tournaments in Goa, besides ours, as time is a constraint, as my other business takes a lot of my time. But, yes, I will try to play majority of the Main Events of popular tourneys' in Goa. Jasven Saigal, will and normally does attend all the tournaments that are conducted in Goa, hence, we have Aces Unlimited's presence in Goa ever so often.

Fundoo Poker : Any parting words of advice for players who will be coming for the first time to Goa for your event?

Rajeev : Book your flights and hotels at the earliest. Its' high season, and if you book early, you will save a lot of cash. Come with your hoods, shades, ipods. I am sure all of you will enjoy the hospitality of our hosts Pride Poker Room. Any player wishing to register and to know more about our tournaments, visit:- www.acesunlimited.net and if you need any queries, email us at acesunlimitedindia@gmail.com