COVER STORY

Siddharth Karia:

Scheming With All Guns Blazing

WORDS BY ATHIRA LAJI

Siddharth ‘Schemer’ Karia is unbelievably chilled out, despite the fact that he is currently one of the most popular players in the poker fraternity. The charming poker pro and previous FTS Head Hunter champion, ‘Ari Tribbiani’ brought a spectacular end to the India Poker Championship’s (IPC) Final Table Series (FTS) 2.0 by winning the FTS 2.0 Main Event title and walking away with a whopping INR 32,26,143 and a 18K diamond studded medallion. Smart enough to be rooted in the present, self-deprecating his achievements, quashing all the myths about poker being a tough, luck-based game and reinstating the belief that ‘being a positive you’ are what your gameplay needs, Siddharth Karia shatters the notions about poker.

Was there a special feeling after winning your FTS 2.0 Main event, a carpe diem moment or just a regular ‘That’s great! Now, what’s next?’?

A big score, indeed, it was! Agreed! But to be honest it was not a Carpe Diem moment! I was happy because it was a live stream and the chance to interact with friends and colleagues made it grander for me. I was over the moon but to be honest I was not that overwhelmed by the win. The win has not changed my perception towards poker or how I play it.

What was it like on the D-day?

I got time to de-stress before the Main Event run. Generally, what happens is you play and play and then reach the final table. Though it is fun, the long grind is sometimes too much. But this year’s FTS gave us one whole day before the FT. I got up in the morning, had my coffee, thought about how to go about the game and mostly reminded myself to be calm till I reached the end. I was mentally prepared for it.

Peter Abraham, cofounder of IPC and Spartan Porker, at the event said he wished to see you at the FT and win it. Did that motivate your gameplay?

Yes! Definitely! I am a firm believer that we, as humans, attach a meaning to positive sayings or happenings. I try to implement my belief while playing poker. So, before the FTS 2.0 Main Event, Gutshot Magazine arranged for a promotional panel meet where Peter, during the FTS Head Hunter interview, while wishing me luck said that he hoped to see me on the final table and win the series. So, when I was inching closer to the final run, my mind was like “Interesting! I am doing well! Since these guys are rooting for me to win, it would be fabulous if I end up winning. Now, I need to keep going and just play the right strategies’’. You definitely need to have such positive vibes around you!

Did winning the previous FTS Head Hunter help you warm up for this year?

Winning FTS Head Hunter last year did boost my confidence to go for this year’s FTS. What I had in mind was “I had previously cracked the FTS Head Hunter and has been consistent in my game–winning and with very close finishes. So, why not give this year’s FTS series a shot!” Apart from that, the diamond studded medallion and the cash prize at the FTS was always a crowd puller.

Cash prizes are a common thing, so how do you feel about the 18K diamond-studded Medallion?

To state the exact expression of winning the medallion was, “Woow”! Winning a diamond medallion was a game changer. It is one thing to get a ‘shiny’ memento or a trophy, but it is totally a different thing to get an 18K diamond studded medallion. The feeling cannot be put into words!

What was going on in your mind when you were going head-to head with Avinit Bagri?

Playing with Avinit Bagri was simple! He had a lot of chips and I just had 10-12 bigs. I constantly thought ‘I had nothing to lose’. So, I went all guns blazing! During the final moments, the game and the strategies are as it comes–the cards take care of itself! I got a double up early on and once I got that I trusted my heads-up game and got some small pots going on and then my eyes were on the medallion! Once both of us inched closer, I knew that the medallion would play a big role in ICM consideration. So, my goal was not to try to win it outright but to get a triplet. But once I got a triplet and keeping the diamond medallion in mind, I was fine with making a deal with Avinit.

Can you let us in on any of the hand details that led to your eventual success?

In the FTS 2.0 Main Event, there was not a particular hand that led to the win but a series of timely and right decisions made–right shows, rights folds etc. that led to the success. However, in the last FTS tournament, in the Head Hunter game, when only three players were left, there was a huge bluff made by the player ‘Violator’ and I made the hero call which almost led me to win the tournament.

Your game at Asia Championship of Poker (ACOP) – Platinum Series XV in Macau was a turning point. Was it then that you decided to give poker a serious try?

Asia Championship of Poker at Macau was not a turning point but yes definitely a highlight moment. I went there as a recreational player and getting placed second at the ACOP did trigger my love for poker. But it was after PSL (Poker Sports League) that I took it seriously. It has been three years since I started playing poker on a professional level and now it is my source of income.

Could you tell us about the mistakes made and challenges you faced in poker?

I think the best thing that I have done is keeping a check on bankroll management and I give

a lot of credit to that. While the initial days were challenging, I constantly worked and improved my game, and acquired as much knowledge as I could about poker. Even in tough times, where I was not dominating, I never really felt lost. During my downswings, I work more around the game; getting to know its intricacies have helped me sort whatever issues I had. However, even during a low phase, I was as chilled and comfortable as one can be. For me, things have always been in control. I have personally taken things in its right stride. Players who are positive about poker as a skillbased game and who do not fall for the stigma attached to it, should promote it in whatever possible way.

Have you developed a specific pre-game routine for analysing the previously played hand?

I do not follow a pre-game routine. It is the same as every day along with a 1015 mins meditation. I do not give much time to analyse the previously played hands. My learning and analysis have been in phases where initially I used to dedicate two hours per day for learning and scrutinising my game whereas there is no specific time dedicated. I always take the game as it comes. My learnings have always been in a rhythm where I gradually improve. I owe my game’s success to all those learnings, but that has been a gradual and not a routine process.

What are the areas you pay most attention to when it comes to playing poker?

The mental and the technical side! If I have a mental struggle while playing poker, I analyse why it is happening; if I am not motivated to play, then I try to figure out the reason behind it. Analysing the reason behind such uneasiness or struggle and taking some time off from the game have helped me in overcoming the stress that is involved in poker. The major area that needed development was poker’s technical side. I believe that I still have a lot more learning to do. That said, poker has helped me become a calm and sorted person in real life with a good frame of mind.

Did you take any poker lessons from other established professional players?

I have discussed a few hands with established professional players, but have not taken any lessons nor was under their guidance to learn and improve the game. I have taken online courses to understand the technical aspect of poker. I prefer to do things that come naturally to me and I never felt the need so far to opt for external guidance. Self-learning is what I am comfortable with.

Who do you look up to from the industry and who do you prefer to play against the most? Why?

I like playing against recreational and professional players, both! Professional players, because they can challenge my game a bit and recreational players to make money and show off some

skills that you developed by playing against the pros.

I look upto things like consistency that the veterans like Daniel Negreanu, and Indian poker players like Aditya Agarwal, Raghav Bansal and Danish Shaikh have exhibited. They have been killing it for so long that we ought to admire their level of game. This is the level of consistency and longevity I am trying to implement in my game. The gameplay of Indian players Arsh Grover and Gaurav Sood have been pretty much impressionable!

Your career went through a lot of diverse choices – from a state level cricket player to a professional poker player! What made you go for this?

My career graph goes from cricket, MBA, family business, to starting my own company firm and then to poker! Before every choice I make, I do ask–why am I doing this?’ When I left cricket, my answer was simple ‘I was not cut out for it’. Business came naturally to me owing to my family’s background. Though the business and my company could have given me a big financial stability, I decided to do what I enjoy the most – playing poker. But before jumping, I had pepped myself with reasons as to why I am doing this. This made my transition from business to poker very smooth. Now I feel at home with poker!

Poker has an image problem with terms like ‘gambling’ and ‘degenerate’ associated with it? How can this perception of poker be changed?

I think people who use terms like gambling and degenerate for poker are those who do not understand this game at its best. Professional players, too, sometimes use such words as they feel awkward to admit that they play poker and decide not to promote it on a public platform as it might cause distress to people around them. So, when it comes to promoting poker, it is each to its own. Players who are positive about this skill-based game and who do not fall for the stigma attached to it, promote it in whatever possible way. This has paved the path for the budding players who wish to enter the industry without any qualms.

What were your thoughts initially regarding the game?

Since the start, I could always see a pattern among the winners who

were always doing well. They were not based on luck or randomness but on skills and strategies. Though I was doing quite well as a recreational player, I never gave it a shot at professional level owing to the legal issues of playing poker in India. However, since the past few years, a new path opened for Indian poker industry, legalising it, and making it taxable. Since then there has been no turning back for me.

What would be your advice to the newbies or to the players who are planning to go professional?

Any newbie entering the industry should do that with the right mindset i.e., playing poker is not an easy and simple way to earn money. Keeping a positive mindset throughout the game is something that people, new or old, need to muster on. Also, always keep your parents in loop, study and play poker around them and let them see the learning process that is being built–earn their trust!

Where do you see yourself in the future? Is it all poker or do you have something else in mind?

Poker will play a huge part in my life at least for a couple of more years. I am looking forward to more challenges and boosting my game. I may try my hand at poker content as I plan to remain dedicated to poker for a long time.

TELL TALES

Decode ‘Ari Tribbiani’? Ari Gold from Entourage + Joey Tribbani from Friends

‘Not-so’ secret ingredient of your A game Self-awareness

Dream tournament? WSOP Main

Your favourite up coming poker player ‘lilmessipranjal’

Favourite venue Las Vegas

One poker book/ coaching series you vouch for Raise Your Edge

Coolest thing about being a poker player Playing for a living

You are bingewatching Modern Family

Biggest pet peeve Bad coffee

Hashtags that describe you #schemer