PocketFives member Aleksey NaluneabezshapkiShestyan (pictured, ranked #43 in New Jersey) was a chess player who converted to playing poker while working as a lifeguard during the summer. Shestyan plays under the handles PilarIsTripping on PartyPoker, PilarIsToughon 888, and PilarIsBack on WSOP.

Not only does Aleksey grind on the virtual felts in New Jersey, but he also offers poker coaching for cash games, sit and gos, and MTTs. With over $50,000 in tracked online cashes, some of his notable scores include a win in the 888 Big Sunday $10,000 Guarantee for $3,000, a win in the WSOP $5,000 Guarantee for $1,426, and two win in the 888 High Roller $2,000 Guarantee for a combined $1,687.

Visit PocketFives’ New Jersey poker community for the latest news and discussion from New Jersey players.

PocketFives: What got you started playing online poker?

Aleksey Shestyan: My friends got me into poker when I was younger. I couldn’t get any chess competition, so when I kept asking for a chess opponent, I inevitably ended up with quite a few poker foes instead.

I used to lifeguard during the summer and after I closed the pool, my friends and I would go play a tournament or a nickel, dime cash game. I won my first tournament like that, purely on luck because I wasn’t good nor did I know what I was doing. One time I won more cigarettes than I knew what to do with, so I just gave them all back, and another time we lost track of time playing cash outside and saw the sun come up.

PocketFives: Is there any meaning behind your screen name?

Aleksey Shestyan: My PocketFives user name loosely translates from Russian to “arriving to the moon without your hat.” As for my New Jersey screen names, the character Pilar is one of my favorites in fictional literature, from Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” I’ve seen some good original screen names recently and one of my favorites is a player on WSOP named DTD. I still can’t help but laugh every time I read it.

PocketFives: What are your favorite New Jersey online poker sites to play and why?

Aleksey Shestyan: I was an Ultimate Poker regular for a while. I liked their basic software and customer support; the reps were top-notch. I would clear bonuses and play in the overlay tournaments. Nowadays, I play mainly on WSOP. I play their rebuys because of the low rake. I think the New Jersey sites have a ways to go in improving the quality of games they offer, but for interstate operation I believe they’re doing a decent job.

PocketFives: Since the launch of regulated online poker in New Jersey, what has been your most memorable cash or win?

Aleksey Shestyan: Probably my favorite tournament win was winning the 888 Big Sunday $10,000 Guarantee. I had to get past Stephen sizzlinbetta Reynolds to do it and it was kind of exciting for me going up against a player like that.

PocketFives: Is there anyone or anything that helped change how you approach the game?

Aleksey Shestyan: Yeah, I read what the best players are putting out there like Phil Galfond and Chris Moorman1 Moorman. The cool thing with poker is that it’s not a static game like chess; it’s very dynamic. Your best play really just depends on your valuation of what your opponent is doing, and a response.

PocketFives: Do you play any live poker?

Aleksey Shestyan: No, I don’t. Not nearly enough. One of my goals is to play a lot more. I believe sizzlinbetta had a good article on the issues with grinding online in New Jersey, like you have to be creative because the rake isn’t that low and the field is tough and full of good players.