Vanessa Selbst: "I'd Probably Suck at Online Poker"
In an ongoing AMA on Reddit, three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst (pictured) fielded a variety of questions, including how she stacks up against online poker players. Her response may have been surprising to some: “I’d probably suck at online pokersince I basically don’t ever play, don’t really know how to use programs very well, and don’t have a database of stats to reference.”
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The predominantly live pro added, “Whenever I do play online these days, even tournaments, I feel like I’m at such a disadvantage because everyone knows who I am and at least has some idea about how I play and I know basically no one. Like, even people I’ve played with a bunch IRL, I usually have no clue what their screen names are. I still believe I’m very good at online poker tournaments, but I wouldn’t even rank myself among the best because of that big disadvantage.”
Several questions at the beginning of the AMA focused on Selbst’s demeanor, including one person who asked why the poker pro has been labeled by some as “a miserably rude person.” Selbst said that she has changed in her adult years and asserted, “The only thing I really care about is what people who’ve actually met me say. They overwhelmingly say that playing with me is a really positive experience or that I’m generally likable and kind to everyone including strangers, so that’s good enough for me.”
Selbst revealed that her software use is pretty much limited to Poker Cruncher on her phone, explaining, “My lack of study for that stuff probably hurts me in some cases, but I actually think that my intuition, live reads, and pattern recognition are really strong, so it isn’t as important for me. In poker parlance, I’m more of a ‘feel’ player than a ‘math’ player.”
Her poker prowess has vaulted her to $11.6 million in live winnings, according to the Hendon Mob, good enough for #14 on the all-time money list for the US and #22 worldwide. She has three seven-figure scores to her name, including a mammoth $1.8 million haul for winning the Partouche Poker Tour’s Main Event in Cannes five years ago (pictured).
A series of questions about Twitchalso were posed. Selbst called the streaming platform “highly entertaining and a fantastic way to learn the game of poker.” When asked if she’d be streaming anytime soon, Selbst responded, “I’ve actually been meaning to do it myself for a while, but seeing as how I don’t play much online, my Twitch would have to be more creative in terms of what I did. I have some ideas, but I’m waiting for a time when I have no other major life events happening… I’m thinking in November or December is when I’ll be able to start.”
Finally, we’ll recap the origins of Selbst’s career. She got started during the “Rounders” boom and played after school at friends’ houses. She won big at NAPT Mohegan Sun in 2011 and PokerStars offered her a sponsorship. “I didn’t really think of it as a viable career because I don’t like the stress of the swings and would rather have a steady income and just play as a fun side hobby,” she relayed. “But, when PokerStars said they would be paying for some of my buy-ins and expenses, well at that point I couldn’t really turn that down.”
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