Delving into the world of poker with an insightful interview featuring esteemed poker player and coach Abhishek Goindi and Rajsi Swaroop. In this interview previously hosted on the ‘Gambling India Info’ YouTube channel, Goindi, a popular figure in the Indian poker realm, shares valuable expertise and experiences.
As we bring this interview to our platform in text form, we invite you to explore the wisdom and perspectives shared by India’s renowned poker pro, Goindi. Here are the excerpts:
High on cards with Abhishek Goindi: An Interaction with Rajsi Swaroop
Interviewer: When did you first start playing poker?
Goindi: I started playing poker when I was in high school. A friend returned from the States and introduced the game to us during a sleepover. We had nothing to do, and that’s how it all began.
Interviewer: Were you good in studies?
Goindi: I was decent. I was the guy who burnt the midnight oil to get grades.
Interviewer: What were your plans as a kid?
Goindi: I wanted to be a sportsman. I played basketball, cricket, football, tennis, etc., but couldn’t take it to the next level professionally.
Interviewer: Do you think fitness matters for a poker player?
Goindi: Absolutely. I think it is really important. It is one of the reasons why the game is classified as a sport. It requires mental and physical fitness. I have been playing for the past 12 years and fitness has played a big role in my life.
Interviewer: What do you do for your fitness?
Goindi: I play sports, swim, and do salsa.
Interviewer: You left poker for a job in a bank and then returned to poker. Can you explain?
Goindi: I left poker for a sports management job. We used to manage Sachin Tendulkar. But I craved new experiences. Soon, I got bored of things. I like to experience new things. I live for experiences. Therefore, I switched back to playing poker.
Interviewer: Do you want poker to be your lifelong pursuit?
Goindi: I really like the game. It has done a lot of wonders for me. It has given me the life I have today. I owe a lot to the game.
Interviewer: Some poker players venture into entrepreneurship. What about you?
Goindi: Poker players and entrepreneurs share similar skill sets. I ventured into the business side of things. When I started, it was a small community. I thought I could add value and give this game an uplift. Though it didn’t work out as planned, it was a valuable learning experience. The industry is growing and there is something in the pipeline that I am exploring.
Interviewer: How did you become aware of the poker laws in India?
Goindi: I’ve been part of the poker community from the start. Poker’s primarily a game of skill, but its legality depends on how the state views it. Theoretically, it is a game with more than 50% skill. Therefore, it automatically becomes a game of skills
Interviewer: Can you convince people that poker is a game of skill?
Goindi: Absolutely. It requires fitness and coaching. Like every other skill-based game, it requires discipline. Any game where you can lose by will is a game of skill. Apart of that, there is a lot of strategy and mathematics involved. Just like cricket, a bad player can beat a good player in the short run, but in the long run, the good player will come out winning.
Interviewer: Do venues matter in changing the perception of poker being gambling?
Goindi: There’s a misconception due to the association with casinos. It is an awareness issue but the situation is slowly changing. The younger generation is getting well-versed with the game. I understand that the game is a little complicated to understand initially but once you start understanding it, you realize the beauty of it.
Interviewer: How do you handle tilt in poker?
Goindi: Initially it is hard for every player to beat tilt, but then you just start practicing. Everyone has a different way of dealing with it. I talk myself through it, focusing on the current hand rather than dwelling on past mistakes.
Interviewer: Do you have any issues with the 30% taxation on over Rs. 10000 of poker winnings?
Goindi: Not with the tax itself, but with the inability to offset losses. That’s a concern.
Interviewer: Do you have a girlfriend?
Goindi: I just got married recently.
Interviewer: Why are you not active on social media?
Goindi: I am not a fan of social media. I prefer experiencing moments rather than capturing them on camera.
Interviewer: What’s the difference between the Indian and foreign poker industries?
Goindi: There are more players in the West with better skill levels due to low awareness about the game in India.
Interviewer: Is there a retirement age in poker?
Goindi: I don’t think there’s an age in the game to retire. When you get done with it or when you are not mentally alert, that’s the time you should probably hang your boots.
Interviewer: Do female players take advantage due to their lower numbers at the tables?
Goindi: Not an advantage, but they might have different strategies. Everyone has his own way of living, ideologies and perception, which reciprocates on the table. What a poker player does on the table tells a lot about his character and personality.
Interviewer: Any superstitions?
Goindi: None, except for a favorite pair of boxers at final tables or a pre-game routine during multi-day events.
Interviewer: What’s the biggest lesson you learned playing poker?
Goindi: You have to keep your ego out of the way. Sometimes it is fine to lose in certain situations to win in the bigger picture. You have to pick your battles
Interviewer: Have you ever read a player to use it against them?
Goindi: It’s a learning experience for me. I prefer a healthy rivalry where people support rather than exploit each other.
Interviewer: Any advice for new poker players?
Goindi: You have to face me on the table. I’ll take it all. (laughs)
ALSO READ: A PEEK INTO LIFESTYLES OF INDIAN POKER PLAYERS
Watch the full interview here:
Interview Credits: Gambling India Info
