Our Online Super Series is going on right now and we sat down for an exclusive interview with ACR Pro, Michael Loncar for his thoughts and insights on the $25 Million GTD series.
With such a diverse mix of OSS tournaments and buy-ins, how do you choose which events to play, and do you plan your schedule in advance?
I personally love to play the mid-stakes tourneys with big fields and big ROI opportunities. I love playing the $16.50-$88 buy-ins on ACR optimally as I feel like those fields are the softest big fields that still have big money up for grabs. I’ve also learned that I love playing tournaments that begin early in the day, especially before noon, so that I’m not as exhausted when I make it to the final table later in the day.
How does your strategy/approach change when playing different formats, such as Turbos and progressive knockouts?
I like all formats but am definitely best in regular format tourneys. PKOs can be great, but sometimes you have to call all-ins a little bit lighter because people really get after the progressive knockouts.
What’s one common mistake you or other players make in the OSS, and what’s your top tip for avoiding it?
I think one of the biggest mistakes that I used to make, and I still see a lot of other players make, is that they are playing too many tables at the same time. I have really learned over the years that it really is quality over quantity so I feel like you really need to find that sweet spot of the maximum amount of tables that you can handle while still playing your absolute game. For me, I have learned that the key is never playing over 8 tables at the same time.
What advice would you give players about managing a bankroll effectively during a big online poker series like the OSS, especially those on a limited budget?
It’s really important to be aware of your bankroll when playing tourneys. Obviously everybody is in a different situation but it is really important to be able to continue to put in a lot of volume at whatever buy-in levels you are playing so that you can continue grinding, especially through down swings. I highly recommend sitting down and figuring out how much of your income you are able to risk every week and always make sure to risk an amount that makes you feel comfortable if you do run bad and lose. Making a plan to be able to continue to play is very important in this game.
Looking back on past OSS, can you share a memorable moment or experience?
The biggest OSS tournament that I have ever won is the $215 $400K Sunday Special which has always been one of (if not my favorite) every Sunday tourney on ACR. I took first place for around $75,000. I will never forget that victory as I was playing a portion of it at the dinner table, on my laptop with my family and in-laws. I ended up streaming the final table of it.
Which OSS tournaments are you most excited to play, and will you be streaming for fans to follow?
I will be streaming this OSS series on my Twitch channel over the next couple of weeks for the remainder of the series at Twitch.tv/LoncarPoker.
If you had to give one key piece of advice to someone playing the OSS for the first time, what would it be?
If you are playing the OSS for the first time, be patient, play your game and have fun. And make sure to check out my stream while you are playing. I love pulling up my viewers’ final tables on my stream while they are watching me on Twitch. Best of luck!
