We had a virtual chat with Naomi Pazol, Poker League of Nations Ambassador and columnist, and asked her 10 Questions about her poker life.

Before we get to the questions, tell us a little about yourself.

My close friends in the real world call me Ny but that hasn’t really had a chance to spread in the poker world. Online, I am mostly known as Pokercat36, or Pokercat, Cat, or sometimes even Kitty. I currently live in the suburbs of Chicago with my husband, two mostly grown kids, two cats and a dog. It’s a pretty full house here. A Fullhouse is a good thing, right?

My introduction to poker was as a kid in small town Ohio. Our family of five played for nickels, dimes and quarters, and I didn’t really like it. We played dealer’s choice and I played every hand I was dealt to the end of the hand and lost virtually all of them. I truly learned how to play poker about 17 years ago when my son was in kindergarten. A bunch of moms learned how to play No Limit Hold ‘Em in my friend’s basement, and it was mostly just a chance for me to get out of the house at night once a month. Fortunately, my friend’s husband was very patient and taught us well.

I became an Ambassador of the Poker League of Nations (PLON) in November 2020 and am looking forward to becoming more involved in the greater poker community as the world begins to open. If you see me in the real world, please say hi. I don’t know many of you.

1. Where is the first place you want to play live?

Most definitely Las Vegas. I usually travel to Las Vegas at least four times a year and haven’t been there since January 2021. To say I miss it would be a great understatement. I want to get back to playing at the Aria, the Venetian, the Bellagio, and to try out the new Sahara Poker room. I cannot wait to get back there now that I am fully vaccinated. Of course, I definitely have my sights on the PLON Event at the South Point Casino on May 8th. On my bucket list outside of Las Vegas, I’ve been thinking about the Irish Poker Open as a great place to start.

2. What is your overall poker strategy?

My overall poker strategy is probably, “slow and steady wins the race.” Since I prefer to be a single buy-in kind of girl, I am not uber aggressive at the table. I like to choose my hands carefully and chip up slowly. My poker friends seem to think I am a TAG (tight aggressive) but we will have to see about that. As I have started to study the game more recently, who knows? I may totally mix it up.

3. What is one of your most memorable hands, good or bad?

That’s a tough question. I am generally not one of those players who tends to remember hands long after they are over. The bad beats sting a little longer but I forget those too. Since I currently play online every day, my head is filled with new hands constantly. I could tell you I went out 4th in a big game last night with my AJo against JTo but I am sure that by tomorrow, I won’t even remember.

4. What lesson did you learn from one of your recent tournaments?

I think one lesson that keeps rearing its ugly head in my games is to remember that anyone can actually have a good hand at any time. To elaborate on this, I was in a game recently against a very aggressive and crazy player. In my mind, I am always waiting patiently for that good hand to take her out. I know that she will send some serious chips my way if I can just get a good hand. Well, that’s true. However, I keep learning (the hard way) that just because I have a good hand doesn’t mean that she can’t have one at the same time. Yes, i know she likes to play 87o under the gun, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have AA when I have JJ. It happens. It can happen. It did happen. It will happen again. So, anyone really can have any two cards. I need to keep this in mind and ALWAYS think before I act.

5. What are your poker goals for this year?

I keep saying that this year I’d like to take poker to the next level. I’m not exactly sure what I mean by that but I am guessing that it means studying, playing, and winning more. In all honesty, the studying part is what I have the biggest problem with. Who wouldn’t rather play than study the game not to mention I learn while playing. But, this year, I am committing to working on my game to get it to the next level. Oh yeah, a five-figure cash would be a good monetary goal as well.

6. When I’m running bad I …..

Hope for it to end soon! I suppose I try to take breaks from the game but these days that’s usually for a few hours or a day at most. I also do write down the details of the hands that I obsess about after losing so that I can learn from them for next time.

7. What do you think is the biggest problem women face in poker?

There just aren’t enough of us! Long before I even knew that women’s poker groups existed, I used to jokingly tell my family and friends that poker needed me. There are just so few women that men set the tone for pretty much all aspects of the game which then leads to a whole host of other problems. Until women make up half the playing field (and we have a long way to go), people will continue to see gender as a factor in the game when it really shouldn’t be. This isn’t football or soccer or even track where men physically have the upper hand in terms of brute strength and speed. It’s a mental game, and we are on a level playing field at the very least.

8. What is your favorite “junk” hand?

First off, since it’s a favorite hand I would never call it a junk hand. It’s a premium hand in my opinion. But, I know what you mean. Any of my close poker friends know that I love to play my birthday, especially if it’s suited. In other words, 10-8 is a monster in my book! So many wonderful things can happen when I am holding 10-8. My close friends know to be careful when I am in a hand if 10-8 shows up on the flop or even a nice J97. I love it. Lately, I have been trying to convince myself to let it go. but it’s hard to do that. Very hard.

9. If I could never play poker again, I would …..

Be very, very sad. Really sad. If you are asking what I would do instead of poker, I guess, I’d play other card games, board games, mah jongg. Maybe I’d read a book. Adopt a few more cats and dogs. I don’t know. That is really not a world I want to live in at the moment.

10. Pick four people to play at your dream final table.

That’s a tough one. You really just want me to pick 4? Hmmm, Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak, Jennifer Tilly and Jennifer Harmon. Well that’s five, but I think they’d make the game fun which is something I do as often as possible. I have been known to tell jokes, sing at the top of my lungs, and pass out candy to all the players at my table among other things. So, that group would like me. I am pretty sure of it. People are way too serious these days. I’d like to keep it light. And beat them. Of course. I’d like to beat them. But, first they’d probably have to spot me.

Thanks, Naomi! We will look forward to playing with you online and, hopefully, in person this year. Now, it’s Naomi’s turn to ask 10 Questions, and she tags PLON Ambassador Louise Jean of Canada. Watch for 10 Questions with PLON and Louise Jean soon.