Welcome to another installment of 10 Questions with PLON (formerly 20 Questions). Today we are visiting with PLON Ambassador Louise Jean of Canada, also known as “Bling” and as Bullish555 on PokerStars.

First, tell us a bit about yourself

I learned how to play tournament poker in 2006 with golfing friends after rounds of golf. I loved it so much I started playing for play money online. Eventually I entered a big $500 live tourney in 2007 and did very well — like $13,000 well – and won second place. That got me motivated for sure.

I love tourneys the best, not only for the possible big payouts, but also for the strategy involved to get to the final table, the many decisions to be made along the way, the different personalities you encounter and have to analyze. Mostly I love the thrill of the Win which reminds me of my days when I competed in Outrigger Canoe at the World Sprints in New Caledonia and the Iron Man longest race in Kona Hawaii. There, I faced high winds, huge waves, boats overturning and veering off their lanes. Yet our six-woman team managed a Bronze medal in Hawaii and a Silver at the Sprints even though we were the underdogs. 

And that’s what I love about poker — you can be the underdog, but you can overcome that and win.  Sure, sometimes you need bit of luck, but it’s possible.

I’ve also been very fortunate to have had a successful career as a commodity grain trader and this has greatly helped me to deal with the high variance in tournaments.

I can never get enough poker, I just love it. Win or lose, I’m committed to continuing. The biggest thrill lies in the dream that is yet to come!

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

I have lived in Las Vegas part time over the years, and I would really like to play there first when the border opens. I’d like to meet up with people I have played with online but have yet to meet in person.  So many casinos, so many poker choices there.

2. What is your overall poker strategy?

I don’t really have a specific strategy other than to assess quickly what kind of players are at my table and what style of play I need to employ to beat them. 

I have read enough books and seen enough videos that now I just need to focus, trust my instincts, make the best decisions I can in the moment and not beat myself up if I make a wrong decision.

3. What is one of your most memorable poker hands (either good or bad)?

I flopped a boat in the first hand of a WSOP event in Las Vegas holding AA on a flop of A88.  I got it all in only to find that the villain had pocket eights (88). Well, you can just imagine my reaction!

4. What are your poker goals for this year?

Since I can’t play live due to the pandemic, I’m mostly focused on winning the leaderboards of the online leagues I play in Canada. I’ve won five lately. When I can play live again, I hope to increase my Hendon Mob stats, increase my win rate in bigger tournaments and travel to more destinations for specific series.

5. What is you most dreaded poker hand?

I don’t really have one, but I hate when the board is very connected but not connected to my hand. I know I will likely get a lot of pressure from other players and harder decisions will have to be made.

6. What do you think is the biggest advantage or problem women face in poker?

I think women are very smart, intuitive and can generally read opponents quite well, which gives them an advantage in making great decisions at the table. The biggest problem I see is that some women will be intimidated by an aggressive or rude guy or even a woman, judging a person’s play or just being difficult or mouthy. It’s important for casino managers to make sure this sort of behaviour is not tolerated. When this happens to me, I get mad. But that makes me focus even more and find a way to beat them. So, don’t make me mad — I’ll play better.

7. What is your favorite casino in Las Vegas and why?

I love the Venetian because I love Italy and it feels like I’m there. They have great tournaments, good cash game promos and great food at my fave, The Lux Café. I also like The Orleans for the varied PLO and other cash games, and smaller tournaments. And I love the Aria and the Wynn, too, for similar reasons.

8. What is your favorite “junk” hand?

There are junk hands? Lol. Any two cards can win, right?

9. What is your favorite past time or hobby outside poker?

Right now, I’m into photography, and hopefully golf when the weather improves. But my passion has always been soccer. I was a striker and loved scoring goals. I miss that a lot.  I once broke my nose in France scoring a head goal two weeks before to getting married in Rome. Fortunately, the bruises healed in time. Those were the days of my youth!

10. Pick four people to play at your dream table and explain.

Vanessa Selbst, Jennifer Harman, Fedor Holtz, Justin Bonomo, Eric Seidel.  All are amazing, successful, thinking players. I would love to observe their brain cells at work at my table, and I’m sure I could learn something from them. Just being in their presence would greatly inspire me.

Who’s your pick to answer 10 Questions with PLON? 

Marcy Buchholz Paulson