» Jason 'mkind16' Laso
Jason 'mkind16' Laso, 22, has taken a different path in the poker world than some of the whiz kids we often read about. He dropped out of college to pursue his poker aspirations, only to reconsider and return to school after dealing with the ups and downs of the online poker grind. He has returned to playing a limited live tournament schedule within driving distance from his Manalapan, New Jersey home. He recently had his biggest live score chopping the Foxwoods Poker Classic Main Event NLHE Championship for $111k following up a 10th place finish in the Borgata $500k Deep Stack event. We thought it would be a good time to get a better sense of Jason's journey in poker so far.
Tell us about your recent Foxwoods Poker Classic $3,500 buy in Main Event NLHE Championship run. How did that tournament go for you?
It was a really well-structured tourney, so there was a lot of play, which was nice. I built a pretty huge stack early on day 2 and maintained it for awhile with very little variance, but then lost to 3 straight 3-outters all-in preflop near the bubble at the end of the day. It was demoralizing to say the least. However, I just kinda kept it together and eventually found myself at the final table in 2nd place. The problem was the prohibitive chip leader, Luis, sitting on my left. He played really loose, too, so I just had to tighten up, but I was able to pick my spots and eventually find myself with a big stack again before the chop.
Why did you do a three way chop for $111k at the end, instead of playing for the $180k first prize and clear title?
After 4 days, it's hard to say no when they're saying you can end it now. I think I could've beaten Brian and Luis, but in a super top-heavy payout, it's not the worst thing to just take the low variance route and chop. It's not like I had any personal reason to want to beat them, as they were both cool guys.
How did you get into poker originally?
The same 'ol high school hobby story we've all heard a million times before. Nothing unusual. I deposited $22 online after I turned 18 and haven't looked back. 
Early on you began a friendship with another young and talented player, Annette 'Annette_15' Obrestad. How has your friendship influenced what and how you play?
I was predominantly playing NLH cash games before I began talking to Annette four years ago. She was absolutely dominating tournaments and making it look so easy that I made the crossover. She taught me all these things that were pretty groundbreaking at the time (her aggressive style has since caught on to the masses, so it's not as effective as it once was). Soon I started doing really well in tournaments and I was hooked. The somewhat reckless style doesn't work as well as it once did, so both of us have had to adjust over time, but any good poker player knows they need to be able to adjust to any table.
You have an aggressive style that constantly puts pressure on your opponents. How did you develop that style?
I joined CardRunners in its infancy in January 2006 (I think it was like 4 months after they started). This was obviously way before it became the coaching juggernaut it is now, so very few people were familiar with the LAG style they taught. To anyone who did learn it, they had a big advantage at the time because very few people were making the proper adjustments.
Why do you prefer tournaments over cash games or SNG's?
I've played all of them at one point in my career. Cash games just don't have the rush tournaments provide, and thus just bore me to tears. SNG's are just monotonous and uncreative. They lack any thought. Even back before everyone figured out all the perfect push/shove calculations, the best SNG players only had marginal edges. In today's SNG game, I couldn't even imagine the best players beating the rake by that much in the higher limits.
How do newer players gain the confidence and skill to play a smart aggressive style, such as yours?
I think it's just because playing tight is a very safe style. It's kind of like when they say "if it ain't broke don't fix it." There's nothing wrong with it per se, but it doesn't force you to step outside the box too often. Some players like playing a safe style like this and avoiding making life complicated by putting themselves in awkward spots. I think the best players are the ones who can safely balance playing that tight style while sprinkling in some of those super aggressive moves that a lot of players are too afraid to make. Balance is key.
In December of 2006, you turned pro and soon dropped out of college. What was your initial experience like playing full time as a pro?
I did a lot of traveling that year (I only wish I had begun to figure out live poker sooner), but I really over did it. I burned myself out within a year. I guess that's what happens when you're 19 and "living the dream." You sort of just go into it full throttle and enjoy the ride until you finally hit a wall.
Ultimately you decided to stop playing full time as a professional. What caused you to stop and why did you return to school?
I was just so burned out. I started taking more and more time off. I figured once I turned 21, I'd feel rejuvenated since I had been looking forward to it for so long. I finally turned 21 in May 2008 and realized I still had no desire to play poker. That was the turning point for me.
Where are you now in your journey of balancing education, career and poker?
I honestly have no idea, lol. I got my associate's degree but haven't decided if I plan to go further. At the very least, I still know for a fact I don't plan to play poker full-time for the rest of my life. I do want to get involved with something more stable and settle down in the near future.
What advice would you give younger players looking to get into poker?
Balance, balance, balance. Playing poker is fine but try not to alienate the other people in your life. Take breaks regularly. Just because there's a Sunday Million this Sunday doesn't mean there won't be another one next week. If you're not feeling up to it that day, just go do something else. I just see way too many young online grinders who are miserable because they never take a day off because "my edge is too high." BS, go take a walk.
What is your favorite poker memory or win, so far?
I assume you mean besides Foxwoods, since that would be a clear #1 for me. I have to give this one a tie and they both involve the same tournament: the Sunday Million. The 1st was when I made the final table of the tourney (got 5th) while in the Atlantis lobby during PCA. I had over 100 people in the lobby with me sweating me. That was exhilarating since I'm not used to having a crowd when playing online poker. They were very vocal during all of my hands. It was a lot of fun, especially when a ran a big bluff at the final table and I heard half the room saying, "What's he got?....OHHHHHHHHHH!"
A couple months later, I began staking a kid for $100 tournaments and under. One day he decided to play the SM ($215 buyin) without my permission while I wasn't home. I didn't get home to detect this until he was already in the money. I was pissed at his insubordination but somewhat pacified by the fact that he was in the money. Long story short, he got 3rd for 72k. I was actually pretty jealous that he did better than I did.
Having been around the poker world the last several years, what players do you most admire?
I've always looked up to Brian Hastings as someone who just excels at every form of poker, while still finishing his degree at an Ivy League school. That last part might be the most impressive thing on his resume. If there were someone I would point at for aspiring players to look up to, I'd probably start with him.
What are you future goals, both in and outside of poker?
I would love to join the very exclusive million/million club (a million in winnings both live and online). I have a ways to go but it is one of those crazy pipe dreams we all give ourselves. I don't think there's any more than like 2 dozen players in this group.
Ultimately, though, I want to ease my way out of poker. I want to find something more stable to latch onto. Money doesn't really concern me, I just want to find some sort of lifestyle that I can enjoy for the long haul. I think I could win the WSOP main event this summer and I still wouldn't want to play poker for life.
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Jason. Before you go, we have several fun questions we always ask our interviewees.
What is your favorite fun poker phrase/slang/acronym?
There's so many of these that go in and out of style constantly. The current seems to be telling people that you hope they die (HUD). It feels like I should take offense to all the people who hope I die, but I laugh every time someone says "HUD" to me.
If the poker industry disappeared completely, what other career would you most like to attempt?
I'd love to get involved in the world of comedy, as either a stand-up comedian or a screenwriter.
If you were on death row, what would be your last meal?
Sushi. Next question.
When your poker career is over, what would you most like to be remembered for?
I'd like to be more remembered for the last few years of my career and not the first few. While it was the first few where I began to make a name for myself, I was such a headcase back then that a lot of people didn't like me. I guess I've cleaned up my image enough the last year or 2 that people have begun to see me as a whole new person. I want to be remembered as that guy.
