» Laurence 'Miss Tofu' Grondin Interview

Laurence "Miss Tofu" Grondin, 23, hails from Montreal, Quebec.  She represents the new breed of young aggressive poker players making an impact in the poker world.  She has been playing for a few years, and turned pro in 2008.  In 2009, she made her first big statement by winning $237,537 for taking 3rd place in a WSOP No Limit event.  I sat down with Laurence during the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, to discuss her journey in poker.

 

How did you originally get involved in poker?

Some friends explained the rules and I started playing with them when I was 19 and at my first year of University.  I deposited $25 on PokerStars and started playing $1 SnG's.  When I would lose one, I would go to the .01-.02 cash game tables to win it back and then play another SnG.  At some point I won a $4 MTT for like $500 which felt great.  I was really proud and propelled me to play higher..

What other events spurred you along in your playing?

I took one trip to Atlantic City.  They had a 1-2 NL game going which was really too big for my bankroll, but my boyfriend encouraged me to take a shot.  I ended up dominating and won something like $3k that weekend.  Wow, I thought this was crazy.  When I came back, one of my friends owned an underground poker club and encouraged me to play.  Being a girl really helped.

You play both cash games and tournaments, and both live and online. Which do you prefer?

I think live, I have always had an advantage as a woman.  There are two types of guys you face.  Those that like you, flirt and will soft play you. You can bluff them all the time because they lay down hands to you thinking you always have it.  Then there are older guys who think a girl shouldn't be there.  They get stubborn and always call you down because they never want to let you win a hand.  You can make good money from both types.  i try to be the nice person at the table.  I notice that if I am friendly, the whole table relaxes and is chatty.  If I choose to be quiet, the whole table is quiet.  You can sense that power over the table.

You are known for being a really aggressive player, what spurred you to this style?

I played tennis from when I was 5 to 17.  I was quite competitive about it and took it very seriously.  Playing the best players, the only way to succeed was to be tough, competitive and aggressive.  Otherwise you had no chance.

What are your typical games that you play online and live?

I play online cash game since at least 2 years on Ipoker, PartyPoker and FullTilt. I play everything between $1-2 up to $5-10, full ring. I always enjoy playing live, since I have a huge  edge and it’s very profitable. The caliber isn’t the same. I usually play $5-10 live wherever I travel, or I catch a nice $5-5 game at the Snakes poker club here in Montreal.

Before last year's breakout tournament score, had you come to the World Series before that?

Yes, I had been a couple times before.  One year when I was working still, I took a three week vacation and played the Ladies Event.  It didn't go well, but I did very well in the cash games.  Back then I was playing part time, 1-2, going to school and working.  I would come home from poker at 5, then go to work at 4 pm and fit in school too.  After the good cash game scores at the WSOP, and with my contract up at work, I decided to focus on poker.  I had been doing well online for nearly a year and felt I was ready.

Tell us about your 3rd place run from last year’s WSOP.

It obviously went eally well.  Before the tournament, I thought in order to win, I would have to be a super luckbox.  But it wasn't really like that. It was just that every time I had a bigger hand, it held up.  I really destroyed the final table after coming in like 6th in chips and I was chip leader with 4 left, but then the cards deserted me. I had really good reads and was very aware of what was going on at the table. Unfortunately I doubled up the short stack twice and

Describe your World Series of Poker experience this year?

I came to the WSOP 2010 with a lot more experience, and a better game than 2009. I worked a lot on my poker all year. I started the year with a big downswing and I had to question myself, like many poker players have to deal with. That helped me, in a way, to improve and not take anything for granted. Poker is not easy these days. It seems like the online cash game players get better and better everyday, and the tough high stakes games, which use to be $25-50 or more, is now $10-20 or $5-10.

Having said that, I thought my WSOP would be great. I was realistic that another 3rd place in a No Limit event would be very difficult. I started by cashing in my first two WSOP events, and then I hit a wall. Long days of playing, then busting out on the last level, with tough beats… I always thought tournaments involved a lot of variance, and chance is more involved than in cash games, and sooner or later, I would face it. I give big props to the live tournament pro poker players, because a streak of bad results must be so difficult to deal with.

But the WSOP experience is not just all about me : my Quebec friends and fellows did so well and I’m proud of them. Pascal Lefrançois caught the first bracelet of No Limit in so long.  Miguel Proulx destroyed the PLO $2500 and won, and then finished 2nd in the PLO $10k buy in championship. Then Vincent Jacques finished 2nd in the $1500 No Limit event, Sebastien Roy 5th in the $1k No Limit, and Jason Hallée 7th in the $1500 No Limit. Watch out for the French Canadians!!!

What are your future aspirations in the poker world?

I want to keep improving online. The game goes so fast that you have to keep updated and work hard. I would like to eventually be a regular winner at $5-10 and starting playing more 6-max. This is gonna be tough.

As for the live tournaments, I’ll always hope to win a major tournament and I know it’s possible, it’s just a matter of time and investment.

I’m working with Nick Ferro at CheckRaise Management for the last 6 months, so who knows what will come up. He already helped me with a couple great opportunities for TV poker shows.

Who are your favorite poker players?

There are many good Montreal based cash game poker players.  But from the more well known players, I admire Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan. I really respect Allen Cunningham and his under the radar success.

You have a large distinctive tattoo on your arm.  What is it all about?

I love tattoos and many people ask me about it but it’s the first time I’ve been asked the question in an interview. My left arm has 3 major tattoos. The shoulder and upper arm is a cat, simply because I love cats so much. My inner arm is a diamond that shines, and written ‘family’; it represents the most important thing in my life. My family is really precious and indestructible and they are always supportive. Then the rest of my arm is a thorn rose, but the middle is intact; it’s a representation of myself trying to stay true to who I am and be good to the others, while the ‘outside’ tries to destroy this slowly, but doesn’t reach it. I also have a upper back tattoo who says ‘ stray true’ : that means everything.

You are dating a successful cash games player.  How do you influence or support each other?

I met my boyfriend last year at the WSOP. He is also a French Canadian known as ‘ thenutspt’ on pokerstars. I was already playing a lot at that time and having good results. He is one of the best players I’ve seen, and he thinks so far ahead of me, so it’s sure that he tries to help me and we discuss hands and strategies. We try not to talk too much about poker, because it would not work between us. But I’m trying to get all the information I can, like I always did with other players. He’s very supportive in everything I do, and he’s the one who convinced me and helped me to play the PartyPoker Big game on TV, because it was a crazy thing to go play with good players or well known players in a game that is above my bankroll

When you aren't playing poker, what do you like to do?

I hang out a lot with my friends and it’s very important to stay in touch with them even if I travel a lot. I  like to go to music shows here in Montreal. I also started dancing ‘swing’ dance and I love it,  but it’s so tough!!!

What do you have planned coming up?

My plans for the next 2 months is to grind a lot of cash game sonline. I might do the WPT in Atlantic City at the end of September. This is such a nice event, and it’s close to Montreal.

People can reach me on Facebook: Official Laurence Grondin Poker
Or on twitter: LadyLuckPoker