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The Easter Series of Poker in Rotterdam were the time for Joseph Minkels to manifest himself in the Poker World. We had a lunch appointment with him and allowed him to answer the following questions while enjoying some delicious sushi: 

1. Who is Joseph Minkels? 

Joseph: Well I am Joseph, 28 years old, born in Zakopane. Grew up in St. Michielsgestel, a pleasant village in Noord-Brabant. I am self-employed in construction and also part-time poker player. I enjoy life, try to make every moment a nice moment. I'm recently single again after a relationship of five years, have no children .... Want more? My PIN? (Joseph laughs). 

2. How long do you play poker? 

Joseph: Depends what you mean by poker. I start playing poker for about 6 years ago, but really serious poker? I think now about 2 years ... before I played mostly recreational and without any deep thinking about hands and opponents ... so nice cards. Since 2 years I am more interesting in the game and I discovered that there is much more then just the pokercards. 

3. What kind of player is Joseph? 

Joseph: Well ... You can better ask my (poker) friends. Koi Karper or something? ... .. and now seriously ... what kind of player I am ... when we talk about my early days , I was really a player by the book, just ABC poker, not too many risks, little creative. I read many books, the book by Doyle Brunson: Super System in that time has impressed me, good book. Anyway, like I said I developed the past two years more further.

I've especially learned a lot from the internet, many movies on the known sites. I have really developed my style. Your own style is important in poker ... and we can define my style: moderate to very aggressive, with many small 3-bet and flop play. I am really a post-flop player. 

4. Who taught you the game? 

Joseph: I haven't learned the game from one special person. My love for card games grew wit the pot / knock Toepen with friends. Often following after a good nicht out, drunk and then toepen for a lots of money. At one point poker became even more and more popular and I think the movie Rounders surely had a great influence. The whole atmosphere around it, within no time we were only playing poker. It was a great blast ... we even played with Jokers in the beginning. I once lost a pot with a royal flush against 5 of a kind... (Joseph laughs again) 

After this initial phase I surely wanted to know more about the game, so I started increasingly talking about our game with my buddy Peter Brullemans. Actually we together have laid the foundation of our current poker knowledge. I still learn every time I play again and I think that with the development of poker there is always something to learn. 

5. Favorite hand? 

Joseph, 9-7 Spades. Why? Delightful hand. Have won much with it. In Las Vegas i made a Straight Flush with this hand. Ultimately i didn't won the tournament but this has always stayed with me. I find it difficult to really have a favorite hand, I know people who love hands like Q8 or 9-6...

6. Tournament Poker or Cash Games? 

Joseph: Yes, I think poker tournament, but with a solid structure. Deep Stack, long levels and great freedom of action. Generally I find poker tournament in more fun. Cash games are often very hard with swings, especially the games I play. Then you still have a little tension at the table ... I do like a nice atmosphere and a good joke... 

In terms of the game itself it does not really matter to me, tournament poker and cash game poker has both it own good things ... I am certain into the action and especially in cash games. 

7. Online or Live? 

Joseph: Right now I say live poker .... Do want to learn a lot about online poker, but live is my thing anyway. I think the whole game around it very interesting, playing the opponents. Talking someone in the pot or out the pot are the fun things of live poker, these are the things that i mis in online poker.

8. Who is your leading poker player? Live and Online? 

Joseph: Live is Thijs Wessels really an example for me, especially because I know him long and have followed his developments. And we both come from Brabant of course! (Joseph Laughs) ... The way he has established himself in a short time in the Dutch poker scene has earned much respect from me. Besides, someone who has had some performance as Thijs in 2009 must be an example for many poker players. I really like his style when he has a really little stack. That constant pressure, which makes people desperate on the table. Everyone wonders if Thijs will perform again good this year. I am convinced that he will make the appropriate cashes this year. 

Joseph: Online there are a number of players who set an example for me, but I still have to choose .. and then I base it on who I've learned a lot from .. I choose for Leon van der Poel (Mr. Vision). I have seen a lot of his movies and learned a lot. The way he expresses his vision is very good and easy to understand. He's also put down a top performance last year, so it is not surprising that he is on the top of my list. I would like to emulate his achievements. 

9. About Rotterdam? 

Joseph: What do you know? The night before? Or the whole tournament? ... I really needed Rotterdam. I've been so close many times and didn't end were i wanted to end. Earlier this year I got a nice cash in the €300 event of Venlo, here we decided to split with 3 people ... but ultimately I did not win. The Dom Classics was a major disaster, so here I am silent about ... so it was time to make something great in Rotterdam. So what is a better preparation than a good night out with your buddies? (Joseph with a smile from ear to ear). 

We had something to celebrate and have been drinking champagne and vodka / 7-up all night at Peppers in Eindhoven until 5 in the night. This was the ideal preparation for the €500 event because it went well, too well .... I won the €500 event and eventually became third in the main event. It was a wonderful weekend. 

10. The Best Hands?

Joseph: Well I think that was my double (€500 event) by Ruben Visser, after 2 hours straddle and a lot 3bet. I made a 3bet against Ruben on the button with my 6 / 7 suited, following wit a Q66 flop. Ruben checked, I checked behind. Turn was an 8, after the check of Ruben I decided to doubtly bet half a pot, then eventually Ruben went All-in and I won with my 6 / 7 suited against the 8 / 9 of Ruben.

11. The Lucky hands? 

Joseph: Have not really had much luck really ....Only once.... I went all in with AJ against AQ ... I got al the help i needed. I immediately flopped a flush draw and the turn brought my redeeming Flush, which I made with my Jack. Ah yes, sometimes it goes well, right? 

12. The Greatest moment? 

Joseph: Yes, of course, that was the moment I won with A3 vs Randy Alberti's KT of the €500 eventin Rotterdam. This was my first "real" performance. This is where you do it for, to stand with that trophy in your hands. I hope to repeat this feeling many more times. 

13. What is your future with poker? 

Joseph: I really would want to secure a sponsorship contract with a good party, though I realize that there are many good players running around who like this also. I am glad I have played a couple of times with the Pokerhuis Poker Team. Gives it a nice feeling when you belong to a team. I am just planning to invest in my poker career and want to be a pokerpro. From now on i going to play all the big tournaments.