Today, we have the privilege of sitting down with Jason Hickey, a highly accomplished professional poker player hailing from the vibrant city of Austin, TX. Beyond the poker tables, Jason is a devoted family man. He shares his life with his loving wife, Vili, and is a proud father to their two children, Charlotte and Ace. While pursuing his passion for poker, Jason also cherishes the time spent with his family, finding a delicate balance between his professional aspirations and the joys of parenthood.
How did you get into playing poker?
I have been playing poker for 20 years now. I got into poker during the Moneymaker boom when I was in college at UMass Amherst. We started playing in the dorms for $5 buy-ins. I have always been extremely competitive. I was there to play baseball, but by my junior year, I was all in on poker, mainly playing online and traveling to Foxwoods and Atlantic City for cash games.
Do you prefer playing online or live poker? Why?
Online and live both have merits, but I enjoy live more. The convenience of online is nice, especially because I have a family and a busy at home life. I try to balance both, but when I travel for tournament stops now, I really enjoy the process of being fully in the grind for however long I am on that stop. I play 50/50 now cash/tournaments but get more joy and excitement from tournaments.
What is your the bigest poker win (live and online)?
My biggest live score is $113k and online $68k.
How do you handle the pressure and mind games at the poker table?
I think this is the most important area for people to work on if they want to play big MTTs, honestly. The emotions and pressure that come late in tourneys or big cash games can be intense. I have done a lot of work which is mostly around my preparation and routine leading up to playing. I also meditate and get outside every break to reset. Also, studying a ton helps too in staying confident regardless of the opponents I see in the late stages.
How do you balance your poker playing with other aspects of your life?
Balance is so important. I have a family that comes first and brings me the most joy of anything in life. They also give me purpose, and this is helpful with poker. The reason is that when I play cash or travel, I have a clear intention of why I am there, and when it’s over, I know where I am going. Poker is my job, and I’m with my family, besides that.
How do you approach reading your opponents and making strategic decisions during a game?
I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the best coaches in poker. I am also friends with a few of the top US players. The best answer I could give is that poker is situational and being in the present moment and understanding the current dynamic is most important. Learning how to leverage certain situations (Bubble play, pre final table play, etc) to exploit has been the biggest adjustment I’ve made the past two years and has helped a lot.
How do you handle losing streaks or bad beats?
I am pretty numb to bad beats at this point. It is a part of the game that happens and it also goes both ways, so knowing that is a good reminder when I’m down swinging. During a downswing, I don’t change anything about my routine I keep playing my best and stay positive.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from playing poker?
This is a great question. I would have to say risk management. I underestimated variance early on in the poker journey, and proper bankroll management is vital. Also not taking big shots too often. I went broke a few times in my early twenties because of this and have luckily learned from my mistakes, and if I think a bigger cash game or tournament looks profitable, I will sell for it to fit my bankroll.
What advice would you give to other players interested in getting into poker?
I love poker even more than sports. I study daily, talk poker with my group daily and think about it all the time. So if someone wants to play professionally, I would say make sure you love it because the swings are crazy and can be tough on the soul. If it’s someone getting into it for fun as a hobby, I am all the for it. It’s the greatest game in the world, especially for a group of friends to play together.
What are your future goals and aspirations in the world of poker?
My goals going forward are I want to win major titles and continue to grind up to the top levels of poker. I got back into poker full time 5 years ago playing 1/2 no limit and $100 tournaments and now play everything $10ks and below. That process has been so fulfilling and gives me confidence to believe in myself more and more going forward.
Throughout our conversation, Jason provided valuable insights into the world of professional poker, sharing the highs and lows he has experienced on his journey. From the thrill of tournament victories to the challenges faced during periods of variance, he exemplifies the resilience and determination required to thrive in this competitive field.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jason for sharing his experiences, wisdom, and the profound lessons he has learned along the way. We wish him continued success in his poker endeavors and a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment with his beloved family.
Find out about upcoming live
poker events in our poker calendar!