Conversation Excerpt with Svetlana, Also Known as "Shinlana"

Hey there! Let's get to know the enigmatic Svetlana, aka "Shinlana," making waves on the Kazakh poker circuit. With beauty and brains, this lady's a force to be reckoned with. Let's dive right in and learn more about her without any delays.

Hi Svetlana! We've snagged you for an interview without hesitation. Give us a lowdown on yourself. Where you're from, what's your education, and what's your day job, if you don't mind sharing?

Hi! I'm from the city of Taldykorgan, spent five years in Shanghai studying automation engineering, worked for a Chinese oil company in Atyrau, and now I've got my own business, residing in Almaty.

How did you stumble upon poker? When was that, and what were your initial thoughts about the game?

I first heard of poker in passing, but it was really meeting you in Almaty 1.5 years ago that opened my eyes to the game. At that time, you were already a seasoned player who filled me in on the basics. I am eternally grateful for your guidance.

Svetlana, don't undersell my impact. What's your deal with poker? Job, hobby, or something else?

For me, poker is a sport that appeals to the psychologist in me. It's primarily a recreational pastime, but the competitive spirit I have makes it feel close to home.

Online or live? You prefer one over the other, and why?

I'm all about live action. I'm pretty good at reading people, and what better way to exercise that ability than in a live game? Plus, using psychology is a major component of live poker for me.

What's the role of luck in poker, and can it be dismissed?

Luck certainly factors into poker, like any activity. But if you focus on building your skills, analyzing your game, and learning from your mistakes, you'll find yourself in the winning circles more often.

How about table etiquette? Any stories you'd care to share?

That varies. I started out being treated fairly, but once I adopted a more aggressive style, I became seen as a serious player. I aim to be recognized as a skilled player, not just a strong female one.

What's the best compliment you've received at the table?

I can't recall the best one, but I've been getting positive feedback on my game from more experienced players recently.

Any female poker players worldwide who inspire you?

To be honest, I don't know of any. Not even Negreanu (laughs).

QQ or AK?

That’s tricky. For post-flop play, I'd opt for QQ, while pre-flop all-in, I'd choose AK, but only with a suited pair.

Do you fancy tournaments or cash games? Any specific formats and limits?

Since I love competition, I lean towards tournaments. Online, I dabble in low-stakes MTT Turbo tournaments on my phone to keep my mind sharp. Occasionally, I play Spin & Go, mostly to hone my short-stack/short-table skills, which came in handy during the WPT series where I ended up top 3 and top 4 in two side events.

Speaking of Spin & Go, you scored a substantial sum in a Spin & Go tournament ($15,000 for 3rd place). Care to spill the beans on that?

Alright, here's the gist. I dropped $10 in a $8.8 buy-in tournament, finished 12th, and earned $136. With $200 in my account, I entered a spin tournament for $15, even though I usually stick to $3 and $7. To my surprise, I won 180K. At the time, I was at home catching a flick, so I hadn't quite grasped the situation. Turns out, I ended up 3rd, having pushed with AKs in spades against JJ. Although the win was impressive, I didn't go all-euphoric. Winning a similar amount in a "real" tournament would have tickled my fancy more.

You jetted off to a major series in Cyprus this year. Why did you choose Cyprus, and what was the most memorable part of the trip?

We decided to go because the opportunity presented itself, and it was the perfect blend of leisure and poker. The water was delightful, top-notch service, plenty of poker, and a comfortable hotel – all in all, a great experience. Sadly, my poker results weren’t as successful as I'd hoped. In one of the main tournaments with a $500 buy-in, I was the unfortunate bubble boy. It was tough, but loses like that are invaluable learning experiences.

Let's get back to the good stuff. This year, you split a $500 tournament in Macau casino with two others. Tell us about that tournament. How did it fare for you, and what were your emotions after winning?

The victory was exhilarating! It was my first significant official tournament, with a high buy-in. In that tournament, I opted for a "girl bluff" image and played my strong hands more often in the early stages. In the middle game, I amped up my aggression, particularly post-flop, while maintaining a medium stack throughout the tournament. One hand at the final table stands out when Naiel raised from early position; I reraised him on the flop with queens on the high board, he 4-bet, being the chip leader, and after much consideration, I made the difficult decision to fold. Later, Naiel revealed he had aces (gotta believe him). My victory in this tournament instilled satisfaction for the hard work I'd put in, and my game strategy was fully justified. The win boosted my confidence as well, and now I feel more assured at the tables.

Since Cyprus and your string of wins, where do you plan to set your sights for the next tournament?

I don’t think "dreaming" is the right term, but this much is true: I'll go wherever the chances to compete arise. Many aspire to hit Vegas for the WSOP. I harbor no such ambitions, but if the chance arises, it might be tough to pass it up.

What do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies?

Apart from poker, I enjoy both table and big tennis (not as much lately, unfortunately), snowboarding (looking forward to Chimbulak season), and playing mafia due to the application of psychology – it’s an excellent tool for understanding humans and building relationships.

Got a burning question for the male audience: Are you married? Got a significant other?

Nope, unmarried.

What's your Mr. Right like?

I believe there's no such thing as a Mr. Right. The perfect pair is the one that works for both individuals and where each is willing to invest in the relationship.

Lastly, what message would you send to our forum visitors and fellow Kazakhstani poker players?

Since poker is an emotional game, keep your cool and maintain hope. But most importantly, own the table with confidence. When you exude confidence, it becomes twice as difficult to knock you off your game.

Svetlana, thank you for sharing your insights with us. Here's applauding your future victories! Special shoutout to Valeria "vk_pokerstar" Kim for the interview. And remember, keep the conversations going on our forum!

Other Interviews on our portal:

Slavik "vip25459"Alexander "lamentcfg"Vasily "ZlatkoJohansson"Dilshat "Nau"Adil "aadil"Sergey "DelfiNchik"Oleg "Korbin Dallas"

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Svetlana: "I'm not sure, but I'd say poker is a combination of sport, recreation, and a bit of psychological warfare for me."
Svetlana: "I first played poker in a casino-and-gambling establishment in Macau, and undeniably, it's one of my favorite casino-games."
Svetlana: "Although luck plays a role in poker, I believe that by focusing on my skills, analyzing my game, and learning from my mistakes, I can minimize the impact of luck and improve my poker skills."
Svetlana: "When it comes to poker tournaments, sports events are the ones I'm most interested in participating in."
Svetlana: "Outside the world of poker, I enjoy playing sports like tennis and basketball, as well as snowboarding during the winter season."