Andreas Hoivold

One of the fastest rising stars in the world of poker is Andreas Hoivold, and his recent decision to turn pro will likely make him even more of a household name. As a result of this move, he won a very respectable $250,000 last December after placing 3rd at the Poker Million event. This win set the stage for the first German European Poker Tour, and the Tallin Challenge Cup, where he won €24,000.

While Hoivold is definitely a poker player’s poker player through and through, he also holds one other pursuit near and dear to his heart: comic book collecting. The poker whiz in fact once had the biggest collection of comic books in his native Norway. With the increasing demands of his blossoming poker career however, Hoivold has since sold of his beloved collection.

Hoivold actually started playing at a very young age, when 5-card draw was his entry into the game. He quickly progressed to Texas Hold'em in 2003, and three years later, he decided to devote almost all his waking hours to the pursuit of all things related to poker.

Of course, there is more to life than playing poker, and for all the extra cash and the numerous opportunities to make contacts and to make new friends, Hoivold likes to take a break from it all once in a while by traveling to places he has never been to before and basically just spending time away from the computer. A formidable enough task to be sure, and one that is especially challenging for a person who once planned a career in computer networking.

Hoivold is also cognizant of the accomplishments of the many fine players who have come before him, and he looks up to Phil Ivey in particular. He is especially drawn to Ivey’s skills and capabilities, and his seemingly uncanny knack for knowing what to do next at any given time.

In stark contrast to many other celebrities that have made big money at a young age, Hoivold clearly has a level headed approach to his success, opting to invest his considerable winnings wisely in a few sound areas instead of splurging on luxuries like so many young players are wont to do. It is this level headedness in fact that makes Hoivold ideally suited to offer loads of advice for new and up and coming players.

What advice does he have to offer for those looking to follow in his footsteps? Hoivold offers the typical advice of not betting any more money than one could afford to lose, and he also suggests that players learn as much about the game as possible, making sure to spend equal time on playing tight and loose. While Hoivold plays a loose game most of the time, he is equally adept at playing tight when the situation calls for it, and he has been known to switch tactics in the heat of a game, particularly during shootouts and final table events.