Randy Lew (Nanonoko) Breaks Down Poker Software Use

Randy Lew, otherwise known as Nanonoko on PokerStars, is debatably the most successful mid-stakes player of the last few years.  He has achieved the illustrious SuperNova Elite status the last two years while amassing win-rates that are simply unrivaled at the cash game tables.  He’s recently jumped into some of the highest stakes cash games on PokerStars and became a member of the illustrious Team PokerStars Online.  PokerSoftware.com caught up with Nanonoko and asked him about his start in online poker, what poker software he uses, and how his poker career is progressing.

PSW: We’ve seen quite a few people jump from the world of professional video gaming to the world of online poker.  What traits are necessary to make this transition successful?

Randy Lew: The most important trait you must carry over is your competitive spirit. In both worlds, you are facing other players. Your competitive spirit will drive you to improve and to learn to beat your opponents. This is what you need to be successful in any competitive environment.

PSW: How did you jump into online poker and what levels did you start playing?

Randy Lew: I jumped into online poker from friendly poker games. Loving competition, the game intrigued me. I’m not sure of the exact levels I started playing at, but I’d assume it was $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold’em, which was the lowest game offered at the time.

PSW: You were one of the first players to make SuperNova Elite in 2008 and went back-to-back in 2009.  Was this a quest you set out for yourself from the beginning or was it a byproduct of the grinding you did?

Randy Lew: Like most people who play poker, many dream about winning the Main Event of the WSOP. However, I did not have the money to enter such an event, so acquiring Supernova Elite would give me a chance to fulfill that dream.

PSW: You suffered through what appeared to be your worst day ever at the cash game tables in mid-February.  What happened and how did you recover so quickly?

Randy Lew: In actuality, that may have been my worst day ever in terms of dollars lost, but it wasn’t my worst day ever in poker. What happened was that I recently decided to strongly consider moving up to higher stakes No Limit Hold’em ($25/$50). I took my shot, but the results didn’t bother me. I was playing a lot of heads-up games, so naturally the variance was rather high. However, I did not get discouraged. I woke up, tried again, and in short time, I’ve recovered.

PSW: It looks like your time at the mid-stakes just might be coming to an end given your success in high-stakes games.  What games will you be playing in the next few months?

Randy Lew: It’s been awhile since I’ve played $25/$50 No Limit, so it’s still new to me. I’m going to spend more time at it and get used to it, but ring games don’t seem to run higher than $25/$50. After that, you have to be a heads-up specialist to get some action. While I’ll be playing fewer mid-stakes games these days, I won’t be leaving them altogether. The $25/$50 games do not run consistently, so during my downtime and urge to grind, you’ll find me at the mid-stakes games.

PSW: As a massive multi-tabler who doesn’t rely on volume to win, how do you make reads and play a great poker game while facing so much action simultaneously?

Randy Lew: I rely on my experience and instincts to play my game. Over so many hands, you get a feel for your opponents, as the player pool is small enough that regulars show up over and over. The data is then collected somewhere in the back of your mind and that’s how instincts come in.

PSW: How important is having the right computer hardware?  What is your computer setup like?

Randy Lew: My setup is a home-built computer with two 30-inch monitors. However, you should definitely be playing on a system that is comfortable for you and not base your computer on what works for someone else. I use Windows 7, but like I said, it doesn’t really matter what you use. I use a laptop when I’m on the road, but that’s only a few times per year when I go to major live poker tournaments.

PSW: We saw a pretty large amount of growth in the third party poker software industry in 2009.  Do you use any specific hand history tracking program, Heads-Up Display (HUD), or other tools to assist in your efforts?

Randy Lew: I use PokerTracker 3 because PokerTracker was the leading tracking software at the time. I’ve heard great things about Holdem Manager, but quite frankly, I never tried it out because all I really need is a program to track my results. I run an HUD, but as you play more and more poker, it becomes less necessary. Nowadays, I just use it to help me identify each opponent, but don’t necessarily look at the stats. Combining names, stack sizes, avatars, and HUD numbers helps me easily identify who’s who.

PSW: There are a ton of guys grinding away trying to be the next Nanonoko, but are finding their win-rates to be far less than what yours is at various stakes.  What are they doing wrong?

Randy Lew: Well, what each person is doing wrong is likely to be a case-by-case scenario. What I can confidently say is that if these players would like to improve their win-rates, they should consider some other method that will help them improve their game. It’s quite possible that they should consider dropping tables.

PSW:  We recently interviewed one of the top small-stakes players who said that the biggest obstacle for a lot of small-stakes players is tilt and playing through it.  Is the same true at the mid-stakes games?  What’s your approach towards tilt?

Randy Lew: Tilt is definitely a very important part of the game at all stakes. It is something that exists and is sometimes easily or extremely difficult to identify. Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to stop yourself from tilting and some of you may think it’s very easy to just stop playing when you’re on tilt. Quite frankly, for some people, it’s impossible to stop when you are on tilt. My approach to tilt is to learn how to play on tilt.

PSW: When you found out that PokerStars was accepting applications for a new Team PokerStars Online group, why did you apply and what was your reaction to being accepted?  How has being part of the team gone so far?

Randy Lew: I always wanted to be a part of Team PokerStars in some way. When PokerStars started to accept applications for Team PokerStars Online, I quickly jumped on it. I was very confident at the time that PokerStars would not overlook my skills and when I was accepted, it truly was a great feeling. It only confirmed how much I believe in myself, which is very important for success in your life. It also was a great stepping stone to being recognized beyond forum discussion.

It was a true honor. Being a part of the team so far has been a great experience. I love chatting with my fans who rail me. I expect to meet more people as I go to more live tournaments.

PSW: What is it about the PokerStars software that makes it appealing to you?

Randy Lew: Some of the best things about PokerStars’ software is that Support really listens to its players and tries to make it a better gaming experience all around. Another great aspect about their software is that they have a very thorough, yet clean layout. The software is fast and reliable. Also, their software allows you to personalize with an avatar of your choosing.

PSW: What are your poker and personal goals for 2010 and how are they coming along?

Randy Lew: My poker goals for 2010 were to get stronger in multi-table tournaments. I’ve been to quite a few large buy-in live tournaments, but I’ve been unable to even cash.  So far, my experience and knowledge is going up, but I didn’t do very well at NAPT Venetian in terms of results. My personal goal for 2010 was to get my blog up at www.randylew.com. I’ve always wanted a personal blog.