Playing poker can come down to shoving or folding, doubling your chips or losing them all. Sooner or later, you’ll be down to 15 big blinds in a poker tournament and how you deal with that situation is a look at your personal character. Our ‘15 Bigs’ are a set of questions that will test each player to the limit and today’s teasers go to a very big player with a little name.
This week’s subject is Jonathan Little, whose recent victory at the 2024 Poker Masters only highlighted his remarkable consistency at the live felt. With poker books that have thrilled and educated players for many years, and millions in poker winnings to his name Little is a big player in poker coaching and playing.
Who better to see if he can survive our 15 Bigs? Let’s find out how the big man gets on.
You’re on a long-haul flight and can only choose one TV Show or Movie to watch on repeat, which is your pick?
The Matrix. I am pretty sure we are living in a simulation.
If you were stranded on a desert island with one book for company, what would it be?
High Growth Handbook by Elad Gil. I enjoy growth.
What’s the song you could listen to on repeat forever?
Hurricane by Martin Garrix. It is beautiful.
What’s your favourite place to play poker and why?
The PokerGo Studio. It is an amazingly nice environment in the middle of Las Vegas, and the staff are amazing.
If you were to be shot at dawn, what would be your last meal and drink?
Spaghetti with spicy tomato sauce, plus some cheesecake and cabernet.
Where’s your favourite non-poker holiday destination?
Upstate New York, where I go with my family for a month each year after the WSOP.
You can play poker every day for a year or play no poker for a whole 12 months – which do you choose?
Every day for a year. I have voluntarily done this for quite a few years of my life.
Who is the person you don’t have around anymore that you miss the most?
My grandmother. We used to play lots of card games together.
Which person would you most like to meet but never have?
Martin Garrix. I love his music and would love to learn his processes.
When’s the last time life put you on tilt?
Life tends to not put me on tilt. I have learned to not sweat the ‘small stuff’, and pretty much everything is ‘small stuff’.
If you couldn’t play the WSOP Main Event next year, which family member would you put into the action in your place?
My dad, Larry Little.
What’s your best poker skill?
I like to think that I am pretty good at being able to tell when my opponents will get way out of line, allowing me to logically adjust and capitalize.
And your biggest leak?
I occasionally get too call-happy when I presume my opponent knows GTO concepts well.
If you could make one rule change to poker, what would it be?
I would make the shot clock shorter (15 seconds?) but give a decently large time bank and/or implement a chess clock.
You have just ten seconds with the person of your dreams… what do you say?
I love you with all of me. You are the best. I am yours.
OK, Jonathan Little nailed it to the wall and checked it was straight with a spirit level! What a showing. Count us out of taking him on when he has 15 bigs at the live felt… we may just invest on him on PokerStake instead!
