Know when to hold 'em

The lure of easy money, while sitting at the table with five cards in your hand, chips stacked in front of you and thousands of dollars riding on a single play, is undeniable to the thrill-seeking gambler.

But to hear Carrington resident Arlie Brandvold tell it, it's not necessarily the most high-flying lifestyle to undertake.

"It's definitely not as glorious as it seems," he laughed. "Most nights, you get home late at night and just sleep all day."

This past season, Brandvold had one of his most successful runs on the state's Roughrider Poker Tour (RPT), earning just under $39,000 during his events and being named the 2022 Player of the Year.

Brandvold had 31 cashes, over 800 total points on the RPT leaderboard, and earned a $5,000 prize package to the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, which extends from late May into early July.

The 1992 New Rockford High School graduate has worked at various jobs including pipeline work and house moving, and was able to accumulate a good haul of winnings when he had the time to do so.

"Last year, I was mainly doing that," said Brandvold, who chuckled, "I guess it was just something to do."

He estimates that he's been playing competitive poker since around 2000 or 2001, and his competitive juices really began flowing when he went to tournaments at Spirit Lake Casino.

"Once I started, I just kind of got hooked on it, really," he says.

While some players, especially ones weaned on the ESPN culture that the WSOP's popularity fostered, go for elaborate psychological techniques to intimidate at the table, Brandvold doesn't subscribe to such ideas.

"Some players ask me what my technique is, and I'm probably not the one to explain it to you," he said. "I'm probably more of a player who relies on feel."

Meaning, he goes more with his gut and intuition at times, which can be a high-risk, high-reward strategy.

His biggest payday came in 2013 while playing at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., where he won $10,900 at a tournament there.

When he's been able to attend RPT tournaments, Brandvold says he's been a consistent top five player.

His upcoming trip to Vegas won't necessarily come cheap. The prize package will go largely towards entry fees.

"I'm leaning towards $1,500 limit Omaha Hi-Lo, then maybe play a few $1,500 Texas Hold'Em tournaments," he said.

The WSOP will be held at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas from May 30 to July 18, 2023.