Like most young Swede’s, Bengt cut his teeth on the Internet, but he rose up the proverbial ladder so quickly he had become one of the highest earning internet poker players worldwide in less than two years.

In the last year Bengt has ventured out of the bedroom to flaunt his skills on the live tournament circuit; meeting with considerable success along the way. Bengt made TV tables within months, first in the Ladbrokes Poker Million where he won his heat before bowing out in the final, and then in the Monte Carlo Millions.

In the latter part of 2005 Bengt really hit top gear, narrowly missing out on a WPT final table appearance when he finished 8th in the Bellagio Five Diamond Classic before coming fourth in the Monte Carlo Millions. He hopes to go three better in 2006.

Whichpoker writer Malcolm Weir met up with Bengt during the Ladbrokes Poker Cruise, where Bengt survived a horrible, crippling beat in the middle stage of the tournament to finish an impressive 8th.

Q. Lets start at the beginning...You've been playing poker for about three years is that right?

A. Yes, almost four now.

Q. How did you start - how did poker first come to your attention?

A. Well, actually I always liked to gamble, whether it was sports betting or table games, so when I heard that a friend of a friend had won a lot of money on poker, I didn’t hang around. I tried it out online and with friends; of course I was losing to start with, but I played very low limits and then started to improve. I read a couple of books and have been doing better and better since then.

Q. How quickly did you start to win money and step up on to bigger money tables...?

A. Well initially I was actually too quick up in limits, and I was sent down after taking some good beatings! After that I played at the same level for about a year, to build my bankroll, and then slowly worked my way up again. It’s important not to rush.

Q. What level was that (where you were building your bankroll)?

A. 2-4 NL

Q. So when did you have your first really big win or successful week?

A. Right after I read my first poker book. I read it, and then the very next week I won about $1000. I was then lucky enough to keep winning until I went back up in limits again.

Q. What happened then?

A. I lost 25% of all my winnings in one day, and had to start over again in order not to lose it all! I pretty much started from scratch and slowly built up.

Q. Was that the first really gut wrenching loss you'd had?

A. Yeah, that was the first really big one. But I think it’s good to have one of those – it helps you to realise poker is about more than just being a good player.

Q. Were you playing a lot of tournaments back then?

A. No, not really. I did sometimes but I thought it was more important to play cash games. I wanted to be really good and I think if you are really serious then cash games are the way to learn. They are tougher.

Q. Why do you think that is?

A. Well there’s much more money at stake in cash games so the players are better on average. Tournaments are much better for hobby-players because you know how much you are investing – so you know how much you can lose. They just aren’t quite as serious as cash games.

Q. I must say I was surprised to hear people on the boat saying they made a living from playing tournaments online. Does it surprise you?

A. Well I think more players say they make a living than really do! Haha! But there are actually a lot of tourney-grinders out there. In many ways it is an easier way to live - you can play a set schedule and still be successful. I have some friends that play that way, people who are not successful in cash games but who have a very successful tournament strategy. Everyone’s different.

Q. All-ins are a different animal in tournaments and cash games right?

A. The all-in move is the perfect example. It actually takes away a lot of the skill in poker – because there is often no flop play. I must admit I’m not very successful in short stack tournaments where the pre-flop all-in is standard even early in the event. I like to play flops.

I played four main events this trip (tournaments that were 4-5 days play with big stacks). I got to 3 final tables. I’m almost never all-in pre-flop before I get (to the final table). I just don’t want to gamble like that; I know my edge after the flop is normally bigger than it can ever be pre-flop.

Q.3 final tables? For a cash game player that’s not too shabby...

A. Ha-ha. Well I have been focusing on tourneys for the last 5-6 months – in fact I have barely played cash games at all this trip and I haven’t played online once. I still found the tournaments tough because when it comes to final tables it’s that all-in game again. I ended up doing quite well – I finished 4th,4th,6th,8th, 8th in five major tournaments. Ok results, but also incredibly frustrating.

Q. 4th,4th,6th,8th,8th in five major tournaments – that must be a reasonable profit?

A. Sure, but it’s not the big money. At the Bellagio (in December 2005 in the WPT Five Diamond Classic Main-Event $15,000 buy-in) I came 8th and won $130,000. The first prize was $2 million – and the guy that won it (fellow Scandinavian Rehne Pedersen) had the same number of chips when we got there. He went on a rush and I went out. (In fact Bengt got knocked out by Pedersen when he flopped top pair and Pedersen was sitting on pocket rockets).

Q. How did you feel about your tournament on the Ladbrokes cruise?

A. I was disappointed at the time because I got really unlucky in all-in situations again (one that stood out was when Bengt – who was one of he chip leaders at the time, re-raised all-in A-A and was called by Skalie – another chip leader – who held 9-9. Bengt announced “pass me the sugar”, only for a 9 to fall on the river, leaving him crippled) but these things happen and I’m happy overall. I think I’m playing better and better.

Q. Remind us how you went out?

A. Ah-Th vs Kh-Qh, a queen fell on the river! Ha-ha. As I say – it happens.

Q. If you are mostly a cash game player what got you into tournaments?

A. Well, like I said, to begin with I didn’t want to play tournaments, because, especially online, they are so much about the coin-flip situations. But anyway I started playing some – I didn’t do very well in the start. You have to be more patient and never make big mistakes but I always did eventually!

Q. What was your first televised tournament?

A. I guess it was the Monte Carlo millions in 2004. I came 20th or so out of 100 but I made some big mistakes again. Then there was the Ladbrokes Poker Million in Aug last year (2005). I won my heat and made the final table, but got knocked first from the final table!

Q. Can you work on the all-in game – or is it a question of being lucky?

A. I think I have to work on it. I have some weakness there – I’m getting better but still, I have to work a lot on it. Sometimes it’s hard to take, like the beats on the cruise. But they go around.

Q. What is your biggest payday to date?

A. $250,000 in the Monte Carlo Millions (for 4th place). I have had some good days at the cash tables. I’ve won about 100k in a day online before – although Monte Carlo was still by far the biggest.

Q. Was that win in Monte Carlo an "I'm buying a new car" payday?

A. Ha-ha. Not quite. Nowadays I’m sensible but I have had some wins that were a bit like that; but if you have that in cash games you are playing too high. It’s better to make steady money than huge paydays (in cash games).

Q. Your worst swing?

A. I’m not sure – usually if I am even after being 100K up I will quit – it is hard to win after that.

Q. So what cash games do you play online?

A. Before the trip I played $50-$100NL, $100-$200NL and some $300-$600 limit.

RANDOM QUESTIONS

Q. What are you interests outside poker?

A. Interests???

Q. Poker takes up a lot of time huh?

A. He-he. Well yes, but I have time. I love racket sports.

Q. What music do you listen to at the poker table?

A. A lot of stuff, I like to listen to soft music when I’m playing, like Coldplay for example. I also like hip-hop but I play too aggressive if I listen to it at the table!

Q. Your stuck in an elevator with three poker players – not members of Swedish Santas (Bengt’s poker crew) – who would choose?

A. Ah. I hate that. Ok, well it’s got to be someone that’s calm and will sort things out.

Q. Very rational

A. …so probably no poker player qualifies!

Q. Most bizarre moment in poker?

A. Well – the whole poker world is so bizarre so nothing stands out. Outside poker the sickest thing I’ve seen is when two friends played each other in luck games for a pair of shoes. It ended with one guy winning the shoes but he owed his friend $130,000. That kind of thing actually happens all the time.

Q. Best poker memory?

A. Winning huge in a cash game - it’s better than winning money by placing in a tournament, because if I don’t win a tournament I’m always a bit disappointed at first and will go through things I should have done differently – so I’m only really happy when I win big and take all the money at the table!

Q. What poker advice can you offer to the average low-limit online player?

A. Read a book, that’s the best advice. Then play limits your comfortable with for a while, maybe grind more than one table, and play simple, tight, poker.

Q. What’s your next big tournament?

A. The EPT event in Deauville, France (8th – 11th February).

Q. Are you a poker addict?

A. Ha-ha! Less now that before - as I said I have cut down on playing but I still love the game and I love winning even more!

Q. Spoken like a true professional! Thanks for talking to us – take care and good luck!

A. Been a pleasure. Take care.