Gopi Sade: Techie & Poker expert
By Hitesh Shetty

The booming IT industry in India has empowered many Tech Specialists to make more time to pursue their passions. Some IIT Graduates have stopped pursuing lucrative careers in India and overseas and are with NGO’s as well as organizations like ISCKON. Software testing Techie by day and Poker expert after work, Gopi Sade, finished fourth at the recent World Gaming festival in Goa.

Techgoss (TG): Tell us about your educational qualifications? Tell us about your Techie background?
Gopi Sade: I have completed my M.C.A. from Loyola academy Hyderabad. I am into software testing and I have got 7 years of rich experience in the same.

TG: How and when did you get interested in gaming? What are the joys of gaming to you as compared to your other activities?
Gopi Sade: I have been playing Poker since 2008. I actually got to learn the nuances of the game while I was working in Switzerland. I had also done little research about this game in Wikipedia. Poker is purely a game of skills and is followed by 0.25% to 0.5% of youth in India, which is approximately about one lakh people.  Poker in India is played only in Goa. In fact, Most of the Indian youth pick up this game while they are away from India.

Gaming has added a new perspective to my personality and I've always cherished it.

TG: Tell us about your journey in the recent World Gaming festival in Goa, where you finished fourth overall facing stiff competition from 100 other gamers?
Gopi Sade: This is the first time I had ever participated in a Poker Competition and it worked wonders for me, as I finished fourth. But, I never expected that I would finish in the fourth place.

TG: What is the future of Poker and other games like roulette, black jack etc. in India? Most parents in India don't encourage their children to go to Casino, as they think that the latter might end up losing big. What advice would you give to aspiring gamers for a pleasant gaming experience?
Gopi Sade: India has always been a card loving nation. Traditionally, India has a long history of playing cards. It’s now time to bring this game of skill into India and giving India its place in world poker history.

Having said this, I would still suggest people to not to go to casino, because of losing money big time. I have myself lost close to 30 thousand Swiss francs once. Hence, I would rather advice youngsters to stay away from casinos. It is not a good addiction to be a part of. It indeed does more harm than good.

TG: In Poker you have to have a Poker face so your opponents do not know what cards you have?  What are the tricks of having a facial profile during a game so your opponents cannot guess your cards and strategy?
Gopi Sade: As far as I am concerned, the Poker Face is simply a gimmick. At the end of the day, only thing that truly matters is that you got to have good cards under your sleeves.

Having said that, I would also like to add that Poker is certainly a mind game rather than a luck game. This is where your playing skills and experience comes into play.

TG: How did you manage to keep up your interest in poker even after being on a full time job in technological world? How do you cope with the pressures of the job against those of gaming skills?
Gopi Sade:  I play poker only when I have a long weekend behind me. Hence I wouldn't say that I'm an addicted and avid gamer. I play poker only as a fun past time or hobby. So, that doesn't seem to impact my office work in any way.

TG: What are your future plans?
Gopi Sade:  I would like to participate in World Series of Poker Online (WSOP). That is my future aspiration.