This is a really old post, that's for sure. But it's still valuable today as it was then. A Russian player's fish and maniacal? Just because we don't understand, or you don't understand how a player plays the way they do, doesn't mean they're maniacal. Many players talk about Fedor Holz and say how lucky he is. He's crazy. He does things that people don't. Yet he's one of the top, well at least he was one of the top ten money winners in the world. He's still winning titles, playing on the high circuits. Just because I see a Russian flag if I'm playing, I wouldn't think of them as a fish. They're more of a challenge, and they may be one of the tough ones. Just like South America, like with Argentina and Brazil. I've heard so many people talk about them being bad players. But they're not necessarily bad. It's just not the style that you or I may play. I think putting anybody or any nationality into a pot is a mistake. As for if they're banned to play, I'm not in Russia, so I can't say what they do live. But they're playing online, and frankly, I think the Russian players are actually very good. Of course there's fish. Of course there's idiots. Of course there's maniacs. But that happens everywhere. Whether it's American, European, Asian, it doesn't matter. There's always going to be bad players and maniacs from each and every area. As for the Asians, I understand why people don't want to necessarily play against them. But if you underestimate them, that's a mistake. Many of them are very solid, good players. And again, just like with the Russians, don't judge them on what you see, or what you think you're seeing. Look at their results, guys. They're good too.
