Meet Cash Game Festival Online Streamer Stuart “PaulSmiley” McDonald

Australia’s Stuart “PaulSmiley” McDonald is an online and live poker grinder that has traveled around the world.
On the live tournament felts, McDonald has amassed almost $220,000 in tournament winnings with his best cash coming in the Latin America Poker Tour Colombia IV Main Event for $93,110. This doesn’t tell the entire story of the tournament, as he took the biggest prize in the tournament thanks to a six-way deal!
While McDonald has yet to play in a live Cash Game Festival, he is excited to be one of the 30 players to stream his action on Twitch during the first-ever Cash Game Festival Online.
McDonald shared with us a bit about himself along with his thoughts about the Cash Game Festival.
When did you get into poker and what got your started?
I played my first game of poker in 2007. A friend invited me along to a pub tournament game. After a few games I understood the basics and never looked back. Grinding the pub poker scene was a real adventure, jumping from venue to venue.
What do you like best about poker?
I enjoy the mental aspect and the challenge of trying to figure out what level my opponent is thinking on. And more importantly trying to manipulate my opponent into thinking incorrectly. The more serious a game is to my opponent, the greater my drive is to put them under pressure at the right time. I definitely enjoy triple barrel bluffing nits. Especially ‘reg nits’, nothing beats triple barreling them off a seemingly capped face up holding. The art of unbalancing can never be overlooked.
Do you prefer online or live poker?
I prefer live more by a slight margin. The atmosphere is more enjoyable generally speaking and being able to grasp how people play and think is far easier. Online is convenient in many ways with the ability to play without going anywhere and playing more tables, however it can become quite dry and monotonous if you play too regularly.
Do you prefer cash games or tournaments?
I prefer tournaments over cash games by a reasonable margin. The dynamics in tournaments constantly change. Personally I find it much easier to control my emotions. With the right stakes and a clear head, I still enjoy cash games too. Cash games are basically on hold right now until I am satisfied with my state of mind and ability to stay disciplined. I prefer live cash over online cash by a long way.
What stakes and game do you plan to play during your stream?
I plan to play up to €0.50/€1 cash no-limit hold’em 6-max and could possibly stream some Omaha high/low games as well.
What is one of your funniest moments either in live or online poker?
I definitely have had plenty of interesting moments playing both forms. One that comes to mind online was playing an Omaha high/low capped cash game. I believe I had a strong hand on the river after betting flop, turn and river. On the turn, I intentionally bet an amount that once called I would only have one cent left to bet on the river if checked to. There was $40 in the pot and bet my remaining penny on the river and the player folded. I didn’t randomly do this. The player was the true definition of a whale, I didn’t have a raise button. I just decided to ‘take the piss’. I have been known to try silly belittling maneuvers online and every now and then the player folds.  Obviously I boomed that hand.
Live I would say, once I was playing a €300 tournament in Barcelona. I got under a players skin immensely. I was drunk and just mucking around as my friend was on the table too. The rournament director had been called over originally and we were warned. I managed to last 15 minutes behaving myself, then I decided to call time on the same guy again after ten seconds. The dealer wasn’t too happy with me in general, either before this or after this. The tournament director was called over again and without hesitation gave me a full round penalty for saying one word. Just shows it doesn’t take much to get on someone’s nerves if you try.
Would you like to see a Cash Game Festival in Sydney?
I have not been to one before, but would definitely be keen to try something new. No one really likes The Star in Sydney as the staff are clueless when it comes to running tournaments and poker in general. A cash game festival in Sydney taking place somewhere other than a casino would be ideal.
Where is your favorite place to play live poker?

I would probably say Barcelona is up there with the best places to play. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas is pretty cool with the never ending amounts of tables and action, however, you want to try and not over do your time inside the casino. Next summer in Las Vegas I will be staying in a house. It’s important to try and balance your time away from the tables. Barcelona for the location and WSOP for the action.