how we started
Colton here, founder of Fade The Spades. I’m your average poker player. In truth, there are thousands of players just like me in skill—ones that grind to small wins in low/mid stakes cash games and occasionally, when we don’t have to take off work, take a shot at tournaments we can afford.
My bankroll had never been larger than a few thousand. Just like many, my goal in poker is simple: be able to win enough to continue playing without ever having to significantly dip into my bank account.
When you really dive into the poker community, you realize that, although this is an “individual” sport, poker players look out for each other. There’s a kindred spirit. My best friends in my life today are all people I met, either directly or indirectly, while playing this game. Friendships that go far deeper than any card room.
In 2014, I went and played in a $125 rebuy tournament—you know the type. A huge field with a big guaranteed prize pool. Now, my friends and I affectionately call these tournaments “poker bingo.”
Poker, tournament poker especially, is a mixture of skill and luck—no serious, honest player will deny this. And, as players in the post-boom era have gotten better, the “edge” one can get using skill is increasingly smaller. It’s hard to get there, especially in large field sizes.
That tournament, I bagged up for Day 2. I needed a room, and one of those best friends I mentioned—he happily obliged to split it with me. He had bagged slightly more than me—and he had played this game for a living for 5+ years at the time. He has grinded low stakes for so long... I would have put my money on him that night to outlast me, for sure.
But the next day, it was just... my time. Everything went right—two outters on the river. Won every flip. Before I knew it, we were 7 handed at the final table. I was the chip leader.
I remember stacking chips and my hands quite literally shaking. At 7 handed, we started talking chop. I wanted first—but what do I know? Plus, I knew how lucky I’d been to get there, and how quickly it could turn. But one player—won’t mention the player by name—didn’t want to chop. He made a comment that always stuck with me: “I’ve been in much bigger situations than this. I’m not chopping.”
I’ve since gotten to know this person—and I know he didn’t mean anything negative towards the rest of us. But at the time, all I could think of was standing up for us. The 6 of us were amateurs and it would represent the biggest cash of our lives—don’t belittle them or me. I had to stand up.
I knocked him out 3 hands later.
After our ICM chop, it was official—I had won a poker tournament.
A few weeks went by, and I couldn’t get over the question that I’m sure many have asked in that situation—why me? I had played well, but why was it my turn to run so pure? I didn’t deserve it any more than anyone else.
So, I started Fade The Spades. The point was simple—I wanted to share my success (luck) with others around me. That has given me far more joy than that final table.
Throughout the last 3 years, we’ve accumulated 10-12 players that have worn the #teamfade logo. We support each other. We cheer for each other. We stake each other, when available. We talk about hands and make each other better players. And, most importantly, when one of us busts out or has a rough night at the cash tables, we are there for each other. We aren’t alone anymore.
I mentioned the player that didn’t want to chop at my final table for a reason. When we are speaking with people about representing #teamfade and joining our little “crew,” one thing is very important: how you act at the table. We are all amateur players, and we want to act in a way that represents all of us well. Here are some things we believe in:
We are social at the table. Poker is supposed to be fun.
We do not berate other players or the dealer, ever, no matter the situation.
We stick up for players that are being bullied verbally at the table. We were all once that player at some point, and that is never okay.
We don’t hide behind hoodies and sunglasses and headphones. All of those are okay occasionally, but we are there to have fun, not to grind away like a robot.
We take all of our losses and wins in stride—never too far up and never too far down. When we win, we celebrate as a team. And when we lose, we support each other as a team.
So, in a nutshell, that’s all #teamfade really is. As low/mid stakes amateur players, it’s emotionally and financially difficult to go to battle against players with more experience and heftier bank rolls alone. It can feel overwhelming, and when you fail, it can feel as if you’ll never break through. But, just like it was my time in 2014, we believe that if you play the game in a positive way, it can be done.
Fade The Spades is my #pokerfamily. And one day, you’ll know us all by name.
colton thomas, founder
