Thinking Poker

Before Black Friday, Reid Young was one of the most successful no-limit hold ’em players on the internet. Now, he’s turning his attention to how the game is taught. In this interview he talks about his career, his new project, and the philosophy background he shares with Nate and Andrew. Plus, he sticks around for a strategy discussion about playing a big draw in a multi-way pot. If you decide to sign up for PokerSprout, please support the Thinking Poker ...

Gareth Chantler joins Andrew in San Francisco to talk to Carlos Welch about his career-changing win in the Bovada $100K Guarantee. Learn how Carlos became the player he is today, the strategy that carried him to victory, and how this win will change his career and his life. Carlos’ “Fight for Poker” video is well worth watching at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRu_8K-zY9c Timestamps 3:09 – hello and welcome; carlos welch 50:30 – strategy time Strategy *** Starting Chips *** Dealer: 7486 Small Blind: ...

Nate and Andrew field some mailbag questions related to both poker strategy and ethics, including collusion, what exactly a “guaranteed” prize pool should entail, when to rebuy, and how to add more aggression to your game. Strategy Villain #1 opens to $4 from the hijack. His stack is ~$100. Villain #2 calls. His stack is ~$450. The button folds, the SB folds and raises to $12 with Ts Th. Both players call, so it’s $37 in the pot going to ...

Joe Giron has been photographing the World Series of Poker and other major poker events for nearly ten years, and in that time he’s learned a lot about poker and the people who play it. Before that, he worked as a newspaper photojournalist and a music photographer. We talk to him about the art of photography, his unique perspective on the poker world, his experiences with some of the world’s biggest rock musicians, and how technology is changing his industry. ...

Matt Savage, tournament director extraordinaire, talks shop about it takes to put on a great tournament series. We discuss the Tournament Directors’ Association, some of its more controversial rules, and Matt’s role as its public face and mouthpiece, as well as the delicate balancing act required to accommodate the interests of professional players, recreational players, and the casinos themselves. You can and should follow Matt on Twitter @savagepoker and pester him with all of your rules questions, whether mundane or ...

Jimmy Fricke, once known as “Gobboboy”, was one of the early stars of the internet poker book. After a short stint traveling the live circuit, he chose to settle in Las Vegas, while most of his friends and peers continued traveling to compete. In this interview, he reflects on that decision, how it’s affected his life for better and for worse, and how he pursues his passions in the face of depression. Jimmy also sticks around to talk Omaha Eight-or-Better ...

Shane “Shaniac” Schleger is kind enough to grace us with his presence despite Andrew’s losing our last conversation. In this interview, we talk about depression, addiction, suicide, music, and, yes, poker. Even if heavy conversation isn’t your thing, be sure to tune in for two strategy segments, including one about limit hold ’em! We don’t have a P Funk playlist from Shane yet, but we’ll update this post when we get it. Timestamps 0:30 hello & welcome 7:20 – limit ...

On April 10, 2001, Danielle “dmoongirl” Andersen was a professional poker player living happily in a small town in Minnesota with her husband and young son. The film Bet Raise Fold (which also featured former podcast guest Tony Dunst) shows how Black Friday turned her life upside down. Nearly four years later, Danielle is settled in Las Vegas, once again living with her family and earning a living as a poker player. In this conversation, she reflects on the last ...

Edoardo Riario Sforza has moved up through the ranks to become a contender in some of the biggest MTTs on the Italian sites. The same ambition that helped him succeed at poker is now taking him on a 10-month backpacking trip around the world. Edoardo talks about what and how he learned along the way, the advantages and disadvantages of playing in the ring-fenced Italian online poker market, and the journey ahead of him. He also joins Nate and Andrew ...

Ben “ProfessorBen” Yu is an accomplished multi-table tournament player with three WSOP final tables to his name across a variety of games. He talks to us about ditching school to play poker, ditching poker to play Magic, and learning to play a variety of games. We also consider the possibly perverse nature of PLO tournaments, including strategy discussion of a key hand from the bubble of a WSOP event. You can follow Ben on Twitter @professorben and read his articles ...

Gavin Griffin once held the record for youngest WSOP bracelet winner, and he remains one of a select few players to have won WSOP, EPT, and WPT events. Yet in 2012, he found himself writing this essay about rebuilding his bankroll and his confidence, starting at $8/$16 Omaha/8. In our interview, Gavin talks about his early success, how he stumbled, and how far he’s come in the last three years. You can follow Gavin on Twitter @nhgg and read his ...

Ed Miller talks about his latest book, No Limit Hold ‘Em Made Simple, as well as the Las Vegas poker economy, his experiences with the Clark County foster care system, and how his perspective on being a parent has changed. Ed’s previous appearances on Episode 25 and Episode 71 are among the best strategy discussions the show has seen and are well worth checking out! Timestamps :30 hello 3:39 strat 24:53 EM Strategy PokerStars – $0.50 Ante $0.10 NL (6 ...

Nate and Andrew discuss showing bluffs and getting value. Then Carlos and Andrew talk tournament strategy from Carlos’ recent trip to Florida, with an emphasis on dealing with overly aggressive tables. Timestamps 0:30 – hello & welcome 3:24 – strategy: getting value & showing bluffs 34:54 – interview: carlos in florida

A quick show that almost didn’t happen, this one features Nate and Andrew talking through an online NLHE hand and a live NLHE hand. You can hear Andrew and his grandmother talk about her brother on Episode 21. Be sure to pick up The Thinking Poker Diaries Volume 3 from nitcast.com or in the Amazon Kindle Store. Strategy Hand 1 Villain raises to $3 from CO, BTN folds, Hero 3 bets to $10 from SB with AQcc, BB folds, Villain ...

Dr. Michael Bowling and PhD candidate Mike Johanson from the University of Alberta Computer Poker Research Group, who first appeared on Episode 79 of the podcast, return to discuss Cepheus, their “essentially” unexploitable heads up limit hold ’em AI and its implications for both poker and artificial intelligence. Plus Nate and Andrew discuss playing top pair on a draw-heavy board. Timestamps :30 Hello & Welcome 16:42 Strategy 44:24 Interview: Computer Poker Research Group

Old friend Leo Wolpert joins us to talk about setting goals, taking breaks, and planning for the year. And strategy, of course! Timestamps :30 – Hello & Welcome; Planning and Goal Setting 34:42 – Strategy

David Einhorn is the founder and president of Greenlight Capital. He’s made a name for himself in the poker world not only by competing in both of the $1,000,000 buy-in Big One For One Drop WSOP tournaments but by finishing 3rd in the 2012 tournament. Proving that he’s no one hit wonder, David also finished 173rd in the 2014 WSOP Main Event. We talk to him about the appeal that poker holds for him, why he chooses to compete against ...

Kevin “Kevmath” Mathers’ job title is Manager of Poker Information for Bluff Magazine, but even before he had that position, he was known as the go-to guy for structure sheets, redraws, and just about anything you would want to know about the poker world. We talk to him about his career, his reclusiveness, and his passion for helping the poker world. All that plus straddling strategy! You can (and should) follow @kevmath on Twitter. You can (and should) vote for ...

Nick Wealthall is a TV presenter, writer and broadcaster who works in comedy, poker and sports media. He’s got a long history in poker that predates the boom by several years. He shares his evolution from player to writer to presenter, opines on the current state of poker media, and even gazes a bit into the future. Timestamps 0:30 – Hello & Welcome 6:05 – Strategy: 29:17 – Interview: Nick Wealthall Strategy Villain ($240) limps UTG1. UTG2 ($150) raises to ...

The second batch of Thinking Poker Premium Podcasts is now available, and tonight you’re getting the first episode FREE. Fresh off of a $1-$2 no-limit game, Andrew and Nate help Carlos Welch take his first steps from tourney donk to cash game crusher. The entire Coaching Carlos series is available for just $19 at www.nitcast.com.