Andrew and Nate break down hands that were submitted from the audience. One is a cash game hand from an underground joint in New York, and the other comes from a tournament. Nate and Andrew also discuss a hand they … Read more…
In this all-strategy episode, Nate and Andrew discuss the importance of drawing to the nuts in PLO8 and why pot odds can be deceptive. Then Andrew talks about how to make bluffing decisions based on blockers. Strategy Hand #1 It … Read more…
Rounders co-creator Brian Koppelman, who first appeared on Episode 149, joins us with his own thoughts on the conversation about cheating in poker that began with Episode 309. In the strategy segment, Nate and Andrew debate post-flop play on the … Read more…
Travel back to 2014 with the Thinking Poker archives. Nate’s left Las Vegas, but Andrew and Leo Wolpert sit down during Day 6 of the Main Event to talk about their own deep runs in the WSOP as well as … Read more…
Fan favorite Matt Glassman is back to discuss Mike Postle, impeachment, Twitter strategy, the shortcomings of prediction markets, and building his own poker table. Matt Glassman first appeared on episode 191. Nate’s original trip report from the 2011 WSOP is … Read more…
Jacki Burkhart, mother, dental hygienist, and “serious recreational” poker player, joins Andrew to discuss her life, her career, and her attempts to keep a low profile while high rolling. In the strategy segment, the two review a hand Jacki played … Read more…
After a cross-country drive, Andrew has finally reunited with Nate in Las Vegas for the 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event! The two are joined by Carlos to talk about a few hands Nate played in a preliminary 10-game … Read more…
Vlogger Matt Vaughan joins Andrew to discuss content creation, building and feeding an audience, meet-up games, and more. Timestamps 0:30 Hello & Welcome 2:07 Strategy 33:26 Matt Vaughan Strategy 2/3$ (9 handed) We start the hand with 450ish, oppo covers … Read more…
Nate and Andrew discuss Mambo Stud, some innovative policies at the new Encore Boston Harbor casino, and two interesting strategy hands. Timestamps 0:30 Hello & Welcome/Encore/Mambo Stud 16:56 Strategy Strategy Hand 1 1/2 NLHE. Hero has $750 8 handed. Main … Read more…
Phil Galfond, who previously appeared on Episode 229 and Episode 288, discusses delegating, the online poker economy, and the trend towards private and semi-private casino games. Follow Phil on Twitter and check out Run It Once. Timestamps 0:30 Hello 3:03 … Read more…
Nate and Andrew discuss the Commerce Casino, the new Encore Boston Harbor, and when to sit in the biggest game in the room. In the strategy segment, Hero rivers a straight flush, but is it strong enough to raise? Timestamps … Read more…
Alex “Assassinato” Fitzgerald joins Nate and Andrew to talk about his childhood in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, winning and losing a fortune, abusing drugs and getting clean, and his new life in Costa Rica. Alex Fitzgerald Alex Fitzgerald is … Read more…
MATT GLASSMAN Matt Glassman is an avid card player and a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute who frequently frames political discussions in terms of game theory and card strategy. Twitter Link Matt Glassman reminisces about the early … Read more…
This interview first aired in 2014 on the Poker News podcast stream. It was never available on the Thinking Poker stream, which is why we’re re-releasing it now. Leo Wolpert joins Nate and Andrew from Las Vegas to discuss safety … Read more…
Andrew and Nate discuss Andrew’s 125th place finish in the WSOP Main Event. Timestamps 0:30 – hello and welcome 5:36 – bustout hand 71:32 – pocket fours Strategy Hand 1 30K/60K HJ (9M) opens to 120K, Hero (5.5M) calls from … Read more…
Matt Matros is a professional poker player and writer whose works include both fiction and poker books. He and Andrew discuss poker, writing, and writing about poker. In the strategy segment, Andrew discusses floating a flop check-raise deep in a … Read more…
Legendary poker author David Sklansky is our guest for Episode 300. We discuss his long career in gambling and writing about gambling, his new book The Theory of Poker Applied to No-Limit, and more. Plus real-time strategy from the WSOP … Read more…
Berk Brown sits down with Andrew in Las Vegas to discuss flying around the world to deal nosebleed games, the short lifespan of delusional pros, and the state of Las Vegas poker in 2019. Andrew’s new book, Play Optimal Poker, … Read more…
This interview first aired in 2014 on the Poker News podcast stream. It was never available on the Thinking Poker stream, which is why we’re re-releasing it now. Ari is a perfect #nitcast guest, sharing tips on how to travel … Read more…
When I first released Episode 298, I made an offer to give free e-books to people who bought a paper book wrote a review. Unfortunately, I think that’s not consistent with Amazon’s policy on reviews, and I don’t want to … Read more…
Andrew’s book, Play Optimal Poker, comes out on Tuesday, June 4. He and Nate discuss writing, editing, publishing, and the book’s contents. The e-book is available to pre-order now, but be sure to listen to the episode first if you … Read more…
Andrew’s working furiously to finish his book, so there’s no guest this week, just a quick strategy segment where he and Nate discuss whether to slowplay top set. Timestamps 0:30 Hello8:07 Strategy Strategy $2/$5 at Turning Stone in upstate NY. … Read more…
Nate and Andrew discuss the new premium podcasts, Andrew’s forthcoming book, and a tricky hand where the Hero makes top pair, top kicker in a four-way pot. Timestamps 0:30 hello & welcome14:17 strategy Strategy 5/5 NLHE, $1500 effective Hero raises … Read more…
CARLOs WELCH Carlos Welch is a “professional poker student” and long-time friend of the show. He plays, coaches, and studies poker, lives in a van, and substitute teaches. He first appeared on Episode 39. Twitter Link Carlos and Andrew have … Read more…
Steven van Zadelhoff Steven van Zadelhoff is a Dutch poker player residing in Malta. Among his many accolades is a victory in the Main Event of the 2017 World Championship of Online Poker. Twitter Long-time poker pro Steven van Zadelhoff … Read more…
Thomas Pinnock Thomas Pinnock is a poker player and coach, a contributor to Upswing Poker, and a medical student at the University of Western Australia. He is the founder of Zenith Poker. Link Thomas Pinnock is a master of balance. … Read more…
Tommy Angelo discusses the concept of Waiting for Straighters as well as his collaboration with Lee Jones and his thoughts on collaboration more generally. Tommy previously appeared on Episode 2, Episode 29, and Episode 192, Episode 211, and Episode 220. … Read more…
Software developer Mark Thompson joins us to discuss the common pitfalls and important “Aha!” moments for new players, as well as how a desire to create software to assist with his own development led to a commercial project. In the … Read more…
This wide-ranging interview explores not only Brad Willis’s new project Murder Etc but also creativity, journalism, the podcasting medium, and what it means to know a place. Timestamps 0:30 – Hello & welcome3:11 – Strategy35:40 – Brad Willis Links Tyler ChildersBilly StringsMarcus … Read more…
Timestamps 0:30 – Hello7:18 – Strategy34:21 – Barry Carter Strategy Hand Details 100 BB effective stacks Dealt to Hero: Ks Ts UTG folds, Hero (MP) raises to 3BB, Villain (CO) calls, BTN folds, SB folds, BB folds. Flop: Qh 6s 4s (7.5BB) Hero bets … Read more…
Phil Galfond, who first appeared on Episode 229, returns to the show to discuss the launch of his real-money poker site Run It Once and how it differs from the traditional online poker experience. Follow Phil on Twitter for more … Read more…
Thanks to a last-minute cancellation, Nate and Andrew put together a quick all-strategy episode. What do you do when you flop the nuts but the river pairs the board? How should you transition from tournaments to online cash games? Strategy … Read more…
Luke Vrabel (@SlayAbides) began his career as bdbeatslayer, one of the top “female” MTT players online, eventually winning a bundle of cash and a Lamborghini in the 5th Anniversary PokerStars Sunday Million. Since Black Friday, though, he’s had a rocky … Read more…
GirafGanger7 consistently cracks Pocket Fives’ list of the top ten online MTT players, and between games, he helps his girlfriend care for rescue animals from cats to chickens to goats. We talk to him about his unique life, his approach … Read more…
Martin Harris, perhaps better known in the poker world as Short-Stacked Shamus, is the author of the forthcoming book Poker and Pop Culture (available for pre-order now!) as well as the Hard-Boiled Poker blog. He is a freelance writer, and … Read more…
Richard is a long-time poker player, dealer, floorperson, and tournament director in the Baltimore area. He started out playing Magic: The Gathering with some other poker players you’ve probably heard of. We geek out on dealer training and procedure but … Read more…
Carlos Welch is over live poker. He’s currently teaching special education in Portland and grinding mid-stakes MTTs on Ignition. In addition to his recent exploits, he and Andrew discuss tells and bluff-catching. Timestamps 0:30 Hello & Welcome 42:21 Strategy Links … Read more…
Ben Saxton teaches literature and writing classes at Tulane Medical School and Bard Early College. He’s also a poker writer whose interviews for Two Plus Two Magazine have a lot in common with those you’d hear on the Thinking Poker … Read more…
Long-time listener Tony Neuman wrote to us about a hand that he played in a home game against a brother, and we discussed it on Episode 267. Now he’s on the air to follow up with a discussion of straddling, … Read more…
KL Cleeton returns to the show to discuss what makes poker fun and what makes it interesting. Plus, he’s got some Twitch news to announce, and he and Andrew discuss how to do focused hand history reviews when you don’t … Read more…
Andrew explains fundamental game theory concepts in terms that even a beginner can understand and addresses some common myths and misunderstandings. Contribute to Andrew’s BAUDL Fundraising Campaign or learn more about itShop with our Amazon affiliate linksGet 25% Off Custom … Read more…
Nate and Andrew put out an hour of pure strategy, brought to you by our friends at Tournament Poker Edge. Topics include limp-raising, thin value three-betting, donk betting, overbetting, and mixing up your play (or not). Links Contribute to Andrew’s … Read more…
Andrew Therriault is an enthusiastic poker player and the former Director of Data Science for the Democratic National Committee. We discuss how data is changing political campaigns and [host] Andrew’s recent experience canvassing for Beto O’Rourke in Austin, TX. Andrew’s … Read more…
John “the Lawyer” makes a third appearance on the podcast to talk about why he’s dipping a few toes back into lawyering. We talk about Stud, the New England poker scene, why the games are getting less good, why prosecutors … Read more…
This week’s guest asked us not to use his name, but he’s got quite a resume. The octogenarian has served as an executive and a Board member for several major US corporations, and now that he’s finally retired, he’s a … Read more…
Paul Runge and his wife LeAnn own and operate the Bend Poker Club. We talk to him about the politics and particulars of Oregon’s social gaming regulations and the business of running a poker club. Timestamps 0:30 hello & welcome … Read more…
Bill Chen (@BillChenPoker) is a quantitative researcher at the Susquehanna International Group and the co-author, with Jarred Ankenman, of The Mathematics of Poker. We talk to him about the connections between poker and trading, and Nate dares to make a … Read more…
Danny Sprung, whom you may recall from Episode 194, joins us from the World Bridge Federation Championships. We compare this event to the World Series of Poker and discuss some key hands from Danny’s very deep run in the Monster … Read more…
Derek “Killingbird” Tenbusch is a co-founder and -owner of Tournament Poker Edge. He’s also a poker streamer and a beagle rescuer. We discuss all three, plus house hunting in Las Vegas and leaving Las Vegas. Derek’s first appearance on the … Read more…
Why is the sports book always next to the poker room? Is the Supreme Court a political actor? Should check and raise be permitted? Our wide-ranging conversation with the always-interesting Matt Glassman covers these topics and many more. Matt Glassman … Read more…
Andrew and Nate share some book and podcast recommendations and, inspired by Dara O’Kearney, discuss the value of taking days off. In the strategy segment, Andrew takes an unconventional line vs Phil Galfond in a Progressive Knock-Out. Timestamps 0:30 hello … Read more…
Should dealers announce bet sizes if no one asks? Nate and Andrew discuss the arguments for and against this procedure. Plus, they discuss a strategy hand from the perspective of both active players, who happen to be brothers! Timestamps 0:30 … Read more…
Andy Bloch is a long-time professional poker player and computer programmer who was one of the pioneers at the intersection of these fields. He was also a member of the MIT Blackjack team that was the subject of Bringing Down … Read more…
Ashley Adams is the host of the House of Cards podcast/radio show (Andrew was a guest in 2010!) and the author of Winning No-Limit Hold ‘Em and Winning Seven Card Stud. We talk to him about his (now complete) quest … Read more…
Nate, in a special solo episode, dissects Phil Ivey’s bustout hand from the 2018 WSOP Main Event.
Comedian and professional poker player Clayton Fletcher earned himself a fourth podcast appearance with his 28th place finish in the 2018 WSOP Main Event! I think they gave him some cash for that as well. He and Andrew meet in … Read more…
Barny Boatman was a professional poker player in London before the poker boom. As a member of the Hendon Mob, he played in “spielers” and in tournaments across Europe. Andrew talks to him about England’s pre-boom poker scene, living in … Read more…
Nate and Andrew discuss key hands from Andrew’s 13th place finish in the $2500 no-limit hold ’em WSOP event. Timestamps 0:30 hello 10:56 strat Strategy Hand 1 On the bubble, CO (16K) opens to 5k. Hero calls T9dd in the … Read more…
Nate got barely 72 hours in Las Vegas this summer, but he was kind enough to spend a few of them recording with Andrew and Carlos in his Gold Coast hotel room. The three talk about their summer plans, the … Read more…
Christian Holden is a professional musician and poker player who lives in an anarchist collective in Worcester, Massachusetts. In this in-person interview, he and Andrew discuss his music, his poker, his politics, and the staking deal he almost had with … Read more…
Zach Elwood is the author of Reading Poker Tells, Verbal Poker Tells, and Exploiting Poker Tells. Our first interview with him was on Episode 14. He’s quoted in this New York Times article (Edit: and this Washington Post article) about … Read more…
Thinking poker legend Gareth Chantler recently published a major exposé of flaws in Canada’s refugee approval process. He discusses the piece, which was the product of years of research, as well as his work more generally with the Syrian community … Read more…
Sameer Singh grew up playing chess and teen patti, and he quickly became one of the sharpest rounders at the National Law School of India. This wide-ranging conversation covers everything from cuisine and literature to the Irish Open to overlimping … Read more…
Nate and Andrew talk strategy for BB Ante tournaments, play a round of “Underrated or Overrated”, and discuss two hands where players flop sets and end up facing tough decisions later. Timestamps 0:30 – hello 8:08 – strategy Strategy Hand … Read more…
With the WSOP barely a month away, I’m in full poker study mode. Re-reading Zach Ellwood‘s excellent Exploiting Poker Tells is right at the top of the priority list. This is my third read-through, so the material itself isn’t novel … Read more…
Berk Brown has spent decades in the world of poker and seen it from the perspective of a floorperson, a dealer, and a professional player. He’s full of great anecdotes and insights about staking, longevity (of games, rooms, and professional … Read more…