Ariel Shefer wants to be a world champion. He’s tried backgammon, he’s tried bridge. Now, he lives in his car, driving for Uber to earn buy-ins for poker tournaments. He’s not broke (or at least, he wouldn’t have to be); … Read more…
Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher are titans of the industry, with over 100 years of poker experience between them. They share stories with Carlos and Andrew about poker rooms in the 1970s and 80s, how and why they changed, the … Read more…
It’s been two years since Carlos met Gloria Jackson when he contacted about for an interview. Now he lives with her and her two youngest sons, and both their lives have changed dramatically. The two of them share with Andrew … Read more…
Co-owner of the Irish Poker Open Paul O’Reilly discusses the historic event with Carlos and Andrew. Plus the Irish poker scene, tips for visiting Dublin, and more! You can join Andrew and Carlos on ClubWPT Gold by signing up at https://clubwptgold.com/?promo=THINK. … Read more…
Card player, political scientist, and fan favorite Matt Glassman returns to the show to discuss the Oh Hell! book he’s working on and answer listener questions about American politics. Matt is a frequent Thinking Poker guest who first appeared on Episode … Read more…
Jim Reid, LoriAnn Persinger, and Rob Gardner join Andrew and Carlos to talk about the RecPoker community and how the needs, goals, and experiences of recreational players differ from those of professionals. LoriAnn first appeared on Episode 394 of the … Read more…
Carlos shares his experiences from the GPI awards banquet and a visit with Tom McEvoy. Then he and Andrew discuss two tricky tournament spots with AK. We interviewed Tom McEvoy on Episode 450. You can join Andrew and Carlos on … Read more…
Winning a major poker tournament isn’t a fast track onto the Thinking Poker Podcast, but when Matt Savage says, “You have to talk to this guy!”, we oblige. And so glad we did! Zak VanKeuren, who won the WPT Prime … Read more…
Organizer, advocate, and poker pro Caitlyn Arnwine returns to the show for Black History Month! With Carlos and Andrew, she discusses why Black history is American history, how historical voting rights movements can inform contemporary struggles, how to advocate for … Read more…
Legendary poker guru Alex “Assassinato” Fitzgerald returns to the podcast after a long hiatus to discuss solvers, live cash games, his new book, living in New York during the height of the pandemic, and much more! Alex previously appeared on … Read more…
Ivonne Montealegre is best known in the poker world for organizing the popular Malta Poker Festival and the new Costa Rica Poker Festival. She shares with Carlos and Andrew about growing up in Costa Rica, living in Malta, how her … Read more…
We are cancelling the ClubWPT Gold Meet Up Game we’d previously announced for Saturday January 25. We still plan to host a Home Game tournament on Saturday February 1 at 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific. You’ll need password “THINK” to join the … Read more…
Matt Matros is a professional poker player and writer whose works include both fiction and poker books. With Carlos and Andrew, he discusses concepts from his new book, 24 No-Limit Hold ‘Em Hands From 2024, and the three apply game theory … Read more…
Pro player and streamer Patrick “Egption” Tardif discusses his background in competitive video gaming, his rocky road to becoming a professional poker player, the joys and challenges of playing on stream, and the new online poker site ClubWPT Gold. You … Read more…
Put off by the exploitative nature of the casino industry, Kim Lund turned to video games instead. Now he’s bringing the two together with Hands of Victory, a game his company Aftermath Interactive hopes to offer for competitive tournament play. … Read more…
Eugene Katchalov left the world of professional poker at the top, but he’s still around as a recreational player and entrepreneur. In this delightful conversation, he discusses what makes poker fun, what poker needs, and how solvers have changed the … Read more…
Jeanne David has worked as the manager of an in-patient drug treatment facility and as the head of Responsible Gaming at PokerStars, but she’s always been a poker player herself as well. On the heels of her induction in the … Read more…
Hungry Horse founder and live cash crusher extraordinaire Marc Goone joins Carlos and Andrew for a lively discussion of solvers, win rates in live cash, exploiting regs, teaching poker, “lyrical myrical” rappers, and more. 25% off everything (except gift cards) … Read more…
Vegas-based poker pro Jessica Vierling is famously forthcoming about her struggles: with alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, and holding herself to impossibly high standards. The most important thing, she says, is to be honest and authentic. She is just that in this … Read more…
Online poker is returning to the US, and what better way to celebrate than with the 1000th episode of Thinking Poker Daily? To join ClubWPT Gold and get in on the drawings for the $5,000,000 freeroll, sign up now at … Read more…
Manuel “Phemo” Bueno Fernandez is a professional poker player from Hamburg, Germany and one of our favorite coaches on GTO Wizard. We talk to him about the beginnings of his fascination with poker during a dark winter in Finland, studying … Read more…
Nate Silver is back on the felt, but there’s a lot more than poker in his new book, On the Edge. He gets deep into it with Andrew and Carlos, discussing everything from the physiology of poker to coaching with Andrew to a an accidental prediction about Carlos.
We previously interviewed Nate Silver on Episode 318.
Civil rights leader Barbara Arnwine joins returning guests Justin and Caitlyn Arnwine (her son and daughter-in-law) to discuss the ways poker strategy has informed their activism around civil rights and voter suppression. The Map of Shame My Vote Don’t Count … Read more…
1983 WSOP Main Event champion Tom McEvoy’s new autobiography, Poker Pioneer, is the perfect impetus for celebrating his storied, decades-long career. With Carlos and Andrew, Tom discusses going pro in the 70s, defeating Doyle Brunson in the Main Event, rubbing … Read more…
Michelle Farmer and Natascha Carpenter met 8 years ago in a bar poker league. They founded Royal Queens Poker in Atlanta in 2024 after seeing the lack of diversity in other leagues. They discuss with Andrew, Carlos, and Gloria Jackson … Read more…
Bulgarian poker pro Stoyan Obreshkov joins Carlos and Andrew for an incredibly deep and forward-thinking conversation about poker strategy. Topics include efficient study, exploits, ICM, post-ICM, preparing a friend for the Main Event final table, and much more! Get coaching … Read more…
Jesse Fullen, our guest from Episode 436, was a Content Producer for the WSOP this summer. In this special episode, he discusses the experience and some of his favorite stories he collected. Stefanie UngarTom McEvoyGene BellarIsabel Yishu YangDeb SwiftJack Binion … Read more…
Poker pro and coach Matt Hunt returns to the show to talk deep poker strategy, with an emphasis on multiway pots and postflop ICM. Our latest poker strategy video, reviewing Andrew’s ACR Sunday Special win, is now available from The Nitcast … Read more…
It’s pure strategy as Andrew and Carlos answer a series of listener questions about satellite strategy, pot commitment, deepstacked play, and more! Support the podcast, get daily strategy discussions, *and* be eligible to win a one-month subscription to GTO Wizard … Read more…
Poker is just one of Dee Burks’s many eclectic interests. She’s also a YouTuber, a novelist, a traveler, and much more. Dee has a unique perspective on the game and a deep family history with it, including a great story … Read more…
Andrew Moxon became Twitter-famous for his blunt, insightful threads about American culture and politics (the Nazi part, specifically). But before that, he authored a popular poker blog, The Goat Speaks. He talks to Carlos and Andrew about what drew him … Read more…
Darius Studdard’s poker career really took off when he joined a study group first discussed in our interview with Sundiata Devore. We discuss effective and efficient studying, hustle culture (with the help of Gloria Jackson), shot taking, home games, and … Read more…
Daniel Levine is a long-time Texas poker player, with experience in both the current card rooms and the underground games that preceded them. He’s also got experience with stuttering, debt, campus activism, and hip hop, making him an incredibly insightful … Read more…
Charlie Wilmoth made the financially responsible decision to leave a career as a musician and baseball writer and begin a career as a professional poker player. He documents this journey with remarkable candor on his Third Man Walking podcast, and … Read more…
Sundiata DeVore is a serious student of poker. In early 2023, all that studying paid off with a (nearly) seven-figure score, and he hasn’t slowed down since. In this interview, he shares his journey with Carlos and Andrew, including the … Read more…
Mickey Wang may be married to a professional poker player, but her personal poker education got a jumpstart when she became general manager of the Barrel Social Club in southern Kentucky. Carlos and Andrew talk to her about how what … Read more…
Jesse Fullen loves poker, and he loves sharing it with new people. That’s made him a great community and social media manager. He’s a great storyteller as well, and he shares some favorities with us about poker legends like Doyle … Read more…
Carlota Gonzalez is a rock radio personality with a deep background in poker. She believes all serious poker players should experience dealing as well and has dealt herself at the WSOP. We talk to her about her own poker experiences, … Read more…
Lupe Soto has been a passionate poker player and promoter of women’s events for 25+ years. She shares her deep experience with Carlos and Andrew and also discusses her charitable with Poker Gives. Poker Gives distributes goods from 7-10pm on … Read more…
Boxing lawyer Lamont Jones wrote The Gist of Bid Whist because he believes card games connect people and that the rich story of Bid Whist deserves to be widely known. He shares the game’s fascinating history with Carlos and Andrew, … Read more…
Dim the lights! Jeff Platt is on the show to talk poker and broadcasting with Carlos and Andrew. Why broadcasting? Why poker? What makes for a great poker broadcast? A great interview? Is Jeff Platt the nicest guy in poker? … Read more…
Caitlyn Arnwine and LoriAnn Persinger return to the show to help us brainstorm solutions to the problems of representation and unequal opportunity in the poker world. In the introduction, Andrew and Carlos console themselves over their runner-up finish at the … Read more…
From (semi) professional paintball to house party home games to high stakes LA cash, Fausto Valdez’s path to poker has been unique. He’s formed some strong opinions along the way: about pre-flop raise sizes, the politics of private games, how … Read more…
Isaac “Ike” Haxton returns to the podcast after eleven years, joining Carlos and Andrew for a conversation about studying, staying on top, the limitations of solvers, why he still masks in public spaces, and more. Isaac first appeared on Episode … Read more…
Jorbs AKA Stephen Flavall is a storyteller and strategy games streamer. His current focus is Slay the Spire, but once upon a time he was a professional poker player. He shares that journey with Carlos and Andrew, plus insights into … Read more…
Pamela Balzano’s older brother got her into poker, but while he was a professional player, her first interest was in content creation. After launching successful Spanish language YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and TikTok channels, she is now a serious player as … Read more…
Math professor and poker author Ducan Palamourdas returns for another wide-ranging conversation about game theory, finding edges, local metagames, how strategies evolve, and much more. Duncan first appeared on Episode 349 of the Thinking Poker Podcast. Why Alex Beats Bobbie … Read more…
Matt Matros is a professional poker player and writer whose works include both fiction and poker books. With Carlos and Andrew, he discusses concepts from his new book, 23 No-Limit Hold ‘Em Hands From 2023, and an interesting pot he … Read more…
2023 was a banner year for the Thinking Poker Podcast, and we’re counting down our favorite interviews and best strategy content. Helping us out is Chad McVean, who may well have consumed more hours of poker podcasts this year than … Read more…
K.L. Cleeton returns to the show to discuss the highs and lows of his last few years, including memorable WSOP trips and getting stranded by a hotel that couldn’t accommodate his hospital bed. K.L. has previously appeared on Episode 224 … Read more…
Dad, data engineer, and poker player Chad Gardner talks about (not) making time for poker and how, as an amateur, he prepared to compete in Day 3 of WPT Jacksonville. Support the podcast, get daily strategy discussions, *and* be eligible … Read more…
Former Thinking Poker host Nate Meyvis returns to the show after a hiatus to discuss how poker strategy has changed in the last few years. Support the podcast, get daily strategy discussions, *and* be eligible to win a one-month subscription … Read more…
Justin Moyer is a poker player, musician, and Pulitzer-prize winning journalist with the Washington Post. Among other topics, he covers poker, gambling, and casinos for the Post and has interviewed both Carlos and Andrew for articles. His post-dance-punk band, Light … Read more…
Ed Miller, author of classic poker books like The Course and frequent Thinking Poker guest, has a new book out tomorrow called Interception: The Secrets of Modern Sports Betting. It’s all about how modern sports books operate and how to … Read more…
Pure strategy this week, as Carlos and Andrew review a bunch of tricky decisions from Andrew’s recent final table finish in the $109 Warm Up on ACR. Support the podcast, get daily strategy discussions, *and* be eligible to win a … Read more…
Kimberly Willingham is the Executive Director of the Boston Debate League, a non-profit organization Andrew founded in 2005. She talks to Andrew and Carlos about how the organization has grown and changed, the value of debate in urban public schools, … Read more…
WSOP/WPT/PokerGo presenter Kara Scott shares the person behind the famous face, from her youth living out of a camper in rural Alberta to her experiences as a Muay Thai competitor to her current life as a fiercely compassionate voice in … Read more…
Bert Stevens AKA girafganger7 is one of the most successful MTT players on the internet. He’s also intimately familiar with some of the biggest cheating scandals of recent years, as a victim of the multi-accounting on GG Poker and an … Read more…
The poker world is ripe for parody, and with formal training as an actress and Groundlings comedian, Caitlin Comeskey is the woman for the job. Her costume-changing skits are a hit on Twitter, and now she and fellow comedian Niki … Read more…
Shelby Wells is a long-time poker fan who got the chance of a lifetime when she won a Twitter contest for a seat in the 2022 Main Event. She made Day 6, ultimately winning $73K and a lot of clout … Read more…
No one on Earth has played more live poker tournaments than Ari Engel. He’s a force to be reckoned with live and online, in every game under the sun. More impressively, he’s funny and humble and has great taste in … Read more…
Poker superfan Jay Kelly tried to hook Gloria Jackson up with Carlos more than a year ago, when the two women first met. She joins Andrew, Carlos, and Gloria to help tell the story of her and Gloria’s friendship and … Read more…
Carlos and Andrew answer a slew of strategy questions from the Patron: running it twice, folding a full house, playing short stacked in the Big Blind, and much more! Links to Strategy Questions https://i.gyazo.com/a7c40326f662b4b0cafc39516aa5d362.png william https://i.gyazo.com/8099523d5edc1cb20730948a42e85a20.png michael https://i.gyazo.com/821e71e62841ad6eafd388d7827b3905.png eric https://i.gyazo.com/ea38d02a4a2e9b29de4fcd5a49df3394.png … Read more…
Joel Dias-Porter is a true renaissance man, capable of mastering a metaphor, programming a computer, hedging a parlay, spinning a record, and bluffing your face off. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss pre-Boom Atlantic City poker, whether poker is a … Read more…
High stakes cash pro and prolific content creator Saulo Costa talks big data, population reads, exploits, and more in this wide-ranging, mind-expanding conversation. Plus a little Marvel Snap strategy in the intro. Saulo’s YouTube channel Five Tips to Study Poker … Read more…
