The Mindset Advantage Poker Podcast

Latest Episodes:

091 - Kevin Martin - Leveling Up Your Success Dec 06, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Kevin Martin, former Big Brother winner, Twitch streamer, and professional poker player, reveals how his studying to get cast on the show helped the way he studies the complexities of poker. Elliot and Kevin discuss why having a healthy body and mind is critical to success – especially during multi-day tournaments. Listen in to hear a young and successful expert of the game share how he boosts his confidence, when he sits out of a game, and why his girlfriend's support might just be his deadliest weapon.

Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:50 – Introducing Kevin Martin, former Big Brother, Twitch streamer, and successful live MTT player

01:25 – Kevin is a 25-year-old poker professional in Canada
01:55 – Kevin won the Big Brother show in Canada; he used to love reality TV so he studied the casting process to get cast on the show
03:00 – He relates studying the casting process to studying the complex systems in poker to find an edge

04:00 – Kevin's view on self-development

04:15 – It's always necessary, in poker it's easy to say "I'm running bad" when you really need to improve your game

05:00 – Kevin's accomplishments

05:10 – This past summer he went on a crazy live run; he won three tournaments and placed 2nd in two tournaments
06:10 – He sees the wins as a testament to his hard work and wants to keep it going

06:55 – Kevin's game plan to get an edge

07:07 – You must set yourself up for success before the tournament; it's important to eat well and take care of your body
07:45 – Optimizing breaks, meditation, and disconnecting while at the table
08:30 – If you miss a showdown, you lose money; treat the game like the most important thing in your life at the moment

09:10 – Tournament professionalism

09:25 – At the $1,000, $2,500, and $600 buy-in level, no one has the intensity required to get to higher stakes

10:12 – How confidence impacts his playing

10:22 – He plays more aggressively when he's confident; he advises not to play if you don't feel confident
10:40 – Take a break if you're on a downswing to study and boost your confidence; players will play differently against you when you are confident

11:28 – Kevin's buy-ins: He was in a tournament for six bullets because he was within his bankroll management and it was still a profitable decision

12:10 – He feels comfortable playing bigger buy-ins now; he's excited to play at a $25,000 buy-in this year

13:30 – Tournaments where PokerStars use it as marketing

13:51 – There will be a lot of dead money at the tournament, so it's a good one to participate in when increasing your buy-in

14:00 – Seeing people break down at tournaments

14:38 – People that aren't taking care of themselves fall apart in long tournaments; this is an advantage for pros
15:55 – Recreational players can study, commit to improving, and still win tournaments

17:20 – Kevin's Twitch streaming

17:27 – He's moved up stakes and started firing up mix games; his community has been very supportive and has set him up for success
18:02 – They play small, medium, and some high stakes
18:33 – Some people from Big Brother support him and got into poker

19:23 –Kevin's goal list

19:40 – "To become a super-killer" poker player

20:23 – Kevin studies his mistakes and surrounds himself with smart people so he can improve

21:45 – Ego can get in the way, but you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable
22:14 – The best players always question themselves and always look to improve

22:54 – A moment from 2018 that sticks out

23:17 – It was the final 22 at Run It Up Reno and there was $70,000 up top, his girlfriend was there
23:50 – He wasn't himself so she told him to workout, shower, and meditate, and he came back after the dinner break 100% and ready to play
24:25 – She is a supportive partner and gives him an edge

25:00 – A message for listeners

25:00 – Poker is accessible to anyone who is willing to commit to the game; there's still the opportunity to follow the poker dream
27:10 – Play sober and study; following the game plan pays off

3 Key Points

Optimize breaks, meditate, and stay healthy to perform at your best.
Always question yourself and look for ways to improve.
Play sober, rested, and confident – or don't play at all.

Contact/Resources

Kevin's Twitch
Kevin's Instagram

Credits

Podcast Production by Podcastily

090 - Arlie Shaban - The 12 Labours Of Arile Oct 18, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Arlie Shaban, full-time poker player and Twitch streamer, talks about what it was like to stream 125 days in a row for 8 hours a day – a total of 1,000 hours – and get challenged by Poker Stars. Elliot and Arlie discuss extreme tilts, online trolls, and how he has learned to control his temper during a bad beat. Listen in to hear an Enterprise Rent-a-Car employee turned full-time poker player share his journey to becoming a professional player and progress on the "12 Labors of Arlie" Poker Stars challenge.

Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:50 – Arlie Shaban is a Twitch streamer who has just been challenged by PokerStars for a chance to win a $30,000 Platinum Pass
01:20 – Arlie's Introduction

01:30 – Arlie's been playing poker full-time for 15 months; he hated working a regular job and loved poker
02:30 – He had a mentor to learn Twitch and Twitch poker; he went through the Max-Value Training Program
03:35 – Starting in November of 2017 he streamed 125 days in a row for a total of 1000 hours; he has an intense work ethic and went all-in
04:25 – Now he's a full-time Twitch poker streamer

04:40 – What it was like to stream 125 days in a row, 8 hours a day

04:43 – He was confident and over-prepared; it was harder than he thought but he wasn't willing to fail

06:50 – The challenges Arlie faced

07:00 – Arlie can grind for months; he thought that would translate well to streaming, but he completely underestimated its intensity and negativity
07:32 – He thought since he was on Big Brother Canada, he could handle anything; but he found streaming draining and distracting
09:30 – You have less time to study when you're streaming; he stopped studying for a while

10:05 – Study and play hours

10:15 – He's not consistent and doesn't have a set schedule

12:23 – This past month he was at an 85% ROI; he's up almost $4,000 and plays small $22 games and below
12:45 – The 12 Labors of Arlie challenge

13:10 –Poker Stars noticed his 1,000-hour challenge
14:00 – He later did a 43-hour stream and got 1,400 followers
14:45 – Poker Stars challenged him to the 12 Labors of Arlie, which were 12 random challenges
15:22 – He's on challenge 5 now and just found out that the challenge is for a $30,00 platinum pass

16:30 – Breaking down the challenges

17:00 – Jamie Staples, the Twitch "Granddaddy," set-up inspiration and things to do to improve his streaming and brand
18:30 – Mindset improvement challenge: He must clip when he has a bad beat and record himself having a positive reaction

19:30 – Arlie has intense swings and thought that'd be his barrier to entry in poker

20:10 – He realized that if he wanted to become a professional he would need to teach himself to not have negative reactions
21:05 – He understands poker enough to play without emotions affecting him

21:30 – As an MTT player, you should understand that you will have bad beats

22:00 – Play your best and you'll be profitable over time
22:30 – As he's gotten better and made more money, his reactions have improved

23:25 – Down time and study time is critical for success; playing 8 hours a day every day isn't sustainable over time

24:40 – Consistency is key

24:55 – The most extreme tilt he's had was with chats; he used to have a fan near his bed that he'd break

26:15 – He'd lose it over super-small stakes; he turned off chats for years because he knew how much it impacted him
27:10 – Where to find Arlie: Arlie.tv

3 Key Points

Mentorship and training programs can help you improve your game faster.
It's important to balance your study and play time.
Unchecked negative emotions will hinder your success.

Contact/Resources

Twitch site: Arlie.tv

Podcast Production, Editing, Show Notes & Transcript by Podcastily

089 - Rory Young - Winning the WCOOP Super Tuesday Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Rory "DeosOner" Young, winner of $174K in the WCOOP's Super Tuesday, talks about what he does to control his mental state and stay confident during the game. Elliot and Rory dive into why studying, training your mindset, and controlling your emotions will always be important – whether you're just starting out or a seasoned player. Listen in to hear the WCOOP 2018 champion share what he thinks about short-cuts and strategy in cash and MTT games.

Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:50 – Introducing Rory Young and his victories
01:25 – Rory's poker playing journey
02:30 – The difference between online cash game players and MTT players
02:35 – The baseline strategy is more compact with cash games; strategy changes a lot based on stack size
03:42 – Moving to MTTs from Zoom
03:45 –He got coached through the transition by MTT grinders
04:25 – You can get through more spots in a shorter period with MTTs; he enjoys the adrenaline rush and pace of MTTs
05:02 – The schedule is different with MTTs, you must play through and manage your mental state and thoughts
05:50 – Advice on how to control your mental state
06:10 – Use a coach and tools to guide your mental training and understand how to control your thoughts
07:20 – The importance of continued learning and improvement
08:30 – Seeing hands play out and focusing on mental game
08:50 –Starting out in cash games helped Rory become more aware of the variance for MTTs
09:27 – Separating yourself from the emotions during the game
10:04 – Recalling his Super Tuesday win in the WCOOP 2018
11:00 – His PokerStars interview and comment about simply having a good run
12:00 – You must know how to capitalize when you run well
12:30 – Energy, focus, and being driven by the fear of busting
14:30 – Understanding his game and seeing the win as a launching point for improvement and growth
15:20 – Rory wants to study and play the high rollers in a few years
15:30 – Poker for Australian players
15:45 – There will always be good live cash games in Sydney and Poker Masters online, but Rory believes professional players shouldn't live in Australia
16:40 – Rory believes people should travel, move, and make new friends to grow and push through personal limitations
17:10 – Rory's travels: He is happy having found a base in Victoria, BC with friends
18:11 – Study recommendations
19:00 - Find someone who is where you want to be in 2 years to help you and offer them something in return
19:15 – Use PioSolver appropriately and talk to professionals who use the program
19:53 – There are no short-cuts; to get to high-stakes you must study
20:37 – The craziest tilt Rory has ever witnessed
22:00 – Rory deleted all his social media accounts, if you want to find him you've got to hunt him down

3 Key Points

The learning and growing never stops.
Find someone who is where you want to be to mentor you.
There are no short-cuts; you must study!

Contact/Resources

Book – The Power of Now
Learning Tool - PioSolver

Credits

Podcast Production by Podcastily

088 - Lara Eisenberg - Balancing Poker & A Conventional Job Sep 21, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Lara Eisenberg, radiologist and semi-professional poker player, reveals how competitive skydiving and pool have helped train her mind to remain calm and focused, thus giving her a competitive edge against the pros. Elliot and Lara discuss how she balances work, play, continued poker education, and a happy personal life. Listen in to hear a well-rounded semi-pro share what she does to keep her mindset steady, her body healthy, and her poker game strong.

Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:50 – Introducing Lara, a semi-professional player and radiologist
01:30 – She started with online PC gaming and taught herself by reading books on poker
02:36 – She uses the A-Game planner to organize her studying schedule and studies 5-10 hours a week
03:23 – As a working person, you must be creative when finding time to learn; you can listen to audio while driving or watch videos while doing chores
04:20 – On sitting at the table with professional players
04:36 – She doesn't get intimidated and knows to put into action what she has practiced
05:15 – What bothers her making mistakes when she knows better
05:45 – Being a female player in the male-dominated sport of poker
05:50 – She's always been drawn to fields that are male-dominated like medicine (although there are more women now), pool, skydiving, and poker
06:15 – There are advantages and disadvantages to being a woman in these fields, but she's always been very competitive
06:48 – The more poker is appealing to a wider group of people, the better it is for all players; help make poker more appealing by being friendly and welcoming
07:38 – Lara doesn't get phased by anger or rudeness at the table; she notices that the higher the skill level at the table, the lesser the players will make assumptions
09:00 – How she juggles work and play: She works from home and works every other week, so she can attend plenty of events
10:00 – In Maryland she's lucky to have plenty of places to play nearby; she believes her location is better than Vegas because of the bigger games that happen more frequently
11:35 – Cash-stake games in Maryland
11:38 – The biggest she's played is 510 but there are limit games that are bigger, people move near the MGM because of the tourist element
12:35 – The re-growth of live poker; Lara believes that the U.S. should have online poker and tax it
13:40 – How competitive skydiving has helped Lara cope with emotions
14:05 – She read the book, "Mental Training for Skydiving and Life," which taught her meditation, visualization, calmness, and peak performance
14:44 – She has 4,500 jumps, so the danger element has gone away
15:00 – Skydiving has helped her poker game because she can better look for an edge, focus, and remain calm
15:39 – Having a short attention span is a big challenge at the table today
16:15 – Lara fits studying, nutrition, exercise, and mental health exercises into her workweek and play week
18:55 – The winning mindset and being driven to succeed
19:22 – Certain people get obsessed with things and want to be the best; there's a balance needed between that and other important things in life
20:24 – It's ok to play within your means and recognize that you aren't a professional player playing high-rollers if you have a full-time job
22:00 – Poker as recreational: You can have a job and be a winning player if you invest time and money in educational tools and coaching
22:30 – If you don't have as much time to invest in playing, you should invest in educational things that save you time like the Mindset Advantage or Elevate Groups
23:18 – Alex Fitzgerald has been her coach for years and she appreciates the individualized feedback

3 Key Points

You can still have an edge at the table as a semi-professional.
Get your studying in by whatever means necessary; even if that means listening while driving or watching videos while folding laundry.
Invest in educational tools and coaching to improve your game and keep up with the professionals.

Contact/Resources

Book – "Mental Training for Skydiving and Life"
Poker Mind Coach Academy - website
Elevate Group – website

Credits

Podcast Production, Editing, Show Notes & Transcript by Podcastily

087 - Steffen Sontheimer - Life On The High-Roller Tour Sep 13, 2018

Show notes

In this episode Steffan Sontheimer, aka Goose, talks about the life of a high-roller, the ups and downs of his career, and how he maintains a healthy mind and body. Over the course of his career, he's seen how unchecked emotions can ruin plays and open the door for rookie mistakes. Elliot and Steffen discuss why taking a break from poker during a downswing is a good thing – and can be better than trying to play through it. Listen in to hear a Poker Master's champion share why physical fitness is key to long-term success, and why he believes it necessary to enjoy other things besides poker.

Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:50 – Introducing Steffen and his accomplishments
01:20 – Steffen's view of the poker scene and how he feels about it
01:35 – 2017 was hot online and in-person, but 2018 has been the opposite
02:20 – How he keeps a good mindset during the ups and downs of his career
02:30 – All pros get emotional, but he tries to remain analytical so his game doesn't change depending on how he feels
03:35 – The impact emotions make in the high-rollers scene
03:50 – It happens everywhere; as soon as emotions come into play, the wrong plays are made
04:30 – He knows what he needs to do in each hand, but emotions might cause him to play on the higher-variance side
05:30 – Steffen's relationship with Phil Hellmuth
05:45 – He likes Phil and knows how to play him; Steffen had exploits ready before Phil even knew his name
07:00 – Phil plays the televised events, not the big high-roller events Steffen plays
07:50 – The mindset of world-travelling high-rolling players
08:00 – They give 100% to each game and seem like they're born to do it
08:35 – It's a great but draining and stressful lifestyle
08:50 – Steffen's techniques to prevent stress and draining
09:00 – He takes breaks and spends time with non-poker friends to stay grounded
09:45 – After taking a break, he feels the thrill of playing again
10:00 – What it was like winning Poker Master's last year
10:10 – It was seven-handed no-limit Hold 'Em with the same opponents; he was used to the style of the game
11:00 – He was confident, played well, stayed analytical, and felt it was his time to win
12:45 – Online poker as a training tool for different types of tournaments
13:30 – He strengthens his weaknesses and maintains his strengths with online poker
14:00 – He doesn't have a master plan or schedule; he likes to divide and conquer by splitting up his training into manageable parts
15:00 – Physical fitness and success
15:15 – Steffen believes physical fitness is key to long-term success because players should have other enjoyable activities in their life besides poker
15:30 – His worst played week was the week after his knee surgery when he couldn't exercise
16:00 – A poker downswing isn't enjoyable, so physical activity and/or sports gives the feeling of accomplishment and success during that time
17:00 – Advice for players experiencing a downswing
17:15 – He likes to whine and complain to let it out, and he thinks a break from poker during a downswing is a good thing
17:40 – Always play because you love the game and want to improve
17:50 – When he experienced a downswing, he went to a beach volleyball camp and took a break to forget poker for a while
18:45 – What's to come for Steffen
19:00 – He doesn't enjoy poker as much as he used to, and doesn't want to travel as much, so he'd like to find something new that brings him as much joy as poker did
19:20 – Twitching is just part of the job for him

3 Key Points

Remain analytical so your emotions don't affect your game.
Physical fitness is key to long-term success.
Take a break to reset your mindset during a downswing.

Contact/Resources

Steffen's Instagram and Twitter
No Limit Gaming

Credits

Podcast Production by Podcastily

086 - Ray Kondler - A Crash Course On Poker Taxes Aug 27, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, expert accountant Ray Kondler gives us a crash course on poker taxes so that amateur and professional players can understand their tax responsibilities and liabilities. Ray explains the pros and cons of filing as an amateur or professional, and stresses the importance of filing - no matter what. Listen in to hear a tax educator give tips and strategies on how to properly record, file, and deal with the IRS - whether you're an international player or not - so you can maximize your earnings and keep your head in the game.

Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:50 – Introducing poker taxes and guest Ray Kondler
01:18 - Ray will give a crash course on poker, taxes and how they impact players
01:37 - Taxes are a common issue, especially for international players playing in America
01:44 - Kondler and Associates are national experts on taxation of poker players and serve both national and international players
02:00 - Services for American players
02:12 - Determining if to file as a pro or as an amateur, providing tax-saving strategies through investments, foundations, LLCs, etc.
02:26 - Services for International players
02:30 - Some countries take 30% out of the winnings, and his company works to get their clients as much of that back as possible
03:15 - Discovering the niche of serving poker players
03:22 - It started by educating people; most accountants and CPAs don't understand the gambling industry and it's intricacies
04:00 - If gambling is a person's profession, they must file differently
04:20 - The advantages and disadvantages of different filing routes
04:30 - If you file as an amateur gambler (not poker-specific), you can only take your gambling losses against it, but it can be all gambling losses
05:30 - If you file as a professional, losses and buy-ins can count against income
05:45 - Professionals can file a schedule C as a business and write-off other related expenses like travel, cell phone, office, meals, etc.
06:25 - Professionals can even take pension plans
06:34 - A disadvantage to filing as a pro is that if there's substantial income, they'll pay regular and social security tax, since they are a business
07:10 - If a person doesn't travel a lot, they wouldn't file as a pro because they wouldn't have the write-offs to make up for the social security tax
08:14 - Many accounts just show gambling and don't consider all the other expenses; Ray's having an issue with the IRS
08:30 - The IRS labels professional poker players a business
08:45 - If you win big one year and lose big the next, you can't write it off in a subsequent year against a prior year income; Ray believes this is unfair
09:15 - The poker industry is an up and down game, and the taxation system should consider that
09:30 - He's trying to take this issue to the next level because if the profession is considered a business on paper, it should be treated as such
10:10 - Deductions, making sure you file, and the use of Bitcoin
10:25 - If high-winning players don't file, they can have an issue with the IRS
10:50 - Players are using and playing with Bitcoin and they found out some information had to be given to the IRS
11:15 - Ray gets 10-20 people at the booth each year who haven't filed in years so he works to educate them on the process
12:00 - Tax tip for players: If you win, pay quarterly, and keep record of your earnings
12:30 - Bitcoin
12:50 - Some websites show Bitcoin records, but even the IRS is having trouble classifying what is taxable
13:41 - The IRS has classified Bitcoin as a stock, so the taxation rates are based on the length of time you've held it
14:00 - Keep record of your purchases and coin so your accountant has numbers to work with
14:40 - Always file something; the IRS will work with you if you've filed
15:55 - He's working with foreign players to get their refunds from the past three years, but they usually don't have expense records
16:30 - They can recreate their expenses with bank statements and credit card bills; the chances of a refund review are unlikely for foreign players
17:30 - He can get his foreign clients a tax ID number so they can get their refund; it takes 2-4 weeks to get their ID number and 3-6 months for the refund
18:30 - A certified copy of their passport is necessary for the process to be started, but it can be challenging
20:30 - Ray plays in events and knows what it's like for players in the industry
21:20 - Ray never charges for calls and advice, so any tax-related questions should be directed to him

3 Key Points

The biggest difference between filing as an amateur and filing as a professional is that a professional files as a business.
Always file because the worst thing to do is not report anything at all.
Always keep records of your expenses and earnings, and pay quarterly if you win.

Contact/Resources

Ray's Website - Kondler & Associates

Credits

Podcast Production by Podcastily

085 - Matt Berkey on The Evolution Of Poker Training Aug 02, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Matt Berkey, high stakes poker pro, coach, writer, and blogger, breaks down the strategy, application, and constant evolution of the game. Elliot and Matt discuss the problems with playing hands based on theory alone, and analyze why adaptability is an important characteristic for gives players to gain an edge against their opponents. Listen in to hear Matt explain what his academy, Solve for Why, offers students and why there will always be a "wild card" in the world of poker.

Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

01:00 –Matt's summer started with a massive loss but he ended up breaking even; what this does to the mind
01:30 – He views playing cash as his bread and butter; as running a business without the results impacting him daily
02:05 – He has hope every day and sees it as a legitimate return on his investments; it was frustrating to start but had plenty of opportunities to make it up
02:55 – The difference for locals in Vegas playing high stakes cash games in the summer
03:05 – It's a huge impact for mid stakes; for high stakes, it's a revolving door and caters to VIPs throughout the year and keeps Matt out
03:55 – In the summer, the games run more frequently so there's a mix between VIPs and guys like Matt; the games are different with more tough spots, which he likes
04:34 – It's nice to have fighters in the game; it can exceed the bottom line in a good way
05:00 – He barely has any downtime in the summer; the process is fun, but when you're in it, you're in it
05:40 – What these next few weeks before Florida look like for Matt
05:45 – Cash games and the academy are still going; he's got 5 days of rest before travelling east, but he's got content and teaching to do
06:26 – The story of Nick Manion; he offered to give Matt and his friend, Jordan Young, Matt's partner and roommate, exposure and offered to wear their Solve for Why gear
07:00 – They obliged and they got their brand out there, but there was a misunderstanding in that they didn't get a piece of the winnings
07:30 – Poker News ran a story about Nick's play and win, and rolled that story with the fact that he's friends with Jordan so was wearing Solve for Why gear
08:20 – What's going on with the Solve for Why Academy; they had 18 players (at least half part-time) and about $400,000 of cash for the summer
08:45 – One of their students won the Golden Nugget in week one and they've got multiple events coming up
09:15 – They are launching a sub-site August 13 that will be live-focused and focused on implementing and not just building strategy
09:30 – The game evolves so quickly; it's natural that their material would as well
10:10 – The online academy is for anyone passionate about poker; it's tiered depending on level
10:50 – A big piece of content is "Poker Out Loud"; he's happy about how it came out and how unique the teaching methods are
11:30 – They are doing a docu-series and a podcast as well
12:20 – The "Poker Out Loud" strategy, pressure, adaptation, and confidence
12:48 – It gets daunting for others, but Matt is used to breaking down his plays; tilt and emotions are normal and are used in the game in an exploitative way
14:30 – They are doing a lot of work on strategy and foundational knowledge in live game theory; they do the heavy lifting and come back with a base strategy and deviations
15:30 – When playing online, you don't have all that extra information; live can be contrarian to what theory would dictate
16:10 – People don't know how to process new information if they just focus on theory
17:15 – How Matt sees the company evolving
17:28 – The academy is the icing on the cake; the new products are follow-up/primer products
18:48 – Being online allows them to work with people all over the world; they can provide value and entertainment to their community
20:35 – There are some things he wouldn't divulge because it's a liability to apply those nuances and it's difficult to teach
21:20 – He teaches what can be deployed and encourages self-learning and independent thinking
22:10 – No two strategies look the same; largely speaking, people will apply strategy differently
22:45 – Outliers within the community do things differently by challenging notions that he sees in the collective
23:30 – We'll never reach a stage where plays are standardized because we are human and imperfect
24:04 – Application processes will always be different, so there will always be a "wild card" and "sore spots" in the strategy

3 Key Points

No two strategies look the same because people will always apply strategy differently.
The game evolves quickly so it's natural that poker teaching materials would, too.
You can learn strategy and implementation, but the way it is comprehended and executed will never be standardized.

Contact/Resources

Credits

Podcast Production by Podcastily

084 - Zachary Elwood on The Mindset of Poker Tells Jul 15, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Zach Elwood, author, former professional poker player, and poker behavior consultant, reveals the most consistent tells that he's studied over years of playing and analysis. Elliot and Zach discuss why the studying of tells will be more important in the 2018 World Series than in previous years. Listen in to hear one of the few experts on tells in the game share some invaluable tips and tricks that'll give you an extra advantage at the table.

Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:50 – Introducing Zach Elwood, author of 3 books on poker tells, who has helped main event final table players prepare through studying and tips
01:20 – Zach has been working on the poker tells video series and has been trying to watch the World Series
01:30 – When he watches the World Series he's always looking for tells; the earlier in the main, the easier it is to see behaviors
02:20 – The differences between Zach's 3 books
02:30 – His first book in 2012, "Reading Poker Tells," goes into things that hadn't been talked about in terms of physical, verbal and the thinking behind poker tells
02:53 – "Verbal Poker Tells" of 2014 was longer and more in-depth; he's most proud of this one
03:11 – "Exploiting Poker Tells" came out last year and explored more physical tells, concrete analysis, and fundamental strategy
04:10 – There isn't a lot of good content about poker strategy; Zach had to do a lot of research and analysis to write his books
04:50 – He created a spreadsheet to create codes and organize patterns he saw on TV and while playing
06:05 – Some poker tell hints and tips
06:15 – Example: The famous hand between Esfandiari and Negreanu when Negreanu raises it on the flop and goes all in, and says "Thank God you didn't snap call"
06:30 – The expressing of relief after someone doesn't call immediately will almost always be a pretty honest reaction and can help you narrow down someone's hand
07:15 – "We can" statements and how he categorized hand statements; bluffers usually don't want to weaken the perceived range of their hand
08:00 – Indirect weak-hand statements, the consistency of the weak-hand patterns, and understanding underlying intentions
09:33 – A deeper explanation of the book "Exploiting Poker Tells"
09:38 – He revisited ideas that were firmer in his mind after having wrote about them 5 years' prior
10:00 – It goes into how to determine behaviors as meaningful or not meaningful
10:45 – The things he's done from outside: the video series and he worked with 2 main event final table WSOP players, Amir Levahot and Max Steinberg
11:25 – They watched old video footage of their opponents and video footage during the WSOP
11:30 – A potential game-changing tell
11:35 – The 2011 main event, Pius Heinz was the champion that year, and he was playing Martin Staszko
11:43 – Heinz had a pronounced tell where he looked down during a hand and at the flop; turns out he had pocket aces
12:30 – Zach made a video analyzing his tells and explains how to use those tells to your advantage
13:30 – It will be more interesting this year from a behavioral perspective because the players won't have a break before playing
14:00 – There will be more in-the-moment tells
14:22 – Amateur or recreational players are going to be exhausted this year while the professionals will be battle-tested
15:13 – How Zach has used what he's learned through poker in other areas of life
15:20 – He doesn't pretend to have special knowledge and doesn't believe in a correlation
15:32 – He did work identifying fake accounts on Facebook and his work was featured in the Washington Post and New York Times
16:06 – He was excited and his parents were proud, especially because he started out studying print journalism
16:40 – He was pissed about certain things happening in the world and was happy to create awareness about something others didn't know about
17:20 – He had the same sentiment about poker tells
17:35 – The issue with fake Facebook accounts
17:40 – He's been friended by fake accounts who were accepted by others in his network
18:20 – A lot of it is financial because the fake accounts drive people to websites who pay for the traffic
19:11 – In some cases the fake account's purpose is unclear; Zach doesn't think it's purely financial
20:15 – Facebook doesn't seem to care
20:40 – Zach's recommendations and tips for poker players
21:00 – Strategy is more important than tells, but if you've got strategy down and want to learn about tells, watch Zach's free videos on YouTube
21:27 – Read Zach's articles on Poker News and his first book "Reading Poker Tells"

3 Key Points

Bluffers usually don't want to weaken the perceived range of their hand.
Strategy is more important than tells.
Identifying tells is useful, but you must know how to interpret them and read a player's intentions.

Contact/Resources

Website – Reading Poker Tells
Zach's books – "Reading Poker Tells" "Verbal Poker Tells" & "Exploiting Poker Tells"
Zach's YouTube video analyzing Pius Heinz
Zach's YouTube channel
Zach's Reading Poker Tells Video Series

Credits

Podcast Production by Podcastily

083 - Gonzaga "Zagazaur" Oliveira on The Power Of A Positive Poker Community Jun 21, 2018

Show notes

Gonzaga "Zagazaur" Oliveira is a high-stakes online MTT professional. He is one of the co-founders and coach of the Portuguese MTT staking company "Polarize Poker."

He has 2 SCOOP titles as well as multiple titles in other series, including Winamax Series, Powerfest, and EPT side events.

Elliot and Gonzaga discuss why your poker network has such a significant impact on your success, why joining a backing group is the fastest way to move up through the ranks, and how Gonzaga and his partners engineered a positive and supportive community in their stable.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

[4:00] How to stay cool under pressure on final tables while your opponents are freaking out over the amount of money you're playing for.

[8:05] How playing high-stakes games before you're ready hurts your results across all buy-ins.

[9:25] Why it's essential to surround yourself with other poker players who you like and are on the same upward journey as you.

[12:30] How (and why) the Polarize Poker Team built a positive and supportive community.

[16:35] Why an MTT with a small first prize can be more profitable than one with a huge one.

[20:15] What you need to figure out before you decide to go pro that allows you to push through the hard times.

[22:15] Why those who are using poker as a vehicle to become the best version of themselves have an advantage over those just in it for the money.

Resources:

Keep Up With Elliot:

082 Bertie Bayley on Chasing EV Over Glory Jun 15, 2018

Show notes

After PokerStars removed SuperNova Elite, Bertie Bayley (who achieved SNE 3 times while being a pre-rakeback winner) took the "Renaissance Man" approach to poker by spreading out his play over many formats rather than specializing in just one.

You can find Bertie online playing under the handle "bigstealer" where he bounces between Spin & Gos, cash games, and tournaments. Most recently Bertie chopped a $1k Party Poker Powerfest event for $80,000.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

[1:25] How the necessity of paying off high-interest rate student loans led Bertie to poker.

[4:05] Why Bertie actually loves his life more since PokerStars removed SuperNova Elite.

[4:45] How to balance the freedom poker allows and the work you must put in to stay ahead of the field.

[7:30] Why it's so important to make the distinction between game selection and "bum hunting."

[9:55] Whey Bertie chooses to chase EV over glory.

[12:00] The physical and emotional toll that playing outside your bankroll can cause.

[13:05] The difference between rational and irrational anxiety

[15:30] The "Mindset Of Make-Up" and how to approach this delicate situation both as a player and a backer.

[18:10] Why being curious instead of dismissive can be the difference between growing as a player and letting the game pass you by.

[18:45] The danger of mocking players that you think are making poor plays.

[20:45] The "MTT Raffle" mindset shift to help you deal with the variance of tournament poker.

[26:40] Why you need to be careful of the free technical content you consume and why joining a good backing group is a great way to jump-start your game.

[28:30] Clues that can help you decide if someone is a good poker coach or not.

Resources:

Keep Up With Elliot:

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