The Official Red Chip Poker Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Formation Is Like Position On Steroids · S7E18 Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Is your understanding of position in poker costing you EV?

In this season 7 finale of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, you'll learn why thinking in terms of position alone is no longer enough—and how the concept of formational awareness can bring serious clarity to your strategy.

Coach W34z3l takes you deep into the subtle yet critical differences between various formations—like Button vs. Big Blind or Cutoff vs. Hijack—and how each one impacts everything from c-bet frequency to overbetting strategies to exploitative bluff-catching. You'll see how GTO solvers treat the same flop very differently based on the exact formation, and how many players make costly mistakes by ignoring these nuances.

Whether you're playing single-raised pots or 3-bet pots, in position or out, this episode will help you move beyond generic poker strategy and toward more precise, formation-aware decision making. If you're serious about improving your game, this discussion offers a powerful new lens for thinking about positional dynamics.

🧠 Want to go deeper into advanced concepts like this? Pick up our new book The Exploitative Edge—available via:

eBook at: https://redchippoker.com/the-exploitative-edge
Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4nu1UHa

Your Check-Raising Strategy Is Wrong · S7E17 Aug 23, 2025

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In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, Coach W34z3l dives into one of the trickiest spots in no-limit hold'em: facing a double barrel out of position and deciding whether to check-raise the turn. If you've ever second-guessed a check-raise with a gutshot, flush draw, or even second pair, this deep strategy breakdown is for you.

Using a K98 flop with a blank turn as the foundation, you'll explore how solvers approach turn check-raising frequencies, which hands qualify as profitable semi-bluffs, and where most players go wrong—particularly by bluffing too much with zero-equity hands. You'll also gain clarity on when to fold draws, when to turn equity into aggression, and why certain board textures severely cap your value range.

This is an essential listen if you're serious about improving your poker strategy, particularly in cash games and single-raised pots. Whether you're already working with solvers or just want to make fewer costly mistakes out of position, the insights in this episode will help you sharpen your turn decisions and build a stronger overall game plan.

Can You Outsmart Online Poker BOTS? · S7E16 Aug 05, 2025

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Online #poker has changed—and not always for the better. While you're battling regs and fish, there's a whole new opponent sitting quietly at the tables: poker bots.

In this eye-opening episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, Coach W34z3l breaks down the current state of bots in online poker and gives you the tools to protect your winrate—and maybe even boost it—by identifying and exploiting these digital opponents. From profile bots to pool exploit bots, bot rings to RTA bots, and even house bots operated by the poker sites themselves, we explore what these bots are, how they work, and how you can beat them.

You'll learn:

· How to detect suspicious non-human play

· What to do if you uncover a bot ring

· When it's better to avoid, report, or exploit bots

· How strategy "buckets" make bots vulnerable

· Real-world examples of exploits that print money—fast

If you've ever wondered whether your opponent is too consistent, too persistent, or too good to be human… this episode is for you.

What Modern Poker Players Miss That Old Pros Knew · S7E15 Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Were old school poker players better than today's GTO-inspired up-and-comers?

In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, Coach w34z3l explores the dramatic evolution of poker strategy—from the gritty, intuition-fueled grind of old school poker to today's GTO-obsessed solver era. Whether you started playing poker in the last year or two decades ago, this conversation sheds light on what skills are truly essential to succeed in today's games.

You'll examine how the modern training environment has shifted player development. HUDs, note-taking, combo counting, and live opponent profiling were once standard tools in every serious player's kit. Now, many new players bypass these fundamentals, leaning heavily on solver output and pre-solved ranges—sometimes at the cost of building real-world intuition and adaptability.

If you've ever wondered whether relying on solvers is enough… or if old-school strategy still has a place in today's games, this episode is for you. You'll leave with a clear picture of the five key abilities every well-rounded poker player needs—and why combining the best of both eras may be your edge.

**LINKS**

· GTO Gems 2: https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book

· CORE Poker Course: https://redchippoker.com/launch-core

**JOIN US ON DISCORD**

Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

You're Misusing Polarization In Poker (Here's The Fix) · S7E14 Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

If you've ever heard someone say "I'm raising a polarized range on the flop" and thought wait, that doesn't quite make sense — you're not alone. In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, Coach W34z3l introduces a new term you'll want to add to your poker vocabulary: pseudo polarization.

While traditional polarized ranges make perfect sense on the river—where you're typically betting either your strongest value hands or your weakest bluffs—the same logic falls apart when you try to apply it to early street play. That's where pseudo polarization comes in. It describes the kind of range composition you see in flop and turn solver outputs: some strong draws, some mid-strength hands, and a mix of weak bluffs that don't quite fit the classic definition of polarization.

This is a deeper, theory-focused episode that will challenge the way you think about bluff combos, equity distribution, and the limits of GTO shortcut terms like "polarized." You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of:

Why solvers raise mid-strength hands that wouldn't be in a true polarized range
The dangers of blindly following bluff/value combo ratios like 70/30
How to build flop-raising ranges that can't be exploited—even if they don't look "polarized" in the traditional sense

Whether you're studying solver output or just trying to speak more precisely about your strategy, this episode will help you move beyond vague buzzwords and into real conceptual clarity.

**LINKS**

· GTO Gems 2: https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book

· CORE Poker Course: https://redchippoker.com/launch-core

**JOIN US ON DISCORD**

Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

The #1 Poker Math Mistake (And The Easy Fix Every Player Needs) · S7E13 Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

If you've ever struggled with poker math mid-hand—fumbling with ratios, converting to percentages, and second-guessing your decisions—this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air.

In "Bad Poker Math", Coach Weasel breaks down one of the most common sources of confusion at the tables: relying on outdated ratio-based math. Whether it's calculating pot odds, implied odds, or bluff-to-value frequencies, traditional approaches often overcomplicate simple decisions and slow you down when it matters most. This episode lays out a smoother path: think in percentages, eliminate conversions, and streamline your thought process with easy-to-remember math shortcuts.

You'll learn not only how to make sharper calls and folds faster, but also why simplifying doesn't mean dumbing down—it means cutting through tradition to get to the core of better poker decisions.

**LINKS**

· Preflop & Math Poker Workbook: https://www.splitsuit.com/poker-preflop-math-workbook

· CORE Poker Course: https://redchippoker.com/launch-core

· Why Poker Math Is STILL Important: https://www.splitsuit.com/why-poker-math-approach-is-best

**JOIN US ON DISCORD**

Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

Check-Raise Like A Pro: Solver Insights For Human Players · S7E12 Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

If you've ever struggled to know when to check-raise the flop—or felt unsure whether your current strategy is leaking EV—this episode is for you.

We break down one of the most common and instructive spots in poker: big blind vs. button on a dry flop. Using solver-informed analysis, you'll walk away with a clear understanding of which types of hands check-raise profitably, where these hands fall on the equity spectrum, and how the modern approach differs from traditional polarized thinking. This isn't just a theory dump—it's a guided look at how to interpret solver output in a practical, actionable way.

You'll explore how check-raises are distributed across strong value hands, semi-bluffs like gutshots and open-enders, and even some surprisingly middling pairs. Along the way, you'll learn why the classic idea of a polarized range doesn't fully apply and how mixing strategies help achieve balance in this spot. Whether you play live or online poker, this strategic cross-section will sharpen your intuition and help you develop a more nuanced postflop approach.

**LINKS**

· GTO Gems 2 (Book): https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book

· Understanding Equity Distribution: https://www.splitsuit.com/gto-poker-equity-distribution

· Poker Strategy vs. Tactics: https://youtu.be/2_Q3ZbwfKB4

**JOIN US ON DISCORD**

Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

What Is Equity Retention? (And Why It Wins Postflop) · S7E11 May 27, 2025

Show notes

Can we discuss "equity retention" and why it's not an optional concept to learn for every poker player?

In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, we break down one of the most overlooked yet essential postflop concepts: equity retention. You'll learn what it is, how it impacts your decisions postflop, and how to use it to build stronger bluffing lines and value strategies.

Whether you're new to the term or just need a refresher, this is the deep dive you've been waiting for. Perfect for cash game players and tournament grinders alike.

💡 Takeaways from this episode:

Learn why some hands drop off sharply as villain's range narrows
Discover the types of hands that thrive in high-pressure spots
Understand when top pair is vulnerable—and how to respond
See why draws and backdoor equity give you profitable bluffing opportunities
Use equity retention to guide bet sizing, barreling, and board coverage

**LINKS**

· CORE Poker Membership: https://redchippoker.com/launch-core

· Understanding Equity Distribution: https://www.splitsuit.com/gto-poker-equity-distribution

· Poker Strategy vs. Tactics: https://youtu.be/2_Q3ZbwfKB4

**JOIN US ON DISCORD**

Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

This "Simple" Poker Strategy Is Making You a Fish · S7E10 May 13, 2025

Show notes

Poker is already a complex game—but many players try to make it easier by using simplified poker strategies. Whether it's range c-betting 1/3 pot, 3-bet-only from the small blind, or avoiding donk bets entirely, the goal is always the same: reduce decisions & reduce errors. But is simplifying your strategy actually helping your win rate? Or is it quietly costing you chips?

In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, we explore the real trade-offs behind simplified poker strategies, their relationship to GTO solver output, and the critical distinction between playing GTO and playing exploitatively. This is a must-listen for serious players diving into solvers and anyone questioning whether "just keeping it simple" is the right approach.

🔍 You'll learn:

What simplified poker strategies really are (and what they're not)
How EV loss in solvers is often misunderstood
Why simplified strategies may shift complexity to later streets
The #1 mistake players make when comparing GTO models

When simplification actually makes sense—especially from an exploitative lens.

**LINKS**

· GTO Gems 2 Poker Book: https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book

· Crushing GTO Poker: https://youtu.be/j8cFt86B8To

· EV Poker Formula: https://www.splitsuit.com/simple-poker-expected-value-formula

**JOIN US ON DISCORD**

Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

Poker Strategy vs. Tactics EXPLAINED · S7E9 Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, you'll sharpen your understanding of poker strategy and tactical execution — two sides of the same coin that every winning player needs to master. Whether you've ever wondered "am I making the best decision here?" or "do I even know the EV of this play?" — this discussion gives you the tools to confidently find the answer.

Coach w34z3l breaks down the critical difference between strategy and tactics, using real-world examples from chess, warfare, and poker itself. You'll discover why knowing your EV on the river is often possible (and expected), but why trying to perfectly map it out preflop is usually a losing battle. This episode teaches you how strong strategic play on early streets naturally leads to clearer, simpler tactical opportunities on later streets — allowing you to pick better spots, make cleaner bets, and avoid costly mistakes.

If you're serious about improving your poker thought process, you'll learn why building principled, high-level strategic habits matters just as much as finding those sharp tactical lines. Plus, get introduced to tools like EV modeling, simplified tree building, and how solvers fit (or don't fit) into the real-world game.

**LINKS**

· Poker Workbooks (& More): https://redchippoker.com/poker-books/

· Why Strategy & Tactics Are NOT The Same: https://redchippoker.com/poker-strategy-and-tactics-are-not-the-same/

· EV Poker Formula: https://www.splitsuit.com/simple-poker-expected-value-formula

**JOIN US ON DISCORD**

Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord