Third Man Walking

Latest Episodes:

Third Man Walking No. 117: Las Vegas, Will Kassouf and Tax Changes Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Your correspondent reviews his recent trip to Las Vegas. Then, he discusses two new developments that are bad for poker: Will Kassouf's performance in the Main Event, and changes to US tax law.

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0:15 Being a tourist in Las Vegas
10:50 Will Kassouf in the Main Event
23:59 Big changes to the way poker players are taxed

http://twitter.com/thirdwalking http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 116: On the WSOP Controversy Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Your correspondent offers his take on the controversy at the end of the Millionaire Maker last week, then reflects on the worst year of poker he’s ever endured, a year that he thinks (and hopes) is now over.

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0:58 The Millionaire Maker / Club WPT Gold controversy

11:16 Reflections on the past year

http://twitter.com/thirdwalking

http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 115: On Growing the Game Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Your correspondent starts with a commonly asked question within the poker community (“How do we make poker more popular?”) and argues the more important question is slightly different: “SHOULD poker be more popular?” Then, he reviews a $5/$5/$10 session in an unfamiliar locale.

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0:19 On (not) growing the game

11:00 $5/$5/$10 session

12:01 AJss on A54r4cc2ccc

13:27 88 on 998rTrK

17:54 JTdd on KT2r8ddQddd

20:57 KK on 872r3r9

24:29 A9ss on T42dxd8ss9ddd

27:29 AxQd on K82ddx9dddTdddd

http://twitter.com/thirdwalking http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 114: "The Grand" Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Your correspondent reviews a boom-era poker film that did not stand the test of time, then gets annoyed with himself after playing badly against an opponent at $5/$5/$10.

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0:19 “The Grand”

15:16 $5/$5/$10 NLHE session

15:40 A5ss on J85ssx

16:48 QJss on 974ssx8cc3x

19:10 QThh on A54ddxJx4x

22:39 J8hh on J43sxs3cc6ccc

26:01 A7ss on K63xccJss7x

30:46 55 on T95ddxJx9x

http://twitter.com/thirdwalking http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 113: Tournament Season May 21, 2025

Show notes

Your correspondent looks ahead to the World Series of Poker, then watches the excellent but occasionally abrasive Winamax YouTube series "Inside the Mind of a Pro." He then reviews a $5/$5/$10 no-limit hold-em session that ends with a wild double-board PLO bomb pot.

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0:15 Tournament season!
6:49 The YouTube series "Inside the Mind of a Pro"
16:35 $5/$5/$10 session
16:46 AQo on T73r6cc
19:14 KJdd on T65ddx
22:03 AsTx on T95sss6xQx
23:53 KTo on J93r8x4
26:45 A6hh on 633rJx2
29:12 KsQx on 853rAss
30:53 KJo on AAQrTssKx
31:44 Double-board PLO bomb pot: T952 with ten-high spades. Top board: 842r5ss2x. Bottom board: J73r8ssAx
36:19 Thoughts on playing double-board PLO bomb pots with a cap
The "Inside the Mind of a Pro" series is available here:

https://www.youtube.com/@WinamaxEurope
http://twitter.com/thirdwalking
http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 112: "The Card Counter" May 07, 2025

Show notes

Your correspondent looks back at the 2021 film "The Card Counter," about a gambler struggling with his past as a soldier. He then plays a $5/$10 session in which he tries to shake off the rust of an extended break.

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0:15 "The Card Counter"
11:15 $5/$5 and $5/$10 NLHE session
13:29 $5/$5: AKss all-in preflop
14:47 KsKc on 642hhx5ss3hhh
17:19 $5/$10: AdJx on 875rJdd3x
22:08 A4dd on 988ddx

25:46 KThh on T82rQcc
27:51 KdKx on 954ddx3dddQdddd

http://twitter.com/thirdwalking http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 111: Why Live Poker Drives Us Nuts Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

Your correspondent compares live no-limit hold-em to online to illustrate why live poker creates a unique kind of confusion that can be hard to resolve. He then reviews a $5/$10 session that featured a tantalizing bluff spot he didn't take.

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0:19 Why live poker is destined to confuse us
7:31 What I've been up to

8:30 Playing online PLO

11:16 $5/$5 and $5/$10 no-limit hold-em session

11:19 $5/$5 hand: AA on T954r

12:26 At $5/$10: AThh on T82r3dd6ddd

15:05 AKcc on KT5hxh4ss

17:49 77 on T87hhh9hhhhJx

21:57 KsKx on J62ssxJx9x

23:43 A3hh on KQhxhJxTx

http://twitter.com/thirdwalking http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 110: Adjusting Against an Action Player Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Your correspondent revisits the possibility of diversifying by learning different game types, then plays a wild $5/$10 session in which he reflects on an increasingly rare opportunity to play with a huge action player.

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0:16 Introduction and adjusting to declining game quality
4:38 $5/$10 NLHE session
5:57 On getting to play with very fun players
10:13 Ad4x on J52ddx3x

11:54 QQ on JT6rAss

14:17 QQ all-in preflop

15:28 AQo on Q75xcc2x2x

18:10 QQ all-in preflop (again)

23:12 A4cc on 763xcx

24:31 99 preflop spot

25:52 AA on K72ssx6x

http://twitter.com/thirdwalking http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 109: "Matusow," With David Chen Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

Today, fellow podcaster David Chen and your correspondent discuss the recent documentary "Matusow," which is available to rent on Amazon Prime. The movie follows poker boom-era star Mike Matusow’s recent attempts to pay off debts, stay relevant, and fight for his legacy.

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You can follow David's work at decodingeverything.com. He also writes about poker at davechenpoker.com.

0:18 Introduction

1:46 David joins to discuss "Matusow"

http:/twitter.com/thirdwalking

http://crushlivepoker.com

Third Man Walking No. 108: Two Low-Stakes Sessions Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Amidst a couple weeks mostly away from poker, your correspondent plays two unusually low-stakes sessions, thinking along the way about the impact of policy upon poker options at public casinos.

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0:16 What I've been up to

3:14 What is low-stakes poker like in 2025?

7:44 How poker in casinos is affected by changes in laws

11:01 $1/$3 session in Seattle

14:13 AsAx on J87xss3x5x

19:29 AJo on JTTssx6x8x

21:07 AQss on Q73xxsKdd6x

24:10 $2/$3 session at Hustler

27:00 QTo on KJ5ssx

28:08 Double-board PLO bomb pot: T984 on J844Q and 852Kcc2x