Your correspondent watches the 2013 poker-adjacent film “Runner Runner,” then gets put in some tough spots at $5/$5/$10, making (at least) one big mistake along the way.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 Making adjustments to online poker with big antes3:48 Watching “Runner Runner”7:35 $5/$5/$10 session7:56 AThh on Q54hxx9cc10:21 AJo on J42ccxJhhKhhh16:51 KK (no club) on Q98ccx18:08 Quads alert! 55 on Q65cxc5ss2x19:41 AKhh on AQ2xxh4x20:53 KsKd on Q74dxdJssQx24:48 Double-board PLO bomb pot! AK54hhxh on ...Board 1: 874hhx8xKx (so on the river I have KK88A)Board 2: A43rA8 (so on the river I have AAA44)http://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent reflects on how private games cycle through players, and how public games in LA can compete with those of the private-game world, which offer newer side games. He also muses on a recent experiment that seems to point toward privatization even in tournaments in casinos.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 Scattered thoughts on private games and the way poker is changing0:37 Derek DelGaudio's "Amoralman"2:00 The creep of privatization in tournaments6:16 How private games can cause players to go broke faster (and reflections on the ways the cash-game ecosystem is changing)17:07 $5/$10 and $5/$5/$10 sessions18:09 KTo on KJ3r6ssJx20:25 KhKx on 983hxh22:24 AJcc on J53ddxTx2ddd25:01 76hh on J76xcc29:23 $5/$10/$20 hand: All-in preflop with ATohttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent plays a $5/$5/$10 session in which he wonders what to do facing a string bet, then navigates a long card-dead stretch. He also muses about the possibility of playing on stream. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 $5/$5/$10 session (with digressions)1:26 Limit hold-em vs. no-limit hold-em4:07 Weird string-bet spot: AJo (no clubs) on A95xccJxTccc10:19 KsQx on JT2sssAxKx13:00 Struggling with how to maximize winnings against tighter recreational players13:45 AxQd on 765dddQx8x16:17 JTss on T54dxd5x6x20:31 KK on J74rJhh9x22:12 KK (again) on T77ddxAxJddd26:11 9c9x on T53cxcQss5ccc28:15 The HCL controversy/challenge and thoughts on playing on stream33:49 KK on 443xcchttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 Being a tourist in Las Vegas10:50 Will Kassouf in the Main Event23:59 Big changes to the way poker players are taxedhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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. FORUM DISCUSSION :CLICK HERE 0:58 The Millionaire Maker / Club WPT Gold controversy11:16 Reflections on the past yearhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:19 On (not) growing the game11:00 $5/$5/$10 session12:01 AJss on A54r4cc2ccc 13:27 88 on 998rTrK17:54 JTdd on KT2r8ddQddd20:57 KK on 872r3r924:29 A9ss on T42dxd8ss9ddd27:29 AxQd on K82ddx9dddTddddhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:19 “The Grand”15:16 $5/$5/$10 NLHE session15:40 A5ss on J85ssx16:48 QJss on 974ssx8cc3x19:10 QThh on A54ddxJx4x22:39 J8hh on J43sxs3cc6ccc26:01 A7ss on K63xccJss7x30:46 55 on T95ddxJx9xhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 Tournament season!6:49 The YouTube series "Inside the Mind of a Pro"16:35 $5/$5/$10 session16:46 AQo on T73r6cc19:14 KJdd on T65ddx22:03 AsTx on T95sss6xQx23:53 KTo on J93r8x426:45 A6hh on 633rJx229:12 KsQx on 853rAss30:53 KJo on AAQrTssKx31:44 Double-board PLO bomb pot: T952 with ten-high spades. Top board: 842r5ss2x. Bottom board: J73r8ssAx36:19 Thoughts on playing double-board PLO bomb pots with a capThe "Inside the Mind of a Pro" series is available here: https://www.youtube.com/@WinamaxEuropehttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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.FORUM DISCUSSION:CLICK HERE 0:15 "The Card Counter"11:15 $5/$5 and $5/$10 NLHE session13:29 $5/$5: AKss all-in preflop14:47 KsKc on 642hhx5ss3hhh17:19 $5/$10: AdJx on 875rJdd3x22:08 A4dd on 988ddx25:46 KThh on T82rQcc27:51 KdKx on 954ddx3dddQddddhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:19 Why live poker is destined to confuse us7:31 What I've been up to8:30 Playing online PLO11:16 $5/$5 and $5/$10 no-limit hold-em session11:19 $5/$5 hand: AA on T954r12:26 At $5/$10: AThh on T82r3dd6ddd15:05 AKcc on KT5hxh4ss17:49 77 on T87hhh9hhhhJx21:57 KsKx on J62ssxJx9x23:43 A3hh on KQhxhJxTxhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE0:16 Introduction and adjusting to declining game quality4:38 $5/$10 NLHE session5:57 On getting to play with very fun players10:13 Ad4x on J52ddx3x11:54 QQ on JT6rAss14:17 QQ all-in preflop15:28 AQo on Q75xcc2x2x18:10 QQ all-in preflop (again)23:12 A4cc on 763xcx24:31 99 preflop spot25:52 AA on K72ssx6xhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HEREYou can follow David's work at decodingeverything.com. He also writes about poker at davechenpoker.com.0:18 Introduction1:46 David joins to discuss "Matusow"http:/twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
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.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE0:16 What I've been up to3:14 What is low-stakes poker like in 2025?7:44 How poker in casinos is affected by changes in laws11:01 $1/$3 session in Seattle14:13 AsAx on J87xss3x5x19:29 AJo on JTTssx6x8x21:07 AQss on Q73xxsKdd6x24:10 $2/$3 session at Hustler27:00 QTo on KJ5ssx28:08 Double-board PLO bomb pot: T984 on J844Q and 852Kcc2x31:30 A8cc on K82xxc2dd7x34:14 AQ on QQ3r2r3http://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent revisits the 2009 poker reality show "2 Months 2 Million," then reviews a day of poker that spanned two casinos and over 10 hours.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 2 Months 2 Million12:47 Recap of a long Friday session and a hand review: 55 on T85rJdd4xhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent looks back at the 2015 gambling movie "Mississippi Grind," then reviews a $5/$10 session in which he played several all-in pots.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE0:15 "Mississippi Grind"10:43 $5/$10 session10:55 87dd on AT2ddd2xJx14:52 AA no diamond on KQ2dxd3ddd16:50 99 all-in preflop20:15 76cc on T98ssx21:14 AKo all-in preflop22:21 66 on J65rTss6x25:37 AKcc all-in preflophttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent revisits the 2007 poker film “Lucky You,” then discusses a $5/$5/$10 session that left him shrugging to himself about the quality of his play.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE0:20 Brief life/wildfire update1:45 "Lucky You"14:05 $5/$5/$10 session14:13 On the types of "action" players currently playing in public mid-stakes games18:27 TT on KT6sxs2sss20:34 Double-board PLO bomb pot with Jh992.First board: 9644.Second board KhQh5x (?) Ahhh23:01 KsKh on J82ccx5ddTddd25:11 JJ on A74xssKx2x29:05 A5hh on T62hhx7hhh7x31:47 Conclusionhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent reviews a recent $5/$5/$10 session in which he ran several big bluffs. He also relates a story about a nitty opponent. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:27 $5/$5/$10 session0:43 QTss on KT5xxsJss6x6:20 Double board PLO bomb pot: JT22xddx. Top board: AKQr8dd4x. Bottom board: Q93r2ss4x8:45 JJ on A54r4ddTddd10:34 JTss on 322ccx4xKx12:59 KQcc on T84hhh2x3hhhh15:09 T9dd on KQJxssQccKsss16:30 Q6ss on 942sxx2ss5x18:52 Thoughts on dealing with an annoying opponenthttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent wins some big pots at $5/$5/$10 but leaves the casino a bit frustrated. Then, he thinks about how poker players think about money.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE0:19 $5/$5 and $5/$5/$10 session0:36 AQo all-in preflop1:46 K7o on 752rQss8sss3:09 QQ on 853rQccJccc6:31 AhKx on K95hhxTxTx10:22 QJdd on AJ5dxdKx4ddd13:34 AA (no heart) on J96rKhh8hhh14:50 I return to $5/$517:36 Poker players’ weird relationships to moneyhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent discusses how private games have created an imbalance in live cash-game poker, and what to do about it. Then, he discusses a $5/$5/$10 session in which he made several very strong hands.0:15 On the migration of private games from high-stakes live poker to mid- and low-stakes poker, and the problems that has created20:00 $5/$5 and $5/$5/$10 NLHE session21:15 AA on 664r9r224:45 97hh on K85xhx6hh2x28:28 44 on QT4hxhTx30:51 44 (again) on 843rJccFORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HEREhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com
Your correspondent briefly muses on the difficulty of finding ways to improve when poker continually finds new ways to challenge and mislead you. He then reviews a $5/$10 session that featured some wild street-poker hands, including two in which he made huge folds.FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE0:15 On hunting for ways to get better6:48 $5/$10 NLHE session7:29 JJ on J65ddxThh9:03 AJcc on A75xddKx2x11:08 QQ on 962r5dd13:15 KK on J53rTr15:09 TT on 943rQcc8x17:01 $200 splash pot -- 99 on AK6rQdd4x20:12 QThh on T83rTr7x (including a discussion of the tactic of overlimping)25:24 AA on 863hhhKxJx34:08 JJ on KJ5ssxQx2xhttp://twitter.com/thirdwalkinghttp://crushlivepoker.com