Nikolai Yakovenko is a highly accomplished poker player and computer scientist. We talk to him about artificial intelligence, his Open Face Chinese Poker app, playing in Bobby’s Room, preparing for the Annual Computer Poker Competition, and the Computer Poker Research Group. Plus PLO strategy (listen at your own risk)! Timestamps 0:30 – hello 33:24 – ... Read moreEpisode 155: Nikolai Yakovenko

Poker journalist and blogger Martin Harris, alternately (better?) known as Short-Stacked Shamus, was one of our very first guests. Now, 150 episodes later, he’s back to discuss poker’s evolving place in American culture. Also, horses. In the strategy segment, we discuss common mistakes and misunderstandings about short-stacked play. If you missed any of the recent ... Read moreEpisode 154: Martin Harris

Danny Noseworthy may not be the first Tournament Poker Edge instructor we’ve had on the show, but he is the first Newfoundlander. We discuss his career, his coaching philosophy, and how practicing cash game poker can help you become a better tournament player. You can follow Danny on Twitter @DannyN13. Timestamps :30 – hello & ... Read moreEpisode 153: Danny Noseworthy

Neil Blumenfield, who took 3rd place in the 2015 WSOP Main Event, talked to us about making the final table on Episode 139. Now he’s back to talk about how he prepared, what he learned, the experience of playing for (and winning) millions of dollars, and what’s next for him. Timestamps :30 – hello & ... Read moreEpisode 152: Neil Blumenfield and the $3 Million Consolation Prize

Andrew wins a live MTT and faces a tough decision with the third nuts. You can read trip reports from Day 1 and Day 2 (including the final table). Contribute to the Bay Area Urban Debate League and get entered in a contest to win free Tournament Poker Edge membership, free coaching, free Nitcast gear, ... Read moreEpisode 151: Ship It

Brad Willis, the head of blogging for PokerStars and the man behind the brilliant writing at Rapid Eye Reality, is a fitting guest for Episode 150. He’s full of stories about the South, home games, and the early days of online poker, as well as speculation about the future of poker and poker media. Turns ... Read moreEpisode 150: Brad Willis

Brian Koppelman, co-writer of the legendary poker film Rounders, joins us to talk about his contribution to the poker boom, his continuing love affair with the game and its culture, his creative process, and even David Foster Wallace! Brian is the host of The Moment podcast, where he’s interviewed many prominent athletes and artists as ... Read moreEpisode 149: Brian Koppelman

Your hosts talk about Nate’s new book as well as strategy from a limit hold ’em game and a heads up no-limit game.

Timestamps

0:30 – hello and welcome

15:08 – strategy

Strategy

Hand 1

30/60 Limit Hold ‘Em.

Hero opens K9o from the CO, BB calls.

Flop 884r. Check, bet, raise, call.

Turn 2r. Bet, call.

River J. Bet, call.

Hand 2

Seat 3: NateMeyvis (2336 in chips)

Seat 7: Villain (1416 in chips)

NateMeyvis: posts small blind 5

Villain: posts big blind 10

HOLE CARDS

Dealt to NateMeyvis [Td 8s]

NateMeyvis: raises 15 to 25

Villain: calls 15

FLOP [Kc Qh 5d]

Villain: checks

NateMeyvis: bets 32

Villain: calls 32

TURN [Kc Qh 5d] [Ac]

Villain: checks

NateMeyvis: bets 175

Villain said, “wtf?”

Villain: calls 175

RIVER [Kc Qh 5d Ac] [4d]

Villain: checks

NateMeyvis: checks

Jorge “Baalshin” Limon is a member of Team PokerStars Online, a regular in some of the biggest no-limit games on the site, a rally car driver, and one of the most prominent players on Mexico’s poker scene. In this interview he talks about his unconventional hobby, his unconventional profession, how he stays competitive in some of the toughest games on the internet, and the psychological toll that poker has taken on him.

Note: As a high stakes player, Jorge will surely be directly affected by the recently announced changes at PokerStars. I don’t know how much he’d be able to address them, as a PokerStars representative, but in any event this interview was recorded before they were announced, so unfortunately we didn’t have the opportunity to ask him.

You can follow Jorge on Twitter and watch his Team Online short film here. If you can handle the Spanish, you can watch him on Twitch as well.

Timestamps

0:30 – hello

8:19 – AT in 3b pot

39:16 – talkin with Jorge

Strategy

Very loose agro player on my immediate right raises a straddle 3x to 30 in LoJack, I make it 90 in hijack with A10o. The main villain pretty quickly calls on button. Loose player folds.

Flop (221) Ad 4d Ah. Hero thinks for about 15 seconds and bets 115. This player snap shoves for about a pot sized bet.

Assani Fisher is a poker pro turned Daily Fantasy Sports player. He talks about his career in poker, his transition to DFS, and some of the recent news and controversies surrounding that industry. He also discusses his unique comedic contributions to the Two Plus Two forums, including The Boiling Oats Runner and A 101 Man Onslaught. For more of Assani’s DFS insights, check out his vlog and follow @AssaniFisher on Twitter.

Support the Thinking Poker Podcast this holiday season by using our affiliate links when shopping on Amazon. You might also consider making a donation to the Bay Area Urban Debate League.

Timestamps

0:30 – Hello and welcome

17:25 – Strat

32:39 – Assani

Strategy

$1/$2 NLHE, $300 effective stacks. Villain opens for $12, Hero calls next to act with 88.

Flop 865r. Villain bets $30, Hero calls.

Turn 4d , putting a second diamond. Villain bets 30 again, Hero shoves for $220 more. Villain folds QQ face up.