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:

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

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:

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

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:

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:

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:

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

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:

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

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:

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

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:

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

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:

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

31:30 A8cc on K82xxc2dd7x

34:14 AQ on QQ3r2r3

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:

0:15 2 Months 2 Million

12:47 Recap of a long Friday session and a hand review: 55 on T85rJdd4x

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:

0:15 "Mississippi Grind"

10:43 $5/$10 session

10:55 87dd on AT2ddd2xJx

14:52 AA no diamond on KQ2dxd3ddd

16:50 99 all-in preflop

20:15 76cc on T98ssx

21:14 AKo all-in preflop

22:21 66 on J65rTss6x

25:37 AKcc all-in preflop