Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast

After 11 years on the air, the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast has recorded its final episode, #365. Co-hosts Bruce Briggs and Robbie Strazynski take an hour to reminisce about all the highlights, favorite moments, and top tier interviewees, and to thank guests, contributors, and listeners.

Bruce shares the story of how the show began, with then-co-host Eric Nelson. Robbie talks about how he joined as the new co-host in 2014. This episode is the first ever time Robbie and Bruce are actually seeing one another (virtually), after having been exclusively an audio podcast.

In this short, but sweet episode of the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast, Robbie recaps his final in-person home game before the proverbial walls of Israel’s lockdown closed in. Bruce reflects on the beauty and blessings of having a number of home game buddies that he can call good friends off the felt as well.

The show ends off with a curtain call from Ben Ludlow, who’s got his farewell One Outer segment.

Robbie and Bruce recap their home games, played both online and in person. Bruce lost two whole dollars, while Robbie’s Dad came back to the home game after a on over 6-month-long hiatus.

Two of poker’s legendary Tiltboys, Dave Lambert and Paul Swiencicki join the hosts for a wonderful interview about the history behind their home game, over 25 years of playing poker together, the many amazing stories they have to share, and a book that chronicled their adventures over the years. Other famous Tiltboys members include Phli Gordon, Rafe Furst, and Perry Friedman.

Finally, Bruce shares a funny One Outer detailing the perils of screen sharing while on Zoom for an online poker home game.

Robbie and Bruce recap their home games, played both online and in person. Bruce hits a royal flush, while Robbie eked out a win with quarantined Kenny watching from the virtual rail. The game featured the (unofficial) home game call of the century, as Maurice and Moe squared off in badeucey; it’s a story you HAVE to hear.

George Chao of BBO Poker Tables talks about the future of live poker in the U.S., as rooms begin opening up, as well as home games re-starting after a lengthy hiatus. Plexiglass shields are becoming the norm.

Finally, Ben Ludlow brings the laughs and the heat in this episode’s One Outer as he recaps the 2020 summer of online poker, and what he misses from “real world poker.”

Robbie finally played in an in-person home game again. Bruce has been watching both old and new poker content, specifically High Stakes Poker on PokerGO and The Orbit on Twitch.

The hosts are joined by Steve Fredlund and Jim Reid of Rec Poker and the pair discuss everything their podcast and community of poker players is all about in an extensive conversation.

Finally, our One Outer features a home game host who absolutely insists that the lights be turned off at the end of the session.

Bruce plays more home games (2) than Robbie (0) for the first time in ages, so which WSOP Main Event champion reached out to empathize with Robbie’s plight? Also, the hosts discuss the debut of #TheOrbit, an innovative new concept in poker media showcasing a panel discussion of poker experts.

We get back to our roots, reviewing an excellent article about home games from the PokerStars blog.

Finally, Ben Ludlow wraps up the show with another must-listen One Outer on the imminent Polk vs. Negreanu grudge match!

Bruce is finally back playing poker after a four-month hiatus. Robbie was the big winner in his Dad’s home poker game, where they welcomes a special guest: Simon.

Our sound engineer, Jeff, joins us again to give us a trip report on his time in Las Vegas, sharing tales from the felt and the overall vibe of the city.

We take a moment to discuss the importance of including the folks in more at-risk categories who aren’t playing poker during the pandemic; we can’t forget about ‘em!

Finally, we leave you with our first ever Kenny-ism!

Bruce and Robbie welcome longtime listener and poker podcast superfan Chad McVean to the show to discuss his home game history, what he loves so much about poker podcasts, and all things poker.

We’ve also got a “reporter in the field”, our sound engineer Jeff, who’s visiting Las Vegas, reporting from “ground zero” of what the poker scene and the city in general are like in this time of limited reopening.

Robbie’s also got some home game recaps to share, and Ben Ludlow offers some hot takes on the WSOP giving out bracelets for online events.

Bruce and Robbie welcome home game host Cody back to the show to discuss how online home poker games have become quite different than in-person home games among the same group of friends. The hosts also discuss the reopening of poker rooms across the US.

Plus, George Chao from BBO Poker Tables has a great “al fresco” edition of Table Talk, and Ben Ludlow’s got another great virtual WSOP top 10 list for this week’s One Outer that’ll make you literally laugh out loud.

Bruce and Robbie welcome well-regarded poker coach and co-founder of Red Chip Poker James “Splitsuit” Sweeney to the show. James shares his personal poker journey, specifically how he started out playing and then transitioning into coaching. He also discusses the massive upgrade to Red Chip Poker’s CORE offering (2.0) and how the training materials can best help home game players

The hosts also speak with longtime listener and Salt Lake City home game host Chad who describes hosting and attending his first live poker games in the coronavirus era. With no WSOP going on, neither of our co-hosts are in Las Vegas, but did manage to play in his first two live home poker games after a 2-month pandemic hiatus, and shares his experiences.

Finally, Ben Ludlow is back with a One Outer Top 10 list of the things he misses most about the opening week of the World Series of Poker that’ll have you laughing out loud at episode’s end.