Upswing Poker Level-Up

By Upswing Poker

Improve your poker skills fast with short, hyper-focused episodes covering crucial poker topics. Hosted by VP of Upswing Poker Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood.... more

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How many episodes does Upswing Poker Level-Up have?

The podcast currently has 74 episodes available.

Best of Upswing Poker Level-Up

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: WSOP 2026 Final Table: How Each Player Should Play (ICM Analysis)
Use Code MTM100 and Get $100 Off the 'Modern Tournament Mastery' Course: https://upswingpoker.com/modern-tournament-mastery/ Which player at your final table has 35% of the chips but nowhere near 35% of the actual win equity? In this deep dive, you'll get the exact ICM-based strategy every WSOP Main Event finalist should be using at their stack size, so you can spot the mistakes the pros make before the money even changes hands. Get access to free preflop charts 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/preflop/ Get the Lucid Poker Trainer app for free 👉 https://lucidpoker.com/ Talk with Upswing Coaches & members 👉 https://discord.gg/TX765Y3FPa 00:00 Introduction & Final Table Preview 0:53 ICM Fundamentals Explained 2:35 Short Stack Strategy & Re-Shoves 6:55 Mid Stack Pressure & Seat Draws 8:44 Tough Positional Spots 9:02 Mixed Steal Opportunities 10:31 Position vs Chip Leader 12:35 Button Advantage 13:21 Third-Chip Squeeze 15:44 Handcuffed Second Place 18:05 Chip Leader's Strategy 21:24 ICM Mechanics Recap & Closing
July 31, 202625min
Number 2: 3 Final Table Tips To Win The Whole Thing
Buy Modern Tournament Mastery This Week and Get Tim's $300 Course as a FREE Bonus 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/modern-tournament-mastery/ Final tables change everything. In this episode, high-stakes crusher Tim Adams breaks down the subtle strategic adjustments that separate players who ladder up from players who actually close out tournaments. Learn how to think ahead under ICM pressure, exploit overly aggressive chip leaders, and stay mentally composed when the stakes are at their absolute highest. Get access to free preflop charts 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/preflop/ Get the Lucid Poker Trainer app for free 👉 https://lucidpoker.com/ Talk with Upswing Coaches & members 👉 https://discord.gg/TX765Y3FPa View the written version of this episode 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/3-final-table-tips/ 00:00 Final Table Strategy Intro 00:52 Thinking Beyond One Hand 02:26 When to Pass Marginal Spots 03:10 Table Position & Stack Dynamics 05:18 Doug Polk's Pocket Eights Spot 06:20 Triton London Final Table Review 08:06 Why Position Changes Everything 09:38 Playing Short at Final Tables 11:30 Exploiting Aggressive Chip Leaders 12:53 How Big Stacks Overextend 13:43 Fighting Back With Rejams 15:53 Why Chip Leaders Fold Too Much 17:18 Staying Calm at Final Tables 18:56 Avoiding Final Table Pressure 20:14 Playing One Hand at a Time 20:44 Why You Shouldn't Chop Deals 22:30 Final Thoughts & Course Promo Making a final table is one thing — actually closing out a poker tournament is something else entirely. In this strategy-packed episode, high-stakes tournament crusher Tim Adams joins the show to break down three advanced final table concepts that separate elite tournament players from the field. Drawing from years of experience in Super High Roller events and some of the toughest poker tournaments in the world, Tim explains how players should approach ICM pressure, chip stack dynamics, future game considerations, and the psychological side of playing under extreme pressure. The conversation begins with one of the most overlooked concepts in tournament poker strategy: thinking beyond the current hand. Tim explains why poker solvers and ICM calculations can only take players so far, and why great final table players must constantly think about future table configurations, stack positioning, and who will be seated on their left and right after a hand concludes. Using examples involving marginal all-in decisions, bottom call-offs, and chip leader positioning, the discussion explores how future hands can drastically alter the true value of a decision in tournament poker. The episode also includes a deep breakdown of a real hand from the Triton London final table featuring Doug Polk. Tim and the hosts analyze a difficult pocket eights decision against a 20 big blind shove and explain how future game value, player positioning, and table dynamics influence close ICM spots. This section is especially valuable for tournament poker players looking to improve their final table decision-making process beyond basic solver outputs. From there, the discussion shifts into exploiting aggressive chip leaders at final tables. Tim explains how modern tournament players often overapply ICM pressure when holding the chip lead, creating opportunities for shorter stacks to fight back with aggressive rejams and exploitative adjustments. The episode dives into reshove strategy, blind pressure, stack leverage, equilibrium ranges, and why many chip leaders widen their opening ranges too far without properly adjusting their calling ranges. Finally, the episode focuses on the mental game of poker and how to remain calm during high-pressure tournament moments. Tim discusses the importance of relaxation, emotional control, and embracing the final table experience instead of becoming overwhelmed by expectations. The result is an insightful poker strategy discussion filled with advanced tournament concepts, practical examples, and actionable advice for anyone serious about improving their final table performance in No Limit Hold'em tournaments.
May 27, 202624min
Number 3: Can ChatGPT Help You With Poker? (ft. Tim Adams)
Get early sign up bonuses for Modern Tournament Mastery 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/timothy-adams-dvoress-chidwick-course-waitlist/ Mike Brady sat down with high-stakes tournament crusher Tim Adams (head coach of Modern Tournament Mastery) to put Chat GPT to the test. They break down a ton of spots and well... you'll see how poorly Chat GPT would play poker! Get Modern Tournament Mastery by Tim Adams, Daniel Dvoress, and guest coach Stephen Chidwick on May 25, 2026. View the hand history and ChatGPT analysis 👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1teDl6IRwiBI0iSdHhhbLNq86JM3_vXEL/view?usp=sharing Get the written version of this episode 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/chatgpt-poker-help/ Get access to free preflop charts 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/preflop/ Get the Lucid Poker Trainer app for free 👉 https://lucidpoker.com/ Talk with Upswing Coaches & members 👉 https://discord.gg/TX765Y3FPa 0:00 - Intro 1:16 Opening A7s UTG 12:05 Modern Tournament Mastery 16:08 Defending 87s in the BB 25:43 Opening AJo from MP 34:27 3 Betting 44 vs Table Talk 38:25 Suited Broadways in EP
May 22, 202650min
Number 4: How to Actually Win at Pot Limit Omaha
Get the course here: https://upswingpoker.com/crushing-plo-tournaments/ View the written version of this episode here: https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/ep19-pot-limit-omaha/ Most PLO players are making the same costly mistakes without even realizing it—and it's destroying their win rate. In this episode, you'll learn the core fundamentals of Pot Limit Omaha so you can build stronger hands, make better decisions, and start playing a winning strategy immediately. 00:00 Episode Intro + Why This PLO Episode Matters 01:37 What This Episode Will Teach You About PLO 02:20 Why Most PLO Hands Are Overvalued 02:58 The 4 Key Traits of Strong PLO Hands 05:41 What "Robust Equity" Means in PLO 07:41 Position and Preflop Strategy Fundamentals 08:04 UTG vs Button: How Ranges Change 11:32 Blockers, Equity, and Preflop Mistakes 14:01 Pocket Aces in PLO: Biggest Misconceptions 16:16 The Biggest Leak: Playing With Fear 19:18 Postflop Tip #1: Playing Based on Robust Equity 21:34 Postflop Tip #2: C-Bet Sizing by Board Texture 24:06 Postflop Tip #3: Checking Out of Position 26:16 Postflop Tip #4: Turn Strategy and Pot Sizing 28:50 Postflop Tip #5: Multiway Pot Strategy Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is one of the most complex poker variants, and in this episode, high-stakes pro Dylan Weisman breaks down a practical framework for actually winning. Unlike No-Limit Hold'em, PLO is an equity-driven game where hands run close together, making concepts like nuttiness, connectedness, suitedness, and high-pair power essential. Dylan explains how these four traits define strong PLO hands and why players must focus on building "robust equity"—hands that can improve across multiple streets and realistically make the nuts by the river. The episode emphasizes how position and stack depth shape strategy. Early position requires tight, smooth, and highly connected hands, while later positions allow for wider, more flexible ranges. Dylan also highlights common mistakes, including overvaluing weak hands, misplaying pocket Aces, and ignoring blockers and opponent ranges. A key takeaway is that many hands that look strong preflop perform poorly postflop if they lack nuttiness or backup equity. Postflop play is where most players struggle, and the biggest leak discussed is trying to "protect equity." In PLO, board textures change too frequently for that approach to work. Instead, players should apply aggression with hands that have strong redraws and play more passively with vulnerable holdings. The episode also covers c-bet sizing by board texture, why checking out of position is often optimal, and how to build effective check-raising ranges. Finally, Dylan breaks down turn strategy, polarized betting, and multiway pots, where smaller bet sizes and discipline are critical. Overall, this episode provides a clear, structured roadmap for improving PLO fundamentals and avoiding costly mistakes.
April 22, 202632min
Number 5: Winning Money with Small Bets
Get 25% off Lucid Poker. Watch 'Winning Money in Multiway Pots' Join our Discord community. View the written version of this episode here. In this episode, you'll learn the seven most powerful small bet situations that can instantly pressure your opponents and win more pots. By watching, you'll understand exactly when to use small bets for protection, range advantage, stack-to-pot leverage, block betting, and multi-way pressure so you can make more profitable decisions in both cash games and tournaments. 00:00 Mastering Small Bets to Punish Missed Ranges (Cash Game C-Bet Strategy) 00:48 Protection Betting: Thin Value with Medium Pairs in Tournaments 02:50 Range Advantage Boards: Small Bets When You Smash the Flop 04:30 Low Stack-to-Pot Ratio Strategy in 3-Bet and 4-Bet Pots 06:16 Out-of-Position Flop Strategy: Why Solvers Prefer Small Bets 07:18 River Block Betting: Setting Your Own Price with Medium Strength Hands 09:06 Multi-Way Pots: Shared Defense and Why Smaller Bets Work In this episode of the Level-Up podcast, we break down the seven most profitable small bet situations in No Limit Hold'em and explain how to weaponize small sizing in both cash games and tournaments. From classic continuation bet spots to advanced stack-to-pot ratio adjustments, this guide shows you how to pressure opponents efficiently without bloating the pot unnecessarily. The first key concept centers on betting small when your opponent's range is filled with missed hands. In single-raised pots—like when you raise preflop and the big blind calls—dry flops such as queen-seven-three heavily favor the preflop raiser. Because the defender's range contains many ace-high and low-equity hands, a small one-third pot c-bet frequently wins the pot immediately while risking very little. This is one of the most efficient plays in modern poker strategy. Next, we explore protection betting with medium-strength hands. In tournament scenarios with 50 big blind stacks, holding a pocket pair on a coordinated board often calls for a small turn bet. This thin value plus protection approach forces opponents with overcards into difficult decisions, either folding equity or calling while behind. When your range crushes the board—such as in three-bet pots on ace-king-jack textures—small bets at high frequency generate folds from capped ranges while maintaining balance. Similarly, in four-bet pots where the stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) is low, small bets are typically optimal because the pot is already bloated and ranges are narrow. Out of position, solvers overwhelmingly prefer small sizing as the preflop raiser. By "naming your price," you avoid giving the in-position player the advantage of dictating the pot size. This principle extends to block betting on the river, where small bets with medium-strength hands prevent facing larger bets while still extracting thin value. Finally, we examine multi-way pots. Because the burden of defense is shared, betting into multiple players already signals strength. Smaller bets often accomplish the same goal as larger ones while preserving stack depth. Mastering these seven small bet scenarios will dramatically improve your postflop strategy, increase your win rate, and help you control pot geometry across a wide variety of poker situations.
February 13, 202610min