The Mindset Advantage Poker Podcast

Click Here To Enroll In Elliot Roe's A-Game Poker Masterclass There's a new poker documentary all about the women at the World Series of Poker. The Poker Queens documentary just released – you can watch it with your Amazon Prime membership at home. Today's guest is Sandra Mohr, poker lover and director of the film. Sandra shares all about what it was like to stay at the Rio during last year's WSOP to interview women and invite them up to the Poker Palace, a restful getaway suite for ladies of the tables. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

Click Here To Enroll In Elliot Roe's A-Game Poker Masterclass After starting the first Galfond Challenge down nearly $1,000,000, Phil Galfond stormed back and sealed the victory during an epic final day of play. In this episode, Elliot and Phil discuss the key mindsets Phil adopted that allowed him to play his best despite the pressure and the swings of the challenge.

Click Here To Enroll In Elliot Roe's A-Game Poker Masterclass Jon Pardy is a Big Brother Canada winner who fell on hard times and found himself deep in drugs and forced to couch surfing. All that changed when he got a call from Bill Perkins. Jon shares the story of completely turning his life around after blowing his bankroll right before his big Thirst Lounge break. After reshaping his mindset, he's now a successful poker player and Twitch streamer – and has a new lease on life. Listen to this episode to hear what it took for Jon to get out of a $20,000 debt, win some incredibly ambitious prop bets, and forge a new path for his life – all in the past year. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

James Whittet, a former high-stakes player and mindset coach to poker professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners, shares why he's grateful for Black Friday and the possibilities it presented. He talks about what motivates him and how the source of his drive has changed over the course of his life. James and Elliot break down the three biggest challenges poker players have and how a player's well-being has a direct impact on their bottom line. Listen in to hear James reveal a bulletproof daily routine – and learn why having a community is one of the best things you can do for your personal and professional development. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

Jason Koon is one of the most successful high-stakes players in the world, excelling at both tournaments and cash games. In live tournaments, he has over $30,000,000 in earnings, and he can often be found sitting in the biggest cash games in the world. All that being said, this episode is about something different. Recently, Jason posted an incredibly brave series of tweets detailing his journey to overcome an abusive childhood, and sharing some of the wisdom he learned along the way. Poker is a highly emotional game, one that can easily trigger emotions caused by events in your past. Part of becoming the best player you can be, and bringing your A-Game each session, is identifying those emotional triggers and taking steps to manage them or eliminate them altogether. So, we asked Jason if he would come on to discuss his story in more depth, and what resulted was an incredibly open and deep discussion that could help a lot of people struggling with issues similar to what Jason has dealt with in the past. Click here to learn more about Elliot Roe's A-Game Poker Masterclass Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

Recently, Fedor Holz invited Elliot to participate in a community coaching session for Fedor's PokerCode students. Usually, it's Elliot who is interviewing Fedor, but this time the tables were turned. What resulted was an engaging and insightful conversation, where Fedor permitted Elliot to be "fully open" with what they've worked on over the years in private coaching sessions. Click here to learn more about Elliot Roe's A-Game Poker Masterclass (currently available for 70% off)

In this episode, former Mindset Advantage Podcast co-host Adrienne Carter returns to discuss her new career in Mindset Coaching and to give some tips on dealing with the COVID-19 situation. Elliot and Adrienne share how they are personally approaching self-isolation and quarantine during the COVID-19, and discuss how you can deal with the stress and anxiety of these uncertain times, and come out of the other side stronger than ever before. Elliot shares the free resources he has made available to help ease stress and anxiety, as well as the significant discount and extra coaching he is offering on his A-Game Poker Masterclass while this situation persists. Click Here To Learn More About The A-Game Poker Masterclass Click here to get the show notes from this week's episode

Daniel Dvoress, a super high roller, shares how he became "numb" to the crazy variance of online $25Ks. He explains how playing online prepared him for his Super High Roller Bowl win in the Bahamas. Elliot and Daniel talk about dealing with pressure, spotting weak mindsets, and controlling your emotions when experiencing big swings. Listen in to hear Daniel break down the secret to effective learning – and find out how to get the most out of your study time. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Dara O'Kearney, a professional poker player, author, and award-winning podcaster, breaks down how to form a habit and train your mind like an ultra-runner. Listen in to hear Dara share tips for getting over things you can't control – and learn what helps him stay hyper-focused despite the repetitiveness of the game. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Brad Wilson, a professional live and online cash-game player, coach, and podcaster, reveals how he improved his negative self-talk and criticism. He shares why he believes emotions should be felt – not suppressed – when playing poker and what he does to manage them. Elliot and Brad open up about the reality of failure in poker, the different tells online, and why knowing when to quit may possibly be the best skill to learn. Listen in to hear Brad share tips for becoming a successful player – and listen to what he has to say about the future of poker. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Phil Galfond talks about his series of challenges playing high-stakes PLO against some of the world's best. He shares how the challenge came about, why he created it, and what he has been doing to prepare. Elliot and Phil discuss the mindset shifts that Phil has undergone, and he opens up about the hidden fear that has kept him from studying. Listen in to hear Phil share what makes Run It Once different– and learn why he won't need a vacation after these challenges are completed. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Dylan Linde, a renowned Run It Once coach, professional poker player, and author of Mastering Mixed Games, reveals what it takes to build and maintain mental toughness. He shares why his ability to see strategic similarities between games has been a catalyst for his success. Elliot and Dylan talk about going back to the basics, learning from small hands, and reviewing your bad plays. Listen in for a quick coaching session from a pro – and learn the mindset training strategies that have done wonders for his game. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Dan Cates AKA Jungleman, opens up about his anger issues and shares what he's been doing to improve his mindset. He reveals what he has learned about himself while diagnosing the cause of his tilt, and gives some advice to those struggling with the same challenges. Elliot and Dan talk about Dan's exciting new lifestyle project and we get a peek into what to expect. Listen in to understand Jungleman on a deeper level – and learn some tips and tricks to begin the journey of mastering your mind, too. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Kevin Rabichow, a popular Run It Once coach and longtime professional, talks about shifting into new poker games. He shares the biggest differences in mentality between online cash game and tournament pros and gives insights into the key mindsets that lead to success. Listen in to hear why certain people "make it" while others fall to the wayside – and discover how to stay ahead of the pack. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Andrew Brokos, poker coach, host of the Thinking Poker podcast, and author of the book Play Optimal Poker talks about why we fail. He shares what he has learned on and off the table and stresses why it's so important to manage your money wisely – even during upswings. Elliot and Andrew reveal why we can't – and shouldn't – always rely on predictions. Listen in to hear why knowing poker theory is critical and learn how Andrew has made it accessible to the casual player. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Rob Tinnion and Jon Van Fleet (aka Ape Styles), two of the best MTT players and coaches, talk about their training site Max-Value.com. They share information about their new course, The Blueprint. Elliot, Rob, and Jon deep-dive into the course's material, their teaching methodology, and the results their clients achieve. Listen in to hear two of the best MTT players in the world give tips for success. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Elliot will be talking to Matt, Drew, and Jon from The Thirst Lounge, a group of 10 talented individuals that stream poker and document their journey while sharing the highs and lows of their life-changing experience. Find out how they became involved in The Thirst Project and what Elliot's course means to them, as well as hearing about some of the crazy prop bets that the guys have, and are getting themselves into! Listen to what it is like to live in the Virgin Islands and to be sponsored by Bill Perkins on a year-long once in a lifetime poker adventure. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Josh Arieh discusses how he first came to love gambling and how he went from the pool hall to the professional poker table. He shares his views on the importance of adrenaline and how it helps him be a better poker player in the face of high-pressure situations. He tells us his plans for the future and how playing poker helps him while going through a rough patch in life and gives some great advice to young poker players. Elliot and Josh talk about the infamous 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event and how he wasn't as much of an asshole as you think he was! Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Jeff Gross, one of the most interesting personalities in all of poker who professionally plays live and online, discusses how he got started on Twitch. He shares how he's learned to be realistic about his evolution and growth in the poker world. Elliot and Jeff dive into how to get started on Twitch, what to expect, and how you could turn streaming into a business. Listen in to hear this PBF – Professional Best Friend - talk about balance, family life, and why he loves engaging the poker community online. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Sandra Mohr, a Hollywood director and producer who retired to travel in an RV and play poker, discusses why she recently reentered cinema. She shares her inspiration for the film Poker Queens and reveals some of the famous (and not-so-famous) faces we'll see in it. Elliot and Sandra explore what holds women back in poker, what gives them an advantage, and how we all can practice evolved awareness on and off the table. Listen in to hear this poker queen talk about killer instincts, painful tilts, and the strides she's making to highlight the badass women of poker. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Tommy Angelo, poker and meditation coach, discusses his new book Dailyness: How to Sustain a Meditation Practice. He shares what meditation means to him and why, if you commit to making it a practice, you need to go all-in. Elliot and Tommy explore the common excuses and challenges people face when they meditate. Listen in to hear an expert share how meditation gives players an edge at the table and why you're already better at it than you think. Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

Episode 100 of The Mindset Advantage Poker Podcast is here! This is a massive milestone for the show, and more importantly, the poker community who have embraced the mental game and are always striving to become the best versions of themselves. Today's episode isn't about any guest; it's about you. Here you'll discover what it means to be an A-Game Player, and how you can use the A-Game Poker Masterclass as a shortcut to get from where you are now to A-Game Player status. Get access to the course here: PokerMindCoach.com/class Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, I have conversations with two students of my A-Game Poker Masterclass. Patrick Testoni and David Jeffres discuss the course, how they've implemented what they've learned, and the specific results they experienced. Patrick is a semi-professional player who plays both live and online MTTs, and David is an "enthusiastic amateur." Both experienced tremendous growth since completing the course – in poker and in life. Get access to the course here: PokerMindCoach.com/class Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Elliot talks with two students of the A-Game Poker Masterclass. Andrew Lok and Lara Eisenberg discuss the course's content, how they've implemented what they've learned, and an insider's perspective on what to expect when you enroll. Whether you're a full-time pro, semi-professional, or enthusiastic amateur – this course could be just what you need to get to the next level. Get access to the course here: PokerMindCoach.com/class Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

We are back with another special episode, celebrating the launch of Elliot Roe's A-Game Poker Masterclass in partnership with Phil Galfond's Run It Once Training. In Today's episode, Elliot is joined by Fedor Holz as he recounts the events leading up to them working together and how he was able to go on his epic high-roller run so soon after. It's a great story, and to our knowledge one that he's never shared publicly before today. Pay close attention to this one, every time Fedor speaks, he drops so many valuable nuggets that you can use to be a better player almost immediately. Listen in to hear how working on his mental game changed the trajectory of his poker career (and life) and learn why he recommends Elliot's A-Game Poker Masterclass. Get access to the course here: PokerMindCoach.com/class Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Elliot and Phil Galfond discuss their exciting new partnership. They are releasing Elliot's A-Game Poker Masterclass through Phil's Run It Once training site because they recognize how important it is for truly dedicated poker players to master their mindset. Elliot and Phil discuss why a strong mental game is more critical than ever – especially now that solutions are more available and studied. Listen in to hear what to expect from the course, why Phil stands behind it, and how you can become part of a community of A-Game Players. Get access to the course here: PokerMindCoach.com/class Click here to gain access to all of the show notes for this episode

In this episode, Wayne Yap, high-stakes poker professional and advisor, reveals how he made his way to the top despite severe financial adversity – and a two-year stint in the army. Elliot and Wayne discuss the importance of studying and building a network within the poker community. Listen in to hear an expert share his strategic thinking, practical game theory, and mindset mastery tips so you can jump stakes and play bigger. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Wayne, his journey, and direction 01:20 – His started by playing small games in Singapore; his parent's business was failing and he went into the army for two years at that time 02:00 – He didn't have the money to practice his game so he downloaded poker videos and would watch them while out in the jungle while in the army 02:40 – The importance of studying 02:57 – Learning is important in any field if you want to improve and succeed 03:07 – The learner's mindset is the most important thing 03:25 – How he ensured his improvement and success 03:32 – He had financial pressure so he felt like he had to get good 03:55 – After the army he went to Macau with some good high-stakes poker players and because he studies math and statistics he was helpful to them 04:10 – He learned from them and was valuable to them; this helped set up his network 06:05 – How long it took him to support himself through poker 06:22 – He got into high-stakes in about six years 07:05 – He didn't appreciate it then, but does now looking back 07:42 – The mindset needed for the system used in Macau 07:53 – He said it was lucrative but killed brain cells 08:30 – Sessions run 24 - 30 hours and some do doubles to play longer with VIPs 09:33 – It's not professional; after 20 hours, they are delirious and need to release awkward energy 10:50 – He knows only 5-10 people who like it to some degree; most of the time they're miserable and tired and are doing it for the money 11:55 – He got very bonded with the people he played with; everyone became friends 12:38 – How the VIPs play in Macau 12:48 – The ones that come back to play want to be good players but don't care about losing money 13:20 – They don't care about the game but get to make friends with pros 13:50 – Advice for player who want to get to high-stakes 13:55 – Decide whether you want to be good at poker or be good at poker and make money 14:20 – Poker is dynamic; GTO is not the angle 15:37 – You can't ever practically apply the exact solver outputs; you work on assumptions that can be wrong 16:30 – Don't get stuck on the theory part 17:20 – Things Wayne sees around mindset 17:35 – The biggest mindset flaw is that people take things too seriously 18:25 – Letting emotions get to you has a negative compounding effect at the table 19:10 –The money you have is more valuable than the money you earn; find your threshold and know how much money you need and what you can afford losing 20:50 – Know your emotional limitations around losses 21:13 – What Wayne would've done differently 21:50 – Strategy-wise, zoom out a few levels from where you are 23:10 – Wayne's next steps 23:25 – He explored block chain and made investments 23:45 – He wants to educate, train, and empower others 24:05 – He plans on doing cryptocurrency education and feels he brings a fresh perspective 24:33 – He's teaching people how to play and make money playing poker; it's important to build soft skills Contact/Resources Wayne's website Follow Wayne on Instagram Follow Wayne on Facebook Check out the Jump Stake website Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, Blake Eastman, founder of The Nonverbal Group, creator of Beyond Tells, and owner of The School of Cards, talks about the largest study ever conducted on the behavior of poker players. Elliot and Blake discuss how to integrate this new information into your game and why the use of tells isn't for everyone. Listen in to hear a psychology expert share some tips and tricks that you can implement immediately to have an advantage over your live opponents. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Blake, the founder of The Nonverbal Group, creator of Beyond Tells, and owner of School of Cards 00:55 – He was a psychology professor and now uses that knowledge and data to help people understand the use of tells in the game 01:23 – He started playing poker in his teens and his work now combines his three main passions – poker, nonverbal behavior, and teaching 02:25 – Blake was anti-behavior and anti-tells before, but after Beyond Tells his perspective changed 03:06 – Information on Beyond Tells 03:08 – It is the largest study ever conducted on the behavior of poker players; things like blink rate were recorded 03:55 – They found that the quantitative approach is useless but the qualitative results have been game-changing 04:22 – The poker community has been wrong about how they read tells – the results have found that qualitative patterns tell the most 04:57 – They've designed frameworks and approaches to identify who to watch, when, and how so you can integrate that into your game 05:30 – Video is necessary to analyze spots 05:50 –Blake's "A-ha!" moment – when he realized the data was useful and he had been wrong 06:05 – He was in the office looking at footage and implemented the "grounding theory," where you code the data without a hypothesis 06:30 – He was watching a specific player and saw correlations between his hand movements and range 06:51 – He started noticing the same thing with other players and live at the table; poker tells can be taught, they aren't just an inherent skill 07:30 – How Blake teaches the skill to students 07:35 – First, students must understand and know the body can give off information, then that can be prioritized into a system 08:00 – They can establish feedback loops for players 09:20 – What you can pick up in a small amount of time 09:35 – Predictive models allow for you to follow a player using common patterns 10:27 – The system allows for you to know, not think, where another player is weak 11:15 – Which players to read 11:30 – It depends on the players, but is still beneficial even if you can only read one player 12:18 – He teaches people to go after certain spots and opportunities so behaviors can define and guide as to when to make certain moves 12:43 – Working with the greatest minds in poker 13:05 – He doesn't want the highest echelons knowing his techniques because he plays with them 14:04 – On his work with Nonverbal Group and the power of perspective 14:35 – He sees a difference between mindset and mental game; he sees mindset as an approach and mental game as on-table optimization 14:50 – You must fix the foundation (mindset) before working on anything else 15:35 – On the game moving fast 15:50 – At the top it moves fast, but most games move slow; there's a media bias and the local card room isn't represented 17:42 – Lower-level players are still not up to date on higher-level information about the game 18:00 – Reading behavior and tells is for a specific kind of player, not just anyone 19:04 – On what Beyond Tells does 19:11 – They focus on live, no-limit Hold 'Em and have a serious of programs depending on what the player needs, but mechanics need to be established first 20:10 – The course is embedded with his knowledge of psychology 23:36 – A tip for listeners: Pay attention to the hands 23:50 – Pick one or two players and focus on their hands pre-flop; see what they do right before and right after 24:12 – Increase your awareness 25:15 – High-level players want to know timing tells but there are more interesting tells to analyze 26:26 – A final tip for listeners: Embedded concealment strategies make it easier to pay attention to them 27:00 – Blake's plans 27:06 – He's going to Aussie Millions and WSOP 27:28 – He's learning and understanding other player's spots; he's using his own findings to improve his game 3 Key Points The qualitative results Blake has found are game-changing. You must master the foundations of poker before studying behavior and tells. A player's hands tell a lot – pick a player or two and see what their hand say. Contact/Resources Beyond Tells - Training Website Poker Mind Coach – Elliot's Coaching Website Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, Phil Galfond, poker pro and owner of the Run It Once training site, reveals insider information about the launch of his new site and the challenges he has faced while developing it. Elliot and Phil discuss how his playing style has evolved over the years and how he has come to accept losses. Listen in to hear who inspires Phil, why he started Run It Once, and what to expect when his new site launches. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes 00:50 – Introducing Phil and his company 01:20 – He started playing poker 15 year ago; he dropped out of school to play full-time 02:00 – He's been a pro for 13 years, plays mostly PLO, and has had a few WSOP wins; 6 years ago, he launched the Run It Once training site 02:40 – How poker has changed over the last 13 years 02:50 – Achievable win rates were higher, but pros have gotten better; it's still the same game, but the strategic knowledge has progressed 03:30 – How Phil felt when launching Run It Once 03:50 – He had made training videos before and focused on balanced strategy; he was comfortable and confident that he wouldn't show leaks 05:30 – He prefers video coaching; he doesn't like doing 1 on 1 personal coaching 06:30 – Phil's swings and how he dealt with them 06:50 – Swings take longer to get drastic in nosebleeds; he hasn't seen the swings that some players have 07:30 – He started playing as a broke college kid and the money didn't scare him; he saw getting back up to higher money levels as a game 08:30 – His emotional disconnection with money allowed him to think more clearly; today, he feels more pressure and that makes it harder to detach 09:00 – He finds himself shying away from certain spots now; he feels there's no replacement for the naivety of youth 09:30 – What Phil's mindset is like now 09:38 – He can snap out of feeling down very quickly; he can accept the reality of a loss or string of losses 10:30 – Everything feels stronger live; the social element makes wins and losses feel more personal 11:00 – Phil's mindset inspiration 11:10 – Dan Cates (Jungleman) is very emotional when he plays, but his game never changes and this is a big advantage 12:00 – Phil used to think Dan tilted a lot, but he doesn't; he has an interesting mind and can't contain his emotions 12:37 – He doesn't have the emotional pull that most people have 13:00 – The Run It Once company 13:15 – He loved meeting people who say Run It Once helped them; the coaches of the company are proud to be a part of the brand 14:10 – The switch from a training site to creating a software 14:15 – The training site gave him a false confidence in his business acumen; the training site did very well with little marketing 14:48 – The development team is bigger and the project is bigger; he now must manage people, which he hadn't done before 15:15 – What's new and different about Run It Once 15:30 – He was worried that the online poker market was in trouble; he didn't know where online poker was heading 16:55 – They launched with cash games only; they have anonymous games and dynamic avatars to eliminate HUD use 18:30 – Stakes that'll be allowed on the site 18:31 - It'll be 6 max only at launch; they don't want to split their player pool 18:50 – They've come up with some innovative things that'll improve the quality of the experience and game for cash games and tournaments 19:10 – They are not incentivizing bum-hunting and targeting of weaker players 19:45 – There's a balance that needs to be kept between the money that net depositing players lose going to the players on the site; it can go too far in one direction, as it has on other sites 20:19 – They haven't finalized the exact stakes they're going to offer; they must consider liquidity at launch and will open other stakes as more players join 20:55 – They won't have nosebleed stakes at launch; they'll build a separate experience for that with different rules and policies 21:15 – The launch timeline 21:18 – They are still working on fixing some bugs; he's optimistic but needs to be sure it's working perfectly before launch 22:30 – He's not sure when it'll launch 23:00 – New advancements with the training site 23:08 – They've gotten good coaches and are running a promotion for a discount and gift on annual elite membership 23:30 – They've reopened their apparel store 24:00 – How to join Run It Once 24:10 – Go to eu to see the features and policies and sign up for the mailing/beta test email list 3 Key Points An emotional disconnect with the money can allow for clearer thinking during the game. Creating a training site is very different than creating a software. Phil's training site has improved, and he's not sure when the new site will launch. Contact/Resources Run it Once Poker Training Sign up for the beta test/email list Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, Jack Sinclair, WSOP Europe champion and final tabler at the main event in Las Vegas, reveals what he did to go from recreational player with a day job to WSOP champion – in two and a half years. Elliot and Jack discuss what it feels like to get into flow state and why understanding psychology can give you that extra edge. Listen in to hear a professional who fast-tracked his way to success share some insider tips that'll inspire you to take leaps of faith, improve your game, and experience your own flow state. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Jack Sinclair, a pro who made it to the final table at the main event in Las Vegas and won the World Series of Poker Europe 01:30 – He's been a professional poker player for two and a half years now; he started playing online MTTs in London 01:40 – He had a coaching session with Phil Gruissem and later became his roommate 02:30 – He got 8th in the main event at the World Series of Poker in 2017 and won Europe's WSOP this year 03:30 – He was happy to have placed 8th; he was playing above his highest level and was happy with his performance 04:27 – The decision to leave his day-job and play poker full-time 04:52 – He took a leap of faith before he was good enough to play full-time 06:10 – He's wasn't that confident, but was willing to try no matter what 06:20 – He started playing poker at university and got hooked 07:15 – Switching between online mid-stakes to live tournaments 07:43 – He's always been a live player; he has a good understanding of psychology which helps his game 08:17 – With online poker you can't read people as easily; he plays an exploitative game style which is best live 09:40 – Anton Morgenstern reads "vibes" and Jack is inspired by that 11:00 – Jack's thoughts on the mental game in poker 11:15 – He was an early adopter of The Mindset Advantage and hypnosis; he was a member of Poker Nerve as well 12:17 – He's suspicious of everything but thinks that these tools are helping his game 13:50 – It doesn't matter how good your mental game is if you are unsound; the question is if improvement to your mental game helps your poker game 15:12 – Producing your best technical game at the table without failing due to energy loss, stress, or tilt 15:30 – You can't always play to the best of your ability, that's why mindset improvement is important 16:22 – Jack doesn't enjoy meditation, but when he did it, he won the tournament 17:00 – Sometimes it's hard to find the time to meditate 17:35 – He wears lucky socks when he plays 18:11 – The pressure at the final tables 18:25 – It didn't feel momentous; he was just blown away being in Vegas and it was an overload 20:10 – He got into flow state on day six; he felt like he was no longer thinking and that every move was being gifted to him 21:10 – Describing flow state 21:16 – The day went by quickly, like there was no time 21:52 – He felt he was using his brain more and that the stream tables helped 23:33 – On day four or five of WSOP Europe he had a hand where he thought he was beat but called anyway; he knew he should have folded 25:20 – Now he doesn't care and does what he believes is right; this mentality helped him at the final table 26:00 – On playing stream tables 26:02 – You'll always look like an idiot because the audience can see things you can't 27:05 – The reality is that there aren't high-level poker players giving free, good advice on YouTube or stream comments 27:33 – On the getting the trophy 28:00 – He is satisfied with the way he played; he minimized basic errors and honed in his mental game 3 Key Points Going from recreational to professional poker player requires a level of faith. A trained mindset is important because you can't always win on skill alone. Flow state makes time fly and decisions feel like they are simply given. Contact/Resources Jack's Twitter Jack's Instagram Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, Kevin Martin, former Big Brother winner, Twitch streamer, and professional poker player, reveals how his studying to get cast on the show helped the way he studies the complexities of poker. Elliot and Kevin discuss why having a healthy body and mind is critical to success – especially during multi-day tournaments. Listen in to hear a young and successful expert of the game share how he boosts his confidence, when he sits out of a game, and why his girlfriend's support might just be his deadliest weapon. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Kevin Martin, former Big Brother, Twitch streamer, and successful live MTT player 01:25 – Kevin is a 25-year-old poker professional in Canada 01:55 – Kevin won the Big Brother show in Canada; he used to love reality TV so he studied the casting process to get cast on the show 03:00 – He relates studying the casting process to studying the complex systems in poker to find an edge 04:00 – Kevin's view on self-development 04:15 – It's always necessary, in poker it's easy to say "I'm running bad" when you really need to improve your game 05:00 – Kevin's accomplishments 05:10 – This past summer he went on a crazy live run; he won three tournaments and placed 2nd in two tournaments 06:10 – He sees the wins as a testament to his hard work and wants to keep it going 06:55 – Kevin's game plan to get an edge 07:07 – You must set yourself up for success before the tournament; it's important to eat well and take care of your body 07:45 – Optimizing breaks, meditation, and disconnecting while at the table 08:30 – If you miss a showdown, you lose money; treat the game like the most important thing in your life at the moment 09:10 – Tournament professionalism 09:25 – At the $1,000, $2,500, and $600 buy-in level, no one has the intensity required to get to higher stakes 10:12 – How confidence impacts his playing 10:22 – He plays more aggressively when he's confident; he advises not to play if you don't feel confident 10:40 – Take a break if you're on a downswing to study and boost your confidence; players will play differently against you when you are confident 11:28 – Kevin's buy-ins: He was in a tournament for six bullets because he was within his bankroll management and it was still a profitable decision 12:10 – He feels comfortable playing bigger buy-ins now; he's excited to play at a $25,000 buy-in this year 13:30 – Tournaments where PokerStars use it as marketing 13:51 – There will be a lot of dead money at the tournament, so it's a good one to participate in when increasing your buy-in 14:00 – Seeing people break down at tournaments 14:38 – People that aren't taking care of themselves fall apart in long tournaments; this is an advantage for pros 15:55 – Recreational players can study, commit to improving, and still win tournaments 17:20 – Kevin's Twitch streaming 17:27 – He's moved up stakes and started firing up mix games; his community has been very supportive and has set him up for success 18:02 – They play small, medium, and some high stakes 18:33 – Some people from Big Brother support him and got into poker 19:23 –Kevin's goal list 19:40 – "To become a super-killer" poker player 20:23 – Kevin studies his mistakes and surrounds himself with smart people so he can improve 21:45 – Ego can get in the way, but you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable 22:14 – The best players always question themselves and always look to improve 22:54 – A moment from 2018 that sticks out 23:17 – It was the final 22 at Run It Up Reno and there was $70,000 up top, his girlfriend was there 23:50 – He wasn't himself so she told him to workout, shower, and meditate, and he came back after the dinner break 100% and ready to play 24:25 – She is a supportive partner and gives him an edge 25:00 – A message for listeners 25:00 – Poker is accessible to anyone who is willing to commit to the game; there's still the opportunity to follow the poker dream 27:10 – Play sober and study; following the game plan pays off 3 Key Points Optimize breaks, meditate, and stay healthy to perform at your best. Always question yourself and look for ways to improve. Play sober, rested, and confident – or don't play at all. Contact/Resources Kevin's Twitch Kevin's Instagram Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, Arlie Shaban, full-time poker player and Twitch streamer, talks about what it was like to stream 125 days in a row for 8 hours a day – a total of 1,000 hours – and get challenged by Poker Stars. Elliot and Arlie discuss extreme tilts, online trolls, and how he has learned to control his temper during a bad beat. Listen in to hear an Enterprise Rent-a-Car employee turned full-time poker player share his journey to becoming a professional player and progress on the "12 Labors of Arlie" Poker Stars challenge. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Arlie Shaban is a Twitch streamer who has just been challenged by PokerStars for a chance to win a $30,000 Platinum Pass 01:20 – Arlie's Introduction 01:30 – Arlie's been playing poker full-time for 15 months; he hated working a regular job and loved poker 02:30 – He had a mentor to learn Twitch and Twitch poker; he went through the Max-Value Training Program 03:35 – Starting in November of 2017 he streamed 125 days in a row for a total of 1000 hours; he has an intense work ethic and went all-in 04:25 – Now he's a full-time Twitch poker streamer 04:40 – What it was like to stream 125 days in a row, 8 hours a day 04:43 – He was confident and over-prepared; it was harder than he thought but he wasn't willing to fail 06:50 – The challenges Arlie faced 07:00 – Arlie can grind for months; he thought that would translate well to streaming, but he completely underestimated its intensity and negativity 07:32 – He thought since he was on Big Brother Canada, he could handle anything; but he found streaming draining and distracting 09:30 – You have less time to study when you're streaming; he stopped studying for a while 10:05 – Study and play hours 10:15 – He's not consistent and doesn't have a set schedule 12:23 – This past month he was at an 85% ROI; he's up almost $4,000 and plays small $22 games and below 12:45 – The 12 Labors of Arlie challenge 13:10 –Poker Stars noticed his 1,000-hour challenge 14:00 – He later did a 43-hour stream and got 1,400 followers 14:45 – Poker Stars challenged him to the 12 Labors of Arlie, which were 12 random challenges 15:22 – He's on challenge 5 now and just found out that the challenge is for a $30,00 platinum pass 16:30 – Breaking down the challenges 17:00 – Jamie Staples, the Twitch "Granddaddy," set-up inspiration and things to do to improve his streaming and brand 18:30 – Mindset improvement challenge: He must clip when he has a bad beat and record himself having a positive reaction 19:30 – Arlie has intense swings and thought that'd be his barrier to entry in poker 20:10 – He realized that if he wanted to become a professional he would need to teach himself to not have negative reactions 21:05 – He understands poker enough to play without emotions affecting him 21:30 – As an MTT player, you should understand that you will have bad beats 22:00 – Play your best and you'll be profitable over time 22:30 – As he's gotten better and made more money, his reactions have improved 23:25 – Down time and study time is critical for success; playing 8 hours a day every day isn't sustainable over time 24:40 – Consistency is key 24:55 – The most extreme tilt he's had was with chats; he used to have a fan near his bed that he'd break 26:15 – He'd lose it over super-small stakes; he turned off chats for years because he knew how much it impacted him 27:10 – Where to find Arlie: Arlie.tv 3 Key Points Mentorship and training programs can help you improve your game faster. It's important to balance your study and play time. Unchecked negative emotions will hinder your success. Contact/Resources Twitch site: Arlie.tv Podcast Production, Editing, Show Notes & Transcript by Podcastily

In this episode, Rory "DeosOner" Young, winner of $174K in the WCOOP's Super Tuesday, talks about what he does to control his mental state and stay confident during the game. Elliot and Rory dive into why studying, training your mindset, and controlling your emotions will always be important – whether you're just starting out or a seasoned player. Listen in to hear the WCOOP 2018 champion share what he thinks about short-cuts and strategy in cash and MTT games. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Rory Young and his victories 01:25 – Rory's poker playing journey 02:30 – The difference between online cash game players and MTT players 02:35 – The baseline strategy is more compact with cash games; strategy changes a lot based on stack size 03:42 – Moving to MTTs from Zoom 03:45 –He got coached through the transition by MTT grinders 04:25 – You can get through more spots in a shorter period with MTTs; he enjoys the adrenaline rush and pace of MTTs 05:02 – The schedule is different with MTTs, you must play through and manage your mental state and thoughts 05:50 – Advice on how to control your mental state 06:10 – Use a coach and tools to guide your mental training and understand how to control your thoughts 07:20 – The importance of continued learning and improvement 08:30 – Seeing hands play out and focusing on mental game 08:50 –Starting out in cash games helped Rory become more aware of the variance for MTTs 09:27 – Separating yourself from the emotions during the game 10:04 – Recalling his Super Tuesday win in the WCOOP 2018 11:00 – His PokerStars interview and comment about simply having a good run 12:00 – You must know how to capitalize when you run well 12:30 – Energy, focus, and being driven by the fear of busting 14:30 – Understanding his game and seeing the win as a launching point for improvement and growth 15:20 – Rory wants to study and play the high rollers in a few years 15:30 – Poker for Australian players 15:45 – There will always be good live cash games in Sydney and Poker Masters online, but Rory believes professional players shouldn't live in Australia 16:40 – Rory believes people should travel, move, and make new friends to grow and push through personal limitations 17:10 – Rory's travels: He is happy having found a base in Victoria, BC with friends 18:11 – Study recommendations 19:00 - Find someone who is where you want to be in 2 years to help you and offer them something in return 19:15 – Use PioSolver appropriately and talk to professionals who use the program 19:53 – There are no short-cuts; to get to high-stakes you must study 20:37 – The craziest tilt Rory has ever witnessed 22:00 – Rory deleted all his social media accounts, if you want to find him you've got to hunt him down 3 Key Points The learning and growing never stops. Find someone who is where you want to be to mentor you. There are no short-cuts; you must study! Contact/Resources Book – The Power of Now Learning Tool - PioSolver Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, Lara Eisenberg, radiologist and semi-professional poker player, reveals how competitive skydiving and pool have helped train her mind to remain calm and focused, thus giving her a competitive edge against the pros. Elliot and Lara discuss how she balances work, play, continued poker education, and a happy personal life. Listen in to hear a well-rounded semi-pro share what she does to keep her mindset steady, her body healthy, and her poker game strong. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Lara, a semi-professional player and radiologist 01:30 – She started with online PC gaming and taught herself by reading books on poker 02:36 – She uses the A-Game planner to organize her studying schedule and studies 5-10 hours a week 03:23 – As a working person, you must be creative when finding time to learn; you can listen to audio while driving or watch videos while doing chores 04:20 – On sitting at the table with professional players 04:36 – She doesn't get intimidated and knows to put into action what she has practiced 05:15 – What bothers her making mistakes when she knows better 05:45 – Being a female player in the male-dominated sport of poker 05:50 – She's always been drawn to fields that are male-dominated like medicine (although there are more women now), pool, skydiving, and poker 06:15 – There are advantages and disadvantages to being a woman in these fields, but she's always been very competitive 06:48 – The more poker is appealing to a wider group of people, the better it is for all players; help make poker more appealing by being friendly and welcoming 07:38 – Lara doesn't get phased by anger or rudeness at the table; she notices that the higher the skill level at the table, the lesser the players will make assumptions 09:00 – How she juggles work and play: She works from home and works every other week, so she can attend plenty of events 10:00 – In Maryland she's lucky to have plenty of places to play nearby; she believes her location is better than Vegas because of the bigger games that happen more frequently 11:35 – Cash-stake games in Maryland 11:38 – The biggest she's played is 510 but there are limit games that are bigger, people move near the MGM because of the tourist element 12:35 – The re-growth of live poker; Lara believes that the U.S. should have online poker and tax it 13:40 – How competitive skydiving has helped Lara cope with emotions 14:05 – She read the book, "Mental Training for Skydiving and Life," which taught her meditation, visualization, calmness, and peak performance 14:44 – She has 4,500 jumps, so the danger element has gone away 15:00 – Skydiving has helped her poker game because she can better look for an edge, focus, and remain calm 15:39 – Having a short attention span is a big challenge at the table today 16:15 – Lara fits studying, nutrition, exercise, and mental health exercises into her workweek and play week 18:55 – The winning mindset and being driven to succeed 19:22 – Certain people get obsessed with things and want to be the best; there's a balance needed between that and other important things in life 20:24 – It's ok to play within your means and recognize that you aren't a professional player playing high-rollers if you have a full-time job 22:00 – Poker as recreational: You can have a job and be a winning player if you invest time and money in educational tools and coaching 22:30 – If you don't have as much time to invest in playing, you should invest in educational things that save you time like the Mindset Advantage or Elevate Groups 23:18 – Alex Fitzgerald has been her coach for years and she appreciates the individualized feedback 3 Key Points You can still have an edge at the table as a semi-professional. Get your studying in by whatever means necessary; even if that means listening while driving or watching videos while folding laundry. Invest in educational tools and coaching to improve your game and keep up with the professionals. Contact/Resources Book – "Mental Training for Skydiving and Life" Poker Mind Coach Academy - website Elevate Group – website Credits Podcast Production, Editing, Show Notes & Transcript by Podcastily

In this episode Steffan Sontheimer, aka Goose, talks about the life of a high-roller, the ups and downs of his career, and how he maintains a healthy mind and body. Over the course of his career, he's seen how unchecked emotions can ruin plays and open the door for rookie mistakes. Elliot and Steffen discuss why taking a break from poker during a downswing is a good thing – and can be better than trying to play through it. Listen in to hear a Poker Master's champion share why physical fitness is key to long-term success, and why he believes it necessary to enjoy other things besides poker. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Steffen and his accomplishments 01:20 – Steffen's view of the poker scene and how he feels about it 01:35 – 2017 was hot online and in-person, but 2018 has been the opposite 02:20 – How he keeps a good mindset during the ups and downs of his career 02:30 – All pros get emotional, but he tries to remain analytical so his game doesn't change depending on how he feels 03:35 – The impact emotions make in the high-rollers scene 03:50 – It happens everywhere; as soon as emotions come into play, the wrong plays are made 04:30 – He knows what he needs to do in each hand, but emotions might cause him to play on the higher-variance side 05:30 – Steffen's relationship with Phil Hellmuth 05:45 – He likes Phil and knows how to play him; Steffen had exploits ready before Phil even knew his name 07:00 – Phil plays the televised events, not the big high-roller events Steffen plays 07:50 – The mindset of world-travelling high-rolling players 08:00 – They give 100% to each game and seem like they're born to do it 08:35 – It's a great but draining and stressful lifestyle 08:50 – Steffen's techniques to prevent stress and draining 09:00 – He takes breaks and spends time with non-poker friends to stay grounded 09:45 – After taking a break, he feels the thrill of playing again 10:00 – What it was like winning Poker Master's last year 10:10 – It was seven-handed no-limit Hold 'Em with the same opponents; he was used to the style of the game 11:00 – He was confident, played well, stayed analytical, and felt it was his time to win 12:45 – Online poker as a training tool for different types of tournaments 13:30 – He strengthens his weaknesses and maintains his strengths with online poker 14:00 – He doesn't have a master plan or schedule; he likes to divide and conquer by splitting up his training into manageable parts 15:00 – Physical fitness and success 15:15 – Steffen believes physical fitness is key to long-term success because players should have other enjoyable activities in their life besides poker 15:30 – His worst played week was the week after his knee surgery when he couldn't exercise 16:00 – A poker downswing isn't enjoyable, so physical activity and/or sports gives the feeling of accomplishment and success during that time 17:00 – Advice for players experiencing a downswing 17:15 – He likes to whine and complain to let it out, and he thinks a break from poker during a downswing is a good thing 17:40 – Always play because you love the game and want to improve 17:50 – When he experienced a downswing, he went to a beach volleyball camp and took a break to forget poker for a while 18:45 – What's to come for Steffen 19:00 – He doesn't enjoy poker as much as he used to, and doesn't want to travel as much, so he'd like to find something new that brings him as much joy as poker did 19:20 – Twitching is just part of the job for him 3 Key Points Remain analytical so your emotions don't affect your game. Physical fitness is key to long-term success. Take a break to reset your mindset during a downswing. Contact/Resources Steffen's Instagram and Twitter No Limit Gaming Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, expert accountant Ray Kondler gives us a crash course on poker taxes so that amateur and professional players can understand their tax responsibilities and liabilities. Ray explains the pros and cons of filing as an amateur or professional, and stresses the importance of filing - no matter what. Listen in to hear a tax educator give tips and strategies on how to properly record, file, and deal with the IRS - whether you're an international player or not - so you can maximize your earnings and keep your head in the game. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing poker taxes and guest Ray Kondler 01:18 - Ray will give a crash course on poker, taxes and how they impact players 01:37 - Taxes are a common issue, especially for international players playing in America 01:44 - Kondler and Associates are national experts on taxation of poker players and serve both national and international players 02:00 - Services for American players 02:12 - Determining if to file as a pro or as an amateur, providing tax-saving strategies through investments, foundations, LLCs, etc. 02:26 - Services for International players 02:30 - Some countries take 30% out of the winnings, and his company works to get their clients as much of that back as possible 03:15 - Discovering the niche of serving poker players 03:22 - It started by educating people; most accountants and CPAs don't understand the gambling industry and it's intricacies 04:00 - If gambling is a person's profession, they must file differently 04:20 - The advantages and disadvantages of different filing routes 04:30 - If you file as an amateur gambler (not poker-specific), you can only take your gambling losses against it, but it can be all gambling losses 05:30 - If you file as a professional, losses and buy-ins can count against income 05:45 - Professionals can file a schedule C as a business and write-off other related expenses like travel, cell phone, office, meals, etc. 06:25 - Professionals can even take pension plans 06:34 - A disadvantage to filing as a pro is that if there's substantial income, they'll pay regular and social security tax, since they are a business 07:10 - If a person doesn't travel a lot, they wouldn't file as a pro because they wouldn't have the write-offs to make up for the social security tax 08:14 - Many accounts just show gambling and don't consider all the other expenses; Ray's having an issue with the IRS 08:30 - The IRS labels professional poker players a business 08:45 - If you win big one year and lose big the next, you can't write it off in a subsequent year against a prior year income; Ray believes this is unfair 09:15 - The poker industry is an up and down game, and the taxation system should consider that 09:30 - He's trying to take this issue to the next level because if the profession is considered a business on paper, it should be treated as such 10:10 - Deductions, making sure you file, and the use of Bitcoin 10:25 - If high-winning players don't file, they can have an issue with the IRS 10:50 - Players are using and playing with Bitcoin and they found out some information had to be given to the IRS 11:15 - Ray gets 10-20 people at the booth each year who haven't filed in years so he works to educate them on the process 12:00 - Tax tip for players: If you win, pay quarterly, and keep record of your earnings 12:30 - Bitcoin 12:50 - Some websites show Bitcoin records, but even the IRS is having trouble classifying what is taxable 13:41 - The IRS has classified Bitcoin as a stock, so the taxation rates are based on the length of time you've held it 14:00 - Keep record of your purchases and coin so your accountant has numbers to work with 14:40 - Always file something; the IRS will work with you if you've filed 15:55 - He's working with foreign players to get their refunds from the past three years, but they usually don't have expense records 16:30 - They can recreate their expenses with bank statements and credit card bills; the chances of a refund review are unlikely for foreign players 17:30 - He can get his foreign clients a tax ID number so they can get their refund; it takes 2-4 weeks to get their ID number and 3-6 months for the refund 18:30 - A certified copy of their passport is necessary for the process to be started, but it can be challenging 20:30 - Ray plays in events and knows what it's like for players in the industry 21:20 - Ray never charges for calls and advice, so any tax-related questions should be directed to him 3 Key Points The biggest difference between filing as an amateur and filing as a professional is that a professional files as a business. Always file because the worst thing to do is not report anything at all. Always keep records of your expenses and earnings, and pay quarterly if you win. Contact/Resources Ray's Website - Kondler & Associates Cr

In this episode, Matt Berkey, high stakes poker pro, coach, writer, and blogger, breaks down the strategy, application, and constant evolution of the game. Elliot and Matt discuss the problems with playing hands based on theory alone, and analyze why adaptability is an important characteristic for gives players to gain an edge against their opponents. Listen in to hear Matt explain what his academy, Solve for Why, offers students and why there will always be a "wild card" in the world of poker. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 01:00 –Matt's summer started with a massive loss but he ended up breaking even; what this does to the mind 01:30 – He views playing cash as his bread and butter; as running a business without the results impacting him daily 02:05 – He has hope every day and sees it as a legitimate return on his investments; it was frustrating to start but had plenty of opportunities to make it up 02:55 – The difference for locals in Vegas playing high stakes cash games in the summer 03:05 – It's a huge impact for mid stakes; for high stakes, it's a revolving door and caters to VIPs throughout the year and keeps Matt out 03:55 – In the summer, the games run more frequently so there's a mix between VIPs and guys like Matt; the games are different with more tough spots, which he likes 04:34 – It's nice to have fighters in the game; it can exceed the bottom line in a good way 05:00 – He barely has any downtime in the summer; the process is fun, but when you're in it, you're in it 05:40 – What these next few weeks before Florida look like for Matt 05:45 – Cash games and the academy are still going; he's got 5 days of rest before travelling east, but he's got content and teaching to do 06:26 – The story of Nick Manion; he offered to give Matt and his friend, Jordan Young, Matt's partner and roommate, exposure and offered to wear their Solve for Why gear 07:00 – They obliged and they got their brand out there, but there was a misunderstanding in that they didn't get a piece of the winnings 07:30 – Poker News ran a story about Nick's play and win, and rolled that story with the fact that he's friends with Jordan so was wearing Solve for Why gear 08:20 – What's going on with the Solve for Why Academy; they had 18 players (at least half part-time) and about $400,000 of cash for the summer 08:45 – One of their students won the Golden Nugget in week one and they've got multiple events coming up 09:15 – They are launching a sub-site August 13 that will be live-focused and focused on implementing and not just building strategy 09:30 – The game evolves so quickly; it's natural that their material would as well 10:10 – The online academy is for anyone passionate about poker; it's tiered depending on level 10:50 – A big piece of content is "Poker Out Loud"; he's happy about how it came out and how unique the teaching methods are 11:30 – They are doing a docu-series and a podcast as well 12:20 – The "Poker Out Loud" strategy, pressure, adaptation, and confidence 12:48 – It gets daunting for others, but Matt is used to breaking down his plays; tilt and emotions are normal and are used in the game in an exploitative way 14:30 – They are doing a lot of work on strategy and foundational knowledge in live game theory; they do the heavy lifting and come back with a base strategy and deviations 15:30 – When playing online, you don't have all that extra information; live can be contrarian to what theory would dictate 16:10 – People don't know how to process new information if they just focus on theory 17:15 – How Matt sees the company evolving 17:28 – The academy is the icing on the cake; the new products are follow-up/primer products 18:48 – Being online allows them to work with people all over the world; they can provide value and entertainment to their community 20:35 – There are some things he wouldn't divulge because it's a liability to apply those nuances and it's difficult to teach 21:20 – He teaches what can be deployed and encourages self-learning and independent thinking 22:10 – No two strategies look the same; largely speaking, people will apply strategy differently 22:45 – Outliers within the community do things differently by challenging notions that he sees in the collective 23:30 – We'll never reach a stage where plays are standardized because we are human and imperfect 24:04 – Application processes will always be different, so there will always be a "wild card" and "sore spots" in the strategy 3 Key Points No two strategies look the same because people will always apply strategy differently. The game evolves quickly so it's natural that poker teaching materials would, too. You can learn strategy and implementation, but the way it is comprehended and executed will never be standardized. Contact/Resources Solve for Why Academy Website Subscription Website Credits Podcast Production b

In this episode, Zach Elwood, author, former professional poker player, and poker behavior consultant, reveals the most consistent tells that he's studied over years of playing and analysis. Elliot and Zach discuss why the studying of tells will be more important in the 2018 World Series than in previous years. Listen in to hear one of the few experts on tells in the game share some invaluable tips and tricks that'll give you an extra advantage at the table. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Zach Elwood, author of 3 books on poker tells, who has helped main event final table players prepare through studying and tips 01:20 – Zach has been working on the poker tells video series and has been trying to watch the World Series 01:30 – When he watches the World Series he's always looking for tells; the earlier in the main, the easier it is to see behaviors 02:20 – The differences between Zach's 3 books 02:30 – His first book in 2012, "Reading Poker Tells," goes into things that hadn't been talked about in terms of physical, verbal and the thinking behind poker tells 02:53 – "Verbal Poker Tells" of 2014 was longer and more in-depth; he's most proud of this one 03:11 – "Exploiting Poker Tells" came out last year and explored more physical tells, concrete analysis, and fundamental strategy 04:10 – There isn't a lot of good content about poker strategy; Zach had to do a lot of research and analysis to write his books 04:50 – He created a spreadsheet to create codes and organize patterns he saw on TV and while playing 06:05 – Some poker tell hints and tips 06:15 – Example: The famous hand between Esfandiari and Negreanu when Negreanu raises it on the flop and goes all in, and says "Thank God you didn't snap call" 06:30 – The expressing of relief after someone doesn't call immediately will almost always be a pretty honest reaction and can help you narrow down someone's hand 07:15 – "We can" statements and how he categorized hand statements; bluffers usually don't want to weaken the perceived range of their hand 08:00 – Indirect weak-hand statements, the consistency of the weak-hand patterns, and understanding underlying intentions 09:33 – A deeper explanation of the book "Exploiting Poker Tells" 09:38 – He revisited ideas that were firmer in his mind after having wrote about them 5 years' prior 10:00 – It goes into how to determine behaviors as meaningful or not meaningful 10:45 – The things he's done from outside: the video series and he worked with 2 main event final table WSOP players, Amir Levahot and Max Steinberg 11:25 – They watched old video footage of their opponents and video footage during the WSOP 11:30 – A potential game-changing tell 11:35 – The 2011 main event, Pius Heinz was the champion that year, and he was playing Martin Staszko 11:43 – Heinz had a pronounced tell where he looked down during a hand and at the flop; turns out he had pocket aces 12:30 – Zach made a video analyzing his tells and explains how to use those tells to your advantage 13:30 – It will be more interesting this year from a behavioral perspective because the players won't have a break before playing 14:00 – There will be more in-the-moment tells 14:22 – Amateur or recreational players are going to be exhausted this year while the professionals will be battle-tested 15:13 – How Zach has used what he's learned through poker in other areas of life 15:20 – He doesn't pretend to have special knowledge and doesn't believe in a correlation 15:32 – He did work identifying fake accounts on Facebook and his work was featured in the Washington Post and New York Times 16:06 – He was excited and his parents were proud, especially because he started out studying print journalism 16:40 – He was pissed about certain things happening in the world and was happy to create awareness about something others didn't know about 17:20 – He had the same sentiment about poker tells 17:35 – The issue with fake Facebook accounts 17:40 – He's been friended by fake accounts who were accepted by others in his network 18:20 – A lot of it is financial because the fake accounts drive people to websites who pay for the traffic 19:11 – In some cases the fake account's purpose is unclear; Zach doesn't think it's purely financial 20:15 – Facebook doesn't seem to care 20:40 – Zach's recommendations and tips for poker players 21:00 – Strategy is more important than tells, but if you've got strategy down and want to learn about tells, watch Zach's free videos on YouTube 21:27 – Read Zach's articles on Poker News and his first book "Reading Poker Tells" 3 Key Points Bluffers usually don't want to weaken the perceived range of their hand. Strategy is more important than tells. Identifying tells is useful, but you must know how to interpret them and read a player's intentions. Contact/Resources Website – Reading Poker Tells Zac

Gonzaga "Zagazaur" Oliveira is a high-stakes online MTT professional. He is one of the co-founders and coach of the Portuguese MTT staking company "Polarize Poker." He has 2 SCOOP titles as well as multiple titles in other series, including Winamax Series, Powerfest, and EPT side events. Elliot and Gonzaga discuss why your poker network has such a significant impact on your success, why joining a backing group is the fastest way to move up through the ranks, and how Gonzaga and his partners engineered a positive and supportive community in their stable. In This Episode You'll Learn: [4:00] How to stay cool under pressure on final tables while your opponents are freaking out over the amount of money you're playing for. [8:05] How playing high-stakes games before you're ready hurts your results across all buy-ins. [9:25] Why it's essential to surround yourself with other poker players who you like and are on the same upward journey as you. [12:30] How (and why) the Polarize Poker Team built a positive and supportive community. [16:35] Why an MTT with a small first prize can be more profitable than one with a huge one. [20:15] What you need to figure out before you decide to go pro that allows you to push through the hard times. [22:15] Why those who are using poker as a vehicle to become the best version of themselves have an advantage over those just in it for the money. Resources: Polarize Poker Polarize Poker on Twitter Polarize Poker on YouTube Polarize Poker on Instagram Keep Up With Elliot: Check Out Elliot's Other Podcast: The A-Game Advantage Elliot's Twitter Elliot's Instagram

After PokerStars removed SuperNova Elite, Bertie Bayley (who achieved SNE 3 times while being a pre-rakeback winner) took the "Renaissance Man" approach to poker by spreading out his play over many formats rather than specializing in just one. You can find Bertie online playing under the handle "bigstealer" where he bounces between Spin & Gos, cash games, and tournaments. Most recently Bertie chopped a $1k Party Poker Powerfest event for $80,000. In This Episode You'll Learn: [1:25] How the necessity of paying off high-interest rate student loans led Bertie to poker. [4:05] Why Bertie actually loves his life more since PokerStars removed SuperNova Elite. [4:45] How to balance the freedom poker allows and the work you must put in to stay ahead of the field. [7:30] Why it's so important to make the distinction between game selection and "bum hunting." [9:55] Whey Bertie chooses to chase EV over glory. [12:00] The physical and emotional toll that playing outside your bankroll can cause. [13:05] The difference between rational and irrational anxiety [15:30] The "Mindset Of Make-Up" and how to approach this delicate situation both as a player and a backer. [18:10] Why being curious instead of dismissive can be the difference between growing as a player and letting the game pass you by. [18:45] The danger of mocking players that you think are making poor plays. [20:45] The "MTT Raffle" mindset shift to help you deal with the variance of tournament poker. [26:40] Why you need to be careful of the free technical content you consume and why joining a good backing group is a great way to jump-start your game. [28:30] Clues that can help you decide if someone is a good poker coach or not. Resources: Bertie's Twitter Bertie's Instagram Keep Up With Elliot: Check Out Elliot's Other Podcast: The A-Game Advantage Elliot's Twitter Elliot's Instagram

In This Week's Episode: Elliot Roe promotes his online mindset training academy, Poker Mind Coach. His academy offers help to those looking to improve their poker game without paying to become a personal client of Elliot. The membership benefits of Poker Mind Coach are of unbeatable value and include access to Q&A sessions from the world's top poker players. Elliot's Poker Mind Academy seeks to help the average poker player develop the mindset and skills to become an excellent poker player. In This Episode You'll Learn: 00:55 - Introduction of Poker Mind Coach Academy 01:19 - Why Elliot set up his academy 02:25 - Having access to Q&A sessions with the world's top poker players 03:34 - Poker Mind Coach Academy is for giving everyone their shot at poker 04:58 - Controlling your mindset can help you feel more motivated to enjoy poker 06:15 - Poker Mind Coach Academy is no-contract 07:07 - Sign-ups are open until Saturday and the academy is only open a few times in a year Keep Up with Elliot: Poker Mind Coach Academy Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook ***If you've enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***

In This Week's Episode: For over a decade, Gabriel Kollander has been playing online poker professionally. He initially started out his poker career mastering SNG's and then moved on to short stacked no limit cash games and crushed the highest stakes there for years. He has now made the transition to playing $500-$1000 Spin & Go's full time to focus his energy towards providing the maximum value possible to members of his Spin & Go staking group, Evolve Staking. Currently living in Ubud, Bali, Gabriel leads a rich life outside of his poker career. He enjoys eating delicious and healthy vegetarian food, going to ecstatic dance, meditation, exploring human connection, working out, self-introspection, yoga, inspiring others, and living in his highest joy as consistently as possible. In this episode, Gabriel talks about caring for his mind, body, and self in relation to handling the stress of poker, and his experience winning $100,000 from a single $500 Spin & Go game. In addition, Gabriel speaks about how taking care of himself first has helped him improve his overall performance and his health. In This Episode You'll Learn: 01:40 - When Gabriel began playing spins 03:27 - How Gabriel balanced his life with playing poker 04:29 - How Gabriel felt not letting poker controlling his life 06:04 - Mental game coaching and life balancing in poker players 08:09 - Community aspect of poker stables 09:42 - Hitting a 100k Spin & Go game 11:52 - Mental game, mindset, and confidence in playing poker 14:55 - Appreciating what you do have 17:54 - Getting the maximum value for the work you're putting in 19:40 - Time zones and living costs matter in poker 21:38 - Living in Bali as a poker player 24:07 - The effect of diet on focus and poker play 27:19 - Intermittent fasting and efficiency for Gabriel 28:58 - Gabriel's stable, Evolve Staking Keep Up with Gabriel: Facebook Instagram TiltBook YouTube Winning 100k Spin & Go Evolve Staking Poker Mind Coach Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook ***If you've enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***

In This Week's Episode: Raghav Bansal made history in 2015 by becoming the first Indian to final table an event at the WSOP. Then, in March 2017, at the PokerStars Championship, he placed 2nd at the high roller for about $337k - the biggest cash prize by an Indian in the past 10 years. He has been at the top of the GPI Rankings for players based in India for the past 2 years, with multiple good scores around the world, mostly in Macau High Rollers. A well-respected member of the Indian Poker community, Raghav has truly shown Indian poker players that they can play the best players in the world and win. Raghav is the captain for the Pune Sharks in the Poker Sports League, a league which aims to "sportify" Poker in India. Raghav's unbridled success has paved the way for other Indians to do well in tournaments around the world. In this episode, Raghav talks about the booming Indian poker market and his experience as a professional. He explains the difference between mindset and technical skill in poker, as well as the importance of self-reflection for personal growth. Both online and in person, Raghav Bansal continues to succeed as a result of his powerful mindset. In This Episode You'll Learn: 02:52 - India's poker boom and what stimulated it 03:45 - How Raghav was introduced to poker 04:39 - Raghav on building his poker career throughout the years 07:54 - The biggest moment in Raghav's poker career so far 09:30 - How it feels playing at bigger poker tournaments 10:25 - The popularization of poker sports league in India 13:54 - The acceptance of family for an Indian poker player 17:47 - Astronomical poker winnings in India and its effects 22:05 - Mindset and its advantages in poker 23:58 - Facing the truth and self-reflection for self-improvement 25:57 - Raghav's advice for poker beginners in India Keep Up with Raghav: Facebook Twitter Indian Poker Players Association (IPPA) Facebook Group Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook ***If you've enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***

In This Week's Episode: Ivan Stokes, also known as "ILS007," is an English professional poker player who has been competing since the age of 18 and has been a two time Supernova Elite player as well as a successful coach. Coming from a "study-minded" standpoint due to his experience with chess, this mindset has benefited Stokes's poker career from the start. In this episode, he speaks about how keeping a positive, productive mindset helped him become a better poker player, and offers tips on how you can improve your poker game. In This Episode You'll Learn: 04:19 - Ivan's beginning experience with poker 05:23 - Ivan's connection between poker and chess 06:36 - When poker became more competitive and how becoming skilled at poker is up to hard work 08:28 - How Ivan dealt with the stress of competing in Supernova Elite 10:02 - Poker pros vs. gamblers—the similarities and differences 12:10 - Mindset's effect on Ivan's success over the years 13:11 - How Ivan mentally prepares to play at the table 15:20 - Why a negative mindset leads to a lack of productivity 17:53 - The struggle of moving up in stakes and how it can impact decision making 19:54 - How Ivan takes on goal setting after Supernova Elite 22:35 - How collaboration helps with motivation 23:29 - Ivan's advice for getting into poker in 2018 Keep Up with Ivan Stokes: Professional Poker Videos Coaching Series Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook ***If you've enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***

In This Week's Episode: YourDoom is a US-based NLHE cash game pro and owner of the training site YourDoomPoker.com. He takes a different approach to the game than many players, choosing to play low volume to ensure that he's always playing his A-Game. Using this approach, he's been able to maintain a high win-rate and strong profit numbers only playing 12 hours per week. If you're interested in learning more about his approach, he has offered a sizable discount to listeners of the show. When you use the code MINDSET, you can save 33% on his Expert Cash Game Play course or 20% off any other courses on the site. In This Episode You'll Learn: (1:25) Why Ryan believes playing just 12 hours per week maximizes his profitability and enjoyment of life. (3:27) The difference between poker as a lifestyle and poker as a job, and why success depends on which you choose. (6:33) Why Elliot completely changed his mind about the future profitability of online poker. (10:29) Why "Downswings," as most poker players view them, are a complete myth, and one that can completely ruin careers. (26:20) Ryan's "silly little trick" for messing with your online opponent's heads. YourDoom Graph and Results YourDoomPoker.com Facebook Twitter YouTube Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook ***If you've enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***

In This Week's Episode: Maria Konnikova is a contributing writer to The New Yorker, and author of the best selling books The Confidence Game and Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes. Maria gained notoriety in the poker community when she won the 2018 PCA National Championship for $84,000, plus a $30,000 PSPC Platinum Pass. What makes Maria's story so fascinating is that a year before her victory, she had no clue how to play poker, and admittedly didn't even know how many cards were in the deck. Maria's books focus on psychology, and it's application in the real world. She chose poker as the subject of her next book, The Biggest Bluff, to try to understand the nature of luck vs. skill and figure out if we can learn how to tell the difference. To research the book she chose to fully immerse herself in the game and attempt to make it on the live tournament circuit. With the help of Erik Seidel, her story has been one of outstanding success, and she's going to continue with the journey at least until next year when she'll play the $25,000 PSPC at the 2010 PokerStars PCA. In This Episode You'll Learn: 10:52 - How Maria landed Erik Seidel as a coach before she ever read a poker book (and why she targeted him as her ideal coach). 26:36 - The high leverage skill that Maria learned through poker which she now applies to her most important decisions. 28:11 - The 3 reasons why Maria achieved rapid success even though Erik Seidel labeled her as "not naturally suited to poker." Resources: Maria Konnikova: MariaKonnikova.com Twitter Instagram The Confidence Game Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook

In This Week's Episode: Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet has long been considered by many to be the greatest online MTT player of all time, and his accomplishments in 2017 only served to cement that legacy. In 2017 he won the Party Poker Millions Main Event for $1,027,000, the Party Poker Power Fest Main Event for $153,000, and the PokerStars $700 Super-Sized Sunday for over $82,000. Jon joins Elliot and Adrienne to talk about his incredible year and how you can study under him in his Elevate Group Coaching Program on Max-Value.com. In This Episode You'll Learn: [3:37] – How on the final day of the Party Poker Millions Jon was able to set aside the enormous amount he was playing for, make peace with whatever happened, all while remaining confident that he was going to win. [6:45] - The specific Yoga discipline that high-stakes poker players are using to improve their mental and physical performance. [12:13] – Why Jon stopped trash talking other player's games even though he consistently finds leaks in their games and doesn't believe anybody is very good. [14:20] – The mindset that Jon uses to maintain his passion for improving his game, even after grinding online MTTs for over 13 years. [21:14] – Learn about the Elevate Program that Jon runs on Max-Value.com and how you can apply to be a member and learn his system. Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet Apply For Jon's Elevate Program Max-Value.com Twitter PocketFives Profile Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook

Want to get your hands on some of Elliot's best poker mindset content for free? From December 26th-29th he is hosting The Poker Mind Coach Academy Open House, to celebrate the opening of public enrollment to the Academy. Over 4 days you'll get 9 video "Sneak Peeks" of Academy content, and be able to attend a free live webinar with Elliot on the 29th. To register for this free event just visit: http://www.pokermindcoachacademy.com

In This Week's Episode: Nick Howard returns for Part Two of his interview. If you haven't already please listen to Part One first. In This Episode You'll Learn: Exactly what you should do if you're a low stakes player who feels like they've missed the boat, but still wants an opportunity to make it in poker. (7:52) Why Nick chose to start a coaching for profits group that ONLY accepted losing players. (11:37) The most devastating form of tilt and how Nick "punted his life off" for 8 years straight because of it. (17:46) What to do if you're putting in 7-12 hours of study each week but still not seeing results (18:31) The key mindset shift between Nick's students who got stuck in the micros and those who are now earning $30-$50k per month at high stakes. (20:51) Nick Howard PokerDetox.com YouTube Channel Run It Once Blog Twitch Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook

In This Week's Episode: Nick Howard has been a professional poker coach for eight years. As a former RunItOnce.com coach, he became known for teaching practical simplifications of well-balanced play. I️n 2015-2016, he documented a notable amount of success on Ignition High stakes in his Run it Once Blog "Achieving Higher Balance," where he developed many of the independent learning strategies he uses today. Nick Howard is the founder and CEO of Poker Detox, an NLHE training company that launched in May 2016. In its first year, Poker Detox produced three major public courses, and Nick began a side project attempting to train a selection of losing players, using a team-training format. By Fall of 2017, that "losers" team had proven itself successful, and Nick had been able to refine his coaching methodologies to a point where he was ready to expand. Poker Detox now functions as one of the most elite application-based staking companies in the industry, containing a crew of mind coaches and language-optimization experts that work to provide a full support system for students. The company achieved a high enough level of methodology that it became possible to tailor the Detox training system for players of different native languages and even different learning types. The result is a powerful combination of training exercises that highlight the necessary concepts while empowering the learner to choose their path toward integration. Applications for new team members are accepted several times per year, and in 2018 Poker Detox became the first training organization to offer guaranteed salaries to its players. In This Episode You'll Learn: How chasing the GTO dream caused Nick to hit rock bottom and nearly give up on the game. (3:56) The two-step process for creating poker strategies that are both easier to implement and more profitable than GTO. (7:54) The hyper-aggressive exploits that have Nick's student's moving up so fast that their opponents have no time to adjust. (9:20) The mindset that is guaranteed to limit your progress in the game and kill any possible motivation. (10:36) Why it's impossible to separate the mental game from the strategic game when trying to analysis hands at the highest level. (12:58) How different culture and language affect playing styles and optimal methods of learning the game. (25:45) Nick Howard PokerDetox.com YouTube Channel Run It Once Blog Twitch Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne's Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook