The Official Red Chip Poker Podcast

Ever notice that a few chips get taken from each pot you play? That's called the rake, and it's how the house (or room spreading your favorite poker game) makes money. In this episode Doug Hull discusses the good, bad, and ugly of the rake. Topics include rake structures, promotional drops, rake back, and more. If you don't know if your game's structure is beatable – listen to this before playing another hand. Get the full shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/47

Big O is quite possibly the greatest Omaha variant to date. The game is pot limit Omaha 8 or better with 5 cards. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney explains how the game typically runs and then dives into some strategy to make sure your first time in the game is as fun and profitable as possible. Topics include playing for the scoop, when to play big draws aggressively vs passively, and how to think about your preflop strategy. If you are looking for a break from NLHE games, pay attention to this episode! Get the full shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/46

Very few poker players are playing for a living. Most are actually playing just to have fun at the table, gamble a bit, and socialize. Zac Shaw sits down with Steve "ChipXTractor" Catterson to discuss his poker life, how studying poker fits into his day-to-day, and to see poker from a very social lens. If you want the other side of the coin, insights from a professional, check out episode 42 called Insights From A Full-Time Pro. Get the full shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/45

When you play against smarter players you need to be very aware of what range you represent. Doug Hull sits down and explains how to think about the actual hole cards you have and how they fit into your overall range. This is especially powerful against other hand readers and a vital part of moving up and playing against tougher opponents. Get the full shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/44

Poker is a game of incomplete information, but some players take that to the extreme and won't make any decisions unless they have perfect information. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney sits down and discusses the concept of perfect information and explains why this is a major excuse for many. This entire conversation is started by a comment left on our Preflop Quiz which you can take here: http://redchippoker.com/preflop-poker-quiz/ Get the full shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/43

Today we are joined by professional poker player and Red Chipper extraordinaire Persuadeo. He opens up about playing full-time, what his study routine looks like, how the forum has been beneficial, and more. Persuadeo also shares some excellent strategy around a hand where he cold-4bet 88 and got a fold from JJ including the tells and other information that lead him to this… Get the full shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/42

We receive a lot of poker questions - and overtime we see the same ones over and over. Zac has been helping new PRO Members jump right into videos that will help them solve their specific leaks and decided to share his advice and video suggestions for some of the most common questions we see. Topics like aggression, blind play, planning, and hand reading are discussed. To get all of the links to videos and articles discussed in this episode, jump over to www.redchippoker.com/41

Back from his first WSOP, Zac recaps his week in Vegas and discusses everything from RCP events to the size of RIO's poker rooms. He breaks down some hands from RIO cash games and shares the pros/cons of some of his lines. And then Zac opens up about the ever-famous RCP trip to Live At The Bike in LA where variance was the name of the game. To see Zac's photos and the live blog from his time in Vegas, visit www.redchippoker.com/40

Do you play with a short stack or against players who don't buy-in for full stacks? This episode was meant for you! Doug and Ed sit down and discuss short stack play, how hands quickly shift in value once stack sizes change, and how to visualize short vs deep play. Get the full shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/39 .

Sit down in any live poker game and you'll see a variety of bet sizes ranging from super small to absurdly large. Doug Hull and Ed Miller dive right into a discussion about pointless bet sizes including preflop opens, raising over limpers, and postflop sizes like the over-pot CB and the small donk bet. Learn how good players visualize these sizes and why you may not want to implement these sizes in your strategy! Get the full shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/38

Since we are in the midst of tournament season, it's not shocking that we've been getting a lot of MTT questions lately. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney sits down and answers some common tournament questions about things like chip accumulation, hand reading, differences between cash and MTTs, etc. If you are playing MTTs or are thinking about playing more of them – make sure to listen to this episode first. Get the complete shownotes at http://www.redchippoker.com/37

Every poker player has leaks in their game – some are big, some are small, and some are very specific – but we all have them. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney breaks down a model for finding and fixing your leaks to help you constantly grow as a player. The FLASHED model is all about Finding leaks, Listing them, Assessing, Studying, Homework, Executing, and Demoting each leak you spot. If you are serious about improving, you may want to listen to this episode twice! Get the complete shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/36

PokerRanger is a powerful piece of poker software that combines all the important features from various tools into a single application. Michael, the developer, sits down and walks us through some of the major highlights of the software along with his own journey that lead him into developing this tool. Get the links for PokerRanger and additional information at www.redchippoker.com/35

Host James "SplitSuit" Sweeney gets interviewed in this episode. Sky asks great questions about coaching, playing, common leaks, and leads a great discussion about hand reading. This is a rebroadcast of the interview originally featured on the Smart Poker Study podcast. A special thank you to Sky for both hosting the interview and allowing us to share it directly with Red Chippers! Get the shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/34

GTO Range Builder is a world-class poker tool for mapping out game theory optimal decisions. Today we sit down with Alex Sutherland, the creator of GTORB, to pick his brain on GTO and understand how his software helps poker players make better decisions. Get the links for GTORB and additional information at www.redchippoker.com/33

Do hands like 65s, A4s, and 97 get you a little excited, or alittle nervous? Doug Hull and Ed Miller lead today's conversationand discuss the driving factors behind playing these handsprofitably. They go on to discuss the power and misconceptionsbehind small pocket pairs and explain why folding gutshots toooften is leaving money on the table. Nits beware!Get the shownotes at www.redchippoker.com/32

New players love to say "tight is right" - but nits take this to the extreme. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney spends this episode discussing why being a nit is a bad idea. Concepts include why nits have awful frequencies, why a lack of showdowns is a bad thing, and why nits actually become targets to good players. If you know any nitty players, make sure to share this episode with them as well! http://redchippoker.com/31

Sick of constantly min-cashing in your poker tournaments? Doug Hull and Gareth James sit down to discuss ways to avoid the min-cash and explain how to start playing for the win more often. They discuss restealing strategies, open-shipping stack sizes, and more MTT-specific advice to help you perform better in your next tournament series. http://redchippoker.com/30

Thinking about coming to Las Vegas for the WSOP? Doug Hull leads today's conversation to discuss ways to save money on your Vegas trip. Doug breaks down common travel costs, money-saving tactics, and what you need vs don't need in Vegas. If you want to keep more money in your bankroll and keep your trip under $2,000 - this episode is a must. http://redchippoker.com/29

Straddles are something that you are more likely to see in live poker games - but most players have zero idea what straddles really do to the game. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney explains what straddles are, what they do to the effective stakes and stacks, and gives 3 clear examples when straddling is a good idea. http://redchippoker.com/28

This is a very different episode for us. Doug Hull leads a discussion meant for a poker player’s love ones. If you are the spouse, girl/boyfriend, parent, etc. of a poker player – this episode is for you. Doug answers some of the common questions that loved ones have for poker players such as “is poker gambling?” “can you actually win at poker?” and “how should I talk to my loved one when they return from a poker session?” If you are a poker player yourself, feel free to share this episode with anybody who cares about you but doesn’t quite understand your love for the game. http://redchippoker.com/27

In this episode James “SplitSuit” Sweeney sits down with Red Chipper Matt Greco to chat about hand reading and other fun topics. Matt recently started studying The Hand Reading Lab and has been using it not only in his $1/$2 and $2/$5 cash games – but also in his transition to playing some online poker. The two discuss moving from full ring to 6max online, using HUD stats, and which player types to focus on when hand reading in live games. http://redchippoker.com/26

How many streets of value is your top pair worth? What about your medium strength hands? Ed Miller and Doug Hull sit down to discuss this topic to help you understand this crucial concept. If you are interested in more material like this, check out Ed's book "The Course" which you can find on Red Chip Poker. http://redchippoker.com/25

Poker is a game that requires balance. Not only in your ranges, but also in how poker fits between your family, work, and life. James “SplitSuit” Sweeney sits down with Red Chipper Steve “ChipXtractor” Catterson to discuss how he fits poker into his life between a job, wife, and a 3 hour commute to his closest poker room. Steve explains what poker is for him, how he structures his poker sessions, and what his plans are going forward. http://redchippoker.com/24

Is it about time for you to take a shot at the next higher stake? Or maybe it’s time to move up altogether? James “SplitSuit” Sweeney breaks down 4 crucial considerations to keep in mind before you move up. This includes bankroll considerations, whether you should adjust your strategy before moving up, mental pitfalls, and why taking shots and being fluid between stakes is a good idea. If you’re ready to start moving up, make sure to give this episode a listen first. http://redchippoker.com/23

How do you spot the live poker pros in your game? When you do spot them, should you even play against them? Doug Hull and Ed Miller sit down and discuss this topic in the context of the Las Vegas poker scene - but the tips are universal to any and all poker rooms where pros may play. http://redchippoker.com/22

Playing profitable poker is about finding the right balance between playing sessions and studying the game away from the table. In this episode James "SplitSuit" Sweeney explains what your ratio of study:play should be based upon your current skill level and how close you are to moving up in stakes. http://redchippoker.com/21

Playing against unknown players who you have zero information on can be tricky - but when you know what to look for it becomes a ton easier. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney answers player's questions about playing against brand-new opponents so you know what to look for in your next session. http://redchippoker.com/20

Doug Hull hosts this episode and explores some of the common poker rules you see - and explains why they exist and how they protect you. Common rules like the one-chip rule, burn cards, and the 'show one/show all' rule are discussed along with many others. http://redchippoker.com/19

Doug Hull and Ray Kondler sit down to discuss how taxes work as a poker player. Ray explains how things differ between professionals and recreational players, how taxes impact non-US players who come for the WSOP, and more. http://redchippoker.com/18

Hand reading is a crucial part of becoming a great poker player - and this episode is all about understanding the key parts of a preflop range. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney explains what these 5 parts are along with questions to ask yourself to improve your hand reading skills ASAP. http://redchippoker.com/17

Doug Hull hosts this episode and has a single goal - to help your first trip at a card room go well! If this is your first time playing live poker you'll learn what to do when you enter the poker room, how these games work, and tips to ensure you don't make any social faux pas along the way. http://redchippoker.com/16

A good poker player has a strong plan of attack before entering a pot - and this episode gives you a checklist to create that plan! James "SplitSuit" Sweeney shares 5 questions to ask and answer before you put a single chip in the pot. http://redchippoker.com/15

Doug Hull hosts this episode and discusses showdowns in live games. The goal is to ensure you never muck a winning hand and gives some good rules of thumb for etiquette at the table. http://redchippoker.com/14

GTO Poker has become all the rage over the last couple years - but how important is it? Mike Gano joins the podcast to discuss how he got started with GTO, the tools he uses, and how GTO has impacted his overall strategy. http://redchippoker.com/13

"ABC Poker" is a term that gets used everywhere, but is it an insult or a compliment? James "SplitSuit" Sweeney explains the good, bad, and ugly of this strategy while giving some simple pointers for exploiting this style. http://redchippoker.com/12

Whether you are setting resolutions for the new year, or just trying to set some good overall poker goals, this episode has you covered. James "SplitSuit" Sweeney explains how to set the right kinds of goals in poker using the SMART framework. http://redchippoker.com/11

Does "perfect poker" exist? James "SplitSuit" Sweeney explains why perfectionism is a terrible trait for poker players to have and provides a more powerful way of viewing your strategy. http://redchippoker.com/10

Ever wonder what bad poker players are thinking? What is going through their mind as they make yet another terrible play? Doug Hull hosts this episode and shares the insights he got from reviewing the play and thought process of an unstudied player. http://redchippoker.com/9

These are the resources you can use to start learning poker for free today. Not all poker training is expensive. In fact, some really great material costs exactly $0. If you are building your poker skills on a budget, or just want to save on your poker education for the time being...this is the podcast episode to check out. Grab all the links by going to: http://redchippoker.com/8

Should you play cash games, poker tournaments, or both? We ask our coaches to weigh in and share which variant they play, why, and things you should keep in mind when choosing the right style for you. Coaches include Jonathan Little, Dr. Tricia Cardner, Christian Soto, James "SplitSuit" Sweeney, and Gareth James. http://redchippoker.com/7

Today's podcast is all about downswings in poker. We have a conversation with our coaches about the downswings they've been on, how they've worked through them, and things to do if you are in the midst of a rough patch. Coaches include Jonathan Little, Mike Gano, Dr. Tricia Cardner, Christian Soto, Doug Hull, Derric Haynie, and Gareth James. http://redchippoker.com/6

We have a great conversation about aggression on the tables. Our coaches discuss why being aggressive is good, why being bad/aggressive is terrible, and give you some easy ways to increase your own aggression today. Coaches include Jonathan Little, Mike Gano, Dr. Tricia Cardner, Christian Soto, Doug Hull, Derric Haynie, and Gareth James, and James "SplitSuit" Sweeney. http://redchippoker.com/5

Poker coaches open up about the best pieces of poker advice they ever received. Use these tips and gems to improve your own poker strategy even quicker. Coaches include Jonathan Little, Doug Hull, Christian Soto, Gareth James, Mike Gano, James "SplitSuit" Sweeney, and Dr. Tricia Cardner. http://redchippoker.com/4

Do you play in really soft poker games - games with tons of bad players, multi-way pots, and terrible plays? Sweeney gives 5 tips for beating this game condition on a consistent basis. http://redchippoker.com/3

Want to improve your poker game quicker? A number of Red Chip Poker coaches share their thoughts on how to study poker, how to improve faster, and what has worked best for them. Coaches include Jonathan Little, Mike Gano, Dr. Tricia Cardner, Christian Soto, Doug Hull, Derric Haynie, and Gareth James. http://redchippoker.com/2

There comes a time in every TAG's life when they need to decide if it's right to loosen up and play more hands. SplitSuit dives into this concept and explains when you should open up your ranges, why, and some very simple tips for playing extra hands. NITS BEWARE! http://redchippoker.com/1

In our first episode, James "SplitSuit" Sweeney shares a bit about how we got started, what we are all about, and the plan for this podcast. Let's get ready to have some fun! http://redchippoker.com/