Chance Kornuth knows exactly what makes a top player :
– "The best poker players are not balanced.
They're stubborn.
They're fast.
They're resilient.
They're focused.Maybe it doesn't have to be this way, but it usually is."
– "Fast?" – one of the readers was surprised. – "They literally take 30 seconds minimum every action…"
"Fast doesn't necessarily mean acting fast but thinking, learning, and adapting fast," Alex Theologis explained. "Very often, you need to take time to balance the cases where you actually have to think about your decision. 30sec min is an exaggeration."
In another installment of useful poker tips, Chance painted a picture of a player you should never hero call against:
Never Hero Call:
🚫 guy who packed his lunch
🚫 guy wearing two masks and sunglasses
🚫 guy staring at you after going all in
🚫 guy on his phone watching Chinese soap operas
🚫 guy who tips $1 after ordering two drinks
Matt Salsberg found himself in an awkward situation:
– "Friend asks to buy 10% of a midsize buy in tourney. You tell him the price for the 10. He responds with 🤔🤨. You go play said tourney and bag.
Does he have a piece?"
“If serious question then previous context history matters. Also wouldn’t say you played/bagged doesn’t matter,” wrote David Yang.
– I don’t sell shares at such limits ($1,600) at all, but once in 2017 I gave this same friend 5% in a similar tournament, just so he would root for me. I won the tournament, got $175k, his share was $8,500. This time I specifically named a very high odds, hinting that I didn’t want to sell. He responded with emojis.
– If you haven't exchanged messages since then, then obviously he doesn't have any share.
Mixed Games Pro Chris Veatch Vows to Focus on Poker Content in 2025 :
– Happy New Year! I'm not much for marketing but in 2025 I'm planning to put out more poker content. To that end I've started a YouTube channel that I'll be adding to going forward:
Chris has currently recorded several short videos (around 5 minutes each) in which he analyzes various Limit Hold'em spots.
Matt Berkey spent the end of the year at the poker table. In one hand, he got all in with TT against AA and won both boards .
However, this did not help him end the year on a positive note :
– Got what he deserved...
In the comments, Matt added that he played at 95% of his ability.
2+2 posted a schedule of the confrontation between BERRI SWEET and Sanita55 based on the results of last year.
In 37k hands at $100/$200, Berri has lost over 4,000BB. Rumor has it that they play with a decent crossbook.
This year the match continues at $25/$50 Zoom tables, which are not tracked by trackers.
Grazvis1 hinted at another possible duel in the same thread:
– Is it true that ASG ( ed. – AmSoGood ) and Berri will play their third match next week? I heard that the stakes will be around $650/$1,300. If so, I want to wish ASG “good luck”.
There's absolutely no need to mention me in your crazy messages, AmSoGood replied. – And instead of challenging EEE to a match every day, you could challenge someone who'll actually play with you.
If you want to play heads-up, Grazvis, I'm ready for any depth. Although you're probably more interested in continuing to tell your story about the intellectual bumhunter.
– You are stronger in 4-card Omaha, you will never get a challenge from me in this game. And if you are talking about 5 cards, I am ready to play at any stakes.
In general, I think I have the right to nag you, because I am sure that my poker expectation is higher than yours. You are just a nit who has been playing heads-up PLO at 100bb depth for 15 years and has thoroughly studied one single game.
Yes, you are stronger in one specific format, but for every hour spent at the computer, I earn more. I think you yourself will not argue with this.
On the eve of Catholic Christmas, Liv Boeree recalled her old passion:
🎄Merry 🎸Christmas🎄
— Liv Boeree (@Liv_Boeree) December 28, 2024
Been a while since I played, it’s coming back though 🤘 pic.twitter.com/PrwE2O94IE
Patrick Leonard encountered crime :
– I had car stolen in Vegas today from car park in my building that has 9/10 security. Police report is happening but I’m aware that if lasts more than 24 hours it’s probably GG. There’s personal/work stuff inside. If somebody knows another way where I could offer a bounty lmk 🙏
“What kind of car make , model, year,” the commentators asked.
– 2015 Jeep Cherokee.
– You should thank them.
– If I help you get your car back, will you name your second child after me?
– Only the fourth.
At the end of the year, Patrick started a Telegram channel where he focused on poker.
Remko Rinkema recalled the team fight between the European and American teams:
– "This was the peak."
In 2009, before the main event of WSOP Europe in London, a show match was held, which was called Caesars Cup. The team captains were Daniel Negreanu and Annette Obrestad, who formed their own teams, and they managed to assemble unique lineups.
The competition was planned to become an annual event with broadcasts on ESPN, but it was cancelled in 2010. The first tournament was held in the format of heads-up matches and ended with a crushing victory for Europe.
Jason Koon suggested starting a poker series called "Too Old for This Shit Poker Tour":
– "C'mon guys hear me out. Too Old For This Shit Poker Tour. Shuffle up and deal at 9 a.m. bag 'em at 5. Winner gets the coveted TOFTS gold coffee cup. I would never miss an event."
“This is my dream tournament,” Eric Seidel supported the idea .
“I would go back to MTT straight away,” Andrew Robl promised.
– Will it be possible to play if you haven’t gone to bed for several days after the previous sessions? – Scott Seaver asked.
“I see you’re also living in a young father mode,” wrote Daniel Strelitz.
Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi's joint World Blitz Championship titles reminded Mike McDonald of one of his favorite stories from his poker youth:
– "I'm going to throw 2 people under the bus with one of my favorite poker stories.
I'm getting buried in Monaco as I always do. Get 3 handed in the the 10k turbo- last tournament of the stop. With Paul Volpe and Jean-Noel Thorel. If I win I'm probably still stuck."
- Increased first deposit bonus
- Increased rakeback and reloads
- Help with deposits and cashouts
- Access to private freerolls
- Round-the-clock support
Daniel Negreanu Pushes Poker Reform:
"Poker rule changes I would vote for:
1. No face covering of any sort.
2. No Sunglasses.
3. If a player bets 90% or more of their stack, it is an all in.
4. No card protectors allowed on the table.
-Improve player/viewer experience
-Protect the game"
The third point caused the greatest excitement among regulars.
"Everyone will just start betting 89% on the river," Jason Koon wrote.
– Even this will greatly improve the situation, because it will make life more difficult for scammers. It is one thing to leave several chips, and quite another to leave one that is easy to miss.
– I haven't seen it used for cheating. It's just the most profitable action. I understand your idea, but you can't demand that players refuse the bet that brings them the most profit?
– In the last three days alone, I have seen point three used for legal angle shooting twice.
1. On the turn, a player bet 2 million, keeping one chip for 5k. The second player called and showed his cards. On the river, he was higher, the first player kept his chip.
2. At the final table, a player bet his entire stack except for one chip. BB called and opened. On the flop, the first player was already out of outs, folded and also kept a chip. Then he fought for BB and ante.
All this is freeroll and allows to exploit amateurs.
– Isaac Haxton chimed in – "For me the point isn’t that it’s hugely important to my bottom line to do this. It’s just not a problem and the fixes don’t work. Betting less than all in is good. If you make people leave two chips they will. If you make it 10% they will. There’s no clean way to get rid of it.
The specific 90% suggestion would be awful to implement. Every time someone pseudo-shoves you have to count down their remaining chips to make sure they’re not forced AI? When does the window to enforce this expire? BU makes it 13bb, sb calls, bb points out only 1.2 behind?
Presumably it’s 90% on a per street basis or do we need to reconstruct all the action to calculate my starting stack? Can I get 99% of my chips in by betting 90% on the turn and 90% of the remainder on the river? Is this shit worth the trouble?
Mark Gunn ran into a common problem among poker bloggers:
– "Content made for dumb people does well. content made for smart people flops."
