GET OUR BEST POKER STORIES AND OFFERS Sign Up Now!

• HOME
• BEST POKER TRAINING SITES
• POKER GUIDES
  • How To Play Poker – A Guide to Basic Poker Rules
  • How to Play Texas Hold’em – Master the Rules
  • Pot Odds In Poker – Master The Numbers
  • Top 10 Poker Strategy Tips From the Pros – A Complete Guide
  • Poker Statistics – Learn How To Master the Math at the Tables
  • Mixed Games Poker Guide
    • Draw Games Guide
    • Flop Games Guide
    • Stud Games Guide
• ONLINE POKER ROOMS GUIDE
  • A GUIDE TO CASINO BONUSES
  • ONLINE POKER PAYMENTS
• POKER NOTES LIVE APP
• MORE
  • PODCASTS
  • A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SPORTS BETTING FOR POKER PLAYERS
  • BEST POKER SOFTWARE
  • How to Run a Successful Charity Poker Event
  • Poker Books: A Proven Way to Improve Your Game
  • POKER VACATIONS
  • THEPOGG’S CASINO GAMBLING FAQ
  • POKER AFFILIATE GUIDE FOR MAKING MONEY 2024

Our Social Media

Mark Seif talks about his 2021 back-to-back Venetian Deepstacks wins & his two WSOP wins in 2005

Mark Seif discusses contracting COVID-19 and also his future plans in poker

Mark Seif

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee interviews Mark Seif, who recently captured two Deepstacks Championship Series Events in a week at the Venetian.

At the start of the interview, Mark talks about his tournament success this summer at the Venetian Deepstacks and his two previous WSOP bracelets in 2005. Mark discusses how his hyper-aggressive style was so advantageous in 2005, and how it has changed as he has to be careful in today’s poker world. Mark advises players to watch every hand and pay attention to every hand.  Then Mark talks about how to play a big chip stack and pay close attention to opponents’ chips stacks.

During the second part of the interview, Mark talks about stepping away from full-time tournament poker to be a dedicated father to his two daughters. Mark talks about the convenience of playing cash poker. He also discusses his excitement to play in the 2021 WSOP. Mark describes playing at the Venetian Deepstacks to prepare for the WSOP with no expectations. Unfortunately, Mark contracted COVID-19 in December 2020 and talks about his time in the hospital. Finally, Mark discusses his future plans for poker and travel.

The Festival, an all-encompassing gambling series, bringing together the excitement of live poker, casino games, and sports betting will be debuting in Bratislava’s Banco Casino from September 20 – 26. This unique series is the brainchild of one Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk and was supposed to kick off in Tallinn, Estonia, earlier this year. The original plan fell through due to coronavirus restrictions.

With things now finally getting back to normal, The Festival will first be heading to Banco Casino. Bratislava is just the first of many cities that Martin has in his crosshairs. He has big plans for The Festival, and hopes he’ll be able to bring it to many different cities in the future.

Banco Casino Bratislava

What Is The Festival All About?

Live poker events are nothing new, but The Festival isn’t your traditional poker series. It will offer something for everyone. In addition to poker tournaments and cash games, The Festival will also feature competitive blackjack and roulette tournaments. All participants will also get to enjoy a variety of leisure activities.

The Festival Series is heading to Banco Casino Bratislava, a casino and city I now have visited more than 20 times. Each time I have discovered a new favorite restaurant or befriended a few more great people that love gaming as much as me. Now I will treat them with a treat.The Opening Event will be a Sviten Special Tournament, my new favorite poker game. There will also be a Blackjack and Roulette tournament. We are all in for a great week of action, both on and off the felt! – Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk

The main idea behind The Festival is to bring people together for some quality entertainment. You don’t have to be a poker player to go and enjoy your time, as there are various other casino-related activities on offer:

• €250 Roulette Championship
• €250 Blackjack Championship
• €250 Slots Tournaments
• €250 Sports Betting Tournament

So, no matter what type of gambling you might prefer, you’ll find something to keep you entertained during The Festival in Bratislava. Or, if you’re traveling with a non-poker playing friend or partner, there’ll be something for them to do while you’re grinding away on the felt.

The Festival Poker Series

Of course, if you’re reading this blog, you’re probably most interested in poker action. The good news is that there are several poker events taking place over the week, with some decent guarantees.

The €550 Main Event is the highlight of The Festival, featuring a €300,000 guarantee. There are three starting flights on September 21, 22, and 23, allowing up to two reentries per day. With a starting stack of 30,000 and 45-minute levels, this tournament promises some quality action. If Pot Limit Omaha is more your game, there is the €220 PLO Masters event taking place on September 21. Those with bigger bankrolls will have even more to do, as there are two high roller events, one for Hold’em and one for PLO, both featuring a €1,100 buy-in.

Other tournaments on The Festival schedule include:

• €220 PKO event on September 22
• €110 Half’ n Half (NLHE & PLO) on September 23
• €220 PokerListings Deepstack Championships on September 24
• €110 OFC Pineapple on September 24
• €330 Heads Up event on September 25
• €110 PLO turbo event on September 25
• €110 Short Deck tournament on September 26

But the real treat is definitely the Sviten Special event, although you’ll need to get to Bratislava on September 20 to play in this one. Sviten Special is a unique poker variant that represents a mix of PLO5 and five card draw, where the pot is split between the best PLO and the best five card draw hand. You even get to discard some cards and get new ones after the flop, so if you enjoy action, you’ll love this game.

All in all, The Festival in Bratislava is an excellent choice if you’ve been missing the live action and want to get back into the mix of things. There is something for everyone there, the poker schedule is rich, and buy-ins are very reasonable, so it’s hard to think of a reason not to go!

Kevin Mathers discusses KevMath Reprt and WSOP COVID Vaccine Policy

Kevin Mathers

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee interviews Kevin Mathers, who recently introduced the KevMath Report. Subscribe at Kevmath.substack.com.

Kevin talks about how he initially became involved in the world of poker and what his plans were after college. Kevin remembers how he used to gather poker information in the early days. Kevin then talks about tweeting during the WSOP and his typical day as WSOP Social Media Manager, including answering questions on Twitter. Kevin is amazed how long he has been on Twitter and is thankful to help so many poker players.

During the second half of the show, Kevin talks about why he decided to start the KevMath Report and reviews some topics of his first issue. To subscribe, visit Kevmath.substack.com. Kevin announces the plan is to release an issue of KevMath Report every Tuesday. Kevin discusses the new WSOP COVID-19 vaccine requirement announcement, and finally ends off with how excited he is about the 2021 WSOP.

Bryan Piccioli wins his second WSOP bracelet in the Wynn Casino parking lot!

Bryan Piccioli talks about his father who taught him poker, and his tragic accident in 2016.

Bryan Piccioli

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee interviews Bryan Piccioli, who recently captured his second WSOP bracelet in the 2021 WSOP $500 Turbo Deepstack (Event #12).

At the start of the interview, Bryan talks about his recent successes online. In 2021 he earned a WSOP bracelet and Circuit ring after having had a marginal 2020 WSOP online series. Bryan talks about how this summer was different than last, since more players were in Las Vegas due to the resumption of live poker. He also  talks about why he was the first to know about the disqualification of Upeshka De Silva during the 2020 WSOP Main Event US bracket final table due to COVID. Bryan recalls winning his 2nd WSOP bracelet during the 2021 WSOP.com online series, which had an incredibly difficult final table, from the Wynn Casino parking lot.

During the second part of the interview, Bryan talks about his father, who introduced him to poker and  had a tragic accident in 2016. Bryan describes how Las Vegas was during the COVID pandemic in 2020. Finally, he discusses his future plans, including the upcoming birth of his first child.

The game of poker is a miniature version – a microcosm – of life. We face all sorts of challenges during our lives, complicated by uncertainties and risks, and promises and rewards. They all have their counterparts in the game of poker. There are strong similarities, and here are seven of the most striking.

Gambling

In life, when the rewards outweigh the risks, you are bound to succeed in the long run. That’s what the three laws of probability are all about. Likewise, in poker, with a drawing hand, whenever the pot odds are higher than the card odds against making your hand, you are favored to win that pot. Otherwise, you are gambling – and bound to be a loser in the long run.

Skill vs. Chance (Luck)

In poker, as in life, there are almost constant decisions to be made. If you have the skills to make the wisest decisions, you are bound to come out ahead for the most part. Trusting to luck – as in gambling, makes you an underdog. Interestingly, the skill vs. luck issue is something that was hotly debated among officials when determining legal gambling regulations in Pennsylvania and other states. Here’s where you can read more about that.

Return-on-Investment for a Positive Expectation

You have a Positive Expectation when your investment (bet) earns a profit over the long run. That is essential to success in both life and poker.

life is just one long poker game. We’re all just trying to make positive EV plays while occasionally bluffing

— Froste 💯 (@Froste) July 21, 2020

Education for greater skills

In both poker and life, you have some control over your education. Learn what you can to best develop your skills – be it in the office where you work or at the poker table. One great place to start is at some of the best poker training sites.

Starting hand selection

In playing poker, the most critical decision is selecting the starting hands before investing your precious chips in the pot. Most players are anxious to get involved – too anxious. As a result, they are prone to play weak hands which generally lead to losing their chips. The smart player, the well-skilled player, is more discerning and cautious. To be best prepared, you can use the Hold’em Algorithm or available charts to facilitate and make your best decision. Losers depend more on luck. So it is in life: wisely invest your time and money.

Grow your winnings

Playing poker, you can build the size of the pots you win. It takes skill to do so. Toward that end, there are tactics you can use – slow-play, check-and-raise, and bet for value, among others. In a similar manner, you can find ways to outdo your competition as you build your career – get that promotion and salary increase or earn a bonus. Be prepared and plan ahead. Seek favorable opportunities.

Know your competition

Study your competition be it in life or at the poker table. Observe the types of players you are up against – tight, loose, passive, aggressive or deceptive. Learn to read their hands and their tells. Then you can make the wisest decisions in your favor. In life, your career success may depend on it.

Indeed, the game of poker is a microcosm of life. Be a winner at both for a happier life.

Joe recalls 2020 WSOP Main Event US Bracket and how he avoided contracting COVID

Joe Hebert talks about the target on his back since he won the 2020 WSOP US Bracket Main Event

Joe Hebert

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee interviews Joe Hebert, who recently captured the 2nd Annual Gulf Poker Award’s Player of the Year (POY). Last year, Joe captured the hearts of poker players by winning the 2020 WSOP US Bracket Main Event for his late mother (#ForLinda). After being named Gulf Coast Poker POY, Joe also won the 2021 Poker Gras Main Event.

At the start of the interview, Joe talks about his late mother looking down on him during the 2020 WSOP Main Event US Domestic bracket and the 2021 Poker Gras Main Event (#ForLinda). Joe talks about how the 2nd Annual Gulf Coast Poker Awards were presented at Harrah’s New Orleans during the 2021 Poker Gras Main Event. Next, Joe discusses the current COVID-19 pandemic situation in Louisiana and his potential plans for the WSOP in Las Vegas. Joe recalls the 2020 WSOP US Bracket Main Event, including the disqualification of Upeshka De Silva during the final table due to COVID. Also, Joe talks about his father contracting COVID-19, and how Joe himself fortunately avoided contracting it. Joe talks about being recognized after his victory, especially in Mexico. He also describes his picture on the wall at Harrah’s New Orleans.

During the second part of the interview, Joe talks about winning the 2nd Annual Gulf Coast Poker Award – Player of the Year and playing in the 2021 Poker Gras Main Event. Joe discusses the target on his back, and how players are now playing differently against him. Finally, Joe discusses his future poker plans.

Poker fans the world over love talking about their favorite players and making claims about who the best of the bunch is. While there are numerous ways to compare and contrast the skills and successes of poker greats, one traditional measure is the Hendon Mob All-Time Money List.

Poker is, at its core, about winning money from other players, it stands to reason that the players who have won the most money ought to be considered among the best. Indeed, there’s no arguing that those currently sitting atop the all-time poker money list are amongst the best players in the game. But is the All-Time Money List really a fair barometer of success?

It’s time we look at both sides of the argument.

The Case Against the List

The Hendon Mob’s All-Time Money List has, for many years, been the definitive list of the richest players in poker, but since the list itself only details the fortunes of those taking part in ranking poker tournaments, many games aren’t part of the qualifying process.

From cash games to unregistered private events (but obviously excluding winnings on trusted video poker sites), there are going to be some results that either slip through the net or don’t qualify. Is the best tournament player guaranteed to be the best cash game player too? Of course not.

Tournament poker also offers a lot of variance. We’re not talking about the all-time crushers, but tournament luck compared to cash game luck decrees that plenty of people on the All-Time Money List have gotten lucky in order to be as high as they are. We’re talking about tournament poker, but in general, that’s in hold’em, too. Mixed games haven’t made up nearly as much of the action as other tournaments have. While a propensity to crush souls at NLHE is impressive, it’s not exclusive proof of greatness.

Finally, wearing our ‘Against’ hat, we’d also argue that the results on the All-Time Money List don’t represent the true value of what players actually won and we’re not even going into the recent trend of high rollers and super high rollers feathering the nests of some of the big birds in a way the past didn’t allow. Frequently, a player’s results are so skewed because a player has either sold pieces of action or been outright staked by other players or coaches. Does the All-Time Money List represent an accurate list of the true winners and losers? If you believe that, I have a triple-barrel bluff with your name on it.

Bryn Kenney | Image credit: World Poker Tour

The Case For the List

While there are many arguments against the list, its sheer endurance has to be a factor that is in its favor. The All-Time Money List dates back to the most formative period of poker, and since the Moneymaker Effect changed the game we all love, the All-Time Money List has been there for us as a barometer of brilliance.

People love comparing who has won more at the top level of poker, so how else would that be done without the miracle of the All-time Money List? Such real-time information would be almost impossible to correlate if you started doing it afresh. Plus, how on Earth would anyone else have the contacts around the world to make it happen?

We debate the merits of players based on their spot on the list, their activity, their success in different countries and buy-in levels. The only way we can do that is by using the All-Time Money List.

The lifetime tournament earnings of a player — only available through ranking events available to research on the All-Time Money List — are a great gauge as to the merits of that player. Even with a smaller sample size of younger players such as Landon Tice or David Coleman, all the information is there, from how many opponents they faced to who cashed and where.

Sure, some poker players near the top of the all-time earnings list have only won a big tournament or two, but those types are few and far between. When we look at the top 10 poker players on the All-Time Money List, it’s a ‘Who’s Who’ of poker.

The Verdict

There are many niggles to be had with such a wide-ranging inventory as the All-Time Money List, but the length of time it has been present, coupled with the general regard given to it by players and fans alike mean it’s impossible not to love it.

Could the All-Time Money List be improved? Of course. But it is a testament to exactly how vital it is to all of us that we would still much rather have it to call on than not.

It might just be time to get that new flag we’ve been craving.

Preston McEwen talks about winning $44,320 in Little Kings and Queens main event

How Preston McEwen goes from musician to pro poker player/RunGoodGear Ambassador

Preston McEwen

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee interviews Preston McEwen, who recently became the 2nd Annual Gulf Poker Award’s Breakout Player of the Year. Preston has been playing great poker throughout the year, including winning the Little Kings and Queens main event, taking home $44,320. Held at Little Kings and Queens in Buford, GA, the $630 main event had 363 entries, and a a prize pool of $196,020.

At the start of the interview, Preston talks about how he got started in poker world, after his initial focus on music. The RunGood Gear ambassador recalls how he first became an ambassador for the company. Preston describes his cash in the 2019 WSOP Main Event and the uniqueness of the annual tournament. Preston talks about how COVID affected his poker life, as he started grinding more online and private games.

During the second part of the interview, Preston talks about his victory in the 2021 Little Kings and Queens main event. He explains how he fired two bullets in different flights and describes a huge double late in Flight B. He also talks about how he adjusted to some of the recreational players in the field, taking more hands post-flop. Preston discusses his own Steel Wheel Poker League and his plans for the rest of 2021, including the WSOP and RunGoodPoker Series.

David Peters & Chris Moorman

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee interviews two recent WSOP.com bracelet winners who were both previous guests on the show: David Peters and Chris Moorman.

In the first half of the show, Bernard interviews David Peters, who recently captured his third WSOP bracelet, winning the $7,777 No-limit High Roller event. The event had 151 entries and David took home $283,940. After David talks about the different dynamics of online vs. live poker, he discusses making the final table in the $3,200 High Roller bracelet event, and the excitement of the poker community. David also talks about future poker plans, both live (including Florida, Cyprus, Poker Masters) and online (GGPoker.com).

In the second half of the show, Bernard interviews Chris Moorman, who recently captured his second WSOP bracelet, winning the $800 no-limit 8-max turbo event. The event featured 623 entries and Chris took home $102,406. After recalling the event, Chris talks about the different kinds of luck in poker. He also talks about his future plans, including playing GGPoker.com and the 2021 WSOP at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.

From July 2019 until April 2020 I worked in underground poker games all over Los Angeles. I met many colorful characters and saw some unbelievable things as I rose from dealing $1/$2 NLH to $10/$25 PLO. The names of those involved have been changed to protect identities.

Stepping off the plane into LAX was one of the most exciting moments of my life. At 23 years of age and only a week removed from graduating college, I was ready to “make it” in America’s most glamorous city. My girlfriend was waiting for me, as she had already been living there for nine months, patiently waiting for me to finish school. The reunion was special, saying goodbye to my parents was emotional, and being in a new city was inspiring.

There was only one problem: money. I had spent my last semester casually applying to jobs in LA, but soon realized that LA-based companies had never heard of Quinnipiac University, the small Connecticut school I graduated from. I spent most of college in my University’s theater program, acting, directing, and writing plays. I loved theater, but I was one of the few theater graduates in LA who wasn’t pursuing the arts. My other major being Economics, I was more focused on the financial sector and landing a stable 9-5. Unfortunately I didn’t really stack up well enough against the UCLA grads, so the job hunt was not going as I’d hoped.

Image for illustrative purposes only

At this time, poker was my true love. I had been playing $1/2 No Limit Hold’em for about two years and had just recently gone from a losing player to about breakeven. In between job applications, I visited the local casinos, played a bit at online casinos like FruityKing, and played online poker in a private app club. That’s what it hit me; my club agent (we’ll call him Eric) said he is from LA. On a whim, I texted and asked if there were any live poker games that night. There just-so-happened to be one.

That night I hopped in my car, left the valley, and headed for the La Brea area. I pulled into a large apartment complex and made my way to the building I was instructed to go to. After stepping in the elevator and hitting floor 12, I suddenly remembered I have no idea what I would be walking into. As a precaution I took $400 out of the $500 I brought and shoved it into my sock. I figured if I’d be getting robbed, I could play it off that I only came with $100. With my heart pounding, I stepped out of the elevator and immediately heard chips shuffling and people chatting. I walked towards the sound and opened the door of what would become my office for the next few months.

I certainly was not getting robbed. There was a casino-grade table, plastic cards, solid custom chips, and a nice view of the city. I was thrilled. After removing my hidden sock money, I met with Eric and his partner, Dean. Both were young, around 22 years old. I was 24 at the time, so there wasn’t much of a difference. I looked around the room and noticed the player pool mainly consisted of 19- to 25-year-olds. Most of the players were in college at one of the many local choices. The game was soft, with plenty of action for a $1/2 table. My $300 buy-in quickly climbed to about $550 and I hovered around there for the rest of the evening.

Image for illustrative purposes only

As I would often do, I closed the game out. Around 4am the final four of us decided to break. I cashed out my ~$500 and stayed to chat with the game runners. I couldn’t help but notice throughout the night that the dealer was struggling. She was a very attractive college girl who was incredibly nice and a little flirty with some of the players, but it was clear she wasn’t there for her dealing prowess. I mentioned to the game runners that I used to deal a home game on the East Coast, hoping it would lead to some opportunity.

That was a lie. Well not a lie, more of a semi-bluff. It is true that I used to deal, but it was pass-the-deck home games with my friends. So while yes I had dealt cards before, I certainly was not a poker dealer.

Luckily, I was given a chance.

The next day I went back to the same apartment ready to get in the box. The game runners gave me a breakdown of the rake, which was absurdly high, and I got right to it. I was to split time with the young lady who also dealt there. I thought she wasn’t a very good dealer… that was until I got in the box. My shuffle was fine, my pitch was horrendous, and at one point I had three misdeals in a row. It was pretty evident to the game runners that I hadn’t ever really dealt a game. But I had two things the other dealer couldn’t bring to the table: poker knowledge and stamina.

I am, and always have been, a poker fanatic. I can recite hands from old High Stakes Poker episodes by heart, tell you a funny story about a poker pro, know every hand nickname there is, and most importantly I knew the rule book to a tee. Home games can get out of control a bit, and I used my knowledge as a means to control the table. I could keep the action moving and settle any disputes immediately. While my mechanics were god awful, I had the presence of a seasoned veteran. Also, home games can run for anywhere from 6 to 24 hours so it is important to be able to deal long stretches. I was supposed to split time with the other dealer, but she constantly wanted breaks or needed to step out for a phone call, while I was locked into the game. She ended up leaving early that night and I dealt the last three hours myself.

I ended up making somewhere around $130 for the evening. Pay was 100% tips and the players were fairly generous. To me, $130 to sit at a card table was perfect. I got to see poker hands play out, try to put players on a range and play it in my head, talk with the players about sports, movies, gambling; it was a dream come true.

I stayed back and talked to Dean, Eric, and another player there, Peter. Peter talked all night about his $1/2 game. He said it ran twice a week at the same apartment. I learned a few things about home games that night. First, the apartment we were in was not used as a residence. It was rented out to game runners for a flat fee per night and the rooms were rented out to travelers and gamblers for short-term rentals. Second, hosting a game and running a game are very different.

Turns out Dean and Eric didn’t run a game, they just happened to host those two games I was at. Peter on the other hand had been running a game twice a week every week for the last year. Surprisingly, he was only 21 years old, but he ran a quite successful game. Dean and Eric made their money by being agents for private clubs on one of the poker apps, and decided on a whim to start hosting some live games.

Peter was impressed with my dealing as he sometimes used the same female dealer as Dean and Eric. He invited me to come to the next game in two days and split time in the box. I gladly took him up on it. Dean and Eric said they were hosting  a game the next night as well. I showed up on time and, after waiting two hours, we realized nobody was coming. That’s the difference between running and hosting. They hosted two nights successfully, tried for a third unsuccessfully, and then pretty much gave up. Dean was a player though, so I would end up seeing him five times a week during my entire time in LA, but I would soon learn my introduction to Peter was very important.

And so I was hooked. I had met plenty of players and secured a relationship with a consisted game runner. I went home that night and told my girlfriend that I think I found a job.

Check out part 2 of the Home Game Hustle miniseries

David Peters

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee conducts the first part of his interview with the 2021 U.S. Poker Open (USPO) Champion, David Peters. Originally from Ohio, now living in Las Vegas, Peters has now won back-to-back Golden Eagle Trophies as he also won the 2019 USPO, which were both held at the PokerGO Studio, just outside the Aria Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Note: 2020 USPO was cancelled due to COVID19 pandemic.)

David discusses that he initially got interested in poker, live and online. He recalls two momentous times during the past decade: Black Friday and COVID-19 pandemic, and how he handled them. The pandemic was not all bad for David, as he spent it in Mexico and also captured his 2nd WSOP bracelet.

Today, David talks about studying with poker programs and simulations to keep his game sharp. He also provides advice to rising poker players on how to improve their game.

Next week, in part 2 of my interview, David talks about the 2019 and 2021 U.S. Poker Open (USPO) and future goals.