Steve Fredlund - Cardplayer Lifestyle

Ho Ho Ho! This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Sky Matsuhashi, and he has a fantastic gift for all RecPoker members to enjoy!

If you want to set SMART goals, you have to know where you need the most help, and what areas you can work on to immediately improve your poker skills. To do that, you need to know your own game and its weaknesses. Join The Poker Forge between December 29 – January 2nd and get a HUGE discount on your monthly membership, plus a fantastic BONUS video course about getting the most out of PokerTracker4 – check it out here: https://rec.poker/go/pokerforge/

Sky talks about the importance of setting goals, and why SMART goals give you the best chance at success. The panelists share some of their goals for 2024, and Sky offers some great examples of poker goals that can work for YOU in the new year ahead. They also help Jim and the gang refine their own goals for the coming months. They talk about specific stats and frequencies to keep an eye on, what to look at first when you are reviewing your own play, how to break down long-term goals into short-term goals and action steps, and how to get the most out of your study time.

See all the details about the amazing sale at The Poker Forge here: https://rec.poker/go/pokerforge/

Check out Sky’s free YouTube videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@SmartPokerStudy

Say hi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartpokerstudy

We also go over this week’s home game results and discuss these topics:
How to help us out – https://rec.poker/support/
Home Games – https://rec.poker/homegame/
Go Premium! – https://rec.poker/premium/

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

RecPoker is a vibrant and encouraging poker learning community. We are committed to learning the game, but our priority is building healthy relationships where we can not only grow in the game, but grow in our enjoyment of life. The free membership website at rec.poker is awesome, but it’s just a tool to help us build that community. You can join for FREE, giving you access to the groups, forums, and other member benefits. If you want to enjoy the premium content, or become part of the RECing Crew, those options are available, and you can get $10 off your first payment using the code RECPOKER. Music by Peter Troolin, [email protected].

Timestamps

04:20	Sky talks about setting the right kind of goals
09:32	Breaking down long-term goals into short-term ones
12:21	Sky shares the formula for making SMART goals
14:41	Introducing a level of accountability when it comes to goal-setting
17:32	Offers and great deals for RecPoker members
21:22	Keys, metrics, and stats to track
27:29	How to approach studying and retaining information
30:36	Advice to players on taking their games to the next level at Poker Forge
32:31	Sky plays Stake, Study, or Stack, and Closing the Action

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview former TV-reporter-turned-retirement-advisor Louie Hillman! Louie is a serious recreational player who travels down to Las Vegas every summer to play in the World Series of Poker – and has had some great success recently! We talk about playing for big stakes in the WSOP. As a recreational player, Louie talks about his love of mixed games, the importance of goal-setting, believing in yourself, and putting yourself in a position to succeed.

Louie also shares what it feels like to final table a bracelet event surrounded by some of the best players in the world. He also shares what he does for the other 51 weeks of the year to make the most out of his annual Vegas “Vacation”. We cover balancing family, work, and poker, along with maintaining a fun and healthy attitude about the game throughout the year, even in smaller events. We play Stake, Study, Stack with some notables from Louie’s WSOP experiences, and we Close the Action with our speed round.

Plus we give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real time, and you can win too!

Louie’s Twitter handle is @‌ImaLouigi

His email address is [email protected]

His business website is www.optimuslifedesigns.com (Helping people with tax-advantaged retirement planning and insurance strategies)

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

04:11	Louie describes his role in the poker world
06:38	The role that RecPoker has played in Louie’s poker journey
09:37	Louie’s top moments in poker over the last 10 years
11:47	Dealing with poker luminaries
16:03	Being prepared for the big moments in a game
17:40	Louie: sometimes you feel as good as your latest result
25:04	Louie on how he prepares weeks before the WSOP
29:09	Louie: No matter how small the buy-in, a day 2 never gets old
33:00	How does Louie segregate his poker and life finances?
39:26	Some tips for someone who wants to learn mixed games
44:31	Stake, Study, or Stack
55:34	Jim: Home Game Result

This week Joe Kulas and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Brian Winter! Brian talks about his lead in the RunGood Player of the Year competition, and traveling as a pro with his amazing photographer wife Rachel. He also shares top four WORST places to finish in a tournament, the problem of finishing final tables in the wee hours of the morning, one way that many recreational players can improve their game immediately, and the importance of PB&J fundamentals. He also plays “Stake, Study, Stack” with Jerod Smith, Tana Karn, and Ryan Laplante, and we Close The Action with our speed round. Plus we give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real time, and you can win too!

Follow Brian on twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGoldenBlazer

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

07:00	Brian talks about the Player of the Year at RunGood
12:08	Transitioning from teaching to playing poker
16:59	Finance issues in a recreational setting
18:56	Chat: Does Brian gives his wife all the credit for his success?
23:21	Where did the “Golden Blazer” come from?
26:37	Brian on responding to people on X (Twitter)
33:35	Brian shares how he and his wife work toward long-term goals
41:19	Brian shares his streaming experience
44:06	Piece of advice for recreational players
47:21	Difficult spot for less-experienced players
55:27	Brian plays Stake, Study, or Stack, and Closing the Action
01:07:27	John: Home Game Result updates

This week Sasha Sutton and the RecPoker RECing Crew interviewed Rebbecca Scales! Rebbecca and the gang discussed a slew of topics, including the lack of marketing to women in the World Series of Poker and the resistance to change in the industry. Rebbecca also talked about the three main barriers that women face in poker: harassment, social norms, and daily responsibilities. Sasha and Rebecca shared personal anecdotes about their experiences with both positive and negative aspects of being a woman in the poker world.

Rebecca shared her journey before joining Poker Power, including her failed attempt at creating a clothing line for women in poker. She then talked about creating a marketing studio called Poker Queen and about her work with the Women’s Poker Association and the Raise It Up campaign. Sasha and Rebecca discussed the golden age of women in poker and the dramatic change that has occurred in the game over the last five years.

The group talked about the need for men to speak up against verbal harassment towards women and the importance of zero tolerance for any kind of harassment in poker tournaments. They also discussed how male players sometimes mistreat female dealers when they make errors in their dealing, and the need for protection in the room for all players and staff.

Rebecca announced the launch of Women’s Poker News, a media company that aims to provide a different perspective on poker content for women. She explained that women consume media differently than men. The company will cover mainstream events and socialites in the poker world that are often overlooked by other media companies. The launch just took place during the Women in Poker Festival at Resorts World, Las Vegas. Plus we give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real time, and you can win too!

Find out more about Rebbecca and her organizations here:

Personal Accounts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebbecca.scales/

Twitter: @‌PokerQueenLV

Instagram: @‌pokerqueenlv

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

The Real Poker Girls Of Las Vegas: https://therealpokergirlsoflasvegas.godaddysites.com

Poker Power Website: https://pokerpower.com

Social Media Handles (Poker Power) @‌joinpokerpower

Women’s Poker Association: https://www.wpa.poker

WPN: https://womenpokernews.com

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

04:41	Rebbecca talks about her role in the poker world
05:22	Thoughts about the question: why women aren’t marketed too?
08:31	Barriers for women in poker
13:30	Rebbeca talks about how it all started
15:52	Talking to women in a tournament about verbal harassment
19:49	How Poker Power found Rebbecca
28:14	Rebbecca on teaching women
32:01	Rebbecca: we have a community for everybody
34:33	Chat: Advice for the first time playing cash at the Aria
39:21	Rebbecca shares more about her projects and events
42:31	Rebbecca on Stake, Study, or Stack and Closing the Action
49:12	John: Home Game Result updates

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview DGAF about his poker journey and his famous Sessions podcast series. Billy talks about his various roles in the poker industry and what it takes to succeed in the ‘soft hustle’ of the poker environment. The group discusses, whales, assholes, and what kind of behavior will ensure you are NEVER invited to a home game or stream. DGAF even shares some great strategy notes about over-betting, plus some tips for less experienced players who find themselves at the cash tables and want to avoid getting picked on. But that’s not all! We also play Stake/Study/Stack with Bill Klein, Eric Persson, and Andy Stacks and we “Close the Action” with our speed round. Finally, we give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real time, and you can win too!

Check out the Patreon http://Patreon.com/dgafpokerplayer

DGAF on Twitter: @‌dgafpokerplayer

His new poker show you should check out: https://youtube.com/@livepokershow?si=j4964UKguaP36FsP

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

01:53	DGAF describes his role in the poker world
07:42	Learning more about the game from the booth and doing commentary
09:17	Game of poker: is it a business now and not a pleasure?
10:28	Unexpected difficulty in the business side of poker
12:32	Being good at building a game and putting it together
14:12	Qualities of a player that might not get invited to a game
23:01	Revealing information: managing decisions and how it impacts the game
32:42	What DGAF learned about people in the poker industry
35:07	DGAF talks about over-bets
42:49	Actions that tells if someone is less-experienced player
47:00	DGAF plays the game Stake, Study, or Stack
01:03:06	John: Home Game Result updates

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Max Havlish and Wesley Cannon from the Suited Kings Poker podcast! To start, Max shares some details about his own poker journey, and why he and Wes are good friends and partners. If you want to learn more about Wes’s poker story, check out episode 469 from earlier this year.

The group discusses cash vs. tournament play, competing with respect, when being ‘balanced’ matters most, and good hands to limp or call with. We also learn ways pros can tell if you are less experienced, about staking, swapping, selling action – and a lot more! Plus we play Stake/Study Stack with Matt Hamilton, Kou Vang and Robbie WazWaz, we Close The Action with Wes and Max, and give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real-time, and you can win too!

Tweets by DeuceNukem

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

04:15	Max describes his role in the poker world
07:11	Deciding to start a podcast
10:25	Being competitors but also helping each other to get better
17:26	Max: Rule No. 1: Never stop studying
20:40	Getting a bit more experienced: cash vs. tournament
25:44	Maintaining or budgeting the ability to focus
27:26	Actions that tell someone they are a less-experienced player
33:57	How important is balancing hands in a certain spot?
43:43	Max and Wes’ opinions on staking, swapping, and selling action
49:12	Max & Wes play the game Stake, Study, or Stack
01:03:16	John: Home Game Result updates

With Jim away this week, Sasha Sutton and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Matt Savage from the World Poker Tour! The WPT has an exciting series coming up in Las Vegas in December, but that’s not all! Matt talks about his role with the WPT, how he got into the business, and the importance of standardizing tournament rules. He also discusses the challenges live poker faces from phones and technology, some experiences he’s had on the floor, and a lot more! Plus we give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real-time, and you can win too!

Matt is active on Twitter as https://twitter.com/SavagePoker

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

00:14	Welcome & Introduction
02:58	Introduction to Matt Savage
03:59	Matt describes his role in the poker world
05:13	Matt talks about the Tournament Directors Association (TDA)
08:49	Mistakes players can make if they are not familiar with the guidelines
11:07	Why might the floor be called?
14:32	How the tournament life for poker players has changed over time
24:36	Matt’s experiences with tournaments in different countries
25:57	TDA ruling on using a phone at the table
31:04	How do extreme moments or tensions in a game get responded to?
39:16	Matt plays the game Stake, Study, or Stack
46:59	John: Home Game Result updates

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Jeff Platt, a prominent poker broadcaster whose work has been featured on PokerGO, CBS Sports Network, and ESPN. Jeff is a sideline reporter for the World Series of Poker Main Event, a play-by-play commentator for PokerGO Tour events, and the co-host of PokerGO’s “No Gamble, No Future” alongside Brent Hanks. Jeff shares some stories about making his way into the world of poker media, and some tips for less experienced players who are ‘taking their shot’ in the big leagues. He also shares some lessons he’s learned, and the thing he hates most about his job! Plus we play Stake/Study/Stack with Norman Chad, Donnie Peters, and Nick Shulman. We then close the action with our speed round. We give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat! Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real-time, and you can win too!

Jeff is active on Twitter as https://twitter.com/jeffplatt

Also: if you donated to a food bank because of Joe’s offer and you’d like him to match your donation, you can email him at [email protected] or you can post in our discord and tag him @‌elvida11

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

00:15	Welcome & Introduction
03:16	Introduction to Jeff Platt
03:36	How would Jeff describe his role in the poker world?
06:56	Jeff on what got him into his position in the poker industry
08:47	Having a background in poker helped Jeff succeed
10:12	How Jeff’s work affects his relationship with the poker game
16:29	Being five years on the ground: Jeff on seeing women competing in poker
29:17	Common mistakes people make
33:11	People’s game today vs. back in the day
35:30	Broadcast plans for the WSOP in the Bahamas
43:21	Jeff plays Stake, Study, Stack
55:09	John: Home Game Results update

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Alex “Assassinato” Fitzgerald! You might know Alex from PokerHeadRush, or from his various training videos, or his award-winning books. Or maybe you even know him from the Oneouter podcast back in the day – wherever you know him from, you probably know that he’s made a career out of exploiting the other players at his poker table. Now based in Colorado, Alex spends most of his time coaching and creating training material for his fans and clients. On today’s show, he talks about common mistakes he sees players make, the importance of having a plan for studying and preparing, and shares some techniques (like flashcards) that have helped him work on spots or concepts that he wanted to internalize effectively. Alex also gets into the best way to get the most out of your love of poker, and takes some excellent questions from our YouTube chatters. We play Stake/Study/Stack with Matt Berkey, Steven Chidwick, and Isaac Haxton, and Alex ‘closes the action’ with some great answers in our speed round. Plus we give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real time, and you can win too!

Sign up for Alex’s newsletter and get free training packages at pokerheadrush.com where you can find all his socials, too.

Alex is also active on Twitter as https://twitter.com/pokerheadrush

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

00:15	Welcome & Introduction
02:23	Introduction to Alex Assassinato Fitzgerald
03:03	Alex answers the question, What is your role in the poker world?
05:29	Common mistakes players make (even experienced ones)
12:36	Alex: a lot of the time, my warm-up is just doing a lesson in the morning
16:05	Alex on managing his students’ expectations so they have a realistic goal
22:52	Alex talks about his 5–10 vocabulary in his newsletter
30:08	Applying conventional wisdom to a high-stakes tournament
35:44	The usefulness of live tells
40:08	Alex: I think it’s completely up to you what kind of player you want to be
43:52	Alex on Stake, Study, and Stack
54:49	John: Home Game Result updates

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew welcome Tommy Angelo back on the show to talk about his book Waiting For Straighters – and if you are listening to this episode before the end of October, you can claim a free copy! Learn how at the end of the show.

Tommy gets right into sharing how he came to write the book. He offers some immediate benefits to Hold’em and Omaha players that follow his guidelines for a happier, less stressful, more profitable poker game. They discuss the potential downsides of playing fewer hands, and Tommy makes an argument that a lot of those downsides are really upsides in disguise. They talk about Omaha specifically, and how it’s a difficult game to make preflop charts for, but how Waiting For Straighters as a philosophy can make a big difference in playing Omaha hands – with a few caveats and exceptions for paired or Ace hands.

Tommy (or ‘Tony’ as Jim likes to call him) answers some questions from the YouTube chat about playing tight in private games and the trade-offs we should be willing to make to get invited back. He also talks about his own poker pleasures and philosophy. The group shares a few other strategic features of Tommy’s book before giving away a few copies to the YouTube chatters – and the listening audience, if you are hearing this in time! Finally, they play “Stake/Study/Stack” with Jason Su, Phil Galfond, and Brad Willis before Tommy plays along in our inaugural segment of “Closing The Action”. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real time, and you can win too!

Tommy’s site: https://www.tommyangelo.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheTommyAngelo

Waiting For Straighters at Tommy’s site: https://www.tommyangelo.com/waiting-for-straighters/

Waiting For Straighters at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Straighters-Experiment-No-Limit-Pot-Limit-ebook/dp/B07J2Q6KPP/

Elements of Poker at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Poker-Tommy-Angelo-ebook/dp/B06XJ81Q8N/

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Timestamps

00:15	Welcome & Introduction
03:03	Introduction to Tommy Angelo
03:36	Tommy shares the process of writing Waiting for Straighters
06:54	The mix of the strategic elements of making more money and enjoyment
12:18	Challenges in Omaha and Hold’em in the same book
19:45	Tommy on playing 83 off suit
25:47	Is there a downside to overfolding?
30:01	Playing a long-time game: handling the pressure of private games
32:00	Tommy reviews Jim’s hand
40:50	How Tommy closes the gap between knowledge and application
42:15	Tommy on Eric Gin’s Stake, Study, or Stack segment
51:59	John: Home Game Result updates

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Mike “O8GRINDER” Serrano! Mike and the gang talk about his time streaming popular tournaments when no one else was doing it, and what it’s like building a YouTube following from scratch. He also shared the process of making a place in the poker world, balancing poker and life, and some personal details about some challenges in his life over the past year. Plus we play Stake, Study, Stack for the first time and Mike’s answers may (or may not) surprise you! Finally, we give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real time, and you can win too!

Mike has a YouTube channel here: http://youtube.com/o8grinder

Email Mike directly here: [email protected]

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Time Stamps

00:16	Welcome & Introduction
04:14	Introduction to Mike Serrano
04:51	Mike defines his role in the world of poker
07:14	Mike shares his journey of transformation in poker
09:16	Being in the right place at the right time
19:39	The craziest things happened with Mike’s stream
24:17	Accommodating and deferential: a liability as a poker player?
26:18	Stepping back from the public sphere
37:15	How has Mike’s relationship with the game changed?
54:13	People who make the table fun
57:25	Mike on stake, study, or stack
01:06:37	John: Home Game Result updates

(EXPLICIT LANGUAGE) This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Abe Limon, known among other reasons as the former owner of Live At The Bike and his popular Poker Sesh! Abe has been a fixture in the poker world for the last 25 years and shares his thoughts on a range of topics. He discusses the history of poker learning on boards like 2+2 and rec.gambling.poker, to private games of yesteryear and the state of poker today. He also shares his portfolio of advantage plays available to casino-goers, the differences between tournament and cash play, and how to spot less-experienced players at the tables.

Plus we give away a free prize at the end for folks in the YouTube chat. Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real-time, and you can win too!

Abe is active on Twitter as @‌limonpoker

Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity

Join the Discord group here: https://discord.gg/9aYSMCCfpv

Find more info on our sponsors at:
https://RunAces.com
https://WebsiteAMP.com

Time Stamps

00:14	Welcome & Introduction
01:58	Introduction to Abe Limon
02:39	Abe answers the question: what is your role in the poker world
07:12	The early days of online poker and Two plus Two
21:18	Private games and poker today
26:41	The reality of poker as a career
43:01	Discussion on poker culture and super systems
48:42	Advantage play in Las Vegas casinos
58:04	Identifying inexperienced players at the poker table
01:13:05	Making money in poker: cash games vs tournaments
01:21:09	Abe Limon‘s regrets and lessons learned
01:29:15	Raffle and Home Game winners