Robbie Strazynski

The Internet is full of recommendations for things to do when you visit Prague, but here at the Cardplayer Lifestyle poker blog, we like to look at vacationing through poker-tinted lenses. Having taken a couple great trips to Prague, I made sure to take in the local poker scene. As it was somewhat tough to find information about Prague poker online prior to the trip, I made sure I experienced a lot while there in terms of poker with a goal in mind of compiling this guide for recreational players to use when playing poker in Prague,

It’s packed with plenty of useful information that you simply shouldn’t be without when anteing up at the Czech felt. Enjoy, and be sure to share this guide with any poker fan headed to Prague in the future.

As many successful poker players set goals for themselves at the start of each year, I, too, believe that doing so helps me focus on concrete things to accomplish over the course of the following 12 months. It’s almost not worth making a list of goals for oneself if you’re not going to aim high. So, with that in mind, have a look at my list of 10 poker and poker blog goals I hope to achieve in 2015. I’d be happy to hear what you think about it and to have your support.

At the outset of 2014, for the first time ever, I set 10 poker and poker blog goals for myself. While I’ve achieved some of them and have failed with others, my experience throughout the year striving to reach those goals I set has only been positive. Setting the poker and poker blog goals has helped me focus on concrete things to accomplish in 2014. In this post I honestly assess how I did over the last year and try to learn from both the failures and the successes.

Cardplayer Lifestyle is always happy to spread some holiday cheer in the poker world. We’re sure our list of top poker personalities and the Xmas gifts they’d love to have will put a smile on your face. Have a look and be sure to share and give your poker buddies something to make merry about.

One of my poker goals for 2014 was to have a monster win. Just under the wire, with two weeks to go in the year, I managed to pull it off. The amount of money I won is actually the least important part of having accomplished the goal. Last night, I experienced the confluence of “run good” perfectly aligned with my A+ game and a poker mindset that allowed me to be fully prepared to make the most of my opportunities to win. Here’s the story of how my monster poker session happened – I think it’s something that both recreational and professional poker players can learn from.

In the just-released episode 225 of the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast, my co-host, Bruce Briggs, and I interviewed 2014 World Series of Poker November Niner Billy Pappas. As one of the more recognizable faces from that Main Event final table and as the lone amateur, his story as the “everyman” resonated with lots of poker fans who tuned in to watch. Have a listen + summarized transcript also available. Enjoy!

With a nod to our humble beginnings and an eye on a great future, we take a minute to pause and reflect on five great years online as one of the industry’s leading poker blogs. Whether you’re a longtime fan of ours or if this is your first visit, we hope you enjoy reading a bit about our poker blog and stick with us as we try to keep on climbing up the poker industry ladder of success.

For many poker players, knowing how to properly play near the bubble of a tournament is something difficult to master. We’re happy to share with you four good tips that’ll help you get on the right path towards making it past the bubble and into the money.

We’re honored to bring to you an exclusive video Q&A interview with Martin Jacobson, the 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion. Martin was gracious with his time, answering questions about representing Sweden, being a poker ambassador, doing poker interviews, home games, and more. A rare treat, we think you’ll enjoy this special interview with a very special poker champion.

Together with Bruce Briggs, my co-host over at the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast, I recently interviewed Jonathan Little, a 2-time winner at the World Poker Tour and author of a number great poker books as well as hundreds of great poker strategy articles and videos. Jonathan spoke with us about a number of interesting topics, offering his views on sunglasses and headphones while at the poker table, telling us why poker coaching for $300 per hour could very easily be justified, and regaling us with interesting stories about he got his start playing poker professionally. Have a listen to Episode 223 of the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast and enjoy the summarized transcript.

The stars of poker were out in full force as Daniel Negreanu chaired a one-of-a-kind poker fundraiser for the benefit of the Las Vegas branch of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised and amazing prizes were won by big poker names like Phil Hellmuth and Jason Somerville. Read more about what went down at this special event as well as how you, too, can make charitable poker donations.

Together with my Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast co-host Bruce Briggs, I recently interviewed Allen Kessler, fondly known by the greater poker community as the “Chainsaw”. Having developed a reputation over the years for being quite particular about tournament structures, Kessler is on a crusade to give poker players the best possible value for their buy ins and entry fees. Over time the “Kessler approved” tournament structure has become known as a badge of pride, with tournament venues and directors around the world eagerly working towards getting it. Below, you’ll find the entirety of Episode 22 of the podcast, which includes the interview with Allen starting just after the 16-minute mark. You can also read the summarized transcript below.