Third Man Walking

Your correspondent starts with a commonly asked question within the poker community (“How do we make poker more popular?”) and argues the more important question is slightly different: “SHOULD poker be more popular?” Then, he reviews a $5/$5/$10 session in an unfamiliar locale. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:19 On (not) growing the game 11:00 $5/$5/$10 session 12:01 AJss on A54r4cc2ccc 13:27 88 on...

Your correspondent reviews a boom-era poker film that did not stand the test of time, then gets annoyed with himself after playing badly against an opponent at $5/$5/$10. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:19 “The Grand” 15:16 $5/$5/$10 NLHE session 15:40 A5ss on J85ssx 16:48 QJss on 974ssx8cc3x 19:10 QThh on A54ddxJx4x 22:39 J8hh on J43sxs3cc6ccc 26:01 A7ss on K63xccJss7x 30:46 55 on T95ddxJx9x http:...

Your correspondent looks ahead to the World Series of Poker, then watches the excellent but occasionally abrasive Winamax YouTube series "Inside the Mind of a Pro." He then reviews a $5/$5/$10 no-limit hold-em session that ends with a wild double-board PLO bomb pot. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 Tournament season! 6:49 The YouTube series "Inside the Mind of a Pro" 16:35 $5/$5/$10 session 16:46...

Your correspondent looks back at the 2021 film "The Card Counter," about a gambler struggling with his past as a soldier. He then plays a $5/$10 session in which he tries to shake off the rust of an extended break. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 "The Card Counter" 11:15 $5/$5 and $5/$10 NLHE session 13:29 $5/$5: AKss all-in preflop 14:47 KsKc on 642hhx5ss3hhh 17:19 $5/$10: AdJx on 875rJdd3x 22:...

Your correspondent compares live no-limit hold-em to online to illustrate why live poker creates a unique kind of confusion that can be hard to resolve. He then reviews a $5/$10 session that featured a tantalizing bluff spot he didn't take. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:19 Why live poker is destined to confuse us 7:31 What I've been up to 8:30 Playing online PLO 11:16 $5/$5 and $5/$10 no-limit ho...

Your correspondent revisits the possibility of diversifying by learning different game types, then plays a wild $5/$10 session in which he reflects on an increasingly rare opportunity to play with a huge action player. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:16 Introduction and adjusting to declining game quality 4:38 $5/$10 NLHE session 5:57 On getting to play with very fun players 10:13 Ad4x on J52ddx3x...

Today, fellow podcaster David Chen and your correspondent discuss the recent documentary "Matusow," which is available to rent on Amazon Prime. The movie follows poker boom-era star Mike Matusow’s recent attempts to pay off debts, stay relevant, and fight for his legacy. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE You can follow David's work at decodingeverything.com. He also writes about poker at davechenpoker....

Amidst a couple weeks mostly away from poker, your correspondent plays two unusually low-stakes sessions, thinking along the way about the impact of policy upon poker options at public casinos. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:16 What I've been up to 3:14 What is low-stakes poker like in 2025? 7:44 How poker in casinos is affected by changes in laws 11:01 $1/$3 session in Seattle 14:13 AsAx on J87xs...

Your correspondent revisits the 2009 poker reality show "2 Months 2 Million," then reviews a day of poker that spanned two casinos and over 10 hours. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 2 Months 2 Million 12:47 Recap of a long Friday session and a hand review: 55 on T85rJdd4x http://twitter.com/thirdwalking http://crushlivepoker.com

Your correspondent looks back at the 2015 gambling movie "Mississippi Grind," then reviews a $5/$10 session in which he played several all-in pots. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 "Mississippi Grind" 10:43 $5/$10 session 10:55 87dd on AT2ddd2xJx 14:52 AA no diamond on KQ2dxd3ddd 16:50 99 all-in preflop 20:15 76cc on T98ssx 21:14 AKo all-in preflop 22:21 66 on J65rTss6x 25:37 AKcc all-in preflop...

Your correspondent revisits the 2007 poker film “Lucky You,” then discusses a $5/$5/$10 session that left him shrugging to himself about the quality of his play. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:20 Brief life/wildfire update 1:45 "Lucky You" 14:05 $5/$5/$10 session 14:13 On the types of "action" players currently playing in public mid-stakes games 18:27 TT on KT6sxs2sss 20:34 Double-board PLO bomb p...

Your correspondent reviews a recent $5/$5/$10 session in which he ran several big bluffs. He also relates a story about a nitty opponent. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:27 $5/$5/$10 session 0:43 QTss on KT5xxsJss6x 6:20 Double board PLO bomb pot: JT22xddx. Top board: AKQr8dd4x. Bottom board: Q93r2ss4x 8:45 JJ on A54r4ddTddd 10:34 JTss on 322ccx4xKx 12:59 KQcc on T84hhh2x3hhhh 15:09 T9dd on KQJxssQ...

Your correspondent wins some big pots at $5/$5/$10 but leaves the casino a bit frustrated. Then, he thinks about how poker players think about money. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:19 $5/$5 and $5/$5/$10 session 0:36 AQo all-in preflop 1:46 K7o on 752rQss8sss 3:09 QQ on 853rQccJccc 6:31 AhKx on K95hhxTxTx 10:22 QJdd on AJ5dxdKx4ddd 13:34 AA (no heart) on J96rKhh8hhh 14:50 I return to $5/$5 17:36 P...

Your correspondent discusses how private games have created an imbalance in live cash-game poker, and what to do about it. Then, he discusses a $5/$5/$10 session in which he made several very strong hands. 0:15 On the migration of private games from high-stakes live poker to mid- and low-stakes poker, and the problems that has created 20:00 $5/$5 and $5/$5/$10 NLHE session 21:15 AA on 664r9r2 24:4...

Your correspondent briefly muses on the difficulty of finding ways to improve when poker continually finds new ways to challenge and mislead you. He then reviews a $5/$10 session that featured some wild street-poker hands, including two in which he made huge folds. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 On hunting for ways to get better 6:48 $5/$10 NLHE session 7:29 JJ on J65ddxThh 9:03 AJcc on A75xddK...

Your correspondent reads the anthropologist David M. Hayano's "Poker Faces," a book that, 42 years since it was published, has much to say about modern poker culture. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:30 "Poker Faces" 18:21 Anatomy of a Downswing, Part 1,000,000, featuring some weird digressions on nearly getting run over by a truck and of being in a mall in suburban Cleveland needing to buy a shirt...

Your correspondent struggles with his proximity to the recent Nick Vertucci scandal and wonders how long he should stay in the poker world. Then, he plays a $5/$5/$10 session. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:16 On the Nick Vertucci scandal 12:17 $5/$5/$10 NLHE session 13:03 4c4x on T32ccxQxTx 16:06 QTss on TT3rA6 18:25 QQ on T75r4Q 20:31 JJ on 332xddKx6x 22:01 66 on 652ccxKcccQx 24:57 AKo all-in pr...

Your correspondent waits -- and waits -- for good opportunities at the table. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:22 On waiting for my turn 6:17 $5/$5/$10 hand history: AA preflop 10:20 $5/$5/$10(/$20/$40) hand history: A4hh on Q22ccx4xJx 15:51 $5/$10(/$20) session 16:41 7c7x on J95ccx8x3x (playing against an unusual opponent type) 21:00 AKo on AK3r4ss 22:50 QQ (no spade) on K96xss5x7sss 24:44 JJ prefl...

Your correspondent defends "mandatory" under-the-gun straddles against recent criticism. Then, he plays a brief but fruitful $5/$10 session. FORUM DISCUSSION : CLICK HERE 0:16 Some not-so-obvious reasons why straddles are good for games 10:10 $5/$10 NLHE session 10:52 K4ss on JJ6rAssTsss 13:04 88 on K42ssxJx6x 14:28 KQo on QT9cxc7hh 16:54 AQo on AQ9sssAxQx 19:19 A4dd on A53ssx 23:08 JJ on 854xssAx...

Your correspondent tries to fight off bad thoughts while playing $5/$10 and $5/$5 at two casinos. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 1:05 On the "dead zone" in late afternoon public poker games 2:32 $5/$10 NLHE session 2:39 AKcc all-in preflop 3:17 KK all-in preflop 4:14 KK all-in preflop (again) 5:46 JJ on QT2hxh4cc 8:15 QTss on QJ6rAxA 10:22 $5/$5 session later that day at a different casino 13:27 AKo...

Your correspondent talks to screenwriter and poker player Josh Wilcox, who wrote the upcoming poker movie "Dead Money." Your correspondent then reviews a recent $5/$10 session. FORUM DISCUSSION : CLICK HERE 1:35 Josh Wilcox on "Dead Money" 15:55 Playing a freeroll tournament 20:09 $5/$10 NLHE session 20:15 AKss on K72ccxAxQx 22:04 A7dd on Q96ddxJxAx 24:57 AKss (again) on KQ7xhhTdd 27:50 A9o on 963...

Your correspondent offers a prescription for the recent controversy surrounding Jonathan Tamayo's victory in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker. He then discusses potential cheating in online poker and -- ugh -- public live poker games, and finds parallels between what's happening now and descriptions of the early days of poker in James McManus' "Cowboys Full." Then, he reviews a profitab...

Your correspondent reflects on the slowness of live poker and how it can make life feel very, very long. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 Variance & time in live poker 10:37 $5/$10 NLHE session 10:43 TT on Q75rQ9 12:29 A8hh on AJ4rTdd5ddd 14:47 AJss on A43ddx2x2x 17:57 99 on J96hhxJcc 19:44 KdJx on T96ddd 20:53 77 on 976r3ssTx 23:27 98o on 772xss6hh5x 25:08 KTss on 944ssx7sssJx http://twitter...

Your correspondent thinks back to how he thought about poker six years ago. Then, he plays a $5/$10 game where he tries to fend off some splashy, aggressive villains. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:15 Las Vegas trip recap 1:03 Your correspondent reflects on how his approach to poker has changed since 2018 8:50 $5/$10 session and a rant about table changes 12:52 76o on 853hhx9cc 14:22 KK (no diamon...

Your correspondent prepares for a brief trip to Las Vegas. He then thinks about what it means that the real action in cash games always seems to be happening somewhere else, hidden from view. He also deals with an annoying opponent in a $5/$10 session. FORUM DISCUSSION: CLICK HERE 0:18 Las Vegas weekend plans 5:15 Why the real action in cash game poker always seems to be out of view Here is Pokeri...