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Today’s guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast is WSOP gold bracelet winner and high stakes crusher/degen Alex “Thallo” Epstein.

Thallo and I recently met while providing commentary in the Polk vs Negreanu challenge over on the Solve For Why YouTube, and it quickly became obvious to me that I had to get this dude onto the podcast.

He’s a hilarious and high intelligent human being who has absolutely no fear in speaking his mind…

Which means you’re about to hear some amazing behind-the-scenes high stakes poker stories.

If that’s the kind of thing you’re into, I’d probably stick around.

In today’s episode, you’re going to learn:

The roller coaster ride Thallo took to hopping into the nose bleeds.
Why Thallo was invited to a private game and what led him to punching the whale square in the mouth.
What really went down a few months back when Dan Bilzerian accused JRB of cheating him in a home game.
And much, MUCH more!

So without any further ado I bring to you the rambling, gambling, high stakes private game mainstay Alex “Thallo” Epstein.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Coach Brad and his student Jon return for a second episode of "Finding Unnatural Bluffing Opportunities."

Coach Brad kicks us off with a hand from $500NL Zone where he finds himself on the river with 9-high in a 3bet pot and only 15 seconds to make a decision. In the second half of the episode Jon shares a hand where he misclicks the turn and arrives on the river with 5-high.

Will Coach Brad and Jon be able to turn their lemons into lemonade? Find out now on Episode #8!


New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

On today’s show, Coach Brad and his student Jon will take a look at two hands that Jon recently played at $5/$10 6-max cash on Ignition. Jon tries to take advantage of a pair of spots on the turn that he believes are underbluffed by his player pool and more importantly are spots Jon believes his player pool perceives as underbluffed. Identifying and exploiting spots that the population you play against perceive as being underbluffed is one quick way you can work more bluffs into your game and boost your winrate.

To join the CPG VIP Newsletter: https://chasingpokergreatness.com/VIP
To hop into next round of Preflop Bootcamp: https://chasingpokergreatness.com/bootcamp

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast is none other than Greatness Village Associate Coach and Tactical Tuesday co-host Thomas Bain.

Thomas is a professional poker player, poker coach, podcaster-in-training, and poker course creator. He’s also a really amazing human who I feel blessed to call my close friend. You might not know this but it’s entirely possible Chasing Poker Greatness would not exist today if it weren’t for Terminator Thomas.

A few years back I stopped taking on new poker students and assumed they’d all eventually drop off and I could laser focus on being the best cardplayer I could be. Surprisingly, year after year Thomas just kept on paying for coaching sessions. Those coaching sessions became regular reminders of just how much fulfillment and happiness I got from guiding folks in their poker journeys.

Thomas, above all else, has a poker mind like a diamond. He’s been one of the biggest winners at every single stake he’s ever played, live or online. There are times in our private Slack Community where Thomas gives next-level feedback on a hand history or poker strategy question and I think to myself, “Damn, that’s absolute genius. How am I supposed to be coaching this dude?”

Then, of course, he tried to do an intro for Tactical Tuesday and I learned that maybe he doesn’t have it all figured out just yet.

In today’s episode you’re going to learn:

Thomas’s poker origin story, including how him and I originally met.
Why Thomas graduated with a degree in Organizational Psychology from Ivy League Columbia University but forgot to actually use it.
Why the mere mention of Kevin Rabichow makes Thomas’s heart flutter.
And much, MUCH more!

So without any further ado, I bring to you my oldest student, partner in course creation, and dear friend Thomas Bain.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast is Twitch partner and co-founder of Tournament Poker Edge Derek Tenbusch.

Derek is an amazing, amazing dude. He’s one of those rare folks who have been in poker for a very long time and has come to love the poker community even more than the actual game itself.

I know that may sound a bit counter-intuitive, especially if you listen to the jaded grinders who are always talking about how slimy folks in our community are, but I 100% get where he’s coming from.

Even though multiple students in my community have made massive gains over the last year, including one who’s went from 20k hands per month at $100 nl in September to maintaining a 10 bb/100 winrate over 45k monthly hands at $200 in November, to now shot-taking $1k NL in December…

What I genuinely value the most about my community are the relationships I’ve been blessed with and it’s not even a contest.

Today in mine and Derek’s conversation you’re going to learn:

Exactly why Derek loves the poker community so much
The hilarious story behind him and his wife’s move L.A. to North Carolina.
A Greatness Bomb on finding your why and pursuing life & poker on your terms.
And much, MUCH more!

So, without any further ado, I bring to you the hilarious and inspiring co-founder of Tournament Poker Edge Derek Tenbusch.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest on Chasing Poker Greatness is mindset expert, Author, and podcaster Dr. Tricia Cardner.

I feel like a broken record in these intros sometimes with how much these conversations mean to me, but I just get consistently blown away by how amazing the humans who make up the world of cards and Tricia Cardner is no exception.

Tricia is engaging, hilarious, an amazing storyteller, and can’t help but drop greatness bomb after greatness bomb every time she opens her mouth.

Our conversation ranges from her childhood dreams, a hilarious story about Fedor Holz, and, of course, a ton about one of my favorite topics in the world: Mindset.

If you love my past mindset episodes with folks like Nick Howard, Elliot Roe, and Jared Tendler as much as I do, you ought to be feeling very excited right about now.

In today’s episode you’re going to learn:

- Some reasons why you KNOW in your heart you should fold but you have an out of body experience and watch yourself call instead.
- A greatness bomb that will make you want to pay much closer attention to your emotions.
-Some quick and easy ways you can improve your mindset.
- And much, MUCH more!

Without any further ado, I bring to you the mind wizard herself Dr. Tricia Cardner.


New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

I have saved a very special episode for you today for landmark episode #100. Today’s guest is one of the all-time greatest poker players to have ever sat down at the green felt, Jason Koon.

Jason has racked up over $31 million in MTT cashes which is pretty, pretty, pretty good. It also places him at #9 on the all-time money list.

Some of the highlights of his MTT career include:

8 career $1 million+ cashes.
$3.5 & $2.8 million gold medals in two $130k buy-in high roller Short Deck tournaments.
$1.6 million victory at the PokerStars Championships in their $100k buy-in high roller event.

And this doesn’t even take into consideration his untold winnings as a regular in the largest cash games on the planet.

Beyond Jason’s resume that I could go on and on and on about forever, I came away from this conversation fully understanding that the man Jason is exceeds even his accomplishments on the green felt. He’s quite simply a great soul and I could not be more honored to share his wisdom with you here today.

In today’s episode, you’re going to learn:

What Greatness means to Jason.
How and why he cleverly uses an RNG in his live poker sessions.
The power of intention.
And much, MUCH more!

Without any further ado, I bring to you one of the best to ever sit down in a semi-circle and play cards with a bunch of other humans, Jason Koon.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

In today's episode Coach Brad and Coach Thomas break down some memorable hands from Coach Brad's high stakes live poker career.

Hand #1 is a $7k pot played against an absolute crusher and Hand #2 is a $30k+ whopper played against a famous pop star.

Enjoy.

To join the Chasing Poker Greatness VIP Newsletter visit: https://chasingpokergreatness.com/VIP

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

In today’s episode of the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast I am once again joined by cash game crusher, Youtuber, and podcaster Trevor Savage.

I got so consumed by Trevor’s story in our first conversation that I forgot to ask him any questions other than “Tell me about your poker journey”.

Today, we more than make up for that and then some as he’s about to throw down Greatness Bomb after Greatness Bomb.

As a short aside, I’m a little worried about the continuity of this episode because right in the middle of recording I had a gremlin in my internet connection and it just kept dropping over and over and over again.

For a little mental imagery, it got so bad I actually left my house so that I could run around my neighborhood and find the Comcast guy who was making our lives miserable. I did find him and, shockingly, he pressed a button and my internet came back like it was no big deal.

I highly doubt you’re ever going to hear a Comcast ad on this podcast because they make ACR look like customer service gods.


In today’s episode, you’re going to learn:

The most unexpected thing to come from Trevor’s journey through poker.
What Trevor believes is the most high impact thing you can do to improve your poker game.
How Trevor maintains balance as a father and poker professional.
And much, MUCH more!

This interview is brought to you by Poker w Presence if you wanna get in
the zone and play your best when you need it most visit pokerwithpresence.com

So without any further ado I bring to you an amazing man, top-shelf cardplayer, and unbelievably patient spirit Trevor Savage.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today's episode of the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast features two recent hands Coach Thomas played on Ignition with a Queen Deuce and a Queen Trey.

You're going to hear straight from the horses mouth why Coach Thomas opted to put in three-bets with hands that don't really have much business putting extra money into the pot and gain some valuable lessons as it relates to counting combos when bluff catching.

If you love today's episode, the best way you can support the show is to hop on the CPG VIP Newsletter at https://chasingpokergreatness.com/VIP

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast is legendary MTT reaper of souls Mark “Dipthrong” Herm.

Mark has been on my radar as a force in the poker world for a very, very long time. Like 2007 Absolute Poker long.

Back in those days I was grinding away at cash games but allowed myself to take some shots here and there at some of the $200-$1k MTTs on Absolute for fun, and I specifically remember being aware of Dipthrong in every single tourney I played.

The fact that he’s still doing extraordinary things in the world of poker all these years later does not surprise me one bit.

What was very surprising to me was just how alike Mark and I are. We’re about the same age, we’ve been playing cards for about the same amount of time, and we both lean towards the intuitive side of poker more so than the analytical side.

I’m also extremely grateful that he’s also a genuinely open dude who isn’t afraid of discussing some of the more taboo areas of the poker lifestyle like struggling with mental health and adderall.

In today’s episode you’re also going to learn:

Why Mark bashes GTO every chance he gets.
How Elliot Roe has been especially impactful in Mark’s career.
Why Mark only plays on Sundays.
And much, MUCH more!

And now, without any further ado, it’s my absolute delight and pleasure to bring to you my conversation with the legendary Mark Herm.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today's episode features Coach Brad and Coach Thomas breaking down two hands where the HERO is facing a Turn check/raise:

Hand #1 is a live hand Coach Thomas played at the Commerce Casino.

Hand #2 is an online poker hand Coach Thomas' CFP student recently played at $200 NL. I hope dude's parents don't listen to today's episode ... it's going to be brutal!

There are Greatness Bombs aplenty just patiently waiting for you to dive right in.

To join Greatness Village (Our Slack Community) visit: https://bit.ly/greatness-village
To join the VIP Newsletter visit: https://chasingpokergreatness.com/VIP

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast is the author of Winning No Limit Hold’em Ashley Adams.

If there’s one thing I can tell you straight-away about Ashley it’s that dude is a natural born storyteller and has gone out of his way to collect more than his fair share of amazing poker stories. Luckily for you, he’s just about to share some of his favorites in this here conversation.

You’ll hear about the time he traveled to a home game down a dirt road in the middle of the sticks in Alabama to the time he battled in a game that makes your favorite podcast host salivate in a now extinct Asian casino.

In today’s episode you’re also going to learn:

- The resourceful ways Ashley was able to find home games in towns where he had literally zero connections.
- What really grinds mine and Ashley’s gears as it relates to poker content creation.
- And much, MUCH more!

So without any further ado I bring to you the poker Storyteller Supreme himself Ashley Adams.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

This Detox Files episodes features a one hour "optimization consult" with one of Poker Detox's contracted players.

These are guys Nick and his team invest tons of resources into so it's going to be a bit more advanced than the previous Detox Files you all know and love.

To listen to all the Detox Files, visit: https://chasingpokergreatness.com/detox-files


New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today my guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast coming back for an overdue Round 2 conversation is the founder of PokerCoaching.com Jonathan Little.

I don’t know if you’ve heard but Mr. Little has been featured fairly prominently in a couple of controversies over the past week that of course we’re about to dive into. The first is Phil Nagy smashing him with the ban hammer at ACR and the 2nd stemmed from accusations of rigging Twitter polls in my recent #PokerGOAT competition on Twitter.

Before we go any further I want you to know that I’m biased in many, many ways in life but one of my core values is striving to be as fair as I can to the folks I interact with. On a personal level I’ve never personally had a single negative interaction with Jonathan or any of his PokerCoaching.com coaches and he’s been nothing but generous with his time and energy specifically with me.

With that said I do wish to make it clear to you that it’s ok if you don’t like Jonathan Little. It’s also OK if you hate me as well. I don’t know exactly why you’d be listening to this podcast if that were the case but that’s a different matter entirely.

Sometimes I feel like we live in a world where we don’t feel safe to have our own opinions, especially if they’re unpopular. I really, really hope that changes.

In today’s episode, you’re going to learn:

- Why Jonathan thinks Excelling at Tough No-Limit Hold’em Games should be the next book in your poker library.
- Why the #PokerGOAT controversy affected Jonathan more than getting banned from ACR.
- How you should go about risk-taking in today’s poker environment.
- And much, MUCH more.

So without any further ado, I bring to you the founder of one of the largest and most successful poker training platforms in the entire universe, Jonathan Little.


New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest on the podcast is MTT wizard and PokerCoaching.com coach Matt Affleck.

Matt has over $4 million in live and online tournament cashes in his career with no plans on slowing down anytime soon.

Just a few of his career highlights include:

- A gold medal victory in a $3,150 SCOOP even for $550k.
- A $264k victory in the $2,500 main event at the Coco Poker Open.
- And a $139k victory in a $1,500 event at the Wynn Fall Classic.

Matt was very easy to talk to and his pure passion for the game shines through bright and clear. It’s easy to see why he’s been able to sustain success such a high level of success for as long as he has.

Also, to give you a little more perspective as to how Matt operates, here’s a little behind-the-scenes tidbit: After we stopped recording Matt wanted to pick my brain on some different coaching techniques and methodologies and we ended up talking shop for maybe another 30 minutes after the recording stopped.

I only mention this because, in my humble opinion, this is the trait of a human being who pursues excellence in whatever venture they dive into. If you truly want to draw from a deeper well in the avenue in which you’re Chasing Greatness, finding folks who are already deeper into the forest than you and asking their opinion is one of the most impactful things you can do to expedite the learning process.

With that said, today you’re going to learn:

- A Greatness Bomb from Matt on efficiently using solvers to improve your MTT game.
- Wise words on how to structure your off-days so that you can maintain your energy levels.
- A hilarious story about the odd place in which Matt was sitting when he won his SCOOP for over $550k (Here’s a hint, there was no celebration).
- And much, MUCH more!

So without any further ado, I bring to you longtime MTT crusher Matt Affleck.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest is mediocre poker coach Carlos Welch who is back for a Round 2.

Carlos and I’s first conversation was recorded right before the pandemic went nuclear and I had been wondering to myself how a man who lives out of his car would fare in these strange times. I mean, I can’t even drive my kids one hour away without catastrophe striking: One of them has to go to the bathroom.

So how do you find a place that will let you inside to use the bathroom on a regular basis? How do you shower if your gym is shut down?

Also, let’s be honest, I really just wanted an excuse to talk to Carlos again because he’s such an amazing human being which, if you have not yet been convinced, you will experience for yourself in just a few moments.

In today’s episode you’ll learn:

- How trusting your teacher relates directly to their impact.
- Why Mike Caro may be the most under-appreciated all-time poker coaches.
- Why Carlos doesn’t like interacting with strangers.
- And MUCH more!

Without any further ado I bring to you the nomad and “anything but mediocre poker coach” Carlos Welch.


New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast is high stakes mixed-game pro Melissa Burr.

She’s battled in stakes up to $2,000/$4,000 Super Stud and has developed the poker superpower to feel confident playing in whatever game she deems the best in any poker room she walks into.

It’s a superpower that very few folks in the poker world have, including your favorite podcast host, and is 100% the best way to be prepared for any catastrophic event that changes poker as we know it.

So you better prepare yourself because Melissa is about to drop Greatness Bomb after Greatness Bomb...

Which is a very natural thing when you’ve been immersed in the world of poker at the highest level for as long as Melissa has been.

In today’s episode you’ll learn:

- The one thing Melissa and I hate about poker with the fire of a thousand suns.
- A Greatness Bomb Melissa drops on observing a specific type of opponent.
- Why Melissa made the decision to learn ALL the games instead of specializing in one.
- And much, MUCH more.

So without any further ado I bring to you nose bleed mixed game Superstar Melissa Burr.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today’s guest on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast is WSOP bracelet winner and high stakes cash pro Chase Bianchi.

Despite focusing mainly on cash games Chase has racked up an impressive $870k in MTT cashes, including his crown jewel a gold medal finish in a $1k NLHE tourney at the 2016 WSOP.

Chase and I’s conversation chronicles his journey from being a poker dealer and going broke time and time again early on his career to finding his footing and regularly battling at the biggest stakes his casino offers.

In today’s episode you’ll also learn:

- Why bigger stakes does not necessarily mean tougher games.

- Why even the crushers of live cash games are struggling through Covid.

- Why aggressive bankroll management early in your poker career is not necessarily a bad thing.

- And much, MUCH more!

So without any further ado I bring to you high stakes live cash game crusher Chase Bianchi.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

Today my guest is 3-time WSOP bracelet winner, poker coach, and author of “The Game Plan” Matt Matros.

Matt has racked up over $2.5 million in live tournament cashes over his almost 2 decade long career.

Some highlights include:

- The aforementioned triple WSOP bracelets in $1,500 6-max event, limit hold em, and mixed hold ‘em tourneys.
- Finishing third at the WPT Championship for over $700k
- And three more WSOP final tables.

This conversation was a real joy for me.

It brought back many fond memories of a time in my life when making a WPT final table was the end-all-be-all and it was a mortal sin to miss an episode of the World Poker Tour (Not only because it was exciting but also because it was one of the few real sources of high level poker strategy anyone had access to).

You’ll hear stories about Matt’s good friend the late great Gavin Smith, the only time Matt forgot what hand he had in his entire poker career, and one pivotal AQ Matt wishes he had back.

In our conversation you’ll also learn:

- How Matt ended up at the $25k WPT Championship final table

- A greatness bomb on how MTT players misunderstand ICM.

- Why low expectations are a poker superpower.

- And much, much more!

Without any further ado, I bring to you 3-time WSOP bracelet winner Matt Matros.

New CPG Cash Game Courses!

Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-Bootcamp
Fish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrel
Neutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt