Blog: The Poker Bank

The line between genius and idiot can be razor thin, and this #poker hand with pocket kings showcases that perfectly. I slow play KK preflop, catch more than one Ace on the flop, and end up with the second nuts. But what's the best play when facing a chunky check-raise on the river? Let's see if this was the stupidest fold with pocket...

Are pocket tens ever easy to play? Well, rivering a set in a 3-bet pot certainly makes things easier! But once villain checks, what is the best size to bet? What does a GTO #poker solver say? And did I miss tons of value in this hand!? I make a couple of mistakes in this $2/$5 live hand, beginning with preflop when facing...

Most live #poker players are way too reactive when choosing their plays. And while they might end up betting a flush draw correctly, they tend to lack the proactive thought process to plan for different lines and sizes on the runout. This is a HUGE problem that can really cap your winrate! So let's review a hand from live $2/$5 where I defend...

Even though many #poker players will call a raise with KQ here, 3-betting King Queen is going to be WAY better. Let's review a hand from #VLOG 10 where the HJ open-raises, the CO calls, and we have KQo on the button. I opt to make a large squeeze instead of just calling, and lay out the case for playing these spots more...

Live cash game #poker is totally different than playing online. With several unique facets, including tells, rake, and the inability to multi-table, live players need to prepare differently. This video shares six truths about live poker that I wish I fully understood as a newer player, so you can avoid making the same mistakes I did. Enjoy this addition to my #vlog and...

With the popularity of GTO #poker, and the fact that GTO Wizard offers free preflop ranges, it's not shocking that players are comparing their ranges with the new Live GTO solve from Red Chip Poker. This video compares open-raising ranges, BTN 3-betting ranges, OOP 4-bet ranges, sizes, and more so that you know which solution is better for you. This entire discussion comes...

There are so many skills to learn in #poker, but these are the 6 things I wish I had learned when I first started playing. Learning these poker concepts early, and implementing them well, sets you up for success. With these things understood, you can find more +EV bluffs, minimize tilt, and reinforce the strategic elements that actually matter. 0:00 Tips For Learning...

Is #poker gambling? If it is, is it gambling the same way that slot machines and the lottery are? This video explores #gambling, common misconceptions, the skill vs. luck argument, why being able to deliberately lose a game matters, religion, and identifying problem gamblers and addicts. Enjoy! 0:00 Good Morning 0:19 Defining Gambling 0:58 Is Poker Gambling 1:36 What Else Is Gambling 3:00...

Playing $2/$5 live cash, I run into this #poker hand where I suspect the SB had quads (hint, I do NOT have an Ace in my hand!). Like the video if you think the SB has quads a ton of the time here!

Through GTO and neural net exploration, three key lessons have emerged for big blind defense. I share each lesson with you so you can defend your BB properly, understand your 3-betting density, and know just how wide calling ranges get in this spot. Also, see how seemingly small changes to steal sizes impact defense, and when the overall defending frequency drops below 50%....

A losing #poker player is easy to spot, especially since they tend to do most of the things in this video! See how the things they say, the ways they think, and the limitations in their overall poker strategy almost guarantee they won't be profitable in the long run. If you're making any of these mistakes, it's time to put in a little...

Not 100% sure how leveling in poker relates to GTO and exploitative strategies? This video explains leveling and balance, walks you through the steps of achieving balance through step-by-step levels, and explains when you should NOT balance at all. This concept builds upon the idea of mixing strong hands into passive ranges (such as checking) and is a bridge between GTO and a...

What exactly do GTO 4-betting ranges look like in live cash games? Is AA always a 4-bet? What about AKo? In this video, we look at the new Live GTO solve and explore 4 key 4-betting ranges that you NEED to understand. This includes in-position 4-bets, OOP 4-bets, and even analysis when facing a squeeze. Enjoy! 0:00 Good Morning 0:39 GTO Preflop 4Bet...

What exactly do GTO 4-betting ranges look like in live cash games? Is AA always a 4-bet? What about AKo? In this video, we look at the new Live GTO solve and explore 4 key 4-betting ranges that you NEED to understand. This includes in-position 4-bets, OOP 4-bets, and even analysis when facing a squeeze. Enjoy! 0:00 Good Morning 0:39 GTO Preflop 4Bet...

What exactly is a mixed strategy? Why do GTO #poker solvers love mixing hands in the output? If the solver suggests betting a hand 90% of the time and checking the other 10% of the time, should you just ignore the checks? This video takes a 101 look at the concept of mixed vs. pure strategies along with actual solver output to help...

What exactly do GTO 3-betting ranges look like in live cash games? Is AQ always a 3-bet? What about QQ? In this video, we look at the new Live GTO #poker solve and explore 5 key 3-betting ranges that you NEED to understand. This includes in-position 3-bets, OOP 3-bets, and even some preflop squeeze situations. Enjoy! 0:00 Good Morning 0:27 New Live GTO...

Should you be using simple or advanced preflop ranges in live #poker? Are GTO preflop ranges preferred over exploitative ones? And how do these different ranges compare side-by-side? In this video, I take you through The GTO Ranges App and explore the new live cash game GTO solve compared to the original exploitative ranges. We compare HJ open-raising hands, BTN 3-bets vs. LJ...

Most #poker players believe that the best way to balance is to simply bet all of their hands for a single size. They bet $X with their strong hands and $X with their bluffs too. But what if I told you that was incredibly wrong? In this video, I prove why a single bet sizing strategy fails the GTO test and why multiple...

Get every open-raising range for live #poker according to the GTO solver. This video reviews each GTO-approved preflop opening range, from a tight 9% UTG range to a 44% SB stealing range. No available solve currently allows for 2 preflop callers in a live cash game, but this solve does and the results are all the better for it! 0:00 Good Morning 0:44...

The concept of range advantage in #poker has primarily been used to discuss which player's range has more equity than another. But a more comprehensive definition looks at the overall desirability and profitability of the ranges in question, especially from a #GTO perspective. So let's analyze this improved definition, look at a couple of examples, and even explore distinct advantages that can occur...