Upswing Poker Level-Up

Check out Garrett's Destroy Live Cash course and use code LEVELUP for $50 off 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/destroy-live-cash/ Watch this episode on YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRc2eWcffqM Watch this video and learn how Garrett was tricked by a double reverse tell 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS3mKkvqDsE  View the written version of this episode 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/5-live-poker-tips/ Get access to free preflop charts 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/preflop/ Get the Lucid Poker Trainer app for free 👉 https://lucidpoker.com/ Talk with Upswing Coaches & members 👉 https://discord.gg/TX765Y3FPa Garrett Adelstein shares five practical live cash game tips for improving game selection, reading opponents, exploiting weaker players, and balancing theory with real-world adjustments. 00:00 Garrett Adelstein's 5 Live Cash Tips 01:19 Tip 1: Game Selection Is Everything 06:08 Tip 2: Pay Attention 12:15 Tip 3: Target the Biggest VIPs 26:03 Tip 4: Know the Theory 29:46 Tip 5: Exploit, Exploit, Exploit 32:24 Garrett's $600K Pot vs. Rick Salomon 46:25 Poker, Luck & Gratitude

Use Code MTM100 and Get $100 Off the 'Modern Tournament Mastery' Course: https://upswingpoker.com/modern-tournament-mastery/ Which player at your final table has 35% of the chips but nowhere near 35% of the actual win equity? In this deep dive, you'll get the exact ICM-based strategy every WSOP Main Event finalist should be using at their stack size, so you can spot the mistakes the pros make before the money even changes hands. Get access to free preflop charts 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/preflop/ Get the Lucid Poker Trainer app for free 👉 https://lucidpoker.com/ Talk with Upswing Coaches & members 👉 https://discord.gg/TX765Y3FPa 00:00 Introduction & Final Table Preview 0:53 ICM Fundamentals Explained 2:35 Short Stack Strategy & Re-Shoves 6:55 Mid Stack Pressure & Seat Draws 8:44 Tough Positional Spots 9:02 Mixed Steal Opportunities 10:31 Position vs Chip Leader 12:35 Button Advantage 13:21 Third-Chip Squeeze 15:44 Handcuffed Second Place 18:05 Chip Leader's Strategy 21:24 ICM Mechanics Recap & Closing

Buy Modern Tournament Mastery This Week and Get Tim's $300 Course as a FREE Bonus 👉  https://upswingpoker.com/modern-tournament-mastery/ Final tables change everything. In this episode, high-stakes crusher Tim Adams breaks down the subtle strategic adjustments that separate players who ladder up from players who actually close out tournaments. Learn how to think ahead under ICM pressure, exploit overly aggressive chip leaders, and stay mentally composed when the stakes are at their absolute highest. Get access to free preflop charts 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/preflop/ Get the Lucid Poker Trainer app for free 👉 https://lucidpoker.com/ Talk with Upswing Coaches & members 👉 https://discord.gg/TX765Y3FPa View the written version of this episode 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/3-final-table-tips/ 00:00 Final Table Strategy Intro 00:52 Thinking Beyond One Hand 02:26 When to Pass Marginal Spots 03:10 Table Position & Stack Dynamics 05:18 Doug Polk's Pocket Eights Spot 06:20 Triton London Final Table Review 08:06 Why Position Changes Everything 09:38 Playing Short at Final Tables 11:30 Exploiting Aggressive Chip Leaders 12:53 How Big Stacks Overextend 13:43 Fighting Back With Rejams 15:53 Why Chip Leaders Fold Too Much 17:18 Staying Calm at Final Tables 18:56 Avoiding Final Table Pressure 20:14 Playing One Hand at a Time 20:44 Why You Shouldn't Chop Deals 22:30 Final Thoughts & Course Promo Making a final table is one thing — actually closing out a poker tournament is something else entirely. In this strategy-packed episode, high-stakes tournament crusher Tim Adams joins the show to break down three advanced final table concepts that separate elite tournament players from the field. Drawing from years of experience in Super High Roller events and some of the toughest poker tournaments in the world, Tim explains how players should approach ICM pressure, chip stack dynamics, future game considerations, and the psychological side of playing under extreme pressure. The conversation begins with one of the most overlooked concepts in tournament poker strategy: thinking beyond the current hand. Tim explains why poker solvers and ICM calculations can only take players so far, and why great final table players must constantly think about future table configurations, stack positioning, and who will be seated on their left and right after a hand concludes. Using examples involving marginal all-in decisions, bottom call-offs, and chip leader positioning, the discussion explores how future hands can drastically alter the true value of a decision in tournament poker. The episode also includes a deep breakdown of a real hand from the Triton London final table featuring Doug Polk. Tim and the hosts analyze a difficult pocket eights decision against a 20 big blind shove and explain how future game value, player positioning, and table dynamics influence close ICM spots. This section is especially valuable for tournament poker players looking to improve their final table decision-making process beyond basic solver outputs. From there, the discussion shifts into exploiting aggressive chip leaders at final tables. Tim explains how modern tournament players often overapply ICM pressure when holding the chip lead, creating opportunities for shorter stacks to fight back with aggressive rejams and exploitative adjustments. The episode dives into reshove strategy, blind pressure, stack leverage, equilibrium ranges, and why many chip leaders widen their opening ranges too far without properly adjusting their calling ranges. Finally, the episode focuses on the mental game of poker and how to remain calm during high-pressure tournament moments. Tim discusses the importance of relaxation, emotional control, and embracing the final table experience instead of becoming overwhelmed by expectations. The result is an insightful poker strategy discussion filled with advanced tournament concepts, practical examples, and actionable advice for anyone serious about improving their final table performance in No Limit Hold'em tournaments.

Get early sign up bonuses for Modern Tournament Mastery 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/timothy-adams-dvoress-chidwick-course-waitlist/ Mike Brady sat down with high-stakes tournament crusher Tim Adams (head coach of Modern Tournament Mastery) to put Chat GPT to the test. They break down a ton of spots and well... you'll see how poorly Chat GPT would play poker! Get Modern Tournament Mastery by Tim Adams, Daniel Dvoress, and guest coach Stephen Chidwick on May 25, 2026. View the hand history and ChatGPT analysis 👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1teDl6IRwiBI0iSdHhhbLNq86JM3_vXEL/view?usp=sharing Get the written version of this episode 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/chatgpt-poker-help/ Get access to free preflop charts 👉 https://upswingpoker.com/preflop/ Get the Lucid Poker Trainer app for free 👉 https://lucidpoker.com/ Talk with Upswing Coaches & members 👉 https://discord.gg/TX765Y3FPa 0:00 - Intro 1:16 Opening A7s UTG 12:05 Modern Tournament Mastery 16:08 Defending 87s in the BB 25:43 Opening AJo from MP 34:27 3 Betting 44 vs Table Talk 38:25 Suited Broadways in EP

Get the course here: https://upswingpoker.com/crushing-plo-tournaments/ View the written version of this episode here: https://upswingpoker.com/podcast/ep19-pot-limit-omaha/ Most PLO players are making the same costly mistakes without even realizing it—and it's destroying their win rate. In this episode, you'll learn the core fundamentals of Pot Limit Omaha so you can build stronger hands, make better decisions, and start playing a winning strategy immediately. 00:00 Episode Intro + Why This PLO Episode Matters 01:37 What This Episode Will Teach You About PLO 02:20 Why Most PLO Hands Are Overvalued 02:58 The 4 Key Traits of Strong PLO Hands 05:41 What "Robust Equity" Means in PLO 07:41 Position and Preflop Strategy Fundamentals 08:04 UTG vs Button: How Ranges Change 11:32 Blockers, Equity, and Preflop Mistakes 14:01 Pocket Aces in PLO: Biggest Misconceptions 16:16 The Biggest Leak: Playing With Fear 19:18 Postflop Tip #1: Playing Based on Robust Equity 21:34 Postflop Tip #2: C-Bet Sizing by Board Texture 24:06 Postflop Tip #3: Checking Out of Position 26:16 Postflop Tip #4: Turn Strategy and Pot Sizing 28:50 Postflop Tip #5: Multiway Pot Strategy Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is one of the most complex poker variants, and in this episode, high-stakes pro Dylan Weisman breaks down a practical framework for actually winning. Unlike No-Limit Hold'em, PLO is an equity-driven game where hands run close together, making concepts like nuttiness, connectedness, suitedness, and high-pair power essential. Dylan explains how these four traits define strong PLO hands and why players must focus on building "robust equity"—hands that can improve across multiple streets and realistically make the nuts by the river. The episode emphasizes how position and stack depth shape strategy. Early position requires tight, smooth, and highly connected hands, while later positions allow for wider, more flexible ranges. Dylan also highlights common mistakes, including overvaluing weak hands, misplaying pocket Aces, and ignoring blockers and opponent ranges. A key takeaway is that many hands that look strong preflop perform poorly postflop if they lack nuttiness or backup equity. Postflop play is where most players struggle, and the biggest leak discussed is trying to "protect equity." In PLO, board textures change too frequently for that approach to work. Instead, players should apply aggression with hands that have strong redraws and play more passively with vulnerable holdings. The episode also covers c-bet sizing by board texture, why checking out of position is often optimal, and how to build effective check-raising ranges. Finally, Dylan breaks down turn strategy, polarized betting, and multiway pots, where smaller bet sizes and discipline are critical. Overall, this episode provides a clear, structured roadmap for improving PLO fundamentals and avoiding costly mistakes.

Get 25% off Lucid Poker. Watch 'Winning Money in Multiway Pots' Join our Discord community. View the written version of this episode here. In this episode, you'll learn the seven most powerful small bet situations that can instantly pressure your opponents and win more pots. By watching, you'll understand exactly when to use small bets for protection, range advantage, stack-to-pot leverage, block betting, and multi-way pressure so you can make more profitable decisions in both cash games and tournaments. 00:00 Mastering Small Bets to Punish Missed Ranges (Cash Game C-Bet Strategy) 00:48 Protection Betting: Thin Value with Medium Pairs in Tournaments 02:50 Range Advantage Boards: Small Bets When You Smash the Flop 04:30 Low Stack-to-Pot Ratio Strategy in 3-Bet and 4-Bet Pots 06:16 Out-of-Position Flop Strategy: Why Solvers Prefer Small Bets 07:18 River Block Betting: Setting Your Own Price with Medium Strength Hands 09:06 Multi-Way Pots: Shared Defense and Why Smaller Bets Work In this episode of the Level-Up podcast, we break down the seven most profitable small bet situations in No Limit Hold'em and explain how to weaponize small sizing in both cash games and tournaments. From classic continuation bet spots to advanced stack-to-pot ratio adjustments, this guide shows you how to pressure opponents efficiently without bloating the pot unnecessarily. The first key concept centers on betting small when your opponent's range is filled with missed hands. In single-raised pots—like when you raise preflop and the big blind calls—dry flops such as queen-seven-three heavily favor the preflop raiser. Because the defender's range contains many ace-high and low-equity hands, a small one-third pot c-bet frequently wins the pot immediately while risking very little. This is one of the most efficient plays in modern poker strategy. Next, we explore protection betting with medium-strength hands. In tournament scenarios with 50 big blind stacks, holding a pocket pair on a coordinated board often calls for a small turn bet. This thin value plus protection approach forces opponents with overcards into difficult decisions, either folding equity or calling while behind. When your range crushes the board—such as in three-bet pots on ace-king-jack textures—small bets at high frequency generate folds from capped ranges while maintaining balance. Similarly, in four-bet pots where the stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) is low, small bets are typically optimal because the pot is already bloated and ranges are narrow. Out of position, solvers overwhelmingly prefer small sizing as the preflop raiser. By "naming your price," you avoid giving the in-position player the advantage of dictating the pot size. This principle extends to block betting on the river, where small bets with medium-strength hands prevent facing larger bets while still extracting thin value. Finally, we examine multi-way pots. Because the burden of defense is shared, betting into multiple players already signals strength. Smaller bets often accomplish the same goal as larger ones while preserving stack depth. Mastering these seven small bet scenarios will dramatically improve your postflop strategy, increase your win rate, and help you control pot geometry across a wide variety of poker situations.

Click here to get 25% off EVERYTHING at Upswing Poker during the Black Friday sale! "Honestly in the 20 whatever years I've been on and off studying poker I don't know if I've ever seen a more impactful, concise, practical and actionable 20 minutes of content. Very very well done. Thank you." - Verified Lab 2.0 Member Click here and watch 'How to Play Pocket Kings'. Learn how to play Ace-King with clarity as Uri Peleg breaks down real hands and shows you exactly when this "premium" hand is powerful—and when it's just Ace-high. By the end, you'll know how to avoid costly mistakes, read tricky situations, and confidently extract maximum value from one of poker's most misunderstood hands. 00:00 Why Ace-King Is a Deceptive and Difficult Hand 01:59 Playing Ace-High on a Dry Board 03:29 When Ace-King Becomes "Just Ace-High" 03:56 Deep-Stacked 3-Bet Pot on a Connected Board 06:08 Strong Flop and Clean Runout With Ace-King 06:57 Blind vs Blind: Managing Missed Flops 08:46 Navigating Bad Boards With Ace-King This video is a deep dive into one of poker's most misunderstood hands: Ace-King. Uri Peleg explains that while Ace-King is ranked among the strongest preflop holdings, it behaves very differently from true premiums like Aces or Kings. The hand's profitability is split: when you hit an Ace or a King, it becomes a powerhouse, but when you miss, it shifts into a marginal holding that often under-realizes its equity. The core message is learning to separate the emotional attachment players feel toward "big slick" from the actual strategic reality of the board, ranges, and runouts. Uri walks through a series of real hand examples that illustrate how dramatically Ace-King's value can fluctuate. In the first scenario, he shows how Ace-King with no pair is essentially just Ace-high—nothing more. He encourages players to visualize the hand as something as humble as Ace-Deuce when facing river aggression, reminding viewers that the preflop strength is irrelevant once the board runs out and equities shift. When the hand misses, the correct approach is often checking back, calling once with overcards, or folding river bets that only beat bluffs. The next hands highlight more nuanced spots, such as 3-bet pots where you flop draws or turn top pair in dangerous textures. Uri demonstrates how paired boards, four-to-a-straight runouts, and coordinated middling textures can crush Ace-King's value. In one hand he turns top pair top kicker but immediately explains why it's still a weak holding due to the connected nature of the board and the many wheel Aces that dominate him. He stresses discipline—letting go of the "premium hand" mindset and evaluating each street as if holding an ordinary bluff catcher. The video also includes best-case scenarios where you not only flop top pair but continue running out safely. Uri shows how to extract value on clean textures and when to size aggressively with strong but vulnerable holdings. These examples are balanced with tougher ones where the player gets to showdown cheaply or picks up a lucky river improvement after checking twice and avoiding check-raises. Uri reinforces a key concept: Ace-King is not a hand that wants to inflate pots blindly. Its strength is highly contextual, dependent on the board, the action, and the opponent's range. Sometimes it plays like a monster; other times it plays like a weak Ace-high.

Play and improve for free with Lucid Poker GIVEAWAY: Want to win a $3,000 trip to Las Vegas to play the WPT Prime Championship? Sign up for Lucid Poker and play just 1 hand on any leaderboard to give yourself a chance to win. If you start your free trial and climb into the top 10 of a leaderboard, you can unlock even more entries in the giveaway. Good luck! Watch 'STOP C-Betting Out of Position (It's Costing You Money)' Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood reveal five key flop scenarios where you should always bet to maximize profits and simplify decision-making. From disconnected King-high boards to big-pair flops, they explain when aggressive range betting works best—and View the written version of this episode here.  00:00 Situation 1 03:04 Situation 2 05:00 Situation 3 07:10 Situation 4 09:41 Situation 5 In this Level-Up episode, hosts Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood explain five key situations in which poker players should increase aggression and bet their entire range. Many players, they note, aren't aggressive enough post-flop — a costly leak that can be fixed with simple heuristics. Each situation is supported by solver insights and practical examples drawn from both live and online play, with the overarching goal of helping players simplify their strategy while maintaining strong expected value. Situation 1 focuses on flops with no draws and one high card when you're in position — for example, King-Eight-Deuce or Queen-Seven-Deuce rainbow. These boards are dry and disconnected, giving the preflop raiser a strong equity advantage. Solvers show nearly universal continuation betting, since opponents in the big blind have mostly missed. However, if the flop adds flush or straight possibilities, players should reduce c-betting frequency because resistance from opponents will increase. Situation 2 arises when you're raising from an earlier position such as the hijack, and your range is naturally tighter and stronger. On moderately connected flops like Jack-Six-Deuce, you can once again bet your entire range. The reason is straightforward: a tighter preflop range connects more often and contains fewer total misses, allowing for confident aggression. Situation 3 covers flops that include a big pair like King-King-Five or Queen-Queen-Three. These boards are overwhelmingly favorable for the preflop aggressor, especially in three-bet pots, because the range advantage is massive. Gary and Mike emphasize that players should c-bet every time using small sizes to exploit opponents who are forced to fold much of their range. Situation 4 applies to King-high flops in three-bet pots when you're in position. Through Lucid Poker simulations, Mike demonstrates that betting every time on such boards—no matter your actual hand—rarely produces mistakes. The simplicity of this approach makes it an easy and profitable rule of thumb. Situation 5 flips the script: you've three-bet out of position and the flop is disconnected with one high card, like Ace-Eight-Deuce or Queen-Seven-Deuce. Here again, betting nearly your entire range with a small sizing works best because your range maintains a strong advantage. The episode concludes with three caveats: dial back aggression when opponents overfold, over-attack, or when stacks are short and a shove is likely. While aggression is profitable, the key lesson is controlled aggression—bet big when range advantage is clear, but adapt intelligently when dynamics shift.

The Lucid Poker Trainer is FREE starting on November 10th! Watch 'Top 5 Spots to Bluff in Poker'. Learn seven essential strategies to dominate live and online cash games with host Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood. From value betting thinly to attacking capped ranges, this episode breaks down the habits that separate winners from everyone else at the table. View the written version of this episode. 00:00 Tip 1 03:52 Tip 2 07:42 Tip 3 12:30 Tip 4 15:08 Tip 5 18:50 Tip 6 22:55 Tip 7 In this episode of the Upswing Poker Level-Up, host Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood share seven actionable tips designed to help players maximize their profits in live and online cash games. Tip 1: Value Bet Relentlessly, emphasizing that most players fail to extract enough value from their strong hands. Gary explains that value betting thinly — even with second or third pair — is crucial because opponents rarely raise as bluffs. Avoiding fear of a raise and focusing on consistent value extraction is key to long-term success. Tip 2: Practice Good Game Selection Habits focuses on putting yourself in profitable environments. Mike notes that even great players can lose if they face stronger opponents, while average players can win consistently in weaker games. The duo provides a checklist for identifying soft live tables — look for regular limpers, frequent multiway pots, or rare preflop re-raises — and stress the importance of maintaining good etiquette rather than "bum hunting." Online players, they add, should seek tables with at least one weak opponent and leave when the lineup gets too tough. Tip 3: Watch Opponents and Formulate Counter Strategies, Gary urges players to stay observant even when they're not in a hand. He explains how noticing showdowns and betting patterns can reveal exploitable tendencies, such as overfolding rivers or checking back too often. Mike builds on this with examples of how to adjust aggression and raise sizes based on opponents' leaks. Tip 4: Play Aggressively When In Position teaches how to exploit positional advantage. When heads-up, being the aggressor puts out-of-position players under pressure. In contrast, Tip 5: Check the Flop Frequently in Multiway Pots highlights the need for caution when facing multiple opponents, since their ranges are more likely to connect with the board. The hosts explain how to balance passive lines with timely check-raises using strong hands and semi-bluffs. Tip 6: Attack Capped Ranges Relentlessly explores recognizing when opponents lack strong hands and applying pressure with big bets or bluffs. Both value betting and overbetting in these situations are highly profitable because most players fail to protect their ranges. Tip 7: Mostly Fast Play Strong Hands reinforces the idea that building pots early leads to greater long-term gains. However, Gary reminds players that slow playing has its place when the pot is already large or when in position. The episode wraps up with encouragement for listeners to reflect on which tips resonated most and to apply them immediately in their next session.

Use coupon code LEVELUP and get $50 off the new Lab 2.0 Watch the 'Winning Money in Multiway Pots' episode on YouTube Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood reveal the five most profitable bluffing spots in poker that every serious player should master. Learn how to identify and exploit bluffing opportunities—like paired boards, delayed c-bets, and favorable runouts—to outthink your opponents and win more pots. View the written version of this episode here. 00:00 Tip 1 05:06 Tip 2 09:15 Tip 3 12:28 Tip 4 16:03 Tip 5 In this episode of the Upswing Poker Level-Up, hosts Mike Brady and Scottish pro Gary Blackwood break down the five most effective bluffing spots that every player can add to their arsenal to win more pots and play with greater confidence. The discussion opens with an emphasis on fundamentals—identifying bluff spots rooted in sound theory rather than intuition or live reads. The first bluffing spot focuses on check-raising paired flops after defending from the big blind. Gary and Mike explain how solvers recommend surprisingly wide check-raises on boards like Ten-Ten-Deuce or Queen-Deuce-Deuce, creating highly profitable situations since opponents rarely defend correctly. They highlight how these bluffs succeed because most players don't realize how often they should be calling with weaker holdings or backdoor draws. Next, they explore delayed continuation betting—a powerful bluff when your opponent checks twice. By analyzing real game scenarios, they demonstrate that when a flop and turn go check-check, the opponent's range is "capped," meaning it contains few strong hands. This opens a prime opportunity to apply pressure through wide and aggressive turn bets. The third major bluff spot covers probe betting on the turn after your opponent checks back on a dynamic flop. Here, they challenge conventional solver logic by showing that most human players fail to check strong hands as often as theory dictates. As a result, when they check back, they're often weak, making probe bets—especially with draws and backdoor equity—highly effective. Bluff spot number four focuses on attacking when the board texture shifts dramatically in your favor. When a turn or river card favors your range—for instance, completing potential straights or two-pair combinations—you can lead aggressively, even out of position. The hosts emphasize how understanding range advantage allows you to "donk bet" profitably in these scenarios. The final bluff spot centers on barreling when draws complete and you hold key blockers. Using the Ten-Six-Deuce-Three-Queen board as an example, they show how triple-barrel bluffs with hands like Ace-Five with the Ace of diamonds can be extremely powerful because they block potential flushes while representing strong hands. Throughout the episode, Mike and Gary balance GTO theory with real-world exploitation, giving listeners the strategic insight to recognize and act on bluffing opportunities that most players miss. By mastering these five spots, you'll sharpen your aggression, punish capped ranges, and level up your overall poker strategy.