On the surface preflop play in Texas Hold'Em appears to be very straightforward, but there is quite a bit of necessary strategy that is commonly overlooked. Digging into this strategy can really help us to excel our game to the next level and find leaks to exploit in our … [Read more...]
I’m Matt “Checkmate” Colletta. I’ve been playing poker professionally since about 2004.
As one of the poker pros on UpswingPoker.com, my goal here is to help transform at least one hobbyist poker player into a self made millionaire.
Video of Doug Beatboxing!
Check out Doug Polk's beatboxing skills! The video is a mashup from the UpswingPoker Twitch Stream - you can join us on the stream HERE.For those that don't know, Dong Kim is a good friend of Doug and UpswingPoker. He is an absolute beast at Heads Up No-Limit... and ranked as … [Read more...]
Help Save Tom Dwan!
Upswing was able to get access to an exclusive video release of Tom Dwan (aka Durrr). It's not a good situation guys, we need to pull together to Save Tom! #SaveTomSome of you may have been aware of Tom's troubles... they range from screwing over Jungleman on their big HU … [Read more...]
What Separates Good Poker Players From the Best (Explained by Doug Polk)
Three-time WSOP bracelet winner Doug Polk explains what separates good poker players from the best poker players. In this video Doug shares what he has learned over his career that began at micro stakes and ultimately ended up at the very tip top of the poker world (We are not … [Read more...]
New California Online Poker Bill Introduced
After years without online poker, California is the latest US state that might follow the path of Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada that made the game legal.There was little progress on this matter in the past few years despite some attempts to pass legislation especially in … [Read more...]
New York To Pass iGaming Bill?
Ever since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was introduced in the USA in 2006, the situation for American poker players has been challenging. Everyone thought it was bound to change as the US poker market is too big to stay completely shut down.It took some … [Read more...]
Russian Poker… It’s Back(?)
Everybody loves to see as many Russians as possible on his poker table, especially in cash games. (Unless its one of the accomplished Russian poker players!) They’re usually very loose, sometimes aggressive to a point of craziness and among the easiest opponents online. Who … [Read more...]
These Preflop Cheat Sheets Will Make Your Poker Life Easier
Preflop poker cheat sheets can be a great tool for beginners to get started building out their game. By definition, a pre-flop poker cheat sheet is a predetermined set of poker hand ranges based on your seat/position at the table. In simpler terms, it’s what hands you should … [Read more...]
Women In Poker Hall of Fame Accepting Nominees for 2016
Humble poker fan or player, here’s your chance to have your say! You can nominate a couple of female poker players for induction into the Women In Poker … [Read more...]
How To Use Your Opponent’s Ego Against Them
Check your ego at the card room door. Language is a powerful tool, and it can be used for or against you. Do you ever let ego affect the way to speak to others at the table? Your words often reveal truths about yourself, for better or worse. Consider Jordan, who suffers greatly … [Read more...]
5 Reasons to SHUT Your Big Mouth
"Wow you got your money in great there, nice suck out fish!" Ever hear this or similar tirades from a player who looks like his head is going to explode? Me too! Don't be that guy; it will hurt your image and your wallet. Here are some ways in which the comment above can … [Read more...]
How to Listen for Keywords to Discover Your Opponent’s Leaks
Stereotypes are great for guessing personalities but keywords are far more accurate. One thing I try to do at the table is listen for a set of “trigger” words to help me guess how someone is going to play against me. There are several categories of keywords to look into and the … [Read more...]
How To Think About Poker Ranges
Do you know how to think about poker ranges? In this post I will take you step by step through the very same process responsible for my poker success. First things first, lets start by defining a poker range: A range is a combination of hands a player might have at a given … [Read more...]
Other Strategy Games Make Your Poker Game Stronger
Yes - skill sets and attributes acquired from other strategy games will make you a better poker player.If you are feeling like your No Limit Holdem (NL) game is rusty or stuck in a rut, try playing much lower stakes Pot Limit Omaha (PLO). PLO plays a bit differently than NL - … [Read more...]
How to play your Big Blind vs a Small Blind Open
Today I am going to share a little secret with you - the Big Blind (BB) gets to play super loose vs Small Blind (SB) opening raises! When the action is folded all the way around to the small blind, most people are opening around 40% of hands. Their range will resemble something … [Read more...]
4 Rules for Betting the Flop
Continuation betting has been one of the most popular and misunderstood concepts in Texas Hold’em over the past few years. Today we’re going to look at continuation betting, specifically when you are the preflop raiser and find yourself in position (last to act after the … [Read more...]
