Doug Polk Flops Set At The Perfect Time (High Stakes Cash Game)

The best way to improve at poker is to learn from an experienced coach. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do today. For today’s article, we will be looking at a massive $100/$200 ($200 ante) pot that Upswing founder and Lab coach Doug Polk played on stream at Lodge Card Club. Let’s dive in.…

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3 Spots You Should Almost Never C-Bet

3 spots to never c-bet

Being aggressive is how the best players win at poker. Through the power of aggression, you have two chances to win: You can win when your bet gets called by a worse hand You can win when your opponent folds However, there are some situations in which it’s better to play passively. This (recently updated)…

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Should Mariano Fold A Set of Deuces? (High Stakes Analysis)

mariano set

OMC is a fun poker acronym that stands for “old man coffee”. Poker players use this term when referring to older players who are very tight. But not all older gentlemen are OMCs… Popular vlogger Mariano found that out the hard way in this high stakes poker hand. This one took place at Lodge Card…

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What Is Playability & Why Does It Matter?

playability

Playability is a massively important concept to grasp in poker. You should always consider your hand’s playability preflop, but also on the flop and turn. In this article, you will learn what playability is and how it will help you make the more profitable decisions at the table. So without further ado, let’s dive in!…

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The Craziest Poker Hand Of 2024 (Analysis)

texas mike vs hook

Forward from Doug: Myself and the Upswing Poker team are wishing Texas Mike the best in his current health battle. We’re pulling for the best possible outcome and look forward to seeing him back on the felt soon. OH…MY…GOD! That was my honest reaction after seeing this hand play out between Hook and Texas Mike.…

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How to Play Flush Draws on the Flop & Turn (As the Preflop Aggressor)

lush draws as preflop aggressor

Who doesn’t love flopping a flush draw? It’s easy to understand why players get excited when they have a flush draw, but that excitement can cause costly strategic errors. In this article, I am going to lay out some ideas that will help you make more theoretically sound (and profitable) decisions whenever you have a…

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3 Tips for Slow-Playing Strong Hands (via Lucid GTO)

slow play tips

Making as much as possible when you hold a strong hand is one of the fundamental goals of poker. Fast-playing made hands is usually the best course of action to accomplish that goal. However, some instances warrant slow-playing. In this article, I will give you 3 tips for when you should slow-play strong hands (discovered…

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How Upswing Member Andrea Sager Made a WSOP Final Table

Andrea Sager purchased an Upswing Poker Lab membership in December 2023. Six months later, she found herself at the final table in the $1,000 Ladies Championship at the 2024 World Series of Poker. Sager finished ninth for a $14,242 payday, the biggest cash of her career so far. The timing of that result is no…

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How to Play Five-Four Suited In Cash Games

five four suited

If you know your opponent has Pocket Aces, which hand would you rather have?   Five-Four suited is a hand with tons of potential, so in this article, I am going to be teaching you the following: How to play it in all the common preflop situations 3 tips for playing Five-Four suited when you…

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How to Play Jack-Ten Offsuit in Cash Games

jack-ten offsuit

Jack-Ten offsuit is like a cloned version of Jack-Ten suited. It might not be as good as the original, but it can still get the job done in some situations. In this article, you’ll learn how to make the most out of this offsuit broadway hand. Here’s what I’ll cover: How to play Jack-Ten offsuit…

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Will This Poker Pro Really Fold A Set? (Analysis)

fold a set gary vlog

There are a lot of great poker vloggers out there… …but arguably none provide better strategic analysis than Upswing Lab coach Gary Blackwood. To give you a sneak peek at Gary’s insight, I’m going to zoom into a hand he played in $5/$10/$20 cash game at Bellagio. Note: When he’s not playing live cash games…

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Should He Call All-In With Pocket Tens? (Hand Analysis)

tens vs shove

Poker can make you feel like a one-man wolfpack. You’re trying to win everyone’s money while they’re trying to win yours. It can be easy to feel like it’s just you versus the world. But one of the best ways to improve at poker has always been to discuss strategy with other players. Whether through…

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How This Poker Coach Turned $210 Into $147,411

pav win

Imagine turning a $210 buy-in into $147,411 without even having to leave the house. That’s exactly what Upswing Lab coach and popular Twitch streamer Hristivoje “ALLinPav” Pavlovic accomplished this week. Despite entering the final table in last place with just 13.1bb, Pav put on a short stack master class, navigating every difficult spot to earn…

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How to Play Ace-Nine Offsuit In Cash Games

ace-nine offsuit

Ace-Nine offsuit (A9o) is a solid hand. It’s certainly not great, but it can feel like Pocket Aces when you’ve been dealt trash for hours. While A9o is playable in many situations, you need to know exactly when and how to play it. That’s what this article will cover. Let’s begin! How to Play Ace-Nine…

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