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 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 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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Does Table Image Matter In Poker Tournaments?

table image

Playing a strong theoretical poker strategy is essential to mastering poker tournaments. However, there are some soft skills that separate the best players from the rest, especially in large field tournaments with lots of weak players. One of those skills us understanding table image, which is the focus of today’s article. Let’s dive in. Note:…

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The Worst Possible Turn Card With $293,062 On The Line (Analysis)

darren vs keven

Nothing in poker beats the thrill of making a final table in a large-field tournament. Today I am going to show you a hand that Darren Elias played as the chip leader at a final table with $293,062 up top. This hand will showcase the high-level adjustments that a very accomplished tournament professional makes to…

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The 5 Types Of Tournament Poker Players (According to Darren Elias)

5 types

You never know just who will be at your table in a tournament. More likely than not, it will be a mix of professional and recreational players. And while no two opponents play exactly the same, there are some general groupings that you can place them into. Top tournament pro Darren Elias groups players into…

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How to Play vs Limpers in Poker Tournaments (5-Minute Guide)

vs limp

If you play large-field and/or low stakes tournaments, you know that there are plenty of players with unorthodox strategies. One common trait amongst weak players, in particular, is that they open-limp. Targeting these weak players and taking their chips will help you build bigger stacks and make more deep runs. How to react to limpers,…

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4 Factors To Consider On The Money Bubble of a Poker Tournament

money bubble factors

Making a deep run in a tournament is unquestionably one of the most thrilling aspects of poker. And whenever you make a deep run, you get to play a unique stage of the tournament: the money bubble. But not every bubble plays the same. This article covers 4 factors you should consider when on the…

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How to Play Eight-Six Suited in Cash Games

eight-six suited

Eight-Six suited is a fun hand to peek down at. But many players make the mistake of playing this suited one-gapper either too aggressively or too passively. That’s why, in this article, I will cover how to play Eight-Six suited preflop and on the flop. Let’s dive in! How to Play Eight-Six Suited Before the…

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