Throughout the years I’ve played in some serious high-stakes home games in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. And I have certainly seen my share of crazy antics, angle shooters, and hidden opportunities for profits. Based on those experiences, here are my top 10 things you need to know before playing in live home games. What […]
24 Best Poker Apps for Playing, Tracking & Training
Type Poker Apps into any browser or mobile device store and you will be inundated with hundreds—if not thousands—of options which let you play or watch poker, get better at poker, manage your poker bankroll, and find local poker games. Given the vast number of options, it becomes difficult knowing which ones have some value […]
The Smart Approach to Losing Poker Sessions (3 Questions to Ask Before Quitting)
It’s tough to know when to walk away from the poker table, but sometimes it’s the most valuable skill you can have. A few days ago, I was sitting at my home in Las Vegas and suddenly felt the itch to hit the live felt. This is a rare feeling for me. But when you […]
Stop Tanking: 5 Reasons Why Playing Faster Will Make You Richer & Happier
Trends in live poker seem to come and go overnight. One that hasn’t gone away yet, unfortunately, is slow play and excessive tanking. The following updated article, originally published in 2016, is a good reminder to slow players why they need play faster. — I’m angry. There was a time when No Limit Hold’em tournaments […]
How to Use DriveHUD Tracking Database Software to Improve Your Win Rate
Believe it or not, a lot of poker players never study the game because they either don’t see the value in studying or simply don’t know how to get started. For those players in the latter group, it’s best to start with the easiest and possibly most efficient way to study poker. Using tracking software like […]
How to Analyze Your Poker Hands Effectively in 5 Minutes
(If Google sent you here to find out what beats what in poker, check out our guide to poker hands.) The difference between a strong player and a weak player is what they do after a poker session. Weak players play poker hands and forget about them. They put themselves in tough spots and fail […]
Poker Bankroll Management Tips & Tools That Work In 2022
Part of becoming a great player is establishing proper poker bankroll management principles. Not only do you need to be skilled to be a great player, you also need discipline and money management abilities. Top players go broke sometimes. Even Upswing’s own Doug Polk once felt he’d reached the end of his rope. But what makes […]
Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker: What Happened?
It’s been more than a decade since the Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker scandals, but they continue to be discussed in the poker world. Given that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently authorized payments to players who were affected by the scandals, a refresher is in order. Ultimate Bet Poker: The Beginning Once […]
My Tried-and-True Method for Conquering Tilt
Featured image credit: Live at the Bike One thing can instantly transform a world-class poker pro into a mega-whale: Tilt. No amount of poker prowess can compensate for losing it emotionally while playing, which is why focusing on the mental side of things is so important to be a winning player. In a game of […]
Improve Your Results with this Proven 3-Step Poker Warm Up Routine
Have you ever had an ‘off’ day—a day filled with hesitation and second-guessing of every move you make? You probably have. Days like that come naturally with being a successful poker player, and we’re only human, after all, so we can’t expect to operate at peak performance all the time. That said, we can take […]
How to Win at Poker in 4 Steps
The best poker players in the world tread a calculated path to success, and work constantly to improve their game. Today we’ll discuss four steps you must take to follow their lead—steps toward becoming a winning player. Doug Polk contributed to this article How to Win at Poker Step 1: Pick a game type and […]
7 Must-Read Tips to Protect Yourself from Scammers, Cheaters & Hackers
Everyone loves reading a good poker scam story. Well, unless you’re the person being scammed. With scamming and angle shooting always such a hot topic in the poker community, Doug Polk decided to outline some of the issues you should be on the look-out for, before, during, and after sitting down at the poker table. […]
Becoming a Pro Poker Player: 7 Things to Consider First
If you love playing poker and are any good at it, you’ve probably dreamed about ditching your current job and taking it up full-time. It’s a tempting proposition, after all. Who doesn’t want do what they love for a living? Be warned, though: poker is a demanding job that’s not for everyone. If you are […]
A 5-Step Plan For Growing Your Bankroll (And Staying Happy While Doing It)
There is a lot of content online that will help you increase your poker earnings. You can learn how to be smart about losing sessions, for example, or tips for improving at live poker. Yet, there isn’t much advice out there on how to use your poker earnings. Most content aims to teach you how to […]
Run Deep in More Live Tournaments by Preparing Like These Pros
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” -Seneca When we think about how to gain an edge at the table, mental state and physical endurance may not always come to mind. However, these factors are vital if one is looking to optimize his performance and maximize his profits. Sitting at a poker table for […]
Does Your Poker Journey Feel Stuck? So Did Doug Polk’s
Does your poker career feel stuck? Have you been playing in the same low- and mid-stakes games for what seems like forever, but now feel that your once-achievable poker goals are just pipe dreams? Do you feel like your love for the game keeps you playing, but that it’s ultimately pointless? You are not the […]
