Chasing Poker Greatness

To support the show visit https://ChasingPokerGreatness.comToday’s guest is currently the 26th ranked player in the world (According to the Global Poker Index) James Romero.If James isn’t a familiar name to you yet, it’s only a matter of time.Over the last 4 years battling in the live poker arena, James has racked up a ridiculous $4.7 million in winnings including a $1.9 million score at the WPT 5 Diamond Classic in 2016.In our conversation today, James and I will cover his poker journey from living in Mexico battling in the online arena to becoming one of the most feared competitors at any table he sits at.You’re going to hear about the expectations that come with winning one of the most prestigious events of the year straight out of the gate, how James maintained his energy levels and focus heading into a tournament with life-chasing ramifications, and what his future holds in the poker world (To foreshadow a little on this, he also took down a $25k high roller a few short weeks after we had recorded our interview).You’ll also learn:- Jame’s thoughts on bankroll considerations for folks that consistently play $5k and $10k events.- The thing you ABSOLUTELY must have to ensure you don’t get eaten live when you’re at the top of the cash game/tournament world.- How James studies and improves his game in a live setting.- And much, much more.So, without any further ado, I bring to you my conversation with one of the elite players in the world James Romero.New CPG Cash Game Courses!Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-BootcampFish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrelNeutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

6 Mar 202057min

To support the show visit https://ChasingPokerGreatness.comToday’s guest is a 4 time WSOP gold bracelet winner with more than $5.6 million in live tournament winnings Jeff Madsen.Jeff has been a known entity in the poker world for what seems like forever, beginning with his scorching hot start on poker’s biggest stage as the 2006 WSOP player of the year.In 2006 Jeff won more than $1.4 million, 2 WSOP bracelets, while also becoming the youngest person to EVER win a bracelet at the ripe old age of 21 years and 5 weeks (A record that was later shattered by a then 18 year old Annette Obrestad at the WSOP Europe).Jeff is a human being who simply loves battling in the poker arena and has no plans of ever calling it quits.In our conversation today we’re going to get into that fateful 2006 which, shockingly, saw his bankroll go from the high 4 figures to 7 figures in less than a month and how that affected his life in not all positive ways, the shocking impact of Black Friday as a red Full Tilt pro, the consequences of achieving so much success at a young age and much, much more.You’ll also learn about:- Physical tells and reading energy in the live poker arena.- Why Jeff believes he had so much success right off the bat.- Why money management is like Ron Burgundy, kind of a big deal.- And much, much more.So, without any further ado, I bring to you my conversation with the one and only Jeff Madsen.New CPG Cash Game Courses!Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-BootcampFish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrelNeutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

3 Mar 20201h 38min

To support the show visit https://ChasingPokerGreatness.comToday’s special guest is the inimitable Dara O’ Kearney. Dara got into poker at a later age than pretty much anybody else I know. As a matter of fact at the age he was getting into poker (40) I will have been in the game for 20 years .. which is, quite frankly, shocking to me … where does the time go?But poker is a game that can seduce folks at all ages, from all walks of life, and across all borders and languages around the world.To say Dara has thrived would not do his success justice.He has $4.1 million in winnings in live and online tournaments, hosts an award winning podcast “The Chip Race, has written 2 books (“Poker Satellite Strategy” and the upcoming “PKO Poker Strategy” with another Chasing Poker Greatness guest Barry Carter), and is an ambassador for one of the largest poker platforms in Europe, UnitBet poker.He’s a man after my own heart who genuinely cares about guiding and helping folks along in their poker journey.If our conversation, you’re about to learn:- How to avoid getting scammed in the poker world.- How Dara maintains his energy through the long, grueling days of live tournament poker.- Why poker sites ought to be embracing the folks who aspire to be pros rather than trying to turn poker into bingo.- And MUCH more!So, without any further ado, I bring to you my conversation with the great Dara O’ Kearney.New CPG Cash Game Courses!Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-BootcampFish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrelNeutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

28 Feb 20201h 52min

Today’s guest is the host of the recpoker podcast Steve Fredlund.More than anything wants to help people live their most fulfilling lives. For him, this has meant leaving the corporate world after 25 years to pursue speaking, coaching, and consulting while allowing time to play poker and further develop the RecPoker podcast. The RecPoker podcast has nearly 170 episodes and gained acclaim from many guests, media outlets and listeners. The focus is on strategy for the recreational player, but wrapped in the comfortable blanket of authentic community. Many people have become diehard listeners because they have longed to be part of an encouraging poker learning community, which is what RecPoker offers through the podcast, Discord channel, monthly free home games on PokerStars, social media conversations, and membership opportunities. Good people learning poker and enjoying relationships.You’ll learn:- How Steve simplifies complex poker ideas so that newcomers to the game can better understand poker strategy.- Why being surrounded by a great community can skyrocket your game and your life.- Why Steve believes principles will take you much farther rote memorization.- And much, much more!So, without any further ado, this is Steve Fredlund on Chasing Poker Greatness.New CPG Cash Game Courses!Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-BootcampFish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrelNeutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

25 Feb 20201h 15min

My guest today is Alexander “Assassinato” Fitzergald who has cashed for over $4 million in online and live tournaments, is the author of 2 poker books (Exploitative Play in Live Poker and The Myth of Poker Talent), and has almost certainly done more private coaching lessons than anyone else on the planet.Alex has accomplished all of this despite a self-professed “Lack of natural poker talent”. How is that something you can overcome, you might ask? Grit, hard work, finding your tribe, and always, always, always understanding the “why” behind the plays you’re making at the tables.It’s safe to say there are greatness bombs aplenty in this episode from why it’s actually a GOOD THING that you get berated at the tables when playing smaller stakes, how coaching whether you’re currently winning or losing can help you ascend and reach your poker goals faster than you think is possible, and why we should all regularly pick up new hobbies to learn so that we can get comfortable knowing we don’t know everything about everything.You’re also going to learn:- How a life disruption motivated Alex to become the best version of himself.- Why live poker doesn’t evolve and change as quickly as online poker.- Alex’s favorite memory traveling and playing cards (Which almost feels like a scene straight out of a movie).- Why just playing cards, win or lose, makes Alex feel alive.- And MUCH more!So, without any further ado, here’s my conversation with one of the best and brightest poker minds in the world Alexander “Assassinato” Fitzgerald.New CPG Cash Game Courses!Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-BootcampFish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrelNeutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

21 Feb 20201h 42min

I am joined with Nick Howard to discuss as of 2/18/20 the current results of the "Galfond Challenge" (-$900k).We discuss all things Galfond Challenge with our main focus being on mindset. What will Phil do moving forward? Are the early results of the Galfond challenge more likely variance or a giant miscalculation? Taking out all other considerations, what do we think Phil's next move should be in a vacuum?Enjoy.New CPG Cash Game Courses!Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-BootcampFish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrelNeutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

19 Feb 20201h

Six years ago professional poker players Grant Denison and Jonathan Levy uploaded their first videos onto YouTube as the “Hand of the Week” guys.Little did they know “Hand of the Week” had been trademarked by a former “Chasing Poker Greatness” legend of poker who wasn’t exactly a big fan of their brutally honest, pull-no-punches analysis. They quickly decided to change the name of their show and “The Poker Guys” was born shortly thereafter.In the following conversation we’re going to go through their journey from professional poker players to prolific content creators who have amassed almost 30k YouTube subscribers as well as a consistently top ranked poker podcast.You’re going to learn:- Why verbal and physical tells are EXTREMELY difficult for amateur poker players to fake.- Why “The Poker Guys” initially heeded the siren song to transition from players to teachers.- Their process for content creation (Which I am very envious of). - And MUCH MORE!So if you love laughing like maniacs and hearing amazing behind-the-scenes stories from a couple of poker’s best storytellers strap in and get ready to enjoy my conversation with Grant Denison and Jonathan Levy.New CPG Cash Game Courses!Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-BootcampFish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrelNeutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

18 Feb 20201h 36min

Today’s guest is the only 4-time WPT champion on the planet, the one and only Darren Elias.Darren has over $7.5 million in career live cashes to go along with a pretty, pretty, pretty good $3.8 million in lifetime online career winnings … all despite being a low-volume player. His career highlights include:- The aforementioned FOUR WPT titles, including: the WPT Bobby Baldwin Classic, 2017 WPT Fallsview, season 16 WPT Tournament of Champions, and (Darren’s personal favorite win) the 2014 WPT Borgata Open.- Winning the 2012 World Championship of Online Poker high roller event for a cool $574k.- And a 2009 FTOPs gold medal for $126k.Our conversation covers a ton of ground from how Darren got his start playing cards in a way that’s very near and dear to my own heart … playing Yahoo! Hearts, to his first tournament bink and subsequent bankroll explosion to over $500k.There are too many greatness bombs to count headed your way, including:- How human beings are driven by personal interests and incentives that skew their opinions.- Darren’s thoughts on the re-entry vs. freezeout debate. - Why AI is an existential, imminent threat to the present and future of online poker.- Why Darren spends most of his time studying human behavior and analyzing patterns to improve his poker game.- And much, much more!So, without any further ado, I bring to you the great Darren Elias.New CPG Cash Game Courses!Preflop Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/Preflop-BootcampFish in a Barrel: http://bit.ly/fish-in-a-barrelNeutralize Flop Leads: https://bit.ly/2OkN8Yt

14 Feb 20201h 18min