Chasing Poker Greatness

Today I’m speaking with the 2007 WPT player of the year Jonathan Little.Jonathan is a 2 time WPT tournament champion with more than $6.8 million in tournament wins. He’s also published 14 of the most high impact poker strategy books on the market … with number 15 and 16 hitting shelves in the near future.And not only is Jonathan a tournament crusher extraordinaire, as the founder of pokercoaching.com he’s also a world-class coach who creates all kinds of amazing strategic content across all major platforms.He also writes regularly for the largest poker website on the Internet, Pokernews.com.I’m pretty sure we didn’t get into this much but I’m not quite sure when the man finds time to sleep.But although he’s had great success, Jonathan is quick to point out that it wasn’t an easy path to get to where he is now. He’s also pretty clear about the fact that, counterintuitively, he doesn’t believe that he possesses many of the qualities that most people associate with successful professional poker players. But that most certainly hasn’t stopped him.Jonathan is a perfect example of what you can achieve through hard work and dedication to your passion. During our conversation, you’ll hear how he got his start in poker, how he’s managed to keep improving and stay on top over the last 15 years, and what he’s thinking for the future. I’m sure you’ll also love his great insights into the game, what it takes to learn and improve, and the benefits of both teaching others and working with coaches.There are few people in the game who work so tirelessly in trying to help others learn how to play cards, no matter what level they play at or wish to reach. Jon was a joy to speak to and an absolute gold mine for dispensing poker wisdom.So without any further ado ... I present to you, world champion poker player, prolific poker author, and world-class poker coach, Mister Jonathan Little.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

8 Nov 20191h 26min

Today you’re going to hear from Shaundle Pruitt. Shaundle is an accomplished tournament player, streamer, and—as you might not expect—real estate agent. He comes from a strong gamer background as a man who, surprise surprise, fell in love with strategy games at a young age.Infatuated by the added element of luck in poker, he found success at micro stakes cash games online before turning his attention and energy to online tournies. Shaundle had built up his bankroll to the point where he felt comfortable firing at $500 and $1k buy-in tourneys until a fateful day in mid-April of 2011 changed everything.Shaundle had just binked a tourney for $5k on his BIRTHDAY, April 14th, when all of a sudden *POOF* online poker disappeared overnight. I guess there’s a lot that can happen in life but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say this has to rank up there in worst birthday memories of all time for Shaundle.After Black Friday, Shaundle couldn’t bring himself to continue playing the game he had invest so much of his heart and soul into anymore and quit playing poker for about 4 years before eventually returning to the game.As is par for the course, the man has had some big ups and big downs over his career, but if there’s one adjective I would use to describe him it would be this: gritty. He’s never stays down for long and continues to grow and improve his game on a daily basis.As we talk today, you’re going to hear what he considers his biggest success in poker, and his biggest failure too. He’ll let us in on any regrets he may be harboring and explain what has allowed him to thrive in online tournaments regardless of the year or the competition. He’s got some great words of advice about what you should be thinking about — and what you shouldn’t — if you want to make it on the green felt. He’ll also let you in on some secrets for finding methods of study that will improve anyone and everyone’s game.Shaundle is a shining example of what perseverance and hard work can get you if you’re willing to put in the time and chase your dreams.And so, if you’re ready to do what it takes to be successful in Chasing Poker Greatness, Mr Shaundle Pruitt has most definitely got some advice for you…Let’s get to it.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

5 Nov 20191h 12min

Maurice currently holds the record for both earnings and titles on the World Series Of Poker Circuit. He has earned more than $1.7 million on the WSOP circuit and is the proud owner of an astonishing 13 gold rings (Now 14!), including 4 from main events.He made his first tournament cash back in 2005 and has since managed to reach 86 final tables, raking in lifetime wins worth more than three and a half million dollars in the process. He exudes confidence and has every reason to do so.As our conversation progresses, Maurice will let you in on what changed his mind and turned a future heart surgeon into one of the best tournament poker players in the world. He will also, of course, shed some light on what has helped and hindered him on his poker journey.I absolutely loved his thoughts and views on game theory as well as his disdain of everything “standard”. Maurice also dives into the importance of family, happiness, and life away from the green felt.The man shoots from the hip and pulls no punches. He’s not afraid to say what he thinks about himself or the game. What you see is what you get, and in our conversation he was very, very generous with dispensing his wisdom. And so, without any further ado, I give you the winningest WSOPC tournament player of all time, Maurice Hawkins…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

1 Nov 201945min

Today I’m going to be talking with co-founder, publisher, and business operations manager of Ante Up Magazine, Scott Long.Ante Up is the most widely distributed poker magazine in the United States and has managed to survive where so many other prominent poker magazines have failed.Scott and his partner, Chris, worked together at the St. Petersburg Times, which was Florida’s largest newspaper publication. In 2008, when they were told a project they were both passionate about wasn’t going to get the funding they thought it deserved, they decided to quit their good-paying jobs and risk it all by going out on their own.Ante Up Magazine was born and they haven’t looked back since. Ante Up is a unique poker magazine, aimed squarely at the recreational player. Rather than just covering the big tournaments and pros, Ante Up gives recreational players real and relevant information about the games they play. From getting more out of weekend home games to finding the best places for organized amateur games, Ante Up caters to the vast majority of poker players who aren’t professionals. Over the years, Ante Up has spawned several other features and events that have taken things farther than Scott ever thought he would go. Ante Up publishes a weekly podcast hosted by Scott and Chris, runs regular poker cruises, and even hosts their own poker tour. Scott has proven to be one of the most influential poker ambassadors in the industry. His views from inside and outside the game, and especially within the recreational player community, give him great insights into the game, how it’s played, and the real people who play it. As we talk today, Scott will share how and why he and his partner decided to create Ante Up, what it was like in the beginning, and why they’re still around when so much of their competition has disappeared,He talks about the dangers of making too many assumptions and how he deals with failures. You’ll hear what he values the most and what, to him, embodies poker greatness. He’ll speak on the importance of adapting as you grow, why they call him the short stack ninja, and the concept of card destiny. Click any of the icons below, sit back, relax and enjoy my conversation with Scott Long 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

29 Okt 20191h 16min

Today I have the pleasure of sitting with the co-host of JustHandsPoker Jack Laskey. At 25 years old, it’s safe to say he’s one of the most experienced young players currently in the game and speaks with a wisdom well beyond his years.He’s enjoyed success in the online and live poker world since turning 18 in 2012, although his career and love for the game go back quite a bit before then … like, it started when we was 12 years old … TWELVE!Jack is currently a mid-stakes live cash game specialist who currently spends most of his table time playing in private games in New York City.You can find him at JustHandsPoker.com where him and his co-host Zach do an amazing job of in-depth hand analysis. At the site, you’ll find a weekly podcast, poker strategy blog, and access to coaching services, among other things.He’s also signed on as a mid-stakes coach at Solve For Why, a training site created by another “Chasing Poker Greatness” podcast guest Matt Berkey that focuses specifically on live poker strategy.In Jack and I’s conversation you'll hear us talk about: - What poker can teach you about life.- The benefits of making negative EV moves.- Why you should learn to make decisions and act quickly at the table. - Why you should be questioning all common poker advice. - And much more.Jack’s an amazingly deep thinker who asks a lot of philosophical questions. It’s clear that in his mind, there's a thin line of separation between poker and life.He finds a way to use almost everything from one world to sharpen his senses and improve his actions in the other.Many of the answers he gives to my questions weave in and out between poker and life, but somehow they all make perfect sense and leave you with a feeling that you’ve just been given a new perspective in which to think about things.I loved talking to Jack so much that we went WAY over the normal 1 hour in what felt like 10 or 15 minutes and, even after we turned the recording off, still kept going for another 30 minutes.So settle in and get ready to look at your game, and possibly your life, in a whole new way.Click play now to listen to my conversation with Jack Laskey.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 Okt 20191h 43min

Today’s guest on Chasing Poker Greatness is Lyle Bateman. For those who aren’t familiar with his name, Lyle is a contributing editor at PokerNews Canada. He began writing for the magazine after he was discovered by then Chief Editor Lane Anderson. Lane saw a blog post that Lyle had written, which he’ll tell you about during our conversation, and asked him if he’d be interested in writing something for PokerNews. The rest, as they say, is history.Full showpage here: https://chasingpokergreatness.com/lyleLyle has a long list of articles published, going all the way back to 2013. He specializes in covering some of poker’s biggest events. He’s written on just about all of the world’s top live and online tournaments. He’s an avid online poker tournament player himself and conducts his own poker stream on Twitch. Lyle is most certainly one of poker’s greatest ambassadors. It’s easy to see that he has a genuine love for being around the game as well as mingling with many of the world’s greatest players as he does his job. As we talk today, Lyle will share stories about what got him into poker, why he actually sold the first big tournament ticket he ever won, and the strange way his life has gone from working in insufferable heat in Africa to working in insufferable cold in Canada.He speaks about why he prefers tournaments to cash games, what it’s like to be a part of the press covering live tournaments, and why he likes to have an audience watching when he plays himself. You’ll also hear some interesting, insightful, and unique advice from someone who is intimately involved with the professional poker world, yet not a professional poker player himself. His unique viewpoint from somewhere in between inside and outside the game reveals a perspective that few people have. Also, *HINT* ... if you'd like to get more (or less) coverage when playing live poker tournaments, this is an episode you do not want to miss.Lyle is an amazing guy to talk to, and very easy to listen to as he moves from one story to another. He’s also someone that you just might be talking with yourself one day as you get closer to your goals while Chasing Poker Greatness.And so without any further ado, click that download or play button to listen to my awesome conversation with Lyle BatemanNew 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

17 Okt 201956min

Today I’m speaking with one of the most fun and animated women to ever mix it up on the green felt.Known simply as “Q”, she recently began publishing a chronicle of her own poker plays and thoughts through the ”P’s and Q’s Poker Vlog” on YouTube and it has skyrocketed in popularity. Full showpage: https://chasingpokergreatness.com/QShe’s a well-established cash game player who admittedly likes to take advantage of the men at the table who underestimate her simply because she’s a woman. By the time you get to the end of this episode you’ll understand what a big mistake it really is to underestimate Q. To say that Q is determined to reach her goals and dreams would be a gross understatement. I don’t want to spoil anything ahead. As we move through the conversation, though, you’ll learn not only how she’s already far along the path to poker greatness, but also how she’s willing to push it all to the side, start over, and do it again. You’ll get her views on what it means to be great in the world of poker, how she’s been able to keep growing consistently, and her somewhat unusual ideas on how to find and utilize coaches.She’ll even share her best advice on what to do if you can’t find a coach to help you with your own game. In what has become a sort of regular theme that many guests seem to talk about naturally, Q goes into quite a bit of detail about how the things we learn from playing poker can affect our lives away from the game and vice versa.She’s got opinions on just about every facet of the game and the people who play it and she’s not afraid to express them. She also has a very special quality of always speaking in a way that gets her point across with respect, and very often with humor. Q is such a delight to listen to and I had such a blast talking with her. Can't wait for Round 2 in the future!So without any further ado, download my conversation with Q and don't forget to subscribe!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

17 Okt 20191h 6min

Today I’m speaking with Robbie Strazynski, founder of CardplayerLifestyle.com.Robbie has made immeasurable contributions to the beautiful game of poker through his own blog as well as other poker media since he got started around 2009. He’s a well-respected member of the community who is admired by both the players and the fans. Robbie knows and is known by many people in the poker world. He’s interviewed greats in the game like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Helmuth, and Phil Ivey. Cardplayer Lifestyle is considered to be one of the top poker entertainment websites on the Internet. Robbie himself is the main writer and also acts as editor for all of the contributed content that he also publishes. The site delivers in-depth interviews with some of the most well-known industry faces, exciting news about happenings and invents, must-read strategy articles, and, of course, all kinds of articles about living the poker lifestyle.In today’s episode you’ll get Robbie’s insights on what it means to reach the the level of high achievement—at poker or anything else, the players he considers to be truly great, and why. He speaks on the benefits of keeping your brain active by playing poker as well as other ways that the game can benefit you when you’re away from the table. He explains how he learned to stop thinking about the money and just play the game as he tells an amazing comeback story that starts with him losing all of the money he took with him to the WSOP. Robbie also relates two quite personal stories, one about Daniel Negreanu and another about Phil Hellmuth, that will show you exactly why you shouldn’t always believe everything you see on TV.I don’t want to give too much away here, so go ahead subscribe + download the show and dive into my conversation with Robbie Strazynski.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

17 Okt 201957min