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The Rec Poker Podcast

RecPoker: Play. Learn. Belong.rec.poker
Building a vibrant and encouraging poker learning community.
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Episodes

Ep 625 - Chats: James Hartigan: Shaken, not Stirred

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview James Hartigan! A former journalist, film critic and radio presenter, James has been anchoring poker TV shows and live streams for nearly two decades. Best known for his work as the lead commentator on the European Poker Tour, he has also hosted live coverage of the NAPT, PCA, PSPC and World Series of Poker. He won the Global Poker Award for Best Broadcaster in 2023, while the Poker in the Ears podcast, which James co-presents with Joe St...

Sep 27, 20241 hr 19 min

Ep 624 - Forums: WSOP KQ Hand - Round 2

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a live YouTube episode reviewing some feedback we got on a recent podcast where we examined a hand Taylor Maas played in the WSOP this summer. The panel and the YouTube chatters discuss the difficulty of playing out of position as the pre-flop aggressor, and share some ideas on how to avoid ‘waving the white flag’ when the board doesn't suit our hand. Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity Join the Discord group ...

Sep 24, 202459 min

Ep 623 - Chats: Franke Von Zweigbergk on The Festival Series

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Franke Von Zweigbergk about his Festival Series, an outrageously fun collection of international competitions spanning poker, table games, and many other ‘gambly’ ways to test your mettle. With an emphasis on hospitality and the player experience, Franke has championed this series for several years with many stops at fabulous European locations, including an upcoming visit to Bratislava in November! Find out more here: https://www.thefest...

Sep 20, 202457 min

Ep 622 - Forums: 6+ Hold’em a.k.a. Short Deck

This week, Jim Reid and the panel are joined by some exciting guests to kick off a year of Mixed Games podcast episodes, featuring the “Mixed Game of the Month” in our free home game club! This month, we are practicing 6+ Hold’em a.k.a. Short Deck- and the first practice game is tomorrow night! The panel start with a basic explainer about the mechanics of the game, and then we are joined by several mixed game enthusiasts and experts. Get some advice and tips from Chad McVean, Mike Patrick, Norma...

Sep 17, 202425 min

Ep 621 - Chats: Greg Liow goes ALL IN with the RECing Crew!

This week Rob Washam and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Greg Liow from Greg Goes All In! They discuss Greg's start as an actor and children's television host and producer, what makes for compelling poker content, how he worked at improving at poker (and how tournaments derailed that progress), and why niche fame is great unless you are getting punched in the spine. We also play Stake/Study Stack with Slow Poker, Brad Owen, and Rampage, and we Close The Action with our speed round! Plus of co...

Sep 13, 20241 hr 8 min

Ep 620 - Forums: Venomous Situation (Chris)

This week, Jim Reid and Rob Washam from the RecPoker RECing Crew discuss a forum post from our Discord by Chris Jones from a hand he played in the Venom where he 3-bet versus an aggressive opponent from the blinds, but then had to play out of position postflop and make some tricky decisions for his tournament life. While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses raise sizing, player types, board textures, postflop betting lines, overbets, and more! Come sig...

Sep 10, 202441 min

Ep 618 - Forums: Multi-Way in the WSOP with KQ (Taylor)

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a hand played by Taylor Maas in the WSOP PokerNews Deep Stack tournament! Starting with King-Queen offsuit facing a squeeze opportunity with Dara O’Kearney in the hand, how would you proceed postflop when the board runs out against you? While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses calling versus squeezing, raise sizes, calling ranges, live tournament tendencies, anticipating play from pros, and a...

Sep 03, 202443 min

Ep 617 - Chats: Slow Poker!

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Jon Rand, aka Slow Poker! Jon shares some stories about transitioning from life as a playwright to being a poker content creator, what he loves about the game, some challenges he faces in his new role, what success looks like, balancing work and a family, and the virtues of taking bathroom breaks before podcasts! We also play Stake/Study Stack with Marle Spragg, Greg Goes All In, and Caitlyn Comesky and we Close The Action with our speed ...

Aug 30, 20241 hr 4 min

Ep 616 - Forums: Take the WSOP Flip? (Kim)

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a hand played recently by Kim Kilroy from day 2 of the WSOP Super-Senior’s event, a $1K buy-in tournament with over 3,000 entrants. This hand takes place past the bubble, but early in the money, and Kim faces an overbet shove from an opponent looking to get it in. While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses stack sizes, player types, overbet ranges, range equity, ICM pressure, and more! Come sig...

Aug 27, 202442 min

Ep 615 - Forums: Player Types and Exploits

This week, Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew discuss different player types and how to exploit the mistakes they make! Whether it’s Old Man Coffee, limpers, maniacs or pros, whether they are to your right or to your left, see what tips the panel and our YouTube chatters have in store for the next time YOU sit down at the felt. Come sign up for a free account at https://rec.poker/ today and you can post a question of your own in the forum for the panel to review! Find our free videos at: http...

Aug 23, 20241 hr 37 min

Ep 614 - Forums: H.O.R.S.E

This week, Jim Reid and and the panel are joined by some exciting guests to kick off a year of Mixed Games podcast episodes, featuring the “Mixed Game of the Month” in our free home game club! This month, we are practicing H.O.R.S.E - and the first practice game is tomorrow night! The panel start with a basic explainer about the mechanics of the game, and then we are joined by several mixed game enthusiasts and experts. Get some advice and tips from Chad McVean, Chris ‘Fox’ Wallace, Louie Hillma...

Aug 20, 202421 min

Ep 613 - Chats: Jay “Venom” Carrafiello Finds His Crew

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview poker pro Jay “Venom” Carrafiello. Jay talks about coming up in the cash game streets playing PLO and learning lessons, dipping into heads-up play for a while, and settling on MTTs as his format of choice. The discussion finds a few rabbit-holes, covering the difference between cash and tournament play, different variants of poker, the importance of finding people to learn with, taking notes at the table, solvers, poker goals, one of Jay’...

Aug 16, 20241 hr 22 min

Ep 612 - Forums: Different Tourney Formats (jmetape)

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a forum post by Joe Millay (jmetape) about how to choose between different shorter tournament types when he doesn’t have time to play a long MTT schedule. While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses he pros and cons of sit and gos, double or nothings, single table tournaments, spin and gos, turbos, cash games, and a lot more! Come sign up for a free account at https://rec.poker/ today and you ca...

Aug 13, 202443 min

Ep 611 - Chats: Rob Gardner Joins the Crew!

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview longtime friend of the show and new RECing Crew member Rob Gardner! Rob shares some details about his work with various poker learning communities over the years, and what he hopes for the future of RecPoker. They talk about the process of transitioning from a recreational player to a pro player, what's involved in streaming as an ambassador, the best ways to learn in a community, whether Jim or Mrs. BLUFFSTORINI is right about nostalgia,...

Aug 09, 20241 hr 32 min

Ep 610 - Forums: Jim Plays the Main Event!

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through his recent deepish run in the WSOP Main Event! While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses how to approach a tournament like this, the importance of table draws, how to exploit certain opponents, they review a few hands he played at various points in the tournament, and a lot more! Come sign up for a free account at https://rec.poker/ today and you can post a question of your own in the forum fo...

Aug 06, 20241 hr 5 min

Ep 609 - Chats: Carlos Welch Stays Home

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew welcome back co-host of the the Thinking Poker podcast and online pro Carlos Welch! Carlos talks about how his life has changed since he was last on the show, with a shiny new bracelet on his wrist and the love of his life, Gloria Jackson, on his arm. Carlos shares some of his experiences as a host, why he prefers playing online to live, some mistakes recreational players often make, how to respond to player that 3-bet you too often, Biggie Smalls ...

Aug 02, 20241 hr 27 min

Ep 608 - Forums: Check-Raising With a Plan (7high11)

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a forum post by John Crowell (7high11) about check-raising the flop with a plan. While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses John’s improvements as a player, what factors to consider when making a check-raise, multi-way equity, denying equity to hands you are beating, villain types, planning for different runouts, and more! Come sign up for a free account at https://rec.poker/ today to see all t...

Jul 30, 202440 min

Ep 607 - Chats: Alex O’Brien and a chip off the writer’s block

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview poker author Alex O’Brien, who shares some stories about her career as a writer and player, the difference between science writing and poker writing, balancing time for projects she is passionate about, life lessons from poker and from writing, playing in the 2024 WSOP and the role of one’s rail, and a lot more! We also play Stake/Study Stack with Dara O’Kearney, Jen Shahade and Maria Konnikova and we Close The Action with our speed round...

Jul 26, 20241 hr 22 min

Ep 606 - Forums: Maybe a Pair? (Kili19341)

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a forum post by Kili19341 about a hand where they were holding AK offsuit and faced a 3-bet shove. While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses how to approach each hand, putting your opponents on a range, ‘fake’ bubbles, ICM pressure, and Jim even breaks down some poker math right on the show - a rare occurrence, will he screw it up in real time?! Come sign up for a free account at https://rec.p...

Jul 23, 202436 min

Ep 605 - Chats: Mark Checkwicz - a Bracelet for the Cookie Monster

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview recent bracelet winner Mark Checkwicz, who you might know better as the Cookie Monster! Mark recently won the very first ever Senior’s High-Roller event at the WSOP and shares some details about his journey to a bracelet. The group talks about what makes the WSOP different, the importance of having fun with your life, the darker side of gambling, and a lot more! We also play Stake/Study Stack with Nick Shulman, Dara O’Kearney, and Angela ...

Jul 19, 20241 hr 26 min

Ep 604 - Forums: RAZZ

This week, Jim Reid and the panel are joined by some exciting guests to kick off a year of Mixed Games podcast episodes, featuring the “Mixed Game of the Month” in our free home game club! This month, we are practicing RAZZ - and the first practice game is tomorrow night! The panel start with a basic explainer about the mechanics of the game, and then we are joined by several mixed game enthusiasts and experts. Get some advice and tips from Chad McVean, Chris ‘Fox’ Wallace, Mike Patrick, Norman ...

Jul 16, 202425 min

Ep 603 - Chats: Byron Jacobs from D&B Publishing

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Byron Jacobs from D&B Publishing! D&B Publishing (incorporating the imprint D&B Poker) was created by Dan Addelman and Byron Jacobs in 2002, coinciding with the birth of the online poker boom. D&B is now clearly established as the world’s premier publisher of poker books. Over the past few years D&B has published books by many of the poker world’s most famous names including Phil Hellmuth, Jonathan Little, , Greg Rayme...

Jul 12, 202456 min

Ep 602 - Forums: Short-Stacked Hero Call (Chris)

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a hand Chris Jones played recently in an online tournament, where he was facing a river shove and had to make a tough decision. While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses stack sizes, villain types, betting incentives, board textures, postflop betting lines, bluff vs value combos, meta-game considerations, and more! Come sign up for a free account at https://rec.poker/ today and you can post a ...

Jul 09, 202447 min

Ep 601 - Chats: Lisa Pickell Advocates for Women - and Fun!

This week we throw back to another one of Kim Kilroy’s fantastic Poker Empowerment sessions! Kim interviews Lisa Pickell, the first woman to ever win a circuit ring in a NLHE event! Lisa talks about her poker journey, her work with Poker Power and other women’s advocacy groups, her love of poker, and a lot more! Join us LIVE on YouTube next Monday at 7:30 ET for free to ask our guests questions in real time, and you can win too! Lisa is active on Twitter as https://x.com/lisapickell We also go o...

Jul 05, 202454 min

Ep 600! Some of Our Favourite Tips Over the Years

This week, for our 600th episode (wow!) Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a trip down memory lane. While battling it out against each other in the nightly home game, the panel discusses some of their favourite tips and breakthroughs they’ve learned at RecPoker over the years! Come sign up for a free account at https://rec.poker/ today and you can post a question of your own in the forum for the panel to review! Find our free videos at: http://youtube.com/c/RecPokerCommunity Join th...

Jul 02, 202447 min

Ep 599 - Chats: Scott Lum Joins the RECing Crew!

This week Rob Washam and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview new member Scott Lum! Recently retired from his day job and focusing on ways to help people learn about poker, Scott talks about the importance to the ecosystem of bar leagues, how they can be feeders for underrepresented player groups like women, what it's like to adjust to different player pools, and why he's excited to join the RECing Crew. We also play Stake/Study Stack with Joe Kulas, Jim Reid, and Kim Kilroy and we Close The Actio...

Jun 28, 20241 hr 4 min

Ep 598 - Forums: Should We 4-Bet Here? (Rob)

This week, Jim Reid leads the RecPoker RECing Crew through a forum post by Rob Washam about a preflop spot where he had to chose between calling a 3-bet multiway out of position, or going for the storied 4-bet bluff with Ace Five suited! While stealing each other's chips in the nightly homegame, the groups discusses the difference between 3-bet and 4-bet ranges, squeeze spots, dead money, position, particular hand qualities, and more! Come sign up for a free account at https://rec.poker/ today t...

Jun 25, 202447 min

Ep 597 - Chats: Rachel Kay Winter Shoots Poker Players!

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview award-winning photographer Rachel Kay Winter! Known on Twitter as RachKayPhoto, Rachel is an active photographer in the poker industry. Working predominantly for 8131 Media, PokerNews, and WPT, she is often seen snapping photos of players at the RunGood Poker Series, WSOP Circuit, and WPT Prime, as well as at the World Series of Poker over the summer. While her husband, Brian Winter, travels with her and plays professionally, Rachel only ...

Jun 21, 20241 hr 18 min

Ep 596 - Forums: Stud 8 or Better

This week, Jim Reid and and the panel are joined by some exciting guests to kick off a year of Mixed Games podcast episodes, featuring the “Mixed Game of the Month” in our free home game club! This month, we are practicing Stud 8 or Better - and the first practice game is tomorrow night! The panel start with a basic explainer about the mechanics of the game, and then we are joined by several mixed game enthusiasts and experts. Get some advice and tips from Chad McVean, Chris ‘Fox’ Wallace, Mike ...

Jun 18, 202424 min

Ep 595 - Chats: Kathy Chang Mixes Things Up!

This week Jim Reid and the RecPoker RECing Crew interview Kathy Chang, who has been on a TEAR recently with several top-level finishes in live mixed game events around the country! A long-time RecPoker member, Kathy shares some stories about her journey into poker and her ascent from being a new recreational player to…well, STILL being a recreational player, but winning a lot of poker tournaments at the same time! Kathy talks about mentorship and coaching, how she improved as a mixed game player...

Jun 14, 202451 min
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