If you’re a fan of nonstop poker action in an award winning hotel casino where you can split time between fine dining, line dancing, and some time at the pool, then you need to get to Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, OK right now. Join Team LearnWPT as we head back On Tour for the televised $3,800 World Poker Tour® Choctaw Championship Event featuring 50K in starting chips plus a massive $2 Million Guaranteed prize pool.

The 2024 WPT Choctaw Championship Event drew some of the best rounders on the planet and the prize pool swelled to over $2.1 Million. After a long final table battle, world-class player James Mackey captured the $361,600 first prize and his 2nd WPT Main Tour Title in the same event!

This year the Choctaw Festival returns featuring a huge new slate of exciting tournaments, epic schedule of satellites, and huge guarantees leading up to the highly anticipated WPT Main Tour Championship Event.

Do you have dreams of making the televised final table and sharing the stage with Vince, Lynn, and Tony but don’t quite have the bankroll? Good news - there are plenty of chances to parlay a small buy-in into a life changing score, and you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the Championship Event satellites starting as low as $130!

Get Championship Ready With LearnWPT

Team LearnWPT is here to give the tools and strategy you need to win your seat to the $3,800 WPT Choctaw Championship. Check out the strategies in this blog and you’ll be ready to jump in the action.

➧ Get In on the Action
➧ Satellite Keys and Basics
➧ Test Your Satellite Skills
➧ Understanding ICM at the Final Table
➧ Play Solved GTO Final Table Hands
➧ Launch Your Poker Game and Save 50%

Get an edge on your competition with poker strategies from proven winners and prepare to dominate the felt!

#TheCupAwaits 🏆

Get In on the Action at Choctaw ...

The 2025 Choctaw Casino & Resort Durant festival begins April 16th with the $250 buy-in $100K GTD "Kick-Off" and features some can't miss events including the $300K GTD $500 buy-in “Gargantuan“ on the 24th and the $600 buy-in $150K GTD “Choctaw Classic” on the 19th.

In addition to the satellites to the $3,800 WPT Choctaw Championship even starting as low as $130, you can also potentially parlay a low buy-in of $250 into a WPT package through Super Satellites that awards winners a seat to the $10,400 WPT World Championship in Vegas. There are also plenty of lower buy-in events scheduled nightly so you don’t have to stretch your bankroll to get to experience the fun and excitement of playing in a World Poker Tour event!

📅 Festival Dates:
Start: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
End: Monday, May 5, 2025
Click here for the full Festival schedule

Day 1 of the Televised Championship Event begins Thursday, May 1st with three starting flights and allows for unlimited re-entry until the start of level 9 on Day 1A-Day 1C - Click here for the structure.

📅 WPT Championship Event Schedule:
➧ Day 1A: Thursday, May 1, 2025 starting at 11 am CDT
➧ Day 1B: Friday, May 2, 2025 starting at 11 am CDT
➧ Day 1C: Saturday, May 3, 2025 starting at 11 am CDT
➧ Day 2: Sunday, May 4, 2025 starting at 11am CDT
➧ Day 3: Monday, May 5, 2025 starting at 11am CDT
➧ Final Table: Friday, May 30, 2025*

The $3,800 Championship event offers 50K in starting chips and the player's favorite WPT structure providing plenty of chances to chip up and build a final table stack.

*The final table of 6 will be played and filmed for television by the World Poker Tour at the HyperX Las Vegas at Luxor on May 30, 2025.

Should You Play a 🛰️ Satellite Differently?

Satellite poker tournaments are a great way to parlay a larger buy-in event at a lower price so you don’t need to have big bucks to be in contention for a game-changing score.

Strategies for Satellites can be very different from a normal Tournament, and yes, you’ll need to make some adjustments that may seem strange compared to standard tournament strategy.

Approaching satellite play with the same strategy used in a regular poker tournament will often result in busting out when you would otherwise have a seat to the target tournament locked up.

Watch this Strategy Episode from LearnWPT Instructor Nick Binger as he discusses the key adjustments you need to make when playing Satellite Poker Tournaments.

Need Help Closing The Deal?

In this LearnWPT Strategy Episode get invaluable perspective from a Pro as Nick Binger reviews several key hands from a Satellite to highlight the unique adjustments during the endgame.

These strategy concepts could help you avoid busting on the bubble and secure your seat to the WPT Choctaw Championship!

The Keys 🗝️ to Satellite Play

• Everyone gets paid the same prize
• Make sure you know the rules of the Satellite you are playing and how to secure your seat
• Satellites can be played a number of ways, from traditional freezeout, to milestone, to shootout format
• No incentive to build a large stack once you are likely to win a seat
• As the probability of winning a seat goes up, your ranges in all spots tighten up
• There are times in a satellite poker tournament when players should never continue against an all-in
• Satellites are the only form of poker where it can be correct to fold pocket Aces preflop
• Pay very close attention to stack sizes and level changes!
• Often in the satellite endgame 10BBs may be a big stack that is guaranteed to win a seat

Test Your Satellite Skills!

You are playing a Mega Satellite to the $2 Million guaranteed WPT Choctaw Championship with blinds at 50/100 and a 100 big blind ante. You are in the Small Blind with Q♠Q♥ and 4,600 chips (46BBs). An Early Position player limps, a visibly frustrated player in the MP2 seat makes it 300, and the Button flat calls.

Action is on you, what do you do here?

Click here to get a detailed analysis of this hand from Team LearnWPT and learn more strategy behind the correct plays.

How Should You Adjust at a Final Table?

Strategy adjustments for various tournament stages must consider the impact of ICM (Independent Chip Model) and the specific factors in play at your table. When there are different stack sizes and a huge gap in pay between 1st and 9th place, making the most profitable decisions can seem daunting.

When you are the chip leader at a Final Table it’s also crucial to understand how dramatic ICM will affect your opponent’s strategy, and when you can use ruthless aggression to punish your foes on the way to victory. In both cases, the key to making better decisions with ICM in play starts with adjusting first-in hand ranges.

Watch this LearnWPT.com Strategy Episode as Nick breaks down ranges and adjustments across stack sizes and describes how you should be approaching these spots at your next Final Table.

Playing Medium Pairs at A Final Table

Medium strength pocket pairs are a common source of frustration at the poker table for many players. Often with this hand category we are faced with difficult decisions to continue on many board textures, and can be challenged to make the right play when facing aggressive action.

At a Final Table when pay jumps are a big factor, it’s even more crucial to understand the correct strategy with medium pairs in order to avoid massive ICM blunders.

Here’s a breakdown from LearnWPT Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen featuring pocket 8s at a Final Table to illustrate just how much ICM should affect your decisions in these spots.

Are You GTO Final Table Ready?

Picture yourself as one of 6 remaining players at the Final Table of the $3,800 WPT Choctaw Championship event. How do you play your 30 Big Blind stack against a call from a tough chip leader with two short stacks in play and the Mike Sexton Champions Cup on the line?

Play FREE solved hands from the WPT GTO Trainer to see firsthand how preflop ranges affect your decisions at the Final Table.

Here are some tips when practicing with the WPT GTO Trainer:

• Your goal is to select the action for each individual hand that is as close to 0.00 EV as possible
• EV Loss of 0.00 is the same action a GTO Player would take
• 0.00 EV Loss means you broke even against a GTO Player
• EV Loss Color Coding Hint:
  • Green = Near GTO Play
  • Orange = Take Caution
  • Red = Probable Leak in Your Game

Members can practice more hands from this scenario anytime by playing the 30BB Button Open Vs 70BB Big Blind Call WPT GTO Trainer Final Table pack! Not a Member? Join for just $5 your first month to play more WPT GTO Trainer scenarios like this.

At the Final Table Remember To...

• Play to avoid busting out to the chip leader
• You will check and call more often than bet or raise
• You still need some bluffs in your range to prevent the chip leader from exploiting you
• Almost never lead out from the Big Blind after calling preflop
• Don’t be afraid to fold marginal hands against big bets that could set up an all-in situation on a future street
• When facing an aggressive chip leader, you should often trap by check-calling with your big made hands

Launch Your Poker Game and SAVE 50%

Get your poker game ready for success with The LearnWPT Launch No-Limit Hold'em Tournament Course and get 50% off with promotion code VEGAS50 at checkout. This course is the PERFECT way to level up your tournament skills with the WPT Champions and WSOP Bracelet winners on Team LearnWPT.

Why are we so confident that Launch will help your game?

In 2024 not only did we see epic success from 2 Instructors who taught the LearnWPT Launch Course, we also saw 2 students grab a WSOP Bracelet and 2 WSOP Circuit Rings (in 1 week!) after attending.

In short - We’ve got the results to prove it!

With LearnWPT Launch you’ll get a highly structured upgrade to your tournament poker strategy from proven winners who are also expert teachers. The four sessions include more than 10 hours of lecture and in-depth hand examples to help align your game fast.

➧ Early Stage Play with Johan Schultz-Pedersen
➧ Responding to Aggression with Eric Lynch
➧ Turn and River Play with Michael Gagliano
➧ ICM and Bubble Play with Tony Dunst

In addition to the in-depth lecture sessions LearnWPT Launch includes 30 strategy videos from our expansive library to supplement your training, downloadable range charts, poker hand quizzes after each section, and 20 WPT GTO Trainer packs for you to play, train, and drill hands based on the strategies you are learning. You’ll also have direct access to a private strategy Discord channel to ask questions to your coaches.

➧ Lifetime Access to the Course Videos and Tools
➧ No hidden fees, LearnWPT.com Membership not required

Start the course NOW to prepare for the WSOP, WPT Championship, or any tournament that you are planning on playing!

Have FUN, Good Luck, and Good Playing!

Will we see you on the felt during the WPT Choctaw Festival? If you see Team LearnWPT stop and say Hi 👋!

Check the LearnWPT calendar to follow Team LearnWPT On Tour as we travel the globe to play WPT Events.

Let us know if you are in the action during the WPT Choctaw Championship Event or side events on the Festival schedule!

Follow and tag us on social media to share your pic with members of Team LearnWPT, show off your chip stack, or celebrate a deep run.

X @LearnWPT | Facebook @learnwpt | Instagram @learn_wpt

We love to hear how LearnWPT Students are doing and we can’t wait to share your success at the poker table!

Good luck and good playing,
-Team LearnWPT

We hope you enjoyed these free strategies and tips from Team LearnWPT! Subscribe for more FREE poker content.

Have Questions about LearnWPT? Send an email to our Support Team at [email protected] or click the red CONTACT US button.

Hey Poker Fans!

Welcome to Tour Terms, where we break down key terms that poker Pros use to talk strategy and give you helpful tips to use in your next poker tournament. Today's Tour Term is ...

Big Blind Defense: noun
big blind de·fense \ ˈbig ˈblīnd di-ˈfen(t)s \

1) A strategy for continuing against an opponent who open raises preflop when you are in the Big Blind, usually by calling.

Example of Big Blind Defense in a sentence
Tony raises to 500 from the Cutoff seat and action folds to LuckyChewy who defends his Big Blind and calls and we’re off to a flop.

Defend Yourself!

Learn the basics of Big Blind Defense calling and get downloadable charts you can use during your next poker tournament.

Watch and learn as LearnWPT Instructor Nick Binger breaks this must have strategy and upgrade your Big Blind play right now:

🛡️ Tips for Defending Your Big Blind Like A Pro:

• Avoid calling with offsuit hands - suited hands and speculative hands are best
• This strategy only applies when you are up against 1 opponent and in the Big Blind
• Make sure you only defend by calling with specific hands. Don’t remove 3-Betting from your game plan!
• Defend with tighter calling range against larger open raise sizes
• Default to checking the flop after you call the raise, no matter what cards you hold

Tony Defends on the Ultimate Stage

Big Blind Defense plays a crucial role in the outcome of almost every Final Table from your local daily poker tournament to a World Poker Tour Championship Event.

In this Strategy Episode from WPT® Commentator and LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst we get a behind the scenes look into how these strategies are used when the World Poker Tour Tournament of Champions title and the Mike Sexton Champions Cup is at stake!

And Off To The Flop We Go...

Think you have what it takes to defend your Big Blind and outwit a world-class poker Pro? It’s time to challenge the world’s perfect opponent - The WPT GTO Trainer!

Play these 5 hands to test your skills and learn the exact move to make. Remember, the goal is to get as close to ZERO EV loss with each decision you make. Good luck...

Here are some tips when practicing with the WPT GTO Trainer:

• Your goal is to select the action for each individual hand that is as close to 0.00 EV as possible
• EV Loss of 0.00 is the same action a GTO Player would take
• 0.00 EV Loss means you broke even against a GTO Player
• EV Loss Color Coding Hint:
  • Green = Near GTO Play
  • Orange = Take Caution
  • Red = Probable Leak in Your Game

See how close you get to 0 EV Loss and high percentage plays, then reread the advice above from the LearnWPT Pros.

Not sure how to optimize your BIG BLIND DEFENSE? Why not ASK A PRO for insight into this critical skill and get expert feedback!

Find out what it's like to have a professional poker coach help you improve your game by trying out your 1st month of Membership for just $5 and gain access to the LearnWPT Ask a Pro feature.

Improve your No-Limit Texas Hold'em game by joining LearnWPT for just $5 your first month. After your first month choose the LearnWPT Membership Tier that best fits your budget, schedule, and stage in your development as a player (upgrade or cancel at any time).

Want More Tour Terms From LearnWPT?

LearnWPT Members have instant access to a comprehensive poker training database. Search for any poker term and get the correct definition plus complete results for all related video, written, and playable poker education content on LearnWPT.com.

With a massive library including 550+ on-demand video Strategy Episodes (from top Pros including Tony Dunst, Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger, and Michael “Gags30” Gagliano!), dozens of downloadable charts and tools, direct access to the LearnWPT Pros, and the state of the art WPT GTO Trainer, you’re certain to find the answers to your most pressing poker questions.

Have Questions? Email our Support Team at [email protected] or click the red Contact Us button and we'll be happy to help.

During your next tournament or session give these big blind defense techniques a try and you'll become tougher to play against and keep your opponents on their heels more often.

Good Luck and Good Playing,
- Team LearnWPT

Hey Poker Fans!

Welcome to Tour Terms, where we break down key terms that poker pros use to talk strategy and give you helpful tips to use in your next poker tournament. Today's Tour Term is …

3-Bet: verb
three·bet \ ˈthrē ˈbet \

1) The act of raising after another player has raised the initial bet amount first-in. For example, in a tournament where blinds are 25-50, Player A opens the pot to 150 preflop and Player B raises to 450. In this instance Player B is 3-Betting the pot.

Example of 3-Bet in a Sentence
Tony raises preflop to 150 and LuckyChewy 3-Bets to 450 with A♠5♠.

So, What Hands Should You 3-Bet With 🤔?

Fighting back vs aggression from your opponents can be stressful and it’s hard to know exactly when you should reraise and which hands to do it with. Watch this in-depth Strategy Episode with LearnWPT Instructor Nick Binger as he breaks down the key factors you should look for when deciding to 3-bet:

5 Key 🗝️ Reminders for 3-Betting:

➧ In order to win tournaments you can’t simply wait for good cards
➧ 3-Betting is key to winning pots without showing down your hand
➧ Avoid 3-Betting with bad cards in cash games
➧ Target players with medium sized (30 to 50 big blind) stacks to pressure with 3-bets
➧ Players opening the pot from late position are likely to have wider hand ranges

3-Betting Ace King With The Champ 🥊

Staying aggressive with Ace King is essential for making deep runs and bringing home tournament titles. Many players struggle with how to effectively apply aggression with Ace King, especially vs sticky opponents.

Check out this Strategy Episode with 3x WPT Champion and LearnWPT Instructor Brian Altman from a $2,200 buy-in event at Wynn Las Vegas and learn his strategy for playing AK in a 3-bet pot.

The Cup 🏆 Awaits!

You are in a World Poker Tour main event with the Mike Sexton Champions Cup on the line! A late position player raises first-in and you 3-Bet from the Button with a 50BB stack. Your opponent calls and you are off to the flop...

Now it’s time to test your skills from this spot and play a FREE Tournament sample of 5 hands in the WPT GTO Trainer.

Your goal is to keep "EV Loss" in the green and close to 0, good luck!

Here are some tips when practicing with the WPT GTO Trainer:

• Your goal is to select the action for each individual hand that is as close to 0.00 EV as possible
• EV Loss of 0.00 is the same action a GTO Player would take
• 0.00 EV Loss means you broke even against a GTO Player
• EV Loss Color Coding Hint:
  • Green = Near GTO Play
  • Orange = Take Caution
  • Red = Probable Leak in Your Game

🖥️ Watch 3-Betting In Action

3-Betting is a powerful move that experts use to pressure opponents and force even the toughest players to retreat.

Check out this hand from WPT Season XIII for an in-depth look at a 3-bet pot with big money on the line and watch as Nick demonstrates how this Pro perfectly puts theory into practice.

Want More Tour Terms From LearnWPT?

LearnWPT Members have instant access to a comprehensive poker training database. Search for any poker term and get the correct definition plus complete results for all related video, written, and playable poker education content on LearnWPT.com.

With a massive library including 550+ on-demand video Strategy Episodes (from top Pros including Tony Dunst, Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger, Michael “Gags30” Gagliano, and Brian Altman!), dozens of downloadable charts and tools, direct access to the LearnWPT Pros, and the state of the art WPT GTO Trainer, you’re certain to find the answers to your most pressing poker questions.

Improve your No-Limit Texas Hold'em game by joining LearnWPT for just $5 your first month. After your first month choose the LearnWPT Membership Tier that best fits your budget, schedule, and stage in your development as a player (upgrade or cancel at any time).

During your next tournament or session give these 3-betting strategies a try and you'll become tougher to play against and keep your opponents on their heels more often.

Good Luck and Good Playing,
- Team LearnWPT

Have Questions? Email our Support Team at [email protected] or click the red Contact Us button and we'll be happy to help.

That's a wrap!

The final week of the 2024 WSOP and Summer Tournament Season concluded with more fun and cashes from Team LearnWPT.

During the exciting 7 week stretch we got to sweat 13 final tables, see two LearnWPT Students each take down their 1st Gold Bracelet, and two Instructors add hardware to their already accomplished trophy chest. We also took home nearly $2.1 Million dollars in well deserved earnings.

This summer Team LearnWPT achieved:
➧ WSOP Gold Bracelet: 4 (YES 4!)
➧ Around Town Win: 1
➧ WSOP Final Tables: 4
➧ Around Town Final Tables: 9
➧ Cashed For: $2,099,701 (nearly double our cashes from 2023)

What's up next for Team LearnWPT? The WPT® World Championship Festival at Wynn Las Vegas this December! We'll be busy getting LearnWPT Students prepared to play better poker and win big at Wynn Las Vegas.

The second ever WPT World Championship Festival at Wynn Las Vegas set the standard for all future poker festivals with almost every event crushing the guaranteed prize pools and multiple players walked away with over $1,000,000 for their efforts.

During the 2023 Festival Team LearnWPT saw huge results including LearnWPT Member Bob Buckenmeyer who made the WPT Prime Championship Final Table and Instructor Andrew Lichtenberger who final tabled the flagship $40M GTD WPT World Championship.

The 2024 schedule will be finalized and announced soon so you still have plenty of time to make your plans to join us in Vegas.

Whether it’s realizing the goal of playing your first live poker tournament, grabbing your first cash, or taking home some hardware, we’ve really enjoyed hearing about everyone's successes on the felt this summer. Let's keep it going!

Not a Member? Join Now (just $5 your first month) and start getting ahead of the competition to get your poker game Championship ready.

LearnWPT Finds Big Success During the WSOP!

THANK YOU to all of our LearnWPT Students who helped make this summer season of poker exciting. We are proud of your progress and are grateful to have you in the LearnWPT Family!

Stay tuned for announcements on new Webinars, WPT GTO Trainer features, and exclusive Live Workshops to keep the momentum going into the WPT World Championship festival.

Thousands of poker players have descended on the Las Vegas Strip for 7 weeks of summer poker action during the 2024 World Series of Poker looking to win a prestigious WSOP Bracelet (and some cash too) including LearnWPT Students and Instructors.

During the 2023 WSOP summer action we got to sweat 10 final tables, see another LearnWPT Student take down their 1st Gold Bracelet, and celebrate the over $1Million in cashes.

So how did Team LearnWPT do? Hint it's 4 WSOP Gold Bracelets!

🎉 WSOP Week 7 Successes
🎉 WSOP Week 6 Successes
🎉 WSOP Week 5 Successes
🎉 WSOP Week 4 Successes
🎉 WSOP Week 3 Successes
🎉 WSOP Weeks 1-2 Successes
👏 Success Around Town
📌️️ FREE Tournament Prep Episode & Tips
👀 Our Ones To Look Out For

Read more about Team LearnWPT's successes...

WSOP Week 7 Achievements

➧ LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst made another deep run in the record-breaking WSOP Main Event!

• WSOP 2024 Event 81: $10,000 Main Event Championship
• Placed: 144th out of 10,112
• Won: $70,000
• Tournament results

For the 2nd year in a row Tony went deep in the Main Event 👏

➧ LearnWPT Student Joe Bergh cashed in the WSOP Lucky 7s No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #93 $777 Lucky 7s Event
• Placed: 244th out of 6,292
• Won: $2,520
• Tournament Results

🌡️ This is Joe's 4th cash of the summer!

➧ LearnWPT Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP Mid-Stakes No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event 89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Event
• Placed: 106th out of 3,177
• Won: $8,989
• Tournament results

WSOP Week 6 Achievements

LearnWPT Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen took to the online felt last weekend to win his FIRST career WSOP Bracelet!

Johan captured WSOP Bracelet #1 and the $149,745 1st place prize after outlasting the 3,379 entry field in the $400 No-Limit World Series of Poker Colossus Online Event #20. As a testament to Johan’s focus and determination, he won his first bracelet while on an off day before the start of Day 2 of the $10K WSOP Main Event!

This incredible victory is the highlight of an already epic summer, including 🔥 12 WSOP cashes and a Final Table in the super stacked WPT Alpha8 Trifecta $25K buy-in event at Wynn Las Vegas.

🏆 LearnWPT Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen WON the WSOP Colossus No-Limit Hold'em Tournament!

• WSOP 2024 Online Event 20: $400 Colossus Event
• Placed: 🥇 1st out of 3,379
• Won: $149,745
• Tournament results

Congratulations Johan on Winning Your 1st WSOP Bracelet 🥂

➧ Instructor Adrian Naggy cashed in the WSOP Ultra Stack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #84: $600 Ultra Stack Event
• Placed: 614th out of 6,628
• Won: $1,260
• Tournament Results

🌡️ Adrian cashed 4 times so far!

➧ LearnWPT Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event 19: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Event
• Placed: 28th out of 1,963
• Won: $3,927
• Tournament results

➧ LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst cashed in the WSOP Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event 19: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Event
• Placed: 122rd out of 1,963
• Won: $1,900
• Tournament results

➧ LearnWPT Instructor Michael "Gags30" Gagliano cashed in the WSOP Lucky 7's No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event #16: $777 Lucky 7's Event
• Placed: 22nd out of 1,694
• Won: $4,862
• Tournament Results

🔥 Gags cashed 5 times so far!

➧ LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst cashed in the WSOP High Roller 8-Max No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event 14: $5,300 High Roller 8-Max Event
• Placed: 12th out of 267
• Won: $16,363
• Tournament results

WSOP Week 5 Achievements

He's done it again!

LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst took to the online felt last weekend to win his third career WSOP Bracelet!

Tony captured WSOP Bracelet #3 and the $134,888 1st place prize after outlasting the 2,435 entry field in the $500 No-Limit World Series of Poker Deepstack Online Event #15. After a hard fought 13 hour battle of online play through a massive field stacked with Pros and online grinders the remaining 8 players reached the final table.

Just as the sun was rising over the Las Vegas Valley, the last hand of heads up play with his opponent “vevere” was dealt, and the marathon session ended with Tony securing WSOP Bracelet #3.

🏆 LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst WON the WSOP Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament!

• WSOP 2024 Online Event #15: $500 Deepstack Event
• Placed: 🥇 1st out of 2,435
• Won: $134,888
• Tournament results

Congratulations Tony on Winning Your 3rd WSOP Bracelet 🥂

➧ LearnWPT Student Cathy Schenone cashed in the WSOP Mini Main No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #78 $1,000 Mini Main Event
• Placed: 203rd out of 6,076
• Won: $4,168
• Tournament Results

➧ LearnWPT Student Lisa Roberts cashed in the WSOP Mini Main No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #78 $1,000 Mini Main Event
• Placed: 264th out of 6,076
• Won: $3,280
• Tournament Results

➧ LearnWPT Student Scott Roberts cashed in the WSOP Colossus No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #70 $400 Colossus Event
• Placed: 895th out of 2,845
• Won: $1,140
• Tournament Results

🔥 This is Scott's 3rd cash of the Series!

➧ LearnWPT Student Bob Buckenmayer cashed in the WSOP $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #68 $2,500 Event
• Placed: 76th out of 2,229
• Won: $9,291
• Tournament Results

💥 This is Bob's 6th cash of the Series!

➧ LearnWPT Student Bob Buckenmayer cashed in the WSOP Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #65 $5,000 Seniors Hight Roller
• Placed: 20th out of 680
• Won: $22,022
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Tony Dunst cashed in the WSOP $1K Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event #13: $1,000 Freezeout Event
• Placed: 74th out of 824
• Won: $2,002
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Michael "Gags30" Gagliano cashed in the WSOP Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event #11: $500 Mystery Bounty Event
• Placed: 347th out of 3,462
• Won: $846
• Tournament Results

WSOP Week 4 Achievements

Week 4 of the WSOP brought our 2nd WSOP Bracelet of the Series!

The 4th week of the WSOP in Vegas drew to an exciting conclusion with LearnWPT Student Sean Jazayeri winning his 1st Gold Bracelet, battling a field of 3,362 opponents, and taking home $368,025!

Sean started Day 4 of the $1,000 buy-in WSOP Super Seniors event third in chips, showed patience and played fearlessly in the endgame to emerge as the victor in an exciting heads up duel. This is Sean's third 2024 WSOP cash which is also his largest-ever WSOP cash and the 2nd biggest of his poker career.

Sean recently attended the LearnWPT Launch Workshop with Tony Dunst, Eric "Rizen" Lynch, Michael "Gags30" Gagliano, Johan Schultz-Pedersen, and Adrian Naggy to prepare for the WSOP and we're incredibly proud of his success.

🏆 LearnWPT Student Sean Jazayeri WON the WSOP Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament!

• WSOP 2024 Event #59: $1,000 Super Seniors Event
• Placed: 🥇 1st out of 3,362
• Won: $368,025
• Read about Sean's Final Table performance

Congratulations Sean on Winning Your 1st WSOP Bracelet 🥂

➧ LearnWPT Student Joe Bergh cashed in the WSOP PokerNews Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #62: $600 PokerNews Deepstack Event
• Placed: 492nd out of 5,110
• Won: $1,261
• Tournament Results

➧ LearnWPT Student Bob Buckenmayer cashed in the WSOP Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #59: $1,000 Super Seniors Event
• Placed: 223rd out of 3,362
• Won: $2,355
• Tournament Results

➧ Student John Goodell cashed in the WSOP Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #59: $1,000 Super Seniors Event
• Placed: 245th out of 3,362
• Won: $2,355
• Tournament Results

🔥 John cashed 4 times during the Series!

➧ LearnWPT Student Scott Roberts cashed in the WSOP Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #59: $1,000 Super Seniors Event
• Placed: 452nd out of 3,362
• Won: $2,001
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Adrian Naggy cashed in the WSOP Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #54: $1,500 Millionaire Maker Event
• Placed: 1,079th out of 10,939
• Won: $3,150
• Tournament

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP $3K No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #49: $3,000 Freezeout
• Placed: 149th out of 1,252
• Won: $6,024
• Tournament Results

💥 Johan has 11 total cashes including 7 WSOP!!

➧ LearnWPT Student Bryant Morrison cashed in the WSOP Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #46: $1,000 Seniors Event
• Placed: 297th out of 7,954
• Won: $3,783
• Tournament Results

🌡️ This is Bryant's 2nd cash of the Series!

➧ LearnWPT Student Scott Roberts cashed in the WSOP Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #46: $1,000 Seniors Event
• Placed: 423rd out of 7,954
• Won: $3,010
• Tournament Results

➧ LearnWPT Student Joe Bergh cashed in the WSOP Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #46: $1,000 Seniors Event
• Placed: 445th out of 7,954
• Won: $3,010
• Tournament Results

➧ LearnWPT Student Sean Jazayeri cashed in the WSOP Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #46: $1,000 Seniors Event
• Placed: 872nd out of 7,954
• Won: $2,000
• Tournament Results

WSOP Week 3 Achievements

➧ Instructor Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger cashed in the WSOP $100K High Roller No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #47: $100,000 High Roller
• Placed: 12th out of 112
• Won: $209,346
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP $2K No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #44: $2,000 No-Limit
• Placed: 121st out of 1,561
• Won: $4,462
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Tony Dunst cashed in the WSOP $1K 6-Max Online No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event #8: $1,000 6-Max
• Placed: 144th out of 1,233
• Won: $1,886
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP Online 6-Max No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event #8: $1,000 6-Max
• Placed: 234th out of 1,233
• Won: $1,665
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Adrian Naggy cashed in the WSOP Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #38: $1,500 Monster Stack
• Placed: 60th out of 8,703
• Won: $21,025
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Michael "Gags30" Gagliano cashed in the WSOP Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #38: $1,500 Monster Stack
• Placed: 417th out of 8,703
• Won: $4,880
• Tournament Results

➧ Studen Ian Shirreffs cashed in the WSOP Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #38: $1,500 Monster Stack
• Placed: 950th out of 8,703
• Won: $3,001
• Tournament Results

➧ Student Jed Dyrek cashed in the WSOP $800 Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #36: $800 Deepstack 8-Handed
• Placed: 557th out of 4,248
• Won: $1,601
• Tournament Results

🌡️ Jed also took 3rd in a $250 WSOP daily - Let's keep it going!

➧ Instructor Michael "Gags30" Gagliano cashed in the WSOP $1,500 Limit H.O.R.S.E. Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #35: $1,500 Limit H.O.R.S.E.
• Placed: 71st out of 8,703
• Won: $3,417
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP Online Ultra Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event #6: $400 Ultra Deepstack
• Placed: 138rd out of 2,238
• Won: $1,128
• Tournament Results

WSOP Week 2 Achievements

Week 2 of the WSOP brought our 1st WSOP Bracelet of the Series!

Long-time LearnWPT Student Timothy "T.J." Murphy took home his first WSOP Bracelet outlasting a huge field of 4,732 runners and banked an impressive $368,977 for the win.

T.J. roared into the Final Table as the chip leader and showed zero fear while using his huge stack to eliminate 6 of the 8 remaining players on his way to victory. Entering heads up play with a big chip advantage, it only took a few hands for T.J. to finish it out.

T.J. puts in the work everyday on LearnWPT.com and we are so happy to see it paying off! He’s submitted hundreds of hands to our Ask A Pro forum for analysis and trains constantly on the WPT GTO Trainer. Most people don't get to see all of the work and study a Student puts in behind the scenes, they just see the result. T.J. worked hard for this and his dominating performance showed it 👏.

🏆 LearnWPT Student T.J. Murphy WON the WSOP Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament!

• WSOP 2024 Event #17: $800 Deepstack Event
• Placed: 🥇 1st out of 4,732
• Won: $368,977
• Tournament Results
• Read about T.J.'s dominating Final Table performance

Congratulations T.J. on Winning Your 1st WSOP Bracelet 🥂

➧ Instructor Brian Altman cashed in the WSOP $3K No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #31: $3,000 6-Handed Event
• Placed: 177th out of 1230
• Won: $6,015
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP $3KNo-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #31: $3,000 6-Handed Event
• Placed: 165th out of 1230
• Won: $6,015
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger cashed in the WSOP $25K High Roller No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #21: $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed
• Placed: 22nd out of 272
• Won: $64,249
• Tournament Results

➧ LearnWPT Student Bob Buckenmayer cashed in the WSOP Gladiators of Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #20: $300 Gladiators of Poker Event
• Placed: 2,178th out of 20,647
• Won: $600
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Brian Altman cashed in the WSOP Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #17: $800 Deepstack Event
• Placed: 184th out of 4,732
• Won: $2,895
• Tournament Results

WSOP Week 1 Achievements

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP $5K Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #16: $5,000 Freezeout 8-Handed
• Placed: 43rd out of 660
• Won: $15,430
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Michael "Gags30" Gagliano cashed in the WSOP $5K Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #16: $5,000 Freezeout 8-Handed
• Placed: 80th out of 660
• Won: $9,964
• Tournament Results

➧ Student Sean Jazayeri cashed in the WSOP Online PKO No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Online Event #2: $400 PKO
• Placed: 97th out of 1,962
• Won: $600
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WSOP Mystery Millions No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #15: $1,000 Mystery Millions
• Placed: 1,855th out of 18,409
• Won: $1,320
• Tournament Results

➧ LearnWPT Student Bob Buckenmayer cashed in the WSOP Mystery Millions No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #5: $1,000 Mystery Millions
• Placed: 1,090th out of 18,409
• Won: $2,637
• Tournament Results

➧ LearnWPT Student Bob Buckenmayer cashed in the WSOP Kickoff Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• WSOP 2024 Event #3: $500 Kickoff -Freezeout Event
• Placed: 309th out of 3,485
• Won: $1,051
• Tournament Results

Team LearnWPT Success Around Town

➧ Instructor Andrew Lichtenberger cashed in the WPT Alpha8 Trifecta No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• The Wynn Summer Classic: $25,000 WPT Alpha8 Trifecta Event #3
• Placed: 4th out of 117
• Won: $265,000
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Brian Altman cashed in the Wynn Summer Classic Championship No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• The Wynn Summer Classic: $10,400 $10MGTD Championship
• Placed: 67th out of 1,440
• Won: $35,139
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the WPT Alpha8 Trifecta No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• The Wynn Summer Classic: $25,000 WPT Alpha8 Trifecta Event #1
• Placed: 10th out of 78
• Won: $57,100
• Tournament Results

🏆 Student Tamar Abraham WON a Golden Nugget Championship Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• 2024 Grand Poker Series: Golden Nugget
• 🥇 1st Place
• Won: $10,200

Tammy is our reigning 2023 WSOP Bracelet winner!

🥉 LearnWPT Student Joe Bergh took 3rd in the Venetian Ultimate Bounty No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• Venetian DeepStack Event #56: $1,100 Ultimate Stack
• Placed: 3rd out of 214
• Won: $22,526
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Adrian Naggy Final Tabled the MGM Grand Grand Stack No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• MGM Grand Las Vegas: $400 Summer Series Grand Stack
• Placed: 9th out of 506
• Won: $3,255
• Tournament Results

➧ Student John Goodell cashed in the Golden Nugget Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• 2024 Grand Poker Series: $400 Golden Nugget Super Seniors
• 7th out of 366
• Won: $3,992

🥈 Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen took 2nd in the Wynn $1,100 Turbo No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• The Wynn Summer Classic: $1,100 Turbo
• Placed: 2nd out of 184
• Won: $35,257
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Brian Altman cashed in the Wynn $4M GTD No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• The Wynn Summer Classic: $3,500 $4M GTD Event
• Placed: 104th out of 1,907
• Won: $9,505
• Tournament Results

➧ Student John Goodell cashed in the $600 Golden Nugget Championship No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• 2024 Grand Poker Series: $600 Golden Nugget Championship
• 173rd out of 1,900
• Won: $2,055

➧ Student Sandy Tabin took 4th in the MSPT $1,600 Venetian No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event: Venetian Las Vegas
• Placed: 4th out of 696
• Won: $66,270
• Tournament Results

Sandy is straight off his WPT Montreal $600 buy-in 1st place win for $19,941 - Let's keep it going!

➧ Student John Goodell took 44th in the Wynn Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• The Wynn Summer Classic: $1,600 Seniors
• Placed: 44th out of 459
• Won: $3,778
• Tournament Results

🥈 Student Bryant Morrison took 2nd in the Venetian Ultimate Bounty No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• Venetian DeepStack Event #19: $1,100 Ultimate Bounty
• Placed: 2nd out of 129
• Won: $19,247
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the Wynn $3K 6-Max No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• The Wynn Summer Classic: $3,000 6-Max
• Placed: 30th out of 284
• Won: $6,785
• Tournament Results

➧ Instructor Johan Schultz-Pedersen cashed in the Wynn Century PKO No-Limit Hold'em Tournament

• The Wynn Summer Classic: $1,600 Century PKO
• Placed: 102nd out of 2,034
• Won: $3,215
• Tournament Results

Hey Poker Fans!

Welcome to Tour Terms, where we break down key terms that poker pros use to talk strategy and give you helpful tips to use in your next poker tournament. Today's Tour Term is …

Floating: verb
float·​ing \ ˈflō-tiŋ \

1) To call a bet as the In Position player with the intention of taking away the pot on a later street using aggressive action. This is often done with a hand that has not connected with the board in any way.

Example of Floating in a Sentence:
Brian raises preflop to 1500 in Middle Position with A♥K♦ and Johan calls on the Button with J♣T♦. On the flop of 9♥7♥4♦ Brian c-bets 2200. Johan chooses to Float with two overcards that also have a backdoor flush draw plus gutshot straight draw and calls 2200.

Fold Less, Float More!

Tired of competing against THAT poker player who always seems to be dragging pots with preflop raises and constant continuation bets? Take away their equity advantage and turn aggression on its heels with the Float.

Tune in to this LearnWPT Strategy Episode as Instructor Nick Binger gives you step-by-step guidelines to identify the best situations to Float vs a frequent c-bettor and how to apply this move effectively.

Floating is an effective strategy to counter c-bet bluffs as a fair percentage of flops will not connect with the range of the preflop raiser. These weak hands are usually forced to give up and check on many turn cards, giving the Floater a prime opportunity to bluff.

Utilize the power of position to turn aggression around on your opponents and add Floating to your poker move-making toolkit.

Additional Episodes to review that Nick discusses:

❐ Episode 91: Protecting C-Bets (countering a Floater)
❐ Episode 72: Basic Linear Preflop Play
➥ Download The Linear Preflop Decision Tree
❐ Episode 3: Speculative Preflop Calling
❐ Episode 150: Linear Vs Polarized 3-Betting

🖥️ Floating In Action at a WPT Final Table

Take a Closer Look at this pivotal hand from the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star featuring a common situation where a player Floats on the flop with backdoor equity vs an opponent holding a 1-pair hand and watch as Nick demonstrates how this poker Pro puts theory into practice.

✍️ Tips for Pulling Off a Float in Poker:

➧ Floating is essentially calling on the flop without a real hand with a plan to take away the pot on the turn using aggression
➧ Float specific situations only, calling too often will result in profit loss
➧ Limit Floating to spots where you are In Position (when you are last to act and someone has bet into you)
➧ Float against a single opponent - avoid Floating in multiway pots

➧ Target situations where you have a hand with good equity and can potentially create fold equity through aggressive action
➧ Choose hands that can turn additional equity (backdoor draws, over cards on the flop)
➧ Choose boards where the next card could be a scare card (draw on the flop that you can represent)
➧ We often will be Floating with Speculative Hands

Put Your Floating Skills to the Test!

Decision Point: In a Tournament with 50 big blind stacks a Middle Position player open raises to 2.5BBs and you call from the Button. Play Game Theory Optimal solved hands In Position.

Now it’s time to test your skills from this spot and play a FREE sample of 5 tournament hands in the WPT GTO Trainer.

LearnWPT Members can play more poker hands from this common MTT spot with the Button Call Vs MP2 Open WPT GTO Trainer pack.

Here are some tips when practicing with the WPT GTO Trainer:

• Your goal is to select the action for each individual hand that is as close to 0.00 EV as possible
• EV Loss of 0.00 is the same action a GTO Player would take
• 0.00 EV Loss means you broke even against a GTO Player
• EV Loss Color Coding Hint:
  • Green = Near GTO Play
  • Orange = Take Caution
  • Red = Probable Leak in Your Game

Regular play on the WPT GTO Trainer will help you adjust your poker decisions closer and closer to GTO strategy.

Not a Member? Join for just $5 your first month to play more WPT GTO Trainer scenarios like this.

Solver Study With Tony Dunst: Making Calls

It can be an uncomfortable feeling to continue against aggression in a poker hand with marginal holdings. If you aren’t careful in selecting when to peel off another card with bottom pair or a backdoor draw, you can easily bleed off chips and sabotage deep runs.

In this Strategy Episode LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst dissects lessons learned from solver study to show you spots where calling more often with a wider range of hands against standard aggression is preferred.

From the Felt: Floating and Turn Play

After learning clear guidelines for the ideal spots to Float the flop and take advantage of your position more skillfully, it’s time to examine how this strategy transitions to playing the turn in actual real-world game scenarios.

Tune into and watch this deep dive into two hands from a high stakes online event featuring Nick Binger including a flop Float with AQo and a tough spot with QQ vs a squeeze play from the Small Blind.

Poker Quiz Time! Would You Float the Turn?

DECISION POINT: In a Tournament where blinds are 100/200 a Middle Position player (who you’ve observed as being loose aggressive) raises to 600. You call from the Button with Q♣T♣. Heads-up on a J♥5♥7♣ flop Villain bets out 600 and action is on you. What would do you do?

Click here to get detailed analysis of this hand from Team LearnWPT and learn more strategy behind the correct plays.

Want More Tour Terms From LearnWPT?

LearnWPT Members have instant access to a comprehensive poker training database. Search for any poker term and get the correct definition plus complete results for all related video, written, and playable poker education content on LearnWPT.com.

With a massive library including 500+ on-demand video Strategy Episodes (from successful Pros including Tony Dunst, NIck Binger, Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger, Michael “Gags30” Gagliano, Eric "Rizen" Lynch, Johan Schultz-Pedersen, and Brian Altman!), dozens of downloadable charts and tools, direct access to the LearnWPT Pros, and the state of the art WPT GTO Trainer, you’re certain to find the answers to your most pressing poker questions.

Improve your No-Limit Texas Hold'em poker skills by joining LearnWPT for just $5 your 1st month. After your first month, choose the LearnWPT Membership Tier that best fits your budget, schedule, and stage in your development (upgrade or cancel at any time).

During your next tournament or session give these poker strategies for Floating In Position a try and you'll become tougher to play against while keeping your opponents on their heels more often.

Good Luck and Good Playing,
- Team LearnWPT

Have Questions? Email our Support Team at [email protected] or click the red Contact Us button and we'll be happy to help.

📚 Poker Study Sessions With Team LearnWPT!

Over the last 2 months Team LearnWPT hosted Study Sessions for Members to get their game ready to dominate the 2023 WPT® World Championship Festival at Wynn Las Vegas this December.

For each poker Study Session we provide Members with a curated curriculum that features Strategy Episodes, WPT GTO Trainer packs, and downloadable tools that are focused on specific concepts and habits essential for tournament success. Team LearnWPT also conducted LIVE Member-only sessions to focus on key strategy concepts for each topic and answer questions.

A huge THANK YOU to every Student who’s joined us for the WPT World Championship Study Sessions. Members can rewatch the sessions anytime from the Webinars Dashboard.

Not a Member but want to watch all 6 Live Study Sessions? Join for just $5 your first month of LearnWPT Membership!

We’re in the home stretch now! LearnWPT Members - make sure to submit any questions or hands on trouble spots to Ask a Pro and we’ll get you ready to conquer Vegas!

Good luck and good playing,
-Team LearnWPT

Review Previous Poker Study Sessions!

➧ Study Session 6: Exploits and Intuition - A common trait shared by most successful tournament players is the ability to identify when an opponent is making an obvious mistake and knowing when to shift gears and use Exploits to maximize their edge. Live with Michael "Gags30 Gagliano and Eric "Rizen" Lynch: Tuesday, November 28th 6PM ET | 3PM PT

• Click to Watch the Live Study Session Replay
• Click to Review the Intuition & Exploits Strategy Curriculum

➧ Study Session 5: ICM, Bubble and Satellite Strategy - Tournaments have specific inflection points where the threat of elimination plays a large role in shaping decisions. Bubble, ICM, and Satellite Strategy are critical areas of study to make big scores and win seats to high buy-in events for small investments. Live with Eric "Rizen" Lynch: and Adrian Naggy: Wednesday, November 15th 6PM ET | 3PM PT

• Click to Watch the Live Study Session Replay
• Click to Review the Satellite, ICM, and Bubble Strategy Curriculum

➧ Study Session 4: Postflop Considerations - Deeper stacked poker tournaments feature more decision points and create tougher Postflop Considerations. Understanding how board texture and ranges interact will have a big impact in your ability to win uncontested pots. Live with Michael "Gags30 Gagliano and Eric "Rizen" Lynch: Wednesday, November 1st 6PM ET | 3PM PT

• Click to Watch the Live Study Session Replay
• Click to Review the Postflop Strategy Study Curriculum

➧ Study Session 3: Defense Strategy - Blind and Button Defense Strategy in a poker tournament all have unique considerations and hand range constructions that help target specific opponents in position and develop criteria for check-raising frequent c-bettors. Live with Michael "Gags30 Gagliano and Eric "Rizen" Lynch: Thursday, October 19th 6PM ET | 3PM PT

• Click to Watch the Live Study Session Replay
• Click to Review the Defense Strategy Study Curriculum

➧ Study Session 2: Preflop Strategy - Knowing how and when to make moves preflop is one of the keys to getting a hold of chips in a poker tournament. Understanding how to adjust for specific stack sizes and positions will give you opportunities to exert a skill edge. Live with Michael "Gags30 Gagliano and Eric "Rizen" Lynch: Wednesday, October 11th 6PM ET

• Click to Watch the Live Study Session Replay
• Click to Review the Preflop Strategy Study Session Curriculum

➧ Study Session 1: Mental Game and Endurance - Many players ignore Mental Game issues that prevent growth in their game including fear, anger, and frustration. Building Endurance through exercise, rest, and nutrition is key to excelling during a long tournament series.
Live Session with Jared Tendler: Tuesday, Sept 26th 7PM ET

• Click to Watch the Live Study Session Replay
• Click to Review the Mental Game Study Session Curriculum

2023 WPT 🌎 Championship at Wynn Las Vegas Guarantees Record $40 Million Prize Pool!

The 2023 WPT® World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas is taking poker to new heights with poker’s first $40,000,000 guaranteed prize pool – the largest single live tournament guarantee in the history of poker.

The WPT® World Championship Festival at Wynn Las Vegas runs November 29 - December 23, 2023. The marquee event of the multi-tournament festival will be the $10,400 buy-in Championship Event.

Are you ready to be part of history?

The festival kicks off with a $1 million guaranteed, $600 No Limit Hold’em multi-flight tournament followed by player favorites including the $250,000 guaranteed WPT® Ladies World Championship, $5 Million Guaranteed WPT® Prime Championship, the ever-popular Mystery Bounty featuring a $2 Million guarantee, a Seniors Championship (50+) and a $10,000 buy-in Seniors High Roller.

Multiple mixed game tournaments are also available throughout the festival, ranging from the $1,100 HORSE Championship to a brand-new addition to the schedule, a $3,000 Dealer’s Choice Championship.

Click here to view the complete 2023 WPT® World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas Festival schedule or visit wynnlasvegas.com and WPT.com for more details.

Improve Your Game With Team LearnWPT

The time is NOW to start getting your poker game ready!

Whether you are brand-new to poker training or you’re an experienced student this is your chance to learn from world-class professional poker players and teachers in a friendly community using state-of-the-art tools.

You must be a LearnWPT Member to access and join the WPT® World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas Study Sessions and becoming a Member is easy! Click the red JOIN NOW button to get started.

As a Member you'll immediately gain access to LearnWPT Training and WPT GTO Trainer packs, featuring an on-demand library of 500+ Strategy Videos, Downloadable Tools (and more).

You'll also get alerts and links to the Study Session curriculum, Live Webinar dates, and upcoming Sessions.

We'll see you online,
-Team LearnWPT

Have Questions about LearnWPT? Send an email to our Support Team at [email protected] or click the red CONTACT US button.

Hey Poker Fans!

Welcome to Tour Terms, where we break down key terms that poker pros use to talk strategy and give you helpful tips to use in your next poker tournament. Today's Tour Term is ...

Check-Raise: verb
check·raise \ ˈchek ˈrāz \

1) The act of checking and then raising an opponent's bet during the same betting round.

Example of Check-Raise in a Sentence
Gags30 checks from the Big Blind and LuckyChewy bets 2,000 into a 10,000 chip pot. Gags30 Check-Raises to 6,000 and LuckyChewy folds.

How Do You Add Check-Raising To Your Game?

A Check-Raise is one of the most powerful moves in poker, however if you don’t know what to look for you could be setting yourself up to lose a big pot. Watch this Strategy Episode with Nick Binger as he outlines the process Pros use to pick the perfect spots to check-raise from the WPT Montreal Final Table!

✏️ Tips for Timing Your Check-Raises:

• Focus on wider range opponents who c-bet frequently
• Look to apply pressure to shorter stacked opponents you have outchipped
• Small bet sizing by an opponent often provides great risk/reward for your check-raise
• Flops with 1 broadway card, 2 low cards, and a flush draw are ideal spots
• Avoid check-raising when stacks are deep (100BB or more)
  

Protect Your Continuation Bets!

A winning first-in strategy requires careful hand selection, consistent raise sizing to avoid betting tells, and a solid default for continuation betting so you can keep the pressure on sticky opponents and take down your fair share of uncontested pots.

What happens when your opponent is tricky and is prepared to battle back vs your c-bet strategy?

Check out this Strategy Episode from LearnWPT Instructor Nick Binger on how adding the check-raise to your postflop plan can yield big dividends vs tough opponents.

The Theory Behind the Move

Identifying the best spots for check-raising may not always be obvious, unless you’ve got the skills of a poker legend!

In this Strategy Episode LearnWPT Instructor Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger provides an in-depth look at the key factors you should be looking for when deciding to check-raise in cash games and tournaments.

What Happens When They Call?

Check-raising is a powerful poker move that puts the pressure on your opponents and mitigates the power of position. A well timed check-raise will often lead to an agonizing fold from your opponent as you pad your chip stack.

However, you’ll often encounter sticky players who won’t give up that easily and knowing how to navigate these big pots from out of position can be a challenge.

Fortunately, WPT Commentator and online poker master Tony Dunst did the heavy lifting by breaking down these 4 spots where his check-raise was called using PioSolver. Check out this Strategy Episode to help you play better postflop in check-raised pots.

Check-Raised with Top Pair, How Do You Play It

You are in a Tournament with blinds at 800/1600 and a 1600 big blind ante. The action folds to a Middle Position player who limps. You raise from the Cutoff to 6000 with A♠Q♦, the SB calls as does the MP2 player. The flop is A♣T♦6♥. Your opponents check, you bet 7800, the Small Blind check-raises to 20600, and MP2 folds.

Action is on you, what do you do here?

🖥️ A Check-Raise Bluff In Action!

In this hand from the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic we see one of the all-time greats, Justin Bonomo, execute an expert check-raise bluff and force a fold near the final table bubble.

Check out Nick Binger’s analysis from this legendary hand as captured by the WPT Live Updates team.

Not sure how to optimize your check-raising? Why not ASK A PRO for insight into this critical skill and get expert feedback!

Find out what it's like to have a professional poker coach help you improve your game by trying out your 1st month of Membership for just $5 and gain access to the LearnWPT Ask a Pro feature.

Want More Tour Terms From LearnWPT?

LearnWPT Members have instant access to a comprehensive poker training database. Search for any poker term and get the correct definition plus complete results for all related video, written, and playable poker education content on LearnWPT.com.

With a massive library including 500+ on-demand video Strategy Episodes (from top Pros including Tony Dunst, Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger, and Michael “Gags30” Gagliano!), dozens of downloadable charts and tools, direct access to the LearnWPT Pros, and the state of the art WPT GTO Trainer, you’re certain to find the answers to your most pressing poker questions.

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All of the big prizes and money in a poker tournament are at the Final Table. Whether it is your local daily or a World Poker Tour Main Event, understanding the unique strategy adjustments for Final Table play is vital to finishing strong.

Often players are unprepared for the pressure that comes with playing in front of an audience, when their goal is in reach, or having potentially life-changing money at stake. When facing the pressure of big pay jumps and the studio lights seem a little too bright, it’s important to stay focused and make objective decisions.

To show you how the Pros think while on the big stage we are giving you EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to a Member-only video for a limited time!

To make sure you are prepared to shine for the TV cameras and show off your poker skills, watch and take notes as LearnWPT Instructor and WPT Commentator Tony Dunst goes through his thought process and decision-making from his World Poker Tour Tournament of Champions final table appearance.

BONUS: Join for just $5 your first month and gain access to our library of over 500 videos including parts 1, 3, and 4 of Tony's final table review. Click the above button to get started!

Tony's Final Table Tips ✏️

Here are a few tips to help sharpen up your game for showtime!

• Be aware of stack sizes and pay jumps at all times, even the slightest changes in stack sizes can shift strategy dramatically
• When short stacks exist, there is extra pressure on the bigger stacks to avoid busting out
• The chip leaders can use this extra pressure to win many pots while the short stack is in play
• As a medium stack vs larger stacks be cautious with any bets and raises and try to take marginal hands to showdown passively
• Preflop ranges shift quite a bit at final tables due to this effect with big stacks playing much wider ranges and medium stacks much narrower ranges
• Do not be afraid to ramp up your aggression against poker players that are playing tight in the hopes of laddering up
  

📓 LearnWPT Tour Term: ICM

You've probably heard the term ICM. But what exactly does it mean?

Independent Chip Model: noun
\in-də-ˈpen-dənt ˈchip ˈmä-dᵊl\

1) A mathematical model for calculating the real money value of chips in a poker tournament at a given stage. ICM is used most often at final tables during deal making to calculate a fair distribution of the remaining prize pool in relation to the number of poker chips each player holds. Abbreviated as ICM.

Example of ICM in a Sentence
Johan and LuckyChewy decided to make a deal based on ICM and then played heads-up for the trophy.

Want More Tour Terms?

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On Tour With Tony Dunst!

This video is part of the LearnWPT Exclusive On Tour with Tony Dunst Strategy Episode series. Join Tony for a behind the scenes look into the most thought provoking hands he plays from real WPT events and teaches poker strategies and concepts you can use in your game.

Creating and structuring a study routine is an important part of your growth in poker. Check out some tips from Tony to avoid burnout and stay sharp on the felt.

Click to learn more about Tony's extensive poker accomplishments and more importantly, how he can help improve your poker game.

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Poker legend and LearnWPT Instructor Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger used his steady and mindful poker approach to become a $100,000 buy-in WPT Alpha 8 Champion, WSOP Bracelet winner, and secure more than $11 Million in live poker tournament earnings.

He doesn't compare himself or his progress to anyone else's, but rather works on strengthening his own poker skills. Due to his dedication to learning and improvement LuckyChewy has been an innovative catalyst for new poker strategies throughout his entire career. By adopting a meditative attitude he is able to execute optimal strategies under tremendous pressure, providing a key balance for his analytical and collaborative approach to learning and playing poker.

LuckyChewy's opponent in this hand was another legend, Daniel Negreanu, one of the most influential and successful poker players worldwide as well as a favorite of poker fans with his distinctive and fun personality. Having played poker since he was a teenager, testing his skills and moving up in levels while plugging leaks and studying the game, he eventually became the youngest player to win a WSOP Bracelet at 23 years old, eventually winning 6 WSOP Bracelets. Daniel is no stranger to success on the World Poker Tour® as a 2 time WPT champion and WPT Season III Player of the Year, which helped him amass over $45 Million in tournament earnings.

As the subject of a LearnWPT Strategy Episode, LuckyChewy reviewed a hand he played against Daniel Negreanu in the $300,000 buy-in Super High Roller Bowl and explored some strategic ideas as a result of how this hand played out. LuckyChewy describes exactly what he was thinking after flopping a huge hand with millions of dollars at stake.

This video is part of our High Stakes with LuckyChewy Strategy Episode series where Chewy takes a deep dive into his most interesting and useful hands from real WPT and WSOP Final tables and teaches strategies and concepts you can use in your game.

In this ultra-high stakes tournament, LuckyChewy opened 2.5x the big blind, effectively risking what's in the pot with the blinds and antes. Daniel elected to 3-bet to 27,000, or 9 big blinds total. LuckyChewy had a fairly straightforward call with pocket fours and flopped a bottom set with a backdoor flush draw on the A♣9♣4♥ flop. With the in-position player having the range advantage, LuckyChewy checks and Daniel bets around one-quarter of the pot.

LuckyChewy decided to raise slightly more than 3 times his bet, knowing that Daniel is not likely to reraise him with anything because he already had the range advantage. With this stack depth, it's not recommended to play aggressively against LuckyChewy’s range, as he's quite polarized. There's not any reason for Daniel to raise, because if he has a strong value hand he prefers the opponent to keep bluffing or betting his weaker value hands. Daniel does call and the turn is a texture-changing card, the 2♣.

Based on the solver study, LuckyChewy initially thought this was a card that would encourage Daniel to slow down on, use smaller bet sizes to not bloat the pot. The solver actually recommends a larger bet of around 2/3 of the pot as you should push an equity advantage on a card that's better for you than it is for your opponent. However, if you bet a larger size, you would get way more folds than the solver prefers and your opponent is expected to fold hands as strong as AK.

The deeper you get into the game tree, the more assumptions you have to make about how your opponent would respond in order to determine the appropriate action based on the recommended strategy. The key in understanding the equilibrium approach to poker is to employ proven strategies, based on the program algorithm, to minimize the chance to lose.

LuckyChewy elected to use the smaller bet sizing and Daniel continued with a call. On the 8♠ river card Daniel shoved all-in. A shove from a hand such as A4s would be very perplexing and you're not likely to benefit from shoving with a hand like this as part of a balanced poker strategy. However this is one of those nuanced scenarios where the raise is mandatory, so you can reach equilibrium as the in-position player.

These are interesting conceptual ideas that do exist in a theoretical sense and familiarizing yourself with why these abstractions may occur through solver study is fascinating. If your opponent got here with pocket eights they would likely shove all-in. There may be some bluffing with pocket tens and jacks, so you would assume it would be more advantageous to bluff with stronger club blockers.

The simulation LuckyChewy used to analyze this hand would argue against that, as it's shoving all its flushes as the in-position player. Hands such as pocket tens and pocket kings where one of the cards is a club, as well as hands with AK with the K♣ or AQ with the Q♣, are considered bluff shoves from Daniel because it doesn't seem likely that LuckyChewy is bluffing. Considering the odds he was getting and the strength of his hand, LuckyChewy made the decision to call it off. Much to his dismay, Daniel did have K♣J♣ for the nut flush.

Although it was a painful hand to lose, LuckyChewy says through analyzing this hand with a solver post-game he realized how much better that turn was for him than it was for Daniel, regardless of the fact that they had a relatively equal distribution of suited hands that could make a club flush.

We hope that observing LuckyChewy's poker insights, strategies and concepts will be beneficial to you and boost your own game!

Click here to learn more about LuckyChewy, his accomplishments, and more importantly... how he can help improve your game.

Ready for more? Join LearnWPT for just $5 your first month of Membership and get full access to LuckyChewy content.

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These Top 10 Online Poker Tells will help you identify opponents' tendencies at the table, learn how to adjust to certain poker player types, become more skilled at reading poker opponents, and exploit population tendencies in your poker game.

This list is created by Tony Dunst, WPT Commentator, LearnWPT Instructor, professional poker player, WPT Champion, 2x WSOP Bracelet, and 2x WSOP Circuit Ring winner. Tony recently did an in-depth hand history review of a tournament where he made a deep run featuring the Top 10 Online Poker Tells.

Check out his most common notes on opponents below:

► #1 Poker Tell: Opens Too Wide
► #2 Poker Tell: Straightforward in Big Spots
► #3 Poker Tell: Flat Calls Too Wide Preflop
► #4 Poker Tell: Passive Postflop with No Showdown Value
► #5 Poker Tell: Open Shoves Too Wide
► #6 Poker Tell: Flat Call or Small Reraise Instead of Shoving
► #7 Poker Tell: Reshoves Too Wide Preflop
► #8 Poker Tell: Calls Down Too Wide Postflop
► #9 Poker Tell: Bluffs Too Wide Postflop
► #10 Poker Tell: Not ICM Conscious

#1 Poker Tell: Opens Too Wide

This is a note that Tony takes most often, and it refers to catching your opponent's opening with too many hands, which is pretty common in MTTs and poker in general, but especially in poker tournaments since people have a stronger incentive to open wide.

With a solid grasp of what your own opening ranges are supposed to be, you can have a better understanding of what people should be opening. When you are in the early stages of a deep-stacked tournament, Tony suggests 3-betting wider ranges for value.

Opening too wide from an early position makes defending your range almost impossible!

The benefit of using a fairly linear range (i.e. mostly good hands with strong playability post-flop) allows you to systematically broaden your range and take advantage of a poker player opening too wide.

If you see an opponent opening too wide, which is often accompanied by them calling 3-bets too wide, the hands in your linear range for that position become automatic 3-bets.

With a player who opens too wide, you need to take all of the hands that mix calling and shoving and turn them into really profitable shoves.

For example, if the Cutoff opens and you have 25 big blinds in the small blind, Tony suggests to start mixing suited combinations of A9, K9,J9, T8, 98, and KJ offsuit as 3-bets, and flatting A2 and A3 suited against those who open too wide. This is a very simple and profitable adjustment to make against opponents with the tendency to open wider preflop.

#2 Poker Tell: Straightforward in Big Spots

The second most common note Tony takes on his opponents is particularly true at the low to mid-stakes online, and in live poker. This note means that in general, your opponent is going to be under bluffing, particularly when 3-btting, 4-betting, check-raising you on the flop, raising you on the turn, raising over your river bet, or big spots where they have to put in a large percentage of their stack.

This type of player can also be identified through how they talk about poker and hands at the table and are often observed as hesitant and skeptical with regard to both wasting chips and bluffing their stack away.

These opponents are simply way too straightforward in big spots, which provides you with a cheat code and an opportunity to fold everything unless you've got the goods. The counter adjustment is achieved by opening with a tighter range of hands against a player who is straightforward in big spots and folds all of your marginal opens to their 3-bets.

Tony suggests that in heads-up pots vs these kinds of players you can make an exploitative adjustment.

Against this specific player it is acceptable to flat call with pocket aces and allow them to take the lead postflop as they will likely be betting strong with hands they enter the pot with.

#3 Poker Tell: Flat Calls Too Wide Preflop

Tony sees this frequently with the low to medium midstakes players who tend to flat call with too many of the offsuit Ace and offsuit Broadway combinations.

Sometimes players flat pairs in spots where they are too short stacked to do so, so against this type of opponent you can bet wider against them as a bluff, because they often flat too many hands preflop that don't connect.

Consider this example: you're out of position, your opponent flats, you get a scattered flop and you're supposed to mix between betting and checking.

Against a player who's flatting too much wide preflop, you can start to make money by using a much more frequent small C-bet sizing.

Another strategy against opponents who flat too wide preflop is to barrel down (bet out on the flop, turn, and river) wider against them because it is tougher for them to get to turns and rivers with strong hands when their ranges broaden preflop to include many more random second pair or third pair combinations.

You can put a great deal of pressure on these kinds of players on the later streets because they get there with weaker ranges.

#4 Poker Tell: Passive Postflop with No Showdown Value

This is a tendency you see from players who are passive and don't realize that they are supposed to be bluffing fairly often when they have no showdown value.

This kind of player calls out of the big blind when you open in late position, and will continue vs a c-bet fairly often while holding a capped wide range when something favorable hits your range on the board, such as King-High or Ace-High.

When the river misses your hand and most of the plausible draws and your opponent has not shown aggression, you might start contemplating bluffing them off it.

Against these players, Tony suggests taking more showdowns with high card hands instead of trying to bluff them.

Here is an example to illustrate this concept further: You open a 87 Suited, you see that the flop is bad for your range, the turn and river is a brick, but you don't beat the draws and your opponent checks to you. Since now it's clear that this player is very passive with no showdown hands, they have gotten to this river and checked to you with more hands that don't really have showdown value. In this spot you should turn more of these types of hands into bluffs against the passive player type.

In addition, you should focus on being more passive with any hand that can showdown and win vs a player who takes a passive line postflop with hands that have no showdown value, and at the same time become more aggressive with the hands that you can absolutely never showdown.

#5 Poker Tell: Open Shoves Too Wide

This is a pretty common mistake amongst MTT players and many still have outdated ideas about shoving ranges.

For instance, if someone has 10 big blinds in the middle position, many players would assume any Ace is acceptable to shove all-in with preflop, and that's not actually the case.

With 10 big blinds in Middle Position 2 (MP2) you should mostly be folding A2 through A6, as well as hands including JT, QT and KT. If you spot players open shoving too wide in the 10-15 blind zone, it may fold to you in the Small or Big Blind, and you now have a significant advantage especially if you can identify the types of hands that they open or shove too wide with.

As another example, if you do see a wide opponent shove from an early position with 10 big blinds and it folds you in the big blind with A6, now you have a clear call. Against players who are shoving too tight, who jam 10 big blinds from an early position and you're in the Big Blind with a hand as weak as A6, there are a lot of players you should go ahead and make that fold against.

Having players at your table who open shove too wide is actually beneficial, as you will be able to make more money off of those players as they present you with opportunity to call getting good odds.

#6 Poker Tell: Flat Call or Small Reraise Instead of Shoving

Tony says he takes this note in tournaments 'all day long'.

Most players who make this mistake don't even realize that they are playing face up when they do it, and you will see this happen all the time in tournaments.

Here is a common scenario to help illustrate the concept: The player on the button has 18 to 22 big blinds and a stack that is mostly flatting or jamming, without any hands that 3-bet with a small sizing in their range. You're supposed to jam a lot of the pairs, the suited broadways, both strong offsuit aces and suited low aces including A5 suited, as well as a mix of the A4, A3 and A7 suited combinations.

As observed by Tony, many players jam a lot of these medium-strong hands and 3-bet small with only aces and kings, and they never balance that by 3-betting small with a hand like A9 offsuit for instance.

Another common example to illustrate this concept is a scenario where you open raise, and an opponent calls. You get the flop with top pair and continuation bet, they call, you barrel the turn intending to barrel down for value, and instead of calling, your opponent hits you with a min-raise on the turn.

Once you identify a player using these small raises when they should be shoving, it's safe to assume that they will not find the bluffs until proven otherwise and that you should overfold these spots. This opponent is doing you a favor, just turning their hand face up, and you must be observant to this and make some very snug folds as an adjustment.

#7 Poker Tell: Reshoves Too Wide Preflop

While this tell is not quite as common as some of the others Tony has listed, this tendency is definitely something you want to keep an eye on.

Consider a scenario with 20 big blinds deep in the Small Blind facing an open raise vs the Cutoff. In this scenario, you're jamming all the pairs, all of the suited broadways, mostly except KJs and including A9, A8o, K9s, Q9s, K8s, plus some suited connectors such as 98s.

You will definitely catch players who reshove this spot way too wide, jamming, reshoving too many off-suit ace combos anytime they have a broadway combo. While these hands may seem like attractive and profitable reshoves in this spot, these hands actually don't fare really well with low to medium offsuit Aces as reshoves, because they have bad equity against the calling ranges of the opener.

When you spot somebody reshoving with a high frequency using offsuit Aces, all of the pairs that you were borderline become calls, and all of the medium aces become automatic calls.

Widen your calling ranges and be careful with broadway combos like KQ in your range if your opponent is observed reshoving offsuit aces too much, assuming it's not a suited broadway that retains a lot of equity.

#8 Poker Tell: Calls Down Too Wide Postflop

Not everybody who calls down too wide postflop is just a flat-out fishy calling station, however, a lot of players have a tendency to get a bit too sticky to top-pair hands, when their relative hand strength has been negated from the runout on the board.

Against this kind of player, Tony suggests doing more of the value betting yourself and less balancing through checking when you're the out-of-position player.

This recommendation is because there are a lot of situations where we open in the middle position, a player calls us on the button, and we mix betting and checking.

Be cautious in this spot not to bet the hands that may be a mix of combos in this player’s bluffing range, as well as to bet and barrel the hands that are top pair more frequently. In a spot where for example you open AJ and flop top pair, and get flat called on the flop and turn, you just need to bet the river for value.

As this type of player enters with more second-best hands and gets married to those second-best hands postflop, you should look to bet in order to maximize the value of your strong or medium-strong hands, as well as to bluff them a lot less frequently. When facing an opponent who loves to call down, it’s critical to not try and bluff them.

#9 Poker Tell: Bluffs Too Wide Postflop

While this is a far less common tell than most, there is a specific player type that will favor bluffing postflop with a too high of a frequency.

Against this type of player, we want to mix between betting and checking.

Tony suggests checking many more of our strong hands and sometimes hands with moderate showdown value, often having to take many more hands to showdown vs larger bet sizing on average.

Once you identify somebody who loves bluffing too much postflop, it might be beneficial to let them have the lead as often as possible. With our strongest hands against these opponents, we can start playing more lines where we check/call flops, call turn, and raise the river.

When you're in doubt whether this player is going to do enough betting for you to get max value on a big hand, Tony suggests checking to them frequently, given that you have a hand that's happy to call down.

When you find yourself on a turn or a river and you're facing a tough decision to call and you have a hand with showdown value, these spots start to become automatic calls.

Against frequent bluffers with wide ranges you can set up opponents by just checking to them over and over again, letting them spew right on into you.

#10 Poker Tell: Player Not ICM Conscious

With the Independent Chip Model or ICM Poker being crucial when it comes to improving your game and forming valuable strategies, this is an approach Tony says he pays a lot of attention to.

For both on bubble situations and at final tables, ICM has a very strong influence on decision making and the way stack sizes can be played. If for example, we're the big chip leader in a tournament field where everyone is very ICM conscious, we get to pummel opponents because they know they're supposed to fold.

However, if you are a big chip leader and everyone around you is not concerned with making money, and it's just players calling off preflop shoving way too wide, then you end up being more constricted and you should tighten it up.

Against players who are not ICM conscious, if you keep playing aggressive opponents will push back on you and you end up being the one who's responsible for those ICM mistakes.

Consequently, it is critical to remember that if you're a big stack and the players around you are not ICM conscious, you won't be able to exploit that situation as much as you'd like.

ICM is an area of poker study that most MTT players should focus on more, as these strategies will be one of the best ways to increase your profit against these fields.

Simply by sitting back and waiting for other players to get involved, you'll be able to make progress at the final table as players will bust earlier than they should and ultimately help you ladder up the pay scale.

Using these winning strategies and Tony Dunst’s Top 10 Online Poker Tells to your best advantage during your next poker event, you’ll continue to minimize mistakes and maximize your opportunity to accumulate chips and ultimately win tournaments!

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