Category: Instructors

Team LearnWPT Dominated the Seminole Poker Showdown High Roller Events!

Brian-Altman-Andrew-LuckyChewy-Lichtenberger

To say Team LearnWPT's On Tour stop at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL this past week was successful would be a HUGE understatement!

First we were grateful to meet, teach, and collaborate with students during the LearnWPT Live at Hard Rock Tournament Workshop.

Then, two of Team LearnWPT's Instructors took down BOTH of the High Roller Events for a combined $1.3 Million in winnings 🏆🙌.

What a week! Take a look at how Brian & Chewy crushed the felt ...


High Roller Win# 1

LearnWPT Instructor Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger outlasted an elite field of Top Pros to win the 2022 Seminole Hard Rock $50K buy-in Super High Roller and took home an impressive $638K 1st prize in the No-Limit Poker Showdown Event #31.

After a memorable four hour heads-up battle LuckyChewy cracked pocket jacks with seven-six offsuit to defeat former GPI World #1 Alex Foxen for the title, the trophy, and $638,223.

This was the third largest Super High Roller in Seminole Hard Rock history, generating a prizepool worth more than $1.8 million.

LuckyChewy's experience, positive mentality, and success make him a powerful resource and asset for LearnWPT Members and Students.

Want to train and learn from the best? Join LuckyChewy at one of the upcoming LearnWPT Live Interactive Tournament Strategy Workshops in Choctaw-Durant and The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas PLUS get the chance to win a seat into a WPT Main Event!


High Roller Win# 2

LearnWPT Instructor Brian "Alty" Altman outlasted some of the best in the game to win the 2022 Seminole Hard Rock $25,500 buy-in High Roller and took home an impressive $692K 1st prize in the No-Limit Poker Showdown Event #44.

Brian came into the final table as the chip lead and was able to maintain his aggression and focus to defeat Jerry Wong and former GPI World #1 Chance Kornuth for the title, the trophy, and $692,661.

This was the second largest Super High Roller in Seminole Hard Rock history, generating a prizepool worth more than $3.2 million — more than triple the guarantee.

Brian's mindset focused on self-improvement, lifelong learning, and respect of the game make him a powerful asset for LearnWPT Members and Students.

Learn The Championship Mindset! Train with Brian at the May 9-11, 2022 LearnWPT Live at Choctaw-Durant Tournament Strategy Workshop with Interactive Lab Session PLUS you'll also have the chance to win a seat into a $3,800 WPT Main Event!

Congrats to Chewy & Alty!
-Team LearnWPT


P.S. If you are having success at the tables follow and share it with us on social or email our support team at [email protected]. We love to hear how LearnWPT Students are doing!

Twitter @LearnWPT | Facebook @learnwpt | Instagram @learn_wpt



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Have a question about LearnWPT? Contact the Support Team at [email protected] and we will be happy to help.

Does Studying Poker Really Help Your Game? (Just Ask Tony...)

Tony TOC final table heads-up - optmizd.jpg


Making a commitment to study poker seems silly to some people.

In fact, I am sure you’ve often heard it from friends, co-workers, and family members: “Poker is gambling and at the end of the day, you need to be lucky to win at gambling”.

The next time you hear this all too familiar refrain, show them to this tweet from LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst...

However, shaping yourself into an elite and skilled poker player requires you to be open to learning, to be eager to improve, and to be dedicated to staying on the top of your game.

Tony Dunst, LearnWPT Instructor, WPT commentator, WPT Champion, 2x WSOP Bracelet Winner, and WSOP Circuit Ring winner, with more than $4 Million in live poker tournament winnings, is here to provide you with exclusive access to winning cash game and poker tournament strategies, detailed poker hand analysis and how to think through every street, GTO play, adjusting for known opponent tendencies, and what it takes to play On Tour.

There's no denying Tony’s resume as a world-class player, and he’s dedicated to improvement through his own study and collaboration with close friend and fellow LearnWPT Instructor Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger.

So, you should take this world-class player’s example and start your study plan today with a $5 first month membership to LearnWPT.com.


In his video Strategy Episodes, Tony focuses on:

➧ Key aspects of playing better poker including betting decisions under ICM pressure

➧ Advanced strategies that professional poker players use to adjust when big money is on the line

➧ Maintaining focus to be ready to play your A-game in crucial times

➧ How to target common leaks in your opponents

➧ Key study techniques Pros use to keep at the top of the game

➧ Optimal strategies for playing postflop after 3-betting preflop

➧ Answering questions from LearnWPT members

Get unfettered access to hear Tony review hands and outline his approach to staying mentally and physically fit for poker, reveal his top 10 player notes he takes during sessions, compare the mindset of a professional poker player vs a recreational player and provide key adjustments for transitioning from making deep runs to winning tournaments.

To give you some extra motivation and show you how dedication to study helped Tony have one of his best years ever as a Pro, you'll get exclusive access to Tony’s Strategy Episodes (48 videos!) as part of your $5 First Month Membership to LearnWPT.com.

Train-with-Tony

Join today and get started on proving all the doubters wrong and get on a path to constant improvement (like Tony did!).


As part of your $5 First month membership, you’ll get access to a Strategy Episode where Tony discusses 4 recent hands he played from a $1000 buy-in online final table.

Watch this Episode To Learn Critical Strategies For:
3-betting with pocket jacks when ICM Is in play
Continuation bet sizing to target specific stacks
Knowing when to get away from your hand vs a turn lead
How to react when your opponent leads on the river


In another episode, Tony focuses on physical fitness and how it can affect your poker performance, providing you with tips on how to use a healthy lifestyle to increase performance and stamina.

Being attentive to the energy consumed vs. energy expended, employing daily caloric calculators, and learning how to play your best depending on your diet are just some of the things that Tony touches upon in this episode. As physical fitness is essential for prolonged focus during sessions full of long hours, it is important to use increased focus to your advantage and to stay present and avoid auto piloting. You should also choose a key phrase to help you stay mindful and reset your state after losing a big pot, and use mental fitness to equip you with better mistake recognition strategies.

Follow Tony’s example and start your study plan today with a $5 first Month Membership to LearnWPT.com. You'll get exclusive access to Tony’s library of Strategy Episodes (48 videos) as part of your $5 First Month Membership to LearnWPT.com.


What Else Do You Get With a $5 First Month Membership?

LearnWPT-Multiple-Devices

  • The WPT GTO Trainer to play real solved hands and get instant feedback on YOUR leaks (over 4 BILLION solved spots!)
  • On-demand access to our full library of 500+ (and growing) in-depth Strategy Episodes from world-class players
  • All of your poker questions answered with the Ask a Pro Feature
  • Expert analysis from LearnWPT Pros using The Hand Input Tool
  • Downloadable Tools you can use at and away from the tables
  • Learn from a Team of world-class Professional Players and Instructors

LearnWPT-Instructors-Pros

It'll be the best $5 investment you can make to get on the road to poker success!


Study hard and play well,
-LearnWPT



Welcome Brian Altman to Team LearnWPT!

Brian-Altman-LearnWPT-Instructor

We Are Excited To Welcome New LearnWPT Instructor, Brian Altman!

Brian Altman or "Alty" as he is known by fellow rounders on the virtual and live poker felt, has been playing poker professionally for almost 15 years and is universally considered to be one of the greatest tournament players in the world.

His career successes include $5.7 million in worldwide tournament earnings in live poker alone. Brian's record on the WPT Main Tour is nothing short of stellar, including 3 World Poker Tour titles, 7 final table appearances, and honors as Season XVIII Player of the Year.

Brian-Altman-WPT-Seminiole-Hard-Rock-Lucky-Hearts-Champion


Brian has demonstrated a level of consistency and execution in the most high pressure spots that is seldom matched by his peers. In 2015 Brian won his first WPT Title at the Season XIII Lucky Hearts Poker Open in a $3500 buy-in event. "Alty" proved triumphant by outlasting an entire field of 1,027 players, earning $723,008.

Alty followed up his Season XIII win by outlasting the competition and came out the victor at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open in Season XVIII giving him the distinction of being the only poker player to win the same WPT Event in back to back seasons.

During the recent Play Better Poker with LearnWPT Live Stream, Brian sat down with fellow LearnWPT Instructor Katie Stone to talk about his success in playing poker tournaments and the importance of maintaining a mindset for growth and learning. Check out the interview with Brian and Katie here.

Some of Brian Altman's Accomplishments:

  • 3x World Poker Tour Champion
  • 3x WSOP Circuit Ring Winner
  • WPT Season XVIII Player of the Year
  • More than $5.7 million in live tournament earnings alone
  • Multiple Final Table Appearances in High Profile Tournaments including WPT, WSOP, and PokerStars

Brian's success is born from a mindset focused on self-improvement and lifelong learning. His respect for and dedication to the game make him the ideal ambassador to represent LearnWPT and the game of poker.

We are excited to bring Brian's winning style and championship mindset to our Students through upcoming Strategy Episodes, Live Webinars, and Workshops.

Help us welcome Alty to the team!
-LearnWPT


Improve Your Game Today!
Join LearnWPT and Get:

LearnWPT-Multiple-Devices

  • The WPT GTO Trainer to play real solved hands and get instant feedback on YOUR leaks (over 4 BILLION solved spots!)
  • On-demand access to our full library of 500+ (and growing) in-depth Strategy Episodes from world-class players
  • All of your poker questions answered with the Ask a Pro Feature
  • Expert analysis from LearnWPT Pros using The Hand Input Tool
  • Downloadable Tools you can use at and away from the tables
  • Learn from a Team of world-class Professional Players and Instructors


To join (just $5 your 1st month) click the button below and start improving your game!


Have Questions about LearnWPT?
Email us at [email protected].


The Top 10 Online Poker Tells from Tony Dunst

Tony Dunst - WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas

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

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.


Tony Dunst TOC (6).jpg

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!

Act now and get instant access to:

500+ On-Demand Video Strategy Episodes 🎥
Play Solved WPT GTO Trainer Solutions 🏋️
Direct feedback from proven winners with Ask a Pro Forums 🎓

All for just $5 your first month of Membership!

Subscribe below to receive FREE poker strategy content, weekly quizzes, downloadable tools, and more.

LearnWPT Announces New Instructor Brian Altman

Brian-Altman-WPT-Seminiole-Hard-Rock-Lucky-Hearts-Champion

“3x WPT Champion, Season XVIII WPT Player of the Year Joins Team LearnWPT”

Las Vegas, NV – (January 14, 2022) – LearnWPT, the Official Poker Education Platform of the World Poker Tour® announced today the signing of Brian Altman as the newest member of Team LearnWPT. One of the most successful players in the 20 year history of the World Poker Tour, Brian will share his unique knowledge and experience with LearnWPT Members through digital and in-person training events.

“We are honored to welcome Brian to Team LearnWPT and are excited for members to benefit from his exceptional strategy and championship mindset,” said Adrian Naggy, LearnWPT COO. “Learning the expert insights behind his incredible consistency and ability to close the deal on the biggest stage will undoubtedly be an asset to players of all skill levels.”

Brian-Altman-WPT-Seminole-Hard-Rock-Tampa-Bay-Champion


The Longmeadow Massachusetts native is a dominant force on the felt, having made an incredible seven WPT Main Tour Final Tables and etching his name on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup three times. Brian’s impressive career spans over a decade and includes career tournament earnings of $5.5 million, with $2.8 million dollars in earnings from his performance in WPT Events.

“The opportunity to share my strategic knowledge and experience with the LearnWPT membership is truly exciting,” Altman explained. “I look forward to interacting with the community and creating engaging strategy content to help players improve their game.”

Brian-Altman-WPT-Lucky-Hearts-Champion


As an Instructor for LearnWPT’s on-demand poker training membership platform, the Season XVIII WPT Player of the Year will share his strategic approach for the first time through video Strategy Episodes, Member Webinars, and the interactive Ask a Pro feature.

In addition to creating exclusive online membership content Brian will take part in LearnWPT’s popular interactive Live Workshops. He joins an impressive roster of Instructors including Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger, Tony Dunst, Michael Gagliano, and Katie Stone.

As an ambassador for LearnWPT Brian will attend special event experiences and create exclusive content from WPT Main Tour stops. The Season XX WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood Florida from January 21-26, 2022 will be Brian’s debut event as part of Team LearnWPT, and is the site of two of his three WPT Main Event victories netting nearly $1.8 million in total prize money.

Learn poker strategy from Brian Altman and the entire LearnWPT Team of Instructors!



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Like a Pro!

Tony Dunst Predicts The Next Poker Boom...

Tony-Dunst


Check out Tony Dunst's latest blog post as he talks about the game's increasing popularity and the momentum currently building for online poker in America.

Learn more about Tony and how he can help improve your game by clicking here: Meet LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst

P.S. Join Tony on Tour and put what you've learned into play at the table! Click here to view upcoming World Poker Tour events.


Improve Your Game Today!
Join LearnWPT and Get:

LearnWPT-Multiple-Devices

  • The WPT GTO Trainer to play real solved hands and get instant feedback on YOUR leaks (over 4 BILLION solved spots!)
  • On-demand access to our full library of 500+ in-depth Strategy Episodes
  • All of your poker questions answered with the Ask a Pro Feature
  • Expert analysis from LearnWPT Pros using The Hand Input Tool
  • Community Forums to discuss all things poker with fellow LearnWPT Members
  • Downloadable Tools you can use at and away from the tables


To join (just $5 your 1st month) click the JOIN NOW button and start improving your game!


Have Questions about LearnWPT?
Email us at [email protected].


LearnWPT Pros Winning Big!

July has been a very successful month for LearnWPT Pros!

We had TWO Instructors each take home their 2nd illustrious Gold Bracelet and a 3rd place finish in the WSOP Main Event! 🏆🙌

Take a look at how Nick, Tony, and LuckyChewy fared….


Lead Instructor for LearnWPT and the World Poker Tour Nick Binger outlasted a massive 2,408 entry field to win his 2nd WSOP bracelet and took home an impressive $133K first prize at the World Series of Poker Event# 24 8-Hand No-Limit Hold'em Tournament.

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If you’ve ever watched one of his Strategy Episodes, attended a Live Workshop and heard his lecture, or had the pleasure of sitting at one of his Lab Day tables, you know how dedicated LearnWPT Lead Instructor Nick Binger is to teaching his students.

Nick has dedicated over 12 years perfecting his poker instruction skills with the WPT and enjoys teaching as much as he enjoys playing.

Nick has helped many students reach their goals and achieve success in the game they love. Click below to learn more about Nick...



LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst took home his 2nd bracelet when he outlasted a massive 1,361 entry field and scored a huge $168K 1st prize during the World Series of Poker Event#21 $777 buy-in 6-Hand No-Limit Hold'em Tournament.

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As a high-stakes pro and co-commentator for the World Poker Tour, Tony who has spent over eight seasons analyzing some of the most pivotal hands from World Poker Tour events.

Away from the bright lights of the WPT set, Tony is a force to be reckoned with both at the live and online felt. Tony has been putting in the work and getting great results.

Tony's experience grinding the Tournament and Cash Game scene make him a huge resource and asset for LearnWPT Members and Students. Click below to learn more about Tony...



LearnWPT Instructor Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger took 3rd place and scored $140K in the huge 2,126 entry field World Series of Poker Event#31 $1,000 buy-in Championship Main Event!

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LuckyChewy is one of the best all-around players in the game today and had 8 cashes in major live tournaments in 2019 alone.

Chewy has been tearing up the virtual felt and continues to evolve and improve his game dominating both online tournament and cash games.

LuckyChewy's experience, positive mentality, and success make him a powerful resource and asset for LearnWPT Members and Students. Click below to learn more about Chewy...



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Think Like a Pro

Introducing LearnWPT Instructor Vanessa Selbst

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We are excited to announce the newest Instructor to our team, Vanessa Selbst!


Vanessa Selbst is one of the most respected and accomplished poker players in the world. With over 10 years of teaching experience and one of the original creators of poker training videos, Vanessa has coached some of the top poker players in the game today.

Vanessa surprised the poker world in 2017 when she announced retirement from playing professionally on the circuit.

However, it didn’t take long until her love for the game brought her back to the WPT felt. Like a true champion she quickly returned to form and made deep runs in the September 2019 WPT Borgata Poker Open and WPT Falls View Main Event in February 2020.

Vanessa's Accomplishments:

  • 3 World Series of Poker Bracelets
  • Multiple World Poker Tour Final Tables
  • Nearly $12 Million in Live Tournament Winnings
  • Highest Earning Female Poker Player

We are excited to bring Vanessa's aggressive winning style and championship mindset to our LearnWPT Members through upcoming Strategy Videos.

Click below to get a sneak peek at what Members of LearnWPT.com can expect from Vanessa.

P.S. Join now for $5 and gain access to Vanessa's complete strategy video, normally only available to Monthly or Yearly Members!


Vanessa’s dominance, dedication to her craft, and incisive thinking make her both a formidable opponent at the table and an enormous asset for LearnWPT Members.

Help us welcome Vanessa to the team!
-LearnWPT


LearnWPT-Poker-Training


Not a Member?
Go to learnwpt.com, click the JOIN NOW button to become a Member for just $5 your first month (cancel anytime).

LearnWPT.com Monthly and Yearly Members can review insight and analysis from our Instructors through upcoming:

Have questions? Contact our support team at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help!

LearnWPT Poker Study Session: Intuition and Exploitative Play

WPT-World-Championship-Tony-Dunst

Photo credit: Drew Amato

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

For each Study Session we provide Members with a curriculum that focuses on specific concepts essential for tournament success - our last Session is focused on Intuition and Exploitative Play!

First, watch the selected Episodes, play the WPT GTO Trainer packs, and write down any questions you have
Then join Team LearnWPT LIVE on Tuesday, November 28th at 6PM ET / 3PM PT to discuss the study session topics

Let's Get Started...

📚 Study Session 6: Intuition and Exploits

There’s no doubt that consistently training your game through studying Strategy Episodes, using Ask a Pro, and practicing with the WPT GTO Trainer will put you in a good position to play your best. However, in real-world games there are a wide variety of opponents and unique spots that will force you to make decisions in situations that might not have come up during your preparation.

Poker is a game of incomplete information but if you’re focused and prepared to play, opponents will give off several cues that can be used to your advantage. Whether it’s odd bet-sizing, frequent over-calling, or taking too many hands to showdown, these mistakes must be capitalized on if you want to stay ahead of the field.

Our next Study Session is all about using your strategic knowledge to punish bad plays and cultivate your feel for the game.

Gags and Rizen will break down the tendencies you should be on the lookout for and the exploitative adjustments that are likely to net you more chips, or help avoid disaster and conserve your stack. We’ll also talk about how being prepared and staying present at the table can increase your intuition and elevate your play.


Save the Date: 📅 Live Session November 28th

Wynn-WC-Study-Session-Intuition-Exploits-Live-Webinar

Join Eric "Rizen" Lynch and Michael “Gags30”Gagliano for a LIVE Study Session on Tuesday, November 28th at 6PM ET | 3PM PT

Make sure you watch the selected Strategy Episodes, practice the suggested WPT GTO Trainer packs, and write down any questions you have. Join Rizen & Gags on November 28th to discuss the study session topics and to get answers to your questions.

🤔 Send questions to [email protected] about Intuition & Exploitative Play and we’ll answer them during the Live Session.

WPT-World-Championship-Study-Session6-Exploits-optimzd

Thanks to everyone who joined the Live Study Session!

Did you miss it? No worries! Members can rewatch the Study Sessions anytime on the Webinars Dashboard.


🐐 Exploitative Play With the G.O.A.T.

Tournament poker requires a unique blend of caution and ruthless aggression in order to maximize your chance of making a deep run and cashing for a big score.

Using a strict strategy based on sound theory will net some profit in the long run, however without the ability to adjust to obvious opponent mistakes and the guts to pull the trigger, it’s unlikely to consistently produce wins.

EP435-Exploitative-Play-Vanessa-Selbst

Long-term tournament crushers like Vanessa Selbst are looking for the earliest opportunity to take advantage of errors in play and aren't shy about applying aggression as their tool. If you’ve ever been on the opposing side of an assault by one of these masters, you know how paralyzing their pressuring style can be.

In this Strategy Episode Vanessa introduces key concepts of exploitative strategy and illustrates how specific betting pattern tells can be used to exploit even the most skilled players.


Not a Member?
Join for just $5 your first month to watch the full Episodes and attend the LIVE Study Session.


Train & Explain With Vanessa Selbst

Train & Explain Strategy Episodes give you an exclusive seat behind a LearnWPT Pro for 5 select hands from the WPT GTO Trainer to learn the "why" behind each decision.

And we've added an innovative twist: you'll play the same hands as the LearnWPT Pro for each Episode!

Test your decisions against one of the all time best players...

MP2 vs Button 1005 - optmzd.gif


The setup
: In a Tournament with 50 big blind stacks you open raise to 2.5BBs from Middle Position and the Button calls.

Start by playing the same 5 hands that Vanessa does from the WPT GTO Trainer then click the WATCH NOW button

Next, watch Strategy Episode 449 and follow along as Vanessa delivers expert analysis targeting bluff spots that will put your opponent to the test

Members can practice more hands from this scenario by playing the Cutoff Open Vs Big Blind Call WPT GTO Trainer pack!

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


Live Reads and Tells With Tony Dunst...

Unlike Hollywood movies, you’re unlikely to encounter an opponent who broadcasts their hand strength by how they eat a cookie.

You’ll need to pay much closer attention to specific actions including bet-sizing, timing, and whether they are more interested in the game on TV than your 3-bet range from the Cutoff.

EP502-Live-Reads-Tony-Dunst

Maximizing your edge in tournament poker comes from focusing on subtle changes in process and glaring strategic errors that can tip your opponent’s holdings. Developing a profile based on these tendencies will allow you to make exploitative adjustments more effectively and can play a big factor in making close decisions against specific opponents much easier.

LearnWPT Instructor and WPT Commentator Tony Dunst describes the Top 8 Tells he’s observed in live poker and gives you tips on making Table Reads that will add profit to your bottom line.


Have a Strategy question?
Email them to [email protected] and we’ll answer them during the November 28th Live Study Session.


Start With a Pregame 🏋️‍♂️ Warm-up

Have you been in the Zone at the poker table? The feeling of effortless decision making and almost “knowing” your opponent's next move is exhilarating, yet can be elusive. One day you are on top of the world and can’t lose, and suddenly during your next session the feeling of invincibility is gone.

Fortunately there is a way to train so that you’re more likely to play your A-Game on a consistent basis.

EP293-Pregame-Warmup-Jared-Tendler

Building a process to track your current leaks and manage your emotional state is vital to accessing strategic knowledge under pressure and avoiding early mistakes. Much like an elite professional golfer, a proper Mental Game warm-up for poker will ensure that you are ready to hit the felt focused and ready to battle.

LearnWPT Mental Game Coach Jared Tendler provides the building blocks for an efficient Pregame Warm-up and describes why it is essential for growth in your game.

Tune Up Your Mental Game and Save!

Jared's Mental Game Tune Up for Tournament Poker course is a step-by-step guide to prepare your mental game for sustained success and get you ready for the WPT® World Championships or a series at your local card room.

BONUS: We are giving Study Session participants the chance to SAVE $150 on Jared's course (use promo code JARED150 at checkout) for a limited time, through December 1, 2023.

In this section from his course Mental Game Tune Up for Tournament Poker Jared tells you why it’s critical to have a process for preparing to play your A-game aside from studying strategy.

This step-by-step guide to preparing your mental game for sustained success during a tournament series includes:

8 specific training modules with 34 video lessons
Downloadable worksheets to personalize your training
A private community forum
Review quizzes to reinforce your learning!

Purchase this course today for just $499 (normally $649) and get lifetime access to the course videos, downloadable worksheets, quizzes, and interactive forums.

Use promo code JARED150 at checkout to receive the discount!


Extracting Maximum Value With Gags

Your opponents may change several times in any given poker tournament, so developing a specific player profile can be difficult, if not impossible.

Bet-Sizing errors are often the best indicator of an opponent who is deviating from sound strategy and are most likely to make big mistakes postflop. Exerting your skill edge in these spots means staying alert and avoiding autopilot, especially when you flop a huge hand.

EP524-Exploitative-Tournament-Play-Michael-Gagliano

LearnWPT Instructor Michael "Gags30" Gagliano explains how maximizing your opportunities against opponents when you have a defined read is vital to growing your stack during a multi-day tournament Championship event.

The difference between a small profit and a life changing score could lie in your ability to capitalize on obvious strategic errors. Watch as Gags breaks down hands where he uses exploitative lines to extract maximum value and demonstrates how to weigh the potential risk/reward of bet sizing to determine the best approach.

Have a Strategy question? Email them to [email protected] and we’ll answer them during the November 28th Live Study Session.


Review Previous Poker Study Sessions Here!

Poker-Study-Session-GTO-Trainer


A huge THANK YOU to every Student who’s joined us for the WPT World Championship Study Sessions.

You can rewatch any of the sessions right now by clicking the links below or on the Webinars Dashboard.

Study Session 1: Mental Game and Endurance
Study Session 2: Preflop Strategy
Study Session 3: Defense Strategy
Study Session 4: Postflop Considerations
Study Session 5: ICM and Satellite Strategy
Study Session 6: Exploits and Intuition

We’re in the home stretch now! 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


Improve Your Game With Team LearnWPT

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 in a friendly community using state of the art tools.

LearnWPT-Instrutors-Altman-Tony-Gags-Chewy

You must be a LearnWPT Member to access and join the WPT® World Championship 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 500+ Strategy Videos, Downloadable Tools (and more).



learnwpt logo black-transparent-cropped-resized

Train → Play → Think → Like a Pro

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

LearnWPT Poker Study Session: ICM and Satellite Strategy

WPT-Championship-Wynn-Las-Vegas- ICM-Satellite

Photo credit: Drew Amato

Over the next 2 months Team LearnWPT is hosting Poker Study Sessions for Members to get their game ready to dominate the 2023 WPT® World Championship Festival at Wynn Las Vegas.

For each Study Session we'll provide Members with a curriculum that focuses on specific concepts essential for tournament success - our next Session is focused on ICM, Bubble, & Satellite Strategy!

First, watch the selected Episodes, play the WPT GTO Trainer packs, and write down any questions you have
Then join Team LearnWPT LIVE on Wednesday, November 15th at 6PM ET / 3PM PT to discuss the study session topics

Let's Get Started...

📚 Study Session 5: ICM and Satellite Strategy

The WPT® World Championship Festival at Wynn Las Vegas is a unique opportunity for poker players who normally wouldn’t dream of spending $10K on a poker buy-in. Whether it’s through online satellites on ClubWPT.com and WPTGlobal.com, or by taking advantage of the many live opportunities offered by WPT partner casinos across the world, there are countless satellites where you can turn a small buy-in into a life changing score.

If you do secure a seat and make a deep run, you’ll need to be ready for some tough decisions that could mean the difference between making your buy-in back and tripling your bankroll. Adjusting your strategy for situations near the tournament money bubble, when facing big pay jumps, and approaching the final table will play a huge part in how many zeros are at the end of your payslip.

Our next Study Session will focus on the factors you need to consider when facing a tough decision on the Bubble, as well as specific differences between satellites and traditional multi-table tournaments. We’ll discuss how ICM (Independent Chip Model) influences hand ranges and betting, plus outline specific strategy for Milestone Satellites.


Save the Date: 📅 Live Session November 15th

Wynn-WC-Study-Session-ICM-Live-Webinar

Join Eric "Rizen" Lynch and Adrian Naggy for a LIVE Study Session on Wednesday, November 15th at 6PM ET | 3PM PT

Make sure you watch the selected Strategy Episodes, practice the suggested WPT GTO Trainer packs, and write down any questions you have. Join Rizen & Adrian on November 15th to discuss the study session topics and to get answers to your questions.

🤔 Send your questions to [email protected] about ICM and Satellites and we’ll answer them during the Live Study Session.

WPT-World-Championship-Study-Session5-Satellite-Strategy

Thanks to everyone who joined the Live Study Session!

Did you miss it? No worries! Members can rewatch the Study Sessions anytime on the Webinars Dashboard.


🛰️ Satellite Into a WPT Championship Event!

Satellite poker tournaments are a great way to play 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 you’ll need to make some adjustments to your strategy that may seem strange compared to standard tournaments to help increase your edge in a satellite.

Use these strategies to sharpen your focus and maybe you’ll turn a few bucks into a huge payday...

Should You Play a Satellite Differently?

YES YOU SHOULD!

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

EP133-Satellite Play

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


Not a Member? Join for just $5 your first month to watch the full Episodes and attend the LIVE Study Session.

Need Help Closing The Deal?

EP134-Satellite End Game

In this Strategy Episode watch and learn as Nick reviews several key hands from a Satellite tournament to highlight the unique adjustments during the endgame.


Have a Strategy question?
Email them to [email protected] and we’ll answer them during the November 15th Live Study Session.

Tips for Milestone Satellite Play

In a Milestone Satellite a player must accumulate a specific chip stack amount designated by the poker room ("The Milestone") to be awarded the tournament prize - the Milestone is usually noted in the rules and structure sheet (see pages 66-74).

As in a traditional satellite format, players may also win a seat by surviving until the number of seats available in the prize pool equals the number of players remaining, however achieving a verified Milestone stack at any point in the Tournament automatically guarantees that player a seat to the target event.

Example: You are playing a $1,100 buy-in Milestone Satellite to the $10,400 buy-in $40M GTD WPT World Championship with a starting chip stack of 20,000 and the "Milestone" is 230,000 chips. Once a player's chip stack reaches 230,000 chips they are instantly awarded a seat into the event and their chips removed from play.

The satellite will conclude when the number of players remaining is equal to the number of $10,400 prizes generated based on the Tournament Prize formula, less the the amount of players who have previously won by reaching The Milestone.

  • Milestone Satellites prioritize a more risky playing style than traditional satellites, similar to bounty tournaments
  • Specific opponent tendencies play a big factor in your approach and dictate whether going for the Milestone is a priority
  • Larger raise sizes may have increased fold equity against opponents close to the Milestone (within 5-10BBs) due to poor risk/reward
  • Don’t lose site of the Milestone in later stages when effective stacks are shallow - a few preflop steals could be enough to secure your seat
  • The endgame of a Milestone satellite can be chaotic - stay focused on the best strategy for your stack size and specific table conditions
  • Remember that you don’t always have to get to the Milestone to win a seat, you can still use traditional satellite strategy and have a good chance

Take these strategies to the Wynn Las Vegas poker room and play a $400 Double Play Milestone Satellite to secure your seat into the $1,100 WPT Prime or Ladies Championship, a Milestone Satellite to $10,400 buy-in $40M GTD WPT Championship, or other Wynn Festival events.

Wynn-Las-Vegas-Milestone-Satellite

Click here for the full schedule of satellites and tournaments

Tim Fiorvanti sat down with Wynn Executive Director of Poker Operations Ryan Beauregard and Tournament Director Ray Pulford to discuss the innovation of their Milestone Satellites - read more.

Test Your Satellite Skills!

In a Satellite to the WPT World Championship with QQ-optmzd

You are playing a milestone satellite to the $40 Million guaranteed WPT World Championship Main Event at Wynn Las Vegas 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, the Button flat calls, and action is on you. What do you do here?

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


Understanding Bubble Play

Deeper effective stacks and championship blind levels means that you will be playing speculative cards at a higher frequency and flopping your share of draws. With skilled opponents and a reentry available, the frequency with which your opponents are likely to be taking chances with this category of hands also greatly increases.

EP61-Bubble Play

Watch this Strategy Episode as LearnWPT Instructor Nick Binger introduces Bubble Play and how to use aggression on the bubble in a tournament to help improve your chances of accumulating chips and maximize your ROI (return on investment).

Let's Take a Closer Look...

Bubble play is often the most challenging aspect of tournament poker, especially with millions of dollars at stake.

You hold Pocket Kings on the Final Table bubble of a Main Event and two players go all-in ahead of you. If you win the pot, you are the chip-leader. If you lose the pot, you are the short stack.

Sounds like a dream scenario?

EP238-WSOP Final Table Bubble

Watch this Strategy Episode as Nick breaks down the action from an ultra-high stakes Final Table and provides detailed analysis of the strategic points considered when facing a $2 million dollar decision!


ICM Pressure on Preflop Ranges

Strategy adjustments for various tournament stages must consider the impact of ICM 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.

EP400-ICM Pressure on Preflop Ranges

Watch this 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.

Are You GTO Ready?

Picture yourself as one of 6 remaining players at the $5M Guaranteed WPT Prime Championship with big money and a title on the line. How do you play your 30 Big Blind stack against a call from a tough chip leader with two short stacks in play?

1216-222-30BB-Button-Open-Vs-70BB-Big-Blind-Call
222-Hand Ranges

Payouts: 1st = 20%, 2nd = 14%, 3rd = 9%, 4th = 6.7%, 5th = 5%, 6th = 4%

Play hands from a Final Table pack 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 by playing the 30BB Button Open Vs 70BB Big Blind Call WPT GTO Trainer pack!

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


Review Previous Poker Study Sessions Here!

Poker-Study-Session-GTO-Trainer


A huge THANK YOU to every Student who’s joined us for the WPT World Championship Study Sessions.

You can rewatch any of the sessions right now by clicking the links below or on the Webinars Dashboard.

Study Session 1: Mental Game and Endurance
Study Session 2: Preflop Strategy
Study Session 3: Defense Strategy
Study Session 4: Postflop Considerations
Study Session 5: ICM, Bubble, and Satellite Strategy
Study Session 6: Exploits and Intuition

We’re in the home stretch now! 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



Improve Your Game With Team LearnWPT

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 in a friendly community using state of the art tools.

LearnWPT-Instrutors-Altman-Tony-Gags-Chewy

You must be a LearnWPT Member to access and join the WPT® World Championship 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 500+ Strategy Videos, Downloadable Tools (and more).



learnwpt logo black-transparent-cropped-resized

Train → Play → Think → Like a Pro

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