Get LIVE, first-hand tips from a 3x World Poker Tour Champion on how to improve your poker game! 📺

LearnWPT, the Official Poker Education Platform of the World Poker Tour®, proudly presents Play Better Poker with Instructors Katie Stone and Brian Altman starting at 10:00 AM EST on January 20th LIVE from the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida!

If your goal is to kickstart your poker game, then look no further. You'll have unparalleled access to hear directly from top players and get valuable strategies to improve your game plan!

Catch all of the action and be sure to RSVP for this amazing live show ↘️

Listen as the most successful poker players in the game share their secrets about how to Play Better Poker! 🎙️

Watch this fast-paced online talk show including in-depth interviews with the top poker players in the WPT Universe, and discover how they learn and improve at poker through study tips and unique techniques featuring exclusive LearnWPT training tools and content.

Do you have 30 minutes to start Playing Better Poker? 🂡

With 15 years of experience as a professional poker player, LearnWPT Instructor Katie Stone is your personal guide for building a poker study routine and improving your game. You will not only be able to ask specific questions about your game and how to improve but also to get expert insight from some of the greatest in the game on how they consistently improve at poker, all while having fun!

Joining Katie LIVE on the next Play Better Poker show is 3x WPT Champion, Season XVIII Player of the Year, and the newest member of Team LearnWPT- Brian Altman!

Sharpen your pencil ✏️ because it's time to take notes and ask questions to get answers from Katie and Brian- Email your questions to [email protected].

Tune In to Hear Katie & Brian Talk About:

🡆 The importance of maintaining a mindset for growth and learning.

🡆 The value of having a community of trusted peers to help you learn and grow.

🡆 Why balance and family time are important to maintaining peak performance.

We know how difficult it can be to learn poker on your own, so we’re inviting you to study with Team LearnWPT!

Play Better Poker is designed to provide a place for poker players of all skill and experience levels to learn together! We'll teach you easy-to-use strategies to study and improve at Texas Hold’em, while also giving you unprecedented access to the mindset and approach to learning used by pro poker players. But don't worry - LearnWPT is a safe place to start your journey as a poker player, and we know that everyone learns at their own pace.

Submit questions before each show by emailing [email protected] and get the answer live. For more information and updates for the next show make sure you bookmark learnwpt.com/playbetterpoker and check back often.

Meet Your Host Katie Stone

Katie Stone began her gaming career as a child in chess, and later on while in college she pioneered chess camps for kids across the country. She is a professional poker player and a staunch advocate with a focus on growing the game of poker. Katie is also a major proponent of using the decision-making skills and lessons learned in poker as a means to better navigate challenges and improve performance at work and in daily life. Throughout her 15 years long career as a poker professional, Katie has been constantly searching for new methods to master her poker skills and help other players Play Better Poker.

As an Instructor for Team LearnWPT Katie delivers expert strategy and a unique perspective on learning poker to the LearnWPT Membership. Her accolades in poker include being a 2x WSOP Circuit Ring Winner and $1.2 million combined live and online tournament earnings. In addition to her role as a LearnWPT Instructor, Katie is also a Content Producer and Commentator for LearnWPT.

Her front-row seat to the explosion of online poker and the evolution of poker study makes Katie a uniquely qualified resource for cash game and tournament strategies, detailed hand analysis, online vs live strategies, decision making in real-time at the table, adjusting for known opponent tendencies, using your feedback loop for improvement, as well as learning what it takes to succeed as a pro.

Have an Inside Look at Katie’s Quest to Play Better Poker:

Meet Katie’s Guest 3x WPT Champion and Season XVIII Player of the Year- Brian Altman!

Brian Altman or “Alty” as he is known by fellow rounders on the virtual and live poker felt, is universally considered to be one of the greatest tournament players in the world. Brian’s career spans over a decade and includes $5.5 million in worldwide tournament earnings in live poker alone, with $2.8 million of those winnings from the World Poker Tour.

As a 3x World Poker Tour Champion and the Season XVIII WPT Player of the Year, Brian has demonstrated a level of consistency and execution in the most high-pressure spots that is seldom matched by his peers. Before his ascent into the WPT record books, Brian cemented his legacy as an elite online poker player by winning the prestigious Pokerstars Yearly Tournament Leaderboard in 2010.

Brian’s success is born from a mindset focused on self-improvement and lifelong learning, including a commitment to personal health and fitness. An avid fan of hiking and travel, Brian balances his dedication to excellence at the table with personal interests away from the table including spending plenty of time with friends and family.

As the newest member of Team LearnWPT, Brian will reveal his winning approach for the first time and share his proven strategies through Strategy Episodes, Webinars, and interactive Live Workshops.

Check Out This Throwback from Brian’s WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Win in 2020:

Join Katie and Brian for an enlightening discussion on his championship mindset, his dedication to self-improvement and lifelong learning, what makes learning fun, and the methods he uses to stay on top of today’s tough poker tournament fields.

Play Better Poker is the perfect opportunity for you to get started on your poker learning journey in a fun and engaging way. Join us for a fascinating conversation with the one and only poker legend, Brian Altman. Watch for valuable strategies that will help improve your play and help you have more fun at the table!

The year 2022 is the perfect time to start making changes in your poker game. You'll learn strategies from a legendary player and pick up tips that will help you improve quickly!

Whether you’re a new, returning, or already well-seasoned player – Play Better Poker is here to help and get you started learning valuable poker tips in a fast and fun 30 minute LIVE poker strategy show. Join us!

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

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.”

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.”

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!

The World Poker Tour kicks off its 20th Season at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL this January with the $3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Main Event. Join the massive field of poker players sure to flock to Florida to test their skills and be crowned the next WPT Champion!

The huge $2 Million Guaranteed prize pool is destined to attract a record-shattering number of players and a life-changing first prize.

LearnWPT Prepares You For The WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open

Think you have what it takes to navigate a tough tournament field and have your name etched on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup?

LearnWPT is here with expert strategy tips and fun ways to train to help get your game in shape. Check out some free Strategy Episodes and WPT GTO Trainer solutions to get you ready to crush the competition at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open 🏆.

🎸 Get In On The Action
🎸 Play Better Poker With LearnWPT
🎸 How Does a Pro Handle The Spotlight?
🎸 Flip The Script
🎸 Get Final Table Ready

Get In On The Action ...

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL is welcoming players back to their amazing resort and tournament venue with a full festival of poker action starting on January 13th. Kicking off the festival on the 13th is a $600 multi-flight $1Million Guaranteed deepstack tournament!

This action packed series is capped off with Day 1A of the $2Million Guaranteed WPT Main Tour Event on January 21st. Re-entry Format - Day 1B on January 22nd - Click for more information.

📅 Main Event Schedule:

Day 1A: Friday, January 21, 2022 starting at 11 a.m. ET
Day 1B: Saturday, January 22, 2022 starting at 11 a.m. ET (Registration will remain open until the start of Level 9)
Day 2: Sunday, January 23, 2022 starting at 12 p.m. ET
Day 3: Monday, January 24, 2022 starting at 12 p.m. ET
Day 4: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 starting at 12 p.m. ET
Final Table: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 starting at 2 p.m. ET (final table will be live streamed with 30-min delay)

The super deep championship structure for this $3,500 event offers plenty of chances to outwit and outplay your opponents. Get ready to battle with the best and play for your share of the massive $2M Guaranteed prize pool.

Next Play Better Poker with LearnWPT Live Stream at Seminole Hard Rock!

Before the Main Event LearnWPT Instructor and Host Katie Stone will be talking poker strategy with new LearnWPT Instructor and 3X WPT Champion Brian Altman who became the first player in WPT history to win the same event twice at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open in Season XVIII.

Watch a behind-the-scenes look at the Play Better Poker premiere!

Watch the first episode with guest Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger on LearnWPT.com by clicking here.

The next Play Better Poker with LearnWPT Stream will be LIVE from the Lucky Hearts Poker Open January 20th at 10am EST (7am EST) on twitch.tv/learnwpt!!

How Does a Pro Handle The Spotlight?

Making the correct plays at a final table when there are big pay jumps in play can be very challenging. Should you play super tight and only go in with the best hands, or ramp up the aggression and attempt to run over the table?

Watch this LearnWPT Strategy Episode as Instructor Nick Binger breaks down the action from the 2017 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Finale $10,000 Buy-in Event. Tune in as Nick walks you step by step through the thought process of world-class player Jason Koon as he open raises from the Button with a medium stack vs a tough defend from Terry Schumacher in the Big Blind.

How Would YOU Play This Same Spot?

Think you have what it takes to win the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open and outwit a world-class Pro? It’s time to challenge the world’s perfect opponent - The WPT GTO Trainer!

Play these 5 hands to test your skills in the exact same scenario Jason found himself. The goal is to get as close to ZERO EV loss with each decision. Good luck...

P.S. After playing the hands click the LEARN NOW button to learn the "why" behind the correct plays.

Let's Flip The Script ...

In the previous Strategy Episode Nick Binger walked you through the high-level decision making process used by Jason Koon with big money on the line at a WPT Final table vs a tough opponent in the Big Blind. Now, let's flip the script and take a dive deep into the perspective of Terry Schumacher in the Big Blind facing an open-raise from Jason on the Button.

Watch as Nick illustrates the key factors Terry Schumacher considers when defending the Big Blind vs a late position range and how techniques like floating are essential to combat Jason’s balanced multi-street barreling strategy.

Play It From the Big Blind

It’s now time to switch spots and see how you do as the defender vs the perfect opponent! Play these 5 hands to test your skills from the Big Blind vs the Button and see how close you can get to zero EV loss.

As you train remember:

• Opponents will be opening with a narrower range, especially from out of position
• Medium stacks (around 30BB) can be pressured with a wider raising ranges preflop, especially with many short stacks present
• Your check-calling range should include mostly hands you would want to take to showdown such as strong 1-pair hands
• If an Opponent bets out again on the turn beware, often this turn barreling range will be very narrow due to pay jump implications
• Your check-raising range should be polarized and include hands like second pair, big draws, some very strong hands, and complete air
• If you check the flop and your Opponent checks back, don’t be afraid to attack the turn with larger sizing with made hands and some draws

After playing be sure to click the LEARN NOW button to learn more strategy behind the correct plays.

Need Some Final Table Tips?

Final Table Strategy can differ dramatically from the early stages of a tournament, especially with huge pay-jumps and the prestige that only comes with winning a World Poker Tour title.

Often players are unprepared for the pressure that comes with playing in front of an audience and how your decision making is affected with potentially life-changing money at stake.

While it's difficult to recreate the pressure of performing with the eyes of the world on you, you can start practicing now to succeed at the final table when it matters most.

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 stack 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 players that are playing tight in the hopes of laddering up
  

In case the championship structure, $2M Guaranteed prize pool, and chance to have your name cemented in history as a WPT Champion isn’t enough, you’ll also get a chance to showcase your poker skills live on the World Poker Tour Twitch stream!

Good Luck and Have FUN!

Are you playing the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open? Stop and say Hi 👋 to the LearnWPT Team!

Tony Dunst, LuckyChewy, Katie Stone, Brian Altman and Adrian Naggy will be on site and in the action.

If you are playing and want to celebrate a victory or deep run, email the LearnWPT Team to keep us updated. Also make sure to follow and tag us on Twitter @learnwpt, Facebook, or Instagram to share your success on social with the hashtag #WPTLHPO!

Good luck and good playing,
-Team LearnWPT

We hope you enjoyed these free strategies and tips from Team LearnWPT! Subscribe below 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.

Are you ready to go back to where it all began?

The World Poker Tour® returns to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the $10,400 buy-in Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main Event from December 15th – 19th. The setting for the first ever World Poker Tour Event back in 2002 (won by Danish superstar and WPT Legend Gus Hansen) once again is set to host this marquee event.

This prestigious tournament brings out the best players in the world and consistently generates massive prize pools with life-changing money awaiting the eventual champion.

Season XVIII saw highroller specialist Alex Foxen take home a lion's share of the record-shattering $10 Million prize pool by outfoxing an impressive field of 1,035 players. Alex hoisted the Mike Sexton's Champion Cup and took home the $1,694,995 first prize.

LearnWPT Prepares You For The WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic

Think you have what it takes to navigate a tournament field full of Champions and world-class pros to have YOUR name etched on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup?

LearnWPT is here to take you inside a Championship mindset while playing high buy-in events and show you how Professional Players make decisions with the heat on them!

💎 Get In The Action
💎 Five Diamond Throwback with Tony & LuckyChewy
💎 How Does a Pro Like Tony Handle The Pressure?
💎 Five Diamond Throwback - Vanessa Vs LuckyChewy
💎 Get Yourself Final Table Ready

Get In On The Action...

The Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is welcoming players back to their unparalleled resort and storied poker room with a full festival of poker action. The festival includes daily satellites into the Main Event starting on December 8th (follow @BellagioPoker on Twitter for daily satellite updates)!

The crown jewel of this exciting poker festival is the $10,400 buy-in World Poker Tour® Five Diamond World Poker Classic main event starting on December 15th with a re-entry format.

WPT Executive Tour Director Matt Savage and the Bellagio Poker Room staff collaborated to bring a super deep championship structure for this $10,400 event that offers plenty of chances to outwit and outplay your opponents.

📅 Main Event Schedule:

Day 1: Wednesday, December 15th at 12 p.m. PT (unlimited re-entry available until the start of Level 10)
Day 2: Thursday, December 16th at 12 p.m. PT
Day 3: Friday, December 17th at 12 p.m. PT
Day 4: Saturday, December 18th at 12 p.m. PT
Final Table: Sunday, December 19th at 4 p.m. PT

Get ready to battle with the best and compete for your chance to showcase your poker skills during a live TV final table taping at the HyperX Esports Arena that will air nationally on Bally Sports Network and OTT channels across the globe!

You’ll also be playing for what is sure to be one of the largest first place prizes in WPT history, as the entire poker world convenes at Bellagio for the poker event of the season.

Can't make it to Bellagio? Follow the WPT Live Updates Team for all of the action!

WPT Five Diamond Throwback - Tony Gives LuckyChewy The Raw Deal

The WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic has a rich history of incredible poker action and spawned many poker legends.

Check out this throwback segment from a World Poker Tour® episode as LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst gives a little "Raw Deal" analysis of fellow LearnWPT Instructor Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger against Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari during the final table of the Season XI WPT Five Diamond Main Event.

How Does a Pro Handle The Pressure?

Watch this LearnWPT Strategy Episode as WPT Commentator and LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst gives a behind the scenes look at the 2019 WPT Bellagio Five Diamond $10,000 Main Event using actual hands he played from the event to demonstrate how he makes decisions with big money at stake.

Unique Insight When Deepstacked

Playing a super deepstacked structure like the WPT Five Diamond Main Event, especially during the early levels of a poker tournament takes a lot of patience and discipline.

Watch as Tony walks us through his decision-making process and breaks down deepstacked hands from early levels breaks during the 2018 10K WPT Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main Event.

WPT Five Diamond Throwback - Vanessa Vs LuckyChewy In a Flip

The final 3 players in the WPT 5 Diamond World Poker Classic are typically pretty tough. In the Season 10 edition of this event that saying definitely held true, with poker icon and LearnWPT Instructor Vanessa Selbst and poker legend LuckyChewy being 2 of the 3 remaining.

In this throwback hand we see the two members of Team LearnWPT clash in a classic coin flip spot with massive ICM implications in play.

Need Some Final Table Tips?

Final Table Strategy can differ dramatically from the early stages of a tournament, especially with huge pay-jumps and the prestige that only comes with winning a World Poker Tour title.

Often players are unprepared for the pressure that comes with playing in front of an audience and how your decision making is affected with potentially life-changing money at stake.

While it's difficult to recreate the pressure of performing with the eyes of the world on you, you can start practicing now to succeed at the final table when it matters most.

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 stack you should 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 players that are playing tight in the hopes of laddering up

Good Luck and Have FUN!

Are you playing the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic?

Be sure to let us know how you do and don’t forget to follow us and share your success on Twitter @learnwpt, Facebook, and Instagram or send us an email to [email protected].

If you see any of the LearnWPT Team at the Bellagio say Hi 👋

Good luck and good playing,
-LearnWPT

We hope you enjoyed these free strategies and tips from Team LearnWPT! Subscribe below 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.

A common question we get from LearnWPT students is:

"How should I play the early stages of a poker tournament when stacks are deep?"

During the first few levels of a tournament when stacks are still deep, do you sit back and only play premium hands, or should you be mixing it up by playing more hands to try and build a big stack?

Not Sure How to Play Deepstacked?

We got you covered! The team of world class poker professionals at LearnWPT - The Official Poker Training Platform of The World Poker Tour® - are here with expert strategies to immediately upgrade your deepstack poker tournament play.

LearnWPT Instructors Katie Stone and Tony Dunst took a break from the action at the$2,500 WPTDeepStacks Championship at Thunder Valley Casino Resort to talk about some common mistakes they see players make when playing in deepstacked poker tournaments.

5 Key Poker Strategy Tips To Play Better in Deepstacked Poker Tournaments:

The early stages of a championship poker tournament with super deep structures like you find on the World Poker Tour require a specific strategy shift. It’s not uncommon for the average stack to equal 100 times the current big blind level or more during the first few hours in the tournament. Players typically start with 30,000 chips with blinds at 100/100 and 1 hour long levels and you need to change your strategy for these situations.

Anytime you find yourself in a deepstack poker tournament situation remember these 5 Strategies for Deepstacked Play:

➧ Strategy Tip #1 - Adjust your First-In Ranges
➧ Strategy Tip #2 - Be Cautious with 1-Pair Hands
➧ Strategy Tip #3 - Don’t Call too Loose Preflop
➧ Strategy Tip #4 - Attack Limpers
➧ Strategy Tip #5 - Use Board Texture as Your Guide

Now... let's dive deeper into, well, deepstack poker and review some in-depth poker strategy to help you incorporate LearnWPT’s 5 Strategies for Deepstacked Play:

So, What Exactly is Deepstack Poker?

Deepstack: adjective
deep·stack \ ˈdēp ˈstak \

1) For a poker situation to be considered deepstacked from a strategic perspective the standard opening raise size has to be 4% or less than the effective stack for the table, typically when the effective stack is 100BB or more. Think of the effective stack in terms of the smallest stack between players in a poker hand, or the most you can win or lose in a specific hand of poker given stack sizes.

For example, if the effective stack for a hand at your table is 10,000 chips with blinds at 100-100 and the standard raise for the table preflop is 300 chips, the game is considered deepstacked.

If for some reason the average raise size before the flop at your specific table was 1,000 chips with the same 10,000 chip effective stacks and 100-100 blinds, then the game would be considered shallow.

Need a Refresher or Effective Stack Basics?:

A deepstacked championship structure allows you to exercise far greater patience, however you can also make critical mistakes early in the tournament. Your approach to deepstack poker tournament play should be to maximize chances of making a deep run with prudent aggression, while protecting against losing big chunks of your stack in spots that are avoidable.

🏋️ Understanding Relative Hand Strength

Watch this Strategy Episode from Nick Binger to learn key strategic factors for determining how your poker hand strength can change during the course of a given poker hand based on an opponent's actions and likely range of hands.

Understanding how your hand strength shifts during a hand is an essential component of winning deepstacked poker play.

Factors that Affect Relative Hand Strength:

• Number of Opponents - The more players you face in a hand = the strong average hand at showdown. Assume 2-pair or better when getting action in multiway pots
• Board Texture - Coordinated boards such as T♠8♠7♥ connect with your opponents in deepstacked multiway pots far more often than dry or scattered flops such as K♦2♠2♣. Two-pair combinations are also far more likely on coordinated boards
• Stack Depth - You need a big hand to continue with when the money starts going in on multiple streets and stacks are deep. When you do flop a big hand avoid slowplaying unless you are heads up vs a single opponent on a dry board

Deepstack Advice from An All-Time Great 🐐

Who better to learn the nuances of deepstacked poker tournament play than the incomparable Vanessa Selbst?

In this Strategy Episode Vanessa outlines critical strategic adjustments to ensure a balanced approach to maximizing EV in multiway pots on coordinated flops that you can apply to your next tournament or cash game session.

Vanessa’s Advice for Multiway Pots:

• Study the WPT GTO Trainer so you know the default strategy
• Identify opponents who deviate from GTO to exploit
• Reduce c-betting frequency and focus on range advantage
• Add speculative hands to preflop first-in range to stop from being exploited
• Bet value hands only on coordinated boards - especially against sticky opponents

Are All 1-Pair Hands Created Equal?

In this Strategy Episode Nick Binger breaks down 3 fundamentals for deepstack poker tournament play including:

1. How to label players in the Blinds
2. Raising multiple limpers to take the initiative
3. How to rank 1-Pair hands by class to eliminate the need for guesswork at the table

We hope you enjoyed these free strategies for deepstack play in tournaments from Team LearnWPT. Be sure to follow us or subscribe below for more FREE poker content.

We Want To Hear From You!

Please share your success and let us know how these strategies changed your game. Follow us Twitter @learnwpt, Facebook, and Instagram or send us an email to [email protected] and you may be featured in upcoming LearnWPT content!

Good luck and good playing,
-Team LearnWPT

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

DECISION POINT: In a tough Tournament where blinds are 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante it folds to the Cutoff who opens to 500. The Button and Small Blind fold and you call from the Big Blind with 3♣5♣. You check the J♥K♦4♣ flop and your opponent continuation bets 400.

Action is back on you, what do you do here?

PRO ANSWER: We are playing in a multi table tournament with blinds at 100/200 and a 200 big blind ante. The effective stacks are 10,000 chips to start and there are several tough opponents at the table. We are dealt 5c3c in the Big Blind and everyone folds to the Cutoff who opens to 500 chips. Both the Button and the Small Blind fold.

We don’t have a super strong hand here holding 53s preflop, however there are 1,000 chips in the pot and it costs only 300 more for us to call. We’re getting better than 3:1 immediate pot odds against a player with a very wide opening hand range. While we can fold many of the worst hands in our range here including offsuit combos like T2o, 53s is definitely good enough to continue considering the price. We make the call and it’s off to the flop.

The flop is JhKd4c. In this spot with relatively deep stacks in relation to the pot and both players hand ranges being wide, the Cutoff has a significant advantage by being the in position player. As is preferred when defending your blind by calling, we should be checking them with our entire hand range.

We check and the Cutoff bets 400 chips. A continuation bet sizing of approximately 1/3rd pot size is common in this scenario and the Cutoff will likely be using this size with a big part of their range. A good approach to countering this strategy of frequent c-betting with a likely wider range is to both do some check-calling to keep their range wide and get to controlled showdowns, and mix in some check-raises.

Our check-raising range should be a mix of some strong hands and some bluffing hands that have backdoor equity to account for the times when we are called. We do have good backdoor equity with 53s holding both a backdoor flush and backdoor straight draw. This board is reasonably coordinated and connects with much of our calling range as well. Taking these factors into consideration, we have a prime opportunity to check-raise and reverse the pressure back onto our opponent.

If we had opponent specific information that the Cutoff in this hand was opening with a much narrower than optimal range preflop, or they c-bet a lower than optimal frequency on the flop our approach would be different. We could make an exploitative fold either preflop or to their standard c-bet sizing on this board texture.

However, against good players who will be opening and continuation betting here appropriately, we must mix in some check-raise bluffs to balance and combat their strategy and this is a perfect opportunity.

Raising is the best play.

The exciting conclusion to the 2020-2021 WPTDeepStacks season is this December 4-7 when the luxurious Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, CA welcomes the $2,500 WPTDeepStacks Championship.

This event features 30K in starting chips with hour levels plus a massive $1 Million Guaranteed prize pool and is sure to deliver an unparalleled player experience. The friendly and skilled staff at TV Poker Room are no strangers to hosting prestigious events with the World Poker Tour and you can be assured that the WPTDeepStacks Championship will be no exception.

This event not only gives players the chance to score a share of the $1 Million Guaranteed prize pool and experience the first class poker room at Thunder Valley, it also provides the opportunity to be featured LIVE on stream. The final 9 players in the $2500 WPTDeepStacks Championship will play to a winner on Monday December 7th and be featured live on twitch.tv/worldpokertour.

Team LearnWPT is here to help get your game in shape to take down this event with some strategy and tips below!

Get In On The Action...

The TV Poker Room at Thunder Valley in Lincoln, CA is welcoming players to their amazing resort and tournament venue with a full Championship festival of poker action starting on November 15th where players can satellite into the Main Event for as low as $100!

This action packed series is capped off with Day 1A of the WPTDeepStacks Championship Main Tour Event on December 4th. Re-entry Format - Day 1B on December 4th - Click for more info

📅 Main Event Schedule:

Day 1A: Saturday, December 4, 2021 starting at 12 p.m. PT
Day 1B: Sunday, December 5, 2021 starting at 12 p.m. PT
Day 2: Monday, December 6, 2021 starting at 12 p.m. PT
Final Day: Tuesday, December 7, 2021 starting at 12 p.m. PT (final table will be live streamed with a delay)

Prepare for The WPTDeepStacks Championship at Thunder Valley

The Team of world-class professionals at LearnWPT are here to help you get ready for the $2,500 WPTDeepStacks Championship with some in-depth strategies for dealing with the pressure of big money and bright lights.

We’ll kick things off with one of the most talked about hands in poker history, featuring Joe McKeehan and Ian Steinman from the $5,000 WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event at TV Poker Room. Check out the amazing hand below then watch the detailed analysis of this play from LearnWPT Instructor Nick Binger.

Ask Yourself... Can You Fold a Set of Kings?

Picture yourself in this scenario: You’ve been grinding for 4 days and are deep in the WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event at TV Poker Room. You’ve reached the live stream final table and have a good chip stack.

You pick up pocket kings in the Cutoff and open raise. The Big Blind calls and bingo, you hit top set.

Time to double up and find a way to get it all-in! Wait, not so fast ...

Watch this Strategy Episode from Instructor Nick Binger as he breaks down this infamous hand between Ian Steinman and Joe McKeehan to show you the strategy Pros use to make these crucial folds.

Tour Term: What is a Hero Fold?

Hero Fold: verb
he·​ro fold \ˈhir-(ˌ)ō ˈfōld \

1) To fold your hand correctly in a spot where on the surface it appears you are highly likely to have the best hand.

LearnWPT and the World Poker Tour are excited to bring players Tour Terms, where we break down key strategy terms from the pages of WPT Live Updates to give you helpful tips to use in your next WPT tournament. Learn more about Tour Terms 3-Bet, Continuation Bet, and Check-Raise!

Need Help Making a Big Fold?

During any one hand of No-Limit Hold’em poker the advantage can change on the turn of a card. While you might be a huge favorite to start the hand holding pocket aces for example, after the board is dealt and all the bets are in the best starting hand in poker may often be reduced to the worst hand.

Every poker player has experienced the feeling that the momentum has shifted in a hand and that “something is up” when the opponent suddenly bets or raises. The skill that separates winning professionals from the rest of the field is knowing precisely when the advantage has shifted in the hand, and when to save chips for future spots.

Learn to make big folds while not being exploited by your aggressive opponents in this Strategy Episode from LearnWPT. Tune in as Nick Binger answers questions submitted by members with the Ask A Pro Feature and learn about how to play top set, what to do when your opponents don’t respect steal attempts, and the key factors you need to consider when deciding to fold a big hand.

The Other Side of The Coin - Hero Calling

Battling against tough players with the WPTDeepStacks Championship on the line also requires the ability to sniff out bluffs and stop aggressive opponents from stealing pots.

The most successful tournament players are constantly looking for opportunities to win uncontested pots without showdown and trying to run you over with aggression.

Poker legend and LearnWPT instructor Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger is no stranger to high profile final tables with massive prize pools on the line.

Tune in as the $100K Buy-in WPT Alpha 8 Champion shows you his thought process to narrow opponent hand ranges and sort through the noise to make the correct call when it matters most.

Your Practice Partner? - The Best Poker Player in The World

Now that you have some expert strategies from the world’s best poker players in your toolbox, it’s time to train you new skills vs the perfect opponent.

Get ready to make a deep run in the WPTDeepStacks Championship by playing these 5 hands from the WPT GTO Trainer. Practice this spot where you are in the steal position as the chip leader vs a tough Big Blind and prepare for your time to shine LIVE on stream.

Your goal is to get as close to ZERO EV loss with each decision.

As you play, remember these tips:

• The Big Blind will likely call with a fairly wide range in this spot given direct pot odds
• The Big Blind will flat call with some big hands preflop due to ICM pressure, even as strong as pocket Kings
• You will be c-betting almost 100% when checked to using a smaller sizing
• The Big Blind will lead the flop with a portion of their range to counter your small c-betting strategy - be prepared to continue vs most leads
• Be cautious about building big pots with some stronger hands as the Big Blind’s range narrows significantly on later streets when they continue

P.S. After playing the hands get YOUR SCORE and learn the "why" behind the correct plays.

Need Some Final Table Tips?

Final Table Strategy can differ dramatically from the early stages of a tournament, especially with huge pay-jumps and the prestige that only comes with winning a World Poker Tour title. Often players are unprepared for the pressure that comes with playing in front of an audience and for potentially life-changing money at stake.

When you are facing the pressure of big pay jumps and the studio lights seem just a little too bright, it’s important to stay focused and make objective decisions.

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 players that are playing tight in the hopes of laddering up

The WPTDeepStacks Championship will feature a cards up live streamed final table on twitch.tv/worldpokertour,

Good Luck and Have FUN!

We hope you enjoyed these free strategies to prepare for the $2,500 WPTDeepStacks Championship at Thunder Valley Casino this December 4-7, 2021!

Be sure to let us know if you use these strategies to make a big score and don’t be afraid to share your success on twitter @WPTDeepStacks, @learnwpt and @wpt. and use the hashtag #WPTDEEPSTACKS.

We’ll see you on the stream, live from Thunder Valley Casino at twitch.tv/worldpokertour!

Good luck and good playing,
-LearnWPT

P.S. Looking for more poker tournament strategy tips from LearnWPT? Check out this collection of tips and tools.

The World Poker Tour returns to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL this November with the $3,500 WPT Seminole Rock 'N' Roll Poker Open Main Event. Join the massive field of poker players sure to flock to Florida this November as we prepare to crown a new WPT Champion!

The huge $2 Million Guaranteed prize pool is destined to attract a record-shattering number of players and a life-changing first prize (ICU Nurse Brek Schutten claimed $1.2 million and a WPT Title in May).

Think you have what it takes to navigate a tough tournament field and have your name etched on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup?

LearnWPT is here with expert strategy tips and fun ways to train to help get your game in shape. Scroll down for free Strategy Episodes and WPT GTO Trainer solutions to get you ready to crush the competition at the WPT Seminole Rock "N" Roll Poker Open 🏆.

Get In On The Action...

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL is welcoming players back to their amazing resort and tournament venue with a full festival of poker action starting on November 17th.

This action packed series is capped off with Day 1A of the WPT Main Tour Event on November 26th. Re-entry Format - Day 1B on November 27th - Click for more information.

📅 Main Event Schedule:

Day 1A: Friday, November 26, 2021 starting at 11 a.m. ET
Day 1B: Saturday, November 27, 2021 starting at 11 a.m. ET (unlimited re-entry available until the start of Level 9)
Day 2: Sunday, November 28, 2021 starting at 12 p.m. ET
Day 3: Monday, November 29, 2021 starting at 12 p.m. ET
Day 4: Tuesday, November 30, 2021 starting at 12 p.m. ET
Final Table: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 starting at 2 p.m. ET (final table will be live streamed with 30-min delay)

The super deep championship structure for this $3,500 event offers plenty of chances to outwit and outplay your opponents. Get ready to battle with the best and play for your share of the massive $2M Guaranteed prize pool.

In case the championship structure, $2M Guaranteed prize pool, and chance to have your name cemented in history as a WPT Champion isn’t enough, you’ll also get a chance to showcase your poker skills live on the World Poker Tour Twitch stream!

Check out this exciting sneak peak of the action from the live stream of last season's WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Final Table:

How Does a Pro Handle The Spotlight?

Making the correct plays at a final table when there are big pay jumps in play can be very challenging. Should you play super tight and only go in with the best hands, or ramp up the aggression and attempt to run over the table?

Watch this LearnWPT Strategy Episode as Instructor Nick Binger breaks down the action from the 2017 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Finale $10,000 Buy-in Event. Tune in as Nick walks you step by step through the thought process of world-class player Jason Koon as he open raises from the Button with a medium stack vs a tough defend from Terry Schumacher in the Big Blind.

How Would YOU Play This Same Spot?

Think you have what it takes to win the WPT Seminole Hard Rock 'N' Roll Poker Open and outwit a world-class Pro? It’s time to challenge the world’s perfect opponent - The WPT GTO Trainer!

Play these 5 hands to test your skills in the exact same scenario Jason found himself. The goal is to get as close to ZERO EV loss with each decision. Good luck...

P.S. After playing the hands click the LEARN NOW button to learn the "why" behind the correct plays.

Let's Flip The Script ...

In the previous Strategy Episode Nick Binger walked you through the high-level decision making process used by Jason Koon with big money on the line at a WPT Final table vs a tough opponent in the Big Blind. Now, let's flip the script and take a dive deep into the perspective of Terry Schumacher in the Big Blind facing an open-raise from Jason on the Button.

Watch as Nick illustrates the key factors Terry Schumacher considers when defending the Big Blind vs a late position range and how techniques like floating are essential to combat Jason’s balanced multi-street barreling strategy.

Play It From the Big Blind

It’s now time to switch spots and see how you do as the defender vs the perfect opponent! Play these 5 hands to test your skills from the Big Blind vs the Button and see how close you can get to zero EV loss.

As you train remember:

• Opponents will be opening with a narrower range, especially from out of position
• Medium stacks (around 30BB) can be pressured with a wider raising ranges preflop, especially with many short stacks present
• Your check-calling range should include mostly hands you would want to take to showdown such as strong 1-pair hands
• If an Opponent bets out again on the turn beware, often this turn barreling range will be very narrow due to pay jump implications
• Your check-raising range should be polarized and include hands like second pair, big draws, some very strong hands, and complete air
• If you check the flop and your Opponent checks back, don’t be afraid to attack the turn with larger sizing with made hands and some draws

After playing be sure to click the LEARN NOW button to learn more strategy behind the correct plays.

Need Some Final Table Tips?

Final Table Strategy can differ dramatically from the early stages of a tournament, especially with huge pay-jumps and the prestige that only comes with winning a World Poker Tour title. Often players are unprepared for the pressure that comes with playing in front of an audience and how your decision making is affected with potentially life-changing money at stake.

While it's difficult to recreate the pressure of performing with the eyes of the world on you, you can start practicing now to succeed at the final table when it matters most.

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 stack you should 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 players that are playing tight in the hopes of laddering up

The WPT Seminole Rock 'N' Roll Poker Open will feature a cards up live streamed final table on twitch.tv/worldpokertour,

Good Luck and Have FUN!

Be sure to let us know how you do and don’t be afraid to share your success on Twitter @learnwpt and @wpt. Who knows, maybe we’ll see you at the final table, live on the stream at twitch.tv/wpt!

Good luck and good playing,
-LearnWPT

Partypoker US ambassador and the four-time WPT champion Darren “End Boss” Elias collaborated closely with BetMGM to launch The End Boss Poker Series Main Event on the partypoker US Network in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey this November.

This exciting poker tournament series will take place during the holiday week from November 23rd through 28th with guaranteed prize pools totaling more than $750,000 across all three states.

For more information about the End Boss Poker Series tournament schedules click below:

• Pennsylvania ($100K GTD): https://poker.pa.betmgm.com
• Michigan ($100K GTD): https://poker.mi.betmgm.com
• New Jersey ($150K GTD): https://poker.nj.betmgm.com

With all poker players in mind from beginners to professionals, poker legend Darren Elias developed a special tournament series to ensure that anyone could step up to try and become crowned the poker “End Boss” of their respective state.

Not only will the winners of the Main Event in each state receive their share of the huge prize pools and become an “End Bosses” of their state, they will also earn a FREE entry into the New Year Knockout Event!*

So many fantastic reasons to be thankful for poker this holiday season!

And as an added bonus…if you are lucky enough to eliminate The End Boss Darren Elias from the $150K GTD Main Event Tournament on November 28 in New Jersey, you will receive a FREE 3-day/2-night stay at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. 🎸*

Time to get prepared for your chance to win all the amazing prizes!

Train → Play → Think Like a Pro!

Picture yourself as one of 6 remaining players at the Final Table of The End Boss Main Event. How do you protect your 30 Big Blind stack against Darren Elias who is the chip leader with two short stacks in play?

Click below to play a free Final Table Sample pack from the WPT GTO Trainer to see firsthand if you have what it takes to be The End Boss!

As you train remember to:

• Play in a way 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

At The End Boss Final Table Darren Elias minraises from the Button as the chip leader with a 70BB stack and you call from the Big Blind with 30BBs.

Do your best to choose the ideal action at every point. Your goal is to keep "EV Loss" in the green and close to 0.

Check out this throwback to how “The End Boss” legend started, from the Season XIII WPT Borgata Poker Open $3,500 Championship

In Season XIII, Darren Elias won the fourth-largest WPT field in history to date at that time, beating a field of 1,226 entries to win $843,744 in first-place prize money with a prize pool of $3,924,426. Elias defeated Kane Kalas on the final hand of play, etching his name on the Mike Sexton Champion’s Cup for the first time. 🏆 Check out his winner’s interview below and witness the moment The End Boss was officially announced to the poker world. 👇

In a pivotal hand from this tough final table, Elias and Kalas both chased a flush draw. On the river, the two got it all-in on a 2♥️ K♥️ 5♣️ 8♥️10♣️ board, Kalas held 10♥️ 4♥️ but Elias played the hand masterfully and secured a big double up with Q♥️ 6♥️ and pave the way for victory. The massive cooler action at the final table in Season XIII is featured in the video below. 👇

Working Together For The Player

partypoker US Network and LearnWPT have joined forces to bring you FREE poker strategy and opportunities for training experiences!

For The Player is designed for all skill levels. Our goal is to help you learn poker strategy and have more fun playing the game you love.

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

Click here to learn more about "For The Player" →

Good luck and good playing!
-LearnWPT

*Players may participate in the End Boss Poker Series through either BetMGMPoker.com, or NJ.PartyPoker.com, and must physically be in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Michigan to register and play. Customers must be 21 years of age or older to play. See official rules for complete details. LearnWPT is not a gambling or real money gaming company and is not responsible for fulfillment of prizes or tournament prize pools.

New Jersey players, click on the button to register now!

Poker Oklahoma just got a little more exciting!

The newest addition to the WPTDeepStacks™ event schedule is coming to one of the favorite venues on the World Poker Tour schedule at Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma from October 27, 2021 – November 8, 2021.

The inaugural WPTDeepStacks event at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant features a $1,100 buy-in Main Event scheduled to run November 5th through November 8th.

“Poker players have always turned out in force for our WPT Main Tour stops in Choctaw,” said Cathy Zhao, Senior Director, Global Tour Management. “We’re excited to bring the WPTDeepStacks brand to the property and give poker players of all bankroll sizes the opportunity to experience the property and a first-class tournament product.”

Take your shot at the WPTDeepStacks Main Event and experience these other exciting perks!

• All players who finish in the money will receive WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year leaderboard points
• The player who finishes the season atop the leaderboard receives a $10,000 WPT Passport for any WPT live event
• Champion receives a custom trophy from the World Poker Tour
• The WPTDeepStacks Choctaw Main Event Champion also receives a $3,000 package for the season-ending WPTDeepStacks Championship
  

LearnWPT Instructors Tony Dunst and Katie Stone recently played the $3,700 buy-in WPT Main Tour Choctaw Event in Durant, OK and took a break from the action at the tables to reveal some of their strategy and review key hands played during their Day 1.

Playing a World Poker Tour Event is exciting! If you haven't tried your hand at a WPT Main Tour Event or a WPTDeepStacks Main Event, don’t worry we’ve got an exclusive first hand look at why these events are so special.

LearnWPT Instructor Katie Stone has been hard at work hitting tour stops and searching for her first WPT title, and she brought LearnWPT Members behind the scenes of her recent trip to Choctaw.

In this Strategy Episode Katie gives you a peek into the life of a tournament grinder, what it's like to play a big WPT event, and breaks her key hands from a weekend at WPT Choctaw.

LearnWPT Instructor and WPT Commentator Tony Dunst wrote a blog about his time at Choctaw playing the $3,700 Main Event and reflected on the event including some of the action from his table. Follow along as Tony tells you his thoughts in real-time and see how a WPT Champion plays their cards in a World Poker Tour Main Event.

Discover more about Tony Dunst and Katie Stone and how they can help improve your poker game. And make sure and be sure to say hello to them (or any of the LearnWPT Pros) at the next WPT Event!

If you are playing the $1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event at Choctaw we want to hear from YOU! Tell us how you played and tag us on twitter @wpt, @wptdeepstacks and @learnwpt to share your success!

Good luck and good playing,
-LearnWPT