But these won't be just ANY poker goals. Today we are talking about S.M.A.R.T. goals.
What are S.M.A.R.T. goals?
S.M.A.R.T. goals are:
Specific: Instead of saying, "I'm going to start winning at poker", one could say, "I'm going to plug leaks in my cash game spending 30 minutes a week watching LearnWPT Strategy Episodes and reviewing notes I take to make sure I am applying what I learn at the table."
Measurable: Progress must be trackable. Setting concrete milestones for assessing your progress allows you to adjust based on your results. Not sure how you are doing? Ask our LearnWPT Pros along the way for their advice using the Ask a Pro or Hand Input Tool feature.
Attainable: Maybe you want to become a WPT Champion, but you haven't yet won a WPT event. Better to start with something like: "Grow my poker bankroll to $_____ where I can comfortably play in a WPT Tournament" or "Attend a LearnWPT Live Workshop for interactive professional training".
Relevant: This means that the goal fits into your real life situation, skills, and desires. An irrelevant poker goal to set would be to play poker only on days that start with the letter "T". 😉
Time-Bound: This means your goal has a "when" associated with it. That could mean, "I'll play every Saturday for the next 4 weeks", or it could mean, "I'll join LearnWPT and review a strategy video every other day for 30 days". As long as you account for time, your on your way to setting a SMART goal!
So right now... try articulating your SMART poker goal. Say it out loud to yourself, write it down, and keep it somewhere visible!
One post-it note with a SMART goal in it in the right place can work WONDERS for your motivation!!
Much success,
LearnWPT
We are pleased to announce
LearnWPT Instructor Andrew Lichtenberger
Andrew Lichtenberger aka "LuckyChewy" is one of the best all-around poker players in the game today. Andrew’s positive mentality and his ability to dominate both tournaments and cash games, makes him among one of the most feared and inspiring players in the game.
LuckyChewy's Accomplishments:
- WSOP Bracelet winner
- Winner of the prestigious $100,000 buy-in World Poker Tour Alpha8 championship
- Over $10.3 Million in live tournament winnings
- Over $3 Million in online earnings
- Five WSOP final tables
- High Stakes Cash Pro
- Author of Yoga of Poker, A High Stakes Journey to Freedom
LuckyChewy's experience and success make him a powerful resource and asset for LearnWPT Members and Students.
Click below to see a sneak peek at what Members of LearnWPT.com can expect from LuckyChewy:
Member Features:
LearnWPT.com Monthly and Yearly Members can review insight and analysis from Instructor LuckyChewy through upcoming:
Not a Member?
Join Today! Go to learnwpt.com, click the JOIN NOW button to become a Member (for just $5 your first month, cancel anytime).
If you need help or have questions contact us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.
In No Limit Hold'em, players lose more money from the Blinds than any other position in poker.
Why? Most players are either playing too aggressively (they don't want to give up chips without a fight) or playing too passively (fearing a 3-bet or their raise getting called).
Whether you are defending from the Big Blind, completing from the Small Blind, raising limpers, or 3-Betting late position raisers, understanding how to play each position as profitably as possible (no matter what your cards) will help keep those chips in YOUR stack!
Put your decision-making skills from the Small Blind and Big Blind to the test using the scenarios below:
- Set of 9♠9♣ on the Flop
- K♥J♥ vs a Large Raise
- Q♠Q♦ on the Flop
- A♦K♦ vs a Raise and a Call
- A♠Q♦ on the Turn
Understanding and mastering the strategies delivered in the following LearnWPT Episodes will give you the opportunities to exert a skill edge against your opponents and play from the Blinds effectively:
Keep on practicing!
-LearnWPT
PS: a Membership with LearnWPT is the easiest and fastest way to add more levels of complexity and nuance to your game. Members have access to over 180+ scenarios like this to practice their decision-making skills!
[UPDATE: This LearnWPT Strategy Episode is no longer available for free to non-members]
We hope you enjoyed this special access to a full Strategy Episode from LearnWPT!
Strategy Episodes like this are included as part of a Membership to LearnWPT.com. Monthly and Yearly Members of LearnWPT get new Episodes monthly.
We look forward to seeing you online!
You are on the Button with J♥J♠. The MP1 player min raises and both the MP2 and Cutoff players call. Action is on you....
What are the factors you need to think about when choosing between calling, reraising, and folding?
Join LearnWPT Lead Instructor, Nick Binger as he breaks down the action from a LearnWPT Student submitted hand reviewing a common spot with Pocket Jacks Preflop that often gives players trouble!
This video is part of our Decision Point Strategy Episode series where we offer in-depth hand analysis and reveal decision-making thought processes featuring real hands played by LearnWPT Pros and Members.
FYI... this exclusive access will only be available to non-members of LearnWPT for a limited time so make sure to check it out.
We’ll see you online,
-LearnWPT
P.S. Episodes like this are included as part of a Membership to LearnWPT and our Monthly and Yearly Members get BRAND-NEW informative Strategy Episodes monthly!
HOW CAN LEARNWPT HELP YOUR GAME?
When you join LearnWPT.com for just $5 you'll get:
Join for $5 your First Month and starting investing in your game.
The first thing is DON'T PANIC!
The second thing is check which Hand Ranges you should be shoving all-in with when you are first-in to the pot given your stack size and position.
How? By quickly reviewing the BRAND-NEW interactive Push/Fold Charts created by LearnWPT and short stack specialist, Chris Wallace.
- Visit the Tools Dashboard
- Click the View Charts button to open the interactive Push/Fold Charts
- Select Big Blinds in your stack
- Select "With Antes" or "Without Antes"
- Find the number of players behind
- That's it! These ranges will be the most profitable to move all-in with
Helpful hint: bookmark the Push/Folds Charts page for quicker access
Learning how to utilize the short and awkward stack will improve your ability to get chips without good cards, even in the toughest games.
Watch more about the the fundamentals of Chris Wallace's world-class short stack strategy by reviewing Strategy Episode 168: Short Stack Play - Overview.
If you have questions about the Push/Fold Charts send your questions in using the Ask a Pro feature or contact [email protected].
P.S. You must be logged in to your Monthly or Yearly LearnWPT.com Membership to view the Push/Fold charts!
Meet LearnWPT Pro Chris Wallace!
Chris, known to the poker world simply as “Fox”, is a professional poker player, poker coach, and widely respected theorist and author on the game. Chris would contend that he's known more as a coach than as a player, having served as coach and mentor to several successful players. Read Chris's Full Bio →
Watch this 2-minute preview of a LearnWPT Strategy Episode as Nick Binger illustrates an example of a common leak most players make with big hands... not maximizing their value.
Understanding how to maximize your expectation with big hands based on concrete factors including opponent range, board texture, and stack size is critical to long-term profitability in No-Limit Hold’em.
After viewing the 2-minute preview, click the red JOIN NOW button to purchase your $5 First Month of Membership and receive immediate access to this full Strategy Episode (normally for LearnWPT.com Monthly and Yearly Members only!).
Have a question about LearnWPT? Contact [email protected] and we will be happy to answer your questions!
Check out Matt Savage's recent article as he explains the benefits and rules of the new Big Blind Ante structure and why the World Poker Tour is adopting it.
So... what strategic adjustments should you be making because of the new BB Ante format?
The answer might surprise you....
Watch the below preview of LearnWPT Strategy Episode 237 as Nick Binger answers a Member submitted question from our Ask a Pro feature regarding adjustments for the new Big Blind Ante structure:
Some key take aways from Matt Savages' article regarding the new Big Blind Ante structure all players should know:
- There will be one single ante posted for the whole table by the player in the Big Blind.
- The ante is posted first and players from any position will be eligible to win the entire ante regardless of chip stack.
- Antes never reduce until end of tournament.
- In regards to payouts, if two players are all-in at same table and one is in the Big Blind, (a) the Big Blind gets credit for ante first, (b) the player out of the big blind gets full credit for ante, and (c) the ante is considered dead in the pot.
- Dealers, staff, and players alike have universally claimed how much easier and more efficient it is. Dealers do not have to remind distracted players to post their antes every hand.
- More hands are being dealt, allowing structures to remain deeper for longer portions of tournaments.
- There are less chips in play and less need to make change.
"The TDA and I share a mantra of consistency and, whether or not you personally agree, you should live with the change to be consistent for the benefit of the players. I know that big blind ante is a great change to no-limit hold’em poker tournaments. The big blind ante is here to stay! The bottom line is that BBA is faster and downright better!"
- Matt Savage
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BIG BLIND ANTE?
Members can send us any questions or hands they've played using the BBA and receive expert answers and analysis from the LearnWPT Instructors using the popular Ask a Pro feature and Hand Input Tool.
What do you think of the new Big Blind Ante?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
We created LearnWPT with the goal to provide a place that empowers players to ask questions, help get them focused, and provide a solid game-plan to bring to the table every time they sit down.
Some of the ways we accomplish this is by:
- Teaching and presenting examples of proven, winning concepts through our Strategy Episodes (short 10-15 min videos)
- Having Members Practice, Drill, and Play Hands using the WPT GTO Trainer for instant feedback on their decisions
- Providing a place where Members can send questions to receive answers and guidance with the Ask a Pro feature
- Giving Members the ability to record and send hands they've played to receive expert analysis using the Hand Input Tool
Not a Member? Click below to join (just $5 your first month) and start improving your game today!
Pocket pairs can be tricky, and misplaying them can put your chips in serious trouble!
A pocket pair can look great preflop but how does the strength of your hand change on the Flop, Turn, or River?
Whether you have ducks, treys, walking sticks, snowmen, ladies, cowboys, or rockets, understanding what your pocket pair is worth on every street will give you a skill edge against your opponents.
Put your skills to the test in these decisions involving pocket pairs!
- 3♥3♠ with 17BB Stack
- 5♦5♣ in the Small Blind
- 6♠6♣ on the Flop
- J♠J♥ on the Turn
- T♣T♠ on the River
Understanding and mastering these strategies will give you the opportunities to exert a skill edge against your opponents and play your pocket pairs effectively:
Keep on practicing!
-LearnWPT
PS: a Membership with LearnWPT is the easiest and fastest way to add more levels of complexity and nuance to your game. Members have access to over 150+ scenarios like this to practice their decision-making skills!
How are these scenarios helping your game?
Post your answers in the comments below.
Why DON'T these people want you to attend LearnWPT Live at Borgata? 😱
Why DON'T these people want you to attend LearnWPT Live at Borgata?
They DON'T want you to attend LearnWPT Live at Borgata because:
- You will become their feared opponent by the end of the weekend
- You might knock them out of the special freeroll satellite
- You might take down the $3500 WPT Main Event seat 1st prize
- You might become the next WPT Champion
So... how can you make life much easier for the Students who've already registered for LearnWPT Live at Borgata?
Easy! Just DON'T come to this Strategy Workshop!
But where's the fun in that?! 😉
Don't let THEM stand in YOUR way of becoming a WPT Champ because...
WE DO want you to attend LearnWPT Live at Borgata!
Why? Because:
- You will learn the systems Pros use to thrive in today's tournaments
- You will work with winning Pros and skilled Instructors who will help guide your poker development
- You will learn proven strategies to win tournaments, make deep runs, and maximize your ROI
- You will have the chance to compete with your classmates and win yourself a $3500 WPT Main Event seat*
