The Mindset Advantage Poker Podcast

Since he first joined us in Episode 3 of The Mindset Advantage Podcast, Jonathan Little has co-written a book with TMA co-host Dr. Tricia Cardner and launched the new training site PokerCoaching.com. Peak Poker Performance lays out a blueprint for playing your “A” game every session. Topics covered in the book include; Creating winning habits, systematizing success, and beating procrastination. PokerCoaching.com is a training site that uses weekly quizzes to show you which areas of the game you need to work on the most. There is also an in-depth monthly homework question where Jonathan grades/discussions the answer to in a webinar. In this episode you’ll learn: How to actually integrate the mindset lessons we talk about into your game How optimizing your environment can set you up for success before you even start playing How watching TV while you play can slash your winrate Why it’s important to have an overall vision of why you’re playing poker How Jonathan was able to final table the WSOP Team Event with his Mom and Dad The difference in mindset and strategy needed to be successful in satellites vs. regular MTTs  

Brent Hanks is a former teacher turned professional poker player who now works for the 24/7 poker network Poker Central. His poker accomplishments include 6 WSOP final tables, one WSOP bracelet and $1,521,204 in live MTT earnings. Poker Central is the world’s only 24/7 Poker TV network, and can currently be seen on most streaming devices such as the AppleTV, FireTV, Roku, and Xbox. They also run and the Super High Roller Bowl, a $300,000 buy-in tournament that starts Sunday, May 29th. The tournament will air live on the CBS sports network starting on May 29th and concluding on June 1st. To learn more visit: https://www.superhighroller.com

When we last spoke to Fedor “CrownUpGuy” Holz, in Episode 34, he was about to start play in an Alpha 8 final table as the chip leader. He went on to win it for $1,589,216. Two week later he took down the WPTN Philippines SHR for $3,463,500. Now, he’s back to talk about how those wins have changed his mindset as well a discuss his upcoming MTT master class. Click here to visit the show page for all resources and links

On Thursday, April 21st, 2016 Olivier Busquet and JC Alvarado touched gloves in the Octagon at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, NV.  The fight was the culmination of 6-months of intense training, and a $270k purse was up for grabs.  Over 100 spectators paid a $20 entry fee, which was all donated to the One Drop charity, and thousands more watched online. Most had a financial interest in the fight, with over $1,000,000 in side action was rumored to have been wagered.  The fight was set for four 5-mintue rounds, with a fifth to be added if it ended at 2-2.  The judges were not needed, as the fight was called after just 3 rounds. Olivier had bloodied up JC badly in the third, and it was agreed that it was no longer safe for him to continue.  Olivier opened as the underdog, but after a dominant performance had his hand raised as the winner.  In the week's episode Olivier joins us and shares his thoughts on the experience.  

Rob Tinnion is best known for winning the Sunday Million outright twice and has been one of the most consistent online MTT winners over the last few years with over $650,000 in total profit. He is also a manager and coach for the backing group Pocarr, and founder of the MTT training site Max-Value.com. Rob’s rise to the top of the MTT world is a great case study on how far hard work and a strong mindset can get you in poker. He began his career in the tough post-Black-Friday environment and didn’t have a huge score early to jump start his career. Instead, he grinded a low ABI and worked incredibly hard on his game. After a rough streak, he joined Pocarr as a backed player and used their library of resources to further improve his game. After winning the Sunday Million twice in 5 months and owning a large share of Pocarr, Rob continues to serve as a manager and coach.

Sean Kapul is a mid-high stakes PLO cash game pro who has been winning at the game since 2008. Sean decided to take a shot at going pro after hearing his older friends constantly complaining about their conventional jobs. A 2nd place finish, for $50,000, in a 1k Venetian 1k MTT during his last year of university gave him the buffer he needed to take the plunge. In our interview, Sean talks about how his poker career is just one piece of his plan to live his dream life. This is why he decided to move to Buenos Aires, and travel the world, even before US players were forced out of the country by Black Friday. He also coaches PLO cash games, with a focus on helping NL players make the transition to PLO.  If you’re interested in learning more about his coaching, you can visit his site: www.plomastery.com

You can often find Matt Berkey sitting in the biggest game in Ivey’s room, where six, and even seven, figure pots are regularly contested. His poker career started as just a way to fund his dream of making a Major League Baseball roster. After playing four years of college baseball, Matt set off on the road traveling between pro tryouts along the East Coast and in the Mid-West. In between tryouts he would find the local casino and play $5/$10 NL to support his travel. In 2006, he made the switch to a full-time poker pro, and he quickly climbed the ladder to the biggest cash games in the world. He credits his success to the many hours he’s spent studying game theory and opponent tendencies. Matt runs the exclusive Solve For Why Academy, a poker camp created to take players from good to great. Each camp is restricted to 9 attendees who receive hands-on training from Matt and his team of coaches. To learn more about the camp and see if you qualify to attend visit: http://solveforwhyacademy.com

Adam Sherman is an online MTT pro turned Wall Street Trader. His first major score came in PokerStars’ Wednesday Quarter Million event in January '10 for $58,200. He followed that up with a victory in the Stars $150k Guaranteed for $41.1k and also has a first place finish in the Nightly Hundred Grand for $22,700. One of his largest online tournament cashes came courtesy of a victory in the PokerStars SCOOP-22-H ($3,000+150 NLHE 4-max) for $210,000. Less than a week later, Adam placed 2nd in the SCOOP-31-H ($2,000+100 NLHE Cubed 1r+1a) for $173,000. Those scores came only one month after he took down the Sunday 500 for $89,500. In April 2012, Sherman chopped the PokerStars Super Tuesday and cashed for $69,000. In August 2013, Sherman was back at it, finishing second in the PokerStars Sunday Million following a four-way chop for $150,000. In May 2015 Adam won the PokerStars Sunday 500, taking home $76,000. In 2014 he made the move to New York to take a job in a Wall Street trading firm. In our interview, we discuss the similarities he’s found between his two professions, and what poker players should do if they want to stock trading.

Ryan, aka "YourDoom", is a successful NLH cash game pro, video producer and coach. Over his last one million mid-to-high stakes cash game hands, he has maintained an 11bb/100 winrate. Before poker Ryan obtained a Master's degree in Secondary Math Education, and worked as a math teacher. He has translated this teaching ability to YourDoomPoker.com, a poker training site for high level players. You’ll also learn: The tasty treat that could potentially boost mental performance Why so many pro poker players are unhappy How to overcome the mental road blocks holding you back from being your best The massive difference that good game selection can have on your winrate The 3 things YD does before he plays a poker session How to make your fold button a weapon

In part 1 of our interview with Olivier Busquet, we covered an incident that sparked his motivation to become the best HUSNG player in the world, how he started to learn deep poker theory and what he’s done to improve his tilt issues. In part 2 we dive into his strategies for dealing with downswings and discuss his upcoming high-stakes MMA prop bet vs. J.C. Alvarado. You’ll also learn: • How a properly timed nap can boost your study efforts. • How to recognize when you’re playing bad so you can quit and reset. • If you should drop down in stakes when on a downswing. • How Olivier found himself fighting another pro in an MMA match for six figures. • How Olivier is learning to develop the discipline that eludes most poker players. Links:  Olivier Busquet: Olivier Busquet (@olivierbusquet) Dr. Tricia Cardner: @DrTriciaCardner DrTriciaCardner.com Positive Poker Excelling at No-Limit Hold'em