The Mindset Advantage Poker Podcast

In this episode, Lara Eisenberg, radiologist and semi-professional poker player, reveals how competitive skydiving and pool have helped train her mind to remain calm and focused, thus giving her a competitive edge against the pros. Elliot and Lara discuss how she balances work, play, continued poker education, and a happy personal life. Listen in to hear a well-rounded semi-pro share what she does to keep her mindset steady, her body healthy, and her poker game strong. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.  Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Lara, a semi-professional player and radiologist 01:30 – She started with online PC gaming and taught herself by reading books on poker 02:36 – She uses the A-Game planner to organize her studying schedule and studies 5-10 hours a week 03:23 – As a working person, you must be creative when finding time to learn; you can listen to audio while driving or watch videos while doing chores 04:20 – On sitting at the table with professional players 04:36 – She doesn’t get intimidated and knows to put into action what she has practiced 05:15 – What bothers her making mistakes when she knows better 05:45 – Being a female player in the male-dominated sport of poker 05:50 – She’s always been drawn to fields that are male-dominated like medicine (although there are more women now), pool, skydiving, and poker 06:15 – There are advantages and disadvantages to being a woman in these fields, but she’s always been very competitive 06:48 – The more poker is appealing to a wider group of people, the better it is for all players; help make poker more appealing by being friendly and welcoming 07:38 – Lara doesn’t get phased by anger or rudeness at the table; she notices that the higher the skill level at the table, the lesser the players will make assumptions 09:00 – How she juggles work and play: She works from home and works every other week, so she can attend plenty of events 10:00 – In Maryland she’s lucky to have plenty of places to play nearby; she believes her location is better than Vegas because of the bigger games that happen more frequently 11:35 – Cash-stake games in Maryland 11:38 – The biggest she’s played is 510 but there are limit games that are bigger, people move near the MGM because of the tourist element 12:35 – The re-growth of live poker; Lara believes that the U.S. should have online poker and tax it 13:40 – How competitive skydiving has helped Lara cope with emotions 14:05 – She read the book, “Mental Training for Skydiving and Life,” which taught her meditation, visualization, calmness, and peak performance 14:44 – She has 4,500 jumps, so the danger element has gone away 15:00 – Skydiving has helped her poker game because she can better look for an edge, focus, and remain calm 15:39 – Having a short attention span is a big challenge at the table today 16:15 – Lara fits studying, nutrition, exercise, and mental health exercises into her workweek and play week 18:55 – The winning mindset and being driven to succeed 19:22 – Certain people get obsessed with things and want to be the best; there’s a balance needed between that and other important things in life 20:24 – It’s ok to play within your means and recognize that you aren’t a professional player playing high-rollers if you have a full-time job 22:00 – Poker as recreational: You can have a job and be a winning player if you invest time and money in educational tools and coaching 22:30 – If you don’t have as much time to invest in playing, you should invest in educational things that save you time like the Mindset Advantage or Elevate Groups 23:18 – Alex Fitzgerald has been her coach for years and she appreciates the individualized feedback 3 Key Points You can still have an edge at the table as a semi-professional.   Get your studying in by whatever means necessary; even if that means listening while driving or watching videos while folding laundry.   Invest in educational tools and coaching to improve your game and keep up with the professionals.  Contact/Resources Book – “Mental Training for Skydiving and Life” Poker Mind Coach Academy - website Elevate Group – website Credits Podcast Production, Editing, Show Notes & Transcript by Podcastily

In this episode Steffan Sontheimer, aka Goose, talks about the life of a high-roller, the ups and downs of his career, and how he maintains a healthy mind and body. Over the course of his career, he’s seen how unchecked emotions can ruin plays and open the door for rookie mistakes. Elliot and Steffen discuss why taking a break from poker during a downswing is a good thing – and can be better than trying to play through it. Listen in to hear a Poker Master’s champion share why physical fitness is key to long-term success, and why he believes it necessary to enjoy other things besides poker.  Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.  Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Steffen and his accomplishments 01:20 – Steffen’s view of the poker scene and how he feels about it 01:35 – 2017 was hot online and in-person, but 2018 has been the opposite 02:20 – How he keeps a good mindset during the ups and downs of his career 02:30 – All pros get emotional, but he tries to remain analytical so his game doesn’t change depending on how he feels 03:35 – The impact emotions make in the high-rollers scene 03:50 – It happens everywhere; as soon as emotions come into play, the wrong plays are made 04:30 – He knows what he needs to do in each hand, but emotions might cause him to play on the higher-variance side 05:30 – Steffen’s relationship with Phil Hellmuth 05:45 – He likes Phil and knows how to play him; Steffen had exploits ready before Phil even knew his name 07:00 – Phil plays the televised events, not the big high-roller events Steffen plays 07:50 – The mindset of world-travelling high-rolling players 08:00 – They give 100% to each game and seem like they’re born to do it 08:35 – It’s a great but draining and stressful lifestyle 08:50 – Steffen’s techniques to prevent stress and draining 09:00 – He takes breaks and spends time with non-poker friends to stay grounded 09:45 – After taking a break, he feels the thrill of playing again 10:00 – What it was like winning Poker Master’s last year 10:10 – It was seven-handed no-limit Hold ‘Em with the same opponents; he was used to the style of the game 11:00 – He was confident, played well, stayed analytical, and felt it was his time to win 12:45 – Online poker as a training tool for different types of tournaments 13:30 – He strengthens his weaknesses and maintains his strengths with online poker 14:00 – He doesn’t have a master plan or schedule; he likes to divide and conquer by splitting up his training into manageable parts 15:00 – Physical fitness and success 15:15 – Steffen believes physical fitness is key to long-term success because players should have other enjoyable activities in their life besides poker 15:30 – His worst played week was the week after his knee surgery when he couldn’t exercise 16:00 – A poker downswing isn’t enjoyable, so physical activity and/or sports gives the feeling of accomplishment and success during that time 17:00 – Advice for players experiencing a downswing 17:15 – He likes to whine and complain to let it out, and he thinks a break from poker during a downswing is a good thing 17:40 – Always play because you love the game and want to improve 17:50 – When he experienced a downswing, he went to a beach volleyball camp and took a break to forget poker for a while 18:45 – What’s to come for Steffen 19:00 – He doesn’t enjoy poker as much as he used to, and doesn’t want to travel as much, so he’d like to find something new that brings him as much joy as poker did 19:20 – Twitching is just part of the job for him 3 Key Points Remain analytical so your emotions don’t affect your game. Physical fitness is key to long-term success. Take a break to reset your mindset during a downswing.  Contact/Resources Steffen’s Instagram and Twitter No Limit Gaming Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, expert accountant Ray Kondler gives us a crash course on poker taxes so that amateur and professional players can understand their tax responsibilities and liabilities. Ray explains the pros and cons of filing as an amateur or professional, and stresses the importance of filing - no matter what. Listen in to hear a tax educator give tips and strategies on how to properly record, file, and deal with the IRS - whether you’re an international player or not - so you can maximize your earnings and keep your head in the game.  Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing poker taxes and guest Ray Kondler 01:18 - Ray will give a crash course on poker, taxes and how they impact players 01:37 - Taxes are a common issue, especially for international players playing in America 01:44 - Kondler and Associates are national experts on taxation of poker players and serve both national and international players 02:00 - Services for American players 02:12 - Determining if to file as a pro or as an amateur, providing tax-saving strategies through investments, foundations, LLCs, etc. 02:26 - Services for International players 02:30 - Some countries take 30% out of the winnings, and his company works to get their clients as much of that back as possible 03:15 - Discovering the niche of serving poker players 03:22 - It started by educating people; most accountants and CPAs don’t understand the gambling industry and it’s intricacies 04:00 - If gambling is a person’s profession, they must file differently 04:20 - The advantages and disadvantages of different filing routes 04:30 - If you file as an amateur gambler (not poker-specific), you can only take your gambling losses against it, but it can be all gambling losses 05:30 - If you file as a professional, losses and buy-ins can count against income 05:45 - Professionals can file a schedule C as a business and write-off other related expenses like travel, cell phone, office, meals, etc. 06:25 - Professionals can even take pension plans 06:34 - A disadvantage to filing as a pro is that if there’s substantial income, they’ll pay regular and social security tax, since they are a business 07:10 - If a person doesn’t travel a lot, they wouldn’t file as a pro because they wouldn’t have the write-offs to make up for the social security tax 08:14 - Many accounts just show gambling and don’t consider all the other expenses; Ray’s having an issue with the IRS 08:30 - The IRS labels professional poker players a business 08:45 - If you win big one year and lose big the next, you can’t write it off in a subsequent year against a prior year income; Ray believes this is unfair 09:15 - The poker industry is an up and down game, and the taxation system should consider that 09:30 - He’s trying to take this issue to the next level because if the profession is considered a business on paper, it should be treated as such 10:10 - Deductions, making sure you file, and the use of Bitcoin 10:25 - If high-winning players don’t file, they can have an issue with the IRS 10:50 - Players are using and playing with Bitcoin and they found out some information had to be given to the IRS 11:15 - Ray gets 10-20 people at the booth each year who haven’t filed in years so he works to educate them on the process 12:00 - Tax tip for players: If you win, pay quarterly, and keep record of your earnings 12:30 - Bitcoin 12:50 - Some websites show Bitcoin records, but even the IRS is having trouble classifying what is taxable 13:41 - The IRS has classified Bitcoin as a stock, so the taxation rates are based on the length of time you’ve held it 14:00 - Keep record of your purchases and coin so your accountant has numbers to work with 14:40 - Always file something; the IRS will work with you if you’ve filed 15:55 - He’s working with foreign players to get their refunds from the past three years, but they usually don’t have expense records 16:30 - They can recreate their expenses with bank statements and credit card bills; the chances of a refund review are unlikely for foreign players 17:30 - He can get his foreign clients a tax ID number so they can get their refund; it takes 2-4 weeks to get their ID number and 3-6 months for the refund 18:30 - A certified copy of their passport is necessary for the process to be started, but it can be challenging 20:30 - Ray plays in events and knows what it’s like for players in the industry 21:20 - Ray never charges for calls and advice, so any tax-related questions should be directed to him  3 Key Points The biggest difference between filing as an amateur and filing as a professional is that a professional files as a business. Always file because the worst thing to do is not report anything at all. Always keep records of your expenses and earnings, and pay quarterly if you win.  Contact/Resources Ray’s Website - Kondler & Associates Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, Matt Berkey, high stakes poker pro, coach, writer, and blogger, breaks down the strategy, application, and constant evolution of the game. Elliot and Matt discuss the problems with playing hands based on theory alone, and analyze why adaptability is an important characteristic for gives players to gain an edge against their opponents. Listen in to hear Matt explain what his academy, Solve for Why, offers students and why there will always be a “wild card” in the world of poker. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.  Time Stamped Show Notes: 01:00 –Matt’s summer started with a massive loss but he ended up breaking even; what this does to the mind 01:30 – He views playing cash as his bread and butter; as running a business without the results impacting him daily 02:05 – He has hope every day and sees it as a legitimate return on his investments; it was frustrating to start but had plenty of opportunities to make it up 02:55 – The difference for locals in Vegas playing high stakes cash games in the summer 03:05 – It’s a huge impact for mid stakes; for high stakes, it’s a revolving door and caters to VIPs throughout the year and keeps Matt out 03:55 – In the summer, the games run more frequently so there’s a mix between VIPs and guys like Matt; the games are different with more tough spots, which he likes 04:34 – It’s nice to have fighters in the game; it can exceed the bottom line in a good way 05:00 – He barely has any downtime in the summer; the process is fun, but when you’re in it, you’re in it 05:40 – What these next few weeks before Florida look like for Matt 05:45 – Cash games and the academy are still going; he’s got 5 days of rest before travelling east, but he’s got content and teaching to do 06:26 – The story of Nick Manion; he offered to give Matt and his friend, Jordan Young, Matt’s partner and roommate, exposure and offered to wear their Solve for Why gear 07:00 – They obliged and they got their brand out there, but there was a misunderstanding in that they didn’t get a piece of the winnings 07:30 – Poker News ran a story about Nick’s play and win, and rolled that story with the fact that he’s friends with Jordan so was wearing Solve for Why gear 08:20 – What’s going on with the Solve for Why Academy; they had 18 players (at least half part-time) and about $400,000 of cash for the summer 08:45 – One of their students won the Golden Nugget in week one and they’ve got multiple events coming up 09:15 – They are launching a sub-site August 13 that will be live-focused and focused on implementing and not just building strategy 09:30 – The game evolves so quickly; it’s natural that their material would as well 10:10 – The online academy is for anyone passionate about poker; it’s tiered depending on level 10:50 – A big piece of content is “Poker Out Loud”; he’s happy about how it came out and how unique the teaching methods are 11:30 – They are doing a docu-series and a podcast as well 12:20 – The “Poker Out Loud” strategy, pressure, adaptation, and confidence 12:48 – It gets daunting for others, but Matt is used to breaking down his plays; tilt and emotions are normal and are used in the game in an exploitative way 14:30 – They are doing a lot of work on strategy and foundational knowledge in live game theory; they do the heavy lifting and come back with a base strategy and deviations 15:30 – When playing online, you don’t have all that extra information; live can be contrarian to what theory would dictate 16:10 – People don’t know how to process new information if they just focus on theory 17:15 – How Matt sees the company evolving 17:28 – The academy is the icing on the cake; the new products are follow-up/primer products 18:48 – Being online allows them to work with people all over the world; they can provide value and entertainment to their community 20:35 – There are some things he wouldn’t divulge because it’s a liability to apply those nuances and it’s difficult to teach 21:20 – He teaches what can be deployed and encourages self-learning and independent thinking 22:10 – No two strategies look the same; largely speaking, people will apply strategy differently 22:45 – Outliers within the community do things differently by challenging notions that he sees in the collective 23:30 – We’ll never reach a stage where plays are standardized because we are human and imperfect 24:04 – Application processes will always be different, so there will always be a “wild card” and “sore spots” in the strategy  3 Key Points No two strategies look the same because people will always apply strategy differently. The game evolves quickly so it’s natural that poker teaching materials would, too. You can learn strategy and implementation, but the way it is comprehended and executed will never be standardized. Contact/Resources Solve for Why Academy Website Subscription Website Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

In this episode, Zach Elwood, author, former professional poker player, and poker behavior consultant, reveals the most consistent tells that he’s studied over years of playing and analysis. Elliot and Zach discuss why the studying of tells will be more important in the 2018 World Series than in previous years. Listen in to hear one of the few experts on tells in the game share some invaluable tips and tricks that’ll give you an extra advantage at the table. Visit The Mindset Advantage Podcast or find us on iTunes to subscribe, visit previous episodes, and learn more about your host, Elliot Roe.  Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:50 – Introducing Zach Elwood, author of 3 books on poker tells, who has helped main event final table players prepare through studying and tips 01:20 – Zach has been working on the poker tells video series and has been trying to watch the World Series 01:30 – When he watches the World Series he’s always looking for tells; the earlier in the main, the easier it is to see behaviors 02:20 – The differences between Zach’s 3 books 02:30 – His first book in 2012, “Reading Poker Tells,” goes into things that hadn’t been talked about in terms of physical, verbal and the thinking behind poker tells 02:53 – “Verbal Poker Tells” of 2014 was longer and more in-depth; he’s most proud of this one 03:11 – “Exploiting Poker Tells” came out last year and explored more physical tells, concrete analysis, and fundamental strategy 04:10 – There isn’t a lot of good content about poker strategy; Zach had to do a lot of research and analysis to write his books 04:50 – He created a spreadsheet to create codes and organize patterns he saw on TV and while playing 06:05 – Some poker tell hints and tips 06:15 – Example: The famous hand between Esfandiari and Negreanu when Negreanu raises it on the flop and goes all in, and says “Thank God you didn’t snap call” 06:30 – The expressing of relief after someone doesn’t call immediately will almost always be a pretty honest reaction and can help you narrow down someone’s hand 07:15 – “We can” statements and how he categorized hand statements; bluffers usually don’t want to weaken the perceived range of their hand 08:00 – Indirect weak-hand statements, the consistency of the weak-hand patterns, and understanding underlying intentions 09:33 – A deeper explanation of the book “Exploiting Poker Tells” 09:38 – He revisited ideas that were firmer in his mind after having wrote about them 5 years’ prior 10:00 – It goes into how to determine behaviors as meaningful or not meaningful 10:45 – The things he’s done from outside: the video series and he worked with 2 main event final table WSOP players, Amir Levahot and Max Steinberg 11:25 – They watched old video footage of their opponents and video footage during the WSOP 11:30 – A potential game-changing tell 11:35 – The 2011 main event, Pius Heinz was the champion that year, and he was playing Martin Staszko 11:43 – Heinz had a pronounced tell where he looked down during a hand and at the flop; turns out he had pocket aces 12:30 – Zach made a video analyzing his tells and explains how to use those tells to your advantage 13:30 – It will be more interesting this year from a behavioral perspective because the players won’t have a break before playing 14:00 – There will be more in-the-moment tells 14:22 – Amateur or recreational players are going to be exhausted this year while the professionals will be battle-tested 15:13 – How Zach has used what he’s learned through poker in other areas of life 15:20 – He doesn’t pretend to have special knowledge and doesn’t believe in a correlation 15:32 – He did work identifying fake accounts on Facebook and his work was featured in the Washington Post and New York Times 16:06 – He was excited and his parents were proud, especially because he started out studying print journalism 16:40 – He was pissed about certain things happening in the world and was happy to create awareness about something others didn’t know about 17:20 – He had the same sentiment about poker tells 17:35 – The issue with fake Facebook accounts 17:40 – He’s been friended by fake accounts who were accepted by others in his network 18:20 – A lot of it is financial because the fake accounts drive people to websites who pay for the traffic 19:11 – In some cases the fake account’s purpose is unclear; Zach doesn’t think it’s purely financial 20:15 – Facebook doesn’t seem to care 20:40 – Zach’s recommendations and tips for poker players 21:00 – Strategy is more important than tells, but if you’ve got strategy down and want to learn about tells, watch Zach’s free videos on YouTube 21:27 – Read Zach’s articles on Poker News and his first book “Reading Poker Tells” 3 Key Points Bluffers usually don’t want to weaken the perceived range of their hand. Strategy is more important than tells. Identifying tells is useful, but you must know how to interpret them and read a player’s intentions.  Contact/Resources Website – Reading Poker Tells Zach’s books – “Reading Poker Tells” “Verbal Poker Tells” & “Exploiting Poker Tells” Zach’s YouTube video analyzing Pius Heinz Zach’s YouTube channel Zach's Reading Poker Tells Video Series Credits Podcast Production by Podcastily

Gonzaga "Zagazaur" Oliveira is a high-stakes online MTT professional. He is one of the co-founders and coach of the Portuguese MTT staking company "Polarize Poker." He has 2 SCOOP titles as well as multiple titles in other series, including Winamax Series, Powerfest, and EPT side events. Elliot and Gonzaga discuss why your poker network has such a significant impact on your success, why joining a backing group is the fastest way to move up through the ranks, and how Gonzaga and his partners engineered a positive and supportive community in their stable. In This Episode You'll Learn: [4:00] How to stay cool under pressure on final tables while your opponents are freaking out over the amount of money you’re playing for. [8:05] How playing high-stakes games before you’re ready hurts your results across all buy-ins. [9:25] Why it’s essential to surround yourself with other poker players who you like and are on the same upward journey as you. [12:30] How (and why) the Polarize Poker Team built a positive and supportive community. [16:35] Why an MTT with a small first prize can be more profitable than one with a huge one. [20:15] What you need to figure out before you decide to go pro that allows you to push through the hard times. [22:15] Why those who are using poker as a vehicle to become the best version of themselves have an advantage over those just in it for the money. Resources: Polarize Poker Polarize Poker on Twitter Polarize Poker on YouTube Polarize Poker on Instagram Keep Up With Elliot: Check Out Elliot's Other Podcast: The A-Game Advantage Elliot's Twitter Elliot's Instagram

After PokerStars removed SuperNova Elite, Bertie Bayley (who achieved SNE 3 times while being a pre-rakeback winner) took the “Renaissance Man” approach to poker by spreading out his play over many formats rather than specializing in just one. You can find Bertie online playing under the handle “bigstealer” where he bounces between Spin & Gos, cash games, and tournaments. Most recently Bertie chopped a $1k Party Poker Powerfest event for $80,000. In This Episode You'll Learn: [1:25] How the necessity of paying off high-interest rate student loans led Bertie to poker. [4:05] Why Bertie actually loves his life more since PokerStars removed SuperNova Elite. [4:45] How to balance the freedom poker allows and the work you must put in to stay ahead of the field. [7:30] Why it’s so important to make the distinction between game selection and “bum hunting.” [9:55] Whey Bertie chooses to chase EV over glory. [12:00] The physical and emotional toll that playing outside your bankroll can cause. [13:05] The difference between rational and irrational anxiety [15:30] The “Mindset Of Make-Up” and how to approach this delicate situation both as a player and a backer. [18:10] Why being curious instead of dismissive can be the difference between growing as a player and letting the game pass you by. [18:45] The danger of mocking players that you think are making poor plays. [20:45] The “MTT Raffle” mindset shift to help you deal with the variance of tournament poker. [26:40] Why you need to be careful of the free technical content you consume and why joining a good backing group is a great way to jump-start your game. [28:30] Clues that can help you decide if someone is a good poker coach or not. Resources: Bertie's Twitter Bertie's Instagram Keep Up With Elliot: Check Out Elliot's Other Podcast: The A-Game Advantage Elliot's Twitter Elliot's Instagram

In This Week's Episode: Elliot Roe promotes his online mindset training academy, Poker Mind Coach. His academy offers help to those looking to improve their poker game without paying to become a personal client of Elliot. The membership benefits of Poker Mind Coach are of unbeatable value and include access to Q&A sessions from the world’s top poker players. Elliot’s Poker Mind Academy seeks to help the average poker player develop the mindset and skills to become an excellent poker player. In This Episode You'll Learn:  00:55 - Introduction of Poker Mind Coach Academy 01:19 - Why Elliot set up his academy 02:25 - Having access to Q&A sessions with the world’s top poker players 03:34 - Poker Mind Coach Academy is for giving everyone their shot at poker 04:58 - Controlling your mindset can help you feel more motivated to enjoy poker 06:15 - Poker Mind Coach Academy is no-contract 07:07 - Sign-ups are open until Saturday and the academy is only open a few times in a year Keep Up with Elliot: Poker Mind Coach Academy Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne’s Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook ***If you've enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***

In This Week's Episode: For over a decade, Gabriel Kollander has been playing online poker professionally. He initially started out his poker career mastering SNG’s and then moved on to short stacked no limit cash games and crushed the highest stakes there for years. He has now made the transition to playing $500-$1000 Spin & Go’s full time to focus his energy towards providing the maximum value possible to members of his Spin & Go staking group, Evolve Staking. Currently living in Ubud, Bali, Gabriel leads a rich life outside of his poker career. He enjoys eating delicious and healthy vegetarian food, going to ecstatic dance, meditation, exploring human connection, working out, self-introspection, yoga, inspiring others, and living in his highest joy as consistently as possible. In this episode, Gabriel talks about caring for his mind, body, and self in relation to handling the stress of poker, and his experience winning $100,000 from a single $500 Spin & Go game. In addition, Gabriel speaks about how taking care of himself first has helped him improve his overall performance and his health. In This Episode You'll Learn:  01:40 - When Gabriel began playing spins 03:27 - How Gabriel balanced his life with playing poker 04:29 - How Gabriel felt not letting poker controlling his life 06:04 - Mental game coaching and life balancing in poker players 08:09 - Community aspect of poker stables 09:42 - Hitting a 100k Spin & Go game 11:52 - Mental game, mindset, and confidence in playing poker 14:55 - Appreciating what you do have 17:54 - Getting the maximum value for the work you’re putting in 19:40 - Time zones and living costs matter in poker   21:38 - Living in Bali as a poker player 24:07 - The effect of diet on focus and poker play 27:19 - Intermittent fasting and efficiency for Gabriel 28:58 - Gabriel’s stable, Evolve Staking Keep Up with Gabriel: Facebook Instagram TiltBook YouTube Winning 100k Spin & Go Evolve Staking Poker Mind Coach Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne’s Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook ***If you've enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***

In This Week's Episode: Raghav Bansal made history in 2015 by becoming the first Indian to final table an event at the WSOP. Then, in March 2017, at the PokerStars Championship, he placed 2nd at the high roller for about $337k - the biggest cash prize by an Indian in the past 10 years. He has been at the top of the GPI Rankings for players based in India for the past 2 years, with multiple good scores around the world, mostly in Macau High Rollers. A well-respected member of the Indian Poker community, Raghav has truly shown Indian poker players that they can play the best players in the world and win. Raghav is the captain for the Pune Sharks in the Poker Sports League, a league which aims to “sportify” Poker in India. Raghav’s unbridled success has paved the way for other Indians to do well in tournaments around the world.  In this episode, Raghav talks about the booming Indian poker market and his experience as a professional. He explains the difference between mindset and technical skill in poker, as well as the importance of self-reflection for personal growth. Both online and in person, Raghav Bansal continues to succeed as a result of his powerful mindset. In This Episode You'll Learn:  02:52 - India’s poker boom and what stimulated it 03:45 - How Raghav was introduced to poker 04:39 - Raghav on building his poker career throughout the years 07:54 - The biggest moment in Raghav’s poker career so far 09:30 - How it feels playing at bigger poker tournaments 10:25 - The popularization of poker sports league in India 13:54 - The acceptance of family for an Indian poker player 17:47 - Astronomical poker winnings in India and its effects 22:05 - Mindset and its advantages in poker 23:58 - Facing the truth and self-reflection for self-improvement 25:57 - Raghav’s advice for poker beginners in India Keep Up with Raghav: Facebook Twitter  Indian Poker Players Association (IPPA) Facebook Group Adrienne "Talonchick" Rowsome: Watch and Subscribe to Adrienne’s Twitch Channel Instagram Twitter Facebook ***If you've enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***