Ante Up Poker Magazine

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we kick things off on Table Talk by recapping another fun Patreon game. Patrick finally broke through for his first victory, collected the double prize pool, and now we all have to suffer through at least a month of victory laps. We also discuss some of the dealer mistakes that have made headlines early at the WSOP, the challenges dealers face during long series, Maria Ho’s exciting family news, and even the earthquake that rattled Las Vegas and surrounding areas. On Call the Floor, Elliott answers a question that has probably confused more than a few poker players over the years. In a $1/$2 game with a $5 straddle, is the minimum raise to $8 or $10?. In this week’s Hand of the Week, we find ourselves in a spot that may have been created after opening a marginal suited connector from middle position. After firing two barrels and arriving at a river that completes an obvious straight, the question becomes whether to pull the trigger on a triple-barrel bluff or wave the white flag. Patrick and Joe discuss whether the story was strong enough to get our opponent to fold. Joe’s One Outer ties everything together with a look at table image. Whether you realize it or not, every player at the table has formed an opinion about you. The key isn’t whether you have an image, it’s whether you understand it well enough to use it as a weapon. Join Joe, Elle, Patrick, and Elliott for another fun week of poker stories, strategy, rules, and conversation. As always, we’ll see you at the tables. Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more. Click here to purchase your Pour Caddy (The Swiss Army Knife of Tumblers) – Use code ANTEUP comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet. Discord: Join us to discuss Ante Up Magazine, The podcast or poker in General. Click here to check out Octopi Poker

This episode of the Ante Up Poker Podcast is packed with debates, drama, and tough decisions from the poker table to real life. Elle and I kick things off in Table Talk with the controversy surrounding the new WSOP patch approval rules and what it means for sponsorships, branding, and player freedom in poker. We also dive into Formula One locking in Las Vegas through 2037 and how Vegas continues evolving from gambling destination into a full-blown sports and entertainment powerhouse. Plus, there’s a quick update on the upcoming Ante Up Poker Tour stop at Sycuan Casino. In Call the Floor, Elliott Schecter joins me to break down a tense tournament situation involving stack visibility, player responsibility, and whether verbally stating your chip count is enough when another player asks to see your stack. This week’s Hand of the Week features a chaotic 2/5 game against a possible maniac who turns every hand into madness. We face a brutal river decision with top two pair after a bizarre line, a massive overbet, and some unforgettable table talk. Patrick’s reaction alone is worth the price of admission. And in Joe’s One Outer, I reflect on one of the biggest lessons poker teaches us. Making decisions without perfect information. From overthinking life choices to trusting your preparation and accepting variance, it’s a reminder that sometimes you just have to make the best decision you can and let the cards fall where they may. Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more. Click here to purchase your Pour Caddy (The Swiss Army Knife of Tumblers) – Use code ANTEUP comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet. Discord: Join us to discuss Ante Up Magazine, The podcast or poker in General. Click here to check out Octopi Poker

Elle and I kick things off with our upcoming poker travels, including our first trip out to Gila River in Arizona for the next Ante Up Poker Tour stop. We’re looking forward to the desert scenery, great action, and connecting with the A-Team in a brand-new spot for us. Then we shift from cactus to glaciers as we dive into the details of our upcoming Alaskan Poker Cruise — because nothing says “standard poker trip” like playing cards with mountains and whales in the background. The 2026 WSOP Summer Schedule has officially dropped, and we break down some of the changes, what caught our attention, and what it could mean for everyday players trying to take their shot in Vegas. We also recap last night’s Patreon game — where the leaderboard continues to tell stories, newcomers are making noise, and yes… there may have been some friendly trash talk involved. In this week’s Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a controversial dirty stack situation — intention vs. action, chip visibility, and whether the bet should stand. Then Patrick and I jump into HOTW, featuring a couple of tricky AK spots. Big slick… big decisions. And to close things out, I share this week’s Joe’s One Outer, diving into that little voice inside your head — the one that can sabotage your stack.

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Table Talk comes fully loaded as Elle shows up with snacks and football jerseys. From there, we dive into the Patreon Game and kick around some Super Bowl prop bets and talk Octopi Poker. Here is the link to the video I was talking about. On Call the Floor, Elliott rules on a situation where a player’s hand is declared dead after stepping away from the table—always a tricky spot and one that sparks plenty of debate. Patrick and I then break down a wild bar league hand in this week’s Hand of the Week, playing J-4 suited in a game where “standard” poker strategy doesn’t always apply. I wrap things up with Joe’s One Outer, talking about why you shouldn’t be afraid to bust early in a tournament—and how sometimes playing the hand the right way matters more than how long you last. Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more. comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet. Click here to check out Octopi Poker

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I kick things off with a breakdown of the BB ante, a recap of last night’s Patreon game, and one of the best feel-good stories you’ll hear all year—an 88-year-old woman winning $10,000 in her very first poker tournament. Elliott steps in with a situation that goes beyond a standard Call the Floor ruling and dives into the bigger picture of how these spots should be handled. Patrick and I then break down this week’s Hand of the Week featuring pocket nines… but not before Patrick takes a moment to roast me about the Bills loss. As always, I wrap things up with Joe’s One Outer, taking a thoughtful look at the difference between the real poker grind and what social media makes it look like. Cards, conversations, and a little perspective. Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more. comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet. Click here to check out Octopi Poker

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I celebrate some recent achievements of women in poker, talk about the Circa Survivor winners, recap the Patreon Game, and discuss why the Sweepstakes Poker model may be in hot water. Elliott takes the reins in Call the Floor, ruling on a hand turned up way too early — and he is upset he didn’t called. Patrick joins me to break down a HOTW featuring pocket Jacks and a table full of limpers. I wrap it up with Joe’s One Outer, focusing on the power of position in poker. Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more. comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet. Click here to check out Octopi Poker

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of a full episode, we’re taking a well-timed step away from the table to recharge, reflect, and practice what we’re always preaching. On the show — especially in my One Outer — we talk a lot about the importance of balance, taking breaks, and enjoying life away from poker. This week, we’re finally taking our own advice. With the holidays here, we’re spending time with family, enjoying Christmas, and coming back refreshed and ready for what’s ahead. Sometimes the best move isn’t another hand or another session — it’s knowing when to sit one out. We’ll be back next week. Until then, enjoy the holidays, take care of yourselves, and we’ll see you back at the table. Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more. comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet. Click here to check out Octopi Poker