The Official Red Chip Poker Podcast

Is your understanding of position in poker costing you EV? In this season 7 finale of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, you'll learn why thinking in terms of position alone is no longer enough—and how the concept of formational awareness can bring serious clarity to your strategy. Coach W34z3l takes you deep into the subtle yet critical differences between various formations—like Button vs. Big Blind or Cutoff vs. Hijack—and how each one impacts everything from c-bet frequency to overbetting strategies to exploitative bluff-catching. You'll see how GTO solvers treat the same flop very differently based on the exact formation, and how many players make costly mistakes by ignoring these nuances. Whether you're playing single-raised pots or 3-bet pots, in position or out, this episode will help you move beyond generic poker strategy and toward more precise, formation-aware decision making. If you're serious about improving your game, this discussion offers a powerful new lens for thinking about positional dynamics. 🧠 Want to go deeper into advanced concepts like this? Pick up our new book The Exploitative Edge—available via: eBook at: https://redchippoker.com/the-exploitative-edge Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4nu1UHa

Online #poker has changed—and not always for the better. While you're battling regs and fish, there's a whole new opponent sitting quietly at the tables: poker bots. In this eye-opening episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, Coach W34z3l breaks down the current state of bots in online poker and gives you the tools to protect your winrate—and maybe even boost it—by identifying and exploiting these digital opponents. From profile bots to pool exploit bots, bot rings to RTA bots, and even house bots operated by the poker sites themselves, we explore what these bots are, how they work, and how you can beat them. You'll learn: · How to detect suspicious non-human play · What to do if you uncover a bot ring · When it's better to avoid, report, or exploit bots · How strategy "buckets" make bots vulnerable · Real-world examples of exploits that print money—fast If you've ever wondered whether your opponent is too consistent, too persistent, or too good to be human… this episode is for you.

If you've ever heard someone say "I'm raising a polarized range on the flop" and thought wait, that doesn't quite make sense — you're not alone. In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, Coach W34z3l introduces a new term you'll want to add to your poker vocabulary: pseudo polarization. While traditional polarized ranges make perfect sense on the river—where you're typically betting either your strongest value hands or your weakest bluffs—the same logic falls apart when you try to apply it to early street play. That's where pseudo polarization comes in. It describes the kind of range composition you see in flop and turn solver outputs: some strong draws, some mid-strength hands, and a mix of weak bluffs that don't quite fit the classic definition of polarization. This is a deeper, theory-focused episode that will challenge the way you think about bluff combos, equity distribution, and the limits of GTO shortcut terms like "polarized." You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of: Why solvers raise mid-strength hands that wouldn't be in a true polarized range The dangers of blindly following bluff/value combo ratios like 70/30 How to build flop-raising ranges that can't be exploited—even if they don't look "polarized" in the traditional sense Whether you're studying solver output or just trying to speak more precisely about your strategy, this episode will help you move beyond vague buzzwords and into real conceptual clarity. **LINKS** · GTO Gems 2: https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book · CORE Poker Course: https://redchippoker.com/launch-core **JOIN US ON DISCORD** Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

If you've ever struggled to know when to check-raise the flop—or felt unsure whether your current strategy is leaking EV—this episode is for you. We break down one of the most common and instructive spots in poker: big blind vs. button on a dry flop. Using solver-informed analysis, you'll walk away with a clear understanding of which types of hands check-raise profitably, where these hands fall on the equity spectrum, and how the modern approach differs from traditional polarized thinking. This isn't just a theory dump—it's a guided look at how to interpret solver output in a practical, actionable way. You'll explore how check-raises are distributed across strong value hands, semi-bluffs like gutshots and open-enders, and even some surprisingly middling pairs. Along the way, you'll learn why the classic idea of a polarized range doesn't fully apply and how mixing strategies help achieve balance in this spot. Whether you play live or online poker, this strategic cross-section will sharpen your intuition and help you develop a more nuanced postflop approach. **LINKS** · GTO Gems 2 (Book): https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book · Understanding Equity Distribution: https://www.splitsuit.com/gto-poker-equity-distribution · Poker Strategy vs. Tactics: https://youtu.be/2_Q3ZbwfKB4 **JOIN US ON DISCORD** Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

Poker is already a complex game—but many players try to make it easier by using simplified poker strategies. Whether it's range c-betting 1/3 pot, 3-bet-only from the small blind, or avoiding donk bets entirely, the goal is always the same: reduce decisions & reduce errors. But is simplifying your strategy actually helping your win rate? Or is it quietly costing you chips? In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, we explore the real trade-offs behind simplified poker strategies, their relationship to GTO solver output, and the critical distinction between playing GTO and playing exploitatively. This is a must-listen for serious players diving into solvers and anyone questioning whether "just keeping it simple" is the right approach. 🔍 You'll learn: What simplified poker strategies really are (and what they're not) How EV loss in solvers is often misunderstood Why simplified strategies may shift complexity to later streets The #1 mistake players make when comparing GTO models When simplification actually makes sense—especially from an exploitative lens. **LINKS** · GTO Gems 2 Poker Book: https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book · Crushing GTO Poker: https://youtu.be/j8cFt86B8To · EV Poker Formula: https://www.splitsuit.com/simple-poker-expected-value-formula **JOIN US ON DISCORD** Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

GTO poker isn't unbeatable — in fact, it's full of cracks. In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, we reveal exactly how to generate an edge against solver output, challenge GTO dogma, and outmaneuver "optimal" opponents. Whether you're battling bots or facing players trying to perfectly mimic solvers, this deep dive breaks down why GTO isn't the end-all strategy — and how to beat it. We explore: Solver weaknesses like finite sizings, rigid stack depths, and limited trees How unorthodox sizing, lines, and timing force exploitable mistakes Why out-of-band data like tells and timing are still king How to think laterally about GTO and poker strategy This episode also previews our brand-new PRO course "Myths of Poker" — uncovering common misconceptions even winning players still believe. **LINKS** · GTO Poker Gems 2: https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book · Join PRO Today: https://redchippoker.com/pro-membership · GTO vs Equity Distribution: https://www.splitsuit.com/gto-poker-equity-distribution **JOIN US ON DISCORD** Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

Have you ever called a big bet, lost the hand, and immediately thought, I knew I should've folded!? Or maybe you made a hero call, won, and convinced yourself it was pure genius? This poker mental trap—what we call the hindsight reflex—is one of the biggest leaks in poker. It skews your perception, making you judge decisions based on results rather than sound strategy. In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, we break down why this happens, how it warps your thought process, and most importantly, how to fix it. Coach w34z3l dives deep into a hand where Hero faces a tough 5-bet all-in decision with Ace-King and explores how players misinterpret the quality of their play based on what their opponent turns over. Are you making logical, EV-positive decisions, or are you falling into results-oriented thinking? What you'll learn in this episode: ✔️ Why results-oriented thinking leads to poor long-term play ✔️ How to separate strategic errors from mindset leaks ✔️ The key questions to ask yourself after every big decision ✔️ How to make better, more objective hand reviews If you want to level up your poker strategy and stop second-guessing yourself based on the last hand you played, this episode is a must-study. **LINKS** · PRO Membership: https://redchippoker.com/pro-membership · Poker Intuition Explained: https://redchippoker.com/poker-intuition-explained/ · Learning Poker In 2025: https://www.splitsuit.com/learning-poker-6-things-to-learn-first **JOIN US ON DISCORD** Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

The button is the most profitable position in poker, yet many players fail to fully capitalize on it. In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, we take a deep dive into button strategy, covering everything from preflop adjustments to postflop decision making. Understanding how to play effectively from the button can significantly improve your overall winrate. While button leaks can absolutely cripple any chance of success. This episode explores: What a strong button winrate looks like and how to identify leaks in your game Optimal raise first in (RFI) frequencies and when to expand your opening range Defending against 3-bets—when to call, fold, or 4-bet for maximum profitability Postflop adjustments in single-raised and 3-bet pots, including c-betting, barreling, and exploitative play Common mistakes players make on the button and how to correct them Whether you're an online player reviewing your database or a live cash game player looking to refine your approach, this episode provides practical insights to help you play more effectively from the button. **LINKS** · The GTO Ranges App: https://redchippoker.com/gto-ranges-app · The SB Playbook: https://youtu.be/ikvDv_LUm5o · The BB Playbook: https://youtu.be/bIQpgu8rg7s **JOIN US ON DISCORD** Join us on Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord