Aside from witnessing the whittling down of the tournament to an eventual winner, however, there are a handful of specific things that I’m looking forward to — and no, there’s no overlap whatsoever from the 5 things I was looking forward to at the first PSPC back in 2019.

1. My First PokerStars Live Event in Almost Four Years

I’ve been fortunate to have been present at a number of PokerStars live events. In fact, the first live poker event I ever attended was the 2016 PCA (what a way to start!). Since then, I’ve had the privilege of covering PokerStars live events in Barcelona and Sochi, as well as the aforementioned 2019 PSPC. They’re always fantastic affairs, giving me memories that last a lifetime, and providing special opportunities to cover poker festivals for the Cardplayer Lifestyle audience that would otherwise, plainly speaking, be out of reach.

With that said, because of various scheduling conflicts and a global pandemic, it’s been quite a long time since I’ve been able to attend a PokerStars live event and I’m thrilled to “finally be back,” as this event in particular is set to be spectacular.

Lives will be changed.

Friendships that last a lifetime will be forged.

400 Platinum Pass winners will attempt to follow in Ramon’s footsteps.
#PSPC pic.twitter.com/O5eAYNWyOM

— PokerStars LIVE (@PokerStarsLIVE) January 28, 2023

2. New Venue — The Fabulous Baha Mar Resort

Poker players have been flocking to the Bahamas every January since the mid-2000s, when the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) first debuted, and then subsequently became a staple of the yearly calendar. After 16 iterations from 2004-2019, the PCA — and now PSPC — has a new home, namely the Baha Mar Resort.

Just as it’s important to shake things up at the felt, it’s good for a marquee poker event to tweak things once in a while and PokerStars has clearly upgraded their longtime flagship with the move to the new location.

I’ve always maintained that it’s important for players to carve out some time for themselves away from the felt during a poker festival, and it would seem that with the menu of attractions and activities available at Baha Mar, it would be a genuine shame to be anchored exclusively in the tournament ballroom.

Over the last week, my social media streams have been packed with pictures from Baha Mar taken by poker players, and the venue looks absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to set foot on the property!

Views beyond your dreams.

Reserve your stay: https://t.co/qaUGjlUb8v pic.twitter.com/2aTK4Tll9D

— Baha Mar Resorts (@BahaMarResorts) January 22, 2023

3. Rooting on MY Platinum Pass Winner, Greg Raymer

Organizers are hoping that the 2023 PokerStars Players Championship will eclipse 2019’s PSPC total field of 1,039 runners, and over 400 Platinum Pass winners will surely comprise a sizeable portion of the player pool.

Of those players, there’s one in particular who I’ll be rooting for, and that’s Greg Raymer.

Because he’s the 2004 WSOP Main Event Champion and it would be super cool to see him win this event, too? Because he’s an all-around nice guy, and it’s always great to see nice guys win?

Well, yes and yes, but that’s not the primary reason I’ll be rooting for Greg. See, he won his Platinum Pass at the first live poker event I ever hosted, our inaugural Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival, back in October 2021.

It would be absolutely surreal for Greg to have a deep run knowing that we “helped play a role” in the fact that he’s even competing in the 2023 PSPC to begin with. Good luck, Greg!

Also, just giving a special shout out to Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Social Media Director, Chad McVean, who’s another Platinum Pass holder with a chance to win life-changing money. You’ve trained really hard and we’ll be rooting for you, too, buddy!

4. Having My Wife, Miriam, with Me

As mentioned, I’ve had the good fortune to have visited the Bahamas twice in the past, in 2016 and 2019. While I enjoyed every moment of both trips — work hard, play hard! — I couldn’t help but simultaneously wish that my wife, Miriam, was there with me. Perhaps if we lived closer or had no dependents, we’d have been able to make arrangements for that at the time. But we live in Israel and we have three kids.

Well, those kids are a lot older and more independent now (ages 15, 13, and 10), and I just-so-happen to have accrued a lot of airline mileage over the last couple years. I’m supremely grateful to be putting them to good use, and that Miriam is joining me for what will surely be the work-ation of a lifetime!

5. Playing in My First PokerStars Live Tournament

This will be the first time that I’ve been in the Bahamas that media members will be allowed to actually play in the PokerStars live tournaments. After looking at the schedule of events, there’s just one that stood out, and the timing couldn’t possibly be more perfect.

In my first newsletter of the year, I made it clear that 2023 HAS to be the year in which I somehow finally find the time to play in more live poker tournaments (I’m 41 years old and have played in 0-2 per year at most, for a total of about a dozen since turning 21).

The (Poker)Stars have aligned perfectly, and I simply cannot wait to play in the $550 H.O.R.S.E. event. To me, just getting the chance to play quite genuinely gives me just as much joy as having a Platinum Pass of my own, and I promise you that’s no exaggeration. However I end up faring, I’m grateful to have the chance to sit at the felt, and for whatever stories I’ll get the chance to tell.

Best known for his 2004 WSOP Main Event win, the “FossilMan” won his Platinum Pass at Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Inaugural Mixed Game Festival. He bested 123 other hopefuls in a $200 H.O.R.S.E. tournament in October 2021 and has been clinging to his Platinum Pass ever since. Even so, while Greg knows what it’s like to be in the winner’s circle, he’s nonetheless been the victim of a pretty awful tournament poker run over the last year. Will PSPC II be the turning point?

Let’s go back to when you won your Platinum Pass. What made you decide to hop into our H.O.R.S.E. tournament in the first place?

The day before I had planned to compete in the $1,500 Seven Stud event at the WSOP. As I was leaving my room, I looked on twitter, and saw that the computers were down at the Rio, and all events were indefinitely delayed. At that point I decided to just head down to your Mixed Game Festival and have some fun instead. It was only there that I learned about this tournament the next day.  With the massive value of the added Platinum Pass, it was just too good to pass up, and I bought my entry for the next day.

There was initially no runaway chipleader at our 8-handed final table, but as an onlooker it seemed like you pretty much managed to steamroll your way to victory. When play got down to 4-handed, it appeared to me that you were brimming with confidence and that you had no interest in doing any sort of deal. What do you remember about your tournament experience, and final table play in particular?

While I appreciate your use of the term “steamroll”, it sure didn’t feel like that to me.  I certainly wasn’t running over the other players, and stealing a lot of pots. Mostly, I was betting with a strong hand and getting paid off. Or, when I had a modest hand, I was calling the other player down, and picking off bluffs. Especially once heads-up, my opponent kept trying to bluff almost every time I had a marginal made hand. I am always happy to make a deal, but only if it is to my benefit.

Honestly, with the Platinum Pass that was worth more than the entire prize pool, it is rather hard to come up with a deal anyway. Even if my opponent had wanted to buy me out, what was the chance he had enough cash in his pocket to do so?

You took home nearly $5,000 for your win as well as the first Platinum Pass to have been awarded after a nearly 18-month pandemic hiatus. Can you describe how that felt at the time?

Any time you win a tournament, no matter how large or small, it feels amazing. It is the reason we all play tournament poker, that rare moment of victory, and how great it feels.

Nobody realized at the time that it would still be more than a year until you’d finally get to cash in that Platinum Pass to take your seat at PSPC II. In the interim, unfortunately you’ve run pretty poorly in poker tournaments. In 2022, you recorded a shade under $20,000 in tournament winnings, which unfortunately represents your lowest total since 2003, just before you won the WSOP Main Event. To what do you attribute this downturn?

I attribute it to variance. Of course, I made mistakes in my play, and could have performed better. I know I’m not even close to perfect, and still put in the time studying, trying to improve and get closer to that impossible goal of perfect play. However, I would guess that I realized something like 70% or less of my theoretical equity in all-in pots this year. It also seems like every time I raised all-in with AK, I ran into AA an amazingly high number of times.

Tournament poker can be agonizing. It’s easy to make a lot of mistakes. And easy to run bad for a long time, even if you avoid mistakes. I definitely make mistakes. But if you want to do this for a living, you have to withstand the variance, and play your best regardless.

— Greg Raymer (@FossilMan) December 19, 2022

Well, just, … FML. For the bazillionth time this year I shove with AK and run into AA. That officially ends my Vegas trip, and not at all how I wanted. I sure hope this means I’ve been saving my run good for the @PokerStars #PSPC

— Greg Raymer (@FossilMan) December 19, 2022

To what degree has your Platinum Pass – and the potential for your momentum could turn right back around at PSPC II – helped you stay resilient in the face of this downswing?

It is nice to have that Platinum Pass in my back pocket, so to speak.  However, I don’t think it has changed how I feel. I’ve been playing poker seriously for 30 years now, and as a full-time pro for 18 years. I’ve had plenty of bad runs, and many good runs as well. I am used to this sort of variance. Though it still sucks when you’re in one of the down periods.

Been running bad in tournaments all year, but mostly running good in the cash games. Playing 7 stud hi-lo regular at @PokerRoomRWLV in the mixed game. Just hit an 8-high straight flush on the river to scoop a huge multiway pot. Wish I had run 10% this good in the #MainEvent, lol

— Greg Raymer (@FossilMan) July 8, 2022

On the plus side, at least according to what you shared in July, you’ve been running well in cash games. Had that continued In the latter half of 2022? What percentage of your poker playing time is cash games vs. tournaments?

How much time I spend playing cash varies quite a bit.  I love cash games, but am not a big fan of no-limit hold’em as a cash game. It is a great tournament game, just not that appealing to me for cash. I prefer mix games for cash, and those are hard to find. I play in some home games when not on the road, and those are all PLO.  I still prefer mix games, but PLO at least is better than NLH for cash. My run-good in cash games continues, though not as strongly as it had in the first half of the year.

You published Fossilman’s Winning Tournament Strategies back in 2019 and you’ve been a longtime contributing strategy writer for Card Player Magazine. Obviously, continuing to produce poker training content of this nature helps you stay sharp. In what way(s) do you feel you’ve gained the most from this as a player?

Teaching others always helps to improve your own knowledge and understanding, regardless of the subject matter.  Even if you were teaching me a purely factual topic, doing so would help you understand it better. When teaching a game like poker, students also notice things that you miss. Sometimes their questions give you insight into how other people think about the game. Even if what they are doing is a mistake you are going to help them fix, it can also be something you now understand, and can see in some of your opponents. The better you know and understand how your opponent is thinking, the more perfectly you can exploit that mistake, and win more of their chips.

I’ve received a lot of positive feedback on this series, and I want to thank all of you who went out of your way to do so. It is appreciated. https://t.co/XZeJ9Exp2u

— Greg Raymer (@FossilMan) July 12, 2022

Besides playing and keeping your game sharp overall, have you engaged in any other specific preparation for the PSPC II?

I think the important thing when preparing for a big event like this is to just show up well rested, and ready to go. I will fly in the day before, arrive in the afternoon, and just relax all that day. I won’t find a one-day event, or even a cash game.  I’ll just chill, and make sure I get a good night’s sleep. That will enable me to play my best on day 1, and hopefully carry me through to a deep finish.

Over 1,000 players competed at the original PSPC in 2019. A similarly large field is expected for the $25,000 buy-in PSPC II. Considering the unique, eclectic nature of the field (i.e., Platinum Pass-winning recreational players, high rollers, well-to-do businesspeople, and shot-takers), to what degree do you see yourself having a shot at a big score? What would cashing (min $30,000) – or, in a dream scenario, a deep run – mean to you?

Winning a tournament is the ultimate feeling. Winning a major event like the PSPC II would feel even better.  I focus on equity while I play. I don’t play tight to reach the min-cash, nor do I play only to win, with no regard for ICM.  Yet, in the end, it is only by winning that we can achieve that ultimate feeling you get from tournament poker. If I get deep, I will avoid risk and ladder up when it is smart to do so. But if I manage to go all the way, it will probably feel just as good, and mean just as much, as winning the World Series of Poker Main Event felt back in 2004.

SPOILER ALERT!
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As the latest @PokerStars #PokerInTheEars Podcast with @J_Hartigan & @Stapes is now out, I still can’t believe that I have been awarded a #PlatinumPass for the next @PokerStars #PSPC!

Now I have to improve my poker game!#pokerlife #podlife #PITE pic.twitter.com/Y4mgThCLrl

— Chad McVean (@Veaner85) December 9, 2021

Beyond rooting for one of “our guys”, what’s inspired me about Chad is that he’s chosen to make the most of this opportunity to play at PSPC II by following a regimented schedule of study over the last five months. Since August 29, he’s detailed how he’s been preparing in earnest for the PSPC and in this article we’d like to explore that preparation in more detail.

Today is August 29th and on January 29th I will be in the Bahamas.

I now have only 5 months to get ready for the @PokerStars Player’s Championship.

Thanks again to @J_Hartigan & @Stapes of the @GPI #GPA Podcast winner #PokerInTheEars for my #PlatinumPass.
(1/4)#pokerlife #PSPC

— Chad McVean (@Veaner85) August 29, 2022

Plenty of serious recreational players are just thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and are content to “play the game that got them there”. Why did you feel the need to get in the lab and study in the first place?

I’ve always felt comfortable with my poker game in the games that I play, which are mainly low stakes games featuring a lot of recreational players. The fact that I would be put in a lineup of pros and high stakes crushers scares me and I know that my game is no where near their level. I needed to take steps to improve and at least make my game a little more sound. I would that say my play has always been as more of a feel player, taking what the table gives me and picking my spots without any real sound strategy behind it.

I’ve been successful in cash games as I always seemed to find games with worse players. I felt that I really needed to cram as much strategy and theory in my head and see what sticks. Whether that shows any results, well, we’ll find out soon enough.

A major component of your study has been reading poker books. Which have been some of your favorite poker books to learn from and why?

Ever since I first ventured into poker, I have found books to help my game along the way. For the longest time I stuck with physical book but eventually added audio and e-books too. Now, I do have a decent collection of books but by no means have I completed all of them.  Some I have read many times, others I read most and some I didn’t get too far. Aside from reading physical books, e-books have really been helpful as they are will you at all times on your phone.

The books that really stand out over the years were the Harrington on Hold’em Series (Not pictured as I loaned them out only to never see again), The Course by Ed Miller, Jonathan Little’s Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker series and Reading Poker Tells by Zachary Elwood.

The books that I read this year in preparation were Jonathan Little’s Essential Guide, Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hansen and parts of Michael Acevedo’s Modern Poker Theory and Andrew Brokos’ Play Optimal Poker.

I really enjoyed Alex Fitzgerald’s 100 Biggest Mistakes That Poker Players Make, reading it over a couple times. I also took looks at Andrew Brokos’ Play Optimal Poker 2 and Endgame Poker Strategy by Dara O’Kearney and Barry Carter.

I do have to say one e-book has really stood out for me and I am still going through it currently. GTO Poker Simplified by Dara O’Kearney and Barry Carter has been my favourite book this year and I truly feel I learn something every chapter. It’s one thing to see what solvers say but they explain the reasoning and make it easy to understand. Give that book a read!

Now, I may be known for listening to podcasts but I enjoy listening to poker audio books, too. Easily my favourite book is Alex Fitzgerald’s Exploitative Play in Live Poker. I can’t tell you how many times I have listened to it. At minimum, every flight to Vegas it gets a listen.

Some others I really enjoy are Elements of Poker from the guru himself, Tommy Angelo, Life’s A Gamble by Mike Sexton (voiced by the legend himself), The Mental Game of Poker by Jared Tendler and Barry Carter and Exploiting Poker Tells by Zachary Elwood.

What are some of the tips, strategies, and lessons you’ve picked up from those poker books that you feel have helped you fix leaks and improve your game the most?

There is a wide variety of tips, techniques and theories spread over all those books. To put it simply, I need to be more observant at the table, keep an eye on chip stacks, tighten up in early position and really loosen up my ranges in late position. Plus, stop just calling from the small blind. Again, pretty simple stuff.

Another big component of your preparation has been watching videos on some of the best poker training sites. Care to give a shout out to some of the ones – and any particular instructors/coaches – you’ve learned the most from?

I have quite a few products from Alex Fitzgerald. I find his teaching style to really resonate with me. Love the no fluff, all business approach and the constant questions to make sure you are picking up what he’s discussing.

The Reading Poker Tells Video Series from Zachary Elwood is just a phenomenal learning program that really dives into lessons that really help with your live game and he adds more to the program every year.

Those two are the main coaches who I’ve learned from over this year. I have also done some work on a few different programs: RangeTrainerPro, DTOPoker, PokerSnowie, GTO Ranges, GTO Wizard and others.

Same question then: what are some of the tips, strategies, and lessons you’ve picked up from those poker training sites?

The lessons I have learned again lead to better ranges and, specifically, upping my playing aggression in position. I probably call to trap more often than I should and I need to go for more value which will also help out my bluffs. Also, I need to be more disciplined in my play as I sometimes find myself in hands that I have no right being in and just spewing off chips. Really just sharpening up my play. I’m no GTO expert but I have a better grasp in it compared to six months ago.

I know that you’re mostly a (winning) cash game player. Why your preference for those instead of tournaments? Has your study helped you get into more of a tournament mindset?

Simply put: taxes. If I play a tournament and have a small profit, I lose 30% to withholding tax. But if I have a good run playing cash, it is all mine. Plus the benefit of sitting down to play when I want and leaving when I feel that I am done are great benefits of playing cash vs. tournaments. The fact that the Blinds never go up also help to be more patient and to pick your spots for big profits.

Studying has definitely helped adjust my playing mindset as I had to firm up ranges for short stack poker, which you don’t really experience playing cash. Also, upping aggression as you can’t just sit there while the blinds go up.

How about poker play? Has all your study time translated to better results online or at the live felt thus far? Or has finding time to play still been a challenge for you between your regular job and other personal and professional commitments?

Getting actual playing time in is the biggest struggle. There are no live tournaments available unless I want to drive 3+ hours. I do, however, play in a “bar league” which gets some hands in for me but not necessarily against the most experienced players. There are definitely some good players there but a lot of recreational players that I won’t see in the Bahamas. I don’t really play much online, with Ontario being ringfenced, the games available aren’t as plentiful as they used to be.

Aside from your poker study and practice, you’ve also committed to getting into better shape. I know you’ve got a Bowflex at home. What sort of fitness and diet regime have you adopted over the last few months? In what ways have you noticed any changes as a result?

I have had weight challenges my whole life and have have yo-yo’d my weight over the years. I have tried many “diets” which work until I stop them. So I basically have avoided dieting but try to be more mindful of what I eat. I track everything in MyFitnessPal app which keeps my daily calorie count in mind.

As far as exercise, I bought a used Bowflex early in the year but it sat unused until my Wife threatened to sell it. I then committed to finally getting to work. I found a great YouTube Channel that had Bowflex specific workouts and have averaged four workouts a week since.

Also, I take our dog for a 3 km walk almost every night, so I definitely get my steps in. I wouldn’t say I am in great shape yet but I have dropped 20 pounds and snug clothes are now loose. Overall I just feel stronger and I believe my morning workouts really help my mindset to start the day.

Beyond playing and hopefully succeeding at the felt, you’re obviously a huge poker fan, too. Any players in particular that you’re hoping to see in the Bahamas and maybe snag a selfie with?

There are a lot of players that I would live to meet for the first time, just hopefully not at my table. I look forward to meeting Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin in person as they have been really supportive of anything I do. Not a player but I look forward to meeting Willie Elliot who has had the job of wrangling up all the Platinum Pass holders and has done a phenomenal job. Other players I would love to meet are Jennifer Shahade, Benjamin “Spraggy” Spragg, Lex Veldhuis, Sam Grafton plus the poker G.O.A.T. Phil Hellmuth. Also, although I have met Joe Stapleton before I have never met James Hartigan and would love to thank them for the Pass in person. Plus, James has great taste in NFL teams. Go Niners!

READ MORE: 5 Years in Your Ears: A Chat with PokerStars Podcasters James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton

On August 29th, the day you started that “prep” thread, you also tweeted this out:

I want to be prepared but also okay with going out quick.

Trying to keep the mindset that this is a free vacation where I play a little poker, instead of a huge poker opportunity.

— Chad McVean (@Veaner85) August 29, 2022

It will have been a year between when I won the pass and the event, so I SHOULD have been properly prepared. Just really starting now.

But also, just want to have a good time and enjoy a once in a lifetime experience.

— Chad McVean (@Veaner85) August 29, 2022

After having put in over four months of genuine, dedicated prep time, do you still feel the same way? Or do you now see yourself having a legitimate shot at a big score? What would cashing – or, in a dream scenario, a deep run – mean to you?

I have kept the mindset that it is a free vacation and a once in a lifetime experience so enjoy every moment.

But, I am definitely more prepared and am looking forward to the challenge. The last two big field live tournaments I have run deep (17/794 & 377/4455) so I know I can have a long run.

Just cashing helps out financially a lot but I do plan on a better result than min-cashing. I am not going to say that I will win but I wouldn’t rule it out. The main goal is to just take in this experience, work hard and enjoy every moment.

Plus beach weather has to be better than winter in Canada, so if the cards run cold, I will be ready for the sun outside!

Karl is a proud family man who now works on offshore oil rigs after having had a distinguished 25-year career in the military. His professional career has taken him to numerous far-flung places around the world, and he’s no stranger to big poker stages either, having competed at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas as well as the Aussie Millions. Karl was kind enough to share his story with us, and I hope you enjoy learning about his love for poker and his treasured memories and experiences from over two decades serving his country in uniform. He’ll be one to watch at the tables in a couple weeks at Baha Mar in the Bahamas, and Cardplayer Lifestyle will be there to root him on in person.

When did you first get introduced to poker and what is it about the game that attracted you and that you love about it?

Pre poker, If I look right back to when I was only 8 or 9 years old, I used to play drafts with my Great Uncle every Saturday afternoon at my grandma’s house. He was a really nice bloke but would never easily let me win just because I was a kid; he beat me every time. Looking back now, I’m so glad he played properly, because it made me practice and become a better drafts player. The day finally came when I beat him fair and square, with the proud moment of him saying I played very well. Many years later, a short spell playing Bridge with work friends in the early 90s taught me that some games required a decent knowledge of basic procedure, with card counting absolutely essential.

Now on Poker specifically, the mid 1990s and ‘Late Night Poker’ with Jesse May as the main commenter, it was just brilliant viewing for me. That was the moment I thought this was a game I could get into. I loved the fact you know the percentage of winning a hand (on average) with an added bonus of watching your opponent’s face when they play. The general thrill with the big all-ins, the fear of your massive bluffs being called, the various conversations at the table; it was right up my street.

Before making the move to work on oil rigs, you used to be a military man. Kudos to you for your 25 years of service. Please share with us some about your career in uniform.

Thanks for your kind words Robbie; ask most UK military veterans and they’ll say we never ask to be in the limelight. Joining the UK Armed Forces was a decision made well before my 18th birthday. I was very close to both my grandfathers and they both served in very active roles during World War II.

When I joined up, and after gaining some experience, they confided in me a lot more than they did with others. When you join the military, it forms a bond with the men and women you work alongside. No other job can get close because it puts you in places and scenarios no civilian job can. Of course, for some, this can be a controversial role to play in life, but there was so much good to come out of what we did. Most people only see wars on TV and never see the humanitarian side.

As for me, I don’t really talk a great deal about the details, but it was a fantastic 25 years serving around the world. Every climate you could imagine, from -40C inside the Arctic circle to +52C in the Middle East, and every level of humidity in some far distant places as well. Sometimes the work was very demanding, but we all knew it was for good reason. Other times, say when training in other countries, we could enjoy ourselves a bit more if we had some time off. Overall though, the people you meet, the countries you see, the experiences you have, good or bad, it’s what gives you so many memories and definitely gives a knowledge of world life that not many others possess.

What are some of your most treasured memories of serving your country over the years?

Wow, where do I start with that one? There’s a few, with obvious differences between operational and non-operational. Weirdly, I miss the tough times more than the safer days. Anyone with a decent amount of money to spend can see the nicer things I’ve seen, but they will never be able to experience the tough days, the places and the friends I’ve made along the years.

As for those nice moments… Watching the turtles hatch and rush down the beach to the sea in Ascension Island. Looking firsthand at the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan. Watching an eagle swoop for a salmon in an Alaskan lake. Seeing the smiling face on someone you’ve just helped after they’ve lost everything in a natural disaster. Walking around the Mayan ruins in Belize. Being chased by an elephant seal in the South Atlantic. Jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aeroplane, more than once. Being able to see the Pearl Harbour area in Hawaii. Taking in all the views at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro! The common denominator though, working with some of the best people you can ever imagine.

To what degree, if at all, do you feel that your time in the military helps you as far as your skills and intuition at the poker felt?

I’ve met so many people, from every corner of the world, which means I have a pretty good data set of how most people think and act. I’m by no means an expert in any psychological field, I just have a good initial feeling when I listen to them for a few minutes. How will this transfer over to the table? It might help me in deciding how to play against them, but I’m not going to give away all my secrets!

What sort of poker do you usually play? Cash games or tournaments? Live or online (or both)? You’ve been playing for a good while now; in what specific ways do you think you’re a better poker player now that when you first started out?

I’m a tournament player and very rarely play cash. With my position in the UK, it’s hard for me to play a consistent number of live games, as the closest big card rooms are over 80 miles away, but I did play in London recently at the UKIPT and some other supporting games to get some live time under my belt. So, for now it’s mainly online where I’m putting the hours in. Obviously the PSPC Platinum Pass win several months ago was massive but some decent online cashes since have been a nice confidence booster.

After retiring from active military duty, the world was your oyster. What specifically made you decide to pursue the physically demanding work of being an engineer on oil rigs?

Towards the end of my military career, I suffered an eye injury, which meant I could not continue in the role I once held. I was offered a semi management role, looking after 50 or so guys, but it was all or nothing for me. So, I decided to put my notice in and looked for another adventure in life.

After 25 years in the military, you develop a pretty robust sense of humour. When looking for a job in civilian life, that was a prerequisite. I wanted to use my technical skills picked up over years. I also wanted to be surrounded by people who are professional when working but don’t take day-to-day life too seriously. ‘Work hard, play harder’ was an old mantra and I’ll always stick by that. The offshore life has all of those qualities and was probably the next best thing, although I will always miss my time in the military.

This isn’t your first “big poker event”; in the past you managed to qualify online to play at the WSOP in Las Vegas as well as at the Aussie Millions Down Under. What’s different/unique/special about having qualified to head to the Bahamas for the PSPC?

My old poker days back in the early 2000s seem like a lifetime away. I played so differently back then. Yes, I did do well in terms of getting to play in a WSOP Main Event, Aussie Millions and a decent cash in a final table of the Sunday Million. But I took a mega long sabbatical for work and family reasons, only starting up again a couple of months before the PSPC Platinum Pass win.

In the future, I may win more seats at EPT, WSOP or even PSPC via satellites but this is my biggest crack at a high roller live cash. I’ve definitely got the Bahamas in my sights now, I watched the PokerStars 2019 PSPC online, all 9 episodes… twice! A deep run is my target, and we’ll see where it goes from there. My feet are planted firmly on the ground though. Everyone knows your cards are only good after the river is dealt, so I’ll just try to get my chips in with the best of it and ride that lucky wave.

A caricature of Karl and his wife on a Las Vegas trip

Poker historically tends to be dominated by younger players in their 20s and 30s. Based on your working career and chosen field of expertise that stamina doesn’t seem to be much of an issue for you. So, by contrast, I’ll instead ask what advantage would you say being in your 50s potentially gives you against younger competition?

It’s only when I see my age written down or I have to tell someone that it reminds me, otherwise I never really think about it. I certainly don’t feel in my 50s! I’ve learnt so much over the years to know that, when it comes down to it, it’s a human against a human. I honestly don’t care if it’s a young buck trying to make a name for themselves or it’s Negreanu, Ivey or Hellmuth who sits beside me. Because they’re just poker players trying to get chips off others, like I’m doing.

Of course, the pros have a wealth of live experience but I’m still going to play premiums hands, average hands, vary my bets and bluff in some positions. I won’t be fazed by it; in fact, I’ll relish the chance to have a chat with any pro who has a good story, even if others find them intimidating. Maybe that’s where they get their edge from, knowing others think of them as a superhuman, but not me.

Karl racing a Honda 600cc at Oulton Park

You’ve been working all your life and have a wife and young daughter. Have you given any thought to what the money might mean to you – and how, if at all, your life would change – if you manage to cash in the PSPC or even make a deep run for a six-figure score?

Let’s face it, money is the main reason we all play, right? Being able to use a skill to make money is what makes the world go around. I will always put my family and main work first; anything else is a bonus. When we get to the PSPC, I’m sure for most Platinum Pass winners an enjoyable experience closely followed by cashing will be the priority. Then the deep run follows and the dream of a final table, heads-up and lifting that massive trophy.

We’ve all had a moment or two to envision ourselves sat at that final table, 6-7 figures guaranteed, everyone watching. Then we snap out of it and carry on washing the dishes. If a big win came in my direction, we’ve got a house to pay off, my family to be financially secure, an old friend to look after. Then, I can decide if this would be a career to continue or not. Who knows (where my rosemary grows)!

Karl’s wife and daughter enjoying a day out on the Wiltshire canal

Lastly, how – if at all – have you been preparing for the PSPC? Doing any study or working on anything specific? Have you begin playing poker a little more often than usual? Or are you just going to “play the game that got you here” in the first place?

Yes, there has been a notable increase in live and online play. My wife has a canny knack of reminding me, when I disappear into our study to play a few games! But she knows it’s for a good cause. Away from the grind, I’ve been concentrating more on the GTO side of things. I believe it’s really important to know because everyone has those charts and percentages etched into their brains. If for any reason I don’t stick to it 100%, I know they probably are and will adapt to that.

I’ve also bought into the BBZ seminars package and those detailed conversations been a massive help to me as it included all those pre-flop charts to get your head around. Plus, I started watching the cards face up in replays in the PokerStars ‘Events’ tab for games like the $5k Titans and other high roller final tables, where you know the players are not random ‘lucksters’ that have wondered in off the street. Finally, on your Cardplayer Lifestyle website’s recommendation, I bought an online copy of ‘GTO Poker Simplified’ to go over and see if I’ve ever misunderstood anything that I’ve looked at so far.

I don’t want to cram in too much just before PSPC though, I want to relax a bit as the date gets closer. Getting sat down at the table on Day 1 with a few winning hands under my belt will settle all those early but natural nerves and I’ll be ready for whatever is thrown my way… Viva Bahamas!

Our first story is that of 46-year-old Amir Epstein. The Canadian amateur, who is looking forward to some significantly warmer weather later this month, was kind enough to share with us a lot about his poker background, his family, his poker home game that’s been running for decades, and much more.

When did you first get introduced to poker and what is it about the game that attracted you and that you love about it?

I started playing poker with my best friends just after high school. We all sucked and used to play these dumb dealer’s choice games, which got insanely out of hand: Omaha with black deuces, snowmen (8s) and red hockey sticks (red 7s) as wild cards… total stupidity. But as time went on, we took poker more seriously and now we only play Texas Hold’em. We developed our game and followed tournament rules quite strictly.

Most of us have played at the WSOP. In fact, one of my good friends made it to the final table at two different WSOP tournaments! I think most people don’t know how arduous the game really is. It is often compared to chess, and I’d argue it’s more complex because it demands an element of chance that doesn’t exist in chess. That’s what I love so much about the game. Coincidentally, it’s also what I hate about it, too. When some donkey calls a three-bet and cracks your pocket aces with a 2-9 offsuit, it makes me feel like I am about to suffer a stroke. I’d rather stab my eyes out with a safety pin, lol.

You’ve been playing poker for decades with the same group of about a dozen friends. How did that group originally form?

We have a weekly game that started roughly 20 years ago that we still play to this day, every Sunday night. We regularly have about 10-12 guys who all have families and obligations but decided to make a conscious decision to carve out every Sunday night so we could all get together and play poker. We value our friendship. It’s how we are able to stay close and be in each other’s lives. We are a sarcastic, hilarious group, that often discuss how tragic it is that we don’t have our own TV show because people would piss themselves laughing.

PokerStars should consider producing a show about me crushing my idiot friends every week at “The Rumpus Room” (my friend Eric’s basement). For example, one of our friends made a critical error wearing a khaki-colored shirt with pockets one night to our poker game. He is now referred to as “poacher”, as we constantly badger him about his “African expeditions” and his blood thirsty passion for hunting innocent elephants for their tusks. It’s been 12 years and we still crush him with poacher jokes, all because he wore a khaki shirt. He should know better.

We tease, but we all love one another, so it’s all for fun. Our weekly game of poker allows our friendship to grow and allows us to sustain immense comedic relief and happiness that we share through the game of poker.

From left to right: Machtinger, Ryan, Jay, Amir, Wallace, Poacher, Bunny, Varj, Pam

That’s a LONG time to stay in touch with the same group of a dozen friends… how can you explain that you’re all still so close and playing poker together through marriage, having kids, and everything else life throws at people?

I know what we have is really special. It’s tough keeping friends from high school upon entering adulthood, especially since all of us got married and most of us had kids as well as careers… well not ALL of us have careers.

One of our buddies plagiarized an essay in university and got kicked out. He makes partitions now. Stay in school kids.

We chose to stay friends. We did it by have a devoted weekly gathering. It’s the only way we were able to do it. Otherwise schedules wouldn’t allow us to get together, as we are busy guys.

At the end of the day, it’s poker that kept us all together. That and our WhatsApp group, where we make fun of each other all day long. No, seriously, we have a problem. Hundreds of messages every day spent shitting on each other, laughing at the idiocy of it all, and we finish the week end with two tournies on Sunday night. It really makes life fun. I love those donkeys.

We keep it civil, so we play two tournaments with a $20 buy in for each. Top three cash. I’d feel bad taking more than that from those idiots, lol.

You’re a big family man. Let’s first go up a generation. Was poker a big thing in your parents’ house? With your siblings?

Not at all! My mom and dad got divorced when I was young. Mom took care of us alone and she took education very seriously. When we moved to Canada in 1981, my mom didn’t speak the language and couldn’t work in her profession as an engineer (a career she had in Israel). She had to learn to speak English and then redid her engineering degree in English. She was a superhero.

Amir (the “yellow corn burrito”) being held by his late mom Irene, along with his sister
Marina in Haifa, Israel

I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was 24 years old. Her lessons were instilled in me even after she was gone. So much so, that I went to law school and acquired a Law degree as a thank you to my mom. I don’t remember my mom playing cards much, especially not poker. My sister doesn’t play poker. I get a feeling she kind of frowns upon it. I overheard her telling her kids (my nephews and niece) that bluffing was the same thing as lying, lol. She is also well educated and is a CEO of a big corporation. She’s the best; just not at poker.

And let’s hear a little about your wife and children – do they ever partake in your poker passion?

Megan is my queen. We have been happily married for 14 years, and we’ll be celebrating our 14th anniversary on February 4th while we are in Bahamas! The $5 million I’m going to win will make for a decent present, don’t you think?

Megan enjoys playing poker, but does NOT have a poker face. She is crazy beautiful but she blushes REALLY bad when she has a killer hand and gets zero value because of it, haha. She doesn’t like gambling as much as just playing for fun. She went to Law school with me and is just more cynical in nature. I’m the risk taker, she is NOT.

My three munchkins are Raine (13), Rhodes (11) and Emerson (8). Raine might be the sweetest boy in the whole world. Tells his sisters they are beautiful whenever they try on new clothes or brush their hair, and is super sensitive. He is ALWAYS reading, and I’d put money on the fact that he is better read than most players coming to Bahamas, including me. He looks like a young Shawn Mendes; handsome little devil.

Rhodes is my perfect angel. She does well in school, always does her homework, and enjoys extra curricular activities. She is super smart, and absolutely beautiful. She loves dancing, singing, and I couldn’t dream of having a more perfect daughter. I used to be the bad influence, so I have NO clue how she is MY daughter!

Emerson, or Emmy as we know her, is one of the funniest kids in the world. She is a firebrand. She goads her siblings into fighting and loves causing trouble. At five years of age she started cooking and makes her brother and sister breakfast every Saturday and Sunday morning. It’s like the funniest thing you’ll ever see! This tiny little blonde girl reaching up for the frying pan cracking eggs, throwing some turkey bacon on the frying pan, toasting bagels. She is also a wild child, in every sense of the word. Her laugh might be the funniest thing you’ll ever hear in your life. She scream laughs. Louder than hell. It’s addictive and contagious.

She too is absolutely stunning, just like her sister, mother and brother.

Recently, I taught the three of them how to play poker. They took an interest in it because Daddy plays every Sunday. We play at home with real poker chips, but obviously without any real money. They ask to play with real money. With MY real money. Sneaky little monkeys, lol. I tell them that they need to know and love the game for its labyrinth of complexities. They don’t need to worry about the gambling aspect. The last three tournaments we played as a family, Raine crushed all of us!

You used to be a lawyer and now you’re an entrepreneur with a food delivery platform. That’s a very big career move to make, especially after taking so many years to train as a lawyer in the first place. What brought about that transition?

I worked in criminal law for a little while, and I actually really liked it. I left the world of crime to go on tour with my rock band! Hahaha, I know it sounds completely nuts. We were called Crash Karma and it featured members from some of Canada’s biggest rock bands. My drummer Jeff plays with The Tea Party, my guitar player Mike was from Our Lady Peace and my singer is Edwin sings for I Mother Earth. If you’re into rock and you live in Canada, you know those bands. They dominated the radio and music television for all of the 90s.

They are awesome guys that I somehow convinced to play in a band with me and each other. We recorded an album at Mike’s studio, and we got a record deal, management, and an agent to help us. We toured across Canada, playing with giant bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Weezer, Rush, and so many other amazing bands. We had three top 10 radio singles and a few top 20. We even won “rock song of the year” at an awards event in Toronto. It was my dream for most of my life growing up, and I was lucky to have lived it to some degree. Being married to the most incredible wife makes it really easy to go after your dreams. I love those guys, they are my brothers.

From playing music, I went eventually went into artist management and began managing artists and building their careers. Platinum selling artists, massive tours, the whole nine yards. Things were going swell until COVID happened and the music industry shut down. I knew I needed to do something different to help provide for my family until things normalized again. I came up with a crazy idea of developing a long distance restaurant delivery platform. Think Uber Eats, but long distance! I began by driving to Montreal, picking up orders for people, and then driving it back to Toronto where they lived. I went from being a lawyer to delivering pizzas, but I LOVED it. The idea caught fire and “I Miss Montreal Food” was featured on all media platforms across Canada.

After only a year and a half I expanded the company to offer nationwide delivery, so that Canadians could order from really popular restaurants anywhere in the country to their home no matter where they lived. One of the most famous delis in Canada is located in Montreal and it’s called Schwartz’s Deli. We were making it available for people all over Canada and it did quite well. Today the company operates on its own, and acts as passive income for my family. I really didn’t think I’d own a company that delivered hundreds of pounds of smoked meat every week, lol.

So how do you keep busy now, professionally speaking?

At present, I am building a new tech platform for the music industry that has the potential to change the entire landscape. I’ve been working on it with a really close friend of mine who is a platinum selling producer and has enjoyed multiple radio hits. The two of us came up with the idea last winter, and we’ve been building it together ever since. The platform is just about ready to be introduced to music label and artists and it’s going to shake things up.

I’ve always enjoyed being a disruptor. Alex and I have a mutual respect for one another so we have been trying to partner on some level for years. Now we have this incredible thing that could really change the game. The platform is called MySy and it is merging the music industry with the stock market. Fans of music will be able to purchase shares of artist songs (stocks), and earn royalties. We are launching sometime in 2023 and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

You won your Platinum Pass last May by coming in first place in a charity tournament in Toronto benefitting the Shaare Zedek foundation, which raises money for those in Jerusalem with Breast Cancer. This was their fifth annual tournament and they raised well over $200,000!; do you play in it annually? Tell us a little bit about why supporting this charity/cause in particular is important to you? Do you have family in Jerusalem/Israel?

This was my first time playing, and it was a blast. Over 500 people attended; it was really a fun tournament, not just because I won, but the whole night was a good time. There were some pros and a bunch of amateurs like myself. Great vibes, great people! They really did such an amazing job. I felt like I was at an award show or something. Food was incredible. There were drinks.

This charity hits very close to home. As I mentioned earlier, my mom passed away from breast cancer when I was young and left a scar in my heart that will never heal. She was so important to me and raised me and my sister with so much love; I owe everything to her.

I will definitely be attending again every year to support the incredible work that they do. I was born in Israel and I love that country with all of my heart. This charity helping women in Israel with breast cancer is doing god’s work, and I’m proud to have been allowed to partake in the tournament.

Aside from your home games, you rarely play in live events. I guess that makes playing at the PokerStars Players Championship that much more special to you. Tell us why you don’t (or haven’t been able to) play more often.

I’ve played in a handful of tournaments in Las Vegas, as well as some at Fairview Casino in Niagara Falls, and I really love it. I’m just really busy, and being a husband and a father who loves spending time with my family, I don’t usually have the opportunity to play very often outside of my regular weekly game. This tournament is going to be unbelievable. I’ve been looking forward to it for a LONG time!

How often do you travel? Have you given any thought to how you’ll be spending extra time in the Bahamas away from the poker tables?

I used to travel quite often for work, but not as much since COVID. My wife and I would take our kids on amazing trips around the world. Every year since Emmy was born we have gone away in the winter. We’ve travelled to Thailand twice, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Hong Kong, and the Dominican Republic. We go for 4-5 weeks at a time. We teach our children about tolerance, and the many beautiful cultures around the world. They love experiencing new foods, languages and wonderful people.

This summer, Raine will be having his Bar Mitzvah and Rhodes her Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem. We’re thinking about also taking them to United Arab Emirates for a few weeks afterwards, as well. I plan to win the PSPC in the Bahamas, so there won’t be much time to bake in the sun or enjoy the island. I’m going in focused and ready to take the whole thing down.

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but should you manage to cash in the PSPC, is there anything specific you would want to allocate the money to?

My kids future. My family is everything to me. I want to give my kids everything. My mom, sister, and I struggled when I was growing up. We didn’t have much. My mom worked seven days a week at a bakery for years to give us a semblance of normality. She eventually returned to her engineering profession and worked at Bombardier, but got sick some years after that. Most of my life, we struggled financially. I want to be able to help my kids once they’ve grow up. Whether it be helping with university tuition, or helping them purchase their first home. I want to do whatever I can to give them a head start in life.

Lastly, how – if at all – have you been preparing for the PSPC? Doing any study or working on anything specific; or are you just going to “play the game that got you here” in the first place?

I haven’t really prepared much, to be honest. I have my game. I’ve always watched my favorite players online before I ever qualified for the PSPC. I’d love to be seated with Ivey, Hellmuth, Esfandiari or fellow Canuck Negreanu. I know their game… sort of, lol. They are god status players, so beating them would be quite the honor. Also, I’ve been practicing my gloating for Hellmuth. What I would do for a storm out from him!

The only other way I have been preparing is at my weekly game. Every time one of my buddies plays a stupid hand, someone says “Don’t do that in the Bahamas”. Over and over again, “Amir, you should definitely not do that in the Bahamas”. “Going all in under the gun with 10-Q? Don’t do that in the Bahamas”.

So that’s about all of the counseling I’ve gotten from my moron friends. They all look up to me, because I am far superior to them in this game we call poker. They want to help, but I’m out of their league. I want them to know that with lots of practice, maybe one day they’ll achieve a scintilla of my skills and greatness. I need to win this tournament, for them .

Ari Engel wins his 2nd WSOP bracelet, 2021 WSOP $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship

Greg Raymer wins Inaugural Mixed $200 H.O.R.S.E tourney along with $30,000 Pokerstars Platinum Pass

NOTE: PLEASE SUBSCRIBE To Bernard’s YouTube page AND LIKE any videos that you enjoy

Ari Engel and Greg Raymer

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee first interviews 2021 WSOP $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or better Championship winner, Ari Engel.  This win was his second WSOP bracelet. Then, Bernard interviews Greg Raymer, the 2004 WSOP Main Event champion, who captured Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Inaugural Mixed Game $200 H.O.R.S.E. buy-in tournament, along with a $30,000 PokerStars Platinum Pass.

READ MORE about Greg’s latest win here

During the first half of the podcast, Ari Engel talks about winning his 2^nd WSOP bracelet in the 2021 WSOP $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. Ari also talks about things that players can improve on in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or better. He talks about taking advantage of being the chip leader at final table and also all of the focus on Phil Hellmuth. Ari discusses how he determined his 2021 WSOP event schedule and the specific events he is looking forward to playing in 2021. Finally, Ari discusses his time playing online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the second part of the podcast, Greg Raymer talks about winning the Cardplayer Lifestyle Inaugural Mixed Game $200 H.O.R.S.E. tournament. Greg discusses how he determined his 2021 WSOP event schedule and the specific events he is looking forward to playing in 2021. Fainlly, Greg talks about his comfort playing in the WSOP.

The tournament was the big finish of the inaugural Mixed Games Festival, a brand-new poker event that took place at Westgate Las Vegas Resort from October 4-7. When registration closed the finale had effectively sold out with 124 players signed up to generate a prize pool of $20,460.

Robbie Strazynski’s four-day festival was a major success both on and off the felt. Poker pros and authors stopped by to share their knowledge of mixed games with a long line of visitors while raising money for charity with book signings throughout the week.

Dylan Linde stopped by on Day 1 to sign copies of his book Mastering Mixed Games: Winning Strategies for Draw, Stud, and Flop Games. Linde spent a lot of time talking mixed game strategy with fans while signing several books. He left behind a stack and they continued to sell at a brisk pace throughout the week. Eli Elezra stopped by on Day 2 to sign copies of his book Pulling the Trigger and played a couple of orbits with visitors. Book sales from throughout the week raised $1,045 for the Westgate Resorts Foundation.

Tournament Action

Among the 124 entries were several notable faces from the poker world. Bracelet-winners, writers, photographers, video producers, Hall of Famers, and local grinders made up a tough field of players looking for mixed game tournament action with a Platinum Pass up top.

The room’s filling up and cards will be in the air soon!

Good luck to everyone playing our Mixed Game Festival!#PokerLifeMedia pic.twitter.com/2X3Z1J3YtQ

— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) October 7, 2021

Nathan Gamble, Linda Johnson, Chris “Fox” Wallace, Robert Turner, and Chad Holloway represented the rest of the six WSOP gold bracelet winners who took their chance at a Platinum Pass. Women in Poker Hall of Famers Jan Fisher and Marsha Waggoner also stopped by to take their shot. Up-and-coming local grinder Dave Alfa made an early run but hit the rail before the money.

Poker media veterans Donnie Peters, Remko Rinkema, Brent Harrington, Christin Maschmann, Jesse Fullen, Mike Patrick, Tim Duckworth, Chad McVean, and 2019 WSOP Main Event finalist Garry Gates stopped by as well to take a break away from their duties at the WSOP.

Notables among the final 29 in the @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival @FossilMan, @Donnie_Peters, @thechipburner, @Bloodlow, @foxpokerfox, @GarryGates, @MikePatrick98, @Veaner85, @BrentHarrington, @MixedGameMike and @WIPHOF-er Marsha Waggoner.

A $30K #PlatinumPass is at stake. pic.twitter.com/MiNBXZ5rdw

— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 8, 2021

Patrick, a PokerNews live reporter (and fellow Cardplayer Lifestyle contributor who incidentally wrote the festival’s Day 3 recap), finished in fifth place and took home $1,432 for the effort. Houston’s Jeff Planck took fourth place for $1,841 and Jason Simon of O’Fallon, MO won $2,455 for his third place finish. Runner-up Unsal missed out on the Platinum Pass but grabbed $3,069 along with the chance to play heads-up with a world champion.

Raymer Wins

Raymer almost didn’t play in the tournament, but a brief delay at the WSOP on Wednesday forced a change in plans.

“I was sitting in my room and thinking about playing the stud tournament at 3 p.m., but I saw the delay,” Raymer said in an interview with Cardplayer Lifestyle after winning the Platinum Pass.

“I haven’t gotten into a late-night schedule yet, so I am not going to be playing my best after 1 a.m., and I knew that I was not going to be entering that tournament. I saw the Mixed Game Festival cash games on the Wednesday schedule and decided to come over and support Robbie.”

Thank you for putting on this festival. came yesterday to support it, got talked into playing it! YAY
RT @cardplayerlife: Congrats to the @FossilMan!
Winner of the @PokerStars #PlatinumPass for the @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival

The champ is HERE!

pic.twitter.com/0nRQ6S9vAd

— Greg Raymer (@FossilMan) October 8, 2021

Raymer is in town to play the WSOP and initially hesitated to come back on Thursday for the H.O.R.S.E. tournament.

“People at my table asked if I was going to play the tournament and I said no, but they brought up the Platinum Pass and I had forgotten about that!”

Raymer will certainly never forget this PokerStars Platinum Pass, a highly coveted prize that includes a $25,000 buy-in to the prestigious PokerStars Player’s Championship along with travel, accommodation, and other perks.

The world champion soaked up his victory just as he would any other. It might have been a smaller event, but to Raymer winning is a wonderful feeling no matter what.

“It means a lot because the PSPC is a huge event,” Raymer said. “If it’s like the last one, the winner gets $5 million. That’s as much as I got for winning world championship in 2004. It’s not like winning $5 million is ho-hum. Winning $50,000 isn’t ho-hum either.”

It’s difficult to compare any win to capturing the WSOP Main Event, but to Raymer that doesn’t matter.

“Winning is always great. Winning this tournament might not even be in my top 20 cash payouts lifetime, but winning a tournament always feels good.

When you win there’s no better feeling. Maybe it feels better when you win a bigger tournament. But I still won. I couldn’t have done better.”

As has been the case for the opening two days, two games of $4/$8 Dealers Choice were up and running before noon, with the likes of Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson, 2-time WSOP bracelet winner Nathan Gamble (fresh off his 7th place finish in the WSOP $1,500 Dealers Choice event), 2014 WSOP $10,000 HORSE champion Chris Wallace, and Women in Poker Hall of Famer Jan Fisher kicking off the day.

WSOP bracelet winner and PokerNews Executive Editor, USA Chad Holloway, and 2004 WSOP Main Event champion Greg Raymer were the next notables to join the mix with the room needing to open a third table to accommodate the growing field.

This sounded like some good fun! Plus, always want to support more mixed games!

RT @cardplayerlife: The champ is here.

Welcome, @FossilMan!

THREE $4/8 tables running now at the @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival

Come join us at @WestgateVegas pic.twitter.com/G8eD5lguRd

— Greg Raymer (@FossilMan) October 6, 2021

At his table, with the expectation that his choice would slow the action down, Holloway called a game he just wanted to play for some fun, Limit Five Card Single Draw. Slow action wouldn’t be the result, as on the first hand of the orbit, he got into a three-way three-bet pot pre-draw, with multiple bets also going in after the draw. Holloway then showed down the winner as he had been dealt three queens against three tens and aces up.

The games continued to be lively and friendly, as several curious poker players walking into the Westgate poker room joined the action, with some introducing new variations to the wide array of poker games that had already been played this week.

Cardplayer Lifestyle and mixed games fan ‘Rodney from Chicago’, who was here for the WSOP stopped by the Westgate to play some mixed games and try out an idea for a game that he’d never played before but described as “Three Card Hold’em Hi/Lo. You get three cards, you make a hi/lo hand out of it and it’s played like hold’em”.

Rodney further explained that any of a player’s three cards could be used with the board to make a high hand, but two hole cards must be used to make a qualifying low hand.

I got the opportunity to sit in the game for its debut and it was an instant hit! Rodney called the game himself, and it was subsequently called by more players after Rodney’s initial orbit. From my early impressions, a Stud 8 or Better style strategy seems to be most effective, as making a low hand seems to be the priority as it’s the more difficult half of a pot to earn.

Throughout the day, more unique games like Omadugi, Chicago, and Action Razz were called. The “legend of Omajack” also continued to grow as multiple hands of the wild action game were called at various tables.

The multitude of giveaways continued throughout the day as well, with Dylan Linde’s Mastering Mixed Games and Wallace’s Short Stack Ninja books, two-deck setups from Faded Spade cards, swag bags from PokerStars, PokerNews, PokerGO, and BBO Poker Tables all awarded to lucky recipients in the room.

Thursday is the big day, as the $200 buy-in HORSE tournament that will award a $30,000 Platinum Pass to the winner takes place at noon local time.

Registration will be open for the first two hours of the tournament and as of publish time seats are still available, but they are very limited! If you intend to play, get down to the Westgate and lock up your seat early!

Stay tuned to Cardplayer Lifestyle for a full recap as we send someone to the 2022 PokerStars Player’s Championship!

Mixed Game Festival Day 1 recap

Mixed Game Festival Day 2 recap

Jeremy Ausmus wins his 2nd WSOP bracelet, 2021 Covid-19 Relief No-Limit Hold’em Charity Event

Robbie Strazynski discusses the Inaugural Mixed Game Festival during the 2021 WSOP

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Jeremy Ausmus and Robbie Strazynski

In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee first interviews 2021 WSOP Covid-19 Relief No-Limit Hold’em Charity Event champion, Jeremy Ausmus.  This win was his second WSOP bracelet. Then, Bernard interviews Robbie Strazynski who discusses the Inaugural Mixed Game Festival held this week during the 2021 WSOP.

During the first half of the podcast, Jeremy Ausmus talks about winning his 2nd WSOP bracelet in the interviews 2021 WSOP Covid-19 Relief No-Limit Hold’em Charity Event. Jeremy also discusses his time at home with the family and playing online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Playing in high roller events, Jeremy talks about adjusting when playing between the lower buy-in and high roller events. He also talks about how he felt entering the 2021 WSOP and the registration process and COVID-19 protocols. Finally, Jeremy discusses how he determines his 2021 WSOP event schedule and the specific events he is looking forward to playing in 2021.

During the second part of the podcast, Robbie Strazynski gives his initial impression of the 2021 WSOP. Robbie talks about his Inaugural Mixed Game Festival held at the Westgate Casino, formerly the Hilton. Also, he talks about the $200 H.O.R.S.E. buy-in tournament on October 7, with a PokerStars Platinum Pass ($30,000 value) for the winner. Robbie and Bernard discuss the different mixed games including explaining all the games that make up H.O.R.S.E. Also, during the interview, Robbie discusses the new format of CardplayerLifestyle.com.

The Rio remains the most popular spot to find the best poker in town during the series, but veterans of tournament poker know that Las Vegas has much more to offer than what you can find at the WSOP. Players regularly step away to visit the local poker rooms in town for a break from the large crowds and long bathroom lines. Off-strip poker tournaments also have lower buy-ins that can help you stretch your bankroll or give you a chance to bounce back after a rough week in the Amazon room.

The poker festivals around Las Vegas that run concurrently with the WSOP are growing in popularity, but it’s still difficult for players to find mixed game tournaments at budget-friendly buy-ins. In response to the growing demand, Cardplayer Lifestyle partnered with Westgate to open their doors to mixed game enthusiasts who are looking for a chance to catch up on lost time and play some poker variants with like-minded poker fans.

Our Mixed Games Festival kicked off on Monday and will continue with cash games through Thursday, October 7, when the festival ends with a $200 H.O.R.S.E. tournament offering a PokerStars Player’s Championship Platinum Pass to the winner. The tournament kicks off at noon on Thursday, and a big turnout is expected.

Opening Day

Monday’s opening sessions were a resounding success, with new friends and old faces stopping by Westgate all day long to take part in the festival. Several players arrived early to make sure they could secure a spot in Thursday’s H.O.R.S.E. tournament, and the first table filled up quickly.

More sights from Day #1 of the @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival

Lots of fun being had at @WestgateVegas. pic.twitter.com/29KJ3fbYoR

— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 5, 2021

By 4 p.m. the game had grown to two tables, and a steady stream of enthusiastic poker fans was enjoying pizza while trying to snag the high card giveaways from PokerGO, Faded Spade Playing Cards, and BBO Poker Tables. Visitors came from places like Oklahoma, Illinois, and Canada, and they were excited to share their enthusiasm for getting back into a card room.

One visitor, a guest of the hotel, had stopped by the poker room looking for action. The regular Hold’Em tables weren’t running yet but the mixed game players were ready to go. The new player did not hesitate to jump in and give mixed games a try.

Where else can you play 3-2-1?

Gotta love the @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival pic.twitter.com/grErpFTizP

— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 5, 2021

“I don’t play stud,” he said to the others at the table. But that is rarely a problem when you are in a group of mixed-game players. The players quickly explained the rules of seven card stud and the game rolled right along.

A relaxed atmosphere and friendly company are a great way to learn any new poker game, and a few of the more obscure variations usually require a rules refresher for even the most seasoned poker veteran. The game moves at a casual pace and without pressure, so it’s well-suited for someone interested in learning about casino poker without the bright lights and glaring opponents that can sometimes be found at larger tournaments.

Dylan Linde Stops By

Dylan Linde stopped by on Monday to share time with poker fans and sign copies of his book Mastering Mixed Games: Winning Strategies for Draw, Stud, and Flop Games. Linde’s enthusiasm for mixed games drew an early crowd and several visitors spent time with questions for the author and poker pro.

We’ve got @DylanLinde in the house signing his Mastering Mixed Games book by @DBPoker1.

$20 a copy, with all proceeds being donated to charity (the @WestgateResorts Foundation).

Come get yours! pic.twitter.com/agRQRqmqcG

— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 4, 2021

“I come from mostly playing no-limit tournaments with smart, competent players that had no idea how to play mixed games,” Linde shared with a fan while signing a copy of his book. “My approach to writing this book was to try and show how the games are all connected and to bring some concepts you are already familiar with into your learning about new games.”

The popular mixed game strategy book was available to visitors for $20, and all of the proceeds will benefit Westgate Resorts Foundation, including matching funds from PokerStars and Westgate. The opportunity to spend time with a poker great will come again on Tuesday when Eli Elezra will be at the Mixed Games Festival at 11 a.m. PT to visit and sign copies of his autobiography Pulling the Trigger for $10 with 100% of the proceeds to benefit charity.

Much More to Come

Monday was the first day of the festival and there will be two more days of cash games before the $200 H.O.R.S.E. tournament awards the PokerStars Platinum Pass on Thursday. The Platinum Pass is valued at over $30,000 and a large crowd is expected to take their shot at winning the coveted poker package. Players will start with 10,000 chips and cash game grinders will have the opportunity to double their stack by playing in the cash games throughout the festival. Bonuses start at an extra 2,000 chips for every five hours played and cap out at 10,000 extra chips for 25 hours of play.

Space is limited for Thursday’s H.O.R.S.E. tournament, and several players were in line at 10 a.m. Monday to secure their spot, so make sure you get over to the Westgate and register as soon as possible. The room can handle up to 144 entries. If necessary, the alternates will be seated during the first two hours until the end of late registration.