The $10,000 buy-in World Series of Poker Main Event is a special tournament. Even poker business people like Mike Brady and cash game pros like Gary Blackwood dust off their hoodies to register the big one and take a shot at glory. In this special episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up, Mike and Gary recap their respective runs (or lack thereof) in the 2023 WSOP Main Event. If you really want to take your tournament poker skills to the next level, join the Upswing Lab and watch the "How to Win...

The Small Blind is a unique position because you already have half a blind invested, which improves your pot odds, but you're also out of position against every player at the table. What's more, you've still got the Big Blind to worry about behind you. This unique position requires a unique strategy before the flop. Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood walk you through the optimal approach from the Small Blind in this episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up. If you really want to take your...

Poker tournaments are a grind and you have to have a lot of different skills to succeed in them. Do you know how to play with deep stacks in the early stages? Does your strategy thrive (and/or survive) in key bubble situations? Can you set yourself up for the final table one you're in the money? Do you have what it takes to play your A-game at the final table and eventually close the deal heads-up? Darren Elias is an elite player who could answer yes to all of these questions, and he joins...

Ace-high flops are the most common type of flop in the game, but they certainly aren't the easiest to play correctly. Many poker players use an over-simplified strategy on these flops, playing all Ace-high flops very similarly, but that is far from the best way to play them. Instead, you must consider the subtle factors that separate one Ace-high flop from the next and how those factors should impact your strategy. Learn those subtle factors and the strategies you should use on Ace-high...

If you are a player who rarely bets big at the poker table, you are leaving a lot of money on the table. Betting big in the right spots allows you to build pots with strong hands when you have them, but it only makes sense to do when the rest of your range can support it. Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood help you understand exactly when to shovel big bets into the pot in this episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up. Pre-register for the upcoming Road to Victory tournament course by Darren Elias and...

15 or so years ago small bets were used quite rarely by great poker players. But since then, the usage of small bets has grown as players realized how much expected value they can add to their overall strategy. Using small bets at the right time will allow you to win more pots and put your opponents in tough spots, so this is a vital topic.  Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood cover the factors that should push you towards betting small and cover specific hand examples in this episode of Upswing...

Flops with three cards of the same suit can be very confusing to play. They're unlike any other flop texture type in poker, so they warrant a unique approach. Do you know what bet size to use on monotone flops as the preflop raiser? What about which hands to check-raise against a bet as the preflop caller? Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood help you understand the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up. If you really want to take your poker skills to the...

You might know when and how to check-raise in poker, but do you know how to proceed on the turn when your check-raise gets called? How should you decide which hands to continue betting for value? And when should you keep up the aggression with a bluff?   Gary Blackwood and Mike Brady help you understand the answers to these questions and more so you're equipped to handle these tricky post-check-raise situations. If you really want to take your poker skills to the next level, head over to...

Splashy live poker games with lots of action are incredibly profitable. But they can be incredibly frustrating too, especially if you don't know how to adjust your strategy for maximum profit. In this episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up, Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood cover the most critical adjustments that you must make when playing in loose, splashy live poker games. If you really want to take your poker skills to the next level, head over to http://upswingpoker.com. Upswing has hundreds...

You've bet on the flop and your opponent called. The turn comes and you're mulling over whether or not to bet again. This episode will help you arrive at the right decision regardless of the specific board and your specific hand. This episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up is meant to help you get better at double barreling, aka c-betting on the turn, aka betting on the turn after raising preflop and betting on the flop. If you really want to take your poker skills to the next level, head over...

Poker has been changed forever. The best players in the world spend countless hours studying with tools like PioSOLVER, and that's enabled the discovery of crucial strategies that allow smart players to win more money at faster rates.  In this episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up, Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood list 7 of the most valuable strategic discoveries of the solver era. Whether or not you study with solvers yourself, you'll get a lot of value from this discussion.  Get the new...

Every time you have a suited hand, there is an 11% chance that you will flop a flush draw. How well you play those flush draws will have a pretty big impact on your bottom line. The Upswing Poker Level-Up boys walk you through playing flush draws as the preflop raiser and the preflop caller, both in and out of position. You’ll learn which specific flush draw combinations perform best as bets, which flush draws you should check, and key adjustments to make in multiway pots. If you really...

Most poker players don't 4-bet often enough, and that's a huge mistake. 4-betting allows you to drive the action and build pots with your big hands while punishing aggressive 3-bettors. But in order to be a tough opponent, you have to 4-bet with some bluffs as well. This episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up covers how to build an optimal 4-betting range that includes the proper value hands and well-chosen bluffs. Mike and Gary also go over 4-bet sizing and how different factors should impact...

You're about to learn how to make more money with your c-bet strategy on the flop, specifically as the in position preflop raiser. This is one of the most common situations in poker so it's critical you avoid the big mistakes discussed throughout this show. This episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up starts by covering flops on which you should c-bet every single time (or close to it). Then the fellas work their way down until they reach flops on which you should almost never c-bet. Important...

Your big blind strategy will make a huge difference in how much money you win or lose at the poker table. To avoid bleeding cash, you need to defend your big blind with profitable hands, fold unprofitable hands, and implement an iron-clad 3-bet strategy. This short episode of the Upswing Poker Level-Up Podcast will help you do all three of those things and more. You're about to learn: How to adjust your big blind defense strategy versus different positions, raise sizes, and stack sizesA...

You just got dealt your starting hand a player raises in front of you. Before you even look at your cards, you should have a good idea of which hands you will 3-bet (aka re-raise) and what size 3-bet to use.  That's what this episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up covers. You will learn: When to 3-betWhich hands to 3-bet for valueHow to choose 3-bet bluffsWhat sizing to useThe critical factors that should impact your 3-bet strategy in-gameIf you really want to take your poker skills to the next...

Imagine a player raises before the flop and you defend your Big Blind. You check on the flop, your opponent bets, and now it's back on you. Your check-raising strategy in situations like this will have a major impact on your overall poker results.  This episode covers: Which hands to check-raiseHow often you should check-raiseThe critical factors to consider when considering a check-raiseIf you really want to take your poker skills to the next level, head over to UpswingPoker.com. Upswing...

Level-Up is a new show from the team of poker pros at UpswingPoker.com. If you want to improve your poker skills and bolster your bottom line, this is the show for you. The first episode will cover check-raising and comes out on Wednesday, January 4th. Subscribe to get notified when episodes come out! Subscribe to Upswing Poker on YouTube for Video Versions of These Episodes Follow Mike on Twitter | Follow Gary on Instagram