Are you looking for high-quality poker hand analysis videos and mental game tips? If so, please subscribe to my new PTO Poker YouTube Channel here (https://www.youtube.com/@coachjoel23): PTO Poker is a combination of poker strategy education, performance optimization, and mindset coaching. My content always asks the tough questions and addresses the most challenging aspects of poker, both on and off the felt. If you struggle with anything from hand reading to bankroll management to tilt control and poker-life balance, this will be the channel for you. For starters, here are a couple examples of hand analysis videos: 1) hand analysis video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQXPG5gimss&t=49s) 2) hand analysis video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgHORzK6I1Q) And here is a video that provides mental game tips (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRHgkkl94RY&list=PLU_2AT5LRZynMPwVrJlC5P7sALU-Cd9Ix&index=8). I look forward to producing additional content and will be grateful for your support in growing the channel!
Subscribe to PTO Poker YouTube Channel!
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Are you a poker player that loves the show Billions? If so, you will love this video which analyzes a hand played by Taylor Mason and Todd Krakow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEe8Jvx0... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEe8Jvx0zl0)
Even in 2024, poker still carries stigma and is considered by some to be an immoral game. This video lays out multiple arguments to combat this stigma and demonstrate why there is nothing morally wrong about winning money from poker. https://youtu.be/Ji62-btcqaA
Some players think that reverse tells can help them win at poker, but is there a cost to using them? This video analyzes a hand from High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story where a card is flipped over mid-hand to gain an edge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6KPvdYO... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6KPvdYOI2c)
In this $4/8 Online Poker hand, I ended up in a turn spot where I knew my opponent had the nuts and I knew I didn't have the right implied odds to call. Despite all that, I was confident that calling was a great play. How could this be? Watch to find out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgHORzK6... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgHORzK6I1Q)
What happens when Doug Polk's GTO strategy collides with LSG Hank's maniacal river bluff raise? Find out in one of the best Hustler Casino hands of 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EkNNKQ1... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EkNNKQ1fwE)
Have you ever been at a poker table where you were peer pressured into playing with a straddle? This video covers the top 5 reasons why mandatory straddles often make the poker environment worse. https://youtu.be/iEjGP3IikWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmgSrvUt... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmgSrvUtBHo) What is a mistake that costs Mariano and my poker students thousands of dollars? Tunnel vision. While it makes sense to have a plan, poker players need to always be open to new information as a hand develops. Mariano pays the price for tunnel vision in this hand as he 7-bets AKo into AA for nearly 6-figures.
In honor of National Poker Day, all website videos at pto-poker.com (http://pto-poker.com/) are currently selling for 30% off through the end of the month! Use Code NationalPokerDay30 at checkout for 30% off all PTO Poker 101 videos!
https://youtu.be/rVZ3GrhEVvU?si=gp0Mys0t... (https://youtu.be/rVZ3GrhEVvU?si=gp0Mys0tUJuYqCiw) What is the craziest poker hand that you've ever seen in person? Three hands stand out for me as a mixture of unforgettable, hilarious, and bound to never happen again. Check out the top three poker hands I've ever seen and leave a note in the comments which one was your favorite and whether you've seen a hand even crazier!
Too often, three things get in the way of an enjoyable live poker experience. This video discusses how we, as a poker community, can create a live poker experience that is consistently more exciting, social, and fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyrIYNez... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyrIYNezllQ)
https://youtube.com/shorts/TyCqO3wsARg?f... (https://youtube.com/shorts/TyCqO3wsARg?feature=share) Some poker students think that if they consume a ton of knowledge, they will automatically be able to win. But there are several barriers that must be faced and overcome before this is possible. And the most challenging obstacles are often those inside of you.
Why do excellent poker players go broke? Quite often, a series of financial mistakes leads to their downfall. To spare poker players from having to learn these lessons the hard way, here is a video on the top three financial mistakes that ruin poker careers: https://youtu.be/mIzTusw_5D4
Recently I opened up for questions on 2+2 and Reddit Poker about what it's like to be a professional poker player and how to maximize one's chances of success. This video answers the top questions that I received with as much honesty as possible based on my experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItmihlA9... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItmihlA9ZLA)
What are some of the most reliable live poker tells that you can recognize for added profit? Check out this video to learn about five tells you might have been overlooking, as well as the correct exploits once you notice them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmI9u-_x7WA YouTube Use These Live Tells to Crush Poker Games (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmI9u-_x7WA)
There are two very common mistakes that cost poker players tons of extra win rate. Check out this video from day 1 of this year's WSOP Main Event to avoid making the same preflop and bet sizing mistakes that we see in this hand. [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpHDjxJtwv0"]
https://youtu.be/YpHDjxJtwv0 YouTube Boost Your Poker Win Rate By Avoiding Two Mistakes (https://youtu.be/YpHDjxJtwv0)
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If you are currently on a poker downswing, or wish you had handled your previous downswing better, this video is for you.
https://youtu.be/57SW5xQPtWI YouTube How Can I Stop Losing at Poker? (https://youtu.be/57SW5xQPtWI)
Downswings are the #1 killer of poker careers, and learning how to manage them better can be a major source of edge for you in the long run. A more detailed article on this topic can be found here: https://www.pto-poker.com/post/tips-for-... (https://www.pto-poker.com/post/tips-for-surviving-poker-downswings)
A common trap for excellent poker players and great hand readers is believing they can dominate with any two cards from any position. The reality is that your position at the table plays a huge role in whether your talent will actually lead to profit. Loose Aggressive (LAG) play can be extremely powerful, but you will find much more success with this style from late position than early position.
https://youtube.com/shorts/KUxREZ44yMo?si=9ygJCyyI7PT2WF1I YouTube Can A Great Hand Reader Play Any Two Cards Profitably? | PTO Poker #shorts (https://youtube.com/shorts/KUxREZ44yMo?si=9ygJCyyI7PT2WF1I)
Where is poker headed in the years ahead? Solvers and other poker technologies will undoubtedly increase in power. But in this video, Jason Su and I discuss a different element of poker performance which is even more significant for staying ahead of the curve. If you are looking to improve how you operate both at and away from the poker table, this video is for you.
https://youtu.be/Si85aeUrsU4 YouTube The Future of Poker Performance (https://youtu.be/Si85aeUrsU4)
This video discusses how the word "nit" has lost its meaning in poker. It differentiates between nitty play and tight aggressive strategy. It also covers three situations where tight is right in poker, especially in low and mid-stakes games. Playing tight in these spots will save you tons of money in the long run.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITtO5nLOxBU YouTube When Tight Is Right in Poker: Nits vs. TAGs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITtO5nLOxBU)
This video provides five tips that can help you make more money at the poker tables with minimal additional effort. If you have preflop leaks, miss good river folds, or are punting money in multiway pots and short-stack situations, this video is for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nm5h0HbcE8 YouTube Five Simple Tips to Increase Your Poker Win Rate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nm5h0HbcE8)
Does your mind go blank in big poker hands? Or do you know what to do intellectually but make the wrong decisions in the moment? The way you are relating to fear could be the culprit. This video provides some tips on how to work with fear in poker so you can make great decisions and have no regrets.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rmc9Q6t0vcw YouTube How Do I Overcome Fear in Poker? #shorts (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rmc9Q6t0vcw)
Almost everyone acknowledges that poker is a game about people. But do you understand your opponents well enough to take the lines that make the most profit? This video explains how exploitative play works and shows you how to crush the three most common poker player archetypes: the calling station, the nit, and the maniac. It's time to put down your poker solver, throw away the balanced ranges, and play some player theory optimal poker!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effhoRyJXHU YouTube How to Exploit Poker Players for Maximum Profit (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effhoRyJXHU)
Watch Coach Joel Play in TCH Dallas $5/10/25 Live Stream Game
https://www.pto-poker.com/post/watch-coach-joel-play-in-tch-dallas-5-10-25-live-stream-game PTO Poker Watch Coach Joel Play TCH Dallas $5/10/25 Live Stream (https://www.pto-poker.com/post/watch-coach-joel-play-in-tch-dallas-5-10-25-live-stream-game)
In this video, I show you what my hand reading process looked like when I played on the TCH Dallas Live Stream $5/10/25 game with unknown opponents. Watch to improve your own hand reading skills!
https://youtu.be/o5cYT3aNyZU YouTube You Won't Make Money From Poker Unless You Learn This (https://youtu.be/o5cYT3aNyZU)
There are five myths that many poker players believe which are costing them substantial money at the table. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your poker game is to unlearn something, and this video will help you do just that to improve your win rate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WnaLJdZ... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WnaLJdZCLY)
https://youtu.be/Kw317tMBJB0 How do you prepare your mind and body to be successful for a poker session? It's one thing to watch poker on TV and then try to mimic the plays you see. It's quite another to do the things that are required to actually perform at your very best. In this video, I share the details of my own poker preparation and help you begin to build a routine that works for you. Hopefully by the end of watching, you'll see how poker can be used as a vehicle for better health and wellbeing.
If you care about your poker win rate, do not make the mistake that I see over 90% of live poker players making. And that would be: Not paying attention when they are not in a hand. This video provides tips on what to look for when you are following the action and how to stay engaged enough to continue to track it. After watching, you'll see that most poker games are actually won during moments of inactivity and observation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvXGFwFl... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvXGFwFlJy8)
I recently sat down with Jermaine Shavers from the InfoProfit Podcast to talk discuss how poker decision-making skills are transferrable to business, entrepreneurship, health, and investing. We also talked about the usefulness and limitations of solvers and explore intuitive versus analytical decision-making along with several other topics. Check out the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZV3e1Yx... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZV3e1YxUMI)
One of the most spectacular poker hands you'll ever see happened recently. And unlike most hands that occur on high stakes poker television, there is actual instructional value to this hand that can help you improve your preflop and hand reading skills and boost your win rate. Props to Alan Keating for finding this epic call! https://youtu.be/9-8cZ8lEQ1U
If you are not getting what you want out of your poker experience, there is a good chance that you have certain beliefs that are sabotaging your success. This video breaks down some of the most common beliefs that are leading poker players astray along with specific hand examples. If you enjoy it, the rest of the video can be found in the PTO Poker Monthly Membership which you can test out with a 7-day free trial. https://youtu.be/dDsdeKISgeI?si=P-2BD5LI... (https://youtu.be/dDsdeKISgeI?si=P-2BD5LI_oTaPr0r)
Poker players are freaking out over the Trump Tax Bill which only allows them to deduct 90% of their gambling losses. Will this bill kill the poker industry? In this video, I break down how the tax bill will impact recreational, professional, and high stakes poker players. I close with some reasons for optimism that the poker industry can continue to thrive despite this undesired bill. [B]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYdD... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYdDULtpa7M)
Are you losing money at the poker table with Ace King? Or just struggling to maximize your profits with this hand? If so, there is a good chance that you are playing ace king wrong in multiple spots. This video will show you the most common mistakes that poker players make with ace king and exactly how to correct them. If you fully understand these tips, especially the one mentioned at the end of this video, you’ll start printing money with this hand.
A lot of poker players can play well when things are going well, but how do you play when you are losing and everything is going against you? In this video, I stream an online poker session on WPT Gold where my session gets off to a rocky start as I get called on a bluff and proceed to go card dead. I show you to stay patient and level-headed and continue making good decisions to help turn things around. https://youtu.be/s3RlEi0zKQA
How do you know if you are playing well in poker when there is so much short-term luck? In this video I lay out five things you can look for to ensure you are playing well. All poker crushers make their living off of making these five key plays consistently, so watch this video if you’d like to win just like the crushers. https://youtu.be/QjwDR1OR02s
There are two areas in poker where somebody could improve very rapidly with next to no work. These two things are truly the low hanging fruit of both live and online poker. Watch this video as I break down five hands that will help you sharpen your game and move up in poker. https://youtu.be/fQCHiUTQjFQ?si=HJAmJXQT9xSlobtP
How do you respond when everything seems to be going wrong in poker, business, or life in general? If you are looking for a raw and honest discussion that can help you respond better when the chips are down and emotions are running high, you have come to the right place. Join Jason Su and I as we tackle some of the toughest questions that trip up poker players, entrepreneurs, and many others. https://youtu.be/0UR60_LaNpY?si=brf2cdRp... (https://youtu.be/0UR60_LaNpY?si=brf2cdRp63V3Qaov)
Win the maximum, lose the minimum: Poker players are very familiar with these objectives. But how is this actually done in practice to maximize your profits? Watch this video as I break down four online poker hands that demonstrate exactly how to win the maximum and lose the minimum.
Do you know the #1 thing that causes poker players to tilt, and is this affecting you? In this video, I walk you through the exact scenario that throws so many poker players off their game, and I coach you on how to handle it effectively. If you implement the ideas from this video, you will dramatically reduce the negative impact of tilt and significantly increase your win rate. https://youtu.be/p9IlrCGYUk0?si=N_6-qzyDJrZT8DD-
There are five poker tells that have always been kept a secret until now. After more than 10, 000 hours of live poker experience, I can reliably say that noticing these five tells and understanding how to respond to them will take your game to a new level. Check out this video where I break down the top five poker tells that nobody talks about. https://youtu.be/yTZKl8DrOPM
“Don’t play the cards, play the man.” This is one of the first pieces of advice new poker players hear when they first start learning the game. But how is this actually done in a real live poker environment? It all starts with knowing what mental level your opponent is on. With all the content about GTO and the “right” way to play your range as well as specific hands, we have forgotten how to win the leveling war against actual, real human opponents. This video is a return to playing the player, and by the end of it, you’ll know exactly how to beat the three most common levels of poker opponents you will face. https://youtu.be/8iy13urjd00?si=H-oE43YZ_uNsog0s
Are you struggling to move up in poker stakes? This process can be quite frustrating if you don't know the right steps to take. That's where this video comes in: I provide a 5-step system to help you make the climb in stakes with as little pain and friction as possible. This video focuses on the most common jump that live poker players make: The jump from $1/2 to $2/5 No Limit Hold'em. At the end of this video, you’ll have the blueprint to make the climb towards a bigger and potentially more rewarding game. https://youtu.be/jD1WtUz2g7w
Let’s say hypothetically you’re sick and tired of your day job, you love to play poker, and you’ve been making decent side money from it. It’s only a matter of time before the following question forms in your mind: Should I become a professional poker player? This video is the answer to your question. From my eight years of professional poker experience, I lay out the good, the bad and the ugly of exactly what this job entails. By the end of the video, you’ll know all the factors to consider when making this important decision. https://youtu.be/XBySeN4k5Gk?si=zpydofiIub8cRiai
Best Poker Advice for Moving from $1/2 to $2/5 NLHE: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XwkJSor8N... (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XwkJSor8NkQ)
Best Poker Advice for Moving from $1/2 to $2/5 NLHE: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XwkJSor8NkQ
There is a myth that many poker players believe which is costing them substantial money at the table. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your poker game is to unlearn something, and this video will help you do exactly that to improve your win rate.
If you’re a $1/2 or a $2/5 live poker player and you’ve been stuck at your current stakes for a while, it’s likely because you haven’t mastered one key skill. https://youtube.com/shorts/iAiYlrdt8Sk
If you’re a $1/2 or a $2/5 live poker player and you’ve been stuck at your current stakes for a while, it’s likely because you haven’t mastered one key skill: Hand-reading. This video will give you a simple hand-reading process to follow so your in-game decisions are much clearer and less confusing. https://youtu.be/9EGzGR8Tm5k
If you have been struggling against tight aggressive poker opponents, this is the video for you. It provides the blueprint on tight aggressive player tendencies and how to exploit them using hand-reading. After watching this video, you will turn the tables on some of your previously tough poker opponents. https://youtu.be/PWoz7bWA_Uk
If you are like most live poker players, you are completely wrong when it comes to one particular opponent type: The old-man coffee nit. You may believe that it’s impossible to get a penny out of them. You also may struggle with boredom when playing against these guys. But in this video, I’m going to show you how to adjust in a way that actually makes these players some of your most exciting customers. You will go from wanting a table change to being thrilled to see these OMC opponents sit down. Watch as I cover the tendencies of nitty poker players and show you that it is possible to get money out of a rock after all. https://youtu.be/FtX7V-eCjJ0
Do you keep losing to the same bad poker players? Sure, it could be due to luck in the short-run, but if this continues happening, you’re likely making big mistakes which are costing you thousands without you even realizing it. The worst part? The loose, passive players you call “bad” are the most common opponent type at $1/2 and $2/5, so until you learn to beat them, your road to moving up in poker is blocked. That's where this video comes in. I break down the tendencies of loose passive poker players and show you how to use hand-reading to beat them at will. After watching it, you won’t just know an opponent is bad: You’ll know exactly what to do about it to make their mistakes work in your favor. https://youtu.be/KBwD0phtKUY
$1/2 and $2/5 live poker players: This video marks the end of being run over by loose aggressive players and the beginning of them being some of your best customers. I break down the tendencies of LAG poker players and show you how to use hand-reading to fight back against the bully in six key spots. After watching it, you’ll be armed with a whole new gameplan for dealing with maniacs as well as good, loose aggressive opponents. https://youtu.be/O_CyOvAOeAo?si=NVNt-Tl1IH1yMOoY
Live poker players: What happens when you raise preflop and get 3, 4 or even 5 callers? Multiway pots are extremely common in live poker, and if you don’t know how to play them well, your win-rate will be a fraction of what it could be, if it exists at all. This video shows you how to hand read and make good decisions in multiway pots. After watching it, you won’t just be a great one-on-one poker player; You’ll also know how to dominate against the poker zone defense of multiple opponents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iblm_X1t... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iblm_X1tJhs)
When you are in a downswing, it's easy to focus on the most upsetting hands: Things like coolers and bad beats. What gets missed are the quieter hands: The small and medium pots where you actually had something that was in your control that you missed. These quieter hands may not account for as much immediate money, but over the long run, they are the hands that affect your win-rate the most. Check out this hand, and see if it is exactly the type of mistake you are making which is keeping you trapped in a losing cycle. [B]https://youtu.be/LEoTfl2SifIsi=NbsU0... (https://youtu.be/LEoTfl2SifIsi=PKarvjsKaFjhF647)
This week was my debut as a broadcaster for the Garage Game live stream. The Garage Game is the first (and only) live stream in New England, and on this episode they played $2/5/10 NLHE match the stack. Check it out here, and if you enjoy the content, be sure to give them a subscribe on YouTube and be ready for their upcoming weekly games. https://www.pto-poker.com/post/pto-poker-broadcasts-garage-game-live-stream
Should you bluff catch often in poker And what should you do if you keep ending up in bluff catching spots against the same opponent One of the trickiest situations in poker is where a metagame dynamic begins to form between you and another player, and that's exactly what happened when I broadcasted on the Garage Game Live Stream for the first time. Sometimes the biggest mistake was actually made earlier on in the hand when a bunch of money was invested under unfavorable conditions which led to difficult river spots. Check out these two hands, and see if you might be able to play this sequence of events more profitably. [B]https://youtu.be/ZZrDzYsjO-Y[/B] (https://youtu.be/ZZrDzYsjO-Ysi=xiysl_HQJmLeB4LC)
There's a very costly mental game trap that almost everyone falls for in poker. Let's say you are up half a buy-in and nearing the end of your session. Are you someone who avoids opportunities that might risk your profit, like making a thin river value bet Part of this comes from a desire to avoid potentially uncomfortable emotions, which is already a subtle form of tilt. Playing it safe and trying to preserve a win and the pleasant emotions that come with that may seem like wisdom, but actually this habit is killing your win rate. So what should you do instead Check out this video so you can finish your sessions with confidence and without regret. [B]https://www.youtube.com/watchv=QNTsOM... (https://www.youtube.com/watchv=QNTsOM67JAk)
There are five poker hands you NEED to see from this week's garage game. It was an action-packed $2/5/10 game with the nit game in effect for most of the stream. It was also my second time broadcasting for the game. Check out this video and see if there are some adjustments you can make based on these hands: https://youtu.be/h1YCuubSZHgsi=es-ThlGwloHwWdsF