Wow, that’s awesome to hear! When I’m recording, I like certain videos more than others, but I never really know what will resonate with people. Any idea why this one was so rewarding? I’d love to make better videos consistently.
@@PhilGalfond It was more rewarding because it was advice that helped you. We all have tips to give to various skill levels but a lot of it can be generic but it resonates more when it's tips that you got that you still remember... because those are the true nuggets. I also agree this was favorite video. Also poker is such a mental game... this video talks a lot about the mental aspect and how to reframe certain mental traps. thank you for the video Phil. I hope you hit your 40k sub goal/bet
I really like how you interpreted and then reformed #5. I watched it again after reading this comment and felt like I was able to gain a little more understanding. Thanks.
You are by far my favorite Poker mentor. You just seem like such a down to earth and nice guy. It is insanely generous of you to share your experience and knowledge of the game with us. I hope you keep making these videos, it can be slow to start a good following but if you keep at it I have no doubt in my mind your channel will be successful. Wishing you and your family the best and happy holidays!
Thanks so much, Jbigs. Those are very kind words and they mean a lot to me! Like you mentioned, the grind of building a channel is disheartening at times, so comments like this make my day!
@@PhilGalfond hey Phil, this was a great video. Its easy to get caught up in the game. The advice given is good tools to stay grounded. Good luck and happy Holidays
Indeed Phil is fantastic. I just knew about him last week and it’s amazing how he talks about poker. I’m about to start his cash game course. Thank you for share you knowledge Phil!
@@PhilGalfond Ha. Crushing poker is hard, surely! Grinding and getting subscribers on youtube isnt easy but you dont pee $$ down the drain if you get it wrong or even if you get it right!
I found this entire episode helpful. It was all about the same theme. Making peace with results, regardless of the results, is the hardest thing to work on
People are so weak in the game of life. Free range slavery is still popping world wide. You know you are at the bottom. If you pay tax and think that's OK.
Tommy Angelo is one of the those poker authors that I don't think gets enough credit. He isn't telling you how to play hands in a certain spot. But he is helping you deal with the effects of dealing with constant high variance situations which isn't something the human brain does well. I was fortunate to interact with Tommy directly in the Bay Area and I have read and enjoyed his books. You should do a top 10 Tommy vlog. It might also be interesting to hear you review various written materials (to stay out of any training site overlap) out there.
I just love your energy and kindness. Love all of these advice. The one that spoke to me the most is the last one, for sure. It is a very good reminder that the most important thing is to be fully present with whatever is happening in the present moment.
Genuinely feel unlocked and ready to play better and more. Recently had an annoying live session where I just felt powerless vs variance and annoyed at how the table was playing. Sometimes you just have to hear the right words at the right times. Thanks for this.
Whenever your dealing with less than optimal situations remember this. Your worst nightmare is often times disguised as your greatest gift. Keep an open mind. Come from a place of love. Critically think. The only limitations that exit are in your perception of reality. The lack of understanding real sacred knowledge will create an environment where you think most feats are impossible. Gain knowledge which opens the doors of more possibility. We live in a world of all possibility and probability folded into existence by perception. Whoever controls perception controls reality. Take your perceptions back. Most people repeat what they have heard and adopt it blindly. Everything is a choice. There is no fate. Only all possibility waiting to manifest. If only people will let it in. From love, which is the heart, from the stillness and silence comes the inspiration, the intuitive knowing, connecting to higher levels of awareness and intelligence that otherwise couldn't be obtained from the noise and commotion of this world. No surprise that this evil force attacks the pineal gland. The pineal gland is your think eye which allows to to connect to greater levels of awareness. Fluoride calcifies the pineal gland. As well as cause learning disabilities. Fluoride is the same ingredient found in Prozac. It just so happens to be in most people's water. People think that knowledge gets more evolved through the passage of time. Of course that can be true but looking at the totality of history humans have been getting stupider as time goes by.
@Jack Ryan in a sense we have been victims of our own success at creating stability/civilization... All the outsourced "overcoming", as well as martial efficiency, has loosed powerful dygenic effects on most populations.
@@Highspergamy From my research it comes down to the power structure incrementally manipulating consciousness. The ones who control perception control reality. Incrementally of course. Otherwise if the manipulation was done more quickly people would become aware of the abrupt changes. Similar to a frog in a boiling pot of water. If you slowly turn the flame the frog will stay in the pot and die. If you turn the flame on high the frog will jump out as it knows it's being boiled alive.
As someone with nit tendencies, #3 is super important. I know I'm not finding enough bluffs, but now going to have Phil and Tom in my head reminding me to consider the raise option
A lot of people are calling No. 1, as their favorite one on here, but wow “ don’t get upset at things that are SUPPOSED to happen”, it’s fucking brilliant.
The one about just keep focusing on making the best decision on the next street is my fav. Its so easy to beat yourself up if you got bluffed,or made a wrong rivercall. Its so easy to let a bad decision be in the front of your mind and let it affect the rest of your session. When reality is that every pokerplayer makes mistakes,even Ivey and Adelstein.
One thing that really helped me come to grips with the "you will run worse than you can imagine" was playing with the poker variance calculator. That calculator will tell you that even if you're treating poker as a job and managing, say, 100k hands a month online that unless you have a high winrate it's still possible (even if unlikely) to have a losing year. You always hear about the "long term" in poker, but I don't think most players have any idea just how the long term is. When I first started I remember getting really down after having losing WEEKS, which is almost nothing in terms of the "long term."
Sometimes you just can't make hands in key situations. Huge draws whiff, big hands dont hold, ornwhen they do, its for a $300 pot and not the $3000 ones. I can barely remember the last time I truly coolered someone. Granted, I'm playing live, but you need those situations, set on set, flush on flush, in order to win in the long run. I'm in the midst of one of these black clouds. Kind of a funny story. In two of my last three sessions, I declared last hand on my button, and both times the dealer exposed one of my cards as he dealt, and he made them the burn card. Both times i would have ended up with KK.
#2 is hitting hard at the moment for me. I started playing 10NL, beat it for 50 buy ins in 2 weeks. Moved up to 25NL, best it for 50 buy ins in 3 weeks. Moved up to 50NL thinking poker is so easy. Currently on a 15 buy in downswing playing 50nl and lost half my bankroll. Losing absolutely everything. #2 is the most important one in this video don't ever forget it
This video brought tears into my eyes, facing reallity in poker and life and not letting it affect the way you are and you play. thanks my men! Great content. Have been analysing your videos since the weekend and they are like hidden gold. Cheers. Hope to get to shake your hand oneday and personally say thank you. I feel amazing after watching your videos.
I remember a random tweet or answer to a tweet you made a couple of years ago (gonna summarize it bc I don't remember exactly the wording) : "everytime something happens, I immediately go into solution mode".. I could talk about how I understood it and how it affected me for days but Im just gonna say that it sticked with me so much.. Its one of the most important thing ive read in my life and it was from you. And for the video, I'd say the 5th one is the best one for me. I hope you know how much youre making a difference in people's lives, thanks a lot.
To branch off #4, bad things happen to everyone. Poor mental health will say these things are the end of the world and it ruins their week/month. While someone with strong mental health will only consider it an inconvenience and move forward with their day. Thanks for posting Phil
Hi Phil, i specifically love this format with Thomas! It’d be even easier for me to retain everything if you can recap the 5 things you mentioned over the course of the video at the end, as a slide or just verbally in 5-10 secs. I’ll keep an eye out, all the best with these.
Appreciate you sharing these thoughts and insights from yourself and other great players. I like the airport analogy, but consistently struggle with not getting tilted on things that I can't control even tho I realize they should happen from time to time. I wonder if other players are just better at hiding their feelings of tilt/anger/disappointment better than I or if they truly are not effected by it? And keep up the good work Phil, your channel will inevitably blow up!
I think it’s a combination. From my experience… I think I’m impacted less by emotional swings than the average person, but I also think I show it a lot less.
Hey Phil, Point 4 is like when Jungleman was reciting the Taoist farmer parable when he played you heads up. I am not sure if you watched back the stream. I don’t play poker anymore, but you are definitely one of the good guys. Much love
I used get mad when I was loosing and I would loose the entire bankroll in a few hours but over time I learned if you have a bad session you have to stay there like nothing happened and decide if you continue or stand up and leave like nothing happened no cards no money nothing emptyness
One of my poker uncles was a prop player in California (RIP Wreckker) and he told me "If you're not prepared for multiple losing years, you're not prepared to be a full time pro." The scariest part is his preferred game was limit O8.
Really liked this video. Last point about ignoring hope or fear and seeing it as opportunity to make right decision is insightful. Applicable throughout life, not just poker. Also liked point about is it worth squeezing out win rate.
Haha dude I love your style. You have been allways honest to your self and others in pokwer world. Nice to see you still have that in you. I would ask you to NOT change the format. There is so many stimulating videos all around there, a lot of cameras and sounds and editing and so on. I do belive that those are making us stupid. I like this format. A guy talking to a camera with amazing content. That is just perfect for our brain to consume it without so much stimulation. Just my 2 cents. Thanks!. I play currently nl100/200. The best poker advice someone told me was in my biggest downswing (wich was also really bad play for me). He told me: "all this bullshit, all this bullshit that you are taking IN right now, it WILL pay off, belive it, IT WILL PAY OFF". And in fact, IT DID, and I am more mentally stronger than ever. Cheers!. An advice that I would give to anyone: "You are a BIG part of any of your downswings".
The part about running worse than you ever could imagine is so true. I remember running so bad one time I seriously started to think that I would never win no matter what I did. It can fuck with you. I started to question every single play and if I even knew what I was doing. Made me question what I've been doing these last 15 years lol
I'm already subscribed and generally love any content you put up. In terms of growing the channel, in my opinion, I think the fastest way would be to show yourself playing, as I suspect that that is what most people like about you. Showing us mere mortals how to crush, whilst being amazed at your skill and demeanour.
@@PhilGalfond I think going through any of your actual HH doing your challenges ?? I do not know how much video you have playing live? Maybe you need to travel to one of the poker shows for some footage
You WILL run bad, unreasonably bad. I experienced this recently and questioned my skill level in comparison with other low level players. Then mad at the ‘Poker Gods’. It was in my head that these tables weren’t profitable and the skill gap was minimal. I lost 5 straight sessions and I think 8-10 maybe 15-20 over a 6-8 month period. I half-way committed to quitting. But do understand the strength of persistence. Won the last 3, but the fear is real. It hit me hard, mentally. And it lingers. I stopped tracking my sessions because of all the red. This ‘advice’ helps my confidence. 🙏
Loved the Tommy Angelo inclusions. His Eightfold Path to Poker Enlightenment back on the old site was very helpful in my life. I'd always been pretty chill when at the table, but applying those lessons to real life helped me be a far more pleasant person to be around. And so I don't spend a whole comment talking about someone else; best of luck with the challenge!
I have been a losing Mtt player for exactly 7 years and watched this and got some real refreshing insight!! Felt mentally prepared and energized to get going on some poker, did some prep work and then jumped into tables on GG ABI $5. Don’t wanna sound like the same ol losing player but just 2/3 outers and basically what feels like losing every hand always as per the last 7 years. Always optimistic and thinking of the game as a long sample but Christ I’m starting to feel like I’m a mathematical statistic of someone who will never be able to win whatsoever. Anyway thank you for the video.
#2 There was a moment I thought I can no longer beat 0.05/0.10 nlh game during a ~20 buy in downswing, eventually climb out of it, but realized I way underestimated the swing of the game.
It says something that 4/5 of these are sort of meta-advice, and only 1 is strictly about how to play poker. Not sure what exactly it says, but definitely something.
watched this video and was really inspired and felt unlocked to play again. went to the felt and lost 3.5 buy ins within 4 hours. 1 cooler 2nd nuts to nuts, 2 aipf 70-30 losses, and 1 aipf river 3-outer 1 in 200 chance? 1 in 500 chance? ugh but just crushed. immediately don't wanna play again.
Advice 4 is great. After years I am no longer surprised by coolers or losing 5 stacks in a session or sitting next to an asshole. It happens. Same with the stock market. Or friendship / relationship up and downs.
@@PhilGalfond you are right, it takes a while. really helps beat live poker though. [as you know] even if you fold to 3 river raises by a nit in a row, the 4th time he is not suddenly gonna use blockers to bluff shove.
Hey Phil, I justed wanted to say thank you for this content. I used to be a mid stakes HU player from 2008-2012 and was a really big fan back then. I used to be subscribed to your training side and read all your posts on 2+2 etc. So I credit a good part of my success back in the day to you and other people sharing this kind of knowledge. Even though I just play some occasional micro 6 max for fun these days, I still liked the video a lot and I'm certain some points you made can even be transferred to other parts of life. So thank you and I wish you and your family a merry Christmas, some enjoyable holidays and the best wishes from Germany
Nice! I really like these types of poker discussions from a philosophical perspective. Definitely something different from discussions about strategies/tactics about particular hands, which I don't mind listening to. Nice to see someone do so well from my High School. But I won't reveal that for privacy sake, unless it's already out there. 😀
The first two are solid and easily digestible. The last three are on the advanced scale and of a very specific mindset. They are understandable in a logical and plain way, but to really get them and integrate them requires a deep understanding.
Being more Zen at the poker table and life resonates with me. Its something I recognize I need to improve upon. Knowing that percentages exist that things will happen good and bad does elevate the stress and anger I feel when I make the correct decision and get my chips in good and still lose. Thanks for this reminder and tip!!!
I loved the Tom Dwan advice! It will definitely be in my mind, when I sit at the tables in the future. That said, I suspect it (perhaps!) should come with a caveat, maybe even warning, that it works best if you're a poker player who has logged a ton of hands. If you're not experienced enough to identify the correct spots to employ it, then it could be become very expensive very quickly imho. With a few of the other pieces of advice, I - as philosophy nerd - can't help myself but suggest Meditations by Marcus Aurelius if you haven't read it. From this, and other content from you, I strongly suspect, you would love it (as would anyone else reading this who could see the usage in your advice, obviously).
Never be afraid of failed bluffs, when they are tanking, get excited for the positive benefits if your bluff fails (good for the game, you will get paid off more often) and this will be read as confident energy!
Hello from the Philippines, new sub here. Similarly I heard Doug Polk say in reference to MTT bust outs, 'Sometimes it's just Your Turn to bust'. Thanks Phil
Phil, I don’t know why you waited so long to share your insights with us but I’m sure glad you did! Each piece of advice is equally important so I can’t just pick one. Will be saving this so I can watch again and again!
I love the delayed flight analogy. That's something that's going to happen every so often, and since we know that we don't take it personally. It's really no different than the 2-outer on the river that blows up our set. (Now I just have to put that philosophy into practice! lol)
I love #5. Reminds me of some good advice I once got. I was taking a shot at higher stakes and I told my friend I was nervous about it. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "just play right." So simple, but it's the best advice I ever got.
Not fearing bad run outs has an even deeper positive benefit, you will be more calm and harder to read. Also if you are bluffing, don’t be afraid of a call, be ready to smile and turn your hand over, your energy will come off as confident, and again, harder to read.
I like the first one. Sometimes with rec player on table and I don’t want to leave, which is fine. But luck didn’t come to me and I am sad that why I can’t get a piece. Then I am so urged to win and ends up losing money by staying longer on table and lose my patience. Staying longer when feeling uncomfortable=gambling, so true
Hello Phil G.; You presented the above INFOrmation perfectly. I might have been born with a bit more 'balance' than those round and about me--But I still enrolled in a "Philosophy/Meditation" school in NYC--and remained learning...for 5-years; and never missed a weekly class. Now much later as I play poker I undersand all which was being taught me. Be-In-The-Moment. Do not allow the Moment to (Do) you.
Downswings are sometimes so insane that you question reality. Feels like somebody pressed a button and suddenly you lose everyhting and know it even before
Thanks for the great vid. You are awesome, one of my favorite poker players and coaches of all time. WIsh I got to meet you face to face one day, that would be a dream come true.
Tommy Angelo's Elements of Poker is one of the best poker books Ive read and own! Almost every sentence has a gem of wisdom that is + ev ! RE number 2. Variance has meant that this hasnt yet happened to quite a lot of poker vloggers but it probably will do !
Number 3 is excellent new info for me to add to my skillset. I have started trying to do this but I do so too atypically which hurts my credibility. I will raise it some. Everything you said I tend to follow. At 23 after 1600 hours of poker I lost nearly the pot limit in 4 hands in a row of 5-10 limit poker. Queen set vs king set. Flop straight against river flush. Queens sucked out vs jacks. I lost all my 2-4 and 3-6 profits from weeks and this taught me to like no limit but understand I will inevitably run bad. Took 10 years off poker. I haven’t played enough NL on my return to run bad yet. Not sure I could enjoy limit again!
This is excellent advice. I've just started listening to your channel, but it's awesome. You are succinct and not tooting your own horn. Please keep up the excellent work.
I’ll never forget your debut on High Stakes poker. Me: Arm chair QB thinking what an idiot. My apologies. Picture me now as Wayne and Garth as they meet Alice Cooper.
Love your approach Phil, always have. Great content. Checking in to see what you’re teaching the young bucks and pick up knowledge nuggets myself to recoup the inevitable win rate reductions I’m gonna see with you handing out all this rational and logical knowledge to the poker world.
i love plo but i am NL player and i really enjoy watching your videos, because it seems like you have a nice personality, and you are a great person. thank you, Sir!
Sometimes it's not that you are necessarily playing bad, but the right cards just don't come. Being able to correctly keep folding when the cards are not going your way, rather than trying to up your bluff rate, which can magnify losses should make losseing sesssions less of a drain against winning sessions.
Great stuff, Phil. I always liked you but since I stumbled across this, I like ya even more! Keep up the good work and hope to see you this coming WSOP!
I liked Tom Dwans advice and number 5 the most. I think a lot of times you may put your opponents on some kind of combo draw, so say on the river the flush and straight both come in and you for sure had your opponents on a draw. This is where number 5 is really helpful. You really shouldn’t be hoping the flush doesn’t come in because it’s going to about a third of the time. All you can do is bet accordingly if they are drawing. When it does come in it’s an “opportunity “ to make the right decision, a decision that you will have to make many, many times if you plan to play poker profitably. I think a lot of people just get emotional and make bad calls in this situation instead of focusing on the right decision. That’s a great way to think about it, thanks. Back to Dwan, he’s just a genius that was way ahead of his time. I’m just guessing here but I bet he told you that YEARS ago?
Phil you're the nicest guy haha. I can feel you not wanting to impose the subscription. That's why we love you, along with your big brain. Subscribed anyway, sorry!
All good stuff but #2 hit home for me as I've been on a down swing playing 1NL. I'd run my $40, started at micro stakes, to just short of $3500 and I've run that down rather quickly to short of $1400. I need to now work on #4. Thankfully on Christmas Day I placed 3rd in a $30K GT for $3468 so all is well.
Hi Phil, learned a lot from you since Bluefire Poker, thank you very much! Can you please do a video about when to/not to slowplay the turn out of position? Since check/raising the turn shows a lot of strenght. Thank you, success in your new channel!
I remember years ago you talking about Tom saying you should raise in that spot. My biggest lesson there was to talk to people I know in real life about hands. That was a huge help for me. Tommy did about a one hour interview on Poker Road back in the day with 2 hosts of some show that was on that site. Any idea where I could find that interview again? I probably listened to it about 20 times and sent it to many people. Thanks Phil, great video!
“Every time the action is on you, you have the chance to make the right play.”
Good advice for poker, and life.
I think I have seen 90% of your videos, but this one is easily one of the most rewarding ones in your whole library. Excellent stuff, sir!
Wow, that’s awesome to hear! When I’m recording, I like certain videos more than others, but I never really know what will resonate with people.
Any idea why this one was so rewarding? I’d love to make better videos consistently.
I agree, this is the stuff you can't learn from a solver and it's priceless
@@PhilGalfond It was more rewarding because it was advice that helped you. We all have tips to give to various skill levels but a lot of it can be generic but it resonates more when it's tips that you got that you still remember... because those are the true nuggets. I also agree this was favorite video. Also poker is such a mental game... this video talks a lot about the mental aspect and how to reframe certain mental traps.
thank you for the video Phil. I hope you hit your 40k sub goal/bet
Advice #5 spoke to me the most. Don’t let a poor / incorrect flop decision prevent you from making the correct turn decision 👍🏻
🤗 thank you. Glad you found it helpful, and I like the way you put it as well.
I really like how you interpreted and then reformed #5. I watched it again after reading this comment and felt like I was able to gain a little more understanding. Thanks.
Just fire the other two bullets losers.
I agree so many times I'm praying for the flush/straight to come when I'm drawing when that isnt what I should be focusing on
Agreed. #5 hit most for me
You are by far my favorite Poker mentor. You just seem like such a down to earth and nice guy. It is insanely generous of you to share your experience and knowledge of the game with us. I hope you keep making these videos, it can be slow to start a good following but if you keep at it I have no doubt in my mind your channel will be successful. Wishing you and your family the best and happy holidays!
Thanks so much, Jbigs. Those are very kind words and they mean a lot to me! Like you mentioned, the grind of building a channel is disheartening at times, so comments like this make my day!
@@PhilGalfond hey Phil, this was a great video. Its easy to get caught up in the game. The advice given is good tools to stay grounded. Good luck and happy Holidays
Indeed Phil is fantastic. I just knew about him last week and it’s amazing how he talks about poker.
I’m about to start his cash game course.
Thank you for share you knowledge Phil!
@@PhilGalfond Ha. Crushing poker is hard, surely! Grinding and getting subscribers on youtube isnt easy but you dont pee $$ down the drain if you get it wrong or even if you get it right!
Another really great video. And I can’t say enough…you are sooo much easier to listen to then many other online coaches.
Poker advices are not just "poker advices".. they are life hacks
I found this entire episode helpful. It was all about the same theme. Making peace with results, regardless of the results, is the hardest thing to work on
People are so weak in the game of life. Free range slavery is still popping world wide. You know you are at the bottom. If you pay tax and think that's OK.
Tommy Angelo is one of the those poker authors that I don't think gets enough credit. He isn't telling you how to play hands in a certain spot. But he is helping you deal with the effects of dealing with constant high variance situations which isn't something the human brain does well. I was fortunate to interact with Tommy directly in the Bay Area and I have read and enjoyed his books. You should do a top 10 Tommy vlog. It might also be interesting to hear you review various written materials (to stay out of any training site overlap) out there.
I agree - Tommy is really something!
Thanks for the suggestions! I haven’t read poker books in a long time, but maybe it’ll give me some ideas.
@@PhilGalfond How about a convo with you & Tommy? That would be something special.
He does a nice job explaining the importance of trying to get into good situations and avoid bad ones. Really sharp guy.
I just love your energy and kindness. Love all of these advice. The one that spoke to me the most is the last one, for sure. It is a very good reminder that the most important thing is to be fully present with whatever is happening in the present moment.
Genuinely feel unlocked and ready to play better and more. Recently had an annoying live session where I just felt powerless vs variance and annoyed at how the table was playing. Sometimes you just have to hear the right words at the right times. Thanks for this.
Whenever your dealing with less than optimal situations remember this. Your worst nightmare is often times disguised as your greatest gift.
Keep an open mind. Come from a place of love. Critically think.
The only limitations that exit are in your perception of reality. The lack of understanding real sacred knowledge will create an environment where you think most feats are impossible.
Gain knowledge which opens the doors of more possibility.
We live in a world of all possibility and probability folded into existence by perception. Whoever controls perception controls reality. Take your perceptions back. Most people repeat what they have heard and adopt it blindly.
Everything is a choice. There is no fate. Only all possibility waiting to manifest. If only people will let it in.
From love, which is the heart, from the stillness and silence comes the inspiration, the intuitive knowing, connecting to higher levels of awareness and intelligence that otherwise couldn't be obtained from the noise and commotion of this world.
No surprise that this evil force attacks the pineal gland. The pineal gland is your think eye which allows to to connect to greater levels of awareness.
Fluoride calcifies the pineal gland. As well as cause learning disabilities. Fluoride is the same ingredient found in Prozac. It just so happens to be in most people's water.
People think that knowledge gets more evolved through the passage of time. Of course that can be true but looking at the totality of history humans have been getting stupider as time goes by.
@@jackryan716 ruclips.net/video/XnesFDNy-60/видео.html
@Jack Ryan in a sense we have been victims of our own success
at creating stability/civilization...
All the outsourced "overcoming",
as well as martial efficiency, has loosed powerful dygenic effects
on most populations.
@@Highspergamy From my research it comes down to the power structure incrementally manipulating consciousness. The ones who control perception control reality.
Incrementally of course. Otherwise if the manipulation was done more quickly people would become aware of the abrupt changes.
Similar to a frog in a boiling pot of water. If you slowly turn the flame the frog will stay in the pot and die. If you turn the flame on high the frog will jump out as it knows it's being boiled alive.
As someone with nit tendencies, #3 is super important. I know I'm not finding enough bluffs, but now going to have Phil and Tom in my head reminding me to consider the raise option
A lot of people are calling No. 1, as their favorite one on here, but wow
“ don’t get upset at things that are SUPPOSED to happen”, it’s fucking brilliant.
Tommy is a genius.
The one about just keep focusing on making the best decision on the next street is my fav. Its so easy to beat yourself up if you got bluffed,or made a wrong rivercall. Its so easy to let a bad decision be in the front of your mind and let it affect the rest of your session.
When reality is that every pokerplayer makes mistakes,even Ivey and Adelstein.
Thank you, Christian! Yep, I make mistakes every hour at the table.
One thing that really helped me come to grips with the "you will run worse than you can imagine" was playing with the poker variance calculator. That calculator will tell you that even if you're treating poker as a job and managing, say, 100k hands a month online that unless you have a high winrate it's still possible (even if unlikely) to have a losing year. You always hear about the "long term" in poker, but I don't think most players have any idea just how the long term is. When I first started I remember getting really down after having losing WEEKS, which is almost nothing in terms of the "long term."
Sometimes you just can't make hands in key situations. Huge draws whiff, big hands dont hold, ornwhen they do, its for a $300 pot and not the $3000 ones. I can barely remember the last time I truly coolered someone. Granted, I'm playing live, but you need those situations, set on set, flush on flush, in order to win in the long run. I'm in the midst of one of these black clouds. Kind of a funny story. In two of my last three sessions, I declared last hand on my button, and both times the dealer exposed one of my cards as he dealt, and he made them the burn card. Both times i would have ended up with KK.
I like the airport analogy its a great reminder to not get tilted
#2 is hitting hard at the moment for me. I started playing 10NL, beat it for 50 buy ins in 2 weeks. Moved up to 25NL, best it for 50 buy ins in 3 weeks. Moved up to 50NL thinking poker is so easy. Currently on a 15 buy in downswing playing 50nl and lost half my bankroll. Losing absolutely everything. #2 is the most important one in this video don't ever forget it
I heard Tommy speak at Lucky Chances when Matt Savage was there. His “Rubberband Story” has always stuck with me.
This video brought tears into my eyes, facing reallity in poker and life and not letting it affect the way you are and you play. thanks my men! Great content. Have been analysing your videos since the weekend and they are like hidden gold. Cheers. Hope to get to shake your hand oneday and personally say thank you. I feel amazing after watching your videos.
Wow, thank you!!
I've definitely been on a downswing that has been tough to swallow. Thanks for the advise.
Great advice Phil.
All much easier said than done. I have a lot of mental work to do
I'm a nit, so the Dwan advice really hit. There are so many times when I bluff catch where a raise actually does better.
So hard to imagine you tilting/making bad decision, Phil.
Thanks for all the great vids! Best of luck w everything!
literally the best sub 10 min video on you tube.
Wow, thank you!
that last one literally shook me to my core. applicable to a lot of situations outside of poker too
I remember a random tweet or answer to a tweet you made a couple of years ago (gonna summarize it bc I don't remember exactly the wording) : "everytime something happens, I immediately go into solution mode".. I could talk about how I understood it and how it affected me for days but Im just gonna say that it sticked with me so much.. Its one of the most important thing ive read in my life and it was from you.
And for the video, I'd say the 5th one is the best one for me.
I hope you know how much youre making a difference in people's lives, thanks a lot.
Your videos are very uplifting and your presentation style is really comforting. Thank you for this great content and please keep it going!
Thank you so much 😊
To branch off #4, bad things happen to everyone. Poor mental health will say these things are the end of the world and it ruins their week/month. While someone with strong mental health will only consider it an inconvenience and move forward with their day. Thanks for posting Phil
Thank you, Aaron!
Hi Phil, i specifically love this format with Thomas! It’d be even easier for me to retain everything if you can recap the 5 things you mentioned over the course of the video at the end, as a slide or just verbally in 5-10 secs.
I’ll keep an eye out, all the best with these.
Thank you for the suggestion!
Don't hope, don't fear. Been doing that always... until now :) Many thanks Phil!
Appreciate you sharing these thoughts and insights from yourself and other great players. I like the airport analogy, but consistently struggle with not getting tilted on things that I can't control even tho I realize they should happen from time to time. I wonder if other players are just better at hiding their feelings of tilt/anger/disappointment better than I or if they truly are not effected by it? And keep up the good work Phil, your channel will inevitably blow up!
I think it’s a combination. From my experience… I think I’m impacted less by emotional swings than the average person, but I also think I show it a lot less.
Hey Phil,
Point 4 is like when Jungleman was reciting the Taoist farmer parable when he played you heads up.
I am not sure if you watched back the stream.
I don’t play poker anymore, but you are definitely one of the good guys. Much love
♥️
I used get mad when I was loosing and I would loose the entire bankroll in a few hours but over time I learned if you have a bad session you have to stay there like nothing happened and decide if you continue or stand up and leave like nothing happened no cards no money nothing emptyness
Amazing stuff. Really appreciate you providing your insight to the game. These videos have been great!!
One of my poker uncles was a prop player in California (RIP Wreckker) and he told me "If you're not prepared for multiple losing years, you're not prepared to be a full time pro." The scariest part is his preferred game was limit O8.
Really liked this video. Last point about ignoring hope or fear and seeing it as opportunity to make right decision is insightful. Applicable throughout life, not just poker.
Also liked point about is it worth squeezing out win rate.
Haha dude I love your style. You have been allways honest to your self and others in pokwer world. Nice to see you still have that in you.
I would ask you to NOT change the format. There is so many stimulating videos all around there, a lot of cameras and sounds and editing and so on. I do belive that those are making us stupid.
I like this format. A guy talking to a camera with amazing content. That is just perfect for our brain to consume it without so much stimulation.
Just my 2 cents.
Thanks!.
I play currently nl100/200. The best poker advice someone told me was in my biggest downswing (wich was also really bad play for me). He told me: "all this bullshit, all this bullshit that you are taking IN right now, it WILL pay off, belive it, IT WILL PAY OFF".
And in fact, IT DID, and I am more mentally stronger than ever.
Cheers!.
An advice that I would give to anyone: "You are a BIG part of any of your downswings".
Great stuff. Simple thoughts that poker players at every level will benefit from.
The part about running worse than you ever could imagine is so true. I remember running so bad one time I seriously started to think that I would never win no matter what I did. It can fuck with you. I started to question every single play and if I even knew what I was doing. Made me question what I've been doing these last 15 years lol
Well.... Tip number 4 was the key piece. Thanks champ!
Bluffing with something makes a lot more sense when you say it that way. Keep rocking Phil!
I'm already subscribed and generally love any content you put up. In terms of growing the channel, in my opinion, I think the fastest way would be to show yourself playing, as I suspect that that is what most people like about you. Showing us mere mortals how to crush, whilst being amazed at your skill and demeanour.
Thank you! I appreciate the suggestion. I’m trying to think of how I might do that early in the new year.
@@PhilGalfond I think going through any of your actual HH doing your challenges ?? I do not know how much video you have playing live? Maybe you need to travel to one of the poker shows for some footage
You WILL run bad, unreasonably bad. I experienced this recently and questioned my skill level in comparison with other low level players. Then mad at the ‘Poker Gods’. It was in my head that these tables weren’t profitable and the skill gap was minimal. I lost 5 straight sessions and I think 8-10 maybe 15-20 over a 6-8 month period. I half-way committed to quitting. But do understand the strength of persistence. Won the last 3, but the fear is real. It hit me hard, mentally. And it lingers. I stopped tracking my sessions because of all the red. This ‘advice’ helps my confidence. 🙏
Loved the Tommy Angelo inclusions. His Eightfold Path to Poker Enlightenment back on the old site was very helpful in my life. I'd always been pretty chill when at the table, but applying those lessons to real life helped me be a far more pleasant person to be around.
And so I don't spend a whole comment talking about someone else; best of luck with the challenge!
Thank you!!
I have been a losing Mtt player for exactly 7 years and watched this and got some real refreshing insight!! Felt mentally prepared and energized to get going on some poker, did some prep work and then jumped into tables on GG ABI $5. Don’t wanna sound like the same ol losing player but just 2/3 outers and basically what feels like losing every hand always as per the last 7 years. Always optimistic and thinking of the game as a long sample but Christ I’m starting to feel like I’m a mathematical statistic of someone who will never be able to win whatsoever. Anyway thank you for the video.
#2 There was a moment I thought I can no longer beat 0.05/0.10 nlh game during a ~20 buy in downswing, eventually climb out of it, but realized I way underestimated the swing of the game.
Those small games are tough, it becomes bingo bc people dont care about those stakes . So i feel you on that.
It says something that 4/5 of these are sort of meta-advice, and only 1 is strictly about how to play poker. Not sure what exactly it says, but definitely something.
watched this video and was really inspired and felt unlocked to play again.
went to the felt and lost 3.5 buy ins within 4 hours.
1 cooler 2nd nuts to nuts, 2 aipf 70-30 losses, and 1 aipf river 3-outer
1 in 200 chance? 1 in 500 chance? ugh
but just crushed. immediately don't wanna play again.
Advice 4 is great. After years I am no longer surprised by coolers or losing 5 stacks in a session or sitting next to an asshole. It happens. Same with the stock market. Or friendship / relationship up and downs.
Glad you’ve reached this level of mindset! It’s no easy task.
@@PhilGalfond you are right, it takes a while. really helps beat live poker though. [as you know] even if you fold to 3 river raises by a nit in a row, the 4th time he is not suddenly gonna use blockers to bluff shove.
Hey Phil, I justed wanted to say thank you for this content. I used to be a mid stakes HU player from 2008-2012 and was a really big fan back then. I used to be subscribed to your training side and read all your posts on 2+2 etc. So I credit a good part of my success back in the day to you and other people sharing this kind of knowledge. Even though I just play some occasional micro 6 max for fun these days, I still liked the video a lot and I'm certain some points you made can even be transferred to other parts of life. So thank you and I wish you and your family a merry Christmas, some enjoyable holidays and the best wishes from Germany
Nice! I really like these types of poker discussions from a philosophical perspective. Definitely something different from discussions about strategies/tactics about particular hands, which I don't mind listening to.
Nice to see someone do so well from my High School. But I won't reveal that for privacy sake, unless it's already out there. 😀
The first two are solid and easily digestible. The last three are on the advanced scale and of a very specific mindset. They are understandable in a logical and plain way, but to really get them and integrate them requires a deep understanding.
This video is remarkably valuable. The mindset comments are a cheat code in poker, and life.
Being more Zen at the poker table and life resonates with me. Its something I recognize I need to improve upon. Knowing that percentages exist that things will happen good and bad does elevate the stress and anger I feel when I make the correct decision and get my chips in good and still lose. Thanks for this reminder and tip!!!
U felt so cheesy about asking to subscribe… very genuine
I loved the Tom Dwan advice! It will definitely be in my mind, when I sit at the tables in the future. That said, I suspect it (perhaps!) should come with a caveat, maybe even warning, that it works best if you're a poker player who has logged a ton of hands. If you're not experienced enough to identify the correct spots to employ it, then it could be become very expensive very quickly imho.
With a few of the other pieces of advice, I - as philosophy nerd - can't help myself but suggest Meditations by Marcus Aurelius if you haven't read it. From this, and other content from you, I strongly suspect, you would love it (as would anyone else reading this who could see the usage in your advice, obviously).
Absolutely love your content Phil, please keep it up 🙏
Never be afraid of failed bluffs, when they are tanking, get excited for the positive benefits if your bluff fails (good for the game, you will get paid off more often) and this will be read as confident energy!
Looking good man! Staying in shape
Working on it, thanks! We’ll see how I do over the holidays 😃
Hello from the Philippines, new sub here. Similarly I heard Doug Polk say in reference to MTT bust outs, 'Sometimes it's just Your Turn to bust'. Thanks Phil
Phil, I don’t know why you waited so long to share your insights with us but I’m sure glad you did! Each piece of advice is equally important so I can’t just pick one. Will be saving this so I can watch again and again!
Awesome. Thanks, Shannon!
Love this! Especially the 5th best advice.
I love the delayed flight analogy. That's something that's going to happen every so often, and since we know that we don't take it personally. It's really no different than the 2-outer on the river that blows up our set. (Now I just have to put that philosophy into practice! lol)
I love #5. Reminds me of some good advice I once got. I was taking a shot at higher stakes and I told my friend I was nervous about it. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "just play right." So simple, but it's the best advice I ever got.
Sometimes the best advice is very simple.
Not fearing bad run outs has an even deeper positive benefit, you will be more calm and harder to read. Also if you are bluffing, don’t be afraid of a call, be ready to smile and turn your hand over, your energy will come off as confident, and again, harder to read.
"If an ashole is being an asshole to me. That´s was assholes do." The next time some clown person is an asshole to me, I will remember this phrase.
Thank you for your advice. Very helpful.
How do you find the difference between buy-in loss thresholds by stakes?
What do you recommend for serious players?
I like the first one. Sometimes with rec player on table and I don’t want to leave, which is fine. But luck didn’t come to me and I am sad that why I can’t get a piece. Then I am so urged to win and ends up losing money by staying longer on table and lose my patience.
Staying longer when feeling uncomfortable=gambling, so true
Hello Phil G.; You presented the above INFOrmation perfectly. I might have been born with a bit more 'balance' than those round and about me--But I still enrolled in a "Philosophy/Meditation" school in NYC--and remained learning...for 5-years; and never missed a weekly class. Now much later as I play poker I undersand all which was being taught me. Be-In-The-Moment. Do not allow the Moment to (Do) you.
Downswings are sometimes so insane that you question reality. Feels like somebody pressed a button and suddenly you lose everyhting and know it even before
Amazing content Phillis
Thank you!! Glad you're enjoying it.
Advice number 4, thanks.
Thanks for the great vid. You are awesome, one of my favorite poker players and coaches of all time. WIsh I got to meet you face to face one day, that would be a dream come true.
You’re very welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Tommy Angelo's Elements of Poker is one of the best poker books Ive read and own! Almost every sentence has a gem of wisdom that is + ev ! RE number 2. Variance has meant that this hasnt yet happened to quite a lot of poker vloggers but it probably will do !
The last one was brilliant!
Number 3 is excellent new info for me to add to my skillset. I have started trying to do this but I do so too atypically which hurts my credibility. I will raise it some.
Everything you said I tend to follow. At 23 after 1600 hours of poker I lost nearly the pot limit in 4 hands in a row of 5-10 limit poker. Queen set vs king set. Flop straight against river flush. Queens sucked out vs jacks. I lost all my 2-4 and 3-6 profits from weeks and this taught me to like no limit but understand I will inevitably run bad. Took 10 years off poker. I haven’t played enough NL on my return to run bad yet. Not sure I could enjoy limit again!
"Don't be upset. It is supposed to happen." Spoke to me. Thanks Phil, Brian West.
Thanks, Brian! I’m glad you found it helpful!
This is excellent advice. I've just started listening to your channel, but it's awesome. You are succinct and not tooting your own horn. Please keep up the excellent work.
Welcome to the channel and thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it.
I’ll never forget your debut on High Stakes poker. Me: Arm chair QB thinking what an idiot. My apologies. Picture me now as Wayne and Garth as they meet Alice Cooper.
😂 all good
"Ok Phil..Whats the best poker advice you've ever been given?"
Phil Galfond: "I might be kinda slow"
Love your approach Phil, always have. Great content.
Checking in to see what you’re teaching the young bucks and pick up knowledge nuggets myself to recoup the inevitable win rate reductions I’m gonna see with you handing out all this rational and logical knowledge to the poker world.
Thank you! Sorry I’m making you keep up 😃. GL 🍀
@@PhilGalfond keeping up with the constant evolution is the challenge that we both love about the game. Cheers
thank you Phil, been watching you a long time, always good refreshing advice
Always the best poker content
Another great video from Proctor & Gamble® whoops I mean Phil Galfond
i love plo but i am NL player and i really enjoy watching your videos, because it seems like you have a nice personality, and you are a great person. thank you, Sir!
Thank you very much for the kind words 😊
Sometimes it's not that you are necessarily playing bad, but the right cards just don't come. Being able to correctly keep folding when the cards are not going your way, rather than trying to up your bluff rate, which can magnify losses should make losseing sesssions less of a drain against winning sessions.
Love all advice’s but number 5 is 🔑✌️💙
Great stuff, Phil. I always liked you but since I stumbled across this, I like ya even more! Keep up the good work and hope to see you this coming WSOP!
Thank you!
I liked Tom Dwans advice and number 5 the most. I think a lot of times you may put your opponents on some kind of combo draw, so say on the river the flush and straight both come in and you for sure had your opponents on a draw.
This is where number 5 is really helpful. You really shouldn’t be hoping the flush doesn’t come in because it’s going to about a third of the time. All you can do is bet accordingly if they are drawing.
When it does come in it’s an “opportunity “ to make the right decision, a decision that you will have to make many, many times if you plan to play poker profitably.
I think a lot of people just get emotional and make bad calls in this situation instead of focusing on the right decision.
That’s a great way to think about it, thanks.
Back to Dwan, he’s just a genius that was way ahead of his time. I’m just guessing here but I bet he told you that YEARS ago?
Phil you're the nicest guy haha. I can feel you not wanting to impose the subscription. That's why we love you, along with your big brain. Subscribed anyway, sorry!
Thank you so much!
these all apply to most things in life. thanks.
TA is great. Keeping it real.
Play for fun was the best advice I got. I don't need to make money from poker. Liberating feeling.
That's great advice!
All good stuff but #2 hit home for me as I've been on a down swing playing 1NL. I'd run my $40, started at micro stakes, to just short of $3500 and I've run that down rather quickly to short of $1400. I need to now work on #4.
Thankfully on Christmas Day I placed 3rd in a $30K GT for $3468 so all is well.
I remember years ago you mentioning #3 and it helped my game so much going forward.
Awesome 😃
This is a great video. Thanks for sharing a bit of wisdom with us. definitely needed to hear it
The #1 of the 5 tips about the hourly is gold!
My favorite!
Sound good thanks and good luck in 2023 let's run good boys and girls from all over the world ❤️
Hi Phil, learned a lot from you since Bluefire Poker, thank you very much! Can you please do a video about when to/not to slowplay the turn out of position? Since check/raising the turn shows a lot of strenght. Thank you, success in your new channel!
You’re welcome 🙂 and thanks for the suggestion! Let me think about how I’d cover this.
I remember years ago you talking about Tom saying you should raise in that spot. My biggest lesson there was to talk to people I know in real life about hands. That was a huge help for me. Tommy did about a one hour interview on Poker Road back in the day with 2 hosts of some show that was on that site. Any idea where I could find that interview again? I probably listened to it about 20 times and sent it to many people. Thanks Phil, great video!
I’m not sure where to find it, no. Those were back before Spotify and Apple Podcasts. They may be gone?
Airport analogy was awesome.
Phil, you are absolute legend. Really solid advice here. Just found your channel on YT; insta subbed. Excited to learn more from one of the best
Thanks so much for the kind words and the sub! I’ll be working hard on more content!