Ante Up Poker Magazine

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I kick things off with some Table Talk about Robbie Strazynski and his difficult decision to cancel the upcoming Mixed Game Festival. We look at the facts, show our support, and look ahead to the next festival scheduled at Bellagio later this year.

We also share the latest updates on the upcoming Ante Up poker cruise, including why now might be the perfect time to lock in your spot. Plus, there’s a new addition to the Ante Up studio that should make the show look a little sharper for our growing YouTube audience… even if installing it created a few extra “decorative” holes in the wall.

In Call the Floor, Elliott Schecter weighs in on a strange situation when a dealt card slides under the table rail and disappears from view—what’s the proper ruling when the card has to be dug out mid-deal?

Then in Hand of the Week, Patrick joins me to break down a hand with AJ suited… and, as usual, what starts as a simple situation quickly spirals into a complicated one.

Finally, I wrap things up with Joe’s One Outer, drawing inspiration from the legendary reality show Survivor and what poker players can learn from the idea of outlasting the competition while keeping a clear head.

It’s another fun one with the A-Team—strategy, stories, and a few lessons along the way.

Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more.

comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet.

Click here to check out Octopi Poker

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’re celebrating a milestone that belongs to every single member of the A-Team — we hit #1 in the Hobby & Leisure category! This doesn’t happen without the everyday poker players who listen, share, comment, and support what we do. We’ve been knocking on that door for a long time and now the goal is to stay there.

In Table Talk, we dive into the noticeable downturn of the L.A. Poker Classic (LAPC) and what it might signal about the Los Angeles tournament scene as a whole. Is it shifting player priorities? A buy-in recalibration? Or something bigger? We break it down.

We also have more updates on the upcoming Ante Up Poker Cruise — including what you can expect onboard — and preview the Octopi Poker training special that’s designed to help sharpen your edge without breaking the bankroll.

In Call the Floor, Elliott gets into the nuts and bolts of what actually constitutes a bet. When do chips across the line become binding? It’s a must-listen for tournament and cash players alike.

Then Patrick and I roll up our sleeves for Hand of the Week, breaking down a tricky AQ spot that’ll have you thinking through ranges, aggression, and decision-making streets ahead.

I close things out with Joe’s One Outer, talking about something we don’t always practice at the table — living in the moment.

It’s strategy, celebration, cruise vibes, and community… exactly what the A-Team is all about.

Let’s keep it at #1.

Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more.

comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet.

Click here to check out Octopi Poker

Elle and I kick things off with our upcoming poker travels, including our first trip out to Gila River in Arizona for the next Ante Up Poker Tour stop. We’re looking forward to the desert scenery, great action, and connecting with the A-Team in a brand-new spot for us. Then we shift from cactus to glaciers as we dive into the details of our upcoming Alaskan Poker Cruise — because nothing says “standard poker trip” like playing cards with mountains and whales in the background.

The 2026 WSOP Summer Schedule has officially dropped, and we break down some of the changes, what caught our attention, and what it could mean for everyday players trying to take their shot in Vegas.

We also recap last night’s Patreon game — where the leaderboard continues to tell stories, newcomers are making noise, and yes… there may have been some friendly trash talk involved.

In this week’s Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a controversial dirty stack situation — intention vs. action, chip visibility, and whether the bet should stand.

Then Patrick and I jump into HOTW, featuring a couple of tricky AK spots. Big slick… big decisions.

And to close things out, I share this week’s Joe’s One Outer, diving into that little voice inside your head — the one that can sabotage your stack.

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’ve got a full table and plenty to talk about.

On Table Talk, Elle and I welcome Tia Bacon from Gila River to the show as we take a deep dive into the upcoming Ante Up Poker Tour stop at Gila River Lone Butte. We talk about what players can expect, the excitement building around the series, and why this is shaping up to be a can’t-miss event. We also spotlight the incredible work being done through Camp One Step’s charity poker efforts, and how this community continues to show up when it matters most. If you would like to sign up for Camp One Step here is the link.

We also recap Sunday’s prop bets — some wins, some losses, and maybe a little humility thrown in for good measure.

On Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a tournament situation where a player didn’t get their rebuy in on time. Was it a tough break or just part of the rules? You know Elliott will break it down from the tournament director’s perspective.

In this week’s Hand of the Week, Patrick and I analyze a hand featuring AQ and dig into the decision points street by street.

And I close things out with Joe’s One Outer, talking about superstition in poker — because it’s Friday the 13th, and whether you believe in lucky charms or not, the mental game is always real.

It’s strategy, stories, rulings, laughs, and a little bit of luck — just the way we like it.

Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more.

comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet.

Click here to check out Octopi Poker

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Table Talk comes fully loaded as Elle shows up with snacks and football jerseys. From there, we dive into the Patreon Game and kick around some Super Bowl prop bets and talk Octopi Poker. Here is the link to the video I was talking about.

On Call the Floor, Elliott rules on a situation where a player’s hand is declared dead after stepping away from the table—always a tricky spot and one that sparks plenty of debate.

Patrick and I then break down a wild bar league hand in this week’s Hand of the Week, playing J-4 suited in a game where “standard” poker strategy doesn’t always apply.

I wrap things up with Joe’s One Outer, talking about why you shouldn’t be afraid to bust early in a tournament—and how sometimes playing the hand the right way matters more than how long you last.

Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get you to our magazine, podcast, YouTube, and more.

comfrt.com/ELLE73474. Your link for the most comfortable hoodie on the planet.

Click here to check out Octopi Poker