Top Pair Podcast 307: Interview with Scott Blumstein

Robbie Strazynski

Apr 18, 2018

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In episode 307 of the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast, Bruce Briggs and Robbie Strazynski interview 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Scott Blumstein. Beyond the bracelet bling, and far more importantly, Scott is just a wonderful, down-to-earth, nice guy whose journey and attitude towards life is one that poker fans can certainly be inspired by.

In “home game news,” Bruce and Robbie managed to eke out little wins at the felt over the past couple weeks, plus the response to the previous episode (#306) has been splendid, with many Top Pair fans sending in their fantasy home poker game lineups.

Oh, and we’re sure you’ll chuckle at this week’s One Outer at the end of the episode, and perhaps even learn a valuable tip from it.

Top Pair thanks their sponsors, J Design Cards, the Poker Notes Live mobile app, and Buy Bitcoin, for their support. Be sure to check ‘em out!

Show Time Stamps

00:24	Synopsis
1:07–11:00	How Ya Runnin?
	Bruce: Adding No Limit Razz to the weekly mix of games. Back to being “Breakeven Bruce,” up 4 BB at the end of the session after weeks of 20% ROI or better.
	Robbie: After digging a deep hole in the latest Dealer’s Choice home game session, thanks in part to running into Maurice the buzzsaw, managing to end up a winner.
12:17	Look Who We’ve Found (start interview with Scott Blumstein)
13:28	When did Scott first get exposed to poker and feel drawn to the game?
17:25	Scott just got his own Topps Allen & Ginter trading card. Getting into Scott’s history having worked in a sports card store for three years, collecting cards, and buying poker cards featuring the games big stars.
21:42	Scott dives into his home game experience, in high school and in college. Still occasionally plays in home games for the entertainment, loves “the characters” you’ll find at every table.
25:30	Playing $5/$10 H.O.R.S.E. doesn’t mean that Scott has much proficiency or mixed game experience. He DOES want to learn more poker variants though and enjoys PLO8.
29:08	Looking back with nostalgia on being 18 and driving up for 5 hours to his “happy place,” Turning Stone Casino in upstate New York to play poker. Reminiscing about the camaraderie amongst the young grinders, the characters he used to see, and the thrill of just being there and playing
35:10	Reflecting on the difference between now living on the West Coast vs. growing up on the East Coast.
36:37	Does Scott play online poker anymore? His thoughts on the just announced U.S. shared liquidity and interstate online poker, possibly being an ambassador for one of the operators.
40:10	What has Scott done with his Main Event winnings? Does he still use Uber Pool? Tips for how to manage money.
44:00	Scott took a post-Main Event road trip with his buddies. What places and poker rooms did they visit?
45:54	Scott’s thoughts on traveling abroad to play poker. Perhaps heading over to the UK to play with John Hesp?
48:54	Scott’s planned poker playing schedule during the 2018 WSOP and “expected duties” this summer.
52:15	Scott talks about his progress as far as focusing on his health, fitness, and losing weight.
55:09	Dipping his toe into Twitch streaming prior to winning the Main Event. Potential plans for doing so again.
57:30	What’s something great that Scott has a lot of enthusiasm for that he really wants to accomplish?
1:01:00	On working with mental game coach Elliot Roe, internalizing the message of positive thinking, and inspiring others to have the right attitude towards improving their lives.
1:04:48	On the experience of meeting and playing poker with celebrities and sports stars like Norm MacDonald, Jason Alexander, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Pollak, and others.
1:07:53	Scott as a de facto ambassador for poker, what he hopes to accomplish and inspire people to do now that he has a platform via which to do so.
1:12:34	One Outer – Sometimes in poker it pays to start from the end, rather than from the beginning.

You can subscribe to PokerNews’ Top Pair Home Game Poker podcast on iTunes here, or you can access the RSS feed here. The PokerNews Podcast family of podcasts is now available on audioBoom.

Follow the show on Facebook and be sure to join in the conversation on Twitter at #PNTopPair.

Follow hosts Bruce Briggs @toppair and Robbie Strazynski @cardplayerlife, also available via email: [email protected].

^{* First 296 episodes are archived and available at www.toppair.net}

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