Top Pair Podcast 331: EPT Sochi Highlights & Mixed Games vs. Hold’em
In episode 331, Bruce Briggs and Robbie Strazynski examine the issues a player needs to be prepared for when approaching a mixed games home game versus a hold’em-only affair. Robbie recaps his eclectic experiences at EPT Sochi, including some tales from the Russian cash game scene.
Bruce’s break-even streak gets broken and he goes gaga for Gonzaga in a brief March Madness aside. Of course, there’s a fun one-outer with which the show will likely leave you chuckling.
Top Pair thanks their sponsors, J Design Cards and the Poker Notes Live mobile app for their support. Be sure to check ‘em out!
Show Time Stamps
| 00:26 | Synopsis |
| 1:11–29:43 | How Ya Runnin? |
| 1:21 | Deriving happiness from sesame seed bagels. |
| 3:35 | Breakeven Bruce breaks down. Lost two buy-ins over two sessions. Reminiscing about previous April Fool’s Day episodes. |
| 4:56 | March Madness talk. Bruce goes gaga for Gonzaga, while Robbie questions the university’s actual existence (with an assist from Jimmy Kimmel). Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway multimillion-dollar bracket challenge. |
| 13:05 | Recapping the highlights of a visit to the 2019 European Poker Tour stop in Sochi, Russia. Getting out of the poker room a bit to see the sights and tour the former Winter Olympics host city. |
| 16:18 | Talking about what it was like to play in the Casino Sochi cash games. Three sessions for a total of 22 hours of play, but nothing to show for it other than memories and experiences; all that poker and broke even. |
| 18:50 | The importance of looking to the left and making adjustments according to how your opponents react to looking at their hole cards for the first time. |
| 21:04 | Other notable personalities in attendance, interviews, and trip highlights, focusing on introducing Westerners to what Russia is really like vs. stereotypes. |
| 25:25 | Robbie’s heading to the WSOP for the fourth consecutive year, will be entering a bracelet event for the first time, the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice event on June 3rd. Crossing off a bucket list items after 15 years of dealer’s choice home game play. |
| 29:00 | Will Bruce and Robbie finally meet this summer? |
| 30:58–52:10 | Just a Few Folks (A deeper look at common home game issues) |
| 31:47 | No-limit hold’em vs. mixed game home games: what are the main differences in terms of mental preparation and in-game play? Not as many bluffing opportunities in mixed games; multiple reasons why. |
| 42:31 | How to estimate what sort of poker bankroll you need and what stakes to play for if you primarily play mixed games, as opposed to mostly hold’em. |
| 53:35 | One Outer – Bruce’s friend “Chucky Cheese” exhibits religious fervor at the poker table. |
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Follow hosts Bruce Briggs @toppair and Robbie Strazynski @cardplayerlife, also available via email: [email protected]
