Transcript

Elle (0:00)

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Elliot Schechter (0:30)

Take

Joe Scales (0:32)

your seat.

Patrick (0:33)

The cards are flying high. Shuffle up and deal at the Aces

Joe Scales (0:38)

Lie Longest Running show.

Patrick (0:41)

Yeah, we seen it all. From the river to the rail, we answer the call.

Joe Scales (0:48)

Hello a team, and welcome back to another episode of the Ante Up Poker Podcast where every hand is an opportunity, every player is a friend, and every episode is a winning experience. I'm your host, Joe Scales. And hey, this weekend I'm going to be spinning that wheel for the new Good Karma seats in February. So keep an eye on your email because if you win, I will reach out via the email you gave me on Patreon. We also have quite the snowstorm making its way across that least half the country, so I hope everyone out there staying safe, staying warm, and maybe getting in a few online hands while you're snowed in. However, with all that said, all this talk of snow and cold has me really looking forward to the upcoming trip to Gila River Lone View in Arizona. The dates are set for March 18th through through the 22nd and they're already starting satellites this month, so there's going to be plenty of chances to get into the main event. We can't wait to see everybody out there. It's been a long time since we've been that far out west and if you're planning to be there, definitely let us know. We're also going to be heading back to Schenectady, New York in September. I don't have the exact dates just yet, but so we're very excited to return there and see all of you guys there again. Also, our championship event will once again be at the Venetian in Las Vegas. This time it's going to be in December. Exact dates still coming on that one as well, but we'll share all of those dates as soon as they kind of come into focus. Right. I'll be getting all of this information up on our website soon, so stay tuned as we continue to build out this year's tour stop dates. We've got a great show for you again this week and that's really all the announcements I Have for now. So let's get on with the show. Find out what conversations are happening around

Summary

Ante Up Poker Magazine Podcast

Chapter 4, Episode 2 – "Perspective"

Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Joe Scales
Featured Contributors: Elle, Patrick, Elliot Schechter

Episode Overview

In this week’s episode, host Joe Scales is joined by frequent co-host Elle and friends Patrick and Elliot for a lively, insightful, and humor-tinged discussion blending poker strategy, community anecdotes, and real-life reflections. Key segments include Table Talk (with a spotlight on mixed games and an 88-year-old poker heroine), Call the Floor (navigating tricky dealer decisions), and Hand of the Week (analyzing a complex cash game hand). Joe caps the show with his signature “One Outer” monologue, reminding players to keep perspective on poker’s true long game.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Tour Announcements and Community News (00:41–03:09)

Joe opens with updates on winter weather, upcoming live tours (Arizona in March, Schenectady in September, Las Vegas in December), and satellite events for the Ante Up tour.
Joe (00:48): “Every hand is an opportunity, every player is a friend, and every episode is a winning experience.”

2. Table Talk: Mixed Game Woes & Wins, The “Big Blind” Debate, and Poker Inspiration (03:09–28:39)

Poker & Fitness: Staying Sharp

Elle and Joe humorously reflect on exercising after playing online Raz. They talk about the importance of intentional scheduling for both health and poker focus.
- Elle (04:23): “You’ve got to take care of your body so that you can concentrate when you’re at the tables too.”

Online Mixed Game Recaps: Raz & Deuce-to-Seven

“Big Sexy” (community member) finally wins a Raz event. Elle confesses to confusion between Raz and Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw, compounded by fast online play.
- Elle (06:29): “I had a really hard time distinguishing Deuce to Seven Triple Draw and Raz… it was going quickly and you can only fold so many times before you have to have some type of action.”
Bounty story: Elle unknowingly KO’s the bounty player, learning only after.
- Elle (08:31): “So embarrassing… I wasn’t going after the bounty. I was just playing my game.”

Getting More Mixed Game Reps

Joe and Elle discuss the challenges of finding mixed games outside special festivals and home games.

Good Karma Seats Update (10:27–11:43)

“Good Karma” seat winners (Patreon members get free games; added prizes for winning tournaments, courtesy of Ben Minch).
- Elle (11:03): “Hello, challenge flag thrown! Who’s participating?”

The “Big Blind” Calculations Rant (11:43–17:18)

Elle’s frustration with “big blind” stacks misrepresenting actual orbits to survive, especially when accounting for big blind antes.
- Elle (13:17): “You have to pay a big blind ante, so you’re saying to me that you have 15 big blinds when really you may have seven.”
- Joe (14:31): “The reason we have a big blind ante… is so only one person puts it out—simplifies things, but doesn’t change the cost per orbit.”
- Both debate if “big blinds” is outdated terminology (Elle is adamantly in favor of orbits as a truer measure).

Poker Hero: Linda Hammonds, Age 88 (17:18–21:57)

Heartwarming story about Linda, an 88-year-old who entered a major tournament at Beau Rivage “by accident,” finished 14th in a mystery bounty, and charmed the entire poker world.
- Elle (17:40): “She’s my new hero… because she walked into the Beau Rivage Casino… and said, ‘I’ll just go upstairs and see what’s happening up there at 88.’”
- On Linda’s classic attitude:
  Elle (19:31): “They asked her, ‘Why are you in this tournament?’ [Linda:] ‘Well, I paid to get in.’ Simple, straightforward.”
- Linda’s focus & personality (“I’m not getting rid of these [red fingernails] to chip shuffle!”), and the poker room’s celebration of her result.

Fun Stories: Quirky Restaurant Concepts (21:57–28:39)

Elle describes restaurants in Banff, Canada, with tables connected by landline phones (call other tables with questions), and “Park & Pour” pubs in Columbus, Ohio (mobile Irish pubs).
Light-hearted imagining about team building and creative uses for such places.
Weather humor closes the section: prepping for a possible “2 inches or 32 inches” of snow (27:54).

3. Call the Floor with Elliot Schechter (28:39–41:02)

Dilemma: When a Player Folds a Winner at Showdown

Scenario (30:56): In a charity rebuy tourney, Player B folds to a river bet, but tables a full house face-up while opponent shows a flush. Dealer (Dave Miller) hesitates but mucks the hand, then wonders if he should have acted differently.
Elliot’s Ruling (33:52):
- Player’s verbal fold is binding; not at showdown yet, so dealer shouldn’t prompt a double-check.
  - Elliot (35:36): “You only get one action per betting turn. So that was it... not at showdown where announcements are disregarded.”
- Dealer shouldn’t acknowledge what player had or read the hand; no-shame hesitation but best to muck promptly.
- One player to a hand is paramount; other players stayed quiet as is proper.
  - Elliot (36:56): “We’re only responsible for our own feelings.”
Joe draws comparison to the Phil Ivey “folds a flush” TV hand (39:11), clarifying the contexts differ.
Fun discussion on the friendly, sometimes chaotic nature of charity tournaments.

4. Hand of the Week: $2/$5 Cash Game Set vs. Flush (41:02–67:57)

Setup & Preflop

Listener Ed Shelton submits a hand from a Friday night $2/$5 cash game.
In position (hijack), Ed has 9♠9♦. Two limpers before; Ed raises to $30.
- Patrick votes for aggressive $40, Joe prefers the more “mathy” $30. Ed chooses $30.
Button, cutoff, and a limper call — four to the flop.

Flop (10♣ 9♥ 6♣, $127)

Ed flops middle set.
Patrick and Joe agree on sizable value bet ($75–$85). Ed bets $75. Two callers.

Turn (8♣, $352)

Scary card (completes possible straights/flushes). Limper checks.
Patrick: “I’m taking my foot off the gas and checking.”
- Both discuss flatting or calling in position if facing a bet.
Button bets $220; limper folds; Ed calls (after running the math).
They run through equity, outs, and “no set, no bet” wisdom.

River (2♦, $792)

Board: 10♣ 9♥ 6♣ 8♣ 2♦. Ed checks. Button tanks, then checks back.
Button shows J♣ 7♣ for a made flush; Ed loses but feels relief that no further bet came in.

Analysis

Was folding on the turn possible?
- Joe: “The math probably said to fold there, but… implied odds and the possibility they could be bluffing make it close.”
- Patrick: “Sure, you could have [folded], but… I think you played it absolutely fine.”
All three agree Ed’s line was solid; sometimes, the cards just don't fall your way.

5. Joe’s One Outer: The Long Game Perspective (68:17–End)

Social Media vs. Poker Reality

Joe delivers a passionate monologue about poker’s “highlight reel effect” on social media:
- Joe (68:17): “Poker has always been a long game, but I think a lot of people on social media forget that... One session doesn’t define you. One tournament doesn’t define you. And one bad run doesn’t erase years of good decisions.”
Comments on how no one shares their bust-outs, downswings, or grind—with a reminder that progress is slow, not flashy.
- Joe (71:54): “Poker doesn’t reward the best screenshot. It rewards the best habits over time.”
Encourages listeners to avoid dangerous comparison games and focus on long-term improvement and resilience.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Elle, on big blind confusion (13:17): “You have to pay a big blind ante, so you’re saying to me you have 15 big blinds, when really you may have seven.”
Elle, on Linda the 88-year-old crusher (19:31): “They asked her, ‘Why are you in this tournament?’ [Linda:] ‘Well, I paid to get in.’ Simple, straightforward.”
Joe, advice on Call the Floor (36:56): “We’re only responsible for our own feelings.”
Patrick, football tangent (46:07): “You guys are the Phil Mickelson of the NFL... if it wasn’t for the showy, flashy goons out in KC.”
Joe, in One Outer (68:17): “Variance doesn’t check Instagram before it shows up. It doesn’t care if you’re due. It just does its thing.”

Timestamps by Segment

| Timestamp | Segment / Discussion | |---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:41–03:09 | Tour announcements, snowstorm, community news | | 03:09–28:39 | Table Talk: Mixed games, Raz recaps, big blind debate, Linda’s story, banter | | 28:39–41:02 | Call the Floor: Folding a full house, charity game rulings | | 41:02–67:57 | Hand of the Week: $2/$5 set vs. flush deep dive | | 68:17–End | Joe’s One Outer: Poker perspective and social media wisdom |

Tone & Takeaways

Language: Conversational, irreverent, supportive; full of inside jokes but welcoming to casual players.
Vibe: Mix of strategic depth, relatable confusion, celebration of community, and laugh-out-loud moments.
Message: Poker is more than winning hands; it’s about learning, growth, embracing the grind, and remembering that appearance on social media rarely matches the lived, long-haul experience.

For Listeners:

Tour & Patreon info: Watch your email for Good Karma seat opportunities. Stay tuned for full tour dates on the Ante Up website.
Hand of the Week, Questions, Floor Rulings: Send submissions to podcast@anteupmagazine.com.
Weather advice: Check your pilot light before the snow falls.

Whether you’re struggling with the math, celebrating small wins, or just trying to keep perspective, this episode delivers both camaraderie and practical advice for everyday players. Poker is a long game—so ante up, and keep grinding!

wavePod

Chapter 4 Ep. 2 Perspective

Transcript

Summary

Ante Up Poker Magazine Podcast

Chapter 4, Episode 2 – "Perspective"

Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Joe Scales
Featured Contributors: Elle, Patrick, Elliot Schechter

Episode Overview

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Tour Announcements and Community News (00:41–03:09)

2. Table Talk: Mixed Game Woes & Wins, The “Big Blind” Debate, and Poker Inspiration (03:09–28:39)

Poker & Fitness: Staying Sharp

Online Mixed Game Recaps: Raz & Deuce-to-Seven

Getting More Mixed Game Reps

Good Karma Seats Update (10:27–11:43)

The “Big Blind” Calculations Rant (11:43–17:18)

Poker Hero: Linda Hammonds, Age 88 (17:18–21:57)

Fun Stories: Quirky Restaurant Concepts (21:57–28:39)

3. Call the Floor with Elliot Schechter (28:39–41:02)

Dilemma: When a Player Folds a Winner at Showdown

4. Hand of the Week: $2/$5 Cash Game Set vs. Flush (41:02–67:57)

Setup & Preflop

Flop (10♣ 9♥ 6♣, $127)

Turn (8♣, $352)

River (2♦, $792)

Analysis

5. Joe’s One Outer: The Long Game Perspective (68:17–End)

Social Media vs. Poker Reality

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps by Segment

Tone & Takeaways

For Listeners:

Chapter 4 Ep. 2 Perspective

Transcript

Summary

Ante Up Poker Magazine Podcast

Chapter 4, Episode 2 – "Perspective"

Date: January 23, 2026 Host: Joe Scales Featured Contributors: Elle, Patrick, Elliot Schechter

Episode Overview

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Tour Announcements and Community News (00:41–03:09)

2. Table Talk: Mixed Game Woes & Wins, The “Big Blind” Debate, and Poker Inspiration (03:09–28:39)

Poker & Fitness: Staying Sharp

Online Mixed Game Recaps: Raz & Deuce-to-Seven

Getting More Mixed Game Reps

Good Karma Seats Update (10:27–11:43)

The “Big Blind” Calculations Rant (11:43–17:18)

Poker Hero: Linda Hammonds, Age 88 (17:18–21:57)

Fun Stories: Quirky Restaurant Concepts (21:57–28:39)

3. Call the Floor with Elliot Schechter (28:39–41:02)

Dilemma: When a Player Folds a Winner at Showdown

4. Hand of the Week: $2/$5 Cash Game Set vs. Flush (41:02–67:57)

Setup & Preflop

Flop (10♣ 9♥ 6♣, $127)

Turn (8♣, $352)

River (2♦, $792)

Analysis

5. Joe’s One Outer: The Long Game Perspective (68:17–End)

Social Media vs. Poker Reality

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps by Segment

Tone & Takeaways

For Listeners:

Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Joe Scales
Featured Contributors: Elle, Patrick, Elliot Schechter