Ante Up Poker Magazine Podcast

Chapter 4, Episode 9: Rabbit Hunting and Tee Times

Host: Joe Scales
Guests: Elle, Patrick, Elliot
Date: March 14, 2026

Overview

In this lively, strategy-packed edition of Ante Up Poker Magazine’s long-running podcast, host Joe Scales welcomes regulars Elle and Patrick for a relaxed, humor-filled “table talk” that covers home game triumphs, upcoming poker events, the realities of fame and mental health in poker, and a spotlight on controversial moments in the Texas poker scene. Main segments include Hand of the Week (a deep dive into a Crazy Pineapple hand), Call the Floor with Elliot (exploring procedural mishaps at the table), and Joe’s One Outer (a mindset mini-rant on “rabbit hunting”). This episode is especially engaging for everyday players, with relatable anecdotes, clear strategic insights, and a genuine look at poker's mental demands.

Table Talk with Patrick: Home Game Brags & Pineapple Dreams

[02:20–05:50]

• Patrick’s Victory Lap
  Patrick stops by to bask in the glow of making his first final table, notably knocking out both Joe and Elle and claiming the evening’s bounty. He humorously recounts juggling poker with parenting, playing with his 4-year-old on his lap in an astronaut costume.

  “Took the bounty. Took both of you out. Had a 4 year old on my lap in an astronaut costume for a little while.”
  — Patrick [04:26]

• Final Table Banter
  Elle asserts her own skill, boasting about her final table finish; Joe ribbing himself about his early bust-out.

• Game Variety: Pineapple Love
  Patrick and Elle riff on their growing appreciation for Pineapple and its variants, particularly double bomb pot formats.

  “Next time pineapple comes up, you know, I’m off hold ‘em week. I can hop into pineapple. I’m getting behind pineapple.”
  — Patrick [03:51]

Community & Upcoming Events: Shirts, Tour Stops & The Arizona Heat

[07:31–09:01]

• Getting Ready for Gila River, Lone Butte Tour Stop
  Joe and Elle express excitement about custom shirts provided for the Arizona event and shout-out the local poker staff.

  “We have our main event shirts cleaned and ready…they're super soft. We can't wait to keep wearing them while we're out there next week.”
  — Elle [07:36]

• Weather Complaints & Travel Vibes
  A running joke about the Arizona heat and traveling from cold climates.

• Women’s Poker Wins
  Celebration of a record-breaking women’s event and the growing energy in the community.

Social Pressure & Mental Health in Modern Poker

[09:02–17:16]

• Brad Owen’s Candid Post
  Joe and Elle break down Brad Owen’s recent admission of feeling like a failure despite being up over a million dollars in his poker career, facing a $400,000 downswing, and struggling with the weight of community expectations as a content creator.

  “He talks about how he still feels like a failure because of this downswing...we never talk about...when you're on these downswings, you feel even more alone, you know?”
  — Joe Scales [09:47]

• The Solitude of Poker Fame
  Elle reflects on her own experience in the poker community, sharing how public identity and perceived expectations raise the pressure compared to anonymous play.

• The Content Grind
  Both hosts discuss how the new era of poker forces players into multidimensional roles—competitor, ambassador, content creator—and how this endless feedback loop can overwhelm.

• Advice & Support
  Encouragement for Brad and all listeners to remember no one is alone in poker struggles; it’s healthy to share, reflect, and not buy into the myth that “everything should be good all the time.”

  “Poker is a solo sport...but that doesn't mean you have to go it alone. The majority of [players] have struggled with...where they are mentally in the game.”
  — Joe Scales [17:17]

Controversy in Texas: The Lodge Raid & Cardroom Safety

[17:18–22:05]

• Texas Poker Ecosystem & The Lodge Situation
  Discussion of the recent law enforcement raid at The Lodge poker club (co-owned by Brad Owen, Doug Polk, and Andrew Neeme), the uncertainty surrounding it, and what it could mean for the Texas poker scene.

  “The room is closed. The WPT festival scheduled at that venue has been postponed. They're giving them space to get regrouped, investigation’s ongoing.”
  — Elle [19:48]

• Don’t Panic, Do Your Homework
  Advice for Texas poker players to remain calm, trust in safe venues, and reference the next magazine issue for a guide to reputable cardrooms and red flags.

Poker Community, Magazine Updates & Women’s Events

[22:06–23:33]

• Magazine Release & Email List
  Reminder to sign up for Ante Up’s email distribution for the next (free) issue.

• Celebrating Women in Poker
  Highlighting Michelle Wells’ victory in the Talking Stick Women's National Poker Championship, continuing growth in ladies’ events, and the upcoming LIPS Spring Event.

  “They set a new record with 329 entries. Michelle Wells took it down. What? Way to go, Michelle!”
  — Elle [22:31]

• Cruise Event Teasers & Alaska Excursions
  Excitement about the upcoming Ante Up Poker Cruise, including Alaskan port activities and inside jokes about bucket-list trips.

Call the Floor with Elliot: New Player, New Dealer, New Problem

[28:53–39:59]

Segment Introduction

[28:53–29:57]
Elliot returns as the resident floor expert, ready to weigh in on listener-submitted poker room conundrums.

The Situation

• A new player with a new dealer is mistakenly dealt into the small blind, only posting $4 instead of properly buying the button.
• The hand proceeds, and only after it's over does the dealer call for the floor.
• Floor rules no correction possible; the player gives $3 to the winner to “rectify” the situation—incorrectly.

Key Insights

• Action was accepted and significant (multiple players acted), so hand stands — can’t be ruled a misdeal.

• Shared responsibility between players and dealer.

• The $3 make-up payment should’ve gone to the big blind if anywhere, but even then, it was already accounted for in the pot structure.

  “The hand was played. It's a poker room. Hands are supposed to get played. So again, decision was correct.”
  — Elliot [32:17]

House Procedures Tips

• Use reserve/New Player buttons to avoid ambiguity over seat status.

• Both floors and players must stay alert to seating responsibilities.

  “Houses that just give out missed blinds and that's it... really gotta think about having the reserved/new player button. It would make things like this disappear.”
  — Elliot [35:00]

Hand of the Week: Crazy Pineapple Home Game Deep Dive

[40:09–63:34]

Setup & Pre-Flop

• Listener Richard Fry submits a Crazy Pineapple hand from $1/$2 home game (8-handed, holding A♠ K♠ Q♦ in the hijack).
• Patrick and Joe recommend raising to $12 (punish limpers); Richard actually raises to $10, gets four callers (5 to the flop).

Flop

• Board: J♠ 10♠ 4♣
• Strategy: Patrick & Joe advocate betting ~half the pot to thin the field; Richard bets $25. Folds down to heads-up.
• Discard decision: Both agree—ditch Q♦, keep A♠ K♠ for nut flush and royal draw.

Turn

• 9♦ hits, making straight possible. (Would have made turned straight if Q♦ kept, but vital to keep nut flush draw.)

Line Analysis

• Patrick prefers a significant turn bet ($55–$60); Joe suggests potentially shoving to maximize fold equity.
• Richard checks—button bets $55; Richard just calls.
  Both hosts discuss merits of call vs. aggressive raise.

River

• Q♥ rivers, giving Richard the nut straight.

• Strategic consensus: Check to induce, or shove for value; in either case, money goes in.

• Button shoves, Richard snap-calls.

  “Have you ever been crab fishing?...I’m checking here. I’m setting the bait. Let them do whatever they need to.”
  — Patrick [56:19]

Results

• Button shows K♦ Q♠ Q♣ (turned broadway), outdrawn by river.
• Richard asks if calling on the turn was correct.

Hosts’ Summary

• Can’t be results-oriented; folding would be a massive mistake holding premium draws.

• Discuss “survivorship bias” and how poker psychology can be warped by memorable losses rather than correct long-term play.

  "You remember the times when you miss where villain has a straight...but you forget the times that you stack two pair…You can't just focus on the times you missed."
  — Joe Scales [61:03]

Joe’s One Outer: The Pitfalls of Rabbit Hunting

[63:57–68:21]

• Joe launches into an energetic critique of “rabbit hunting,” explaining why it’s toxic for your mindset.

• Emphasizes how rabbit hunting lets players stew in fantasy timelines, warping their view of the game and leading to tilt.

  “Rabbit hunting is like voluntarily watching highlight reels of all the ways the universe could annoy you. It serves absolutely no strategic purpose whatsoever.”
  — Joe Scales [64:16]

• Advice: Don’t rabbit hunt, don’t watch if others do, and keep your focus on process—not hypotheticals.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Patrick’s Humble Brag: “I'm not gonna lie, the bragging rights are going to be good.” [03:46]
• Elle on Social Poker: "Part of what drew me to poker is the social aspect. However, most of the time it's still just me." [10:40]
• Joe on the New Era: "The modern poker player has a lot of those hats to wear... they didn’t have to worry about, 'am I playing this hand in a way that's going to get me views?'" [13:10]
• Elliot on Responsibility: "Players are supposed to pay attention to it, and it's not all on the dealer. So, yeah, this is a shared responsibility." [32:17]
• Joe on Mindset: "Protect your mindset the same way you protect your chips…You don't need to torture yourself with the ones that never mattered in the first place." [67:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:20] Table Talk with Patrick
• [09:02] Brad Owen & Poker Mental Health
• [17:18] The Lodge, Texas Cardrooms & Magazine Preview
• [22:28] Women’s Poker Event Highlights
• [28:53] Call the Floor with Elliot
• [40:09] Hand of the Week: Crazy Pineapple
• [63:57] Joe’s One Outer — "Rabbit Hunting"

Tone and Takeaways

The episode maintains the Ante Up signature style: casual, supportive, self-deprecating humor, and an inclusive vibe. It’s packed with specific strategy insight, relatable home-game stories, wellness wisdom for the poker mind, and advocacy for safer, more supportive poker venues. Regular listeners and newcomers alike will come away better equipped—technically and mentally—for their next poker session.