Digital Social Hour Ep. #1609: Patrick Antonius – How to Compete with the Best Poker Players in the World

Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Patrick Antonius
Release Date: November 12, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Sean Kelly is joined by legendary Finnish poker pro Patrick Antonius for a deep dive into the world of high-stakes poker. Antonius opens up about the evolution of his career, his approach to competing against top players, the changing poker landscape, and maintaining peak performance both physically and mentally. The conversation is packed with insider stories, discussion of poker psychology, the influence of technology on the game, and Antonius’ entrepreneurial ventures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Daily Life and Playing Preferences

• Day Games vs. Night Games

  • Antonius prefers daytime poker games over night games for better sleep and to maintain a balanced lifestyle.
  • "Play during the day makes a big difference for me." (01:48, Patrick)

• Tournaments vs. Cash Games

  • Lifelong cash game specialist; views tournaments as a "bonus" rather than a primary pursuit.
  • Cash games offer greater flexibility and higher stakes, aligning with his preferences for freedom and adrenaline (02:08–02:59).

2. The World of High Rollers and Tournament Life

• Triton Series Impact
  • Triton’s introduction of ultra-high-stakes tournaments has reinvigorated his interest in MTTs.
  • Describes Triton as providing top-tier player experience: 24/7 food, VIP service, and global venues (03:00–04:54, Patrick).
  • "Best tournament organization in general. So...they're getting all the best players flying in from all over the world." (05:14, Patrick)

3. Adapting Play Style & Poker Complexity

• Adaptation is Key
  • Adjusting play style based on opponents, not location. Flexibility is a hallmark of elite players.
  • Poker’s beauty lies in its blend of skill and luck, and the impossibility of perfect play (05:47–06:14).
  • "A good poker player is always adjusting...there's no really game style that you should have. In my opinion you should be able to do anything." (05:49, Patrick)

4. Growth, Passion, and Personal Development

• Changing Motivation

  • Antonius’s passion for poker has evolved: more about personal growth and the challenge than sheer volume of play.
  • Reflects on obsessive play as a young man, but sees greater fulfillment in measured, quality participation now (07:38–08:46).

• Poker as a Teacher

  • Poker provides lessons in psychology, self-control, and emotional management through wins and losses (07:03, Patrick).
  • "It can give you a lot, you can learn a lot about yourself with your wins and losses and everything, how you manage yourself." (07:04, Patrick)

5. Live vs. Online Poker

• Different Skill Sets
  • Live poker requires people-reading, intuition, and emotional intelligence; online is more about statistics and pattern recognition (09:14–10:05).
  • Discusses the difficulty of faking physical tells and the challenge of bluffing at high levels (10:05–10:37).

6. Dealing with Variance, Perfectionism, and Mindset

• Handling Downswings

  • Even elite players endure brutal losing streaks; self-awareness and the discipline to take breaks are critical to avoid playing "scared" (21:17–23:22).

• The Trap of Perfectionism

  • Poker resists perfect play, which frustrates his perfectionist instincts but also keeps the game fresh (18:35–19:47, 00:00–00:59).

• Luck’s Role in Poker

  • The best can play perfectly and still lose due to variance. Being outcome-oriented is dangerous (19:48–20:26).
  • "There's a big luck factor also...that's what tests you as a poker player." (19:55, Patrick)

7. Evolution and State of the Game

• Accessibility & Tools

  • Poker education has exploded; solvers and software have leveled the baseline skill for new players, but human judgment remains central (24:03–26:08).

• Drawbacks of Over-Reliance on Solvers

  • Mentions some "solver kids" lack the psychological and adaptive skills of old-school pros (25:51–28:01).

• Poker’s Current Boom

  • Poker is breaking attendance records worldwide, and Antonius predicts another surge in the game’s mainstream popularity (28:26–28:56).

8. Competing Against the Best

• Pride in Competing

  • True motivation is to keep up with the ever-improving field and continue challenging himself against the top players as he ages (11:14–11:47).

• Peak Performance

  • Feels he is at the top of his game and still improving thanks to motivation and energy management (11:48–12:09).
  • "I assume...[it will] be more difficult [with] older age. But I think I'm on a peak of my game." (11:46, Patrick)

• High-Stakes Mentality

  • High-stakes games bring out his best focus and performance; comfort zones and emotional control differentiate winners (14:07–15:16).

9. Solvers, Coaching, and Unconventional Play

• Selective Solver Use

  • Doesn’t use solvers for personal study, but works with coaches who analyze key spots with this technology for him (30:56–31:33).

• Opinion on GTO (Game Theory Optimal)

  • Prefers playing in unpredictable ways to push opponents into unfamiliar territory, exploiting mistakes (32:36–33:06).
  • "I would just like to play in the way that my opponents are not used to kind of facing...[so] they make more likely mistakes." (32:42, Patrick)

10. Physical and Mental Health

• Health-First Approach

  • Applies athlete-like discipline to poker: rest, physical training, and general wellness optimize his mind for competitive play (38:21–39:33).
  • Recognizes the brain’s need for change and adaptation, avoiding repetitive routines in supplements and exercise (39:59–40:49).

• Importance of Memory

  • Memory is crucial for recognizing patterns and exploiting regular opponents (41:15–41:21).

• Interconnection of Physical & Mental Health

  • Poor health and sleep jeopardize decision-making at the table and in life (41:33–42:30).

11. Entrepreneurial Ventures

• First Land of Poker (FLOP)

  • Antonius is co-founder of FLOP, a tech company creating digital solutions for live poker rooms.
  • Offers cloud-based poker room management tools and AI-driven player optimization (44:53–46:21).
  • Reduces wait times, enhances player experience, and streamlines operations using apps and digital lists (45:07–47:42).
  • "It's about player experience...it's the way the world is moving." (45:50–47:55)

• Upcoming Announcements

  • Teased a partnership with one of the largest poker platforms to be announced (42:50–43:06).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Poker is extremely complex...it's not a game that is meant to be played perfect and that's the beauty of the game." (06:14, Patrick)
• "I think I have more passion now...it's a different kind of passion." (07:38, Patrick)
• "Live poker is the real experience." (08:59, Patrick)
• "You can learn a lot about yourself with your wins and losses and everything, how you manage yourself." (07:04, Patrick)
• "It's a game really that...you have to play same hands in different ways otherwise you’re too predictable to play against." (18:40, Patrick)
• "You need to be very self-aware of how do you win and how do you lose." (21:17, Patrick)
• "Poker is living a very interesting period of time...nowadays it's so accessible to study the game." (23:41, Patrick)
• "If I have to say something about my game...I would just like to play in the way that my opponents are not used to." (32:42, Patrick)
• "Physical health goes completely together with how your brain and mind functions. It's as important." (41:33, Patrick)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:35] – Day games vs. night games, routines in Vegas
• [02:08] – Cash game vs. tournament philosophy
• [03:00–04:54] – Triton and high roller tournaments; player experience
• [05:47–06:14] – Adapting play style; importance of flexibility
• [07:03] – Poker as a tool for self-development
• [09:14–10:37] – Differences between live and online poker
• [11:04–11:47] – Competing against the best, setting goals
• [13:38–14:38] – The allure of high-stakes, adrenaline, and focus
• [18:35–20:26] – Perfectionism, variance, and the challenge of improvement
• [24:03–28:26] – Poker study tools, solvers, changing nature of the game
• [32:36–33:06] – Antonius' strategic edge: unpredictability
• [38:21–42:30] – Physical and mental health for performance
• [44:53–48:16] – First Land of Poker: vision, impact, and digital transformation

Final Thoughts

This episode offers rare, authentic insight into the mindset and journey of one of poker’s most respected figures. Patrick Antonius discusses not just hands and strategy, but the emotional, psychological, and physical demands of playing—and excelling at—the game’s highest levels. The conversation is both a window into poker’s past and a look at its dynamic future, blending personal stories, practical advice, and philosophical reflections.

Whether you’re a poker enthusiast, a fan of elite competition, or interested in the transformation of classic games in a digital age, this episode delivers valuable lessons and engaging stories straight from the top.