Gambling With an Edge - Maria Konnikova

Bob and Richard are joined by Maria Konnikova, a writer and psychologist who contracted with poker star Eric Seidel to teach her enough tournament poker so she could write a book about it. Turns out she was pretty good at poker. The book has been delayed as she pursues poker full time.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

[00:49] How Maria met Erik Seidel

[03:53] Deciding on the learning process?

[05:09] The initial vision of the book?

[05:56] How much time did Maria originally plan to practice? Was it a full-time commitment in the beginning?

[08:29] Did she move to Las Vegas?

[09:19] The arrangement at Aria

[11:50] Erik’s lessons and his book recommendations

[12:46] Maria’s poker experience prior to the project

[15:19] Low limit tournaments in Las Vegas that were different from online tournaments

[18:04] Angle shooters & women players

[21:59] Maria starting to play professionally

[22:49] The Poker News article on Maria

[24:17] Black Widow’s comment: advantage and disadvantages of playing as a woman

[27:13] The false dichotomy of approaching poker psychologically and mathematically

[32:57] Poker Star’s sponsorship of Maria’s project

[34:10] WSoP & satellites

[36:07] Tournament winnings & turning full-time poker player

[38:19] Did the book change along the writing process due to the unexpected developments with her poker experience?

[39:50] Will some chapters be published in different places before the publication of the book?

[41:54] Will she play poker 5-10 years later? Other immersive projects in the future?

[43:16] Is Erik comfortable with Maria writing about what he taught her?

[45:10] Maria’s previous books

[46:51] The Grift podcast

[49:04] Last thoughts

Maria Konnikova: https://www.mariakonnikova.com/

Best ways to reach Maria:

    Twitter @mkonnikova and 

    Instagram @grlnamedmaria

Maria’s books:

    The Confidence Game  https://amzn.to/2xpjtUW 

    Mastermind  https://amzn.to/2L7wPaq

    The Biggest Bluff: https://www.mariakonnikova.com/books/the-biggest-bluff/

The Grift Podcast: http://thegriftpodcast.com/

The Poker News article on Maria: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2018/05/maria-konnikova-poker-30637.htm

Erik Seidel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Seidel

Jennifer Harman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Harman

The Sia Lata episode: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/podcast-poker-pro-sia-layta/

Harrington on Hold’em vol.1: https://amzn.to/2LlMabG

Harrington on Hold’em vol.2: https://amzn.to/2uQHZdQ

Harrington on Hold’em vol.3: https://amzn.to/2LlMQ0I

Gambling With an Edge - Sports betting coming

Bob and Richard are joined by four sports betting experts to discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling legalizing sports betting across the country. Anthony Curtis, Frank B, Captain Jack, and Jake (aka The Chairman) all chipped in with their opinions.

 podcast
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

[01:35] The situation with the union and the strike.

[05:04] The integrity fee, royalties, and the leagues.

[12:36] Is the new change good for the AP?

[18:58] Anticipating which state will legalize sports betting first.

[27:11] The effects of lobbying

[32:13] New casinos and promotions

[35:33] Future of other online gambling

[38:21] How would legalizing sports betting affect Nevada and New Jersey?

[44:47] Nationally legalizing sports betting

[49:24] Indian tribes and sports betting 

Weighing The Odds in Sports Betting by King Yao

Conquering Risk: Attacking Vegas and Wall Street

Sharp Sports Betting by Stanford Wong

Gambling With an Edge - The Big Blackjack Team

This week we are joined by "Thea" and "Theo," a brother-sister combination who talk about the early days of their blackjack team-playing experiences. This pair went on to run one of the biggest and most successful blackjack teams in history.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

[00:46] Origin story

[07:37] The expansion of the team

[19:25] Getting away with it

[21:35] Being a female player & Backoffs

[30:06] Stories before the team became big

[33:45] 150+ hrs losing streak and early lessons

[40:45] Cross-polination with other Blackjack teams

[42:24] Rigorous checkout process

[49:06] Compensation structure

[54:02] Investors & time commitments of bankroll & administrative expensive

Gambling With an Edge - Seth Palansky, WSOP 2018

This week Bob and Richard interview Seth Palansky, Vice President of Communication for the World Series of Poker, which begins later this month

podcast
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

Gambling With an Edge - Blackjack Ball 2018

We have 3 guests this week discussing the 2018 Blackjack Ball.  Max Rubin who hosts the Ball, Wally Simmons, the latest inductee into the Blackjack Hall of Fame, and Wahoo who won this year's skills competition.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt-click to download

Show Notes

[00:45] Why was the BJ Ball held in Spring this year?

[04:37] Richard’s role in this year’s BJ Ball event

[05:43] the bet: who is going to be inducted into the hall of fame

[06:11] What being inducted into the Blackjack hall of fame mean to Wally?

[07:54] Favorite questions of guests and the hosts

[15:49] Wahu and Attorney WRX

[20:49] The finalists and the 4 contests to determine the winner

[42:41] The guests and hosts' favorite parts of the Blackjack Ball  

[48:19] A quiz on counting system 

[50:27] True v.s. False question regarding a first lady

[54:05] Countermeasures and bottom lines