Gambling With an Edge - guest poker pro and author Maria Konnikova

Our guest this week is Maria Konnikova. Maria is a PHD in psychology, and a best-selling author who decided to spend one year learning to play tournament poker from Eric Seidel, and write a book about it.  she did so well in one year that she turned pro.  Her book is "The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win."

We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.

podcast
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Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction of Maria Konnikova, author of The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win

[00:41] Excerpts of The Biggest Bluff are available online

[01:31] Erik Seidel's mentoring

[03:56] Psychological and mathematical foundations in poker

[05:21] No-Limit Hold'em cash play and tournaments modeling

[07:51] Processing and problem solving in poker hands

[10:10] Meeting Erik's family

[12:27] Playing poker after a year of mentoring

[13:50] Being sheepish about sharing some mistakes

[15:23] Getting tips from other poker pros

[17:30] Maria's grandmother doesn't like gambling

[20:38] Maria's life in 2020

[21:19] Hiring a mental coach

[24:29] Dealing with sexism at the poker table

[27:46] Entering the Colossus

[29:14] Are psychologists better at interpreting tells?

[31:51] Remembering hands to discuss with Erik

[33:53] South Point Casino July Promotions - "Spin to Win" earn up to four spins per day

[35:35] Predictit.org/promo/edge - place small bets on political events, $20 deposit match for GWAE listeners

[36:13] BlackjackApprenticeship.com - card counting training website and community, July bootcamps are available

[36:52] VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, Pro Membership includes Ultimate X and Quick Quads

[37:53] Life lessons from poker

[41:41] Migraines and poker

[43:25] Does Maria have a favorite place to play poker?

[45:44] Choosing a title

[46:35] Writing about mistakes

[48:25] Maria's husband is a saint

[51:45] Maria's future plans
[53:11] Maria's advice

[54:08] Recommended: The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win by Maria Konnikova


Sponsored Links:
SouthPointCasino.com
Predictit.org/promo/edge
BlackjackApprenticeship.com
VideoPoker.com/gwae

Referenced Links:
NyTmes.com/2020/06/19/opinion/sunday/poker-bluffing-luck-skill.html
FiveThirtyEight.com/features/the-hard-truth-of-poker-and-life-youre-never-due-for-good-cards/


Recommended:
The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win by Maria Konnikova https://amzn.to/3i180On

Gambling With an Edge - listener emails 6/18/20

No guest this week as Bob and I once again dip into the mail bag.

We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.

podcast

Click to listen - Alt click to download

Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction

[00:39] Bob's recent experiences in Las Vegas casinos

[09:33] Richard's thoughts on indexes?

[12:05] Online blackjack

[14:14] At what level does the heat subside?

[15:34] The Illustrious 18

[16:35] Rocky Aoki stories

[18:47] What constitutes a losing streak?

[19:59] The processing of six-figure jackpots

[27:06] Is card counting better than scouting for other plays?

[29:54] How can a blackjack player play longer sessions?

[31:57] Rat-holing chips

[34:22] Problems downloading the podcast

[35:40] Full pay Jacks or Better progressives in Las Vegas

[36:43] Memorable guests and favorite episodes

[38:47] Exhibit CAA

[40:30] Card mechanic videos

[41;29] Tips on buying a vintage video poker machine

[41:58] Blackjack training suggestions

[44:12] Has Richard ever had someone intercept signals?

[46:53] Using a magnetron

[47:17] Has GWAE created a wave of APs?

[48:28] Should a red to green chip counter play rated?

[49:59] South Point Casino June Promotions - "Free Play with a Kicker," no free VP classes this fall

[50:52] Predictit.org/promo/edge - place small bets on political events, $20 deposit match for GWAE listeners

[51:50] BlackjackApprenticeship.com - card counting training site and community

[52:31] VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers corrections on most games, Game of the Week is Wheel Poker with Quick Quads

[53:17] Tips for avoiding slot losses and losing blackjack sessions

[55:10] Dana White's blackjack strategy

[57:32] Playing blackjack in Australia

[58:24] American Casino Guide and Las Vegas Advisor coupons

[59:40] Exploiting dealer errors

[61:55] Does a positive count make the dealer's hand stronger?

[63:31] Greek and Czech blackjack teams

[64:46] Do multiple tickets over $1200 generate a W2G?

[68:06] How to recommend future guests to GWAE
[71:09] Recommended - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Squirrel Ninja


Sponsored Links:
SouthPointCasino.com
Predictit.org/promo/edge
BlackjackApprenticeship.com
VideoPoker.com/gwae


Books Referenced:

Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong https://amzn.to/2Nd9UgA
Comp City by Max Rubin https://amzn.to/2zNQoEE
Exhibit CAA by James Grosjean
Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist by Houston Curtis https://amzn.to/3ehlwuY


Episodes Referenced:
Kelly Sun
https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-edge-guest-kelly-sun-queen-sorts/


James Holzhauer
https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/podcast-jeopardy-james-holzhauer/


Bill Baxter
https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-with-edge-guest-poker-legend/
https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-edge-guest-poker-legend-billy-baxter-2/


Limon
https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-edge-guest-poker-pro-limon/


Small Cap Growth
https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/gambling-with-an-edge-guest-card-counter-smallcap/


Bob Nersesian - many episodes available


Recommended:
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Squirrel Ninja, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg

Gambling With an Edge - guest Bill Robertie

Our guest this week is two time backgammon world champion and author, Bill Robertie.

We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt click to download

Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction of Bill Robertie, 2x winner of the World Backgammon Championship and author of How to Play the Opening in Backgammon, Part 1: A New Way of Thinking

[00:57] What makes How to Play the Opening in Backgammon different from other books?

[05:53] Will excluded positions be included in a future part of this series?

[07:53] What over topics will be covered in Book Two and Book Three?

[10:10] Could the content of these books change as bots improve?

[15:26] Playing openings versus understanding openings

[18:41] Scoring tournaments by lowest impact of errors

[20:53] Does Bill still play in tournaments?

[24:13] Is the proliferation of XG good for the game?

[30:13] Do published PR scores reduce gambling?

[33:33] South Point Casino June promotions - Free Play with a Kicker

[35:12] Predictit.org/promo/edge - place small bets on political events, $20 deposit match for GWAE listeners

[35:40] BlackjackApprenticeship.com - card counting community and training site with boot camp events

[36:54] VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, free Pro Membership trial for GWAE listeners

[37:45] Learning from writing and publishing

[40:36] Does Bill revisit any of his pre-bot matches or books?

[43:14] Michy's endgame book, EndGame Technique

[46:35] What will Bill's next project be?

[47:53] TheGammonPress.com publishing, blog, history, news, etc.

[49:12] Recommended - Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly, Bosch on Amazon Prime, John Lescroart books, and The Spenser Series by Robert B. Parker


Sponsored Links:
SouthPointCasino.com
Predictit.org/promo/edge
BlackjackApprenticeship.com
VideoPoker.com/gwae


Sites Referenced:
TheGammonPress.com


Books Referenced:
How to Play the Opening in Backgammon,  By Bill Robertie https://amzn.to/2zna7e7
Endgame Technique by Michihito Kageyama https://amzn.to/2BShPh3


Recommended:

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell https://amzn.to/3ffc4s2
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson https://amzn.to/37uWupX
Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly https://amzn.to/3fdE7bG
John Lescroart books https://amzn.to/3dSHO6e
The Spenser Series by Robert B. Parker https://amzn.to/3dR32S5

Bosch on Amazon Prime

Gambling With an Edge - guest Surveillance Operator, Jackson

Our guest this week is a surveillance operator named Jackson. "Jackson," is also an AP blackjack player who works/plays in the Midwest. Should listeners want to contact him they can reach him at blackjackjimmy777@gmail.com.

We welcome your questions - send them to us at gamblingwithanedge@gmail.com, or you can find me at @RWM21 on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/GamblingWithAnEdge.

podcast
Click to listen - Alt click to download

Show Notes

[00:00] Introduction of Jackson, a surveillance employee and blackjack AP

[00:36] Jackson's history working in surveillance

[03:45] Surveillance advantage play training and detection

[08:50] Databases

[11:50] Tape review threshold and methods

[17:49] Do surveillance people go down to the floor?

[18:34] Contributing to OSN

[19:27] How many APs are typically spotted in a week?

[21:02] Carnival games

[22:17] Where does heat originate?

[24:41] Counter detection software

[26:35] Can most surveillance employees count?

[27:37] Review policy

[29:31] As a dealer, did Jackson count or evaluate players?

[31:57] How often does Jackson play?

[35:17] South Point Casino - June promotion is "Free Play with a Kicker"

[36:40] Predictit.org/promo/edge - place small bets on political events, $20 deposit match for GWAE listeners

[37:17] VideoPoker.com/gwae - Gold Membership offers correction on most games, free Pro Membership trial for GWAE listeners

[37:58] How did Jackson get his bankroll?

[42:51] Do surveillance guys go to AP forums?

[43:57] Has Jackson met players that he has spotted from surveillance?

[45:30] Jackson's back-offs

[47:12] Playing with a mask

[49:02] Has Jackson been flyered?


Sponsored Links:

SouthPointCasino.com
Predictit.org/promo/edge
VideoPoker.com/gwae