I set aside at least 5 hours a week for focused study as part of my Balanced Poker routine which is preplanned every week. I’m taking a break from poker strategy studying right now and re-taking an intensive multi-week masterclass on becoming an A-Game player with Elliot Roe’s A-GAME program. This course profoundly shifted my mindset for both poker and life when I first took it pre-pandemic and revisiting it now with an accountability partner is a great experience as I reintegrate those teachings into my routines. It’s like peeling back new layers each time, finding deeper insights that continue to shape how I think and play.
But as we all know, learning is an ever-evolving process, and sometimes great opportunities come your way that need to be seized upon (carpe diem). I saw an email in my feed about a 5-hour bootcamp hosted by the Run It Once training site, focused on playing against recreational players on Sept 13, 2023—a crucial topic for me now since I’m playing more cash games right now and focusing on exploitative play. For the $125 investment, I was in.
The bootcamp was divided into five sessions, each delivered by coaches who brought their unique expertise to each session. Here’s a rundown of the sessions:
- Session 1: “Exploiting Recreationals with Data” by Patrick “Freenachos” Gerritsen
- Session 2: “Categorizing Recreationals & Exploitative Game Planning” by Alexandra Fagaras
- Session 3: “Breaking the Rules vs Face up Opponents” by Callum Ross
- Session 4: “Quiz & Practice: What’s Your Exploit?” by Paul Gough
- Session 5: Fireside Chat with Phil Galfond and Sam Forde
The time went by fast, and the coaches made the sessions interactive with some cool technology that allowed the attendees to input information and polls. I really enjoyed Alexandra Fagaras’ session on categorizing different types of players which is near and dear to my heart. I liked her framework and am now working on integrating those concepts into my game both live and online.
All of the sessions were great and provided excellent insight into how these pros think about playing against recreational players. The flipside for me was looking at my own tendencies so that I can improve my game and not be easily exploited. There is a lot to process there, and we received videos of all the sessions which I’ll need to go through a few times to get as much as I can out of these lessons.
I should mention that timing for the bootcamp was a bit tricky with a Friday afternoon EST which is not specifically the fault of the RIO team. Given the global nature of broader poker community, it’s always going to be a challenge to find the perfect time that suits everyone. There’s probably no “ideal” time to align a global audience with a global training group. While the scheduled time worked for me that day as I was able to clear my calendar, I recognize it might not be as convenient for others. Thankfully, the recordings made it easy to catch up on anything missed.
One of the standout experiences of the bootcamp was the session with Phil Galfond. We all know Phil is a great poker player and he has this incredible knack for engaging with students, making complex concepts feel accessible and applicable. His fireside chat with Sam Forde was particularly inspiring for me, and if you haven’t yet, I’d highly recommend subscribing to Phil’s newsletter “In Position”—it’s a goldmine of thoughtful insights on both poker and life.
I’d like to clarify my intent with this article. At Balanced Poker, our mission is to support your growth both on and off the tables. While we focus on the holistic aspects of living a balanced life, we believe that ongoing education and study are crucial components of success. These studies fall under our Strategic Thinking pillar, where we explore various tools, coaches, and sites that can enhance your poker journey. While we don’t push any specific resource, we share our experiences so you can make informed choices that suit your personal needs. After all, the right path is the one that resonates with you.
Thank you to the Run It Once team for an excellent program and excited to participate in more in the future.
As always, let me know your thoughts and feedback as well as any way that we can support your balanced poker journey.
