Upswing Poker Level-Up

Upswing Poker
  • 4.8 (108)
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Improve your poker skills fast with short, hyper-focused episodes covering crucial poker topics. Hosted by VP of Upswing Poker Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood.

  1. 11/28/2025

    BONUS: Stop Playing Ace-King Wrong

    Click here to get 25% off EVERYTHING at Upswing Poker during the Black Friday sale! "Honestly in the 20 whatever years I've been on and off studying poker I don't know if I've ever seen a more impactful, concise, practical and actionable 20 minutes of content. Very very well done. Thank you." - Verified Lab 2.0 Member Click here and watch 'How to Play Pocket Kings'. Learn how to play Ace-King with clarity as Uri Peleg breaks down real hands and shows you exactly when this "premium" hand is powerful—and when it's just Ace-high. By the end, you'll know how to avoid costly mistakes, read tricky situations, and confidently extract maximum value from one of poker's most misunderstood hands. 00:00 Why Ace-King Is a Deceptive and Difficult Hand 01:59 Playing Ace-High on a Dry Board 03:29 When Ace-King Becomes "Just Ace-High" 03:56 Deep-Stacked 3-Bet Pot on a Connected Board 06:08 Strong Flop and Clean Runout With Ace-King 06:57 Blind vs Blind: Managing Missed Flops 08:46 Navigating Bad Boards With Ace-King This video is a deep dive into one of poker's most misunderstood hands: Ace-King. Uri Peleg explains that while Ace-King is ranked among the strongest preflop holdings, it behaves very differently from true premiums like Aces or Kings. The hand's profitability is split: when you hit an Ace or a King, it becomes a powerhouse, but when you miss, it shifts into a marginal holding that often under-realizes its equity. The core message is learning to separate the emotional attachment players feel toward "big slick" from the actual strategic reality of the board, ranges, and runouts. Uri walks through a series of real hand examples that illustrate how dramatically Ace-King's value can fluctuate. In the first scenario, he shows how Ace-King with no pair is essentially just Ace-high—nothing more. He encourages players to visualize the hand as something as humble as Ace-Deuce when facing river aggression, reminding viewers that the preflop strength is irrelevant once the board runs out and equities shift. When the hand misses, the correct approach is often checking back, calling once with overcards, or folding river bets that only beat bluffs. The next hands highlight more nuanced spots, such as 3-bet pots where you flop draws or turn top pair in dangerous textures. Uri demonstrates how paired boards, four-to-a-straight runouts, and coordinated middling textures can crush Ace-King's value. In one hand he turns top pair top kicker but immediately explains why it's still a weak holding due to the connected nature of the board and the many wheel Aces that dominate him. He stresses discipline—letting go of the "premium hand" mindset and evaluating each street as if holding an ordinary bluff catcher. The video also includes best-case scenarios where you not only flop top pair but continue running out safely. Uri shows how to extract value on clean textures and when to size aggressively with strong but vulnerable holdings. These examples are balanced with tougher ones where the player gets to showdown cheaply or picks up a lucky river improvement after checking twice and avoiding check-raises. Uri reinforces a key concept: Ace-King is not a hand that wants to inflate pots blindly. Its strength is highly contextual, dependent on the board, the action, and the opponent's range. Sometimes it plays like a monster; other times it plays like a weak Ace-high.

    9 min

  2. 11/12/2025

    Always Bet in These 5 Situations

    Play and improve for free with Lucid Poker GIVEAWAY: Want to win a $3,000 trip to Las Vegas to play the WPT Prime Championship? Sign up for Lucid Poker and play just 1 hand on any leaderboard to give yourself a chance to win. If you start your free trial and climb into the top 10 of a leaderboard, you can unlock even more entries in the giveaway. Good luck! Watch 'STOP C-Betting Out of Position (It's Costing You Money)' Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood reveal five key flop scenarios where you should always bet to maximize profits and simplify decision-making. From disconnected King-high boards to big-pair flops, they explain when aggressive range betting works best—and View the written version of this episode here.  00:00 Situation 1 03:04 Situation 2 05:00 Situation 3 07:10 Situation 4 09:41 Situation 5 In this Level-Up episode, hosts Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood explain five key situations in which poker players should increase aggression and bet their entire range. Many players, they note, aren't aggressive enough post-flop — a costly leak that can be fixed with simple heuristics. Each situation is supported by solver insights and practical examples drawn from both live and online play, with the overarching goal of helping players simplify their strategy while maintaining strong expected value. Situation 1 focuses on flops with no draws and one high card when you're in position — for example, King-Eight-Deuce or Queen-Seven-Deuce rainbow. These boards are dry and disconnected, giving the preflop raiser a strong equity advantage. Solvers show nearly universal continuation betting, since opponents in the big blind have mostly missed. However, if the flop adds flush or straight possibilities, players should reduce c-betting frequency because resistance from opponents will increase. Situation 2 arises when you're raising from an earlier position such as the hijack, and your range is naturally tighter and stronger. On moderately connected flops like Jack-Six-Deuce, you can once again bet your entire range. The reason is straightforward: a tighter preflop range connects more often and contains fewer total misses, allowing for confident aggression. Situation 3 covers flops that include a big pair like King-King-Five or Queen-Queen-Three. These boards are overwhelmingly favorable for the preflop aggressor, especially in three-bet pots, because the range advantage is massive. Gary and Mike emphasize that players should c-bet every time using small sizes to exploit opponents who are forced to fold much of their range. Situation 4 applies to King-high flops in three-bet pots when you're in position. Through Lucid Poker simulations, Mike demonstrates that betting every time on such boards—no matter your actual hand—rarely produces mistakes. The simplicity of this approach makes it an easy and profitable rule of thumb. Situation 5 flips the script: you've three-bet out of position and the flop is disconnected with one high card, like Ace-Eight-Deuce or Queen-Seven-Deuce. Here again, betting nearly your entire range with a small sizing works best because your range maintains a strong advantage. The episode concludes with three caveats: dial back aggression when opponents overfold, over-attack, or when stacks are short and a shove is likely. While aggression is profitable, the key lesson is controlled aggression—bet big when range advantage is clear, but adapt intelligently when dynamics shift.

    16 min

  3. 11/05/2025

    7 Cash Game Tips that Print Money

    The Lucid Poker Trainer is FREE starting on November 10th! Watch 'Top 5 Spots to Bluff in Poker'. Learn seven essential strategies to dominate live and online cash games with host Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood. From value betting thinly to attacking capped ranges, this episode breaks down the habits that separate winners from everyone else at the table. View the written version of this episode. 00:00 Tip 1 03:52 Tip 2 07:42 Tip 3 12:30 Tip 4 15:08 Tip 5 18:50 Tip 6 22:55 Tip 7 In this episode of the Upswing Poker Level-Up, host Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood share seven actionable tips designed to help players maximize their profits in live and online cash games. Tip 1: Value Bet Relentlessly, emphasizing that most players fail to extract enough value from their strong hands. Gary explains that value betting thinly — even with second or third pair — is crucial because opponents rarely raise as bluffs. Avoiding fear of a raise and focusing on consistent value extraction is key to long-term success. Tip 2: Practice Good Game Selection Habits focuses on putting yourself in profitable environments. Mike notes that even great players can lose if they face stronger opponents, while average players can win consistently in weaker games. The duo provides a checklist for identifying soft live tables — look for regular limpers, frequent multiway pots, or rare preflop re-raises — and stress the importance of maintaining good etiquette rather than "bum hunting." Online players, they add, should seek tables with at least one weak opponent and leave when the lineup gets too tough. Tip 3: Watch Opponents and Formulate Counter Strategies, Gary urges players to stay observant even when they're not in a hand. He explains how noticing showdowns and betting patterns can reveal exploitable tendencies, such as overfolding rivers or checking back too often. Mike builds on this with examples of how to adjust aggression and raise sizes based on opponents' leaks. Tip 4: Play Aggressively When In Position teaches how to exploit positional advantage. When heads-up, being the aggressor puts out-of-position players under pressure. In contrast, Tip 5: Check the Flop Frequently in Multiway Pots highlights the need for caution when facing multiple opponents, since their ranges are more likely to connect with the board. The hosts explain how to balance passive lines with timely check-raises using strong hands and semi-bluffs. Tip 6: Attack Capped Ranges Relentlessly explores recognizing when opponents lack strong hands and applying pressure with big bets or bluffs. Both value betting and overbetting in these situations are highly profitable because most players fail to protect their ranges. Tip 7: Mostly Fast Play Strong Hands reinforces the idea that building pots early leads to greater long-term gains. However, Gary reminds players that slow playing has its place when the pot is already large or when in position. The episode wraps up with encouragement for listeners to reflect on which tips resonated most and to apply them immediately in their next session.

    26 min

  4. 10/22/2025

    Top 5 Spots to Bluff in Poker

    Use coupon code LEVELUP and get $50 off the new Lab 2.0 Watch the 'Winning Money in Multiway Pots' episode on YouTube Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood reveal the five most profitable bluffing spots in poker that every serious player should master. Learn how to identify and exploit bluffing opportunities—like paired boards, delayed c-bets, and favorable runouts—to outthink your opponents and win more pots. View the written version of this episode here. 00:00 Tip 1 05:06 Tip 2 09:15 Tip 3 12:28 Tip 4 16:03 Tip 5 In this episode of the Upswing Poker Level-Up, hosts Mike Brady and Scottish pro Gary Blackwood break down the five most effective bluffing spots that every player can add to their arsenal to win more pots and play with greater confidence. The discussion opens with an emphasis on fundamentals—identifying bluff spots rooted in sound theory rather than intuition or live reads. The first bluffing spot focuses on check-raising paired flops after defending from the big blind. Gary and Mike explain how solvers recommend surprisingly wide check-raises on boards like Ten-Ten-Deuce or Queen-Deuce-Deuce, creating highly profitable situations since opponents rarely defend correctly. They highlight how these bluffs succeed because most players don't realize how often they should be calling with weaker holdings or backdoor draws. Next, they explore delayed continuation betting—a powerful bluff when your opponent checks twice. By analyzing real game scenarios, they demonstrate that when a flop and turn go check-check, the opponent's range is "capped," meaning it contains few strong hands. This opens a prime opportunity to apply pressure through wide and aggressive turn bets. The third major bluff spot covers probe betting on the turn after your opponent checks back on a dynamic flop. Here, they challenge conventional solver logic by showing that most human players fail to check strong hands as often as theory dictates. As a result, when they check back, they're often weak, making probe bets—especially with draws and backdoor equity—highly effective. Bluff spot number four focuses on attacking when the board texture shifts dramatically in your favor. When a turn or river card favors your range—for instance, completing potential straights or two-pair combinations—you can lead aggressively, even out of position. The hosts emphasize how understanding range advantage allows you to "donk bet" profitably in these scenarios. The final bluff spot centers on barreling when draws complete and you hold key blockers. Using the Ten-Six-Deuce-Three-Queen board as an example, they show how triple-barrel bluffs with hands like Ace-Five with the Ace of diamonds can be extremely powerful because they block potential flushes while representing strong hands. Throughout the episode, Mike and Gary balance GTO theory with real-world exploitation, giving listeners the strategic insight to recognize and act on bluffing opportunities that most players miss. By mastering these five spots, you'll sharpen your aggression, punish capped ranges, and level up your overall poker strategy.

    19 min

  5. 10/15/2025

    5 Solver Strategies That Suck in Real Life

    Use coupon code LEVELUP and get $50 off the new Lab 2.0. Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood reveal five popular solver strategies that actually hurt your win rate against real-life opponents. From misguided three-bets to weak river plays, they break down when and why "playing like a computer" can cost you money—and how to exploit human tendencies instead. View the written version of this episode here. 00:00 Tip 1 03:05 Tip 2 05:30 Tip 3 08:38 Tip 4 10:19 Tip 5 In this episode of Upswing Poker Level Up, hosts Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood break down five solver-approved strategies that often backfire in real-world poker games. While solvers have revolutionized modern strategy, they remind listeners that most human opponents don't play like perfectly balanced computers. The episode's focus is on identifying when to abandon solver logic and play exploitatively to maximize profits against typical players. The first tip targets the solver's polarized three-bet range from the big blind. While strong in theory, it fails against opponents who rarely fold, meaning speculative bluffs like Jack-Eight suited or King-Five suited simply bloat the pot unnecessarily. Tip two examines the "three-bet or fold" preflop strategy. Solvers favor aggression, but when weak players are in the blinds, calling instead of re-raising can increase expected value and keep those soft opponents in the pot. In tip three, the hosts challenge the solver's preference for checking back Aces and Kings on low boards. While this protects one's checking range in theory, it often leads to missed value when opponents are too passive to bet later streets. Tip four addresses bluffing the river with key blockers—an advanced concept that loses effectiveness against calling stations who refuse to fold top pair or better. Instead, players should simplify and focus on extracting value. Finally, tip five discusses block betting the river with nutted hands. Although solvers use small bets to induce raises, human opponents rarely raise thinly enough, turning what should be a value opportunity into a missed one. The takeaway: when you have the nuts, bet big. Throughout the episode, Mike and Gary emphasize the importance of adapting to opponents and conditions rather than following solvers blindly. Their message is clear—real profit comes from understanding why a strategy works and adjusting to human tendencies at the table.

    12 min

  6. 10/08/2025

    10 Quick Poker Tips That Will Help Your Game

    Click here to get the Preflop Prodigy app. Learn ten essential poker tips that will instantly make you a stronger and more profitable player — from preflop strategy and semi-bluffing to mental game mastery. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your fundamentals, these quick lessons will help you win more and play smarter every session. View the written version of this episode here. 00:00 Tip 1 00:55 Tip 2 02:50 Tip 3 04:38 Tip 4 06:18 Tip 5 07:54 Tip 6 12:05 Tip 7 13:46 Tip 8 14:39 Tip 9 16:21 Tip 10 In this episode of Level Up, listeners get ten powerful poker fundamentals that can transform the way they approach No Limit Hold'em. These are not complex solver-based concepts, but timeless strategies that separate disciplined players from those who bleed chips. The first key lesson is to play fewer hands and play them aggressively — overplaying weak or marginal hands is the fastest path to losing money. From there, Mike dives into developing a solid preflop strategy, encouraging players to study and stick to proven opening ranges rather than guessing at the table. Next, Mike emphasizes why you should never be the first to limp preflop, since it limits your ways to win and invites too many opponents into the pot. Instead, raising builds fold equity and defines your range. Semi-bluffing aggressively with draws is introduced as a way to blend offense and safety — giving players both fold equity and potential outs to strong hands. The fifth tip, fast playing strong hands, teaches that betting your big hands early often earns more value and protects against bad runouts, with slow playing reserved for specific board textures. From there, the focus shifts to defending your big blind correctly, explaining how position, raise size, and stack depth influence which hands to call. Tip six reminds players that when unsure, it's better to fold — curiosity is expensive, and learning to let go of marginal hands saves countless buy-ins. The seventh principle, attack when opponents show weakness, encourages calculated aggression when players check or hesitate, especially in heads-up pots. As the episode nears its conclusion, the advice turns mental and situational. Tip eight urges tournament players to play solid early and not worry about survival, while tip nine stresses that you should only play when you feel emotionally ready — fatigue or tilt destroys good decision-making. Finally, tip ten drives home that success starts with choosing the right games; your edge is only as good as the opponents you face. Altogether, these ten tips form a simple but effective blueprint for becoming a confident, profitable poker player.

    18 min

  7. 10/01/2025

    3 Mistakes That Cost You Money in Poker

    Avoiding just a few critical mistakes could be the key to unlocking your win rate at the poker table. In this episode of the Upswing Poker Level-Up podcast, Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood break down the three biggest leaks that crush players at low stakes—and how to fix them. Get instant access to the Preflop Prodigy app View the written version of this episode 00:00 Mistake #1 – Playing Too Passively 02:03 Mistake #2 – Missing Thin Value Bets 08:06 Mistake #3 – Calling with Bluff Catchers 12:52 Bonus Mistake – Playing While Tilted In this episode, host Mike Brady and Scottish poker professional Gary Blackwood dive into the three biggest mistakes players make at the table and how to avoid them. The discussion is packed with real-world examples, hand breakdowns, and actionable insights that will help listeners sharpen their skills and maximize their win rate. This poker strategy podcast emphasizes practical advice for low- and mid-stakes players who often find themselves bleeding chips due to preventable errors. Mistake #1 – Playing Too Passive: Gary stresses the importance of aggression, especially preflop. Passive play, such as calling too frequently with marginal hands, leads to long-term losses. Good players lean into three-bets and apply pressure, rather than limping along and giving away equity. The key takeaway is simple: tighten your ranges and stay aggressive to keep opponents uncomfortable. Mistake #2 – Not Value Betting Thinly Enough: The heart of poker profitability lies in value betting, and Gary points out that many players restrict themselves to betting only with top pair or better. Through detailed hand examples, he illustrates why second pair, bottom pair, and even ace-high can often justify a small river bet. Mike reinforces this by showing how thin value bets, especially when properly sized, can significantly boost a player's overall earnings. Integrating these small but consistent value spots is one of the fastest ways to raise your win rate. Mistake #3 – Overcalling Bluff Catchers Against Non-Bluffers: Perhaps the most costly leak in low-stakes poker is calling down opponents who rarely bluff. Bluff catchers, by definition, only beat bluffs—and against players who underbluff, these hands quickly become money burners. Gary explains why disciplined folds, even with seemingly strong holdings like top pair or two pair, are often the correct play. The lesson here is about opponent profiling: against players who lean nitty and conservative, folding is a weapon. Bonus Mistake – Playing on Tilt: To round things off, Mike and Gary highlight the dangers of playing emotionally compromised. A single tilt-induced mistake can wipe out hours of grinding. Taking a walk, doing breathing exercises, or even leaving the session entirely can save hundreds of big blinds over time. Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize that small adjustments in discipline, mindset, and aggression can drastically change long-term results. This poker strategy podcast serves as both a warning against common pitfalls and a roadmap to playing more profitable, confident poker. Whether you're chasing incremental edges or simply trying to avoid costly errors, the episode offers concrete strategies that can be applied instantly to your game.

    15 min

  8. 09/11/2025

    When Poker Hands Don't Go as Planned (w/ Uri Peleg)

    Get instant access to the new Lab 2.0 now. Learn how to stay calm and make smarter decisions when your poker hands take unexpected turns. The world's best poker coach, Uri Peleg, gives you practical strategies and mindset shifts to quickly reevaluate, adapt, and protect your bankroll in tough situations. View the written version of this episode here. 00:00 Hand Example Breakdown 01:47 Range vs. Hand Thinking  03:21 Betting Structures and Exploits   04:28 Adapting When Plans Change  05:58 Reassessing Hand Strength in Action  In this poker strategy podcast, Mike Brady and elite coach Uri Peleg explore one of the most important but overlooked skills in poker: knowing what to do when hands don't go as planned. Every player has experienced the frustration of seeing a strong starting hand or a favorable flop turn into a tough spot after unexpected action, but Uri breaks down how to handle these moments with clarity and confidence. Using a real hand example and practical analogies, he shows how focusing on your range rather than just your hand strength leads to smarter decisions and prevents costly mistakes.  Listeners will learn how to adjust betting strategies, recognize when their plan is no longer working, and quickly reevaluate based on changing dynamics. This poker strategy podcast also dives into the importance of flexibility — whether it's shifting from aggression to caution, or accepting that folding a big hand can sometimes be the most profitable move. By reframing these situations as opportunities to adapt rather than failures, players gain a mental edge that carries across every stage of the game.  If you've ever struggled with letting go of a strong-looking hand or found yourself stubbornly sticking to a plan that no longer makes sense, this poker strategy podcast delivers the perspective shift you need. Whether you're a beginner working through the basics or a seasoned grinder aiming for mastery, you'll come away with actionable insights to stay calm, stay sharp, and keep your bankroll protected when the game throws you curveballs.

    9 min
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About

Improve your poker skills fast with short, hyper-focused episodes covering crucial poker topics. Hosted by VP of Upswing Poker Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood.

Information

  • Creator
    Upswing Poker
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Upswing Poker Level-Up
  • Show Website
    Upswing Poker Level-Up

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