You look down at your cards and see pocket aces. It's the best starting hand in poker, but how do you extract maximum value from your opponents?

On this episode, Mike Brady talks with poker pro Gary Blackwood about the best practices for navigating pocket aces across a wide range of scenarios. If you like winning more money at the poker table, then you need to listen now!

Want to dominate every situation at the poker table? Take advantage of Upswing Poker's upcoming Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal! Everything site-wide is 25% off starting on November 25th and running through the end of the month!

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View the episode transcription here.

00:00 Introduction to Playing Pocket Aces

01:04 Optimal Preflop Strategies

04:11 Flop Tactics: Adjusting Based on Board Texture

07:05 Turn Play: When to Stay Aggressive or Slow Down

09:18 Closing Remarks and Black Friday Sale Information

Dive into this episode of the premier poker strategy podcast with host Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood, where they unravel the secrets of mastering pocket aces—the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em. Whether you call them "bullets," "rockets," or "American Airlines," this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you extract maximum value and avoid costly mistakes.

Starting with preflop play, Gary emphasizes the importance of aggressive strategies like raising and three-betting to build bigger pots. Learn why fast-playing aces is almost always the better option and when slow-playing can be a profitable exception, especially in deep-stack cash games and tournament settings. Moving to postflop play, the discussion covers key adjustments based on board textures, such as when to bet on favorable flops and when to play more passively on dynamic or connected boards that favor your opponent’s range.

On the turn, Gary offers guidance on knowing when to keep your foot on the gas and when to slow down, ensuring you maximize value without overcommitting in tricky spots. With real-world examples and solver-based insights, this episode equips you with the tools to play pocket aces like a pro.

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Don’t miss this comprehensive episode packed with expert advice, practical tips, and insider knowledge. Tune in now to this poker strategy podcast and start dominating the tables with confidence. Subscribe for more episodes that dive deep into every aspect of the game, helping you become the best player you can be.

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Uri Peleg has spent thousands of hours studying poker. He’s done more digging through solvers and tested more strategies than most players ever will. He’s put his findings into practice and come out on top in high stakes games – and he’s coached numerous players (through his Guerrilla Poker stable) to do the same.

Uri has distilled his strategic approach into a simplified blueprint built on five core principles. Once you understand these principles, you’ll be well-equipped to win money at the table. The Poker Blueprint is a 10+ hour course that teaches you these principles and shows you how to put them into practice.

You don't have to know all the software and jargon to win the game.

Check out the written version of this video: https://upswingpoker.com/uri-what-poker-training-gets-wrong/.

00:00 The Problems With Modern Poker Training

02:05 Balancing Study and Play

03:02 The Limits of Theoretical Approaches

04:11 Simplification and the Value of Flexibility

05:04 Adapting to Imperfect Opponents

06:06 First Principles Thinking

07:01 The Poker Blueprint

In this poker strategy video, we dive into the current state of poker training and why many traditional approaches may not be delivering the results you expect. Does focusing too much on solvers and math help you in real-life poker games? This video highlights the drawbacks of hyper-theoretical strategies, showing that poker is a multidimensional game, far more complex than the charts and solvers suggest.

The balance between study and play is essential for poker improvement. This poker strategy video explores why spending too much time on theoretical concepts can drain your motivation and energy, especially for players who enjoy playing the game more than studying it. Real-world poker decisions are often not about nailing the 0.01% differences, but about understanding broad concepts like opponent tendencies and adapting to dynamic in-game situations.

You'll learn how modern poker training has become overly focused on tiny mathematical edges that don’t translate well to real play. For instance, obsessing over making the perfect 0.01% move might cause you to overlook much bigger mistakes your opponents are making, losing sight of the larger picture. In this poker strategy video, we introduce a more intuitive approach—first principles thinking. This method allows you to understand poker on a deeper level, using logic and intuition without relying on solvers or math.

The Poker Blueprint course is designed to simplify your approach to poker by focusing on overarching principles, giving you the tools you need to make solid, reliable decisions at the table. The goal is to help you understand the fundamental reasons behind every move without getting bogged down in solver-based analysis. You’ll also learn how to integrate deception into your gameplay, balancing your range with your opponent’s tendencies to ensure you’re not too predictable.

If you’re interested in taking your poker game to the next level, check out the Poker Blueprint: https://upswingpoker.com/poker-blueprint-pre-registration/. This course distills years of experience from coaching top players into a concise framework that allows you to retain your mental bandwidth and make smart decisions in real-time. Plus, if you purchase the course in the first week, you'll receive a bonus: the Tournament Blueprint course, which applies these same principles to tournament play. Whether you're new to poker or a seasoned player, this course will enhance how you think about the game. Click the link above to learn more and start improving your poker strategy today!

Winning poker, made simple. Pre-register for the Poker Blueprint here: https://upswingpoker.com/poker-blueprint-pre-registration/

It’s a high stakes cash game at The Lodge studio featuring two players who are no strangers to playing $50,000+ pots, Doug Polk and Mariano. Poker coach Uri Peleg breaks down the hand using the strategic framework taught in his new course the Poker Blueprint.

One of the players makes a big mistake on the river in this one.

Uri Peleg has spent thousands of hours studying poker. He’s done more digging through solvers and tested more strategies than most players ever will. He’s put his findings into practice and come out on top in high stakes games – and he’s coached numerous players (through his stable) to do the same.

Uri has distilled his strategic approach into a simplified blueprint built on five core principles. Once you understand these principles, you’ll be well-equipped to win money at the table. The Poker Blueprint is a 10+ hour course that teaches you these principles and shows you how to put them into practice.

You don't have to know all the software and jargon to win the game.

Check out the written version of this video: https://upswingpoker.com/doug-vs-mariano-blueprint/

00:00 Intro, Overview, Poker Blueprint Ad

02:32 Analysis of the Hand: Flop and Turn Strategy

04:52 Turn Changes and Pot Size Considerations

06:04 River Analysis and Decision-Making

08:05 Evaluating Mistakes and Optimal Play

09:21 Conclusion and Upcoming Content

Join Uri Peleg as he breaks down a thrilling poker hand between Doug Polk and Mariano in this intense high-stakes game! In this video, you'll dive deep into the intricate details of poker strategy, focusing on a critical mistake that could cost big at the table. Uri Peleg, a seasoned poker pro, shares his expert insights on how to avoid such mistakes, using this hand as a teaching tool. He highlights the significance of understanding the ranges and decision-making at each stage of the game, offering viewers practical tips to enhance their skills.

Uri Peleg analyzes this action-packed hand, starting with a squeeze from Doug with King-Queen suited and a cold four-bet from Mariano holding pocket Kings. The flop reveals Queen-Six-Four rainbow, a board that heavily favors the pre-flop aggressor, Mariano. Uri explains how Doug’s decision to check aligns with the optimal strategy and how Mariano's small bet serves to disguise his hand strength. Uri Peleg poker strategy emphasizes the importance of understanding the ranges and adjusting pot sizes accordingly.

As the turn card, Jack of Hearts, appears, the dynamics of the hand change significantly. Mariano now has to adjust his strategy, valuing his Kings differently due to potential hands that could beat him. Uri highlights that Doug, with a flush draw, needs to reassess his approach, aiming for a modestly-sized pot rather than pushing aggressively. The river brings the Five of Diamonds, and Uri explains why this seemingly innocuous card still has implications for both players’ ranges. Uri Peleg's poker strategy comes to life as he discusses how Doug's decision to bet 15k might have been too aggressive given the range of hands that Mariano could have.

Uri then focuses on Mariano's quick decision to call, analyzing why this could be considered a mistake. He points out that while Mariano's Kings are strong, a snap call might not be the best move without thoroughly considering all the possible scenarios.

If you want to dive deeper into the nuances of advanced poker strategy, Uri has a new Upswing course coming out, which is perfect for players of all levels. Stay tuned for more videos, and don't forget to check out "The Poker Blueprint" for a comprehensive guide to mastering the game.