Episode 41: That’s So Gareth!

8 thoughts on “Episode 41: That’s So Gareth!”

1. Hey Thinking Poker Podcasters

   Just another brief apology for this week’s late release. We recorded Sunday so I had plenty of theoretic time to get this to AB by Wednesday. But I failed in that effort! If it is of any consolation I submitted every assignment I had due this week (5+) late by approximately the same length of time!

   Perhaps Anna’s mom can come on the podcast in December (when I am next in Norway) for the most boring segment ever (or an interesting one, as per Nate) to make it up to you all.

   Also I think this is the last episode for me in my official editor role. So I just wanted to thank some of you for your patience with some of the sound issues. I feel, given the time I put in every week, that the quality was quite high, but some things were beyond my expertise such that training rather than time or effort would have been the necessary fix.

   I put nearly twice as much time into the Tubby Boots episode than any other, which was quite a lot, and it should be noted that Andrew also put in a huge amount of effort on that episode too, editing and sculpting something of value. Nate and Andrew don’t mention it, but they put a large amount of their own time into the podcast every week, to the point that when they began, I was skeptical they could maintain a weekly output. Well we are approaching fifty episodes and a year’s time. All I can say is that I am impressed.

   AB and NM have also been quite generous to have me on a few times, I think feeling it was a bit of a recompense for my labour. So the end of my tenure is quite good news for those of you who are sick of my appearances!

   • Gareth – thanks for all your hard work on the podcast, you’ve definitely added to my enjoyment of them, both in your editing and your appearances, and I do hope you continue to be a guest.

   • Every episode has sounded top notch to me. I wanna be like you when I grow up, but instead of traveling to all the countries of Earth to cover PokerStars tournies, I’m traveling to all the strip clubs of Atlanta covering freerolls for bar discounts. Please stay around so that I can continue learning about places I have never been.

2. Just finished listening to this episode. It was awesome. The 4-flush hand is a great example to how everything in poker is situational: it’s almost never possible to value bet OOP on a 4-flush board without a flush, when a bunch of money already went in on earlier streets. But here it’s the right move (at least in hindsight; I needed some help to see how it makes sense).

   The salty out-take is also awesome, thanks for keeping it in. In general, I love Gareth’s editing in the show: his editing adds a whimsical spirit to the podcast, which can turn a very interesting interview into one which is both very interesting and a ton of fun. In fact, I never realized how important editing is in interviews before listening to Gareth’s work: it’s rough enough around the edges that I actually feel I can see the magic happening.

3. Sound balance is much improved. My ears and my audiologist mother-in-law thank you.

4. You guys dont know how much I smile whenever I hear my name on the podcast. It’s the best thing ever. I am so glad I stuck around for the end. I’m even starting to like that weird song with the nice beat. I always imagine Andrew singing it with his eyes closed shaking his head from left to right. What’s the name of that song?

   On hand 1, my squeeze sizing would have been 17bb like Gareth said by default. I try to bet roughly a third of the effective stack when I want an SPR of 1 on the flop. I would have gone a little less since the pot already had a good bit in it. 15bb seems about right. After that, I like checking down/value betting river OR calling one and folding to a later shove.

   On hand 2, I play it just like Gareth does same sizing and all. What do you think of an overbet on the flop or turn? Like maybe 1.5-2x pot? I dont advocate it, just thinking outside of the box.

5. Oh yeah ironically, the SNG Icons mansion was in Austin, TX. It was Jonathan Little, Spacegravy, Big Joe, and Z32fanatic I believe. Good times.

6. From a theory perspective, my first instinct while listening to hand 1 was the same as what Nate said. With 53bb effective, and out of position against a 5bb shove and call, I’m trying to think of what range and bet size I would use for a 3b/f range. The tricky part is that we basically have to put 1/3 of our stack in on a re-raise pre, which tells any semi-competent player that we are not folding pre-flop, and if we go less in an attempt to get good leverage (say raising to 12-13bbs, it’s not clear to me that any portion of villian’s range is folding, given that he is being offered great pot odds and will have position on us. Is not having a 3-bet/folding range in this situation a leak? I think, like Nate said, that I only have a calling and jamming range. Also, because it’s going to be a protected pot after the flop, I’m very unlikely to slowplay anything preflop–what’s the point of flatting AA when your opponent is likely to view post-flop bets as especially strong?

   I therefore think the best way to play in this spot is to have a jamming range that includes every strong hand (99+/AQ+/KQs+) and to call with the next x% of your range.

   Looking forward to criticism/refutation of assumptions and analysis, because I feel that my understanding of this spot is not complete.

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