Michigan Poker Monster   

Latest Episodes

Pot of Gold Episode (#73): Local player Alex 'AlexBalex' Barill not only cashes at the WSOP Main Event last year, but then takes down the Pot of Gold Tournament at Hollywood Casino in Toledo and tells us all about it. Music by The Whiskey Charmers from Detroit.

Out of Position Episode (#72): Steeser joins our show to break down two hands from a trip to Vegas during the AVN Awards. Also, crazy story about a blackjack home game gone wrong, and a trip report from the new MGM Detroit poker room. Music by Detroit band The Hand Grenades.

Terp WSOP Trip (#71): Ryan 'Terp' Terpstra joins us to tell us about his WSOP tournament run and the cash game action in Vegas. Gambit and Frank debate a 3-bet hand Frank played with AK. Music by Lightning Love from Ypsilanti.

May 2014 MSPT Super Show (#70): Our biggest episode yet! Four interviews from Michigan players who cashed at the Firekeepers Mid States Poker Tour: Brock Wilson, Alex Barill, Ryan Terpstra and Nick Perkins. Music by SangoBeats from Grand Rapids. 

Jon Gay Interview (#69): Interview with West Michigan player, Jon Gay. Jon has been doing well in the Firekeepers tournaments and shares his story of coming up in online poker before playing live tournaments and cash games. Also, Frank and Gambit talk about PLO8 at Four Aces and the MSPT at Firekeepers. Music by MC5.

Wayside West (#68): Interview with Kalamazoo player, Robert Strong, talking about a shooting at Wayside West. We also talk to Tom Anthony, floor manager at Wayside West. Frank tries a big bluff at Firekeepers. Music by Lansing's DJ Ryno.

AlexBalex Interview (#67): Interview with local player, AlexBalex, who recently won a table share of the MGM Bad Beat Jackpot. He also breaks down a hand with Frank and Gambit. Music by Grand Rapids hip-hop artist, Mosaic.

Beatutwo Interview (#66): Frank and Gambit interview local player, beatutwo, who plays in some of the biggest PLO games in Michigan. They also discuss the Tigers and how to get max value out of position. Music by Alfred English.

Brock "Youngbeak" Wilson (#65): PLO Strategy with local player, Brock "Youngbeak" Wilson. Frank and Gambit discuss the missing Malasyan airplane, March Madness and Tigers. Music by Big Fee from Detroit.

Guy Hickey of Four Aces (#64):  Four Aces owner, Guy Hickey is featured in this episode talking about the new Four Aces Club location and the charity rules changes. Frank and Gambit play the $100 tournament at Four Aces that day and breakdown a hand from that tournament.  Music by Alfred English.

Coach McGuirk Interview (#63): This episode has an interview with Motor City Casino poker player, Coach McGuirk. Frank and Gambit also discuss Four Aces Club, Charity Poker Rule Changes, Tournament Soft Play and Full Tilt payouts.  Music by DJ Carpool.

IDKmyBFFJill Interview (#62): IDKmyBFFJill is a blogger for Detpokerz.com. He talks about his blog, and his recent run at the Firekeepers Sunday Deep Stack Tournament. Music by Captain Ivory.

Mavericks Closes (#61): Maverick's Poker Room is the latest room to be closed at least for the time being. Listen to an interview on location on the closing day and strategy with Frank and Gambit. Music by John Krogman from Saginaw.

WSOP ME Episode (#60): Frank and Gambit talk about the WSOP Main Event winner from Michigan, Ryan Riess! Also, Caveman reports on JCAR meeting and breaking down a hand from the WSOP Circuit in Hammond.  Music by Detroit's Battlecross. 

Tipping Episode (#59): The tipping episode! We talk about how tipping has changed in Michigan charity rooms.  Also trip report from MGM and Mavericks, and we break down a hand from Coach McGuirk! Music by Electric Six from Ann Arbor. 

Ryan Terpstra Episode (#58): Featuring West Michigan's Ryan Terpstra (babydutch), who just final tabled the Michigan Poker Classic at Soaring Eagle. Music by Valentiger from Grand Rapids.

Chris Manzo Episode (#57): Featuring 2007 Poker Bowl Team winner, Chris Manzo. Guess who's back from Mexico? Gambit talks strategy with Frank in his return to Michigan poker. Music by Forrester.

Arcadia Poker Room (#56):  On location at the Arcadia/Mr. B Poker Room at the Hamlin Pub in Troy on Rochester Road. Interviews with Dave Ashcraft and Scott 'Caveman' Miller. Strategy with Pay4MySchool. Music by Pistol Day Parade. 

Mid-States Poker Tour at Firekeepers (#55): Our coverage of the MSPT at Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek culminates in this episode. Includes an interview with Poker Room Manager, Kelly Bailey, and tournament strategy with Jason 'icufish' Smith. Music by Chiodos. 

Patrick Steele and 3-Betting Strategy (#54): Featuring Heartland Poker Tour Champ, Patrick Steele. Patrick won the Soaring Eagle HPT Main Event and recently cashed in the WSOP Main Event. Also, 3-betting strategy talk with Pay4MySchool. Music by Captain Ivory.

Pay4MySchool Strategy and Michigan Poker News (#53): Back from summer break! More strategy with Pay4MySchool. Also, Frank and Gambit discuss changes at Motor City, Greektown and MGM Detroit as well as Michigan players at the WSOP. Music by Taproot.

Krazy Kopz Episode (#52): We were on location at Krazy Kopz Poker Room in Westland for the Joes Versus Pros tournament benefiting the family of fallen fireman, Brian Woehlke. Featuring room owner Jeff Kavanaug, Caveman and others. Music by Everyday Ghost.

Tom Midena Episode (#51): Featuring MSPT Champion and HPT runner up, Tom Midena. Midena is probably the hottest player in Michigan right now with his MSPT win at Firekeepers, his WSOP Circuit win, and now a runner up finish in an HPT main event. All in just three months! Music by Dirty Americans.

Heartland Poker Tour (#50): Frank and Gambit go on location to Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant for the Heartland Poker Tour. Listen to an interview with Fred Bevill, host of the HPT, player interviews, and two big hands from cash game action!

Pay4MySchool Goes to Vegas (#49): This episode features friend-of-the-show, Pay4MySchool. He tells us about his first trip to Vegas and about some hands he played at the MGM Grand. Frank and Gambit also break down hands from Four Aces and Firekeepers Casino. Music by Dirty Americans.

Charity Poker and Strategy (#48): Caveman joins the show to talk about charity poker rules and clear up myths about the charity poker rooms. Steeser helps break down the Hand of the Week. Music from Kid Rock.

Biloxi Trip Report (#47): Frank recounts his trip to Biloxi, Mississippi, and shares some hands from his sessions there. Gambit also breaks down hands from a recent session. Music from The White Stripes.

Flytrap PLO Strategy (#46): Featuring local pro Kurt 'flytrap' Fruth talking about starting hand ranges in PLO. Also session notes from Frank's session at Maverick's. Music from The Detroit Cobras.

Jason 'icufish' and Derek '1game' (#45): Featuring local pros Jason 'icufish' Smith and Derek '1game' breaking down some hands from our friend Gambit. Music from Sufjan Stevens.

Chris 'Fox' Wallace and MSPT (#44): Featuring Chris "Fox" Wallace of the Mid-States Poker Tour and Grinder University. Also, player interviews from the MSPT qualifier, and discussion on Snookers and charity poker. Music from A Hero Falls.

Jason 'icufish' Smith (#43): Learn about local online tournament pro, Jason Smith, who has over $1.6 million in tournament earnings. Music from A Hero Falls.

PLO Strategy and Vegas Storytime (#42): PLO strategy from local pro, Flytrap. Also, entertaining Vegas story from local player 1Game, who also talks about his recent online tournament win on Lock Poker and discusses cashing out. Music from The Detroit Cobras.

Santino's and Merging (#41): We are on location at Santino's Poker Room in Washington Township. Also, Pay4MySchool demistifies the topic of range merging. Music from Bazooka Jones.

2012 Episodes

Sunnybrook 8-Game Episode (#40): Great stories from the 8-game at Sunnybrook Poker Room.  Featuers local players, Atarirob, Caveman and Sevup. Hands from 7-card stud, razz, and no limit hold'em. Music from Fine Young Cannibals.

Monotone Boards Episode (#39): How do you play flops that are all one suit? Pay4MySchool goes over three hands with Frank to explain some of the nuances of paired boards. Music by Lansing band, Half Looking.

Paired Boards Episode (#38): Frank and Pay4MySchool break down paired boards by going over a couple of hands from a session at Hollywood Casino in Toledo, Ohio. Music by Fine Young Cannibals, Genesis and Blanche. 

April 6, 2012 Episode (#37): Local player, Jose313, talks about his recent success at the Chicago Poker Classic. Also, what is it going to take to get a tournament series back in Michigan? Music by The Dirt Surfers.

March 29, 2012 Episode (#36): Four Aces trip report, Monster Hand of the Week, what to say when you are asked, what did you have? And can you play poker for a living in Michigan?  Music by Cinecyde.

March 22, 2012 Episode (#35): March Madness Party Trip Report. Frank and Gambit discuss how to carry $3,000 in cash in your pocket. Music by The Von Bondies.

March 8, 2012 Episode (#34): Local player, Atarirob, on Vegas trip.  Also, discussion on three new charity poker bills in the legislature and a possible 22 new casinos in Michigan. Music by The Good Things.

March 1, 2012 Episode (#33): Tournament Poker Edge Co-CEO, Derek Tenbusch. Cada's Heads Up Tournament Results. Music by Dirty Americans.

February 23, 2012 Episode (#32): Local player, Ron Berry, and mipokernuts.com creator, Gary Bolton. Music by Weekend Warriors.

February 16, 2012 Episode (#31): Local player, Steeser, on sports betting. Also, Frank and  Gambit play in Trip Kings team tournament. Music by Pop Evil.

February 9, 2012 Episode (#30): Local player, Turdzilla. Frank has tournament win at The River. Music by A Hero Falls.

February 2, 2012 Episode (#29): Queen of Hearts 3-player team tournament and The Hand of the Week begins! Super Bowl picks too. Music by A Hero Falls, great band!

January 26, 2012 Episode (#28): Local player, Garrett B. Music by The Dirtbombs and American Mars.

Janauary 19, 2012 Episode (#27): Local players, crazyb16 and J-Money. Music by Destroy This Place and Linsey Loo.

January 12, 2012 Episode (#26): Ante Up Magazine publisher and podcast host, Chris Cosenza. Local pro, Pay4MySchool, breaks down some hands from a 2/5 session at Motor City Casino. Music by Smudge Candy.

January 5, 2012 Episode (#25): Local player JDoe. Home game action and sessions at Motor City Casino and Four Aces. Music by Destroy This Place.