Joe Scales hosts a weekly podcast that mixes humor, commentary and strategy, with great segments such as Table Talk, Call the Floor, Hand of the Week, and Joe’s One Outer. It’s the longest running poker podcast, for the everyday player.
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This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’re looking ahead to the Electric City Poker Series at Rivers Schenectady, talking about some of the unique events on the schedule, Ante Up plans for the stop, and even getting into the great dealer debate: slide or pitch? Then, Elliott joins me for a Call the Floor involving a player tipping a cocktail waitress, a dealer who moves the action along a little too quickly, and a community card that hits the felt before everyone has acted. What’s the proper ruling? In the Hand of the Week, KQ suited gets involved in a big multiway pot that turns into one o
The Alaska poker cruise is in the books! Elle and I look back at the poker, the ports, and some of the lessons we learned about how we want to do future Ante Up cruises. Then Call the Floor gets a first. Elliott and I record the segment together in person, with the ocean behind us, as we tackle who is actually responsible for showing their cards when the river checks through. If you want to see that view, and the rest of this week’s episode, the video version will be released on YouTube in a few days. The Hand of the Week is a little different this time. It’s more of a situation involving a ho
We’re coming to you from Alaska! Ship wifi couldn’t handle the upload and it is hard to come by in Alaska, but we found it and we have another episode for you this week. We talk about life aboard the Ante Up Poker Cruise, catching up with the A-Team, a little San Francisco fun, and some poker news we missed while at sea. Then, Call the Floor tackles a showdown that goes wrong and gets even messier when the next hand starts. In Hand of the Week, it’s my least favorite hand, and we’ll see if we can finally pull out a win with it. Finally, Joe’s One Outer is about knowing when to take a chance, b
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Joe and Elle break down the WSOP Main Event finale, celebrate the new World Champion, talk about the class shown heads-up, and get ready to set sail for Alaska! Here is the AI article that was referenced. Then, Call the Floor tackles a tournament situation you almost have to hear to believe, and HOTW features a big draw, an aggressive opponent, and a decision that turns into an even tougher one on the river. Finally, Joe’s One Outer looks at the criticism that follows every World Champion and why poker was never about playing perfectly—it’s about being r
Elle is on location in Jacksonville for the Ladies International Poker Series at bestbet, and we get her first impressions of the room, the familiar faces she’s already run into, and the rest of the weekend slate. Back home, we recap a wild night of Omaha Hi/Lo in the Patreon game, where Mortis finally broke through for his first win of the season. USC collected the ChicagoJoe bounty, and Ben landed on the points bubble, which means a certain side bet is still very much alive. Then we look ahead to the WSOP Main Event final table starting Monday with 22-year-old chip leader Lucas Jumalon leadi
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we sit down for Table Talk with Joe Mackin of Sycuan Casino Resort, three years running as Southern California’s Best Poker Room. We talk San Diego vibes, and the upcoming Ante Up Poker Tour Stop in conjunction with the SoCal Classic. On Call the Floor, a bettor pushes chips and announces “one hundred” at the same time, but the stack comes up short. Was the floor right to lock him in at $85, or should verbal govern? Our Hand of the Week breaks down a $1/$3 spot with AQ suited, then I close with a One Outer on protecting your blinds, and why folding isn’t
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, the WSOP Main Event final table is locked and the “August Nine” are set to battle for $10 million and the bracelet at Paris Las Vegas. In Table Talk, we introduce some of the players, and the notable names who fell just short. Plus the mid-tournament shot-clock bombshell that had players fuming, the chilling story of a pro robbed after cashing, a record-breaking series, a downtown poker room makeover, and where the Ante Up Tour heads next. In Call the Floor, a first-time WSOP player, a ticking clock before the break, and a bathroom line that changes ever
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Jasmine Klapperich to discuss an important study focused on the health and wellness of poker dealers, why the research matters, and how the poker community can help. We also catch up on the latest from the WSOP Main Event and preview an upcoming LIPS Championship. In Call the Floor, a player tables what appears to be the winning hand… until a dealer mistake creates a controversial ruling. Patrick breaks down a tricky Hand of the Week involving a flopped monster, a dangerous board, and a decision that sparks plenty of debate. Then Joe
Joe and Elle are back from an incredible week of poker cruisin’, and they’re sharing stories from the trip, why Poker Player Cruises has them even more excited for Alaska in August, and a few unforgettable moments both on and off the ship. They also preview our upcoming Ante Up Poker Tour stop at Sycuan Casino Resort, recap the latest World Series of Poker news, and announce the upcoming Patreon game schedule. In Call the Floor, Elliott settles a debate from a home game tournament involving an under-raise all-in from the button and whether the big blind still has the right to raise. This week’
Joe and Elle are cruising this week, but the show rolls on with a full slate of poker discussion. In Call the Floor, Elliott tackles a tournament director’s nightmare after one table mistakenly receives significantly larger starting stacks than the rest of the field. When the error is discovered several levels later, the floor implements a controversial strategy. Was it the right decision, and are there established rules for handling a situation like this? In this week’s Hand of the Week, Joe and Patrick find themselves deep in a tournament against a table maniac who seems willing to put chips
From the poker room to the poker cruise, we’ve got a packed episode this week. On Table Talk, Joe and Elle discuss Sycuan Casino being named Southern California’s Best Poker Room for the third straight year, the new permanent World Series of Poker retail store, Calvin Anderson making history with his second $10,000 Razz Championship, and the arrival of Buc-ee’s in Arizona. Plus, we give a well-deserved shoutout to Ante Up Magazine contributor Jasmine Klapperich for earning her PhD and helping poker players stay healthy both on and off the felt. Call the Floor has Elliott weighing in on a contr
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Joe and Elle discuss Kristen Foxen capturing her sixth WSOP bracelet and whether it’s finally time to stop labeling her as the best female player and recognize her as one of the best tournament players in poker. They also look at Mike Holtz’s second bracelet, a bizarre WSOP hand where an accidental verbal call turned J-3 into a tournament-saving straight, and the latest promotions from Bluffers, including a chance to win a WSOP Main Event package starting from just a $3 buy-in. Here is a link to the videos that we mentioned as well. https://youtube.com/s
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we kick things off on Table Talk by recapping another fun Patreon game. Patrick finally broke through for his first victory, collected the double prize pool, and now we all have to suffer through at least a month of victory laps. We also discuss some of the dealer mistakes that have made headlines early at the WSOP, the challenges dealers face during long series, Maria Ho’s exciting family news, and even the earthquake that rattled Las Vegas and surrounding areas. On Call the Floor, Elliott answers a question that has probably confused more than a few po
The WSOP is underway, but based on the headlines, maybe it should be called the World Series of Babies. This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Joe and Elle dive into the latest WSOP stories, including Daniel Negreanu and Adam Hendrix both preparing for fatherhood, the first bracelet winner of the summer, and what the massive Caesars/Fertitta deal could mean for poker players going forward. In Call the Floor, Elliott Schecter weighs in on a controversial tournament ruling. Can a dealer declare your hand dead if you’re not paying attention? And if your cards haven’t actually reached the muck ye
This episode of the Ante Up Poker Podcast is packed with debates, drama, and tough decisions from the poker table to real life. Elle and I kick things off in Table Talk with the controversy surrounding the new WSOP patch approval rules and what it means for sponsorships, branding, and player freedom in poker. We also dive into Formula One locking in Las Vegas through 2037 and how Vegas continues evolving from gambling destination into a full-blown sports and entertainment powerhouse. Plus, there’s a quick update on the upcoming Ante Up Poker Tour stop at Sycuan Casino. In Call the Floor, Ellio
This week, Joe and Elle kick things off around the table talking about the latest from the poker world, including the reopening of The Lodge Card Club, the debate around WSOP dealer ratings and a really interesting new social gaming concept from Daniel Weinman called Showdown Social. They also dive into the incredible community being built over at Bluffers Poker and remind listeners that cabins are almost gone for the Alaskan Poker Cruise. Plus, there’s plenty of “Bet on Better” talk with upcoming charity poker events and some new ambassador news from Elle. In Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Joe and Elle pull up a chair with poker media veteran Eric Morris for an extended Table Talk that goes way beyond the usual headlines. Eric shares stories from the golden era of poker media, Bluff Magazine, how his partnership with Mike Leah came together, and Ante Up/Bluffers satellite path to the Alaska Cruise this August. In Call the Floor, Elliott tackles a messy double-board bomb pot situation Is “Pot” even a legal declaration in no-limit hold’em? For HOTW, Patrick gets dragged out of his hold’em comfort zone and into a wild Omaha Hi-Lo hand. Nut lo
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’ve got a packed show that hits the heart and the hard decisions. Elle and I kick things of on Table Talk by diving into the WSOP rule controversy. Then we shift gears to some good news with all charges against The Lodge were dropped, and highlight the newest issue of Ante Up Magazine. We also lean into the “Bet on Better” movement, spotlighting incredible charity efforts like the Baller Dream event at Circa Resort & Casino and the upcoming Gaming for Green tournament. In Call the Floor, Elliott tackles a wild limit Omaha situation involving a supposed
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Dustin King joins Table Talk with a Rivers recap, and a look ahead to the September Ante Up Poker Tour stop. We highlight poker doing good with Ante Up for Autism and a $105K Camp One Step fundraiser. In Call the Floor, Elliott breaks down a tricky all-in showdown ruling, and in HOTW, we debate whether a three-barrel bluff went too far. Plus, a Patreon Badugi recap, leaderboard shakeups, cruise satellites, and a One Outer that hits home about turning life’s bad beats into your next step forward. Click here for our Linktree. It is a quick resource to get
Elle and I kick things off on Table Talk by diving into poker couples, how relationships handle the swings, and what it’s like sharing the felt with your significant other. Then we recap the latest Patreon game, where the action didn’t disappoint and a few familiar names found their way back into the spotlight. On Call the Floor, Elliott breaks down a wild home game situation that had just about everything go wrong. If you’ve ever wondered how messy things can get when the rules aren’t clear (or followed), this one’s for you. Patrick joins me for Hand of the Week, where we break down a tricky
Elle is back around the table this week for Table Talk, and we’ve got plenty to dive into. We highlight some exciting Bet on Better opportunities, celebrate Stephen Jones continuing his Ante Up Run Good, and take a look at what’s happening at Rivers Casino in Schenectady. In Call the Floor, Elliott tackles a tricky situation where a listener’s hand was ruled dead after being dealt too many cards. Was the ruling correct? Patrick and I jump into a HOTW that starts off looking like a dream scenario… until it doesn’t. To wrap things up, I bring you this week’s One Outer, where I talk about how pok
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’ve got a packed show with a little bit of everything for the A-Team. We kick things off with an exciting announcement as Ante Up joins forces with Bluffers on ClubGG. Partnering with Eric Morris and Mike Leah to bring even more opportunities to our community. This is one you’re definitely going to want to hear about. To get to the Bluffers Club download ClubGG and create an account. Search for the Club ID 679450 and the referral ID 7188-3183. Once you are in message @ottermanempire16 or WhaleClubGGManager on telegram to get chips. Over on Table Talk,
This week’s episode of the Ante Up Poker Podcast drops a little later than usual… but for good reason. Elle and I had a lot to unpack, and trust us, it’s worth the wait. We kick things off with some major headlines in the poker world, including the return of the WSOP Main Event to ESPN; A move that brings a wave of nostalgia and could have a big impact on the game’s visibility moving forward. On the flip side, we discuss the sudden and indefinite closure of The Lodge, a story that’s still developing and has plenty of people talking. From there, we dive into our time out in Arizona, recapping t
This week Elle and I ran into a little bit of a family emergency. So the episode will be released tomorrow instead of today. We have a lot to cover so we’re looking forward to getting back in there and touching on all the things. Cheers, Joe Scales
This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’re coming to you straight from the felt at Gila River Lone Butte, and the energy is unreal. Elle and I are joined at the table by Brownie, a Lone Butte regular, as we soak in what has been an incredible trip filled with great tournaments, even better people, and a poker room that’s been buzzing from start to finish. We share some of our favorite moments from the stop, talk about what’s made this series so special, and why this place has quickly become a favorite for the players. We also hit the latest headlines in the poker world and hand out a round
