Ante Up Poker Magazine

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 deve...

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 favori...

On this week’s episode of the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I are briefly joined by Patrick, our resident fish, before he has to sprint out the door to make his tee time. Once Patrick heads for the golf course, Elle and I dive into a thoughtful conversation about Brad Owen’s recent post that had the poker world talking, discussing the mental side of the game and how downswings can affect even the most successful players.

We also get excited about the upcoming trip to Arizona, including the Ante Up stop at Gila River Lone...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I kick things off with some Table Talk about Robbie Strazynski and his difficult decision to cancel the upcoming Mixed Game Festival. We look at the facts, show our support, and look ahead to the next festival scheduled at Bellagio later this year.

We also share the latest updates on the upcoming Ante Up poker cruise, including why now might be the perfect time to lock in your spot. Plus, there’s a new addition to the Ante Up studio that should make the show look a li...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’re celebrating a milestone that belongs to every single member of the A-Team — we hit #1 in the Hobby & Leisure category! This doesn’t happen without the everyday poker players who listen, share, comment, and support what we do. We’ve been knocking on that door for a long time and now the goal is to stay there.

In Table Talk, we dive into the noticeable downturn of the L.A. Poker Classic (LAPC) and what it might signal about the Los Angeles tournament scene as a whole. Is it shift...

Elle and I kick things off with our upcoming poker travels, including our first trip out to Gila River in Arizona for the next Ante Up Poker Tour stop. We’re looking forward to the desert scenery, great action, and connecting with the A-Team in a brand-new spot for us. Then we shift from cactus to glaciers as we dive into the details of our upcoming Alaskan Poker Cruise — because nothing says “standard poker trip” like playing cards with mountains and whales in the background.

The 2026 WSOP Summer Schedule has officially dropped, and we break down some of the c...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’ve got a full table and plenty to talk about.

On Table Talk, Elle and I welcome Tia Bacon from Gila River to the show as we take a deep dive into the upcoming Ante Up Poker Tour stop at Gila River Lone Butte. We talk about what players can expect, the excitement building around the series, and why this is shaping up to be a can’t-miss event. We also spotlight the incredible work being done through Camp One Step’s charity poker efforts, and how this commun...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Table Talk comes fully loaded as Elle shows up with snacks and football jerseys. From there, we dive into the Patreon Game and kick around some Super Bowl prop bets and talk Octopi Poker. Here is the link to the video I was talking about.

On Call the Floor, Elliott rules on a situation where a player’s hand is declared dead after stepping away from the table—always a tricky spot and one that sparks plenty of debate.

Patrick and I then break down a wild bar...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I kick things off with a listener-submitted question that sparks a great table-worthy discussion. We also dive into the Dan Cates boxing match. Here is a link to the video of that. We also touch on Maurice Hawkins capturing his 22nd WSOP Circuit ring.

On Call the Floor, Elliott rules on a tricky spot where a player announces “raise” but isn’t allowed their full intended amount. Then Joe and Patrick break down this week’s HOTW, playing pocket tens and navigating the decisions that come with them.

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I kick things off with a breakdown of the BB ante, a recap of last night’s Patreon game, and one of the best feel-good stories you’ll hear all year—an 88-year-old woman winning $10,000 in her very first poker tournament.

Elliott steps in with a situation that goes beyond a standard Call the Floor ruling and dives into the bigger picture of how these spots should be handled. Patrick and I then break down this week’s Hand of the Week featuring pocket nines… but not before Pat...

Chapter 4, Ep. 1 marks the anniversary of a new era for the Ante Up Poker Podcast as I officially took over hosting duties 4 years ago.

This week, Joe and Elle open Table Talk by celebrating the release of the latest issue of Ante Up Magazine, and Joe puts Elle on the spot with a fun quiz. In Call the Floor, Elliott breaks down a controversial ruling and explains why, in some situations, it can be acceptable for the floor to defer a decision until after a hand is completed.

Patrick joins Joe for this week’s HO...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I celebrate some recent achievements of women in poker, talk about the Circa Survivor winners, recap the Patreon Game, and discuss why the Sweepstakes Poker model may be in hot water. Elliott takes the reins in Call the Floor, ruling on a hand turned up way too early — and he is upset he didn’t called. Patrick joins me to break down a HOTW featuring pocket Jacks and a table full of limpers. I wrap it up with Joe’s One Outer, focusing on the power of position in poker...

I know technically last week was Ep. 49 1/2, so we should be at Ep. 50 — but in order to keep things on track with when we actually started putting the podcast out, I made this week’s episode Ep. 51.

We’re kicking off the new year with a brand-new intro for the show! You’ll hear a version of it here, and if you want to check out the full intro, head over to our Patreon page.

Elle and I are around the table for Table Talk, breaking down some of the poker action kicking off the new year...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of a full episode, we’re taking a well-timed step away from the table to recharge, reflect, and practice what we’re always preaching. On the show — especially in my One Outer — we talk a lot about the importance of balance, taking breaks, and enjoying life away from poker. This week, we’re finally taking our own advice.

With the holidays here, we’re spending time with family, enjoying Christmas, and coming back refreshed and ready for what’s ahead. Sometimes the best move is...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, we’ve got a full deck of conversations, strategy, and a little crossover fun.

On Table Talk, Elle and I dive into the idea of multi-tabling and firing multiple bullets, plus break down some interesting Spotify stats that caught our attention.

In Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a tricky situation involving a player who discloses the contents of their hand—what’s allowed, what’s not, and how it should be handled.

This week’s HOTW puts Patrick and I in position with pocket quee...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Joe and Elle welcome Michelle McGinn and Molly Brentlinger to the table: . We share laughs and insights, and then shift to a feel-good WPT moment where what could’ve been a disappointment turns into an unexpected $1,100 seat to the WPT Prime Championship.

In Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a tricky spot involving a player whose hand is declared dead after exposing a card — and as always, his ruling sparks great discussion.

Then it’s time for HOTW, where Joe debates whether he can escape his reputati...

Dustin King from Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, NY pulls up a chair with Elle and I for a packed Table Talk segment! We dive into everything happening at Rivers, the latest buzz out of NYC, and even wander into the world of AI and how it might shape the game.

In Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a wild moment when a player gets a little too excited—sending a card flying off the table. Was it a fold?  Or just an accidental fastball from excitement?

Patrick and I tackle another HOTW, and the...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I kick things off with a recap of the comedy show we caught and dive into holiday festivities before looking ahead at the poker action on the horizon. In Call the Floor, Elliott breaks down a confusing situation at the table — did the player call or fold? Patrick joins me for this week’s HOTW featuring pocket 9’s, and I close things out with a One Outer about what I’m thankful for this year.

Click here to check out Octopi Poker

Click here for our Link...

Elle and I are finally back home and back in the studio for a packed episode of the Ante Up Poker Podcast! This week, we kick things off with a full recap of the Ante Up Poker Championship — Then we dive into the latest GGPoker controversy shaking up the poker world, and we also recap the wild hands and friendly chaos from this week’s Patreon Home Game.

In Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a tricky situation where an older gentleman kept lifting his cards high enough for nearby players to get an accidental peek. Was...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast — Elle and I are coming to you straight from the Poker Studio at the Venetian as we kick off the Ante Up Poker Championship in Las Vegas! We’ve even got a special guest at the table with us: Tommy Larosa joins the fun and adds his take on all the action.

On Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a sticky situation where a player’s reaction to the board may have given away more than he intended. Then Patrick and I dive into this week’s Hand of the W...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast — Elle and Joe are back around the poker table to talk about why the Patreon game had to be canceled, gearing up for the Ante Up Poker Championship in Las Vegas, and reveal an exciting new tour stop for next year! Elliott tackles a “marked card” controversy on Call the Floor, Patrick and Joe break down a fun HOTW with AQ suited on the button, and in Joe’s One Outer, we explore why every poker player needs a hobby outside the game.

Links for today’s show:

Here is...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast: Elle and I welcome Michelle and Molly from Talking Stick to chat about the latest happenings at the property. We also discuss a low-stakes player getting staked on Hustler Casino Live and the new WSOP Paradise documentary.

Elliott breaks down the one chip rule in Call the Floor, Patrick and I review a Hand of the Week from Live! Casino (not in Baltimore), and I close it out with Joe’s One Outer about the power of folding early.

Links for today’s show:

Click here...

This Week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast: Elle and I are back home from their trip to Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm, enjoying a short breather before hitting the road again for the Ante Up Poker Championship at the Venetian! We catch up on the latest poker news, then Elliott joins me for another listener submission for Call the Floor. Patrick and I break down a Hand of the Week, and then I wraps things up with my One Outer. Grab your drink, settle in, enjoy the show!

Hello Fresh – Click this link to get 10 free...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I are hitting the road — literally! We’re recording from the highway on our way to the Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm in Kentucky. Along the ride, we dive into how Poker Power is teaching high school girls valuable life lessons through the game of poker, and discuss a fascinating Wired story where a journalist teams up with a hacker to uncover potential security flaws in automatic card shufflers.

On Call the Floor, Elliott rules on a wild situation involving a full-on chip-throwing meltdown that has to be...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Joe and Elle are bringing the action to a whole new level — literally — with the addition of video to the show! While they are around the table, they recap the latest Patreon Home Game, share some laughs, and look ahead to a few exciting events, including the upcoming WPF Ladies Weekend and their road trip to Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farms.

In this week’s Call the Floor, Elliott makes a ruling on a tricky situation involving a random chip found under the table during a tournament — you won’t want...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast: Elle and I start with Table Talk where wrap up our trip to Schenectady and share all the highlights. We dive into a WSOP Europe player who truly embraced the “Chip and a Chair” mentality, celebrate the two gamblers who set a record for visiting the most casinos in 24 hours, and explore the massive Bally’s casino and entertainment mecca being built next to the A’s Stadium in Vegas. Elliott rules on when a misdeal should be called in this week’s Call the Floor, Patrick and I dissect a tricky AQ...

This week the Ante Up Poker Podcast is coming to you from Rivers Casino in Schenectady, NY! Elle and I are joined by Dustin from Rivers and we dive into the poker action from the week. We recap the standout moments, we salute to Kristen Foxen, the new women’s all-time live money leader, and we talk about this bizarre incident where a phone mysteriously exploded into smoke in a poker room. In this week’s Call the Floor, Elliott delivers a ruling on a dealer potentially crossing the line during a High Hand Promotion. Patrick and I break down...

Elle and I kick things off in Table Talk, breaking down all the action from last night’s Patreon game, plus we look ahead as we get ready for Schenectady and dive into other New York casino news. We also spotlight the upcoming WPF Ladies Event happening in October. Click here for more on the events.

In Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a tricky ruling where a player clearly said “raise” but wasn’t allowed to put out the full raise amount — wait until you hear his take on this one.

Patrick and I square o...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Dustin King joins Elle and Joe as we gear up for the Electric City Poker Series and Ante Up Poker Tour in Schenectady, NY. Be sure to book your hotel here and use code ECPS25. Elliott rules on a hand discovered after the dealer started cleaning up, Patrick and Joe break down a tricky KQ suited spot in the Hand of the Week, and Joe wraps it up with One Outer on the myth of coolers.

Earlier this week Papa Pok3r started the journey of the Poker Cannonball...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I welcome Papa Poker to the table to talk about his ambitious new project — the Poker Cannonball Run. He’s documenting his time on the road, playing tournaments across multiple states, and releasing it all with weekly YouTube videos. Subscribe to his channel here so you know when each video is released.

In our Call the Floor segment, a tricky situation arises when a tournament player sits in the wrong seat — but it’s not discovered until they are in a hand on the turn. Should the hand sta...

This week on Table Talk, Elle and I recap the Patreon game. Plus—Hatter and Ben Minch add even more value to upcoming Patreon games, including the brand-new Good Karma Seat.  We’re just weeks away from heading to Rivers Casino in Schenectady, NY (Sept. 15–28). Trophies, Vegas seats, magazine covers, and community vibes—don’t miss it. We also break down the wild debate sparked when a player folded pocket aces preflop deep in the WSOP Online Mystery Millions.

Call the Floor this week is a fun controversy about whether a player really have the right to demand a dec...

This week Elle and I are in the Charm City, Baltimore MD. We are playing a little poker and getting to know some of the staff at the poker rooms here. In the Table Talk segment we discuss our time at the tables so far, India’s Black Friday bill, and the passing of Jack McClelland. The code that we mentioned for Octopi Poker is ANTEUP and the link for the site is below.

Our Call the Floor segment has Elliott discussing a situation where the prize pool dropped considerably between the final day 1 and day 2. He ta...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast: Elle and I break down the mental side of her game in Table Talk, recap the Patreon game, and preview the upcoming Ante Up Poker Tour stop in Schenectady, NY — with a special room rate code giving listeners 25% off regular rates.(ECPS25) Elliott rules on a possible collusion spot in Call the Floor, Patrick and I debate limping pocket kings in Hand of the Week, and in Joe’s One Outer, I talk about two hands where trusting my read had two very different results.

Factor Meals – Click t...

Elle and I welcome WhatsUpDoc2 to the table for this week’s Table Talk, fresh off his win in the July Patreon game. We cover a mix of headlines and hijinks, including the decline in Vegas tourism, what’s coming up in the next round of Patreon games, and a few poker moments worthy of the big screen treatment.

Elliott joins us for Call the Floor, where a ruling takes a wild turn and ends with a player being trespassed from the casino. Patrick and I then break down a tricky hand from an online tournament, weighing the...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Elle and I tackle some fun topics: What matters more—fun or profit? Where’s your dream destination to play poker? And who would you take with you to the felt in paradise? Plus, I surprise Elle with an exciting opportunity from Maker’s Mark that you won’t want to miss. Here is where you can get your tickets as well.

In Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a tricky situation involving a player who’s been rubbing people the wrong way—what happens when etiquette turns into an issu...

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This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, join Elle and me as we break down the heated debate surrounding the WSOP Player of the Year — is it time for a rule change? We also recap the action from our latest Badugi Patreon game and share stories from the frontlines of the eternal quest: finding the perfect place to play poker.

In this episode’s “Call the Floor,” Elliott weighs in on a controversial ruling where a player was forced to show their hand...

Elle and I welcome Dustin King to the table for a fun and honest breakdown of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of this year’s WSOP. From deep runs to deep sighs, nothing is off the felt. We dive into all things poker, and even a little Uno.

Elliott lays down the rules when a player makes a river bet before their opponent even decides what they are going to do on the turn.

Patrick and I dissect a hand featuring pocket sixes in an online game with antes and a straddle—was it p...

Elle and I are recording from the new Ante Up studio! The backdrop’s fresh, the chairs are comfy, and the sound quality… well, let’s just say we’re still working on that part.

We talk about the 2025 WSOP Main Event as it continues its march toward crowning a champion, and the WPT is kicking off its always-popular series at the Venetian — one of our favorite poker destinations. Plus, our July Patreon Games are officially scheduled, and there’s still time to join the action!

This week’s Call the Floor might be my favorite one ye...

This week on the Ante Up Poker Podcast, Joe’s back around the table for Table Talk  — and there’s no shortage of things to discuss! We dive into the good, the bad, and the downright soggy at the WSOP, including the water flooding chaos at the Horseshoe and Paris. Plus, we wrap up the segment with a great moment from Daniel Negreanu, who answers a railbird’s question on how to make tilt a non-factor at the table. As promised here is the link to that video.

In Call the Floor, Elliott weighs in on a sticky si...