The Official Red Chip Poker Podcast

Playing #poker well can be viewed as making the highest-EV decision at every opportunity. In some situations, such as facing an all-in, calculating EV is relatively trivial. But what about more complex situations, particularly on early streets, where the EV formula is hard to apply?
Enter EV modeling; an approach that estimates the EV of different actions by modeling multiple branches of the game tree. In this episode of the Red Chip Poker podcast, coach w34z3l presents several practical EV modeling methods so you can optimize your poker decisions.
 
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction to EV Modeling
0:23 What is EV Modeling?
3:15 Tools for EV Modeling
3:33 CardRunners EV (CREV)
6:02 Limitations of CREV
8:29 Excel and Spreadsheets
10:52 Solvers and EV Modeling
13:01 Why Solvers Don't Work for Exploitative EV
13:38 Node-Locking Misconception
17:07 The Ideal EV Modeling Tool
20:10 Practical EV Modeling Examples
24:56 Managing Model Complexity
25:30 Conclusion and Next Steps
 
**RELATED LINKS**
- Join Red Chip PRO Now: https://redchippoker.com/pro-membership
- The Exploitative Edge (Book): https://redchippoker.com/the-exploitative-edge
- Poker Mastery 101 (Course): https://youtu.be/B8qidwy2UeU?si=A7G1_d1SYo2Ewrew
- Poker Strategy Math Every Pro Knows: https://youtu.be/QqXzTxxMzjU?si=yA1-iTJ1ISz42gDT
 
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In the season premiere of season 8, w34z3l breaks down the concept of minimum defense frequency, with an emphasis on how MDF can lead to inappropriate defense frequencies in certain spots.
GTO solutions frequently involve defense frequencies that violate MDF, suggesting such lines allow us to be auto-exploited. And yet GTO solutions are generally understood as being unexploitable. This episode reconciles this apparent contradiction, and explains how you can construct practical defense frequencies in common situations.
 
**RELATED LINKS**
· Upgrade To PRO Now: https://redchippoker.com/pro-membership
· The Exploitative Edge (Book): https://redchippoker.com/the-exploitative-edge
- Exploitative Poker Strategies Beyond GTO: https://youtu.be/_Jx3YAf3y1E?si=WRvj4dotH5SPeogi
- Defending Yourself Correctly In Poker: https://redchippoker.com/correct-poker-defense/
 
**JOIN US ON DISCORD**
Join our free poker Discord today: https://redchippoker.com/discord

Unlock the key pillars of exploitative poker strategy in this exclusive audiobook preview from The Exploitative Edge. In Chapter 4, you'll learn how to maximize profits against imperfect opponents by adjusting your play beyond rigid GTO theory.
From knowing when to build monster pots to avoiding low-confidence traps, this episode lays out six powerful strategies that will elevate your game and punish weaker opposition at every level.
This audiobook chapter was narrated by co-author James "SplitSuit" Sweeney
Ready to get your copy of The Exploitative Edge?
eBook: via RCP
Paperback: via Amazon

Is your understanding of position in poker costing you EV?
In this season 7 finale of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, you'll learn why thinking in terms of position alone is no longer enough—and how the concept of formational awareness can bring serious clarity to your strategy.
Coach W34z3l takes you deep into the subtle yet critical differences between various formations—like Button vs. Big Blind or Cutoff vs. Hijack—and how each one impacts everything from c-bet frequency to overbetting strategies to exploitative bluff-catching. You'll see how GTO solvers treat the same flop very differently based on the exact formation, and how many players make costly mistakes by ignoring these nuances.
Whether you're playing single-raised pots or 3-bet pots, in position or out, this episode will help you move beyond generic poker strategy and toward more precise, formation-aware decision making. If you're serious about improving your game, this discussion offers a powerful new lens for thinking about positional dynamics.
🧠 Want to go deeper into advanced concepts like this? Pick up our new book The Exploitative Edge—available via:
eBook at: https://redchippoker.com/the-exploitative-edge
Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4nu1UHa

In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, Coach W34z3l dives into one of the trickiest spots in no-limit hold'em: facing a double barrel out of position and deciding whether to check-raise the turn. If you've ever second-guessed a check-raise with a gutshot, flush draw, or even second pair, this deep strategy breakdown is for you.
Using a K98 flop with a blank turn as the foundation, you'll explore how solvers approach turn check-raising frequencies, which hands qualify as profitable semi-bluffs, and where most players go wrong—particularly by bluffing too much with zero-equity hands. You'll also gain clarity on when to fold draws, when to turn equity into aggression, and why certain board textures severely cap your value range.
This is an essential listen if you're serious about improving your poker strategy, particularly in cash games and single-raised pots. Whether you're already working with solvers or just want to make fewer costly mistakes out of position, the insights in this episode will help you sharpen your turn decisions and build a stronger overall game plan.