120 – Phil Galfond – Galfond Challenge Recap

Ready To Become An A-Game Player? Click Here To Check Out Elliot Roe’s A-Game Poker Masterclass

Summary:

After starting the first Galfond Challenge down nearly $1,000,000, Phil Galfond stormed back and sealed the victory during an epic final day of play.

In this episode, Elliot and Phil discuss the key mindsets Phil adopted that allowed him to play his best despite the pressure and the swings of the challenge.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

[00:01:11] The Galfond vs. Venividi1993 high-stakes 25,000-hand PLO challenge…

• [00:01:11] Coming down from the incredible high of an unlikely underdog win…
• [00:02:26] The details of the unique challenge…
• [00:04:16] Dusting off 3 years of ring rust during a deep downswing…

[00:06:08] Phil keeps his cool during a danger-zone downswing…

• [00:06:08] How Phil kept going, despite loss after loss after loss after loss…
• [00:08:42] Keeping realistic expectations and making adjustments, even when all looks lost…
• [00:10:24] Phil’s big mindset break…
• [00:11:29] When a $3,000-a-day penalty payout becomes a +EV decision…
• [00:13:06] Down $900K in the challenge, Phil uses his expensive break wisely…

[00:14:47] Phil’s shift back to old-school problem solving…

• [00:14:47] The way Phil wanted to play vs. the way the GTO world wanted him to play…
• [00:17:14] The problem-solving +EV changes Phil made during his long break…
• [00:20:43] Phil makes an unlikely comeback…
• [00:22:31] Phil’s mindset advantage takes the edge over Veni…

[00:23:56] The underdog hero – Phil’s incredible win against VeniVini1993…

• [00:23:56] The final day of the challenge – Phil’s Cinderella story…
• [00:26:59] Veni $30,000 up, but Phil has the upper hand – the nitty-gritty end…
• [00:29:16] The problem-solving style vs. the solver approach…
• [00:32:07] Really, how important was mindset to winning the challenge?
• [00:35:58] Why Phil doesn’t believe he’ll ever have an A+ session…
• [00:38:04] Wrapping it all up…

3 Key Points

1. When the stakes are high and you’re up against a well-matched opponent, your mindset could mean the difference between losing and winning – especially when you’re on a downswing.
2. Having a problem-solving attitude at the table gives you a huge edge.
3. Recognize when you need to take a break… And make the +EV decision to take it!

Contact/Resources

• Save 70% On The A-Game Poker Masterclass
• Free Poker Mindset Audios on Youtube
• Free Primed Mind Primers on Youtube
• Watch The Galfond Challenge on Twitch

***If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Mindset Advantage podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review over on iTunes to help spread the word about the show. Thanks!***