Get the most interesting takes from the world of poker from The Councilman. A simple man who knows a little about poker and a lot about life.

Get the most interesting takes from the world of poker from The Councilman. A simple man who knows a little about poker and a lot about life.

The start of a new year brings the same excitement as a freshly shuffled deck. In No-Limit Hold’em, every hand is a new opportunity and the new year is no different. It’s a natural time to reflect on your game, reset your mindset, and commit to becoming a better, more disciplined poker player.

Poker is a competitive game, but at Misfits Poker League, it’s also a social experience. Our games take place in bars and venues that welcome us week after week, and the way we conduct ourselves at the table matters just as much as how we play our hands.

In today’s poker tournaments, the min-raise has become the standard opening size. That shift dramatically impacts how the big blind (BB) should play—especially because the BB already has money invested and receives the best pot odds at the table.

So, this week I thought I’d expand a bit on Ep.1, but I wasn’t quite sure where to go with it.  That is, until Wednesday night at Joe’s when the conversation turned to The Councilman’s Corner and Rock, Paper, Scissors.

If you’ve spent any time playing in the Misfits Poker League, you already know that no two tables play the same. Some nights are loose and wild, and others feel like everyone suddenly became a professional. But no matter what style you prefer—or whatever chaos your table brings—there’s one part of poker that never changes: Good poker starts with good starting hands.