You can watch all the action from this deep-stacked six-handed World Series of Poker event in my YouTube vlog here. This was the $1,500 Six-Max, and it had everything—aggressive spots, bluff catchers, cameos from legends, and my favorite… a good old-fashioned hero call.
This event starts you with 25,000 chips, 40-minute levels on Day 1 (which increase to 60 on Days 2 and 3), and just one shot—no re-entry. That puts a premium on focus, discipline, and timing. I was ready for the challenge.
Why I Love Six-Max
Six-handed play naturally forces more action and looser ranges. You’re in the blinds more often, which means you can’t just wait for premium hands—you’ve got to play poker. That suits my style perfectly. I love staying aggressive and keeping pressure on opponents, especially when I can recognize who’s playing a more GTO or passive approach…
Pre-Tournament Routine: GTO Snacks and Mental Prep
Before heading to the Horseshoe, I made a stop at Whole Foods to grab some healthy snacks—almond butter bars, pistachios, protein sticks, and other good fuel for long days. Nutrition is part of the edge. And yes, Bobby made an appearance too, even though he was playing at the Wynn that day. He promised to send in footage for his loyal #MoreBob fans.
Running Into Brad Owen and Starting Strong
Before cards were even in the air, I ran into vlogging legend Brad Owen. If you’re in poker YouTube land, you already know Brad—and if you don’t, you should. He was actually one of the inspirations for starting my channel. He gave a great piece of advice: just post the first video. Don’t worry about perfection. Just start.
With that energy, I sat down and started chipping up. Early on, I played a hand that sparked a lot of thought—and feedback is welcome.
Hand Breakdown: 9♥9♠ From the Big Blind
Blinds were 300/500/500, and stacks were about 25,000 effective. UTG raised to 2,000, the button called, and I called from the big blind with 9♥9♠.
Flop: 7♥4♥3♥
UTG c-bet 1,800. Button folded, I called. I debated a check-raise here to protect against overcards and flush draws, but decided to keep the pot manageable and disguise my hand.
Turn: Q♥
Now I picked up a flush draw to go with my pair. UTG bet 5,000. I called again, thinking he could still be barreling with worse.
River: J♥
He bet 7,000 into a pot of about 17,400. I called—and he showed K♠T♠. Total air. I was ahead the whole way.
This was a good reminder that ranges are wider six-handed, and players will bluff more frequently in late positions. I liked my call in this spot, especially knowing I had the 9♥ as a potential blocker.
Keeping Energy Up, Table Hopping, and Running Card-Dead
As the day progressed, I bounced between tables—including one filled with absolute crushers like Ryan Laplante and Brad Owen. That made it tough to film hands (action was fast), but I adjusted by focusing on preflop pressure, especially defending and 3-betting from the big blind against wide button opens.
I went through a stretch where cards completely dried up. That’s part of the poker life—so I relied on timing, good fold equity spots, and avoided unnecessary variance.
Want to Level Up Your Six-Max Game?
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- How to adjust to six-handed play
- When and how to apply preflop pressure
- Postflop hand reading and bet sizing
- Bluff theory, mental game, and more
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Watch the Full Vlog
Want to see how it all played out, including cameos from Brad Owen, some classic #MoreBob moments, and my hero call? Check out the full YouTube vlog here and subscribe to follow the rest of my WSOP journey.
