Before I start, I'd like to give a big THANK YOU to "Lawn Cigar", who shipped me a Soundblaster X-Fi Go card. That's exactly what I needed, and now I can once again run the +EV show, as it allows stereo mix on my new laptop.

Lawn Cigar is a great guy, and he also generously volunteered his time and video services for the Micon/DirtyB boxing match.

Anyway, now that I have a computer capable of running a call-in radio show again, it's time to revive the +EV Show.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Dan Druff +EV Show is very different from our weekly "Cold Call" show. The Cold Call show is basically a comedy program, even though it sometimes touches on more serious aspects of poker. That's why we argue on air, make fun of the show's own failures, prank call people, call up porn stars, and play goofy sound effects.

The +EV Show is serious business. It's not entertaining or comical. It's strictly for the exchange of information and the discussion of interesting topics, primarily those of concern to professional gamblers.

Since I'm the host of the show, I like to typically feature subjects that I know a lot about, so I can be sure that I'm giving the listeners the best information. However, I'll be glad to feature volunteer co-hosts who want to share their knowledge. For example, if a good Omaha player wanted to have a show on Omaha, I'd be glad to have him on.

The +EV Show typically features just one theme per week. Once that theme is finished, the show ends. For example, I've done two shows on just limit hold 'em. Another time I did a show on how to avoid getting ripped off in life. If you want to discuss a different topic than the one on the show, please wait until the episode that covers your topic, or wait until we have a general-discussion episode.

The phone # to the +EV Show is different than the one for the Cold Call Show.

You can call in at (702) 430-1808.

Please note that I don't answer that phone number or check its messages when the show isn't on, so don't bother trying to reach me on it during other hours.

In the next post, I will reveal this week's topic.

The +EV Show will not run on a regular schedule, so please check the forum for upcoming episodes.

It will always be in our archives and available on iTunes, but will NOT be available on Stitcher.

The first +EV Show of 2010 will air on Thursday, August 5th, at 3:30pm PDT.

You will notice that this is our first-ever afternoon show. I am trying something different here -- giving a chance to those who have to go to bed early on the east coast, as well as those who can't stay up all night in Europe. I realize that some of you in the western US might be at work during this broadcast, but I encourage you to post your questions here in advance, and then catch my answers in the archive.

I will be taking questions in this thread, but I won't be answering them until the show itself.

This week's topic: Winning in a bad poker economy.

Synposis: In 2004 and 2005, the poker boom was in full force. Great games and bad opponents were plentiful. It was possible to win a lot of money without even being that good. As the years passed, several factors changed. Many bad players went broke, and weren't replaced by other bad players. Many other players rapidly improved and went pro, causing increased competition for the remaining soft money. The government made it a lot tougher to play in 2006 with the passage of the UIGEA, and many sites left the USA market. Now, in 2010, it's a whole lot tougher to consistently win in poker than it used to be. Is all hope lost? Not yet. This show will cover a lot of things you can do to either increase your profitability or get back in the black. The money doesn't come as easily, but it's still out there.

Agenda:

- Introduction to the topic

- Explanation of the factors leading to "bad poker economy"

- Game selection: Playing the proper limits and opponents. It's not as simple as it used to be.

- Avoidance of variance: Slow and steady wins the race. With easy money not as plentiful, the key now is consistency. Discussion on how to achieve that consistency, and how not to ruin it with a few horrible sessions.

- Avoiding the "tournament lottery trap"

- The process of poker skill introspection -- how to come to grips with what games you should be playing.

- Learning new games. If this didn't happen, everyone would still be playing 5 card draw. Understand both the benefits and the potential pitfalls of trying something new.

- Plugging non-play-related leaks. Do you have a pit gambling problem? A sportsbetting habit? Do you live beyond your means? Are you overly generous with others, especially when it comes to loans and stakes? Do you sometimes gamble while heavily abusing drugs or alcohol? Bad news. If you don't plug these leaks, you will always be broke. This is the first step to becoming a serious professional gambler.

- Getting off the beaten path. If you do what everyone else does, you'll probably lose like everyone else does. Learn to find sweet spots on your own.

- The long, long run. Nobody knows the future of poker. It might be even tougher to make a living at it in 5-10 years -- to the point where it won't be possible for many pros of today. If you doubt this, look how much the poker environment has changed since 2005! You shouldn't just play for today, tomorrow, or next year. You should be playing for 20 years from now.

- Is online poker going to be legal soon? If it is, are we going to enjoy a second 2004-2005-esque poker boom? Maybe, maybe not. I'll discuss the various ways it might go.

I will take listener phone calls throughout the show.

PLEASE KEEP THEM ON THIS TOPIC!

The phone number is (702) 430-1808.

Post your questions in this thread. You may also PM them to me, or call into the show when it's on.

I expect the show to run anywhere from 90 to 150 minutes.

Again, it will be this Thursday (August 5th) at 3:30pm PDT.

Great topic! There are so many people that refuse to do anything to combat the changing poker landscape. It isn't easy to make the adjustments and actually takes quite a bit of work/discipline to do some of them. I find that these people that are too lazy to adjust really just don't want to take responsibility for their poor results and often pass them off as bad luck. It isn't fun admitting that the game is passing you by or that everyone else has caught up to you.

I'll definitely listen to this show at least in archive format, because I am sure there are some things that you will mention that I could do a better job with.

Not a convenient time for me, I'll have to get the archive. I'll ship a question if I can think of one.

Yeah good topic should be a good show. I had no problem admitting to myself that I am now a horrible poker player. I actually played for a living in the Party good old days, and did pretty well. I never killed it, but made 2-3 dimes a week. Now I am a losing player (and bad bad losing player) at pretty much every level.

The game passed me by, but luckily I figured out how to make money in poker without playing. I still play now for enjoyment, and don't carry any illusions that I can win long term.

details?

Affiliate sites - poker, casino, and sports.

Which are your sites?

Will the itunes link in the Donkdown Radio section become active when the show is archived? currently it has no active link at the moment?

Also perhaps a small section about the PLO and mixed games booms online might be good

druff fuck the euros, 630 is way too early even on the east coast.
nobody wants to be inside in front of computer listning to the radio at that time its summer

I see on the agenda bullet point #2 could take a decided right wing slant....keep it short please

Liberals and Canadians need not worry. This won't be about politics.

So download the shit when it is archived. Its not gonna make a huge difference unless you hang out in chat, and the chat would likely have a different tone than the Cold Call Show chat anyway.

Looking very forward to this.

you have installed, tested your new hardware & ironed out any tech problems?

(i'd like to know that before i let myself get a +EV Show boner)

That's a big topic but it's a good outline of what you can talk about. It would be interesting to have segments going through hands. Possibly going through a hand retrieved online both cash and tourneys. The hands would ideally goto showdown and we can go through the hand stage by stage and maybe have a small panel discuss it.

Looking forward to it, but not a good time for me so I will have to d/l it later. 7pm PST is better.

Looking forward to the show.....

Did you make this?