In this episode, Darren Elias, 4-time World Poker Tour champion, looks back on when he played online card games as a kid. He shares about how he prepares for games and balances family life. Jeff and Darren discuss how his motivators have evolved over the years – and he reveals the recipe for success at the top. Tune in to hear Darren reflect on his strategy – and hear what he has to say about players who try to shortcut learning the fundamentals of the game.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 00:00 – 10:00 –How he got into poker, moved from online to live, and dominated the game.
• 10:00 – 25:00 – His playing, preparation, family life, and break-in scare.
• 25:00 – 40:00 – On his goals, how he plays live and online, and what matters most to him.
• 40:00 – 01:00:00 – What he thinks of the game and its players.
• 01:00:00 – 01:20:00 – Reflecting on his losses and how he developed the fundamentals.
• 01:20:00 – 01:40:00 – Answering some questions from the audience.

3 Key Points

• If you don’t have the fundamentals down, you won’t succeed long-term.
• Rest is an important part of preparing for the game.
• Naturally good and intuitive players who study are the ones who succeed.

Contact/Resources

• Partner - Party Poker
• Website - Jeff Gross Poker