Month: May 2020

The Grid 037 ft. David K Lappin – Pocket-Fives

May 27, 2020 Jennifer Shahade 00:44:17

David K Lappin comes on thepokergrid.com to discuss a hand with pocket fives, that was set in Vegas in the 1980s at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino.  David wrote the hand for a script in his life as a screen-writer long before he became a poker professional and podcast host. The hand itself puts listeners in the classic amateur’s quandary: you have ace-king but miss the flop. David goes on to explain what he finds lacking in most poker scenes, and how telling a good story about a hand in a movie compares to telling a good story to persuade your opponent to fold or call. 
 A vocal “frenemy” of the GRID, David and Jen joke about swapping years as “Podcast of the Year” for the GRID and the Chip Race, and why David is nicknamed “Scissorhands”, for his tight show edits. David also does his best rendition of Jennifer’s “send-off” at the end of each episode. 
You can find David on twitter and his website. Find his podcast the Chip Race on soundcloud. David and his co-host, author Dara O’Kearney, also host a new YouTube complement to the Chip Race, the “Lock-in”, which Jennifer recently appeared on. 
Now that David has discussed pocket fives, there are 132 combos left on thepokergrid.com. 
We appreciate your reviews of the GRID on Apple and other podcast platforms. Sign up for the GRID mailing list here. 


The Grid 036 ft. Chris Moneymaker – Five-Three Suited

May 11, 2020 Jennifer Shahade 44:29

For the GRID’s first anniversary episode, Chris Moneymaker tells a hand he played soon after his WSOP Main Event victory, against movie star Ben Affleck. The 25/50 No Limit Hold Em Cash game was hosted in 2003 at the Palms Casino, back when the hotel had a poker room. Ben was opening, calling or raising every single hand, and started the action in this one too, opening for 200. He got four callers including Vince Van Patton and Moneymaker, who was in position with three-five of spades. The flop came king of spades, ten of space and six of the clubs, giving Moneymaker a baby flush draw. Everyone checked to an offsuit four turn. Ben bet 1100, Vince called, and Chris raised to 4K. The river was the 4 of spades, completing Chris’s flush. Ben and Vince checked and Chris bet 6K, only to get raised to 17K by Affleck. Vince tank folded. The pot had swelled to over 100K and Chris now had a crucial decision whether to jam or call.

After unraveling the full details of the epic hand history, Chris talks about how to get invited to good games and why he fights for every last chip even when only play money is at stake.

Chris Moneymaker has been a member of Team PokerStars Pro since his historic 2003 World Series of Poker victory against Sammy Farha, a win that incited a poker boom. In 2019 Chris was inducted into the World Poker Hall of Fame, the same year that he hosted, the “Moneymaker Tour,”, which awarded Platinum Passes worth $30K all over the World.

We ask Moneymaker how many times he’s been asked “Is that your real name?”, why he doesn’t really drink anymore, and the doomed chop negotiations with Sammy Farha at the 2003 WSOP.  

You can find Chris Moneymaker on twitter, instagram and on PokerStars.

Now that three-five suited has been clicked off thepokergrid.com, there are 133 combos remaining. Thanks to our guests and listeners for a year worth of podcasts- look for a special GRID inspired anniversary show at host Jen Shahade’s twitch channel on Friday May 15th.