In a bonus holiday episode of the GRID, Jennifer introduces listeners to International Master Rusudan Goletiani. Goletiani is a three-time World Youth Champion, a two-time Olympic medalist and a former US Women’s Champion- she took Jennifer’s title in 2005.   

In 1992, Rusa fled her region of Georgia, Abkhazia, due to war. She explains the dramatic story to Jennifer in the podcast, revealing the most terrifying moments of her life during her escape, as well as the most relieving. 

Rusa and Jen also discuss the legendary Georgian champions that inspired her as a youngster, including Nona Gaprindashvili, Maia Chiburdanidze, Nana Ioseliani and Nana Alexandria. All four were featured in the documentary “Glory to the Queen.” They wrap up with a discussion on the importance of confidence and girls and chess. They also discuss how it extends beyond the game, to fields like finance, business and poker.  

Beyond her chess accomplishments, Rusudan is a mom of three, a Columbia University business grad, and currently works in finance. This episode originally appeared in Jennifer’s other podcast, Ladies Knight.

Discussed in this episode: 
Glory to the Queen documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8682060/

Jen’s upcoming book, “Chess Queens”, which includes Rusa: https://jennifershahade.com/books 

K-12 Nationals girls club room:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMWrGTuiiN/

US Chess Women: https://new.uschess.org/give/women-chess-initiative

Girls to Grandmasters: https://www.g2gm.org/

Poker Power: https://pokerpower.com/

Jennifer welcomes a very special guest to the GRID, a prolific podcast host who captures the voice of a peripatetic cash game pro: DGAF. DGAF, as he calls himself, is the creator of epic “Sessions” podcast, with over 700 episodes, and the founder of Poker Rags.

DGAF brings the hand that hooked him on No Limit Hold Em almost 20 years ago, in 2003, right after Chris Moneymaker sparked the poker boom. After showing enormous discipline by folding three hands, DGAF got in the mix with nine-seven offsuit, flatting in the cutoff against an under the gun open from an older gentleman in suspenders. The flop came eight-six-deuce rainbow, giving DGAF an open-ender. He called in position against bets on the flop and the turn, which brought a three. When the river, a six, is checked to him- he finds the words that draw so many into the No Limit game: All in.

DGAF explains to Jennifer why this hand unlocked his poker career: he understood that he could now win in two ways in No Limit Hold Em, allowing him to control his destiny.

The conversation then veers to other topics, including his recent cash in the only tournament of his year, the World Series of Poker Main Event. Inspired by Jennifer, DGAF gave a portion of his winnings to three charities, including an abortion fund selected by Jennifer: The Lillith Fund. They also talk about creating content around poker, and when DGAF realized he may have an iconic voice to capture the highs and lows of the poker road.

Find DGAF Poker on twitter and patreon and listen to Sessions on your favorite pod platform, including Apple.

Now that DGAF Poker has covered nine-seven offsuit, there are 109 spots left on the GRID. You can now find previous episodes using our Episode Finder. 

Support the GRID by pre-ordering Jennifer’s book, Chess Queens on Bookshop, B&N or amazon.