When GTO Poker Meets EXPLOIT! [Charlie Carrel vs Andy Stacks]

""F#&K GTO" protagonist Charlie Carrel battled against cash game crusher Andy Stacks in the very first hand of a Sit & Go for GGPoker’s Game of Gold. Andy found himself in a tricky spot with pocket queens after a disastrous runout and an unorthodox line by Charlie.
In 3-bet pots, it's usually best not to lead into the preflop aggressor, as their range will generally be stronger with hands like overpairs. However, if you anticipate your opponent will fold too much to a lead or not raise then you can do this with your more marginal holdings
Andy Tsai or “Andy Stacks'' as he is more commonly known in the poker world is a popular professional poker player originally from Taiwan who currently resides in Los Angeles, United States. Over the last decade, Andy Stacks has established himself as one of the most recognizable poker faces on live poker streams playing regularly on ‘Hustler Casino Live’ and ‘Live At The Bike’. Andy is known for being an ambassador for GGPoker. He has a very calm and quiet demeanour at the poker table and was given his nickname “Andy Stacks” as he always has huge stacks of chips when playing in live cash games.
Charlie Carrel “Epiphany77” is a professional poker player from England and has over $9,600,000 in live tournament earnings with his biggest cash of £1,600,000 coming at a Triton Poker Super High Roller Series London in a £50,000 tournament. Charlie is a strong believer in live reads at the poker table and regularly explains his decision-making based on them. He is widely known to be against the Game Theory Optimal (GTO) approach to poker, often saying 'F#&K GTO' in his KZbin videos. Instead, he focuses on exploitable strategies. Charlie's big break came in 2014 when he took down the PokerStars Sunday Million for over $200,000. He is good friends with high-stakes tournament poker player Ben Heath.
Filmed in Seoul, South Korea and hosted by experienced poker broadcaster Ali Nejad, Game of Gold combines high stakes poker with survival reality TV. Over the course of the 12 episodes, the sixteen participants competed across various poker formats, including Sit & Go’s, Heads-Up games, Indian Poker and a standard tournament poker game.
The poker players on the show included Daniel Negreanu “KidPoker”, Jason Koon, Fedor Holz “CrownUpGuy”, Kevin Martin, Kyna England, Josh Arieh, Daniel Cates “Jungleman”, Lukas Robinson “RobinPoker”, Nikita Luther, Charlie Carrel “Epiphany77”, Johan Guilbert “YoH ViraL”, Olga Iermolcheva, David Williams, Andy Tsai “Andy Stacks”, Michael Soyza, and Maria Ho.
In Round 1, a four-tier Sit & Go poker format, each team (spades, diamonds, hearts, and clubs) put a poker player into a separate round of four-handed poker action, with Game of Gold coins on offer for finishing first, second, third, or fourth. The rounds increased in the amount of coins that were offered, until the fourth ‘mystery’ round, where no-one knew how many coins were on offer. The team with the least Game of Gold coins at the end of all four Sit & Go’s would be eliminated.
🔍 Preflop:
In the opening hand of this Sit & Go, Charlie Carrel opens to 40,000 from the cutoff with pocket fives. Andy Stacks looks down at two red queens on the button and 3-bets to 110,000. After the blinds fold, Carrel calls with his small pocket pair.
💸 Flop - 7h 4h 6s:
The seven-high flop with two hearts is great for Carrel, who flops an open-ended straight draw with his fives. He donk leads for 30,000 into the preflop aggressor Andy, whose pocket queens still remain an overpair on the low connected board. Andy also has a queen-high backdoor flush draw to go with his premium pair, prompting him to make the call.
💣 Turn - 8h:
The 8 of hearts on the turn completes the flush, but it also gives Carrel the straight. He would upgrade to a straight flush if the 6 of hearts were to fall on the river. Carrel decides to bet 130,000, slightly under half-pot. Andy can’t be pleased with the appearance of this turn card, as many hands in Carrel’s range have now improved to beat him. Nonetheless, he calls again.
🌊 River - 5s:
The 5 of spades on the river spells disaster for Carrel, as he's now chopping the pot. However, Carrel attempts to scoop the entire pot and bets nearly the pot, firing out 550,000. Andy now has to decide whether to fold, call, or raise? Curious about what the high stakes cash game crusher will do? Watch this poker video to find out!
Jonathan Little analyzes live poker hands from TV poker shows such as Poker After Dark, Hustler Casino Live, The Lodge Poker Club & PokerGO. He also analyzes popular poker vloggers such as Rampage Poker, Brad Owen, Jaman Burton, Ashley Sleeth, Wolfgang Poker and others!
You will also find many poker hands on this channel that contain some of the biggest names in the poker world such as; Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Doug Polk, Garrett Adelstein, Tom ‘Durrrr’ Dwan, Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates, Fedor Holz & many more!
#pokerstrategy #gameofgold #ggpoker

[@PokerCoaching]

Do YOU prefer to play GTO poker or exploitative poker? 🧐

[@christianbackous2608]

Yes

[@banidinbani5023]

against u always exploitative! :)

[@pugsnhogz]

idk but the way Andy played that hand is definitely not GTO

[@GetMeThere1]

Exploitative....BY FAR.

[@antonycostantine2457]

"Exploitative poker"is short for "I'm too lazy to learn poker"

[@jc624]

I think a mix of GTO and Exploitative play is optimal for live poker. You'd want to observe the table and see them through the lens of GTO play and see how they deviate, then exploit them a pip or two wider from GTO play yourself. I would never go completely against game theory play, but just play the borderline hands where I could go either way base on what I observe how my opponents play.

[@steveterry5139]

Zero queens left and he says. “I’d like to see a Queen on the turn and 5 on the river” 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@raintrunberg2195]

came here to comment that :D lmfao

[@steveterry5139]

They asked for the queen twice during it too. So silly 🤪

[@JohnSmith-nx7zj]

Even if there were queens left, it would be really boring. 5 puts a one liner out there to a straight so both players probably just check it down with their sets.

[@culu37]

If Andy is gto I’m lebron

[@joshsheppard21]

And I’m Kobe

[@Stockhandle123]

Yeah Andy is so far from GTO. in fact left hand by Charlie was played fine according to the wizard. Some of his sizing was off but his line is a thing.

[@djStens]

Playing GTO in Live poker would be a massive blunder

[@Stockhandle123]

@@djStens playing game theory optimal can never be a massive blunder or any kind of blunder. Just stop being lazy guys learn the theory adjust the sliders accordingly in each game.

[@djStens]

@@Stockhandle123 im on gtowizard for at least a few hours everyday man. Some of these very thin value and super wide calls the solver has on some rivers would get you absolutely demolished at Live 1-2

[@Charlie_Ses]

Charlie is one of the biggest prlcks on the planet

[@pugsnhogz]

weird new age narcissist but he knows poker

[@krs-fltutorials4487]

I think it's an act. Hard to believe he is really like that. I think he does it for the purpose of getting recognized.

[@pugsnhogz]

@krs-fltutorials4487 I think the opposite. I find it hard to believe it could be a persona. It's so consistent and he seems so genuinely gleeful about it. I think that's just who he is.

[@skidm0]

Yeah the whole Live Read Guru stare down act is cringe but it gets him publicity so good for him.

[@BigBadVVolf22]

@@krs-fltutorials4487nah this guy is a bonafide douche canoe

[@millenniumstarfury2482]

JL when you gonna wear Charlie's outfit at the table? 😆 Thanks the for vid

[@akenower]

Chop board theory is nuts. But Fedor was right QhQx is supposed to rip it in here along with a ton of one heart hands.

[@johnnytwotimes7854]

Is the original video cut or did Andy really fold so quickly on the river?

[@Mr.Curiosity89]

Just one question: Can't the other players (team members) see what Martin and Arieh fold? Because they folded KQ and Q2, so why they cheering for Q on the flop?

[@official_alphabet_inc]

I think you answered your own question there, buddy.

[@johngleue]

After your explanation, Jon, i agree and really think calling or maybe even getting crazy and jamming is the correct play here. Carrol should have a flush or hands that chop in this scenario.

[@kevinlindstrom8486]

Gotta say... don't know Andy well enough to kmow how strong and nimble he is, mentally. Can he adjust to the moment? If so, yeah he shoves. If not, or if he should be more cautious in this situation because of the overall strategic landscape (pot sizes, blinds, etc.) then I can see him folding.

[@mrgainz7252]

😂

[@jimhammond5885]

Andy is one of the best cash game players in the US.

[@MrDizew]

Actually Charlie's line is very GTO approved.

[@eldad4446]

in 3b pots the flop lead is low - like 3% with 55

[@akenower]

​@@eldad4446more like 50%.

[@akenower]

On this board.

[@danielhenry6777]

charlies flop lead is actually a gto thing on that board

[@eldad4446]

right - i was surprised to say it wasn't. I think the 3b pre makes it so you don't want to very much. In single raised pots you have more leads but in 3b pots the pre - flop caller almost never leads.

[@danielhenry6777]

@eldad4446 in 100 bb spots you do lead this in 3 bet pos for a small bet, they were playing like 400bb deep so maybe not that deep and you do more check raising or just calling.

[@danielhenry6777]

Maybe you should run it again because the preflop caller leads here about 50% of the time in gto

[@xstexist2971]

@@danielhenry6777yeah ur right I was actually super surprised to see the amount of leading done. Even the sizing is actually GTO which is wild. 11% of the time Charlie should lead around 1.5BBs which he did lmfao crazy game

[@KaCee-v6o]

@@eldad4446ur so wrong.

[@okokokokokok69-km4zi]

"GTO", lmao. The very first action in the hand is not GTO. GTO would never 3-bet to 5.5bb with 100bb stacks. Andy probably wouldn't even beat nl100 online.

[@ArdaiThomasPoker]

he would probably struggle at nl50. maybe if he bumhunts he has some chance...

[@francescoiadicicco1266]

Looks more like a GTO (Charlie) vs Nit (Andy) meeting 😁

[@banhdaa]

Andy is truly nitty.

[@johnnytwotimes7854]

Always a tough spot having to call a big bet to only win half the pot

[@Malzarius85]

The guys in the back can see the cards. Did they not see two queens where folded?

[@lunchbox6576]

The third option you should have put down is will you believe a poker player when they promise to quit the game ?

[@chanceneck8072]

3:55 But why would a single overpair like pocket queens ever raise on such a coordinated board? Like, I've seen SO many players lose against hands like 7,6 in these situations, it's crazy. Sure, 7,6 will likely never raise pre and then call a reraise, but I've even seen that happen. I just tend to play overpairs a bit more passively there. But with too many draws, having only an overpair, I've lost too often in these situations when I chose to raise.

[@TomRauhe]

Turn bet Size should be a size where flushes raise like what Charlie did.

[@heavilymeditated6182]

Thanks for sharing coach

[@PokerCoaching]

You're welcome!

[@newstandardaccount]

I don't see Andy ever shoving this spot, but it is an interesting idea. Charlie's decision on the river is pretty clear - a big bet. If you don't think Andy has many flushes here, even a 9 might be scared to call. Realistically Andy's best hope is for a chop if he calls, so it sets up a bit of chicken if he wants to blast it. I agree with Fedor though - let's see how this turns out.

[@newstandardaccount]

wtf Charlie basically gave his whole strategy away on the river

[@MrAgmoore]

Andy was fairly conservative on Hustler Casino Live, during the Robbie J 4 era.

[@Robert-tr8iw]

Play bad - get lucky - call it exploitative lmao.

[@pugsnhogz]

lol no charlie is one of the best in the world have a seat

[@yekim008]

Please explain how he played bad

[@zlatal1567]

Charlie carrel is one of the world best

[@ChrisM-wv4gs]

Pre is fine outside of making his open to large. He also has more sets on the flop. Neither player should have a str8. I still don't like the donk though. Betting the turn is good because as said in the video Andy should check back a lot on this runout. It's horrible for his range

[@gsowobblie]

​@@ChrisM-wv4gs Charlie has all 98s combos, Andy should only have one or so (GTOwizard says 3b 98s like 33%). They should have the same amount of 99. I think donking is fine, PFA should be checking like 50% of range on this board including. GTOwizard likes donking 40% of the time, but interestingly prefers 25% 3:1 over 10%.

[@xavierlekens507]

i like to see a queen and a 5 on... brother we just saw both queens get folded

[@TungstenOrWolfram]

GTO is unexploitable by definition, right?

[@1312Mork2]

I see no gto being played here from anyone

[@RobRochon]

(answer before seeing the final result of video). Yep...Andy shoves. He won't put Carrel on a 9 and because Carrel didn't bet the flush draw on the flop he's not worried about a flush. Jonathan suggested that Carrel might have been playing a suited 9-7 but highly unlikely. Andy will calculate that Carrel will have very few possibilities of flush and 9 hands vs. other hands and decide to play strong, take the fold equity and make Carrel have a very difficult decision for his tournament life.

[@RobRochon]

Just watched the result and also listened to Jonathan's rationale. I think Jonathan's logic makes more sense regarding Carrel having more Ah and Kh made hands more in a 9 handed game but this was a 4 handed game at this point -- he is more likely to be bluffing with one heart in his hand at this point. The Qh is a very strong blocker therefore making it less likely that Carrel held hearts for a flush too then (AhQh, KhQh, Qh,Jh, Qh,10h, Qh,9h, Qh,8h are all blocked). Andy has always been a cautious player in the live cash games at Hustler therefore it doesn't surprise me that he's even more cautious in a tournament setting. This is also probably why Garrett always ate Andy's lunch on those live streams all the time too. I agree with Fedor - aggression all the way.

[@Khemiri9]

how does A9 fold the turn?

[@Masko1992]

Where is the full video for this?

[@datonehumandude1871]

Search game of gold, whole series, was one of best poker shows

[@JoshurBell]

Is it possible people use the term “blockers” to justify bad calls based on what you’re holding and not our opponents?

[@PokerCoaching]

Sure!

[@Texasfishingfamily]

Andy really can't ever rep a raising hand on the river without the nut flush and he would only have AK or AQ suited. I can't believe he folded though.

[@gesus.christ99]

calling a big bet to split at best? are you serious

[@pugsnhogz]

@@gesus.christ99 that's why exploit guys like charlie will bet big in those spots. you have to find some calls or they will run you over.

[@gesus.christ99]

@@pugsnhogz i didn't meant that you shouldn't call, i pointed that since this guy was saying "i can't believe he folded" like it was the 2nd nuts

[@MrAgmoore]

@@gesus.christ99people will sometimes push this line in 2NL. It's so common. Doh... we have to chop... maybe if I go all in I can push someone off a chop etc.

[@NeuroticNOOB]

​@@MrAgmoore I have seen people fold their quads with ace kicker because they didn't know they would chop/had the nuts (Quads on board). Also if the nuts are on the board it is the right strategy to go all in without rake. I mean the other player could still get a heart attack before he calls... the chance is >0 lol

[@OneEyedJack01]

I find this program unwatchable due to the gameshow sound effects and editing.

[@UnknownWarriorZz]

I don’t agree with littles analysis when he went through Charlie’s perceived opinion of Andy’s range on the River. He said Andy couldn’t have a flush and would be folding out any combination of 9 on the turn. I’ve watched Andy play a lot that’s just not true. Andy could have flushes there and a hand like Q9 with one heart, little said it’s not possible but I strongly disagree.

[@XandoFootball]

The lead was more than fine. Andy does not have the nut advantage here. He's not 3 betting pocket 7, 6, or 4. This flop is terrible for Andy. I would assume the solver wants Andy to check back a lot in this spot. Leading puts pressure on Andy's ENTIRE RANGE. Carrell has all of the sets....Andy doesn't.

[@MrAgmoore]

I watched the entire Game of Gold series about a week ago. I still think that Holz folding the flush was bad.

[@GetMeThere1]

If the flush wasn't there I'd happily shove -- more likely to get Carrel to fold vs Carrel having a 9. But I'm folding with three hearts (and Carrel getting more aggressive on the turn.

[@MrCEO-1]

Why dont you let the hand play out then go over it again at the end 🤦‍♂️

[@SolvingTornadoes]

Didn't Charlie give it away with that question right before Andy's decision? I would have shoved. I can't believe Andy didn't at least call.

[@skeemininnem]

Poker reality shows are cringe as it gets

[@sprolltobias4443]

charlies play looks pretty solver approved...

[@noThankyou-g5c]

i feel like some guy saying the action by seat number instead of position would drive me insane. its like trying to count in ur head while somebody else is saying numbers.

[@jackolini]

I don't see how he can shove. I don't think he would shove with just a 9 and he can't really represent a flush either. I paused the video so I could be wrong

[@MrSitemaster2]

Does the GTO solver say Andy should: Call, Fold or Raise?

[@akenower]

Insanely enough its a shove lol.

[@MrSitemaster2]

@@akenower Thanks.

[@ji3817]

lol at Andy being called gto

[@briansheppard9358]

these commentators keep waiting for a queen to come out. didn’t they see both other queens got folded preflops?

[@krisDag17]

I guess Andy would Never Shove in this spot, giving his tepid play from the beginning of the play... he actually folded, which is the play I would have made myself.

[@untouchable360x]

KQ "blocks" KK, QQ, AK , AQ and KJ. Arieh should've shoved. What a weak player.

[@Seaton1518]

And he would be out. Thats why you're on the couch

[@wouterleten1982]

Both teams missed that the other 2 players both mucked queens pre-flop

[@nonconformist9991]

He set the price for his draw with that small flop bet even if Andy three bets he should have odds to call that river bet is the result of no resistance from Andy giving him the ability to rep the pocket nines there is a fine line between genius and stupidity in this game.

[@matty1872]

that boba fett definitely has a weird fettish

[@NvSSS]

"This is what Andy's good at as well" what having Queens?

[@TheDonkanator]

Andy is Big Bank Roll GTO not traditional….. 😏😭😂

[@Sillydogification]

I didnt like the flop bet. Much too small. Should have been at least 90k instead of 30k. It used to be one of my bad plays - to bet small on the flop, not learn anything about their hand when they just flat...So I would have bet much larger there, but his river bet is great. Although I thought he talked himself into a call on the river, he got lucky there... I've seen players get busted calling a shove when they thought they were calling to chop...I think Andy made a good fold, because he was calling to chop...

[@efrainchavez3049]

Im sorry to contradict you Jonathan. But andy does not play GTO style. At all

[@passionnotparked9099]

EZ call here, if C had 2 pair, sets, or Flush at flop he would had bet big or shov to defend. Since this did not happen you put C on high cards or a pair. Same with Turn, if C made the Flush, why not Shov. Betting big on the River only means 1 thing, trying to steal the pot. If A was in position, he would had done exactly what C did, so call.

[@barygol]

What a pile of bs...

[@lloydchristmas1086]

this show is rly cringe worthy

[@marksimpson2321]

Andy has more nuts than Charlie on the river. 99 wouldn't play like Charlie played his 55.

[@bootswithtrees]

Sometimes you just go with your read

[@EduardoHernandez-vj8vx]

That’s crazy g

[@d.139]

Come on, they both play the hand bad as fuck.

[@matthewribeiro1167]

My favorite ROBOT 🤖 ❤

[@mcend5727]

Who played GTA here? They're playing like a bar poker game

[@vivaldoreyes777]

That speech at river is so weak. Easy call against this kind of player 🤡

[@pugsnhogz]

I agree once he started talking like that I would've snap called

[@jermainejohnson7026]

Never shove too much of a risk

[@theofilosgougoulas8549]

very tight fold

[@casherj1]

Never shoving there. Every street was scarier for only him.

[@SolvingTornadoes]

i think Andy will call.

[@donaldcarlin6385]

After Carrels speech I would be 100% sure he'd fold to a jam.

[@Seaton1518]

He would do the same speech play with a flush

[@donaldcarlin6385]

@Seaton1518 maybe same speech- not the same inflections and non voluntary facial movements

[@Tungngm]

Andy is not comfortable with tournament set up, if this were cash game at Hustle he’d shove all day

[@KiiroiSenko1]

Andy is about as GTO as Stevie Wonder

[@stevenfagaly3810]

I predict Andy is shoving.... now watching....oh, horrible. By the way, suited T9 was a possibility. (Edit) Oh sorry, obviously I didn't mean by the end.

[@Pacostyle888]

NEVER SHOVE. Fedor was weird socially with his speeches and his antics on this show. It felt like he had some kind of social or self esteem disorder.

[@silvad314]

Agree with yoh viral never shove

[@victorburnett6329]

Andy does not play GTO

[@MrJSpicoli]

He shouldn't wear that color, it makes him even more sickly.

[@Jimmy-lx3zp]

i dunno Carrel is a bit cringe

[@christopherrucker1299]

Andy is such a nit I feel like he never steps out of his comfort zone it’s disgusting how boring he is to watch lol

[@lewisriddle5859]

Andy should've raised the flop.

[@ChinGuan31]

charlie definitely play exploitative, Andy don't play any near GTO. and i even doubt Andy capable to crush gg nl 50. but he is definitely play decent well in deep stack live game

[@marksimpson2321]

I think Andy is a v strong cash game playee. He's been successful for way lomger than people who are making money from social media rather than poker

[@ChinGuan31]

@@marksimpson2321 is just pure discussion, i dont hate Andy or what. i think he is competent enough in lots of live cash game especially those deep money cash game. but i do think Andy technical side has lots of flaw that is very imbalance (but suit his game) to survive and make a living in poker you just need to find player that are weaker than us and willing keep playing with us will do. in live game especially in those environment, Andy is definitely competent and strong in those live game with the bosses

[@stein2137]

What a boring, straight forward hand.

[@johnwallner]

All in

[@slowwonka]

Andy Shuv..

[@webguy943]

Wtffffffff bad play by BOTH. Charlie sucks cuz hes giving off so many tells of his own and andy sucks cuz he wont just look at charlie giving off his tells. First i would have raised the flop bet n then i would have checked the turn n call the river. God these guys piss me off. Wish i could play against them.

[@silversilverov4024]

Holz! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@willh4340]

ZERO percent chance Andy shoves!

[@dudeitsmebro]

andy is wild i think he shoves

[@dudeitsmebro]

dammit! lol

[@dudeitsmebro]

i felt like its a push/fold but im low stakes guy, great hand tho, good vid👍

[@gunsup0331]

QQ should have 3bet the flop then folded to any subsequent bets. the board straight sets up andy to rep 99 and thats it if he shoves. If he shoves any decent player will call with their car keys in hand

[@joekas7307]

Shove

[@southcnr]

Never shove

[@sinsmiletv2840]

stopped watching after *non GTO* flop donk, should be obvious on this board 3better has 0 sets when caller has all

[@chrisdangelo6047]

andy gto ? hahaha

[@liudizzle]

He looks like Jesus

[@mtchjc]

❤❤

[@Guywithalimp7]

This dude is fruity for wearing that at the table.

[@seanharvey8051]

They are one and the same

[@johnd5619]

Andy stacks GTO......you must be on drugs

[@AyeeCamacho]

Why is Charlie’s chest exposed like that? What a cringe weirdo 😂

[@alexwilcoxx]

what the fuck is this editing