A low-stakes poker player, who has been pushed to the fringes of an increasingly difficult industry, confronts an uncertain future within a game that often takes more than it gives.

Available on Poker Go and solveforwhy.io

I thought this was a good look at some of the mental struggles that poker players go through. The production value was top notch, like most things S4Y does.

Oscar was an interesting subject and really frustrating to watch. Throughout most of the film, he is holding on for dear life to something that is easily obtainable through other means. He is struggling to get by and not willing to change his ways, as it risks losing what he has, which isn't much. It is illustrated by the fact that he easily replaces his poker income with Uber driving. He is offered free coaching and has all the access to the tools he needs, but still can't make it.

Thoughts?

Very nice, enjoyable watch

I went to solveforwhy.io, but I did not see a link to the documentary. How do you watch it?

I watched it through Poker Go, but I believe you just need a free account on Solve For Why to watch it.

Is this Oscar character real or fictional?

Just finished watching this and even if I was just a casual viewer with no idea about poker I think I would give this doc 5 stars. It was really well done.

looking forward to watching it eventually

I honestly have never seen a player type like Oscar. There are tons of guys who play a low variance style. I’ve resorted to it at times in order to wait for better spots. But this guy is either oblivious to those better spots or has no stones at all to attack them. He’s playing scared money at the lowest possible stakes.

Best look into the gritty side of the poker hustle since rounders. Having known many Oscar types over the years, I am admittedly somewhat of a sucker for the poeticization of the desperation and despair that often is present in aspirational low stakes and underground poker.

First, I want to say that I think this is the best poker doc I have personally seen.

Second, it is incredibly embarrassing for our community that one of the best poker docs ever made is essentially a matt berkey advertisement.

a training site documenting the dying game of poker

You must play in the toughest live games in the world then.

+1. ^^^

Just watched it, a bit depressing but well done documentary.

For anyone looking for training/coaching do your research. If anything, that documentary should raise a red flag about Solve 4 Why.

Seems like there are way better options online for vast majority of players.

Pretty sure every 1/2 "pro" is like Oscar...

That 5bet bluff vs Ike was cringe , obv they would never show a hand where Berkey loses.

On a side not Marle is hotttt

Why so? I’ve seen guys who play scared money, but they tend to also not be “pros.” Usually they’re super new.

I agree, the production quality of the video was excellent.

I must admit I watched the whole thing and the thought did cross my mind that the S4Y team couldn't even convince one of their best friends that he needed a better strategy?

Also it seems strange he constantly complained about the pressure of playing off a short roll but the S4Y team didn't seem to offer him any short term backing to see what he could do if he didn't have that pressure?
Overall not a great advert for S4Y IMHO.

If his game is super nitty at low stakes then that's not a huge problem. Normally the problem is being way too loose and playing too many hands OOP.
I think it should be super easy to take a nitty guy and turn him into a low level crusher. The problem is crushing is probably 15-20 an hour. Which TBF is more than he makes doing uber or lyft.

IMHO I think the documentary would have been far more interesting if they would have taken a breakeven/small winning player (a player who would actually listen to their advice) and turned him in to a good winning player.

I'm 22 mins in and it's pretty (very) boring.

Anyone try Sokve 4 why’s training? Is it better than Upswing or Crush Live Poker? It’s kinda expensive.

If you don't know any Oscars, you're the Oscar.

Nah just kidding. This Oscar guy was clearly suffering from gambling addiction, nothing more. Like a functioning alcoholic. It was very well put into a documentary.

Mostly worth a watch for the interviews and historical stuff. They get a lot of world-class players for interviews. The Oscar storyline was a little eh because he just clearly didn't have the bankroll to be playing pro at the time, but he seems like a good guy.

100%

1. Amazing documentary. While I agree with others on this forum in questioning the quality of S4Y's coaching approach somewhat, the production value on all of their content is the absolute best in the business, hands down. To Be Determined, Results May Vary, Poker Out Loud, the content is just incredible.

2. Really brutal story of Oscar's. After literally years of playing professionally and lessons from some world class coaches, the man is completely incapable of understanding the concept of expected value and has a worse knowledge of the game than some breakeven .02/.05 reg. People say that these Euro regs are parasites when they fly in, antisocial nit it up, and suck $$ out of the poker ecosystem-- Oscar a) Adds zero value to any game he plays in and is miserable at the table and b) refuses to put in 1/100 of the work that these Euros put in on a monthly basis to improve!! Berkey hit the nail on the head-- when whatever underground/app games Oscar is playing in dry up in a few months, he will be back to square 1 breaking even in 1/2. Super depressing. I've said it before but live 1/2 is the most miserable experience of all time, you could not pay me enough money to have to grind 1/2 for a living 40hrs a week, just miserable fish and wayyyy more miserable regs.

Yeah it was pretty depressing to be honest. It felt like watching Reversal Of Fortune where they give 100k to a homeless man and he blows it. Though Oscar is no where near that level, I just felt bad watching this. Maybe because it reminds me of my own pathetic self. And yeah it was basically a 90min advertisement for Solve4Why but still somewhat entertaining.

Random thought: I'm not sure if it was the lighting reflecting off Marle's eyeshadow but the whites of her eyes looked kinda blue which reminded me of those guys in jail who get the whites of their eyes tattooed.

the best. Highly recommend S4Y over any other training group or site out there.