Senior Poker Editor
Marcus Chen
Marcus spent eight years grinding $25/$50 NL online before pivoting to coverage in 2014. He has reported from every WSOP since, with a focus on the math, the metagame, and the people who refuse to stop chasing the perfect line. At Obsidian he leads our poker desk: tournament reporting, GTO breakdowns, and the long-form profiles that never make it into the daily feeds.
Joined Obsidian 2022
More posts by Marcus Chen
Concerns About Playing on CoinPoker Discussed in PokerNews Podcast #963
Plus, a set-over-set cooler that benefitted Alan Keating in a $1.2 Million poker hand.
GTO Basics Without the Math: A Conceptual Primer
GTO basics poker explained: learn mixed strategies, range-frequency-sizing, why solvers bet small, and practical limits of game theory optimal poker in 2026.
Starter Bankroll for Online Poker: How Much Do You Really Need?
starter poker bankroll: realistic plans and rules for low-stakes players. How much to start poker, buy-in ratios, moving up/down, and practical bankroll plans.
$500K Gtd Sunday Storm 15th Anniversary Phase 1s Are Running Now
Someone will turn $11 into the lion's share of a guaranteed $500,000.
Like It Never Went Away: 2026 Aussie Millions Main Event is Fifth-Largest Ever
The 2026 Aussie Millions Main Event is officially the fifth-largest in history, but that only tells half the story. The tournament returned to the poker calendar after a six-year hiatus, with many unsure whether field sizes would suffer as a...
Celebrity Poker Tour Founder Tells Epic Bellagio Fountains Show Origination Story
Founder Blake Wynn spoke to PokerNews about what goes in to the Celebrity Poker Tour.
Primm, Nevada, Set to Become a Ghost Town as Its Final Casino Shuts Down
The small town of Primm, Nevada, is set to shutter its casinos on the Fourth of July, which will likely… Continue reading Primm, Nevada, Set to Become a Ghost Town as Its Final Casino Shuts Down The post Primm, Nevada, Set to Become a Ghost Town as Its Final Casino Shuts Down appeared first on.
Matusow Makes Quads on Hellmuth's Home Game; What Hand Impressed Phil Hellmuth?
Others in the game included Randy "3Coin" Sadler, Mike Matusow & Phillip Hellmuth III.
PokerStars Ontario Prepares to Follow US Sites in Switch to FanDuel
PokerStars Ontario announced that it will no longer offer poker as of May 7 and will transition to co-branding with… Continue reading PokerStars Ontario Prepares to Follow US Sites in Switch to FanDuel The post PokerStars Ontario Prepares to Follow US Sites in Switch to FanDuel appeared first on.
Here's a List of all the New Events on the 2026 WSOP Schedule
There are some exciting new events this summer.
Hard Rock Las Vegas Construction Reaches a Significant Milestone
Construction of the Hard Rock Las Vegas guitar hotel tower has reached a major milestone.
HUD Stats That Actually Matter (and Six You Can Hide)
HUD stats that matter: learn which HUD numbers to prioritize (VPIP/PFR/3Bet, AF, Cbet) and how to build a minimal two-row HUD for online poker in 2026.
10 Mistakes Almost Every Beginner Poker Player Makes
Beginner poker mistakes cost new players money. Learn common poker errors, plug poker leaks beginners create, and fix what beginners do wrong to win more.
Daniel Dvoress Breaks Through $50M in Live Earnings at EPT Monte Carlo
More than $8M of Dvoress' $50M winnings come from EPT events.
Accidental Genius: How a Fist-Bump Created the Perfect Poker Bluff
This was truly something to see.
Alex Kulev Spins Bubble Three-Outer Into €2.7 Million Monte Carlo €250K Super High Roller Victory
Alex Kulev hits three-outer on the bubble before winning the €250K EPT Monte Carlo SHR
"I Feel Dad's Here in Spirit" says Jackson Warne as Aussie Millions Main Event Kicks Off
Jackson Warne advanced to Day 2 of the Aussie Millions, honoring his late father, Shane
Andy Lee Ends Dry Spell with Largest Career Score in Aussie Millions $25k Challenge
Andy Lee takes down the A$25,000 Challenge at the Aussie Millions for a new career best score.
How Big Was the First-Ever Texas WSOP Series? Over $7 Million Big
They say everything is big in Texas, and they aren't kidding.
Vegas Casinos Looking to Integrate Marijuana
A casino executive and some Nevada state lawmakers continued the push to integrate marijuana directly into the Las Vegas resort… Continue reading Vegas Casinos Looking to Integrate Marijuana The post Vegas Casinos Looking to Integrate Marijuana appeared first on.
GTO Wizard Simplifies Game Tree for Players By Condensing Solutions into ‘Single-Size’
GTO Wizard, one of the most popular poker solvers, released an update about a month ago that included “single-size” solutions.… Continue reading GTO Wizard Simplifies Game Tree for Players By Condensing Solutions into ‘Single-Size’ The post GTO Wizard Simplifies Game Tree for Players By Condensing Solutions into ‘Singl
More than $2.7M in Omaha Guarantees During the PokerStars Anniversary Series
The PokerStars Anniversary Series features 63 Omaha events.
Your Personal Poker Rail: Introducing the New PokerNews MyPlayers Feed
Experience a smarter way to follow the action with the newly overhauled MyPlayers feed
Brazilian Bulldozes Their Way to 888poker XL Spring Series Glory
The 888poker XL Spring Series is in full swing.
Multi-Tabling Online Poker Without Sacrificing Winrate
multi-tabling online poker demands the right tablecount, setup and focus. This guide gives multi-tabling tips, session plans, and when to stop adding tables.
Fold Equity Explained Simply (No Math PhD Required)
Fold equity poker is your chance to make opponents fold to a bet or raise—learn what it is, why bluffs need it, how stack size affects it, and when it vanishes.
PokerStars Mystery Bounty Series Wraps Up Having Paid Out $3.4 Million
More than $3.4 million was paid out during the PokerStars Mystery Bounty Series.
Hawaiian Illegal Gambling Den Raided As State Remains Among Most Hostile Toward Betting
The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) executed a search warrant on an illegal gambling-type game room in Wahiawa on Oahu Island.… Continue reading Hawaiian Illegal Gambling Den Raided As State Remains Among Most Hostile Toward Betting The post Hawaiian Illegal Gambling Den Raided As State Remains Among Most Hostile Towa
Matthew Gawel Claims Victory in $600 Main Event for Career-High Score of $36,015!
Matthew Gawel wins the $600 Main Event at the 2026 Jamul Poker Open for $36,015.
The Oklahoma State Poker Championship at Hard Rock Starts May 14
Get ready for a big poker event in Sooner country.
Four Years After Stroke, Jasper May Wins RGPS Passport Southern Indiana Main Event
May topped a 321-player field to win $47,787 at Caesars Southern Indiana
Tour Newcomer Hamid Izadi Steamrolls Final Two Tables Enroute to 1st MSPT Title
Hamid Izadi was encouraged to play the MSPT by his good friend, Josh Reichard.
Rick Burleson Storming His Way Across the Midwest With RPT Montana State Poker Championship Title
Burleson's "positive" he'll be heading to the WSOP after this win
Poker By The Sea: 888poker UKPL Blackpool Runs May 5-10
The £560 UKPL Blackpool Main Event guarantees that £100,000 will be won.
GPI Rewind: The 2017-2021 Player of the Year
We look back at the impressive GPI Player of the Year runs of the 2017-2021 winners.
Exploitative Deviations: When to Leave GTO Behind
exploitative deviations poker: learn when to leave GTO, punish common population leaks, tweak bluff/value frequencies, and return to balanced play in 2026.
Counting Outs in Poker: A Beginner's Math Primer
Counting outs poker is the foundation of smart drawing decisions—learn what an out is, the rule of 2 and 4, dirty outs, combined draws, and quick tables.
Heads-Up Hyper-Turbos: How Reveal Poker Closes the Skill Gap
Heads-up hyper-turbo SNG players at $7–$60: beat bots with push/fold matrices, limp-vs-raise defaults and a one-screen check to fix spots between matches.
EPT Barcelona Packages And Online Tickets Among May's PokerStars Power Path Prizes
See what you can redeem PokerStars Power Path Passes for in May.
To Daher is to Dream: EPT Monte Carlo €100k High Roller for One Drop Crowns Champion
The event raised over €28,000 for the One Drop Foundation
Beer We Go! Joseph Antar Wins Aussie Millions $5,000 Challenge
Joseph Antar defeats Jennifer Cassell heads-up for the largest win of his career to-date
5 Poker Pros Not Named Shaun Deeb Who Could Dominate the 2026 WSOP
There are some surprising names on the list.
The Best Poker Documentaries to Stream Right Now (2026)
From Moneymaker to modern pros: discover the six essential films every poker fan must see.
Beating 6-Max Cash Games NL25 to NL100 in 2026
Beating 6-max cash NL25 NL100 - concise plan: pool reads, preflop ranges, HUD priorities, postflop plays, and tablecount math to beat NL50 online in 2026.
How to Read the Board: Spotting the Best Possible Hand
How to read the board in poker: master wet vs dry textures, count straight and flush possibilities, identify the nuts quickly, and avoid common reading mistakes.
Daniel Negreanu Critical of Poker Pro for Outing High Roller Over Unpaid Debt
Negreanu didn't appreciate Dylan Linde calling out David Peters.
Poker-Playing Actress Shannon Elizabeth Talks About Her $1M First Week on OnlyFans
The actress and poker player spoke with PokerNews about her latest project.
MTT Middle Stages: The Crucial Chip-Building Window
MTT middle stage strategy focuses on stealing antes, re-steal math at 25–40bb, and pre-bubble play to build chips and avoid premature bubble mode.
How to Choose an Online Poker Site That Won't Burn You
How to choose online poker site: a practical beginner’s guide to licensed, safe poker rooms, game quality, software stability, rake structures, and red flags in 2026.
No More Breaks: EPT Monte Carlo Debuts "Dynamic" Delay for Live Streams
PokerStars introduces dynamic delay for EPT Monte Carlo’s record-breaking High Roller action
WPT Global Ambassador Diego Ponce Bags Maiden Aussie Millions Title
Ponce defeated Weiran Pu heads-up to win his first Aussie Millions ring
Korean Police Cracking Down on ‘Hold’em Pubs’
The Korean National Police Agency said it will conduct a crackdown on illegal gambling, focused on so-called “hold ’em pubs.”… Continue reading Korean Police Cracking Down on ‘Hold’em Pubs’ The post Korean Police Cracking Down on ‘Hold’em Pubs’ appeared first on.
Vegas Casinos Accused of Enabling Sex Trafficking in Case Involving Actor Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse
In a civil lawsuit that follows a high-profile sexual assault case, two women have accused Las Vegas casinos of enabling… Continue reading Vegas Casinos Accused of Enabling Sex Trafficking in Case Involving Actor Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse The post Vegas Casinos Accused of Enabling Sex Trafficking in Case Involving A
Video Poker Player Hits $100,000 Royal Flush Jackpot in Atlantic City
A Royal Flush jackpot hit this week in Atlantic City.
Damon Jones Guilty Plea Reveals Dark Side of High-Stakes Home Poker Games
Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones walked into a Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday and entered guilty pleas to… Continue reading Damon Jones Guilty Plea Reveals Dark Side of High-Stakes Home Poker Games The post Damon Jones Guilty Plea Reveals Dark Side of High-Stakes Home Poker Games appeared first on.
Long Island Man Gets 15 Years After Shooting at Poker Home Game
A Long Island man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison after he shot a man during… Continue reading Long Island Man Gets 15 Years After Shooting at Poker Home Game The post Long Island Man Gets 15 Years After Shooting at Poker Home Game appeared first on.
Fourth Leg of the 2026 GUKPT Sees the Tour Head to Luton
The first GUKPT Luton festival of 2026 runs May 14-24.
Four Huge Festival to get Your Teeth Into at King's Resort Rozvadov in May
Check out the festivals taking place at King's Resort, Rozvadov, in May 2026.
MTT Early Stages: Build a Stack Without Bleeding It
MTT early stage strategy for intermediate players - practical tips on deep stack tournament play: hand selection at 200bb+, set mining, and preserving your stack.
Making Your First Poker Deposit Safely (2026 Edition)
Making your first poker deposit safely: a beginner-friendly 2026 guide on vetting sites, choosing online poker deposit methods, bonuses, limits, and stalled withdrawals.