In this post, I’ll show you how Phil Gordon trained me in 5 days to have a fighting chance against pro poker players. Here’s the video teaser.

Before we filmed the experience for The Tim Ferriss Experiment (currently the #1 TV Season on iTunes), I had never played a hand of poker.

Phil’s crash course purposefully did not cover all the bases. It couldn’t. We didn’t have the time.

Instead, his program (and this post) will show how a gambling idiot (me) can magnify strengths and cover weaknesses to an absurd degree…at least for a few hours in order to win real cash.

Let’s be clear: I am not a good poker player, and perhaps you aren’t either. But that doesn’t mean you can’t win.

If you understand a few principles and follow them religiously, Lady Luck (and strategic aggression) might smile upon you. Especially if you learn how to leverage “short-stack strategy” or “heads-up play,” both of which I’ll explain.

This post has three parts:

– My video explanation – This is the actual video I sent to TV post-production. I sent similar videos for all 13 episodes (parkour, the dating game, building a business, etc.) right after we finished each week. This is nuts and bolts of how Phil helped me pull off miracles.

– My real notes from my notebook – These are PDFs of the notes I explain in the aforementioned video. For a novice or intermediate, they are only really useful once you’ve watched the video.

– Phil’s one-page cheatsheet – ‘Nuff said.

– The full TV episode (preview and links)

BONUS:  In the comments, explain the best tip you’ve ever received for any game or sport. Phil will pick his favorite comment, and you’ll get a one-hour poker coaching lesson with Phil via Skype. Comments must be submitted by 5pm PT on Friday, May 22nd 2015.

Let’s get started on the how-to…

The Video Explanation – The Real Nuts and Bolts

I mention “VO” a few times, which stands for “voice over.” To see more of the notebook text, you can expand to full screen.

My Poker Notes (Plus Some “Escape and Evasion” Notes)

How to Play Poker – The Tim Ferriss Experiment by tferriss

Phil’s Cheatsheet

Poker Cheatsheet – From Pro Phil Gordon by tferriss

The TV Episode

Here’s the full episode (and 12 others) — check it out! If you found any of the above interesting, I think you’ll love it.