The countdown to the 2026 WSOP starts here. 100 bracelets. The world's best players. And PokerOrg will be on the floor from start to finish.
Dara O’Kearney is the author of seven best-selling poker books, a pro, a coach, a commentator, and the co-host of the GPI award-winning podcast The Chip Race.
You’re a dedicated writer and a respected strategy coach and player. What do you specifically work on to prepare for the WSOP?
This year, most of my studies have been in two big areas: ICM and multi-way.
Why multi-way?
Because solvers are now capable of producing good multi-way solves. They'll never be perfect for technical reasons, because essentially, there's no stable Nash equilibrium in multi-way pots. But the solvers have reached the point where they produce very, very good solutions. If you play by these, you're going to win.
What else has been of particular focus for your prep?
I've also been putting in a lot more effort than usual into my mental game, focusing on how I'm perceived at the table. I've been a little bit too relaxed in the past and treated poker as a social game.
Obviously, it’s a social game. But I think when you're in a hand, you should give your entire focus to making the best decision that you can.
What’s the biggest leak you see from amateur players?
Playing far too many hands early on when the stacks are deep, and calling raises too often rather than three-betting or folding, which makes them too predictable.
Anything else?
Many recreational players just have one continuation bet size. They bet a third pot or half pot, and that's what they do in every situation. Really difficult players to play against are betting 10% on some flops, and on others they're betting two times the pot. That’s much more difficult to play against.
ESPN and an unlikely Bowie connection
What event do you look forward to most at the WSOP?
The WSOP Super Seniors is an incredible tournament. People were so friendly, and it was so much fun. The Super Seniors were all very chill and had a great attitude about the game.
What’s your favorite go-to meal while playing at the WSOP?
I basically just eat Asian food. That feels like the healthiest food to me. When I think of surviving for six weeks on burgers or any traditional American fare, it just doesn't do it for me.
What's your take on the return of ESPN to the WSOP?
I think it's massively positive. I think poker has really suffered since ESPN dropped out of the picture. We've really struggled to get the mainstream coverage that we had before.
People love watching people play for huge amounts of money, which obviously is the World Series Main Event – it has that everyman quality about it. I think ESPN can scratch that itch.
People may not know this, but you and David Bowie had a connection via email for years...
We did. I was a fairly fanatical Bowie fan from the early eighties on.
How did you and Bowie first get in touch?
He had a fan site that I posted on. I could be quite critical at times. Then I started getting emails from someone signing as 'db' in lowercase. I just assumed it was an imposter, somebody pretending to be David Bowie initially.
Bowie had a concert here in Ireland in the late nineties, and he asked me if I wanted to be on the guest list. I thought this was the perfect way to find out for sure whether it was him or not.
At the concert, the security man at the door gave me this look – ‘Yeah, right.’ He then pulled out a sheet with three names on it. I was on it. We stayed in touch by email for many years.
Dara O'Kearney: The quickfire round
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The 2026 WSOP starts on May 26 and runs through August 5, when the Main Event champion will be crowned.
