Mike Postle has been noticeably absent from social media the past few days, following his alleged cheating scandal. But, it’s time for him to unzip those lips and explain to us in the poker community how it’s “postle-ble” (shout out to Doug Polk for that pun) that he was able to win at an improbable rate, and always seems to make the right decisions.
Postle hasn’t tweeted or spoken publicly since September 30. I would imagine he has obtained legal counsel and, perhaps, his attorney has instructed him to keep silent. But, the poker community needs answers to some important questions. And we need them ASAP or his god-like performance on “Stones Live” looks even more suspicious than it already does.
Where Did You Go, Mike Postle?
Immediately after Veronica Brill (aka “Angry Polak”) accused Postle of cheating, he went on the defense. When I spoke with him, he quickly denied cheating and said those who are calling him a cheater are “jealous” of his success.
Fine, I thought. Maybe he’s right. What if there really is a group of players at Stones Gambling Hall who are envious of his poker skills. I don’t personally know Mike, nor have I ever played at Stones. So, I initially thought he could be onto something. Innocent until proven guilty, right? And, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.
But it’s been four days since we’ve heard from Postle. In that time, new evidence has come out that suggests he may have engaged in cheating during “Stones Live” streams. Even some of his friends, including Chris Moneymaker, have turned on him the past few days.
Still, he’s just sitting on the sidelines letting numerous poker players call him a cheater. His story even made ESPN’s SportsCenter last night. Scott Van Pelt, an ESPN anchor who admittedly doesn’t play poker, was skeptical of Postle’s ability to win at such a high level without moving up in stakes.
The mere fact that Postle isn’t coming forward with a public statement defending his actions and providing details of how he won so frequently has me, and others, taking the side of those who accuse him of being a cheater. You seem more suspicious as the days go by, and yet you remain silent, Mike.
Questions Postle Must Answer
If Postle wants the poker community to believe his innocence, he needs to answer some questions. I spoke with him last weekend, and he answered some of my questions, but his responses weren’t enough.
The main question I have for him is how he can possibly be right with seemingly every river decision, despite “playing a high-variance, reckless style of poker.” Those were his words, not mine.
If you play high-variance, reckless poker, that means you’re going to take a lot of risks. More so than the average player. When you do that, you’ll get away with more bluffs than most. But, that style of play also makes you susceptible to donking away chips and getting stacked at times when you run into the nuts, or a player who decides they’ve had enough with your constant betting and calls you down with bottom pair.
Through the dozens of hours of play from “Stones Live”, Joey Ingram has shown his viewers on YouTube, Postle never seems to run into spot where he’s bluffing into the nuts. We have yet to see him get stacked. How is it even possible for you to avoid those situations, given your aggressiveness on the river, Mike?
Another question I need answered, Mike, is what is Veronica’s motive for accusing you of cheating? By your own admission, and this is what you told me, you two were “close”. So, what caused her to all of a sudden become “jealous” of you?
Cheating scandals are bad for poker as they bring negative publicity to our game. So, I’m hopeful we’re all wrong, and Postle has some legit explanation. But I wouldn’t bet on him being innocent.
