Octopi Poker is gaining traction on the tournament circuit, thanks to its innovative approach to poker training. Founded by renowned poker professionals and business figures, including Andrew ‘LuckyChewy’ Lichtenberger, Victoria Livschitz, and more recently, Stephen Chidwick, the goal of Octopi Poker is to make learning poker strategy both enjoyable and seamless.
Together, the team has built a strong and diverse group of tech-savvy individuals to leverage the latest in AI technology, combined with tools like solvers, hand history trackers, and GTO trainers, to create an integrated poker study platform.
We sat down with Octopi Poker’s CEO, Andrew Lichtenberger, to learn more about their mission to create a collaborative and all-in-one poker study platform for players around the world.
The Mission at Octopi Poker
Andrew Lichtenberger: “Our goal is to optimize the process of studying and learning poker through a fully integrated social platform. We want people from all skill levels and backgrounds to come together to learn not just about poker, but also about themselves, and how those two elements are deeply connected.”
Combining Poker Minds with Tech Professionals
Andrew also spoke about the team’s approach to combining poker expertise with technological know-how.
Andrew Lichtenberger: “Building this team over the past two years has been incredible. The more diverse the viewpoints, the more we can challenge each other’s ideas and ultimately create better poker training tools for the benefit of the community. The journey has been exciting, and every day brings new opportunities to learn and grow.”
Beginner’s Guide to the Philosophy of Poker
Octopi Poker recently launched a series of videos titled Beginner’s Guide to the Philosophy of Poker.
Andrew Lichtenberger: “The series aims to give players a big-picture view of poker—understanding the factors that influence decision-making and why those decisions matter. As Octopi Poker builds out its content library, we’ll be diving deeper into these concepts to give players more frameworks to understand poker at a higher level.”
The content will grow progressively more detailed, allowing players to develop a deeper understanding of the game and apply those insights practically during actual play.
Introducing The Trainer
One of the key innovations from Octopi Poker is The Trainer.
Andrew Lichtenberger: “The Trainer is designed to help players break down each hand they play and enhance their creativity. I believe the best way to excel in poker is to let your instincts guide you, while also being backed by a strong intellectual understanding of the game. The Trainer teaches you to recognize the critical aspects of each decision, training your intuition for real gameplay.”
The Trainer also features a gamified experience where players can play against ‘Omnipotent Octopi God, George,’ making it a fun and engaging way to train while mastering the complexities of the game.
Andrew Lichtenberger: “I’ve always found playing hands against a challenge like George to be a great way to enhance my skills, from mastering basic concepts to understanding the nuances of poker.”
The Debate on Solvers at the WSOP
In a previous interview, co-founder Victoria Livschitz expressed concerns about the use of solvers at the WSOP, calling the optics “terrible for the game.” She also suggested that the WSOP should ban all solvers from the premises. Does Andrew share this view?
Andrew Lichtenberger: “While I agree that the optics are bad, I think completely eradicating solvers from the playing environment is unrealistic. If phones are allowed, it’s nearly impossible to police against someone using a solver or getting outside help through a mobile device. The issue is not new in the industry, and while having a laptop on the rail makes it more obvious, the practice of having someone run simulations for a player isn’t exactly novel.”
He also emphasized the challenge of creating meaningful regulations that address this issue, stating that superficial changes would do little to solve the underlying problem.
The Responsibility of Companies Like Octopi Poker
As a company providing poker study tools, does Octopi Poker feel a responsibility to ensure these tools are not used during live play?
Andrew Lichtenberger: “Absolutely. We know that tools like ours have no place at the table. It’s our responsibility to police against their misuse. However, this is a complex issue. It’s not easy to prevent, and it requires a broader discussion about what can and should be done within the industry.”
