Member Interview Part 2: Kanji Endo on Learning Poker While Having Fun

Hello! I’m on the PR team at CLOViZ Inc.

A lot of people are probably wondering what CLOViZ is and what kind of people make up the team.
In this note, we’ll introduce CLOViZ members in an interview format. While touching on the vision and values CLOViZ aims for, as well as each member’s role and skill set, we’ll highlight the strength of the team and the unique appeal of each individual.

For Part 2, we’ll be featuring Endo, who works on the development side of our poker learning app!

1. A Poker Researcher and Active MIX Game Pioneer

— Can you tell us a bit about yourself, Endo?

My name is Kanji Endo, and I’m a third-year student in the College of Informatics at the University of Tsukuba, in the School of Information and Media Studies. At university, I study a wide range of fields, including programming and other STEM-related information disciplines, as well as content creation, audio, acoustics, media, and art.

I started playing poker in my first year of university and quickly became obsessed with it. I even took a leave of absence from school and have spent about six months in total playing in Las Vegas. Right now, at CLOViZ, I create poker learning content and support development, and I also work as a dealer at JOPT, helping with event operations.

In addition, unlike No-Limit Hold’em, which is the mainstream game in Japan, I mainly research MIX games, where multiple poker variants are combined, and I share what I learn on note. Some posts are paid, but MIX game information isn’t widely available in Japan and the player pool is still small. So I publish my knowledge at a low price compared to the time and effort involved, with the hope of sharing what I know, growing the player base, and raising the overall level.

Most recently, from early September through late October, I went on a poker trip to Las Vegas with the well-known Amu (Japan Official Coach for GTO Wizard and a researcher of poker game theory). I’m truly grateful to have joined a group of peers who share the same passion for poker.
Because I was being staked during the trip, I got to play stakes I couldn’t normally play with my own bankroll, such as 10/20 NLH and 40/80 fixed-limit mix. It was an amazing experience, and I also finished up nearly $9,000 overall, so it turned into a great trip in terms of results as well.

~ About Endo’s note ~

https://note.com/kar25k

2. Experiencing Real Poker in Las Vegas

— You’ve played in Las Vegas three times! What was it like playing poker there?

What I felt after actually playing in Las Vegas is that learning poker theory and understanding the game is important, but mental control matters even more, regardless of stakes. Even if there’s a skill gap, a player can still lose because their mental game breaks down.

For example, once you improve to a certain level, you often end up in battles where both players have fairly solid hand ranges. Even if a very strong player holds a strong hand, they can still lose big pots repeatedly to an opponent’s seemingly weaker hand. When you get emotional in situations like that, it’s called tilt. Players who react emotionally to unfair outcomes stop making the plays they would normally be capable of. Mental control becomes essential, especially during long sessions.

Another thing is that, in equilibrium, most players enter preflop with open-raises around 2–3BB. But local players sometimes use strategies far from equilibrium, like limping or opening to 5BB. To figure out what these opponents will do, and how you can respond in a profitable way, you really need real table experience.

Studying is obviously important, but I felt that the experience of playing and constantly thinking about how to handle unusual opponents is just as important.

As for results, players who can win consistently often earn around 5BB per hour, and the best players seem capable of targeting two to three times that.

This isn’t directly related to poker, but one memory that stands out is pausing a session with poker friends during my stay in Las Vegas to watch New Year’s fireworks and welcome the new year together. Poker helped me make friends, and eventually we became close enough to enjoy things beyond poker. Looking back, I feel that was a real positive in my life.

3. What Makes Poker So Fascinating to Endo?

— Taking a leave of absence just to go play in Las Vegas is impressive!
Is there anything in poker you’ve been especially focused on lately?

Lately, I’ve been especially focused on MIX games and tournaments.

First, about MIX games: in Japan, compared to the rest of the world, there are fewer available variants and the player pool is limited, so I feel not many people have realized how fun MIX games can be. Because MIX games combine multiple variants, you’re not locked into a single game. They demand versatility and adaptability, and that’s a major part of the appeal.

Among them, I’ve been really into a game called Paradise Pick’em. It has a unique rule where you combine various variants and choose which game to play each hand.

Instead of specializing in one format like Texas Hold’em, players have to adapt quickly to different games on the spot. That makes it incredibly appealing because it tests your flexibility. You need to understand each variant’s rules and characteristics, then instantly decide how to respond each hand. The variety and strategic depth are huge, and you discover something new every time you play.

Next, tournaments: I’m interested in how they require a fundamentally different strategic approach than cash games.

For example, near the bubble, you often see players fold hands they would normally enter with a raise in a standard cash game. That’s because as the bubble factor increases, losing chips and busting becomes a major downside.

I want more people to discover the appeal of MIX games and tournaments, so I plan to keep improving as a player while also spreading the word about what makes them so exciting.

4. Growing the Poker Industry: Expanding the Player Base

— It’s fascinating that MIX games can lead to new discoveries every time because they demand adaptability. How would you like to see the poker industry develop from here?

Compared to the past, I feel more people are getting interested in poker thanks to YouTubers and influencers like “Sekai no Yosawa,” who share easy-to-understand strategy explanations, gameplay videos, and entertaining content.

I think this trend is very positive. First, it’s important that more people get opportunities to try poker, and that more people can say, “I’ve played poker.” That’s essential for the industry to grow and become more exciting.

Right now, there’s a big skill gap between advanced players and beginners, and I feel the barrier to entry is high. Beginners may struggle to join games or even feel comfortable starting. That’s why I think it’s important to increase the player base by sharing beginner-friendly information and creating more entry points for casual players.

Of course, improving learning environments for advanced players matters too. But I believe the first step is helping more people enjoy poker, and that diversity can become a catalyst for new growth.
And since I personally love poker, I’d be happy if more people came to love it too, and if we could build an environment where those people can enjoy it even more.

5. Recommended Ways to Study Poker: Environment and Motivated Learning

— I don’t have many people around me who play poker either, so I really hope the player base grows. Do you have any recommended ways to study poker?

The best way, in my opinion, is to learn in an environment where strong players are present.

In my case, instead of playing mainly at amusement venues, I played through club activities where I could also interact with working adults. I was lucky to learn in an environment with highly literate players, and by learning from people who had better study methods and a deeper understanding of the game than I did, I steadily felt myself improving.

In particular, it was huge that I encountered the concept of “toy games” early on. One well-known example is the “AKQ game,” which contains many of the essentials for learning poker.

For example, I was able to learn theoretical ideas early, such as why it can be better to check marginal hands that don’t clearly belong to a value range or a bluff range, rather than betting them. I feel that experience has strongly influenced how I study poker today.

Of course, getting stronger through study is one way to enjoy poker, but I believe the most important thing is to enjoy the game first. If you don’t enjoy poker, you won’t feel motivated to study in the first place. So I hope people start by having fun, and then become interested in improving from there.

When you approach learning with motivation, it also boosts the motivation of the people teaching you, and the quality of what you get taught improves too, which should help you improve even faster.

That’s why, with POKER Q’z, we use AI to create a service that helps people learn proactively in a strong learning environment.

6. What Makes POKER Q’z Special: You Were Playing, and You Were Learning

— That’s true, enjoying it first really matters. Could you tell us more about what makes POKER Q’z so appealing?

In Japan today, GTO Wizard (a service where you can view game-theory-optimal play) is widely used, but it often focuses on advanced content and comes at a higher price point, which I feel makes it difficult for beginners to get started.

In contrast, POKER Q’z offers a lot of content that beginners can understand easily. It starts with fundamental strategy and gradually moves into more complex concepts, so even people who have just started learning poker can progress without feeling overwhelmed.

Many people have the impression that studying poker is intimidating or something to avoid, but I think once you actually use POKER Q’z, you’ll feel the opposite. It’s designed to make you want to learn proactively on your own.

Also, POKER Q’z isn’t just an app. We regularly post poker quizzes on X (formerly Twitter) and in LINE OpenChat, and we also run in-person beginner-friendly events. You can get the experience of “you were playing, and you were learning,” so we’d love for you to try PokerQ'z.

— Endo, thank you so much for your time today!

Thank you as well. If you’re interested in what we’re doing and would like to get involved in developing the service with us, please reach out via the link below!