Learn Poker 4 STARS — The Player Behind the Project

About Glen — The Player Behind the Project

Glen “Tatankka57” Adams has been a recognizable face in the Western Canadian poker community for years — known for his calm table presence, sharp reads, and deep respect for the game. A lifelong student of Texas Hold’em, Glen believes that poker teaches patience, emotional control, and decision-making under pressure — skills that translate well beyond the felt.

After surviving a heart attack at a final table in 2023, Glen created LearnPoker4STARS.ca as a way to give back to the organization that helped save his life — STARS Air Ambulance. Through LearnPoker4STARS, he’s turning that experience into something bigger: using poker education to raise awareness and support for a cause that keeps saving lives across Western Canada.

The Origin Story — How It All Began

In late December 2023, during what should have been just another poker tournament, everything changed. Glen suffered a heart attack at a final table in Lethbridge — a moment that could have ended far more than a poker run. Thanks to the quick actions of a close friend and the lifesaving response from STARS Air Ambulance, he was given a second chance.

During recovery, Glen began outlining a course meant to be taught live at the casino — designed to help new players learn the fundamentals of Texas Hold’em through patience, awareness, and composure. When the casino decided not to allow outside instructors, the idea didn’t die — it simply evolved.

Around the same time, players in the local community started a small WhatsApp group used only to share information about games — such as when tables were opening, how many seats were available, or who was on the waiting list. It wasn’t about strategy or teaching; it was simply a way for players to stay organized.

That sense of connection, along with Glen’s renewed purpose to give back, became the foundation for LearnPoker4STARS.ca — a project dedicated to improving how people learn poker while supporting the organization that helped save his life.

What began as one player’s recovery story has grown into something larger — a way to merge the calm, disciplined mindset of poker with a cause that continues to save lives across Western Canada.

Thank You

I hope you enjoy the video, that it helps you learn the game, and maybe even inspires you to sit down at a table with confidence.

Thank you for being here, and thank you for supporting STARS along the way.

Special thanks as well to fellow poker player Jim James, whose input helped shape parts of this video and made the project even stronger.

— Glen