Daniel Negreanu Comment (from the book Aces and Kings)

[PokerProdigy]

First of all, thanks to everyone who recommended this book because it's very interesting, and anyone who hasn't read it should pick it up. But it won't really help you on your game because it's not a strategy book.

On page 254 Daniel N. says "In the old days, there was this myth that you have to play tight and only play certain hands. Poker has evolved. The mathematics behind what everybody thought was correct-the 'book play'- is absolutely not correct anymore [because players are weaker, looser, etc...]. It's way too conservative. The way the game was played in 1980, if somebody raised and then there was a reraise, that meant a premium hand. Sklansky even wrote that you should lay down pocket jacks in that situation. Well, the way the game is played now, the first raise could be 10-8 suited and the nex raise Ace-8."

This is an exact quote from the book, so I thought I'd post it to see what all you guys think about this claim. If I were a teacher and this was a test, the question would be Examine the validity of these claims, and justify your answer.

P.S. Did I just break any copyright laws by quoting this? Because if I did be sure to tell me, and I honestly appologize and I will definitely NOT do it again. If it's not breaking any laws be sure to also let me know, so then I can make posts like this in the future.

Thank you,

[La Brujita]

You are not breaking any laws by quoting this passage. Interesting quote, I can't wait to read the book.

[RoboRob]

Where did you get the quote from? I thought the book wasn't out yet.

[La Brujita]

Too late to edit my post, I thought he was talking about the other new book. I read about a third of this book at B&N, it is a good good read.

[King Yao]

If there are two raises, sometimes one or both of them will be non-premium hands. But still, a high percentage of the time, one of them will be a premium hand. The only exceptions may be in blind stealing situations, like the cutoff open-raising and the button re-raising...or the button open-raising and the small blind re-raising (specifically in shorthanded online games, the button will often open raise with T8s, and the small blind is correct to often re-raise with A8)....but with the exceptions aside, I think its a big mistake to assume its likely both are non-premium hands. You'd be happy to play against T8s and A8o with AJo, but I think you'd lose your bankroll quickly if you played everytime without regard to the position and situation of the raisers. I'm willing to bet in a full game, Negreanu will fold hands like AJs and AQo to two raises that aren't in steal position.

[Beavis68]

I think he is way over stating the case, even in the $1 tournaments I play everynight this is rarely true. Yeah, the first raise could be anything sometimes, but I will fold JJ everytime. Even in party 5$ SnG.

[Rudbaeck]

At the Party 3/6 I am usually capping with JJ, unless the reraiser is solid or has a very low PFR. (And definitely doing it if there is a suspicion that the solid reraiser is isolating a weak raiser.)

[PokerProdigy]

My main question is do you guys think he's right that hold'em is changing a little bit and that tight aggressive is not necessarily the best way to play, and therefore, good players should adjust by loosing up a little bit?

[Walter Pullis]

I think this is a ring game vs tournament thing. You can still play 1980 style and beat a ring game, but if you play this style, you will never win a tournament today.

[wickedcoolc]

Daniel Negreanu's comment you quote from Aces and Kings was one that stood out to me as well and I think I agree with it to a certain extent. With the number of loose players and weak players at the table today, you do have to readjust how you play hands...there are a lot of players out there who watch TV, see the highlighted showdowns and think A-x is good anytime and will raise, reraise preflop in early position at a 10 handed table..or funny enough I've heard Negreanu call 10-6, and his fave, 10-7, "connectors" and people see him win with that on TV and try to play it. All of that certainly isnt book play and theres a lot of these type of plays being made at the table you have to keep in mind. Simply put, you often do have to step away from "the books" and go with instinct and what you know about the players at your table.

But Tight-Aggressive definitely has its merits, more so than any other style of play I believe, and when I play casino tournaments I generally stick with that as my plan...but it does depends where and of course what is happening at my table. I've noticed tournaments at the Bike and Commerce are rather loose and T/A can get you blinded out if you're not catching some decent starters (and when you do they can often end up being sucked out by some loose players speculative hand) ..to me LA is certainly looser than say Tunica where a tight aggressive game plan works extremely well. and as most would point out Action Dan Harrington is the best example of a T/A player who is still making it happen.

Back to Aces and Kings..i've mentioned previously that i interviewed the authors over at Wicked Chops Poker and I definitely think they've shared some great insight behind the book and about the top players...so check it out if you can. As for the book not being a strategy book, that is true but what i found interesting was some of the nuggets like Negreanu's comment above..about the game of poker ...in the past and today...and Ive more than once read things in the book and found something i could apply to my style of play.