WSOP: Bracelet Winner Q and A -- Daniel NegreanuNegreanu on Limit Hold'em, Bracelets, and Positive Thinking |
|
With his fourth bracelet in the books, Daniel Negreanu has continued the trend of big-name live poker celebrities taking down tournaments in this Year of the Pro. Negreanu was overjoyed to get back on top, especially after a four-year hiatus from WSOP gold.
Question: So, you’ve got your fourth bracelet. Is eleven in the near future?
DN: As good as the one in 2003. I won the very first event I ever played at the World Series of Poker in 1998. I was 1-0, and I could have quit with a 1.000 batting average. I thought it was easy, but in 1999, zip; in 2000, zip. I didn't win another one until 2003, and so that one was really special. I got another one in 2004, but every year you hear the people talk about how you're washed up and you're too busy with your outside interests and your poker VTs, your PokerStars deals, and all the traveling. But what people don't realize is that poker is still my number one thing, no matter what. And golf, of course [laughs]. But, actually, for the Series, I try just as hard as anyone to win a bracelet, and when I'm playing my game, I think I'm in contention for Player of the Year.
Q: Do you think limit hold’em suits your strengths as a player?
DN: Yeah, I think, after playing this tournament, about halfway through I'm like "I am freakin’ great at this game." I know I sound like Hellmuth, but it's true. I'm really good in limit hold'em tournaments. My track record, historically, is incredible in limit hold'em. I don't get to play them a lot because the other events outside of here are not limit. There's something special about the game in that people can't move in on me [laughs]. They've got to see a flop; even if they three-bet me, every hand I play there's going to be a flop, and that's really going to play into my strengths. That's basically what the whole small-ball concept is based on … limit hold'em principles. That's the core of the way that I think about poker.
I actually think there are a lot more tells available in limit than any other game. People act more quickly, they are a lot more relaxed when they play, and there are so many more things you can focus on in limit than other games. It's as simple as a guy reaching for his chips a certain way. People get into a rhythm, and that plays into my strengths. In no-limit, people are a lot more deliberate and slow. In limit, they are pound, pound, pound, and a lot of the times when they throw that chip out, I'm like "OK, I know it's this" or "I know it's that."
Q: Mike Matusow credited the power of positive thinking for his bracelet, but you’ve been championing that notion for the last year or so. How much did that come into play today?
DN: Every time I started to feel slightly negative thoughts, like when I had the aces and I started to think “OK, don’t let these go bust.” I quickly reminded myself not to think that way, because that could lead to little mistakes. I’ve been surrounding myself with really good people, my assistant Patty, my mother, and even my golf coach Christian have been very supportive of me throughout the month. I’ve gotten a nice sense of stability in life. I’m organized, eating well, and exercising. Everything is in place for me to have a great month.
Q: Does being Daniel Negreanu, poker superstar, ever hurt your game. How does the crowd help you?
DN: Yeah, it's so weird. It's funny you mention that, because there was a point where I wasn't doing well, and it didn't look good, and then I won a huge pot and I hear this huge roar from the crowd, and I'm like "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.” It sort of gives you an adrenaline rush. I stack my chips a little faster, my legs start shaking a little more, and I'm like "OK, let's do this. Let's go." So, to some degree, from a state-of-mind perspective, home-team advantage, having people cheer for you, gives you a little oomph. That being said, there's more attention and more demands on my time. But I understand that, and fortunately I have the support system to help me through that and make it somewhat sane.
Q: Why do you think the pros are doing so well at this year’s Series?
DN: It feels like that, right? The key reason for that is that last year they did some things with the structures that made it a lot faster and more luck-oriented. Now you look at these final tables and it gives a pro an opportunity to really maneuver and not just play a crapshoot type of thing. That's why you are going to see that the real pros are the ones who know how to finish the job, and this year has been a testament to that.
Copyright © 2001-2024
CardPlayer.com. All rights reserved.
