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Even if you’re a new player to poker, the name Daniel Negreanu resonates. He possesses charismatic charm and an unprecedented style of play, and holds four World Series of Poker bracelets, two World Poker Tour titles, and countless other wins, making him one of the biggest tournament money winners of all time. Talking with Daniel is nothing short of exhilarating, especially when he shares his advice for the new player.

PokerBrit: What’s the best style of play for a new player?

Daniel Negreanu: When you first start out, the kind of style of play that I have is not for you. It’s very advanced, and very dependent on reading the flop. If I were teaching a beginner, I would advise playing much fewer hands and, when you do play, making bigger bets. This is the exact opposite of how I play, but one way to neutralize a good player’s advantage over a bad player is to bet big before the flop and bet really big on the flop.

PB: What should be the first goal of a new player?

DN: Gaining experience. The first goal for a beginner, especially if you are in a tournament, is to get deeper, get your feet wet, and get more accustomed to seeing what’s going on. So, that goes hand in hand with playing fewer hands and playing a more conservative style.

According to Daniel, playing a tight and aggressive style is a great choice for new players. This enables the new player to learn to be patient, as well as gain a sense for the game. This style of play is often referred to as “big ball,” because when a player has a strong hand and wants to play heads up, he for the most part takes it to bat and knocks it out of the park. Remember, when utilizing this style of play, be aggressive when betting before and on the flop. Many advanced or professional players, like Daniel, play what is referred to as “small ball” poker. They like to play more pots, keep them small, and play in position. They choose to play a loose and aggressive style.

As a new player, I play a tight and aggressive game, and it has really pushed me to pay attention to what is happening at the table. As I’ve played more and gained more tournament experience, I’ve witnessed how players need to change gears while playing a tight and aggressive game. One example is if the blinds are going up and a player’s getting short-stacked, he is going to have to play more aggressively without premium hands, as he doesn’t want to bleed away his chips before getting a strong hand. As long as a player is willing to change gears and loosen up his play as needed, he will find success in playing this conservative style.

~PokerBrit

PokerBrit and SCKenny answer members’ questions

PokerBrit and SCKenny teach you how to calculate your odds to win the hand.

Joe Hachem is best known for taking down the World Series of Poker main event in 2005 for $7.5 million, as well as his 2006 win for more than $2 million at the WPT Five-Diamond World Poker Classic. This tournament record has made Hachem one of the best-known poker players to come out of Australia. During the 2008 Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, Hachem sat down with me to share his poker expertise and give advice to new poker players looking to take their game to the next level.

PokerBrit: What advice would you give to a brand new player?

Joe Hachem: Be careful. This game can really consume you. It consumed me. It’s consumed many people. Initially, it’s kind of like golf. When I first started playing golf, it just consumed me. I wanted to play every spare moment I had. And that’s what was fun, it’s such an addictive game. You’re playing against people and trying to out wit them, and sometimes things don’t go your way.

PB: What the most common mistake brand-new players make?

JH: It’s the same old thing; brand new players find it hard to fold big hands.

PB: Can you give me an example?

JH: A person has a pair of kings, flop comes 7-4-2, and now, suddenly, he thinks the guy who check-raises must have only one pair. Be careful. Be prepared to get away from big hands. I think that’s the biggest mistake new players make. Your one pair of aces, kings, or queens before the flop may have been the best hand, but once the flop comes out, you need to re-evaluate the strength of where you are. Just because you’ve got a pair of aces, it doesn’t mean you still have the best hand. And, there’s no shame in folding. You actually make more money folding then you do by playing.

Hachem’s advice is key for beginners like me in understanding the dynamics of poker. Remember to re-evaluate your big hands, and even your smaller hands, after the flop. Make sure they still carry strength, and are still the best hands, by reviewing the community cards and trying to put your opponents on realistic hands. Never feel ashamed to throw away big hands, especially if the flop could add strength to an opponent or weaken your own hand. This habit will save you money. Saving money can help fund bigger pots when the strength of your hand isn’t in question. In the end, you’ll make more money by folding than you would by playing out big hands with a risky flop.

-PokerBrit

Watch the entire poker strategy interview with Joe Hachem, right here on PokerBrit.com.

PokerBrit and SCKenny answer questions sent in by members

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