PokerBrit’s Blog

On March 31st, 2009, the beautiful Bellagio Hotel and Casino will be hosting the SpadeClub.com No-Limit Hold’em Event at 2 p.m. as the first preliminary event in the 2009 Five-Star World Poker Classic tournament series. SCKenny, the SC Team, and I will all be down there supporting members who play in the live event. The tournament is open to everyone and the buy-in is $500+40.

Let me know if you plan on attending! All SpadeClub members who play in the event and visit our booth will receive FREE SpadeClub apparel. Hope to see you there!

~PokerBrit

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

SpadeClub.com’s first national commercial. Aires on High Stakes Poker every Sunday on GSN

I played a heads-up match yesterday against a really good competitor. A couple things set me apart from him, and I think overall I won the match because of these 5 things. I’ve recognized that the rules completely change for me once I’m heads up against one other player. I’ve done some research and combined with my personal experience, I think these are the top five tips a new player should focus on while playing heads up:

1. Be aggressive, especially if you’re a new player.
2. You don’t have to play every hand. It’s ok to fold the small blind.
3. Lower your expectations. New players play more of a conservative style, but when you’re playing heads-up you can’t wait for premium hands. Go in with a solid hand. More than likely, you’ll be on top.
4. Mix up your play, a lot. This will keep your opponent guessing.
5. Slow play the monster hand. More often than not, this is the best way to get your opponents chips.

I want to personally thank everyone who entered a submission into the MyDesign T-shirt Contest. It’s really cool to see what everyone brought to the table. Everyone had such great ideas. More than 100 designs were submitted, which goes to show what a strong sense of community we have here at SpadeClub. Remember, you can only vote once and it’s the button UNDER the t-shirt design. Good luck to all! I can’t wait to see who wins!

Vote Now For SpadeClub’s Next T-Shirt Design

Last Saturday, I went to Aliante Station casino to check out an 80s cover band that is taking its audiences back to the good ol’ days of big hair and rock & roll. Steel Panther, a band made up of Aqua Net, Spandex, and four exuberant metal die-hards, definitely delivers the expected hard-hitting rock show fans crave. The show started at 11 p.m., and the Panthers can be found in Vegas on both Friday and Saturday nights (although they play at Green Valley Ranch on Fridays). Being raised by a heavy metal momma, I appreciate the flash back. To learn more about Steel Panther, click here!

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