I read somewhere that Daniel Negraneu plays full time and takes a fun day to play poker, of course, I believe he plays limit. What is meant by fun day is to see more flops and be a little looser. This does two things, makes it more fun, and gives you a different image at the table as to what people are used to. So if they have you in their database, they will get mixed up most likely.

My question is this, has anyone else tried this and results of it?
I do not play full time so if I do this I would most likely need to play three weeks to pick out one day of "fun."

It's possible, although I've never had the pleasure of playing against him during one of those sessions. Personally, I would find it difficult to do so. I am teaching a class right now on poker and we have some table time after lecture for them to practice some of the skills they have learned in which I do analysis after every hand; the chips have no value and yet I'm not sure I could choose to play looser anyway. Correct play becomes a habit - just like incorrect play. Either habit is difficult to break.

So are you saying you have played against Negraneu? What stakes?

$20/$20 blind NL and $150/$300 mix. In both cases I believe he was at the table for for socialization than a serious game of cards but his play was nevertheless, excellent. The reason I suspect socialization was the celebrities in the games.

the article in question in case you want to read it is here:

www.cardplayer.com/poker_magazine/archi ... hp?a_id=19

Thanks stl10202,

Appreciate the link.

This "party day" concept would be a very bad idea for most players. He did mention in the article that he normally started raising pre-flop with hands that were playable, but played very well post-flop. You would have to be a very good post-flop player to not lose money playing this way. He also stated that it wouldn't be a good idea to play like this in the games he plays now (he was referring to when he was playing 40 hours a week as a teenager, and he mentioned doing this once every 4 or 6 weeks).

For most internet games this wouldn't be as useful unless you play with the same players a lot. You could probably blow off steam just by taking a break or playing some penny games for a bit...


One quote from Daniel that seemed pretty important to me:
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Now, I don’t recommend that you try your own version of party day. You’d be a lot better off by just taking some time off. Playing that way is very difficult, as you’re faced with many more decisions than you normally are, which can lead to far too many mistakes. It’s a dangerous tool that can go either way. For a player with some real talent, it can be an epiphany, while for others, it could be very discouraging.

I think a lot of us (I do!) fantasize about being able to play in a fast, wild style and make a lot of money doing it, more so than a "professional average" even. Sometimes I see a wild man piling up the chips and sigh.
In Mason Malumth's Essays on Poker he says that it is possible to play very well preflop and not be a very good post flop player, and that there are many such players out there. However, it is basically impossible to be playing poorly preflop and be a good (let alone great) postflop player. You are just at such a huge disadvantage over the long run having chosen crappy cards to start with.
I think Negreanu had a Party Day not because it was profitable, but to blow off some steam, things seem to have worked out for him. IMO though, I think a serious poker student/player should blow of steam at the bowling ally, movie theatre, bar, etc. - not at the table.
Mike

Wouldn't playing in a super satellite be the equivalent in playing in a penny game for Daniel? I mean when playing high stakes cash and tournamentsfor a living and succeeding, is that not a serious poker player?

Anyone who plays poker for a living you would also hope enjoys playing poker beyond the X BB an hour you expect to make. People on this forum including myself have recommended playing low stakes games just to blow off steam, along with Sn'Gs.

Being a professional poker player I don't play poker just to have a laugh, I do it because its the most rewarding way to earn money, I do enjoy it. By blowing off steam and playing looser does it not benefit the tighter play in the long run in these situations?

Molina

He did mention in the article that his loose image on that one Party Day might result in weeks of calls from players who remembered that one day and didn't give him any credit. I don't think one day of loose play on a poker table would benefit anyone in the long run, except possibly the player who had that "party day" if anyone he plays with remembers it. Can't say that would work in online play...I see too many people like that every day anyway to notice it too much...got a buddy list of them, but I don't chase them down much.

I think there is something of great value brought up in this thread though. And it is on play after the flop. I am almost positive that after the flop, my play could become stronger and this type of play definitely would encourage that...but, personally, I am looking for another way to get this kind of experience, rather in NL than limit play because it is the NL play that worries me after a flop. I want this practice sooner or later because I do eventually want to move up to NL $50 tables and higher at Party and at other sites...where flop, turn, and river play is way more important as well as figuring out your opponents tendencies...

Not sure where I was going with this...but, feel free to keep writing articles that will lead someone from the small NL tables to the big games...