Playing Pool, and Phil Gordon Done Lost His Mind!

Daniel Negreanu's Blog
February 13, 2007
Negreanu writes about playing
pool with Eric Lindgren and a
recent comment from Phil
Gordon regarding Eric
Lindgren's poker play

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Shooting Pool, and Phil Gordon done lost his mind!

February 13, 2007

Last night E-DOG and I went over to Kona for dinner and later met with Gavin
Smith and some others over at a local bar. We played a few games of pool
and I was playing "ok" for most of the night. I used to be a pretty good
snooker player, but I've never been much of an 8 or 9 ball player because I
don't break all that well, and I'm not very good at bank shots.

Well as the night died down, Gavin challenged me to a set of 9-ball, best 3
out of 5. I was on fire, though, and smoked him in three straight. To be fair,
we played another set, double or nothing, bet 4 out of 7. Only this time, I
spotted him a 1-0 lead.

With the score tied 1-1, I did the following:

5----6

3----4

1----2

The cue ball was near the 2 pocket. We were playing 9-ball with the 6,7,8,9.
The 6 was very close to the 6 pocket, but I was hooked and had to go off the
rail between the 3 and 5 pocket to hit it, and hope to make it. I made that
shot.

The 7 ball was on the rail between the 4 and the 6 pocket. I banked that ball
into the 3, leaving myself shape for a bank on the 8-ball, since it didn't go
anywhere. The 8 ball was also between the 4 and 6 pocket close to the rail. I
banked that one in the 3 pocket also.

I left myself perfect shape on the 9 ball straight into the 2 pocket and drained
it. The odds of me completing that run out had to be well over 100-1.

I went on to win the second set also, 4-3. Pool is so much fun when I play
like I used to, but more often than not, I get excessively frustrated, either
missing shots that should be automatic, or screwing up my shape and stalling
runs.

That's all, lol. I'm excited, I done played good.

*************************************************************

From a recent column Phil Gordon wrote:

I really like Erick. I have a healthy amount of respect for his game and his
accomplishments. I'm not sure he'd say the same about me. In fact, I've
heard him say many times that "Phil has no gamble" He just might be right -
see, I view poker not as gambling, but as "strategic investing" I don't play
poker for the money: I play for the thrill of competition.

Erick has two big weaknesses at the table: fancy play syndrome - he's
always trying to outplay his opponents after the flop, and Gamble-Gamble -
he's more than willing to take a 50/50 or even worse, early in a tournament.
He'll be even more wiling to do so with a payout structure like we have
today. My strategy: If I'm in a pot with Erick and I have a good hand, I'm
gonna let him take control of the betting and let him try to "outplay" me- I'll
let him bluff off his chips. with big hands 10s or better I'll be willing to put in a
big initial raise or reraise against him and hope he finds a smaller pocket pair
he wants to gamble with.

*************************************************************

What the??????? Did PHIL GORDON just matter of factly say that Erick
Lindgren has two big weaknesses in his game? Then go on to give two
examples that couldn't be more untrue? It's almost slanderous. E-DOG
gambles on 50/50's before the flop? Huh?? What??? Huh??? What??? Is this
guy serious???

How in the world did Phil Gordon become enough of an authority to say that
Erick has two weaknesses in his game? If someone like Johnny Chan, or
Doyle Brunson, or Chip Reese said something like that it would be somewhat
understandable. But we are talking about PHIL GORDON here!!!

I'm still in shock after reading this. This dude done lost his mind. Now, I've
done similarly stupid things in the past. Clearly I've crossed that line before
and know that speaking negatively about others play isn't something that is
usually a good idea. But for a non-professional poker player to critique an
actual professional's game, and in doing so, be about as off base as humanly
possible, just makes no sense to me.

The article comes off as though Gordon knows more about poker than Erick
does. Phil, are you serious? Erick would absolutely trounce you at the poker
table. He'd slap you up silly, seriously. You are talking about one of the best
tournament players in the world today. A guy who's actually made his living
playing the game of poker, whether it be online, in tournaments, or in cash
games. What in the world makes you think you could spot a weakness in a
player that plays better than you could even comprehend?

Phil, did you proof read that column before you sent it? It makes you come off
like a complete bafoon. You started out the column complimenting Erick, but
you are like the king of the backhanded compliment or something, lol.

Erick is a good buddy of mine, obviously, so you might say that I'm being
biased. I'd challenge you to find 20 top players that think your comments
where either accurate (in assessing his play), or appropriate coming from a
TV Commentator/Author.

For the record, I don't dislike you. I think you are completely wrong in this
case, but I don't think you are a jerk or anything like that. I just don't
understand what motivated you to write something like that in the way that
you wrote it?

*************************************************************

Oh, also one more thing. I worked on a video blog the other day and it
should be up very soon at www.fullcontactpoker.com. Or, you can also watch
the video blog at www.rawvegas.tv

This coming video blog is pretty special to me. It's pretty revealing and there
is something I'll share in that blog that I've never shared publicly before.

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