Re: Alan Goerhing
Wow, too much to comment on in this thread.
1. "Is it an effective strategy or just a method for exploiting weaker players?"
It is an effective strategy. The toughest field (100+) per capita in my opinion was the 2003 WPT $25k Championship, an event I won (runner up was Monte Carlo Millions 2005).
2. Quality of players in $10k vs $1k.
Easy answer, $10k tougher on average. Almost all people in $1k and $2k are locals. The $10k's comprise winners of live satellites, online satellites, and direct buy-ins (generally the best players nationally along with the better local players that didn't satellite in). All three sub-groups are better than the $1k and $2k players, on average. In exceptional circumstances a lower buy-in event can have a tougher field (e.g. WSOP $5k NL clearly tougher than WSOP $10k NL per capita, and the $5k Bellagio might be tougher than the $25k starting in 2006).
3. Unorthodox style & getting hated --- I certainly don't feel hated. There is a VERY SMALL group of players that think they are the best & are all knowing, and therefore it must be either "their way or the wrong way". I am certainly not going to criticize Dan Harrington because he plays different than me. As Howard Lederer pointed out, there can be different winning styles. I have noted on this forum that criticizing individual hands in a vacuum often leads to the wrong conclusion. I make more than my share of -EV plays by design for a VARIETY of reasons---- I would call myself an "ultra tricky" player, it doesn't mean I misplayed the hand. BTW, I don't care if people criticize my play (and it is perfectly OK if they think I am a terrible player), that is part of what discussion forums are about. I never said I was a great player or even a good player, I have only claimed that I have won money in the past.
4. My style being compared to Phil Hellmuth --- we have somewhat similar bet sizes, but that's about the only thing that is similar. We play very different hands from various positions, and play the hands quite differently after the flop. He puts a big emphasis on making great laydowns, I do not. Saying I play the same as Hellmuth makes me want to puke (no offense Phil), I would consider my game much more complex and myself a significantly better deep chip player. My style is closer to Carlos Mortensen or Daniel Negraneu.
5. Playing internet/live cash games --- simply not going to happen (Not trying to be a snob, just too much like "work", I would work on Wall Street if I wanted a job). BTW, I believe I would do quite well as I love to play at over 100x BB, and cash games are similar to the early stages of a $10k event. I think cash games require far more skill than smaller buy-in tourneys as well as the later stages of big buy-in events.
6. Emulating my play --- don't do it! For example, I believe opening PF for 2xBB total is optimal (for me, or I wouldn't do it), but probably would hurt most people since there are many other things we will do differently. Trying to emulate Gus Hansen would probably be a disaster for 99%+ of all players.
7. On having experienced extreme positive variance --- thanks for making assumptions, only time will tell. I don't think anyone in the world can maintain on a sustainable basis the 800%+ return ($4.6mm gross winnings) I have experienced in $10k & up events. My goal, after having fun, is to maintain the same top 10%/5%/1% finish/(cash) rates on $10k+ events I have experienced to date (14/9/3 based on 46-48 "attempts"), (second goal is to win $1mm in a single event----over/under is the end of 2009).
The end!
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