[jmc]

Has anyone been watching the NBC heads-up poker championship? Is it me, or does Doyle seem like he's going berserk in these matchups? Is this standard for headsup play, is the tourny structure too fast, or is he tired of playing poker?

[AlbinoDragon]

Good questions. There was comment made that this was the first time he played after Chip Reese's death. Maybe he was a little rusty. Maybe he's just wanted to play a different style than he has in the past.

Who knows. It definitely crazy aggressive... almost like online players.

I don't think the structure is too fast (we use the same setup for HU matched in my homegame and we usually last an hour per match). I know he was pretty fed up with the game in the early part of the UIGEA stuff. Maybe he's just reaching his tolerance point for the game.

[joepro]

Originally Posted by jmc

Has anyone been watching the NBC heads-up poker championship? Is it me, or does Doyle seem like he's going berserk in these matchups? Is this standard for headsup play, is the tourny structure too fast, or is he tired of playing poker?

1. He's not going berserk, he knows exactly what he is doing.
2. Not "standard" heads up play...although i'm not sure there even is such a thing.
3. The tourney structure is too fast, i.e. shannon elizabeth made the final four last year...
4. I think he's tired in general, but he still can play with the best.

This tournament is a lot of fun to watch b/c it's all headsup and all the big names are there, but it's not a true format of poker skill b/c there isn't enough time to make it more competitive. Also, I find the commentary horrific.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by joepro

1. He's not going berserk, he knows exactly what he is doing.
2. Not "standard" heads up play...although i'm not sure there even is such a thing.
3. The tourney structure is too fast, i.e. shannon elizabeth made the final four last year...
4. I think he's tired in general, but he still can play with the best.

1. correct
2. correct
3. wrong, some matches lasted more than three hours, so I doubt there isn't enough time to play your A-game.
4. wrong, he is still one of the best. I think he's just more into sidegames just like Ivey.

This was properbly the longest time off Brunson had in his life. So he might just get his drive back. And starting again after such a long break, and than also starting in a heads up tourney might throw you off a bit.

[toad94]

I agree with the "horrific commentary" part, and I especially agree with the "Doyle knows exactly what he's doing" part.

Doyle's like the Papa-Bear of Poker: tons of people look up to him for all he's done for poker, and tons of people study his every move to try to be a better player. But also tons of people would love to sit with Doyle and take a monster pot from him and have him flash that big, wide smile afterward. Doyle has commented before that being under such scrutiny forces him to change gears all the time, change his entire style of play, etc. or else he's afraid people will figure him out too quickly. He's even said he regrets writing Super System because after that everybody knew what to expect from him. So he had to change it up.

Playing wreckless and crazy on a televised event can only help him at his next side game. If he locks down his play but have people still wondering "is Doyle going beserk?", he's got the advantage. I wouldn't be surprised if that was part of his plan all along.

[babujit1]

Pretty sure he has already said he just wants to get in the cash games.
Do not think he cares to much about this tourney.

[joepro]

Originally Posted by babujit1

Pretty sure he has already said he just wants to get in the cash games.
Do not think ANYONE cares to much about this tourney.

fyp....

[BigKyle]

There's not much play in this structure, as more than a few pros have complained about it. Doyle was very specific about his decision to play that way against Farha. Given the structure what he did was fine.

[Double Eagle]

I don't think he really cares whether he wins or not.