Negreanu Discusses Shifting Challenges of a Poker Career

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Thursday, March 23rd, 2017 | Written by Shane Larson

Canadian poker superstar Daniel Negreanu has been on the championship circuit since the 1990s, and over the years has amassed almost $33 million in live tournament winnings, placing him at number one on poker’s ‘All Time Money List.” Over the past two decades, the 42 year-old pro has won 6 WSOP bracelets, and was awarded the World Series of Poker Player of the Year title in 2004 and 2013, thus holding the distinction of being the only pro to ever win it twice.

Negreanu was also inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2014, and naturally poker fans love watching him at events and reading his social poker musings on his official blog. In a recent entry, Negreanu discussed the current state of professional poker, comparing it to what it was like to be a pro during the 1990s, and the piece begins with a somewhat shocking assertion–that even though poker is a more difficult game than it was in the 1990s, it is easier to be a professional today than it was two decades ago. Why?

Negreanu provides five reasons:

1. There are more hands to play now than there were in the 1990s.

Negreanu explained that during the 1990s, play was limited. Even with playing a fast-paced version of poker like limit hold’em, pros could only expect to play about 30 to 35 hands per hour. Now with online poker, pros can multi-table and play on dozens of tables at once. This makes it possible to play hundreds of hands every hour, increasing winnings.

2. The learning curve is dramatically shorter today.

Negreanu shared a finding that it takes the average player around 10,000 hands to become truly skilled at poker. He argues that because the number of hands a player can play in an hour has increased so dramatically, novices are able to build skill at a much faster pace. What would have taken years of play before can now be done within a few months.

3. There are more poker games available today.

Negreanu points out that poker is far more popular today than it was in the 1990s. Nearly every casino has more than one table devoted to the game, and online poker has made it possible for players to take to the tables without ever leaving home. In a resort area like Las Vegas or Atlantic City, a pro can go from casino to casino to find the best game to play, while online sites provide the same experience, giving more freedom of choice.

4. Poker is now accessible everywhere.

Negreanu reminds readers that in the 1990s, casino gambling was restricted heavily around the world. Now, there are casinos located in nearly every state, and more and more countries have legalized casino gambling. As a result, pros can now hail from any part of the world, and even those who live far from casinos can become pros as a result of the availability of online poker.

5. There are more resources available now.

Negreanu shares that when he first became a pro there were only a small number of books and guides available to help players study and build skills. Now, there are websites you can read, blogs sharing tips and instructional videos on YouTube. Players looking to go pro can even watch live tutorials and game play streamed on sites such as Twitch.

Other Musings

Another interesting topic Negreanu covered recently was the importance of a professional player setting himself/herself goals in order to enjoy continuing success in the game. One of the reasons he suggest this is important is that people who set themselves goals are generally happier than those who do not, and not just on account of being able to attain these goals, but also because of the actual process of working towards something.

Some of the benefits of goal setting include a sense of purpose and control over one’s life, as well as increased self-confidence and self-esteem. It also helps a person to manage and structure their time more efficiently, as well as extend their social network as they reach out to those people who may be able to help them both on the tables, and in their own personal lives.