Do you think that pros play differently on TV vs. Off TV?

I was just thinking about this the other day after watching last week's poker after dark. How many pro players do you think change their game up completely when they're on TV to advertise a false image to then be able to exploit later on in non-tv games? I think I'd certainly do that given the opportunity...

Im not sure if theyre play or strategy changes from non-TV to TV but I certainly think it changes some of their actions and behavior. Humberto Brenes, Phil Helmuth and others seem to really turn it on when that Camera is in front of them. But I guess if everyone was a reserved as Allen Cunningham or Chris Ferguson then the coverage wouldnt e as exciting for the casual fan.

I don't think they need to. TV coverage is so heavily edited for action that any image you get of how they play is skewed.

"PokerAfterDark" actually shows every single hand... far different from other typical tournament poker coverage.

The players you typically see playing on PokerAfterDark have all played each other sooooo many times that they all have a pretty good idea of how they play and what moves they are typically capable of making... or not making.

I heard when phil ivey plays in atlantic city, he plays like a rock

They will inevitably behave differently...

All I know is that the pros sure do seem to raise it up in early position a LOT with hands that the book would say you're supposed to fold.

"Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut."

Man. I've been brainwashed with TV.

Poker After Dark has a blind structure that is pretty passive, then gets really steep at the end. They do this to keep people around the first 3-4 days, and make sure it ends on day 5.

Because of with weird blind structure, and because there are only 6 seats, because they are playing other pros, they play *way* different than what you'll see in most tournaments.

Plus, yeah, there's going to be a little hotdogging for the camera.

I would agree they mix it up a bit more under the lights.

But not all players play different.
Take Allen and Jesus.
I think their play is the same in most situations.


Take advantage of any possible edge and exploit it.

I think that you have to play differently on TV to some extent. If you don't people will be able to see the strategies you use and for the big money players their playing style can not be revealed.

+1 to this. This is why i dont have four k posts lol. I try not to repeat something already said as I read every analysis on every thread i read. This is 100% correct i believe as i searched for this information before.

Plus hes quoted in my signature.. LMFAO jk just realized it...

of course. I don't think anyone wants to potentially look bad on tv.

They have to play different on tv. Live games are their livlihood, and they can't give millions of people roadmaps on how they play. I'd say they probably play in such a way on TV as to make people who think they know how they play from TV, those people will make mistakes against them in live play. For example, Hellmuth has established a TV image of playing tight as hell, and trying to trap with great hands. So, I'd guess that live, he plays off that image and plays aggresively to steal big pots with crap.

I think that depend on how much the prize is for the winner.If the prize is big,then the pro player have to use the true strategy.If he dont,then that is because he wants to win something bigger.

Poker After Dark shows most of the hands played, more so than most shows. However, it's still edited and every hand isn't shown. I think Danieal Negreanu said in his blog that they show like 90% of the hands played.

I really think that they don't change there style. They play poker the way they play poker whether it's on t.v. off t.v. w/e the case may be.......remember its all for the love of the game

I do believe that there are certain players who try to create a persona to project an image to the public.

I don't believe that the very best pro's play any differently on TV than they do off, especially in tournements where thousands or even millions of dollars are at stake. I believe that each of these pros have become comfortable with a certain style of play and to vary from that style for the sake of boosting their ego would be counter productive to their goal, namely, winning. That said I would think those same pros are be aware of others who might alter their play while the cameras are rolling for the sake of promoting a persona, or impressing the girls, and adjust their own play accordingly. I doubt very much Doyle Brunson gives a rat's moustache whether there's a camera or not.

I would also think that they play enough people who are bad and rich that it doesn't really matter if they stick to their strategy on TV or not. I imagine that some of these guys could tell you what their cards are very hand and still bust people, partly because they are good and partly because there are enough dumb people out their with money to go around

I think this is what I was trying to convey. I'm not actually suggesting that they PLAY differently, more that they will inevitably BEHAVE differently. He probably does - even Doyle Brunson has an ego.

Acctually I could be wrong savage but I am pretty positive that poker after dark is all filmed in one day,and is one session.
Then they edit it and streach it out to last 5 days of material.

And to the OP I don't think the pros play much different on tv than they do in person.
There personality might be different but not there play.

I think they probably do play different on tv, Thre is where millions of people could be watch and I don't think any of them wants a bad image. Although I saw some crazy play on there a few times.

I know if it were me, I'd play differently then I do online at times.

It is all one session, unless they all wear the same clothes every day. I guess none of you watch PAD that much. I watch it or record it every night. It's all one Session and edited. And if you watch enough episodes you can tell.

One more thing I failed to mention. Poker After Dark is a winner-take-all event. Busting out in 6th pays the same $0 as busting out in 2nd. That leads to a different style of play as well.

That is a good question

I think they do play a bit differently for "advertising" purposes, so they'll get more action in their regular games, but not very often. And certainly not as often as the edited tv shows would make it seem.

The other thing to remember is that High Stakes Poker has a VERY action orientated blind structure. With antes in addition to the blinds, it makes it much more desirable to play looser and go after the blind money. So much of the change in their game on HSP in particular is just an adjustment to the game format, rather than just mixing it up to throw off opponents.

As much as they play, I think that they have to change their strategies on TV, since their style can be seen. There playing style can not become too predictible. I think that is also why some players develop certain personalities. You get players focusing on how they act and not their playing.

does anyone know the blind structure for poker after dark, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min?

i do not know .. but i found on the offical site of poker after dark there is a Forum .. http://www.pokerafterdark.com/forum/...?g=posts&t=154 .. take a look there.

The play aspect, I'm not sure that they play all that differently. Sure they don't want t o get owned on TV and they may make one or two plays for the camera's but then again they may well do that normally.

As for behaviour.... its a tough one because I dont think that someone like Doyle behaves differently on a TV game to a regular game .. however I think that all of this is an act... a personality he has honed for playing at the table.

I think that goes for most of the big names.. they behave like this in any poker game (however I think that away from the tables, you may well see that this is an act).

Maybe the up and comings are different because they haven't fully developed their poker persona... and this is their one big chance so they maybe go a bit crazy.

probably not for Pro`s,, after it`s there Job, aka, livelyhood, pretty sure pros are serious always while playing,,,buck