Small Ball Poker?

#1 11th January 2009, 1:44 PM

I was watching my DVR tapes of last weeks PAD. The one that Helmuth went out first. In an interview with eventual winner Phil Gordon he referred to Helmuth as a small ball player. Can anyone here give me an explanation of the type of poker this term refers too.

#2 11th January 2009, 6:48 PM

Play a lot of hands for a small amount, basically.

#3 11th January 2009, 8:06 PM

Small-ball is a Baseball term. Long ball being homeruns. If a team is playing small-ball they are trying to manufactire runs with a series of hits, walks, stolen bases, ect. Usually trying to force their oponents into makeing more mistakes.
The down side being if the other team (player in poker) gets a few big innings (hands in poker) you have alot of catch up playing to do.
Thats why a combonation of big and small ball is best. Be consitant, but dont be scared to go after the big one when you get the chance.

#4 11th January 2009, 9:15 PM

It seems Phil and Daniel are the ones most referenced as small ball poker examples although I have heard Daniel state that many pros play small ball these days. Phil brags he can play all styles and does switch it up to misdirect oppents but I have heard Phil many times brag how by the end of a tournament there is no one that went allin fewer times then he did - even a few apparently where he did not go all in once! - so that seems to be Phil's goal in small ball and a result he credits to superior play.

#5 11th January 2009, 10:19 PM

Small ball poker is mainly played post flop, not pushing all the time preflop.

I class myself as a small ball player and the greatest satisfaction is winning without ever having put all your chips at risk during the game.

A lot of players are not confident enough to play it and will push and trust in lady luck, then scream when they get sucked out on.

Smallball played correctly is far more satisfying than all in and fingers crossed.

#6 12th January 2009, 4:55 PM

Thanks for the explanations. Guess I been playing small ball poker all along and not knowing it had a description for.

#7 12th January 2009, 5:14 PM

There's also some instructional vids by Daniel Negreanu, and further discussion here.

#8 12th January 2009, 8:20 PM

Daniel Nereanu has a series of videos on youtube. Explaining small ball.

#9 13th January 2009, 1:40 AM

The masters of poker video series has a great discussion of small ball poker.

#10 13th January 2009, 1:15 PM

Great videos Juicee tks. Now I understand the concept. This style can be really effective.

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