How do the high stakes players find and maintain games?

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Kekule

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It's pretty obvious that there are more people playing micro stakes than high stakes. It's also pretty obvious that the grinders are constantly looking for fish to pay them off.

So my question is, how do the high (and very high) stakes players continually find these worse players to profit off of? As you move up the limits, the player pools become less and less.
 
BiliousBetil

BiliousBetil

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It's pretty clear that to get into the big money private games one has to know someone and be reasonably sociable. A few years ago I caught an interview with Antonio Esfandiari. He and Phil Laak, two very entertaining players were flying from city to city, going from one high stakes private game to another. Someone obviously saw some value in their attendance.

Compare this to the former wsop main event winner who flew to Macau, only to find that he couldn't get into the big games. BTW, this same player once publicly complained about not being able to get into the big games at Aria.

What it comes down to is this, big money donators have to see some value in a pro player before allowing one in their game. They have a right to decide to whom they are going to lose their money. If this is something you aspire to, work on your social and networking skills.

Cheers!
 
dnegsisabadreg

dnegsisabadreg

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Here's a video of Joe Hachem where he talks about some things related to this. Basically, the big whales are just looking for a good time, the money isn't very important to them. Pros who want to play with them just need to be personable, fun people to play with.
 
K

Kekule

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Here's a video of Joe Hachem where he talks about some things related to this.

Thank you both for the replies, and thanks for the video especially. I've always liked Joe Hachem. Him, Antonio, and Negreanu are some of the most likeable guys in poker.

What Hachem is saying is so true and definitely makes sense. I was so happy to see Justin Schwartz get knocked out because he made that feature table awkward. On the same note it was such a dissapointment to not have Negreanu at the final table. The final table was so dull this year. No one talked ever.
 
starting_at_the_bottom

starting_at_the_bottom

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Maybe its just the surname. I find Luke Schwarz thoroughly dislikable as well.
 
makisaa

makisaa

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They have a good psycology and this is what they care to maintain! Psycology is the no 1 at poker!
 
Karozi615

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Overseas in Macau

Organize games based around one player

Hollywood home games

Professional stake networks in MTT's

Hell, you can even tell when a fish jumps in a HS game on PS because the wait to get in jumps to like 20.
 
Speedbruce

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There are some millionaires playing and trying to bust those high stakes professionals just for fun or the glory achieved. Very often they are just paying these professional's bills :D:D:D
 
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