$200,000 GRUDGE MATCH Ends With A Bang [Daniel Negreanu vs Doug Polk]

Get on the list for my new course "The End Boss System": upswingpoker.c...
Check out PokerGo: www.pokergo.com/
Check out PokerGo's KZbin channel: / @pokergo
In my final hand against ‪@dnegspoker‬ it's a classic heads up poker scenario: tripple barrel bluff against a pair of aces. The flush comes in on the river, which gives DNegs pause, as he's facing an all-in for the full $200k prize pool. Today we're going to take a deep dive on the high stakes heads up no limit hold'em strategy that went down in this hand.

[@DougPolkPoker]

Get on the list for my new course "The End Boss System": upswingpoker.com/hu2023/

[@Mat-oh3xe]

Love the video, I would agree with the poll, when you get to technical you lose people who don't have the prerequisites to understand/ appreciate the analysis. However i hope that you keep showing the solver, at least briefly so that if it's a really interesting spot we can pause and take a closer look.

[@darrylmeeking6839]

Love that you chose a losing hand. Great vid

[@WarmDeck]

The "Live poker realm huh" was a nice little needle by Dnegs at the end there.

[@losyart]

But did he called bcs he spotted some tell or odd behaviour?? Im not sure i think he just knows Doug has a lot of bluffs in his range and he have to stand for himself by calling down decent bluff catcher.

[@PIP-zf9yb]

Lol I think Doug will be ok he owned d negs soul in there heads up match. He's just on another level. This little fast paced structure is for tv.

[@TEAMGETHELP]

​@PIP-zf9yb You mean Live...

[@WarmDeck]

@@PIP-zf9yb for sure no doubt

[@scottpentek928]

@@PIP-zf9ybhe owned him when they played online heads up not in person. He’s obviously good at both but Daniel still a little better live

[@FruitOfTheSpirit]

This was an insightful analysis. Good balance between solver use and simple, straightforward explanations of strategy. Well done and thanks for the content!

[@Sueezedtight]

Doug, you are my 2nd most favorite poker person (after Daniel, as I am a Canadian...) and I enjoy your analyses as well as your play. You have led me to the conclusion that I must never play poker for money as I would lose my shirt. (When I was a teen-ager, I played a bit in a pool hall and got my clock cleaned repeatedly.) As a scientist, I appreciate the rigour and accuracy of your explanations. Keep up the good work and good luck with every hand!

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

Doug's analysis is mostly only applicable to top tier pros. You can absolutely play poker for money against average casino-goers at 1/2 and 2/5 especially and make a very decent living playing exploitatively against common tendencies like people underbluffing and overcalling. If you're wanting to make a living playing high stakes or even 200NL+ online then, yes, it helps to have a really solid foundational understanding of poker theory, but getting into the weeds over blockers in very close spots doesn't matter when your opponents are completely oblivious to the most basic concepts. Like, get an understanding of basic ranges and how polarizing/condensing works on different textures and you're ahead of 99% of live players.

[@Sueezedtight]

@@jonathanhenderson9422 I understand and agree completely. My basic problem is that I hate losing my money and I don't like "taking" other people's... a bad combo for a money game. (I am also told that I have a lousy poker face...)

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

@@Sueezedtight Ah, well, that's another matter entirely. If you're good you definitely won't lose money in the long run, though the "long run" can sometimes be months or more depending on your winrate. As far as taking other people's money, I just look at it as they're paying for a good time. The casinos are really the one taking everyone's money, and if someone else has to win money at poker it might as well be me. :)

[@MarathonWZ]

@@jonathanhenderson9422where would you recommend to start learning about polarization and condensing

[@tae310x]

What a loser

[@RonZucker]

I love this. Not just because i understood the solver bluff size and why (though self validation never hurts) and why the silver doesn't live a bluff with this combo, but because you broke it down clearly, explained some of the other influences that affect both decisions, and were man enough to admit your regrets without beating yourself up for a theoretical mistake (that might well work in real life). This is exactly what I'm trying to learn from coaches. Not the "right" play - the game tree is too dense - but how to think correctly and how to break down a hand to try to learn from my own mistakes. Fortunately for both me and my opponents, I make A LOT more mistakes than you do, meaning it's easier to find lessons for me and my opponents get fish dinner sometimes. But it's often than they used to, thanks to resources like Upswing.

[@Glottris]

you got to mix it up Polk, sometimes we want technical analysis, sometimes TonyG commentary!

[@Daniel-mw7pu]

We have to balance our in-depth analysis with our troll range.

[@cjmcdonald9577]

Dnegs seems to have an advantage when playing live. I do think he was fishing for some reads alot during the hand. You seem happy preflop, smiling when betting(1:36-1:39). While after looking at his hand Dnegs seems to rigorously control his facial expression 1:35. You said that Dnegs hand is a raise most of the time, but he calls maybe he was adjusting his play slightly because you liked your hand a bit. Dnegs has a soothing gesture on the flop at 3:07 where he touches his face after missing the flop. I think you smile a bit when betting flop (3:10-3:12) and immediately after flop comes out 3:25. Daniel looks annoyed with the bet. On the turn you both seem to look at the ace then look for reads on the opponent. You think for a moment while you are fiddling with your chips and you look at them 7:58. You have mentioned in the past that you use your chip position for randomization. When you look at the turn strategy most of the made hands are pure strategies (Ax, sets, 2pair) it also seems like your flush draws don't like betting much. I think it is because they don't want to get raised off their equity and you are protected on flush rivers already by AX of clubs. Most of the hands that need randomization are straight draws and K hands. On the river I think you randomize again by looking at your chip at 12:05. Because you are splitting your range into different sizes with good and bad hands I don't think this is as good of a read. Dnegs starts to try to get information on the river also. Saying clubs got there. You kinda smile/grimace and shake your head a bit 12:10, but it seems a bit forced. He further gives you information about his hand saying he almost raised the turn himself which is like (good Ax and 2 pair). He also starts asking you what your chip total is. Cameraman doesn't focus on you so I don't see any reaction if there was one. The rest of the time you seem stone faced and no other reaction. Maybe he can get a read off that as well. Is Dnegs a god at reading people?

[@zbou23]

He's the best alive at reading people imo

[@glenpork1628]

Hey Doug, really appreciate everything you have done (and hopefully will continue to do) for the poker community throughout the years. Thank you :)

[@jonathanpham7397]

love how quick you told him "you win." Yearning to play perfect like the computer and behaving just like the computer when you lose. no slow roll just facts. all we have is time in this world. no wasting it with Dougie. Keep the content coming bruh... 999

[@offrampc]

Love the video, especially the technical aspect of it. People in comments don't realize that this is actually super premium content when you are trying to improve above 50 NL online. One question though: At 17:40, you mention that Daniel doesn't have too many flushes in his range. It seems to me that he can have all the flushes - 3c4c, 4c5c, 3c5c - every single flush that's possible given the board. Are those supposed to fold turn to a PSB?

[@woodcutta6461]

I have a question about the bet on the turn. When you bet pot and then went through the analysis that you probably should have bet more, instead of betting that 12,500 is it good to bet between the 8,400 (pot) and 12,500? Or do you want to be betting that 12,500 in those situations? Hopefully this question makes sense.

[@ExbotHero]

Interesting analysis. Have to say that this was a positive surprise. Tend to think that Doug only shows his best play in these videos. (My bad.) Kudos to him for choosing this hand. Have to say that this increased the likelihood for me to order his course. (My biggest weakness is the heads-up stake during tournament.) Thanks, Doug!

[@andrewdinns1746]

11:35 why not run a subtree and show EV diff between no XR and a XR strategy for BB?

[@smor729]

Great vid! How much if any discussion in the course is their about the logistics of actually trying to play higher stakes HUNL for income, ie selecting opponents, how to find opponents live and online, etc?

[@damonblack1495]

I like both formats - Doug looking into the camera, as if he is looking at you and breaking a hand down confidently. And the solver. There is a lot of useful and interesting information. But I think an issue some folks may have with the solver is, if you don't tune in for every single video, the amount of information can be overwhelming. It's software I would wager most people don't use or have seen very much. It's hard to keep track of what Doug is saying when trying to read the solver sometimes. I don't claim to know the solution. But that is my 2c on why there is some dislike for the solver. It would be nice if Doug could use a "pen or marker" to temporarily highlight areas he is talking about. Similar to a NFL replay lol.

[@LouiseStastny]

Our dad got drunk one night and needed $ for beer...I think. I was 7 and my brother was 6 and he told us to get our penny jars and he would teach us to play poker. He proceeded to clean us out and we never saw our allowances again. I was hooked. I knew I could learn poker and win it all back. I still LOVE poker but I still suck at it.

[@losyart]

Yeah vs You in Daniels spot im stationing this hand as well. I saw a lot of your hands and analysis to be suspicious that you have too many bluffs . Daniel is adaptive and he knows it as well . Ofc there will be times when u just have it and i would feel stupid ,but thats poker folks

[@brett2660]

Deciding what type of vids to make is probably like betting in poker. Keep mixing it up. We're not children so you can't get away with the exact same type of content for years. I'm loving the different types of vids and would definitely watch the same type of vid over and over.

[@JelloJiggleMan]

Doug, I think a good idea for a video would be something called 'Solvers for Dummies' or 'Solvers 101' or something along those lines...it could be a less than 10 minute video showing everybody exactly what a solver is and literally just going through the main tools / areas / useful aspects in a more slow and methodical manner, explaining things thoroughly along the way...imo, a big part of the problem with some of your more technical vids is that the majority of people watching don't know how to interpret / analyze what the hell they're looking at when you go to the solver...plus your explanations / thoughts in regards to the hand are happening fairly quickly, so those who don't use solvers consistently or at all (which i'm assuming is the majority of people who watch your videos) can lose you pretty easily...i'm a professional poker player myself and don't know $#!T about solvers, have never used them...but that's primarily because i play mostly LHE and when i do play NL, it's ring...anyway, just my two cents, and if you're ever up for a HU LHE challenge, i'm game ! =)

[@tonyflow6244]

lots of videos out there already doing just that, just put it in the search bar

[@JelloJiggleMan]

@@tonyflow6244 your comment is equivalent to saying 'lots of people out there do hand analysis, just put it in the search bar'...the majority of people who watch Doug's videos watch because they like the content HE produces, not others...so it stands to reason those same people would want to watch a short video explaining solvers by DOUG, not other randoms

[@HunterWillis]

I think you also need to consider the live reads for the call on the River.

[@khmer5o3]

Vanessa versus Daniel! Awesome video!!!

[@jonathanpham7397]

your content teaches so much. keep this content coming

[@Samuel-sg2iv]

Really nice bluff from Polk, but Amazing call by Daniel. Just the old classic, "i'm gonna have to guess whether he is bluffing or not"

[@prestonmaly9987]

That was an amazing and humble video to make admitting mistakes great job and it's just one hand. There were a number of factors that made this an easy quick call in his mind a couple of which you didn't mention are that you were already down on chips and a call wouldn't end the night for him play would continue so not much stress calling, he also knew if you lost the hand you would would be really down on chips so you would be more likely to try to win this hand and bluff, also he's only a few feet away from you and has played you a lot and has seen you on many live streams it's possible he had a live read to make the call easier because as you saw it was an easy call in his mind.

[@1337murk]

Loving these hand reviews

[@joehenry9546]

I like Doug’s River jam. This is not an easy call for Daniel. However, I agree this is a much better bluff if he had a club in his hand for a blocker.

[@Mike-qo4kp]

The way the hand played it was a pretty easy call. Once the ace hit on turn Daniel was going nowhere regardless what the river was.

[@jeffv3296]

Only it was an easy call for Daniel. He called really quickly and didn’t seem all that worried. I think Doug and a lot of people here give too much credit to solvers and not enough credit to the importance of being able to read somebody. Perhaps the solver indicated that Doug should push all in on the river-but the solver also indicated that Daniel should fold. Instead, Daniel called quickly. I assure you that this is because Daniel could easily see that Doug was uncomfortable when he made the all in bet. I’m just a recreational player-and the moment he said all in-even I sensed a lot of weakness in his body language and demeanor.

[@Mike-qo4kp]

@@jeffv3296 I was taught a different heads up game. For me even though the blinds are low I'm ready to go with A10 for everything. Even ten high is favored over most random hands. From there Daniel just called on the flop knowing Polk will cbet all flops and turning another ace I'm not folding period. Plus Daniel still has a really big chipstack even if he calls and Polk somehow has him beat. That was a terrible river shove and Daniel needled him for it. Polk only gets a busted flush draw to fold. And look at the flop turn and river what hands can you come up with that Daniel would call the flop and turn with that don't have Polk beat and will actually fold? Polk shoved like it was his only hope to win the pot.

[@PVog7]

Can someone tell me why there are 2 bet sizes on the river? How do you pick the hands you bet 2/3 and how the ones you jam ?

[@mattdavis7740]

The solver says never bluff but I decided to jam all in, I love you!

[@bumlookercheekymonkey3985]

That pic of doug on the bottom of the screen was his grammer school pic

[@paulwildman6067]

During the initial match seeing you win then lowering you bet size strategy, and then Daniel tank max time every bet was so funny. It would still be going on now.

[@ScottySkilz1]

great video, keep up the good work

[@Masoch1st]

gl this season. you guys were amazing last year. kinda wish the dubs were playing the kings for game 1 of the season but soon enough.

[@ScottySkilz1]

@@Masoch1st wow thanks

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

Doubt Doug will ever read this, but I wonder how much his HU course is applicable to Blind V Blind in a 6-max game. I would assume that SB being IP Vs OOP will make a huge difference in opening ranges, even if a lot of the post-flop considerations will be similar with the wide ranges.

[@Its__Good]

Thanks for taking into account the feedback. I think this is a better balance of solver stuff and general analysis.

[@lightningsoulde]

Noob question: I ran this video through my solver and it puked at your river shove with 97 of spades. Now I can't get it to work again. As soon as I start it, it says "I'm still sick, get back later". What do I do?

[@DarrenJohn10X]

Would thisbbe useful if I play live $80 6-7 hour fullring MTTs with 90-120 entries (most of the time FT ends with a 4way or 3way chop amongst regulars)

[@Sudstah]

Your pushing this end boss course hard haha

[@krissavagelive]

It's Business 101 haha 🤷‍♂

[@SootYourself]

End Boss is kinda wack. Doesn't really flow. $999?

[@NotSoNarrowCast]

Based on watching a lot of videos of his play, if I ever play with Doug live I'm gonna flat call him down a lot

[@DanRustle]

Blows my mind that there is a exact science behind all this.

[@Alexandertygreat]

In a freeze out vs DN, he will call in this spot 100% the time. If it was hu 100BB+ deep with ability to rebuy, this works 4-5× more often.

[@krissavagelive]

You'd think that the inverse would be true given that you can't rebuy back into the tournament

[@Alexandertygreat]

@@krissavagelive for 65bb this is a snap call. If he is somehow wrong the chip lead flips. But to end it, DN never folding. I wouldnt fold either. He is at the top of his range. Cant be folding here

[@astrostl]

It might be worth a new channel for deep/solver analysis. I would subscribe.

[@mattymcsplatty5440]

Thats a great idea

[@Rerpesentz]

Doug has lost his mind in that 7 9 hand, you legit told him your hand ranges on the flop and the run out could not improve you, and his preflop ranges were all over the board before you said all in. Poker a mfer

[@krissavagelive]

WUT?? Most of Doug's bluffs on the flop are flush draws that would have got there on the river!!

[@geoff-huang]

I haven’t kept up with no limit hold’’em in many years. Is it a solved game now?

[@krissavagelive]

No, far from it... come on in, the water's fine 👍

[@geoff-huang]

@@krissavagelive can you explain what the solver is that Doug keeps referencing?

[@krissavagelive]

@@geoff-huang it's called Piosolver. The most complete answer I have come across to explain what it does comes from KZbinr Finding Equilibrium who, in reply to the late Doyle Brunson when he asked the same question on Twitter said, "[The] Simplest way to think of it is as a calculator that computes strategies that maximize payouts given user inputs (eg. stack/pot sizes and betting options) assuming all players are playing their strategies perfectly." Whilst the are powerful tools they are a long way from being capable of solving the entire game of NL Holdem given the infinite number of bet sizes between 0 and all-in; the size of the full game tree far exceeds the capacity of current commercially available hardware by many magnitudes. What they actually calculate are smaller models or "toy games" that are used for abstraction purposes to help users understand the underlying broader concepts behind game theory optimal (GTO) strategy that can be applied to the full game.

[@owaridagaming8295]

​@@geoff-huangit's GTO. Game Theory Optimal. A software that plays millions of hands versus itself. Then it gives you a strategy (mixed, very complicated, impossible to memorize) for both players. This strategy allows you to not be exploited by an other strategy. So if you follow the GTO strategy but your opponent doesn't follow it, on the long term, you smesh him boy (because he will do way more mistakes than you). Hope I was clear.

[@Cowtymsmiesznego]

@@geoff-huang It's a program that approximates the nash equilibrium solution in a 2-way pot starting from the flop. The inputs are the players' pre-flop ranges and the possible sizings they are allowed to use on different streets.

[@ApocalypseNowWithEli]

Where did they find that picture of Doug with the Johnny Cash hair?

[@Mathemagical55]

Any strategy relying on Negreanu folding is fundamentally flawed.

[@doug3512]

Not the first hand I've seen someone jam with compete air... it's Vanessa Selbts' signature move.

[@oraclewizard77]

Just think, Doug will teach you for $ 1000 how to jam with 9 7 and lose a tournament.

[@jkeyzofficial]

how to turn a 5 min vid into a 25 min video tutorial

[@gswdeclan]

Daniel's really going crazy with the hair plugs

[@kingyellowman5762]

More hairplugs is better

[@altortosa5955]

better than going crazy with buttplugs, probably

[@patmacrotch5611]

Transplant not really plugs. His hair looks great. If I had a spare 50k I’d probably do it too

[@jimbojones9118]

​@@patmacrotch5611is it really 50k?

[@christophersartagoda7576]

forget my before image

[@RustyWells2]

That thousand dollar is nothing compared to the things I lear from the course that will make me money for years to come! You have got to spend money to make money!

[@Badbentham]

16:00 Apart from history Danny is actually rather infamous for his slightly stationary tendencies; - the shove thus may be in reality even a somewhat larger mistake than what the solver would assume.

[@dunglifemovement]

Beef, beef, beefy sausage

[@rotatoe]

Doug pls make a student discount for all us college kids wanting to get your course but cant afford :(

[@jhoppa5613]

Dougs got one of the best polker theory minds ,but I think he sould take in consideration his live tells which i noticed. The fake smile when dan mentioned the flush was a red flag .

[@-duxi]

damn insane hand fr, nice call

[@eoghancullen]

Have you thought about calling it Polker Hands?

[@mattymcsplatty5440]

hahahahaha, he might of at some stage but he already got his business cards printed 😂

[@pauljohnson9698]

DNEGS busts end boss 😁

[@christophersartagoda7576]

Negreanu is really a power person

[@luckymaggie6594]

Can it beat midstakes?

[@kylemcpherson4703]

If you memorized the course strategy and applied it perfectly there isn't a player on earth that could make money against you heads up over a decent sample. That's the whole point of using the solver, it beats EVERYONE.

[@losyart]

@@kylemcpherson4703 Yeah but no one could implement it over and over like emotionless computer

[@user-um3mt4gk2z]

I love daniel. Does doug polker not like Dnegs? Whats the beef? Twitter comments? Pshhh. Doug is great. But daniel is great too. Nice vid.

[@Bibzuda7]

THANKS DOUG

[@aaron1474]

I personally don’t care what format you do in ur vids. I watch the beginning of ur analysis for a minute or so, and then just skip until poker is played again anyways.

[@Sammwhich]

Doug Polk: "Never in the history HU have I played at a depth of 55bb"

[@mr.fukk12]

So we can buy a course from the guy that lost or the guy that won? And theirs still guys that are buying courses from the guy that always loses? But why?

[@kodak8885]

I think more hands overall per vid and less depth into one hand would serve as better content for most. keep crushing tho

[@christophersartagoda7576]

a trophy will bet on the poker

[@clickingbuttons4980]

Solver aside, should be mentioned that we are jamming/ as a bluff on someone who covers us. And its always a bad idea knowing how sticky our opponent can be. And especially if we know he knows we're FOS

[@Cowtymsmiesznego]

It's a heads up game, what are you talking about...

[@clickingbuttons4980]

@@Cowtymsmiesznego heads up tournament not cash. Dneg had more chips. Therefore the call wasnt for his tournament life. Had he been wrong he would have continued. Therefore what im saying, when you are the short stack you have less FE and cant apply as much pressure as if you had the bigger stack

[@Cowtymsmiesznego]

@@clickingbuttons4980 No. That's a misconception. Tournament or cash, theres no difference. All that matters HU is the effective stack size. Every chip is worth the same: (1st_payout - 2nd_payout)/num_chips. There's no ICM heads up.

[@24magiccarrot]

If I had a spare $900+ plus enough to put together a bankroll to play I wouldn't be in the need to learn how to play poker.

[@joshvaldez1213]

bros the 40 commercials gotta go i feel like im playing some playstore game

[@6stevebrown821]

I don't understand why anyone needs coaching, if ya don't know you shouldn't be playing, but im old school , but in saying so i guess online it can help , but live i can't see the sense , also love your playing style!!

[@krissavagelive]

I imagine it's the same reason that leads people to have mentors in other fields; for example a personal trainer or a business consultant... or better yet, in sports! A good "coach" can use their knowledge and experience to help a person reach their goals more efficiently than them "figuring it out" solo.

[@Host4l]

That's my guy Doug 👊

[@christophersartagoda7576]

A probinsyano is getting 9years in prime time

[@Satisfyingtoday]

It’s not a huge mistake when you’re Doug Polk.

[@nikolailievski9856]

Yeah

[@mikeduke1294]

Seems this torture you put Daniel through has made him a formindable HUNL player.

[@jsbmx2039]

Doug is tall as hell

[@markl8893]

Doug- can you even lift?

[@souperdooper8732]

How did he know it was a bluff? His opponent was Doug Polk.

[@user-cv6vw3ek1p]

Looks like I am the only one that is getting headache from these analysis videos. I like Doug's funny rants more than poker hand analysis.

[@wtfbbqpwnin]

What happened to Daniel, he looks so different lol

[@paularized1]

So if I understand correctly, Daniel won because of his exploitation of your overbluffing tendencies? And had he played GTO, you’d be right back in the game? Gotcha.

[@CocoDave37]

Doug, is viewership rising? I ask cause you asked for suggestions.

[@billmiller2081]

Dude dan

[@goober-ll1wx]

Why is Vanessa so obsessed with solvers these days..........?

[@mikester74]

Hey Doug

[@mattymcsplatty5440]

I agree, good bluff good call, gross spot you put Dnegs in. Like u said, u have history and he knows u can be full of shit esp when polarizing. Great video Doug. I dont like too much solver work. But you gotta have a grasp of the concept......... I like the advance stuff too but too much can be overwhelming. I like how you dont make it over bearing to understand. Good stuff Doug...Lovin it

[@owaridagaming8295]

Actually it was bad bluff and bad call. Cheers

[@Poncitrao]

the stupid comentator, "but do we wanna keep those bluffs in?" nah we want him to fold the hands we are winning.. so dumb

[@3mikeb]

Daniel Nerano played you

[@xavierharding8938]

I could've sworn a few years ago Negreanu was going bald. Did he staple his pubic hairs to his head ? He looks great.

[@adam-punts]

Can I play you heads up for $20 :)

[@Comech64]

You are Doug Polk

[@christophersartagoda7576]

Digital Game Technology company

[@RustyWells2]

I agree if you are a heads up player you would be costing yourself money by not getting the course!

[@Andrew-yf3lu]

Do you spit or swallow with polk tho?

[@krissavagelive]

@@Andrew-yf3lu why you so interested tho? You seem like you've had such thoughts yourself seeing as your reaction to such an innocuous comment was sexual in nature lol. But hey, it's 2023! It doesn't matter to society anymore that you have such desires... It's safe for you to leave the closet 🤷‍♂

[@neihgnot8320]

Wow Vanessa Selbst has slimmed down!

[@chrischristou9404]

Bro online heads up not live .. ur the man … And your gonna lose people with all the graphs things

[@cowardlederer1]

Dog Pork lost?

[@eddieboyee1]

Dude wtf

[@durakstars3094]

play durak online for real money

[@christophersartagoda7576]

Gov.