Top Pair Podcast 317: Daniel Negreanu's Home Game History & MasterClass

September 20, 2018 Robbie Strazynski

In episode 317 of the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast, Bruce Briggs and Robbie Strazynski welcome Daniel Negreanu to the show for the very first time. We discuss his new DAT podcast, his all-new MasterClass, and – of course – his history playing and running home games!

Plus, Robbie and Bruce fill you in on their home game exploits over the past couple weeks. You’ll also enjoy a funny One Outer that answers the age-old question “How do you like your pizza?”

Top Pair thanks their sponsors, J Design Cards and the Poker Notes Live mobile app for their support. Be sure to check ‘em out!

Show Time Stamps

1:12–19:21 How Ya Runnin? Bruce: Two cash games since last episode, doubled his buy-in in each game. “Yes” to mixed games, “No” to wild games. Explaining how to play “football,” “spots,” and “the good, the bad, and the ugly,” three very interesting home game poker variants. Robbie: Recaps of three winning home game sessions. Going through a couple hands, one in which an opponent was drawing to one out after getting the money in on the flop, and another – a four-way all-in – getting money in with the absolute worst of it. Plus, after three months, finally getting to play in Dad’s crazy game once again and winning big at “squares.” 21:42–57:25 Look Who We’ve Found (Interview with Daniel Negreanu) 22:52 Daniel is just a few episodes into co-hosting a new podcast called DAT. What’s it meant to be about and who is the audience? 25:03 Will Daniel continue his solo Full Contact Poker Podcast, of which he’s recorded 19 episodes thus far? What about that long-promised Phil Ivey interview? 26:45 Daniel tweeted out a picture way back in March 2014, with the caption “This is what poker should be all about. Fun first, and this is a blast.” It was a bunch of his Israeli friends in Los Angeles who Daniel joined for a small stakes home game. What’s the story behind that picture? 27:48 Daniel explains how to play “Vanunu” – a great game that he played as a teenager, that you can learn a lot of poker skills from. 29:36 Daniel was a regular home game host back in the day, one game at his house and the other at school. They played without chips in an empty classroom at school, so Daniel played while also keeping track of every single hand’s action with a pen and paper. 31:16 Daniel reveals his favorite home game variant, and also explains a game called “Peter.” 32:45 “It’s important to have fun at home games and play lots of silly non-hold’em variants, like 7/27, “in-between,” and even Omaha flips.” 37:25 Sponsor: MasterClass (featuring a course on poker by Daniel Negreanu) 39:15 How did the idea originate for Daniel to do a MasterClass and why did he want to do one? 41:48 You can buy just Daniel’s MasterClass course or, alternatively, an all-access pass for a full year. 42:39 How long did it take Daniel to come up with all the material he wanted to teach? 43:55 How long did the filming and production process take for the MasterClass and what was the experience like? 45:32 Which parts of Daniel’s MasterClass are most important for home game players to pay attention to? 47:30 Daniel’s course offers “office hours” to enrolled students. How does that work? What was the experience like? 49:03 Will there be additional lessons offered at some point beyond the current 38 videos? Also, Daniel tests Top Pair’s co-hosts. 52:25 Daniel’s advice for how Bruce can take advantage of the tell that everyone at his home game has on him. 53:08 Will there be an additional poker pro offering a MasterClass? 54:22 How does Daniel’s MasterClass stand up against other poker coaching/training options out there on the market? What makes it unique and worth trying? 57:41 One Outer – How do you like your pizza? Free, of course!

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