{"id":7653,"date":"2018-06-05T16:23:48","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T16:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=7653"},"modified":"2018-06-06T15:04:06","modified_gmt":"2018-06-06T15:04:06","slug":"doug-polk-vs-daniel-negreanu-the-one-sided-petty-war-rages-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/doug-polk-vs-daniel-negreanu-the-one-sided-petty-war-rages-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Doug Polk vs. Daniel Negreanu: The One-Sided Petty War Rages On"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Las Vegas, Nevada<\/strong> summer festivities began as they usually do with the Super High Roller Bowl<\/strong> at the end of May. The four-day tournament is arguably the most prestigious tournament outside of the World Series of Poker Main Event<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The $300,000 buy-in tournament attracts one of the toughest fields in poker. It\u2019s a lot of game theory optimal decision making. There isn\u2019t a lot of table chatter. Few antics are on display.<\/p>\n

Well, for the most part.<\/p>\n

Doug Polk hunting for attention<\/span><\/h2>\n

It didn\u2019t take long for the first feud of the summer to hit the Twitter stream, and it all began on Day 1 at the Super High Roller Bowl.<\/p>\n

Doug Polk<\/strong> and Daniel Negreanu<\/strong> were both in the 48-person field that was formed by a combination of a lottery and Aria-awarded seats.<\/p>\n

There is no love lost between the two players, and when the Day 1 seat draw placed the two players next to each other, the viewing audience was looking forward to fireworks.<\/p>\n

Leave it to Polk to deliver. It took about 27 minutes into the broadcast before his shirt came off. Literally. Polk removed his dress shirt to reveal a t-shirt with the slogan \u201cMore Rake is Better\u201d on a billboard.<\/p>\n

\"Doug<\/p>\n

Polk took the opportunity to needle Negreanu on a big stage for the now infamous \u201cmore rake is better\u201d debate.<\/p>\n

Well, it wasn\u2019t quite fireworks. It was more like the hand-held sparklers from your neighborhood Fourth of July party. Enough to shed some light without the threat of blowing you up.<\/p>\n

Negreanu\u2019s usual table-side manner was more reserved compared to his typical chatty demeanor. While he looked slightly annoyed, he wasn\u2019t about to forgo months of hard work to get into a war with Polk.<\/p>\n

You might think Polk losing a substantial pot to Negreanu and busting on Day 1 would be the end of this saga.<\/p>\n

Oh, but no. Cue the actual billboard.<\/p>\n

\n

.@DougPolkPoker<\/a> takes it to the next level. \"????\"pic.twitter.com\/Uxi17tsOOY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 PokerNews (@PokerNews) June 1, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You have got to give credit where credit is due. If you are out for attention, backing up a personal petty war with a billboard will do it. It is highly doubtful this is a +EV move, though.<\/p>\n

How did the \u201cmore rake is better\u201d drama begin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Back in 2016, Negreanu discussing rake changes at PokerStars, shared situations where a higher rake might be good for the game. \u201cFor the game\u201d is the key part of that statement.<\/p>\n

When you look at the entirety of his comments, Negreanu clearly discusses that more rake will keep the pros away and give recreational players a better shot of winning. Polk would not let the controversial \u201cmore rake is better\u201d mantra die.<\/p>\n

Negreanu clarified his comments earlier this year on a podcast, saying, \u201cI\u2019m not pro-rake. That\u2019s absurd.\u201d<\/p>\n

And again on his blog<\/a>:<\/p>\n

I do not believe that raising the rake is good for poker. Rake increases take more money out of the game and benefit whoever is collecting the rake. That is my position on rake. Period.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Negreanu may have been taking issue with Polk and his desire to \u201ccreate drama, attack people and fight people\u201d earlier this year, but he has put it behind him.<\/p>\n

Honestly, Polk should do the same. The hand has been played. There is no reason to beat a dead horse.<\/p>\n

Negreanu has been studying the game, and his focus is on his goals, which are always lofty. Polk might be needling Negreanu, but Negreanu is not having it.<\/p>\n

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