What makes you respect a speciific poker player?

[RiverstarsVictim]

I live in UK in an area of crap tv reception so get to see very little poker.

However, on my recent holiday I was fortunate enough to see a couple of WPT's and got to recognise a few players who are often spoken highly of online. Danny Negreanu for instance.

Taking Danny as an example, I found his table chat amusing and I could quite understandably see why people laid down the best hand. I can only presume he gives big tells from his mouth and that's why he never won?

Then there was Chris Bigler. I'd never heard of him before but he came 2nd twice. A quiet chap who won more than Danny in 2 tournies.

How do you rate or respect one over the other?

**edit to add**...I'm not talking Danny Vs Chris here, just players in general.

[travz21]

I'm very confused by your post. Negreanu probably didn't win that tourney because he got unlucky or made a move for the pot against an unmoveable hand. Obviously he is one of the best players in the world, so I don't see why you think he gives off more tells than a pathetic Bigler. And if you're not doing a Danny Vs. Chris, why are you comparing them for the span of two tourneys? I beat Scott Fischman in a couple pots on Full Tilt, and I don't think that makes me better than him haha.

Anyways, to the main point of your post (maybe?), I respect a player's game when it's pretty unknown. Meaning that they win a lot of pots without you ever seeing their cards. That means they most likely know when to apply pressure and when to fold in the proper situations. And when you do see their cards, they are on the winning side of it almost all of the time. Their style could be super aggressive like Ivey, or tight/aggresive like a Chris Ferguson. I'll respect either one if they are keeping their hole cards a mystery and winning money.

[DeadBabySoup]

Negreanu is probably my favorite player because he's a gentleman and a great player. I've never seen him say a bad word about another player at the table. He takes bad beats in stride, with a smile. Few players can do that. And he almost always knows where he is in a hand. I've seen him call another player's hand more times than I can count. It's scary how dead on he is.

[HeyKidMove]

I'm pretty sure Daniel is #1 in WPT winnings, so I don't think you can knock him for not winning the events that you saw. I also don't think he gives anything away with his table talk. He mixes it up a lot and keeps people guessing. I have only seen a hand once that I think his talking got him into trouble.

[DeadBabySoup]

I'm pretty sure Daniel is #1 in WPT winnings, so I don't think you can knock him for not winning the events that you saw. I also don't think he gives anything away with his table talk. He mixes it up a lot and keeps people guessing. I have only seen a hand once that I think his talking got him into trouble.

yep, he is first in WPT winnings. overall, i believe he's ranked second in tournament winnings. he also has 4 WSOP bracelets and 2 WPT championships. just because he hasn't won the WSOP main event doesn't mean anything. it's still gambling. and there's still luck involved.

[Esqueleto]

Being Canadian and all!!!!

[EliminateU]

Hellmuth is by far the best around.

[DeadBabySoup]

Hellmuth is by far the best around.

hellmuth might be the best NL hold 'em tournament player. but he is far from the best all around player. chip reese was generally considered the best all around. phil ivey might be the best now.

[liladypokerpro]

To answer the original question, I think what makes me respect another player is their character. If a player doesn't feel the need to spew verbally anytime they take a beat, or conversely, if they don't feel the need to down another player after winning a hand, then that is a highly respectable player to me. It shows they have their focus in the right place, and can handle anything the game throws at them with grace. If someone has the will power to overcome and control their emotions, they can conquer just about anything else. People with oversized egos and a mouth to match (like Hellmuth) don't gain much (if any) respect from me. Don't get me wrong, Phil's a great human being away from the table...but once he sits down... that's it...

[craig bart]

i think this might be a joke thread at best the "danny" negreanu link might be a giveaway!

but what i did find interesting was a comment by deadbabysoup who said that now chip reese was no longer with us phil ivey could be the best all round player in the world. now i'm sure we all agree chip was the man but phil ivey, really? carn't say i;ve ever seen or heard of phil dominating the stud,stud 8 or razzs tables? but maybe i'm wrong phil's a great tourney nl player but best all round? maybe you'll all agree with soup and i'll have to think again! but even at no limit i'll take hellmuth and cunningham over phil, thoughts?

[EliminateU]

hellmuth might be the best NL hold 'em tournament player. but he is far from the best all around player. chip reese was generally considered the best all around. phil ivey might be the best now.

i figured it was understood nlhe we were discussing. did i miss where omaha, stud, or 2-7 lowball was in the mix?

[EliminateU]

To answer the original question, I think what makes me respect another player is their character. If a player doesn't feel the need to spew verbally anytime they take a beat, or conversely, if they don't feel the need to down another player after winning a hand, then that is a highly respectable player to me. It shows they have their focus in the right place, and can handle anything the game throws at them with grace. If someone has the will power to overcome and control their emotions, they can conquer just about anything else. People with oversized egos and a mouth to match (like Hellmuth) don't gain much (if any) respect from me. Don't get me wrong, Phil's a great human being away from the table...but once he sits down... that's it...

I doubt that bothers him much. He pulls his antics to purposely disrupt his opponents I believe.

[EliminateU]

i think this might be a joke thread at best the "danny" negreanu link might be a giveaway!

but what i did find interesting was a comment by deadbabysoup who said that now chip reese was no longer with us phil ivey could be the best all round player in the world. now i'm sure we all agree chip was the man but phil ivey, really? carn't say i;ve ever seen or heard of phil dominating the stud,stud 8 or razzs tables? but maybe i'm wrong phil's a great tourney nl player but best all round? maybe you'll all agree with soup and i'll have to think again! but even at no limit i'll take hellmuth and cunningham over phil, thoughts?

hellmuth, cunningham, negreanu are all showing better results than ivey.

[liladypokerpro]

I doubt that bothers him much. He pulls his antics to purposely disrupt his opponents I believe.

I agree completely. I have always believed it was a purposely implemented strategy, simply because he is so down-to-earth away from the tables.

[DeadBabySoup]

i figured it was understood nlhe we were discussing. did i miss where omaha, stud, or 2-7 lowball was in the mix?

the term "best all around" is generally used in reference to the best all around. go figure.

[DeadBabySoup]

i think this might be a joke thread at best the "danny" negreanu link might be a giveaway!

but what i did find interesting was a comment by deadbabysoup who said that now chip reese was no longer with us phil ivey could be the best all round player in the world. now i'm sure we all agree chip was the man but phil ivey, really? carn't say i;ve ever seen or heard of phil dominating the stud,stud 8 or razzs tables? but maybe i'm wrong phil's a great tourney nl player but best all round? maybe you'll all agree with soup and i'll have to think again! but even at no limit i'll take hellmuth and cunningham over phil, thoughts?

most professional players consider him the best all around player now that reese passed away.
he has was 5 wsop bracelets. none of them in hold 'em.

2000 Pot Limit Omaha
2002 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
2002 S.H.O.E.
2002 Seven Card Stud
2005 Pot Limit Omaha

he's won a WPT main event and other $1,000,000+ tournaments as well. to top it off, he's more of a cash game player.

[highbet]

play rocktight and decently and u get most repect

[overtop69]

I think the thing I respect most about about a player is their level of respect. Respect for other players and for the game. There is nothing I hate more than a player shooting off their mouth or bragging about how great they are. Also, blowing up at players, or insulting them after a bad play. The game is poker folks...it happens...get over it. Take a note, say nh, and move on. Have enough respect for the other players at the table as well as to not disrupt the game. I see this far too often....and yes I know it's human nature....but so is self-control. Just my opinion.

Following these guidelines I'd have to say that Doyle Brunson is the epitome of this. He is the ultimate gentleman on and off the felts....no matter what the situation. Doyle, if I ever get to sit at a table with you my friend, it will be an honor and a privilege.