HAND-TO-HAND HISTORY PART 2: Analyzing the Daniel Negreanu-Doug Polk Matchup

Doug Polk continued his dominance through the first half of his heads-up matchup against Daniel Negreanu. Polk led by almost $1 million after the 18th session.

The two opponents are playing up to 25,000 hands on two tables at blinds of $200/$400. Both players live in the legal regulated state of WSOP.com.

In recent sessions, Negreanu has shown plenty of fight and is working on a Rocky Balboa-style comeback. With the second half of the series underway, here’s a look at some of the biggest moments on the felt so far.

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1 – Mega punt

In the week of Dec. 12, Negreanu lost a huge pot for six figures. Action began as Polk raised from the button with Q♥6♥. Negreanu three-bet to $4,182 with J♣4♣. 

The flop came K♥2♥2♠ with Polk on a flush draw. Negreanu led with $2,000 into the $8,361 pot and Polk called. 

The turn peeled the A♣ and Negreanu fired a 3/4-pot size bet and Polk called. The pot inflated to $30,907.

The river was a 4♥ which landed Polk his flush. Negreanu over-shoved by making a massive bet 2.5 times the pot. Polk called with his flush and nailed a huge pot worth $146,849.

2 – Suited connectors for the win

On Nov. 30, Polk released a YouTube video giving insight into some hands he played. While not going into too much of his personal strategy, he did review some of the biggest moments.

Polk highlighted a hand where he started on the button by raising with 4♠6♠. Negreanu reraised to $4,182 with A♠K♣ and Polk called.

The board read J♠10♣6♥ and Negreanu checked his overcard and gut shot straight draw. Polk bet 25% of the pot with bottom pair and Negreanu called. 

The Q♠ showed up on the turn. The Queen helped Negreanu reach Broadway and gave Polk a flush draw. The pot was $13,044 and Negreanu got sneaky and checked the nuts.

Polk took the bait and launched a $12,285 bet, setting up a possible river jam. The river indeed made a flush for Polk when with the 7♠.

Negreanu checked again and Polk went for almost a pot size bet again with $35,426. After Negreanu called, Polk raked in a $108,467 pot. Kid Poker experienced quite a tough cooler.

3 – Negreanu battles back

On Dec. 11 in session 19, Negreanu gained back some of his losses. One notable hand made for a six-figure swing. Polk raised preflop with 7♥7♦ and Negreanu flatted with 6♥3♥. 

Negreanu checked the nuts when the board came 5♣4♦2♠ and Polk bet $800.The fireworks started on the turn when the 7♣ showed up – giving Polk a set.

With the second-best straight possible, Negreanu felt confident enough to trap by checking. Polk bet $3,400 and Negreanu just called again

The river brought the J♥. Negreanu checked and Polk fired a 1.5X pot bet for over $15,000. Negreanu then shoved all in.

Polk called off his last $33,600 and saw the straight at showdown. This hand helped Negreanu rake in over $106,000.

4 – Standard preflop jams

On his YouTube channel, Polk explained that some hands are just standard in heads-up games. Polk highlighted a hand where Negreanu and Polk end up getting it all in preflop for big money.

As the hand started, Negreanu raised from the button with 10♥10♣ to $1,000. Polk then three-bet his Q♠Q♣ to $3,768. Negreanu responded with a four-bet to $10,336. Polk five-bet shoved all in to $52,988 and Negreanu called.

Negreanu had two outs and didn’t find them with a board runs of J♥3♣J♠3♦9♥, rewarding Polk a $105,974 pot.

A popular poker room line from a Dire Straits song applies: “Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug” 

5.) Check, check, check – he tricked me

On Dec. 4 during Session 15, Negreanu found maximum value with pocket Aces to the tune of $114,000. How he raked the pot would have left “Teddy KGB” from Rounders quite frustrated.

The hand started with Polk raising to $900 with K♠4♠ and Negreanu three-betting 4.5X to $4,200. Polk four-bet to $11,300 and Negreanu simply called. 

The board showed J♥2♠2♣ and Negreanu went into pot control mode by check-calling Polk’s $4,500 flop bet. The turn was a 3♠ and both players checked.

The river brought the Q♣  and Negreanu checked again. Polk tried to steal the pot by shoving. Negreanu snap-called the bluff with his last $40,000. Negreanu scooped a pot worth over $114,000.

The action continues all week and USPoker will have all the highlights and recaps. Follow Negreanu-Polk Central page.

* Doug Polk photo courtesy WPT