Doyle Brunson Talks About High Stakes Poker

Doyle Brunson's comments on High Stakes Poker, from his blog:

I’ve never watched poker shows. I think because they make me look like an old, fat, bald-headed cripple. Oh, wait a minute, that’s what I am isn’t it

I accidentally tuned in on High Stakes Poker on GSN and I was absolutely fascinated by what I saw. This show isn’t a tournament; it is a real cash game where the players can buy more chips when they want and quit when they want. Also, the ante and blinds never go up. I sometimes wonder how I came off a cotton farm in Texas to where I am today. After watching that show every night for the past month, I can understand it. Most of these so-called poker stars can’t play a lick! It is almost embarrassing to watch how badly they play. There are a few that I would call winning players but the bad players far outnumber them. Tournaments don’t really teach you fundamental concepts and that is all most of them do – never playing what I call real poker. I think I have played eleven times since HSP started and have yet to have a losing session.

Another thing I don’t understand is the behavior of some of the players. In my opinion, many of them make fools of themselves by their conduct. The viewing public seems to like it though so I guess that justifies it in their mind. I never use two Doylisms in one blog but one comes to mind... it seems that Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, and “Sheiky” fit this one perfectly. “They are self-made men. And they love their creator.”

I have to add one more as I am in a sadistic mood tonight... “It is better to be silent and thought of as a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.”

See also Doyle's opinion of The High Stakes Poker Episode That Only Showed Seven Hands. His above comments also remind me of the time on Poker After Dark when Doyle told Shana he preferred real poker (to the donkaments they play). That was one of my favorite moments on Poker After Dark.