Why Game of Gold works
He wanted to hate it, but he loved it. Barry Carter gives his take on why he thinks Game of Gold has got the poker world talking.
I wanted to hate Game of Gold from GGPoker and that isn't just hyperbole. I really, really, wanted to hate it.
I personally am a fan of the Triton streams or the final tables of EPTs, WPTs and the WSOP. I am not a huge fan of the Hustler streams. Clearly, I like to see the best players in the world make the best decisions, not attention seekers cheapening the game.
When I saw the trailer for Game of Gold, the new reality TV-inspired version of Poker After Dark, it, to me, looked very fake and brought a drama the game did not need.
The format works
I was wrong, I was dead wrong. Game of Gold works, it is entertaining and interesting. But that is not the reason I love it.
No spoilers here, but the way the show works is there is a winner-takes-all tournament to win $456,000. 16 contestants, all well-known poker players, win chips for that tournament in prelim rounds where they have to play as a team. Individual performances gain that player more chips, but poor team performances could result in elimination from the show.
This means there is an element of gamesmanship involved but also teamwork. I am sure the show will throw some curveballs, but it appears that poker ability is going to make up most of the show, rather than deceit and game theory away from the tables.
A glimpse behind the curtain
The reason why it works, for me, is what happens behind the scenes. So far one player for each team is at the table while the rest of their team is sweating them in the green room.
What we see here is a glimpse into the minds of the rest of the team. We are seeing Jason Koon talk about blockers and hero calls, we are seeing Fedor Holz talk about live reads, we are seeing Daniel Negreanu talk about tells, and so on. We are also seeing some of the best players in the world talk critically about the players at the table, with no sugar coating.
This is proving the most interesting part of the show. It reminds me of why the original series of High Stakes Poker worked. What I always loved about that was the chat and banter between hands, as well as the side bets. It was a genuine glimpse into how elite players think and act when the cameras are not so obviously in their faces.
It makes me think I'd much rather watch those Triton streams I love with four random High Rollers having a viewing party, rather than the excellent commentators we do have for them.
We are only three episodes in and I am sure the format will change, but I am hooked already. The only other thing I would add is that the show seems ripe to include a complete unknown online qualifier the next time they do it. A 'Loose Cannon' like in the PokerStars Big Game would really shake the format up next time around.
If you think the show looks corny from the trailers, I urge you to give it a go. It was the complete opposite of what I expected.
Do you like Game of Gold? Let us know in the comments:
