As reported by: Las Vegas Sun
Lee Markholt, a poker pro from Washington state, had just been eliminated from the final table of the World Series of Poker circuit tournament at the Tunica Grand casino in Mississippi last Friday night.

Before he went off to collect his $183,160 prize for finishing fourth in a field of 241 entrants, Markholt was asked if anyone could beat Daniel Negreanu, the tournament's chip leader.

"No," Markholt said, "as long as he keeps playing 'small ball.' "

Markholt's prediction was on target. Negreanu continued to embrace that "small ball" strategy, outlasting his final two opponents to capture the tournament championship and its top prize of $755,525.

In the poker world, small ball, according to the 2005 book "Kill Phil" by Blair Rodman and Lee Nelson, is a subtle, intricate strategy that's difficult to master -- and therefore, usually best left to the experts in big time, no-limit Texas hold 'em tournaments.

It entails mixing it up in a lot of small pots, but having a feel for when to bail out and when to move in for the kill.

In baseball, where the term originated, think of the Chicago White Sox from 1959 -- or 2005, for that matter -- with their reliance on stolen bases, sacrifice bunts, good pitching and turning double plays.

The diametric strategy, "long ball" poker, is also known as "big pot" poker, according to Rodman and Nelson. More formulaic than small ball, it's marked by swinging for the fences by betting all of your chips at once -- or going "all-in."
Article By: Las Vegas Sun