Learn Texas Holdem

It cracks me up when I go into a cardroom and I see a bunch of people with sun glasses on, their collars up and their hats low, trying to give the impression that they are forces to be reckoned with. The main reason I find it so funny is that if you were really so good, why would you want your opponents to think that?

I am the exact opposite. I do my level best to make sure that I am as least intimidating as possible. When I play, I try to keep the table light hearted. I don't talk too much, but I'm more than happy to laugh at other people's jokes or listen to someone else. The last thing I want to do is try to make the game seem serious (even if it is). I also try not to talk about the game at all when I am at the table.

For example, I've asked my girlfriend not to come over and talk with me about her table when I'm playing. Even at middle and upper limit tables there are contributors, players who are just rich and like to play for the hell of it. When she comes over, she likes to talk about hands that just happened. Just using the lingo and describing what happened is too much for me, because there are players that never think other people are taking the game so seriously.

And these players aren't idiots. It may be the case that they don't know how to play well, but in their personal and professional lives, they are very bright, and the last thing they want is to be made a fool of. So to hear a sentence or two about a really weak player getting lucky and sucking out on you, but "you'll get him in the end", might be enough for them to realize they are the targets. See many players can see you win, but just assume you are getting lucky that day, and if they keep playing, they'll get some wins too (and they will, just not in the long term). You don't want to rock the boat at all by ever making comments that would lead them to believe you are going in with the intention of taking their money. There are a number of tactics I'll use to keep the game friendly and seemingly harmless.

The first thing, like I mentioned, is to laugh and joke around a lot. If I lose a hand, I'll just say "nice hand" or "the best hand wins, and you have the best one." Never will I discourage them for sucking out on me with a long shot; instead, I'm more likely to say something to lead them to believe I would play the hand in the same manner. Secondly, if they lose a pot to me, which happens often, I'll make comments that soften the blow and sympathise with them, like, "oh, there is nothing you could do there." What I am trying to do is support their concept of the game: This isn't personal, and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Next, I'll sometimes get a couple beers. Everyone knows that you aren't supposed to drink and play poker, so if you do, they take you less seriously. It makes it seem like a home game, with a bunch of friends drinking a few cold ones and having a good time. Lastly, if someone tries to ask much how much I am up or about a previous day when I won too, I won't answer them in a way that makes it sound like I win all the time. I'll answer with something like, "I'm just getting lucky today" or "I was in for 5 racks on Wed. so I just broke even that night." Again, I don't want anyone there thinking that I play and win. So the table image I try to exude is one that is friendly, polite, nonthreatening, and happy just to be playing. (Little do they know that I would cut their throats for a chip! LOL just kidding.)