Big Slick - Card Club

ARTICLE

by Scott 'SHAA/Boom' Boyle

The main reason we all play poker is to have fun although a lot of players argue that money is the actual motivation. I disagree because most people don’t actually make money playing poker although there are a few who claim that this is the case without any proof. In the main most players lose money once they deduct tournament fees (rake). So why do we put ourselves through this every time when there are easier ways to earn a decent wage? I suppose it’s based on the fact that we simply love the game and most importantly we enjoy it. (When we are winning).

There are a few pet hates that I have at the table which in simple terms are so annoying for instance, someone raises UTG 5 x bb the hand is played out and someone then comments “ I would have had the straight if I played my 3 8 off suit”. Please do me a favour!! I really don’t care. I used to think that it gave an insight into the way a players mind worked but now I simply just switch off. Another instance whereby the flop comes with the two threes and here he goes “You know what I folded there?” Ok let me guess 3 8 again to two all Ins WOW great lay down!

Anyway this happens all the time on the internet and live but there are some players who just can’t stop themselves. A simple rule for me is that once I pass a hand I am not interested anymore in the hand end of. The most humorous part is that it actually can send players on Tilt, and I witnessed this one Saturday night at the Big Slick when a player folded pocket sixes with just the three over cards on the flop, and then a six came on the river and this pushed him over the edge !. All I could hear him do was mutter “pocket sixes jeez pocket sixes” Well mateyboy there only was three over cards.

Therefore gone is all of the limping and playing pocket pairs out of position and you will often see players raising when entering the pot pre-flop. You cannot call preflop raises with hands that are dominated unless you and your opponent both have deep stacks, which means that the player who enters the pot with a raise often wins the pot, or can take down the pot with a bet on the flop. The players who are tight will often see their stack diminishing whilst the aggressive players take control and my advice would be to at least minimum steal the blinds once or twice per round. Remember you want to be raising not calling raises in the middle stage of the tournaments - and especially not out of position. Try to get in with a raise and take the blinds down pre-flop, or with a bet on the flop. Stealing blinds will allow you to survive long enough and then get dealt premium hands.

So moving on there are numerous other things that we should not do at the table here is my top 10.

Do not criticise another person’s play at the table! I know it is difficult at times when a player gets “lucky” and that includes you Lee Manister! Remember that these players should not be educated at the table! You should just wish them all the best and move on, have a bit of class. However if it is you who gets lucky! and have played a hand horribly but been rewarded which we all do not say sorry because lets be honest you are not ! And if the player gets somewhat annoyed with you just do the customary “Just got lucky there I guess”.

Do not advise your cards whilst a hand is in play. This happens quite a lot and in effect should be penalised in my opinion whereby a player who folds a hand starts telling another player what he folded whilst the hand is being played. The problem is that it gives one player an edge over another and I know that this happened recently to one of my friends whilst he was playing online. There was a lot of action preflop and the flop had two queens, some clown then typed into the chat box “I folded a queen can’t believe it”. Seriously this is what happened and needless to say my friend was absolutely fuming.

Do not blame the software online! Although there are many who are “on the bus” as so to speak as there are numerous people who think that the software is rigged against them and this also leads to live play as well. They have no control over what cards are dealt (honestly) do not blame them.

Do not talk about a hand whilst you are not playing it! Another really annoying trait that some people have a tendency to do! Simply talking about the hand is also in very bad taste though. The players who are still in the hand don't want to have to listen to your noise pollution when they're trying to focus on the other live opponents. So Please be quiet!!

Swearing. This is like a dumb dwarf it isn’t big and it is certainly not clever J I always like to pretend that my grandmother is at the table and she’s a very nice person and there is an uncanny likeness of her when Casper is there J . I appreciate that this is sometimes part of someone’s make up however I certainly have a lot more respect for people who refrain from using choice words.

Playing Slowly. This has to be one of the most annoying traits for some amateur players who resign themselves to being complete idiots. They think that they are essentially clever by slowly turning over what is essentially the nuts and do so by revealing one card and then slowly turning over another. I would gladly take that player outside and turn him over slowly.

Splashing the Pot. Another amateurish move which a lot younger players ((I am starting to feel old)) feel is a cool way to display their skills. Well we know you can’t play and that you have no other moves but hey I love the way you splash those chips in the middle.

Don't blame the dealer. Also, don't wing your cards at the dealer or not tip him as a result of previous bad beat. They really, actually, and truly have no control over what cards are dealt. In all fairness these guys are there just to try and do efficient jobs therefore give them the respect they deserve.

Eating at the table. Well this is a relatively new one to me but it started to irritate me whilst in Singapore when a player was sitting next to me stuffing his face with Garlic. He had in total 4 courses whilst he sat there beside me and it was not the contents of his food but the manner to which he was eating it and the fact that he covered all the cards with the left overs.

Showing your cards , except at the showdown, even without bad intent is bad etiquette.

So, that is my top 10 pet hates with regards to Poker Etiquette I am sure that I could easily have highlighted some more. I do feel that courtesy is paramount at the table unfortunately that is sometimes lacking by some players albeit when it is relative newbie’s it can be accepted.

Finally try and remember that if you conduct yourself in the correct manner at the table people shall respect your opinion and you might even get a few more uncontested blind steals through due to this.

See you at the tables …

Scotty ((Shaa Boom))