Just wondering on table talk during a hand both at home games and at local multiplayer raked tournaments. I know at homes rules tend to be softer so its really just the multiplayer raked tournaments but I thought I would get opinons both ways anyways. How to Play Poker. Poker Rules; Poker Strategy; Poker Hands; Poker Dictionary; PokerStars School; Poker Games. Texas Hold'em; Omaha; Omaha Hi/Lo; 5 Card Omaha; 5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo; Courchevel; Courchevel Hi/Lo; Stud; Stud Hi/Lo; Razz; Five Card Draw; 2-7 Triple Draw; 2-7 Single Draw; HORSE; 8-Game Mix; Hold'em/Omaha; Badugi; Software News.
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Table talk and banter is part of the game of poker. It always has been and always will be. With the advent of Internet poker and the anonymity that the online version affords people, that talk often takes a turn for the worse and gets ugly fast. Many players, given the extra layer of security that wouldn’t be present at a live game (in other words, a keyboard and a monitor) will take table talk to an extreme.
Acceptable table talk
The range of acceptable table talk is essentially your moms advice when you were a kid, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. Poker is no different so other than idle chitchat the occasional “nice hand” or “good catch” is perfectly acceptable at any table. Conversations about sports, current events (stay away from politics), and even the old standby – the weather are all acceptable topics to dive into at the poker table.
What’s not acceptable?
Here’s where we dive into the meat of this article. The list of what’s not acceptable runs longer because it seems that many folks just don’t get it. This list goes beyond just using foul language or berating an opponent. There are other areas that you just don’t broach when it comes to poker, whether it be the chat box or a live table.
Foul language will almost always get you into trouble at an online table or a live table at a casino (home games vary here but proceed at your own risk). In some cases like tournaments it may even get you tossed from the game and perhaps the casino! Worst case, your intended target decides to follow you out the door to “continue” the discussion on the street. At that point it’s safe to say that unless you’re a pretty big boy (or girl) that you may well learn this lesson in a hurry.
The other area where some players fall short in terms of following the rule of the game is announcing hands when they fold. Look, I understand that you’re upset because your top pair – top kicker just got four flushed on the turn. However, to say that you just laid down top-top may influence the remaining action on the table! So keep your mouth shut in this instance and let the play proceed to showdown. If you want to complain at that point, go ahead but even here, keep it to a minimum as no one wants to hear bad beat stories.
In a more extreme example, let’s say that you actually “accidentally” announce you hand as you muck it. Let’s assume it was nine-ten on a board of Jack – King – Five. What about the guy that’s sitting there holding Queen – Nine and he’s ready to semi-bluff with the gut shot? You just announced one of his outs was in your hand! You very likely have now influenced his action and as a result, perhaps cost the guy holding a set of Kings a fair amount of cash. Not a way to make friends at the table and again, a good way to get chat banned or worse if playing online.
Table Talk Summary
In case you missed it, even our first header could be seen as offensive to some. The word “kosher” is a Jewish term and some folks may feel uncomfortable with you using such a word out of context. It’s easy to get carried away with such an emotional game but the key to being a long-term winner is managing your emotions. Table talk is a direct expression and reflection on you as a player so remember that the next time you feel tempted to let the verbal assault fly.
Mind Games in Poker
There is no doubt that poker has changed a lot over the years.
From dingy back rooms in underground clubs to the bright lights of Vegas and the modern glory of online poker as we know it today.
There are a lot of reasons why poker boomed and continued to grow in popularity during the 2000’s and onward. One of those reasons is undoubtedly the boisterous characters that have shaped modern televised poker.
Names like Phil Hellmuth, Tony G, Mike Matusow and Daniel Negreanu instantly come to mind.
If table talk was an art form, these guys might be considered Picasso. Some new-age poker players, however, prefer to sit under their hoodies with headphones covering their ears.
They pay their buy-ins like everyone else, so that’s their choice, but they undoubtedly still have to deal with table talk every day at the poker table.
Like it or not, banter is a part of live poker and that’s not likely to change. Players can either make it a weapon in their arsenal, ignore it altogether or be indifferent towards it.
Poker Table Talk Can Help You Win
One player who certainly uses table talk as a weapon is 2013 WSOP Main Event champion Ryan Reiss.
Riess doesn’t try to tilt his opponents with table talk like some of his contemporaries such as Tony G. Riess instead makes friends with his opponent and uses that to his advantage.
“I feel like something as small as creating conversation with the person on your left or right can really help your game,” Riess says.
“Then when you get into those blind versus blind situations or I’m raising from the button they are probably less likely to three-bet me if I’ve been talking to them and we have had like a friendly conversation or camaraderie going on.”
Prominent Australian pro Jackie Glazier shares a similar sentiment to Riess. For most people it’s not too much of a challenge to simply be nice and treat someone with respect.
“If you make friends with someone at the table, they may then show me their cards if I make a fold on the river to them,” Glazier says.
“I feel like I really get shown a lot more cards by being nice to people at the table and that gives me more information and therefore more of an edge.”
Recent 2013 WSOP Millionaire Maker victor Jonathan Dimmig isn’t so explicit in using the “making-friends” method that Riess and Glazier seem to be utilizing, but he still uses table talk to get an extra edge.
“I definitely use table talk as a strategy sometimes,” Dimmig says. “When you talk to someone and find out how they think, you can really get a feel for what they are doing and then use that to your advantage when making decisions.”
Poker Table Talk as Means of Manipulation
Table talk isn’t just about being nice to your opponents or getting extra information. Sometimes you can simply manipulate a player to make a decision they may not usually make. Or you can even talk yourself into the making the wrong decision.
Table Talk Rules Poker Tournaments
There was great example of the power of table talk back at the $1 million buy-in Big One For One Drop at the 2014 WSOP. Basically, Scott Seiver moved all in with an open-ended straight draw on the turn of a queen-high board with three clubs showing.
Seiver’s opponent, German high roller specialist Tobias Reinkemeier, went into the tank on the turn and started with the banter. At first it seemed like Reinkemeier was trying to use table talk to his advantage by getting some extra information from Seiver.
However, Seiver may have out-talked Reinkemeier and the German’s table talk may have had a negative effect as he seemed to have levelled himself.
Talking for the Good of the Game
There are more reasons than just strategy for table talk. You could also make an argument that table talk is important to the health of the game. Poker should be a fun, inviting place for recreational players.
If someone walks into a poker room for the first time and is berated for their bad play, or is just made to feel uncomfortable at all, they may never play poker again. That’s simply not good for the game.
Poker should be fun. It’s a simple statement but something that seems to have been lost on some players, be they those who berate others they think are not as good as them, or even those that just sit there saying nothing.
“Table talk is just straight up good for poker,” Riess adds. “It’s obviously better than everyone just sitting there like statues, not saying anything.”
Dimmig agrees with Riess.
“Table talk is definitely good for the game as it makes it fun” says Dimmig.
Table Talk Rules Poker Games
“I hated when they brought the no talking during hands rule into the game. I mean having people like Daniel Negreanu talking and having fun at the table is definitely good for the game.”