Emotional Play

Playing the emotion card is not a new strategy to poker. Putting your opponent off balance is a basic part of any poker game. The psychology used in the game is often a bigger part of the hand than the cards themselves. Making another player bet or call on bad cards can kill a chip stack faster than pocket aces. Most people have certain amount of pride and when called out or insulted , they will play with a high card or chase a flush or straight without thinking of the repercussions. In some circles this is considered bad manners and by using this method, you can easily make enemies at a table. Rarely have I seen a player use this strategy and make it all the way. Somewhere down the road a better hand lays in wait and strikes when you have gotten too cocky for the cards.

The similar attack of table chat works as well. Striking up conversations and drawing other players into them also catches some off guard. Simple distractions that take an opponents mind off the board for just a moment can be very expensive. And no one can over look the sex factor. A pretty face or a carefree flirt from the opposite sex is death to a card game. Not only does it make players lose there focus but also incline s some players to “take it easy” on nice smile. Be aware, more times than not that smile will turn to a vampire’s grin when the opportunity presents itself.

At real table games, it is more controlled, insults are not permitted and talk between players is limited but in on line poker, it is a free for all. Most sites block cursing, to a degree, and many do not allow any language other than English to be spoken. It is here in the on line rooms that you find the loud mouths that talk trash to everyone. Chat abuse can be reported on poker sites to support but having the problem solved and solved quickly is not normally seen. However, some players do lose their chat privileges for a period of time, wow that helps. The easiest method to stop this is do not use the chat options. What real purpose do they serve anyway? The constant “NH”, that’s nice hand to those they play in caves, is out of control. Almost every hand some one feels obligated to say it even if ace high wins. Someone tell me please what is so nice about winning ace high? OK, I admit any win is a good win but not every hand is a NH. Sometimes it is just a hand that happen to win the pot.

There are many different ways to put a player on tilt or get them emotional and sharks and season vets alike know you to do it. If you can get another player thinking of anything but the cards in front of him, you have the advantage. It’s ok to be polite and even hold conversations during games but remember, you are playing cards for your money and everyone at that table wants it. That is, after all, why they are there. Poker is more than the cards you’re dealt, it has been for some time a psychological chess match, especially in heads up competition. If you’re new to the game, site, or table and don’t know the players you’re sitting with, keep the table chat to a minimum, and don’t take anything said to you or about personally. Even if it is a good thing. Play your best game with the cards you are dealt and folding is not bad thing.