Being a "good sport" or "gentleman" about the game.

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roreyn02

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Its a tough thing isn't it? Especially when your putting real money on the line. You have to fight to keep your money safe, and you got to fight to break everyone else's money loose from their hands.
I guess I myself am a gentleman about the game, im really not out to get anyone or harm anyone.
The other day playing online someone raised me to knock me out of the game. He bet my whole stack to put me all in. It was like my second hour playing the game ever in my life. So what I did was I called his raise! I really wish I had memorised the hand better... But I remember I had a Q-10 and this hand totally missed on the flop. Why the hell did I call? I did have a lot of faith in the turn and the river thats why. When I called our cards got revealed, he had a pair of nines-OMG!
But a ten popped out on the board-whew!...
So after this happened hes all "You ***king moron you called me on a Q-10? You idiot you *blankity blankity blank*". I kinda just sat out and listened to it all. Another player who just joined tried to calm him saying "come on man it was only a $1.50...". I try to be a gentleman about it all the way. Not going to sit there and be like "hahaha loser I got your money". I dont feel like theres a need to rub it in when I win and they lose. Even if there being an a-hole to me. Though... I wasnt able to make some kind of gesture like "good hand" or anything either because someone in that mood could take something like that as an insult. I chose to just remain silent... but silence can be an insult too in a way. How do you be a gentleman in that situation?
Maybe this guy isn't a good poker player either? Is someone who gets like that likely an amatuer themselves? I guess theres no reason being a good player means your going to be a gentleman about it. My dad who is a chess player always told me about this chess champion who was a serious jerk. He said he'll beat just about anyone at the game, but when he wins hes going to be cruel and brutal about it. He plays to win, and to defeat his opponents, and utterly destroy their ego. And he is NOT going to shake your hand and say good game about it. In spite of this "poor sportsmanship" he is an awesome player.
Im guessing if I do get good at the game theres going to be a-hole's at each level right?? Even if I start playing with the pros. Being good at the game won't mean that you have to be a gentleman about it. Though, I know I always will be. Even if I end up losing like 40 thousand or so. I wouldnt bring 40k to the game if I couldnt afford to lose it.
 
fubarcdn

fubarcdn

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Welcome to online poker.
That tirade that you heard is mild as opposed to some that you will witness pretty much every day and even on freerolls so either get used to it or turn off the chat.
You will get death threats, people saying that they will do unspeakable things to your mama, and even in rare cases threats to bomb your country.
I usually just turn the chat off because most of it is like that.
If you choose to leave it on and the that is very offensive you can report it to the poker site and that person will be warned at the least and have their chat revoked if it is really offensive.
Most poker sites are dedicated to ensure that your poker experience is enjoyable win or lose.
 
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bigjay2007

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Gentlemen

You have to remember that people of all ages, nationalities, drunk, stoned, and everything in between are at the tables. Some are just trying to get under your skin while others are down right nasty. I would turn off the chat if it bothers you or just ignore most of the Bullshit that these guys get on with.
 
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roreyn02

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Haha. Well. I actually got nerves of steel when it comes to that kind of stuff. You can threaten to bomb my country or do stuff to my momma but ill just sit back and let it go from one ear out the other. I dont want to turn off chat. If someone wants to say something to me then say it. But don't expect me to engage you. Im just wondering what the best way would be to remain a gentleman in situations like that... So far just being silent and not engaging is what I do... but as anyone whose in a relationship has probably experienced, silence is not always the answer because silence DOES communicate resentment. I guess I wished there is a way that I could let them know I hear what they say, and not make some "smart" comment to piss them off worse.
And as ive said... im pretty sure that being a gentleman is not a requirment even at the professional level. Im one who would-if I ever get into that level of play-shake your hand and say "nice hand" if you grab my couple thousand dollar stack of chips. Though you will see lots of emotion before that, a big huge exhale, a hand over my face and some flushing. But in the end, we were all playing a high stakes game, we are merely rivals not enemies.
I guess that there are people that you shouldn't hold your hand out to and say "nice hand" though.... Especially if they are going to bite it off. You can try to be a gentleman, but im guessing it takes two?
 
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avjul66

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That´s online poker where a coward turns to a brave warrior
From behind a computer keyboard using a username/alias everybody can be arrogant, defiant, fearless without the danger of having to bear the cost
Those kind of people still think that poker is the cowboys game in the movies
But as always the intelligence, the superior intellect will win
For the poker tables getting them a little bit by little bit with most of their Money
 
theRaven68

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good sport or gentleman, and i think that being a sportsman is crucial behavior, although in winning or losing.
dont disrespect your opponent and be nice in comments, thats the point
 
MrPokerVerse

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There is really nothing to gain what so ever in being a poor sport. You bring up a bad call from someone you only educating them to make better calls, You come off looking a tool for blowing up. Putting yourself in a negative frame of mind will not help you one bit at the poker table.
 
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joe777

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There where lots of whiners in online poker.You must learn to get use to it.

If the thing keep on bugging you,you could just always tick on mute the chatbox.
 
sandund

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Being a true gentleman seems like a thing of the past. Anyway, I gues that bad beat (very usual thing, actually every few minute on online poker) can easily lead to a player going on tilt. As time went on bad beats in online poker are currently causing more trouble, people are becoming more and more upset, ... or angry, or frustrated.
 
akaRobbo

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If I'm in a bad mood or tilted and someone does something like what you did, I'll often berate them and mouth off at them. Sorry but you'll have to deal with it quite a lot. Hands like the one you explained are annoying as hell.
 
newbie in training

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i just say good game or stay silent most of the time but i will admit when i do get knocjed out i get mad sometimes by the bad play
 
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dannywho

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The amount of times things happening like op mentioned may cause people to blow up. I'm quite calm but 4-5 suck outs bad beats in a row and I'm swearing at the computer especially if it someone getting it in with bottom pair and hitting on the river. Happens all the time to me, I try to stay calm about it but I can't sometimes
 
TeUnit

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there are a lot of geniuses out there that will call 58 blinds with k8o then berate you when you get it in with JJ

you just never know, i know a poker coach that berates regs when they make the correct play just to mess with them
 
JPoling

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I hear man. Some idiot was berating me and all these players at a 2.20 game so I sharkscoped him and seen he his like -$2.5K and avg stake was $2.48 so I politley told him you have no room to degrade other players with stats like that and he went AWOL.
 
REALITYPOKER

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Most things don't jolt me when playing. I have seen several things and have a complete understanding of variance. If it's a situation in poker that has happened I have probably seen it and nothing really surprises anymore. I just do my best not to "Tap The Tank"(There is nothing good to come out of it in the long run). I think the best comment if I am having a bad downswing you will see from my type in chat is: WTF? and LOL, then I replay the hand in my head and see where I can try to improve the next time. But other than that I usually keep it calm and keep on moving, there is always another game that can loaded up online. I would suggest if chat gets to ya, just mute it, and make your life a lot more simple.
 
angelluv725

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IMHO..When a person belittles a person, it's actually that person who looks bad. Best wishes in your games.:)

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sandund

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there are a lot of geniuses out there that will call 58 blinds with k8o then berate you when you get it in with JJ

you just never know, i know a poker coach that berates regs when they make the correct play just to mess with them
Online TH poker`s softwere just love to eat good hands with bad hands. :D
 
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rocksolid124

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I used to have the WORST time maintaining professionalism at the online poker tables. Like, I'd go off on people even when I played bad lol. But I found I was just in such a bad mood every day, and it was taking its toll on me mentally and physically.

When I used to play this game for most of my expenses to be paid back in the pre-BF days, I made it a point finally to truly act like a professional at the tables. Congratulate people on their made hands, even if they played poorly. Be nice. Be cordial. In turn, I felt better about life in general and didn't feel like a pathetic human being. Trolling is not healthy.
 
BigJamo

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Nice read & Yeah, I found that talking outta place has got me in hot water.
I just play now & as said before ... Silence is Golden
 
10058765

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In poker it's like in any sport or other game.
There are players in all kind of levels, from terribly bad to top-performers.
It doesn't matter tho because I suppose at every level people try to do the best they can.
Why berate someone for making mistakes, knowing they don't have the intention to make those mistakes.
Accepting people the way they are, making mistakes or not, already shows good sportmanship.
Now, if someone berates you, how to react ? Simple...don't, because whatever you do, reacting or keeping silent, nothing will work to change that player's mind, so why consider wasting time to react ?

Besides,most players who berate or belittle other players for the way they played their hand are not good players themselves.
They might be superior if it comes to the math involved, know alot about strategy, be experts in interpreting stats, know all about push/call/fold ranges, but they lack one important aspect of the game...
They forget they play other people with other thoughts and skills....
In their opinion, if they wouldn't call with Q10o or J3o or whatever, nobody should....
I'm not going to debate if calling with these hands is good or not, because it doesn't matter.
What matters , is that people will call with these hands and any other hand, all day and all night.
And it's not in our control what people are going to call us with.
If we push we give up on control....we can't control what other players are gonna do, nor can we control what cards will fall on flop,turn and river.
We can't control the outcome.
What we CAN control tho, is the way we react to this outcome.
Now, if your state of mind depends on an uncontrollable outcome, you're having a mental leak in your game and berating other people is not gonna plug that leak.

Instead of screaming something like Stupid fish, how could you ever call with that ? , better ask yourself Why do they call with that ? What's the reason behind it ?

Bad player ? Metagame? Stacksize?

Don't berate, don't whine,don't tilt....instead THINK....it'll make you a better player.

As far as good sportmanship goes....don't berate other people and don't react if they berate you....it's a waste of time and energy and it'll hurt you mentally.
So just accept the people and their actions as they are (if they act with good intensions ofc) and in poker, try to gain from what you get to know about your opponents
 
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