To Have Or Not To Have Conversations At The Tables

TxScorpion

TxScorpion

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Total posts
112
Chips
0
Hey gang long time since my last post.

Had a session($1/$2 NLHE) the other night where I found myself not being as aggressive once I started having table talk with some of the other players. In the beginning, I wasn't talking to anyone, raising in position and taking down pots with impunity. I got up to about 300 BBs (bought in for 100BBs) and it was like I took my foot off the gas pedal and was just waiting until it was time to cash in for the night. All of a sudden, I noticed that was losing more, talking more and raising less. For example, I had QsAh from middle position, instead of raising, I just limped into the pot and eventually lost the pot to a guy who hit a straight with J9o!! Now had I raised pre flop, would that guy have stayed in the hand? I doubt it. When the session was over, I was back to 100BBs and pissed!

Is there to way to still be social at the tables while still playing aggressive?
 
blakewyte

blakewyte

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Total posts
232
Chips
0
Are you giving them information when you talk? Do you tend to talk more or less when you're in a hand or when you're playing certain cards - strong hand, weak hand, marginal hand etc?

They could be picking up on that and using it against you.

But really it depends. If you're a regular there and have played a couple of times with some of the other players that it's ok to engage in small talk and be friendly and social.

I usually don't at a cash game unless I'm there with a friend and it's usually just us talking (when not in a hand). I only make small talk after a hand when the dealer's shuffling and then dealing cards. Was always told that if you talk too much at the table, you give people information about you and your play.
 
Kenzie 96

Kenzie 96

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
May 21, 2005
Total posts
13,666
Awards
9
US
Chips
125
There is, but, if you can't, don't.
You are there to make money, work.
Your there to relax, have a brew or 3 & enjoy yourself, in other words a recreational player, chat away.
 
etherghost

etherghost

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Total posts
525
Chips
0
I tend to chat once in a while. When I'm in a serious hand I stop. It's good manners to have a conversation. It's not all about making money like a machine. At least that's what I think about poker. It's also partially a social game.
 
Karozi615

Karozi615

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 20, 2012
Total posts
517
Chips
0
talking at the table can't force you to limp with AQ. Limping is bad. limping with small pairs is pretty bad. Limping with AK is bad. But if there was ever a seemingly strong hand that you wanted to protect by raising it would be AQ. You can't justify that limp by saying it was caused by table top. I would rather see you open shove at a live 200nl game with AQ then limp, your results will probably be better.
On another note, if you can't focus and chat with people then simply do not chat with people. Chatting has its benefits however. Many great player (such as Daniel negreanu) can siphon information from opponents with table talk. If you can develop this skill then go for it. If not, you should still be listening adamantly to the table talk, because you can pick up a lot of info. Bad players at brick and mortar casinos will literally talk you through there thought process and discuss hands if things are casual enough.
But like I said, it seems like your trying to justify limping in with AQ. I don't get it, if your a player you should understand you need to bet for protection and value, limping in is just a losing play.
 
chipstacker

chipstacker

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 7, 2013
Total posts
131
Chips
0
If your seeing the same players day in and day out it might be worth it to develop a relationship with them. It might save you some money of someone flops quads or something, they might not bet too much.
 
trolaAa

trolaAa

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Total posts
274
Chips
0
Always respect players like Daniel Negreanu who speak on the table, and yet you can not guess what he have in hand..so i think if you can talk without others understand your hands its ok.
 
TxScorpion

TxScorpion

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Total posts
112
Chips
0
talking at the table can't force you to limp with AQ. Limping is bad. limping with small pairs is pretty bad. Limping with AK is bad. But if there was ever a seemingly strong hand that you wanted to protect by raising it would be AQ. You can't justify that limp by saying it was caused by table top. I would rather see you open shove at a live 200nl game with AQ then limp, your results will probably be better.
On another note, if you can't focus and chat with people then simply do not chat with people. Chatting has its benefits however. Many great player (such as Daniel negreanu) can siphon information from opponents with table talk. If you can develop this skill then go for it. If not, you should still be listening adamantly to the table talk, because you can pick up a lot of info. Bad players at brick and mortar casinos will literally talk you through there thought process and discuss hands if things are casual enough.
But like I said, it seems like your trying to justify limping in with AQ. I don't get it, if your a player you should understand you need to bet for protection and value, limping in is just a losing play.

You're absolutely right. Table talk can't make me open limp with AQ. It was just a bad play where I allowed myself to not stay aggressive throughout the session and I paid dearly for it. I do try to have some conversations at the tables but its normally just minimal chit chat and definitely not when I'm in a hand.
 
R

RickH1983

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Total posts
319
Chips
0
I don't talk at the table until I win a few pots. I find that once I do this it gets people to trust my raises so they fold to mediocre hands. When I get good hands then they start to think I am bluffing. I don't know it seems to work for me.
 
natsgrampy

natsgrampy

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Total posts
4,475
Awards
2
US
Chips
104
I don't generally talk at the tables. Online, I shut the chat off completely, except for private games.

I do however like the table banter that goes on especially in live games. I listen and try to get information from those who are talking. Eventually, one can get good information in an important hand, and hopefully, take advantage of it.
 
SANDYHOOKER KY

SANDYHOOKER KY

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 20, 2010
Total posts
382
Chips
0
When players talk, like the above posts said, you might hear a player say; dang, had open end straight draw and missed, or shoot, i had pocket jacks, flush draw and 52 outs and missed. Right there is a lot of info you can use when you find yourself in a hand with that player. Remember how he played those hands, and you should be able to get a better read on what he has. And btw, don't you set a limit on how much to lose, and when to get up when you have 2 or 3 times your buy in? I see many players triple their bankroll, then lose it all back in a few hands, if i double my buy in, i'm like, it's been real guys, good luck.On a heater you say? Well, the heater will run out of gas eventually. Then the cold creeps in and second best hands take all the profit you made.
 
S

SnizzleKicker

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 6, 2014
Total posts
26
Chips
0
i turn off chat boxes and if i can players avi,s so all players look the same each table looks the same i find it easier that way. I very rarely win tho ha ha ha :)
 
Carl Trooper

Carl Trooper

Degenerate Idiot
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Total posts
3,381
Awards
6
Chips
0
I tend to chat once in a while. When I'm in a serious hand I stop. It's good manners to have a conversation. It's not all about making money like a machine. At least that's what I think about poker. It's also partially a social game.

It is 100% a social game.

You should be able to focus and interact with others while playing. Although I do not like Negreanu as much as I used to... I 100% agree with him in the aspect of no one wants to sit down (or watch on TV) a bunch of mutes with glasses and hoodies on.

Its tedious, uneventful and dull!
 
AlfieAA

AlfieAA

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 17, 2012
Total posts
10,689
Awards
4
Chips
0
Depends who's at the table, if there's some cool interesting funny peeps then I'll have a laugh with them....but if its the new age internet geeks then I would rather put on my headphones and listen to some rocknroll.
 
R

RickH1983

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Total posts
319
Chips
0
Depends who's at the table, if there's some cool interesting funny peeps then I'll have a laugh with them....but if its the new age internet geeks then I would rather put on my headphones and listen to some rocknroll.

I agree...
 
TxScorpion

TxScorpion

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Total posts
112
Chips
0
Had another session last night and learned my lession letting my guard down while chitchating with the table. You guys were right about the information you can pickup when you're either not in a hand or when a hand is over. Guys are damn near like gossiping women when discussing the previous hand. LOL!! Probably the one thing that was kinda unsettling was when a guy tried to limp in with aces! One guy raised from from middle position picking up 2 callers and the guy with aces blasts everybody with a huge reraise!! Everyone folds and the guy turns over the aces and I said "you trying to limp in with aces?!!" And the guy says " I looking at my phone and didn't realize I had aces." I call bullshit sir! Straight bullshit!!
 
T

Titleist1977

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Total posts
22
Chips
0
I do not chat at tables I my say hi but that is about far as i go. I found if u start chatting alot you don"t pay as must attention to playing poker!!! Just my opinion!!!!
 
TxScorpion

TxScorpion

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Total posts
112
Chips
0
I do not chat at tables I my say hi but that is about far as i go. I found if u start chatting alot you don"t pay as must attention to playing poker!!! Just my opinion!!!!

This true but I try not to be a complete dick at the tables either. Enough conversation for other players to say "he's at least sociable at the tables" but I'm not a complete dick either.
 
H

HUSNG Ryan

Heads Up SNG Specialist
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 12, 2013
Total posts
250
Chips
0
I very rarely find chatting +EV. It distracts you from what else is going on and often causes you to make worse decisions. There are some positives in chatting (once in awhile you can tilt a guy), but most of the time you're not really doing anything proactive and you're losing focus for no reason.

If you're bored when playing, add another table or focus more on information going on when you're not in a hand.

I mostly play HU, so it's not as big of a problem.
 
Vhyre

Vhyre

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 30, 2007
Total posts
238
Chips
0
I find that chatting distracts me so I leave it off whenever possible. There always seems to be one mouth at every table trash talking and trying to tilt the others. If I dont see it it cant bother me.
 
playtheman

playtheman

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Total posts
239
Awards
1
Chips
1
I start an argument early on, and have people on my side, and people against me, I then turn chat off.
 
Debi

Debi

Forum Admin
Administrator
Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Total posts
74,639
Awards
20
Chips
1,331
Online - I would rarely chat at all. Live is a different story. I feel like I gain advantages by being friendly on the table - I am taken less seriously. I also lie a lot about hands I fold.

And it makes the game much more enjoyable.
 
TxScorpion

TxScorpion

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Total posts
112
Chips
0
Online - I would rarely chat at all. Live is a different story. I feel like I gain advantages by being friendly on the table - I am taken less seriously. I also lie a lot about hands I fold.

And it makes the game much more enjoyable.

Online, the most I will say is "Good Hand" if I lose or "Thank You" if I'm congratulated. Live, I don't trash talk....PERIOD! I'm not trying to have some guy bum rush me in the parking lot because I took his last $700! Just take $$$ and "W" and get on down the road until next time.
 
TxScorpion

TxScorpion

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Total posts
112
Chips
0
Online - I would rarely chat at all. Live is a different story. I feel like I gain advantages by being friendly on the table - I am taken less seriously. I also lie a lot about hands I fold.

And it makes the game much more enjoyable.

I've noticed that the majority of the games I play online are super quiet. You may get the occasional "WTF?!!" if a guys loses on the river after leading the majority of the hand, but in the words of Dragonfly Jones (from the TV show Martin) it's SIIIIIIIILENCE at the tables.
 
A

aznman08

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Total posts
357
Chips
0
In live games, I pretty much try to keep a friendly attitude when not in a hand. Usually its by keeping up with poker news, real news, sports,etc. I try to limit talking and keep a calm manner when in a poker hand. Course this also took me a while to be comfortable with talking since some players can pick up on tells.
 
Top