Is there anything more annoying for a poker player than the slow roll? Not much, but I can tell you that in the last two tournments I played in, there were two different jerks at the tables and, unfortunately, they were both at MY tables. Phooey.
Jerk #1 was in the early tournament. He was just simply rude and sarcastic all the time. One time he flopped a set and when the hand was over a newer player said, "Nice trips". Jerk #1 had to make sure that the newer player was berated for not knowing the difference between a set and trips. I have told players the difference also, but I like to think I was nicer about it than this guy, who said something like, "Maybe you should go back to your poker books and start over."
Jerk #1 was exactly that - a jerk - during the entire tournament and I was super annoyed that he took third place, but glad he didn't make any real money. After he left the room, the player who knocked him out was congratulated wholeheartedly by the other player. The dealer indicated to the poker room manager that there had been many complaints by many players about Jerk #1. He told anyone within ear shot that if we had future problems with Jerk #1 that we should let him know and he would take care of it.
Jerk #2 was in the second tournament. The player in Seat 1 won a hand from him and he began to berate Seat 1's play. Seat 1 tried to defend himself in what I thought was a friendly manner but Jerk #2 was having none of it and after a couple of back-and-forth exchanges, Jerk #2 said the "f" word. Seat 1 indicated that he did not appreciate that, at which point Jerk #2 used the word again. The dealer then got involved and fireworks ensued. The floor finally had to be called over. Jerk #2 then tried to defend his use of the word and the floor would have none of that either. Jerk #2 was told to shut up or get out. To his credit, he was well behaved for the rest of the tournament. However, the episode was annoying.
Why do people have to behave this way? I can understand someone getting frustrated about the outcome of a hand because we have all been there, but I see no reason to berate other players at any time. Good manners are always important, but in a social game like poker, bad manners should never be tolerated. Just wanted to get this off my chest!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Soft Playing is Cheating: Play Hard or Don't Play
The title of this blog was borrowed from Chapter 42 of Daniel Negreanu's book, "Hold'em Wisdom for All Players". Some of my friends and I have been discussing "soft playing" lately, so I would like to quote some of Daniel's "wisdom". I will say that I agree with it.
"What I'm about to say may surprise you. You might be a cheater and not even know it.
If you are in a poker game for money and are taking it easy on one of your buddies, you are cheating yourself, your friend, and every other poker player in the game. I realize that's a bold statement, but it's absolutely true.
In the poker world, we have a term for this type of play. It's called soft playing. When two friends, spouses, relatives or flat-out cheaters don't bet against each other, they're soft playing.
Soft playing destroys the integrity of the game of poker and it's wrong, dead wrong. [Bold and italics are mine.]
Poker is not a team sport. It's every man for himself. It's perfectly okay to root for your buddies and hope they do well, but when it's time to play the game, you have to give it your all.
. . . [and] for fairness to prevail, you have to play hard against everyone at the table. That includes Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Betty and Little Timmy. I mean, really, if you can't check-raise your own mother, what kind of player are you anyway?
Soft playing is, more often than not, totally innocent. But you need to be aware that there are snakes out there . . . . "
Thanks, Daniel. And having said all that, I still admit that I was wrong for betting into my friend Phil when I had a made straight flush on the river and was definitely going to get paid high hand money. I just got caught up in the moment.
On the whole, however, I agree with everything Daniel Negreanu said in Chapter 42 and this book in general is a great addition to anyone's poker library.
"What I'm about to say may surprise you. You might be a cheater and not even know it.
If you are in a poker game for money and are taking it easy on one of your buddies, you are cheating yourself, your friend, and every other poker player in the game. I realize that's a bold statement, but it's absolutely true.
In the poker world, we have a term for this type of play. It's called soft playing. When two friends, spouses, relatives or flat-out cheaters don't bet against each other, they're soft playing.
Soft playing destroys the integrity of the game of poker and it's wrong, dead wrong. [Bold and italics are mine.]
Poker is not a team sport. It's every man for himself. It's perfectly okay to root for your buddies and hope they do well, but when it's time to play the game, you have to give it your all.
. . . [and] for fairness to prevail, you have to play hard against everyone at the table. That includes Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Betty and Little Timmy. I mean, really, if you can't check-raise your own mother, what kind of player are you anyway?
Soft playing is, more often than not, totally innocent. But you need to be aware that there are snakes out there . . . . "
Thanks, Daniel. And having said all that, I still admit that I was wrong for betting into my friend Phil when I had a made straight flush on the river and was definitely going to get paid high hand money. I just got caught up in the moment.
On the whole, however, I agree with everything Daniel Negreanu said in Chapter 42 and this book in general is a great addition to anyone's poker library.
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