Headphones?

[bad beetz]

read this passage from Sklansky's essay:

There is one exception however to my other comments about the image concept. That is that it is very important not to have a "serious" image. One where you make it obvious to the whole table that you are taking the game and the money very seriously. Seeing that, opponents will both tighten up against you and make strategic bluffs (that are likely to work) against you only. A serious image is not the same as a tight image. Those with tight images can still cavalierly toss in their chips without much thought when they do play. They can also get away with more bluffs than the serious player who will be more suspected of contemplating a bluff.

I love to wear headphones at the table, but it give you a "serious" image.

Anybody think it's oK?

[D.J.]

I think this is actually worse than wearing sunglasses, it does definitely give you the serious image. Think about it you are wearing headphones listening to music. What you are saying is that you are there to play poker and make money, you're not there for a good time, you're not there to meet people, you're not there to socialize, if you were how could you do this while listening to your headphones? Your only objective for being there is to win money. At least w/only sunglasses on you can carry on a conversation from time to time but that gives you the serious image somewhat also. This is the image you are portraying whether you want it or not.

-D.J.

[bernie]

one thing about headphones, you cant really get any auditory tells. i like to listen to other conversations at the table to gain insight on others play. with headphones, it makes it harder and more distracting to read players i think...

shades go either way to me. but i look at the play to justify the image. but others may not. i wore shades and had no real difference in action. without shades, im pretty expressionless anyway. jaded from past beats. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

i think many players think that others are watching and adjusting to them more than they actually are. monitor their reactions and draw your own conclusions. dont assume how others will react until they show physical proof. just watch for it...

b

[brad]

funny but i listen to music real low (personal preference) and its funny sometimes people think u cant hear them.

anyway its not true you cant pick up audit. tells.

[bernie]

of course if you keep it low enough...but im sure youve been on tables where you can almost hear the sound from the headphones from across the table...

i know the trick of keepin it low, which is why i watch a players play and how theyre keeping track of the table. basically seeing if the phones ARE distracting him. but it still can lull you into not picking up some subtle tells....

that said, it CAN help get into your own rythym of play, which can benefit one's play to a degree...using it as light background music would be good....

pros and cons..

b

[brad]

also it can help u to ignore people if you want to. heh

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Although I can't imagine very many people who would sit at a game with Sklansky and not know who he is, the last time I was in Vegas I was at Bellagio and saw him playing in the high limit area (I think it was 100/200 stud). The main impression I got was how relaxed his body language was. If you didn't recognize him, you might get the impression that he wasn't really paying attention.

[SilverCar]

For me it sometimes necessary to put on my headphones and listen to some relaxing music to feel myself comfortable. It helps controlling your own emotions and not giving out the tells to the opponents.
Moreover, even if you make the sound pretty loud and you can poorly hear what they say, that allows you to notice more precisely what is going on indeed. You don`t distract your attention from careful observation.
It`s like, you know, blind people can hear and feel touching better than usual people. Or deaf people can read from lips and understand what is happening without knowing what`s the conversatin is about. The other sences sharpen to compensate the lack of some missing one. That`s the way it goes.
My own experience proove it. /forums/images/icons/heart.gif

[bad beetz]

I am sure that the extra concentration I gain from head phones is worth more than any auditory tell I've picked up and used (I can't remember any, if at all), so that's not the question.

[bernie]

maybe you dont know what to listen for....

id still keep the volume low, so i can hear conversations at the table...

b

[bad beetz]

I crank the hell out of the volume, and bob my head. It's mostly rap. I can only imagine what the 60+ year old average table thinks of me (23). Whatever it is, it's bad, I've been losing.

I'm going to stop bringing them. It's just that there's two guys that sometimes play, and one of them hums and the other makes this noise with his mouth. If either of them are doing it, I can't focus at all, I might as well go home. I want to sock the humming guy in the face (even though he's a nice guy and I like him)

[Herb N.]

Any one wearing headphones playing poker is a fool.1st. of all you lose touch with the tone & tells of the game.2nd poker is a game of interaction with people.Just think what your image is to many [easy]players this guy just wants my money..He dont want to listen,or talk to me.Ill play my best against him.least of all you are going to have a hard time getting action.If you sit down with headphones you think you look kool[mayby you do]but to most players you look like an A.H. My guess is you proubly have a hard time breaking even and wonder why? /forums/images/icons/confused.gif I say Have Fun & let them have FUN!

[DeezNuts]

Personal opinion:

You look like a real goober when wearing headphones. I have no real opinion about if they help or hurt your game, although I would guess they hurt. I just usually like to smack these headphone-wearing guys around.

DN

[RollaJ]

"I just usually like to smack these headphone-wearing guys around"
Right there is a good enough reason for someone to wear head phones, it seems to illicit the same response from you as that which would be had if he c/r bluffs you for the pot and then shows everyone how much of a sucker you were. It is making you want to "get him" /forums/images/icons/mad.gif , and this leads you to play less than optimal poker /forums/images/icons/frown.gif

[bad beetz]

I only bust them out when I can't take the guy next to me's humming anymore. better I listen to a CD.

You like cd's? CDs NUTS!!!!!!

[Ray Zee]

sure you give up some earn when you listen to music at the table. thats for sure. same as if you read, or talk to your neighbor while a hand is going on. but do you have to maximize everything you do to the extent it is not as much fun. why not do what makes you happy and still win. if it was all only money you would play 16 hrs. a day 7 days a week and never do anything fun.

[Herb N.]

I love Black Velvet manhattens,But [almost]Never at the poker table.I love music,but I dont have to listen to music at the table.I like this forum and other things that I can do at later times.Like [Ray]stated you should enjoy yourself while playing.I dont believe missing the tone,or mayby,a tell is the worse thing you can do ,but little things do add up.I dont think anyone[me for sure]can play 7-8 hrs.completly focased.I do think you should strive for your maximum .As I posted earlier I believe The worst thing about playing with headphones is your table image.To most players your telling them:dont talk to me I want to listen to my headphones.Now poker is a game of fun.Have fun help other players to have fun.make the game enjoyable for all.And if thier having fun they WILL gamble.They will play longer.If you know what your doing you will beat the pants off them,and they will only remember your fun to play with.If you were a novice and wanted fun would you sit at a game for long or at all if everyone was reading Card Player ,listening to headphones,ect?There is a time and place for everthing.Play online poker with your headphones,play B&M and take part of player interaction.

[PEN]

Headphones can be used to your advantage. When your sitting next to players quietly discussing strategy, put the phones on and keep the volume off. They might speak louder thinking you can't hear. Soon you'll know exactly how they play.

[SittingBull]

while playing poker is offset by the negatives. And Y not "smell the roses" sometimes?? LOL!
/forums/images/icons/mad.gif Unfortunately,at my casino,NO headphones are allowed! Dunno Y!

Happy New Year and happy pokering,
Sitting Bull