Fish

[thomastem]

What keeps fish coming back when they consistantly lose money? This probably includes all limits but in case there are differences let's talk specifically about small stakes.

I've found that your typical fish does it for entertainment, a diversion from the stresses of day-to-day life. Like going to a bar, movie, night on the town, or if you're a lady a shopping spree.

I believe the recent explosion has people diverting their entertainment budget to poker sites, it's a new diversion, a change of pace.

Now if this makes sense and if we believe "knowing your enemy" is important don't we want to do everything in our power to entertain them while we take their money? Wouldn't it be ideal to have fish looking for us when they come online or walk into a B&M?

Now that said let's for a second put you in the shoes of the fish. What would entertain you more, those that made you laugh or those with no sense of humor yelling at the the humorous calling them spammers?

If you don't believe this is important keep driving the fish away they may come to my table, and that would make my Pelican happy.

[Joe Tall]

Nice post but repost it in the News, Views column and you'll get more responses. Plus, it won't slip in to oblivian as fast as it will here.

Tho, this forum tries to reserve it self to hand analysis.

Thanks,
JT

[BigEndian]

I've seen a rash of people berating bad play of others on the tables recently. I'm still looking for a good, non-obvious line to tell these dip-wads to stfu.

- Groove

[thomastem]

[ QUOTE ]
I've seen a rash of people berating bad play of others on the tables recently. I'm still looking for a good, non-obvious line to tell these dip-wads to stfu.

- Groove

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't always work but a quote like, "Wow you out played me that hand" or "What a play I never put you on those 2 cards", before they get a chance to speak can stop them before they start. If they ask me if I'm nuts I ask them if they've seen my Rooster.

[JTrout]

I like to say, "They should have a table for experts only." I, too, would like something better.
.
Nice post thomas

[Homer]

Whenever someone berates my play I tell them that I thought I was going to win because I had a "royal sampler". Either they get the Simpsons reference and calm down or think I'm smoking crack and go on tilt.

It's a win-win situation.

-- Homer

[thomastem]

[ QUOTE ]
Whenever someone berates my play I tell them that I thought I was going to win because I had a "royal sampler". Either they get the Simpsons reference and calm down or think I'm smoking crack and go on tilt.

It's a win-win situation.

-- Homer

[/ QUOTE ]

Homer you touched on a point or call it icing on the cake. If you are able to laugh it is very hard for tilt to take control of you. Sorry I didn't mention this originally but my possum reminded me when I saw Homer's post. For me, nothing keeps tilt away better than a belly laugh.

[MRBAA]

In casinos it's certainly true that many players are there to have a good time. I've heard them say how great this is because it takes longer to lose their money. Furthermore, at low stakes their approach is in no way irrational. Spending a couple of hundred bucks to have fun at the casino (and sometimes winning) is within the budget for many people. In fact, their approach is only a little different than mine. I'm strictly a recreational player -- if I took the hours I put into poker and spent them working, my hourly rate would be 10 times (or more) what I make playing cards. The reason I play seriously is because for me the enjoyment of the game is in playing well, learning and winning. I try to treat club or casino games like a home game -- I play my best, concentrate, don't make a lot of small talk, but do make an effort to be civil, nice and certainly not get mad about suckouts. Anyone who wants to put their money on the line deserves to win when the cards fall their way -- it's very frustrating (see my post about having my KK taken down by Q-10), but it's every bit as much a part of the game as the best hand holding up and winning. I think it's more enjoyable to play at stakes where the money hurts a little. But if 4-8 or 5-10 hurts so much you can't control your anger, then move down. Bad behavior is more understandable to me at 10-20 and above, where you have players trying to earn a living. It's dumber for those players though, as it can cost them money when they drive recreational players away.

[tpir90036]

it seems like it's been getting worse lately. i see at least one party table per day where someone is going off about how ridiculous it is that they aren't winning blah blah blah. i try not to say anything beacuse i don't know of a tactful way to say "if you keep it up the bad players will leave."

i had to say something yesterday though when a guy berated me for drawing (and hitting) to my open-ended nut straight getting around 7:1 on my call. i forget exactly what i said....but it wasn't nice.

[thomastem]

[ QUOTE ]
it seems like it's been getting worse lately. i see at least one party table per day where someone is going off about how ridiculous it is that they aren't winning blah blah blah. i try not to say anything beacuse i don't know of a tactful way to say "if you keep it up the bad players will leave."

i had to say something yesterday though when a guy berated me for drawing (and hitting) to my open-ended nut straight getting around 7:1 on my call. i forget exactly what i said....but it wasn't nice.

[/ QUOTE ]

People like this ruin the game for fish. It is like when Phil Helmuth berates people for getting lucky or even for telling a joke when he is trying to think. If I ever play at a table with Helmuth we will have a barnyard discussion. /images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Joe Tall]

[ QUOTE ]
What keeps fish coming back when they consistantly lose money?

[/ QUOTE ]

The like to gamble or have a gambling problem.

[ QUOTE ]
if you're a lady a shopping spree.

[/ QUOTE ]

You should keep you sexist comments to yourself. Give me 10K and send me into Best Buy and Men's Warehouse and I'd be happy as a clam.

[ QUOTE ]
I believe the recent explosion has people diverting their entertainment budget to poker sites, it's a new diversion, a change of pace.

[/ QUOTE ]

With the fish being entertained on TV by it, then realizing that then can become a part of this by themselves, I agree.

[ QUOTE ]
Now if this makes sense and if we believe "knowing your enemy" is important don't we want to do everything in our power to entertain them while we take their money? Wouldn't it be ideal to have fish looking for us when they come online or walk into a B&M?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is exactly what I try to do. I actually had a poor player take a table to my table at Foxwoods, solely beacuse I had the table laughing at my horror-drunk-drug-induced-college stories and when he sat down he said, "Hey, tall guy, I played with you once and had a great time then, do you mind if I join you now?" And I said, "sit right down, in fact I'll buy you a drink." (the drinks are free).

[ QUOTE ]
What would entertain you more, those that made you laugh or those with no sense of humor yelling at the the humorous calling them spammers?

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate those players who yell at the others, I try to say quick quibs to keep the subject light, but some are so nasty the change the whole feel of the game. However, I never change tables because these players who yell are the ones who call river check-raises on a 4-flush board!

Nice post tho,
Joe Tall

[tiltboy]

[ QUOTE ]
i had to say something yesterday though when a guy berated me for drawing (and hitting) to my open-ended nut straight getting around 7:1 on my call. i forget exactly what i said....but it wasn't nice.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think taking the high road here is the better path in the long run, IMO, although believe me I know how good it feels to let the beraters have a taste of their own medicine once in a while.

You can try agreeing with them: "Boy, I don't know what came over me to make that call. It must be all the codiene I drank before I sat down."

You can try some self-depreciation: "I'm just learning the game so you can probably expect me to make more mistakes like that."

My fav -
You can try humor here: "Can you be quiet for a second? I'm trying to stack your chips"