Proper professional attitude at the tables?

I only play live about once a week, if that. Most of my time is spent online. However I'm kinda perplexed as how to display a "professional attitude" at live tables, especially now that I've moved up to 6 12 and "things" get noticed (sometimes). Here's an example. Couple weeks ago I 3 bet preflop a guy (happened to be an off duty floorman) with 99. I wind up losing the hand (I flopped a set, raised him on the turn, was 3 bet by the KTs gutshot who called 3 cold in the SB... no comments) and mucked without showing on the river. He says "AA?" and I mutter I had a set, and he says "Jacks?" (which turned) and I mutter nines, and I kinda saw the wheels turn in his head. I know this was the wrong thing to do - but I don't know what I should have said. I mean I don't want to be a smartass and say something like "the 2nd best hand", but I guess I don't know the "right" answer to a question like that. Any suggestions? I mean I know enough not to talk "shop" about outs and odds etc at the table but that sorta thing is tough for me - and hell, I draw enough attention to myself being the only guy under 30 most of the time.

Alot of players feel a 3 bet should be by big cards only, I will 3 bet it to get isolation to get others to fold. He probably was thinking that a 3 bet was a bad move. Only wrong if you couldn't move anyone and there was more than 1 player already in for 2 bets. Otherwise he doesn't understand the strategy and sticks to a simple logic of the game. If you didn't show you probably don't want to let him know you had a set, just muck and say that's a good hand.

You are under no obligation to answer his question. Next time someone asks you what you had just glance at them and smile. They won't ask again.

Noone has any right to see a mucked hand unless there is suspicion of collusion.

When they ask "AA?" or "draw?" (or anything else specific) I always say "Nope." (even if they're right)


When they ask "What did you have?" I always say "Not enough"

just tell him you missed.....nothing more...

aww...i missed... no elaboration... your not obligated to say anything anyways...


but there is a key here....listen to how he answers his own question....hes giving you info on how he may play.. listen to his tone and such...


something to watch for...


just dont berate the players for their play...


b

ditto what bernie said. listen to what he put you on. be amused at how often they are wrong. dont ever show. if they ask, say 'oh, i dont remember' (you should forget the hand for the time being anyways). that kindd of throws them off.

my answer:


"The losing hand"


THey usually get the point.

if it makes you uncomfortable one easy thing to say is just say 'i dont remember'.


it kind of shift the burden of politeness onto him.


(if you just say nothing then you may feel you are being impolite, etc., but once you tell him you dont remember then youve taken the politeness 'high ground')


brad

I sometimes will say politely that it is my policy not to discuss hands at the table, and leave it at that.

Actually in virtually every casino you can ask to see any hand that called on the river this is especially the case in low limit games.

"Actually in virtually every casino you can ask to see any hand that called on the river this is especially the case in low limit games".


True if the hand has not been mucked.


But Robert said "No one has any right to see a MUCKED HAND unless there is suspicion of collusion".


This happened well after the hand was mucked.


KC50

ya should lie. figure out helpful lies for situations before playing. nothing unethical or unprofessional about this when guys and gals asks what ya had.

Questions like this come up all the time, and can be difficult to always answer properly and courteously without giving away proprietary information to the opposition.


Mason's suggestion is excellent, and I have employed it numerous times. I am, however, considering a new stock response to mildly annoying questions of this sort. My new response will be always to politely state that I had four deuces.

Tell them you had garbage, and that you misread the flop.


Stu

Maintaining a professional attitude has nothing to do with whether or not you disclose info about your hand when asked. If you don't minde telling him what you ha they tell him. If you do mind then say politely i'd rather not say.


Maintaining a pro attitude comes into play when your getting beat up(running bad) that you don't throw your cards. Or insult players about how stupid they were to chase you this sort of thing. So basically what i'm saying is having the ability to keep your cool in some frustrating situations.

"I don't like to say" is an OK response.


He's fishing (even tho he's a fish) and you should not help him out.


Silence is just kind of rude and will have him playing better against you.


Mike N

I like to use a line right out of the movie rounders and say "Im sorry John, I don't remember"