table talk

[AaronBrown]

Effective table talk is more about listening to other people than what you say. A guy who broadcasts opinions without looking anyone in the eye just gets tuned out. But if you pay attention, a slight expression change or mild comment aimed properly can make a big difference.

You also have to keep it unpredictable. If you never say anything that surprises anyone, there's no point in listening. Even if you decide to go with nasty, make sure to mix in enough complements or friendly comments so it seems real; similarly, even a really nice guy has to get assertive sometimes.

It's harder than it looks to project a useful table image. You can try to adopt a personality, or mimic a pro, but you'll look like that's what you're doing. That won't help your game.