Advice On How To Keep Party Tables "Happy"

I am quite new to poker and I have read some books, lurked here for awhile, and have begun to post here and there. I have played on a few of the sites (all at $.50/1 level) but have had the most financial success at Party Poker tables where there are at least a few loose and semi-loose passive players, a little bit of chat, and not a lot of intensity or bad mouthing of other players poker "skills". It can take some time to find these "good" tables.

Often when I do find a "good" table a player happens along, that perhaps suffers a "bad beat" to T5s (sometimes I don't even know what triggers one of these guys) or some such hand and begins a tirade against the offending player and sometimes anyone else who does meet his "standard" of play. This drives the fish away in droves and soon I am at a table of angry TAGs that want to take every last dime off of "big-mouth" and I end up in the cross-fire.

My question to more experienced players is what is the best thing to do when I am at a "good" table and someone starts such a tirade??

Do I:

1. Keep silent??
2. Start making jokes at my own expense? Me <----- fish
3. Flame the guy?
4. Try to become the object of his venom?
5. Just leave?
6. A strategy I haven't thought of??

A little advice here is appreciated. Thanks.

[Paxosmotic]

Either 1 or 3. I always love egging a coach on by talking about how you've got to be in it to win it or how no one ever won a hand they folded. Really depends on how funny I'm feeling. If I'm just grinding it out, probably 1, because I can't be bothered. But if I'm just living it up, then 3. It will frequently put them on tilt, and if it's like the O/8 SNG I played in last night, it'll have them staying well after they run out of chips to watch you bust. Anything I can do to shorten a table coach's life by upping their blood pressure is always a good thing.

Are you playing poker for money or the social aspects? This is one of THE best things that can happen at any table you sit down at. The fish dont leave? They fight back, suddenly your whole table dynamic is changed and you have usually 2-3 people playing emotional poker in an attempt to 'beat' the others and 'prove' themselves.

Sit tight and take down the huge pots that their LAGGy play will allow you to. And continue to provoke them but dont actually get caught up in it yourself if possible.

[ QUOTE ]
Are you playing poker for money or the social aspects? This is one of THE best things that can happen at any table you sit down at. The fish dont leave? They fight back, suddenly your whole table dynamic is changed and you have usually 2-3 people playing emotional poker in an attempt to 'beat' the others and 'prove' themselves.

Sit tight and take down the huge pots that their LAGGy play will allow you to. And continue to provoke them but dont actually get caught up in it yourself if possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you're wrong, many players will just find the atmosphere to be unpleasant when any fighting is going on and leave. Besides, I don't need a 70% VPIP player(the type the jerks usually insult) to be on tilt, he's bad enough already on his own.

[RatFink]

I usually don't chat at all. But if someone is riding hard on a target of my affection, I may say something like "Hey <insert target screenname>, don't let him put you on tilt. Just play your game" Makes him feel like more of a poker player, and sends a subtle message to the derider that he is an idiot.

[MrWookie47]

[ QUOTE ]
I usually don't chat at all. But if someone is riding hard on a target of my affection, I may say something like "Hey <insert target screenname>, don't let him put you on tilt. Just play your game" Makes him feel like more of a poker player, and sends a subtle message to the derider that he is an idiot.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is actually a very, very good way of dealing with the problem.

[Wetdog]

I usually say "pokur iz ezy" or "I had odd pots" or "hey harv you passed enough chips to me" . But that's at the 2+2 tables.

Otherwise I tell them that lesson day is tuesday or thursday if that day happens to be tuesday. If they're steaming because someone who is 8 tabling takes too long I tell them that so and so is checking with jesus in the fridge and will be right back.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Are you playing poker for money or the social aspects? This is one of THE best things that can happen at any table you sit down at. The fish dont leave? They fight back, suddenly your whole table dynamic is changed and you have usually 2-3 people playing emotional poker in an attempt to 'beat' the others and 'prove' themselves.

Sit tight and take down the huge pots that their LAGGy play will allow you to. And continue to provoke them but dont actually get caught up in it yourself if possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you're wrong, many players will just find the atmosphere to be unpleasant when any fighting is going on and leave. Besides, I don't need a 70% VPIP player(the type the jerks usually insult) to be on tilt, he's bad enough already on his own.

[/ QUOTE ]

aha thanks for the honesty. actually just realised i probably think like this because most games i aim for have 4 people, at most 6. the situation could be different FR where those extra 4 donks are where your money is coming from. =/

[Fantam]

I usually compliment the "fish" on his good hand, and brave play in staying with his draw. [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

I dont like to see players being abused, and I find that being pleasant to the victims sometimes seems to encourage them to ignore the flamer.

This also may have the effect of deflecting the angry player's attention to me, which I dont mind.

I also compliment the fish or flame the TAG.