Trash talking

Live Poker / Marcus Bateman / 20 May 2010 / Leave a Comment

Mike Matusow an annoying but skilled trash talker

Keeping your head when confronted with trash talk at the tables is essential in ensuring long term profits.

We all know about the guy at the table who always seems to have a harsh word to say during a hand. Many players have taken this to a fine art, able to wind up and tilt even the most battle hardened grinder, and as a result, being able to deal with these players is crucial if you are trying to adapt to the live game. Keeping your head when confronted with talk at the tables is essential in ensuring long term profits.

Trash talkers can be broadly divided into two key categories - bullies and skilled players. Just like in life, some people get their kicks out of making people feel bad, and choose to use the poker table as an excuse to bully people. The good news is that these players are usually very weak, and although they may get their kicks out of making you feel bad, you get all of their money.

The second category of player is much trickier. There are numerous live players who are extremely skilled as using their mouth as a weapon in finding out as much information as possible, and if you are inexperienced in dealing with them they can rip you to pieces if you start to respond. These players have learnt a whole host of different ways to manipulate people's mental state, and are a very dangerous proposition if you are inexperienced in the verbal warfare that starts at the live poker table.

The best and simplest advice when confronted with a skilled trash talker is to simply not respond. Although it feels very inhuman, completely ignoring people effectively cuts off their main route of attack. Despite this, good trash talkers have a knack of getting under your skin even if you stop responding through just observing your manner and movements, and staying mentally stable is the key point in dealing with these players.

All the best poker players are masters of staying calm and composed in the face of everything the game throws at them. No where is this more true than dealing with rude and obnoxious players. In a game as deeply immersed in psychology as poker, you will always see the nastier side of players, but keeping your head and staying calm is fundamental to long term success.

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