How important is it to be social at live poker table?

yogo9 · Nov 2, 2023

for me poker is 1/2 competition and 1/2 a social game, so I enjoy talking and being social.
I think if you're a fun player at the table, you're more likely to get action on the hands you play. boring tables suck, so what do you think?

LaNimmer · Nov 2, 2023

If I am playing in a live home based game I am very social as these games are social events. A the casino, friendly hello when I sit down and a "nice hand" once in awhile. And a thanks and good luck when I stand up.

amonlima · Nov 2, 2023

This is most important in live poker, you can get information about your opponents, and maintain a pleasant environment.

Sopt · Nov 2, 2023

Strictly from poker perspective? Completely unimportant. You can be social all you want, you won't get reads from good poker players, if anything you'll give them tells about yourself. And don't kid yourself with "oh if I talk much they will think I'm bad at poker and play/call more lose against me", I don't believe there is a single person who won't change a tone of their voice when they are nervous, be with good hand, bluffing ect.. If you talk you will give tells sooner than later. Objectively speaking, it's more profitable to hide behind your mask and observe the field.

From overall fun perspective. It's good to have some kind of conversation going on live tables. It makes for more fun game and generally no one want's to sit next to a silent knob, who now and then throws the chips on the table. Online, who really cares? I don't think I ever had good conversations on online tables. People say nh or curse you at best and that's it. I personally just close the chat all together.

amonlima · Nov 2, 2023

Sopt said:
Strictly from poker perspective? Completely unimportant. You can be social all you want, you won't get reads from good poker players, if anything you'll give them tells about yourself. And don't kid yourself with "oh if I talk much they will think I'm bad at poker and play/call more lose against me", I don't believe there is a single person who won't change a tone of their voice when they are nervous, be with good hand, bluffing ect.. If you talk you will give tells sooner than later. Objectively speaking, it's more profitable to hide behind your mask and observe the field.

From overall fun perspective. It's good to have some kind of conversation going on live tables. It makes for more fun game and generally no one want's to sit next to a silent knob, who now and then throws the chips on the table. Online, who really cares? I don't think I ever had good conversations on online tables. People say nh or curse you at best and that's it. I personally just close the chat all together.

I agree, but as I said, this is more important in live poker, because there are many bad players, and through conversations you can obtain information from your opponents, which means you can exploit them.

Sopt · Nov 2, 2023

amonlima said:
I agree, but as I said, this is more important in live poker, because there are many bad players, and through conversations you can obtain information from your opponents, which means you can exploit them.

That I agree with, especially if you meet regulars (that are bad) and you kind of know their way of playing. The thing is that those people are usually talkative by themselves so there is no need for you to talk much. You can just say something now and then to continue the conversation going.

takinitSLEAZEE · Nov 2, 2023

It's really not, imo. There's folx there that wear headphones or earbuds, while others are on their phone in between hands. I mean to me it's a social gathering of sorts, even though we're trying to take each other's money. In today's social climate it's not that big of a deal to be a part of the table talk. I notice players who never speak, even when they raise. Must be a Zen move.

Emily Trott · Nov 2, 2023

takinitSLEAZEE said:
It's really not, imo. There's folx there that wear headphones or earbuds, while others are on their phone in between hands. I mean to me it's a social gathering of sorts, even though we're trying to take each other's money. In today's social climate it's not that big of a deal to be a part of the table talk. I notice players who never speak, even when they raise. Must be a Zen move.

Aside from when I am leading out I always announce my calls and raises. I enjoy the social aspect of the game and love being at a talkative table.

R.Holynskyi · Nov 2, 2023

yogo9 said:
for me poker is 1/2 competition and 1/2 a social game, so I enjoy talking and being social.
I think if you're a fun player at the table, you're more likely to get action on the hands you play. boring tables suck, so what do you think?

I don't like to chat while playing. In my opinion, chatter only distracts and prevents concentration. I usually don't pay attention to the conversations of my opponents at the table, except when the players start insulting each other or start insulting me.

Jillychemung · Nov 7, 2023

Playing at a casino/card room with randoms, I'm not social at all; put in my ear buds and concentrate on the table action.
Playing in a local 'home' game, I'll be a bit more social but I'm naturally quiet so it isn't very much.

Mr.$t0k · Nov 7, 2023

I think we need to play in live poker because it funny to speak with your friends speaking some history from your own life because you are social

demibar · Nov 7, 2023

I am so not that personne who try to be funny and social .I would try only if I am really anxious and feel uncomfortable just to change my mood.

turnupthebb · Dec 1, 2023

I get bullied a lot at the tables. They constantly call me tight and every time I put money into the pot preflop, the regs start to warn the recreationals that the tight player with the big cards just made a raise. And they regs are always rude to me, coughing at me and just being obnoxious. They want me to leave the table and stop coming to the casino.

It makes the hours at the tables feel twice as long. But I just keep reminding myself that at the end of it I am walking away with their money. Just stay focused on playing poker.

Igor Popadyk · Dec 1, 2023

I have a stereotype that a successful poker player and professional is necessarily a sociable and attractive player - so that his opponents would not be so upset about losing money to him, because you don’t want to play with someone who constantly wins money from you

Miyagi not miyaji · Dec 1, 2023

People should be free to do whatever they wanna do. If they want to talk, let them talk. If they want to be quiet, let them.

Being friendly is good, but I prefer playing in silence than hearing a drunk person telling the same joke over and over.

martDdart · Dec 1, 2023

In my opinion,whats the point of doing anything if youre not enjoying it? Boring tables ,no thanks

Vallet · Dec 1, 2023

I think it all depends on the character of the player. There are many unsociable, secretive people in the world. But at the same time, they are focused on the goal they are thinking about. For them, the process is not important, but the result is important. If I want to chat at the table, but the opponent does not, then it will be more difficult for me to read his actions.

turnupthebb · Dec 2, 2023

I think everything in life is easier if you are a natural at socializing, chit chat and not shy. So it's not just for poker it would be advantagous/+EV but any kind of job. It's common knowledge people climb fast in their careers if they are good at socializing. It's easier to get a job if you socialize and have a big network.

But I also think that people can't be great at everything. We have strengths and weaknesses so I like to think that I have strengths in poker which some other poker players don't have but they have strength at table talk/socializing.

YLAN · Dec 2, 2023

Being social is not important to me in a live poker table nor online. It takes my focus away. I do not play poker to make friends, I play to get all their chips!

hexplore35 · Dec 2, 2023

Very important, you can get info about your opponents

Cooking · Dec 2, 2023

I think it depends if it's a friendly game or not. If I'm playing with my friends then I'm very social, but if it's a table with unknown people I think it depends how you are. I don't think you need to be social to understand how your opponents plays, I think it's more important to be a good observer and 100% focus on the table.

bababooey · Dec 9, 2023

Think it depends on how well you know the players at the table. If I'm playing with friends or people that I have played with a few times then I will be more talkative and about topics not related to poker. If it's with players that I don't know then I will talk if it's to do with the hand or the game but usually only that.

AndyFio · Dec 9, 2023

I think that this is completely unnecessary, because I have seen many players with glasses, in hoods, who do not contact anyone at the gaming table, for some it is easier to play alone with their thoughts, for others communicating with opponents, it’s all individual.

takinitSLEAZEE · Dec 13, 2023

I think the importance of playing socially isn't necessarily about being social but having social graces, at least. You know, don't be rude or a "Karen" (or one w/balls) about folx playing out of turn or miscounting a bet or any of that stuff, it's going to happen so be cool. That and hygiene.

BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch · Dec 15, 2023

If you're there to have fun then talk and socialize and try not to offend folks but if you're trying to grind then its better especially if you're just starting out or a losing player to focus solely on whatever game you're playing and limit the chatter.

And of course, be polite and respectful of everyone regardless of the outcome as people do remember "incidences".

How important is it to be social at live poker table?

yogo9

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LaNimmer

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amonlima

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Sopt

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amonlima

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Sopt

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takinitSLEAZEE

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