L
LiviuRo123
Rock Star
Silver Level
"I stay focused and don't let toxic behavior drag me into their game. If someone starts spitting in the pot metaphorically-trash talk, angle shooting, insults-I either ignore them or politely warn that I'll call the floor if it continues. Protect your mindset first. A tilted opponent is great... but don't let them tilt you."
Natox
Rock Star
Platinum Level
Good morning,
of course, such behavior should be reported immediately. A game like Poker became great because auf respect. Next, just be thankful that there are still people with poor self-control. They don't understand what Poker really is about and just bringing their money to casinos and some online providers.
of course, such behavior should be reported immediately. A game like Poker became great because auf respect. Next, just be thankful that there are still people with poor self-control. They don't understand what Poker really is about and just bringing their money to casinos and some online providers.
W
WellAA
Visionary
Platinum Level
Good question, I never did see it myself.
Wonder if someone saw it happening at the table and how many teeth the spitter lost.
Aballinamion
Dark Lord of the Sith
Bronze Level
Maaan, provocative players are a real test of your psychological and emotional side, eh? They're usually weaker players who can't rely on their skills, so they try to use these low-level tactics to break your concentration. In online games, you see these... well, let's just avoid the adjectives and keep it respectful for the forum mods and other users... let's just say these folks do everything they can for attention. They trash talk, insult, try to start conversations, show their hands after they fold—you name it.
In online poker rooms, the main weapon is the chat box. And I think unless you're on some High Stakes TV show, chatting at a poker table can be a genuinely dangerous habit: you lose focus, and your opponents can pick up information that they'll use against you later. The list of reasons goes on.
The ideal is to be focused only on yourself—and that's not selfish, it's concentration. You should sit down at the table already knowing that so-and-so is gonna be talking and trying to get under your skin. And your reaction should be the same as always, your face should be the same as always. You just switch into analytical mode and, as cliché as it might sound, put on the "poker face": no expressions, no emotions, no reactions. Because that's exactly what that weak, provocative player wants—to get a rise out of you so you lose control of your game and start making mistakes you wouldn't normally make.
Calm, focus, attention, self-control—these are all principles of a healthy poker mindset. They're the tools we need to have; we need to show up to the table armed and ready to be ice-cold. The less you talk at the table, the less attention you give them, and the more you focus on your own game—breathing deep, staying calm, ignoring the insults whether they're gestures, words, or whatever—the better your performance will be. When you don't react to the provocation, that's when your opponents actually start to get scared of you.
Just look your opponents right in the eye, no anger or resentment, just with a passive, frosty calm. Make your movements slow, don't throw your chips in on impulse. Always remember why you decided to sit down at a poker table in the first place: you're there to take chips from other players. The table isn't a happy hour with your friends and enemies; you're not there to socialize. Your goal is to be ruthless when it comes to your winrate and profit. And that ruthlessness comes from a peace of mind—the ability to stay calm in the storm, to not flinch, not react, and just do what you've trained to do well: play poker.
Marcwantstowin
Member of the T.S.T
Moderator
I suppose it depends on the language used by the dealer and whether "All-in" means it literally. I think the best action if this happened at a table I was on would result in me saying "Pigs tables are out the back, in the sty bud, off you go".
I guess that would result in a lot of laughter from the other players at the table, or would result in the player getting up and leaving, either with or without my foot up his ass.
nabmom
Community Guide
Community Guide
Hopefully that wouldn’t result in you getting punched!
BillyR23
Legend
Loyaler
I've never seen anyone Spitting in the pot (maybe it's just an expression and/or bad English translation- I do some 'weird' posts too because English isn't my main language and I don't usually use a translation site), but I've seen bad behavior at the tables lots of time mainly because of players that had too many drinks(maybe some other stuff too, nowadays there are lots of 'options' for people to get intoxicated), bad losers or just bad people... and I always advise my friends to stay calm if they find themselves in this unfortunate situation, ask the dealer to call the floor and just let the staff/ security deal with it... your job is to stay focused and try to play close to your A game and not deal with other players problems/behavior... so, I don't think asking for the floor is complaining and about acceptable table etiquette- nobody asks too much, you can talk as much as you want, just respect the other players, the dealer and staff... never act before it's your turn, protect your hand, don't talk about the hand in progress...
F
fundiver199
Legend
Loyaler
Did somewhat literally spit on the playing chips or the table? In that case I would call the floor and expect the player to be removed from the game. It sounds weird though, so maybe this is a translation issue and a more general etiquette question about toxic table talk and behaviour? In that case I recommend watching the free vidoes on Youtube from CrushlivePoker. Most of them are hand history calls, but there are also some non-hand calls, that go into some of the wierd things, that can happen in live poker, and how one should react.
www.youtube.com
CrushlivePoker
Crush Live Poker is a poker training site with videos, podcasts, and articles that teach you how to beat the game: http://www.CrushLivePoker.com/ CrushLivePoker is the only training site exclusively made to help you beat live cash games. Mainly concentrating on no limit CrushLivePoker features...
www.youtube.com
machinm19
Visionary
Platinum Level
If this happened at my local casino I would fear for the guys health. I have seen the doormen there hand out some over the top “justice” a few times. I would not mess with the place or them, in fact I’m everyone’s best mate there, I tip well and even when I get drunk I’m respectful and aware of what will happen if I cross the line.
I’m really good at maths and I have worked out that one of the doormen guys could defeat 4 of me alone.
I’m really good at maths and I have worked out that one of the doormen guys could defeat 4 of me alone.
Flash Bro
Rising Star
Bronze Level
There’s a special kind of player at every table — the ones who don’t just play poker, they provoke life itself.
They raise not for value, not as a bluff, but just to see your reaction. They stare right into your soul like they’re trying to read your childhood memories.
I don’t mind emotions — without them, poker would be accounting with chips.
But when someone comments on every move, laughs at every showdown, and starts giving “lessons” after scooping a small pot…
You just want to ask: buddy, are you here to play cards or stress-test everyone’s patience? 😅
For me, table etiquette is simple:
Don’t disturb others during a hand.
Don’t discuss the cards until the action’s done.
Don’t celebrate someone else’s bad beat.
And if you just cracked a monster hand — smile quietly and move on.
Poker isn’t a battle of egos, it’s an art of patience.
Still, without a few “table philosophers,” the night might be a bit too calm.
How do you deal with table talkers? Do you engage, ignore, or just put on your poker face and wait for them to gift you their stack? 😉
They raise not for value, not as a bluff, but just to see your reaction. They stare right into your soul like they’re trying to read your childhood memories.
I don’t mind emotions — without them, poker would be accounting with chips.
But when someone comments on every move, laughs at every showdown, and starts giving “lessons” after scooping a small pot…
You just want to ask: buddy, are you here to play cards or stress-test everyone’s patience? 😅
For me, table etiquette is simple:
Don’t disturb others during a hand.
Don’t discuss the cards until the action’s done.
Don’t celebrate someone else’s bad beat.
And if you just cracked a monster hand — smile quietly and move on.
Poker isn’t a battle of egos, it’s an art of patience.
Still, without a few “table philosophers,” the night might be a bit too calm.
How do you deal with table talkers? Do you engage, ignore, or just put on your poker face and wait for them to gift you their stack? 😉