Don't be Such a Nit! - Part I

Nits are a plague to the poker world. They are a cancer that eats away at a good game and eventually helps destroy it. No two nits are identical, but they all share certain character traits that are detrimental to a poker game.

OK, so what exactly is a nit? The term is used quite often in the poker world, but I've never actually read a dictionary meaning that would apply to its use in poker. It's probably easier to describe what nits do than what they are. First let me try to give you a mental picture of what a typical nit looks like, then I'll move on to what makes him a nit.

Nits are typically unfriendly, extremely selfish, know-it-all rocks who add little or nothing of value to the texture of a good game. They'll sometimes be in disguise, wearing dark sunglasses and a hat. What the nit can't hide is that serious-looking mug that rarely if ever turns into a smile.

So, what do nits do to hurt a game? A nit doesn't scratch your back when you scratch his. He does what's in his best interest at all times, and without exception. A nit won't help you start a game. A nit will wait until others start it, then will scoop up the last seat after the tourists arrive.

I've seen it happen over and over again, and it's really disheartening. Of course, they aren't doing anything illegal, but think about the message they are sending to their fellow professionals who are doing all the hard work?

I remember this exact scenario coming up often when I started playing at Bellagio. I'd start up a $60-$120 hold'em game with three other locals. I'm going to quote my friend Joel Fischbein, who once said, "How do you expect to get any customers if you don't open up the store?" So, the four of us would play for a while, obviously in a bad game, but each of us was willing to make that sacrifice, hoping that the game would pick up. Besides, I was living in Vegas and this game was to be my living. By helping to start games, I would show my peers that I respected them and was willing to contribute to the room, which was important if I was to spend the next few years working with them.

Now, after we'd played for about an hour, a couple of tourists would sit down in the game. Immediately after they'd sit down, four of the nits in the $30-$60 game would sit down in our game to fill it up. They'd win themselves half a rack and quit, leaving the game uncomfortably shorthanded for the tourists, who would then quite often quit prematurely. For some reason, when a few people all quit at once, it has a very negative impact on a game. It gives everyone the uncomfortable feeling that the game may break shortly. Nits are extremely careful in this spot. The last thing they would want is not to get all of their "precious" free hands if the game breaks.

So, were these $30-$60 players doing anything wrong? What do you think? Well, on one hand, they have every right to pick and choose the games in which they decide to play. It's their money and they can gamble with it any way they'd like. True. But, how much respect are they showing the game starters? After all, without the game starters, there would be no game. So, the game starters would scratch the nits' backs, and in turn, the nits would fill up the game, then help break it just as quickly. There are many valid, acceptable reasons why some players may feel the need to do this, of course. Some may think they are simply outclassed by the game starters, while others may not enjoy playing shorthanded. Those are excuses I can live with, but I have a problem with the real nits who aren't willing to contribute to the poker room even though they can.

Well, the game starters had a remedy for the nits that seemed to work perfectly. When Bellagio opened, $60-$120 was the limit, but the games were breaking up three hours after they'd start. Interestingly enough, by raising the limit to $80-$160 or $100-$200, we made the game "nit proof." These same nits were no longer willing to play that high, and when they did, we welcomed them. You see, by raising the limit, we took the nits completely out of their comfort zone. So, when they started out losing, they lost all discipline and played all-nighters trying to get even. The amount of their losses was just too much for them to handle, so they would dig themselves an even bigger grave. The result of all of this was amazing. The $100-$200 game went around-the-clock for close to a week straight! That never happened in the $60-$120 game. This is just one example of nitty behavior, but it doesn't even come close to one of the worst offenses.

In the next issue, I'll share with you the worst case of nitty behavior I've ever seen, as well as some tips on how you can help improve your regular game by doing your part.