Loosen Up and Have Some Fun!

In this column, I am going to talk a bit about table image. I am always amazed at how many pros pay little attention to how they come across at the table. Or, should I say, they misjudge the effects of how they come across at the table. Especially in the middle limits, I see many winning players convey an image of toughness. They wear dark glasses and baseball caps, and project a very cold demeanor. When I see this sort of thing, I wonder, "What are they trying to accomplish?" I'm not exactly sure, but I could take a few guesses. My first guess is that they have not clearly thought out the best image for themselves at the table. I suspect that many of them are attempting to convey a very tough, serious image in order to intimidate other players from calling them or playing back at them and taking their pots away. But if they gave it some thought, they would quickly realize that this sort of image will eventually attract just the type of players they don't want to play with. Think about it. Suppose a recreational player is strolling by some poker tables and has a choice of games. The first table is filled with young, tough-looking players wearing baseball caps and dark glasses. Most of them have scowls on their faces, and few, if any, are laughing or talking. The table is somber and serious, and no one seems to be having a good time. The next table has a number of players dressed in comfortable, stylish clothing. No one is wearing sunglasses, and few, if any, are wearing baseball caps. The conversation is lively, and people genuinely seem to be having a good time.

Which table is the recreational player going to choose? Let's take it a step further. Suppose the same player finds himself at a table where everybody is acting tough and mean. Would he be inclined to continue playing? Let's say that he has lost a rack or two at a table like that. Do you think he'll feel like staying? He certainly won't say to himself, "I know I'm losing, but this is a great bunch of guys I'm playing with, and I'm having a good time. I think I'll stay, anyway." He'll most likely think to himself, "What the heck am I doing? I'm stuck a couple of racks to a bunch of players who couldn't care less about me. No one is smiling and they won't even give me the time of day. Not only am I going to quit now, but the next time I play, I'll go to a friendlier spot. If I see any of these players in a game, I'll try to avoid them in the future."

Suppose now that he is playing at the second table and finds himself stuck the same two racks. It is quite conceivable that he might say to himself, "I'm stuck a bit, but I think I'll stay and try to get it back. After all, I'm having a good time and these are good guys. My luck will probably change soon, and if it doesn't I'll come back another day." Imagine that if only half the time, recreational players felt this way. Wouldn't that have a huge impact on your annual bottom line?

It pays dividends to clearly understand how your behavior makes other players feel. Are you looking for tough games in which everyone is cold and serious, or games in which most of the players are having a good time playing the game and hanging out with fun people? If you are a winning player, how do you think losing players feel? Many losing players are very successful people. They are used to being treated well and have many choices of entertainment. They are mobile and worldly. If they aren't enjoying a situation, they won't sit there and waste their time for very long. They'll take their business elsewhere. On the other hand, if they are having a good time and meeting some interesting people they enjoy spending time with, they can afford to stay and play. And as long as they win a reasonable amount of the time, they'll keep coming back. As a professional player, you want recreational players to feel comfortable. You want them to enjoy their time at the table. You even want them to play often enough that they eventually become winning players, as they in turn will attract new players to the game.

Almost all of the great players I know project a gambling image. It's very hard to put them on a hand. Even though they get the money in the long run, they often appear to be making bad plays. But what they are really doing is constantly creating situations in which they can outplay less-skilled players. And you know what? It's fun for the losers as well as the winners, because it's interesting and keeps everybody guessing. This is the type of image that keeps the people you want to play against coming back. That's why I tell young professionals who wear baseball caps and sunglasses, and hardly ever smile or talk, to loosen up and have some fun. Work on your table image. Make the effort to create a gambling atmosphere. If you do, you'll be on the road to becoming a world-class player instead of just a wage earner. Believe me, it will greatly improve your bottom line in the long run.

Visit Johnny Chan's website at www.chanpoker.com for streaming video on this and other related subjects.