The Right Attitude at the Table

If you want to become a professional poker player, there are a few things you should keep in mind. While it's important to make the right plays and know the odds, a few other things may be just as important. I am referring to having the right image for the game you're in, and being disciplined in the broadest sense of the word and well-liked by players, casino personnel, and management alike.

Recently, I witnessed an incident in a limit hold'em game that got me thinking about this. A live one had started his session badly and had lost two buy-ins in just an hour of play. A wannabe pro, who was sitting on my immediate left, leaned over to this player, who was just receiving another stack of chips, and said, "Gee, that's incredible how much you've lost in just one hour. You must really be a horrible player to get rid of your money this fast. Guys, is this some kind of record, or what?" Obviously, the wannabe pro is not aware of what the game is about. In poker, you've got to keep the live ones happy - it's as simple as that. Everything you do or say at the table revolves around this simple principle: Keep 'em happy. In this column, I'll share with you my opinion on "the right attitude," the proper way to act and/or behave in the game.

1. Dress nicely, shave, and don't look tired. Go to a tanning booth once in a while. You don't have to wear Armani suits, but make sure you look prepared and ready to do your job - which is to play as well as you can. As Dick Davis stated in his Holy Poker Bible: "A player who looks like a bum is likely to play like a bum. It's for certain he will be thought of as a bum."

2. Act positively, and have fun. Make the poker game a pleasant experience for yourself and your fellow players. Too many players I know (especially the "grinder" type of players) act like they don't enjoy themselves, as if someone forced them to come to the casino and play. You should feel blessed that you are able to make money playing the game you love.

3. Don't mind losing. This is one of the most important aspects of poker. Lots of (wannabe) pros play the way they should - that is, they wait patiently for the best hand and then bet the heck out of it, to make as much money as they possibly can. However, when they lose, they turn sour. They may start making derogatory remarks about their opponents, or lecture them about their (alleged) horrible play. Be a good sport. In any game, there are winners and losers. If you routinely tap the table when you get beat by your opponent and simply get ready for the next hand, you can say that you've done your share to keep the atmosphere at the table healthy, and you know you've done the right thing for your long-term expectation, as well.

4. Act like you're "gambling" once in a while. If you play only the nuts, people won't like playing with you. If you play only aces and kings, and act and talk like the average "rock," your fellow players won't like to give you action, and the live ones will think it's no fun playing in your game. If they know you "gamble" once in a while, and bluff sometimes or bet without a lock (with a big draw, for example), they will give you more credit for being a "player" and will be more likely to want to play at your table. Even though I am known to play extremely tight, there are still some players who want to play with me: They know I won't embarrass them; they know I will try to create a pleasant and friendly atmosphere at the table; they know I don't whine; they know I don't hit and run; and they know I'm willing to build a big pot occasionally with a lot less than the nuts. I suggest that you try doing the same.

5. Reinforce your opponents' superstitions. Don't be superstitious - but act like you are. If you have been on an extremely good run and by chance have been wearing black clothes all the time, wear those same clothes every day, claiming, "I'm really lucky in these clothes." Since some of your opponents are superstitious, you should exploit this big (psychological) edge. It also will distract them from the point they should have focused on: the fact that your poker game is on a higher level than theirs. If they think they can get better results by wearing lucky charms, special clothes, and so on, they will be less likely to focus on what really matters: improving their game.

6. Have fun, but make people fear you. Don't show off as to how good you are or try to impress others with your knowledge, but don't look like a sucker, either. Act confidently and decisively whenever you're in a pot. Don't criticize or overanalyze, and be nice, courteous, and fun to play with, but don't be so much fun that people won't respect your play. If you can accomplish all of this, you will have come a long way toward becoming the "model poker pro," and your bankroll, enjoyment of the game, and feeling of accomplishment will benefit from it.