Addendum to Cardplayer.com’s Top Ten Most Annoying Player Habits

Did you read the Cardplayer.com column posted January 12, 2012, “The Poker Ten — The Most Annoying Player Habits At The Table? I did and it was a memorable one.  

Compiling responses from Card Player’s Facebook followers, the top-ten list highlighted some specific activities that cause fellow poker players to want to pull their hair out or scream.

Having played on the poker circuit for almost a decade, I could personally relate to each one of the listed behaviors. While some I experience occasionally, others hit right home with me. After reading the column, I thought I’d give it a personal twist; expand on a few items and add a couple of my own.

Here are some additional comments based on the original January 12th list:

#9: People who wear headphones at the table and can’t follow the action.

Although I occasionally wear headphones, I try to keep one ear free at all times to fully follow the action. Some players wait until they are dealt a hand before they remove their headphones or turn down their music. While this is annoying, it doesn’t affect play often as these players will fold more often than they will play.

What truly irritates me (and most players) is when we see a player make a bet, then he/she puts his or her headphones on! Are they just assuming that the rest of the table will fold? If the player started the betting, the player should realize that additional action will likely occur. Wouldn’t you want to have your sense of hearing working as this action is happening? Instead of placing headphones onto your ears after making a bet, I hope folks agree that it is a good idea to pay close attention to what is going on instead of just relying on the dealer.

My Addendum: If you are involved in the hand, especially if you began the action, remove your headphones or turn off your music.

#8: People who act like dealers, to the detriment of the game.

I’ll be the first to admit that I do often assist the dealer during play. I move the button or collect the antes from my side of the table to help speed up the game, especially during preliminary events where the levels are shorter. However, I always tell the dealer that I have done so.

What annoys me (and I’m sure the dealer) is when players assume the dealer will know that the chip in front of them is for two players (e.g. a 100 chip during the 50 ante level). Is it that difficult to notify the dealer? Is it necessary to get annoyed at the dealer because the player feels it should be obvious? And, following Murphy’s law of annoying behavior, the next time the misbehaving player puts out a 100 chip, they will complain to the dealer that they did not get their change because, once again, the dealer should have known.

My Addendum: Be consistent and just let the dealer know.

#1: Players who tap on the glass.

When I first started playing poker, I would try to determine which few players at the table could play well. In today’s evolved world of poker, I try to figure out who are the few novices at the table so I can take advantage of them. Thus, in the post-Moneymaker internet era of poker, tapping on the aquarium is even more detrimental since there are fewer fish in the sea.

Why would you want an inexperienced player to stop playing badly? Demeaning words and behaviors will only make these players shut down. Aren’t these players the ones that more experienced players can take advantage of? If an inexperienced player plays a hand poorly against me and wins a big pot, my common response is “nice hand.” That’s it. Silently, I strategize how I will get my chips back in the near future.

Is the goal of poker to accumulate chips? If so, this behavior is self-defeating; the only reason a “more advanced” player criticizes a beginning player is to make themselves look or feel better.

My Addendum: Stop trying to make yourself look better with your mouth. Show you’re better with your play.

Here are a couple of additional annoying habits that I often have to endure:

Ante-gate(s):

Many of you may remember “ante-gate” that occurred between Prahlad Friedman and Jeffrey Lisandro during the 2006 WSOP main event. (By the way, I always thought it was awesome that ESPN replayed the tape of Lisandro throwing in his ante, ultimately exonerating him).

During tournament play, I have witnessed numerous players who either carelessly throw their ante in (and it sometimes even lands far away from them) or forget to ante and question whether they are the delinquent player.

What the pros want to tell this person: “Pay closer attention and stop assuming others are always at fault!”

To me, there is one easy way to avoid these arguments all together. After I put out my ante, I keep one finger on my chip(s) until everyone else has thrown in their ante. Thus, if a player nearby doesn’t ante, they cannot claim that my ante belongs to them (even though they still ask).

Misdeal Blowups:

On occasion, a dealer may misdeal a hand, either dealing too many cards, not enough, or accidentally starting with the wrong player. Sometimes, a player becomes furious that there is a misdeal. The player may ask for the floorperson to come over and give a ruling. After the hand is declared a misdeal, the player will inevitably flip over pokcet aces or kings, while berating the dealer and/or floorperson.

What the pros want to tell this person: “Get over it!”

In these misdeal situations, you would not have been dealt this hand anyway. Every time someone tries to explain this concept, the player always gets angrier, as if their hand would have stayed the same. These days, I keep quiet and just shake my head, avoiding the irrational player’s wrath.

Structure Complaints:

As the tournament progresses, sometimes a player, usually one who is shortstacked, will ask to look at the structure sheet. Upon glancing at the “inappropriate” blind structure or the shorter levels, the player often begins to complain and compare the current tournament structure to one that is “better.”

What the Pros want to tell you: “Too Bad!”

If you did not like the structure, why did you buy in? If you did not look at the structure prior to the event, then shame on you. Just because you are shortstacked in the tournament doesn’t mean the structure suddenly became bad. In the psychological realm, these players who are finding their tournament experience not going their way are clearly looking for anything to blame other than their own play.

While my comments may seem rather critical, I want to make sure that you, the reader, know that I truly love the game of poker. I feel truly blessed to be able to play this wonderful game for a living. Let’s all make a concerted effort to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone. For those of us who love the game of poker, we simply want to play. ♠

Bernard Lee is the co-host of ESPN Inside Deal, weekly poker columnist for the Boston Herald, ESPN.com, author of “The Final Table, Volume I and II” and radio host of “The Bernard Lee Poker Show,” which can be found on RoundersRadio.com or via podcast on iTunes. Follow Bernard Lee on Twitter: @BernardLeePoker or visit him at www.BernardLeePoker.com.