That's no way to treat a loser!

Here are some ramblings of poker players that have trouble playing against poor players. The poker math of the situation will always revert to that player giving it back. He may be up temporarily, but I can tell through my profiling poker software that he won`t be around for long. My job is to get him to pay me for sitting at my table. There is one thing that every poker player has – Ego.

It’s that thing that makes you go tilt when some donk get a lucky post-flop on you, when you have a killer pre-flop hand. It’s that think that makes you think you’re better that the rest of the guys sitting at your table. Sometimes it can be good, but often it can be bad. One of times that it really pisses me off is when a big-headed egotistical player smashes a fish on chat online when the fish grabs a pot from him. Yes it’s blind luck, yes it’s not his skill that beat you but you got beat, fair and square now shut up.

This happened last night and as soon as the fish doubled up and getting berated, said fish left at the first opportunity. Not because he was afraid I guess, but more irritated that intimidated. What does that mean for me? Well that’s one stack I won’t be getting a shot at, that’s what.

You should never tell a player that he is playing bad especially if he’s losing to you. Whether you are winning or they’re just catching massive luck on the flop, never do it. Here you have a willing participant, putting money into the game like so many like him for you to feed off of, and you have to bash them and make them leave? Without the fish, it’s only the sharks. And while that may sound really exciting to outsiders, sharks feeding off each other, it’s something even sharks would rather not do.

It’s best to make players feel comfortable around you. Since the long term poker odds of them winning anything in poker is remote, you want them to stay around as long as possible. They lose, tough luck, tell them to improve, maybe give them tips. The more often they come back, the more opportunities for you to cash in.

Yes they can, and do get irritating with all the reckless calling, not thinking about percentages and not using sound strategy, but hey, you learn their game and tendencies and make the most of them BEING THERE, as opposed to being elsewhere losing money to others and not to you.

So what if you lose a couple, or suck out even when you have AA or KK or whatever. You being the more experienced, (though not always the most mature) player, should take it like a man.

Last night was only one instance in many that I have witnessed when a good player let rip on a donk. The donk, like many wanted to protect his stack, and elected to leave or move to a table rather that take any more verbal crap. Smart move on his part, especially since he knows there’s better players on the table. Can’t blame him. It’s the best move to piss said “better player” off, running away with his chips rather than giving him the opportunity to win them back.

I wanted that stack, so I guess I’m also on the losing end of that.