Poker News

Poker Vs. People Positions
by Jim McKenna filed under Psychology on 2006-01-23 [Originally appeared in the April 19, 2004 issue of Poker Player]

James McKenna, Ph.D.

Position usually refers to when a player acts (early or late). Acting after everyone else has its advantages. There’s also the psychological position a player takes with others in the game. In this case, position is not so much when a player bets or calls, it’s how players win or lose that will reveal their true life positions. Players in good times will have good attitudes and take a position with others that says, “You’re OK and so am I.”

However, the true attitude about others will be showing more when a player is experiencing bad times. When a player loses, is outdrawn on the river, or comes in secondbest, attitudes will be stretched. Some will then start throwing jabs, such as, “Why would you stay for such a gut shot?” Or, “That was stupid!” Both reactions are saying, “Well I’m better than you are!” When players engage in such “trash talk” it’s usually because another player chased a low-odds draw and beat the player who had the better hand (until the end when the “runner-runner” made the hand).

Some players operate out of the psychological position of “I’m a better player and you are just lucky.” Others will position themselves like, “Well, you know more than I do. So, I guess you’re right.” Either way, trash talk is not fun or comradely behavior. It’s just a sore loser trying to save face and get even.

Most professional players seldom get caught up in such trash talk. When they lose a hand, it’s more about wondering if they would do the same again and hoping that the player who is playing long shots doesn’t leave the table too soon. When theyare beaten by a “runner-runner” who made a gut straight on the river, the attitude of patience is more prevalent than trash talk. Over time the loose player who bets poor odds and chases slim chances will leave more than they will take.

Trash talkers are usually very tight rigid players who believe that everyone should play a certain way (like them) or that there is something wrong with other players who don’t. Other players are often more creative and are not stuck in the same old patterns. They will take risks and make even low probability hands. Unfortunately, players who make such “miracle hands,” will often have a false psychological position about themselves. Such a player may actually think, “I’m the best player at the table and the rest of these tight wads don’t know how to play this game.”

Pretending that you are better than others is not the bad thing. Believing that you are better than you are is the problem. Either way, it’s when a player is rude enough to tell another player that he or she is making mistakes. That is the bigger mistake. Why? Well, for one thing, it hurts the game. The player who did make the error in judgment and won might not stay very long if the bashing is so negative. Then the table lost a “call station” or some easy money.

This is not to say that playful comradely talk is the same as trash talk. There is sometimes a fine line as to where comradely talk stops and trash talk starts? Is the talker kidding or are serious things being said in jest? Two friends who know each other can say things that strangers would seldom utter. Generally, if you are upset about being beaten by a runner, it’s best to say a pray instead of trash talk. Pray that the runner-runner stays long enough to get even. Winning back your loss will get you further than trying to shame or humiliate a loose player.

As the saying goes, “Never try to teach a pig to sing. It annoys the pig and frustrates the hell out of you.” That’s what I’m talking about!

Filed under: Poker News