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Hold The
Lies
By Aaron J. Moore
Posted: 2:30 am PDT 2006-08-31 |
Courtesy Of Internet Casino and Poker Room at WagerWeb.com |
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There are two types of people who
can stake their professional living on lying. These crafty people are professional
poker players and politicians named Clinton.
The ability to be less than truthful is the foundation of any quality poker
player. That's one reason playing poker is so gratifying. Even if you don't have the
winning hand, you can still lie and bluff to victory. Wins will be few and far
between if you don't occasionally make the others at the table think your pair of 2s is
the nut flush.
A bluff is a necessary form of a lie at the poker table. On the other hand, there are
other types of lies that are becoming more popular during online and live games but are
unnecessary.
Be aware anytime you hear someone at the table say to you "good luck" or
"sorry." In a landscape of lies, those are the two most disingenuous
phrases ever uttered at a poker table. It might be nerves or a feeling like they must
act gentlemanly as if they are in some type of pistol duel during Revolutionary War times,
but for whatever the reason, you don't need to say these phrases at the poker table.
You've seen the scenario numerous times. Two players go all-in and stand over the
table. One player lends his hand and says good luck to the other. Does the guy who
puts entire chip stack at stake really wish good luck to the guy who could take that all
away from him? Of course not. Deep down inside he is hoping to tear his opponent's
heart out.
Everybody at the table realizes this, so there is no reason to say anything in the first
place. The best course of action is to quietly watch the cards play out.
The cringe factor rises when two people transparently wish each other good luck. An
alternative and better form of sportsmanship is to stay calm following a win and forgo any
tantrum if a painful loss results.
If the all-in results in someone's departure, then hand shakes can be exchanged.
Another time to stay quiet instead of offering a clich?-ridden lie is the obligatory "sorry" when your opponent
finds himself on the business end of a bad beat.
Did the Pittsburgh Steelers say "sorry" to the Oakland Raiders when the
Immaculate Reception put them in the Super Bowl?
Did the Yankees say "sorry" to the Red Sox following the Babe Ruth trade?
Did the USSR basketball team say "sorry" to the USA after a terrible call gave
the Russians the gold medal in the 1972 Olympics?
Certainly not, because in a sport of any kind, numerous occasions arise when landing some
luck brings victory.
If you truly feel sorry when you give someone a bad beat, then you are playing the wrong
game. Everyone sitting at the poker table is there to win chips and dollars in just
about any legal way. Before a player sits down, he runs the risk of stepping on the
landmine that doubles as a bad beat.
Saying "sorry" to someone is just like rubbing salt in their wounds. Once
again, the best way to handle the fallout of a bad beat is to stay quiet and don't
gloat.
Allow the person who lost to handle the pain in his own way. Hearing an empty
"sorry" from you won't help.
There are many times you will find yourself in uncomfortable situations at a poker table.
Rather than making a bold lie in the form of uttering "good luck" or
"sorry," think twice and handle the situation the right way by being a gracious
winner or a noble loser.
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