Play like a pro or a gambler?

[LockDown]

So here's a question for everyone's debate...

I play in the casino, 1/2 no limit hold 'em, 300 max buy in.

O.k., When I play i don't move alot, don't yell after taking down a pot, don't talk too much, etc. But my friend, who is really a gambler (blackjack) will talk it up, and go crazy with his chips (stacking, not betting) yell when he takes a pot, splashes the pot and says "hell, lets gamble". And he gets A TON of action.

So if you're going to extract the most amount of $$ you can from an opponent in a game like 1/2 where there's gonna be a lot of gamblers playing, is it better to act like a pro or a gambler?

Seems like when I play strong, make no noises, movements, etc. people recognize that as a strong player and fold, but when my friend plays, I think people think "he's a gambler, I might have him beat" and they stay in.

Would it be beneficial to "act" like a crazy person, but play solid poker and get more action in your pots?

Discuss...

Thanks!

[JohnnyHumongous]

I used to think a lot about this stuff when I started playing poker because I played B&M... I used to buy into the "act tight get no action, act friendly and loose get action" theory which everyone has. Frankly I think it's BS now. Unless you are playing B&M 30/60 or some limit where SOME people start to have a clue then people are playing their cards and not even paying attention to what you're doing. Most situations are not gonna be affected by your "image"- even a crazy bad fish is gonna fold 45 off on a flop of TJ2, and he's gonna call down with top pair or second pair even when it's obvious you have an overpair. All I'm saying is the "image" of being a pro vs. being loose wild almost certainly has zero effect, and if it has any effect it's a small one.

[LockDown]

good post Johnny. I see your point completely. My friend (the gambler) managed to get a guy to give him a 750$ pot after the guy called his all in with a jack high. I just thought the guy might be thinking "he's a gambler, so am I, so it's heads up" With me, every pot I entered with the guy and played strong, he folded to me on the flop.

Maybe just unlucky for me.

[icemanjmw]

[ QUOTE ]
good post Johnny. I see your point completely. My friend (the gambler) managed to get a guy to give him a 750$ pot after the guy called his all in with a jack high. I just thought the guy might be thinking "he's a gambler, so am I, so it's heads up" With me, every pot I entered with the guy and played strong, he folded to me on the flop.

Maybe just unlucky for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Guy must have had some kind of personal grudge against your friend to call him with J high. No matter how friendly you are you're not going to get that kind of action too often.

[slcseas]

I think this plays a role, although I can't speculate as to how much. I would say not much if you were to do one or the other all the time; except playing like a "gambler" (AKA a jerk) will probably get you asked to leave games occasionally, and can put you in some precarious positions if the entire table decides they are sick of you.

Example: I played with a real C*CK Smoker in Vegas a few months back. Myself and 3 other players were growing very tiresome of his attitude. Without ever saying a word to each other, we quickly had an understanding that this guy wasn't going to play a heads up pot for the rest of the night. Compare your odds of winning with any hand vs. a single opponent, then calculate that same hand against 3 opponents. Needless to say he didn't last much longer at our table.

I do belive that you can act differently vs. individual opponents and see significant results. Some guys are so egotistical that all you have to do is challenge their manhood to get them into a pot with you. Tell them they are afraid to call etc..

Against more shrewd and friendly players a "pro" image might serve you better. My favorite thing in the world is when a player apologizes for putting a bad beat on me. Be a nice guy and give the "that's poker", "nice call", and "I probably would have made that play too" lines to them. They see you as a friendly guy, so your reassurance makes them feel good about making a bad play. Then they keep doing it, which is good for you.

[LockDown]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
good post Johnny. I see your point completely. My friend (the gambler) managed to get a guy to give him a 750$ pot after the guy called his all in with a jack high. I just thought the guy might be thinking "he's a gambler, so am I, so it's heads up" With me, every pot I entered with the guy and played strong, he folded to me on the flop.

Maybe just unlucky for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Guy must have had some kind of personal grudge against your friend to call him with J high. No matter how friendly you are you're not going to get that kind of action too often.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah that's weird isn't it? But my buddy sat down and did what he does best...talk it up and make quick friends. The guy was crazy the whole night as well. But this was the worst. I really think he was just stupid and really wanted to see what "the gambler" was putting him to the test with. He said right before he called the all in "I know you have me beat but I have pot odds." [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
Before that hand they were laughing and talking...but I guess the bluffer thought he was getting bluffed.

Needless to say my friend was not bluffing, and took a huge pot.

[icemanjmw]

[ QUOTE ]

Against more shrewd and friendly players a "pro" image might serve you better. My favorite thing in the world is when a player apologizes for putting a bad beat on me. Be a nice guy and give the "that's poker", "nice call", and "I probably would have made that play too" lines to them. They see you as a friendly guy, so your reassurance makes them feel good about making a bad play. Then they keep doing it, which is good for you.

[/ QUOTE ]

I actually have to agree with this one. When I first started playing online I would bitch in chat after someone knocked me out with a bad play. Then I started shutting up, knowing that I couldn't change what happened.
Now I've moved on to reinforcing their plays, like one player in a semi-deepstacked cash game who called my preflop raise with J7 sooted then when a flop came 742 he bet I moved all-in and he called. My KK held up to take the pot. Someone called him an idiot and I quickly jumped to his defense, "hey top pair I would have done the same thing."

[mrw8419]

From the more limited experience I've had I find I get slightly more action if I'm more animated at the table. Talk it up with the dealers and players, joke around a bit. I don't get rude, or look like an action junkie though.

Michael

[Poker Plan]

[ QUOTE ]

Would it be beneficial to "act" like a crazy person, but play solid poker and get more action in your pots?

Discuss...

Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Just like a good Tour Guide, it's your job to let make your guests feel comfortable and let their inhibitions go. Join in the banter, loads of "Nice Hands!", and then PILAGE THEIR CHIPS [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Ian

[LockLow34]

Might I suggest reading the Draw poker section by Mike Caro in Super/System I? Specifically page 105 "Table Talk."

Acting crazy at the table is old school.