Poker Articles

I have been playing poker for a number of years. In May I was playing at the Bellagio and discovered an unusual rule that they have in place. It bans all discussion during the play of a hand, even when heads up. I really consider conversation to be a part of the game. It is the psychological warfare that Daniel Negreanu, Phil Helmuth, Amir Vahedi, Annie Duke, Mike Matusow, and a number of other players often utilize. I also like to use conversation as a way to access my opponent’s relative strength or weakness. It can help illicit a tell or help one to decide the right play by just thinking out loud what the opponent might have and what the best play is. I believe this rule needs reassessment and hopefully removed from their rule book. Below is my explanation why we should allow conversation in a tournament during the play of a hand.

This rule does not apply during a live game and only to tournament play because it effects others in a tournament setting and it does not have this same effect in live play. This is a defense that proponents use for the ban. They say that one individual cannot be allowed to say something that can effect the outcome of others that are in a tournament. Well it does effect the other players at a live table, especially in pot limit and no limit games. I do not see any difference here. It addition, doesn’t everyone have the option to use this strategy too? I think that their reasoning is flawed and does not hold water.

If this is not the case, then they should also ban the use of sunglasses. Not everyone can wear them indoors. I know I can’t. Conversation can be used as an act of deception. So can Sunglasses. The only difference is that one is verbal language and the other involves non verbal language.

The game is poker. Part of the game involves psychology. If you remove the verbal aspects of the game you basically remove a very important component. One should be able to understand that it is not just what they say, but how, and even why they said it. Being able to evaluate this process is a learned skill that everyone has available for their use. This can be the difference between a major win or a major loss.

Talking in sports has a psychological impact. Who has not seen this effect the outcome of a game. Michael Jordan was an excellent communicator on the basketball court (trash talk aside). He got into his opponent’s mind. This is exactly why I love this game so much. Mind over mind! It belongs in any game that involves psychology and as long as the conversation does not insult a player or use vulgarity, it should be revered and encouraged.

I am not talking about actually telling your opponent that you have a certain hand. They want to stop all talk to prevent this possible infraction.In Medicine, one does not cut off the whole arm to treat a hangnail. This is not the way to handle the possible verbal exposure of one's hand. We already have a rule that governs exposing one's hand. This rule online does make sense as there is no way to prevent this infraction. In live tournament play we have penalties. Let us play poker. If you want quiet while playing cards, go play solitaire! Otter