Poker (and egos)

[jr231]

Where's the Texas hold em fans ? Or variations of the game such as Omaha , pineapple etc.. 

 

Whether you play home games , at the casino or at a local club.. is there a place that exists where ego is higher than in a poker room ? Crazy ! 

 

I've been playing poker for almost 10 years. I turned 27 today and being a father and living on my own has put a damper on my poker funds but it is something I truly enjoy. There's so much more to the game than what meets the eye and playing with folks who thoroughly understand the game is something I find to be alot of fun... But on the flip side.. specifically at the casino (and depending on the stakes you play) it seems most folks at the table believe they are the best in the world, and throw fits or show utter disgust when they lose ..  

 

I mean most men in general I feel are confident / prideful but I have met some real slime balls playing cards and it kinda sucks for me because it's something I like to do ! Doesn't matter it's the game and when money is involved emotions are always heightened. I feel if you gamble with money you should already see it as gone and never be upset about it. Nice hand man ! And go bout your business. Not, you lucky "you know what" . 

 

Just stirring up conversation, with anyone who wants to talk poker or anyone who has been in a poker room and feels there are other places where nearly every person in vicinity believes they are the best and shows poor sportsmanship to this degree. 

[OCdockskipper]

That is the norm & it is even worse at most WSOP events.  A large percentage of players seem to be waiting to get into confrontations, always wanting to show that they know what they are doing and that everyone else is just a lucky fish.  I've found that if you stroke those guys egos, you typically can manipulate them later on in the game or tournament.

 

Ironically, many of the known players aren't like that at all.  I've played with Mike Matusow at a WSOP event and he was actually quiet and kept to himself (not rude, just not boisterous).  The late David Ulliot (Devil Fish) was one of the most personable players I have ever sat next to, he just loved conversation and was always looking to have a good time at the table.  The only negative i can think of with a known pro I had was when Eric Siedel sat down next to me and he stunk to high heaven.  I'm assuming he had pulled an allnighter or two, his B.O. was horrible.

 

While I enjoy playing poker, I believe it & gambling doesn't always bring out peoples best qualities

[jr231]

@OCdockskipper I am familiar with all of those names! I've actually watched Mike play for hours during the "high stakes poker" . He catches alot of slack from his supposed habits . Never minded watching him play and I always felt Eric was boring to watch. He just seems very dry... I don't know much about devil fish but have seen him in a few videos for sure. 

 

You play in wsop events ? Just straight hold em ? I live near Cincinnati and the hard Rock just bought out the casino and are supposed to be bringing some wsop events in. 

 

Thanks for your input pretty much confirming what I've already experienced the years I've played poker. Somehow I do believe it's worse at the wsop events. I typically play cash games but my local club has a 50 dollar tournament on Monday that gets crazy deep .. and is alot of fun. Alot of "donking" going on but it's 50 bucks 

[OCdockskipper]

Yeah, living close to Vegas, I typically will play one WSOP event a year, usually Pot Limit Omaha High Low.  My son plays about 5 events a year, typically deepstack Holdem events.  Generational difference, I grew up on different games than he did.

 

For the past 22 years, I have hosted a "Night Before Thanksgiving Poker Tournament", a mixed game tournament that takes up the entire evening.  During the Poker Boom of the mid 2000's, we had 80 - 90 players, but it has dropped down to 30 ish over the past few years.  What is nice about the smaller number is we have whittled out most of the ego guys, so now it is a group of good, competitive players who actually congratulate the person who wins ?.