Reading magazines etc. while playing.

[Karabiner]

Just wondering how you lot feel about people reading books or magazines at the poker table.

Personally I feel that it is rather rude and should not be allowed.

It seems to suggest a certain disdain or lack of respect for one's fellow players.

Anyone agree or disagree ?

[Royal Flush]

Can be a god tool in a bluff. I managed to get a scandie to lay down bottom set by reading 1 in Paris, i held bottom pair!

[tikay]

I think this thread emenates from my comment earlier that Fraser Bellamy usually reads a newspaper or a book at the table, & I've seen several guys do likewise.

One guy did it in Vegas in the WSOP Main Event.

And I got "warned" once for placing a book (not reading it) on the table, on the grounds that cards could be hidden with in - J-4, or 3-3, maybe.....

An interesting point by Karabiner, I can't quite decide if it's reasonable or not.

If reading a book is improper,what about using an i-Pod? Or chatting away?

I saw a guy at Southampton last year, & again later, - Shaun Hayes - with a little DVD player on the table, he was watching a film!

So a good point by Karabiner, but if - and I do mean IF - reading a book or paper at the table is "rude", then I'd have to say so is using an i-Pod or watchiing a DVD. I believe some card-rooms - they did it a few times in Vegas, when down to x tables - actually ban the use of i-Pods, but maybe that was an edict from the Great They Who Must Be Obeyed of Poker - ESPN.

[4dam]

i say let them read watch a dvd or listen to a ipod the amount of times i have used it to my advantage like they turn there ipod down when they get a hand or put there paper down
it can save you money if you was just about to steal

[tikay]

Steal? What's this "steal" lark?

Steal the newspaper?

[ifm]

i saw the same thing in walsall, fella was told to keep his mag off the table.
Since then seen it loads of times there with no probs.
what we need is a standard set of rules.................................

[tikay]

Ian,

I refuse to bite......

[ifm]

no fun.

seriously though i don't have a problem with it, i just pretend to speak to folks with ipods on then when they pull one earphone out (always the left one??) i say "no matter"
If peeps wanna be ignorant then so be it.
Ian

[RED-DOG]

I dont care what they do, as long as know when its their turn to act and dont have to be prompted every time

[RED-DOG]

"So they glued me to a yak"

Dont ask, wsopin06 started it

[redsimon]

I dont care what they do, as long as know when its their turn to act and dont have to be prompted every time

Thats the major problem with mag and book readers. Forever having to be nudged. a bit of a tell though as they generally put the mag down when they have a playable hand...

[ifm]

What about updaters too?
I once sat next to elblondie for a few hours and he was busy scribbling notes all that time for a tourny report.
Wouldn't that be classed as the same thing?
As for a tell....err....he just raised then carried on scribbling lol
Ian

[tikay]

Ban the updaters, I say.

"so they glued me to a yak". WHAT?

[TightEnd]

I tend to think that if you are reading at a table, it's your own lookout because you are going to miss things. Doesn't bother me to see someone do it

As for Ipods, I always take one with me because you never know when it might come in handy. For example on Friday I was next to Lord Frederick "Teddykins" Richardson all night. He was drinking and in full flow. The Ipod was essential for me to be able to concentrate on my own game, though I prefer not to use it

Does anyone else do what I do, when you are about to be in a big pot (you've got a great starting hand, flopped a monster etc) you surreptiously put the Ipod on pause but pay complete attention?

[tikay]

I take the i-Pod, but sometimes only for use in an emergency - say, if James Browning comes to the table. (You gotta love him really, but talk about talk....)

If I use the i-pod, I do the reverse psychology thing. Dealt 3-7 in late position, I idly look at my cards, sit up straight, look around the table to see what action there has been, (I already know) theatrically turn off the i-Pod, ask how many chips the limpers have, remove headphones, and then do the "count my chips" routine, before eventually saying "RAISE".

Never fails to fail. Micky Wernick then yawns & moves all-in.