The Best In The Business

[rfgqqabc]

When you look right at the table (generally) you look into the past. When you look to your left you see the future. I try to establish when people look so I can sneak a peak in before all eyes are on me. Looking left can be so huge, some days you will find a button who.signals he's folding. Enjoy two buttons per orbit. I think you have to find your own routine and work at it. Ill almost never talk at the table so have a lovely durrr esque routine that  involves having your mouth slightly open ( I think its more keeping the jaw loose than lips open) to prevent the need to swallow. I try to pick the same point to stare at whenever someone is in the tank. Vs weak players might relax this a bit and just focus on them and trying to get some tells. I would also consider sitting on my hands or having them.in my lap to prevent riffiling. Never picking up a chip before you decide on bet size is the way to go I think. Starting off your own routine as the dealer starts to.cut the deck and preparing for each hand with a deep breath.

 People tend to bluff slightly quicker online than valuebet in my experience. Presume the same holds true live too. Most people need to get their chips out there and end the nervous agony.

[DungBeetle]

"Ill almost never talk at the table so have a lovely durrr esque routine that  involves having your mouth slightly open ( I think its more keeping the jaw loose than lips open) to prevent the need to swallow."

You must add a lot of joy to the experience of your average recreational punter

[Tal]

"Ill almost never talk at the table so have a lovely durrr esque routine that  involves having your mouth slightly open ( I think its more keeping the jaw loose than lips open) to prevent the need to swallow."

You must add a lot of joy to the experience of your average recreational punter

Brilliant! This would wind me up no end.

"I got to play with Pleno today"
"Wow. What was he like?"
"Took two minutes to bet and then bet like Durrr in High Stakes Poker."
"Did he talk?"
"Ha!!"

Your list of tips is interesting. They seem to me to be designed to make your opponents uncomfortable. I think that's the worst state to have your opponents in. Remember the last time you were really nervous in a situation outside of Poker. If you could see yourself in that situation, what would your body language tell you? That you were telling the truth? That you were lying? Or just overwhelmingly that you were nervous?

IMO, people exhibit a far bigger range of behaviours when they are full of nerves than when they are feeling natural. You want to keep that range, not narrow, but defined; you want to know when he's happy with his hand and when he's unhappy with his hand; when he is strong and when he is weak. Once you have that information, you just need to know what this guy considers a "strong" hand in this situation and you make great decisions.

The other problem with trying to look superior at the table (which is EXACTLY what you're doing) is you will drive two sorts of behaviours from those who are more strong in will: some will avoid you and decide you're not worth playing marginal hands against, so you have difficulty getting value from; others will target you in both hands and across the table (so do what they can to tilt you with verbals, rulings and treat you throughout like you have a target on your back).

Why not be a nice guy who people have given their chips to and shake your hand on the way out? Antonio Esfandiari is one of the absolute best at that (at least that's my perception from the outside). I'm not sure what you think of his game but I bet he'd make an interesting conversation for you. He must be a complete opposite over the table to you, but he chips up well in these big field events.

Personally - and this is a rec giving an elite pro advice, so take it with a pinch of salt - I think your approach is looking the wrong way. Instead of focusing on your behaviour in being consistent in what you do and forcing discomfort on your opposition, you should be focusing your behaviour on them, welcoming them in like a conman.

How would you get me to give you my watch? Conman is a shortened version of "confidence man", which is what they used to be called. They instill confidence in their victims that they can be trusted, people relax and become far more susceptible. It's that comfort - that confidence - you should be looking for.

Live skills are the dark arts in poker. I played with someone yesterday who told me they had changed their behaviour when playing against me because we had a similar conversation a year ago to this. I'd said I watch what people do when they check, when they bet, how they behave after looking at their cards, after they win or lose the hand, and so on. I had also said I try to remember what I've done in those categories when I've tabled my hand and then try to do the opposite in one of those in a big hand next time, if I believe the opponent has been or has some likelihood of having been taking notice.

He was an absolute nightmare to play against. There were dummy swallows, dummy hand on shoulders, dummy verbal checks, everything. I'm an amateur at this stuff, so some psychology Master Jedi (NLP practitioners have different levels and Master Jedi is one of the highest qualifications) might have got better reads, but I found him completely unreadable. He will probably read this - I felt I had no choice but to hold my breath and gamble against him, because he was completely impenetrable for a fish like me and, as this was a six max comp, avoidance wasn't an option. I might have got that wrong, but playing streets and trying outplay him just didn't seem tactically sensible, compared to getting the lot in with a flip. If you're the better player, is that what you want?

You want to make people believe they've found something: if you tell someone their mission today is to find and steal five pounds, they will be dustrusting of a fiver on the floor that is in the middle of a chalk circle and a sign saying "free money". Who's watching? They will look left and right and some - actually most - will even leave it behind and carry on. If they are engaged in a conversation and in the middle of that conversation, you ask if they have two tenners for a twenty, they'll think of a way to swindle you, actually only giving you a tenner and a fiver, but believing that you haven't realised. They go away thinking mission accomplished. Only your twenty was a counterfeit.

I'm always happy to learn about this stuff because it's why I really enjoy live poker. People and their behaviours are so diverse and the puzzles are fun. So, if your research - and this is you so it will be extensive - tells you I'm wrong, please say so. It's a fascinating subject.

Keep up the good work, pads. Superb diary.

[DungBeetle]

Unless I have botched things up I don't think it was Pads who recommended the silent robotic approach to live poker!?

My fault for not quoting properly!

Agree with most of your post otherwise though Tal.

[rfgqqabc]

"Ill almost never talk at the table so have a lovely durrr esque routine that  involves having your mouth slightly open ( I think its more keeping the jaw loose than lips open) to prevent the need to swallow."

You must add a lot of joy to the experience of your average recreational punter

I'm pretty talkative when not in a hand, just a bit paranoid. It mainly came from when I was newer to the live scene and didn't know what i was looking for so it felt better to be defensive then try and look for reads in others. When i very first started I used to keep my hands over my mouth ala Hellmuth!

[Tal]

Unless I have botched things up I don't think it was Pads who recommended the silent robotic approach to live poker!?

My fault for not quoting properly!

LOL whoops!

[SuuPRlim]

i ahve one for LV, will skype you.

[mulhuzz]

<3 Tal.

And pads, stop giving a fuck what the Germans do.

Sample sample sample, can anyone really 'know' who the geniuses are in these events? Debatable imo.

Like, I'm not saying it's likely, but I could win two bracelets next year and 2ept high rollers and you may want me to think you're great etc.

But given I'm fucking terrible it would be worthless. And tbh, worthless if I was truly the GOAT.

Self happiness is the key to BITB.

[Young_gun]

Skim read some of the longer posts , but got the jist of the downswing. I just wanted to point out i find it refreshing how honest you are and how you put your immediate feelings/thoughts into the diary, personally not a fan of bad beat yawns but kind of like the passion you show when describing it and take it light heartedley if you have a little moan

Good work on the run, good signs for the remaining of WSOP hope you have another deep run coming!

Best of British, enjoy the res of Vegas as before you know it you will be wishing you are back there.

[Simon Galloway]

At some point during an extended LV stay... you regret being there.  As you taxi down the runway, you regret leaving.  That's the kind of place LV is.

[pleno1]

"Ill almost never talk at the table so have a lovely durrr esque routine that  involves having your mouth slightly open ( I think its more keeping the jaw loose than lips open) to prevent the need to swallow."

You must add a lot of joy to the experience of your average recreational punter

Brilliant! This would wind me up no end.

"I got to play with Pleno today"
"Wow. What was he like?"
"Took two minutes to bet and then bet like Durrr in High Stakes Poker."
"Did he talk?"
"Ha!!"

Your list of tips is interesting. They seem to me to be designed to make your opponents uncomfortable. I think that's the worst state to have your opponents in. Remember the last time you were really nervous in a situation outside of Poker. If you could see yourself in that situation, what would your body language tell you? That you were telling the truth? That you were lying? Or just overwhelmingly that you were nervous?

IMO, people exhibit a far bigger range of behaviours when they are full of nerves than when they are feeling natural. You want to keep that range, not narrow, but defined; you want to know when he's happy with his hand and when he's unhappy with his hand; when he is strong and when he is weak. Once you have that information, you just need to know what this guy considers a "strong" hand in this situation and you make great decisions.

The other problem with trying to look superior at the table (which is EXACTLY what you're doing) is you will drive two sorts of behaviours from those who are more strong in will: some will avoid you and decide you're not worth playing marginal hands against, so you have difficulty getting value from; others will target you in both hands and across the table (so do what they can to tilt you with verbals, rulings and treat you throughout like you have a target on your back).

Why not be a nice guy who people have given their chips to and shake your hand on the way out? Antonio Esfandiari is one of the absolute best at that (at least that's my perception from the outside). I'm not sure what you think of his game but I bet he'd make an interesting conversation for you. He must be a complete opposite over the table to you, but he chips up well in these big field events.

Personally - and this is a rec giving an elite pro advice, so take it with a pinch of salt - I think your approach is looking the wrong way. Instead of focusing on your behaviour in being consistent in what you do and forcing discomfort on your opposition, you should be focusing your behaviour on them, welcoming them in like a conman.

How would you get me to give you my watch? Conman is a shortened version of "confidence man", which is what they used to be called. They instill confidence in their victims that they can be trusted, people relax and become far more susceptible. It's that comfort - that confidence - you should be looking for.

Live skills are the dark arts in poker. I played with someone yesterday who told me they had changed their behaviour when playing against me because we had a similar conversation a year ago to this. I'd said I watch what people do when they check, when they bet, how they behave after looking at their cards, after they win or lose the hand, and so on. I had also said I try to remember what I've done in those categories when I've tabled my hand and then try to do the opposite in one of those in a big hand next time, if I believe the opponent has been or has some likelihood of having been taking notice.

He was an absolute nightmare to play against. There were dummy swallows, dummy hand on shoulders, dummy verbal checks, everything. I'm an amateur at this stuff, so some psychology Master Jedi (NLP practitioners have different levels and Master Jedi is one of the highest qualifications) might have got better reads, but I found him completely unreadable. He will probably read this - I felt I had no choice but to hold my breath and gamble against him, because he was completely impenetrable for a fish like me and, as this was a six max comp, avoidance wasn't an option. I might have got that wrong, but playing streets and trying outplay him just didn't seem tactically sensible, compared to getting the lot in with a flip. If you're the better player, is that what you want?

You want to make people believe they've found something: if you tell someone their mission today is to find and steal five pounds, they will be dustrusting of a fiver on the floor that is in the middle of a chalk circle and a sign saying "free money". Who's watching? They will look left and right and some - actually most - will even leave it behind and carry on. If they are engaged in a conversation and in the middle of that conversation, you ask if they have two tenners for a twenty, they'll think of a way to swindle you, actually only giving you a tenner and a fiver, but believing that you haven't realised. They go away thinking mission accomplished. Only your twenty was a counterfeit.

I'm always happy to learn about this stuff because it's why I really enjoy live poker. People and their behaviours are so diverse and the puzzles are fun. So, if your research - and this is you so it will be extensive - tells you I'm wrong, please say so. It's a fascinating subject.

Keep up the good work, pads. Superb diary.

Hey I definitey don't think that's me. Fish really enjoy playing with me I think. Think I mentioned it before but have been invited to 3-4 private games around America from some huge whales that said I was the kind of guy that they would love in their games.

That's probably a bad thing haha

[George2Loose]

I really enjoy your diary, write ups, honesty. It's very refreshing.

What I dislike is your use of "fish" and "whale" Saying things like "fish really enjoy playing with me" makes me cringe.

Other than that keep up updating and gl for the rest of your trip

[cambridgealex]

Yeh I mean I haven't used the word fish or whale or moaned or complained in my diary for probably 2 or 3 years at least but then again my diary is boring now and this diary is a lot more interesting and controversial, gets more viewers, replies etc.

Controversy sells, always has done.

[Tal]

That'll teach me for half-reading something when I'd just got up!

There is a general thing in these big field comps that 95% of the field's primary objective in the tournament is to enjoy the comp. Yes, everyone is trying to win, but most aren't dependant on the outcome for their livelihoods and lots of them will tell their friends and family about who they played with, what the atmosphere was like and the hands they had. That's I'm sure still true for lots of pros.

Some of the pros ruin the experience (as, of course, do some of the others) and there is an argument that it's down to the pros to make the experience positive for the rest, so that they keep coming back. I wouldn't call them (us) fish and whales, though. It's pretty insulting. We know our limitations but we love the game and we want to keep it that way.

Keep up the good work. What are you playing today?

[George2Loose]

Yeh I mean I haven't used the word fish or whale or moaned or complained in my diary for probably 2 or 3 years at least but then again my diary is boring now and this diary is a lot more interesting and controversial, gets more viewers, replies etc.

Controversy sells, always has done.

Enjoy all the diaries on here tbf. I just post less in general. Im sure if you blogged more you'd get more love