Do You Have The Chat Turned On??

[Dazzler69]

In live poker people use chat as a huge advantage to them, either by putting the others at ease or by forcing them to make decisions they usually wouldnt (Tony G, Scotty Ngyen) or to get tells etc from their speech. But in online poker you have the abilty to turn off the chat.

So what I want to know is whether people play with the chat function on or off. Do you have a specific reason for this? If you have it turned on do you use in any particular way or just to say 'nh' and other generic online poker sayings.

[scrawnybob]

hi Dazzler

personally I think in moderation using chat is a good technique

do most players turn it off ? I'm not sure they do - I think most players try to use it (view it) to gain a feel for players but dont chat themsleves

IMHO chat is too appealing a tool for thinking your gaining genuine information on players at your table

I think the only exception is at a table that gets nasty / rants / tilt & abuse - then I think people will put players on ignore or turn chat off

But I dont think anyone would really want to miss seeing a player meltdown in the chat and be hot on tilt - thats just too good information to miss

obviously chatting bolox isnt a new idea / or being far from honest or totally honest about your hands - but that is the nearest online is to live game table chat

I definately think a nice / rec gambler image is good (and civilized) - put in some random nonsense and stupid questions and you'll get marked as a nice bloke but easy pickings

If you want to take it to head f**k territory -

When someone suffers a "bad beat" from you (you win on a draw with correct odds to call / gamble etc) then saying you only play using Skalansky's Game Theory - it will guarantee lots of chat and crazy image of you as mad / dangerously as the table will be split between players who know what it is (the thinkers) and will panic as it's the only thing anyone cant predict & those who dont know / cant believe your serious

I then go on to tell them what my "game theory" automatic bluff hands are - 4K off (clubs & hearts), 72 suited spades and anything else that comes into my head that will setup scares for later

Any other tilt material - subtle not nasty (works better and is civilized)

The idiot chat - in cash game "when do the blinds go up its been like this for ages and 2 players are already out" - yep it really does work or "whats 1st place pay" or "aces count high and low right "

and generally being a bit whacky

bear in mind that you won't be the only one doing this - its your job as on a live table to take information and try to make sense of it

The other important partner with chat is NOTES - you must must must make notes if the site has this - ANY notes are useful - it makes you watch players better and helps in future games

this is particularly useful on small sites when you are going to see they same players regularly

good luck

cheers scrawnybob - webmaster