Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive

Another Christmas season is here. I love Christmas. It is a time of the year for friends, family, compassion, and sharing with your fellow human beings. It is a time of charity for those less fortunate, of respect, peace, and goodwill toward your fellow man. It's too bad that peace and goodwill often seem absent at the poker table.

People come to the poker table for many different reasons. Some come to satisfy a gambling problem in their lives; some come for the competition of it all; and some just enjoy the game of poker. Many come to meet people and socialize, while others are there for the sole purpose of making money. Most come for some combination of those reasons. Nearly all of these people desire a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere, one which makes the game more enjoyable. Having a good time makes a poker player want to stay and play, and want to come back and play again. Sadly, at many poker tables, that opportunity does not exist, because that pleasant atmosphere is ruined by a few players who control and dominate the mood of a poker table.

Poker games sometimes can get really ugly. I have often repeated the truism that the game brings out the worst sides of the best people, and some of the characters who are drawn to the grift, graft, and hustle that surrounds some nonpublic casino gambling environments are definitely not the best people to begin with. Oftentimes, players become rude and obnoxious because they are losing more than they can afford. Human nature being what it is, they take their frustrations out on other people. Some are not bad people, but emotionally just can't handle the strains and stresses that poker creates. Some players are bullies who, in all things in their lives, target those who are not in a position to defend themselves; they are the ones who take out their frustrations on dealers, knowing that the dealers' employment prevents them from responding. Some players just try to get mean and nasty with anyone at all. Many of the players who belittle others and behave condescendingly toward other players in poker games are the very pseudoprofessionals who rely on the game for economic support. It is self-defeating behavior that they would be much better off changing.

Unless you play very high limits, the best poker games are those with the most recreational players, who are relaxed, having fun, and enjoying themselves. Changing that tone will drive players from the game, and cause some to never come back. If you take poker seriously enough for it to affect you emotionally, act professionally and take control of those emotions, and do the right thing for poker. When a player's demeanor gets ugly, it is bad for poker. Most of the economic funding of poker comes from recreational players. Poker is a zero-sum game that needs money brought into it to survive and be profitable for the better players. The more money that enters the poker economy, the better. Recreational players are looking to have fun, and if they do not enjoy the experience, they will do something different with their recreational dollars. And it is not good for poker if they go bowling, to the blackjack tables, or to the movies instead. Take the recreational player out of the game and you are left with hustlers, pros, and compulsive gamblers, which does not create the best of environments economically or socially.

Experienced players need to behave in a manner that is good for poker. They need to act professionally. If you're a winning player, the game is good to you, so have respect for the game and give something back to it. It is the right thing to do on a personal level to show respect for your fellow man, and even if respecting your fellow man is not within your character, you ought to at least recognize that it is in your economic self-interest to create a pleasant environment at the table. In other words, even if you are naturally a nasty piece of garbage, have the good sense to train yourself at the table and fake a little goodwill.

Poker needs a little Christmas spirit injected into the game year-round. Those of you who offend and needle your opponents at the table need to change. The new year is a time of reflection and change, a traditional time to improve oneself and make commitments to be a better person by way of resolution. Take this time to make commitments to yourself to be good for poker - to handle yourself in a professional manner.

Be respectful and polite. Try to make the game fun for the people around you at the table. It's a no-brainer. It costs you nothing and gains you plenty, both personally and economically. Don't be condescending when players draw out on you. (Why on earth would you want to intimidate players into not making bad plays against you?) Don't give lessons at the table. (Why would you teach your opponents to make better plays against you?) Don't belittle your opponents. (Why would you embarrass someone into playing more carefully in the future?) If someone sucks out on you, don't take your frustrations out on him. That is immature; temper tantrums are for children, not professionals. Simply say, "Good hand," and go on to the next one.

Having a more controlled temperament at the table also will be good for your game. When you descend into the pit of incivility, it is usually a sign that you are losing emotional control. When you lose emotional control, the quality of your poker decisions is sure to deteriorate. By investing a little goodwill in the game, you not only serve the poker economy and protect the source of your own revenue, you also put a governor on your own emotional shortcomings, and are more likely to win more chips.

Great philosophers have argued that there is no such thing as true altruism. Even those who are the most giving, self-sacrificing people in the world do it because it makes them feel good, or fills a need within them. I'm too much of an optimist to believe that's true. But, there's nothing wrong with doing the right thing for reasons that benefit you. So, I hope you will heed my call to make a little Christmas spirit a year-round thing at your poker table, for whatever reason moves you.

Roy Cooke played winning professional poker for more than 16 years. He is a successful real estate broker/salesperson in Las Vegas - please see his ad below. If you would like to ask Roy poker-related questions, you may do so online at www.UnitedPokerForum.com.

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