Originally Posted by Parasurama

Some good thoughts here. I used to say nice hand every time because I wanted people to think they played well, but people can take that in a lot of different ways, and I don't want people to think I'm being sarcastic. Right now I don't say anything at all. I like to try to give off the impression that I'm tilting if possible, but it's better to think about how you could have played the hand better and about the other hands you're in then to try to think of something clever to say imo.

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

people are usually bitching at the way I played a hand, not the other way around.

Originally Posted by pocketfours

I of course didn't mean that you should put a lot of effort in thinking about what to write. Many players never write anything in the chat and that's completely fine. My point was that -if- you are going to write something, then write something nice and never ever berate a weak player or even a weak play by a better player.

Originally Posted by LawDude

I wouldn't worry so much about what you write. Over time, a fish is either going to improve their poker game or leave when they become convinced that they can't beat the game. Either way, I doubt chat comments will help much.

As a result, I will sometimes indicate, politely, what was wrong with the play. I'll type "nh". And then follow up with "not sure about calling that preflop raise with 10-7, though; didn't you think I might have Aces?".

I wouldn't do this if I really thought my comments would drain the aquarium. But I also want people to learn about the game-- I don't want everyone to play like Phil Hellmuth or Johnny Chan, but I also don't like playing with a bunch of people who don't know the first thing about what they are doing either, as they can increase variance a lot.

Originally Posted by drmcboy

The worse people play the better it is for you. And you will have fewer downswings with a bigger edge. You might have larger fluctuations inside a given session (Although I doubt it) but over even the medium term you'll have much better and more stable results. You're basically talking about moving up to where they respect your raises. Let me know if you want me to explain why that's wrong headed.

In addition, the vast majority of table coaches are tilt prone because they do not understand where the money comes from. If it doesn't matter what you say to fish one way or the other, why bother educating them? If you need to release some bad beat steam, we have a forum just for such purposes.

Originally Posted by LawDude

People who don't want to learn won't. Nobody's comments in chat will make a bit of difference-- we are only typing these things for our own benefit.

Originally Posted by d0zer

Wait...how do we benefit from this again?

Originally Posted by LawDude

As a result, I will sometimes indicate, politely, what was wrong with the play. I'll type "nh". And then follow up with "not sure about calling that preflop raise with 10-7, though; didn't you think I might have Aces?".

Originally Posted by pocketfours

I don't see any value in making this kind of comment. It only shows the other people at the table that you took the beat pretty hard and are very likely tilted. It also shows the experienced guys that you probably aren't very experienced (used to beats).

Originally Posted by Fnord

I just tell people I play bad and appologise when I show down a funny hand or give them a bad beat.

Originally Posted by pocketfours

It's not always polite to tell someone you play bad if you actually don't think you did (you weren't clear about this in your post). It can look like you are making the assumption that they didn't understand your play and it can be condescending.

This kindof happened to me some while ago in a 1knl short handed game at Full Tilt. I raised from SB to $35 with AKs. Villain 3bets to $115. I 4bet to $235 and villain shoves for $1115. I cover and call.

He shows 69s and spikes a nine to take the pot. Then he writes: "I don't need to hear how badly I played that. I know!". I had not written anything in the chat the whole session before that.

I thought his play was completely fine based on dynamics etc. and I didn't appreciate the comment. It's of course very possible that he didn't know his play was fine. I told him I thought his play looked completely standard and he just happened to run into a monster (I was being honest). I also told him his comment was uncalled for and he apologized for making it.

So, if you think you played bad, then go ahead and say it. If you don't think you did, then don't say you did. If you want to be polite, that is.

Originally Posted by LawDude

I just said "I know, I've been there" to him. His play wasn't poor (except for not laying down the hand when he knew he was beat), and neither was mine; he just got his aces cracked. And he smiled and said "and I've been where you are too".

Originally Posted by pocketfours

I can't always help myself.

Preflop: Hero is SB with 2, A
UTG calls $10, 4 folds, CO calls $10, 1 fold, Hero calls $5, BB checks

Flop: ($40) 5, 9, J (4 players)
Hero bets $30, 2 folds, CO calls $30

Turn: ($100) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $80, CO calls $80

River: ($260) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $150, Hero calls $150

Total pot: $560 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had 2, A (one pair, twos).
CO had K, 8 (high card, King).
Outcome: Hero won $557

Villain wrote: "Nice call donkey".
I replied: "Yes you are one" (he was)

Then he wrote how he hopes my family dies in a car accident.

I sure didn't have to reply anything to his first comment and I really regret that I did (unprofessional).

Originally Posted by bjsaust

Exactly the spot where "I had a pair!" fits. It all depends on image, like you say I'm not going to insult someone who thinks I'm decent by pretending otherwise, but if he's convinced I'm a donkey I'm happy to reinforce that.

Originally Posted by Revolver123

At 5NL I congratulate them on their win and tell them "well played."

I know that's cruel as I'm sending them down a path of disaster but it's the best way for me to get back at them for sucking out on me mwahahaha