With recent posts by several people about the stresses of playing too much poker, I thought about a recent article in Card Player by Robert Varkonyi by the same title. I also posted a link in The Reading List on a similar track. This seems like it's becoming more common and more important to think about.

How often do you see guy erupt in chat? How often do you? I know I'm occasionally guilty of it. I also respond way too often to guys who are tilting. (I may even be guilty of pushing them toward it, too.) This is wrong and many levels, and barely reasonable on any level. Sure, it might make me a bit when some gomer goes ballistic, but long term this could be very -EV indeed.

First, what if the guy goes away and never comes back? I may have run off a good contributor to the poker economy. I may also have influenced someone else on the table to find a more hospitable way to spend her time. And is there really any profit in it?

Second, it stresses me out, even if I'm doing it as much for my own enjoyment as for any potential profit. Even if I successfully berate some donk for an incredibly stupid play, does it make me feel any better?

Finally, it simply and really takes the fun out of it. While I'm playing poker to make money, I'm also doing it because I enjoy it. I really enjoy playing poker, as much as I've ever enjoyed anything I've done. (Ok, skiing was mostly fun, and sex is occasionally enjoyable, so poker is at least third on the fun scale.) I play poker for fun and profit. Take out the fun, and what do you have left. A job. Work. A drag, man.

So have fun, guys. Make sure everyone at your table is having fun. Laugh a little, smile a lot. Nothing may be more +EV.

CJ

When people do dumb things, either I ignore it or I congratulate them on their good play. You want them to do it again, so encourage it!

When muppets throw away their stack going all-in with like AJ, I tell them things like "Tough luck! You should have won that one!" and "Rebuy. You'll get it back." The goal is to get them to put more money at the table AND to make me look like an idiot to anybody watching.

hehyou guys have no self control.

I haven't berated anyone in a long time. Yesterday I lost a $1000 pot when a guy called my all-in with 99 on a board of TT8. I had KT of course....and he hit the 9 on the turn, of course.
I said nothing.

10 minutes later :
guys "says sorry about that full house hand, i got lucky pro."
me: "it's just money. ahh well, looks like i won't be getting laid tonight afterall.."

Couldn't believe he called me pro lol.

Excellent post, CJ. Also might be the first you've ever written that didn't go completely over my head and make me feel like an intellectual midget.

Although, alas, it had no effect on your "genital midget" complex. Understandable.