<SPAN>Anyone that has played with me knows I will tend to talk a bit during a game.<SPAN> </SPAN>Sometimes it’s just random babble and sometimes I’m laying a trap.<SPAN> </SPAN>Many pros talk in live play in order to pull information out of another player.<SPAN> </SPAN>They are looking for subtle clues in the answer, reaction, lack of response or even facial expression.<SPAN> </SPAN>Online players can’t necessarily pull information in this manner but you can set a tone of play.<SPAN> </SPAN>Below are a few examples of what I mean. <READMORE><SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN>

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<SPAN>Misdirection</SPAN>

<SPAN>I’m playing a guy heads up in a $200 SnG.<SPAN> </SPAN>He makes a min raise and I call with 5 2.<SPAN> </SPAN>I’m hoping to see some low cards and win a small pot.<SPAN> </SPAN>The flop hits 6 4 3; talk about flopping the nuts!<SPAN> </SPAN>Problem is the flop is too good.<SPAN> </SPAN>Unless I’m really lucky and this guy also hit on this flop, I’m not going to make much on the hand.<SPAN> </SPAN>In order to capitalize on the hand I have to entice my opponent to bet into me.<SPAN> </SPAN>He throws out a small feeler bet which is expected.<SPAN> </SPAN>If I re-raise here he’s gone and if I just call he’s probably going to start checking.<SPAN> </SPAN>I type in “I think my 6 is good here.” and smooth call.<SPAN> </SPAN>I’m telling the guy I have top pair hoping he has 2 over cards and one of them hits.<SPAN> </SPAN>This could backfire on me and make the guy shutdown altogether if he doesn’t hit.<SPAN> </SPAN>Turn card is the J and he makes a ½ pot bet which I smooth call after thinking for a second.<SPAN> </SPAN>River is a Q and he quickly pushed all in assuming with 2 over cards on the board I’m going to fold the pair of 6s I just told him I had.<SPAN> </SPAN>I call, he shows K 2, game over.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN>

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<SPAN>Pissed off Players make mistakes</SPAN>

<SPAN>This hand happened during a multi-tournament.<SPAN> </SPAN>The guy to my right just took a bad beat a hand or two prior.<SPAN> </SPAN>I’m in the BB with 66, he’s in the SB with J4, and it folds around to him.<SPAN> </SPAN>He calls and I just check. I know I’ve got the best hand but since he is tilting, if I raise him pre-flop he’s liable to move all in and force me to make a decision I don’t want to make.<SPAN> </SPAN>The Flop hits KJ6 and he throws out a bet thinking his J is probably good.<SPAN> </SPAN>I know the guy is still pissed from his bad beat so I try to taunt him a little.<SPAN> </SPAN>I say “Just fold dude” and call.<SPAN> </SPAN>Now what player is going to tell you to fold if he has a hand?<SPAN> </SPAN>Turn is an 8 and he moves all in quickly.<SPAN> </SPAN>I call, he’s out.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>I will do this in live play as well.<SPAN> </SPAN>In Tunica during a satellite game there was an older guy to my right that was just horrible.<SPAN> </SPAN>He kept calling huge bets and/or go all in with trash hands that would some how hit every time.<SPAN> </SPAN>He sucked out on me with AJ vs KJ, KK vs KQ, and AK vs A6.<SPAN> </SPAN>Fortunately I survived all of these hands and was sure his luck would run out.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN>

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<SPAN>I make several comments to the guy basically telling him he sucks in no uncertain terms trying to portray the pissed off, on tilt player.<SPAN> </SPAN>Few hands later I pick up 99 in the SB and this guy of course raises my blind.<SPAN> </SPAN>I call and the BB who is very short stacked moves in for a few bucks more and we both call.<SPAN> </SPAN>Flop hits A K 9.<SPAN> </SPAN>Keeping with his poor play the fool starts betting at the dry pot. (read my other article as to why this is dumb)<SPAN> </SPAN>Doing my best Hollywood I throw a raise in the pot barking at the guy that he’s an idiot and I know he’s bluffing!!!<SPAN> </SPAN>The dealer is convinced by my acting and tells me to calm down.<SPAN> </SPAN>As the old guy is reaching for his chips, another jackass at the table who played with me previously and saw me do a similar move to perfection says “ha ha, he’s got the nuts”.<SPAN> </SPAN>The old guy then folds and I take down what should have been a huge pot.<SPAN> </SPAN>Now I really am pissed and in my friendliest voice tell the jackass he needs to STFU during a hand.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>When am I lying?</SPAN>

<SPAN>Technically I always lie when ever I tell someone what cards I have.<SPAN> </SPAN>It’s against chatting rules online to disclose your cards and it’s also a penalty in live play.<SPAN> </SPAN>But sometimes I will say I have certain cards either pre-flop or even post flop just to get the other player thinking.<SPAN> </SPAN>My goal is to have them out think themselves and make mistakes.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN>

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<SPAN>I’m in a hand with three other players and there are two s on the flop.<SPAN> </SPAN>The turn is another and when it’s my turn to act I say “Think my AQ of s is good here?”, and make a small bet.<SPAN> </SPAN>I don’t even have a in my hand but I did hit bottom pair.<SPAN> </SPAN>If everyone folds then I just stole a pot.<SPAN> </SPAN>Unless someone really did hit a flush I’m not going to get raised and will see the river for cheap for a chance to hit my kicker.<SPAN> </SPAN>If I have to show my hand then when I do hit a flush no one is going to believe me when I tell them.<SPAN> </SPAN>Two of the three players call and we all check the river.<SPAN> </SPAN>I show my little pair with no to be found and lose to the guy with top pair.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>A few hands later I’ve got A 5 in the SB and I limp in with the BB and two others.<SPAN> </SPAN>This time I hit the nut flush on a K 8 4 flop.<SPAN> </SPAN>I say “Think my Q 10 of s is good here?” and check.<SPAN> </SPAN>I’m hoping that one of these guys has the Q in his hand and now knows I’m lying again or they remember my previous comments when I didn’t have any s.<SPAN> </SPAN>Next player bets, gets a call, SB folds, and I call.<SPAN> </SPAN>Turn card is a 10 and I bet ½ the pot.<SPAN> </SPAN>Next player calls and the other folds.<SPAN> </SPAN>River is a 2 and I figure I won’t get anymore action with 4 s on the board.<SPAN> </SPAN>I bet the pot and the guy calls showing K Q.<SPAN> </SPAN>He’s not happy when I show my nut flush.<SPAN> </SPAN>He just knew I was kidding around just like I did a few hands before.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>Now this may seem like a great plan but trust me when I tell you it backfires.<SPAN> </SPAN>Some players are oblivious to anything that has happened prior in the game.<SPAN> </SPAN>Or I may hit a big hand and lure a player to call my bets only to get sucked out on.<SPAN> </SPAN>You can out think yourself and get trapped just as easy as your opponent.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>---Troll</SPAN>
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