Hand Advice
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CarbonPoker · Full Tilt · Cake Poker · PokerStars · Ultimate Bet · Players Only · Bodog
Something odd used to get on my nerves when playing.
It seemed minor for the longest time, and honestly, it never really occurred to me. I started out on Bodog, which is to say the least, a unique client to play. I had a setting on there that I had set years ago that shrunk the player's to just name and bet amount. I was so used to playing with just that configuration.
When I first started looking at both FTP, PokerStars, and PartyPoker (back in the day for the US people), I never changed any of their config's to match what I was most comfortable, and more importantly, profitable. I took a long time off from poker all together this summer. I wanted to play on one of the two sites, other than Bodog, so I chose PokerStars because of the game selection, and times of the tournaments.
Once I went in and changed my skin to one that no longer showed avatar's, or whatever, I became much more comfortable playing again. I am not sure why it is that they affected my play, but for some reason, they were and I realized it.
It is easy to say that my recent results are, a heater, but as a player who was profitable for a long time on Bodog, I did not honestly believe that I was as bad as my results on PokerStars were showing in the past.
Just one more thing to think about when playing online. Perhaps there is something about the enviornment within the client itself that may affect the way that you process the information from what you are seeing. It may sound odd, but sometimes strange things can have an adverse affect on your play.
Anyone have any thoughts on this topic?
-j
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Interesting points indeed. It's probably a subconscious thing. You might make pre judgements (sometimes wrong) about players based on their avatar. On stars I had a donkey as my avatar and I swear people called me lighter and played back at me because of it. Do what works though.
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I started out on PS and AP, back in 05-06. I was kind of used to their layout and minimal avatars. When I first signed on to FTP in 2007 (My brother had a BR and I bought money from him rather than hassle with a deposit) I was really upset with the cartoonish avatars. I thought the place looked like a joke! It took me a while to get over it.
Now I've played for a couple of years with the standard Vegas tabletop and avatars. I've tried a couple of times to switch to another background and couldn't deal with it. And I'm so used to seeing the avatars, I thought the table looked naked when I played for a bit without them. It's funny how the psychology works.
I'm thinking about making a deposit on UB, since I hear their games are so soft, but the idea of playing on their (relatively) sparse tables does sort of throw me off.
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Hi,
I understand what you mean, I have been playing on FT for the last year. I have on occasion tried other poker sites, when I was given free money to play (I.e. 50$ free bonus)
I can say that I felt that exact feeling of "uncomfortability" It actually felt like I couldn't play, or at least did not care on how I played or the outcome. Perhaps this was because this was bonus money, although I am leaning much more towards the fact that I really disliked the Interface ! Since then, i've stuck to FT !
Pj
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 Sp1ctacular3: | |
Interesting points indeed. It's probably a subconscious thing. You might make pre judgements (sometimes wrong) about players based on their avatar. On stars I had a donkey as my avatar and I swear people called me lighter and played back at me because of it. Do what works though.
Funny you mention that. I have no avatar on Stars specifically because I want to project a certain image.
I have no avatar, I very rarely play more than 1-2 tables, and my screenname is my first initial followed by my last name. I want people to think that I've just started playing online and that I'm easy money. I find that some of my opponents (the ones that notice this anyway) tend to respect my raises and rarely try multi-street bluffs against me since they figure I'm just playing my cards.
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Don't know if anyone else does this but I'm ocd about my stack size. For example if i have 21,122 chips I get annoyed if it drops to 19,998 but will be just fine if it stays at 20,000. I'm weird like that :(
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| j_farah: | |
Funny you mention that. I have no avatar on Stars specifically because I want to project a certain image.
I have no avatar, I very rarely play more than 1-2 tables, and my screenname is my first initial followed by my last name. I want people to think that I've just started playing online and that I'm easy money. I find that some of my opponents (the ones that notice this anyway) tend to respect my raises and rarely try multi-street bluffs against me since they figure I'm just playing my cards.
Seems like the small gain in equity you get from the few players who assume that you are playing straight forward based on the number of tables you are playing, etc. would easily be offset by increasing your volume if you are able to profitably mulitable.
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As far as I'm concerned, avatars and screen names (often) constitute tells. And reverse tells. Obviously. Durr & OMGClayAiken both chose their names to appear "stupid." Or annoying. Or both. Two smarter players it'd be hard to find. I forget durrr's avatar on FTP, but Galfond's is an old fat lady. Whitelime has been using a crazy plant his entire, hugely profitable career. While krantz has a clown. In all cases, they are trying to appear weaker than they really are. Watch your opponents' play vis a vis the avatar and screen name. Invaribly, the "cooler" the name and/or avatar, the weaker the player. On FTP, you have little to fear from the Doberman or Mike Tyson. Beware the little white poodle. In live play, when they appear strong, they are typically weak. Online, when they have a screen name like takeallurmoney or makinucry, they are likely to do neither. On Stars, I have a photo of myself in cowboy hat and sun glasses. I am often insulted as a fat hick. I am neither and I am guessing by these insults that I can shove them closer to tilt. Doyle would also be a fat hick, I guess. The idea is not to ignore the info you are giving off with your screen names and your avatars. And always note the info being given to you by the opponents' screen names & avatars. - JDW
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Sounds like a perfect example of a post hoc causation fallacy, but if it works, go for it.
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