Always Leave Them Laughing

Poker is a serious business when you are playing for money.

Go into the average card room and look at the faces of the players. In most cases, they will be masks of grimness, study and deep thought. You will rarely find a smiling face. They are out for blood.

In the past, I have been one of those players. I used to practice my 'poker face' in the men's room before the game began. I would think negative thoughts about the other players and try to work myself into a state of fury that they would even THINK of taking my money, my children's inheritance, and the extra cash I was putting aside for a cruise to Hawaii or the Caribbean.

But then I saw how some players were handling their foes and it changed my mind.

Oklahoma Johnny Hale was a good example. He would tell stories in between hands. Usually the stories had a funny ending and the other players would laugh despite themselves, even when the dealer pushed the pot to Johnny.

That was when I decided humor was a powerful weapon to strip power away from my opponents.

I have often used jokes to make the other players smile or laugh out loud. When I do this, I win more often than I lose.

When I sit down at a poker player, I want to feel relaxed and in control. So I use a psychological ploy by announcing in a loud voice, 'This is the table my mother warned me about. But nobody listens to their mother,' and then I take my seat.

The dealer will smile. Other players might grin and one might even say something.

After a while, I will comment to the dealer, 'You're the best one-card Texas Hold'em dealer in the joint,' or, 'If you don't start giving me better cards, as soon as my attorney gets out of jail, you'll be in deep trouble.'

The dealer might reply, 'Sounds like you don't have a very good lawyer' while a player may say, 'He sounds like my attorney.' I will cap the exchange by shaking my head and saying, 'He's a lousy attorney. He hasn't won a case for me yet.'

Humor goes a long way toward winning in poker. For one thing, it temporarily takes the players' minds off the game.

Another favorite remark of mind is a quote by W.C. Fields that 'all poker tables are made up of thieves, liars, scoundrels and an occasional gentleman. Deal me in.'

Some players, of course, hate humor. It takes them off their game. But that is precisely why I use it.

If a player complains to the dealer about the talk at the table -- and one or two have in the past -- I say, 'Kibbitzing has been a part of poker since the game began and I see no reason to bury it.'

The idea behind using humor at a poker table is to make the other players smile as they lose their money to you. It's a civil way to rob them when you always leave them laughing.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).