It may be entirely beyond the average poker player that at any moment of the game he or she projects a specific image. Players are either unaware of the fact that an image had better be consciously maintained or trying to avoid projecting any image by assuming a sort of somberly inexpressive expression. Shielded behind shades and baseball cap, unsmiling, moodily silent, they believe that they thus “minimize” communication with the rest of the table.

Yet they are not invisible and they will always project some kind of persona and divulge enough information for the good player to decipher and use. What they are really doing is attracting better players than themselves to the table and detracting the lamer players that they could actually win money from.

A blank face will not keep you from becoming observed. Actively engaging in controlled conversation with other players will bring better results than a stone face and silence. Actually the blank face probably denotes more weakness than strength.

If it is a retreat from controlled active participation, it is always a weakness (the alternative is not hyperactivity, but balanced calculated manipulation). Moreover, these players probably do not suspect that for the skilled opponent they probably still have tells of one type or another somewhere about their inevitably, even if reluctantly, living breathing person.

A non-serious player will look for a table where folks seem to be having fun. They will cruise around the room until they stumble upon the table with laughing friendly players gathered around. They are not looking for a serious game but for some fun and so a potential opponent’s skills are not a priority.

For the career player, these fun seeking amateurs are his bread and butter and he will cater to their every whim. The wise player knows that these good time amateurs are where his earnings originate and will encourage them to stay and play by being a witty raconteur while emptying their wallets. A not-so-great but happy player will linger at an amusing table, risk more and lose more while always in a good mood. This professional’s dream player would not go near a table manned with stone cold zombies.

Vibrant conversation and good humor with a few compliments on other’s good play will earn the expert their trust and keep the amateurs coming back to the table. They are not in the game for money or the rush of adrenaline in a high stakes game. Having a good time is their priority. Losing a little in the meantime is not a problem as long as they are being adequately entertained.

Keep your weaker opponents in a good mood and you will keep up their good hopes, believing that luck may still take their side. Good time and occasional “luck” may turn them into regular players and into regular income and attract still more amateurs. But a show of cold indifference will only make them disgusted with themselves or the table or both.

Top professionals know that they always project an image and are always careful about what they project. They design the image according to the best of their interests, not to avoid contact. Their key to success lies not only in superior technique but often in the ability to create, through persona and ability to manipulate the game cleverly, situations which project a positive experience for their unsuspecting prey.

The author is a full time online poker player and makes the majority of his income from his online play and rakeback at Absolute Poker. To sign up for a Rakeback account of your own visit Rakeback Solution.

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