Dealing with Poker Bullies
It started in grade school and almost definitely continues on to this day, and that’s the fact that no one likes to get hassled by a bully in any way shape or form, unfortunately there is no shortage of these individuals at the poker table. A poker bully can define a player that is either verbally abusive and/or is displaying bully-esque tactics at the table such as constant raising/re-rasing and hyper-aggressive play. Getting stuck with one or more or these types of players of players can put a lot of pressure on everyone else at the table, which can affect the mood and pace of the overall game.
Bullies that dole out harassment of the verbal variety are pretty easy to deal with, just tell a floorman or the card room manager that you would appreciate if the abusive player would keep their opinions to themselves. You’re on private property when you walk into a casino/card room and their word is the law, so if they tell a player to be quiet then that person has to be quiet, and often times the floorman will more than happy accommodate your request as they are far more concerned with keeping the even-tempered players happy then the ones being jerks.
As for the bullies that use their chips to push others around, the only way to counter it is with good, patient play. Don’t fall into their trap and call their raises with mediocre hands, as when you don’t catch your card (and most times you won’t), you will have to fold when the aggressive player invariably bets into you again. People play this way to put others off their usual game and force them into awkward situations. Be prepared to simply move to another table if it becomes a major problem for you, otherwise you’re going to be stuck sitting there waiting for premium hands or strong flops, at which point you can let the aggressive player hang themselves with their constant betting.
By: Chris Iaquinta
