How to Handle Criticism at the Poker Table

Anyone that has played poker will have probably come across some sort of criticism even if you are a very good profitable player there’s always that arsehole who finds a reason to criticise one of your plays because they think they are better than you so they will try to put you down.

Here are some tips.

1. Agree.

The quickest way to get him to shut the fuck up is to agree with him even if you don’t.  He is obviously looking for a reaction from you, to argue and prove that he is right and the better player.  When you agree with him he will immediately be surprised and have nothing else to say.  If you say “Yeah you’re right I played that bad but got lucky” or something along those lines then he simply has no comeback as his needs are met.

2. Enjoy it.

Nobody likes to receive criticism but if you show that you aren’t bothered then he can’t continue as he’s not achieving anything.  It’s a bit like a bully who will attack those who are weak but if you show that it doesn’t bother you then they will get bored and stop.  Why should you even be bothered about what someone else thinks about your play?

Take the piss out of yourself for being stupid and this will show that you are a strong player and realise your actions.

3. There’s no right way to play.

This method works wonders and will probably get him on your side. It’s one I hear commonly used at the tables and often used by bad players who can’t explain their reasons but it is another way to not offer your opponent a comeback.    If you explain that there’s no right way to play a hand in poker because after all it’s mostly luck and if you do everything the ‘right’ way then people will know exactly how you play then they simply have to agree with you because they know this statement is true.

4. Think about an alternative.

As there’s no right way to play then you can think about an alternative play which will turn it into a discussion rather than an argument and discussions are cool.  Even if the alternative is the one your opponent suggested then say it which supports point 1.  Thank them for the advice.  People like to be thanked.

5. Thank

Following on from above, the simplest solution is to thank the player for the criticism.  Let them know you’re still learning the game and want to improve so you will go home, read some strategy articles and try not to do the same again.  Try not to be sarcastic about it though.

6. Ignore.

A popular choice amongst the shy ones and often very effective.  There’s no use in getting worked up over something stupid like something thinking they are better than you.  Some people are just bitter and angry or just plain idiots so there’s no need to give this person your attention.

The absolute worst thing you can do is argue back as this does yourself no favours.  He’s already made his decision so arguing is just going to make him try and prove his point further.

If you use any of these tips you may actually get the player to respect you as a player and that you are confident in your ability.  Once you have him respecting you then you can use this to your advantage.

If you have any other tips for handling criticism, please share your thoughts in the comments box.