Chatty Kathy and Poker

When you are sitting around the poker table, have you ever noticed that guy or gal who just cannot keep their mouth shut? We have all seen them. When they get nervous or excited or happy or whatever, they begin talking more and more.  I happen to be a quiet person, but I rather like Chatty Kathy and her brother Chatty Ken.  I like to encourage them and ask them questions.  They love it and while they are feeling heard and enjoying some happy face to face time I am collecting my payment for services rendered. 

That may sound a little harsh, but when I started out I hated that chatty person at the table.  They drove me crazy.  Now don’t get me wrong, I can concentrate like a sniper on the front lines but I just don’t like unnecessary jabbering.  Then I realized that there was a tremendous resource right there at the table with me.  A resource with money ready to give to me or the others there. A resource that I had been leaving untapped.  So, I began to ask the occasional question of the chatty one.  It is not all that hard to draw someone out when what they really want is to be drawn out so they can talk. 

I ask them about great games that they have played and winners and losers and about their philosophy of poker.  And they tell and tell and tell.  And I truly mean “tell.”  Along the way they drop lots of hints and clues to their game tonight.  They may bitch about not really having enough money to really play the game tonight. Once many years ago (it was a bit stupid I admit) I gave Chatty my car keys so they could drive a few blocks and hit up their ATM machine for a little extra money.  Chatty also brought back several six packs of beer.  While everyone else was drinking and playing their hearts out, I was quietly pretending to drink from my can and socking away one little pot after the other.  Rent was not much of a problem that month, for me at least.

But seriously, there is always a loquacious sole around a poker table.  Identify them early on, target them with a few questions and be friendly.  After all, you are going home with their money. 

So, what is a specific strategy to use with Chatty?  This is really a skill that can’t be learned anywhere but in the moment.  But remember to ask them questions?  Ask them about the most recent poker games on television?  Or maybe ask them about a current famous poker player, or about their philosophy of poker?  Leading questions that are not terribly obvious work best.  Many of you may be thinking about helping them find a drink or two.  But just as important as the questions is really listen.  Really listen.  Hear between the lines as it were.  Chatty can be your best friend at the table.

Oftentimes as serious poker players all we need is just a tiny bit of extra information.  The game can turn on just that.  So listen to Chatty and ask the questions and collect your pay.  And don’t feel badly about it, if they sat down with a psychologist it would costs them at least a hundred bucks an hour…you may have really helped them out.