Poker News

No-one really wants to hear bad beat stories, and I think most people switch off pretty early on in the story.  However there has been some interesting additions to many live tournaments recently to combat this.

Firstly, Bad Beat booths, where players can record their moan on video.  “Just let it all out son”!

Secondly, Bad Bear Ears, seen in as prestigious of tournaments  as the WSOP.  Basically a couple of guys sat there, you pay them some fee (eg $5) and they will genuienly listen to your bad beat story in its entirity.   And I mean properly listen, and they will ask you questions and point out what the sick parts of the hand were, in sympathy.     You might think to yourself, ‘I’m not paying $5 for that’, but believe me many do, and there is often something resembling a queue of lingerers.    Poker therapy is available cheaper than the standard shrink folks - Available at a casino lobby near you!

I think there is a reasonble amount of justification for the use of NH (nice hand) at the poker tables being made illegal.  Online poker players seem to have a great tendancy to either over-use it, or to use it in inappropriate circumstances, leading to the annoyance of others (namely me) at the tables.

In a recent survey, 92.1% of NH useage was deemed to be relating to when a player had a pretty looking hand, as opposed to actually playing the hand well.  This sort of misuse could well be very confusing to new and aspiring players leading them down the much travelled path towards donktown.

If NH were made illegal in online poker, the world would undoubtly be a much better place.  I look forward to seeing it happen soon.