Speech Play by Paul Zimbler

"How can this be?", I hear you say.

Let me start by stating the obvious, namely that while some people are naturally relaxed at a poker table and can talk when under pressure with ease, others just freeze. In fact, when they try talking to look strong, they end up doing the complete opposite.

I’ve made this mistake myself. In one instance, I was in front and convinced myself that as I was a 75% favourite, I wanted my opponent to call. It turned out I probably wasn’t the favourite, though my table talk got the call I wanted – perhaps my opponent thought I was weak. Who knows?

One certainty was that my As Ts didn’t look so good against his KJ. Not the type of situation you want with just 11 players remaining from a field of 711 in Europe’s biggest event – and this was a pot to make one of us the chip leader.

Good call or bad call is irrelevant. The fact is, I lost this pot as he spiked a Jack which probably cost me the Irish Open and a shot at a major title.

However, I have also used table talk used it to my advantage. One particular play in a televised semi final comes to mind.

I knew the player I was up against quite well and believed his thought process would see my chat as a double bluff indicating strength. Unfortunately the commentator disagreed, but that was not my concern at the time. All I needed to do was get a feel for what my opponent’s thought process would be.

Fortunately, I managed to turn the commentator’s input to my advantage as I now knew the world and his dog would believe that when I was talking too much, I was bluffing and that when I was quiet I had a hand. This proved very beneficial once the show was aired and I turned this perception to my immediate advantage.

Another televised example occurred in a six-handed Sit ‘n Go format.

I had a young online qualifier on my right who I had twice tried to bluff, firing three bullets, ie, betting the flop, then the turn and then the river. He called me down both times and I had to show my bluffs.

The last time, I managed to utilise some table talk, though in a slightly different manner to that you may imagine. I was talking to myself, but doing so out loud. This is a great strategy to employ and if done well, it works a treat.

In this particular instance, I could also factor into my equation the knowledge that he would probably be thinking, ‘I know he calls me down, but is this guy so crazy to try this trick 3 times?’ 

He didn’t know me too well as I never give up and if I believe this tactic would give me an edge, I’m always likely to try it again

Fortunately, it did work and it felt great, not least because I knew that if he called me, I would be near enough out and made to look a complete amateur:   the line between genius and pure stupidity is a very fine one, especially when you’re being watched. I went on to play him heads up and win the heat.

So, what did I say and how did my talk ensure the move worked?.

Well, I already knew this guy was a good player and that he understood betting patterns. He was also aware of the fact that once the board paired the river, I either had a monster hand or was bluffing; there was no in between.

I spoke very gently and was talking the hand through. I said what I thought he had and asked myself how much will he pay. I made a calculated bet to look like I was begging for a call, yet not giving him a price that was too cheap. He had also just lost a big pot before this hand and clearly wanted to maintain his chips. This was also a factor in the way I subsequently played the hand which, incidentally was later described as insane.

Talking a player into a hand

Curiosity is something that poker players suffer from, especially bad players. They want to see your hand and will often ask you the question after you have bet into them..... If I fold will you show me your hand?

This is the funniest question and is probably the most common question used at the tables.

Answering it is where the answer lies!

If you say ‘yes’, then most (but definitely not professionals) players will release their hand as they will no longer be curious.

If you want them to call, you should answer something like “I’d like to, but I can’t”

Such a response will put 99% of your opponents on alert because they think you’re ‘at it’ and will call. Alternatively, you can just say ‘no’ and shake your head, a response that works most of the time.

The most effective table talk is when you start at the beginning of a hand. Talk out loud about what you put your opponent on. You can really only do this heads up, because otherwise it affects another player in the pot and this is not allowed or correct to do.

When you put a player on a hand, one of two things happen. Either you’re right, so it slows them down and makes them play differently, or else you’re wrong, but they want to have the hand you put them on and they then play the hand they’re holding differently (ie, badly) giving you an edge. Opponents will slow down in the hand or try to bluff to represent what you said.  This is true no matter what the flop is...... Try it, it works!

Calling in cards is also a good one.

Players never know if you're truthfully calling in what you want or just saying a random card for speech play.

Say you need it to pair or a card to complete a flush. You always see a lot of people asking for a deuce. Most of the time they’re bluffing as they want you to believe they’ve already made the best hand. So try asking for a card that you actually need. When it comes, you can joke and then bet. Most of the time, you can over bet in such situations and get paid off. Why? Well, the gambling world is full of non believers.

The reverse is also worth trying, ie if you call a card in you don’t want, occasionally it comes and you can decide to either get a free card or represent it as being hugely important, depending on how this has worked for you in the past and your table image. As a general rule of thumb, it pays to confuse your opponents.

When players talk at the table or to you what should you look for?

Players talk with different vibrations in the tone depending if they are strong or weak
Player’s voices seem to get higher if they are lying/weak

Watch for the way they move their hands while they talk and where they put them

Watch their lips, if they are sealed shut, they’re normally bluffing

Eye movement:  see where they are looking. People you ask questions to look to the left (your right) when answering with the truth. They look left with a lie.

Smile at the person you’re talking to or who is talking to you.  This is the best way to get information subconsciously. It is IMPOSSIBLE to fake a real smile; you just need to know what you’re looking for.

Good players/table talkers will try to talk to you as much as possible to help them decide what hand you have. As they try to assess as many tells and use all the information at hand to come up with the correct answer/decision. You will see this when you watch poker on television; two of the most accomplished table talkers are the great Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negranau.

Poker is played at its best when you know all about your opponents. Home games are fun and table talk is part of the fun, but use it to your advantage and learn as you go. Be careful if you decide to step up to a bigger game/environment and remember the FISH GET CAUGHT BECAUSE THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS.

One last piece of advice and this one is serious......................

Wherever you play always ask the rules before you play.

RULES are different in every card room in the world! Always check the house rules especially on table talk.

Some games don’t allow table talk or are very strict on what you can and can’t say. If you ask before you play, not only will you know what you are allowed to say and not say, but will know what to do if your opponent starts talking and if he knows the rules or not. One step ahead is where you need to be at all times.