Something about online play that really irritates

[Barnfather]

Ok, I know that 'tells' online are limited pretty much to betting patterns and how quickly people bet etc, but something I have seen more and more recently which is really annoying is where someone has clearly read something about online tells - probably one of the books which advocate waiting x seconds before making a decision on play - and are following the advice to the letter and making games mind-numbingly frustrating.

On one SNG earlier, there was a guy who ALWAYS waited until the '[Player] you have 15 seconds to respond' message before playing....even if he was going to obviously fold.

After that marathon game, another SNG had another bloke who not only did the above, but then hit the 'time' button and waited a further 5 seconds before playing. On every single hand and every single play.

Sure, they are not giving tells away but there is less play before the blinds go up and its frustrating to every single player on there. Some advice has a lot to answer for...

Apologies for the rant

[Dice Man]

Bluff folding is pretty fucking pointless.

[aaron1005]

I wish you would write that out properly using slang words, I am a thick fuck!
He/She wouldn't take ages on purpose really. You don't know he is obviously going to fold either because you don't know what their cards are!

[Barnfather]

You don't think some people take ages on purpose? Really?

Its simply not the case. I am starting to see it all the time on Stars.

In the case of the first guy (or gal) I mentioned, they waited every single time until the time warning before playing. The second guy (or gal) not only waited for that but then pushed the 'Time' button and then waited some more before each and every play.

And yes, you can tell when they are obviously going to fold. Over a period of a game you see their patterns and the way they play, so I knew that the guy puts out small feeler bets on the flop and folds to any significant raise. Lets say he bets $50 to see the flop, then leads out with another $50 raise. Other player goes all-in for $1800....its obvious he is going to fold. Trust me, over a game you spot patterns. And when he does just that time after time but waits an age first, its frustrating.

Also, he would wait the same time when in BB before checking to see the flop. He *never* raised from this position to protect his blind, so almost every orbit he is waiting this painful amount of time before playing.

But whether you know he is going to raise or fold or check isn't really the point. The point is that its trying to remove tells to the nth level and I can only put that down to what is becoming common (but irritating) online advice.

Dice man is right. Bluff folding is totally pointless. But I am seeing it a lot (well not bluff folding per se, but this 'wait x before doing anything').

Incidently, its not - in the case of the two guys today - due to multitabling either, which was my first thought.

[ajtombs]

Agree with OP

Its like Jesus Ferguson - it annoys me - stop taking all day to make your shitty decision and hurry up. Also i find it quite fgunny when e.g. they bet say 500 into a 100 pot (after taking time) and think, because they took time it will some how make people call instead
Finally i think some ppl probably do it on purpose just to wind other people up

[carlco]

i got my chat banned so i always use up every single second to really annoy people like you

[DanAngel]

Is putting people on tilt by annoying them, or by taking your time over a decision you've already made, or by any other 'mind' method not part of poker?

If not, then shouldn't we all just play Limit Poker?

Although, a line has to be drawn somewhere. Man, I watched Hellmuth rant at Dragomir at the WSOP 2008 feature table. He called him an idiot no end of times, ranting away. Poor old Dragomir clearly tried to hold his calm, then let go. It was great to watch, and Dragomir was fuming, retaliating a calling Hellmuth the idiot. There comes a point when trying to put people on tilt through unetiquette play needs to stop. Surely?

I felt for Dragomir. Although, thought he handled himself well.

[Pinocchio]

Also if people are playing multiple tables it can take them longer to respond.

[princefan]

I effing hate those ppl. Surely there is some software that could be able to fix this.

-Teddy Rainmen