Trash-Talking at the 2008 World Series of Poker

Oh yeah, you can bet your ass there will be players talking trash at the WSOP.

There he goes again, the player we all love the hate. The player who talks on and on about everything under the sun during a poker game. It doesn't even matter if you try to ignore him. He'll ask you questions, tell you about his day, and mock the play of other players. He'll keep being annoying for the entire duration of the game. Imagine all this happening at the final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker.

Like it or not, table talk is part of the game. That player you are complaining about may not just be annoying, he may be annoying on purpose, meaning he's using table talk as poker strategy.

If he's asking you questions, watch out. He's not being a chatterbox just for the heck of it. He's trying to get information on the strength or weaknesses of your hand.

Be careful of how you react to his table banter. The ease of your response, your irritation, your blank stare, your casual shrug, all these actions mean something. Worse case scenario, even if you’re not giving off tells, he is effectively taking off your focus from the game. Once this happens, he wins the pot, your car, your wife, or worse, the 2008 WSOP bracelet.

So how do you compete against a master of table talk? It's really simple.

Just shut up and listen. This way, you avoid divulging important information on your hand and the way you play. At the same time, by shutting up and listening, you can catch the master at his own game.

Every single time he speaks, he is already giving away information and tells. Use this to your advantage and soon you'll be taking the sweetest revenge.

Taking all his chips.

Which player will last the longest at the 2008 World Series of Poker?

Doyle Brunson 7.00

Daniel Negreanu 5.50

Phil Ivey 5.50

Chris Ferguson 8.50

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more poker betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 World Series of Poker WSOP Bracelet