2:40pm: I get a lot of questions about whether it’s a smart decision or not to use the chat feature while playing heads up sit n gos. Personally, I think it’s completely a matter of personality and how you react to it. If you feel like you’re giving away more than you’re getting in return then I wouldn’t suggest doing it. On the other hand, if you feel like you can use chat to successfully manipulate your opponent into playing the way you’d like them to play, then by all means go for it.

Some people say “gl” before every match, but do they really mean it? I’m as polite as they come as far as table etiquette and manners are concerned, but I truly believe anyone who wishes someone good luck in a heads up poker match is only doing so because they are wishing karma will reward them for being nice. Therefore, saying “gl” doesn’t really mean “good luck”, it means “I’m doing the right thing by wishing you luck so that maybe by some off chance karma will return the favor and throw the luck to my side instead.”

Anyhow, this goes much deeper than “gl,” I’m talking about play breaking, time consuming chatter designed to throw you off your game. I’m talking about when you have a dead on read on someone, call them with King high, and then see the blue letters light up in the chat box. You know they’ve said something referring to the play, and there’s a good chance it’s negative. The real question is: Should you look? Should you even have chat on at all?

To be honest, 90% of the time my chat is OFF. That’s not because I feel like I give away more than I get in return. Rather, it’s a result of me feeling uncomfortable even entertaining the idea of being friendly with someone with whom I have intentions of taking their money. I do feel a little bad that in keeping chat off I may be perhaps rejecting extended “arms of handshakes” in cyberspace. But as I always say, this is a business. This is about money. Every choice I make is to maximize my profit, and to make me feel as comfortable as possible in doing so.

… and I feel comfortable with chat off. Most of the time anyways.