There were like three dudes reading at the table next to you at the Borgata when I saw you last Wednesday night. One of the guys was actually highlighting his book.

Where did I say listening to an ipod is cool? I listen to one not because it is cool, but because I dont care to hear all the table clatter. Poker might be a social event for you, but for me it is a livelihood. I come to make money. I understand it is a social occasion for some, and most of the time I am sociable, but if there is a guy at the table who gets on my nerves, the ipod goes on.

Also, I say you are on a high horse, because you are trying to define what poker should be for everyone.

MitchL, tv's are in a poker rooms because it's a proven fact that poker players (mass being men) are also sports bettors and want to watch the games. I'm all for tv's because it gets people in the room. no tvs and the bettors, and fans would just be in the sports book. Reading is different.

"cool" not being used as in the "GROOVY" manner, but in the "it's cool, i'm okay with it" manner.

I play for a living too and i dont care if you do or not, it's still a compitition therefor social. look it up on wikipedia. your choice to be social is your choice.

I prefer to play video poker on my iPhone while i'm playing poker. And i don't slow the game down, either. Video draw poker in my left hand and chips in my right, baby! 8-]

They dont have sportsbooks anywhere but Nevada, which leads me to believe that is where you live. You need to understand that drinks are only free in Vegas, sportbetting is only legal in Vegas. Poker is much more social in Vegas, because of the free drinks. If you make ipods, books, mags, etc against the rules at cardrooms putside of vegas, then they would lose a ton of business as well. My point is that there are many distractions in the casino. One distraction should not be made worse than another just because you think the game should be social.

I quoted you the first time because you said poker wasnt social, and because you said it's more rude to tell someone they consider you reading as being rude... I'm not saying it should be social, i'm saying it is by definition. Reading at a table is considered rude by a lot of people, which is the question of this thread.

just put on your ipod, and phase everyone out while txting and reading. Should be +EV for an anti social like yourself. Pretty easy to "read" what kind of poker player you are from over the nit... uh, i mean net.

oh yeah and the Wynn is in Vegas, i'm in the evening shadow of it, so on the east side of the Wynn... in Vegas.

Right or wrong, I agree with the poster that said many of those who object to others reading at the table do it because of the old-fashioned etiquette rule about not reading at a dinner table.

While most of us agree that a poker table is not same situation as a dinner table, I would definitely do what I can to make a person that does think so feel more welcome, because he's more likely to be a loose/passive socializing type of player. While I rarely read at the table anyway, I will go out of my way to be a bit more conversational than normal if this guys wants to stick around and have fun no matter how many buy-ins it costs him.

I've said this before, but one thing I've learned about the friendly social players, many are smart enough to know they're up against tougher competition and will probably lose over the evening unless they get lucky. But if they have fun, they don't mind losing.

I bolded the part thats wrong.
Drinks are free at the Atlantic City card rooms as well as the Connecticutt card rooms. Not sure if I misunderstood you here.

lol terrible analogy, most people generally eat with other people they actually like, not random strangers. It's perfectly acceptable OP as long as you don't slow down the table

Thank you all for your replies! They really were helpful... The majority of replies felt it was ok to read, of course, as long as im not slowing the game down. But I also see both sides of the argument, so I thank you 2+2ers.

You know absolutely nothing about me, and to pretend you do based posts I make defending those who choose to read out of boredom to pass the time by at the table shows just how ignorant you are. Also, you make ridiculous statements suggesting that reading and texting is running players out of the room. this is just silly and to pretend otherwise shows that you are really out of touch with the typical B&M situation.
You ask anyone who has ever played live with me and they will tell you I am anything but anti-social, and I am certainly not a nit, in fact I am one of the losest and most aggressive players in any game and I generally always stick up for the fish in almost any situation within reason. Wearing Ipods and reading has become accepted at the poker table and I have never heard a soul complain about it, unless it slowed down the game.Your posts are typical of those who have to resort to ad hominem attacks when they fail at logic and persuasion.

While playing 7 card stud, @ the MoheganSun. I was reading the Daily Form, while placing bets @ the New Sports Betting booth they put in the Poker Rm, Players were mad @ me because I was watching the Race on the TV behind me, & the Dogs on the other TV to my left, and not knowing I should have my Ante up quick enough for them to get there $$$ back, believe me I felt their pain, but if they put little slots into the tables, they'ed be busy too, on other multi tasks of Gaming

There seem to be different questions here:

1) Is it, as an abstract moral question, rude to read at a poker table in a public cardroom?

I go with no here. If it were a private game set up mostly as a social event that would be a whole different story. As to the dinner table analogy, I'll read at a lunch counter with random strangers but not at someone's home or if specifically invited to a table....


2) Is it bad for your results, both on a short term scale and longer term health of the game issues?

The second is game dependent, it wouldn't hurt me in the games I play, mostly loose fixed limit games, but I could see it being a bigger problem in a no-limit game as that seems to me to get more personal in that big pots tend to involve two players tangling with their whole stacks rather than half the field calling small bets to the river with various draws and someone coming out on top.

When the Montreal Casino first introduced poker (with electronic tables) I once saw a kid doing his homework at the table. His e-table name was take on, if not an exact copy of Ansky's. I would not have wanted to be at his table because his activity my make fish uncomfortable.


Just a couple of weeks ago a player arrived at my Caesar's tournament table with a notebook and announced that he would be taking notes for a book he was writing on how to win tournaments. No opinion on whether writing should be allowed if reading isn't, but does anyone know this character?

Wow, it never really occured to me that it was rude or bad etiquette to read at a poker table. I used to get bored from time to time when I was at a table full of boring people so I'd bring novels with me and figure I could kill two birds with one stone. If anyone became lively or chatty, then I would put my book away. Very simple.

I don't like to use an iPod at the table, but again, if the table is extremely boring, then I will put one in one ear so that I have something to keep me amused. I always tell people that if you see me with my iPod, it's because I don't like my table. Of course there is argument that I should leave the table, but it's a bad habit of mine in live games to generally stay at the table they put me at.

I don't get how people can be so concerned about reading or ipods slowing down the game. Sure, they may be a factor, but it's no different than people who are chatty at the table and get so engrossed in conversation with others at the table that they slow down the action that way.

Having said all this, I am probably one of the least anti social people at a table. I love chatty tables, I love chatting at tables, etc. But when you get a dead table, I don't see the big deal in reading or having an iPod. Also, I have only ever read a book or used an iPod w hile playing fixed limit hold'em. When I play NL, I find that I feel the need to be a lot more focused and aware.

Bump.

I was going to read a book while playing a limit game tonight, but decided not to because I thought I would look like a douche and it would be rude

But with all the people watching movies and staring zombie like into their phones nowadays I dont know why I care

Weird that an OMC told you that it was bad etiquette. They're the only player type I ever see read at the table.

Only if it's "How to Take Money From Drooling Moron Donkeys While Pretending to be their Friend"

Very funny GG

I've never understood players who chose to do this. Reading the paper or eyes gazed at the TV..

Knock your socks off if this is what peaks your interest, as long as we don't have to nudge you every time it's your turn? Be my guest!

Perfect reply. You win the prize! WP

reading at the table is ****ing annoying because you have to put your book down every minute or minute and a half and you lose your place. too much headache. better to try and read the fish

If you are truly not slowing the game, it is fine. My concern is that you are slowing the game without being aware of it. I personally find it difficult to read, keep track of action, and keep track of who has done what. Are you truly not slowing the game, or are you having to be reminded it is your turn to act, and having to ask who raised, etc?