There was a classic 2p2 post, years ago, about Shania. Shania is basically how a minus EV play with one specific hand, becomes an overall plus EV play as part of your range.

This post is not about Shania; it is about metagame Shania. Let's call it Willie Nelson.

What is Willie Nelson? It may be easier to talk about what is not Willie Nelson. Seat hopping and table switching constantly is not Willie Nelson. Waiting until action is on you to look at your hand is not Willie Nelson. Getting all excited when the whale walks in and trying to call them over to your table is not Willie Nelson. Sitting out of the higher stakes game the second the fish leaves is not Willie Nelson. Folding last to act versus the guy playing 100% of his hands preflop is not Willie Nelson. Talking poker strategy at the table? Definitely not Willie Nelson.

Okay but what is it really? It is making decisions about how you conduct yourself at the table that maximizes your expected value through your total time at the casino, instead of just thinking of today's session. It's treating the yourself as the casino and the rest of the table as your patrons, and providing good customer service so they want to return. In short, it's treating others in such a way that you do not come off as a predatory dbag that just wants to scoop every dollar on the table.

So. Do you think about Willie? Or do you say **** it, embrace the tragedy of the commons, and get yours before the games get so bad they aren't worth playing?

ps OG Shania post http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/show...fpart=all&vc=1

Free Willy!

I propose to change Willie Nelson to Pimp.

In that regard asking for a setup the maximum amount of allowable times or actually at all is not Pimp.

I'm not sure playing heavily stoned is what you had in mind for the mellow good play, but definitely is Willie Nelson.

Im not 100% sure the origin of Shania but I remember it from the Harrington on Holdem books.

Your point on Willy is spot on. A quote I learned from an old salesman was "milk the cow, but dont rip its tits off." Sales wasnt my thing, but this applies at the poker table as much as anywhere.

Very cool. This reminds me of the saying "lo barato sale cara" in Miami and Orlando, meaning "if you are cheap it will come out expensive". In this case, don't be stingy to the poker room or your poor image may cost you.

Willie does not smoke the cheap stuff.

Scoffing at a player going all in pre with Queen-rag and winning. That is not Willie Nelson.

Fist-bumping him and praising his fearless play, now *that's* Willie Nelson. It's even more important to reinforce how great a play it was if he loses (without the fist-bump). It's hard to do this without sounding patronizing, but if you can pull off a legit sounding "Wow! You scared the crap out of me there. Nice move!" and do a shot with him, that's not just Willie Nelson, that's Squidface.

Elements of poker talks about some stuff like this. For example, telling people how great the card room you play at is Willie Nelson.

Pulling your pants down and whipping out your Willie Nelson at the table and forfeiting your 10k buy in, now that's Willie Nelson.

When you're mellow enough that strangers join you in the parking lot for a joint? That's Willie Nelson (I've done it three times)

This, with a heavy emphasis on not sounding patronizing. Too many people are so obviously patronizing it is painful to watch; can't imagine what it is like to receive.



Making your decisions quickly? That's Willie Nelson
Getting the straddle on, or starting a bomb pot every dealer rotation? As long as you're being chill about it, that's Willie Nelson
Never looking at your phone at the table? Ooooh, certainly Willie Nelson