Knocking the table -- does it mean everything? - Poker Card Room

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Knocking the table -- does it mean everything?

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09-18-2009 , 04:50 PM

jmark

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,790

Just a curious musing:

Is there a specific meaning for knocking the table at the end of a hand?

I was always under the impression that it meant, "good hand," offered by the loser to the winner. However, I see it used for everything, including the winner knocking for himself, saying "good hand" to himself?

Is there a history to this gesture? (other than checking of course). Has it evolved from the loser saying good hand to the winner into "I'll just knock randomly at everything?"

Just curious if anyone knew what this started as, and what, if anything, it means now.

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09-18-2009 , 04:54 PM

Quadstriker

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 15,356

It means "I empathize with your current situation, sir."

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09-18-2009 , 07:07 PM

Cbarton

old hand

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,304

I would say it is a non verbal acknowledgment, like a thank you. People don't want to talk so it is non-verbal.

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09-18-2009 , 07:20 PM

callipygian

slowrolled by tpiranha!

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 19,880

It means "nice hand," "good luck," "I check," and "thanks for pouring my tea." You need to determine which it is by context.

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09-18-2009 , 07:52 PM

iB3TuCA11

journeyman

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 241

It means:

"nice hand"
"ur a donk"
"ur good"
"nice play"
"I'm good"
"I'm soo lucky"
"thank you dealer"
"glad I'm not u"
"I'm soo unlucky"
"I don't like u"
"I used to like u"
"thanks"
"F off"

just my personal favorites

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09-18-2009 , 07:55 PM

ShortyTheFish

veteran

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,941

I don't know where it started, but it seems to usually mean "nice hand," "well played," "good game," whatever. Personally though, I despise it. What's wrong with actually just saying the words "nice hand"? To me, that just screams of laziness and that the one saying it isn't actually being sincere. I appreciate the gesture, but not actually saying it just annoys me.

Of course, my annoyance probably stems from this guy I know who does it every time he wins a hand, especially when he sucks out or gets lucky (I think just to get into his opponent's face because he LOVES trying to tilt everyone), but never ever when he loses. He's a real jackass in general.

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09-18-2009 , 08:02 PM

andyfox

2+2 urban legend

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 21,553

When done by the loser of the hand, it means essentially "your hand is good and you're a good person who played your hand well." When done by the winner it means, "my hand is good, but you're a good person who played your hand well." It can be sincere or insincere, your usage may vary. I don't know when, why, or how it stated, but I imagine it has some relationship to knocking on the table when you want to check, a sort of sign of passivity.

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09-18-2009 , 08:04 PM

FCBLComish

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 21,060

Nice hand sir.

And by nice hand, I really mean lucky suckout

And by sir I really mean you donkey

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09-18-2009 , 08:04 PM

andyfox

2+2 urban legend

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 21,553

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortyTheFish

When I see someone I know casually or not real well, I will nod my head in acknowledgment. It means "hello" and is an almost universal action. It's not laziness and it's not insincere. I look at knocking on the table as the same sort of thing.

Here's an entertaining story about such an acknowledgment:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpqwY7QL7r8

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09-18-2009 , 08:19 PM

#10

pfapfap

HP JoY 2011 wienerbucket

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 22,537

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortyTheFish

Personally though, I despise it. What's wrong with actually just saying the words "nice hand"? To me, that just screams of laziness and that the one saying it isn't actually being sincere.

Of course it's not sincere. This is poker. I mean it to mean, "I recognize what you did there."

Also, remember, for every winner there are multiple losers. Doing it silently is a way to subtly acknowledge a hand without saying "Good job on beating those LOSERS over there, haha!" It's not lazy, it's respectful.

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09-18-2009 , 08:28 PM

#11

mr_stinky

centurion

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 145

its sign language for "smurf"

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09-18-2009 , 11:59 PM

#12

cres

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 10,331

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cbarton

I would say it is a non verbal acknowledgment, like a thank you. People don't want to talk so it is non-verbal.

+1... I do this at the end of a blackjack session as well.

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09-19-2009 , 01:01 AM

#13

pfapfap

HP JoY 2011 wienerbucket

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 22,537

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_stinky

its sign language for "smurf"

Heh.

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09-19-2009 , 01:51 AM

#14

JohnnyFondue

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 17,793

This is when I do it:

When someone gives me something when I'm working, it means thank you.

When I bluff the river and get called, I will tap the table as in, good call you win.

If I make a losing call on the river I will tap the table as if to say NH.

If a fish wins a hand I make an effort to tell them how good they are, if a friend of mine who is a good player wins a pot I will tap the table even if I wasn't in the hand.

And when I'm dealing, I tap the table before each burn card to show that the action is complete for that round.

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09-19-2009 , 01:55 AM

#15

WRR1986

banned

Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,285

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKNyX...eature=related

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09-19-2009 , 02:29 AM

#16

PipChip

old hand

Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,940

Quote:

Originally Posted by WRR1986

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKNyX...eature=related

i love the first comment for that video

"The only reason why this movie did so bad was because it came out the same week as spiderman. I hate it when you watch a good movie, but theres not enough people that appriciate it. I think it was a good movie."

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09-19-2009 , 02:39 AM

#17

mikech

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,799

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyfox

Here's an entertaining story about such an acknowledgment:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpqwY7QL7r8

rofl andy i

you, what a great anecdote

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09-19-2009 , 09:46 AM

#18

torontotablecpt

adept

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 745

I thought it meant "check".
I've seen it mean "good hand, you got it".

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09-19-2009 , 11:15 AM

#19

Josem

human chemical weapon

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 18,242

It pretty much means "I'm a moron"

There's a sensational article by Bones that he wrong for sngicons.com where he goes into more detail. I wish I could find it.

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09-19-2009 , 02:33 PM

#20

JasonInDallas

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,898

I sometimes do it at random times just to see the reactions. poker players are weird.

In oklahoma it mostly means 'good luck all in' or 'good hand' though.

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09-19-2009 , 03:10 PM

#21

Pot Odds RAC

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,393

You remember that series of Beer Commercials where the guy used the word "Dude" in a bunch of different situations? It could mean approval of the woman who just walked past, admonishment for doing something wrong, excitement over your team scoring...

...any number of things. The meaning is situational and often clarified by other clues, such as facial expression.

Knocking on the table is the Poker version of the term "Dude"

Except when action has checked to you and it means that you Check too.

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09-19-2009 , 03:17 PM

#22

isaacicic

banned

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 791

I do that during show down on the river. I knock the table to let my opponent knows that his hand is better than mind.

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09-19-2009 , 03:21 PM

#23

pfapfap

HP JoY 2011 wienerbucket

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 22,537

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pot Odds RAC

You remember that series of Beer Commercials where the guy used the word "Dude" in a bunch of different situations?

This is close:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONIzDOzx_GE

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09-19-2009 , 03:28 PM

#24

sportsjefe

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 13,693

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaacicic

I do that during show down on the river. I knock the table to let my opponent knows that his hand is better than mind.

Yeah, it seems to me to be a small release of frustration (and rightfully so) when used that way, so it makes sense.

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09-19-2009 , 06:52 PM

#25

SuperSkippy

journeyman

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 271

Related question- why does the dealer tap the table between rounds when the betting is all-square?

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