http://www.pokerjolt.com/news/poker-...y-men-at-poker

I disagree that women (or people) are made to feel _that_ uncomfortable at a table when they don't know basic rules. I see a lot of players helping noobs. Not to say there aren't some impatient grumps, just doesn't seem as drastic to me as she's saying.

This article is pry spot on. I don't think it is people helping out new players as much as it is what some players say after someone makkes a dumb play. A lot of poker players are can be mean at the tables and I can see how women might be intimidated

Your opinion is meaningless without a vagina.

Everything is meaningless without vagina.

I disagree. Lots of people are intimidated by poker, and surely it's more true of women. I don't give a **** about women though. Gimme more of those blackjack/baccarat whales.

women making excuses for being bad IMO

Ground breaking stuff, Ho.

Yup, just boring.

I've rapidly come to the conclusion that there ARE too many women that do not want to invest the effort necessary to become GOOD at poker. Too many are positionally unaware, have no clue about bet-sizing and somehow believed the nonsense they might have been told that they should always hang onto any face card JUST because it was a face card.

The play I have seen in the Women's Series PS was trying to run has generally been horrible. I've lost track of the number of times I have seen people call 8xBB (a horribad bet by itself in some cases) with crap only to be followed by an 8xBB limpfest that gets to a six-way flop. I watched AA fail to extract even a quarter of a stack last night with no effort having been made to get more in...and it was NOT a draw-y or otherwise wet board.

On more than one occasion, I have opined that even actually thinking Level 1 is overthinking the women's events....

I have no qualms with the 'women-only' events and do believe that they have the potential to bring more peeps into the game. Where I diverge from Ho's thoughts rest here:
No, it means the aspiring women players might actually have to learn that poker IS NOT BINGO.

To be honest I think that describes the majority of the casual poker-playing demographic; I don't believe that those trails are significantly more prevalent in women.

maybe not...I just notice them a lot more frequently when I play the women's events. Certainly far more than the one or two droolers that might be at a mixed table...and it matters not whether it is live or online, the women's events seem like six of nine at every table (at least in the early levels of a tournament) are utterly clueless.

I wonder what kind of buy in you've experienced this at?

The only women-only events I've played have been online freerolls - the play was terrible but I assumed that was largely the freeroll factor. Live, the women I've played in mixed events have generally been of a similar standard to the blokes (albeit extremely nitty but a fundementally similar grasp on the whole thing.)

What kind of buy in are are you talking for this kind of level?

online, I've seen it at both the $5 women's series 'league' tournies as well as the $50 Sunday events (also saw it in a few Euro buy-ins, but I know the Euro style tends to be very different)

live, I'm comparing it with buy-ins up to the $345 such as we see in the Circuit events (although the women's only events tend to be dinner money- $100 or so).

In a mixed event, they DO tend to be a little more competent. But at that point, you have also eliminated some of those with the BINGO mentality or approach...

You know, I think it's just fine that men do this. In fact, I will go out of my way to make women feel as uncomfortable at the table as I possibly can if I know it increases my edge. This is what winning players do. We don't soft-play someone just because they have boobs. "Man up" ladies, if you are equal to us, prove that you can take a little heat. I mean, men get drafted & die. Get real.

There's a fine line between a dick and a douche and any woman with wit and intellect should be able to adjust to both quite fine. yawn.

So intimidating bad players so they never come back increases your "edge" for what, exactly?

I find it interesting that has been her experience with the women she has talked to. The only problem I have is with sexist comments and harassment. The only way I could get someone being intimidated just by not knowing what to do is because of feeling like you essentially have to represent all women and knowing/thinking that any wrong step you make will be attributed to your sex and not just you as an individual. I admit I fall prey to that thinking myself, but it is a pressure that is just as much created internally as it is applied by patriarchal structures. I would think in order to be more comfortable in a women's event, you would have to be working under the assumption that the vast majority of the women playing are also new, which I suppose is understandable. Also, I'm guessing they see Women's events as less serious and more of a learning opportunity, or at least as carrying less embarrassment for making mistakes.

How can you possibly disagree with the way she feels? o.O
She probably has lots of men hitting on her or saying stupid comments, but when you play nobody says anything to you.

ygos?

DUCY this makes no sense for online poker? Gtfo Maria.

Nice pic!

IMO 2p2 has kind of a misogynistic vibe. If this same atmosphere exists at the poker tables as well, then of course women will get intimidated. People just aren't comfortable when those around them are treating them poorly.

[ ] anybody cares about what maria ho has to say

They have to get used to it in every other aspect of their life. Hell, some countries still don't have equal rights, juss sayin.

Just play online and stfu.