Table Etiquette when it comes to Nits and OMCs

I find it interesting that you seem to feel obliged to attempt to persuade the recs and lesser players to not pay off the nits/OMCs? I'd be curious as to your reasoning behind this?

Anyways, as likely the biggest nit in my room, I have a very good sense of humour about myself and usually play up my own tightness even more than those attempting to belittle me about it (I often announce "well known action player!" as I sit down for lols, etc.). But, I'm guessing others won't have nearly as much a sense of humour about things, plus some nits/OMCs are very pleasant and have lottsa social friends at the table, so you're going to come off as very douchey / entitled / belittling and aren't going to be setting the best table vibe. Heck, even the rec you're coaching might easily feel embarrassed that you're identifying his poor play (especially if it is done in front of everyone).

But perhaps I'm just missing the end goal / intention, or even how from a purely selfish point of view it has a benefit?

GcluelessnitnoobG

Saying anything will just make you seem like a douchebag, since you'll not only be insulting the nit, but you'll also be suggesting to the other player that he's too stupid to know better and needs the help of some rando, Alpha dog wannabe.

Comments like 'oh looks like someone finally has a hand' or 'another country heard from', or 'watch out that guy only plays premiums' isn't too douchey imo?

Usually their unwillingness to play bomb pots, rolling their eyes or making comments about too much raising preflop, or literally reading the NYT/BG/Wapo are tell tale signs already.

Where I play, the nits are often losing players who just lose a bit less (or at least a bit slower) than the fish.

For this reason, I don't mind when a fish punts off a stack to a nit who is obviously only putting it in with the nuts. The nit is going to lose money in the long run too, and a portion of what the nit loses will go to the other winners in the room. It's all a part of sustaining the poker ecosystem.

A large part of the doucheness of a comments is in tone / delivery / intent, but those comments in general are fairly douchey. Again, I have a very thick skin and will jokingly retort in kind, but some won't let it roll off their back as easy as I do. ETA: And I'm assuming all of these comments are done after the hand is played out; anything during the hand not HU is a clear violation of OPTAH and deserves a quick KITN.

Again, what is your end game?

GcluelessmissingthepointofitallnoobG

Generally I don't agree with the spirit of this, in that everyone should be free to play whatever style they like, and others can adapt to it as they like.

But it is fun to make a light remark about the "big pot" when the nut peddler makes a 10x raise, presumably with a premium, and wins the blinds. Maybe next time they will limp in like GG and more people get to see a cheap flop to crack the big pair. (Is that what you want?)

Why would you wanna persuade ppl from giving them action? Are you trying to get them to play more hands?

These players are the easiest ones in the book to read, I don't think by saying anything to them will change their style and if they decide not to play there anymore I'm sure they'll be replaced by other nits.

Table etiquette is be nice to everyone. They can't all be loose fish. Very tight players are usually easy to play against anyway. Saying things might disturb the table atmosphere. You want the loose fish to call your raises.

I'm sure we've played at the same table multiple times over the years. I also suspect you'd classify me as an OMC/Nit.

My attitude is much like GG's. I'll make fun of myself if someone decides to bring up the issue. The table tends to decide that a smiling player that is joking around is OK to be around and anyone making a big deal of it looks like the *******. So I wouldn't suggest making a big deal about.

And FWIW, GG has been winning in poker for over 10 years. People who are tight can be long time winning players.

Good luck.

Not only douchey, but IMO the bolded would be cheating.

Ive posted here a couple times about the entire table talking about me when I get up. Like Elmcity said, most OMCs just lose their money more slowly and book a lot of small losses. The very tight players who are winning players are what really upsets people because tight players are seen to be cheesy and not playing real poker and the complainter is really mad you play tight AND win. If you are good at the game and especially if youre good online an OMC is just making the table 1 slot closer to 6max and you should embrace it.

Ive developed strategies against crybabies who out me for being too tight since I am so used to it now. Ive been basically cheated mid hand by someone not even in the hand saying I have aces so many times now Ive lost count. Since I moved cardrooms 4/5 times this has happened it actually helped me.

Biased because I'm a nit, but this seems like a bad idea unless these players are actual problems. Just playing "too tight" isn't a problem compared to numerous actual poker offences. The exception would be if you're at some kind of home game or private table where action is expected, in which case cool, they just don't get asked back.

I will laugh it off (like GG and venice above) and you will potentially look like a whiner. Other nits might get grumpy and tell you to mind your own business and then you're bringing down the vibe.

The usual player type that I consider an actual problem are the miserable regs who drive away fish by throwing tantrums when they experience a bad beat.

EDIT

I guess there are pseudo-nits that you can provoke into loosening up by needling them about their range, but those people tend to get bored and start loosening up anyway.

who cares? worry about people youre in pots with. you dont have the right to tell anyone else how to play. to think otherwise is extremely assisine.

Hot take: Almost everyone who calls out people as nits in a raked casino game is a fish who has no idea what correct play looks like.

There are plenty of players in my room who will openly announce they are going to table change just because the nittiest of nits arrives. I honestly don't mind playing against a nit they play pretty open faced for the most part. For instance last night two players announced they were going to leave because this older slow rolling Indian woman who nits to the nit every hand she plays. She is low aggression if any until river more of a calling station style until hand is unbeatable. They decided to stay and one of them paid her off dearly she limped with 10d/7d hit a straight on the flop J8d9d he's barreling with two pair she's also got a redraw on the diamonds and he jammed the river which she snaps off. I'm just sitting there in disbelief that someone who's played so well knew she was a nit would pay her off 500$.

In terms of simply taking actions such as check, fold, raise etc. this is 100% true and is exactly how I feel. There is no style of play from the nittiest of nits to the craziest of whales to the crushingest of crushers that anyone should feel is unfair. It's all poker.

Totally agree.

Reminds me of people who start raging at a fish that calls jams preflop with Q8o and happens to win the runout against their 99.

Some of the OMCs and NITs in my room are pure profit players. If they dont mind the boredom I say good for them. Just dont pay them off and enjoy the rare occaison when a fish stack their AK once in awhile with 75s.

I'd try to get you banned for violating the one player per hand rule if done during a hand. I'd definitely point out how you obviously believe the other players are stupid marks. I'd do my best to make it a horrible table for you.

I am not usually viewed as a nit, but I play kind of tight compared to all the loose fish and some regs who raise any playable hand. I wouldn't say anything about nits partly because I don't want them not to give me action.

It is easier to play really tight, but it is not optimal, because you miss valuable situations with more marginal hands, and you become easier to read. I usually don't raise a huge size and have a reasonably wide range. Therefore, the fish call my raises, and it is harder to put me on a hand.

if there's a repeat angle shooter at the table which the floor won't ban, i'll make a note to tell new players to the table about the angles they do so they are aware of it before it happens

i do not do that for nits, unless they are truly insufferable people, and this has only happened once or twice and of course i'll only say it as a joke, like they make a call or raise preflop and i'll say "omg you raised, you must have suited aces you haven't played a hand all day"

but again, only ever did that a small handful of times and was because the guy was a huge jerk

gobbledygeek would be welcome at my table any day of the week even though his poker play would suck the life out of it, he's still good people in the end

I don’t get it, why are you creating a combative environment that’s borderline cheating? Everyone can play their own way, and you should be able to punish nut peddlers pretty easily.

Why does it bother you in the first place? I play really tight and would just agree with some nit comment as I bluffed you every hand we played together.

Everyone should do what they want with their own money. If a guy wants to only play aces that’s fine. If a guy wants to blind shove all in that’s fine too. Harassing people for their playing style is so out of line.