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Behaviors You Should Never Emulate From Poker Pros

Poker pros are often looked at as role models to poker fans. They exhibit what amateur players hope to achieve in poker. There are many prime examples of positive role models in poker. When I think of positive role models, I think of players like Mike Leah, Matt Stout, or Fedor Holz.

Then there are other pros that exhibit behaviors that are best avoided. Today, we will discuss some of those behaviors. Here are five traits you should never emulate from pro poker players.

Abrasive Attitudes

Who comes to mind when you think of poker pros with abrasive attitudes. Phil Hellmuth and Tony G are probably at the top of many of your lists. While they are good examples of “poker bad boys,” they are not the most abrasive players out there.

There are some pros who are constantly miserable or are consistently negative in many of their actions. Their negative demeanor often turns off other players and their attitudes sometimes land them in hot water at the casino. They can be argumentative and sometimes downright abusive to other players and staff. Do not emulate these people. Try to exhibit positive behavior at the tables.

Extravagant Lifestyles

Some people think that being a poker pro means being able to buy anything you want. Others think it means living the “baller” lifestyle. The problem is that many people that are living the extravagant lifestyle of a poker pro are almost always broke.

I have seen many players who have fancy houses, nice cars, and all types of toys and later have to sell them all just to survive. This is especially true for those that go on extended losing streaks. I am not saying that you shouldn’t provide a nice lifestyle for yourself and your family but do so within reason.

Drug or Alcohol Abuse

The sad part about the poker lifestyle is that it often involves illegal drug use and alcohol abuse. Stu Ungar, Mike Matusow, and Gavin Smith are just a few names that pop to my mind immediately. There are many more out there. Some openly talk about their drug use while others slowly descend into a pit of addiction.

Mike Matusow is one of many pros who had problems with drugs.

Drink in moderation and stay away from illegal drugs. Drug and alcohol addiction is preventable. Yes, this sounds like a PSA, but too many people view drugs and booze as part of the poker lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be.

Cheating or Angle Shooting

As I talked about last week, there will always be some form of cheating or angle shooting in poker. Sadly, you will see pros doing both from time to time. Whether it is a minor offense, such as multi-accounting, or a major offense like what happened in the Mike Postle saga, cheating and angle shooting are still abhorrent.

If you cannot play the game fairly, then you shouldn’t be playing. I respect an honest break-even poker player more than I do a player like Dan Cates who has blatantly cheated in poker. Keep your integrity and play an honest game.

Poker Debt

I played semi-professionally for a few years and the most common problem I saw among lower-tier pros is poker debt. This debt often came in makeup to backers. Often, a player would enter a staking deal and not be able to turn a profit. Over time, they would be in so much debt that they would have to quit poker because they couldn’t afford to play.

Other forms of poker debt include loans between players. These loans are often to keep a player in a game but sometimes a player has to borrow money to live. For many, once a cycle of debt starts, it is nearly impossible to get out of.

While staking and borrowing is a part of poker, you will be best served to not get involved in it heavily. If you want to sell pieces of yourself, that’s one thing. However, try and avoid situations where you are regularly putting yourself into debt to play poker.

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