(Click Here for the Latest Online Poker News Stories)

Copyright 2005 Financial Times Information
All rights reserved
Global News Wire - Europe Intelligence Wire
Copyright 2005 Independent Newspapers (UK) Limited
The Independent

February 25, 2005

HEADLINE: LETTER: ONLINE POKER

BYLINE: Dr Mark Griffiths

BODY:
Sir: Further to my comments about online poker ("How poker became a winner on the Net", 23 February), there are big psychological differences between online and offline poker.

A useful psychological tool in poker is to "read" a player through their body language and speech. Playing online poker, a gambler is denied this advantage. An online poker player must take that weakness and turn it into a positive strength. Online poker permits players to create a false identity. As a player you could portray the facade of being a young, attractive novice female player when in fact you are a very experienced recognised pro.

On a psychological level, the key to a "hustle", or manipulating other players in online poker is by projecting a character and hiding your identity. For instance, if you are playing with novices it may be profitable to portray an experienced professional in order to intimidate players into submission.

Dr MARK GRIFFITHS

Professor of Gambling Studies

Nottingham Trent University

(Click Here for the Latest Online Poker News Stories)