In the first WSOPE episode, Robert Williamson III asks the question: ‘To talk or not to talk at the poker table, that is the question.'

This debate has been raging for many years amongst players and professionals with there being many different opinions and approaches taken by the top players. ‘If you dont talk to anyone or talk about anything you just sit there and fall asleep' Jamie Gold explains about his infamous talking habits. Here are some situations at the WSOPE that involved some interesting table chat.

Of course, one of the biggest talkers of all time Phil Hellmuth was seated at the feature table for most of the first day and his table talk was plentiful, even if everyone else was silent. At one point he seemed to get quite uneasy with the quietness, asking ‘Does anyone at this table talk except me?'. He looks around and seems shocked that he still has no answers, shouting ‘Is anyone out there?!'.

Hellmuth would find a talking partner in Thomas Fougeron (TF) from France. Here is an example of a fun hand between them.

On the button, Phil raised to 2000 with the Qh 3s.

PH: ‘Here we go..'

TF: ‘I know you didn't look at your hand'

PH: ‘I looked at one, but your right, I did not look at both.'

Fougeron makes the call with Jd 10c with the pot now 4,200.

PH: ‘Wow you called me with the King Jack? No.'

TF: ‘No, no.'

PH: ‘ Sevens?'

TF: ‘No! No No No...'

The flop comes 5h Ks 4h and Fougeron checks.

TF: ‘You have to look now!'

(Phil looks at his cards)

PH: ‘Oh my God, are you serious? How much do you have left?'

TF: ‘Let me tell you. Something like 8 thousand.'

PH: ‘8 thousand?'

TF: ‘Ah yes'

PH: ‘Alright I check, I think you have the sixes'

Phil does check and the turn brings the Jh.

PH: ‘And this time, It's nothing personal but i bet 2600'

TF: '2600?'

PH: ‘You have to show some guts, man. You cant win this tournament unless you have some guts'

TF: ‘I hit the Jack.'

PH: ‘You hit the Jack? I know that.'

TF: ‘You know that?'

PH: ‘I also checked a King, but you know that too'

TF: ‘I'm not sure of that'

PH: 'I could have Queen 10 with the Queen of hearts'

TF: 'Im going to wait'

Fourgeron lays down the best hand.

PH: ‘Im pretty tough.'

So here was a good example of a Professional using table talk to his advantage. For the second part of this article we will look at another hand example and some expert advice on talking at the table.