Column: Should We Silence The WSOP Rails?

Every year the railbirds at the World Series of Poker seem to get louder and more lively, but it is not to everyone's liking. Barry Carter asks if cheering sections are good for the game.

A typical US rail

The last few years have seen a new debate emerge at the World Series of Poker regarding the boisterousness of the final table rails. In a game that was once played almost in silence, if not for a bit of small talk and the riffling of chips, we are now seeing loud cheering sections, chanting, singing, and friends calling out for the cards of their man.

Most people seem to like the rowdy rails, but some people are bemused and annoyed by them.

This week the debate was sparked when Justin Bonomo and Brian Hastings aired their frustration at the British rail at a final table, who were cheering on JP Kelly. In particular, because the $50,000 Players' Championship was being played within earshot of the final table, the noise was carrying over.

As a direct result, Neil Channing, one of the most popular men in British poker, had his rail silenced somewhat by the WSOP the next day so that the noise did not carry over once again to the Players' Championship.

Travelling support

I must say, I find it hard to be objective about the rowdy rails, because the rowdiest of all rails are the Brits, and as one myself I am unashamedly proud that if nothing else we have the best cheering sections (you've all seen us take penalties after all, so give me this at least). British rails are not only loud, but they often feature impromptu singing like at football matches, and a recent bizarre trend of drinking beer from ones own shoe.

I don't think the American players will ever understand this sort of rail mentality, because people from the rest of the world have a different outlook on the WSOP. To Americans, it is just the biggest poker event of the year; to everyone else, there is a certain camaraderie that exists because all the players travelled together and are supporting each other away from home. Equally, there is something so much more special when one of your own captures a title on foreign soil - it reminds me of events like the Olympics and the World Cup in that regard.

This is not just British crowds by any stretch of the imagination, just about any travelling set of players bring with them this sort of enthusiasm to the rail. Just look at this impressive set of Brazilian players cheering on Andre Akkari:

Spectator sport?

Shoe bombs at the WSOP this year

Poker is probably the most unlikely spectator sport in the world, but it has proven that it can be very entertaining to watch. However, until recently, it had not been the most exciting game to watch live and in person, without hole cards exposed.

The rowdy rails are perhaps the only way live poker can be exciting. More importantly, they make poker on TV much more exciting to watch, just like any good crowd can make a sporting event significantly better by creating an atmosphere.

A help or a hindrance?

Pius cheered on by his fans

Of course the major problem with a loud rail is that they can prove distracting to the other players - not only to the less supported players at the final table but also, as we saw this week, to people playing near the feature table.

I remember last year watching Jake Cody win his bracelet vs Yevgeniy Timoshenko and the noise from the Brit rail was deafening. I recall thinking it must have been a big distraction for Timoshenko (who played very well, so he clearly didn't let it get to him), and also quite intimidating.

This is true in any sport, of course, but it seems counter-intuitive in a game like poker. In a game like football, it seems feasible that a loud cheering section (or booing section) could pump you full of adrenaline and give you that extra 5% of momentum you need to get the job done.

In poker, however, where decision-making and concentration are paramount, surely anything that psyches you up too much could have a detrimental effect on your decision-making process?

But I guess the important thing here is that a loud rail could have just as detrimental an impact on the person they are cheering for as it could the rest of the table. It may add more pressure, make them feel more inclined to make a big ballsy move to entertain their fans, or simply distract them.

Ultimately, the best players will not need a rail to help them win, nor will they find someone else's rail a major distraction, so for me a loud rail is just something fun to make poker more exciting for everyone.

Clearly the rails need to soundproofed in some way when there are people playing poker on the outskirts of the feature table, because that is a distraction rake-paying customers do not deserve to put up with, and the positioning of the feature table, rather than policing the rails themselves, is probably the most important factor here.

But beyond that, I think we should encourage good-natured and loud cheering sections at final tables. Poker on television is really in decline at the moment and they add an extra element of atmosphere to a broadcast that is easy for newcomers to the game to follow. Poker is an isolated, solitary pursuit for most of the year; the rails may be rowdy but they are also a rare chance for players to come together to celebrate, support, and commiserate each other.

By Barry Carter