Okay so these days playing poker online for money is pretty much uncool but that hasn't stopped many folks from playing online to improve their game and take advantage of free roll offers. All online players have to have an avatar or nickname and image to represent them in the virtual world. Does the type, gender and name of your avatar make a difference to your poker play? Personally when I enter a virtual casino and see myself surrounded by mythical creatures, 1920s gangsters and rabbits with crowns on their heads I have to roll my eyes. How long did it take you to decide on such an avatar? Does it make me underestimate you as a player because I find your choice a little ridiculous? I spend a large portion of my time staring at those fanciful avatars and reading those silly screen names and I can’t say it does my poker game any good. I certainly don’t claim to be a great player (still adjusting to virtual rather than live events) but I don’t think wondering why people want to portray themselves as hobbits, aliens and wizards is helping much either. It’s such a distraction for me and I think that may be the point. My avatar kinda looks like me. You know in Yahoo or Facebook where you can create a digital version of yourself by picking hair and eye color, clothing and skin color? Well I try and make the digital me look as much like the real me as possible. I’m all for truth online and don’t see any reason to hide. So I choose “boring” avatars that look like real people. Am I wrong? Are people seeing this lack of creative imagination as a sign that I will not be a creative player, take bold risks or challenge the pink bunnies at the table? Maybe so. Perhaps its all about what you want to get out of your online game rather than how people perceive you. Meaning the avatar is a bit of misnomer. Your avatar in the gaming world isn’t perhaps the same type of avatar you would use under other social networking circumstances. The poker player’s avatar is not meant to be realistic, it’s meant to confuse, puzzle or intimidate. Mission accomplished. Think carefully about which avatar you choose for your online poker play and make sure you go out of your way to distract your opponents from the game. It will help you with your strategic play and help them with their concentration skills. A win win situation then I guess. So in the end do I owe the pink bunny a thank you card?