star trek - Why would Troi be allowed to play poker?

Since Deanna Troi can tell when someone is lying, why would she be allowed to join a poker game with the other head officers in their weekly poker game?

Wouldn't she always win? Or at least know when someone is bluffing?

Answer

Reading emotions isn't the same as telepathy; I think it would give her a significant advantage, but, as any experienced liar (or poker player) can tell you -- lying when in close quarters with someone is basically a matter of controlling your emotions and responses.

When playing poker, everyone knows to look for 'Tells' that people have; the inexperienced player will allow their eyes to widen when they get a card that makes them happy. Or smile slightly, not realizing that they are doing so. And so forth.

Deanna had SOME empathic ability, and could spot gross changes in someone's mood, and perhaps the change in their mood when they tried to lie.. But an experienced poker player, who is used to holding his/her emotions in check would probably be a pretty good exercise for her.

It should be noted that she almost never bluffed; makes sense -- she knows how to spot others 'tells' pretty well, but probably has limited experience suppressing her own.

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