07-26-2002, 04:01 PM
I am an old retired guy that loves to play poker. For a number of years in 70s I thought the game was dying; everyone I played with was 20 years older than me. It is amazing and wonderful to see young people playing the game today. But, all of us, players and cardroom managers and staff, need to do things to encourage new players and make playing the stimulating, enjoyable experience that the posters on twoplustwo know and love.
A number of people have commented about the action when the board makes a straight, and how that sometimes confuses new players. We have all seen this occur. I believe that two cardroom actions might alleviate that problem.
1) When a new, obviously, novice player is seated they should be instructed to always table their cards face up at showdown. Perhaps they could tell the player that the action is fast and sometimes confusing, and if you play this way the first couple of times you play it will be of great benefit to you. The dealer will determine the winner!
2) Perhaps in the lower limit games we should consider a rule which requires that all active hands be displayed face up at the showdown. Not only would this resolve some issues, but it would also speed the game up considerably. I know some would object to this rule; however, at this level almost no one cares how you play anyway.
The other issue that we have all seen concerns “professional” players abusing these novice players when the novice has sucked out on them by hitting his 2-out hand on the river. In my experience the pro is usually someone trying to make a living playing 3/6, and they are always on a slim bankroll.
Cardroom management should not allow these regulars to abuse the people who are here to have a good time. I know these regulars are considered valuable customers because they often start games and make the difference between having a game and not. However, these regulars hurt the game of poker, and like someone else said in a previous post, some of the novice players having a bad experience will never venture into a casino poker room again.
All management has to do is tell these regulars that such abuse will not be tolerated. One warning, and if the abuse continues, you will not be allowed to play here.
If management will not do this—and they probably won’t—it is up to us as players to speak out and try to put a stop to it.
Finally, I have no problem with speaking out on either of the above issues. I have told a novice player to, “put your cards on the table!” I firmly believe in the one player to a hand rule; however, in this case I believe there is a fundamental issue of fairness that is more important.
IMO poker is the greatest game there is, and we all have an obligation to encourage others to play and share in the experience.
eltoro
A number of people have commented about the action when the board makes a straight, and how that sometimes confuses new players. We have all seen this occur. I believe that two cardroom actions might alleviate that problem.
1) When a new, obviously, novice player is seated they should be instructed to always table their cards face up at showdown. Perhaps they could tell the player that the action is fast and sometimes confusing, and if you play this way the first couple of times you play it will be of great benefit to you. The dealer will determine the winner!
2) Perhaps in the lower limit games we should consider a rule which requires that all active hands be displayed face up at the showdown. Not only would this resolve some issues, but it would also speed the game up considerably. I know some would object to this rule; however, at this level almost no one cares how you play anyway.
The other issue that we have all seen concerns “professional” players abusing these novice players when the novice has sucked out on them by hitting his 2-out hand on the river. In my experience the pro is usually someone trying to make a living playing 3/6, and they are always on a slim bankroll.
Cardroom management should not allow these regulars to abuse the people who are here to have a good time. I know these regulars are considered valuable customers because they often start games and make the difference between having a game and not. However, these regulars hurt the game of poker, and like someone else said in a previous post, some of the novice players having a bad experience will never venture into a casino poker room again.
All management has to do is tell these regulars that such abuse will not be tolerated. One warning, and if the abuse continues, you will not be allowed to play here.
If management will not do this—and they probably won’t—it is up to us as players to speak out and try to put a stop to it.
Finally, I have no problem with speaking out on either of the above issues. I have told a novice player to, “put your cards on the table!” I firmly believe in the one player to a hand rule; however, in this case I believe there is a fundamental issue of fairness that is more important.
IMO poker is the greatest game there is, and we all have an obligation to encourage others to play and share in the experience.
eltoro