Table Talking Incident

[Slacker13]

Now I like to consider myself a polite person at the tables but last night I had an incident at a table that left me feeling like I might actually have to watch my back the rest of the night moving around the Casino.
I was in an S&G tourney where it was obvious that two buddy's approx 21-22 years old were sitting in seats 9-10. Right away I notice them whispering in each other's ears when they were involved in hands. We are about 5-6 hands in when the buddy1 in seat 9 raises, buddy2 in seat 10 folds, the flop comes, seat 4or5 comes in for a nice sized bet, everyone folds to buddy1 and buddy2 starts whispering in his ear again, this goes on for 10 seconds or so and buddy1 goes all in. First, I was surprised that the original bettor did not say anything, so once the hand ended I felt obliged to say something. I asked buddy2 if he was his coach. He said "No, Why?" I said because you are whispering in his ear while he is involved in a hand. This immediately set buddy1 off and he is saying things like "do you have a problem" "mind your own damn business" etc... I in return (without yelling) I said things like "let him play his own cards" "collusion" "no poker etiquette" etc... The whole time the dealer just sits there like nothing is going on, and no one else at the table is backing me up. Was I out of line here? What are your thoughts on this? I have logged quite a few hours in the Casino but I am not a veteran by any means and have not ever seen this happen before.

[Homer]

No, you aren't out of line. Yes, you should speak up. If that doesn't work, tell the dealer to inform them of the rules. If that doesn't work and the dealer, oh say, threatens you (this actually happened to me before), call the floor over and explain what is happening and how the dealer isn't doing his/her job. If that doesn't work, find a new casino I guess.

-- Homer

[JoeU]

I agree with Homer, but I probably would have skipped the dealer in this spot. If they aren't paying enough attention to notice this going on, then they are usually too stupid to handle the situation. Call for the floor, and if this gets you nowhere, its time to Stand N Go.

Joe

[Andy B]

At my local room, one of the posted rules is to the effect of, "only one player is permitted to play a hand." You were absolutely right to speak up. One-player-to-a-hand is a funamental principle upon which poker is based, and it is why I play poker and not bridge. That and I need the money.

[chief444]

You weren't out of line at all. I would have done the same.

I actually had a dealer say something to me this past weekend at a 6/12 table at Mandalay Bay when I commented out loud about someone's "stop and go" play. I didn't mean it to help anyone but felt bad and apologized to the table and dealer about commenting on the play (even though it certainly didn't effect the hand). I was sincere and always try to watch what I say at the table. I would never dream of whispering in someone's ear while they are involved with a hand. I would be very upset that the dealer didn't say anything and that you were the one who had to speak up.

[M2d]

[ QUOTE ]
"mind your own damn business"

[/ QUOTE ]

Especially in a tournament, this is you damn business, and you should have immediatly said something.

[Slacker13]

[ QUOTE ]
I would never dream of whispering in someone's ear while they are involved with a hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly, It's common sense and 99% of poker players would not do it either. I would imagine that with the huge influx of players that this won't be the last time we see this happening even though this is a rule I learned in sixth grade playing for pennies.

[AviD]

I think you have every right to speak up and need to have the dealer get involved, if not floor.

Stay calm and collective, but don't let it ride, especially if you are involved in a hand. You aren't playing for jelly beans here, so the casino should evaluate the situation and have the dealer keep an eye on it throughout the course of each hand.

If that doesn't happen, find a new game or find a new casino. Either way, I'd state clearly why you are moving to floor...whether it be to another table or another casino.

I've seen alot of eruptions at the Borgata in AC over talking during hands. Floor is prompt to come over and evaluate any time there is a significant disruption. As far as dealers, really depends who it is regarding what level they get involved in respect to keeping players in line.

Sorry to hear about your experience, best of luck in the future.

[LetsRock]

You weren't out of line.

They were either cheating or looked like they were cheating. Good job for speaking up - it really sucks when the rest of the table is so passive that they won't speak up and especially sucky when the dealer won't enforce the rules. I wold definatly have called the floor in on this.

Screw the little rounder-boys.

At least it was obvious. It's much harder to spot guuys who may be working together when they are across the table. This may have happened at a home tourney I played in. 2 guys, relatively new to the group took first and second (the only money spots). I got bubbled and didn't notice anything funny, but I later heard that another player (who was out) spotted them signaling back and forth "clearly". It kind of pissed me off that nothing was said at the time, but I sure didn't notice anything.

Then they made the mistake of not sticking around for the ring games (even though they had reserved seats) to at least make an appearance and didn't even tip the dealers after a big score. Let's just say they're not welcome anymore.

[Slacker13]

[ QUOTE ]
it really sucks when the rest of the table is so passive that they won't speak up

[/ QUOTE ]
I wasn't even involved in the hand when I said something. It actually bothered me more than nobody else said anything, especially the guy involved in the hand who ended up folding to the all in raise that I don't think the guy would have made had it not been for his buddy.
Then when something like this happens you want to bust them out of the tourny so bad you can taste it, wouldn't you know I did not get one playable hand, worst cards I have seen in a long time, I end up having to go all in on the BB but I did have my best cards of the tourney QJo and the little bastard I get into the argument with is the one who knocks me out with an A4o. That Hurt!

[Al_Capone_Junior]

immediately go to the floorman and quietly, discreetly tell him what is going on.

it's usually better if you do this before they realize that you are on to their improper behavior, so the floorman can catch them in the act. This stuff is of course extremely improper and the dealer should have taken care of it himself in the first place.

al

[csuf_gambler]

mang, i woulda decked those foos str8 up. when he said ""do you have a problem" that woulda set me off right there.

[Jive Dadson]

You had to say something, but, "Are you his coach?" was the wrong thing to say to a hormone-crazed twenty-something whose friend was a ready audience for tough guy posturing. If a cheerful "Let's have one player per hand, please," didn't do the trick, then maybe, "Let's ask the floorman to explain it."