Commentating Penalty
 

We have a problem with people in our Home Tourney who think they need to commentate the hand. They say stuff like:

"Q9 looks good."
"Be nice to have QJ."

It irritates the crap out of me, and the host is capable of being swayed. When people want a change, they come to me. Other people are getting annoyed by this.

So what's a reasonable penalty for doing this?

Here are some ideas (some of which are absurd), but it needs to stop.

10 minutes
20 minutes
1 BB
2 BB
Match the Pot
$5 out of pocket

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

I'm not a fan of a time penalty, as 10 minutes in a home tourney could only be 4 or 5 hands depending on how quickly you guys shuffle. The offender should be out until the button passes him (he loses a SB and a BB).

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

[ QUOTE ]
We have a problem with people in our Home Tourney who think they need to commentate the hand. They say stuff like:

"Q9 looks good."
"Be nice to have QJ."

It irritates the crap out of me, and the host is capable of being swayed. When people want a change, they come to me. Other people are getting annoyed by this.

So what's a reasonable penalty for doing this?

Here are some ideas (some of which are absurd), but it needs to stop.

10 minutes
20 minutes
1 BB
2 BB
Match the Pot
$5 out of pocket

[/ QUOTE ]

The best penalty is to to not invite the habitual offenders back to the game.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

[ QUOTE ]
We have a problem with people in our Home Tourney who think they need to commentate the hand. They say stuff like:

"Q9 looks good."
"Be nice to have QJ."

It irritates the crap out of me, and the host is capable of being swayed. When people want a change, they come to me. Other people are getting annoyed by this.

So what's a reasonable penalty for doing this?

Here are some ideas (some of which are absurd), but it needs to stop.

10 minutes
20 minutes
1 BB
2 BB
Match the Pot
$5 out of pocket

[/ QUOTE ]

Lighten-up, Frances.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

Someone not in the hand should just say, "STFU, one head to a hand you damn n00b!"

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

Is this really a bad offense worthy of penalty? Players in my home game constantly voice their opinion as to what players in the hand have. But bottom line: it's still a guess.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

[ QUOTE ]
Is this really a bad offense worthy of penalty? Players in my home game constantly voice their opinion as to what players in the hand have. But bottom line: it's still a guess.

[/ QUOTE ]

Most of the time, yes, this is true. But what about Player A leads out on a board of 99Q310. Player B is ready to muck, someone says "I wonder if one of the draws got there..." Player B re-checks his hole cards and finds J8 and calls. Does this not deserve a penalty?

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

This is a regular occurrence in my game as well. Several players will often comment on what cards they think players are holding, pot odds, action up to that point, etc. There are even sometimes side bets going in on what players may be holding. Our game is very friendly, and it really is more fun than a problem. We play cash games though, so tournaments might be different. Most of the player’s are really bad as well, so some of the odds given and reasoning are hilarious. If this bothered anyone in our game, though, we would certainly stop.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

I didn't think it was a problem to comment on what a another player might be holding. I assume of course that the player making a comment is still in the game. Players out of the hand shouldn't be talking or making comments.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

Shouldn't it be a penalty if someone says something to try to influence to outcome of a hand? Like "He's Bluffing!"

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

A penalty is ok, as this can be a serious problem. And the other posters should calm their home games down as well.

Some kind of small donation to the pot is probably best. I would suggest using the smallest possible denomination (so it dosen't matter financially at all) but ALWAYS making people pay. They'll get the idea.

although, see if works to just mention at a game that it is not appropriate to read the board or other peoples hands while a deal is in play

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

How about, death by snoo-snoo?

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

[ QUOTE ]
Shouldn't it be a penalty if someone says something to try to influence to outcome of a hand? Like "He's Bluffing!"

[/ QUOTE ]

Insta-DQ and insta-beating around here.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

[ QUOTE ]
How about, death by snoo-snoo?

[/ QUOTE ]
snoo snoo?

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How about, death by snoo-snoo?

[/ QUOTE ]
snoo snoo?

[/ QUOTE ]

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5386/amazon0hc.gif

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

It's a Futurama reference... when a man is found on the planet of Amazon (read: 20 foot tall) women, he's sentenced to be f*cked to death... or snoo snoo.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

Thank you for the pic Tony. I did a little searching but couldn't find it [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

Adding to the pot is a common penalty but I think it's a terrible one. Time penalties are more likely the best penalty in a situation like this. Instead of a set time for a penalty just have them sit out one orbit. They'll miss one SB and one BB and then can continue.

Don't let them sit at the table while they're on a penalty, and get them to learn that they can't comment on the hand unless they're in the hand.

JMB

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

So wait...someone says "QJ looks good", and thats a penalty?

If the board is QQJ, I think most people can tell what looks good, is it really so bad if I say it? Perhaps you're thinking of a different instance, but thats what comes to my mind.

If 2 hearts are on the flop...and the turn drops a heart. Is it a penalty to say "ohhhh someone might have made a flush!"..I mean really, any poker player can see that someone COULD have made a flush, its not like its a huge revelation.

Certain things aren't good...like saying "you have odds to call" or "call, he's bluffing"...basically, I don't think its right to TELL a player how to play, or give suggestions. But if you're simply commenting on the board...i don't think it should be taken seriously.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

I think a friendly, but firm request to not discuss the hand usually does the trick.

One guy at my game used to always shout "ALL-IN!!!" to people while we were on the bubble, trying to coerce them to push... after a friendly, but firm request, he kept his mouth shut for the remainder of the night.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

[ QUOTE ]
So wait...someone says "QJ looks good", and thats a penalty?

If the board is QQJ, I think most people can tell what looks good, is it really so bad if I say it? Perhaps you're thinking of a different instance, but thats what comes to my mind.

If 2 hearts are on the flop...and the turn drops a heart. Is it a penalty to say "ohhhh someone might have made a flush!"..I mean really, any poker player can see that someone COULD have made a flush, its not like its a huge revelation.

Certain things aren't good...like saying "you have odds to call" or "call, he's bluffing"...basically, I don't think its right to TELL a player how to play, or give suggestions. But if you're simply commenting on the board...i don't think it should be taken seriously.

[/ QUOTE ]

So where do you draw the line? It's much simpler to just make it a rule that you don't talk about hands you aren't in.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

Or better yet, don't talk about hands in progress.

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

It depends how friendly a game you want it to be...I can't tell by the original post how friendly this is. But many "home tourneys" are indeed friendly...

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

I reserve the right to talk about a hand I'm in so I can goad my opponent(s).

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

[ QUOTE ]
So wait...someone says "QJ looks good", and thats a penalty?

If the board is QQJ, I think most people can tell what looks good, is it really so bad if I say it? Perhaps you're thinking of a different instance, but thats what comes to my mind.

If 2 hearts are on the flop...and the turn drops a heart. Is it a penalty to say "ohhhh someone might have made a flush!"..I mean really, any poker player can see that someone COULD have made a flush, its not like its a huge revelation.

Certain things aren't good...like saying "you have odds to call" or "call, he's bluffing"...basically, I don't think its right to TELL a player how to play, or give suggestions. But if you're simply commenting on the board...i don't think it should be taken seriously.

[/ QUOTE ]

Both of your examples are actually 'bad' things to say.
Official ruligns make it clear that it is a players responsiblity to read the board and evaluate their own hand.

It is not appropriate for you to point out that there are three hearts on board, as this could let a player see something that they hadn't previously noticed.

Your argument that "any poker player can see that someone COULD have made a flush" is not really correct, nor is it a useful way to determine when to apply the "not talking" rule; as Jon pointed out, "where do you draw the line?".

While the QQJ example is indeed even more obvious, I'm sure you can see the reason that it would be inappropriate for you to say anything. There is a no talking about the hand while it is in play rule. You cannot suspend this when the board is "sufficiently obvious".

This of course depends on how friendly the game is, as some home games have everyone talking about every hand and that's ok.

However, as far as 'casino-style' rules - you are not permitted to say 'a flush is possible' OR 'QJ looks good' for good reason

Re: Commentating Penalty
 

true, and I know the casino rules and would never talk about a hand, and would expect others to follow the same rule.

However, I expect far more leniency at a home game. If simple comments like that were stifled at a home game, it would detract alot of the fun for me...but maybe thats just me. Alot of the reason why I enjoy home games is because it provies a much more casual and fun environment than the usual casino athmosphere.