Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

So I was at the Wynn yesterday, and get seated at a 4/8 game where a loud guy and a bunch of his buddies are playing. He informs me that this is a "friendly" table, and whenever someone wins a showdown they are to throw the loser a buck back (he would also give people grief if they tipped "only" $1 if they won a pot of any reasonable size). The game was good, and everyone at the table seemed to be having a good time. Do you play along to keep everyone in a good mood, or refuse and risk souring the mood?

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Suggest that his policy is too meanspirited, and that you think the winner should split the pot with the loser. That would be the truly friendly thing to do. Giving the loser only a dollar is just stingy.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

You play along with them, and it's not even close. And if you don't, I have the drunk guys page me at home so I can kick you square in the nuts.

al

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

If that's what everyone else is doing then you should probably do it too to keep everyone happy (at least I would).
It's only a buck....it keeps the game loose and friendly and keeps you from coming off as a silly nit.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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.it keeps the game loose and friendly and keeps you from coming off as a silly nit.


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Not to mention it is +EV (unless you are getting in there and winning more pots than the drunks).

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Well, the consensus seems to be to play along, which is what I did. The guy that was pushing the rule seemed to play quite a bit tighter than his buddies, so it seemed that he may have been pushing it to benefit himself, but I wasn't about to try and educate the table. Thanks for the responses.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Please help me as to what happens when four players see the showdown?

Ain't no $3 leaving my pot!

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

This does violate the one person to a hand rule and is a form of collusion. I was at the Borata 20/40 game Saturday and my neighbor suggested a red chip kickback. We looked at him sort of strangely.

As for as tipping goes, use your best judgement. I've never had a dealer refuse a $1 tip [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Play along.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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This does violate the one person to a hand rule and is a form of collusion.

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Huh?

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

When you give another player part of the pot, he has an interest in your hand. When another player gives you part of the pot, you have an interest in his hand. This makes you partners i.e. colluders i.e. cheaters. Any casino that knowingly permits cheating risks losing its license.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Saw something like this at the bellagio this past weekend, but instead of tossing the other guy a buck, the winner ordered a drink from him and tipped the cocktail waitress. I thought it was a great solution.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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When you give another player part of the pot, he has an interest in your hand. When another player gives you part of the pot, you have an interest in his hand. This makes you partners i.e. colluders i.e. cheaters. Any casino that knowingly permits cheating risks losing its license.

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If you weren't a newbie, I would just reply "NIT!" But since you are, I will elaborate:
No casino (and no governmental agency) is going to call it cheating to give a $1 back to the losing hand at showdown... particularly if it is done without regard to who is holding the losing hand. And if you actually think that this is cheating or collusion, you need to relax.

Edit: And this has absolutely nothing to do with the "one person to a hand" rule.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Under no circumstances would I play along with this rubbish. However, I would accept with glee any money tossed my way if I lost a few pots before I started winning them, assuming the table hadn't caught on yet. Also, do not tip dealers, they are scum, and only chop when you have bad cards.

Not only is this slightly to your mathematical advantage, but it will infuriate people, which is both subjectively entertaining and will multiply their mistakes. This is my general philosophy for live play.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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Under no circumstances would I play along with this rubbish. However, I would accept with glee any money tossed my way if I lost a few pots before I started winning them, assuming the table hadn't caught on yet. Also, do not tip dealers, they are scum, and only chop when you have bad cards.

Not only is this slightly to your mathematical advantage, but it will infuriate people, which is both subjectively entertaining and will multiply their mistakes. This is my general philosophy for live play.

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can you say nit?

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

dont be so hard on yourself

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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dont be so hard on yourself

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i would comeback with a witty reply but i can't figure out what you mean by that.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Next time just call him a nit because that's what he's being.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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Next time just call him a nit because that's what he's being.

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When did "nit" become the word of the times? Am I missing something, because I've seen it used it several different threads this morning, not only here.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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Under no circumstances would I play along with this rubbish. However, I would accept with glee any money tossed my way if I lost a few pots before I started winning them, assuming the table hadn't caught on yet. Also, do not tip dealers, they are scum, and only chop when you have bad cards.

Not only is this slightly to your mathematical advantage, but it will infuriate people, which is both subjectively entertaining and will multiply their mistakes. This is my general philosophy for live play.

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i hate you...a lot...

rj

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Everyone will say this stuff is fine and good, but it's not.

Tell them you wan't participate in these silly games for any reason. Tell them that poker is and was meant to be a cutthroat game, and that the reason you play is to take every dollar from everyone else at the table. Plus, giving up 1/8th of a bet is a pretty significant percentage. If you're playing for fun, by all means go ahead and fire the dollar back, but seriously, if you're trying to win money, you can't let this crap continue. If you don't feel comfortable refusing, move to another table and try to pay the rent.

-Michael

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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Everyone will say this stuff is fine and good, but it's not.

Tell them you wan't participate in these silly games for any reason. Tell them that poker is and was meant to be a cutthroat game, and that the reason you play is to take every dollar from everyone else at the table. Plus, giving up 1/8th of a bet is a pretty significant percentage. If you're playing for fun, by all means go ahead and fire the dollar back, but seriously, if you're trying to win money, you can't let this crap continue. If you don't feel comfortable refusing, move to another table and try to pay the rent.

-Michael

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it seems to me that if youre interested in "winning money" you dont want to tighten up the whole table. a dollar is a TINY price to pay for people to play like idiots.

rj

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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it seems to me that if youre interested in "winning money" you dont want to tighten up the whole table. a dollar is a TINY price to pay for people to play like idiots.

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Sure, but who goes to casinos for that chummy make-the-loser-feel-better crap? If you need that from your poker game, stay home and play for pennies with your drinking buddies.

That said, I think this situation is either play along or find another table. It probably shouldn't be happening, but it is, so either take advantage or leave it unruined for someone else.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

One time I sat down at a table and four of the guys were playing a game called Dueces. Each of them had claimed one of the 2's and anytime their card came up, the others had to throw him a buck. They got super into it and it was hilarious to watch them talking sh1t about the stupid game. I think a couple of them were more into that than the actual poker.

I definitly would have joined if had I been offered; however, all of the dueces were taken.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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a dollar is a TINY price to pay for people to play like idiots.


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in a 30/60 game, yes. in a 4/8 game, no. and it's not close.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

I guess you are not a fan of drink pots either.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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in a 30/60 game, yes. in a 4/8 game, no. and it's not close.

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1/4 of a big blind is a huge deal? Well, if you say so...

More importantly though, he's not giving away free dollars! If everyone at the table is doing this, then his EV should be right around 0. So, basicly, he's giving up close nothing and is definitly gaining something in return. I can't believe people have a problem with this.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

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a dollar is a TINY price to pay for people to play like idiots.


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in a 30/60 game, yes. in a 4/8 game, no. and it's not close.

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if you believe that paying a dollar when you win a pot with a showdown is not worth the price to keep the table happy, you are a nit. and it's not close.

Re: Do you play along to keep the table happy?
 

Games like this can be amazingly fun. One of the best games I ever played in had tons of drink pots and even a dinner pot.

It was a 3-6 game and about half of us at the table were all regulars at this cardroom and we all friendly with each other. The other half was people we had never seen before and they were nice enough to drop at least a couple hundred to each of us. We were all running good so decided to do a beer pot (no free drinks at this card room) between the 5 of us whenever the pot got over $50 (which is most of the time).

It was getting to be around dinner time so I just jokingly threw out the idea of a dinner pot if the pot got over $150 (very rare for this to happen at this game). Everyone agreed and what do you know. 2 pots later (after a live straddle and a blind raise) the pot got up to $153. Prime Rib all around. The dinner cost the guy about $90 or so.

Games like this can definetly be very fun even if they aren't always the most profitable. If I just wanted to play for profit I would play online but playing live can be so much more fun if you get a good table full of people looking to have a good time and maybe win a few bucks here and there.