No Cut?!
 

So I went down to try a home game I was invited to over the weekend. It was a nice small buy in tournament with about 15 people playing.They keep track of winners for a payout after so many weeks, basically had a pretty nice thing going on. The first rule I am informed of by the host is that they do not cut. So I asked, "You mean no one wants to cut?" and was answered "No, we do not allow cuts."
At that point I thought it was alittle strange but since I had already bought in decided to go ahead and play. I busted out on a semi bluff and went home not caring. Once I startd thinking about it I grew more suspcious. From what I have read from the hosts emails, basically there are about 4 guys who win consistently. All four are closely associated with the house.
Question is....Would you go back?

Re: No Cut?!
 

I wouldn't bother.

Re: No Cut?!
 

No, and I would tell them exactly why. I would have made the point more forcefully at the game as well:

"So, the house doesn't protect against potential cheating by having someone other than the dealer cut the deck?"

Of course, if it was a self-shuffling game and I didn't know them all personally VERY WELL, I would have left earlier.

Re: No Cut?!
 

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I wouldn't bother.

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Ditto

Re: No Cut?!
 

Not allowing a cut is the most illogical rule I've ever heard. What bad could cutting possibly do?

These guys are cheating idiots. Find a new game.

-kyo

Re: No Cut?!
 

I agree it makes absolutely no sense. I wonder if they meant to say no chops?

Re: No Cut?!
 

There's not a single legitimate reason why cuts should not be allowed.

Re: No Cut?!
 

[ QUOTE ]
So I went down to try a home game I was invited to over the weekend. It was a nice small buy in tournament with about 15 people playing.They keep track of winners for a payout after so many weeks, basically had a pretty nice thing going on. The first rule I am informed of by the host is that they do not cut. So I asked, "You mean no one wants to cut?" and was answered "No, we do not allow cuts."
At that point I thought it was alittle strange but since I had already bought in I asked for my buy-in back and left.

Does this "rule" seem a little sketchy to anyone else too? Was I out of line?

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Here is how your post should have read. I don't think I would have stuck around to get taken like that. Some house rules are strange sometimes, but that seems silly.

Did you know anyone at this game? How did you get hooked up in this mess?

I play with my buddies at my place and I know no-one is fixing the deck... we still cut everything.

Re: No Cut?!
 

I knew a couple guys there that I trust. honestly i would have left but i just didn't really think about it enough. i'm glad I am not just paranoid.

Re: No Cut?!
 

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I knew a couple guys there that I trust. honestly i would have left but i just didn't really think about it enough. i'm glad I am not just paranoid.

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In fact, you aren't paranoid enough. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Regards,

T

Re: No Cut?!
 

did you notice them bottom dealing or organizing certain cards in the muck before shuffling?

Re: No Cut?!
 

He didn't think much about it. If there are 4-5 players all doing this they are either really good at it, or it would have been obvious.

They are probably good at it so go undetected, unless you count not allowing cuts as a red flag.

Re: No Cut?!
 

True, but bottom dealing seems to have a certain flow to it. I think there can be a noise as the card is snapped to the top and the dealer will flick his wrist that the deck is in to divert attention from the move.

Re: No Cut?!
 

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There's not a single legitimate reason why cuts should not be allowed.

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I agree 100%. In fact I think cuts should be required. your average poker player in a self-deal tourney doesn't know how to shuffle with the deck flat on the table- they pick up both halves and in the process of doing a bridge-shuffle, expose them inadvertantly to other players.
Any players who have seen these on the final shuffle now know one or two cards which are going to not come out in the hand, because they will end up being the bottom card and another card close to the bottom.
So even if there's no cheating going on, not cutting is a poor choice.

Re: No Cut?!
 

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even if there's no cheating going on, not cutting is a poor choice

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This can't be emphasized enough.

Do they burn cards before dealing the flop, turn, and river? This is to minimize the impact of marking cards, and works even if cards are inadvertently marked.

The practices experienced in card games have been developed for a reason. Stick to them and you'll be well off.

Re: I thought he meant \"chop\" too, but follow your gut
 

Your instincts are probably right (otherwise, you wouldn't play poker, right?) Play online if you have to-- where you never have to worry about bad dealing.

Re: No Cut?!
 

I'd return with a bat...

More likely, I'd just not play there again. There may not be cheating going on, as in most homegames there's usually a select few that do the most winning, I still wouldn't bother with it unless you're strapped for other places to play.

If you must go back, talk to them before the game and ask for concrete reasons why they won't allow cuts. I'd be willing to bet they have none and are probably just cheaters, and for that reason bring the bat... or a large friend.

JMB

Re: No Cut?!
 

They are cheating. Cutting doesn't save you from cheaters I've seen bent cards, and salt used to have someone cut to the stacked bottom of the deck (with and without them knowing) but there is no logic to not cutting the deck.


Now that I think about it, it could be that they caught someone doing that and stopped cutting the deck after... but still I'll never play there.