Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

Hello Gentlemen,

I have a serious injury to my back, which requires me to do basically everything standing up or lying down. I can sit for only a few minutes at a time.

Do you think I could play at my local casino standing up at the table?

Any comments would be great.

cheers
the Real Macoy

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

Well, playing poker standing up is probably not a good way to play, but I heard you can lie down and give it a try. Just make sure no one sits on you unless they are a hot 20something year old chick!

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

I don't know of the rules at your local casino, but at least some cardrooms have a rule that you must be seated in order to receive a hand. However, if they object to you standing, I think that it is very unlikely that they won't be willing to make an exception once you explain that it is genuinely required for health reasons.

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

About three years ago I had back problems similar to what you described. I played a full weekend at the poker table standing half the time and kneeling the other half. Nobody seemed to object, but the guys to either side of me were very careful in guarding their hands.

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

If they refuse to accomodate your disability then you can take them to court and win a helluva lot more [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Joking aside, I've never seen anybody try to play standing so I'm not sure what they'd do...

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

i have done this numerous times. when i play and sit there for hours at a time, i'll get up intermittenly and stretch, walk around, then stand over my spot and the dealers still deal me cards.

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

How are you planning on checking your hole cards without showing them to half the room?

It would seem to me that bending over 25 times per hour to pick them up will be pretty bad for your back as well.

I don't think I see the casino preventing you from doing this, but the players next to you might complain.

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

gentlemen,

thanks for the input

i hadn't thought through the checking the cards part.
in the weekly home game i organize i either pull the cards up to my chest or sit briefly to check my hole cards. i am pretty concientious about getting the players to keep their cards guarded from me, as i am sometimes standing right next to them if we have a full table.

all of the combined sitting doesn't do wonders for my back, but hell that's the price of poker. obviously i would keep the cards on the table at the casino and either bend over or sit briefly.

FINAL QUESTION:
If you were seated next to some dude who was standing up how would you feel/react?

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

[ QUOTE ]
FINAL QUESTION:
If you were seated next to some dude who was standing up how would you feel/react?

[/ QUOTE ]

honestly, it would freak me out. Also, if you're tall, then yer ass/crotch is gonna be in my face if I turn my head.

I think kneeling would be a better solution. Could you rig up some sort of elevated pad to kneel on? Could get you up to a more reasonable height while also cushoning your knees. Also (sorry if this is ovbious) but have you tried one of these jobies:
http://www.body-tone.com/pics/Deluxe-knee-chair.jpg

I can't imagine any casino would have a problem with you bringing in your own chair if its a health thing (I know its weird, but hey, you gotta play...).

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

Honestly, at first I would be like wtf? but as soon as I heard the story I would understand and just feel bad that you have to stand. Wouldn't bother me.