[Randy_Refeld]

[ QUOTE ]
If I want to "seriously" play in a
low limit game with jovial drunks handing out money then, yeah, I
like a dealer who contributes to that atmosphere.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have seen quite a few fun games turn ugly when the "happy drunk's" flush card comes back beascue the dealer wasn't paying attention to how many players were in the pot and burned and turned too quickly. Everyone that sutdies teh game understands that happens and is part of the game, but teh plyer that was happy to lose money is now upset that he "got screwed." I feel that low limit palyers are at least as entitles to an accurately dealt game as high limit players and dealers make too many mistakes when they talk in the box. The very best dealers will acknowledge a joke etc while shuffling the cards, but once they pitch a card they are serious and paying attention.

Someone I worked for years ago told me about a dealer that dealt at the Horseshoe. She was known for being chatty and making mistakes in the box. Then during the WSOP she dealt flawlessly to players that weren't tipping her in a high limit game. She then went back to small games and made mistakes for the palyers that actually pay for her dealing.

There is nothing wrong with the dealer contributing to a fun atmosphere as long as they don't make mistakes AND don't comment on the game (violating 1 player to a hand). Comments like "look out squeaky is in" or "we've got a big pot here" draw attention to certain aspects fo the game that it is the player's responsibility to watch.

Mason used to have a really good essay on this site about "Talking Dealers." I think it shoudl be required reading for every new dealer entering this industry.