Ok, was a I being too picky and awnry here?

[dcJohn]

[technically this relates to a tournament, but since the dynamics are in some ways more like a home game than a serious tourney, I thought it might fit better here]

Tonight I played in a NL tourney held here in DC at a local bar (Fado's). No entry fee, 50 players, top 3 places get bar gift certificates.

So right off the bat, there's no real reason to take it overly seriously. No money put down, really the win would be more about pride than the small gift certificate (would do better earning the small amount of $ with just a short time of online play).

Anyway, one guy at my table string bets every raise he makes. The first time he does it, I just politely and in as friendly a way as possible, point out that it's a string bet, and that really he should avoid this in the future. He'd never heard of it (or so he claimed... this same fellow won the tourney the prior week, though I think this may have been moron luck).

Almost no one else at the table was aware of what a string bet was either, except one other player who clearly had some experience playing in casinos and serious home games.

Anyhow, this guy just keeps right at it. I never could entirely decide if it was stupdity or intention, since sometimes he'd do it while (it seemed) clearly trying to guage reaction. Finally, as rounds were progressing, I said "look, this really needs to stop. If you you string raise again, I'm not going to accept it as a raise, and we'll call over the tournament director for a ruling if you think that's wrong."

He got huffy--still the same "I've never heard of the rule" and "what the hell difference does it make." And he does it again. So I call over the director and, much to my slack-jaw awe, she's also never heard of a string raise. She also doesn't see what hte big deal is, it's all supposed to be friendly fun anyway, so I should just not be a pain about it.

I tried in as friendly a way as possible to explain that this wasn't an obscure rule, and that preventing string raises was a good way to keep things friendly. But clearly her thought was that I was harping on some trivial rule that didn't make any difference.

Now I quickly just shut up--I figure there's no sense ever arguing with a tournament director--but how about it folks... was I really being picky and awnry?

(note: if this was a $ game and not a free tournament, I'd actually have made far less of a thing about it... wouldn't have wanted to frighten away this fish, even if it meant putting up with string betting misconduct)

Thanks,
John

[Stew]

[ QUOTE ]
[technically this relates to a tournament, but since the dynamics are in some ways more like a home game than a serious tourney, I thought it might fit better here]

Tonight I played in a NL tourney held here in DC at a local bar (Fado's). No entry fee, 50 players, top 3 places get bar gift certificates.

So right off the bat, there's no real reason to take it overly seriously. No money put down, really the win would be more about pride than the small gift certificate (would do better earning the small amount of $ with just a short time of online play).

Anyway, one guy at my table string bets every raise he makes. The first time he does it, I just politely and in as friendly a way as possible, point out that it's a string bet, and that really he should avoid this in the future. He'd never heard of it (or so he claimed... this same fellow won the tourney the prior week, though I think this may have been moron luck).

Almost no one else at the table was aware of what a string bet was either, except one other player who clearly had some experience playing in casinos and serious home games.

Anyhow, this guy just keeps right at it. I never could entirely decide if it was stupdity or intention, since sometimes he'd do it while (it seemed) clearly trying to guage reaction. Finally, as rounds were progressing, I said "look, this really needs to stop. If you you string raise again, I'm not going to accept it as a raise, and we'll call over the tournament director for a ruling if you think that's wrong."

He got huffy--still the same "I've never heard of the rule" and "what the hell difference does it make." And he does it again. So I call over the director and, much to my slack-jaw awe, she's also never heard of a string raise. She also doesn't see what hte big deal is, it's all supposed to be friendly fun anyway, so I should just not be a pain about it.

I tried in as friendly a way as possible to explain that this wasn't an obscure rule, and that preventing string raises was a good way to keep things friendly. But clearly her thought was that I was harping on some trivial rule that didn't make any difference.

Now I quickly just shut up--I figure there's no sense ever arguing with a tournament director--but how about it folks... was I really being picky and awnry?

(note: if this was a $ game and not a free tournament, I'd actually have made far less of a thing about it... wouldn't have wanted to frighten away this fish, even if it meant putting up with string betting misconduct)

Thanks,
John

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, obviously you are right and you must be playing with a bunch of hillbillies. Nevertheless, after you pointed it out and he kept doing it, I would have talked to the Floor on the side. Maybe if in a one-on-one conversation, you could explain the angle that string-raising provides, she would have come over and asked him to refrain and it wouldn't have been a big deal.

[ohgeetee]

I'd have ignored it and used it to my advantage every time he did it while i was in the pot.

[pshreck]

I would say close to half the players that play at the baby NL in casinos either dont know the rule or arent really sure why its there. However, in a casino you can call it out and thats that, the dealer and everyone else will agree with you.

What you have to remember about playing at home games is that it is very rude to disagree with house rules. Ofcourse, you need a 'standard' of rules as to which you will refuse to play. In a college game, NL hold em, there was a rule that Ace doesnt play low.... and that straight beats flush. As soon as I learned of this rule (when my straigh beat a flush... lol), I said thanks for the money and Im leaving now.

String bets in home games.... yes, you are too picky, just because you are close to guaranteed that no one will know what the hell you are talking about. Probably because they never talk about it on espn or WPT.

Point is, you are right, but choose your battles wisely, this one isnt worth it. Things would change had you paid money for the tourney.

[meep_42]

Does the bar hold these regularly?

-d

[Lottery Larry]

No. Mention it once or twice, then let it go unless they are taking obvious advantage. Protest immediately when you see them doing this and calmly explain why.
May not help you there, but educates people for future reference.

[Mojo Tooth]

Maybe offer to email the tourney director a copy of Robert's Rules of Poker or some such thing. Tell her that these rules exist for a good reason.

[Jaquen H'gar]

The original poster needs to loosen up. So what if he is string raising. Is this the WSOP main event? It's a freeroll. The guy admits his time would be better spent playing low stakes internet poker. Don't sweat the little stuff.

[istarigul]

I agree that you should point it out for two reasons:

a) He may not know the rule and its better he learn about now
then when he is playing with real money

b) he may know about the rule but be taking advantage of all the other
people who do not.

So the the first time you decide to call him on it I would explain the rule
and then explain why string bets give the better an advantage. If no
one seems to care then you need to decide if you care. If so and he
continues doing it thats when you call in the floor.

thats my 2c anyway

Its doesn't seem onery but it kind of depends on "how" you did what you
did. Note you should not let this get to you, if you do I'd consider
that a hole in your game [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] If you know it is going to get to you, act
on it quickly but politely and then you can just move on.

[dcJohn]

[ QUOTE ]
Does the bar hold these regularly?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep. Fado's in DC (downtown by the MCI center)... every Wednesday night.