correcting dealer when not in hand, etiquette question

#1 08-12-2005, 06:09 PM

Last Month I played live poker for the first time at the MGM Grand, I couldn't believe the errors by dealers. I was playing 2/4 limit and twice I corrected incorrect calls by the dealers on showdowns on big pots(relative). I wasn't involved in either hand and the people involved didn't see the miss call either! The losers that were the original winners were not very happy both times. Should I just keep my mouth shut since I am not in the hand? Obviously I would correct it when I am in the hand. Just doesn't seem fair when the dealers misses a straight(and the person playing also).

Sorry for the long post, this is my first one!

deacsoft · #2 08-12-2005, 06:15 PM

It's largely considered by many places that it is both the responsibility of the dealers and the players to make sure that the game runs correctly (hand reading, pot awarding, mis-deals, etc). So I don't believe there is any problem with what you're doing. I also wouldn't worry about the feelings of a player who is low enough to get mad about not winning a pot that they were not supposed to win.

And, by the way, it wasn't that long of a post. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

MtDon · #3 08-12-2005, 06:18 PM

Unfortunately, this happens too often.

My opinion is that it is your responsibility to point out errors when you see them. The best hand should win the showdown. "Cards speak" is the rule. The winner of a hand shouldn't be beat by a dealer's bad decision.

autobet · #4 08-12-2005, 06:27 PM

I'm from the school whoever turns face up the best hand you should win the pot. Dealer mistakes should not influence the outcome of a hand whenever possible. For example, if the dealer is about to burn and turn before the action is complete someone should stop them whether they are in the hand or not.

What is common in these situations is the rightful winner will realize they had the best hand or someone will tell them after the hand and then they start complaining. A floorman comes over. So now the game is stopped for 5 minutes while the dealer and players explain what happened. If it is the type of club where the rightful winner is awarded the pot, then you have to sit there while they figure out how much is in the pot.

By saying something you are keeping the game going, and making sure the right player got the pot.

PITTM · #5 08-12-2005, 07:01 PM

not a bad first post. the specific rule states that cards speak. when the hands are tabled, the best hand should get the money. the wrongful winner isnt "losing" anything. they are just give the money to its rightful owner. im all for correcting dealer errors.

rj

Evan · #6 08-12-2005, 07:06 PM

If the actual winner of the hand is worth more money to me I'd be more inclined to correct the dealer than if I were going to help the chips go to someone I could make less from.

goofball · #7 08-12-2005, 07:25 PM

Yeah, always speak up if someone tables the best hand and is not pushed the pot.

BigBaitsim (milo) · #8 08-12-2005, 08:19 PM

With tabled hands, cards speak. Correct the dealer.

Understand that there are probably double the number of tables in Vegas that there were before the boom (Howard knows exactly how many, I'm sure). This means that MANY of the dealers are new. They will learn, and the shitty ones will find other work. In the meantime, correct them, but be nice about it. Report true incompetence.

Quicksilvre · #9 08-12-2005, 09:04 PM

Point out the error as diplomatically as you can. If you notice an error like this, you shouldn't just let it go.

Peter · #10 08-13-2005, 05:59 AM

In the local casino in the Netherlands they only have a holdem tourney once a week and that's it for holdem play.
It's a stupid tourney: play one hour, two persons with the most chips go to the final table. There are five of these rounds, so we end up with ten players for the final table.
There are two dealers, one of them deals every week, he is pretty good. The second dealer seems to be different every week. Which basically means this second dealer gets to deal holdem only a couple of nights a year.
Last week, this dealer made so many misstakes, I think I corrected him at least a dozen times in one hour. I tried to make sure to point it out to him in a question, like I'm not sure myself and trying to learn as well. Like: "shouldn't that raise be 80?", "why does he only get 60 back?" and so on.
I did talk to him later on to ask if he wasn't annoyed by all my comments, he said it was a good thing he was made aware of the errors.

Peter