Someone wants to bring a cheat sheet to our tourney- thoughts?

[Lottery Larry]

I wasn't sure 100% yet what I thought about this, thought I'd get some input.

A new player, very raw, wants to bring an "odds sheet" as he called it, to have at the table tonight for our tourney. I don't know what it is exactly- I told him I'd bring it and make a decision tonight.

What do you think? Does this open a can of worms? I don't want to make decisions on what are valid sheets and which aren't (can you start bringing notes on players? Hands to play in position? etc)
Would a special rule for first-time DPC members make sense? Do I decide based on perceived skill?

FYI- This is a player who is VERY new to real poker- I had a special training session with him for a few hours last week on tournament play.

Let me know this afternoon, thanks
LL

[Richter]

I can't imagine why not other than they will be percieved as an unskilled player, but that will happen very quickly anyway.

-I played a home tourny a few days ago and a girl who had a cheat sheet won it. lol

[Gbob]

Why not? It seems to me that if they play from a strategy sheet than they can be pushed off pots far easier. What are they holding? Know the cheat sheet and you know the player.

I would put in a restriction that everyone gets to look at the sheet first.

[eOXevious]

I say no way. First off, if he wants to be good, hes gotta start remembering things. Now a cheat sheet for what hand beats what is alright, but not a sheet that says when to play what cards. If you allow him to do it... you must allow everyone. But then that takes away the fun of poker and a tourney

[TrailofTears]

I would have no problem with it. If I am not comfortable beating someone who has to use a cheat sheet, I need to quit the game. This is like turning down dead money, right?

-Trail

[xtal]

It depends what the mood at your games usually is.

I host a friendly tournament a couple of times per month, and there are some unskilled players that like having the 'hand order' cheat sheet nearby to double-check that full houses beat flushes and such. I would (and do) allow this sort of request in my game.

Just make sure you don't end up cluttering the table with all manner of cheat sheets and such.

[varoadstter]

What do I think? I think I want that guy at my game! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[jalsing]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. If he wants to have a notebook with notes on strategy, odds, player notes, or whatever, so be it. As long as he's not holding up the game by referring to it everytime the action's on him, I would care less.

[Richter]

[ QUOTE ]
I say no way. First off, if he wants to be good, hes gotta start remembering things. Now a cheat sheet for what hand beats what is alright, but not a sheet that says when to play what cards. If you allow him to do it... you must allow everyone. But then that takes away the fun of poker and a tourney

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like you would run a nice friendly game... not.

I have seen people reading Poker for Dummies at a table before. No lie!

[jafager]

[ QUOTE ]
A new player, very raw, wants to bring an "odds sheet" as he called it, to have at the table tonight for our tourney. I don't know what it is exactly- I told him I'd bring it and make a decision tonight.

[/ QUOTE ]

AFAIK, a casino will let you read anything you want at the table. If somebody complains, the floor might look it over, but I've never heard of them banning cheat sheets or anything else.

The only sticking point in a home game is that if somebody vets it and it contains specific strategy information, that person will have an advantage over other players, and if everybody reads it, that could severely handicap the new guy.

I'd let him in blind. There's no way to use it to cheat, so what's the problem?

jafager