Do you say something?

Jeffro · #1 08-07-2003, 04:05 PM

Was at the Borgata about a month ago sitting at a 3-6 game. Younger kid probably not much older then 21 sits down in the game. He sits down with the how to play poker booklet they have at the desk. Obvious after the first few hands he has never played poker in his life. Raised his big blind almost every hand, not understanding he could just call with his money in the pot. Played probably 98% of his hands pre-flop, and took 80% of these hands to the river only to call a bet showing and 8 high. After a few hours he has pulled out 4 bills. After he was down nearly $400 he got up from the table for a break. I really wanted to say something to him, it was paining me to watch him just toss his money away. Is there ever a point where you say something???

Homer · #2 08-07-2003, 04:07 PM

Is there ever a point where you say something???

No, not unless I am asked. For all you know he was having a great time throwing his money his away, and would take your comments as an insult to his intelligence.

-- Homer

slavic · #3 08-07-2003, 04:29 PM

This isn't even a tough one for me. The ones that get me are the rocks playing their Soc Security checks and I crack em in half on a pot. Boy do I feel bad as their walking out of the room.

If this kid had nailed you for a couple Bills playing like he did would you have felt as bad? His play would have been the same.

Tosh · #4 08-07-2003, 04:35 PM

Very easy question. You say nothing.

Its his money to do what he wants with.

Jeffro · #5 08-07-2003, 04:36 PM

If he was appearing to have a good time I agree, better then just going upstairs and giving it to the house. He was just sitting there very sullen watching others drag these pots. The guys across the table doing the tequila shots, living it up, giving me their chips I had no problem with.

Blue Sky · #6 08-07-2003, 05:15 PM

We all had to pay the price when we started, so I feel new players can learn just the same. I'm sure all of us here have seen many players that could benefit from a 5 minute lesson - if they don't ask you for help its none of your business though.

I can only remember one person who I have helped without them asking me. It was grandma type who came loaded for bear with her Social Security check once or twic early in the month and when it was gone we didn't see her until the next check came out. I personally didn't feel comfortable letting this go on, so I took her aside and have worked with her so that she leaves with a couple of bucks to get through the month.

JohnShaft · #7 08-07-2003, 11:45 PM

Gotta admit I'm pretty mercenary about it. Said attitude kicked in after I started playing poker as an attack mechanism.
It's every individuals responsibility to do whatever it takes to not lose their money (if that is important to them). If he isn't prepared to learn the game or if he is learning the game, but is out of his depth, that to be frank, is his problem. You didn't ask him to come sit at your table, lose all his money, while playing in such a way he almost couldn't win.

My attitude has increasingly become "if you're looking to sit here (clueless or not) and take MY money off ME, you can be damn sure I'm going to do ALL I can to take your money off you". Mano et Mano. Dog Eat Dog.

As I've only ever played online I've never had to "put a hurting" on people face to face. Maybe that makes it easier for me, because IRL I'm a pretty philanthropic person.

"Poker is War"

Prufrock · #8 08-08-2003, 12:21 AM

So is it wrong for Mason to walk into the casino
and hand this guy a couple of his books?

Actually I agree with the mentallity that if you
place money on the table I'm going to do everything
within the rules to make it mine.

However, once that person leaves the table I do
not think it is wrong to say something to him. Inform
him of the books or just say "you should'nt play so
many hands".

If I'm in a home game (headsup) against another player
and he throws in his guitar to call a bet, it is my job
to win that guitar. However, once he gets up to leave
it is my job, as a human being, to give the guitar back.

Poker players do not have to be A$$holes. (no offense to
anyone)

Michael Davis · #9 08-08-2003, 01:01 AM

Where I play, there is a girl who loses her paycheck and more every week. I have never played with her for more than an hour before tears start streaming from her eyes when her aces get cracked.

Thankfully, this crying station reprimands other players for their poor plays (she is, after all, the expert). She even reprimanded me yesterday for yielding no negative reaction when my aces were cracked.

I love taking her money even though she cries.

-Mike

Stu Pidasso · #10 08-08-2003, 01:07 AM

You should take this kid for every red cent he brought to the table.

If he played poorly, got luckly, and won a bundle. It would re-inforce in his mind his bad play. Remembering the good times, the excitement of catching a rush of lucky flops and dragging huge pots, would cause him to continue to play poorly for some time after(prehaps the rest of his life). The illusion and trap of gambling is that sometimes bad behavior is rewarded excessively.

You want to help this kid out. Take him to the cleaners. When he walks out of the casino with his pockets turned empty out of his pants, he won't want to come back.

Stu