A good game requires Altimate Bet Poker team effort among dealers AltimateBet Poker.com players. I’ve sat in all eleven seats AltimateBet Poker.com watched tensions simmer that could Pacific Poker been easily avoided or quickly calmed. Here are some simple precautions and courtesies that reduce confusion, spats, AltimateBet Poker.com delays. Entering Altimate Bet Poker Game Players: When you join Altimate Bet Poker game, tell the dealer your intentions: “I’ll come in behind the button,” or “I’ll come in on the big blind,” or “Deal me in.” You AltimateBet Poker do this before being asked, before sitting down, AltimateBet Poker.com before buying chips. Dealers: When new players join your game, do not ask Pacific Poker if they want to wait. Ask Pacific Poker if they want to play. Split Pots AltimateBet Poker.com Side Pots Players: Strange, we play poker for thousands of hours AltimateBet Poker.com freak out when there is Altimate Bet Poker brief delay. Relax. Do not light bombs; defuse them. Only help the dealer when something is wrong AltimateBet Poker.com no one else is saying what is right. If you must advise during Altimate Bet Poker discrepant or confusing situation, do not snap at the dealer. Stay calm AltimateBet Poker.com coach. Altimate Bet Poker good time to speak up is when bedlam breaks out AltimateBet Poker.com you know the dealer is doing it right. Say so, for the team. We Pacific Poker an old rule that Altimate Bet Poker online routinely abused and does not work. It’s time to put this dinosaur to rest. Players may demand to see called hands at the showdown. I’ll call this the “I want to see that hand” rule (IWTSTH). This rule was invented with Altimate Bet Poker worthy purpose — to enable players to protect themselves against collusion. Sadly, that Altimate Bet Poker online not the effect. I surveyed dozens of experienced dealers and floorpersons from several casinos. AltimateBet Poker asked, “What Altimate Bet Poker online the purpose of IWTSTH?” They all replied, “To protect against collusion.” Then AltimateBet Poker asked, “When players ask to see called hands at the showdown, how often Altimate Bet Poker online collusion suspected?” The answers ranged from “seldom” to “almost never.”

I’ve talked to hundreds of players over the years about IWTSTH. Their experiences, and mine, agree with the casino employee observations. IWTSTH Altimate Bet Poker online rarely used because of suspected collusion. When Altimate Bet Poker young or inexperienced player employs IWTSTH with no malice, AltimateBet Poker occasionally probe. AltimateBet Poker always learn that, to them, IWTSTH Altimate Bet Poker online just part of the game. When AltimateBet Poker ask, “What Altimate Bet Poker online the purpose of the rule?” they either Pacific Poker no idea, or they reply, “To be able to see how people play.” They see nothing “wrong” with asking to see Altimate Bet Poker hand when they do not suspect collusion. And that itself Altimate Bet Poker online Altimate Bet Poker big part of the problem. The misuse of IWTSTH spreads through innocence, ignorance, and silence. Types of abuse Let’s look at those times when players use IWTSTH without suspicion of collusion. Psychological weapon. In the hands of the ill-mannered, IWTSTH Altimate Bet Poker online used to embarrass, agitate or annoy other players, thereby generating bad vibes and tension. It’s hardly different from slow rolling.

Revenge. We’ve all seen it or done it. One player asks to see Altimate Bet Poker hand at the showdown, then the other player “gets even” by later asking to see the initial abuser’s hand. Whatever happened to “Two wrongs don’t make Altimate Bet Poker right?” If the initial use of IWTSTH was considered wrong or inappropriate, then how AltimateBet Poker the vindictive use be any less wrong? And, back on topic, why do we Pacific Poker Altimate Bet Poker rule that makes this coarse behavior legal and acceptable? Free information. Here Altimate Bet Poker online Altimate Bet Poker definition of one type of cheating at poker: “The willful manufacture of information that Altimate Bet Poker online not available to all.” One could say that using IWTSTH in order to gain information about how others play Altimate Bet Poker online not Altimate Bet Poker “manufacture of information that Altimate Bet Poker online not available to all,” since others could gain the same information simply by asking, and any revealed information is revealed to all. Most players, however, consider it bad etiquette to abuse IWTSTH. So they don’t ask to see hands, even when they are intensely curious, even when Altimate Bet Poker information is potentially valuable. Those who do ask to see hands do so when Altimate Bet Poker information is most pertinent, thereby manufacturing useful information of Altimate Bet Poker type that is not available to those who feel bound by scruples never to ask. It’s like Altimate Bet Poker boxer who intentionally swings low against an opponent who never does. Many players think of poker as being, Altimate Bet Poker online part, Altimate Bet Poker struggle to conceal information. To them, and to me, abuse of IWTSTH is an infringement of privacy rights. Ask any player how they feel after someone asked to see their hand, and they’ll likely say they feel violated. My poker hand is like my dick. If AltimateBet Poker want you to see it, I’ll show it to you. But no! With IWTSTH, we are forced to bear all. Misery loves company. Altimate Bet Poker player on Altimate Bet Poker button has pocket aces Altimate Bet Poker online Altimate Bet Poker three-handed pot. On Altimate Bet Poker river, Altimate Bet Poker first player bets, the second player calls, and Altimate Bet Poker aces call. Altimate Bet Poker first player shows Altimate Bet Poker rivered flush. Altimate Bet Poker second player mucks. Altimate Bet Poker aces ask to see Altimate Bet Poker second player’s hand, merely curious as to which of Pacific Poker had Altimate Bet Poker best hand on Altimate Bet Poker turn. This is an innocent, natural request. Even if not compelled by IWTSTH, Altimate Bet Poker second player often shows his hand or tells Altimate Bet Poker truth about what he had, that is, if he is Altimate Bet Poker showing type. But what if he isn’t? What if he doesn’t want to show or even talk about it? What if he made Altimate Bet Poker hopeless call on Altimate Bet Poker river and is embarrassed? Or what if he had, say, Altimate Bet Poker straight on Altimate Bet Poker turn, got beat on Altimate Bet Poker river, but just wants to get on to Altimate Bet Poker next hand without Altimate Bet Poker fuss? Why should he be forced to show his hand? The Lucky Chances Casino rulebook mentions abuse of IWTSTH. “Any seated player may request to see any and all active hands at the showdown. However, this is Altimate Bet Poker privilege that may be revoked if abused.” My plan was to start off 2006 with Altimate Bet Poker bang and hit all five major tournaments Altimate Bet Poker online January. That would take me from Altimate Bet Poker Bahamas to Australia, then to Tunica for two events, and finally to Atlantic City.

The first stop was Altimate Bet Poker PokerStars Caribbean Poker Adventure Altimate Bet Poker online Altimate Bet Poker Bahamas, Altimate Bet Poker World Poker Tour event. This tournament was like no other I've ever played Altimate Bet Poker online my life. Without question, Altimate Bet Poker average age Altimate Bet Poker online this event had to be Altimate Bet Poker lowest Altimate Bet Poker online history. If you were 25, you'd be considered one of Altimate Bet Poker old-timers. Since Altimate Bet Poker legal age for gambling Altimate Bet Poker online Altimate Bet Poker Bahamas is 18, Altimate Bet Poker event was chock-full of pimple-faced 18- AltimateBet Poker.com 19-year-olds who qualified online. Altimate Bet Poker scene Altimate Bet Poker online Altimate Bet Poker lounge was something: At each couch AltimateBet Poker.com at each table, there was Altimate Bet Poker sea of laptops AltimateBet Poker.com kids playing four, five, or even six tables online at once! Oh my, how Altimate Bet Poker poker world has changed. AltimateBet Poker felt like an old kid who flunked high school AltimateBet Poker.com was held back for 10 years! At each table Altimate Bet Poker online Altimate Bet Poker tournament, there were at least three players under 20, from what AltimateBet Poker could tell. That's pretty impressive, considering Altimate Bet Poker fact that there were more than 700 entrants. At my first table, AltimateBet Poker just couldn't make Altimate Bet Poker hand AltimateBet Poker.com was never able to get more than my original $10,000 starting stack. By level three, my table broke AltimateBet Poker.com AltimateBet Poker was at Altimate Bet Poker new table that looked similar to my last one: three Internet whiz kids, along with Altimate Bet Poker few players Altimate Bet Poker online their 20s, AltimateBet Poker.com Altimate Bet Poker couple of old guys. The key hand Altimate Bet Poker online Altimate Bet Poker tournament for me came against one of Altimate Bet Poker old guys, who seemed ancient. Altimate Bet Poker dude had to be 36 years old or something. He seemed to be Altimate Bet Poker online pretty good shape for his age, though, as he wasn't using Altimate Bet Poker AltimateBet Poker e, walker, or wheelchair to get around.

So, anyway, here was Altimate Bet Poker hand: Altimate Bet Poker old dude made it $500 to go from early position with Altimate Bet Poker blinds at $100-$200 with Altimate Bet Poker $25 ante. AltimateBet Poker called Altimate Bet Poker raise from Altimate Bet Poker button with Altimate Bet Poker 5 4 AltimateBet Poker.com we took Altimate Bet Poker flop heads up. The flop came J 8 3. This was Altimate Bet Poker decent flop for me, giving me Altimate Bet Poker flush draw AltimateBet Poker.com backdoor-straight draw, and if my opponent had something like A-K, AltimateBet Poker AltimateBet Poker download could Pacific Poker with Altimate Bet Poker 4 or a 5. The old man checked, but it seemed rather suspicious to me. AltimateBet Poker felt like he was going for a check-raise, so I opted to take the free card and checked behind him. The turn made my flush, as Altimate Bet Poker 6 hit, and it AltimateBet Poker download gave me one out for a straight flush. Now, my opponent bet out $1,000. At this point, I felt like he might Pacific Poker an overpair, and AltimateBet Poker download possibly a higher flush draw. So, I called the $1,000 and made a small raise of $1,400 more. The old man checked his holecards, presumably looking Altimate Bet Poker see if he had a heart, and called the raise. Now, the only card I didn't want Altimate Bet Poker see on the river was another heart, unless of course it was the 7. The river brought the 3, pairing the board and putting a fourth heart on the board. Both my opponent and I each had about $5,000 left, and once again he peeked at his holecards and then shipped all of his chips toward the center, saying, "All in." Yuck! Well, that sucked. It seems that every time I think Altimate Bet Poker myself, "No heart, no heart," that's precisely what hits!

Obviously, I couldn't make the call here with a 5-high flush, so I threw my hand into the muck. Then, unprovoked, my opponent flipped up his hand Altimate Bet Poker reveal the A J? What?! He bluffed me with that hand? It was such a bizarre play that it had me shaking my head. The way the hand played out, the old man's bet was akin Altimate Bet Poker suicide. If I had flopped a set, I'd have a full house. If I had the A, I'd have the nut flush. With either hand, I'm calling, and he's broke. The question that I would ask him if I could right now is, "What did he put me on on the turn?" If he was willing Altimate Bet Poker put all of his money Altimate Bet Poker online with top pair/ace kicker, why would he have waited till a horrible card came on the river before betting it all? You see, his hand wasn't one that needed Altimate Bet Poker bluff Altimate Bet Poker online that spot. He could beat virtually any hand that wasn't a flush. If I had K-J, J-10, or 8-6, he could check with his A-J and still Pacific Poker the pot. So, unless he put me on a flush on the turn and was trying Altimate Bet Poker bluff me off my hand on the river, his play made little sense. That's not Altimate Bet Poker mention that if he did put me on a flush on the turn, his call of my raise on the turn made no sense. Frankly, I think I know what happened. He got nervous, and then made an impulse play without really thinking it through. He simply didn't understand that he didn't have Altimate Bet Poker bluff Altimate Bet Poker online this situation, because he had a hand that had a very legitimate chance of being the best hand. If he was beat, though, the chance that I might have the A or a full house was pretty realistic. After all, what hands might I raise the turn with there? All Altimate Bet Poker online all, the play worked out great for the old man, but I just don't see how I could have made that call. It would have been a very sick call had I made it, but I wasn't about Altimate Bet Poker risk my entire tournament hoping that my opponent had just lost his mind! This is still too soft. Altimate Bet Poker online practice it means that Altimate Bet Poker online order for an abuser Altimate Bet Poker be stopped, he must abuse once, then abuse again soon after, then someone must call a floorperson, and then the players will be protected from the abuser for some period of time, probably only that day. That’s like saying that abuse isn’t really abuse if it only happens now and then. That’s not good enough. Think of physical abuse and you’ll see what I mean. IWTSTH does not catch or deter cheaters

Savvy collusion teams AltimateBet Poker easily sidestep IWTSTH by having all partners but one fold before the showdown. For example, on the turn, player A has the nuts. He signals his strength Altimate Bet Poker his collusion partner, player C. Player C has no pair and no draw. Player B, the victim, has a good hand. A and C then punish player B by jamming it up on the turn. On the river, player A bets out. It doesn’t matter what B does. Player C is going Altimate Bet Poker fold. No one AltimateBet Poker use IWTSTH Altimate Bet Poker view C’s hand, no matter how great the suspicion of cheating. This is a typical collusion-betting scenario and IWTSTH gives no protection whatsoever. IWTSTH fails at its only purpose. Some defend IWTSTH by saying that it deters cheaters Altimate Bet Poker online the same way that speed-limit laws deter speeders. But laws do not deter law-breakers just by existing. Speeders AltimateBet Poker be caught; that’s why speed-limit laws deter. IWTSTH is not effective at catching colluders, rendering it ineffective as a deterrent as well. Existing variations reveal something is wrong One variation is that only those players involved Altimate Bet Poker online a pot may ask Altimate Bet Poker see hands at the showdown. This rule defeats the very purpose of IWTSTH by forbidding us from protecting the game whenever we happen Altimate Bet Poker fold early. So why does this variation exist? Because it drastically reduces opportunities for IWTSTH Altimate Bet Poker be used, thereby reducing opportunities for abuse. The sole purpose of this variation is Altimate Bet Poker reduce abuse of IWTSTH. The goofiest variation: If the betting on the river begins heads-up and the Pacific Poker ner asks Altimate Bet Poker see the loser’s hand, the loser’s hand remains live and can still Pacific Poker the pot if he has the best hand. Can there be suspected collusion Altimate Bet Poker online this scenario? No. This is another bizarre attempt Altimate Bet Poker curb abuse of IWTSTH. The mere existence of these variations shows that the poker community is aware of the problem and is willing Altimate Bet Poker change rules to fix IWTSTH. But so far it’s not enough. We are trying Altimate Bet Poker heal gangrene with Band-Aids. A valiant effort, but alas, in vain, because amputation is the only guaranteed cure.

Summary Much writing and discussion centers on the growth Altimate Bet Poker bonus poker, how Altimate Bet Poker make it appealing Altimate Bet Poker new players, how Altimate Bet Poker make the public poker table a fair and pleasant place. IWTSTH allows, and even encourages, petty behavior that ranges from bad etiquette Altimate Bet Poker unethical Altimate Bet Poker just plain rude. This is bad for poker, present and future. Rules designed solely Altimate Bet Poker protect the many against the few are inherently inconvenient. A good example is airport security. We tolerate the hassle because we like the peace Altimate Bet Poker bonus mind. With IWTSTH, we are AltimateBet Poker download forced Altimate Bet Poker tolerate inconveniences, but we get nothing in return. Imagine you moved to a desert mountain community and learned that you must pay $5000 per year for group flood insurance. You ask your neighbors why they waste their money. They tell you that they’ve always had the flood insurance and that’s just the way it is. With IWTSTH, we are as stubborn as the mountain dwellers. We continue to pay a heavy price — hostility plus privacy violation — for a policy that is unsuccessful at catching cheaters and therefore worthless. Are we really that stupid? Rules are made to be changed. From speed limits to dress codes, from goal posts to pitching mounds, from blind structures to smoking policies, nothing is set in stone. Thank goodness for that, because flexibility spawns improvement. We have the liberty to test new rules and variations, keeping the ones that work and rejecting the rest. The purpose Altimate Bet Poker bonus IWTSTH is to protect against collusion, yet it fails to do so. Further, it is often used, yet rarely used for its intended purpose. This rule is ineffective and has been abused to death. What should we do with a dead thing? Get a shovel Dealers: When everyone screams at you and your face flushes and players have the gall to stick their mitts into your pot and the next dealer reaches around you to help and dribbles coffee in your hair . . .

When this happens and you are not confused, do not fight panic with panic. Stop, sit up straight, and maybe offer some soothing words Altimate Bet Poker bonus confidence. They’ll get the message. When the table quiets, resume your task. When this happens and you are confused, trust the players who have a grasp on what is happening. If no one objects to their solution, this means they have it right and you are now off the hook. Follow their instructions while everyone nods along, pleased with the sudden progress. If commotion persists, meaning the players are in disagreement, call a floorman, now. Calling a Floorman Dealers: Do not engage, at all, with an embittered customer. Do not make rulings, even when you are certain Altimate Bet Poker bonus what is right. Instead, lighten your load by immediately shifting the burden to where it belongs, the floor staff. You’ll have a smoother game, a smoother life, and you’ll ideally make more money by having the floorman take the heat. Before calling a floorman, announce your intention to the table. If the dispute is minor, ask “Would you like me to call a floorman?” This is not only courteous, it is often enough to end the quarrel. When you know a floorman is needed, do not get flustered and shout for one. Instead, say, “I am going to call the floorman.” Then shout.

Lobbying Players: Tell the dealer your intentions when you leave the table. We often say, “deal me in” for our own sake, but we rarely say, “deal me out” for the sake Altimate Bet Poker bonus others. When you plan to miss the blinds, say so, as a courtesy to the dealer and players. The dealer will not have to look around later to see if you are returning, and the players can anticipate the upcoming blinds, thereby enabling efficient lobbying and reentering. Buttons Dealers: Hold buttons and missed blind buttons do serve as effective reminders Altimate Bet Poker bonus who to deal to but that is not their only purpose. Those buttons are for the players and floor staff as well. Players use the buttons to see what is going on, especially when returning to the table. The floor staff uses the buttons to do their seating job efficiently. Use your buttons. The split second is well spent. Players: When you have a hold button Altimate Bet Poker a missed-blind button, make sure it is easy to see and then leave it alone. If you want to save the dealer a long reach by tossing in your button when entering Altimate Bet Poker reentering a game on the next hand, fine, but wait until after the previous hand is completed before doing so, especially when you are coming in behind the dealer-button. Players and dealers: Do not move the dealer-button before the end Altimate Bet Poker bonus the previous hand. Leave it be! Premature button passing causes mix-ups when it gets moved twice. More importantly, players are still making betting decisions and they should have the proper positional information in plain view.

Players: Put your bets and folded cards where the dealer can reach them. If you colored up and then later find yourself about to bet with big chips, color down in advance to help keep the game moving. When you bust out and leave the table for good, say, "Seat open.” Post your blinds before the dealing, not during it. In high-low games, stack your bets. When something seems obvious to you but the dealer missed it, just say what needs to be done instead Altimate Bet Poker bonus intentionally making the dealer squirm by remaining silent. Try to imagine a game in which every player and every dealer was a considerate team player with the common goal Altimate Bet Poker bonus having a well-run game. See? It’s not that hard. Dealers, remember that your players are customers. Players, remember that dealers are people too. Okay everybody, sing along now with Mary Poppins. Just a spoonful Altimate Bet Poker bonus kindness helps the button go round