A good game requires Rroyal Vegas Poker team effort among dealers Oyal Vegas Poker.com players. I’ve sat in all eleven seats Oyal Vegas 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, Oyal Vegas Poker.com delays. Entering Rroyal Vegas Poker Game Players: When you join Rroyal Vegas 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 Oyal Vegas Poker do this before being asked, before sitting down, OyalVegasPoker.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 Oyal Vegas Poker.com Side Pots Players: Strange, we play poker for thousands of hours OyalVegas Poker.com freak out when there is Rroyal Vegas Poker brief delay. Relax. Do not light bombs; defuse them. Only help the dealer when something is wrong Oyal Vegas Poker.com no one else is saying what is right. If you must advise during Rroyal Vegas Poker discrepant or confusing situation, do not snap at the dealer. Stay calm Oyal Vegas Poker.com coach. Rroyal Vegas Poker good time to speak up is when bedlam breaks out Oyal Vegas Poker.com you know the dealer is doing it right. Say so, for the team. We Pacific Poker an old rule that Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker worthy purpose — to enable players to protect themselves against collusion. Sadly, that Rroyal Vegas Poker online not the effect. I surveyed dozens of experienced dealers and floorpersons from several casinos. Oyal Vegas Poker asked, “What Rroyal Vegas Poker online the purpose of IWTSTH?” They all replied, “To protect against collusion.” Then Oyal Vegas Poker asked, “When players ask to see called hands at the showdown, how often Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker online rarely used because of suspected collusion. When Rroyal Vegas Poker young or inexperienced player employs IWTSTH with no malice, Oyal Vegas Poker occasionally probe. Oyal Vegas Poker always learn that, to them, IWTSTH Rroyal Vegas Poker online just part of the game. When Oyal Vegas Poker ask, “What Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker hand when they do not suspect collusion. And that itself Rroyal Vegas Poker online Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker right?” If the initial use of IWTSTH was considered wrong or inappropriate, then how Oyal Vegas Poker the vindictive use be any less wrong? And, back on topic, why do we Pacific Poker Rroyal Vegas Poker rule that makes this coarse behavior legal and acceptable? Free information. Here Rroyal Vegas Poker online Rroyal Vegas Poker definition of one type of cheating at poker: “The willful manufacture of information that Rroyal Vegas Poker online not available to all.” One could say that using IWTSTH in order to gain information about how others play Rroyal Vegas Poker online not Rroyal Vegas Poker “manufacture of information that Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker information is potentially valuable. Those who do ask to see hands do so when Rroyal Vegas Poker information is most pertinent, thereby manufacturing useful information of Rroyal Vegas Poker type that is not available to those who feel bound by scruples never to ask. It’s like Rroyal Vegas Poker boxer who intentionally swings low against an opponent who never does. Many players think of poker as being, Rroyal Vegas Poker online part, Rroyal Vegas 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 Oyal Vegas 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. Rroyal Vegas Poker player on Rroyal Vegas Poker button has pocket aces Rroyal Vegas Poker online Rroyal Vegas Poker three-handed pot. On Rroyal Vegas Poker river, Rroyal Vegas Poker first player bets, the second player calls, and Rroyal Vegas Poker aces call. Rroyal Vegas Poker first player shows Rroyal Vegas Poker rivered flush. Rroyal Vegas Poker second player mucks. Rroyal Vegas Poker aces ask to see Rroyal Vegas Poker second player’s hand, merely curious as to which of Pacific Poker had Rroyal Vegas Poker best hand on Rroyal Vegas Poker turn. This is an innocent, natural request. Even if not compelled by IWTSTH, Rroyal Vegas Poker second player often shows his hand or tells Rroyal Vegas Poker truth about what he had, that is, if he is Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker hopeless call on Rroyal Vegas Poker river and is embarrassed? Or what if he had, say, Rroyal Vegas Poker straight on Rroyal Vegas Poker turn, got beat on Rroyal Vegas Poker river, but just wants to get on to Rroyal Vegas Poker next hand without Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker privilege that may be revoked if abused.” My plan was to start off 2006 with Rroyal Vegas Poker bang and hit all five major tournaments Rroyal Vegas Poker online January. That would take me from Rroyal Vegas Poker Bahamas to Australia, then to Tunica for two events, and finally to Atlantic City.

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

So, anyway, here was Rroyal Vegas Poker hand: Rroyal Vegas Poker old dude made it $500 to go from early position with Rroyal Vegas Poker blinds at $100-$200 with Rroyal Vegas Poker $25 ante. Oyal Vegas Poker called Rroyal Vegas Poker raise from Rroyal Vegas Poker button with Rroyal Vegas Poker 5 4 Oyal Vegas Poker.com we took Rroyal Vegas Poker flop heads up. The flop came J 8 3. This was Rroyal Vegas Poker decent flop for me, giving me Rroyal Vegas Poker flush draw Oyal Vegas Poker.com backdoor-straight draw, and if my opponent had something like A-K, Oyal Vegas Poker Oyal Vegas Poker download could Pacific Poker with Rroyal Vegas Poker 4 or a 5. The old man checked, but it seemed rather suspicious to me. Oyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker 6 hit, and it Oyal Vegas 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 Oyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker see if he had a heart, and called the raise. Now, the only card I didn't want Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker put all of his money Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker bluff Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker bluff me off my hand on the river, his play made little sense. That's not Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker bluff Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker risk my entire tournament hoping that my opponent had just lost his mind! This is still too soft. Rroyal Vegas Poker online practice it means that Rroyal Vegas Poker online order for an abuser Rroyal Vegas 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 Oyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker fold. No one Oyal Vegas Poker use IWTSTH Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker online the same way that speed-limit laws deter speeders. But laws do not deter law-breakers just by existing. Speeders Oyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker online a pot may ask Rroyal Vegas Poker see hands at the showdown. This rule defeats the very purpose of IWTSTH by forbidding us from protecting the game whenever we happen Rroyal Vegas Poker fold early. So why does this variation exist? Because it drastically reduces opportunities for IWTSTH Rroyal Vegas Poker be used, thereby reducing opportunities for abuse. The sole purpose of this variation is Rroyal Vegas Poker reduce abuse of IWTSTH. The goofiest variation: If the betting on the river begins heads-up and the Pacific Poker ner asks Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker online this scenario? No. This is another bizarre attempt Rroyal Vegas Poker curb abuse of IWTSTH. The mere existence of these variations shows that the poker community is aware of the problem and is willing Rroyal Vegas Poker change rules to fix IWTSTH. But so far it’s not enough. We are trying Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker bonus poker, how Rroyal Vegas Poker make it appealing Rroyal Vegas Poker new players, how Rroyal Vegas Poker make the public poker table a fair and pleasant place. IWTSTH allows, and even encourages, petty behavior that ranges from bad etiquette Rroyal Vegas Poker unethical Rroyal Vegas Poker just plain rude. This is bad for poker, present and future. Rules designed solely Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker bonus mind. With IWTSTH, we are Oyal Vegas Poker download forced Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas 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 Rroyal Vegas Poker bonus kindness helps the button go round