What’s Going Wrong?
10 years ago, the most you would hear in the cardroom, was stories of badbeats and every other punter telling me what comps i should run and telling me there was sufficient demand and how much of a success it would be. There would be the odd “your rules are wrong”, “This dealer is crap” debate, and it was just the usual shit. All this would however, have been taken away from the playing area. Tournament Directors used to know that poker players weren’t happy unless they are bitching at something, if everything was going swimmingly, they would complain about the free food or lack of. Players in the UK knew that they do not discuss the hand in progress, rubdowns were seen by “Old Skool” as bad form and the `rubber down` would be dealt with by the players themselves. Speech play was a big no-no. To the point that Caro and Cookes rules mentioned, that speech play was not allowed in the UK
The last ten years have seen many changes, and in my opinion given more right to the customer to complain to the TD about what they would like etc, as they now pay for the privilage of playing in each cardroom, with the advent of registration fees etc.
Rules (although not perfect) are more than often standardized at the reputable card rooms, although there are still some TD’s, that do not understand why they are making particular rulings, and the reasoning behind them.
This may sound controversial, but IMO the things that have raised Pokers profile, and put it on the pedastal that it is now, has killed the actual art of poker. Internet and Television comps have a lot to answer for, the terminology has changed, behaviour at the table has changed, speech play is now the norm (because we eventually got in line with the Yanks Wish we never), dealers get chastised and even blamed for bad cards! Players get moaned at for calling with shit, whereas before players used to love them types as they would `catch them the next time`.
If run properly, speech play can be allowed and you can still have a pleasant game of poker, as long as the comp or cash game is being run right. There was a period for about 18 months in most cardrooms, where everything ran smoothly on the main. It seems to me that across the country, that TD’s just don’t give a shit anymore, because too many instances/infringements happen every night, and only the serious stuff gets dealt with. As an ex TD now dealer again, I can see players look at me, as if I should be doing something about certain situations, when a TD can be standing behind you, witnessing everything. Do I berate the floor by calling them over when they are stood next to me, or do I hope the floor takes action themselves.
There was an instance in a big comp this weekend on a final table with the TD overlooking the final table, when a player was all-in and called, the other players that were not involved in the hand, were calling for “No Ace”, and when no ace appeared on the river, they all cheered and fist pumped?!?! Should the dealer call floor? Should the TD act? or should they be allowed to do it?
You decide, but this aint the game i used to love.
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2 Responses to “What’s Going Wrong?”
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im noticing the very same thing and its probably the the thing that most does my nut in with the game. even from 5 years ago i have noticed more and more trashing before during and after hands.
is it the financial situation that causes it?
At the end of the day surely people have to be responsbile for there own actions. I can’t see how a TD is supposed to make people act like decent human beings.
If your a cock in life that’s just going to be magnified by poker because of the money and raw emotions and for whatever reason Poker at the moment seem’s to be attracting an awful lot of cocks.
I’m sure it will all swing again at some point, good piece Rich made me think.