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Gaming Guru  Deal Me In: Card down!12 June 2013
By Mark Pilarski Dear Mark: I have a question regarding Roberts Rules of Poker. A player was playing a Texas Hold'em, 3-6 limit game. After going all in, he picked up his cards and one fell on the floor. I was the floor person and was called to the table. The dealer asked what the ruling is, and my response was, per Roberts Rules, the player must play the card. Another player loudly questioned the call and said it was a dead hand. Because I had the rules printed at my station, I went and got them and told the questioning player to read the rule, which he did, then said, "that's not right." The next week our manager questioned my call. I showed him my proof for the call and he also said that it was not right. My response, show me otherwise, but he couldn't. In summary, I cannot find an Internet site listing this circumstance as a dead hand. Only Robert's Rules of Poker address this irregularity. Your comments, please! Larry S. The mathematics of gambling are pretty black and white, whereas the interpretation of the rules can be multiple shades of gray. God only knows how many times I'd gone gray when it came to the house rules, mostly to improve customer service. On table games, I overrode the rulebook because it was the house against the player, and I knew that we would get the money back a few hands down the road. Player against player, as it is in poker, is like chalk and cheese. So to separate civilization from chaos, one in a managerial position refers to the rules of poker that all card rooms have, and by which they conduct their games. Your scenario, Larry, was that a card fell on the floor, the dealer announced, "card down," you picked it up, and, subject to "your" interpretation of the rules, made the decision that the card that hit the ground was still live. Your ruling is contrary to my supervisory experience in Nevada card rooms, where any card not in play, like a card being dropped on the floor by either the dealer or an overly excited player, creates a dead hand. The belief here is that once any card leaves the sight of fellow players, there is no way to verify that the card that comes off the floor is the same card that left the table. Calling the hand dead protects the integrity of the game. Cookes Rules of Real Poker concurs. Rule 16.12. Cards Remain on Table: "A player's hand which is removed from sight or has a card dropped on the floor shall be declared dead. If a card falls to the floor for any reason other than being dealt off the table by the dealer, that player's hand is automatically dead." That said, Larry, I believe your decision was made in good faith, and I can buy your side of this barney, especially if Roberts Rules of Poker are exclusively referred to, and used, as house rules where you are employed. Roberts Rules of Poker is a set of poker rules written by Robert Ciaffone, which covers almost every possible rules issue that can arise in Texas hold ‘em. Under General Poker Rules, Irregularities, number 14, it states: "If you drop any cards out of your hand onto the floor, you must still play them." Furthermore, under House Policies, Decision Making, it says: "Management (which would have been you at the time) reserves the right to make decisions in the spirit of fairness, even if a strict interpretation of the rules may indicate a different ruling." In the future, Larry, if a player throws a vociferous tizzy over a decision you make, think about using this out. Impound the pot, and then get the shift supervisor to make the ruling and let him or her take the heat. That is found in Roberts under House Policies, Decision Making, rule 7. Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "I must complain the cards are ill shuffled till I have a good hand." - Jonathan Swift Deal Me In: That good old 2211 June 2013
Dear Mark: I enjoy reading your column every week in the Reno Gazette Journal. Last week, you wrote of your "walking out the door wager" on the roulette wheel. Something about it struck a chord in my memory, but I couldn't figure what it was. The next day it came to me -- Casablanca! In that famous movie ... (read more)
Deal Me In: It really was a pretty sweet gig7 June 2013
Dear Mark: Currently, I am working two crummy jobs and was looking to go into the casino business. We have three casinos in close proximity to where I live. I hear that dealers make a decent living, which I am sure is more than I am making now. Should I make the leap into the casino business? Any advice you can give me based on your dealing experience would be appreciated. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: What's next?31 May 2013
Dear Mark: I had not seen this subject mentioned in your column, and perhaps you know, but if not, I thought you would be interested in knowing about an "Ante" in the Indian casinos in Oklahoma. Before the dealing of each hand, the player must pay an "ante" fee, the minimum being fifty cents, and it escalates depending upon the size of one's bet. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Whoever said you had to have fun?Dear Mark: Assume a gambler had the discipline to walk into a casino, sit down at the blackjack table, and make one $100 bet, win or lose, then walk away. Of course, the gambler would have enough money to cover any splits or double downs. Would that not be better than sitting there making $10 bets for several hours. ... (read more)Deal Me In: Never and always are princes among slippery termsDear Mark: Why do some players on a blackjack table get all hot and bothered when I split 10’s? I don’t do it every time, nor do I get a 20 hand very often. I never correct their play, like when the dealer is showing a six, and they hit a 12-16. Dan P. A number of players will go into a tizzy when you ... (read more)Deal Me In: Reading your way to richesDear Mark: Can you recommend a book or two that outlines the proper strategy on video poker? Peter E. Video poker, Peter, is one of those rare casino games that can be beaten by the knowledgeable player. The game can often have a positive expectation on select machines, and can offer the player the chance ... (read more)Deal Me In: Round and round she goesDear Mark: I liked your indifferent answer last week regarding system players trying to find trends on a roulette wheel based on previous numbers. I will agree, that numbers spun are random, but, isn’t there a system based on following the traits of the way a dealer spins the ball? Brett H. What your ... (read more)Deal Me In: Beware of Greeks bearing giftsDear Mark: Why do roulette tables display previous numbers since the next number is completely random? If the house thinks people will try to play a system based on these previous numbers, it doesn't benefit the house anyway because it is still random. Gordon M. Most casino roulette tables today have a ... (read more) |
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