Poker rules

I have been known to, as they say, take a hand or two. And the one thing that I admire about poker is its complete lack of a uniform rule structure.

But then it's an American game.

The following happened a few years ago.

The game was $20-$40 Texas Holdem and the guy in the big blind had a Jack Ten of Spades, we later learned. Positions 3, 4 and 5 folded. Position 6 raised, making the bet $40. Position 7 tossed in a $100 dollar bill and to my weary eyes gave a thumbs up indicating he was raising, which would have made the bet $60.

Since I was not in the game I confess to not been 100% focused on the action. The dealer said nothing and positions 8,9, 10 and 1 folded. Position 2, the Big Blind, thought for a few minutes and tossed in his hand.

Position 6 said nothing and the dealer gave position 7 $60 change and started to deal.

The big blind immediately pointed out that position 7 had raised the bet, commenting that he would have called if it had only been $20 instead of what he thought....$60 or a $40 call. (Remember the big blind already had $20 in the pot.)

I'll spare you the bickering, some of it profane and pointed. Suffice to say the dealer said position 7 had said nothing and he had not seen the "thumbs up" move.

The floorman was summoned and agreed with the dealer. The hand was dealt and the big blind would have won if he had played.

Some thoughts.

I don't know if position 7 was seeking an advantage through fake hand movements or not but I am fairly sure he indicated a raise and then changed his mind when the big blind folded without him having to put the raise in.

The flop, turn and river was 10, Jack, 4, 8, 4. Position 7 had Ace King, a hand that you want to raise and get it down to as few as players as possible. He was also a tricky player with lots of moves so I think he was seeking an advantage.

The big blind would have won the hand with 10's and Jacks.

The floorman noted that house rules said that when the bill was put in the pot without saying anything it was just a call. Maybe so but it caused a lot of confusion and ill will.

You can argue that dealer should have asked position 7 his intent but given given the house rules there was no reason for him to do so.

I like my solution better.

No cash on the table. If the player runs out of chips the game stops until change is made. There's no confusion between a call and a raise if chips are used.









On Twitter I am Lesabre1

Switzerland: Minaret referendum was a vote against the spread of Islam

According to a new analysis the supporters of the minaret ban weren't voting against Muslims, they were voting against the spread of Islam. It doesn't matter whether Islam is compatible with Swiss culture or, as Tariq Ramadan claims, 'Islam is European'. I think this supports my view that the bottom line here is that the Swiss want Switzerland to be Swiss. They don't mind Muslims living there, but they do not want Muslim culture taking over.

Gee, who would think that a country doesn't want to be taken over?



On Twitter I am Lesabre1

Is that a lizard in your pocket?

Or are you just glad to see me?

And if you find that weird:

The geckos may have been worth 2,000 euros ($2,800) each on the European market, he noted.

On Twitter I am Lesabre1

Some CNN VP is thinking about how to get his window open

Oprah Named Favorite TV Personality; Glenn Beck Is No. 2

New to the list and debuting at number 2 is Fox News' personality, Glenn Beck, whose rabble-rousing ways have endeared him to Republicans, conservatives,and independents, according to the Harris results. Dropping to No. 3 from No. 1 last year is Jay Leno, whose descent in the poll predated the NBC-'Tonight Show'-Leno-Conan O'Brien debacle. We'd like to see where he ranks now.

And Rosie is??????

Link




On Twitter I am Lesabre1

Obama quote of the day for 1-26-10

A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense.'

Link

The problem is this. In the real world of war a compromise is not possible. That is if you want to win. The former should be self evident. The latter is not known for certain when it comes to Obamie and his relations with the Islamic radical world.

Especially when he fails to recognize this:

REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, will the end of the United States' presence in Saudi Arabia, their withdrawal, will that end your call for jihad against the United States and against the US ?

BIN LADIN: So the driving-away jihad against the US does not stop with its withdrawal from the Arabian peninsula, but rather it must desist from aggressive intervention against Muslims in the whole world.

March 1997 interview with bin Ladin by CNN's Peter Arnett.




On Twitter I am Lesabre1