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
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