Poll: Cash Game Seating

Regardless if you think it’s right or wrong. If you host or not…

When you go to a Cash game (at the beginning) do you draw for seats or get to pick your seat?

I voted :)

Voted :)

Booyah!

Pick your seat - first come, first served.

If someone said "I'm saving this seat for X", I'd leave immediately, as there is clear and obvious cheating intended. First come first served, means first calls their seat.

If someone requested a random draw, I would allow that as well. It can't possibly hurt - unless someone intended to cheat (re: the two Cubans from @Anthony Martino (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/1159/)'s Poker Pro thread). If two players need to be in a certain position, there is a reason.

Lol at the “always show up late don’t know” option

Cash games are normally first-come, first-served. Sit wherever you want. For the social side of a home game, though, we typically draw for seats to make things less intimidating for the weaker players and a bit more engaging for the regulars.

Pick your seat - first come, first served.

If someone said "I'm saving this seat for X", I'd leave immediately, as there is clear and obvious cheating intended. First come first served, means first calls their seat.

If omeone requested a random draw, I would allow that as well. It can't possibly hurt - unless someone intended to cheat (re: the two Cubans from @Anthony Martino (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/1159/)'s Poker Pro thread). If two players need to be in a certain position, there is a reason.

This is wild. Reserved seats at a cash game does not mean cheating lol.

All my friends have certain seats they like. And the other cash game I go to players also like certain seats.

In both games if a player is going to help start the game and one of the first 9-10 players and will be there within the first hour, we hold seats.

Trust me, someone saving a seat doesn’t indicate they are cheaters lololol

I would play either one. It doesn't matter to me. I don't have a vote, as I don't run the hosting.

As a host, out of fairness, I would insist that everyone draws their seat randomly. Unless they volunteer to deal in seats 5 or 10

Trust me, someone saving a seat doesn’t indicate they are cheaters lololol

Not using a cut card does not indicate cheating. Not cutting when your buddy shuffled does not indicate cheating. String bets don't indicate cheating (truly most string bets are just bad practice).

But there's a reason these are rules. The poll shows a high number of people have some level of suspicion. In a 2/5 game with perhaps $10,000 on the table - yeah, I'd like to minimize suspicion. Doesn't indicate cheating (someone should lose a hand or at least a finger if cheating for 10K). We're not talking about taking body parts yet, just that this smells foul.

I am a little surprised that random draw isn't the norm. We don't draw for seats at my game because of fear of collision or cheating, but rather to randomize the seats for my players who are of significantly different playing styles and skill levels, as I believe that where these players are seated has an impact on the game itself. Am I mistake in this belief? We play NLHE and variants, as well as Omaha, but with low stakes.

I am a little surprised that random draw isn't the norm. We don't draw for seats at my game because of fear of collision or cheating, but rather to randomize the seats for my players who are of significantly different playing styles and skill levels, as I believe that where these players are seated has an impact on the game itself. Am I mistake in this belief? We play NLHE and variants, as well as Omaha, but with low stakes.

I think these are more competitive, dare u say nitty, games. And everyone is looking make it a level playing field.

The cash games I go to, the host does a gold job mixing plenty of action players this isn’t a concern for anyone where you sit.

I am a little surprised that random draw isn't the norm. We don't draw for seats at my game because of fear of collision or cheating, but rather to randomize the seats for my players who are of significantly different playing styles and skill levels, as I believe that where these players are seated has an impact on the game itself. Am I mistake in this belief? We play NLHE and variants, as well as Omaha, but with low stakes.

The norm for cashgame poker is to sit wherever you like. If you enter a casino there is no seat drawing for a cash game. However some people will do a draw at the start of a home game just to make seating a bit less competitive.

In a casino enviroment and if you play poker professionally, seating and table selection will have a lot to say for how profitable you are in the long run.

The poll shows a high number of people have some level of suspicion.

I agree with your point about best practices as defense against cheating, certainly, but this sentence is a stretch. Myself (and probably others) that voted hard to say just says the OP barely had ANY information. It just said they like to sit next to eachother. We can never say definitively yes or no to the title 'are they cheating together' with that info.

Refusing to give a binary answer doesn't mean anything above a common sense baseline, we just wanted to hear more about the situation and whether there was any evidence. I guess -some level of suspicion- is vague enough to apply to pretty much everything in life but death and taxes, though.

I am a little surprised that random draw isn't the norm. We don't draw for seats at my game because of fear of collision or cheating, but rather to randomize the seats for my players who are of significantly different playing styles and skill levels, as I believe that where these players are seated has an impact on the game itself. Am I mistake in this belief? We play NLHE and variants, as well as Omaha, but with low stakes.

There’s no denying that there can be an advantage to choosing your seat in a game where you’re familiar with the other players.

But that also holds true for casino cash games, where seat selection could be seen as similarly important to table selection. Not the same of course, but same idea.

To me (and I can’t remember ever playing in a cash game where people drew for seats) choosing your seat is just a part of the game.

I have no problem with fairness and even playing fields. I’m in favor of it. But when you take into account all the variables of a poker game, you have to know that drawing for seats to create an even playing field can’t be very effective - it will never be even.

The poll shows a high number of people have some level of suspicion.

Not sure how you read the poll, but my reason for random draw has nothing to do with cheating but simply to keep the game healthy and fair. I'd rather not have the best players sit next to the biggest fish every single game. Or have people be super strategic with where they are sitting down. In a home game that is. In a casino or poker club I always will sit down in the seat I belive is the most +EV.

In a casino or poker club I always will sit down in the seat I belive is the most +EV.

This is nuts. Reserving seats at in a cash game doesn’t mean they’re cheating lol.

Believe me, someone holding a seat doesn’t mean they’re cheaters lololol

Sounds exactly like something a cheater would claim.

No offense meant, really :)

The poll shows a high number of people have some level of suspicion.

Not just that, I also encoded my boxers vs. briefs preference in my vote.

I’ve never drawn for seat at the cash games I host but I began thinking about it a few years ago. I have a couple different groups I play with. One is semi-casual (who I’ve mostly been playing with for the past 3 years) and the other is made up of very strong, aggressive casino-stakes players I’ve been playing with for 20 years.

It’s that second group I’ve wanted to try it with. I always sit in the dealer position (I built a chip drawer under the table there) and let people pick seats where they like. The problem is the best player always ends up directly to my left…ALWAYS. He’s an old high-school friend and college roommate who taught me how to play honest poker, so there’s no bad blood…but I think it’s giving him a real edge hand after hand.

I also included my boxers-versus-briefs preference when I cast my vote.

The boxers-versus-briefs preference vote was stolen, :x

Regardless if you think it’s right or wrong. If you host or not…

When you go to a Cash game (at the beginning) do you draw for seats or get to pick your seat?

It depends on whose house we are playing at. When I host, I normally have my players draw for seats. Some hosts don't.

The issue is the top player always sits immediately to my left….ALWAYS. He’s my longtime high school friend and college roommate.

Anyway, we located Brad and Don.

At my house and the other game I usually play at we draw for seats. Although at my house, I always sit in seat 8/9 because of my hosting/banking duties. Everyone else draws.

Well, we found Brad and Don.

I had no idea what you were referring to until I saw the thread link at the bottom of the page. Not a good analogy because Brad is not complaining about Don sitting next to him and the entire table of players would have been playing cards together for 20 years. We all know exactly how we all play.

I appreciate the small layer of metagame introduced when players can pick whom they sit beside. If a game begins with fewer players and someone new arrives, do they get to choose their seat or must they draw for it?

I had no idea what you were referring to until I saw the thread link at the bottom of the page. Not a good analogy because Brad is not complaining about Don sitting next to him and the entire table of players would have been playing cards together for 20 years. We all know exactly how we all play.

Exactly what Brad would say.

First come, first serve at cash games. We don't reserve seats. If you want a special seat, get your butt there early and claim it, or pay me an exorbitant seat licensing fee :LOL: :laugh:. If players asked for a draw, we would do that as well. The host would still get his/her preferred seat no matter what.

I like the little bit of extra metagame that is added by allowing people to choose who they want to sit next to. So if the game starts shorthanded and a new player shows up do they get to choose or they have to draw for it?

If it's been drawn at the beginning, I'd draw for new players getting to the game as they arrive as well.

.

For me (and I can’t recall ever being in a cash game where seats were drawn) picking your seat is simply part of the game.

same…this surprises me 48%-57%. I would have thought it would be a skewed 20%-80% or something. And figures that total at most 100%. I guess I’m way off.

Now that I think about it, maybe I did draw for seats at in a cash game and just didn’t care enough to remember.

Has anybody ever drawn for a cash game seat at a PCF meetup? I have not, you just sit wherever you like, at whatever table you want. And this is like an all star game for home game hosts.

I think this is pretty normal. I go to lots of different games, and it's probably about that....20% draw for seats, 80% wherever you want.

I chose "pick your seat" as that is definitely most common for the home cash games I've hosted and played in.

But drawing for seats in a cash game isn't the unicorn that some people think. I play in a game now that just started doing that (at player request), and it's not the first game I've played in where we drew.

20% draw for seats, 80% wherever you want

Yeah, that's probably about right IME.

The games I run and those I join use drawing for seats and permit any player to ask for a redraw within reason.

@Marius L (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/1206/) and @Statesvegas (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/5557/) both hit nail on head. It's not about cheating it's about attempting to level the playing field or at least have it be random.

FWIW I find the seat draw a fun pregame activity.

We redraw a few times during each home game. I'm fairly new to poker but like the change of seating. We don't specify an exact time for redraws, but when a break occurs (usually a couple of hours in) we redraw seats.

I always make a point of sitting to the left of the most aggressive player. :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

We redraw a few times during each home game; I'm fairly new to poker but appreciate the change in seating. We don't establish a strict moment for a redraw, but when a break arrives (a couple of hours in) we redraw seats.

You're fairly new to poker and already posting on a chip forum? Fantastic! Keep in mind the saying attributed to Navy SEALs: “anything worth doing is worth overdoing”

I always try to sit to the left of the most aggressive player. :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

if the aggressive player is also really good and seeing lots of flips, yes that’s a good seat. But there are common situations where you might want to rethink…

1. fishy maniac with lots of postflop aggression, 95% freq flop bets, calling everything

2. almost always multi-way pots

the last place you want to be is that maniac’s left.

-You can’t isolate pre wide because everyone knows what’s happening and run you over with 4! or flat the 3!

-Postflop you have to respond to maniac first.

-All the good players most capable of exercising position advantage have position advantage on you

What I do is that at the beginning everyone selects their seat and after a few hours of play we draw for seats again. It's funny and interesting at the same time.

I host and at my game; people show up and sit down. I’d like to consider introducing drawing so I can respond to players in different positions around me, but we have a few women (no sexism intended) who like to chat during the session — my daughter is one of them — and without disrupting the flow, they’re sometimes off in their own little world.

For those and other reasons mentioned, we just sit.

We usually draw for seats in the cash game I play in. We've always done it - if nothing else the dynamics are a little bit different each time. We've been playing together for ages so the variety is appreciated.

Allow me to move the goalpost a bit.

How do you determine tables at a two table cash game?

We do not draw for seats, but most if not all seldom sit at the same chair from the previous session. The 4 end chairs are the choice placings as there is just a tad more elbow room there. The downside is dealing requires a better toss to get the cards to the other end.

We flip cards to see who starts the deal for the first game, 1st ace, if it's red, we start with a red deck, if it's a black Ace, we start with a dark deck.

We change decks on the hour, every hour. Whoever is dealing at the time, gets to select the next deck. We have 6 decks to choose from.

Allow me to move the goalpost a bit.

How do you determine tables at a two table cash game?

Have seating chips for 2 tables. :cool

We run two table tourneys and cash games. Red table and blue table.

Do you really need more reasons for MOAR chips!?

Had an emergency 2 table cash game last week, 18 expected players. I built a deck with 6 red and 6 black cards. First 12 players drew for table (to choose seats) and the remaining players alternated tables as they showed up. It worked fine; I’m just curious how others handle it.

Okay, we located Brad and Don.

Brad, who is the stronger player, is seated to Don’s right.

Please pay more attention ;^))

Brad, the better player, sits to Don’s right.

Please pay closer attention ;^))

We play that every half hour you redraw and you play the stack at your new seat

… Of course not, but that could be interesting. The hand before the redraw it would make sense to try to donk off 90% of your stack

View attachment 1058777 (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/attachments/1058777/)

Someone isn’t familiar with winking emojis

Someone isn’t familiar with winking emojis

Looks to me like you want to trash another thread.

I’m up

We flip cards to determine who deals first for the opening game, 1st ace

I'll never get those who do the "first ace" method. I've encountered it plenty of times, so it's not just you. "First ace" is a quasi-random method, but it's not genuinely random. The player who receives a card earliest has a higher chance of drawing the first ace.

Either those people haven't grasped basic math (please send me an invite), or they're purposely wasting time with a pseudo-random way to pick the initial dealer (cancel my invite).

I will never understand people who do "first ace." I've observed it many times, so it's not just you. "First ace" is a kind of randomizer, but it isn't truly random. The player who receives the first card is more likely to draw the first ace.

Either those players don't grasp basic math (please send me an invite), or they want to waste time with a pseudo-random method for choosing the first dealer (cancel my invite).

I will never understand people who do "first ace." I've observed it many times, so it's not just you. "First ace" is a kind of randomizer, but it isn't truly random. The player who receives the first card is more likely to draw the first ace.

Either those players don't grasp basic math (please send me an invite), or they want to waste time with a pseudo-random method for choosing the first dealer (cancel my invite).

lol...OK, we will now do 1st Jack. That has to be more random than 1st ace

or they want to kill time with the pseudo-random first dealer (cancel my invite).

You're kidding about that last part, right?

I mean, sure, it's pseudo-random, but does anyone truly care who deals first?

Two places I've played at draw for seats and seat 1 gets to pick the location of seat 1 for that table. I do a similar spin. Drawing for seats but the first person to party is the first person to pick where his seat is no matter what seat # they draw.

You’re kidding about the last part, right?

Sure, it’s pseudo-random, but who actually cares who deals first?

That supports the second half of my point. If nobody cares who deals first, the person sitting with the deck should deal. Distributing up to 48 cards just to perform something nobody cares about is what I call “wasting time.”

Looks to me like you want to trash another thread.

I’m up

Guy who smelled it may have dealt it

Which leans toward the second half of my sentence. If you don't care who deals first, the person who sits with the deck deals. Distributing up to 48 cards just to perform something nobody cares about is what I call "wasting time".

Oooooooh! I assumed by “first ace” you all meant that everyone picks one card (like normal people) but if someone draws an ace, it ends immediately (none of that suits business). Yes then, I agree “first ace” is dumb.

House rule: Whoever brings his girlfriend and has her sit behind him gets to pick last

House rule: Whoever brings their girlfriend and makes her sit behind him picks last

Oh wow, I think that’s my biggest pet peeve in all of poker. I wonder what I’d do if somebody tried that at my house? I’d probably have to commission a new cards mold set - the No Girlfriends Behind Cardroom

House rule: Whoever brings their girlfriend and makes her sit behind him picks last

If I bring my girlfriend who plays (terribly) do I get to pick first??

Allow me to move the goalpost a bit.

How do you determine tables at a two table cash game?

When I have two cash tables running they have never started at the same time. So it was first come first serve on table 1 and then when table 2 started we draw to send a couple guys to table 2.

Which corresponds to the latter part of my sentence. If you don't care who deals first, the person sitting with the deck deals. Giving out up to 48 cards merely to do something nobody cares about is what I call "wasting time".

Just 4 more cards, and you can tell you have a full deck. :D Don't you count your deck cards before putting them into play to confirm none are missing? Is that also a waste of time? :rolleyes:

From how I read your posts, if it's not done your way, it's wrong?:ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

all in good fun...

House rule: Whoever brings a girlfriend and has her sit behind him picks last

Depends on the girlfriend. I might allow them to pick first so I can decide where to sit.

I really hope this is some kind of joke — people don't actually bring their girlfriend to a home game, do they?!!

When I have two cash tables running they have never started at the same time. So it was first come first serve on table 1 and then when table 2 started we draw to send a couple guys to table 2.

How many players do you seat at the first table before the second starts? I always try to keep the tables balanced

Just 4 more cards, and you know you have a full deck. :D Don’t you count your deck cards before putting them into play to ensure none are missing? Is that also a pointless exercise?:rolleyes:

From how I read your posts, if you don’t do it your way, it’s incorrect?:ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

all in good fun...

Four of the 52 are aces. So technically you never need to deal more than 49 to locate the first ace.

I hope this is a prank — people really don’t bring their girlfriend to a home game, do they?!

I’ve witnessed it three times. It’s usually because one partner is extremely possessive or overly suspicious.

Just 4 more cards, and you know you have a full deck. :D Don't you count your deck cards prior to putting them in play to make sure there are no cards missing. Is that also a waste of time.:rolleyes:

The way I interpret your posts, if it's not the way you do it, then it's wrong?:ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

all in good fun...

Actually, I count the decks at the end of the night (usually the next morning). I also examine every card for signs of damage and replace decks as necessary. Afterwards everything is boxed up. 52 in, 52 out. I don't make my players wait.

As for wrong, if you are truly trying to randomize who starts, then yes, first ace is mathematically wrong. High card is similar, and correct. Other methods may also work for true randomization.

Personally, I don't do random. For a cash game, I let players pick their seats. If you pick the seat with the dealer's button, you start as dealer.

I hope this is a joke — people don't really bring their girlfriends to a home game, do they?!

They definitely do. They have their own separate setup: chat by the food, fuss over the dogs, have a few drinks. It keeps them content, and that in turn helps keep my players around.

I would take my girlfriend along, but because my wife also joins in playing poker...

When I have two cash tables running they have never started at the same time. So it was first come first serve on table 1 and then when table 2 started we draw to send a couple guys to table 2.

How many players do you seat at the first table before the second starts? I always try to keep the tables balanced

The first table can go up to 10 players. We usually go to two tables at 12 players so 6 each. So last night we had two tables going with 7 and 6 players each. The table with 6 players lost one so we drew lowest card to send over a player. Well the guy who drew to go over was the biggest stack at the table and second biggest out of both tables. He had somewhere around $1000 in a .50/$1 game. I decided to override the draw and not send him to the other table because of the size of his stack.

Usually seats are casually chosen by people showing up.

If someone requested random, I would oblige, but I sit in my seat at my table

Allow me to shift the goalpost a touch.

How do you decide tables at a two table cash game?

That’s an added layer The Godfather Club will have the distinct pleasure of addressing soon.

The college crowd is returning to MN and they’re eager to play. With the recent acquisition of “The Little Guy”, a 7 footer I picked up on Craigslist free, we’ll be seeing MTC games before long.

My first thought is table one and when lucky number 11 arrives split. Split at 10?

Either way, I’d propose at this phase something like 5 highest cards on a face up one card toss. It’s a problem I’m looking forward to encountering several times this summer.

Make room Big Red

“The Little Guy” has entered the poker room. I have a matching table light whose shades I’ll be painting green.

Oh, and there’ll be new chips coming in the morning courtesy of my insatiable addiction, the Godmother’s generosity, and the PCF classifieds.

We draw for seats regardless. I’ve got two players that are brothers in law, but they were friends for a long time before that. One of them is a loose cannon. All in on the first hand with garbage loose. Rebuying 5-8 times a night is not uncommon for this guy.

The second guy hates when he plays into the first. Hates probably isn’t strong enough. And the first guy loves to antagonize the second with it. I force a seat draw to at least make it a fair fight. Everyone is ok with a one in ten chance of preceding chaos.

That said, we never play for enough money to make anything a real power play for EV or anything like that. It’s about as casual a game as you can get. I think we set a new record for a pot the last game we played with about $250 on the table.

We’ve had more money at stake with guys cutting for high card. A friendly $1 game got big after a few crazy double or nothing situations. I bet you’ll never guess who was right in the mix for that one.

Spoiler

It was the first guy

Allow me to move the goalpost a bit.

How do you determine tables at a two table cash game?

Had an emergency 2 table cash game last week, 18 expected players. I made a deck with 6 red and 6 black cards. First 12 players drew for table (choice of seat) and the rest of the players alternated tables as they arrived. Worked ok, just wondering how others did it.

Personally, I think order of arrival is the fairest.

If you are doing 10-max, when the 11th playes shows up he goes to "table 2" and is joined by the players arriving 7th - 10tb.

Then you either do open seating. (Fill the short table first and alternate) or must move seating. (All new players go to table 2 and players move from table 2 to 1 in original order of arrival to keep balance.)

Must-move seating is a lot more complicated, but does reward the earliest arrivers with the fullest game.

Edit to add: cc @merkong (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/14014/)

Now that’s a new dimension that The Godfather Club has the distinct honor of having to grapple with upcoming.

The college crowd is on its way back to MN and they’re ready to play. With the recent acquisition of “The Little Guy”, a 7 footer I picked up on Craigslist free, we’ll be seeing MTC games before we know it.

My initial thoughts are table one and when lucky number 11 arrives split. Split at 10?

Either way, I’d say at this stage something like 5 highest cards on a face up one card toss. It’s a problem I’m looking forward to having several times this summer.

Make room Big Red

View attachment 1130175 (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/attachments/1130175/)

“The Little Guy” has entered the poker room. I have a matching table light that I’ll be painting the shades green.

View attachment 1130176 (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/attachments/1130176/)

Oh, and there’ll be new chips heading this way in the morning courtesy of my insatiable addiction, the gracious nature of the Godmother, and the PCF classifieds.

The way I've done it the last couple times I've had 2 table cash games, is the first 10-12 players draw for tables, then alternate with the rest of the arrivals. If a player wants a table change, he has to convince someone at the other table to swap with him.

I like to keep the tables balanced.

The way I’ve handled it the last few times I ran 2 table cash games is that the first 10-12 players draw for tables, and then I alternate the rest of the arrivals. If someone wants to change tables, they have to persuade a player at the other table to swap.

I prefer to keep the tables balanced.

If a host can get that many people to show up on time. My players aren’t totally oblivious to time, but let’s just say they’ve fully embraced the “freedom” the cash game grants them.

Now that’s a new dimension that The Godfather Club has the distinct honor of having to grapple with upcoming.

The college crowd is on its way back to MN and they’re ready to play. With the recent acquisition of “The Little Guy”, a 7 footer I picked up on Craigslist free, we’ll be seeing MTC games before we know it.

My initial thoughts are table one and when lucky number 11 arrives split. Split at 10?

Either way, I’d say at this stage something like 5 highest cards on a face up one card toss. It’s a problem I’m looking forward to having several times this summer.

Make room Big Red

View attachment 1130175 (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/attachments/1130175/)

“The Little Guy” has entered the poker room. I have a matching table light that I’ll be painting the shades green.

View attachment 1130176 (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/attachments/1130176/)

Oh, and there’ll be new chips heading this way in the morning courtesy of my insatiable addiction, the gracious nature of the Godmother, and the PCF classifieds.

+1 for the @JustinInMN (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/3018/) method. Fortunately, when we play we have dinner first, and players write their name on a whiteboard to get their table assignment. The last names on the list are the first to move when there are enough players for another table.

Every hour, we take a break for snacks, smoking, toilet breaks. Players are allowed to switch tables at that point (but so far nobody has ever made the change).

When players leave at different times, I will usually offer a table balancing if necessary, but people tend to leave in clumps (usually on one of the breaks) so usually everyone gets moved to the "main" table.

+1 for the @JustinInMN (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/3018/) method. Fortunately, when we play we have dinner first, and players write their name on a whiteboard to get their table assignment. The last names on the list are the first to move when there are enough players for another table.

Every hour, we take a break for snacks, smoking, toilet breaks. Players are allowed to switch tables at that point (but so far nobody has ever made the change).

When players leave at different times, I will usually offer a table balancing if necessary, but people tend to leave in clumps (usually on one of the breaks) so usually everyone gets moved to the "main" table.

I Ike the table change method with the writing on the white board for moves. Seems diplomatic. Table balancing on the other hand has historically always been handled with a behind the button sort of thing if I recall. We haven’t had that problem yet as we’re just getting ready for two table cash action.

The only part I cannot get behind is the breaks. We start when people arrive and there are no other breaks. Breaks are why I don’t play tournaments. Anyone can step away whenever they need to. Hell, even my smokers of all varieties know they can bail when they need to and just come back when they’re finished.

Multi-table action; yum

The only part I cannot get behind is the breaks. We start when people arrive and there are no other breaks. Breaks are why I don’t play tournaments. Anyone can step away whenever they need to. Hell, even my smokers of all varieties know they can bail when they need to and just come back when they’re finished.

@Poker Zombie (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/334/) 's games play more like a dinner party with poker interruptions :P.

@Poker Zombie (https://www.pokerchipforum.com/members/334/) 's games play more like a dinner party with poker interruptions :p.

What are eating?!

The only part I cannot get behind is the breaks. We start when people arrive and there are no other breaks. Breaks are why I don’t play tournaments. Anyone can step away whenever they need to. Hell, even my smokers of all varieties know they can bail when they need to and just come back when they’re finished.

My house just isn't very big. Players need to get out of their seat (or really squish in) to let someone by. Having a set time gets everyone up and everyone back at (roughly) the same time preventing unnecessary bumps, spills etc.

It's obviously not for every game, but it is a valid option that I've had seasoned players really embrace as a positive feature.

Where you sit relative to the weaker versus stronger players matters ENORMOUSLY. If you don’t grasp that, you’re the fish.

It must be random — there is no other fair option.

Historical data