I'm a member of a couple of private organizations that have social club aspects to them. Every Friday, one of them has a Texas Hold 'Em tournament. I have never attended one of these tournaments before but am a fairly seasoned Hold 'Em player and very familiar with tournament play.
Buy-in was $20 with a optional re-buy of $20. So here's the issue...
We're playing, and the table is very loose (making a lot of huge bets with marginal hands). So I'm biding my time, trying to be very patient, where I can trap a player. As the night goes on, and as other players overplay their hands, people start going out. A few people go out and I ask the player next to me how many players does it pay out to? And he tells me 1st and 2nd. We started with about 9 players.
I went out and re-bought, as I felt like I was playing good poker but had a bit of bad luck. At this point I am trying to survive as the table is whittling down, but I was not in a good position and the leaders had enormous chip stacks comparatively. At about 9:30, someone says that another player needs to increase pace of play because there is only a half-hour left. We started a bit after 7:00, with blinds raising every half-hour. I was curious about this remark so I said to the same guy next to me, "what is he talking about?" Guy says the game always ends at 10:00pm, and whoever is first and second in chips are the winners.
This revelation has me super-pissed. I'm a small-stack, playing very patiently trying to pick spots all night long. I survived until there was just 4 players left... and towards the end I doubled my stack about 3 times in a row, to the point I was now a threat with my chip count. But 10:00pm hit, and that supposedly means I just forfeited my $40 because at that moment in time, I was not first or second in chip count.
I made it known that I don't have anywhere to be, and I don't feel that it's fair at all that I automatically forfeit my buy-in when I'm still in the game with chips in front of me, and am more than happy to continue playing down to 2 or to a winner, as was my understanding based on EVERY OTHER FUCKING POKER TOURNAMENT I HAVE EVER PLAYED.
My point was that big stacks can simply slow play to run the clock out, and this would be a natural strategy, and not in the interest of fair play. My point also was that without any disclosure, that if the game is to stop at a certain time, then the pot should be divided among the remaining players proportionately to their chip counts.
I still feel that it is theivery to take people's money as winnings in a Hold 'Em tournament that you did not win, when they still have chips in front of them.
I was fine with ending the game, but that in doing so, the chips in front of me represent some share of the money posted, and certainly represented more than my share of the money I posted.
I was told I could get my money back, which I accepted as a compromise, even though I was certain that my play and chips in front of me was worth more than the $40 posted. The players conceded that I should have been told that this is how they play and how they do things prior to the game... which I agreed with... such a disclosure absolutely would've affected my strategy as well as my decision to even participate in or re-buy back into the tournament.
But the big stack actually said, "you can have your money back, but don't come back." He later apologized. Another player questioned my integrity, and the way I played at the end, insinuating that I was somehow "taking advantage." Taking advantage of what? Taking advantage of being railroaded with some arbitrary cut-off time and forfeiting my buy-in when I'm still very much in the game? At this point, I stood up ready to fight that guy, and said, "what do you have to say about it?" Which a couple of guys jumped in and said that isn't going to happen... and everybody calmed down. So at the end, I received no apology. Nor did I offer any, even though I felt I shouldn't have provoked a fight (despite my integrity being questioned).
One of the guys came over to me after to tell me again they should've told me how the game was, and that they won't ever make that mistake again. I said I felt like I was caught in between being a douchebag about it or rolling over and conceding something that I didn't feel was ethically right.
Question... what is your opinions on my complaint? If you were in that position, would you have rolled over and took it, or said something like I did?
Am I justified in taking my money back? I'm sure the chip leaders felt I cheated them out of some of their winnings. Thoughts?
The chip leader needed a mush to the face but I would have acted very similar to the op. They fucked up not you. When the house invites a new player they are obligated to explain their dumb and flawed rule system.
What difference does the buy in amount make? None. No one cares if you play stacks of high society type poker like only Stan in LA can do. It's a tourney and the house started a game without explaining the rules. When a player is upset for rules they weren't informed of its on the house.
and also -- you don't invite the hot head who melted down on you over it back
If you have to shut the game down at a certain time, have a cash game where people can enter and exit whenever they want and everyone can just cash out at the end. I have never heard of a tournament just ending without it actually ending. And who the hell goes into a poker tournament and asks if there is a time when it will end? Nobody, because it is not normal at all. Inquiring about blind structure etc. is normal, not this.
You asked for opinions -- I'm giving you mine -- you described a fairly volatile situation and even admitted you thought you over-reacted jim
if you are just looking for posters to back up what you did -- maybe the OP should have asked for something else
You weren't out of line. The donks on this thread who say you were or insinuate you were rarely if ever played poker. I wouldn't sweat it.
Funny the thread calls for poker player opinions and randoms who have obviously never played chime in with an opinion.
Second - its your job to know the rules of the game you are playing in
Third - if you are at a "social club" shouldn't you be more worried about having fun than about $40 and the ethics of a back room poker game?
Second - its your job to know the rules of the game you are playing in
Third - if you are at a "social club" shouldn't you be more worried about having fun than about $40 and the ethics of a back room poker game?
Obviously a donk with limited poker experience.
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Technically you are only out $20 ... because you already busted out and did a re-buy. The first $20 is lost.
Second - its your job to know the rules of the game you are playing in
Third - if you are at a "social club" shouldn't you be more worried about having fun than about $40 and the ethics of a back room poker game?
Obviously a donk with limited poker experience.
Eh... This is flying right over your head. Quit while you're behind.
If 10p is the cutoff time, then at 9:55p, all the players who out of the money would just start going All-In. At that point, it's far more luck than skill.
There is an inherently implied framework with poker, it shouldn't be on the participant to ask obviously stupid questions in order to protect his interests.
"Oh, we forgot to mention that Jacks are wild, you can talk in the middle of the hand, non-English is fine, angle-shooting is acceptable, etc." Come on, don't be dumb.
This is all you needed to say to admit you didn't have a clue.
1. It was at a civic organization, fraternal organization, or a bar that has a set number of operational hours. For the establishment to make money, a long game is counter productive. Thus the time limit. They ain't keeping the place open so you can play like your at the final table at Vegas.
2. The whole purpose of the tournament is for the organization to make money through hopefully increased patronage with the social aspect. i.e., bar and food sales. If your a member, usually, so is you wife or significant other and they come along to socialize thus increase sales more.
3. Another goal is to build familiarity with your brother sister members as team bonding experience.
So here is what is right with your statement.
"I have never been in one of these tournaments"
Here is what is wrong with your statement.
"Very familiar with tournament play"
Many be the tournaments you play in, but were taken like the novice you are in this instance.
You know what happens when you assume like you did. I don't have to tell you, you already found out.
It was YOUR responsibility to know how the game is played. Nobody else.
So here you are, an "experienced" hold-em player watching people play, in your mind, real loose, and you just thought they were idiots.
Now imagine the other players watching you and thinking, where did this guy come from? He doesn't have a clue what he is doing. Then, to top it off you double rebuy toward the end of the game with a slim to none chance of winning. Way to take a hit for the organization you are part of so that organization, can make some money. What a team player.
Then, because the game is played like it is around the country, probably the world in these fun organizational tournaments and not the way you do, you throw a hissy fit.
So it seems you have a few choices. You can just do the civic part of the civic organization and forgo the social aspect of it and limit your poker playing to serious games.
Or you can admit to yourself that you were involved in a friendly, comradery building game where wining, while nice, isn't the main function of the night out.
If he invites you to stay, then go - ( New Window )
"The game ends at 10? You should tell first time players. Oh well, thanks for inviting me. It's been fun"
This is all you needed to say to admit you didn't have a clue.
1. It was at a civic organization, fraternal organization, or a bar that has a set number of operational hours. For the establishment to make money, a long game is counter productive. Thus the time limit. They ain't keeping the place open so you can play like your at the final table at Vegas.
2. The whole purpose of the tournament is for the organization to make money through hopefully increased patronage with the social aspect. i.e., bar and food sales. If your a member, usually, so is you wife or significant other and they come along to socialize thus increase sales more.
3. Another goal is to build familiarity with your brother sister members as team bonding experience.
So here is what is right with your statement.
"I have never been in one of these tournaments"
Here is what is wrong with your statement.
"Very familiar with tournament play"
Many be the tournaments you play in, but were taken like the novice you are in this instance.
You know what happens when you assume like you did. I don't have to tell you, you already found out.
It was YOUR responsibility to know how the game is played. Nobody else.
So here you are, an "experienced" hold-em player watching people play, in your mind, real loose, and you just thought they were idiots.
Now imagine the other players watching you and thinking, where did this guy come from? He doesn't have a clue what he is doing. Then, to top it off you double rebuy toward the end of the game with a slim to none chance of winning. Way to take a hit for the organization you are part of so that organization, can make some money. What a team player.
Then, because the game is played like it is around the country, probably the world in these fun organizational tournaments and not the way you do, you throw a hissy fit.
So it seems you have a few choices. You can just do the civic part of the civic organization and forgo the social aspect of it and limit your poker playing to serious games.
Or you can admit to yourself that you were involved in a friendly, comradery building game where wining, while nice, isn't the main function of the night out.
Nailed it.
So does seem like he thought he did in the OP.
Who in their right mind would think that a place with set operating times would have a open end tournament?
How they do that?
Make sure you shut out the lights, turn on the alarm, and lock the door when you leave.
Oh by the way, tell the cops when they come by that you didn't want to close down by the hours dictated by law because all hold-m tournaments have to be open ended because you said so.
So does seem like he thought he did in the OP.
Who in their right mind would think that a place with set operating times would have a open end tournament?
How they do that?
Make sure you shut out the lights, turn on the alarm, and lock the door when you leave.
Oh by the way, tell the cops when they come by that you didn't want to close down by the hours dictated by law because all hold-m tournaments have to be open ended because you said so.
The fact that it was a $20 buy in makes what you said 1000% more true. It's not some underground club or something.
You know how many shitty tournaments exist, even in established casinos? Ones that have a blind structure such that you really are looking at a coin flip in later rounds. They exist nightly at places like treasure Island, Planet Hollywood, Harrah's, Bally's, etc. They are pretty much luckfests, and it ropes in people who claim to be "seasoned poker players" all the time.
It's OK to play in those tourneys, but if you are and don't realize that the outcome is going to be based on if you get hands late in the tourney, then you really shouldn't play. The same principle exists for games in social clubs, bars, home games, charity events, etc. Anywhere where rules need to be clarified.
Either look at it as a way to spend $40 for a night out or go to a place where you know the rules of engagement from the get-go.
That part isn't really believable, unless those 9 guys were conspiring to take your $40 all along. Either way, you should not go back.
This is all you needed to say to admit you didn't have a clue.
1. It was at a civic organization, fraternal organization, or a bar that has a set number of operational hours. For the establishment to make money, a long game is counter productive. Thus the time limit. They ain't keeping the place open so you can play like your at the final table at Vegas.
2. The whole purpose of the tournament is for the organization to make money through hopefully increased patronage with the social aspect. i.e., bar and food sales. If your a member, usually, so is you wife or significant other and they come along to socialize thus increase sales more.
3. Another goal is to build familiarity with your brother sister members as team bonding experience.
So here is what is right with your statement.
"I have never been in one of these tournaments"
Here is what is wrong with your statement.
"Very familiar with tournament play"
Many be the tournaments you play in, but were taken like the novice you are in this instance.
You know what happens when you assume like you did. I don't have to tell you, you already found out.
It was YOUR responsibility to know how the game is played. Nobody else.
So here you are, an "experienced" hold-em player watching people play, in your mind, real loose, and you just thought they were idiots.
Now imagine the other players watching you and thinking, where did this guy come from? He doesn't have a clue what he is doing. Then, to top it off you double rebuy toward the end of the game with a slim to none chance of winning. Way to take a hit for the organization you are part of so that organization, can make some money. What a team player.
Then, because the game is played like it is around the country, probably the world in these fun organizational tournaments and not the way you do, you throw a hissy fit.
So it seems you have a few choices. You can just do the civic part of the civic organization and forgo the social aspect of it and limit your poker playing to serious games.
Or you can admit to yourself that you were involved in a friendly, comradery building game where wining, while nice, isn't the main function of the night out.
A lot of stupid assumptions here. It's "comraderie", btw.
I mean, you literally created half of this narrative in your own mind. I asked for poker players' opinions also, I don't think you are one.
If you were up at 10:00pm, I'm sure you wouldn't have said squat. They are correct in telling you not to come back.
Yes, a lot of stupid assumptions.
Yes, a lot of stupid assumptions.
Seriously. That just shows the OP doesn't want opinions. He wants validation. Dude, don't ask for advice if you don't want it.
That part isn't really believable, unless those 9 guys were conspiring to take your $40 all along. Either way, you should not go back.
They did mention it, at 9:30, and no, noone mentioned it when I re-bought or any time prior to that, because they just assumed everyone knew how they play... and we were playing poker and busting balls... and mostly talking about the game, anyway. I play poker occasionally at another club, and we get in 2 games in three hours, with sometimes double the players as this game. Why? Because we don't all sit down with 16000 in chips and double that with a re-buy, and then start with 50-100 blinds raising every half-hour. Overall, it was a good night, except for the end. I feel like I have to explain again to the slow people here that I did not try and start a fight over $40. I jumped up at a guy who had just met me, and called out my integrity. Regardless of whether or not any of my other actions were right or wrong, a dude questions your integrity as a man and you don't do anything about it, says you probably don't have a spine. It had exactly zero to do with $40.
When I sat down, I made an assumption, based on the fact we were playing a tournament. I didn't really care how many places it paid to, because I would've played if it paid out to 1 or 4. No poker player is going to ask if they aren't knocked out and have chips in front of them, if that means they will have to forfeit their buy-in. I acknowledge I could've asked prior to the game about pay-outs, as well as they could've told a first-timer their house rule that is unusual.
It was 10:00, not 2:00am. The bar stayed open well after the game ended. When I say I'm a seasoned player, that means I've played in at least 50 tournaments, hundreds if you count online. In exactly zero of them does a person who is still playing with chips in front of them lose their buy-in. At times the game ends early, and every time there is an equity chop or agreement with the remaining players, because chips represent some portion of the collective buy-ins. We all had a good time, and even though I was pissed at the end when I found out what was happening, I was calm as I explained how that isn't right, chips in front of you means you chop the pot or keep playing.
As far as the re-buy... everyone who went out re-bought. I re-bought at about 8:15-8:30. I would not have re-bought had I known these rules... hell, I wouldn't even play again under those rules.
Btw, I talked to the guy who was the big stack and we had a great conversation. Told him I felt we were both put in a difficult situation. I said I appreciated how he handled it, he said it's all water under the bridge, and then we just chatted about other things. NBD.
Seems like there is a split of opinion here of people that say they would've said something, too, and that I had a case, and those that think it was on me for not asking about all the rules before sitting down. I'll take that although not everyone agrees, some reasonable people would feel the same way I did, and that the compromise reached was fair. Thanks for the opinions.
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Sitting down for a tournament, assuming the rules and basing strategy on them. Making a scene when your assumption was wrong.
Yes, a lot of stupid assumptions.
Seriously. That just shows the OP doesn't want opinions. He wants validation. Dude, don't ask for advice if you don't want it.
He didn't give an opinion, he created a fictional story in his own head which he used as a launching pad for personal insults. I asked for opinions and I got them, I'm good. I don't need people to say my story was "not believable" or to re-write what they think really happened when they weren't there. That's not an opinion, that's just being an ass. Thanks for your concern.
If you were up at 10:00pm, I'm sure you wouldn't have said squat. They are correct in telling you not to come back.
I would've paid out anyone with chips in front of them... because I have morals. Don't be a prick.
I may have been unclear with that bit, Bramton. I had never played in THEIR tournament before... specifically at this club with this group of gentlemen. I've played many, many other tournaments.
One of the veterans' organizations clubs, I'd prefer not to say which one. I'm going to delete this thread shortly. Again, thanks to those who gave well-intentioned opinions without personal insults.
Not sure how you can blame the dude.
The guy who called out your integrity probably figured you should have known the rules before sitting down and if you didn't, you were angling to get your money back (while probably shaking his head at why $40 is causing such a reaction).
Poker players (and really any gamblers) should know what they are up against. If you are playing a cash game and don't understand straddle rules or ones that reward players for being on a hot streak or high hand rules or bad beat rules, it is just sloppiness on the player's part. The same principle applies to tourneys. I know people who have mistakenly entered all in or fold tourneys and when the action gets to them and they try to make a normal raise and are told what the rules are, they sometimes freak out.Bounty tourneys and HORSE or HOSE tourneys really fuck with people too. Some guys just like to gamble without knowing what they are up against. That's who I always like to face.
Not sure how you can blame the dude.
I didn't complain when things "didn't go my way." I said it's not right to not chop the pot when there are remaining players. No other poker tournament I've ever been a part of does that. I sleep well at night. I may have character flaws but at least I'm not an insufferable douchebag.
We played a lot of times at this one particular bar. Time limits were very rarely ever an issue, as most games would end before the time limit, even with games that frequently had 20 or 30 players. In fact, I never knew there was a time limit.
In one particular event on a Sunday afternoon, I was having the game of my life. I was knocking players out left and right, getting great cards all night, and eventually there were four or five of us left (I was third in chips). However, it was by far the longest tournament I had even been a part of, and eventually the restaurant told us that we would have to stop an a particular time because the restaurant needed the tables for the dinner crowd. The fifth place player tried to make a move and got knocked out. I got a hand that gave me a great opportunity to move up in the standings and knock out the fourth place guy. But alas, my very good hand was beat by the other guy's great hand. With a much smaller stack, I busted a few hands later. The game was forced to conclude 5 or 10 minutes later.
I bring this story up because hitting the time limit was uncommon, so they gave us the headsup. It's possible that in your tournament, hitting the time limit was common, so nobody felt the need to make sure everyone was aware.
In the end, I repeat that it was unfortunate that nobody communicated this with you, but you can't just assume there were no house rules worth asking about.
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You say that you've never played in a tournament before, but that you're familiar with tournament play. Can you clarify this? How are you familiar with tournament play, haven't never previously played in a tournament? Is it just based on watching poker on TV?
I may have been unclear with that bit, Bramton. I had never played in THEIR tournament before... specifically at this club with this group of gentlemen. I've played many, many other tournaments.
You were clear. I just noticed the comment later on in the original post.