Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[boldie]

Played my first live tourn in months yesterday and was greeted by a new rule where in an all-in situation pre-flop the players don't need to turn their cards over. Was told this is UK-wide now, say it isn't so?!

it's not so..name the venue/chain please?

[bobby1]

LOL @ politics rearing its head on the forum.  im all buckled in and ready for action.

yeah have strong opinions myself, but one thing this country should be proud of is we all support the soldiers who fight  for this country ,wheather we agree with the war or not

do we?

You have to have respect for the job the guys and girls do..no doubt about that. I have the utmost repect for any soldier doing a cracking job. My two best friends  are soldiers in quite different armies (Israel and America) and I know I couldn't do their job. They always do their utmost in terribly difficult circumstances and you have to respect that. Unfortunately there are a few wars going on (and historically there have always been) that are very unpopular with the general populace. These days the war in Iraq is the main one.
The guys being sent to these places don't want to be there and nobody (I know) likes getting shot at or shooting at others. A lot of the stories in the press these days, however, concern some soldiers that do not know how to cope with the difficult situation they find themselves in. (and some of them seem to just be sick bastards to be honest) I understand that that has a massive negative impact on how civilians view the military as a whole and that's where a lot of the problems come from.

I have never known my American friend to be more pissed off with anything than the Abu Graib scandal. He was well and truly ticked off at what those American soldiers did (the words firing squad were uttered several times) and the shame it brought on his uniform and his country, the excuse that "they were given orders or cracked under pressure" just didn't cut it with him, and he knows a thing or two about war and what can go on..he's been doing it for a while.

His opinion of the American army has changed dramatically over the past few years. The Americans (much like the Brits) are now soo desperate for troops that they allow just about anyone to join and the standard of soldiering in the American army has dropped drastically according to him. I know he is still proud to wear the uniform but feels the uniform has been "tainted" by what has happened in Iraq (and some other countries). He is currently serving somewhere and is genuinely trying to do a good job for the locals and for his country. He has been to some shitty places, and will probably go to some other shitty ones when this is over, genuinely trying to do good and to bring some good to some hell holes.
  I, in another job that I had ages ago, have seen what these guys have to go through/put themselves through to do their jobs properly and have seen the bloody and messy situations that can result from war and I can not even describe the pride I feel to call this man my friend.

Lovely post that Boldie.

In one of Michael Moore's films ( I think it was dude wheres my Country) he examines the techniques that the US are now using to recruit young poor(mainly black or hispanic) teenagers to sign up for ther Army. He then gets a set of politicains to give the usual speil about 'proud to defend your country, its a job for life' etc etc. Later he confronts some of them in the street and asks them if they would send their kids into war in Iraq and they all looked at him with ridicule and all said 'no way'

So it boils dow to the US army recruiting ( in their view) the lowest end of the chain because they are more expendable and then they wonder why the service is going downhill. Obviously this is a small % of the recruiting process but I found it a fascinating point.

[bobby1]

I think the Falklands war had a massive influence on the world regarding what nations
were prepared to do to defend there sovereignty.   

This was at a time where Eastern block etc were considered our main threat.

And here you have a small Island in Europe the U.K Willing to send most its armed forces and
Thousands of civilians 8000 Miles to defend a small British colony in the South Atlantic.

God bless Maggie for making the world a safer place.

regards

M 

possibly the most lol post i read in many a moons. Gonna print this one out and save it.

its interesting to me too as I agree with it, its a pity you didn't put over any real point tho instead of just ridiculing someone Coz he thinks differently to you.

[tikay]

I worry more & more about the way Tourney Poker is run in this country, & I suppose it's been thrown into contrast because I'm just back from Vegas, where they are not scared to impose penalties on miscreants.

I have seen so many "indiscretions" at the Poker Table this week, & not one of them has been punished, or the player penalised, or admonished, in any way, shape, or form. In one instance, the geezer repeated the offence (broke a House Rule) EIGHT TIMES & still never got penalised! Why have Rules if we can all ignore them?

At Luton on Wednesday, the lovely ambience was well & truly smashed by some guy who decided it would be clever to repeatedly act out of turn, sometimes betting before it was he to act, sometimes just leaving the Table before it "got to him", & thus Passing out of turn. Eventually he pulled a shocking stroke by betting out of turn before 3 others could act. This is against the Rules, for the avoidance of doubt.

So, noting not a word had been said to him, I asked the Dealer what he planned to do about it.

"Do you want the Floor called, & a Ruling?" he asked.

"No, I want you to take appropriate action, it's your job to police the Table, not mine".

"Well I can't do anything then" said the Dealer.

"Eh?"

So he then said to the Player, now on his 4th or 5th "stroke", "please don't do that again", The player smiled. And raked in the pot.

I could have called "Floor", or asked Nina to take action, but this is just not how it should be.

Come on Casinos, get your act together. Players are doing as they please, & the game is descending into anarchy. We see appalling table behaviour, deliberate rule-breaking,  but nobody - nobody ever - gets Penalised in the UK.

What was it Radiohead sung?

"When I am King, you shall be first against the Wall"......

They have this spot on in Vegas. First sign of anyone doing something they shouldn't the dealer will call someone over and the player will be given a warning, 'Do that again and you're on the rail for 10 minutes'. That normally has the desired effect. I'm going tens on it was Seb who was up to the tricks as usual.

I don't know who "Seb" is, but that's not the point, it's nothing personal.

I just think that if we have Rules, they should be enforced. I asked the Dealer what he planned to do, & his eyes glazed over. He's not been trained properly, & that's not his fault. We, in the UK, just never penalise anyone. Why?

Answering other questions on the same topic.....

No, nobody else said a word.

And Jakally's reply was most interesting, as he's a good guy, but clearly was not aware of why acting out of turn is a problem. The players are part of the problem, but it's the Cardrooms that need to do something.

I should add that I've accepted an Invitation to be part of the newly-formed "Players Forum" at Luton. But if they think I will confine my comments to structures & Buy-Ins, well, we are heading for a misunderstanding! I shall insist that Rules are consistent, are applied, players penalised if they transgress, Tourneys start reasonably punctually, & no money is ever deducted from Players Prize Pools. What price I get the tin-tack after the first meeting? Long odds-on, but at least I'd have tried.

[Royal Flush]

and now one of my favourite venues is dipping it's fingers into the prize pool...

Say it ain't so!!

Name and shame plz

[Acidmouse]

I think the Falklands war had a massive influence on the world regarding what nations
were prepared to do to defend there sovereignty.   

This was at a time where Eastern block etc were considered our main threat.

And here you have a small Island in Europe the U.K Willing to send most its armed forces and
Thousands of civilians 8000 Miles to defend a small British colony in the South Atlantic.

God bless Maggie for making the world a safer place.

regards

M 

possibly the most lol post i read in many a moons. Gonna print this one out and save it.

its interesting to me too as I agree with it, its a pity you didn't put over any real point tho instead of just ridiculing someone Coz he thinks differently to you.

No real point into getting into debates like this on forums, only leads to bitter exchanges of words. Just didn't think people thought like this anymore thats why I lol.

[tikay]

and now one of my favourite venues is dipping it's fingers into the prize pool...

Say it ain't so!!

Name and shame plz

Grosvenor Walsall no longer charge Reg Fee on their Monthly £200 (the one that used to be £300 before it died from lack of promotion). Instead they deduct 10% from the PrizePool. That, in itself, does not make much difference, & the burden of Reg Fees is simply transferred to the winning players. But I see it as breaking a precadent, & the thin end of the wedge. How long before the Buffet Cost is deducted from the Prize Pool?

I am hoping, if they are approached in the right manner, (which I plan to do), they will reconsider this decision. Grosvenor Walsall is a great Venue, with passionate & friendly staff, & the UK's best free buffet. It's also, The Vic apart, (some might say) arguably the of UK Tournament Poker. So what happened there, will soon spread across other Grosvenors & G's.

[tikay]

Played my first live tourn in months yesterday and was greeted by a new rule where in an all-in situation pre-flop the players don't need to turn their cards over. Was told this is UK-wide now, say it isn't so?!

Any Venue, up to a point, can formulate their own Rules as to these things, (until Rule Unification arrives) so they were "entitled" to do it if they so chose.

But I don't know a single Venue in the world which impose this Rule, & I fancy that.....

a) They are unique

b) It was a mistake/misunderstanding.

[bobby1]

I think the Falklands war had a massive influence on the world regarding what nations
were prepared to do to defend there sovereignty.   

This was at a time where Eastern block etc were considered our main threat.

And here you have a small Island in Europe the U.K Willing to send most its armed forces and
Thousands of civilians 8000 Miles to defend a small British colony in the South Atlantic.

God bless Maggie for making the world a safer place.

regards

M 

possibly the most lol post i read in many a moons. Gonna print this one out and save it.

its interesting to me too as I agree with it, its a pity you didn't put over any real point tho instead of just ridiculing someone Coz he thinks differently to you.

No real point into getting into debates like this on forums, only leads to bitter exchanges of words. Just didn't think people thought like this anymore thats why I lol.

You mean ones that are able to see interesting points made by other people and add something to the discussion?

Or just ones that say nothing when they agree but ridicule when they don't?

It would be interestng to hear why you feel that way, this thread has so many good interesting posts that it would be good to hear why you disagree.

cheers

[Royal Flush]

and now one of my favourite venues is dipping it's fingers into the prize pool...

Say it ain't so!!

Name and shame plz

Grosvenor Walsall no longer charge Reg Fee on their Monthly £200 (the one that used to be £300 before it died from lack of promotion). Instead they deduct 10% from the PrizePool. That, in itself, does not make much difference, & the burden of Reg Fees is simply transferred to the winning players. But I see it as breaking a precadent, & the thin end of the wedge. How long before the Buffet Cost is deducted from the Prize Pool?

I am hoping, if they are approached in the right manner, (which I plan to do), they will reconsider this decision. Grosvenor Walsall is a great Venue, with passionate & friendly staff, & the UK's best free buffet. It's also, The Vic apart, (some might say) arguably the of UK Tournament Poker. So what happened there, will soon spread across other Grosvenors & G's.

Oh right, thought Red meant they were actually taking the money out of the pot rather than just juice.

What is the difference between a £330 taking £30 out and a £200 taking £20 out? Other than the obvious slight increase in %?

[Newmanseye]

and now one of my favourite venues is dipping it's fingers into the prize pool...

Say it ain't so!!

Name and shame plz

Grosvenor Walsall no longer charge Reg Fee on their Monthly £200 (the one that used to be £300 before it died from lack of promotion). Instead they deduct 10% from the PrizePool. That, in itself, does not make much difference, & the burden of Reg Fees is simply transferred to the winning players. But I see it as breaking a precadent, & the thin end of the wedge. How long before the Buffet Cost is deducted from the Prize Pool?

I am hoping, if they are approached in the right manner, (which I plan to do), they will reconsider this decision. Grosvenor Walsall is a great Venue, with passionate & friendly staff, & the UK's best free buffet. It's also, The Vic apart, (some might say) arguably the of UK Tournament Poker. So what happened there, will soon spread across other Grosvenors & G's.

Oh right, thought Red meant they were actually taking the money out of the pot rather than just juice.

What is the difference between a £330 taking £30 out and a £200 taking £20 out? Other than the obvious slight increase in %?

I think its more about the door that opens James, its starts at 10%, then if its a bit tight on the roulette tables its 13%, I think you see where this is going....

[Royal Flush]

and now one of my favourite venues is dipping it's fingers into the prize pool...

Say it ain't so!!

Name and shame plz

Grosvenor Walsall no longer charge Reg Fee on their Monthly £200 (the one that used to be £300 before it died from lack of promotion). Instead they deduct 10% from the PrizePool. That, in itself, does not make much difference, & the burden of Reg Fees is simply transferred to the winning players. But I see it as breaking a precadent, & the thin end of the wedge. How long before the Buffet Cost is deducted from the Prize Pool?

I am hoping, if they are approached in the right manner, (which I plan to do), they will reconsider this decision. Grosvenor Walsall is a great Venue, with passionate & friendly staff, & the UK's best free buffet. It's also, The Vic apart, (some might say) arguably the of UK Tournament Poker. So what happened there, will soon spread across other Grosvenors & G's.

Oh right, thought Red meant they were actually taking the money out of the pot rather than just juice.

What is the difference between a £330 taking £30 out and a £200 taking £20 out? Other than the obvious slight increase in %?

I think its more about the door that opens James, its starts at 10%, then if its a bit tight on the roulette tables its 13%, I think you see where this is going....

I thought Tikay didn't mind an increase in rake, infact i remember us both arguing that its ok to charge more than 10% assuming the service is good

[Acidmouse]

A few simple facts.

Now one cared about the Falkland islands before it was pinpointed by Thatcher as a tool to save herself in the Conservative party and increase her popularity with the British public.

Most amusing was the fact they had offered the Argentines SHARED ownership of the islands just 2 years before, such an important colony yet they were willing to divide it's rule.

 The military was only dispatched after the US reluctantly agreed. Of course this meant we had to bend over backwards for them. So to keep the US sweet we had to train Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge forces;  followers of the country’s genocidal former leader Pol Pot.

So the irony is that to justify the war on the Falklands  Thatcher starting harping an about human rights of the Argentine government (something they didn't complain about previously for the
military coup in 1976) yet trained known genocidal military to keep the US happy and not to voice opposition to it.

I am not sure what I can say to “God bless Maggie for making the world a safer place”.  It heralded in a period in which war returned to the centre of the system and the world was clearly not safer. Her tough stance on Ireland really worked well?

We have a lot to thank Thatcher for in the Uk. Who needs society after all eh?

[Longy]

and now one of my favourite venues is dipping it's fingers into the prize pool...

Say it ain't so!!

Name and shame plz

Grosvenor Walsall no longer charge Reg Fee on their Monthly £200 (the one that used to be £300 before it died from lack of promotion). Instead they deduct 10% from the PrizePool. That, in itself, does not make much difference, & the burden of Reg Fees is simply transferred to the winning players. But I see it as breaking a precadent, & the thin end of the wedge. How long before the Buffet Cost is deducted from the Prize Pool?

I am hoping, if they are approached in the right manner, (which I plan to do), they will reconsider this decision. Grosvenor Walsall is a great Venue, with passionate & friendly staff, & the UK's best free buffet. It's also, The Vic apart, (some might say) arguably the of UK Tournament Poker. So what happened there, will soon spread across other Grosvenors & G's.

Oh right, thought Red meant they were actually taking the money out of the pot rather than just juice.

What is the difference between a £330 taking £30 out and a £200 taking £20 out? Other than the obvious slight increase in %?

I believe it used to be 300+30 and now its 180+20 as the reg fee is inc in the total buyin. Which is an increase in % rake from 9.09% to 10%.

[Longy]

Erm i was looking at it as 30 of 330 as that is total buyin and 20 of 200, but meh whatever semantics really. They have upped the rake in a sneaky way.