Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

On the plasma last night at Brighton, there as a Gentleman who's "nick" was "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"

I was curious, but not for long. Everytime he busted someone in the Tourney, or won a hand, he'd stand up & yell, at maximum shout volume, "BOOOOOOOOOM".

Oh how we all laughed, as his hapless opponents left the table, boomed & shamed. It was really quite funny - some might argue - the first 5 or 6 times.

And you know how it is, once that kinda thing is deemed acceptable, everyone soon joins the party. I've never heard so much foulmouthed, loud, grossly insulting, rubdowns in any Cardroom in the UK, ever. Fun, this poker lark, eh?

Before long, we had 3 or 4 folks all at it.

There's a guy by the name of Sid Harris. Has a curious game, but gets his share of Fessie Cashes. Sits there, loving his poker, smiling at all & sundry, but never says boo to a goose, just polite, & that awful word it seems these days, "nice".

When his stack got decimated, we got, stood up, addressing the entire Cardroom, at 110 decibels, this from the guy who busted him. "Got him, I GOT THE FUCKER, now you can FUCK OFF. I rivered the fucker, he turned the straight but I busted him, now FUCK OFF". Now, this was awkward, as Mr Fuck-Off man is actually not too well, & such lack of control is one of the symptoms. OK, that's one of those things. 

But now, what with Fuck-Off Man, & BOOOOOOOOOOOOM in full flow, soon we had bedlam, they were all at it.

One player - much-respected, but out of his head due to alcohol, was giving it large to the whole room. "Get me a beer - GET ME A BEER". Stood up, top of his voice. "Him (pointing at Cardroom Staff Person who had earlier asked him to cool it), "he has the needle with me because I'm loud, well fuck you all, someone get me a beer. NOW".

Now, as luck would have it, "my" table was the quiet one, we are just loving a nice game of poker, competitive, but a modicum of decorum at all times. Proper grown ups. Everytime there's another outburst from the by now 5 or 6 drunkards or motormouths, we all look at each other, roll our eyes, as if to say, "please God, don't let us be at their table". Tony Adderley had a set of headphones, he offered to rent them out at £500 an hour & got knocked over in the rush.

We had this for hours on end.

I eventually exited on the Bubble (there's a thing), no complaints, none at all. (I put a stunning outdraw on one young Lad after I re-popped him with AK & he insta-called with Kings, & we saw a flop that read K-6-A - turn blank, River Ace!).

But I was deeply uncomfortable with the lack of restraint by several players, it's an adults game, not a kids slanging match, & more importantly, I felt the Staff should have curtailed the nonsense before it got out of hand.

So I spoke to Management, & they agreed, it was bang out of order, except, maybe, the Gent who was unwell, we both agreed, let's leave him out of it.

"But what about the rest, do you really consider this is acceptable behaviour in your Cardroom?" I pressed.

"No, we don't,. & we have spoken to one guy 4 times already, what more can we do?".

"You've had to speak to him 4 times, & he's still at it? - I rest my case".

"We can't do any more than that".

And this is a personal view, not necessarily shared by everyone, though I fancy many players disliked it intensely last night.

I shall not return there again until I'm assured that such behaviour is curtailed. I'm not comfortable in the presence of folks who are uncontrollably drunk, it's maybe a weakness of mine, but I don't like it, & I don't have to accept it. A handful of drunks or ill-mannered louts spoiling the ambiance for the other 75 players is acceptable, & Management are happy to leave it alone, stand by & watch? Not in my world.

Now, I go to Rendezvous Brighton maybe 5 or 6 times a year, so they'll rub along very nicely without me, I'm quite sure of that. And me without them.

If such behaviour became the norm, I'd quit Live Poker instantly. And yes, I know, they'd cope very nicely without me. But that's not really the point, now is it?

At G-Luton recently, the same scenario started. Within minutes, little Nina was on the case, and had the drunken loudmouthed oaf removed. "You are not spoiling my Cardroom" said She Who Must Be Obeyed. Respect to her.

If that sort of behaviour is allowed to go unchecked, Tournament Poker as we know it is on a slippery slope, & it's not for me. I can stay indoors & play Online, I don't need to have my Poker experience ruined by the drunken ill-behaved few who have no consideration for others. You wanna accept, fine. I don't, & I won't.

So sadly, it's goodbye to Brighton Rendezvous from this old fart, until & unless they impose some control. I don't invade the personal space of others, & I don't allow anyone to invade mine. That's my right.

I must just reiterate that I adore Brighton Rendezvous usually, & Guy/Guya is (normally) amongst the best 3 or 4 TD's in the UK, & generally, she controls her Cardroom better than most. She addresses everyone pre-Tourney, "thanks for coming, here's the deal, da de da de da,", smashing, & she does that without a microphone, & a roomful of poker blokes sit quietly & listen, because we respect her. I really can't understand, then, how things were allowed to get so out of hand last night. I chatted it through with her afterwards, wholly amicably, & we agreed, as grown-ups often do, to differ. All very sad. For me, anyway. She was dealing at my Cash-Table on Tuesday, she is huge fun, really "tunes in" to what players want. All very sad. For me, anyway. If that's the road Brighton Rendezvous wanna go down, I feel sorry for them, & for Poker. Pray God it does not spread to other venues.

PS - Luckily, I'm not so grumpy now.

[vegaslover]

"Electronic devices such as i-pods, MP3 players & the such like are NOT PERMITTED in this Casino, & must be left at Reception."

So reads the sign as you enter Brighton Rendezvous.

Personally, I don't see the problem, I'm ambivelant on the matter really.

But more than 20 players in last night's comp were using i-Pods, maybe partly to alleviate the horrific drunken & loutish shouting & abuse that was going off, more of which later.

Now I don't have a problem with i-Pods one way or the other. But I DO have a problem with prominently displayed Rules which are not implemented.

Anarchy awaits if we can all do whatever we want. If there is a Rule, it should either be implemented, or, if it's daft, removed. Ignoring Rules is not an option. Not in my little world, anyway.

I agree that rules must be implemented, but I am guessing that in the poker room it is ok, but not in the casino itself.

My understanding of the no MP3 player rule, and this has been told to me by players who frequent the Rendezvous regularly, is that you can communicate to people using them. So they were banned to stop cheating, collusion etc.

[tikay]

"Electronic devices such as i-pods, MP3 players & the such like are NOT PERMITTED in this Casino, & must be left at Reception."

So reads the sign as you enter Brighton Rendezvous.

Personally, I don't see the problem, I'm ambivelant on the matter really.

But more than 20 players in last night's comp were using i-Pods, maybe partly to alleviate the horrific drunken & loutish shouting & abuse that was going off, more of which later.

Now I don't have a problem with i-Pods one way or the other. But I DO have a problem with prominently displayed Rules which are not implemented.

Anarchy awaits if we can all do whatever we want. If there is a Rule, it should either be implemented, or, if it's daft, removed. Ignoring Rules is not an option. Not in my little world, anyway.

I agree that rules must be implemented, but I am guessing that in the poker room it is ok, but not in the casino itself.

My understanding of the no MP3 player rule, and this has been told to me by players who frequent the Rendezvous regularly, is that you can communicate to people using them. So they were banned to stop cheating, collusion etc.

Well if that is the case - & I don't know one way or the other - why are players still allowed to use them? (Rhetorical!). Which is my whole point, reallly. If you have Rules, use them. Or change them. Allowing them to be simply ignored is a bad road to take. Leads to all sorts. Note my previous rant.....

[tikay]

Did you know that there is now a thriving Market in buying the debts of poker players?

Three times in the last week, all in different Cardrooms - Cardiff, Luton & Brighton - I've been approached by different folks trying to sell me debts they are owed by other players!

The rate varied from 50p in the £, to 10p in the £.

Knock a zero off & I'd still not buy.

The debts were all owed by well-known "big-name" players, too.

Shocking.

Don't try nipping me boys, you are wasting your time.

What happened to honour amongst thieves?

[tikay]

And while I'm having my grumpy day, another thing.......

Standards of poker dealers.

I've seen these examples in the last week.

1) Three times, at showdown, the winning hand has only showed ONE card. I don't care if they show one card or two, or 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 at Omaha, but the Rule on this is universal - all cards in the winning hand must be shown. And until that changes, that's the Rule. In each case, it was the players who were forced to ask the Dealer to implement the Rule. That's the Dealers job, not the players.

2) Folks touching "the Pot". The Pot does not belong to ANYONE, even after it's been won, until the Dealer pushes it across the line. More & more players are messing with the Pot. Dealers should not allow this.  At Luton, God Bless them, they threaten to (& would) have you removed from the Table for this offence. Quite right too.

3) Acting out of turn, it's rife now. Players who want to leave the table glance at their cards & then just get up & go, when it's not them to act. It's not the players responsibility to police this, it's the Dealers job.

Basically, the players are doing the "managing" now, & that's wrong, that's the Dealers role.

I'd propose a Dealers Academy, but as everyone has different Rules.......

Come on Dealers, get it sorted, you are in charge.

[tikay]

The nicest thing about the last few days in the Cardrooms (The Red story is a different thing altogether) has  been the "Thewy buzz". Eveyone - EVERYONE - is delighted for him. We are lucky to have the fella around. Does he have a single detractor? Does any other player rank so high in the popularity stakes? Except the Flushster, of course, or "18 stone Dempsey", as he's known in Brighton.

He never moans when he gets a beat, & behaves with dignity, win or lose. Never nips.

What a top bloke.

And for once, he got lucky with his "swaps" in Baden - he's been swapping with the world & his wife, everyone wants a piece of his action, & he's been too nice to say no. But he pared it down in Baden, & had only 1% out!

As to his windfall, I'm advising him how to best invest it. Got this smashing Nigerian scheme lined up for him. Hush now, I can get this one through, I know I can.

[Indestructable]

Crikey sounds like a bad night all round. I never get much time to be able to get down there, sounds like I am not missing much.

[tikay]

Interesting & varied week ahead.

Saturday & Sunday, bB5 at Cardiff, shared with Poker Week duties on Sunday. I go down tonight, taking Maria, & dash back Sunday night, as I have to be in London by Noon on Monday, filming a new Pilot Show for Sky Poker, a regular Show which should start airing in a few weeks. (And the first of several new Shows on Sky Poker).

Back home Monday night, unless I can find a game in London, probably play Luton come to think of it, & I'm on holiday on Tuesday.

Wednesday I'm filming for Poker Week at a players house in Stoke Newington or Hackney, he's playing The Open, I'm supposed to be "mentoring" him (hush now) & Poker Week are filming it.

I stay over in London, & have a meeting with Ladbrokes on Thursday at 1pm, discussing "Cruise" matters & this & that.

Back home then, & go up North on Friday for XXXXXX's "surprise" XXXXX party.

Saturday, back down to London to do the Sky Show. Then back to Derbyshire, & the following week I have 4 Shows to do for Sky. Happy Days.

How blessed am I?

[tikay]

Oh, & I'm playing football in the morning, at bB5. Jeez......

[Bainn]

Wednesday I'm filming for Poker Week at a players house in Stoke Newington or Hackney, he's playing The Open, I'm supposed to be "mentoring" him (hush now) & Poker Week are filming it.

Ah, would he be the winner of the comp that was on the Skypoker website ?

[amcgrath1uk]

things have fallen in a good way for you... long may it last

Find it difficult to turn over when you're on at the mo... as we have absolutely no idea which topic you will stumble onto next, or what delightful randomness will pop up

LONG may it continue!!!

PS Get my name right on Sky next time

[tikay]

things have fallen in a good way for you... long may it last

Find it difficult to turn over when you're on at the mo... as we have absolutely no idea which topic you will stumble onto next, or what delightful randomness will pop up

LONG may it continue!!!

PS Get my name right on Sky next time

You are not wrong there. Oh to be a little younger, eh? But let''s not be greedy.

The randomness on the Show? That's the real me. And I think the Show needs that, we do, pretty much, the same thing 7 nights a week, so I try & bring something a little different or original when I'm on.  Sometimes I hit the spot, usually it goes wide, but hey, I try, I do my research, & work hard with my tinsy box of skills. It's fortunate - for me - that the other Presenters tolerate me quite frankly, but they are as good as gold. "Let the 'ol fella aimlessly rant" I see them thinking.......

And Sky have saved my Christmas. I don't "do" Christmas, & it can be a very sad time when you are alone, though I'm usually alone through choice, as I get along with myself pretty well. . But I'm working Boxing Day on "The Open", we are doing a "special", & I'm delighted to be part of it. We film a Promo for it the week after next, on location. So much fun, so little time.

OK, I'm off to Cardiff.

PS - Red-Dog is doing the Show on Monday - do tune in, please. His Co-Guest is an Elvis Impersonator........

[RED-DOG]

Interesting & varied week ahead.

Saturday & Sunday, bB5 at Cardiff, shared with Poker Week duties on Sunday. I go down tonight, taking Maria, & dash back Sunday night, as I have to be in London by Noon on Monday, filming a new Pilot Show for Sky Poker, a regular Show which should start airing in a few weeks. (And the first of several new Shows on Sky Poker).

Back home Monday night, unless I can find a game in London, probably play Luton come to think of it, & I'm on holiday on Tuesday.

Wednesday I'm filming for Poker Week at a players house in Stoke Newington or Hackney, he's playing The Open, I'm supposed to be "mentoring" him (hush now) & Poker Week are filming it.

I stay over in London, & have a meeting with Ladbrokes on Thursday at 1pm, discussing "Cruise" matters & this & that.

Back home then, & go up North on Friday for XXXXXX's "surprise" XXXXX party.

Saturday, back down to London to do the Sky Show. Then back to Derbyshire, & the following week I have 4 Shows to do for Sky. Happy Days.

How blessed am I?

Just reading your itinerary brings me out in a cold sweat. In some societies "Blessed" is a a euphemism for "Mental"

[RED-DOG]

PS - Red-Dog is doing the Show on Monday - do tune in, please. His Co-Guest is an Elvis Impersonator........

Wow! really? Well I'm gonna out Elvis him, Uh Huh.

[tikay]

PS - Red-Dog is doing the Show on Monday - do tune in, please. His Co-Guest is an Elvis Impersonator........

Wow! really? Well I'm gonna out Elvis him, Uh Huh.

Yup, really. Red-Dog & Blue Suede Shoes.