Playing with calling station

[Decider]

Hello,

Looking for opinions here. We were playing a home game last night and a new player wanted to join in, he didn't seem quite with it and was talking about the cards in the film Maverick ( that was his knowledge of poker).

I knew he would lose, didn't want to be rude and tell him that he couldn't play, so he played, £10 buyin. We were in a pub at the time, so it wasn't a case that he would have been left out in a house game. As suspected, he played exactly as I thought, called every hand with and two cards by matching up his chip colours with the raisers, then on the river he would raise 1 black chip. ( 1k ) Started with 5k. He did manage to redistribute some chips by beating AK on flop of JK5 with pp 2's when 2 hits river.

He busted out first, and shortly after a cash game started. He wanted to play in this, it's only a £5 buyin for 5k chips, blinds 100/200, we tied to persuade him that it was probably a waste of money, but he played in this. He quickly doubled up by calling an allin with board of A487 with 67o and hitting a 7 on river to beat raisers two pair AA44. Also called an allin with board of AA32 he has 85o and opponent has AJ - hits a 4 on river for straight.  Regardless of these wins, he was going to call every bet. He managed to fold once the whole night after a bit of persuasion that he was allowed to fold.Calling with 82o, J4, Q4 etc...

He was persuaded to cash in his £10, so he would only be £5 down for the night, but he returned 30 mins later and bought back in. He lost it all very quickly, then rebought again, lost that quickly and rebought.. we told him the rebuys were capped and that would be the last rebuy he was allowed. If not, he would have lost a lot more.

I didn't want to be rude to the guy, but I really didn't think he understood the game at all, and was basically throwing his money away.

Any thoughts on how we should have handled this?

Cheers,

Decider

[b4matt]

Yes... by letting him re-load a maximum of 120 times

[Graham C]

Sounds like you did things the right way.  Some people just want to play though but it's good to limit their losses if you can.

[b4matt]

Seriously though, tell him he's proably not experienced enough and that you don't want him to risk more money than he's comfortable with losing. If he wishes to continue playing and you don't object (fat chance!) then let him... he's an adult, and not your responsibility. I assume you do have some limit on the game though?

[AndrewT]

he's an adult, and not your responsibility.

Precisely - you can't go making decisions for other people on how they choose to spend their money.

[lazaroonie]

Never give a sucker an even break.

[BigTomatoes]

 To be fair though this guy was not all there. He obviously had no concept for money, but we didnt want to be bad ( felt a bit sorry for him ) so we let him play, but it got to the stage he was being put all-in every hand and basically just losing another buy - in with junk like 82 47. ( at one point he had Q7 spades - rainbow board of A Q 4 and he said he was going for '' an ace flush like the one Maverick had '' meaning a Royal flush even though this was imposiible with 2 cards to come. So in the end after we froze him out he fell asleep at the table. Thats how bad this guy was.

[lazaroonie]

where was this ?

[peeveen]

in with junk like ... 47

Steady on!

[BigTomatoes]

It was in a pub in Airdrie. Says it all really.

[Newmanseye]

I would have let him reload all night, I would have given  him a lift to the cash machine, and a lift home after he did his dough.

Infact I would have increased the buy in to bust him sooner, If he wants to play let him.  I have seen plenty of people come in to the cincins drunk and piss away fortunes.

As i keep saying I have bills to pay and if someone wants to make a donation dont interfere.

Do you think this guy would have got a break like this in Vegas, or the Riverboat for that matter.

You did a nice think I wont deny that, was it prudent on the purse strings, I think not.

[matt674]

I would have let him reload all night, I would have given  him a lift to the cash machine, and a lift home after he did his dough.

Infact I would have increased the buy in to bust him sooner, If he wants to play let him.  I have seen plenty of people come in to the cincins drunk and piss away fortunes.

As i keep saying I have bills to pay and if someone wants to make a donation dont interfere.

Do you think this guy would have got a break like this in Vegas, or the Riverboat for that matter.

You did a nice think I wont deny that, was it prudent on the purse strings, I think not.

How far do you take it though? Both players who seemed to have played in this game both comment that they thought the person "was not all there". This could mean that the person was blind drunk but also this could be taken to read that the person who wanted to play had learing difficulties. So would you treat both situations exactly the same? At the local near us there is a young lad who goes in who has learning difficulties, he just about understands the concept of money and other stuff but basically he's there because he wants to join in things, he wants to socialize with other people. Sometimes he can be a bit much if your just out for a quiet drink but usually there is nearly always someone in there who will give him a game of pool or let him join in if we're playing a quick game of cards.

As much as i always play poker to win and i'll be playing my hardest to make as much profit as possible i'll never let him sit down and join in a real money game - he wants to join in, he's seen it on tv but you have to draw the line somewhere.

[scottm]

Matt, this guy was playing for the first time last nightand had  had a few drinks, but he was desperate to play and the early winning hands he had boosted his confidence.

But i think we were more than fair by telling him the buyins were capped. To be honest he lost about £30 last night which hopefully wasn't alot of cash to him.

[BigTomatoes]

yeah he did have learning difficulties , he told me when i was taking him to the cash line lol. ( No Joke ) i offered to take him before i knew the severity of the situation. to be fair £30 doesnt seem like a lot of money to him cos he lifted some wad.

[Decider]

Hello,

Yes, I believe he had learning difficulties, I worded that all wrong.

I think we did the right thing, as he did want to get involved in the game and I'd have felt rubbish telling him no, but on the other hand I felt rubbish taking his money.

Eoan