The perils of team poker

[AndrewT]

So, yesterday there was a team poker event being filmed in London. Countries would take each other on - three players in each team, so six players at a table, who would then just play a normal game of poker.

In the first round Australia (led by Tony G) took on Canada (captained by Daniel Negreanu).

Tony seemed like he had fun - http://www.tonygpoker.com/2006/04/world-cup-australia-vs-canada.html .

Daniel, well, let's just say he didn't have quite as much fun - http://www.fullcontactpoker.com/poker-journal.php?subaction=showfull&id=1144232108&archive=

I have to say I'm amazed that tournament organisers would be so oblivious to the kinds of things that can happen when players at a poker table are not exclusively playing for themselves.

[byronkincaid]

deja vu anyone?

[The Dundonian]

Like any activity, you adapt to suit the environment you are in, team poker is just what the name implies and changes the boundaries accordingly.

[doubleup]

The only way to structure a team poker event is a modified double shoot out format.

A series of single tables with no more than one player from each team at the table are played out and points are awarded to each team depending on the performance in these.  

A final table consisting of the (best) teams then takes place where the starting stacks are allocated based on the points accumulated in the single table events.

The winner is the team with the best score from the 2 stages.

[ifm]

I think the only thing Daniel can moan about here is that he didn't know the format, though how he flies accross the atlantic for a tourny he knows nothing about i don't know
As for the format itself i think it's an interesting variation and i quite like the concept.
It requires slightly different skills and strategies, i think if Walsall entered a team they would clear up though
Stop moaning Danny, i'm sure you were well paid.

I wonder if any of this stuff went on at Starcity a few months back where the teams were all entered into a multi and the higher the placing, the more points each individual got and then the highest tally won?

[AndrewT]

i think if Walsall entered a team they would clear up though

From what I hear, Nottingham would run them close...

[I, Zimbra]

On the other hand, I watched the final of the 888.com Team Poker Cup last night - a televised poker event I very much enjoyed.

As doubleup posted, the format they opted for was six teams of six players, each playing a six-player shootout with no more than one player from any team on the table at any time.

The final forced the team captains to make two substitutions - thus half of each team got to play in the final... STILL with no more than one player from each team at the table at any one time.

I hope that anyone planning a 'team' poker event in the future will use the model from this tournament, rather than the 'Poker Royale' type of team poker that has been more prevalent up to now.

[neeko]

I think Mr C is in the Welsh team.

Has his game been filmed yet? If so how did he do?

If not should he use "Team tactics" to ensure the best results for his side? (unless he is against England in which case it would be totaly unethical.

[Ironside]

i am and always have been on danny N's side on this any poker game should NOT have 2 people on the same table with the same goal

i am not a keen fan on team mates playing one after the other so they know the points score before the start as you can then find a situtation where 2 teams can pick on another team to ensure they get a favourable result

HU knock out best of 5 or 11 is better or all the players in single comps with all the comps starting at same time

[The Truth]

i am and always have been on danny N's side on this any poker game should NOT have 2 people on the same table with the same goal

i am not a keen fan on team mates playing one after the other so they know the points score before the start as you can then find a situtation where 2 teams can pick on another team to ensure they get a favourable result

HU knock out best of 5 or 11 is better or all the players in single comps with all the comps starting at same time

 

[I, Zimbra]

I think Mr C is in the Welsh team.

Has his game been filmed yet? If so how did he do?

If not should he use "Team tactics" to ensure the best results for his side? (unless he is against England in which case it would be totaly unethical.

The one I was talking about had a GB team captained by Devilfish, with Joe Beevers, Ram Vaswani, Julian Gardner and Tony Bloom as team-mates. And an internet qualifier whose name escapes me...

The other teams were USA, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland. Each team had five pros and an internet qualifier on them...

[Wardonkey]

I agree with 5 nil here.

(It had to happen sooner or later)

Any team type event that has 2 or more players from the same team on one table encourages collusion, and is bound to result in ill feeling no matter what parameters are set.

[Karabiner]

i think if Walsall entered a team they would clear up though

From what I hear, Nottingham would run them close...

They could certainly give them a few tips on strategy .....

[Junior Senior]

This is copywrited by the way so no nicking it!! 

what about tag team poker? - imagine teaming up with another player and you play the hand together but without conferring.  All players can see the board cards as normal but only the guy in the hot seat can see the hole cards.  So one guy plays preflop and on the flop and then the action is picked up by your partner on the turn and river but you alternate who starts each hand - a sort of cross between poker, foursomes golf and WWF wrestling. 

Just imagine teaming up with Tikay and he has raised pre-flop with AA (or 6-2 on closer inspection) and he has represented the overpair on a 7-J-K board!!! - then you have gotta pick up the pieces on the turn and river - arrghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stallyon]

a sort of cross between poker, foursomes golf and WWF wrestling

and the best thing about this is that you can pile drive them through the table when you suffer a bad beat

*can still remember being shown the million dollar sleeper at Didcot by (I think) Mr.F*


On a lighter note, I started out in Poker playing team games at pokerroom.com in a league. chip passing and picking on a particular opponent where all part of the game