Big Pot Takedown & Quick Cash Out - How to Address? (1 Viewer)

[rowlin]

Indeed.

Wasn't trying to equate "going south" with "hitting and running" (despite the similar motive between them), but the story seemed to fit with some of what has been posted in response.

 

[Jimulacrum]

I don't think you need to call him out if it doesn't happen again. It's unfortunate that he left, but it happens, and for you all you know, he was planning to leave early from the get-go. A little notice would be nice, though. From a host's perspective, there's a huge difference between, "Yes, I'll attend your game" and "I'll attend your game, but only until 9:00."

That's the kind of thing you should always tell the host upfront, and this player should know that. If he left early to lock up the win, he should get the message, and if he left early because he planned to, he'll know to give you a heads-up next time. Fortunately, if you tell him this way, you spare yourself having to directly accuse him of hitting and running.

Invite him back. If your other players are still pissed, they'll need to take the opportunity to grow up. You can't get bent out of shape about it every time someone takes a bit of money out of the game.

Of course, if he makes it a habitual thing, now he's treading in banhammer territory, but let's not assume that from one incident.

 

[Dale_Doback]

Technically, as others have stated, he's done nothing wrong but IMO, it's just not something you do at a home game when everyone is friends or friends of friends, etc. I expect it at a casino but not at a home game. To me, it says something about his character if he repeatedly does it. If it's just happened this one time and he takes poker seriously like you think he does, you could be rushing to judgement and for all you know, he could have already told himself (in his head) that this was the last pot or I'm leaving at X time.

I'd give him another shot and if he does it again, then maybe put it out there, to all players, not just him, that moving forward, as a courtesy, please give 30 minutes notice when you're planning on leaving. You could play it off as a way for you to hit up people on the waiting list that you will have a seat open in 30 mins. Although if someone is a D-bag that would normally win and cash out, even with that 30 minute rule in place, they'll still essentially do the same thing by folding or not playing big pots for the next 1-2 orbits, as others have mentioned.

To me, my character at a poker table (and in life for that matter) is something I take seriously and don't ever want it called into question. I even make an announcement when I'm at a casino. I tell the person next to me "hey, you're my witness in case I win a big pot...I'm leaving in 30 mins."

I'm weeks away from starting my home games and I'm gonna have a few rules on a sign just so everyone is on the same page from the get go:

1. Show one, show all
2. No showing, talking about or commenting about cards/hands while there's live action
3. No digging through the muck
4. All flops, rivers and turns will only be run one time
5. Rabbit hunting = $1 tip to the dealer

Numbers 4 and 5 are to speed things up.

I probably won't put anything about the 30 mins notice for leaving unless it starts to become a repeated problem with the same or multiple players.

 

[lnlver]

I have special chairs for people who have this tendency.

 

[BooRayUSA]

Rabbit hunting = $1 tip to the dealer

I'm doing this great idea

As for the OP as host its your obligation to be upfront and forthright with what you expect from your guests. It's your house and your rules and players in general appreciate the fact if your upfront first with expectations of your game and how you manage it.

If you prefer that players give notice them make it a home rule, end of story. But its important that your upfront and announce your intentions.

I have found the more a host is willing to start a night by quickly explaining house rules and expectations of players the better time everyone has. I personally have a list of home rules and my guests are aware of these first and foremost. Should a question arise or situation I have a leg to stand on as host

I general most people are gracious in others homes and respect this. Bad apples exist and unfortunately they are to be dealt with accordingly

 

[slisk250]

I'm weeks away from starting my home games and I'm gonna have a few rules on a sign just so everyone is on the same page from the get go:

1. Show one, show all
2. No showing, talking about or commenting about cards/hands while there's live action
3. No digging through the muck
4. All flops, rivers and turns will only be run one time
5. Rabbit hunting = $1 tip to the dealer

Numbers 4 and 5 are to speed things up.

I probably won't put anything about the 30 mins notice for leaving unless it starts to become a repeated problem with the same or multiple players.

I was running through some old threads and saw a photo of the sign at The Hitching Post. It is a solid set of rules and I may make something almost identical. I don't like rabbit hunting as it can give information away but your rule number 4 is interesting to think about. Sometimes offering to run it 2 or three times will move the game along as it will induce a bet in place of extended tanking.

 

[Chicken Rob]

At our game, you can only request a rabbit hunt if you show your hand.

As for hit and run, I agree it's not a problem until it's a pattern. I also agree it's good form to give advance notice if you're leaving a home game early.

 

[SixSpeedFury]

I love those tips for rabbit chasing, either a tip to the dealer or show your hand. Awesome idea.

 

[Anthony Martino]

I generally give advance notice in a home game, about an hour ahead, that I'm planning to leave. However, it's a cash game and people can stop playing anytime they wish, so I'm not a fan of the "hey, where are you going, you HAVE to give us a chance to win our money back!". Reminds me of grimy regs in low stakes games at the casino desperate to keep money on the table.

Of course, I can understand if this guy played all of 5-10 minutes and then bailed, or was frequently doing this, that it would be an issue that needs addressing. But it sounds like he played for a few hours and it isn't a habit, so I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Just losers being sore and finding something to gripe about.

 

[bivey]

Funny to me that in a home game, I sit until the end or I can't keep my eyes open but in a casino if I book a big win against complete strangers I will usually get up and lock up the cash and move tables or casinos. I find it perfectly reasonable to decrease my variance - but I know it's dick and would never consider it in a home game.

 

[Dale_Doback]

I was running through some old threads and saw a photo of the sign at The Hitching Post. It is a solid set of rules and I may make something almost identical

Cool thanks. I'll see if I can find it...or if you have a link to the OP already, can you post it here or PM me? Thanks much.

 

[slisk250]

Go to SOP thread from 2015...maybe 30 pages in but I can't remember.

 

[Mr Tree]

Here you go. This was cobbled together using some stuff I had previously seen on the blue wall.

 

[bivey]

Interestingly, I had an invite to sit in a 5-10 mixed game last night. I'm on call and turned it down because I didn't want to be put into a position where I'd disrupt the game or have to leave. The host was ok with the risk of me leaving but it didn't feel right and I said hello before the game started and parted ways. Such a juicy game, too. Gotta have standards though.

Also reminds me of Redbelly's last meetup. I left the cash games early so I could wake up early the next morning. I hadn't booked a big win, but it still felt awful. Always regretted that.

 

[QuiQuog]

What if you announce you're leaving in 30 minutes, but stay longer? Then, at 40 minutes you pull in a big pot. Is it okay to leave then, or does it look like you waited to hit and run?

 

[NicholasAK]

My "homegame" is in a bar. If you leave before close with a stack, it's common practice to buy the table a round.

If you want to see someones hole cards after the hand is over (come on, what did you have?) You can buy the priviledge with a free drink.

 

[Chicken Rob]

Interestingly, I had an invite to sit in a 5-10 mixed game last night. I'm on call and turned it down because I didn't want to be put into a position where I'd disrupt the game or have to leave. The host was ok with the risk of me leaving but it didn't feel right and I said hello before the game started and parted ways. Such a juicy game, too. Gotta have standards though.

Also reminds me of Redbelly's last meetup. I left the cash games early so I could wake up early the next morning. I hadn't booked a big win, but it still felt awful. Always regretted that.

I would have played in that game. You were up front about being on call. Nothing wrong with that scenario in my mind.

I'm betting you were upfront about leaving early at Redbelly's too. No need to feel bad about taking care of yourself. I used to stay at bergs and Guinness' games until they broke at 7am. Then I started leaving at closer to 2. I needed to book a winning sleep session. No guilt. Though it was hard to leave some nights. The tail end is where the gamble really comes out.

 

[Dale_Doback]

[QUOTEHere you go. This was cobbled together using some stuff I had previously seen on the blue wall.[/QUOTE]

Sweet. Thank you sir! (y) :thumbsup:

What if you announce you're leaving in 30 minutes, but stay longer? Then, at 40 minutes you pull in a big pot. Is it okay to leave then, or does it look like you waited to hit and run?

To me, yeah I would take that as hit and run - like your 30 mins came and went but you wanna see if you can take down one more big pot before you leave...but again if it's not a repeated thing then it wouldn't piss me off...might just roll my eyes or shake my head.

 

[Dale_Doback]

Interestingly, I had an invite to sit in a 5-10 mixed game last night. I'm on call and turned it down because I didn't want to be put into a position where I'd disrupt the game or have to leave. The host was ok with the risk of me leaving but it didn't feel right and I said hello before the game started and parted ways. Such a juicy game, too. Gotta have standards though

To me, that's totally different though bc it's known ahead of time that you may have to up and leave at any point...but I understand why you wouldn't wanna play.

 

[Anthony Martino]

What if you announce you're leaving in 30 minutes, but stay longer? Then, at 40 minutes you pull in a big pot. Is it okay to leave then, or does it look like you waited to hit and run?

No one would bat an eyelash if you busted and got up and left, but win a big pot and leave and you're the devil. It's like people feel entitled to have you lose it all back.

 

[QuiQuog]

It happened something like that for me once. I announced I would be leaving in a half hour, then hit a big pot right before I was going to leave. I stayed another 20 and tried to stay active but not get in any big hands. If I'd won again I'd never get out of there!

 

[BooRayUSA]

No one would bat an eyelash if you busted and got up and left, but win a big pot and leave and you're the devil. It's like people feel entitled to have you lose it all back.

QFT

 

[doakwolf]

Loved reading this thread. Very interesting topic, isn't it. I'm lucky to have enough friends interested in poker that I don't need to invite "friends of friends" who may be more likely to act this way - forgetting it's not a casino.

I've had a couple of issues though, as expected when alcohol is involved. A player once announced "this is my last hand" and at the flop (when betting got a bit heavy) he pulled $20 (initial buy-in amount) to the side and announced "this is out of play". I wasn't involved in the hand but as the host, quickly announced "you better believe it is!". I don't understand the mindset but do understand we're all different.

Agree with @Chippy McChiperson that honesty is the best way to deal with these situations. Some people just don't realise this behaviour can be offensive to others until they're told.

I enjoy hosting (mainly because none of my friends could give a rats arse about quality chips so it's either I host or it's dice chips!) but there is a bit of responsibility involved with it. I am definitely going to print and frame a house rules list much like The Hitching Post one. I love that idea.

 

[Jimulacrum]

I've had a couple of issues though, as expected when alcohol is involved. A player once announced "this is my last hand" and at the flop (when betting got a bit heavy) he pulled $20 (initial buy-in amount) to the side and announced "this is out of play". I wasn't involved in the hand but as the host, quickly announced "you better believe it is!". I don't understand the mindset but do understand we're all different.

Whoa, what? So dude rat-holed a full buy-in mid-hand and the host (you, if I'm reading syntax properly) enthusiastically backed him up? Even between hands, this would be out of line IMO, but mid-hand, now he's altering what could've easily been a decision-making factor for other players who have put money into the pot.

Maybe I'm a bit extreme on points like this, but this kind of bait-and-switch would make me seriously question ever going to this game again.

(Yes, I can tell it's cheeseburger stakes, but still.)

 

[doakwolf]

Whoa, what? So dude rat-holed a full buy-in mid-hand and the host (you, if I'm reading syntax properly) enthusiastically backed him up? Even between hands, this would be out of line IMO, but mid-hand, now he's altering what could've easily been a decision-making factor for other players who have put money into the pot.

Maybe I'm a bit extreme on points like this, but this kind of bait-and-switch would make me seriously question ever going to this game again.

(Yes, I can tell it's cheeseburger stakes, but still.)

LOL no, I didn't write that very well... I meant to say this "you better believe it is in play!". I did not allow the chips to be removed from play.

I'm also very strongly against any bad etiquette from players. A guy once slow rolled me at show down. He's a good mate and it was one of his first games but I had to let him know that won't fly in future and will literally result in removal from my invite list. That said, we tend to enjoy many beers so things do get a little loose later in the evening

 

[Jimulacrum]

LOL no, I didn't write that very well... I meant to say this "you better believe it is in play!". I did not allow the chips to be removed from play.

I'm also very strongly against any bad etiquette from players. A guy once slow rolled me at show down. He's a good mate and it was one of his first games but I had to let him know that won't fly in future and will literally result in removal from my invite list. That said, we tend to enjoy many beers so things do get a little loose later in the evening

Whew! Thank you.

And +1 to bad etiquette. People may think you're just being a rules nit, but if bad behavior were tolerated with any frequency, they'd learn pretty quickly why you have to be firm.

 

[Chicken Rob]

I agree on ratholing and general etiquette, but slow rolling between friends can be fun. Except when it isn't. (Sorry again goph).

Butler and I once double slow rolled each other in a PLO hand. $600 pot in .25/.50 game. I claimed to have trips, he shows a boat, I flip up a bigger boat, he flips up quads. One of my favorite hands ever. I may have the exact details wrong, but the spirit of the double slow roll was essentially as described.

 

[doakwolf]

^^ HAHA that sounds hilarious! Maybe I need to lighten up on the slow rolling

 

[Jimulacrum]

$600 pot in .25/.50 game.

With some people in this spot, you wouldn't even need to slowroll to have the other guy tearing his hair out. Some of the shit that goes down at that game is pure, sick degeneracy.

 

[doakwolf]

Actually, ya know what... Maybe I really DO need to lighten up with the slow rolling rule. The more I think about it the more I reckon I should have just laughed it off in that instance. Hmm. Must be losing my sense of humor :S