Tourney Dealer sitting out in a tourney (1 Viewer)

[Mr Winberg]

I thought I'd share the results from an experiment I did on Saturday.

I usually have 3 tables and I seat max 8 per table, because I really don't like how slow the game gets with 9 or 10.

Last tournament (my yearly Halloween Resurrection Tournament! Patent pending...) I could only use two of my tables, but didn't want to cap at 16. I decided to go for 10 per table but with the following rule: While there are 9 or 10 at the table, the dealer sits out and focuses on dealing.

This might be a bit controversial in a tournament setting, seeing as there will be 1 hand per orbit when you can't get eliminated, but I was hoping the benefits would outway this.

The final table was 8 as usual, so this only applied in the beginning of the tournament.

I feel like this was successful! My table definitely played faster than normal 9 or 10 handed tables do, in my experience! Not only were there fewer players playing each hand, but the dealer was more active than usual, moving the game along. The transition to dealing oneself in at 8 handed went smooth as well.

I don't know much about the other table, but those I asked said that it went well.

Since this was about speeding up the game, my instructions where that if you accidentally gave yourself cards, then just discard them. Random is random. Same if you forgot to deal yourself in at 8 handed, just announce it and take two from the top. Perhaps controversial to some, but I prioritized speed. We only had the former happen once (second hand of the night), the latter didn't happen.

If I have to have 10 per table again, I will definitely go with this approach!

Now some pr0n!

25k starting stacks

50k resurrection stacks

One joker in play!

Not sure who this is, haven't seen him before

The winning hand and the gold medal chip!

 

[HiveKueen]

how did you make this rule known to the players? Before the game, when you sent out invites? Did you get any "feedback" (aka complaints) about it?

 

[Colquhoun]

So when you're on the button, you can't play?

 

[Eriks]

So when you're on the button, you can't play?

Why would that matter when you get to play the effective button from the CO?

 

[Mr Winberg]

how did you make this rule known to the players? Before the game, when you sent out invites? Did you get any "feedback" (aka complaints) about it?

I let them know in my pre-game briefing. I did not feel the need to send it out prior. Especially since I had hope of getting access to the third table up until game day. This house rule was plan B.

So when you're on the button, you can't play?

Why would that matter when you get to play the effective button from the CO?

Exactly. The button, from a positional perspective, is the person sitting two spots to the right of the SB. The person inbetween is sitting out as a dedicated dealer. So there IS a button position between the CO and SB, no changes there!

This is no different than when 7 are playing circus games and the next game is 6 max. Then the physical dealer sits out, but there is still a positioning button.

 

[doublebooyah85]

I like it

 

[Poker Zombie]

How did you handle it heads-up?

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

How did you handle it heads-up?

"The transition to dealing oneself in at 8 handed went smooth as well."

So when it got to 8 handed they just self dealt normally.

Really like this idea actually, would keep things running smoothly. My apes could never handle that type of change but for normal players this would be great.

 

[Mr Winberg]

How did you handle it heads-up?

It never ended. They are still at it!

 

[TheYeti]

I'm intrigued by this idea and might try to implement it at my cash game when we have 10 players. With a full table it seems to slow down to a crawl. Having a (sort-of) dedicated dealer would really speed things up.

Doing this in a cash game, would you allow dealer tipping? I think it would be kosher in this situation, and might also offer an added incentive to those who are reluctant to sit out a hand every orbit.

I feel like this has been discussed here before but I can't find it, at least with my Google skills.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I'm intrigued by this idea and might try to implement it at my cash game when we have 10 players. With a full table it seems to slow down to a crawl. Having a (sort-of) dedicated dealer would really speed things up.

Doing this in a cash game, would you allow dealer tipping? I think it would be kosher in this situation, and might also offer an added incentive to those who are reluctant to sit out a hand every orbit.

I feel like this has been discussed here before but I can't find it, at least with my Google skills.

In a cash game, I'd allow dealer tipping - but since everyone is dealing it would (should) be a wash. The chips aren't coming off the table, and should represent a very small portion of the stacks in play.

 

[Mr Winberg]

I'm intrigued by this idea and might try to implement it at my cash game when we have 10 players. With a full table it seems to slow down to a crawl. Having a (sort-of) dedicated dealer would really speed things up.

Doing this in a cash game, would you allow dealer tipping? I think it would be kosher in this situation, and might also offer an added incentive to those who are reluctant to sit out a hand every orbit.

I feel like this has been discussed here before but I can't find it, at least with my Google skills.

Haven't thought of it, we don't have a tipping culture in Sweden.

But if we did, I would feel weird about tipping in this case as the money would just go round and round between us. But give it a try and let us know!

 

[merkong]

I'm intrigued by this idea and might try to implement it at my cash game when we have 10 players. With a full table it seems to slow down to a crawl. Having a (sort-of) dedicated dealer would really speed things up.

Doing this in a cash game, would you allow dealer tipping? I think it would be kosher in this situation, and might also offer an added incentive to those who are reluctant to sit out a hand every orbit.

I feel like this has been discussed here before but I can't find it, at least with my Google skills.

How is having 9 active players going to be any different from a pace of play POV than having 10? Not buying it.

Tell your players to act faster.

The only job the dealer has aside from pitching cards and making button raises with trash is to keep the action moving. You have players that wouldn’t be comfy with telling people to keep it moving? Simple.

Dedicated dealer.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

How is having 9 active players going to be any different from a pace of play POV than having 10? Not buying it.

How? There's one more distracted ape that starts a conversation when it gets to him, that's how. 9 players vs 10 players. Is there a difference 4 vs 5 players? 6 vs 7? The answer is always yes, especially if the person sitting out is incentivized to keep the game moving so they get to play.

 

[TheYeti]

Tell your players to act faster.

You obviously haven't played with the apes at my game. lol

 

[Colquhoun]

How is having 9 active players going to be any different from a pace of play POV than having 10? Not buying it.

Tell your players to act faster.

The only job the dealer has aside from pitching cards and making button raises with trash is to keep the action moving. You have players that wouldn’t be comfy with telling people to keep it moving? Simple.

Dedicated dealer.

Not sure I’m liking it either. Skipping a person, pretending he’s not the button, it’s the guy next to him, etc.
It’s like setting your watch 10 mins ahead so you won’t be late.
But I guess if you and your crew like it, that’s really all that matters.

 

[Frogzilla]

On one hand, I kind of like idea of dealer sitting out. Easier to deal. Easier to focus.

On other hand, my disdain with 10 person tables is leg room, not really how tight i have to play from utg10. Doesnt really seem like a 9 or 10 handed thing.

 

[Mr Winberg]

How is having 9 active players going to be any different from a pace of play POV than having 10? Not buying it.

9 is faster than 10.
8 is faster than 9.
And so on.

Tell your players to act faster.

I have. They don't. Sucks to be me :-(

(Not that they are horrible. They're pretty fast, but not fast)

The only job the dealer has aside from pitching cards and making button raises with trash is to keep the action moving. You have players that wouldn’t be comfy with telling people to keep it moving? Simple.

Dedicated dealer.

That's kinda what I did! It's just that people take turns.

Look, I know that it's not for everyone. This thread isn't about convincing, it's merely a report on how the experiment went. My key takeaways are 1) it sped things up, as I thought it would, and 2) it wasn't that big a deal to the players. Their reaction was pretty much "ok, gotcha".

 

[Mr Winberg]

especially if the person sitting out is incentivized to keep the game moving so they get to play.

Yes, I believe this was a key factor of the improved speed

 

[merkong]

Conceptually faster but because pace of play is waaaay more dependent on things far more intrusive than the number players at the table, I just think forcing a player away from the action because a) the minuscule amount of pace gained or b) people won’t pick up the pace, or c) appreciating that it’s poker and it can move variably, is a bad idea.

Call a clock.

 

[Mr Winberg]

Conceptually faster but because pace of play is waaaay more dependent on things far more intrusive than the number players at the table, I just think forcing a player away from the action because a) the minuscule amount of pace gained or b) people won’t pick up the pace, or c) appreciating that it’s poker and it can move variably, is a bad idea.

Call a clock.

Yes, a drawback is that players miss a hand per orbit. To be clear, this 10 handed thing was an exception. I hope to be getting back to 3 8-handed tables again next time.

Not sure how calling a clock would help, though? The problem with 10 handed play isn't excessive tanking, at least not from my experience. Do people in your game tank more when you are many players?

 

[Poker Zombie]

Y'all need a Mrs Zombie in your game. Someone to say "actions on you", within 5 seconds of the story continuing without any obvious consideration of the cards.

It doesn't need to be the dealer. EVERYONE has a vested interest in the game.

 

[merkong]

Do people in your game tank more when you are many players?

No, tanking isn’t a problem here. If it’s not tanking at your game pull a Ms Zombie.

“Action is on you.”

Sounds like your players are getting the basic premise of poker; do something!

 

[Mr Winberg]

No, tanking isn’t a problem here. If it’s not tanking at your game pull a Ms Zombie.

“Action is on you.”

Sounds like your players are getting the basic premise of poker; do something!

Gotcha. I got confused by the "call a clock" comment. I should instead call a zombie!