What to do about the passing-out drunk guy in a game?
What are the best strategies for managing them at the table, and coaxing them them to get home (safely)?
Again from a VFW game I played over the weekend:
There was a player to my right at my cash table, around midnight, who was blind drunk. Just absolutely out of it, and losing both coordination and the ability to talk. I kept expecting him to either fall asleep on the felt or puke on it.
The hall has a bar, and I’d played with this guy a bit in the early stages of the tourney which started at 4 pm. He was already tying one on then and busted early. Probably had a couple an hour at the bar until cash started. By midnight he was totally blotto.
He wasn’t belligerent, just unable to follow the game or participate meaningfully. Had to be instructed on every hand what was up, and still took forever, and sometimes needed repeated instructions to act. Could not figure out what his hand was or what was on the board. Exposing cards. Couldn’t deal. But he seemed to have no intention of leaving, or maybe was just unable to.
He shouldn’t have been still playing. Unfortunately the game host was still at the final table and not easily interrupted. Others at this cash table seemed to know the drunk well but were just humoring him. I kept giving them looks and hints to say something like “C’mon Joe, I’ve gotta get going, how about I give you a lift home.”
People were mostly trying to avoid not taking advantage, but the drunk kept feebly trying to enter pots and was steadily bleeding chips. Went all in a couple times preflop and everyone just folded.
I finally decided to cash out while making it clear (without the drunk guy realizing) that I was leaving early because it was too uncomfortable. I then did go talk with the host and tell him what was happening, that someone who knows the guy really needs to get him out of there.
Anybody developed any good tactics for these situations? Unfortunately it isn’t totally uncommon in poker.
What are the best strategies for managing them at the table, and coaxing them them to get home (safely)?
Again from a VFW game I played over the weekend:
There was a player to my right at my cash table, around midnight, who was blind drunk. Just absolutely out of it, and losing both coordination and the ability to talk. I kept expecting him to either fall asleep on the felt or puke on it.
The hall has a bar, and I’d played with this guy a bit in the early stages of the tourney which started at 4 pm. He was already tying one on then and busted early. Probably had a couple an hour at the bar until cash started. By midnight he was totally blotto.
He wasn’t belligerent, just unable to follow the game or participate meaningfully. Had to be instructed on every hand what was up, and still took forever, and sometimes needed repeated instructions to act. Could not figure out what his hand was or what was on the board. Exposing cards. Couldn’t deal. But he seemed to have no intention of leaving, or maybe was just unable to.
He shouldn’t have been still playing. Unfortunately the game host was still at the final table and not easily interrupted. Others at this cash table seemed to know the drunk well but were just humoring him. I kept giving them looks and hints to say something like “C’mon Joe, I’ve gotta get going, how about I give you a lift home.”
People were mostly trying to avoid not taking advantage, but the drunk kept feebly trying to enter pots and was steadily bleeding chips. Went all in a couple times preflop and everyone just folded.
I finally decided to cash out while making it clear (without the drunk guy realizing) that I was leaving early because it was too uncomfortable. I then did go talk with the host and tell him what was happening, that someone who knows the guy really needs to get him out of there.
Anybody developed any good tactics for these situations? Unfortunately it isn’t totally uncommon in poker.
Last edited:
and 
