Home Game Regular Stealing Chips (4 Viewers)

merkong

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So, I’ll briefly outline a situation involving a home game regular caught stealing a $5 chip out of a pot won by the player sitting to his immediate right.

A larger pot involving our games host and another player had just ended with the non-host being the winner. There were two $5 chips in the pot. As the winning player raked the pot towards him, a very drunk player (to his immediate right) reached about 5 inches toward the winner and very slyly scooped one of the $5 chips.

The host happened to glance at the exact right moment and watched the event from the initial move of the villains hand, thru the scooping and cupping of the chip, all the way to the eyes of the villain and the host locking in contact. The look on the villains face was that of “utter terror.”

Before the host could say anything, the winner in the hand noticed and verbalized “I’m missing a cherrybomb” (terminology for a red $5 in this game) and the host (who was dealing) and as he redirected his attention to the next deck said without looking up “Yes, it was accidentally scooped by “so and so.” The host was clearly mortified and did not want to create a scene that would have obviously invoked emphatic objection by the villain and undoubtedly signaled the beginning of the end of the night. The villain refuted, “No, this was mine.” but immediately gave up that line and tossed the chip to the winner. The matter is being deliberated at the moment and in real time with an inner circle of players from the game.

The host knows exactly what he saw. The villain was exceedingly intoxicated this night, had a dust up earlier with another players fiancé, and has a rather colorful past, past of petty indiscretions. He is an overall good guy but the house needs to make a decision on this persons fate. The villain was a no-call, no-show for the next nights game (we play every Friday and Saturday night) after texting he was “running late” and has been ghosting the winner (a close friend of his) and the host. The villain was also staked a $20 by both the host and the winner before his indiscretion and still didn’t show up or follow up call.

I won’t bias the thread by reporting our options and where we’re at in this process and am simply trying to solicit input and conversation.

I think we know what needs to be done but any and all input, including how different thread participants would execute their decision is appreciated.

Thanks and be well.

Ken
 
He is not invited back. I let all my players know what happened, and I completely wash my hands of the situation. They understand that I didnt want to make a big fight with an intoxicated guest but he will not be welcome.

Drunks can make off color remarks and maybe even some douchey angling, whatever dont make a habit. But straight stealing out of pots? I cant babysit that.
 
Ugh. Terrible and awkward situation to be in.

It almost sounds like the villain has "uninvited" himself by not coming, not being in contact despite attempts to contact. He clearly recognized he was caught red handed, reluctantly returned the chip in an awkward fashion.

I say scratch him from the invite list. I'm not too sure how to handle the $20 stake. I'm afraid the backers might be out that money....

:(
 
Just leave him off the invite list. That he was making a pass or arguing (I think) at another player's fiance is 90% the reason that would make me not invite him back, though. I have zero tolerance with anyone insulting my wife or kids.

For the attempted $5'er theft, the host handled it well I think. Shoots a stark warning at the villain but doesn't let it escalate to the point of the game breaking.
 
So, I’ll briefly outline a situation involving a home game regular caught stealing a $5 chip out of a pot won by the player sitting to his immediate right.

A larger pot involving our games host and another player had just ended with the non-host being the winner. There were two $5 chips in the pot. As the winning player raked the pot towards him, a very drunk player (to his immediate right) reached about 5 inches toward the winner and very slyly scooped one of the $5 chips.

The host happened to glance at the exact right moment and watched the event from the initial move of the villains hand, thru the scooping and cupping of the chip, all the way to the eyes of the villain and the host locking in contact. The look on the villains face was that of “utter terror.”

Before the host could say anything, the winner in the hand noticed and verbalized “I’m missing a cherrybomb” (terminology for a red $5 in this game) and the host (who was dealing) and as he redirected his attention to the next deck said without looking up “Yes, it was accidentally scooped by “so and so.” The host was clearly mortified and did not want to create a scene that would have obviously invoked emphatic objection by the villain and undoubtedly signaled the beginning of the end of the night. The villain refuted, “No, this was mine.” but immediately gave up that line and tossed the chip to the winner. The matter is being deliberated at the moment and in real time with an inner circle of players from the game.

The host knows exactly what he saw. The villain was exceedingly intoxicated this night, had a dust up earlier with another players fiancé, and has a rather colorful past, past of petty indiscretions. He is an overall good guy but the house needs to make a decision on this persons fate. The villain was a no-call, no-show for the next nights game (we play every Friday and Saturday night) after texting he was “running late” and has been ghosting the winner (a close friend of his) and the host. The villain was also staked a $20 by both the host and the winner before his indiscretion and still didn’t show up or follow up call.

I won’t bias the thread by reporting our options and where we’re at in this process and am simply trying to solicit input and conversation.

I think we know what needs to be done but any and all input, including how different thread participants would execute their decision is appreciated.

Thanks and be well.

Ken

Sorry to hear about this problem among regulars, such a shame that such drama can occur over the sum of $25.

Honestly if a person thinks it's ok to steal $5 that time they could have stolen $ before or gosh knows what. As a guest to be so flagrantly disrespectful of another guest and the host as to steal does require attention. If his ejection wouldnt ruin the rest of the game making others leave and spiraling the event then boot him.....if you are against the wall wait till the dude calls and suggest a sit down. If he continues to ghost, problem solved on it's own for just $25, pretty good deal if you ask me.
 
luca-dies-ii.jpg
 
While removing the player will be slightly awkward as the villain will likely refute what happened, it will not affect the game in an adverse way. The villain is a good friend of the victim but the victim (also the banker and in the inner circle) knows that there really is no winner here aside from a he game itself.

The host also believes that if an indirect correspondence is used (lengthy, thorough, yet not demeaning text or email) the villain will not refute its contents due to the fact that the villain knows that the host knows exactly what happened.

The host is struggling if there is any semblance of obligation to discuss the matter person to person. The villain is guilty. If the villain were being charged in a court of law and the host was the prosecutions star witness, the villain would be convicted.
 
Dan @tmham, it look like Billy case all over again :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

I recently have a $25 missing from my stack when I am away for a quick washroom break (and I asked the table why I have a missing chip after I noticed it)

The "Billy" sited beside me have an extra $25 chip but I didn't really make a scene out of it since we don't have any proof and it just $25.

Oh yeah, as for the OP. Banned that guy who steal the $5, I will not invite him back again.

If he willing to even try to steal $5, who know what worse thing he could have done in the past sessions
 
Happened twice at our game in high school. Banned for 10 years I told him. Actual friends, just being dumb teenagers.

Sorry you have to go thru the stress!
 
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Forget the stolen chip, I wouldn't be inviting him back after the run in with the Fiancé. Hosting home games is where drama goes to die for everyone. This is supposed to be fun and a social event. Why deal with it?
Completely agreed. Only caveat is i dont know what a "dust up" entails for this group. For one group thats a fist fight, for another it's passive aggressively saying the apple pie was great... for a store bought pie!
 
I think we know what needs to be done but any and all input, including how different thread participants would execute their decision is appreciated.
If this were my game, I would have made the thief leave at the time of the transgression. If thief was willing to leave without further drama, I may have even returned his initial buy-in. I would also make a public group announcement about what I had discovered and recommend that they not play with him at any other game. The other players have a right to know what happened and that this person should not be trusted again.
 
I almost feel bad for the guy. I can remember being so drunk at home games and casino games that I’ve had thoughts like that - I could grab some chips here or there. But I guess the difference is I’m not a stealer.
I think there are a lot of people who make stupid decisions, or who follow stupid impulses, who aren’t the worst people in the world. But there’s a pretty broad separation between the worst people in the world and people who I want to play poker with.
He’s an idiot who can’t be trusted and he doesn’t get invited back.
 
Agreed with everyone else here - cash him out immediately, send him home, and remove him from the invite list. Maybe this was the first time he stole, or maybe it was just the first time he was caught.

Yes, it will be awkward. But it's going to be worse if you have to explain to the rest of your players why a known thief (and apparently a source of other drama) is allowed to play even one more hand in this game.
 
Could be the drunk guy was f***ing with his buddy, not intending harm. I obviously don't have enough info to make a judgement, but it is plausible.

I doubt you'd be asking if you didn't already know the plausibility.

has been ghosting the winner (a close friend of his)
I think you might have a misunderstanding of the word friend.


The villain was also staked a $20 by both the host and the winner
sounds like the issue solved its self.
 
The villain was exceedingly intoxicated this night, had a dust up earlier with another players fiancé, and has a rather colorful past, past of petty indiscretions. He is an overall good guy but the house needs to make a decision on this persons fate.
I kinda want to back off what I said earlier. He sounds like a dick. Who has a dust up with somebody’s girlfriend? I don’t want to sound any kind of bad way, but why would you have a scene with some chick? I feel like most people let stuff go, unless they’re a dick.
Anyway, the final answer is the same - this guy has to go.
 
I'm a host as well. This stuff kills games and it has to be dealt with. It part of the deal hosting. And it sucks.

I had one guy try to stand over me one game. That doesn't fly at my place and he is banned for life.

He has to go.

As Dr Phil says. "the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior."

He will do it again. And you will be back in the same spot again.
 
as a professional drunk player who has taken out drywall , told the hosts GF to put her crying baby in a dryer, been in multiple situations i can tell you that a drunk person is acting out what he secretly would do sober. so if you have a player that steals chips drunk, he wants to steal them sober.

ban him. let him find a game with like minded people.

my 2 cents :)

fyi, i dont steal when drunk :)
 
as a professional drunk player who has taken out drywall , told the hosts GF to put her crying baby in a dryer, been in multiple situations i can tell you that a drunk person is acting out what he secretly would do sober. so if you have a player that steals chips drunk, he wants to steal them sober.

ban him. let him find a game with like minded people.

my 2 cents :)

fyi, i dont steal when drunk :)
Are you looking for a seat? What you’re up to sounds rather entertaining and doesn’t venture into that theft zone. I appreciate your honesty and you are spot on.
 

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