Poll: Are Brad & Don colluding? (1 Viewer)

Is it sketchy for best friends to always sit next to each other at a home game?

  • Yes, it seems sketchy

    Votes: 5 6.3%
  • Nah, it’s no big deal

    Votes: 26 32.9%
  • It’s hard to say

    Votes: 48 60.8%

  • Total voters
    79
And the guy who always gets his own seat just happens to be the winningest player of the group. I agree and would not be a regular at this game.

At my house I always sit in the same seat, closest to the table with the chips and PC. Everybody else moves around me.
But he’s also the best player he said.

I hope I’m never on trial with some of you guys as jurors lol ;-)
 
But he’s also the best player he said.

I hope I’m never on trial with some of you guys as jurors lol ;-)
Yeah, that's true. At the end of it all it's just poor hosting skills to let select players have their own seats and open yourself up to the possibility of cheating or collusion or whatever. My opinion.
 
Yeah, that's true. At the end of it all it's just poor hosting skills to let select players have their own seats and open yourself up to the possibility of cheating or collusion or whatever. My opinion.
For clarification @pokerzombie both my game and the game I go to, as texts are being sent out, it’s not uncommon at my game for people to request a seat and the host in the other game asks what seat do you want.

Hence a seat being reserved when someone else shows up before that person arrives.

It’s why we have those red reserve buttons haha! I had to buy more! lol
 
Yeah, that's true. At the end of it all it's just poor hosting skills to let select players have their own seats and open yourself up to the possibility of cheating or collusion or whatever. My opinion.
No doubt drawing for seats is a better option, but some games have players that like certain seats. I think that’s why we’re are seeing about a 30-70 split on this.

I’d prefer to draw seats at my cash game, bc any decent player that buys deep sits to my right. But I’d most likely upset a few of my friends that like their seat, and part of being a host is treating friends/players like customers and taking care of them. So I just pop around my seat without telling them lol.
 
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For clarification @pokerzombie both my game and the game I go to, as texts are being sent out, it’s not uncommon at my game for people to request a seat and the host in the other game asks what seat do you want.

Hence a seat being reserved when someone else shows up before that person arrives.

It’s why we have those red reserve buttons haha! I had to buy more! lol
It's all fine if you keep getting players and nobody seems to care, people can run games however they want. I think if you're in a group text it's a good incentive to allow first responders to select their own seats, actually. Especially when you have limited players like my group. I personally just wouldn't want to play in a game where one dude who is the best and most winningest player always gets to sit in his own seat. Is he the best because he the most winningest, or is he the most winningest because he's the best, and is it seating related? If he's the best he should be able to sit anywhere and still be the most winningest.
 
If it’s a table full of people who all know each other playing friendly stakes, obviously the cheating factor goes way down. And it’s probably rarely a factor at any game.

But I still like the draw. It’s fair to change it up and not let the best players, who probably know how to maximize positional advantage, pick and choose.
 
Gonna run a cashless game with cards mold casino tributes and self-seating to REALLY build interest...
triggered-star-trek.gif
 
but some games have players that like certain seats
My question is "why". That's all. I can see LeLe and wife sit in a certain arrangement because of handedness. I understand that. I don't have that issue, but I understand. Someone wanting to watch the game, has the squirts so needs to be closer to the bathroom... a reason is a reason. I understand real, authentic reasons.

I don't know why someone would say "I must sit next to Bob or I will never come again." That is what's happening here. "Look, I need to sit right next to Bob, on his left, or we can't play". And you are saying "Cool, the guy that is actually here will have to sit somewhere else".

No. Throw out those "reserved" buttons. Get buttons that say "seat change". Seat Change 1, Seat change 2... etc. That's what they have in casinos. If every single casino has a procedure that doesn't make them money - you might want to take notice.
 
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/cash-game-seating.98158/

I am surprised how many players here prefer drawing for seats or that is common.

I somewhat agree if I’m a player and have the option. Sure draw for seats is probably best. But if the host runs the game and wants to be by his friend I get that too. And it’s very common.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/cash-game-seating.98158/
Yeah I’m with this. Cash games aren’t typically a draw for seats situation. In fact I’ve never played in a cash game where people drew for seats. It’s always first come first served.
As to the specific situation - yeah, they’re probably comfortable sitting next to
Each other because they’re friends AND because they know each others tendencies. Who cares? If they sat opposite each other, they’d still know each other tendencies, which might affect their play a little less, but it would still affect their play. This bounds like a huge nothing to me, and FWIW, that suggestion that a friend could let a friend peek at his hole cards is WAY out of line, unless you have a reason to suggest it.
 
If I had to guess, pure speculation, higher limit house games ($2-$5nl and above) do not draw for seats and the smaller stake games do.
I dunno man. When I host (low stakes) I always take the worst seat in the house, just to try to insure a better experience for my guests. Aside from that, yeah, I’d rather my friend who smokes a lot gets the closest seat to the door. If he requested it, I’d reserve it for him. But he’s usually early and gets it anyway.
If one of my other guests showed up late and wanted that seat and demanded a draw, I’d be pissed. My internal reaction would be “fuck you, get here earlier, and don’t tell me how to run my game.” But I’m sure I’d actually say something like “we’ll try drawing for seats next time and see how people like it.”
Mostly where I’m coming from is that I don’t care for complainers and I have no patience for people who suspect cheating where there is none. And as somebody has already said, soft play will always happen in one form or another. So stop whining about it, be glad you have a good game, and play better.
 
To be clear: This game is only 6-8 months old. But I’ve played with most of the regs for a very long time in other games.

(In those other games, it wasn’t possible for the pair to control their seating locations.)

The game is healthy mainly because there are a number of big donators. But one of them has not shown for several games after a string of big losses, so attrition is always a risk when 3-4 players are regularly skinning the fish… For now the host seems to be still filling the table weekly.

Ahhh, that's an important detail I missed.

Although I'm not against drawing seats, the game I host (online, sad) is that players pick from whatever seats are available when they get there, and that's how I play at most games and in most (all?) casino cash games. No one should be mad if that's your expectation.

As others have mentioned, the next time either you or your friend arrive at the game before Brad, try and sit to Don's right. If he says it's reserved for Brad, push back a little and take the seat anyway. See what plays out. If Don (or Brad) flips out, that's not a great sign. If they are only miffed a la "Hey! Who moved my cheese?!", that's to be expected.
 
I've been playing with a very good friend for many many years and we've always drawn seats wherever we are. When organizing a legitimate gambling game, it is imperative to avoid all suspicions of cheating. It takes little effort to draw sits and it brings greater transparency, why not do it?
My friend and I know each other very well and neither of us wants to be seated on the right of the other (very disadvantageous in aggressive games), and certainly not in every game.
Good friends don't need to sit next to each other to spend pleasant evenings around a poker table.
It is necessarily suspicious to want to keep a specific location at a poker table, unless it is for comfort to be seated in front of the tv.
 
It’s always first come first served.
That's the entirety of the point. First come first served. In the post, and DBY's defenses, it's not first come first served, it's "I select the seats for certain players, and you get what is left, because I need to have position on the player that isn't here yet, or otherwise we can't play".

That is the part that sounds wonky.

First come, sure. Dibbs for life - that's questionable at best. It's just not a commonly accepted practice, and touting it on a forum dedicated to educating new groups, is simply suspect.
 
That's the entirety of the point. First come first served. In the post, and DBY's defenses, it's not first come first served, it's "I select the seats for certain players, and you get what is left, because I need to have position on the player that isn't here yet, or otherwise we can't play".

That is the part that sounds wonky.

First come, sure. Dibbs for life - that's questionable at best. It's just not a commonly accepted practice, and touting it on a forum dedicated to educating new groups, is simply suspect.
You’re right, if he’s reserving seats, it’s not first come first served. I guess that was my argument against drawing for seats at a cash game (not my argument against what’s happening here.)
But do you really think “dibs for life” is that insane for a home game? You’ve never played in a home game where some people always sat in the same seats?
I guess I find myself in the middle here. I don’t feel particularly strongly one way or the other. But I want to disagree with anybody who does feel very strongly one way or the other.
 
You’re right, if he’s reserving seats, it’s not first come first served. I guess that was my argument against drawing for seats at a cash game (not my argument against what’s happening here.)
But do you really think “dibs for life” is that insane for a home game? You’ve never played in a home game where some people always sat in the same seats?
I guess I find myself in the middle here. I don’t feel particularly strongly one way or the other. But I want to disagree with anybody who does feel very strongly one way or the other.
Same, I think both are totally acceptable and normal, and back to the OP title, my guess is 99% likely no collusion, nothing burger, and it “could” be an awkward conversation if your hell bent to get a certain seat bc u think they are cheating and not just good friends. Maybe a small inkling of these are the best seats for them and favorable position but it’s common practice to reserve seats ahead of cash games. If I know a whale is coming sometimes I’ll even ask the host seat me to his left.

And back to the cheating question, they don’t need to sit by themselves to cheat. So many better ways to rig a game if that’s their goal.
 
You’re right, if he’s reserving seats, it’s not first come first served. I guess that was my argument against drawing for seats at a cash game (not my argument against what’s happening here.)
But do you really think “dibs for life” is that insane for a home game? You’ve never played in a home game where some people always sat in the same seats?
I guess I find myself in the middle here. I don’t feel particularly strongly one way or the other. But I want to disagree with anybody who does feel very strongly one way or the other.
I wouldn't feel strongly - until I found out that I couldn't sit elsewhere. I get "common" seats. That's human nature. It's like my side of the bed in a hotel. Does it matter? No, but nature says "I slept on this side last night, I will sleep on it again tonight." My only issue is being prohibited. That is why I suggested taking the seat anyway with a light-hearted jibe as to why you were taking the seat. At that point it's up to the "possible" colluders to get angry of brush it off.

That's poker. Some hands you have to lose. But don't tell me the house rule is I have to fold because "it is the way".
 
I wouldn't feel strongly - until I found out that I couldn't sit elsewhere. I get "common" seats. That's human nature. It's like my side of the bed in a hotel. Does it matter? No, but nature says "I slept on this side last night, I will sleep on it again tonight." My only issue is being prohibited. That is why I suggested taking the seat anyway with a light-hearted jibe as to why you were taking the seat. At that point it's up to the "possible" colluders to get angry of brush it off.

That's poker. Some hands you have to lose. But don't tell me the house rule is I have to fold because "it is the way".
It’s his seat every week lol. So you can’t have it. Unless you started playing at the game before him or knew the host longer. That doesn’t equate to cheating. Just some house rules that are somewhat common in cash games. If that turns you off, I get it. But I wouldn’t assume collusion. Or call it collusion. I am just relaying along with others it’s common w cash games.
 
But do you really think “dibs for life” is that insane for a home game? You’ve never played in a home game where some people always sat in the same seats?
I guess I find myself in the middle here. I don’t feel particularly strongly one way or the other. But I want to disagree with anybody who does feel very strongly one way or the other.
Agree with this. Usually most people will just go with whatever the host wants, and that's perfectly fine. In my experience though, the higher limit games have more people that feel strongly or have some major superstition about some things - like having a "special" seat.

I think the main issue that people have here is the fact that Dan always has to sit with Brad. Like I get having your favourite 6 seat but does this guy always have to sit with his best pal?
 
I wouldn't feel strongly - until I found out that I couldn't sit elsewhere. I get "common" seats. That's human nature. It's like my side of the bed in a hotel. Does it matter? No, but nature says "I slept on this side last night, I will sleep on it again tonight." My only issue is being prohibited. That is why I suggested taking the seat anyway with a light-hearted jibe as to why you were taking the seat. At that point it's up to the "possible" colluders to get angry of brush it off.

That's poker. Some hands you have to lose. But don't tell me the house rule is I have to fold because "it is the way".
Sure, I was thinking about that too. And I guess there’s nothing to stop the guy from moving over one seat to the left, leaving room for his buddy on the right, between you two? You guys could end up playing musical chairs for a while.
 
It’s his seat every week lol. So you can’t have it. Unless you started playing at the game before him or knew the host longer. That doesn’t equate to cheating. Just some house rules that are somewhat common in cash games. If that turns you off, I get it. But I wouldn’t assume collusion. Or call it collusion. I am just relaying along with others it’s common w cash games.
I agree. There's a lot of weird happenings in poker that you come across sometimes. One time there was someone who insisted that we had to have this specific dealer to deal the 50th hand every night! He was a big donator though and paid for all the dealers so we never had any problems.

Maybe @Taghkanic could suggest the host to change up his seat? (try to frame it as lightly as possible, lol). If the original seat is his friend's seat, always (very common as @doublebooyah85 mentioned) then it should be no issue. If his friend will always go seat with the host no matter what, then that's where I would have a problem with the game.
 

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