Tourney When a player needs to step away (1 Viewer)

[TeamNapoli]

So what are your house rules when a player has to step away from next few hands ?

A) Do you just skip his spot as if he wasn't there for the few hands he misses
B) Do you deal the spot his two cards and consider him to fold every hand, of course his stack has to put in when the spot is a big or small blind
C) option B plus blind value penalty from his stack to the pot
D) Option B plus if the deal button hits his spot he is penalized the sum of the big and small blind from his stack

the current rule where I play is option B

 

[Beakertwang]

B. Deal his spot, put in his blinds when necessary, and auto-muck his cards.

 

[DrStrange]

Cash games only . . .

Never any extraordinary penalty. What else happens depends on the circumstances.

Short term absence to smoke or visit the bathroom or get food/drink ----> the missing player gets dealt a hand, posts any blinds and is folded when the action gets to them. We will wait briefly as the player returns to the table. We also will let someone play their hand blind, which leads to some truly epic stories. Remember we are here to have fun. If someone wants to play blind, that is fine by me.

When a short term absence grows long enough for the blinds to come back around a second time we generally sit the player out and deal around them. There will be no missed blinds penalty as they are already been paid the first time around. No such grace for the smokers though.

DrStrange

 

[Kyle]

B

 

[BGinGA]

For tournament play, this:

B. Deal his spot, put in his blinds when necessary, and auto-muck his cards.

The dealer mucks the absent player's hand once dealing to all players is completed and before first action by the UTG player (who then has knowledge of an undefended blind, as does all other players).

For cash games, it totally depends on house rules, and in most cases, how long the player is absent. Usually one of the two shown below, but certainly not limited to just these rules:

Absent players are not dealt cards and do not post blinds, and must pay any missed blinds immediately upon return (if one orbit or less) or wait until the button has passed to resume play. The actual RROP rules state:

1. A player who misses any or all blinds can resume play by either posting all the blinds missed or waiting for the big blind. If you choose to post the total amount of the blinds, an amount up to the size of the minimum opening bet is live. The remainder is taken by the dealer to the center of the pot and is not part of your bet. When it is your next turn to act, you have the option to raise.
2. If a player who owes a blind (as a result of a missed blind) is dealt in without posting, the hand is dead if the player looks at it before putting up the required chips, and has not yet acted. If the player acts on the hand and plays it, putting chips into the pot before the error is discovered, the hand is live, and the player is required to post on the next deal.

-OR-

Absent players are dealt cards and blinds are posted when required. The dealt hand is live until facing action, at which point it is ruled dead if the player is not present (or 'on-the-way' by way of announcement). Typically this is only done for the first orbit, at which time the player is no longer dealt cards and is not required to post blinds until they return.

The latter is probably the more common of the two, and is what @DrStrange cited above. I like his option of letting another player play the abandoned hand blind if so inclined (assuming that the other player doesn't otherwise already have live cards in the hand).

 

[MattyMatt]

For my cash games the hand is killed if dealt, but often the dealer and the table knows people are off on a smoke break or something and the seat doesn't get dealt in.

I also don't really believe in penalties for smaller cash home games. To me it makes sense if there's a line of people waiting to get a seat, or if someone is gaming this trying to avoid paying the blinds which would be more applicable to a tournament. But going out for a smoke to me is really a non-issue in practice. The person is away for 10 minutes and misses a round of poker, no big deal. As long as the flow of the blinds isn't disrupted I'm ok with it.

 

[JustinInMN]

Tournament:

Player is always dealt in, blinds are always posted, hand killed if not present to act.

Cash game:

Player is dealt in once unless he is due for a blind. Player can miss hands without penalty so long as they are not due for a blind.

If player is due for a blind and within earshot we will ask if he wants to post and deal him in if he says "yes."

Otherwise player gets a "missed blind" button and is dealt out until he either posts the missed blinds for the round or waits for the next time the big blind reaches his seat.

 

[Dix]

Same as Justin's

Tourney: Hand is killed when it's the missing player's turn to act rather than auto-mucked pre UTG.

Cash: Same as tourney rule until the player misses a blind(s). Then the player is not dealt in, & must post any missed blinds before being dealt back in or wait until he/she is the big blind. If both blinds were missed the amount of the small blind goes into the pot in the center of the table.

 

[TeamNapoli]

Happy to hear so many dont penalize the player. I only asked because i was a substitute player at a house game and it was brutal. It was so completely different then what i am use to as a home "friendly" game, would never go back.

 

[JustinInMN]

Happy to hear so many dont penalize the player. I only asked because i was a substitute player at a house game and it was brutal.

Really? Out of curiosity, what we're their rules? Tourney or cash?

There is no away around having to deal everyone in and take everyone's blinds in a tournament setting since blinds drive the action and avoiding them is a big advantage, especially in the freezeout phase.

 

[TeamNapoli]

it was a tourney no rake or anything, there was a rake on the cash game that started after a few lost their chips. Not sure how that cash game went, I didnt play in it.
There was a charge of a dollar a beer from the kegenator or a can of soda, or ten bucks all you can drink. a dollar for a kcup of coffee. Pretezel were free. I didnt mind that at all, it seemed was very fair. Where i play we (the regulars) just chip in for the booze\beer\snack inventory when there is a costco run.
the host had a 5 min sand timer that he would flip if you took literally more than 15 secs to make your bet when the action came to you
if your cards left the felt your hand is dead
no phone use at the table
if you left the table then it was
D) Option B plus if the deal button hits his spot he is penalized the sum of the big and small blind from his stack
also if you missed the dealer spot a seond spot... you out

 

[Dix]

That's a tourney I'd never want to play... If you miss 2 rounds of the table you're out? Never heard of that one before. Only thing that should happen is that your stack is shorter two sets of blinds... color me confused.

Just to be a bit clearer on my cash game "house rule" above.... The only time a returning player would be required to post both blinds is if they missed both and want to be dealt back in immediately on returning. If they take the option of waiting until they are the big blind, then that's all they need to post. Same as a new player coming to the table taking that option.

Most times it's because someone wanted/needed to take/make a phone call (we ask that you step away from the table to do so - common courtesy to the other players). If you make it back before you would have been a blind, no harm, no foul, play the cards at your seat (which is why no one is dealt out until they miss a blind). Otherwise, the above rule applies.

 

[JustinInMN]

Wait so they take the blinds as normal in turn during the tournament and then take both blinds again from the dealer if absent? And then you just get picked up out of the tournament for missing the button twice? That's nuts.

Missing the button isn't even an advantage.

 

[TeamNapoli]

Exactly it was the worst game i played at. Thats why when my chips were done, I thanked everyone and left. Wasn't even tempted to sit at the cash game.

i was surprised he didnt take our phones and place them in a box.
I should at least say something nice, he had custom HCE molds that felt fantastic, custom poker table that was nice. and a nice decor.

 

[JustinInMN]

Well check out the PCF member location thread, maybe you will find better games .

 

[TeamNapoli]

I definitely plan on doing so. Joined the north jersey thread here. I do have a great steady group that play and have a great time. That game was a one off, I was asked by a friend to sub for a player that was away for thanksgiving.

 

[boeller]

If the player that left stood up after being the blinds i dont deal them cards and sit them out till they get back. In general my players just take a bathroom or smoke break.

If they get up just before they are in the blinds, i will post them for them and sit them out afterwards. Even if its not on purpose ( i dont think any of my players would do this) i still think thats fair for everyone.

 

[TeamNapoli]

I dont know what the official rule is but IMHO the cards need to be accounted for in tournament so game is not affected, cash play i get it.

 

[DoubleEagle]

For cash games, if they are not in the room, e.g. smoking or in the bathroom, then they are dealt out. If they miss their blind(s) while gone, they get a missed blind button and pay the blinds when they return or they can wait for the button to come around. We try to use the same rules they would encounter in a casino.

 

[1A25R]

because it's posted under the "TOURNEY" tag:

B) Do you deal the spot his two cards and consider him to fold every hand, of course his stack has to put in when the spot is a big or small blind

 

[fredo]

B

 

[Beakertwang]

So, what would y'all do about a player who doesn't need to step away, but just refuses to play the Omaha orbit, because he hates Omaha? This is a low-stakes, .25/.50 fixed limit game.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Cash games only . . .

Never any extraordinary penalty. What else happens depends on the circumstances.

Short term absence to smoke or visit the bathroom or get food/drink ----> the missing player gets dealt a hand, posts any blinds and is folded when the action gets to them. We will wait briefly as the player returns to the table. We also will let someone play their hand blind, which leads to some truly epic stories. Remember we are here to have fun. If someone wants to play blind, that is fine by me.

When a short term absence grows long enough for the blinds to come back around a second time we generally sit the player out and deal around them. There will be no missed blinds penalty as they are already been paid the first time around. No such grace for the smokers though.

DrStrange

Pretty much exactly how we handle it. The players that smoke are just outside the patio door and can see/hear us and will often call or even raise blind preflop and sometimes even on the flop if the bet is “reasonable” in their mind. Yes, it is great for the game and hilarious when the smoker wakes up with a real hand.

 

[DoubleEagle]

So, what would y'all do about a player who doesn't need to step away, but just refuses to play the Omaha orbit, because he hates Omaha? This is a low-stakes, .25/.50 fixed limit game.

Just let him sit out. No big deal. Will have to pay missed blinds or wait for the button.

 

[BGinGA]

So, what would y'all do about a player who doesn't need to step away, but just refuses to play the Omaha orbit, because he hates Omaha? This is a low-stakes, .25/.50 fixed limit game.

Just let him sit out. No big deal. Will have to pay missed blinds or wait for the button.

Exactly. So long as they sit out the entire orbit, no problem.

 

[Psypher1000]

This is a low-stakes, .25/.50 fixed limit game.

Wait... .25/.50 fixed limit? Please tell me y'all are playing with nickel chips just for the grotesque pot sizes...

 

[Beakertwang]

Wait... .25/.50 fixed limit? Please tell me y'all are playing with nickel chips just for the grotesque pot sizes...

Nah, all quarters, single .25 blind. No outrageous stacks.

Do I have to forfeit my chipper card?

 

[phdlance]

We do B unless he will be out for a while. In that case, we skip him and let him re-enter with no penalty (friendly game)