Whoops... 9 players, 8 seats... What do I do? (1 Viewer)

[churlbut18]

So this is the first time this has ever happened to me as a host... I have 9 players committed for the game tomorrow night but only have an 8 player table (I’ll spare you the details on how I got into this position).

The table is an Octagon so the number of seats is fixed at 8...

What are my options if all 9 players show?

It’s a limit cash game so can I just have each player take a turn sitting out 1 full orbit and rotate throughout the night? Meaning each player plays 64 hands and then takes a short 8 hand break (maybe for ~20 minutes)?

Other thoughts short of somehow squeezing the 9th player on the table or moving to a dining room table (neither of which I want to do)?

Thanks,

 

[arch3r]

Sounds like you as the host will have to sit out. Don't worry though, you can stay involved giving table massages and fetching drinks. Hell, you might even make a few dollars in tip if you dress nicely.

 

[Saoliver]

Squeeze in 9 players. Two skinny players share a corner. Then win some money in your game and trade it in for a round table.

 

[Highli99]

Find a way to squeez it in there as best you can.

 

[72o]

Hmmm...tell the player who signed up last that he is on the wait list? Sorry but respond faster next time?

 

[WhiteMamba1646]

get a chanman 10 man table

 

[Highli99]

Also count on someone cancelling.

 

[CraigT78]

I'd tell the 9th player he's unfortunately waitlisted due to host error and has priority seating for the next few games as a consolation prize. Then I'd make sure it never happens again

 

[manamongkids]

button sits out and deals. you sit out one hand every orbit. win/win/win

 

[CraigT78]

button sits out and deals. you sit out one hand every orbit. win/win/win

He's got an octagon table, that's a lot of musical chairs.

 

[Geremie]

Transform your Octagon table into a Nonagon table!

 

[Coyote]

I would rather not play myself than put valuable social and poker relations at risk. But that's me.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Most likely it won’t be an issue, someone will cancel or someone will be late and someone else will want to leave early. It almost always works itself out.

But if everyone shows up, either make the last person to show up or the last person to RSVP the first alternative.

 

[Frogzilla]

But if everyone shows up, either make the last person to show up or the last person to RSVP the first alternative.

I’d be extremely annoyed to show up and get asked to be an alternate. If you’re going to waitlist someone, do it right now. If you’re going to play it by ear, the correct alternate if everyone shows up is the host.

 

[CraigT78]

I’d be extremely annoyed to show up and get asked to be an alternate. If you’re going to waitlist someone, do it right now. If you’re going to play it by ear, the correct alternate if everyone shows up is the host.

Or just be @Frogzilla and chase the host away from the hold em' table, after taking two buy-in's in under 40 minutes

 

[RowdyRawhide]

squeeze em in.... because this is probably going to happen

Most likely it won’t be an issue, someone will cancel or someone will be late and someone else will want to leave early. It almost always works itself out.

But if everyone shows up, either make the last person to show up or the last person to RSVP the first alternative.

 

[RowdyRawhide]

does your octagon have a rail or the "chip wells"

the latter makes it a bit more of a quandary

 

[DoubleEagle]

If you can’t squeeze in nine, then as host, I would sit out until a seat opens.

 

[Kensco]

You can't put your mistake on your invitees. You should sit out and be the gracious host.

And hope for a cancellation or early departure

 

[DavinciFox]

I would expect one person to cancel or be late, at which time you as the host get up and sit out and run the game until there’s a seat open. That’s what I would do. Everyone will be happy that way.

 

[longflop]

If you can’t squeeze in nine, then as host, I would sit out until a seat opens.

I would do this. You were going to be there the whole night anyway. This is the best choice for the long term health of the game. I would bet somebody is going to cancel though.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I’d be extremely annoyed to show up and get asked to be an alternate. If you’re going to waitlist someone, do it right now. If you’re going to play it by ear, the correct alternate if everyone shows up is the host.

I would let the person know ahead of time if going with the last person to RSVP or the whole group if using the last to show up. The last to show getting wait listed also is a great way to make sure the game is full and going at the designated start time.

My games start at 7pm. Often it takes until after 8 before all the players show up.

If someone comes a few hours late I’d have no problem telling them they have to wait for a seat.

 

[Gobbs]

If you do anything other than put yourself as the first alternate, I would never trust your game, again. Once you tell somebody they have a seat at the table, it’s their seat. The second you told the ninth player he/she had a seat, they may have turned down other plans. You can’t go back on that now. Even if you call somebody now, it’s too late.

Even if I’m not the ninth guy, I’m thinking “Next time, that could be me!” So, for the good of your game, bite the bullet on this one if nobody cancels.

NOTE...I think it would be acceptable to tell all players that anybody showing up more than an hour late (or some arbitrary amount of time) may have to forfeit their seat.

 

[trigs]

It sucks but as a host (if I had an octogon table like in this situation) I would also choose to sit out. My game doesn't have the luxury of having a ton of players - I'm lucky if I get a full 10 to show up. Usually it's 7-9 or so. If I overbooked, I would feel bad kicking someone else out knowing that that could affect them returning to my game.

That being said, I once had the problem of 11 people confirming (and I have a 10 person table). I put the last guy on the wait list but everyone in my game was like "just fit him in and we'll play with 11". In the end though, one guy never showed up anyway.

 

[churlbut18]

Thanks for all of the feedback.

@RowdyRawhide yes, my table has the wooden rail and chip wells so squeezing in 9 is going to be difficult.

Interestingly no one likes my idea of having a different player sit out for 1 orbit each? I would think each player would only have to sit out (~20 minutes for an orbit) only once or twice that night and share the burden.

For those that are interested, I was managing up to the full 8 seats properly as I always do, when my brother in law informed me he had invited another player that I wasn’t counting on (this player is in our larger rotation but he wasn’t part of my initial 8 contacted). So I’m simply trying to accommodate everyone. But at the same time I haven’t played poker in 6 months and don’t want to be sidelined even though I’m the host.

But I hear what you all are saying.

 

[davin]

I’d either squeeze or sit out till someone leaves

 

[Gobbs]

For those that are interested, I was managing up to the full 8 seats properly as I always do, when my brother in law informed me he had invited another player that I wasn’t counting on (this player is in our larger rotation but he wasn’t part of my initial 8 contacted). So I’m simply trying to accommodate everyone. But at the same time I haven’t played poker in 6 months and don’t want to be sidelined even though I’m the host.

But I hear what you all are saying.

When your BIL informed you of the ninth player, that was your opportunity to say there was no room for him. Once you let the opportunity go, it doesn’t matter when you last played and how badly you want to play, you can’t make others pay for your mistake by freezing out one player or by making everybody sit out a rotation each. Either suck it up and hope somebody cancels or go to the store and buy a bigger table.

 

[churlbut18]

When your BIL informed you of the ninth player, that was your opportunity to say there was no room for him. Once you let the opportunity go, it doesn’t matter when you last played and how badly you want to play, you can’t make others pay for your mistake by freezing out one player or by making everybody sit out a rotation each. Either suck it up and hope somebody cancels or go to the store and buy a bigger table.

Got it.

Thanks all for the feedback. Makes sense.

 

[CantSpellPoker]

Interestingly no one likes my idea of having a different player sit out for 1 orbit each?

It’s a nice idea in theory, but it’s also 8 hands that I’m forced to sit out of. What if I’m sitting out during a massive 6-way pot?

As host, I see no option other than sitting myself out until a seat becomes available. However, I also have no problem sending out a text/email basically stating the following:

Guys, I messed up and booked 9 people for an 8 player table. As this was my error, I will be sacrificing my seat until one becomes available. However, I urge everyone to confirm their attendance and on time arrival so as to avoid any confusion/musical chairs.

Someone might see that text and bow out if they have something else to do.

 

[longflop]

It’s a nice idea in theory, but it’s also 8 hands that I’m forced to sit out of. What if I’m sitting out during a massive 6-way pot?

As host, I see no option other than sitting myself out until a seat becomes available. However, I also have no problem sending out a text/email basically stating the following:

Guys, I messed up and booked 9 people for an 8 player table. As this was my error, I will be sacrificing my seat until one becomes available. However, I urge everyone to confirm their attendance and on time arrival so as to avoid any confusion/musical chairs.

Someone might see that text and bow out if they have something else to do.

That is a great way to handle it. Maybe one of your guys was on the fence anyway, this gives him an out.